MMA legend Georges St-Pierre recently opened up about how his views on training have evolved over time.

When it comes to conditioning for fighters, St-Pierre made it clear that he no longer buys into the conventional approach.
Instead of focusing on improving endurance in the traditional sense, his priority has become something far more practical:

I don’t really believe in cardio if you’re a combat athlete. I believe in efficiency.

He still incorporates sprinting into his routine, but not as a way to build endurance:

I sprint because of the benefits it gives me.

I don’t believe sprinting will increase my cardio.
I just believe that doing something as hard as I can for a small amount of time, taking a break, and then repeating it again and again has huge benefits for me, especially as you get older.

According to St-Pierre, success in combat sports isn’t just about being in better shape – it’s about how effectively you use your energy:

I don’t do it for cardio purposes, because I believe in fighting it’s all about efficiency.
Even if you’re in better shape than me, if I’m more efficient than you, you’ll get tired before I do.

At the highest levels of competition, St-Pierre believes most athletes already reach a similar physical ceiling:

I believe, especially at the elite level, all athletes have a top VO2 max.
Maybe they can increase it a little bit, but it doesn’t change performance that much.

Because of that, his perspective on conditioning has shifted:

All the training that I do, the conditioning that I do, I think it’s mostly for therapeutic reasons and less for performance.

If you have a car and you do your service on your car, it’s important to keep it for a long time.
I use conditioning not to increase my performance, but to increase my longevity.

Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents

💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win? 💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers? It’s not your age. It’s your strategy. If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you. 🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:

Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu

Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting? Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35 who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.

Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.