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Category Archives: Articles

Four Absolute MMA Fighters Competing On Roots 14: Concrete Jungle!

Roots 14 will feature four Absolute MMA Muay Thai fighters, including: Darren Gn, Vaughn Young, Andre Nguyen and Fei Yen!

Full card:

WBC Muay Thai Victorian State Welterweight Title
Carter Lawrance (Champion) Vs Corey Baz (Challenger)

Tiff Lam Vs Britney Dolheguy 59.00 5 X 3
Tim Nguyen Vs Matt Mbye 70.00 3 X 3
Spring Sia Vs Marina Veríssimo 52.00 3 X 3
Dean Vujic Vs Adam Palamara 74.00 3 X 3
Soraya Hamami Vs Tamika Rose 53.50 3 x 3
Jacinta Austin Vs Diandra Martin 57.00 3 X 3
Levent Ismailoglu Vs Jarred Bonn 57.00 3 x 2
Paul J Rogers Vs Daniel Stroud 72.50 3 X 3
Dave Weston Vs Jack Bennett 73.00 3 X 2
Adim Ahumada-Fuentes Vs Feroz Moinudeen 58.00 3 X 2
Darren Gn Vs Jonathan Ho 61.00 3 X 2

Book tickets now through our special Absolute MMA link: https://roots14.com/absolute 

WINTER IS COMING…WORK YOUR WAY INTO IT!

Are you ready to get fighting fit, strong and ready to take on each session? Whether you are starting out fresh, or preparing for a professional bout, this article will outline strategies and workouts to help you reach your goals in the upcoming cold season. We know it’s hard getting out of your warm bed in the morning for an early morning workout, particularly when it’s fresh out! That’s why we’re here, to help and support you through these trying times.

Sometimes as martial artists and fighters, we forget that we need to consider our strength and conditioning as a supplementary part of our regular training, and not a parallel. We all love going into every session and giving it our all, but proper planning, prioritisation and an understanding of our goals is important to optimise progress, and to avoid over training and potential injury. We also recommend periodisation. What is that you ask? Periodisation is simply the process of dividing your yearly training plan into a series of manageable and realistic phases of action. Be sure to speak to your coach about what phases of action will be best for your fitness goals!

If you are training four to six days per week with the goal to excel at your preferred martial art, then it is important that for those sessions you feel optimal both physically and mentally. Especially during this cold period, when motivation can be low.

With this kind of training schedule, you should not be going at max effort at every session. The goal should be to have twelve months of consistent efforts in a structured program. Be sure to always listen to your body, and schedule regular rest and recovery days.

In addition to martial arts, to assist in building strength, endurance, prevent injury and to get you to that next level, we recommend complimenting your regular training with a combination of these options (per week):

  • Two to three HIIT classes.
  • Two to three strength classes.
  • One or two Yoga for combat sports sessions.

A structured plan with proper periodisation, and getting a consistent 12 months training under your belt, will provide you many benefits, some of the main ones including:

  • Increased energy levels.
  • Higher productivity at work and in the home.
  • Better sleep hygiene.
  • Positive mindset – get that serotonin!
  • Being ready to train and smash your goals.

We would like to highlight the importance of speaking to your coaches about what they recommend for your schedule and your goals. They will be able to help you get structured and feel better, stronger, faster and leaner than ever before!

Our new HIIT classes, strength sessions, and yoga for combat sports classes running at our CBD and Collingwood locations are the perfect way to supplement your training and help you get the most out of your routine through these cold times. Read more about these classes here:

Classes and Services

Written by James Walters. Photography: Daniel Howard. Editor: Emilie Yap.

5 BENEFITS OF TRAINING BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn’t just a sport, it is a way of life. This martial art will not only give you some new skills but has the capability to transform your life for the better. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a.k.a “the gentle art” can be for everyone, and below are some of the benefits you will experience after even just a few months of training.

1. Get fit and strong
One of the most immediate things people start to notice after they begin their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey is the improvement in their overall physical condition. People become stronger, leaner, and have increased cardiovascular health after even just a short time training, and the best part is that this all happens by association of just turning up to class and having fun!

2. Stress relief
Turning up to class is an awesome way to let go of the stresses of life and to feel calmer and more balanced. Even when you are walking into the gym feeling stressed, your worries are pretty quickly forgotten once you begin to grapple with others. Jiu jitsu allows you to let off some steam, and focusing on rolling is a good way to give yourself time away from overthinking everyday stresses.

3. Making friends
Jiu jitsu is a great way to surround yourself with people of all ages and backgrounds, in an environment that is all about promoting positive teamwork and learning. At jiu jitsu you are surrounded by people with similar goals, levels of discipline and motivation. We all have different and busy lives, but one thing we share through jiu jitsu is that we all love learning, training hard, and having fun. Nothing creates bonds like training together, because a great part of martial arts is both trusting and looking out for your partners to work safely together.

4. Self defence
Jiu jitsu will give you the skills to learn how to manage conflict, anticipate an attack and in some circumstances control an aggressor without inflicting any serious harm to them. Jiu jitsu will teach you how to get someone to the ground, manage distance and understand how to move on the ground and use someone else’s aggression or energy against them. Most importantly, it gives you confidence that you can avoid conflict and feel less threatened in potentially dangerous situations.

5. Self development
Last but not least, jiu jitsu is an amazing opportunity for self development and improvement. You will find that your problem solving skills are improved by training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on a regular basis. Many of our students also note that they can remain calm in tough or high pressure situations after practicing jiu-jitsu for a couple of months. In jiu jitsu every day on the mats we face adversity, and when sparring we need to remain calm to ensure we can think instead of panic to get through tough times.

Written by James Walters
Photography: Richard Lattemagi & Dogs of War Photography

New Years Resolutions

New year’s resolutions are great! They are plans to take action in your life. However, that’s all they are, PLANS.

While the welcoming of a new year is a great trigger for a lot of people, you can actually start resolutions at any time! Start one today, start it for next week, start it next month – just be sure to be a person of your word and do it!

Here are 8 tips to set your resolutions AND stick to them. All in time to get a running start on 2018!

Resolution (noun): A firm decision to do, or not to do something.

  1. Know your WHY

Why are you making this change? What’s your biggest priority in your life? Set your goals accordingly, and you’ll have a substantially better chance at sticking to them. Firstly, because it’s something you want to do. And secondly, because you know why you’re doing it.

  1. Baby steps

You can’t run a marathon on 2 January (if you only start training on 1 January). Set some staggered, and attainable goals. While holding yourself to account, you don’t need take an ‘all or nothing’ approach. Something is better than nothing, obviously!

2.1. By the same token, substituting bad for better, is better than maintaining bad habits.
  1. Plan – Plan – Plan

These days it can be seen as boring to make firm plans. “Let’s see what happens”, … “Play it by ear”, … “Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans” – That’s all just hippy talk. Set a goal, make a plan, write it down, and just do what you said you will!

justdoit

  1. Break it down

Make smaller achievable goals, with timelines, so that you can tackle your largest resolutions.

  1. Go Public!

Tell someone about your resolutions. It will make them real (the resolution, hopefully the person was actually real). Your family, friends, coaches, teammates or even your social media followers can keep you accountable to your goals after you tell them about them.

  1. You can also bring others along with you!

Have a sensational goal? Share it, and someone else might pick up that torch with you. Working together (directly or indirectly) will increase both your chances of reaching your goals.

  1. Track yourself … to give back to yourself

Small goals deserve small rewards. Conversely, large goals deserve large rewards. Just make sure your reward doesn’t set you back!

  • Saving money for a mortgage? Don’t make the reward a shopping spree!
  • Lose 3% body fat? Don’t make the reward food related!
  • Travel debt free? Don’t take a reward tour on credit!
  1. STICK AT IT

Your training goals, just like financial and career goals aren’t going to happen overnight. There will be excellent weeks with great growth, and there will be plateaus or obstacles to work past. WORK AT IT. If it were easy, everyone would have done it. But instead, we’re going to see you do it, and celebrate at the finish line!

 

DEVELOPING HABITS

Willpower is a finite resource, but YOU can access more!

Have you ever heard of ‘decision fatigue’? It’s what happens when you’ve been worn down through the day, deciding on everything from what to wear and where to sit, through to major business decisions or whether to go to Simon’s birthday on the weekend.

We have the most willpower (mental fortitude) in the mornings. However, by the evening – when a lot of us train – we are weaker and succumb to temptations more easily.

So how do we get past this block? We create habits! Habits are very powerful tools in our training arsenal. A well established habit will override a mild temptation or lapse in willpower.

Three stages of a habit

1. The Cue. Identify or create a trigger that tells you that it’s time to carry out a routine.
It can be an alarm – morning alarm for early sessions, or a calendar reminder for lunch and evening trainers. Or, maybe you’re a visual cue type person. Try keeping your gym bag in sight, so you have a constant reminder of your appointment with the gym.

2. Routine. In the case for training – is the physical behavior that follows the cue.
You leave home or work, get to the gym, and get ready for the session. Structured classes are handy to take away the decisions for what to do. Try limiting the chances to divert from your path to the gym.

3. Reward. The stimulus that we receive as a result of finishing the routine.
Remember the immediate euphoria after a hard session? The Oo-Rah at the end of a Lycan session. The handshakes at the end of jits class. The fist bumps at the end of a striking session. Or a big sweaty hug, showing your respect for some excellent sparring with a teammate. And don’t forget the longer term results from the training! Better fitness, improved shape, upgraded skills, and shaping yourself towards being the best version of you!

Other tips:

Plan ahead – pack your bags the night before so you can remove a barrier to completing your habit the next day.
Be accountable – tell people about your habits and associated goals to create more drive for your actions.
Commit – to at least 3 weeks (21 days) and see the habit flourish
Have fun / share the fun – share your passion for martial arts and fitness with those around you. Whether you’re a self professed ‘team captain’, or able to encourage the person next to you – we’re a team, and teams go further together.

What are your cues, actions and rewards? Comment and share.

#iamabsolutemma

Getting the most out of your first month training boxing

Getting the most out of your first month training boxing
3 tips from coach Pradeep Singh when starting your boxing journey

Learn the rules and fouls in boxing.
Can you hold? What is the definition of ‘back of the head’? Can you push someone in a fight? There are a lot of assumptions about what boxing is and how it is scored. For your own development, and the safety of your training partners, you should take a minute to look up the rules. (I prefer YouTube videos)

This will also make viewing boxing fights more interesting, as you’ll know who’s winning and how the referee is adjudicating before half of the room does.

Happy Feet
Footwork is arguably the most important element of boxing. All beginners often think it is punching, but how can you build a house without a foundation? Concentrating on your footwork early will prevent poor habits from forming. You will find your balance improve, and as a result, your punching power will increase. And who doesn’t want more power, right!?

Learn how to punch
This seems very obvious, but quite often beginners try to learn a 20 punch combo, an exotic punch, or something else they found off YouTube – before establishing their jab and cross. Introduction and fundamental classes are essential for learning to punch correctly, which could save your hands from injury and better your defense.

Boxing correctly is not only for boxers with aspirations for fighting. It can be more challenging to punch with good form, and therefore increase the workout.

So whether you’re boxing to get fit, release the pent up energy from your day, or looking to become the next Muhammad Ali – learn the proper form and technique to see your results excel.

#iamabsolutemma
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Getting the most out of your first month training MMA

Getting the most out of your first month training MMA

3 Tips from MMA Coach Jeremy Wharerau

1.Go slow to learn fast

A lot of beginners try to hit as hard and fast as they can. The problem with this is that all technique gets thrown out the door, and a bunch of bad muscle memories are formed. Instead, forget that you’re trying to hit something at all. Just focus on slow controlled body movements, creating the correct muscle memory. Once you develop good muscle memory through slow controlled movement, add the speed and power last.

2.Learn how you learn best

We are all unique creatures whom are shaped, move, think, and process information differently. Understanding how you learn best will sky rocket your MMA development, as you can apply that process to whatever technique you want.
To figure out your optimum learning process – take note of the “light bulb moments” when a technique or movement clicks for you. Think about the entire process leading to the light bulb. All of the who, what, where, when, how, and why questions are important to understand the process as to why that technique clicked at that time.Then try repeat that process with other techniques constantly refining your learning process until you know how you learn best. This is a very hard thing to learn about yourself but once you do sky’s the limit.

3.Learn MMA last

It’s important to learn the fundamentals of boxing, muay thai, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu jitsu first. Build your training schedule to incorporate striking and grappling classes so that you can then learn how to put the different martial arts together in MMA sessions.

This famous quote from Bruce Lee is the key philosophy to base your MMA training around … 

#iamabsolutemma 

bruce

 

 

5 Reasons to train MMA

5 Reasons to train MMA

1. Burn, baby, burn! (like a disco inferno):  You can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour while practicing mixed martial arts. Training MMA can get you into the best shape of your life! I say ‘shape’ because ‘weight’ should only be a consideration for competitors around fight times. Don’t be deterred if you actually put on some ‘weight’ after you start training, it’s more than likely muscle, and I’m sure you’ll be a fitter shape!

2. Friends & networks: There’s a popular African proverb that says, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” MMA is a sport that competes as individuals, however, there is still so much to be gained from the relationships you make within the team. Your teammates can:

  • help you improve your techniques,
  • keep you accountable to your goals,
  • provide a social outlet with people of similar interests, and
  • extend your networks past your usual reach.

3. That ‘cathartic’ feeling! It’s that feeling right after you finish a great session, where you feel the tensions and anxieties of your life melt away. Even if only until you arrive home, or back to work – it’s that rush of endorphins that draws us to the gym, and keeps us coming back. It get’s us out from our cosy beds on cold mornings, or away from the bar on tough days at the office. The release of stress through physical activity can boost your energy levels and help re-balance your perspective.

4. Self-esteem & confidence It is broadly recognised that physical exercise can boost confidence and self-esteem. One way this can be achieved is through learning new techniques, developing / refining skills, and generally gaining more knowledge of your own abilities. You shouldn’t be surprised that after training MMA, ‘that work emergency’ wont throw you off your game. This is because that ‘emergency’ isn’t trying to punch you in the face (hopefully!).

5. Build discipline & focus Starting is the toughest step. It takes the most effort to move from a standstill to running. Once you get moving and form the new habits of regular training (which will be easy considering the above benefits) – you will be able to invest your willpower into making more good decisions, and forming your next set of habits in your life.

#iamabsolutemma 

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