Whether you’re swinging a fist, a leg, or leveraging your body against an opponent, combat sports require not just brute strength, but a precise control and balance of that strength. This brings us to the unsung hero of the training world - unilateral training. Let's delve deep into why every combat athlete should be incorporating this into their regime.

Though many sports have a traditional off-season, combat sports are the exception. The time between fights can be unpredictable, making it difficult to plan in a macro cycle approach.

Typically, during “down time” the focus shifts toward skill acquisition with lower intensity to promote more frequent sessions so the athlete can improve significantly between fights.

One aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked at this time is the development of aerobic capacity/endurance.

Minimal Essential Strain (MES): MES refers to the minimum amount of stress required to stimulate the growth of new bone formation. In the context of mixed martial arts, it is important to incorporate training methods that promote bone health and remodeling.