If Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa strengthens his neck muscle tissues, retains his chin near his chest when he falls and learns to land on his shoulder and roll as an alternative of touchdown on his again, it’ll go a good distance towards avoiding concussions.
That’s not me speaking, that’s what Ailton Barbosa thinks. Barbosa is a third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and teacher at American High Crew/Coconut Creek, one of many nation’s greatest MMA groups.
The Dolphins are having Tagovailoa research jiu-jitsu within the offseason. They hope it’ll educate him tips on how to fall with out that whiplash impact of his head hitting the bottom.
“I believe it’s going to be useful for him,” Barbosa stated.
Jiu-jitsu turned out to be the successful concept for the Dolphins.
Coach Mike McDaniel stated the staff had plenty of concepts for instructing Tagovailoa tips on how to fall and keep away from concussions.
“We have been keen to go to any size,” McDaniel stated ultimately week’s NFL scouting mix. “Nonetheless, with him getting invested in [jiu-jitsu] and actually speaking to him and listening to how the coach is invested in him and the way he was actually into it and getting good residuals from it, we really feel very snug when it comes to this being greatest getting ready him for issues that he hasn’t in any other case been capable of put together for.
“It’s one thing, like a follow-through throwing movement, it’s one thing that we’re making an attempt to coach and he’s one hundred pc all in, attacking it with vigor and enthusiasm.”
If this works, it’ll be regarded among the many greatest offseason strikes the staff has made.
Retaining Tagovailoa wholesome is among the Dolphins’ largest keys to success subsequent season.
Some NFL analysts suppose if Tagovailoa stays wholesome, the Dolphins can have an opportunity to make a deep playoff run — one thing the franchise hasn’t accomplished in additional than three a long time.
Tagovailoa, coming into his fourth NFL season, had 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a league-leading 105.5 passer score final season. He would have gone to the Professional Bowl as an alternate, however he was nonetheless recovering from a concussion that he sustained in opposition to Inexperienced Bay on Christmas, roughly 5 weeks earlier.
Tagovailoa sustained two recognized concussions and three head trauma incidents final season. They brought on him to overlook 5 begins, together with the 34-31 playoff loss at Buffalo.
Tagovailoa must be taught a number of strategies by observe and repetition to keep away from head trauma, however Barbosa thinks he ought to be capable to grasp these ideas as a result of he’s a professional athlete.
Barbosa stated the important thing coaching targets for Tagovailoa are to strengthen his neck, and when he falls he should maintain his chin tucked near his chest, which retains his head off the bottom, and land on a shoulder. These are issues Barbosa teaches his fighters.
“You possibly can be taught it with observe,” Barbosa stated. “It’s like something you be taught, it’s going to be a course of. You’ve obtained to get power, he’s obtained to regulate himself.”
Tagovailoa isn’t finding out jiu-jitsu below Barbosa or at ATT.
In truth, Barbosa, a local Brazilian, stated he doesn’t know a lot about American soccer.
Nonetheless, Barbosa has seen all three of Tagovailoa’s head trauma incidents from final season — in opposition to Buffalo, Cincinnati and Inexperienced Bay — and has an concept how he’d practice Tagovailoa.
First, he’d strengthen Tagovailoa’s neck muscle tissues with weights.
“He has to strengthen the neck due to the helmet,” Barbosa stated.
He’d have Tagovailoa lay on the bottom, head up — on his proper facet, on his left facet, and on his again — and do neck workout routines to additional strengthen the neck.
Barbosa stated the hot button is to at all times maintain the top up and off the bottom.
“I believe it’s a way he’s obtained to get used to again and again, like muscle reminiscence,” Barbosa stated.
When Tagovailoa is falling, there are guidelines to stop your head from whipping to the bottom.
“At all times, your head goes to be up,” Barbosa stated, “your chin goes to be near your chest.”
You additionally wish to land in your shoulder and roll versus, say, touchdown in your again.
“After they swing you backward,” Barbosa stated, “you wish to attempt to land in your shoulder.”
Barbosa stated that may be managed even when Tagovailoa is flung to the bottom, because it occurred in Cincinnati.
“Once you go backwards, your chin goes to be right here,” Barbosa stated, placing his chin to his chest. “At all times. At all times.”
Studying to fall is a giant factor, Barbosa stated.
“Once you fall backward or ahead, we do loads of rolls,” Barbosa stated of MMA coaching.
Preparation for falling is as essential as understanding tips on how to land, Barbosa stated.
“In American soccer, it could come from any course,” Barbosa stated of the jarring hits quarterbacks maintain, “however when you realize one thing is coming you’ve obtained to be prepared. MMA is identical factor. You kick, I’m prepared. You shoot double leg, I’m prepared. If I don’t block the takedown, at the least I’m going to fall in good place.”
For Tagovailoa, falling in good place is as essential as making correct passes.
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