#8 Chris Miah: Lessons from a Pro Fighter & Training the Combat Athlete

In this episode of the David Grey Rehab Podcast, I welcome Chris Miah, a sports therapist, strength and conditioning coach, and professional MMA fighter. Chris just finished his first professional fight after a few years of being retired and he’s here to tell us all about it!

Tune in as we explore Chris’s mindset around his most recent fight, his training strategies leading up to the fight as well as after it, and his unique approach to coaching combat sport athletes. Chris also shares his candid thoughts on how training changes as you age, what he’s learned from his past injuries, and what the future holds for his coaching business.

This episode is one you won’t want to miss…

“I sort of addressed, to the best of my ability, some of the orthopedic issues I had. So that, combined with really harnessing my grappling, I feel I’ve come back a very, very good grappler, but I’m just having to piece together the timing and the distance on the strike a little bit more”. Chris Miah

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Episode Timeline | What You’ll Learn:

00:13 – Introducing Chris Miah & The topics of today’s episode

02:03 – Chris’s career path & Why he became a trainer and coach.

05:02 – Reflecting on his recent fight & How Instagram has helped his fighting career.

08:24 – Why Chris retired from fighting & His experience with Bell’s Palsy.

10:43 – Coming back better: The benefits of taking a break from pro fighting.

12:17 – What Chris has learned from his past injuries: Correcting spinal movements, how pain affects mobility, & the importance of finding what feels good.

22:42 – More strength training doesn’t always equal better results… You need balance and variety!

26:30 – The future of Chris Miah’s remote coaching business & Why remote coaching can be more valuable for fighters.

32:02 – The power of leveraging your specific skills as a trainer and business owner.

35:21 – What Chris’s off-season exercise program looks like right now.

40:59 – Has your education made it easier or harder to step in the ring?

41:51 – Chris’s mindset going into MMA fights: Violence, injuries, & healthy competition.

45:08 – Timing, skills, beliefs, and career management: Which do you struggle with the most?

51:34 – How Chris trains and prepares before a fight.

56:55 – Which 3 coaches would you bring to a stranded island and why?

“Not being in pain has improved my mobility more than all the fancy mobility drills”. Chris Miah

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Chris Miah has trained Mixed Martial Arts from age 17. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Mauricio Gomes/Team Renegade, he has competed extensively throughout Europe on promotions including Cage Warriors, Akhmat, Fight UK, Golden Ticket Fight Promotions, BAMMA and ACA.

Through over a decade of experience competing and coaching he has seen the massive progression in tactical, technical and physical training methods used in the sport.

Chris has always had a huge interest in improving the physical capabilities of combat sports athletes, and in recent years has also had a major focus on improving the health and longevity of combat sports athletes’ careers.

Operating out of the world class training facility, Combat Sports Centre Solihull. NSCA accredited Strength & Conditioning, Chris is passionate about preparing combat sports athletes for competition and life beyond.