What does it take to be an MMA coach?

[Xoleth]

So,

Plinio Cruz is the coach of Alex Pereira
Cruz was an MMA fighter, he went 8-9 in his career.

Plinio Cruz MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com

The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997.

www.sherdog.com

Not that this would be problematic, since some respected boxing coaches had average or even bad fighting records (e.g. Ricky Funez)
But I am looking at his technique and it seems bad



Also, Tim Welch, the coach of Sean O'Malley.

Tim

The industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (aka Ultimate Fighting). MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997.

www.sherdog.com

He went 14-6 in MMA, beating most guys with negative records (3-3, 6-27, 8-14, 18-26 - his last 4 wins)
And I am looking at the way he fights



What makes these guys coaches?
How can you be a respected coach when, during your fighting career, your technique was quite bad?


It seems to me that coaches who never had a fighting career just seem to offer better advices. E.g. Trevor Wittman, Erick Nicksick


I'm not saying this guy was onto something, but maybe, just maybe

 

[Shaolin Alan]

Those who know, do; those who understand, teach

-Aristotle

 

[Luthien]

If you happen to get a golden Ronda that walks through your door then it doesn't take much at all

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Just the ability to be able to spot what areas of their game your fighter needs to work on and being able to get them to focus on that and impart the information in the right way.

Also the ability to study opponents and help your fighter gameplan to beat them.

Also if the fighter actually listens helping them get the appropriate sparring in.

 

[Chagaev]

Head movement

 

[JustforBROCK]

Historically in all sports be it MMA basketball football hockey -- all the best coaches were subpar athletes in most cases.

 

[payton]

An effective mma coach has a shared vision aligned with core values and understands what it will take to reach their fighters goals.

 

[SamuraiBro]

Charge a lot of money and run the gym like a cult

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

2hr of youtube tutorials and cringe tattoos

 

[TheMadHatter]

plinio cruz was my first coach back in 2009 when I began training. he coached bjj at the gym I trained at. I was not impressed by his performance. I remember him fighting Sapo Natal and getting steamrolled which is when I realized he was not all that knowledgeable. He seemed to gain some fight knowledge when he trained with Luiz Azeredo, whom I have also trained with. he is an encyclopedia of mma techniques. truly a fighting genuis and a genuine guy as well. another very good coach that jumps out at me is Paul Rodriguez, who Mike Perry would train with at ATT orlando. One of the nicest people you could ever meet and he preaches the respect aspect of martial arts.

to answer the question though I believe the most successful coaches just so happen to know the right people. plinio did not even teach striking at the gym when I trained with him, it baffles me that he is coaching one of the greatest strikers in combat sports history. I will be cornering a friend of mine who is fighting this weekend, if we werent friends and trained together though this opportunity would not have presented itself to me. My opinion is that it is all about who you know.

 

[JustforBROCK]

An effective mma coach has a shared vision aligned with core values and understands what it will take to reach their fighters goals.

What in the Webster's dictionary lol

 

[VinceArch]

Charge a lot of money and run the gym like a cult

This does seem to work though.

 

[Poatan Power]

Oldest story in the book.

It is extremely rare that great players become great coaches. Often the coaches weren't players at all or were fair to middling players.

Imagine Michael Jordan as a coach, lol.

Kerr and Jacskon, however?

That's why Khabib has an extra layer of bad assery.

 

[Xoleth]

Just the ability to be able to spot what areas of their game your fighter needs to work on and being able to get them to focus on that and impart the information in the right way.

Also the ability to study opponents and help your fighter gameplan to beat them.

Also if the fighter actually listens helping them get the appropriate sparring in.

So why didn't they use those abilities during their fighting career?

 

[Xoleth]

Oldest story in the book.

It is extremely rare that great players become great coaches. Often the coaches weren't players at all or were fair to middling players.

Imagine Michael Jordan as a coach, lol.

Kerr and Jacskon, however?

That's why Khabib has an extra layer of bad assery.

I do agree, but it's not only their fighting records, but also their technique.
One can be an average fighter, but with good technique.
These guys had shitty striking technique.

Matt Hume was an average fighter, with a 5-5 record.
But he had a decent technique.
And he is a good coach.

 

[Spam On Rye]

A good bookie.

 

[NoSmilez]

Good fighters don't make the best coaches. I knew a coach who had multiple stadium titles but can't produce a decent student. You can't teach insane punching power and athleticism.

You want someone in the middle who understands the game. Some coaches can only teach talented people. I think the best coaches are the ones who can take any type of person and teach them enough for them to have their own style or approach to fighting. A good coach would understand the game enough to know what would work for that person and what wouldn't. An example of coaches not adapting to the fighter was the guy who taught kickboxing to GSP. GSP is very athletic and his body type allowed him to setup and throw superman punches. The same coach taught the same move to Joe Stevenson. Stevenson is too stocky and short to be using that move. Stevenson's striking game should be focused on something else.

 

[fortheo]

from what I've read, often times it is just an older training partner that ends up falling into a coaching role somehow.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

So why didn't they use those abilities during their fighting career?

Lack of athletic ability mainly.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

There's a difference between knowing what to do and being able to do it. Having a very loud and annoying voice also seems to help.