If you’ve spent any time watching the UFC over the last two decades, you know the vibe. The black t-shirts. The "Stockton Slap." The middle fingers. But behind the chaos of Nick and Nate Diaz lies something way more disciplined than the public persona suggests. People think it’s just two guys from 209 mean-muggining everyone, but the reality of a Diaz brothers training camp is actually a masterclass in high-volume endurance that most elite athletes can't even touch.
It’s not about lifting heavy weights. Honestly, you’ll rarely see a kettlebell in their hands. Instead, it’s a grueling, relentless grind built on the back of triathlon training, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), and more boxing rounds than your average cardio kickboxing class does in a month.
The Secret Sauce Isn't Strength, It's Oxygen
Most MMA gyms focus on "explosiveness." You see guys doing sled pushes and box jumps until they puke. The Diaz brothers? They went the other way. Early on, under the guidance of Cesar Gracie, Nick and Nate realized that if they could just outlast you, your skills wouldn't matter. They built their entire system around the idea that a tired fighter is a vulnerable fighter.
This is where the triathlon lifestyle comes in. It’s not a hobby. During a Diaz brothers training camp, it’s common to see them start the day with a miles-long swim or a 50-mile bike ride before they even step foot on a mat.
They train their hearts to be massive.
By the time the third or fifth round rolls around, their opponents are sucking wind, shoulders heavy, chin tucked in desperation. Meanwhile, the Diaz brothers are just getting warmed up. It’s a psychological nightmare. Imagine hitting a guy with your best shot, and he just stares at you, shakes his hands out, and starts pitter-pattering you with punches that don't stop. That's the byproduct of a cardiovascular engine built in the hills of Northern California, not a weight room.
The Gracie Fighter Team Bond
You can't talk about their camp without mentioning the inner circle. It’s a tight-knit group. We’re talking about guys like Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez, and Kron Gracie. This isn't a "mega-gym" where you pay a membership and train with 50 strangers. It's a closed loop.
They call it the "Scrap Pack."
📖 Related: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
The loyalty is intense. If you’re in the camp, you’re in it for life. This creates a specific type of pressure during sparring. When you’re rolling with a multi-time BJJ world champion like Shields or a technical striker like Melendez, there are no easy rounds. The intensity is constant, but it’s rarely focused on "winning" the practice. It’s about the "grind." They push each other to the point of exhaustion to see who breaks first. Usually, nobody does.
Breaking Down the "Stockton Slap" Philosophy
Why do they slap people? It seems disrespectful—well, it is—but there's a tactical reason behind it too. In a Diaz brothers training camp, boxing is practiced with a focus on volume over power. They don't want to load up on one big punch that might miss and drain their energy.
Instead, they use "patter" shots.
These are 40% power punches designed to annoy, disrupt breathing, and create openings. The slap is the ultimate psychological weapon. It tells the opponent, "I don't even need to close my fist to hurt you." It messes with your head. It makes you angry. And when an MMA fighter gets angry, they get sloppy. That’s exactly what Nick and Nate want. They want you to swing wild so they can slip, counter, and eventually drag you to the ground where their Cesar Gracie BJJ takes over.
The Role of Damian Gonzalez
If you want to know who keeps the engine running, look up Damian Gonzalez. He’s been their long-time strength and conditioning (mostly "conditioning") coach and a pro triathlete himself. He’s the one who structured their aerobic base.
The philosophy he brought to the camp is simple: stay lean, stay limber, and never stop moving.
They don't do traditional "bulking." In fact, both brothers have often fought at weights that seem light for their frames because they refuse to carry unnecessary muscle that requires too much oxygen. It’s a complete rejection of the modern "bodybuilder" physique you see in many UFC divisions. They’d rather be "triathlete wiry" than "NFL linebacker thick."
👉 See also: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
The Mental Warfare of Stockton, California
Stockton isn't just a place they're from; it’s the DNA of the camp. There’s a "me against the world" mentality that permeates every training session. They don't train in high-end, air-conditioned facilities with juice bars. It’s often grit-and-grime warehouses.
This environment breeds a specific type of toughness.
You see it when they’re bleeding. Most fighters panic when they see their own blood. The Diaz brothers almost seem to enjoy it. It’s like the fight hasn't actually started until things get messy. That comfort in the chaos is something you can't teach in a textbook; it’s forged in a Diaz brothers training camp through thousands of hours of sparring while exhausted.
Nutrition and the Plant-Based Edge
One thing people often overlook is their diet. Nate, in particular, has been vocal about his plant-based/vegan-leaning diet during camp. While they aren't always 100% strict year-round, during a fight camp, they cut out the heavy "junk" that slows down recovery.
- They focus on raw foods.
- Lots of beans, greens, and complex carbs for endurance.
- High water intake to handle the California heat.
They claim it helps them recover faster between those insane triple-session days. When you’re biking 30 miles and then doing five rounds of sparring, your body needs fuel that doesn't sit like a rock in your stomach.
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Training
There’s a myth that the Diaz brothers just show up and fight. That they’re just "naturally" tough. That’s a total lie. It’s disrespectful to the amount of work they put in.
They are some of the most technical martial artists in the game.
✨ Don't miss: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
Nick’s boxing is incredibly nuanced—his ability to trap an opponent against the cage using footwork is elite level. Nate’s BJJ off his back is legendary; just ask Tony Ferguson or Conor McGregor. The "toughness" is just the wrapper. The core is high-level technical proficiency earned through repetition.
They don't just "spar." They drill. They drill the same hip heist, the same triangle setup, and the same lead hook thousands of times. It’s boring work. But it’s the work that wins fights when your brain is foggy from fatigue.
How to Apply the Diaz Method to Your Own Training
You don't have to be a pro fighter to take something away from the Diaz brothers training camp philosophy. It’s about building a foundation that doesn't crumble.
First, stop obsessing over the weight room. If you want real-world stamina, you have to do the "boring" cardio. Run. Swim. Bike. Build that aerobic base so your heart rate drops quickly after exertion.
Second, embrace the volume. Instead of doing five sets of heavy lifting, try doing 20 minutes of continuous, technical movement. Whether it’s shadowboxing or flow-rolling, stay in motion.
Third, and most importantly, find a crew. You need people who will push you when you’re tired and check your ego when you think you’re the man. The "Scrap Pack" works because they don't let each other slack off.
Actionable Steps for Lasting Endurance
If you're looking to overhaul your fitness using these principles, start by shifting your ratio of training. Aim for a 3:1 ratio of aerobic work (steady-state cardio) to anaerobic work (high-intensity intervals).
- Monday: Long-distance run (45+ minutes) at a conversational pace.
- Tuesday: Technical skill work (boxing/BJJ) with high-volume, low-power drilling.
- Wednesday: Active recovery—swimming or a long bike ride.
- Thursday: Sparring or high-intensity intervals, but focus on breathing through your nose.
- Friday: Repeat the long-distance cardio.
The goal isn't to be the strongest person in the room. It's to be the one who is still standing when everyone else has sat down. That is the true legacy of the Stockton way. It’s not about the flash; it’s about the fact that they never, ever stop coming forward.