The Most Common Question I’m Asked By Students: Is Flexibility Important For MMA Training?

Is flexibility important for MMA training?

The answer is yes but my common answer is adequate flexibility. Which is flexibility that allows you to move through a particular technique without feeling restricted. 

The follow-up question that my students ask is what are the best stretches? I always reply it depends.

First off the human body is an awesome machine and it varies from individual to individual. When talking about increasing flexibility we must define the range of motion we are trying to achieve before a plan of attack is created. 

Once the desired range of motion is chosen. We have to look for any impairments that may be restricting your current range of motion. Basically asking the question why are you inflexible? 

Impairments that may cause lack of flexibility are short and tight muscles, soft tissue and joint capsule restriction, motor control problems and neural dynamic issues. As I mentioned before, everyone’s body varies which means that the reason why one person is inflexible will be different as well.

After the impairment has been ruled out through an assessment by a trained professional like Physical Therapist ( I happen to be a Physical Therapist). Then a specialized treatment and stretching protocol can be employed.

As you can see, it’s not a one size fit all approach, when it comes to increased flexibility. It becomes a bit nuanced when talking about increasing flexibility for an MMA athlete.

I hope this was helpful. If you are interested in learning MMA in a safe and friendly environment, schedule a private lesson.