So when I started this blog I promised a comparison between Crossfit and MMA style training. Except I've only gone to the MMA gym (Elite Fitness) a couple of times while I have been religiously going to Crossfit.
There's a couple of reasons for that, one is when I don't go to Crossfit it's like I fall back and gotta start all over again. Two is that Elite Fitness is kinda out of the way in Waikapu.
Anyway, I promised myself that I would go today to the 10 a.m. MMA cardio class. And I did. And let me tell you, it is a short but intense workout. First we ran around the mat, did footwork and squats and these crazy lunge things that I can't even explain. You get down on one knee and drag the foot from the other leg across the floor. Tough as hell. Throw in some burpees and clapping pushups and I was sweating like crazy.
Ernest is the MMA cardio trainer and it's different every time I go there. Last time we were slamming sledgehammers into giant tires and this time we were doing kicking and punching drills. Thank God I have some martial arts training in karate because I would have sucked at this otherwise. As it was I didn't have the footwork that the other guys had. Plus it's obvious that my right leg is the only one I ever threw kicks with. My left couldn't break a chopstick.
The two workouts are similar as far as being short and intense and have you dripping with sweat the whole way through. But both have different goals. MMA is preparing you for the ring of course, trying to punish your body so that you have stamina to go round after round. Crossfit is just a great all around workout trying to give you functional strength for everyday life. I can see an MMA fighter doing Crossfit to improve his conditioning (and I hear some do) but I can't see a Crossfit athelete doing MMA stuff for some reason. I mean, you wouldn't need to know how to throw a right hook during the Crossfit Games or anything like that.
However Raw Fitness Maui does reccomend that sports be a part of your life, so why not have MMA fill that void? Bump plays soccer regularly and told me he was doing judo until he blew his knee out so me doing MMA stuff doesn't seem that far off base. I'd like to start longboarding again too, not that I ever did it regularly but just to get out in the water on a regular basis would be great.
Man, one more workout tomorrow at Crossfit then I'm done for the week. Hopefully I can keep this routine up. See you tomorrow folks.
