TYSON FURY gains a leg up on his heavyweight competition thanks to the help of strength and conditioning expert Kristian Blacklock.
The two first linked up in 2015, before Fury went on to shock and dethrone Wladimir Klitschko.
Strength and conditioning expert Kristian Blacklock with Tyson Fury
Boxing coach Sugarhill Steward, Tyson Fury, Kristian Blacklock and Isaac Lowe
Tyson Fury and Kristian Blacklock began working together in 2015
Since then, they have had five more world title fights, including two knockout wins over Deontay Wilder, 37.
Coach Blacklock’s gym is based in Ormskirk, a market town in West Lancashire, where Fury also resides.
The Gypsy King spends at least two days a week with Blacklock, sometimes as many as four.
And when the WBC champion first returns to camp, he has a two week fitness based drills before getting back to his boxing.
It all starts with a thorough warm up but as Blacklock explained to the Daily Mail, it was not something Fury was ever used to.
Blacklock said: “Tyson used to be nightmare when it came to warming up. Tyson used to turn up and expect to train.
“When I started working with him in 2015 he said he had never warmed up properly before. He didn’t warm up at all.”
Fury, 34, has become a heavy-hitter in recent years since linking up with American trainer Sugarhill Steward.
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But with four knockouts in as many bouts, Blacklock can also be credited for conditioning Fury’s powerful legs.
He said: “Everyone looks at Tyson and doesn’t think he has strong legs. I think it’s because he has such long legs.
“But, he does loads of leg sessions. His legs are really strong and his quads are big but people just see the massive long legs.”
Fury is also not shy of revealing his favourite leg-based exercises.
Blacklock said: “Tyson swears by lunges. He gets a lot of sparring partners coming in, good young pros, and they often join in with the S&C.
“They hear Tyson swearing by lunges. He says when you have strong legs in the ring it makes a massive difference.”
Fury recently started training to fight Oleksandr Usyk, 36, in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout.
But after talks broke down, Joe Joyce, 37, and Andy Ruiz Jr, 34, have been named as alternative opponents.
Fury drafted in ex-WBO champion Joseph Parker, 31, to help him train for Usyk and the two continue to push each other in the gym.
Blacklock revealed: “Joseph Parker can actually deadlift more than Tyson.
“If you look at their physiques, Tyson’s not got the best physique for deadlifting.
“He’s got really long legs. But Tyson can deadlift around 220kg. That’s proper deadlifts though.
“All the way to the floor and with a proper Olympic bar. This is a little bit higher and a little bit easier.
“‘For his length of leg to be able to do that is actually really impressive. Joe can actually lift a little bit more.
Tyson Fury working on a strength drill
“Joe can actually lift 240/250kg. But, Joe is about five inches shorter so it’s a lot easier for him.”
Blacklock also likes to keep his sessions sports-specific, ensuring Fury does not overdo it in the gym.
He explained: “If you factor in warm-ups, cool-downs and stretching, you’re probably looking at an hour and a half. Maximum.
“I don’t see any point in doing longer than that. Once you get over a certain amount of training, I think it just become pointless.
“Boxing is 36 minutes for a start so it’s not a full-on endurance sport in the way that a marathon is.
“They are stopping every three minutes for a minute rest. It’s only the top fights that are 36 minutes as well.
“Others are six, eight or 10 round fights. So going out for an hour long run is pointless.”
Tyson Fury with his training team in 2018
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a beginner learn to box at home?
Boxing is one among the oldest sports known to mankind. Boxing was originally developed during ancient times to train warriors to fight against enemies. Boxing is still widely practised today. You don’t even need to go to a gym to box. All you need is a pair of gloves, some punching bags, and a few friends to spar with.
Amateur boxing clubs can be found in your area where you can get trained by professionals. You’ll be ready for tournaments once you have mastered basic combinations and punches.
How long does learning boxing take?
Learning boxing takes around 3 months. This includes learning basic skills like footwork and stance. It’s important to remember that boxing is not only about throwing punches. You need to learn how you can block and dodge attacks.
What can I do to improve my fighting defense?
Learning how to fight intelligently can help you improve your defense. You must know how to defend against attacks from all angles, and you must also know how to counterattack if necessary.
If you don’t know how fight, you won’t be ready for anything. You’ll just get beaten up. If you know how to fight you will be ready for anything.
Here are some ways to improve your defense.
- Know where your opponent’s attack is coming from. This means that you have to pay attention to your opponent’s body language. This could be a sign that your opponent is preparing for his next attack.
- Be calm. Don’t panic. Instead, keep calm and be focused.
- Block with the arms of your armour. Blocking with your arm is a simple, but effective, way to defend yourself against attackers.
- Counterattack. You must immediately counterattack if you see your enemy attacking you.
- Fight dirty. Fighting dirty is another way to defend yourself. You can kick your opponent back if he throws a kick at it.
Statistics
- You want to be running at roughly 75-80% of your top speed..5 mile slow, easy recovery jog at the end.[6]X Research source 2Mix in long runs, shadow boxing, and short sprints on non-interval days. (wikihow.com)
- It is just like normal sparring with a partner, but you want to throw punches at 75% of your normal speed. (wikihow.com)
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How To
How to learn how to box for fitness
How to Learn to Box For Exercise
You learn boxing to increase your physical fitness and self-confidence. Boxing is a popular sport. It requires speed, agility and strength.
Boxing is a great way of getting fit and feeling good about yourself. You’ll love the activity and want to continue it.
There are many types of boxing training programs. Some programs are offered at local gyms and others at your home. There are also online courses which allow you to study from anywhere in the world.
You should ensure that the program you select meets your lifestyle and goals. The best programs focus on exercises that increase muscle mass, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. They also promote overall well being.
It’s important to decide whether you prefer a beginner-level course or one that is more advanced. Beginner’s programs typically teach fundamental techniques and drills like shadowboxing, sparring and mitt work. Advanced programs often cover more complex movements, and include a greater variety of exercises.
These programs are generally less expensive than $100 and last for eight weeks. These programs don’t give any nutritional, weight loss, or injury prevention advice.
Advanced programs generally last around six months and cost approximately $300. They often include nutritional advice, stretching routines, warm-up exercises, and instruction on proper technique. In addition, some programs incorporate resistance training (such as lifting weights) and aerobic conditioning (such as running).
