MMACanada.net Catches Up With Strength And Conditioning Coach Jonathan Chaimberg

Q) mmacanada here with strength and conditioning coach, not to mention a good friend from Quebec Canada, Jonathan Chaimberg. Now Jonathan, not only are you Georges St.Pierres strength and conditioning coach, you also helping the boys over at Jacksons MMA in New Mexico, care to elaborate on that?

A) I've been with Georges since the day after his Serra loss. He is a great student and a model athlete.....Greg Jackson is the single best MMA coach out there, so for him to endorse me, and want me to train all his guys means a lot! Greg is a genius.

Q) How hard did you push GSP for his fight against Serra and what improvements did you see in his conditioning leading upto the fight?

A) To tell you the truth we built off the short camp we had for Hughes. Georges just keeps working hard and getting better. People laugh at me when I tell them what his fitness level was when he first came to me. 8 bodyweight chinups, struggled with 60 lbs dumbells, and had no core or stabalizers. Now the guy has seen unreal gains. Chinups with 100 lbs attatched, dumbell pressing 120's and has a 40 inch vertical, it's crazy. Watch the video of him doing hurdle jumps over 46 inch hurdles. I trained him to be explosive for 5 rounds even though we didnt expect it going 5..

Q) Wow, thats impressive gains. Can you give us a sample day of what you had GSP go through ?

A) I hate giving sample days because we periodize his training so that he peaks for his fight. Certain cycles have concentrations......power, power endurance, endurance.....speed, strength etc


Q) Now your preparing Keith Jardine for his upcoming fight against Wanderlei Silva at the end of this month, how is that going?

A) I actually just got off the phone with Keith. He's starting to tapper down now and will be in the shape of his life. He's really worked hard. He had so many problems a year ago but the guy is a workhorse and really respect his heart. Hopefully I'll see him when I go to Denver on Monday if I can make it to New Mexico.

Q) How important is it to have a good strength and conditioning coach?

A) Pat Militech has the perfect quote, he says, "I'd rather fight a great fighter with average conditioning, than an average fighter with great conditioning"

It's so true. Look at BJ Penn....all the talent in the world, but get him later in the fight and you can turn a blackbelt into a bluebelt really fast. Conditioning the right way is so important. Not only are your techniques sharper, but you can hit them late in a fight. Being explosive for the entire 15 minutes is what it's all about.


Q) Who else are in the industry are you lending a helping hand too?

A) To tell you the truth I'm very loyal. I will not work with any other guys in the UFC right now outside of heavyweights.

I train Georges at 170, Nate Marcquart at 185, Rashad Evans at 205 and Keith Jardine at 205. Rashad and Keith will not face each other so it's cool. David Loiseau at 185, who is in the best shape of his life and when he makes it back to the UFC he will not face Nate so that's cool.

I help Denis Kang who is a great guy....and basically all the guys at Jacksons I will help whenever I can...my loyalty is to Greg.

I recently starting working with Roger Huerta who along with being a great athlete has become a great friend. I rarely meet someone I relate to so much but the guy is an amazing person. That being said, I can assure you he will be in the shape of his life for his fight against Kenny. We have found his weaknesses and promise you they will be strengths by fightnight! He will be coming to live here soon and can't wait to push him. He has a great work ethic. Nate marquart is similar...

Q) Well Jonathan, thanks for your time and its been a pleasure chatting with you!

A) Thanks for your time and wish all the guys luck.....It's been a great year so far. My Olympic wrestlers, David Loiseau and now Georges! Keith, Rashad and Nate are next!!

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