Jamie Douse, one of our very own Australian Kettlebell Workshop presenters, has written an excellent article on the use of ballistic kettlebell exercises as supplementary training for the MMA athlete.

Jamie has a list of credentials as long as your arm. He has been involved in the fitness industry 20 + years, specialising in kettlebell training & instruction for the last 4. He has received instruction from Steve Cotter, Rick Ravensdale, Ben Minos, Phil Kourbatski, Don Stevenson and the great Vasily Ginko, under whom he recently achieved Level 2 National GS Instructor accreditation.

His services have been utilised by everyone from average joes to elite level athletes, including professional cage fighter Shaun Spooner. Currently his expertise in the field of strength & conditioning is employed by South West Vale Tudo & Eclipse Martial Arts.

He trains the trainers in his role as a lecturer in the Department of Fitness, Sport & Recreation at TAFE and industry qualifications include

IUKL KB Level 2 National GS Instructor
AKI accredited Australian Kettlebell instructor
Australian Strength & Conditioning Association Level 2 Strength & Conditioning Coach
Australian Weightlifting Federation Level 1 Power Coach
Cert IV Personal Trainer
Cert IV TAA

Here is the beginning of Jamie's in-depth article (for the full article, click the link below):

Anecdotal use of Ballistic Kettlebell Exercises in the Power Training of Mixed
Martial Arts Athlete

This article examines the kettlebell drills we have adopted to improve the conditioning and more particularly the power of some of the MMA athletes training at South West Vale Tudo (Bunbury, Western Australia).

South West Vale Tudo has been operating for approximately 12 months. The club attracts amateur and professional combat athletes and general fitness enthusiasts. The age of the participants ranges from 14 to 40 and they all present with varying levels of fitness, skill and commitment.

A brief history of kettlebells is provided and the sport of MMA is surmised. With the focus of the article being on kettlebells and associated power benefits a review of strength qualities and their importance to the MMA athlete is presented.

Core kettlebell exercises from the ballistic set are reviewed in a textual and video format, enhancing the readers understanding of the drills described. The benefits of each of the lifts to the athlete are identified.

Finally, some examples of how kettlebells have been incorporated within the strength and conditioning program have been included as have the results of the testing that has been conducted so far.

For the full article click here (go to the menu on the left hand side and click on the link to "Anecdotal use of Ballistic Kettlebell Exercises in the Power Training of Mixed Martial Arts Athlete".

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