Guide to Being a Cornerman

This isn't that new - the army was testing a similar way of doing this 10 years ago.

If you watch Erik Paulson corner guys he avoids the neck in favour of the chest and head as well iirc.

Definitely not a new idea and definitely not my original idea. I first saw this type of experiment with collegiate athletes for some University I don't recall around five or six years ago. It works, I've used it, and even Bas Rutten has mentioned in interviews before, I believe, that cornerman should be putting ice on the head to reduce swelling. The issue is the bag of ice isn't cold enough to really do anything in 60 seconds and doesn't make contact with a large enough surface area of skin. Which is why submerging the feet and hands in ice water, with salt, is absolutely necessary. This is combining another principle from Chemistry that I don't see many trainers/fighters/cornerman use or understand. There are similar ideas for breathing, but this isn't the thread for that topic.

The original idea is getting two buckets of ice water, with salt, and bringing that into the corner for fighters to submerge their feet in, and if I ever get my way and gloves are no longer needed in MMA, the hands will go in as well.
 
So I worked a NAFC (In Vancovuer at the River Rock Casino) last month. We were supplied with 10 small rolls of gauze and two rolls 1" wide tape that snapped off easily (which is a good thing). We were not allowed to use any of our own supplies (I always bring extra in case they run low/out). I found the amount given was adequate, though really weird having to stop and grab another roll of gauze every 2 minutes.
Can't complain though. It was much better than the first time I did it there a few years ago.
 
Two rolls of tape? That may be a step up. Any idea how long they were?
 
Two rolls of tape? That may be a step up. Any idea how long they were?

I don't know for sure, but It was plenty! I taped around, then vertical and then horizontal again and still had a lot left over.
 
Any suggestions on where to get Adrenaline or Avitene? I looked online and 400 bucks for some sheets seems to be the minimum
 
I love reading these posts. I've started working towards working corners and these posts have helped greatly. I'm still trying to perfect my hand wrapping. Just out of curiosity, what do your bags look like respectively?
 
Any suggestions on where to get Adrenaline or Avitene? I looked online and 400 bucks for some sheets seems to be the minimum

You gotta make friends. I got my adrenaline from a manager who sells it to fighters and trainers he knows. But I have a couple of Dr. friends who would either write a script, or just order it for me if I asked. I paid $50 for enough to last a year, though. So don't buy that crap online. If you have any coaching certification, ask around for a reputable Doc known by other trainers or fighters. Make an appointment so you can meet them in person, then tell them what you need.

I love reading these posts. I've started working towards working corners and these posts have helped greatly. I'm still trying to perfect my hand wrapping. Just out of curiosity, what do your bags look like respectively?
)

I try to have my bag together the day before a show, or even that day before that. But it's pretty standard. Tape, gauze, scissors, enswell, basic first aid stuff (nosebleed stoppers come in hugely handy), mitts, cup (or two), headgears for amateur boxing shows, towels, and then some random miscellaneous personal crap, though I usually bring my own backpack with me to keep my stuff separate. I've lost my own personal stuff by trying to keep it with my trainer's gear and taking too much stuff out and putting it back in repeatedly.
 
You gotta make friends. I got my adrenaline from a manager who sells it to fighters and trainers he knows. But I have a couple of Dr. friends who would either write a script, or just order it for me if I asked. I paid $50 for enough to last a year, though. So don't buy that crap online. If you have any coaching certification, ask around for a reputable Doc known by other trainers or fighters. Make an appointment so you can meet them in person, then tell them what you need.

)

I try to have my bag together the day before a show, or even that day before that. But it's pretty standard. Tape, gauze, scissors, enswell, basic first aid stuff (nosebleed stoppers come in hugely handy), mitts, cup (or two), headgears for amateur boxing shows, towels, and then some random miscellaneous personal crap, though I usually bring my own backpack with me to keep my stuff separate. I've lost my own personal stuff by trying to keep it with my trainer's gear and taking too much stuff out and putting it back in repeatedly.
Thanks!!!
 
This isn't that new - the army was testing a similar way of doing this 10 years ago.

If you watch Erik Paulson corner guys he avoids the neck in favour of the chest and head as well iirc.

The NFL used to have this mobile piece of equipment that you put your hand it, and it created a slight vacuum to pull your veins out further and then sprayed very cold water on them in order to help people cool down faster. That way you're not fully submerged, and you're not freezing your digits.

This is an older article about a similar concept: https://slate.com/technology/2012/0...rom-stanford-wont-transform-your-workout.html
 
So with the budding interest in MMA, many people are venturing out to fight and are at a loss when it comes to having knowledgeable guys in their corner. This guide will serve those of you who wish to do right by your fighter and give him the best opportunity to not only succeed, but to also minimize the risk of damage while maximizing his ability to perform without having to worry for his safety.

Materials:

For every good cornerman, there are tools of the trade by which to hone your craft. This is a simple list that people can add to but will serve as a basic list of materials that will ensure your fighters safety and peak performance. They are not in any particular order. There will be more discussion of application of these tools further on in the thread. I will post links to Title Boxing as you can purchase most if not all of the materials you may need there.

The main exception is Coagulants. These will require a prescription from a doctor unless you can squeeze some out of an EMT or a ringside physician. The good news is that you don't necessarily need them and most cuts (unless they are gruesome) can heal with adequate knowledge of how to stop the blood from flowing.

1. Corner Tote. Invaluable piece of equipment that will carry many if not all of your materials. Pro Style Corner Tote from Title Boxing

2. Water/Ice. If you do not have water, your fighter will dehydrate. You can use a water bottle if you'd like, or a simple bottle of water. Ice is essential to treat swelling and to cool your fighters body temperature.

3. Icepack. Very simple, icepacks can be filled with ice. They are used to treat swelling, and most of the time are placed on the back of the neck to cool down the fighter as their body temperature gets relatively high, especially in that area. It also sometimes prevents strains and pulls.

3. Spit bucket. This can be a simple 5 gallon bucket used to spit in or store ice. Never at the same time. LOL.

4. Enswell/Endswell/No-swell. Different names for the same type of tool. This in its most basic form is a piece of steel that you set on ice that can be used to treat swelling in the face. Some Enswells actually have a compartment inside in which to freeze water to keep it ice cold. No Swells from Title Boxing

5. White Towel. It's a good idea to have a few towels on hand. They take care of sweat, blood, etc. And can also be used to save your fighter from further damage by throwing it in the cage/ring.

6. Gauze. Rolled gauze for hand wrapping (which I will cover later on in this thread) and gauze pads for blood and cuts. This is essential. You need gauze. Fighters get cut. They need their hands wrapped. Period. Boxing Gauze from Title Boxing

7. Tape. 1 inch tape will serve you just fine. Again, this is for wrapping hands and can also be used to tape your fighters gloves. Most of the time they will provide you with colored duct tape to tape the gloves but sometimes they do not. TITLE Boxing Tape from Title Boxing

8. Cotton Swabs. These are used for cuts and nose bleeds. I don't recommend the ones you find at the store. They do not usually have enough cotton. I will go into making your own cotton swabs further in the thread. If I do not someone remind me. Do not stick these in your mouth!! It's unsanitary. And unnecessary.

9. Vaseline. Your fighter will get scrapes and cuts much easier if they are not greased up. Store bought vaseline is perfect. It is applied to the cheeks, and eye ridges, forehead and bridge of the nose to prevent cuts. It can also be used to seal coagulants or vessel constrictors into cuts to speed up the healing process and staving off the severity of the wound.

10. Scissors. Scissors are invaluable and a necessary thing to have. You must use the scissors with the safety feature on the front so that you do not injure your fighter by cutting him/her. I have two pairs of scissors just in case. Everlast Trainer's Scissors from Title Boxing

11. Latex gloves. To prevent infection and transfer of blood, latex gloves are used by corner men to minimize this risk. A trick I use is to have three globs of Vaseline on the back of one of my hands on the gloves so that it's right there for me to use. Do not use the gloves with talcum powder!!

12. Corner Sponge. This is really optional, but it's good to clean the sweat off of your fighter as well as cooling him/her down. It also can wash away blood from your fighter.

13. Stop Watch. This is optional as well, but it gives you a good sense of timing and that is crucial because you only have 60 seconds in between rounds. I like to be right at the door when it's opened because you lose about 10 seconds in that time. A stop watch can help to reduce that time.

14. Stool. No not feces. A stool. Usually, they will provide you with one. However, I've been to three shows that have not. A simple stool will suffice. Sometimes, it's a good idea to cut open tennis balls and put them at the bottom of each leg so that it doesn't ruin the material in the cage.

15. Coagulants/Vessel Constrictors.
A.) Adrenaline 1:1000 (Commonly known as epinephrine). This is really the least of your concerns right now but they are necessary to treating cuts. Epinephrine is a vessel constrictor and is used by dipping a cotton swab or gauze pad into it and applying it straight to a cut. It works to stop the bleeding by constricting the blood vessels. Crucial.
B.) Avitene is a coagulant that it applied to the cut in order to help facilitate and speed up the coagulation process. There are other coagulants but this is the only one you'll probably ever need.

Well, that is the basic materials list. The rest of the thread will operate under the assumption that you've reviewed this list and are familiar with the terms.

Your fighter should also have a back up mouthpiece as well as a cup on hand. Make sure that you bring some mitts to warm up with and a back up pair of gloves in case they do not provide you with any.

The next section will discuss warming your fighter up.
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I'd also like to suggest the corner man having a spare mouth piece for his fighter. There has been instances when the original is knocked out and been kicked into the crowd and the fight couldn't continue.

Ideally, it's probably a good idea to have spares and extra of most things:

Scissors, mouth piece, ice, buckets (one can be stacked into the other), tape, gauze.

If you don't need it, great, you can save it for the next time, or perhaps there is someone else that WILL need it and you can save their ass.

And if you DO need it, you'll be very, very happy to have it.
i went to a er and the doc pulled a bic pen out of his pocket and reset my toe.
 
Thanks for the thread. To be honest, I hear half of these terms for the first time, and I follow MMA since 1993. I learned a lot, today bro. Thank you very much amazing post!
 
90 percent of the time we would stand in between rounds.
Toss the water bottle back and forth. Try not to drop your
mouth piece with boxin gloves on. :)
On occasion we would chase each other around the ring
in between rounds.

This one guy once grabbed my tri's and with his
big fluffy hands he rubbed them and it relaxed me.
It was in between rounds. Made me good and loose.

Pull on the trunks at your stomach and it helps you
breath much better. You'll notice the difference right
away and I'm also not saying that it's needed.
 

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