Making Progress, Testing Yourself

A funny thing happens when you compete as a combat athlete...you take big steps forward during your training and then you compete and you take a step back. Some say this is just how it goes, some say its the nerves, ring rust, a lack of ring vision, while some say its a lack of confidence that cause this regression of skill during competition. Well whatever it is, it exists and its frustrating, but it's part of the process.

You make strides forward in your strength, conditioning, endurance and skill throughout your training camp and then you are tested in competition and your performance never seems up to par. Now obviously the more you compete and test yourself the better you get and the more often you can perform at your peak. But in the beginning of your fight career this is a common occurrence I am told and I have experienced this.

It's almost as if this happens on purpose so that you can understand and learn more than you could in training. The hands on experience, exposure to competition stress and accompanying mistakes heighten our understanding of the sport and what we need to work on. Mistakes happen so we can learn and improve which is why it is key not to beat yourself up when you make them. You must acknowledge all your improvement, recognize your mistakes and be realistic with yourself.

We must be patient with ourselves as we train and compete. We must trust that we will develop a sense of ring vision and comfort that we lack early on. We must develop our mental game, improve our ability to relax and trust that our training will carry us through to success.

You never know where you truly are until you test yourself. I train HARD in training camp which is why I'm called "the machine", but in the comfort of my gym, my camp, my routine I know I am tough physically and mentally. Yet I never truly know where I am conditioning wise, skill wise, etc until I test myself in competition. This is one of the reasons I fight. I want to be real with myself, I want to test myself, I want to be the best me, I want to access all of my potential, I always want to be progressing. None of this can happen if I don't test myself, embrace the two steps forward, one step back flow of progress and take risks. Being the best I can be and the best fighter I can be, is all about stepping out of my comfort zone.

Now combat sports aren't for everyone, and competing isn't for everyone either. Many enjoy the training of combat sports and identify as recreational boxers, they test themselves physically in workouts and this training supports them in testing themselves in other areas of their lives. Others enjoy the test of competition and find that it transforms them personally as well. Whether you are a recreational student or competitive fighter the idea of making progress in any area of your life comes with task of testing yourself. So don't fool yourself into thinking you are making progress until you have truly tested yourself. This reality check, step out of your comfort zone, and risk will make all the difference in your physical, personal and professional transformation. It's eye opening, growth producing and clarifying. It keeps you realistic, honest and progressing. No matter how challenging, nauseating or nerve racking an opportunity to test yourself can feel, the more you can find it deep within you to take advantage of the opportunity the more you will grow, change, transform and progress.

Warrior Fighting Sports & Fitness prides itself on giving recreational and competitive students the opportunity to test themselves and progress in & out of the ring!