🕛 12:00–13:00 (German time) 📍 Live on the MMAthletics Discord This week, we’ll be studying Felipe Dos Santos vs. Lone’er Kavanagh from UFC London – 22.03.25. An exciting flyweight bout that offers a lot to unpack: – Two fighters with different physical attributes and tactical approaches – Smart, adaptive use of range and positioning – Varied pacing and tempo shifts used to create openings – Strong offensive wrestling – Great display of jiu-jitsu guard work, mixed with effective ground striking in MMA context A highly dynamic fight, rich with concepts and skills we can all learn from. Bring your questions, observations, and curiosity. Let’s study, learn, and grow together. Message me if you need the Discord link.

Hey MMAthletics fam, Chinkilla is teaming up with a sports scientist to finally put real data on the table about how weight cutting affects the menstrual cycle and recovery. They already have strong results but need more input from non-male athletes to make this even more meaningful. If you’ve ever cut weight, please take a moment to fill out their short survey (link below) and support this important project. Let’s bring more awareness to this together! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfldLeh9l9cFYXTDFNjw4Etj1feRKJxY8ObMwamVl89BqZIyw/viewform?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaegd522Pb9oBFc53CdVw9JlpD7afGZBPlc5CCg45oItls61nXeHNF16zflVmA_aem_XrRsP-9YePQKTqh2HaluIg

What do you prefer and Why?

Hey team – the next session is coming up: I’m Till Stritter, coach at Elevate Gym Bremen and founder of Squared Circle. As many of you know, I’m all about developing sharp skills and building a smart, adaptable tactical game – and that’s exactly the spirit we’ll bring into this Film Study. No single right answers – just shared observation, open discussion, and deeper understanding of the complexity of fighting. Date: Sunday, June 1st Time: • 12:00–13:00 (German time) • 17:00–18:00 (Thai time) • 06:00–07:00 (Eastern US) • 03:00–04:00 (Pacific US) Where: Live on the MMAthletics Discord Server (Link will be posted in advance!) Bring your eyes, bring your thoughts – let’s study together and push our understanding of the fight game. Totally free. See you there!

We’ve had some great conversations in this community already — especially around a common challenge: “My technique feels sharp in drills or pad work, but once we get into live situations, I lose it. I feel overwhelmed.” That’s not just a confidence issue — it often points to a lack of representativeness in training. I believe striking skills need to be built in environments that reflect the demands of real fighting — right from the beginning. That means more than just good technique. It means interaction, timing, rhythm, unpredictability — even at a light or playful intensity. Head contact is a real concern, especially for beginners or kids. But removing it completely can also remove the reason to develop true defensive behaviors — like slipping, parrying, blocking, and managing range. So what’s the solution? Not more pressure. Better pressure. - Scale the intensity - Vary the rhythm - Use constraints that shape real decisions - Let the fight emerge, safely Striking is about being hard to find and quick to respond — not just throwing combos. It’s about manipulating time, space, and perception. It’s about feints, cues, and making the other person move how you want — all while staying one step ahead. These aren’t advanced layers. They’re core skills — and we can train them early, if we do it right. I’d love to hear your thoughts: - What kind of training has helped you feel more prepared in live situations? - Do you feel your skills transfer well from drills to sparring — or is there a gap? - What parts of live training challenge you the most? - Would you be interested in a course or live sessions here focused on representative training — learning how to design practice that feels real, but stays safe and effective? Jump in below. Your experience matters — and could spark a lot of insight for others too.