MMA Stuff

I’ve been training for well over 4 years now and two weeks ago I finally caught the ‘ole Ringworm. It could be attributed to more focus on my BJJ but I have no idea if it was from someone or the mats. It isn’t as bad as staph infections but it’s extremely annoying. I wanted to share some information ringworm.

What You Need to Know About Ringworms

 Ringworm is a type of fungal infection which affects the surface of a person’s skin. The name was coined from the earlier belief that the infection was caused by a worm, which is absolutely not true. Nonetheless, the name stuck and since then, this kind of skin infection was called ringworm. Its medical name, tinea, is a Latin name for “growing worms”. Typically, medical professionals would add a second word next to tinea to help signify where the infection is located. For instance, Tinea capitis would mean ringworm on the scalp; Tinea pedis would mean ringworm on the feet; and so on and so forth.

 Who gets infected with ringworm?

Ringworm can infect any person of any age, although it is most typical among children. It must be noted that this skin infection is contagious. It could be passed from one person to the next if they come into contact with an infected area of the skin. For example, one can get infected by borrowing brushes, combs, clothing and other personal care items from another person carrying the disease, which is why, there are people who get infected by ringworm after coming into contact with someone from shared locker rooms, gyms, and public swimming pools. Needless to say, ringworm can also infect dogs and cats which may then transmit it to people who come into contact with them. When a person gets afflicted with ringworm, he or she may have it at different skin areas of his or her body.

How does ringworm typically look like?

The most common type of ringworm is the one on the body, mostly found in the groin, the feet, nails, even arms, chest area and abdomen. Rarely does it affect the face of a person. But it does appear on the scalp and can cause hair fall or baldness if not immediately treated. When this happens, the person will have little patches of baldness, sized 1-3 inches in diameter. This usually occurs before puberty but it can appear at any age too, and can spread very easily by sharing combs, hats, pins, hair ribbons, even pillows and other hair care accessories. When a person gets inflicted on the other skin areas mentioned, he will first notice a tiny red spot which then grows in a globular or rounded fashion. As it does, the center gets cleared, while getting bigger and bigger. Scratching should be avoided at all times. If the disease is severe, more lesions can appear on the skin and can cause bacterial infection. Call a doctor right away if the following signs are evident: warm skin, swelling, redder patches, red streaks, fever, drainage and pus.

What is a quick remedy for Ringworms?

Some compounds and creams containing miconazole or clotrimazole are known to treat ringworms like Lotrimin, Tinactin and the likes. For people who are treated with these medicines, they can prove to be non-contagious and can even do their usual activities while undergoing treatment. Treatment usually lasts for four weeks. But if not done well, could keep recurring. Be sure to see a specialist and take antibiotics if the condition persists.

How can ringworms be avoided?

By practicing proper hygiene, ringworms can be easily avoided. Make sure you are always dry and clean; don’t borrow or let anyone else borrow your gym items or personal care items; regularly shampoo your hair most especially if you’ve just had a haircut; If not crucial, avoid wearing clothes that are tight-fitting; if one in your family is infected, wash all their clothes and sheets to prevent further contamination; and do not touch animals or even humans, with bald spots.

CLEAN YOUR GI, WASH YOUR GLOVES AND GEAR OFTEN.

Ringworms could be such a hassle in life. It’s best to stay clear out of it by practicing good health care and proper hygiene. But should the unexpected happen, treat it immediately or call your doctor for help.

Guest Post: This is a guest post by Rob also known as Combat Trainer. Rob is a CSCS and specializes in MMA strength and conditioning.

Fighters are always looking for new ways to take their MMA training to new levels.  They are always searching for ways to improve their bodies, to be lean,  mean fighting machines.  In sports it is vital that athletes have a strong and stable core.  Fighters are no different than other athletes and need to have a strong core as well.

Many still teach their athletes that doing countless amounts of sit-ups and crunches will improve the strength of the abdominals.  I cannot remember the last time I actually had one of my fighters or any of my athletes perform a sit-up or any variation of the sit-up to improve their core strength.

As a fighter you must ask yourself, how often do I flex my abdominals in the same manner I do when doing a sit-up?  The answer is obvious, none!  That is because in life and in any sport including MMA your abdominals are used as stabilizers, not in a motion of contraction.  The core is there to help stabilize and support the spine and help prevent injury. Some other benefits of a strong stabilizing core is that a fighter will have better balance, with this balance comes more efficient movements leading to being a more powerful fighter through your punches and kicks.

One of the best ways to work your core is through the use of what is called a Slosh Pipe.  A Slosh Pipe can be constructed very easily.  Go to the local hardware store, pick up a nine foot, four inch in diameter PVC pipe.  Buy some caps for it and some sealant.  The first step is to cap one end of the PVC pipe.  Then fill the pipe up with around thirty pounds of water.  Cap the other end and boom you have yourself a Slosh Pipe.  Why is it called a Slosh Pipe?  You will feel why when you pick it up.

When you go to pick up the Slosh Pipe you will see why it will help with stabilizing your core.  The water moving throughout the pipe forces you to contract your core and stabilize your body.   In the video below you will see as I pick up the Slosh Pipe as if I am carry a log on my shoulder.  You will see how the water moving from one end to the other forces me to use my core to stand upright and continue to walk with it.  As the pipe tilts towards the back you will feel your abdominals contract and help keep your body upright.  This is just one of the many movements you can do with the Slosh Pipe and challenge your core.

For more MMA strength and conditioning training you can also visit my site http://combattrainer.com.  There I offer online training programs to help you reach your goals and become the complete combat athlete.

A while back I did a brief post on Caveman Training which showed some of the training Sean Sherk does at Athletic Performance Inc. (API). API has created this new way of training which involves many aspects of strength and conditioning. It is an orgy of plyometrics, “strong man” training, power lifting, agility and strength training.

Some of the exercises in Caveman workouts include

• Pull Ups
• Double-Unders (jump rope)
• Box Jumps
• Sandbag Training
• Sprints
• Working with heavy bags
• Sledgehammer/Tire Work

Old School Training Concepts

If you’ve seen caveman training, you don’t see the usage of fancy machines or stupid workout equipment you see on late night infomercials. It’s about lifting heavy things and doing it with intensity. This is done by flipping tires of hitting them with a sledgehammer.

A lot of caveman training workouts are adapted for the athletic goals of a fighter. Champions will train 5 rounds for 5 minutes to prepare their body for the title fight.

This video provides an overview by of some great movements that benefit MMA fighters. Josh Henkin runs through 8 sandbag training exercises that you can do with a sandbag. The sandbag shown in the video is the Ultimate Sandbag.

The video goes through:

Half Moon Snatch
Overhead Chop
Rotational Lunge
Shoulder Get-Ups
Around The Worlds
Shoulder To Shoulder Squat Press
Grappler Sandbag
Explosive Body Pulls

Every athlete needs well developed core and stabilization muscles, but perhaps no one needs it more than mixed martial artists. Strength in these areas is an absolute must for mma fighters for several reasons: increased balance, coordination, muscular endurance and stability – all which are very important attributes for mma fighters.

The ability to stay balanced and on your feet, such as BJ Penn’s almost impenetrable take-down defense, when you have strong powerful wrestlers and judo fighters constantly attempting single legs, double legs, and hip throws has a lot to do with how well you have trained your balance and coordination.

Balance and coordination is also the foundation for powerful strikes and take-downs, so developing these attributes in your mma training workouts will not only help you defensively but offensively as well.

The best way to develop your balance and coordination is to include core training and balance training in your mma training workouts.

Core Training

The core is perhaps the most important part of the body mma fighters must strengthen and develop. The reason being is that the core is the where the body’s center of gravity is and where all movement begins.

That means every punch, kick, take-down, throw, or any other offensive (or defensive) move begins at the core FIRST.

The core is also responsible for stabilizing muscle movement as well as initiate muscle movement. Without getting to much into details, all you need to know at this point is that you sure as hell better be developing your core muscles.

MMA Training Exercises for Developing the Core

Core Stabilization: Any exercise done on the stability ball will automatically develop core stabilization. Example exercises are:

• Stability ball training of all kinds (both core and non-core exercises such as dumbbell shoulder presses)
• Planks
• Floor Bridges

Vertical Crunches: Any crunch exercise where you are flexing your core in a linear movement. Example exercises are:

• Floor crunches
• Cable crunches
• Sit-ups
• Leg raises

Twisting Movements: Along with standard crunches and sit-ups, twisting movements are vital for developing power and coordination in any movement that requires twisting your torso, such as punching and kicking. Example exercises are:

• Cable Wood chops
• Cable rotations
• Medicine ball rotation chest passes
• Bicycle sit-ups

Core Power Training: Along with strength, it is important to develop core power, which will contribute the most in increasing power in your strikes. Example exercises are:

• Medicine ball slams
• Sledgehammer training
• Medicine ball pull-over throws from the stability ball
• Medicine ball wood-chops

Balance Training

Balance training is the other half to balance and coordination training. Having good balance will keep you on your feet when it’s needed most, such as Anderson Silva’s going to need going up against Demian Maia next month for UFC 112.

MMA fighters often find themselves in unstable positions more often than not, so training your balance appropriately will ensure you’re comfortable and effective in the ring or cage when you find yourself in these positions.

MMA Training Exercises for Developing Balance

Stabilization Balance: The ability to stay on one leg without losing balance is key. Some example exercises are:

• Standing on one-leg: practice holding your leg straight out
• Single Leg exercise: Have your part attempt to take you down while he has you in a single leg
• Have a partner throw a tennis ball at you while standing on a medicine ball

Balance Strength: Having balance strength is important for movements such as standing back up when you have your opponent’s leg to attempt another single leg. Some example exercises are:

• Single leg squats with the TRX
• Single leg Dumbbell Step ups

Balance Power: The ability to be explosive on your feet while still maintaining balance and posture is a must have attribute in mma. Some example exercises are:

• Single leg box jumps
• Side to side single leg jumps over a medicine ball
• Shadowboxing with a 12 inch rope tied between your ankles (great exercise for footwork too)

About the Author

Derek Manuel is a personal trainer specializing on strength and conditioning for mma fighters. Check out his complete reviews of the top mma workout routines on the web today at http://www.bestmmatrainingworkouts.com/

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