Biggest Loser’s new trainers have introduced the masses to a new way to stay fit: fighting. New trainers Golden Gloves winner Cara Castronuova and Brett Hoebel have truly brought out the fight in each of their team members and it shows. While many thought that the only way to drop double digit numbers each week was with Bob and Jillian’s state of the art technologically advanced equipment inside the Biggest Loser gym, Cara and Brett have shown all you need to get a killer workout is a few ropes and a boxing gloves.
Fighting isn’t a new fitness fad, and you might catch a jab to the face for calling it so, but it is growing in popularity in the mainstream fitness community. Last night’s episode of Biggest Loser even featured Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA Gym, and for most, MMA is a term you aren’t familiar with- but should be.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a specific fighting style, even though most think it’s a blanket term for martial arts, and focuses on combining techniques from other fighting styles, so almost anything goes. Also referred to as ultimate fighting, MMA is full contact, allowing both grappling (wrestling and submission holds) and striking (punching, kicking, etc.) with opponents both standing and on the ground. It’s so popular because fighters of different training backgrounds can fight against each other using their preferred method of fighting. Fights are won based on decisions from the judges if both fighters make it through all rounds, knockouts, or submissions, which is where a fighter taps out after being put into a painful hold they cannot get out of. Yeah, it’s pretty intense.
Rutten is a retired and decorated MMA fighter who opened his own gym in California. He is one of the most sought after trainers for professional fighters as well as celebrities and novices. His gym also offers classes in other types of fighting styles including Krav Maga, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and fitness classes for the less punch-happy, like Fit Bag and Kickboxing.