Strength and Conditioning for Combat Sports

The role of the strength and conditioning coach for a combat athlete is to perform a needs analysis in which both the fighter as an individual and the sport itself are assessed in order to develop a high-performance programme. This might include plyometrics, speed and agility, endurance and core stability, strength training and nutrition as just some of the pieces of this complex jigsaw. The aim is to increase strength, speed, power, endurance, agility and flexibility. Strength and Conditioning for Combat Sports aims to help the coach and athlete bridge the gap between the theory of training and applied training, helping the athlete to become faster, stronger and more flexible and to build their muscular endurance so they perform better and remain injury-free. This will be essential reading for all martial arts coaches and practitioners and sports science students. Fully illustrated with 330 colour photographs and 90 diagrams.

Darren Yas Parr trained with Muay Thai Masters in the late 80s and early 90s, and has worked in the health and fitness industry since 1996. He has been a strength and conditioning coach since 2005, and has a BSc in Sports Performance (Hons) and many certifications in strength and conditioning, fitness and nutrition. Originally from Manchester, UK, Darren Yas Parr is now based in the US, and has worked with athletes from children to adult Olympians and professionals.