21 Jun Head Coach’s Role in MMA
So in the previous post I discussed the roles within a fight team. Individuals brought together to make the best version of the fighter they are supporting. Often this is done in a very haphazard fashion, coaches do not communicate, they have different goals for the fighter, and no one in making sure that training is integrated. In other cases if one person is filling every role, they likely do not have sufficient expertise in all aspects, or are not giving you sufficient time and attention.
In the current training environment there is almost no end to the amount of knowledge that a fighter has access to. Top level coaches are putting out training DVDs, or are offering virtual coaching. Most areas have access to high level striking, grappling, and S&C coaches so more and more athletes have an abundance of choice. The question that takes on the greatest importance is how and when to select certain resources and make sure they are all working together. The Head Coach job first and foremost is to know and understand your goals, from there you can collaborate in identifying the right kinds of training to bring you to the next level.
With all this in mind there is no doubt: choosing a Head Coach is the most important decision for any fighter. In doing so you must clearly define:
- What are the fighter’s responsibilities?
- What are the coaches responsibilities?
- What goal are you trying to achieve together?
- What commitments are each of you willing to give in pursuit of this goal?
- How and when will you communicate to check in on progress and adjustments?
- How will your head coach work with all other coaches on the team?
Once you have your plan in place you are ready to start filling out the team and truly moving forward.
To illustrate this point let’s look at 2 scenarios.
I was recently working with a female fighter and I was tasked specifically with working on her nutrition in cutting for fights. She typically trained 2-3 times/day 6 days a week. None of her coaches were aware of the other sessions so every training session was 100% intensity. Her S&C coaches put her through a tough circuit workout every session. Grappling session were all 100% intensity, mitt sessions were all full go, hard sparring was a regular occurrence. Each coach only saw her 1-2 times/week and felt they needed to do their utmost to prepare her for her fight. Keep in mind she did not even have a fight booked, and worked odd hours that meant she was often running on sub optimal sleep. This is a perfect recipe for burnout, chronic fatigue, or injury. There was no captain of the ship so to speak and therefore despite great effort, there was no direction, and results were not up to the fighter’s expectations.
Compare the example above with this article. Every aspect of Jon Jones’ training is planned out and each coach is aware of the other’s method of instruction, intensity and goals. The coach’s meet regularly to review film of past fights, training/sparring sessions, and upcoming opponents and then break down tasks for each to focus on. All of this falls under the direction and guidance of Greg Jackson. One person decides on the people in the circle, and therefore, together they achieve results that exceed the effort invested. You may not have the same resources as a UFC champion but if you put in the time on the front end you can build a team with a winning formula to achieve that goal.
A head coach will open up doors and unlock a fighter’s potential by creating the right environment. They can step back and objectively assess your progress while letting you know when to step on the gas or take time away. The head coach will remove the guess work and create a unifying thread that runs through all training. If you are planning to fight, identifying this role is the first step you should take.