The Legend Speaks: John Hackleman on Why Drilling is Often Underused in MMA
Many Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) trainers will agree that though both drilling and sparring are essential to the sport, drilling practice is often underrated. It is essential if you want develop superior control and to improve your ability quickly and avoid too many injuries.
John Hackleman’s Contribution to MMA
John Hackleman is renowned with in the arena of MMA for his prowess in the sport and for being the head trainer at The Pit (www.thepitmma.com) mixed martial arts gym. The 55-year-old was born in New York but moved two Hawaii when he was only four years old. At the age of nine, he began studying Judo. By the time he reached high school, Hackleman was already a champion boxer and competitive kickboxer. He soon added KaJuKenBo to his repertoire—this is an intricate combination of Kempo Karate, Tang Soo Do, Judo, Jujitsu, Chinese Kenpo, and Chinese boxing.
Hackleman joined the Army in 1979, where he spent three years in the Army boxing team. During this time, he won both the state and regional Golden Gloves awards. After leaving the army, he became a professional boxer until 1985. At this time, he relocated to California and named his unique martial arts style Hawaiian Kempo. Hackleman founded The Pit in 1986 with the intention of teaching a uncomplicated approach to serious fighters. Later, Hackleman renamed his style “KuZen,” and opened the gym to the general public. Many well-known MMA champions have trained at The Pit including Chuck Liddell, Court McGee and Antonio Banuelos.
Drilling vs. Sparring
Training at The Pit involves weight training and cardio combined with technique development. Since 2000 Hackleman has also incorporated Crossfit, which increases the intensity of a workout while reducing the length of training time. I’ve written a lot about drilling in combat sport (including insights from the undefeated Ben Askren, and many other top competitors), but Hackleman really hits the nail on the head.
When it comes down to training for MMA, The Pit Master’s views on drilling and sparring are pretty straightforward. The amount of sparring a trainee requires will depend on their level and their current place in their MMA training cycle. But drilling is also crucial, particularly because it’s a great way to train while avoiding injury.
“Drilling is something that I slowly got more into. I was more spar, spar spar, because that’s the way I came out. I came out old school…Getting hit all the time like that for all those years, and the fact that you get broken down so much, I’m so luck I can’t even begin to tell you,” says Hackleman.
The repetition involved in drilling is what will help you develop your skill at a quicker pace. One of the best ways to do MMA drills is to practice with a partner at or close to your skill level. Decide on a particular move or combination that you want to improve and repeat it over and over. If you like, you can set a timer for a fixed number of minutes after while time you and your partner can switch and keep alternating rounds.
“You don’t have to spar all the time. You can drill and practice moves and then spar a few times just before a fight to work out some kinks, and you’re just as good. I think drill, drill, drill is the wave of the future,” says Hackleman.
Hackleman reminds MMA students that grappling is also an important part of the workout because it is a safe way to spar. Grappling helps you to work and your skills and conditioning simultaneously. Once more, you can have a great workout without getting injured as badly as when you are sparring.
Another good training practice that will help you avoid injury is simulating. Hackleman explains that this involves “controlling the contact to the face, simulating a situation like you want to use a combination and do a take down so you simulate that it’s a real fight, but it’s not a real fight.”
You don’t have to use a real opponent to simulate a fight, If you want to create a combination, say to simulate knocking out your opponent you can also practice your moves on a bag. In summary, you can still get the same engagement, the same adrenalin push and similar circumstantial situations without waking up the next morning with swollen eyes and sore kidneys.
Dan Faggella is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and #1 Amazon bestselling author on beating bigger opponents. To get Dan’s best tricks and tips for beating bigger opponents, visit him online at MMAgiveaway.com.
