Doing BJJ and Muay Thai Back to Back - Sky Rocket Cardio.

As some of you long time readers may know, I took a few months off of anything Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu and MMA related after my last fight.  I had a few injuries, and took some damage to my shins.  I didn't want to completely stop working out, as it would take months to get back into shape, so instead, I started doing CrossFit, mainly for Rehab and to keep in shape.

Five months without kicking, punching or rolling later, I stepped back into the gym yesterday.  The results were incredible.  Something really amazing happened, as well as something negative that I didn't factor in and wish I knew about it earlier.

I decided to go to the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class with a friend who is a purple belt.  We got there a bit late and didn't warm up and got straight into rolling.  I was wearing a Gi, and he was just in a rash guard and MMA shorts.  Surprisingly, I was able to hang.  I've rolled with him in the past and he would always end up catching me and having me tap.  But this time, he exhausted after the 5 minute round and we decided on a stalemate.  Immediately after, I rolled with another guy, a Judo brown belt who has been doing No-Gi BJJ for a short while.  

To my surprise, I had all of the cardio fuel in the world.  I was able to spin around, take his back, spin back around the other direction and go for another position in rapid fire.  I haven't been able to do that since I used to wrestle in high school.  I realized then and there that one big factor that has held me back in my jiu-jitsu process has been my cardio, and wanting to rest instead of attacking.

After the Jiu-Jitsu class, I decided to stick around for the Muay Thai class since I wasn't tired at all yet.  It started the same as any other Muay Thai class with a bit of stretching, warm up, then technique and ended up with some light sparring.

My technique was a bit rusty and my timing was off from having taken so much time off. But to my surprise, I was even more powerful than before.  My punches and kicks were straighter and I was able to do three and four punch/kick combinations in rapid fire over and over.  Having better cardio, stamina and endurance has helped me tremendously with being able to do the moves I wanted to do in my head, but have always held back on in order to save energy.  

I was on top of the world and wanted to come back for the night session as well to spar more.  I've never been able to do Jiu-Jitsu back to back with Muay Thai without being exhausted half way through and this time, even after months of not training, I felt great....until I got home.  Then it hit me, I had used so many small muscles that I normally don't train, even though I have been doing a lot of body weight exercises such as burpees, pushups and pushups, nothing is a substitute for doing Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu.  For the next three hours, I laid in bed, barely able to move, I almost had to skip dinner my body was so sore.   Luckily, this morning after a good night sleep, I'm functional, but now I remember very clearly what my first few days training at Tiger Muay Thai was like when I was just starting out.  

Getting choked out by Royce Gracie at Tiger Muay Thai, Phuket 2010

Lessons Learned:

CrossFit is AMAZING for cardio and functional strength for Muay Thai, MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, especially for rehab purposes.  

Eating Paleo / Bulletproof diet has given me a ton more energy, lowered my body's inflammation which allows me to recover faster the next day, and has shed off 20lbs of body fat, making me faster, lighter and more efficient. 

There is no substitute for training the unique muscles only used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  You have to grapple and roll regularly to build up those muscles.  No amount of functional or body weight exercise with target them.

Muay Thai six days a week is terrible for building strength, muscle, or long term fitness.  But it is amazing for developing toughness, discipline, timing, technique and skill.  

At one of my fights in Chiang Mai

My ideal plan for my specific goals would be as followed:  

Yours may be different based on what your goals are.  But mine is to get in the best shape of my life, for the long run, be healthy, have energy, and develop my skills for both Muay Thai and MMA.  

Diet - Eat 100% Paleo and follow the high fat Bulletproof Diet with sweet potatoes a few times a week.  

Muay Thai - 3 sessions per week for technique, timing and sparring.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or MMA - 2 -3 times a week for technique, rolling experience and to develop the small muscles only used in rolling.

CrossFit - 1 - 2 times a week for strength, cardio conditioning, the social aspect, and being able to push yourself to 110% without having to pace yourself.  I would also do CrossFit in the weeks after fights when my shins are bruised and you are burnt out from over training. 

Rest and Recovery - I would rest 2 days per week with nothing but walking.  I would also sleep 8 hours a night, eat buffets 1-2 times a week to re-feed.  Take a tablespoon of pink Himalayan sea salt per day to rehydrate and combat adrenal fatigue.  

I hope some of this info helped you guys out there planning to train intensely for a 3 month fight camp or just to get in fight shape.  Keep in touch on facebook with me and let me know how your progress goes.

Warm Regards,

Johnny FD

Author of the Ultimate Guide Book to Thailand, Muay Thai and Travel on the Cheap.