So you wanna be a f*cking fighter?

Part 2 – So you got the minerals, now what?

I talked previously how dedication and heart were the major factors in becoming a fighter. But if you have the qualities that it takes to become an elite level fighter, that’s only half the battle.

Now you need someone to guide you and to show you how to train, the correct techniques to use at the correct time and basically how to win fights. This is not always as easy as looking in the Yellow pages for your local martial arts club.

The most important thing when looking for a good club to train is just to go and try a session. Most gyms will give you a free session and in this you can usually assess how good (or shit) a gym is. And by gym I am not talking about the amazing facilities, I am talking about the quality of coaching and the standard of training.

When you step into a fight gym for the first time it can be a strange experience for some, there is a lot to take in and you will probably get your head filled with lots of information. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the training, remember the only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask.

Now choosing a coach is hard for a beginner because they have nothing to compare it too. But by trying out at a few gyms you will get a feel for what is better. You all want to say ‘yeah I train at Extreme Cage Fighters R Us and we fucking smash each other to bits every night’ but this may not be the best place for you to train. Remember training has to be smart, so you need a coach who has a technical approach but at the same time can motivate you to work hard and give you a ‘kick up the ass’ when you need it and also bring you down to Earth when you thinking that you could take Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris out with one kick.

Coaching fighters is a tough job and requires more patience than anything. But going back to what I spoke about in part 1, by showing that dedication you will make a coaches job a hell of a lot easier. So, find a gym that you are happy with, begin your training, show your desire and put the time and effort in.

This brings me onto the main part of my blog post today which is the Four C’s of fight training, in fact any sport that you apply them to:

COACHABILITY – you have to be open minded and listen to your coach, but also absorb that information and actually use it in your game or you will not improve.

CONDITIONING – fights are won or lost on conditioning. If you haven’t got the gas to fight then you have no business getting in the ring. Make sure you stay fit.

CONCENTRATION – you need to block out everything and concentrate on what need to be done. Always focus on what you are doing and what your goal is.

CHAMPION – if you are coachable, have good conditioning and always concentrate then you have what it takes to become a champion.

Thanks for reading today…in part 3 I will talk about training for a fight a building you ‘game’ till then, i’ll see you in the gym!