Combat sports are undoubtedly the toughest sports on the body that are available as a recreational pursuit. You can leverage other sports against me in that argument all you want, I don’t care, the intent of combat sports is to inflict bodily damage, it is by nature a destructive sport and element.

Before discussing how to prepare the athlete for the rigours of combat sports, we must first clear one thing up.

Skills pay the bills.

You cannot nail your S&C and neglect your skills training, you’ll get pummelled by a much weaker, technically sounder martial artist.

Get your skills training in order. And nail your S&C.

Now, on to preparing the athlete.

You must be strong, especially in isometric squeezing positions.

You must be powerful and able to deliver your techniques quickly and forcefully.

You must have armour and be durable.

AND you must be conditioned, although I believe the sport best takes care of this. However, we will also discuss strategies later in this book.

Through all these things, you will strive to be a more complete athlete. There’s being good at your sport, and there’s being an athlete. We all know the difference.

Being both is where the winners are at.