The four-time World’s Strongest Man’s largest takeaway from martial arts coaching is power conservation.
Since retiring from aggressive strongman, four-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Brian Shaw launched into his coaching for his combined martial arts (MMA) debut. He’ll compete in an MMA event on Feb. 17, 2024, at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
To make sure he’s well-prepped, Shaw obtained entry to the UFC Efficiency Institute to coach with former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. On Dec. 5, 2023, Shaw printed his coaching with Mir on his YouTube channel. Test it out beneath:
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Takedown and Grapple
Mir’s teaching started with numerous takedowns and the way to grapple an opponent. From hand holds to move positioning, the skillset is honed by way of a ton of quantity, one thing Shaw is nicely versed in from all his years within the health club.
Mir instructed Shaw to assault the entrance leg for a maintain of the opposite fighter’s physique. If the opponent avoids such an assault, Mir demonstrated pivoting to a better maintain with a “head pinch,” clanging one of many instructors into the cage and miming numerous punches and elbow strikes.
Preserve Vitality Throughout Submissions
Shifting to coach floor recreation, Mir taught Shaw numerous choke holds. Shaw already knew the way to reset an opponent’s arm and shoulder for a deeper choke. Mir instructed Shaw to not squeeze the “noose” — which means the arms across the neck — however to as an alternative drive the elbows in to restrict the house for his opponent’s arm and neck. Each choices are efficient for growing the stress of the choke, however the latter conserves extra power.
Escape Backside Place
Escaping the underside place after a takedown includes Shaw flinging his legs away and rotating to maneuver to the highest place. Mir coaches Shaw to maneuver takedowns to choke holds to reversals to arm bars and shoulder pulls by way of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu strategies. Shaw’s publicity to those strategies helps him suppose critically about offense and protection concurrently.
After experiencing headlocks whereas standing towards the octagon’s cage. Mir means that the S grip — hooking the fingers over one another like two hooks — or the Gable grip — pinning each thumbs to their respective index fingers and wrapping the fingers collectively perpendicularly — are adequate for a headlock, presuming the underside hand supinated.
Mir taught Shaw the way to escape a headlock by using leverage. Whereas a headlock is harmful, even throughout an escape try Mir is aware to protect power.
“Being good helps a ton,” stated Mir. “If somebody explains to you, you’re simply doing ‘this.’ They provide the proper reads, goals — I hate when individuals [are] identical to, ‘I’ll simply determine it out.’ Try to be in form, however that shouldn’t be the reply. There must be a solution to do issues correctly. It shouldn’t be the tip of the spear.”
Shaw’s opponent for his MMA debut has not but been introduced on the time of this text’s publication, however evidently the previous WSM champion can be prepared for whoever steps up.
Featured picture: @derekwolfe_95 on Instagram