Daniel Cormier’s Unorthodox Coaching Method: Gi Training for Wrestlers

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has gained recognition not just as a top competitor but also as an innovative coach in mixed martial arts (MMA). One of his most discussed training philosophies is requiring his wrestlers to train in a gi, a practice many traditional wrestling coaches might dismiss.

In a recent interview, Cormier explained his rationale: “I got like a team of guys now. I’m training out of my gym and every week, two days a week, I send them over to my jiu-jitsu coach, put a gi on. They’re like, ‘We got to wear a gi, coach.’ I’m like, ‘If you can grapple with a gi.’”

Cormier believes that this training method offers significant advantages, citing his own career as evidence. “Oh, dude. You get when you take it off. Oh, it made my grappling that much better because I’m so used to people breaking, trying to move and them holding me down,” he said.

For wrestlers transitioning to MMA, training in a gi introduces resistance that highlights weaknesses in control, posture, and patience. Cormier noted that the grips on the fabric mimic the challenges faced when opponents grasp the cage or slow down scrambles. “It’s always so much gi jiu-jitsu when I was fighting. It was just mandatory,” he added.

His unique approach reflects broader trends in how MMA athletes develop, especially those from regions where combat sambo, which combines gi grappling, striking, and submissions, is introduced at a young age. “They start wrestling in all these sports around 5 years old,” Cormier explained.

The gi slows down the pace of training, requiring precision and patience. Cormier argues that if his wrestlers can handle the friction and control of gi training, they will find all other aspects of MMA easier. This insistence on gi training signifies a shift in American wrestling coaching for MMA, promoting complex grappling skills necessary to compete against experienced opponents.

Cormier’s methods have proven effective, demonstrated by the success of his fighters who understand grappling as an essential part of their martial arts education. His strategies underline the need for holistic training in modern MMA, where adaptability and diverse skill sets are crucial for success.