Ask Me Anything

On Instagram I recently hosted an AMA, and here are the answers to some of your questions!

How do I develop punching power so coach will think I’m cool?

There are two answers here. As far as how to develop punching power, the solution is everyone’s least favorite response: more practice.

Punching power comes from generating torque through the hips and being relaxed through the extremities enough for that power to translate. The metaphor I always use is throwing a ball; if your arms are incredibly stiff, you’re not going to be able to throw it very far, whereas if your arms are looser, you can generate much more force. Striking functions more or less the same way. Power comes from the hips, and it takes practice to learn how to create that.

There are, of course, exercises you can do to help generate more power once you understand the basic mechanics. Quick, explosive movements like Olympic lifts, sprints, plyometrics, or medicine ball throws are a great way to develop more force in your strikes. Building overall strength can also help, but be mindful that slower, stricter movements like the bench press don’t have quite the same application.

As far as making your coach think you’re cool? Good luck. Can’t help you. Won’t happen.

Does being bald make your head move faster?

I tell myself it does, so yes.

What do people overlook when starting martial arts?

So many things.

The biggest thing I see is people underestimating just how difficult it is. For men especially, there’s often an assumption that if you can physically make a fist, you can fight. People don’t realize how much technique actually matters or how long it takes to understand and apply it.

They also don’t realize how physically exhausting it is. Fighting is one of the most demanding sports out there, even at a low level. I couldn’t begin to count how many times I’ve seen someone go full force on a heavy bag and then completely gas out after about thirty seconds. I’m guilty of doing this when I first started, too!

What would you want to change about weight cuts?

If I could, I would get rid of them entirely. I’m a firm believer that you should compete at or near your natural walking weight.

Unfortunately, it’s not likely that weight cutting is going anywhere soon, so a more realistic answer is that I would have competitors weigh in a week before the event and then again on fight day in order to discourage large weight cuts.

I would also love to see a greater allowance for female fighters. I’ve suddenly gained five pounds out of nowhere during a weight cut because of where I was in my cycle, and I’ve seen countless other female fighters struggle to make weight or miss weight for the same reason. In those instances, it’s not a lack of discipline or unprofessionalism - it’s just biology.

The female body can experience much greater fluctuations in weight than the male body, and weight cutting should accommodate that.

How do you decide what to train outside of attending class?

My personal answer to this is probably different from most people’s because of my circumstances. I co-own a gym and have access to all of the equipment I need at all hours of the day, so I’m fortunate not to have my schedule limit my training as much.

Because of that, I train based on a program written by my strength and conditioning coach if I’m in fight camp, or based on what I’ve assessed to be my own weak points. The majority of the time, I prioritize cardio or fight-emulating conditioning workouts, but if I’m not actively preparing for a competition, sometimes I just do whatever sounds fun that day. Working out is something I make sure I enjoy, and I try to give myself a lot of flexibility outside of camp so that I don’t burn out.

If we’re talking about "you" as people in general, the best answer is to talk to your coach and see what they want you to be working on. Otherwise, ask yourself: What do you need to train? What sounds enjoyable? What would move you closer to your goals? What do you have time for or access to?

How can I protect my joints?

An ounce of prevention, et cetera.

Strength training and regular mobility work do wonders for supporting and protecting your joints. Supplements like fish oil, glucosamine, and collagen can also help. Invest in good equipment. Hand wraps and protective sleeves for your joints are always a good idea. Warm up thoroughly. Take days off and let your body recover.

One of the best things you can do to protect your joints is understand your limits. Unless there’s a specific reason for it, like a hard training session during camp, you shouldn’t be regularly pushing so hard that you can’t maintain controlled movement.

Don’t just take rest days when you’re already running on fumes - program them into your routine.

Was BJJ invented solely so men would have an excuse to rub against each other?

Probably.

Thankfully, it’s no longer the 1960s, and men can rub against each other without needing an excuse. Hug the homies!