UFC 295 is just around the corner and it features some of the most exciting matchups. The main event of the card will feature a match between Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Czech Republican fighter Jiri is best known for his unusual training methods and his code of conduct and is considered to be one of the most innovative fighters in the UFC.
Jiri Prochazka is very inspired by Japanese culture, but is he a true samurai? ‘The Czech Samurai‘ is a known practitioner of Bushido which is the ancient moral code of the samurai warriors. When he was young he used to be a troublemaker who was always getting into fights. However, a book gifted by his MMA coach changed his life.
According to Prochazka, ‘The Book of Five Rings’ by Miyamoto Musashi is his bible. “I take the rules in this book like my life’s rules,” said Jiri. Furthermore, this book made him leave his troublemaker side behind and be more disciplined just like a samurai. While he has not officially trained like a samurai, he has embodied the ideology behind it.
Jiri Prochazka is known for his bushido-inspired training methods
BJP likes to train in the natural surroundings near the forest and the mountains. Prochazka has a very traditional home in the forest with all the required equipment. His samurai training style includes punching a tree 500 times per day, climbing ropes, and some katana practice.
Furthermore, he has unique instruments like a small wooden cube on a string which he uses for his neuro-visual training. ‘BJP’ also trains his eye muscles by reading from one eye while wearing an eyepatch on the other. Apart from that, his samurai training included striking makiwara and meditative breathing. However, the craziest thing he did was lock himself in a dark room for three days with no food for his potential rematch against Glover Teixeira.
“It is very helpful. There is just you and you. No other people” said ‘BJP’. He can do these unusual drills because of his bushido mentality. However, he does not explain bushido in detail as he wants MMA fans to learn and research it.
‘Denisa’ believes that the bushido teachings can transform many lives in a good way. “The crux of bushido is about being honest to yourself,” said Jiri. While his training methods are unusual they are working for Prochazka as he is still undefeated in the UFC.
Jiri Prochazka has an intense samurai-like entrance style
Although he does not bring his katana for his walkout he brings the intensity like a samurai. During his walkout against Dominik Reyes, he can be seen doing a lot of samurai gestures while entering the octagon. Furthermore, he walked out to a song called ‘Ruination’ by Ninja Tracks giving a full samurai-like feel.
Jiri likes to make unusual sword gestures during his entrances. Furthermore, the intense look in his eyes shows his focus and determination for the fight. During Glover Teixeira’s entrance at UFC 275, Jiri remained unfazed as he was focused on making his unusual gestures including a samurai-like squat in the middle of the octagon.
He will be looking to reclaim his light heavyweight championship against a very dangerous Alex Peirera at UFC 295. It will be very interesting to see if his unusual training style can help him to keep his undefeated UFC streak alive.