Rick Jimenez — head coach at Dragon Snake MMA in Tempe, Arizona — joins me for a conversation on martial arts training, fight preparation, and building a strong gym culture. We dive into his approach to developing fighters, the mental side of competition, and lessons learned from years on the mats.

📍 Dragon Snake MMA: https://dragonsnakemma.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dragonsnakemma/

⏱ Chapters
0:00 – Intro2:15 – Rick’s background in martial arts8:40 – The story behind Dragon Snake MMA15:22 – Building a fighter’s mindset23:10 – Coaching philosophy & approach to sparring31:44 – Preparing athletes for competition41:20 – Strength & conditioning for fighters52:55 – Advice for new martial artists59:18 – Closing thoughts

Affiliate Links
🦶 VivoBarefoot – 20% Off First Order: https://vivobarefoot.mention-me.com/m/ol/jc7dj-jake-shields💧 AquaSwing – Water-Filled Rope Flow: https://www.aquaswing.com/?ref=JACOBSHIELDS🌀 Body Lever – Alleviate Your Deepest Tensions: https://www.thebodylever.com/?ref=bpyotrjo

🎙 Follow the PodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/quality_values/