UFC Strength Coach Kevin Kearns Discusses His Role in MMA
Below is an interview I did with UFC strength coach Kevin Kearns. Enjoy!
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into training numerous MMA fighters such as Kenny Florian?
Kevin Kearns: I started Martial Arts at the age of 13 years old after my father died at age 48. I was what you might think of as the “last pick” (book coming soon). You know the kid that nobody wants to choose for playing ball etc, a late bloomer and also could not defend myself that well either. A close uncle talked me into taking karate and I was hooked! I learned very quickly with the right teaching and practice you can get better. From martial arts, I not only learned self-defense but it instilled in me a high level of discipline, character, and self-motivation. I realized if I wanted something, I need to work three times as hard as the next person.
My karate school added a weight room and I started working out with some of the older chiseled guys. From there one thing led to another and I found myself in 1987 at UMass Boston in the Exercise Physiology department. I was once again hooked on something. Personal training and strength coaching was not so an exploding field as it is today. I started my own company in 1990 after graduating and have been in the trenches training people and athletes ever since.
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As far training fighters came about, I was in the right place at the right time. I started training with my Kru and good friend Mark Dellagrotte from Sityodtong. We trained a little bit years ago but he went the martial art route and I went into fitness. We reconnected in 2005 just as the first season had finished for the UFC TV show. Mark asked me to work and help some other fighters with my functional strength concepts. He received a lot of good feedback from the fighters and mentioned it to Kenny Florian who was on a role in the UFC. Before Kenny’s first title fight, he tweaked his back. I offered to work with him before the fight and fly out and work with him at the show.
Unfortunately, Kenny did not win but fought his heart out. After the fight, he decided he needed to step things up with his strength and conditioning. He hired me full time. His next fight 6 months later, he looked like a completely different person. Even the Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan from the UFC kept commenting on the change in his physique. The rest is history. Word spread and I began to work with a lot of other fighters. But in the end, I am one part of a very good and solid team. It takes a team of pros to build a pro.
I hear Kenny gave you the nickname “Dr. Evil”. How did that come about?
Kevin Kearns: The name came about when I first conceived of the “gas in the tank “ program for sports specific training for MMA. The idea behind the program is to mimic what goes on in a fight, including the pace. It ‘s a hard fast training program that is designed to make the fighters cry in training so they laugh in battle. I never want any of my fighters to question their conditioning on fight night. Of course, it is always monitored with very strict guidelines to avoid overtraining.
Do you train your MMA clients any differently than the average Joe you work with?
Kevin Kearns: Yes, we do. Everyone has a different need and a different goal. One suit size does not fit all and neither does a program. The concept can be similar but the intensity and workload can be very different.
What does your personal workout regimen look like?
Kevin Kearns: 5 days to 6 days per week.
2 days a week of hot yoga 1hr to 1.5 hrs each
3 days of functional strength training
3 days of aerobic work on a versa climber and mini trampoline
1-2 days of mma pad work
Do you follow a strict diet?
Kevin Kearns: Yes, I need lead by example. I did not believe in telling the clients or groups of people they need to lay off junk food and I’m eating Twinkie’s.
You have had your own fitness company (Kevin Kearns Fitness) for 23 years now and are now looking to take it international. Can you tell the readers a little bit about how you started up your own company and what it has been like over the years and where you see it down the road?
Kevin Kearns: I started my company out of a necessity. I worked for other trainers while in college and was going to work for someone else. My girlfriend at the time, who’s now my wife, said as an afterthought, “ why don’t you start your own company.” I said to myself, why not? With her, at my side, I launch the Fitness Connection, which I owned until 2005. 5 years after starting the company in 1990, a client and I purchased a health together, which I owned till 2004. Our idea for the health club was we wanted it to be like “Cheers”. I wanted and my staff to know everyone’s name, a very personal atmosphere, with an emphasis on personal training. In 2004 we decided to move on and I started Burn With Kearns.com and Be Physically Fit .com. Our main goal is to reach as many people as possible to so they can G.O.T. A . ( get off their Ass). We want people to feel good about exercising. I see this company moving into more multimedia products so we can reach and help more people towards their fitness goals.
As if training already elite athletes wasn’t enough, now you are taking on ANYONE looking to improve their health and fitness in a fight to battle obesity. What made you want to start this challenge?
Kevin Kearns: In 2006 the CDC released that obesity was a pandemic. I heard that and it shocks me down to my foundation. I have a client who’s a doctor who is a surgeon that works at the obesity consult center at Tufts. My other company, Be Physically Fit became a consult for the OCC at Tufts. When I sat in on a support group meeting for over 60 patients and heard the stories, it hit me that this is most important work we as fitness professionals can do. I decided that we would use the media attention gained from working with top UFC fighters, to build a brand that would combat obesity.
How do you plan on battling obesity? Through information? Motivation? Nutrition? Training? Supplementation?
Kevin Kearns: All the above, but the first idea we have to hit home is motivation. Once we have people motivated than they are hungry for the information to lead them to a healthy lifestyle. My famous saying is this, “ you are not out of shape, you are just in a different shape than you want to be in.” Let’s put a positive spin on it.
Who is more prone to obesity?
Kevin Kearns: I believe children mostly. The reasons, they exercise less than we do, watch more TV than we did as kids, and tend to eat more unhealthy food.
When you hear from school systems that gym is now only required once a week and recess is cut out, I want to lose my lunch.
Do you find that there is a higher rate of obesity in the United States compared to other countries?
Kevin Kearns: The US is the leader unfortunately but in 2006 CDC found that countries like India and China are now following right behind us.
What are some factors that lead to obesity? Do genetics play a role? Family history?
Kevin Kearns: The main factor that leads to obesity is too many calories in and not enough out. You can say genetics is a factor but it’s secondary to the later.
I hear you have a new DVD that Bodybuilding.com will also be selling. Can you tell us a little bit about the DVD? Do you talk about obesity in the DVD?
Kevin Kearns: BB.com will sell all 5 of our DVD products to start. 4 of my DVDs are gear towards MMA conditioning and martial arts but, anyone wanting a different and fun workout can utilize them. My first DVD is the 30-minute core strength workout, which is an intermediate workout that was used in small impact study for the Obesity Consult Center at Tufts Medical. We found the workout was especially suited for people who had already been in a maintenance level ( 6 months or more) after Bariatric surgery.
What made you want to make this DVD?
Kevin Kearns: I have over 300 workout DVDs at my office that I review regularly. I thought people may like a switch from the “fluff’ and “buff” DVDs. I wanted to create something that was content heavy and fun to use.
If you weren’t in this industry what would you be doing?
Kevin Kearns: I would be an owner of a martial school and helping people in a different way to reach the same goals.
Is there anyone in particular that you would like to thank who helped you get to where you are today?
Kevin Kearns: First my family, especially my wife for backing my all the time with all my crazy ideas and insane work hours. Second my mentors Douglas Brooks, Peter Twist, Dr. David Thomas, Brian Leahy, Tim Barchard, Keith Thompson, Garland Johnson, Steve Lavalle, Paul Garccia, Team Florian, Team Sityodtong, and Strategic Management. Lastly, All of the people that buy my DVDs, read my articles, come to my seminars, and my clients ( who are my second family). These people really help me stay in the trenches and keep pushing the envelope of fitness and wellness.
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Is there anything you would like to add to this interview that we haven’t addressed that you would like the readers to know?
Kevin Kearns: I LOVE WHAT I DO! If I can help just one person a day get a little closer to their fitness goals, then I have a good day. We will combat obesity 1 person and 1 day at a time. Commit to be fit and you will be.
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