Mixed Martial Arts and other combat sports are highly competitive. It seems that every competitor or fighter is searching for an edge to help them get a leg up on the competition. Fighters are often changing camps trying to find the winning formula for their personal success. One of the most successful MMA training camps is in Albuquerque, NM with Greg Jackson. Jackson has earned a reputation of being an excellent game planer and his teams winning percentage shows it.
But how does one game plan for fight, which is very chaotic? Does a trainer fight to use his strengths or his opponent’s weaknesses?
Well I want to suggest an idea that could help fighters develop game plans for their fights. I will use the example of MMA for the matter of consistency but I believe that this method could be used in all the combat sports and all areas of life for that matter.
CARVER
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Military developed a risk based assessment matrix to help prioritize enemy targets. This assessment matrix is called the CARVER matrix. Today, many law enforcement and emergency personnel utilize this method when creating agency strategies.
So how would this matrix work when planning for your next fight?
The acronym CARVER stands for Criticality, Accessibility, Recuperability (also Recoverability), Vulnerability, Effect and Recognizability. Here is a break down on what each means when using this for MMA.
Criticality Is this critical to win the fight?
Accessibility Is this accessible or am I able to do this?
Recuperability Will my opponent be able to recover from this?
Vulnerability Is my opponent vulnerable in this area?
Effect What is the impact of accomplishing this psychologically?
Recognizability Will the judges recognize the advantage or strike?
So how does this work and what does this mean?
To set up the matrix make a spreadsheet similar to the one you see below. After reviewing film on your opponent’s fights get with your coaches or training partners and write down 4-8 areas that you may want to focus on when training for this particular fight. Then rate each position or area of training, in each CARVER category, by scoring them 1-5 (5 being the most critical, the most accessible, the hardest to recover from, the most vulnerable, the biggest impact, and very recognizable; 1 being the least)Rating these areas could be done statically by taking careful statistics of your opponents last three fights. You may also want to have your coach and training partners create their own matrix for your fight, then compare them. This will give you a less distroted view and give you ideas that maybe you would not have thought of.
Below is a sample CARVER matrix of what a possible Muay Thai dominate fighter may come up with if he is fighting a fighter that is predominately a wrestler who likes to utilize the cage for dirty boxing.
THE CARVER MATRIX
Escaping from the guard
|
Takedowns
|
Single Leg Defense
|
Boxing
|
Escaping against the fence
|
Passing the Guard
| |
Criticality
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
1
|
Accessibility
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
Recuperability
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
Vulnerability
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
Effect
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
Recognizeability
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
Total
|
20
|
15
|
22
|
21
|
19
|
15
|
Utilizing the above matrix, would give the fighter the direction that training cage work and takedown defense is probably more important that drilling single legs and guard passing. I realize this may be common sense but I believe that adding quantitative data to a problem can make solution easier to discover. Using this type of matrix to organize your training could have dramatic impacts on your effectiveness, attitude, focus, and motivation.
This same matrix can be used for many purposes using the same guidelines of ranking each category. Proper planning and preparation can mean the difference of winning and losing, being poor and being rich, getting hired and getting fired. Try using the CARVER method with your training and let me know how it works for you.
Jerome
No comments:
Post a Comment