Ball Fight: How to Develop Strength and Balance

The Burn with Kearns' coaching team always strives to take things to a new level with our fighter and athlete clients.

Remember when we were kids and we used to play “kill the guy with the ball?” That was a great game because it taught us a lot of relevant skills. It was applicable for wrestling, grip strength, maintaining balance and impact conditioning.

A favorite way of using this game in training is with a heavy duty rubber band and belt system, two fighters and a stability ball. The idea behind this is similar to when we were kids — just get the ball away from the guy who has it.

The challenge for the fighter is holding onto the ball while he has an industrial strength band pulling him backwards. The purpose of the band is it ups the intensity of the workout. Try this one out in the backyard just in case it gets a little unruly.

MMA Training Concepts - Hammer Time

There is no question that without a strong striking game, you are not going to last in the MMA game. We have seen the tide of fights changed with one well placed strike. Whether it’s an elbow or a punch, timing, strength and endurance are major factors.

There are a variety of ways to develop strong strikes. At Burn with Kearns, we use a lot of “off the shelf” items to accomplish this. For an item to be consided “off the self” it has to be affordable, adaptable and functional.

One of my favorite items that anybody can find and implement is small sledge hammers, in weights anywhere from 2-6 pounds. The amount of work that can be done in multiple dimensional angles is truly amazing and limitless. They can develop grip strength and endurance in all the muscles used for striking.

For the MMA and grappling game, they are one of my go-to tools for fight prep. When we perform this workout, there will not be a muscle you do not feel in your entire striking mechanics. This is also great for shoulder and hand rehab as well.

MMA Training Tips - On Unstable Ground

Instability training is really a simple concept. If you train in an unstable environment your stability improves in a stable one.
To continue this line of thinking, it is very important for fighters to “feel” the pressure of combat and the chaotic nature of the fight. One of the hardest aspects to prepare for a fight in the Octagon is getting stuck against the cage. This is not a fun position to be in, especially if your sight is compromised from a previous strike.

We prepare for this situation, knowing all too well that it can happen at any given moment. The first time I showed this drill to Marcus Davis, he said, ‘That’s exactly what the pressure feels like in the ring.”

The drill is simple. One fighter is sitting on the floor against the cage or wall defending, and the other fighter is attacking with a large stability ball and crushing the guy against the cage.

This replicates the overwhelming pressure that combat athletes feel in the ring. When you add to the scenario that the fighter can’t see that crushing motion, he needs to feel it. We use the Bosu Ballast Ball for this drill since it adds some weight to the drill as well. Hey, I never said I was a nice guy!

Victoria, British Columbia

I am truly blessed to be able to travel so much and meet such wonderful people around this earth of ours. Victoria, British Columbia is an unbelievable place. I have never seen a place so clean. The architecture is inspiring. What a beautiful island. Victoria feels as if you stepped back in time in Europe when you walk around.

Big kudos to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, from Clarks Tae Kwon Do for bringing me out to perform a seminar. Although I do not relish being away from my family, I would have liked to stay longer to explore. 

On the way back from Victoria to Seattle, on a early flight, I was treated to an intensely inspiring sunrise! As a culture, we need to stop and look around once in a while and appreciate the marvels of our planet.

Also, I have to say traveling on Alaskan Air is awesome. From the people, to their planes, it is truly a pleasure to do business with them. 

Alaska Update Day 3 - Burn with Kearns 90 Day Fitness Challenge

Yesterday, we kicked off a Burn with Kearns' 90 Day Fitness Challenge at Anthony Barker's Valley Tang Soo Do in Wasilla, Alaska . We had 34 people sweating and smiling to the Burn with Kearns' protocols. Today, I will be performing an MMA conditioning workout then watching UFC 111 at the Barker's home. You want mind clearing experience this is the place!

Alaska Day Two

Today I saw one of God's finest creations, Mount McKinley. It is the tallest point in North America, at 20 thousand feet. There is no pollution up here, the air and water feel and taste different. This is truly the last frontier in America. 

To put Alaska into prospective, the state of Alaska would take up two thirds of the United States! Three quarters of the state is roadless. The air is so clear that it is hard to judge distance. Something that looks close is actually far away. 

With all the trails and woods out here, it is simple to get back to nature. You can be at peace while exercising or taking time to get quite. Time feels as if it stops. You can be a human being instead of a human doing. 

Special thanks to Anthony Barker and Valley Tang Soo Do for showing me this beautiful state. I can't wait to come back. Stay tuned for my video blog next week."

Arrived in Alaska

Mr Barker of Valley Tang Soo Do Martial Arts School picked me up last night at the Anchorage Airport a little after midnight. First I have to say I am very impressed with Alaskan Airlines. The service was great and the experience awesome. Upon my arrival at the airport I found the airport to be one of the nicest I have been in. It is clean and has a variety of food shops and stores. 


Mr Barker drove me through a glacieral lake where I saw the mountains for the first time. It literally looks as if you could touch the stars on top of them. This morning as I look out the window of my hotel, the sun is just rising over the mountains. I find myself with little sleep, but very inspired. This truly is God's country and I can't wait to experience it. I'm off now to catch the sunrise and a hike.