Fighting at the professional or amateur level is a dream for many athletes today, but why? To the naked eye, all the tedious training, disciplined diets, and gut-wrenching Weight loss is all for potentially life-threatening injuries, but… well, it seems like a stupid idea. However, for some reason, the number of people participating in competitive martial arts has skyrocketed recently.
So what is bringing new attention to the sport? Well, as a new MMA fan and someone who has competed once before, whether it's you or someone else, There's nothing like witnessing human excellence in Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, forged through hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and humility. . The treble is very high, but the bass is not very clean.
However, every coin has two sides. You cannot fly to the sky of success without sacrificing something. Since I started my martial arts journey, there have been some great moments that still amaze me, but there are days when I feel like I'm not making progress and I'm fighting a losing battle. I would like to discuss that today. Here are his three mental struggles that many martial artists face or will face in their pursuit of greatness, and how to overcome them.
Knowing that there is still much to learn in martial arts is a good indicator that you are a humble practitioner who is always looking to improve. Having a humble attitude is admirable, but sometimes you have to keep it in check. “Diamond” Dustin Poirier explains this very clearly in his quote “I don't compare myself to other fighters. We are all unique and have different strengths, weaknesses, and journeys. Comparing takes away from your own path and growth. It just ends up happening.” I've met many people who believe they're not making enough progress, especially if they've been doing it for a while. I myself fell victim to this.
I remember struggling with a move when I was in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, and my coach said something that stuck with me. “Everyone's path to Jiu-Jitsu is different. Sometimes we are so busy watching others that we forget how far we have come.” When he said this to me, I remembered my first lesson and what I am now learning. I could never perform this technique. The progress I made was immeasurable.
It's much easier to see the progress of others, but we usually forget how many leaps and bounds we've taken in martial arts.words “Slow progress is better than no progress.” This is very true and is a quote to remember when you don't feel like you're progressing at the rate you want.
Some of the people we train with are always doing the right thing. Their striking is sublime, with wide head movements and combos from all angles. Or maybe grappling is their specialty and they'll tap you with a submission you've never seen before. As you train more and more with this person, you will begin to compare yourself to them and reflect your progress against theirs. The truth is, they're probably comparing themselves to someone else.
Renner Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend and grandson of Helio Gracie, the founder of modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, said: “I have never compared myself to Ryron because my brother and I are as different as night and day. I realized early on that comparing myself to him would only lead to disappointment and confusion.”
Martial arts are different from other sports. You are not part of the team. you are alone When the match begins, your coaches, sparring partners, and other supporters all come out of the ring to wish you luck. They're not there with you. When you're training, you may find yourself looking around and seeing how bad you are compared to other athletes; this is completely normal. But, as Renner said, comparing your skill set to someone else's is a losing battle. Because you're not them.
We all have strengths and weaknesses, and as we use our natural talents and hone our weaknesses, we become better. Comparing yourself to yourself is a lazy way of looking at martial arts and life. The variables that lead someone to their current state are likely to be very different than yours, so be kind to yourself and focus only on yourself.
I know that sooner or later there will come a scary time when I have to miss training due to a bad injury, but luckily I haven't had to endure that yet! How do you stay positive when you're physically unwell and can't train? It's hard, I've never experienced it, but many prolific martial artists know how physically painful an injury can be. It's not just about being there, it's also about emotional pain. One fighter said: “I've faced a lot of opponents in the Octagon, but probably the toughest fights were the ones I fought in my own mind during my darkest days with injuries. But every time I come back, I feel like I'm not just fighting physically. I also became mentally stronger.”
Well, one way to prevent dark thoughts from creeping in is to remember that these setbacks, big and small, are opportunities for great stories of redemption. “I've learned that setbacks aren't failures. They're opportunities for comebacks.” Jon Jones said it, but if you know a little bit of his backstory, you'll know that a comeback is always possible.
They say “time heals all wounds,” but when you're in the moment of suffering, you forget all about that. No matter how bad the injury, it can heal, but it's the victim mentality that makes the process more difficult. They say things like, “Why me?” Thoughts such as “I would have been better if I hadn't had this injury” or “I would have been better if I hadn't had this injury” don't help anyone. Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons. Every experience is an opportunity to use your newfound wisdom to improve yourself.
Martial arts aren't for everyone. It takes a special type of person to start it and keep it going. But the reward is definitely worth all the sacrifices and trouble. So train hard, and as Michael Chandler says, “See you at the top!”
