She said on Instagram, “you ain’t gotta like it, long as God love it! Can’t match my energy.” As she radiates joy and confidence while dancing, it’s clear to see why Shields is a fitness inspiration. The professional MMA fighter and boxer with world championships on her resume of wins, is an inspiration in every way. She prioritizes her health and wellness, putting fitness at the forefront and having a great attitude about it. Here’s what she does to maintain her mental and physical strength.
I guess they shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but as a world champion, she’s quite athletic when it comes to MMA and boxing. “It’s important for me to be recognized as a two-sport athlete because I want to show that I can do both,” she said. “After all my boxing accolades, there’s still a rule in which boxers don’t go to MMA. I want to change that — and show that I am the GWOAT of combat sports because I can do both.”
She focuses on strength training. “My boxing routine requires strength and conditioning workouts in the morning. Then I’ll train again with another two- to three-hour boxing session. I’ll hit the bag or pads with my coach and work on certain combinations. Then it’s working on the game plan and watching film. All that is about three hours.”
She makes time for wrestling drills. “I’ll work on wrestling drills for about 45 minutes, then learn how to fight off the cage and against it, also learn how to take somebody down when they’re trying to resist.” According to FloWrestling, “if I were to explain it to a parent looking to put their son or daughter on the mat, there are five things I’d pinpoint as some of the biggest benefits of wrestling; discipline, mental toughness, confidence, physical fitness, and camaraderie.”
She enjoys kickboxing and jiu-jitsu specifically as part of her workout. “Two hours later, I have kickboxing, then it’s jiu jitsu. That’s a full day for me every day — unless I break the routine and say, “You know what? I’m gonna give myself a rest.”” According to the Cleveland Clinic, “when you’re feeling tense and frustrated, a good workout can help. Fitness boxing, which is a form of exercise that has roots in traditional boxing, offers a safe outlet for your emotions — not to mention an awesome workout.”
She prioritizes taking a break if her body needs it. “Having a routine is a great thing for any athlete, but sometimes adding something new to a routine or just giving yourself a break is necessary. If you’re training several times a day all week, by Friday, your body will wear down. I think that messes with some people when they’re unable to finish out the week. When my body says, “Hey, chill out, Claressa,” I’m more than willing to chill out and give my body a rest or cut a workout short.”