I must admit, I didn't want to go.
I knew the workout would be hard. I new I'd be a bit rusty since I haven't trained with a professional since the beginning of February, and to be honest, I'm a bit competitive and can be quite hard on myself if I don't do something as good as I think I should.
But I still went. And I felt great for it.
As you can see, getting to the gym (or in this case my training academy) can be the hardest part. Even for someone that does it for a living and is dopamine dominant.
So let me tell you what drives me crazy.
I see this guy that I have trained with before, doing a bunch of aerobic-based training on a treadmill and then he switches to an elliptical machine. He must of spent roughly 20 minutes on each piece.
This drives me crazy because that is the one energy system (the oxidative system or just think aerobics) that really shouldn't be bothered with as far as training goes. Not for any grappling sport.
The grappling sports such as judo, jiu- jitsu, wrestling, and mixed martial arts to name a few.
These sports are anaerobic based not aerobic based. You won't get stronger, faster, or better at the sport by training the aerobic system (oxidative system). In fact, there's a good change you'll lose muscle, get weaker, and get slower.
So if this traditional method doesn't work and is completely irrelevant, then why are these athletes still doing it you should ask?
Because we tend to stick with what's expected and go with what we know-because it's safe, easy, and it's what everyone else is doing and telling us to do. We tend to do what's traditional, or a part of the sport, even if it's no longer effective.
Sometimes adopting a contrarian mindset (opposing or rejecting popular opinion; going against current practice) is your best strategy. You have to use your intellect, your common sense.
Bruce Lee did just that when he developed Jeet Kune Do. Every other martial artist out there at the time said he was crazy and he didn't know what he was talking about. You can't go against tradition he was told.
And look at MMA today. You must say he's the grand father of the movement.
Now let me leave you with some quick advice after my long winded rant.
Stop doing slow steady state aerobics!
I don't care if it's on a treadmill, bike, elliptical, or jogging outside.
I don't care if you're not an MMA competitor, you're in a grappling sport, or if you're just trying to be healthy.
It won't work. It's the worst training method for fat loss and having a healthy heart has nothing to do with aerobics. It's the absence of disease.
If you want to lose body fat, become better at an anaerobic sport, and save yourself a lot of time... start doing interval training.
Here's one practical example for you.
Let me say that again.
Here's just one practical example.
Sprint as fast as you can for 30 seconds.
Walk at a regular pace for 3 minutes.
Repeat 6 times.
Do this twice a week, and every week shave 15 seconds off your walking time.
So the next week would look like this.
Sprint as fast as you can for 30 seconds.
Walk at a regular pace for 2 minutes 45 seconds.
Repeat 6 times.
Do this for 6 weeks straight and at the end you'll be resting for only 90 seconds which is a 1:3 work to rest ratio.
You'll be leaner, more conditioned for your sport, and you'll probably put on some muscle.
Stay Focused,
Chris Grayson
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