Jiri Prochazka is known for his highly unusual and demanding approaches to physical and mental conditioning, constantly seeking new ways to test his boundaries.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion stands out as one of the more eccentric figures in the world of mixed martial arts. Previously, Prochazka drew attention for spending three days in complete darkness without sustenance as a form of mental discipline, which he described as confronting his inner “demons.” Prior to that, he incorporated punching trees hundreds of times daily into his fight preparations. Now, “BJP” has once again elevated his methods with an even more extreme feat.
On his YouTube channel recently, Prochazka shared a short documentary detailing his experience attempting to swim a distance of 30 meters underneath the thick ice of a frozen lake.
Undertaking a dive under ice is widely recognized as a perilous activity, carrying significant risks such as drowning, hypothermia, and other potential dangers. However, for someone driven by the relentless pursuit of testing his limits, this challenge presented Prochazka with precisely the kind of demanding test he finds compelling.
Explaining the motivation behind his practices, Prochazka stated: “Everything I do here, regarding the breath, regarding all these various trips to the mountains, climbing mountains, training martial arts, MMA, all these things simply help me, mainly and above all, to keep myself fully under control; to expand my self confidence, the spirit with which I go into battle. A person doesn’t actually go into the MMA cage only with what they’ve trained, but they go there with their entire history, with everything, all the hard things they experience in life.”
Prochazka`s most recent competitive outing was in January, where he delivered a decisive knockout victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC 311.
