UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has developed a remarkable meditation practice that goes far beyond traditional techniques. During his training regimen, Prochazka spends significant time in dark rooms, seeking to unlock deeper levels of consciousness and self-understanding.
In a recent podcast interview, Prochazka revealed that his meditation involves extended periods in complete darkness, sometimes lasting multiple days. His goal is to explore the inner landscapes of his mind and what he describes as “opening the third eye.”
“After three days, there is an opening of the third eye is opening and you can see you can truly see who you are,”
Prochazka explained.
Unconventional Training
During these intense meditation sessions, Prochazka often practices without food, drinking only water. He considers these experiences a way to train not just his body, but his mental capabilities. By removing external stimuli and pushing himself to extreme mental states, he believes he can access deeper levels of perception and self-awareness.
This practice isn’t just a spiritual exercise for the martial artist- it’s a strategic approach to martial arts performance. He views these meditative experiences as another form of training, helping him develop mental weapons that complement his physical skills in the octagon.
“I really decide to use everything like a weapon in fighting – to use my mind, use my visualization, use everything,”
he stated.
Hands Down, Awareness Up
Prochazka’s approach goes beyond traditional defensive techniques.
“It’s about just feeling the space… when I am in the flow, I want to be between the flow and uncomfortable, somewhere in the center. When I achieve this attitude, that’s why I don’t need to keep my hands up. For me, keeping hands up means defending, and I don’t need to defend myself when I see everything, when I feel everything.”
He believes that by maintaining a natural, relaxed posture, he can react more instinctively to his opponent’s movements. This philosophy reflects his broader martial arts perspective – one that emphasizes consciousness, presence, and connection with the moment.
The Black Magic Obsession
In a revealing conversation on the Joe Rogan podcast, Prochazka candidly discussed a bizarre obsession during his preparation for fights against Alex Pereira, suggesting he believed his opponent might have used some form of spiritual manipulation.
Prochazka revealed that during his fight preparations, he became deeply entrenched in exploring potential spiritual “weapons” that Pereira might be using against him.
“I went so deep… I got lost really,”
Prochazka admitted.
His fascination with finding the “source” of Pereira’s power led him down a strange path of investigating potential black magic influences.
“I started to believe in other people, not just myself – and this is the way to hell when you stop believing in yourself,”
he explained.
A Path to Martial Arts Mastery
For Prochazka, meditation is about exploring consciousness, understanding oneself, and preparing for the mental challenges of high-level competition. Inspired by martial arts philosophers like Masatsu Oyama, he believes in developing an unshakeable mind and pure consciousness.
“I went to the mountains and slept there for one week. I punched rocks and wanted to fight with the environment around me. In the end, you realize there is no fighting – this is pure life.”
Ultimately, his unique approach demonstrates that championship-level performance extends far beyond physical training.
“The biggest special weapon is to be yourself – the realest yourself. That’s the key.”
