Finding the best wayto cutwieght for a fightis not straightforward.Whether that be for a MMA or Boxing match upor any martial arts competition, a simpleequation must be achieved; you must burn more calories than you eat. Simply aim to use more claories than you consume, principallythose stored as fat and you will cut weight fast. One way to superchargethe burning of fat is by utilising the Tabata method, although that isnot always the process of choice.
In years gone by the general ideawas to spend hours jogging or steady cycling on the exercise bike. This low intensity continuous exercise has the advantageover the higher intensity equivalent of burning a higher percentage of fatand is one reason why fighters inappropriatelythoughtthat steady state exercisewas the best way to cut weight.
Despite this, research comparing low and high intensity protocols has shown that the fat burning potential of strong intensity exercise is greater than that of low intensity exercise. One study showed that though a continuous exercisegroup executed more trainingsessions, for longer durations and expended double the calories during the workout, the strong intensity comparisongroup had a 900% greater body fat reduction! Incidentally, both low and from top to bottom intensity groups showed an impressive equivalent training effect.
When cutting weight for a fight, strong intensity trainingis unmistakablythe way to go, but the predicament then becomes how, sepcifically to apply that knowledge. I believe the answer lies with Izumi Tabata. Sports scientist rather than Karate master, Tabata’s team devised a simple, yet adaptableand exceptionallyeffectivehigh intensity exercise method.
This system involves a warm up followed by eight sets of 20 seconds effort and ten seconds rest. Essentially, the effort intervalshave to be flat out, full force, maximum, no cruising or plodding is tolerated!
The elegance of the Tabata process is it’s versatility; almost any exercise can be included in the method, you are simplylimitedonly by your imagination. How about sprinting all of the sets on your favourite cardio exercise equipment. Any kind of aerobic exercise will do but why not make it applicableto your competition? You have up to eightstations in the session (some can be recurring, use your imagination and go at it maximal output.
For example, why not utilisethe heavy bag, blasting away withkicks, punches, knees and elbows. You could usesingle techniques or a combination, so long as the effort is full steam ahead it will work. Below is a potential example
Hook Punches
ClapPress-ups
Right Round Knee
Pull ups
HookPunches
Spiderman Press-ups
Opposite FrontKnee strike
Pull ups
One benefitof using this exercise protocol is that the stimulation to the workingmuscles is very strongmeaning that the chance of muscle atrophyduring the cutting phaseis reduced. In addition, the Tabata technique has been shown to hugelyincreaseboth aerobic and anaerobic capacity, your cardiovascular fitnesswill go through the roof! Given the numerous advantagesof the Tabata Method|, over steady stateexercise, obviously it can be a key element of your weight cutting approach when planning for a contest.
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