Mill Hill Combat & Conditioning Academy BJJ / Grappling / MMA / Muay Thai / Judo / Strength & Conditioning /

Grapplers Showdown

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:59:45 +0100

Well done to everyone from Mill Hill who competed at Grapplers Challenge at the weekend. Very tough comp, with high level competition.
Congratulations to Daniel Strauss who won bronze in his division and silver in the absolute.

Warrior Training

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 19:29:49 +0100

Everybody is sure that their way of training is the greatest.
I’m not saying this is how we should all train or that all other training methods are wrong and unproductive, just that I believe we should go back and examine historical strength cultures and if you abide by their rules and you will endeavour to succeed in your training.

I am tired of hearing people insist their training is the most correct, most natural and most effective. In addition, that their style of training is brand new and they just came up with it.
Let me tell it to you straight…
… There is nothing new in the fitness world.

There might be a few twists on the way we do things that are different, but we’re all making the same stew. Furthermore it’s not coincidental that the average person will not use these training methods and the greatest heroes of the past did. It was hardcore then and it’s hardcore now. Too hardcore for the average person then and way too hardcore for the average person now. I find it ridiculous that many people training are so polluted by mainstream fitness. Where training programmes are designed for the sole purpose of aesthetics. People concern themselves with incorrect ideas.
Their workouts are not as smart or productive as our ancestors.

I know MMA fighters, BJJ guys and all-around hard men that do very rough things for a living or for fun! Yet for the most part they’re stupidly worried about how many sets of ten on the concentration curl they should do, as if it would somehow magically beautify them.

Maybe this will help us see that the tough training that I believe in now is the same as the tough training past warriors did many years ago. We’re not any smarter or particularly stronger for that matter.
Let’s see if we can measure up.

Here are some examples of historical strength training. See if you notice a consistent trend.

The Shaolin

Highly revered Kung Fu monks from China. We are all familiar with the movies. Much has been documented about them and rightly so. They are without a doubt physically gifted and many claims have been made about why.
Bodyweight exercises, Chi, hours of martial practice to name three methods used, all of which add to their prowess, but it’s not so simple. Did you know they also do stone lifting? Did you know they lift water-filled stone pots and giant steel teakettles that can weigh over 100kg? Did you know they swing and exercise with a stone implement (a Padlock) that almost resembles a kettlebell? Did you know that they train with heavy weapons? Did you know there’s barbells dating over 3,000 years old still exist in China? Did you know they have stone cut dumbbells? Push ups and bodyweight squats, running and animal movements (such as bear crawls) play an important part in there training, they do these in a progressive manner, progressing through harder and harder exercises just like weightlifting but done with bodyweight and odd objects.

Is it possible these things could give us a clue as to why they are so highly regarded for their physical prowess and why strength athletes in the know tend to train with the same objects?

The Hindu Wrestlers

Wrestling was at one time a national sport in India. The real deal, beating each other for regional prestige and large sums of money. There was a highly valued moral connection to the training; they believed the training and discipline to make a great wrestler had the same attributes it takes to make a great man (Simplicity, dedication, toughness and focus).
Much has been made about their intense bodyweight regimens. It’s true; Hindu squats and push-ups will help you get into fantastic shape just like these athletes able to wrestle for hours at a time. However this is not the whole story.

Several books and a recent TV show “Last Man Standing” have documented the training of this culture and while the bodyweight workouts are accurate and progressive, just like lifting, there is a tremendous variety of other things used in their conditioning: Isometrics and gymnastic exercises for a start and how about log lifting? They have a unique style of repetition log lifting that is very popular as well as dragging heavy logs. Guess what? Stone barbells and dumbells appear. Extremely heavy clubs and maces (long and short handled swinging implements) were also used.

The dirt wrestling arena known as the “pit” would be dug by hand, with a very heavy object combination a hoe and sledgehammer. They would lift stones with and without handles. They use a specially cut, circular looking stone dumbell. They pull and climb ropes. It important for me to emphasise these are all traditions extending back from traditional training methods. This is not the modern training influence. It’s the same stuff that built The Great Gama and other heroic Indian wrestlers.

The Mongolians

Long respected for their physical prowess and known for taking over 90% of the known world at the time, the Mongolians are Legendary for strength and endurance. It’s no wonder they consider their three main sports: archery, horseback riding and wrestling, their wrestling is renowned for being particularly brutal. Legendary also was the strength of their bows and the distance they could shoot them.

Moreover the way Mongolians ride horses resembles extended isometric bodyweight squats. Much strength and conditioning is simply built by its practice. Did you know that they also have a stone or steel implement similar to the kettlebell? In fact some people think the original kettlebell actually came from Mongolians exercising with stone filled kettles while out at war. In those days to some extent the army that wielded the biggest, longest, toughest weapons were the ones that won and survived.
Not surprisingly they also had stone lifting and stone throwing contests as part of keeping their army in shape while on the road. It would be foolish to think we’re so much stronger than them via modern training.

Considering the world conquest that they were on, don’t you think someone was smart enough to be keeping these guys in shape along the way? Especially as there life and success depended on it.

The Russians

Russia is a tough place. Always has been. Besides the brutal cold, at one time it was a very wild land, physical strength was imperative to survival. No army successfully took them over on their own home ground. The severe cold and wilderness contributed heavily to the many reasons why.
There are more similarities here, Such as the kettlebell. Guess what also shows up again? Stone lifting, hard-core grappling, heavy swords and implement training; Lots of horseback work and physical agility training.

Is it shocking that the old cultures trained this way? It’s not because technology was not developed enough and gyms were not established, but the simple explanation being it is the most effective, man-making training there is.

The Celts

Guess what? Tough, hardy people. You had to lift a heavy stone in many places to be considered a full-grown man. I’m talking big rocks! 120kg, or more. Not for the faint of heart. Guess what? Another implement that looked almost like a kettlebell also featured in their training as well as stone throwing, hard-core grappling, log lifting, throwing and heavy hammers. There is a reason that the Highland Games is so respected for the physical prowess that they display.

Guess what else shows up? Running. It was a popular test at the traditional Highland Games as well as sword dancing (which is basically an agility drill done over crossed swords and set to music). Their weapon of choice is the mighty Claymore and long broadsword. A big long heavy weapon, that demanded awesome strength to swing.
How is this for tough? The initiation to some of the Irish fighting clans required the lift of a heavy manhood stone, dodge a spear while buried waist-deep in the ground and pull a thorn from your foot at full run without breaking stride. Possibly a good thing that is not the application process for sports teams now.

The same basic principles apply to every culture from around the world. The Romans and Greeks, all you have to do is look at their mythology to see their strength training incorporates the same type of exercises and equipment, even Samson of the bible, same thing.
Even the training of the swordsmen and warriors of the Renaissance, what showed up again? Bodyweight exercises, heavy swords, stone lifting and throwing, jumping exercises… big shocks?

So I’m going to boil this all down to a point for you. We think extreme world of hardcore strength training is new because we have been so conditioned to sit on our ass at the gym that we have totally lost touch with the reality of strength. When you venture out from the safe haven of cardio bikes and the leg extensions you find out exactly what I have found out. This training is not new. It may not be pretty. It is probably the toughest thing you have ever seen or tried to do if you do it right. But it’s the most effective, man-making, bone-crushing, strength-building and never-quitting endurance training around.

That is why they did it this way.

That is why we are doing it this way.

Why aren’t you?

Go to The Ground

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 12:04:47 +0100

Mill Hill fighters and instructors Daniel Strauss and Chris Hearn both took good is spectacular fashion this past weekend. With Chris getting a submission by flying arm-bar in 22 seconds and Daniel putting on a grappling clinic submitting both his opponent s in around 60 seconds.

Gracie Invitational 2010

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 11:01:55 +0100

WOW! what a great weekend of BJJ at the Gracie Invitational. As always Mill Hill BJJ represented and came away with medals, in the largest BJJ comp in the UK and second largest in Europe.

Oli Geddes - Gold
Dominique Vitry - Gold & Silver Absolute
Dale Jones - Gold
Jay Heridge - Gold
Samuel Pavan - Silver
Rob Westney - Silver
Seymour Yang - Silver
Steve Fage - Silver
David Soures - Bronze
Andrew Marshall - Bronze

A massive congratulations to Dominique who was awarded her Purple Belt by Nick Brooks on the mat after her hard fought Absolute final.
A big shout to everyone who competed and everyone at the Academy who helped the team to prepare.

Fit Chicks

Tue, 11 May 2010 12:59:24 +0100

We are proud to announce our new female only fitness & conditioning class. Step up and experience the most effective fitness class – The ultimate workout! This class is a fitness and conditioning class that incorporates the exercises and drills used by professional fighters. But we’ve taken out all the contact and sparring, so no bumps or bruises! So if your after the chance to work hard, and to work smart, in order to get results, look no further! This class is open to females at all levels, and is great for those looking for a complete, non-contact workout.

With summer just around the corner, now is the time to turn up the heat and get yourself in the shape of your life!

Fit Chicks is run by our highly regarded, resident Strength & Conditioning Coach Andrew Marshall.

You can forget yoga in heated rooms, forget Pilates Reformers and even forget indoor cycling. Come and train at Mill Hill Combat & Conditioning and with a few basic pieces of kit, a whole lot of fun and you have the most enjoyable and worthwhile exercise session you can imagine. Using Kettlebells, Agility Equipment, Gymnastic Rings, Athletics Movement, - and the open space of the Academy, we give you the chance to achieve greater fitness levels and more fat loss than any gym session could ever deliver.

Mauricio Gomes Seminar

Tue, 11 May 2010 10:04:40 +0100

We would like to thank BJJ legend Mauricio Gomes for gracing our mat last night and teaching a seminar. It was a great turn out and a great class with great techniques, very much enjoyed by all.

Also congratulations to Dale Jones who received his blue belt on the night.

BJJ British Open

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:37:57 +0100

Mill Hill BJJ results from the British Open: Hana Copper - Gold Jay Herridge - gold Oli Geddes - silver x2 Daniel Strauss - Silver Dominique Vitry - Bronze x2 Dan Jones - bronze Andrew Marshall - bronze Seymour Yang - bronze
A massive well done to everyone who competed.

London BJJ Open

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:37:42 +0000

Another great result for Mill Hill BJJ in competition this weekend at the London open -

Oliie Geddes - GOLD Andrew Marshall - GOLD Chris Hearn - SILVER Samuel Pavan - SILVER Hanako Cooper - SILVER Dominique Vitry - BRONZE

Ivan “The Terrible”

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 22:57:09 +0000

Mill Hill combat and conditioning fighter Ivan Sirko will be making his cage debut at the Kayo MMA event, which will take place at the Watford Colosseum on the 6th of March.

His fight is an amateur fight with head shots standing but not on the ground. As well as Ivan's fight there will be semi pro and professional MMA fights. Its looking to be a great event which will be televised on LA muscle TV.

For tickets please contact the academy as soon as possible.
The prices are as follows:

General £30
Gallery/Balcony £35
Cage-side £45

The more of you there to support Ivan and Mill Hill combat and conditioning the better

UK MMA League

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:00:39 +0000

Mill Hill CCA entered 3 fighters into the UK MMA League today. The MMA League is an amateur competition, comprising of one five minute round. If there is no submission or TKO within the time limit, the fight is declared a draw.
First off, Featherweight Glen Akwei drew his first fight and lost his second, in two absolute wars. Dan Jones won is first, inside two minutes by rear naked choke, and drew his second in a totally dominant performance. Finally Dan Strauss won his first by arm-bar within one minute and his second with another arm-bar, this time in 26 seconds!