Maximize Your Gas Tank | Manage Distance and Catch Your Breath in Sparring

[@hard2hurt]

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[@bricktea3645]

What about how Rickson Gracie teaches some breathing techniques and it helps u not lose ur cool and get tired.

[@JohnDoe-zu2cm]

Yo. the absolute best "method," is economy of motion. Good techniquie will always tire the fighter less than bad technique.

[@BiggityBoggity8095]

Yo why are you stuck in the top left corner? I can’t see anything you’re doing

[@zpauga]

“Everybody sucks and everybody’s scared” this is the most real thing about fighting I’ve ever heard lol.

[@plastic_idol523]

I put that quote right up with this one by Mas Oyama. “Your enemy is not a God. When you are scared, so is he.”

[@Karamojobell94]

Not me bro. I just see red. I'm an animal bro. I've never gotten into a fight but I'm super good at Wii boxing and I'm almost never scared when I play it.

[@josiahdimmick6133]

@@Karamojobell94 😂

[@franktower9006]

That's how I feel during every training session. From warm up, through pad work to conditioning - inadequate and weak.

[@m_js5709]

@@Karamojobell94 Well I played Mike Tyson punch out as a kid & shit my pants so I got nothing on you. Respect bro

[@tensae4725]

Cliff should do a tutorial on how to get cool dreads.

[@hard2hurt]

I will tell him.

[@tensae4725]

@@hard2hurt thanks man.

[@GGGxe]

he's black

[@sexmansex4776]

​@@GGGxereally? i couldn't tell.

[@GGGxe]

@@sexmansex4776 ur name is 'sexmansex' i don't think you should be on social media talking shit

[@mr28086]

Icy mike - "fatigue makes a coward of us all" - 11/08/21 (08/11/21) trademark ™️

[@jasoncronin9145]

As a jiu jitsu nerd who's gotten smashed the last few classes I really appreciated the 'yet' bit at the end. It's hard to see that light at the end of the tunnel but there's no way I can be putting in this much work and not get there eventually.

[@blakelatta7910]

That's the spirit brother!! Keep the end goal in your mind but enjoy every moment! The good, bad, and most of all the struggle!! Oss🙏 👍

[@hentaisailor5951]

How you doin' now, Jason?

[@jasoncronin9145]

@@hentaisailor5951 okay, got my blue belt in May, haven't been able to train in a few months due to some health issues but hope to get back on the mats on the next month or two. Thanks!

[@pedrovalentino6684]

Are you a dog now???

[@thepaladin7816]

"You feign weakness when you're strong, and feign strength when you're weak" - that is my quote of the day 🤘

[@dogukankuru1969]

miyamoto musashi too

[@MrCaonashi]

Or the more popular Zapp Brannigan’s Big Book of War

[@3nertia]

@@claeslillieskold2398 I was going to mention Sun Tzu but of course someone already has lol

[@3nertia]

@@dogukankuru1969 I see you too are a man of culture :D

[@theboynurse]

As a medical professional, I endorse the breathing method. I would add it is also about eliminating carbon dioxide.

[@Tacticalteabag]

Yup. Our coaches frequently tell us it is more about the exhale then the inhale.

[@gregquinn7817]

My mom has Copd (years of smoking). That's how the respiratory therapist tell her to breath.... largely about getting rid of Carbon dioxide.

[@briantausch412]

Also a clinician, and love that I found this in the comments.

[@yarakharam5343]

"aS A mEdiCaL pROfeSsiOnal" no one cares

[@cEruStorm]

@@yarakharam5343 why so pressed

[@a_stray_dog]

Holy shit, the five breaths tip brought me back. I first heard something similar to that back in my first boxing gym. I was in-between rounds sparring with one of the prospects and sat down at the stool to rest, so my coach came over to give me some pointers. At some point he told me to "give him a deep breath", so I did the thing you described Mike, where I took air in once before going back to panting. The old man actually slapped me full-force in the ribs and yelled at me to "KEEP BREATHING!" Startled the hell out of me, but damn if it didn't get me to listen. Now that's the first thing I think about whenever I come back to the corner after an intense round. Crazy old coot, was super fixated on the idea of "holding frame" and "not showing the enemy they got you". Hell of a trainer, though.

[@codysykes5568]

Sometimes we need that jolt to get us going, an old trainer called it "percussive maintenance" lol

[@Agiranto]

Cliff's gentleman flying resting back leg of restoration and subversion.

[@cringeyidiotterry]

An overlooked, but big part of martial arts, self-defense, and hand to hand combat in general, is controlling your breathing while throwing strikes (punches, kicks, etc), moving, blocking, parrying, and whatnot. Thank you for covering this, Icy Mike. I just suggest that you add the sentence "by controlling your breathing when you fight" after the word "breath" in your video's title.

[@handler803]

8:13 "we can use sparring as conditioning". This is my fave part of the video. Most if not some coaches like to make their students do pointless conditioning drills that aren't even sport specific or heavy roadwork, yet they dont even translate in the ring. The best cardio for an activity, is doing more of that activity, albeit in a controlled manner.

[@Lucid_MMA]

The best thing about Mike's videos is you watch them and then you watch them again a couple months later and still feel like your learning the second time, rare you see a channel with rewatch potential

[@thefaboo]

fun fact: The recovery breathing at the end is how musicians and singers are taught to breathe too.

[@enoughofyourkoicarp]

Mike: "This is what Clyff does." Advert: "Download a free audiobook with your free thirty day trial." I like to think that was intentional. XD

[@sluggensluggen5075]

Ha! ha! Just happened to me!

[@johnriley4425]

I had a major in the Marines that was running this ROTC program make us stand in formation and march after a hard workout to make us remain calm while exhausted, so when I started MMA I immediately noticed I could catch my breath quicker than most people because that Marine had already trained me to take calm slow breaths no matter how winded I was. I recommend trying it. Get yourself exhausted then stand up straight and breathe deep and slow, the idea being your body language is not giving away how tired you really are.

[@andrewtanczyk4009]

Interesting drill. I’ve noticed being tense causes fatigue. Yet being relaxed when punches are being thrown at you is difficult and stressful which causes fatigue. Think that comes with experience. Yet the more relaxed you are the less likely you are to fatigue. Conditioning also.

[@danielordonez412]

People with bad cardio will always hyperventilate. Once you got good cardio try this: breathe in with both nose and mouth together, its just a little turbo.

[@mr.doctorcaptain1124]

Can you give a good rationale for that? By and large I find any mouth breathing, including mouth and nose together, is terrible. Mouth breathing of any kind is bad because it dehydrates you so terribly and requires more effort. So doing it in combo with nose breathing doesn't make it better. If you can give a good argument I'd love to hear it

[@Kali-8]

Yea bro i used to do this as if it were some sort of superpower of mine lmfao

[@jaywilliams6250]

@@mr.doctorcaptain1124 I naturally breathe through my mouth lol, I do not struggle with dehydration or dry mouth unless I’m stoned or it’s hot as fuck 🤷‍♂️

[@danielordonez412]

Just keep yourself hydrated, but that's a training taboo as well in some places.

[@danielordonez412]

Its also better because air throught the nose gets in your lungs warmer while mouth breathing is harsh, though gives the necessary quantity for the effort, specially aerobic+anaerobic effort like swimming

[@m_js5709]

I realized I was actually far too passive & not aggressive enough in sparring. Because my technique was not yet good enough to consistently counter & stay out of harm, I was reacting too much and tiring out. Once I started being more proactive in rounds, my gas tank improved. So I appreciate what you said about taking the initiative.

[@boshirahmed]

For some reason the mind tells u, u will conserve energy being defensive..

[@PreacherLawson]

“I think it was me who came up with that one” 😂

[@BlacK40k]

Houston Jones collab, yes babyyyyyy

[@michalmatczak2178]

OMG, this word YET is so important in so many different aspects of learning, not only martial arts.... It stuck me like a baseball bat over my head, thank You! It gives a man a drive to continue what he's doing :) That video alone is I think one of the MOST IMPORTANT You could ever make! Poland says hello, You have a lot of fans here :)

[@AbsoluteUnit1337]

I can confirm the poland part. Watching before sparring

[@hard2hurt]

Supposedly I am Polish.

[@jebjeb7770]

One of the most useful and clear lessons you have showed us in awhile Icy Mike! Thankyou! And Thankyou Cliff for your most awesome participation in the lesson!

[@hard2hurt]

What's funny is how much of this is things he taught me... but he just doesn't like to talk as much as I do.

[@metatrontumultum1860]

I actually learned things like the principles of breath control Mike is talking about during vocal lessons. The trick with one hand on the belly and one on the chest is actually pretty neat for learning that. What does that teach us? Never think that something can't be applied to fighting.

[@therandomdickhead5744]

Very true. Using your peripheral vision is another good example. Can learn that from a lot of sports or even games. Still very useful in fighting tho.

[@ryannachtrab]

OMGGGGGG...straight up CHILLS at that outro...

[@hard2hurt]

It's been overdue

[@kiddrummeremac96]

I used to watch your videos before i started sparring. Now that I’ve been sparring for 5 months I know how good your material is! They’re very high yield and can be immediately applied right after watching. Great video!

[@FaithRox]

Just watched Rickson Gracie on JRE talking about breath work being so critical. I bit the bullet and tried the Wim Hof app, and honestly I held my breath for 3 minutes after a couple of tries in 1 day. Breath work is unbelievably important. Invest in it!

[@Smokeyxz]

Cool to know.

[@therandomdickhead5744]

Cheers. I’ve tried Wim Hof a while back, I think it kinda worked. I notice I don’t breathe properly day to day anyway (need to check with docs), so I try to focus on breathing every once in a while. Boosted my cardio a lot, considering I struggled to keep my hands up for more than a minute when I started.

[@sebastianmange1834]

I must admit it’s a little comforting to hear someone saying that it’s ok to feel like a looser after a training thank mike

[@carpwinn]

I have watched A LOT of Icy Mike's videos. This is the best video I have ever seen. I was always so winded and tired during sparring. Even when I was in great shape, I felt like everyone else was in better health. Maybe my childhood athsma was the problem. Turns out, everyone was just as tired and scared as me. I needed these techniques.

[@Vayiram-]

One of the most solid and simple coaching videos I've seen latelly about keeping things together when getting out of juice! (and how normal that is!) In fact it's so effin' good including the breathing hack (nice pranayama in martial arts btw!) that I'll make everybody here watch it, cause I'm too lazy to explain it myself and you did a great job anyways! Just hope their english does not suck as bad as mine does. Really good and usefull one! Tnx Nice plot hook in the ending! bravo!

[@jordy2299]

There’s a new version of the repeating crossbow and it is absolutely badass.

[@highestsettings]

I really like that you'll say what the rule is and why you should follow it, and then describe when to break it and why you might think about breaking it. Rules are made to be broken after all. Knowing how and when to break the rules is what I think mastery really is (well a big part of it anyway).

[@markwinter1070]

Respect from Canada 🇨🇦 for all work🙏

[@octavioservin]

Hall of Fame coach for the Dallas Cowboys Jimmy Johnson said fatigue makes cowards of us all. Great videos and content

[@stephenwillis7360]

"You feign weakness when you're strong and feign strength when you're weak" Nailed it Mike! Keep 'em coming, one of these quotes will catch and be famous! I think this could be the one haha its really good

[@Acoto]

Mike always delivers on the most important topics that I dont see many other channels online talking about. Much appreciated.

[@robertshafer8968]

I just love how you cover every angle and opinion for those that like to get hung up on silly little details.

[@Grandpa_Boxer]

This is one of the best videos I've seen on breathing. Especially for beginners. Spot-on!!!!!!

[@kennethnashe5461]

When I first started sparring I was garbage. I hated getting rocked in sparring and was super defensive. My coach told me stop worrying about what they do to u and start thinking they need to be worried about what you're gonna do to them. Changed everything

[@3nertia]

The exhale is just as important as the inhale too as it releases carbon dioxide which you *don't* want building up in your muscles. You can gain an extra edge if you do a lot of water exercises and practice holding your breath for a few weeks *OR* you spend a few weeks at higher elevations to engage the mammalian diving reflex and maximize oxygen usage. Great video!

[@SergeantFunkDan]

GREAT stuff. 'Sparring as conditioning'. Totally concur; there is no tired like sparring tired. I'm gassed more in a few spars than an hour of kicks, punches, burpees, squats, even sparring drills. I believe it's that you can't forecast your opponent's moves. Thus your stress level and respiration are much higher.

[@mattking8206]

This is a 15 minute martial arts technique gold mine i suggest anyone at any level to watch this. You are a pioneer and a genius I salute you sir!

[@hard2hurt]

Thank you so much... feel free to share it wherever martial arts people congregate!

[@simonyu8838]

I go into sparring with bigger and more trained dudes thinking "I live for this." I get super exhausted and take a lot of hits but I enjoy the learning process and can see improvements over time, especially when I then spar against people closer to my level

[@shrooman777]

This is one of my favorite videos of yours.

[@mrsnipermask936]

Sooo many helpful tips in One video. This is like 5yrs of knowledge in less than 20min thank you and great craft.

[@schwindsichtigaderechte5293]

Feign weakness when you're strong and feign strength when you're weak is from Sun-Tzu's "The Art of War". I really like the idea of putting the "yet" in there, kudos!

[@mehdifelji]

Man you're getting better and better. Keep it going, love the content.

[@Tacticalteabag]

"Feign weakness when strong and feign strength when you are weak. " Sun "Hard2Hurt" Tzu

[@moz5831]

Thank you. I think this is the best video you have made. I like your ”what to do when you’re weak and shit and things don’t go your way” -approach to things, since that’s my reality (I’m about the same size as you). ”Everybody sucks and everybody’s scared” is propably not in The Art of War, but should be.

[@BYGTraining]

A lot of wisdom in this video! I couldn't agree more that sparring/ doing rounds should be your conditioning. It's the same in hockey. I never do strictly skating drills. Too many coaches waste a ton of time on that.

[@treyz7847]

The last part hits hard haha. Going home thinking "I need to get better" "I need to get stronger", feeling that sense of weakness after your class just really sucks

[@webexpertcharlie]

This may be one of the most beneficial videos Mike has done.

[@hard2hurt]

every once in awhile i get serious to reward the people that stick around

[@MJFUYT]

This info is golden. Great job. Mike & Cliff. The content here is much appreciated. More plzzz 💯

[@NoirTech83]

Lyoto Machida did the kick faint to Randy Couture several times in their fight to get Randy to react, but then he saw Randy was ignoring it. Lyoto does the faint, and then follows it with the crane kick, both movements starting the exact same way.

[@speed-of-heat]

not good enough...yet! ... most inspiring thing ... awesome!

[@trondskarludvigsen3639]

Very good explanation. Important to focus on the breathing. Personally I tend to become so tense when stressed by better opponents that I actually forget to breathe. Then I try to keep some distance, breathe, recover, and continue fighting.

[@malapertfourohfour2112]

I am in love with the Cliff Special 🤩

[@robdunkin7661]

Bas Rutten is a genius at this type of stuff.. my favorite things to study

[@jackgrimble9418]

You demonstrated one of Sun Tzu best and most complex advice with the proficiency of a high scholar. I am blow away, mate. Absolutely blown away.

[@hard2hurt]

I understand that he was a big fan of hard2hurt.

[@thewarriorandthegarden1562]

Oh no the best collab is about to happen

[@ryanhill9707]

Hey Mike, you out did yourself with this one, very useful! Quick tip, cause I just feel like giving something back. It sounds like you already know, but just in case…your belly/ chest breathing can help in Jiu-Jitsu too: someone has you knee-on-belly? That’s cool, use your filling-up-the-chest breathing. Alternatively, someone have you in a heavy side control, nailing your chest to the ground? No worries, fill up your belly with air. Think of it as two breathing/ places to fill up options.

[@justinalexander5959]

I remember the first time i actually learned to manage my stamina, it's an internal victory that i can not explain

[@TOPSyndicate]

It's like God knows when I need help with something because along came this video to answer my prayers

[@AndrewLawlerTheZealot]

Just started boxing again, I cant wait to start adding this stuff to my training!

[@skunkworks9391]

Great video, thank you... loved the filling the half space, 5 breaths, hands down ( we give them a shake too) distance contol gives you the chance to breathe. Some folks also forget to load up on oxygen before the fight or even before each little scrap... get distance and air at every oppurtunity.

[@myvids3115]

Great insights. I dig your highspinning presentations and crazy moments. You back them with solid information. 👍

[@RamboRichardson]

In my opinion this is the best video you have posted since I don't know when! Also, this literally describes my first and only fight...to date 🙏✌

[@free2chasehappy]

Carefully watching video about managing fatigue... Forgets everything when I see Jay has a back! Gahdayum!

[@hard2hurt]

That's not Jay.

[@alexthegordonhighlander1159]

Excellent and empathic tips and wisdom. Huge heart felt through this. Well done. Breath is first principle. 5 and you are a new man. Well said & fantastic insights. Is that Houston Jones making a cameo?

[@a17zazueta21]

Zero Dislikes. As it always should be for these videos

[@grantschick9412]

I think all this are great but these are things I've been taught to me when I started marshal arts as a child and where super reinforced when i was in the Marines 0311. So I guess this was great reminder

[@hard2hurt]

Unfortunately none of this was ever explained to me... and that experience is shared with many other martial artists and fighters.

[@traviscook5144]

I’m pumped for the dirty boxing seminar!😆

[@CptnFuzzySocks]

Man I need you to learn capoeira because your videos are so in depth I'd love the tips you could come up with

[@princeheavenb.valdez1823]

Feint feint feint feint feint! - Mike perry

[@Arman-jx7hu]

Dang, this is one badass video!! Quite possibly the very best you have ever done! Big time respect to Coach Mike!

[@carlolabitan7909]

Awesome content. Love how patient Clif is... Good video man!

[@smokerxluffy]

It's not about forcing down oxygen, it's about allowing enough carbon dioxide to build up in your bloodstream for the Bohr Effect to work. Basically if you pant you're hyperventilating and even though your lungs and blood has a lot of oxygen, it won't get to your muscles where it's needed.

[@tyrmyrmidon2846]

Would you also hold your breath then?

[@elfynwilliams1280]

Please make a Discord Server like Seths!! its a good place to discuss with other viewers, great video. Thanks

[@1fastmex]

I agree. Never thought of it bay way but makes sense. Most guys I spar I am able to walk down and have them on defense through footwork. When I spar with my professor he puts me on defense and he throws high volume. I have to exert a lot just to get out of danger and get centered. I am always so exhausted from getting hit or exerting a lot to get out of the barrage.

[@gregquinn7817]

Fatigue quote is Vince Lombardi. That quote was hanging in a gym I used to go to.

[@hard2hurt]

He probably watches hard2hurt.

[@dannzalbjorklund]

Best video yet

[@RRTNZ]

Good clip Icy Mike, especially the discussion of ego and attitude at the end. None of this is hidden wisdom, but very nicely summed up and demonstrated. Nice Sun Tzu paraphrasing. You could also mention trying to reduce the level of tension in your body, so you're balanced and strong but not stiff& slow, and being mobile but not making too many unnecessary movements (like the ridiculous bouncing up and down in Karate or TKD).

[@EnFyr]

The best feeling one can have is when you finally feel your cardio getting better. Being able to go 2 minutes longer on the bag without getting the taste of blood in your mouth.

[@21theslayers]

Probably one of your most informative videos 👍🏻 awesome job man

[@andrewtanczyk4009]

I’ve noticed being tense causes fatigue. Yet being relaxed when punches are being thrown at you is difficult to be relaxed. The more stressful and tense you are will cause fatigue. Think that comes with experience. The more relaxed you are the less likely you are to fatigue. Conditioning helps also. I’ve noticed throwing none stop punches on the heavy bag has been helping. Rather than focusing on power punches on the bag just throw volume punches for speed and endurance.

[@robbybee70]

when I started I sucked so bad I actually improved when I got tired

[@OdysseusLaerte]

Great tutorial! Thanks Mike! 👍

[@bradpryer]

Always great Mike! Thanks!

[@sangetube]

Love the Cliff 💖

[@wout4yt]

Nice high kicks, Cliff has some very mobile hips, I'm genuinly jealous.

[@alphamech9659]

My man Cliff a beast on the real.

[@sluggensluggen5075]

Gym looks freaking awesome!

[@snazdogdbfan251]

Watching this after skoo. Thanks teach

[@daveyboytellem]

Always practiced breathing on a bike at the gym. Easy to go hard get tired and you can keep going at a decent pace to catch your breath focusing all on your breathing and seeing what helps drop your heart rate fastest. Im a big fan of a big inhale then 5 smaller quick inhales through nose then another big inhale then exhale

[@Earth1218Fightclub]

Im getting into shape with boxing, just had my first go at sparring and i couldnt finish unfortunately; but like you said i cant finish a round YET. just got to keep pushing! thanks for the video

[@hard2hurt]

YET!

[@E2O10]

9 months later, how many rounds can you go?

[@vonpewpewtv4400]

9:10 Sun Tzu: Art of War "appear weak when you are strong, appear strong when you are weak"

[@TheBrazuca069]

Duuuude! You're great! Remind me of my first Kru

[@S60Rguy]

Great teacher and great content!

[@MrRabiddogg]

I remember watching an old NFL films documentary, I think it was Jerry Rice (it's been 20 years so it may have been another player) who said he always got up slowly so the defense would not know if he was hurt and tired or not. This way they would have to guess whether he is 100% or just 80%.

[@julianxsaez]

For someone who has asthma, I train hard asf to work on my breathing during fighting.

[@johnjames7966]

Thank you. I utilize much of this content in my stand up. What is your tactic for grappling? Especially on bottom. I fatigue faster and easier when grappling.

[@hard2hurt]

I'll let you know when i figure it out. I'm in the same boat as you.

[@the89Tman]

I have found the best way is try and stay on your hips and to keep from being smashed flat for too long. It takes energy to frame off and shrimp to a better position, but it will dissipate some of your opponents pressure and put you in a much more offensive position, which puts a little pressure on the guy on top. Well, all that and breath work.

[@TheDOS]

Tiny pointer about the breathing: don’t do the “shh” part, try to avoid restricting your breathing, it’s costing you little bit of energy. Try doing the breathing without the actual restriction of the breath, everything else can stay (bracing etc).