Will ladder drills help my cardio conditioning for a fight?

Yes, speed and agility drills such as ladder drills can be a great asset to your cardiorespiratory conditioning. Try completing ladder drills immediately following more exhaustive training. Performing foot work in a semi-exhausted state will require you to focus on maintaining technical skill while being tired. Typically, when fatigue begins to set in, your mechanics change. During real fight situations this is represented in the later exhaustive rounds when it may become difficult to hold your hands up, let alone complete a combination movement.

Yes, ladder drills are a great way to build your cardio while also working on your footwork and mechanics for a fight. Side, Ali , and crossover Ali shuffle on the ladder require quick lateral movements back and forth. Couple that with reactive exercises, and your cardio endurance for a fight will improve. Upper body drills on the ladder will also challenge your cardio hand-to-eye coordination and strength.