I'm finally in a position to start BJJ, but everyone thought it was a great idea to have a global pandemic, so am having to put it on hold for a bit But I'm looking at doing some strength and conditioning at home to help when I start. I've got a pullup bar and an ab wheel, but sadly no space for a barbell, so was wondering if anyone could suggest some good exercises for a full body routine? I know I need to do squat, hinge, lunge, pull, push and carry, so what would be good exercises for each movement? Should I invest in some dumbbells, or will I get away with just bodyweight exercises? Cheers in advance
You can't get equipment now for love nor money, Just do something, anything really for the next few weeks, and do it consistantly. I found Pilates super useful too, lots of core exercises that will help in BJJ.
Since I'm feeling generous the below was sent out by email by the strength and conditioning coach for mighty mouse Johnson probably the most conditioned MMA fighter there is, this guy also works with a ton of other MMA and bjj guys, it's a simple strength and conditioning template using bodyweight exercises Method #1: Cardiac output This is the simplest method of all. Cardiac output is incredibly easy to do without access to a gym, because you simply need to keep your heart rate at a moderate level (130 - 150 bpm, for most people) for 30+ minutes at a time. Jogging/running is the most common way to do cardiac output without a gym, but you can also do basic calisthenics like jumping jacks, bodyweight squats, burpees, etc. For less than $20, you can get yourself a jump rope, which also works great and is a highly underrated conditioning tool. To make this type of training less boring, you can do circuits of various exercises. Anywhere from 1-5 minutes per exercise typically works best. Method #2: Explosive Repeat Just like cardiac output, the explosive repeat method is perfect for gym-free training, because it doesn’t require anything other than bodyweight exercises. This method is also a bit higher intensity than cardiac output, and it’s designed to improve endurance within your muscles. How to do it: Use cyclical exercises like jump squats, jump lunges, explosive push-ups, etc. Perform the exercise as explosively as possible for 8-10 seconds to start Rest for 60 seconds to start, reduce by 20 seconds each week. Actively rest between sets with jumping jacks or slow jogging Repeat for 10-12 sets to start. Add 1-2 sets per week, up to 20 Method 3: Tempo lifting Even without the gym, there are ways to help maintain your strength while improving your conditioning at the same time. Tempo lifting is the best method for this, because you need very little resistance for it to work. The key reason for this is the speed and cadence. Tempo lifting is slow: two seconds up, two seconds down. Don't pause at any part of the rep. How to do it: Constant tempo 2-2-0 – no pause at any point Breath throughout the rep. Don’t hold your breathe 3-5 sets x 10-12 reps 40-60 seconds rest between sets This slow speed and lack of any pause leads to constant tension and adds an additional load to your working muscles. The trick is choosing the right exercises. For the upper body, simple bodyweight tempo push-ups are far more challenging than most people expect. For pulling, you can use any sort of bar, or even a strong tree branch at the right height, for inverted rows. If you have any sort of resistance band, you can also add other tempo exercises like pull-aparts. For the lower body, the easiest way to get the job done is with single-leg squats and lunges. If you have a training partner who you’re stuck in the house with, you can add manual resistance for leg curls and other hamstring exercises. Putting the pieces together While there are far more than 3 methods for improving your conditioning without the gym, cardiac output, explosive repeats, and tempo lifting are the best and easiest places to start. When you build out your weekly plan, it should look something like this: 2-4 cardiac output workouts for 30-60+ minutes (time depending on fitness level) 1-2 total body workouts with explosive repeat method 1-2 total body workouts with tempo lifting There are almost endless ways to organize these workouts, but here are some general guidelines to maximize their effectiveness: You can combine cardiac output with either explosive repeat or tempo lifting in the same workout. Do not combine explosive repeat and tempo lifting methods in a single workout. The "no pain, no gain" concept is BS. Consistency is more important than intensity. Getting in some conditioning work 5-6 days per week is far more effective than running yourself into the ground on any day. Start with lower volume and gradually add a little bit each week over the next 30 days. During stressful times, it’s easy to compromise your recovery. Don’t overdo it on Day One
Sorry I've not replied sooner, manic at work atm (I'm a nurse, so been a little busier than normal). But thanks for the replies, been helpful. So I think I've got a workout routine sorted with some cycling for cardio, but what about stretching? I want overall better flexibility, so would dynamic or static/isometric be better on my days not working out? I've found this list of generic stretches: https://www.sportsscience.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/whole-body-stretching-routine.png Would it be best to just do something like this, 30s each stretch to ensure pretty much all muscles are targeted. Or would a routine like this be a better/more efficient use of my time: Sorry for all the questions, just quite a bit of information out there, and not sure where to start Thanks
