Description

Frank Shamrock’s — The Ultimate Home WorkoutMore than anything else, Frank Shamrock forged his superlative career in mixed martial arts tournaments on his superior conditioning. At crucial times in his toughest fights he was able to wear his opponents down into a state of exhaustion. From that point he could overcome their edge in skills and take control of the fight. Without any doubt he made physical conditioning a focus point of training for mixed martial artists to a greater degree than any of his predecessors. In his instructional video on combat fitness and physical conditioning, Shamrock offers a physical workout based upon a wide range of calisthenics movement to get the beginning fighter or martial artist into excellent shape. All the exercises rely on bodyweight resistance. In this sense they may seem similar to the theme pushed by Matt Furey — that body weight exercises are superior to resistance machines or free weights. It is no secret however, that Shamrock doesuse weight training (as he admits in a later video in this series) as well as a range of other exercise methods. In so far as this is the case, one would have to see this video as a very incomplete guide to Shamrock’s actual pre-fight workout. Nonetheless, for the intended target audience, it is a very good preparation for the rigors of grappling and wrestling that a person getting involved with mixed martial arts training can expect.Many of the exercises have direct benefits for the actual movements that frequently occur in the course of grappling training and as such can greatly help the aspiring athlete. The basis of physical preparation for grappling, body weight squats, varieties of push-ups and neck bridging are all included, along with many other exercises designed to mimic the movements of actual fighting. Following the exercise plan would doubtless prepare the beginning athlete very well for the demands of heavy training and competition.Shamrock does a good job of making the exercises seem interesting and relevant to combat. He is surprisingly easy-going in his advice on training, often noting the dangers of over-training and the need to avoid pain while working out. In all it is a very good introductory conditioning program from the foremost authority on combat conditioning for mixed martial arts.