Combat Sport Book Reviews

Training
21

Just finished reading Chuck Liddell’s autobiography. It was a good read. He goes into pretty good detail for most of his fights, and also gives you an idea of how he got into MMA.

I didn’t know Chuck had such an extensive kickboxing background before reading this book, so that was interesting to find out.

Chuck also talks about some of his exploits with women in the book. Kind of cheesy, but gives you an idea of the type of life the guy is leading.

The one thing I didn’t like was that it was so pro-UFC and Dana White. I know he and Dana are tight, but man, some of the stuff in the book about Tito seems greatly exaggerated.

It’s a pretty fast read, but worth spending some time at the local book store to read through.

22

Unfair criticism?

Well he does say that he has come up with what he says he believes to be the definitive training program.

My problem is that I have trouble understanding precisely what that program is.

He lays out a rotation with limited explanation and then follows that with a series of phases with absolutely no explanation. Where the anaerobic conditioning methods fit into all of this-if they do- is not stated. Perhaps you might like to hazard a guess?

I do also have trouble with a number of details. The coverage of hill sprints for example was inadequate and on the level of “hill sprints are great for conditioning”-not the most illuminating thing I have ever read.

Plyometric training was also poorly covered with no attempt to deal with any sensible progression.

I am sure that Jason Ferrugia has a lot of valuable information to impart but to me this book was just a list of training methods and fell well short of being the advertised “insanely effective strength and conditioning program”.

23

I’ve read thru the book and just scanned it a couple times trying to find where he says he offers “the definitive training program” and can’t find it. What page is that on?

The front of the book says “an insanely effective strength and conditioning program for the ultimate mma warrior,” but covers (and backs) of books are generally penned by the editors, not the author, so they have to be taken with a grain of salt. I haven’t found anywhere in his book where he claims to offer the definitive training program.

24

The closest thing to a claim that I could find was at the end of his prologue where he states, “By utilizing everything you learn here, you will greatly improve your performance as a combat athlete and truly will be Fit to Fight!” Well a little cheesy, it’s not hard to support his claim that utilizing the information in his book will help athletes improve their performance.

25

I have to totally disagree with the opinion that Ross training methods are hard on the joints. I’m a literal walking bone spur and his philosphy has saved me from having to take up internet gambling as my training.

As far as boring is concerned if your are bored then that means your mind is not occupied with the overwhelming desire to quit or trying not to puke or something which means the spirit of the training is missing.

Ross isn’t for Curves type people.

Just saying.

26

SJ,

Try reading page 1.

You consider that the book is an “eye opener”.I think that it is inadequate in many respects and is little more than a loosely described list of training exercises.

As a book it adds nothing new to our knowledge of training imo.

I have set out some areas which I think are less than satisfactory. You may care to comment on those.

27

[quote]peterm533 wrote:
SJ,

Try reading page 1.

You consider that the book is an “eye opener”.I think that it is inadequate in many respects and is little more than a loosely described list of training exercises.
[/quote]
To expect a book to bring you all sorts of conditioning secrets you haven’t learned is a bit much given what you’ve probably picked up on T-Nation. The book is probably extremely eye opening for the general public.
To change subject a little the biggest “eye opener” I’ve received from a combat sport book was Eddie Bravo’s “Mastering the Rubber Guard” and “Mastering the Twister”. The Jiu-Jitsu game they contain is like a different sport. I didn’t fully incorporate the system, but it definitely changed the way I grapple. As for the review I’ll just do rubber guard

Mastering the Rubber Guard
Eddie Bravo

Mastering the rubber guard shows a complete bottom game from the brains behind 10th planet Jiu-Jitsu, Eddie Bravo. The first forty pages are spent talking about his childhood, music, and love of marijuana. On page forty he starts in with the stretching routine, nothing too earth shattering, it’s what I use and I’ve found it effective. A little more yoga than many stretching programs.
The core of the book, the Jiu-Jitsu is presented as a complete strategy, flowing from one move to the next, often with thoughts what to do if things don’t go exactly as hoped. I found it organized and logical.
The pages are glossy with clear pictures and good descriptions throughout. Good quality, I’ve had no trouble with mine despite living in a duffel bag for quite a while now.
If you’re looking for a buy/don’t buy. I would pick it up. We don’t all enjoy the pro-pot intro, but the avoiding an excellent no-gi instructional on the basis of that is just moronic.

28

Okay, I found where he says he has developed the ultimate training program…it’s on page 2 btw, but he doesn’t say he’ll give it to us, just that he’s developed what he thinks is the greatest.

[quote]peterm533 wrote:
Unfair criticism?

Well he does say that he has come up with what he says he believes to be the definitive training program.

My problem is that I have trouble understanding precisely what that program is.

He lays out a rotation with limited explanation and then follows that with a series of phases with absolutely no explanation. Where the anaerobic conditioning methods fit into all of this-if they do- is not stated. Perhaps you might like to hazard a guess?
[/quote]

He doesn’t state how to incorporate anaerobic conditioning into his program. The closest thing I’ve found is on 191 when he loosely lays out an off-season workout split.

So you are right in that regard, but if he did, would that have changed your opinion any? If he offered up some sort of blanket training split would you have been like “Yeah, his book is the bomb…it told me what days to run hills and what days to hit a tire with a sledgehammer.” I suspect you’d be more apt to say “His book sucked, on day 2 he wants me to run 7 hills with 20 second recovery, but my balsalmic acetate progression wouldn’t be sufficiently recovered from my longitudinal periodization.”

He was giving a brief overview of what he felt are effective conditioning methods.

maybe it went beyond the scope of the book to lay out the incorporation of plyos…they can be tricky exercises to include in a workout program with improper use being detrimental, or maybe he doesn’t utilize them as a large part of his training regime.

It seems to me that you have nitpicked at a few points in his book as rudimentary or ‘not eye-opening.’ That reference was into the way he put it all together. Obviously more could have been done in regards to complete workout design, but even in that regard your argument is a bit off. If you are already familiar with all the information in his book, shouldn’t you be able to come up with your own workout? So I guess in that case, if you already know everything, the book isn’t for you.

As a resource I feel it is invaluable, and for beginners it really should be eye-opening. I guess we have to take the book for what it is and what it is not. It does not give you a straight up blue print to design your workout. It does give you the knowledge and tools to design a good workout.

29

Actually he starts on page 1 and continues on page 2.- and you accuse me of nit picking?

The assertion that all he said was that he developed it- not that he would divulge it, is Clintonesque in its subtlety.

You admit that he doesn’t state how to incorporate anaerobic conditioning into his program. The rest of your comments I totally fail to understand.

If you are happy with the level of information such as “hill sprints are great for conditioning” or “bent over rows are a great exercise for developing the upper back” then this book may be for you. If you expect more detailed information and in particular on program design then you are not going to get it.

That seems reasonable information to provide to those here who are potential buyers of the book.

I do not know Jason Ferrugia and have no interest in his products one way or the other.

I have provided a critique of his book that others may be contemplating buying and therefore have an interest in reading. You simply seem intent on defending him by personalizing your comments against me.

30

[quote]peterm533 wrote:
Actually he starts on page 1 and continues on page 2.- and you accuse me of nit picking?

The assertion that all he said was that he developed it- not that he would divulge it, is Clintonesque in its subtly.

You admit that he doesn’t state how to incorporate anaerobic conditioning into his program. The rest of your comments I totally fail to understand.

If you are happy with the level of information such as “hill sprints are great for conditioning” or “bent over rows are a great exercise for developing the upper back” then this book may be for you. If you expect more detailed information and in particular on program design then you are not going to get it.

That seems reasonable information to provide to those here who are potential buyers of the book.

I do not know Jason Ferrugia and have no interest in his products one way or the other.

I have provided a critique of his book that others may be contemplating buying and therefore have an interest in reading. You simply seem intent on defending him by personalizing your comments against me.

[/quote]

Dude, I didn’t want to go over everything you said, your last post asked if I wanted to address the shortcomings you cited…that was the only reason I went back and wrote it the way I did. I agree that there are aspects that are lacking to the book, some of which you have posted. I do not agree, however, with your overall assessment of the book. I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

Further, it seems you are intent on attacking the book utilizing quotes out of context like “hill sprints are great for conditioning” and “bent over rows are great for your upper back” as if that is all he has to offer in the book.

31

Ferruggia’s e-book “Tap Out: Strength and Conditioning For Combat Sports” is a good manual to have.

In the book, Ferruggia provides several strength training programs - including ones that show you how to tailor your training as you prepare for a fight/competition. He also goes into detail about what type of conditioning methods he prefers and why. You also get an idea of how to set up your schedule on a weekly basis from lifting to conditioning to actual sport training.

There’s also great interviews with guys like Cosgrove and Zach Even-Esch.

32

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

33

A review here or elsewhere can inevitably only deal selectively with the material that is published.

The quotes above give some indication of the depth or lack of it found in the book. You are told that hill sprints are incredibly effective but nothing about how many to do or when or how they should be incorporated in your overall program.If you had never contemplated using hill sprints that might be helpful. If you have then it is simply inadequate.

The book is principally descriptive of a number of exercises that might assist a MMA
athlete- none of which are new- but it tells you little about how you should employ those exercises in a training regime. Where it does do so coverage is inadequate to say the least.

If you require a book at that level then fine go ahead and buy it. If you are looking at something more in depth and in particular on program design you won’t find it.

My aim is not to denigrate the author for the sake of it but simply to provide an informative review of a book which to me fell short of its declared aim to help you arm yourself with everything you need to know to excel in combat sports.

If an author puts out a product to the public he cannot expect uncritical acclaim. A book advertised as an insanely effective training program when it is clearly not deserves a corrective. Your personal attacks on me are not in the best interests of those who might consider buying the book.

34

waves dick in contest

guys its ok we get it.

35

Review/interview with Alwyn Cosgrove about “Secrets of Martial Arts Conditioning.”

http://www.T-Nation.com/tmagnum/readTopic.do?id=2125427

36

I spent the big bucks on the 3-ring binder that preceded the “Tap Out” book. I was not impressed at all. I know a lot, but I don’t know it all. I learned nothing from the book.

Rooney’s book was OK. Mostly for people who haven’t studied these issues on their own, i.e., don’t read scientific journals yet along Supertraining.

I really liked Cosgrove’s martial arts training book. There were a couple of tips on stretching I had never seen, “suicide splits,” for example. Ouch! I don’t think the program design was well though out, though.

On another note: I don’t see how anyone could go wrong buying every Victory Belt book currently on the market. I won’t write any long reviews, though.

Seems sort of silly to say, “Oh, this book by B.J. Penn/Randy Couture/Marcello Garcia has something in it you can learn from.” I mean, if you have to tell some person that, what kind of moron are you dealing with? And who am I to say whether B.J. Penn’s instructional book is any good? I drink at the faucet of such men.

I read some post where a guy was saying, “Is that Couture book worth buying?” Seriously, wtf? A MMA champ publishes an instructional book that can be bought for $25. End of discussion.

I’m not hating on guys who want to write reviews. I am instead insulting people who don’t have the common sense to at least go to Barnes and Noble to check out a book written by a world champ.

Life is often that easy.

37

last word

38

[quote]CaliforniaLaw wrote:
I read some post where a guy was saying, “Is that Couture book worth buying?” Seriously, wtf? A MMA champ publishes an instructional book that can be bought for $25. End of discussion.

I’m not hating on guys who want to write reviews. I am instead insulting people who don’t have the common sense to at least go to Barnes and Noble to check out a book written by a world champ.

Life is often that easy. [/quote]

I agree, and I own everything Victory Belt has put out so far. I was primarily trying to steer it back to useful reviews instead of the above discussion.

39

I don’t suppose anyone has picked up and read “The Grappler’s Guide to Sports Nutrition” by Berardi. I am a big fan of Berardi, but I already have his Precision Nutrition Kit and Gourmet Nutrition (and obviously have read a lot of his articles here). Is there anything new that is presented that I should pay more attention to?

In his interview, he basically rails against current weightcutting methods and suggests that lowering weight should be done by cutting bodyfat. Not that I disagree–but I already know how to drop the BF.

40

[quote]peterm533 wrote:
A review here or elsewhere can inevitably only deal selectively with the material that is published.

The quotes above give some indication of the depth or lack of it found in the book. You are told that hill sprints are incredibly effective but nothing about how many to do or when or how they should be incorporated in your overall program.If you had never contemplated using hill sprints that might be helpful. If you have then it is simply inadequate.

The book is principally descriptive of a number of exercises that might assist a MMA
athlete- none of which are new- but it tells you little about how you should employ those exercises in a training regime. Where it does do so coverage is inadequate to say the least.

If you require a book at that level then fine go ahead and buy it. If you are looking at something more in depth and in particular on program design you won’t find it.

My aim is not to denigrate the author for the sake of it but simply to provide an informative review of a book which to me fell short of its declared aim to help you arm yourself with everything you need to know to excel in combat sports.

If an author puts out a product to the public he cannot expect uncritical acclaim. A book advertised as an insanely effective training program when it is clearly not deserves a corrective. Your personal attacks on me are not in the best interests of those who might consider buying the book.

[/quote]

Holy bullshit batman. Where are these personal attacks of which you speak?