10 Weird Training Methods Athletes Use to Dominate
When you’re getting paid millions of dollars to play a game, the competition at the top is intense. And simply putting more time into the gym doesn’t always cut it.
That’s why some athletes use crazy training methods to improve their game.
From strobe lights to cryotherapy, elite players are willing to do anything to gain an edge.
That said, let’s look at 10 athletes/teams who dominated by using some unusual and downright weird methods to get better.
1. Michael Jordan Wore Strobe Light Glasses
Michael Jordan’s long-time trainer, Tim Grover, used strobe lights to help MJ practice shooting while dealing with court-side photography.
Jordan found the strobe lights useful in other ways, and purchased strobe-light glasses to train. Here’s more from ESPN on the matter:
But Jordan noticed the lights helped in other ways. The game seemed to slow down. He picked up on visual cues he wasn’t seeing before. For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, it was making him better, even beyond tolerating photographer’s flashes.
Today, NBA stars like Steph Curry and Kawhi Leonard also use strobe-light glasses.
2. Manny Pacquiao Lets People Beat Him with Sticks
You may have seen Rocky IV, where Rocky Balboa’s trainers slab his abs while he’s doing sit-ups. Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao does something similar, only a bit more harsh.
He has trainers hit his body with sticks to prepare him for the punching power of opponents. As Men’s Fitness points out, Pacquiao says that getting beaten with wooden batons familiarizes him with pain so that he doesn’t lose focus when getting hit during a fight.
3. LeBron James Uses Cryotherapy
You wouldn’t think that freezing your ass off in a chamber that blasts you with cold air would have many athletic benefits. But given that 4-time MVP LeBron James swears by the treatment, which can reach -260 F, there must be something to it.
According to Cleveland News 5, cryotherapy speeds up the production of anti-inflammatory proteins that heal your body.
4. Troy Polamalu Skipped Heavy Weights, Used Iso-Kinetics
NFL safeties are known for their hard hitting and toughness. So one would naturally think that former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was frequently grunting through bench presses and power cleans during his 12-year career.
But Polamalu instead used exercises known as iso-kinetics, where one focuses on building fast muscles instead of big ones. Going further, iso-kinetics force your muscles to work on balancing and quickness to change your nervous system.
So rather than loading 450 pounds onto the squat bar, Polamalu would do light squats while jumping off a mat.
5. Chelsea Practices Headers on Medicine Ball
Chelsea is consistently near the top of the English Premier League year in and year out. Perhaps some of the bizarre training methods they use are the reason why.
As you can see below, one Chelsea player is practicing his headers while balancing on a medicine ball.
6. Frank Shamrock Rolled Around with Pilates Ball
Former UFC Middleweight Champion and retired MMA fighter Frank Shamrock used an unconventional technique to simulate rolling around with an opponent on the mat.
Shamrock rolled on the ground with medicine and pilates balls while trying to keep his balance and stay on top.
7. Michael Phelps Sleeps in an Altitude Chamber
You’ve probably seen other athletes use altitude chambers, but Michael Phelps is the most-famous example that we could find.
The 23-time gold medal winner uses an altitude chamber to condition his body to living in a higher altitude, which, in turn, causes the body to produce more red blood cells and improve endurance. Judging from Phelps’ results, we’d say it definitely works.
8. Japan Soccer Teams Does Lots of Strange Stuff
There’s a lot going on in the following picture, and we can’t make out exactly what all the Japanese national soccer team is doing here.
It looks like the goalie is tied to the post by a bungee cord, one guy is jumping back and forth on Bosu balls, and another player has a barbell while standing on a Bosu ball.
9. Rickson Gracie Pulled Objects with a Headband
Part of the proud Gracie MMA tradition, Rickson Gracie used several strange training techniques to get ready for the octagon.
As you can see in the video below, Gracie pulled against a heavy object using a rubber headband. He also did some rigorous beach workouts too.
10. Rampage Jackson Beats the Shit out of Doors
Okay, this has little to do with training. But to watch Quinton “Rampage” Jackson destroy this door, you know that he has to train by punching and kicking some pretty crazy things.