MMA Forum

Hi all,

I've got a journal on a bodybuilding forum and its pretty good for logging training sessions, getting tips, giving tips and generally just getting excited about training sessions.

Though I've never seen a martial arts training journal or anything like that.

So, being a newbie, thought I'd log my training experiences here for all to read, or probably just me if its boring!!!

Im taking a slow and bulky bodybuilding physique, losing about a stone and a half including some muscle from glutes and thighs, and making it super fit, fast and flexible. I've got lots of knowledge with weight training, CV, HIIT and circuits etc.

Im also going from complete novice (experience includes being a bit strong, having lots of young man fights until I was 20, Judo until I was 8 and some very rubbish police moves from work!), and starting out in martial arts, finding my way and finding which arts and styles suit me and I enjoy, all the way up til I can compete or fight in whatever I like - The aim is MMA and the cage!

My initial training aims will revolve around - Flexibility, balance, core strength, speed, reactions, cardio fitness and weight loss.

My initial fight training aims will revolve around - Becoming adepth at an even share of basic ground techniques, takedowns, boxing techniques and knee and kick techniques. Then I will focus on progressing everything slowly and thoroughly.

My weeks training will include - 1 upper body weights strength session, 5 CV sessions, 1 bag session, 1 grappling class and spread throughout the week flexibility and balance training.

Just for info im 26, married with a 2 year old girl and twins due in October! I weigh 16st 4lbs and am 6 foot tall. (Im natural no gear at all ever). Im not in bad shape, but am a bit chubb and heavy. Gonna look to get under 15st to start with so 18lbs. Then in the future would like to fight as light-heavyweight. Ill lose a lot of fat but probably some muscle around my legs and glutes too as they're big and will be used in a completely different way. Gonna try to hold on to my upper body size completely.

So basically im going to change physique and abilities drastically into a completely different athlete. Thought Id log it here as hopefully ill get some good results. A complete lifestyle change.

Let the bodybuilder to fighter transformation commence!

It's gonna be a long hard ride mate but one that will definitely be worth it! I've read your bodybuilding journal in the past and know how thorough it is. I'm sure you'll have quite a few readers of this journal and hopefully members will help out where they can and vis-versa.

It would be good if a few more members started their own journals too to get some kind of comparison going on.

Anyway, nice work and best of luck with the transition dude

Cheers Jarrod Rebecci!

Yeah mate I reckon it'll be worth it. My other journal has been going about 6 or 7 months and has nearly 9000 views so far.

It'll be good if people start adding their journals too. Will give me some good tips about what they're doing.

I dont know if Ill ever fight but I know where I want to get to and Ill go all out to get there. Gonna turn the bulldozer into the freight train!

Hello all.

Sorry not updated for a while.

Regarding training. I've started with an increase of CV work namely cycling to and from the station everyday. Its 2 miles down hill going there which is fine, but 2 miles uphill coming back and its really steep! Its 6 mins there, 20 ins back! Jarrod knows it. Back me up mate!

Further to that, I quickly benched this morning as my bench comp is coming up. I didnt do the power the thing as Im not recovered from my recent comp but put in a couple of lighter higher rep sets. After warming up I did 15 reps with 100kg, and then could only manage 4 on 120kg as I was so knackered from the first lot.
My aim for the comp is 150kg to be a new PB for me. I need 135kg to qualify for nationals if im under 100kg (its 3 weeks and im currently 103kg), and 145kg to qualify if Im over 100kg. I can do 135kg easy, but 145 is a touch and go because of the horrible 2 second pause on the chest. And 150 will be there if Im having a very good day! We'll see. My goal is just to qualify.
Its all drug tested but there's no way ill win. Maybe top 4 or 5.

Did a circuit today of general light weights and bodyweight exercises for a non stop 15minutes. It included about 8 minutes total of bag work and I literally went as hard as I could for 15minutes with no rest. Thats a lot to me!


I've started the learning. I've been meeting with a fella who has a lot of experience in the boxing world. He's gonna take me through some training drills and some basic combinations to give me a start with my punching etc.
I also have been speaking to a couple of other mates at work are gonna train with me - namely a freestyle wrestler (european standard), and 1st kyu Judoka and a relatively experienced Goju karate fighter. The class ill be going to hopefully from Tuesday (Mrs has been ill) is predominantly grappling namely BJJ and fitness, but I wanted some extra input re some basic techniques for strikes and takedowns until I've got time to try Muay Thai or kickboxing.

I know im not going to do be doing anything with it all for a long time but I just love training and when I start something new I like to get into all of it.

By all accounts im really excited about it all and enjoying myself so far.

Big session tomorrow with some new training styles.

Mate you make me look terrible!

Im suffering from a serious case of lazyness at the mo and find it really hard to motivate myself. My excuse is that im just so busy all the time especially as I am sorting out the final details of my wedding which is in less than 8 weeks but i know deep down that is no excuse, and also I have no one to train with so its a bit boring on my own.

I have done so well recently and shed over 2 stone as well as increase my fitness no end but im worried its all gonna go to waste unless i put my own foot up my arse and quickly! Like I said I have less than 8 weeks left until I go abroad for my wedding and I really need to be pushing hard now to get in shape by then.

anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for the posting as its giving me a bit of encouragement seeing all the things you are getting up to. I know as soon as I start again I will be back into it full steam but its just getting over this little hurdle!

Keep up the good work fella, and as soon as I start I training again put my own progress on here for all to see and hopefully encourage too.

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MMA NEWS

Cheers mate, good to hear some positive feedback! Just that is motivating enough!

Mate 2 stone is a brilliant achievement. You'll be able to keep it off dont worry. I train on my own too normally but I've started to like it now. I get in a zone and I dont talk or look at anyone! People probably think Im rude! But it is more difficult to push yourself at first.

On days when I would be training, I just think about it all day and big myself up in my head. then I go over what Im going to do and I picture the ferocity Ill put into it. Then I look on the internet at something motivating or talk about it with someone and before I know it Im so excited I cant wait to train!

In terms of having time and things, there are ways around it. Just incorporate it into your normal life, ie cycle to work or the station and do it as hard as you can. Or jog or whatever you like to do. That'll be enough to maintain your fitness.
Or if you want to go one further, do a run HIIT style or just pick a 1km - 1mile route and run it as fast as you can. Then every other day run it again and try to make it faster. Until eventually you can just hammer that km/mile without slowing down. Will only be 5-10mins each time but will kill you as it'll be flat out.

Then allocate one day for your MMA training ie Thursdays where you are at Evolution, or Ill let you know what Canvey is like after Tuesday in case you and Jarrod fancy trying it. Its closer to you too than Evolution. Then use that day for your MMA training.

Regarding gym work, I am a firm believer in low volume high intensity ie HIT training. To gain mass you dont need more than 2 sessions a week. For strength training to supplement MMA or something you only need one weights session a week really if you cant make 2.

So we're talking 1 MMA session and 1 weights session a week (1 evening + 1 weekend morning), then 4 outdoor cardio sessions a week either cycle or run for 5-15mins flat out done in the morning followed by 15mins of either core, flexibility or balance training!

Come on man you can do it! Think of becoming a machine! I just think of what ill be like in 6 months! Imagine waking up and going to run a mile flat out, then stretching afterwards and being really flexible. Going upstairs and looking in the mirror and have a good set of visible abs and more muscle everywhere. Then that night going to MMA and doing everyone! Machine Perry!

Training tonight so ill let you know!

Awesome posts mate! Will be good to hear how your first MMA session goes Tuesday. And yes I can vouch for you about that ride home from Leigh station, that is a nasty looong incline! Feel the burn!

I'm in the same boat as you Pel, only I've still got that 2 stone on me lol! You've done wicked to shed that weight mate, pure commitment with your diet and gym session, I don't think it'll be going back on in a hurry. I desperately need to get a decent routine going, like you said, too many shitty excuses! When I get in the zone I'm awesome, I stick to everything. The problem is staying in the zone!

Excellent session last night. Another one to drum home the difference between fitness and fight fitness!

Firstly went down to the gym and the bag with an old boxer who took me through some basics with footwork, training, different punches, few little tips and some good combos.
Then, I met with a fella who does Goju Karate (which he describes as being like karate but use the clinch and knees more like Muay Thai). He took me through some great leg strikes namely Toe Jab to stomach and outer thigh kicks with both leading leg and strong leg. Showed me how to execute them. Im not bad with elbows and knees anyway from old bill training.

Anyway after that, did a monster circuit. Well not monster but I was trying hard not to puke! The aim was to do three 5 minute rounds with a 1 minute break between - as per an MMA fight. However managed two 5 minute rounds and had a minute a half between! But ill get there! I am on the road to the freight train!

By taps I mean running as fast as possible in front of the bag and punching it hard with every step - left right left right etc. Making sure knees are right up.

Circuit went as follows - 1 minute for each of the 5 elements - All out as hard as possible for each...

1. Arm strikes (Fists and Elbows from clear stance and clinch).
2. Jumping Squats (Continuous - Unbearably painful).
3. Leg strikes (Kicks and Knees).
4. Cat stretch press throughs.
5. Taps (10 second bursts with 10 second rest).

Then I did some good stretching and Im a lot more flexible in my adductors (inner thighs) and hamstrings than I thought. I can kick head height with power! Woohoo! In box splits my knob is 1 foot (its not very long though!) from the floor. Im aiming to get down there eventually in full splits!

Day off today! Upper body weights session tomorrow.
Cycling Monday.
MMA Tuesday.
Rest for god knows how long afterwards while I recover!

Found this forum/thread with the use of google! James, I thought after you said the run down the hill was 6mins and up was 20mins, I expected it to be Essex way (Benfleet).... not Leigh On Sea

Aha a local! I used to go that way but its even harder! Essex way is the longest hardest hill in the world...ever! Ill build up to that i think. Plus benfleet station is 3 miles from me and leigh is 2. Where you from then mate? Where do you train?