By Alex Mattis
It is safe to say that a large percentage of mixed martial arts fans were, at some point in their life, professional wrestling fans. Of those wrestling fans, it is safe to say they are familiar with former WCW champion Diamond Dallas Page. Despite being away from the ring for several years now, DDP has started making some noise again; though this time not in the ring, DDP is aiding in the fitness world with his DDP YOGA.
As described on the website: “DDP Yoga is not traditional yoga, it’s a hybrid workout that incorporates some traditional yoga movements and adds dynamic resistance, active breathing techniques and power movements to make for a more challenging and results oriented workout.”
The program gained the most attention for its testimony from a disabled veteran who for 15 years relied on the use of canes, a back brace, and knee braces. After nine months in the program he has lost 130 pounds and was running.
MMA veteran, Sean Loeffler (25-5) is the latest in a notable line of athletes to add DDP YOGA to his training regimen. Loeffler was scheduled to make his octagon debut in February at UFC on Fuel TV 1 but was injured literally minutes before his fight while warming up backstage. Loeffler suffered a complete tear of his anterior talofibular ligament, accompanied by several other tears. During his time rehabbing, Loeffler began his DDP YOGA and Page is confident it will yield tremendous results; “If he puts the work in..that cat will explode on the UFC. It’s really exciting for me.”
Page articulated that the rehabilitation period for Loeffler ca not be rushed, but will be greatly beneficial.
“For starters, he can’t have any impact on the lower part of his body. He needs to start building strength in the lowest part of his body, especially after surgery.” From personal experiences, Page knows the importance of properly recovering from serious injuries and gradually building strength back up.
“Not only building strength, but he’s also going to have scar tissue there. Not only scar tissue he has from this operation, scar tissue he has from 29 years of being a maniac!”
Page joked about Loeffler’s no-nonsense, straight-forward style.
“The hardest thing about Sean Loeffler is trying to keep him slowed down because he’s full-on 24/7.”
Page expressed desire to help more MMA fighters as he feels “DDP YOGA is the missing ingredient, because all these MMA fighters do is beat their bodies up.”
“How many guys are hurt on their way to the fight?!” Page specifically noted Anderson Silva and Cain Velasquez and combatants that were banged up heading into their last octagon outings.
Page specifically noted Jonathan Brookins as one of the guys who understands how beneficial yoga can be and hopes to see more fighters follow suit.
Much has been discussed over the past few years as to whether MMA has filled in the gap that professional wrestling left when it faded years ago, or has replaced professional wrestling altogether. The former three time, three time, three time WCW champion stated that “the wrestling fan will be there no matter what,” adding “that market is going to be around forever.” Page also mentioned a recent increase in quality of rasslin’ noting “this is the best WrestleMania they’ve had in years.” He pointed out that WrestleMania headliner Chris Jericho has been a user of the DDP YOGA program.
Page assured, though, that he is fan of MMA.
“It’s amazing how much it’s grown. It’s filled a gap for me! I love combative sports.”
It may have been timing, Page expressed, that aided in the UFC and MMA gaining greater exposure locally as they rapidly began to rise after the fall of WCW.
The fan in DDP was evident as he went into an excited outburst about the recent Strikeforce title fight between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, labeling it as one of his “favorite fights of the past few years.”
“I thought that was a great fight! I have a lot of respect for those girls.”
Page praised Tate for her incredible toughness, tenaciously hanging on while her arm was bent backwards at an ungodly angle and “when they interview her in the end she doesn’t even sell it?! I think I would be crying like a b*tch.”
For more information on Page and his highly acclaimed DDPYOGA program, head over to ddpyoga.com or check him out on Twitter @RealDDP
The Master of the Diamond Cutter promises: “This is DDPYOGA, it ain’t your momma’s yoga.”
