Everybody in here's stamina

[GerardSmith7]

I plan on fighting in the next 6 months or so. I'm fairly confident with my technique but my biggest fear is gassing. How good should one's stamina be before they fight in the cage? Obviously the answer is great, but be specific. I can go three 3 minute rounds sparring boxing or kickboxing at full speed, but anything over that I gas. How does adrenalin in a real fight suck the stamina from you?

 

[The_Crow]

If it were me I would be training to fight for at least twice as long as I needed to actually fight. if you are fighting 3 x 5 minute rounds then I suggest you train to fight 6 x 5 minute rounds. To do this you will need a bunch of sparring partners to train with too, I would suggest if you can get at least 3 sparring partners get each of them to fight you for approximately 2 minute's & then they straight switch to the next oponent with no break for you, this way they are fresh & coming at you hard all the way through.

You can also add an extra 60 second on to the end of each round then instead of going really hard for only the last minute you can work on going hard for the last 2 minutes.

 

[LCDforMe]

That's a good tip, Crow.

I think it'd be very beneficial to try what Crow was talking about. A little extra skip rope or running on the side wouldn't hurt.

 

[GerardSmith7]

thanks

 

[Vilo Magee]

In your first pro fight the nerves are going to get to you maybe not as much as some but you will feel anciety, fear, worried, excited, ect ect. All this is going to take it out of you. Also one thing alot of guys do not realize is how fucking hot it is under the lights of an arena and then the body heat from all the spectators. That heat will sap you like none other.
My suggestion is this if you are fighting 3 rounds double that and add 1. Make sure that you can go all 8 rounds with a flurry in at the end of the round.
Also train hot. I train in Las Vegas where it is over a 100 degrees every day in the summer but I still wear long johns running pants on bottom, long john top and light sweatshirt on top and then a beanie on my head. it sucks i am covered in sweat and i am uncomfortable but I also do not gas from the heat. Wehn you do cardio wear the same thing. Even when I run outside I wear long johns and a sweat suit with a beanie. If you fight under lights you will be fucking hot so get used to it.
Also for your cardio do not buy into the bullshit about distance running not working if you are a fighter who fighs you need to run plain and simple it is a time proven method.

 

[jayyon39]

first, six months should be plenty of time to build up really good stamina, i agree with the crow's post, disagree with what boomstick said about distance running. You definitly need to run a lot, but running 5 miles at 8 minute pace isn't going to help you that much, and it was a proven method until everyone figured out that there are better ways. Running a series of wind sprints with jogging in between is much better. If you want a really good running workout, try the tabata method. 20 seconds full energy, running flat, running uphill, stairs, jumping rope, 10 second rest. repeat 8 times. it is a great workout that only takes 4 minutes, you can do sets of it. Also, try to build up your endurance to fight day, you don't want to peak a month too early. Make sure your training partner are kicking your ass too.

 

[Vilo Magee]

first, six months should be plenty of time to build up really good stamina, i agree with the crow's post, disagree with what boomstick said about distance running. You definitly need to run a lot, but running 5 miles at 8 minute pace isn't going to help you that much, and it was a proven method until everyone figured out that there are better ways. Running a series of wind sprints with jogging in between is much better. If you want a really good running workout, try the tabata method. 20 seconds full energy, running flat, running uphill, stairs, jumping rope, 10 second rest. repeat 8 times. it is a great workout that only takes 4 minutes, you can do sets of it. Also, try to build up your endurance to fight day, you don't want to peak a month too early. Make sure your training partner are kicking your ass too.

Well then 99.9% of the active boxers with winning records are wrong then because eery single up and coming, contender and champion does road work from Hopkins to Byrd they all hit the pavement every morning.
Running builds endurance which is needed in a combat sport it also teaches you how to breath correctly and how to slow down your breathing and builds the strength of your legs from calf to hips and helps strengthen your abdominals. So you keep doing whatever you got to do but if you are not running eventually it will catch up with you.
On the running 5 miles I do this regarlarily and my stamina is better than most guys in the gym I also spar 12 rounds regularily and have never gassed. But I guess the running hasnt helped me that much. I love how everyone overlooks the fact that boxers have been running since boxing has been a sport and boxers fought up to and over 100 rounds back in the day. They also fought 15 rounds back in the day and now fight 12 rounds and very rarely do you see a world class boxer gas but you see almost every MMA fighter gas huh i wonder what the problem is

 

[cb9fl]

MMA being more strenuous than boxing?

 

[Vilo Magee]

MMA being more strenuous than boxing?

I guess that must be it

 

[Bama Zulu]

Boxing doesn't utilize the whole body in such a way that MMA does. Also the 15 rounds back then were tough yes, but many of fights they were not going all out each and every round.

 

[Sinister]

Boxing doesn't utilize the whole body in such a way that MMA does.

Ugh. Please don't post such delusions in the conditioning forum. Boxing is hard, MMA is hard, leave it at that. If you've never boxed in a sanctioned event OR competed in MMA in a sanctioned event then just leave it be else you end up sounding like someone who is just spewing repetitious un-proven garbage that is pure speculation at-best.

Anyhow, for the record, distance running does help immensely, and moreso for MMA than Boxing in all actuality because in MMA rounds are longer even though there are less of them. So logic would dictate that the longer you can maintain a set breathing pattern under strenuous conditions (distance running mixed with a form of HIIT), the longer you'll sustain wind during a round.

 

[Vilo Magee]

LOL these guys who believe every stupid little training trend crack me the hell up. Running distance has been proven over and over again if you watch boxing and read a little about the training techniques from the bareknuckle days to now 99.9% of all boxers run distance. If you also go back and watch old fights 99.9% of the top guys did not gas, yes they slowed the pace down but the also would pick it up if need be.
On the flip side if you read MMA and watch MMA you see a whole shitload of the top guys gassing after a few minutes of standup then one shoots they hit the ground and one or both is resting and defending while one is working a little bit. Why do MMA guys gas doing standup if their cardio is better than boxers? The standup is a slimmed down version of boxing skills with a little kicking and kneeing thrown in but you see one or both fighters gassed after 2 minutes.
Distance running will give you the endurance and the base for fighting it is battle tested battle hardened and battle proven anyone who says it isnt is either to lazy to run or delusional

 

[Rachid Ghanoudi]

I'm with Boomstick 100% on this one. I've done Muay Thai fights and boxing fights and truth be told, nothing beats good ol' long distance running/roadwork. Honestly, in my first Muay Thai fight I tried a different form of cardio, believing the latest fad, and it killed me. From that day on I've only trusted roadwork and have never gassed since. It's time tested and the only sure fire type of cardio (well, that and swimming...).

 

[Vilo Magee]

I'm with Boomstick 100% on this one. I've done Muay Thai fights and boxing fights and truth be told, nothing beats good ol' long distance running/roadwork. Honestly, in my first Muay Thai fight I tried a different form of cardio, believing the latest fad, and it killed me. From that day on I've only trusted roadwork and have never gassed since. It's time tested and the only sure fire type of cardio (well, that and swimming...).

I also swim but distance running is the core of my cardio workout.
I imagine most of these guys touting these fad cardio systems are keyboard warriors, young ass kids or the author or associate of the author or creator of these new wonder systems.
Good luck on your next fight

 

[SwiftMcvay]

Hey Boomstick, I believe all of the info you provide about conditioning because of your success as a fighter and the many successful fighters your boxing coach has produced. But about the MMA guys gassing, it could be because they don't train hard enough, but it is also a completely different type of cardio than boxing. Fighting in the clinch, taking somebody down, getting out from under an opponent, and defending the takedown are all very strenuous and can take the energy out of somebody really quick. If I had to say which group has better cardio, I would say boxers have a little bit better cardio, but MMA is a completely different kind of endurance.

 

[Rachid Ghanoudi]

Thanks Boomstick, I've got one coming up in October. You have any scheduled in the next little while?

 

[Vilo Magee]

Hey Boomstick, I believe all of the info you provide about conditioning because of your success as a fighter and the many successful fighters your boxing coach has produced. But about the MMA guys gassing, it could be because they don't train hard enough, but it is also a completely different type of cardio than boxing. Fighting in the clinch, taking somebody down, getting out from under an opponent, and defending the takedown are all very strenuous and can take the energy out of somebody really quick. If I had to say which group has better cardio, I would say boxers have a little bit better cardio, but MMA is a completely different kind of endurance.

I think sometime sI come off as not respecting MMA athletes which is far from the truth, I do howver question some of their training methods becuase it seems (if Sherdog) is a fair representation of how MMA guys train that they buy into alot of bullshit training methods that are just made up by somebody in an attempt to make money which is to bad because it hurts their careers.
The funny thing is I used to see Tito Ortiz every once in awhile running on the strip (this was before he wasa big timer and was still just starting out he would run from the stratosphere to the flamingo which is about 3 miles one way.
Distance running should be any combat athletes foundation plain and simple it has been proven over and over again to work by countless boxing champions.
While I understand MMA is different in terms of how you use you body I also understand what being in shape is. Running long distance a a steady pace increases stamina plain and simple.
If I was an MMA I would still run distance as the base of my conditioning but I Would also use some explosive and interval training (Something i already do for boxing). In the end being in shape is being in shape if you can run a 6 minute mile pace for 30 minutes straight you will not gas plain and simple

 

[BoxingFanNoMore]

I really dont think that is a fair comparison. Lets face it we are talking about two different caliber of athletes here for the most part. And two completely different sports and competitive levels.

Also, I dont see the point in arguing about comparing training methods for two different sports.

And I really dont buy the "being in shape is being in shape" statement, being in shape for one sport isnt the same as being in shape for the demands of another.

And I dont even know what to say about that last statement. Except hopefully you were kidding.

 

[Sinister]

I really dont think that is a fair comparison. Lets face it we are talking about two different caliber of athletes here for the most part. And two completely different sports and competitive levels.

Also, I dont see the point in arguing about comparing training methods for two different sports.

And I really dont buy the "being in shape is being in shape" statement, being in shape for one sport isnt the same as being in shape for the demands of another.

And I dont even know what to say about that last statement. Except hopefully you were kidding.

How about you back this trolling with some aspects of training as opposed to being strictly argumentative?

You know I respect you, but what are you basing your obvious disagreement on?

 

[Vilo Magee]

I do not care what sport you are participating in if you can run at a good pace from 8 minute mile down to 6 minute mile for 30 minutes straight you will be able to hold your own stamina wise.
You can say MMA is harder or use more of this or that but which MMA fight has ever went 12x3 minute rounds with 2 fighters throwing a combined 3000 punches with both fighters landing a high percentage of power shots and bth fighters being on their feet at the end of the fight a little winded but recovered by the time the decision was made. I ahve never even seen a MMA fight where a hundred punches where thrown in 3x5 minute rounds. This si not to say boxing is a ahrder sport it is saying the distance running a boxer does every day day in and day out pays off in dividens.
My suggestion to all the dounters is to watch the Bramble/Mancini I fight then compare the amount of punches and power behind those punches to any MMA fight, then compare the how Mancini even though badly stunned was still able to throw 100 punches a round. Also compare this to any MMA fight then factor in they were fighting in Reno where the elevation is off the chain and you will see why running distance makes you a fighter.