Page 39 - Muscle & Fitness (December 2019)
P. 39
By Jeff Tomko
one minute. (Davis also owns THE BODYSHOP WAY H O W D O T H E Y D O I T ?
a 39-second KO following “I couldn’t even tell you our
a spinning leg kick back in entire workout, because I get M I N D G A M E S
2018.) And in September, so tired that I forget half the
DAZN MMA analyst Robin
teammate Aviv Gozali scored shit we do,” A.J. claims. Black breaks down A.J. McKee’s
an 11-second heel-hook A.J. divulges only the work- eight-second knockout.
submission at Bellator 226. out basics: 100 pullups,
How is this all possible? 400 situps, some heavy bag FOCUS A.J. sees each
Precision training, says DAZN and kick drills, followed by 1 fight like a baseball hitter
MMA analyst Robin Black. resistance-band training. sees and swings at a fastball—
“These special moments A.J. One surprise: Minimal he has a highly tuned focus
and the entire Bodyshop are sparring is done at one of for every fight condition.
creating are a direct result MMA’s most dangerous
of preparation,” Black fight camps. “I’ve TEAMWORK Antonio
says. “Most of that never trained with a 2 and Bodyshop have
credit must go to WATCH mouthpiece,” A.J. helped A.J. build skills—as has
Antonio—he’s A.J. McKee fight admits. A.J. He’s in a perpetual state
a brilliant mar- Derek Campos at But the shock of optimizing himself—he’s
tial artist and a Bellator Hawaii (not may be Antonio’s constantly improving his
uniquely inspir- yet numbered) live physical ability ability to improve his ability.
on DAZN on Dec. 21,
ing leader.” not only to grind
10 p.m. EST.
But try getting with Bodyshop’s PSYCH OUT A fighter’s
details from the nor- elite and much 3 mental readi ness for
mally vociferous An- younger athletes but to combat needs to be self-
be badass enough to wear
tonio, and he shuts down out his title-contending son. regulated. Too much and
L U C A S N O O N A N / B E L L AT O R “I can’t tell you, because if I tell it’s like he’s on crack,” A.J. says. little and you’ll be too passive.
you’ll be too aggressive; too
when asked about training.
“I won’t train with my dad—
you that, then other gyms are
A.J. has honed his ability to
control his psychological state
“I’m literally beat-up, and he’s
going to copy,” he says. “That’s
why you don’t see any training
perfectly each fight, allowing
just breaking in. But he knows
him to create these quick and
our bodies and when we need
videos on my [IG] page. All you
beautifully dynamic finishes.
see is victory, victory, victory.”
rest. He’s why we win.”
A.J. needed one
left hook to KO
Georgi Karak-
ha nyan, while
Antonio scored
a second-round
TKO.
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 / M U S C L E & F I T N E S S 3 7
