Grapplers Graveyard

Combat Sports Training

How to Hide Your Kicks Better

Combat Sports Training, Muay Thai, Striking /

If you want to hide your kicks better, stop thinking about the kick first. Think about the reaction you want. When your opponent is worried about your jab and cross, their guard rises and their focus shifts high. That is when the low kick lands clean. The best strikers do not rush their attacks. They build them. They repeat the same entry, then change the finish. Once your setups all look alike, your opponent cannot tell what is coming next.

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Why You Gas Out in Sparring

Combat Sports Training, Striking /

Gassing out in sparring is rarely just about poor fitness. Most of the time, it is tension. When you are anxious or trying too hard to win exchanges, your shoulders tighten, your fists clench, and your legs stiffen. That constant muscle contraction quietly drains your energy. Add poor breathing on top of that, especially holding your breath during combinations, and your heart rate spikes faster than it should. The result is that heavy, drowning feeling halfway through the round. Learning to relax under pressure and control your breathing can change your endurance more than adding extra miles to your roadwork.

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How to Improve Your Roundhouse Kick

How to Improve Your Roundhouse Kick

Combat Sports Training, Striking /

The roundhouse kick is one of the most effective strikes in any striking art, but only when it’s built on sound mechanics. Power doesn’t come from forcing the leg through the target—it comes from the ground, the hips, and the way the body moves as one unit. Without balance, rotation, and control, even a hard kick becomes unreliable. This article breaks down the roundhouse kick step by step, focusing on stance, hip engagement, clean contact, and recovery, so the technique holds up under pressure, not just on pads.

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balance in striking

Why Balance Matters More Than Speed in Striking

Combat Sports Training, MMA, News /

Speed may look impressive in striking, but it is balance that determines real effectiveness. Without proper balance, fast punches and kicks lose power, accuracy, and control, often leaving a striker vulnerable to counters. Balanced movement allows fighters to generate force from the ground, recover quickly after attacks, and maintain strong defense. By prioritizing balance over speed in training, strikers build a more reliable, efficient, and sustainable skill set that performs under pressure.

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bjj red belt explained

BJJ Red Belt Explained

Belt Progression /

The red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the highest honor anyone can achieve in the art. It represents a lifetime of contribution, mastery, and influence on jiu-jitsu itself. While tens of thousands of people earn a black belt, only a tiny handful will ever reach red belt. These are the pioneers, founders, and lifelong ambassadors

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Footwork Fundamentals: The Most Overlooked Skill in MMA

Combat Sports Training, MMA /

People typically praise mixed martial arts  for its explosive knockouts, deadly submissions, and fast-paced fights that test fighters to their physical limits. Fans and athletes alike are awed by powerful punches, flawless kicks, and top-notch grappling exchanges. But there is an essential yet minor component of the show that frequently sets decent fighters apart from

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Aerobic vs Anaerobic training

Understanding Aerobic vs Anaerobic Training for MMA

Combat Sports Training, MMA /

MMA is a sport that demands exceptional endurance, cardio-vascularity, strength and technique. Fighters are required to meet explosive circumstances, maintain high levels of stamina, and eventually overpower and outlast their opponents. To meet these requirements, fighters utilise their bodies’ energy systems, more specifically the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. In this article, we will explore

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6 Strategies for Balancing Combat Sports Training with Personal and Professional Life

6 Strategies for Balancing Combat Sports Training with Personal and Professional Life

Combat Sports Training /

Balancing the grind of combat sports training with the demands of personal life and a professional career is no small feat. We do it and many others are out there living the same truth as us. Whether it’s finding time to recover, managing energy throughout the week, or maintaining relationships outside the gym, the challenge

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