Issue 092
September 2012
The former US Olympian wrestler has ploughed through 10 challengers and the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament without a defeat. Here’s how to mimic his greatest hits
Far from being a servant of wrestlers’ designated lay ‘n’ pray style, Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champion and AKA product Daniel Cormier, 10-0, has developed surprisingly smart boxing for an Olympic-level grappler. The veteran of the 2004 Athens Games is not only a powerful wrestler and owner of a devastating ground ‘n’ pound attack, but has found significant success on the feet against tall men like ‘Bigfoot’ Silva and Josh Barnett despite only being five-foot-eleven. Here, we go through three moves that can help you get a little closer to Cormier’s game.
KICK CATCH TO HIGH SINGLE WITH FOOTSWEEP FINISH
An old one but a good one; this type of move is perfect for the grappler who may find their an opponent wary of their ground game and trying to maintain distance but still cause damage by attacking with kicks.
IN THE GYM
Much drilling is required to perfect the kick catch and pass. Ensure that you sidestep to take the sting out of the kick, cover with the free hand, and as you swap hands, cover your jaw with the elbow.
IN ACTION
Cormier's Strikeforce: Barnett vs Kharitonov fight against Antonio 'Pezao' Silva solidified his place as a legitimate heavyweight contender, not just because of the spectacular knockout finish, but the real mixed martial arts application of his wrestling technique. Catching the body kick, he passed the kick to the inside, elevated the heel and stepped behind the supporting leg to tilt him to the mat with the kind of finesse you'd expect from a featherweight Muay Thai champion, not a heavyweight wrestler.
HIGH CROTCH THROW
This is certainly one move Cormier would have extracted from his years at the highest level of freestyle wrestling. It allows him yet another avenue to take the fight to the floor outside of the standard double-leg and single-leg shots.
IN THE GYM
The standing Karelin lift is a partner drill that works the explosive hip-pop necessary to get amplitude on the high-crotch and the twist that Cormier used to finish. Cormier has been very low when he’s attacked the single-leg in the past: his posture bent over at the waist, making it impossible to execute a heavy lift. Attention must be paid to recovering posture against resistance in order to hit lifts effectively. The partner ‘good morning’ lift is another old-school wrestling partner drill that develops this particular attribute, teaching you to get your legs under the load and recover posture rather than wrench the back.
IN ACTION
Cormier threw Josh Barnett with a spectacular high-crotch at Strikeforce: Barnett vs Cormier in May. First he picked the high single-leg with head on the outside, then backed up a couple of steps to draw him in, allowing him to reach a deeper grip on the crotch. He lifted him high off the mat, twisting him to land on his shoulders to finish.
ROTATIONAL POWER
Cormier’s punching power is rooted in his wrestling. Here's an old school wrestling partner exercise for training rotation in the trunk and legs.
IN THE GYM
Take your partner in a fireman's carry. Twist your feet as you spin the partner 180 degrees right and left. Increase the speed and you'll be dragged off balance unless you sufficiently tighten and control your trunk. Do not attempt to twist from the upper body only. Use the legs as though throwing a hook or executing a twisting throw.
IN ACTION
Cormier’s punching power comes via the twisting action from his thick-set torso. Take a look at the big punches that knocked out Antonio Silva in September last year, or his ground ‘n’ pound from half guard – all are effective thanks to rotational power.
