4 Critical Stretches for MMA Fighters

Written by

Stretching. Could there be anything more boring?

I don’t know anybody who really looks forward to stretching, myself included.

But I also don’t know anybody who doesn’t like how it feels after, and I don’t know any mixed-martial artist who doesn’t need to stretch.

nice-stretch — This is my favourite stretch. Ever.

We definitely don’t want to waste our time since we’ve got so much to train, not to mention lives to live. Wasting time is one of my pet peeves – I have an impatience for sitting on hold, waiting in lines to buy something, or waiting for equipment when I’m training.

So that’s why I’m just going to show you in the video the 4 key stretches that every fighter MUST be doing. Anything else is just a bonus.

As always – I value your feedback and input – leave your comments below!

Comments

14 responses to “4 Critical Stretches for MMA Fighters”

April 9, 2017

Kyle

When and how often would you recommend doing these stretches?

Reply
March 18, 2016

Eric

Awesome tips!! I got the a leg stretcher from http://www.zoobgear.com works just great!!

Reply
November 24, 2015

mirek

Thank You for this

Reply
July 7, 2015

Ramen

Awesome stretches

Reply
July 3, 2015

Neecie

Hi, I click as told on ‘Click here to watch the 4 Critical Stretches Video’ HELP! error 404 –> multiple attempts…how do i get to video?

Reply
1. July 4, 2015
  
  Eric
  
  FIXED! Sorry about that – a few bugs after the migration still being worked out.
  
  Reply
July 3, 2015

Kevin

I keep getting the 404 page from the link.

Reply
1. July 4, 2015
  
  Eric
  
  A few bugs after the migration still being worked out – keep the reports coming. Thanks!
  
  Reply
July 31, 2009

Nathan

Hey Eric. I’m new to all of this and i been trying to learn more about all of the MMA, UFC and exercise programs. I can never get a good workout schedule. Is there anyway you could help with setting me up one?

Reply
July 28, 2009

Warren Setu

Hi Eric,

I was told that when doing the hip-flexor stretch, your knee should not go in front of your ankle. But i notice that when you do it the way you show it, your knee goes in front of your ankle. Is there much of a difference between the two different variations?

Reply
1. July 29, 2009
  
  Eric
  
  Hey Warren – I don’t know why people say that your knee should not go in front of your ankle – they say the same thing for lunges and squats too.
  
  This is such a stupid concept – so now the knee is never supposed to go in front of the ankle? How about when we walk – are we supposed to keep our knees behind our toes and ankles? We’d all look like robots.
  
  Sorry for the rant, but I hear so much of this nonsense being spewed around that it makes me kinda angry.
  
  The goal of this stretch is to stretch the hip flexors – the positioning of the knee relative to the ankle on the leg that’s NOT being stretched has no bearing whatsoever on the stretch.
  
  Reply
  1. November 4, 2009
    
    dude
    
    I believe it is because of the extra stress put on the knee joint when you are putting weight on it while the knee is bent at such a sharp angle. Less stress on the knee when the calf bone is perpindicular to the ground…More weight distributed directly down through your lower leg instead of all the weight on your joint. Knees go bad pretty easily for alot of people, and the more athletically involved you are, the more stress and damage can occur.
    
    Reply
    1. November 4, 2009
      
      Eric
      
      Here’s the thing – there is actually less stress on the knee when it goes in front of the toes…
      
      Keeping the shin bone perpindicular to the ground results in high levels of shear stress on the knee, the more damaging type of stress.
      
      Allowing the knee to go forward in front of the toes results in less shear, albeit more compressive forces.
      
      The thing is, the knee is better off with compressive forces than it is with shear forces.
      
      Reply
July 22, 2009

Darryl Nicholson

Hey Eric, I do ham stretches differently, but since I’ve seen the door way ham stretch, Im sticking with it, it is awsome. Keep up the good work!!!

Reply