Two leading professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters were using Nandrolone Metabolite and Drostanolone and were banned for it. What happened made people realize what many in the MMA circle already were aware of the fighting ring is no stranger to performance-enhancing supplements.

Mixed Martial Arts came out in the underground sports arena in the 90′s, it combined fighting styles from striking to grappling, into one powerful sport. It was banned in many circles at first due the heavy violence. But nearly 10 years later, the underground sport began to gain greater exposure, which increased its credibility. To improve viewing pleasure and ensure fighters were protected from vulgar injuries new standards for fighting were created. The changes made allowed things like corporate interest, sponsors, and Pay-Per-View television events to be a regular part of the sport.

Two things happed to a sport when large amounts of money are introduced. First, as many new athletes join the sport the level of performance is greatly increased. Second, since the stakes of each fight are higher, drug use is more likely to play a part. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the line when fighters step into the ring. With all the money and pressure of competition, performance-enhancing drugs quickly found a home in the sport.

A lot of MMA fighters chose to use Halotesten and/or Mibolerone. Effects of taking these include feelings of aggression and strength increases, while not experiencing water retention or weight gain. Strikers often go with Winstrol and Trenbolone. Testosterone and human growth hormone are starting to become more popular in the sport. The supplements are expensive, carefully monitored, and sometimes are only available to some professional athletes. A physician can prescribe testosterone, but human growth hormone is difficult to get your hands on, even from a physician.

The decision of a fighter to take enhancers is a personal decision. All professional fighting organizations forbid the use of steroids, including many stimulants. Testing is very expensive and usually performed at pro levels, where the sponsors will foot the bill for such tests. If many of the top competitors are taking them, does taking steroids constitute cheating? This has become a complicated question. As long as the sport stays successful with worldwide coverage and millions of sponsorship dollars, the need to use performance enhancers will always be present.

When first learning a new mixed martial arts fighting technique whether at the fundamental level or the more advanced it is important that we chunk it down into smaller, easily learned units. Once easily assimilated chunks are obtained these must be practiced with repetition to learn them. However, just repeating them over and over again in a session has its limitations.

Studies on a simple nervous system have shown that any more than 10 repetitions of a task in a session does not result in any increase to retention, in addition, performing only one session of learning a new piece of material results in very little retention over a long period as those of you who have been involved in training for serious mixed martial arts fighting are well aware.

The most useful method of repetition drilling to gain the most effective retention is to spread the repetitions over a number of sessions.

A method that has shown a great deal of effect is to carry out 7 to 10 repetitions of a particular technique in a training session. And then carry out at least nine repeat review sessions over several days or weeks. The first repeat session can be within the same session. I would suggest near the end of the session. The following one a day after, then a week etc. The closer the review sessions are together the quicker the optimal retention is obtained.

Another common problem, that many of us experience in mixed martial arts fighting and Muay Thai Fighting, is that of boredom when training the number of repetitions required for drilling the techniques adequately. This is detrimental to retention as the learning process is seriously impaired when we are not concentrating.

Disguising the repetitions in drills, combinations and games that utilize the particular skill involved is a very practical way that will assist you to get around this problem and allow you to increase the versatility of game by drilling the techniques with different set ups, combinations or counters being used against them.

Another more fundamental strategy that I use, particularly in working through my Muay Thai Fighting, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Fighting techniques, is to repetition the techniques as many times as I can until boredom is noticed, recording the number of repetitions performed in my training diary and then repeating the process in another training session. When using this strategy just develop a determined discipline to complete a predetermined number of repetitions. I would suggest a minimum of 60 spread over a 2 year period for maximum retention.

Bear in mind that this is for the learning and retention of a new technique, not the optimal refinement of it for the highest level of effectiveness that may be required for the rigors of competition in both mixed martial arts fighting and Muay Thai Fighting. This requires the development and sharpening of the various attributes required for optimal performance of the technique, such as: speed, timing, flow, balance, connectivity to the next move, variation adjustment, corrections in balance, preparedness for reaction to the opponent’s movement, etc.

Taking your mixed martial arts fighting skill to this level requires many more repetitions and exposing the performance of the technique to increasing levels of risk through controlled and on to random sparring.

To ensure the best learning of the technique start by learning and drilling the technique under totally cooperative conditions to get it right, this is the

retention period discussed above.

Once a good level of efficacy is obtained, then try to use the technique in controlled sparring conditions or controlled performance drills in which your training partner presents moderate problems to deal with. As your efficacy increases start to utilize it in your sparring, at first against less experienced opponents working up to opponents of higher levels.

Using this strategy for developing and drilling your techniques will not only enhance your game but also make repetition drilling far more enjoyable when training for mixed martial arts fighting..

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