Training Regimens: Cross-Disciplinary Techniques from MMA to Horse Racing

To most people horse racing and MMA are two distant sports. However, there are similarities between MMA athletes and jockeys especially in terms of their training regimens.

If you look at sports from a distance, you’ll find many similarities between athletes. After all, they all need to be physically fit in order to succeed in the very competitive world, and they need to have a strong mind game to withstand the immense pressure from championships.

But what about their training regimens? MMA is one of the toughest athletes on the planet, who have to go through an incredibly tough preparation phase to compete in the octagon. On the other hand, some people also consider jockeys to be very tough.

They might not do well in physical combat, but being able to ride a horse at 40MPH with 10 competitors’ centimeters near you is very difficult if you ask me.

Plus, both athletes sacrifice a lot in order to compete in the big league. But let’s compare the training regimes of jockeys and MMA fighters and find out what are the things that make these two sports so similar.

The Physical Demands: Strength, Stamina, and Speed

MMA Fighters Training Regime

If you are a fan of the MMA, you already know that winning isn’t only about brute force and muscle mass. It is a combination of strength, endurance, agility, and technique. This means that the training regimen of MMA fighters involves a variety of techniques.

We can split MMA fighter’s training regime into multiple categories, such as:

Strength Training

Fighters focus on building core stability and muscle strength. Depending on their weight class, they don’t want to overdo themselves and build up too much muscle mass which will compromise their agility. Most MMA fighters focus on deadlifts, squads, and bench presses to build core stability.

They also go for Olympic lifts, such as the clean and jerk, which can improve their explosive power which is very important for strikes and takedowns.

Cardiovascular Fitness

They also undergo high-intensity interval training (HIIT) that mimics the burst pattern of a real fight, which at the end of the day improves stamina and oxygen efficiency.

Flexibility and Mobility

MMA fighters need to expand their reach and become more flexible. Stretching, yoga and dynamic warm-ups not only help them prevent injuries but also improve their flexibility and reduce the risk of strains and sprains.

Jockey’s Training Regime

If you also follow horse racing, then you have probably already seen the similarities between MMA fighters and jockeys. Jockey’s training is also structured with a couple of different elements, such as:

Balance and Core Strength

Jockeys also do some weight lifting and core muscle build-up exercises. They might not push themselves to the limit like MMA fighters since their goal is not to build too much muscle, but being able to maneuver a 1,000-pound animal requires some muscle strength.

Cardiovascular Training

Just like MMA fighters, jockeys also require cardiovascular training, something that will give them more stamina, and endurance without bulking up. This is usually achieved through running, cycling, and high-repetition, low-weight strength training.

Flexibility

One of the most important parts of jockey training is flexibility and mobility exercises. Maneuvering a horse requires immense strength, and have you seen the position that jockeys ride horses at a race? It is pretty impossible for a regular person to get in that position.

That’s why jockeys spend most of their time improving their flexibility through stretching, yoga, or other special exercises that will improve their mobility.

Horse racing is a very tough sport, and jockey’s training is as important as the horse’s training. After all, experienced handicappers use the jockey’s training data to make more accurate betting decisions. If you don’t know much about horse racing betting, check out this guide about horse betting for dummies.

MMA Fighters Diet and Supplementation

It is no secret that having a proper diet is crucial for every athlete, including MMA figures.

So, what do MMA fighters eat? A combination of fats, carbs, and proteins helps the body recover from strenuous exercise and feeds it. Healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and lean meats are often consumed by fighters.

Since many fighters use electrolyte solutions, staying hydrated is crucial. Common supplements include protein powders, creatine, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to support muscle recovery and endurance.

Jockey's Diet and Supplementation

Jockey’s Diet On the other hand, jockey’s diet is even more difficult since they have to maintain a low weight just to make sure they are fast enough in horse races.

Jockeys often have to maintain strict weight limits, which requires careful management of calorie intake. They focus on high-protein, low-fat foods and sometimes employ techniques such as saunas and sweat suits for rapid weight loss before a race.