[esskay]

I am taking a Weight Training class at my college, but I am now realizing that my routine in it is not really helping me get better at MMA. I take MMA classes Mon/Wed evenings, and spend several hours Tues/Thurs afternoons in the gym. My previous routine was focused more on hitting every muscle group with the gym equipment (machines, barbells, dumbells, etc.), starting with the largest and going down to isolation exercises, with pushups, pullups, and core work in between sets.

I think I understand the basics well enough. I have been reading tons of junk from the forum here, other forums, and a lot of Ross Enamait's writings, and am kind of overloaded. I need a well-rounded MMA-oriented routine. All of Ross's stuff that I have access to is mostly non-gym work, while I need (and prefer) some exercises I can do at least part of in the crowded college gym. I could try to make something myself, but it probably would not be near as good as some solid, well-respected, 'official', published regime. I need such a program anyway for the academic aspects of my class.

So, what do you all recommend?

[lionknight]

Read the stickies.

and you can also start with: www.stronglifts.com

[selfcritical]

Just buy Ross's Infinite Intensity. You can do the dumbell parts in the gym.

[Emevas]

What aspect of your fitness are you wanting the routine to address?

Generally, my weight training during training was geared towards maximal strength, but I would also train skills more than twice a week so that it could count towards my conditioning.

[esskay]

Originally Posted by selfcritical

Just buy Ross's Infinite Intensity. You can do the dumbell parts in the gym.

Thanks, that was actually my next question; which book to get? I have copies of his older stuff (Underground Guide to Warrior Fitness, Ultimate Training for the Ultimate Warrior), and Never Gymless, but none exactly suite my needs right now.

I had looked at StrongLifts before, but Ross's literature had me thinking more of a routine geared specifically for martial arts as opposed to just muscle building.

But then I also want something I can do in a gym...

Honestly, the more I think about this, the more confused I make myself. I want to try to increase my power, and any aspects that would help with MMA.

Since I had to do something today in the gym, I did two pyramid circuits of pushups, pullups, and inverted rows, tried some bodyweight squats, lunges, reverse crunches, and did HIIT on the elliptical and treadmill. I think it might be easiest to just run, because the elliptical doesnt seem to go fast enough and changing speeds on the treadmill is a huge pain in the butt. I managed to beat out 7 intervals on both, so either I am not doing it hard enough or I am in better shape than I thought.

[Emevas]

You can't really do HIIT on a treaddie unless you're in horrible shape.

Stronglifts isn't about muscle building, it's about strength building. Maximal strength will have a carryover into other aspects of strength, including power and endurance.

[MMAMickey]

listen to emevas.. and don't spend several hours in the gym, don't isolate muscles and probably don't run after doing weights.. *awaits inevitable 'you're wrong' ass raping*

[Lights Out]

Originally Posted by Emevas

Stronglifts isn't about muscle building, it's about strength building. Maximal strength will have a carryover into other aspects of strength, including power and endurance.

But it helps increasing muscle size, right?

[esskay]

I ordered Infinite Intensity, and am reading over Stronglifts again. It still sounds to be more bodybuilding oriented than I would like, but I think I might try it and see what happens.

Once qualm I have about Stronglifts is adding 5lbs. every workout. The professor of my course is pretty adamant about increasing resistance based on the percent of the total when you can exceed your set number of reps. If I am going to do Stronglifts, then I will follow it like it says, but what about % based increases? Or have I not read the program thoroughly enough?

[Emevas]

Originally Posted by Lights Out

But it helps increasing muscle size, right?

In the sense that it is resistance training, yes. Diet tends to play a big role there.