The Core for MMA

As Bruce Lee describes it, your core as your center of power.

True enough, because all striking power needs is a core that is strong and stable.

Let's thing of it this way if you’re jumping, where can you jump higher, from the sand or from concrete?

Obviously you can jump higher on concrete because you don’t lose any force as you do in the sand where the sand slides out to the sides and absorbs some of your force.

So if your core is more like a sandy beach than hard concrete, you gotta start working that core out.

Step 1 – Develop static core stability. This can be done doing simple exercises like front planks, side planks, and any other exercise where your abs are engaged to keep you still. Using the ball is also good for making these exercises a little harder.

Step 2 – Train your dynamic core stability. Dynamic core stability is your ability to keep your core stable when you’re doing other movements. The 1-arm dumbbell press on a ball is a perfect example.


Step 3 – Train your core power. Now I use the term ‘core power’ here not because it’s your core that’s necessarily developing your power, but because your core must be rock-solid when you’re doing power exercises.

There are many techniques in creating an MMA core but what's important is to keep in mind that a strong core is one of the most fundamental aspects of MMA. It helps in not only dishing out punishment but taking it as well. You wouldn't want to have all the talent to knock somebody out but get beaten by getting the wind knocked out from you.