Frederic Delavier

I considered myself extremely lucky when I found out that I was going to have a chance to review "The Strength Training Anatomy Workout" by Frederic Delavier. Yes, maybe I approached it from a biased point of view, but at the same time, that same bias and high expectation could have left me disappointed if this book had done nothing short of astounding me.

I am not disappointed.

Just the opposite.

I love this book as much, if maybe not more, than the previous companion "Strength Training show more Anatomy." I proudly use and display both books in my health library.

The diagrams are clear and detailed, educational and enlightening. The text is straight-forward and easy to understand. Most of all, the entire package is professional and full of practical and user-friendly knowledge. Each exercise has detailed explanations and diagrams showing exactly which muscles are worked, with examples that take into account real-world limitations and situations. This book also includes workout routines that can be followed precisely, or modified to fit your personal goals and lifestyles.

This book (along with its companion) speaks for itself. You will not regret owning it. show less

Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy was released by Human Kinetics in 2013. The volume is a translated and revised edition of Frédéric Delavier and Michael Gundill's Musculation Pour le Fight et les Sports de Combat, originally published in France in 2012. Delavier and Gundill have collaborated with each other on many works focusing on strength training, bodybuilding, and anatomy, several of which have been released in English by Human Kinetics. I was particularly interested in show more Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy since I myself am a martial artist. I have had some cross-training in other styles (namely tai chi, aikido, and hung gar), but my primary focus in the martial arts has been on traditional Okinawan karate, specifically Shōrin-ryū and Shūdōkan, as well as kobujutsu. Even though I'm not currently active in mixed martial arts, I anticipated that Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy would still be applicable to my own martial arts training. I was very pleased when I was selected to receive a review copy of the work through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

After a short introduction that establishes why martial artists should pursue strength training, Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy is divided into three major parts: "Principles of Strength Training," "Strength Training Exercises for Fighting," and "Training Programs." The first part covers the basics of strength training and how it can be applied by martial artists to complement their martial arts training. The section specifically focuses on techniques used to increase strength, power, and flexibility, to improve conditioning and endurance, and to prevent injury and support recovery. The strength training exercises are arranged by their practical applications: strengthening the neck, jaw, and core, improving punches, strikes, and kicks, and developing better grabs, pulls, chokes, and throws. The section devoted to training programs provides examples of basic, specialized, and customized strength training programs and circuits.

Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy could have just as easily, and perhaps more accurately, been called Strength Training for Martial Artists. The book outlines strength training principles, exercises, and programs that have been modified for use within any martial arts or combat sports context, and not just specifically in mixed martial arts. Traditional bodybuilding exercise have been modified to mimic fighting conditions to more effectively develop muscle strength and endurance for practical rather than simply aesthetic applications. There is also an emphasis on compound exercises over isolation exercises since martial arts require the use and engagement of the entire body instead of individual muscle groups. Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy focuses on five goals: increasing muscle mass and weight, increasing strength, increasing power, improving isometric endurance, and improving muscular endurance.

Fighters and martial artists who are just beginning to supplement their regular practice with strength training will benefit the most from Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy. However, those who are more experienced should also be able to find useful information and valuable recommendations in the volume. Delavier and Gundill do assume at least some basic familiarity with the use of weights, bands, and other equipment, but for the most part the book is suitable for beginners. All of the exercises described include variations which allow them to be adjusted to better suit a martial artist's particular fighting style, body type, or current level of experience or strength. The risks and martial benefits of each exercise are also included which further helps to customize and tailor a program for a martial artist's individual needs. Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy is a fantastic volume--accessible, well-organized, as well as practical. I know that my own training has already benefited from what I've learned by reading it.

Experiments in Manga show less

I was surprised when I was awarded this book. As you may guess, I’m not an MMA fighter, nor have I aspirations to be. Given the subject matter of this book, I expected to be lost. I was not. The fact someone with my lack of knowledge easily followed this book speaks volumes to me. Delavier did an amazing job of keeping the text jargon-free while still making it specific to MMA goals.
Divided into three parts, this book is clear, logical and easy to understand. Detailed, specific movements show more are difficult to translate into written word, but Delavier does so in clear, precise terms. Between the layout of the text and the marvelously detailed anatomical drawings, replicating these movements is simple (and yes, I tried a few, much to my husband’s amusement.). In particular, the instructions helped me understand what each movement was for, not just what muscle, but what move, what goal, why it was important as a fighter. For example, page 98 is instructions for Leg Lifts on a Pull-up Bar. This is to strengthen the “rectus femoris, psoas, iliacus, abdominal muscles, and arms,” (Delavier 98). It’s under the Kicks and Knee Strikes chapter. But the author instructions you to do the leg exercise will contracting the arm muscles because when you in an actual fight, you will most likely be contracting you arms at the same time as you legs in this move. This is brilliant!
As a female, I feel compelled to add in a woman’s viewpoint. As no time did I feel this book was angled towards only male MMA fighters. Yes, most of the models were men. This makes sense. Most MMA fighters are male. But all instructions are gender-neutral and open to either sex.
Delavier included citations and reference to medical studies about muscle power, control etc. This gave me confidence in his instructions. He also included many points of warning about how to prevent injury in the gym and in the ring. While fighting is throwing a punch, it’s also about withstanding a punch, and Delavier encouraged the reader to prepare for that.
I also found the programs at the end very helpful. Part 1 is general instructions, Part 2 the individual exercise, and Part 3 puts it all together. This gave a beginner like me much confidence. At the same time, it’s obvious an experience fighter would be able to use the instructions to create a program tailored to them. Delavier did an excellent job of writing a work that spans novice to professional with ease.
My only qualm, and it’ a small one, is that some of the male models wore shorts entirely too small for a man – I’m looking at you, shoulder-star-tattoo dude on page 88.
In the end, I would recommend this book, not only to MMA fighters (if I knew any) but to anyone interested in learning specific way to increase strength, power and endurance. While this book is most definitely written for fighters, the information is helpful to anyone looking to become more athletic.

The received this book free as part of LibraryThings’ Early Reviewers Program in exchange for my fair and honest opinion show less

This is perhaps the most comprehensive, well-illustrated, and easy to use reference manual for any kind of exercise that I've seen. The explanations are clear and precise, the exercises themselves are categorized in ways that are useful (not just for creating the look of fitness, but fitness itself in its several varieties), and the illustrations and photographs make it nearly impossible to not understand what's going on when you train your core musculature.

But perhaps the most important show more aspect of this book is the keen awareness that while everyone would benefit from some core training, there are different kinds of benefits for different kinds of purposes (both in looks and in performance). This nuanced approach is particularly important for someone looking to increase core strength for a specific purpose (e.g., to increase cycling performance without adding additional bulk and weight). show less