Remember way back when I began my quest for the ultimate MMA bag? Now, almost two years later, there’s finally someone who may have hit the mark. Datsusara is a company out of Albany, California started by Chris Odell. After seeing the market vacuum for decent Mixed Martial Arts gear, Chris decided to spearhead an effort to make his own awesome gear and thus, Datsusara was born. Datsusara’s MMA LGB-1 is designed by Chris and his gym buddies, and the design of this bag addresses real needs from guys who really train.

I came across this article on strength training by Ross Enamait discussing strength training and theories on fast/slow twitch muscle development. Ross teaches training methods appropriate for fighters as opposed to the type of weight training that bodybuilders practice.

The gist of it is that strength training is the development of strength with the use of resistance. It’s a myth that lifting weights is an incorrect way to develop strength for combat athletes. Rather, it’s the way you train that can affect your results regardless whether you lift weights or use body weight.

Ross defines four types of strength:

• Maximal Strength – maximum force output under voluntary effort
• Explosive Strength – maximal forces in minimal times
• Speed Strength – quick execution of unloaded movement
• Strength Endurance – maintaining muscular function under stress over time

This video shows Georges St-Pierre, Denis Kang, and David Louiseau doing strength training in a balanced way. Notice that the coach in the video emphasizes that muscle contractions are always done as quickly as possible in an explosive manner, then he slows them down on the negative.

Also, check this video out for some training ideas to develop explosive power and speed:

A while back I wrote an entry about MMA gear bags and the problem that a lot of us have which is how to deal with your sweaty, wet rash guards, gloves, gis, etc.

I’ve found a few additional possible solutions from a Lacrosse sports gear company called Warrior. If there’s anybody who knows how to deal with equipment funk, it’s lacrosse players. Check out their site, they have a bunch of decent looking bags that offer great ventilation and are conscious of the wet/dry separation issue.

These guys have also come up with a slick bag called the Black Hole Funk Off Bag which has a fan built into it that sucks fresh air in, and advertises dry gear in a few hours. The fan plugs into the wall, and is removable. Might not work with thick, folded up gis, but for rashies, MMA gloves, pads, it’ll probably do the trick.

Satoko’s file on the Fight Finder reveals an impressive 24-1-2 record in various Japanese promotions. She’s got a super aggressive fight style and some sick throws and subs.

Anyone who has gone through sports competition will agree that when physically all things are equal, the deciding factor that brings a dubya is mental. I’ve been reading a book called Competitive Fire by Michael Clarkson. In it, Clarkson shares his research on the mental/physical connection that elite athletes have mastered. He talks about the different mind/body states that athletes can achieve. Most of these are caused by different chemicals that the mind triggers to enter the bloodstream consequently giving the athlete boosted speed, strength, and mental focus. This isn’t the first blog entry I’ve posted on this subject, but I find it completely fascinating and worth further investigation.