The Mentality of a Fighter

As a former kickboxing practitioner who was lucky enough to win a heavyweight title belt, I have found a few things that successful fighters have in common. I now coach many men, women, and children, both amateurs and professionals, and although each may have a different style of fighting, they all have the same temperament if they are winners. I sat down with some fighters recently and discovered many similarities. This created an opportunity for me to write about something I love and to dispel some myths.

Of the five people that were involved in the discussion, four had college degrees and one was presently attending Loyola University. That cemented the fact that not all fighters are meathead dropouts for me. I’m not saying that college is for everyone, nor that one must attend school to be successful, but that perception prevails in America and most people think that fighters are a little dense from getting their brains rattled.

I also found the fighter’s other occupations interesting. One man was a teacher, another a children’s behavioral counselor, another a commodities broker, the woman in the group was a physical therapist, and the college student was majoring in dance choreography. Their interests were varied but their collective hearts were swollen with a love of competing in the ring.

Each of us in the discussion had trained earlier in the day. It is something that we need to feel alive. Anyone can stand in front of a mirror and look tough punching and kicking. Most anyone can run or hit a heavy bag. Most everyone should be able to do some push-ups or sit-ups. But when you talk to real fighters about their training regimens, the diversity and complexity is fascinating.

The first thing to understand is that a fighter is expected to perform at a high level for multiple rounds. This can range from a few rounds for an amateur to twice that many for a professional. So this involves an amazing capacity to endure punishment and a tremendous desire to win. Training involves a great deal of sparring. I have always said that you are only as good as your sparring partners. If you train with a bunch of chumps, chances are that you will fight like a chump.

Fighting is not for the light-hearted. You are going to get hit and it hurts. That was another common thread with the people that I talked with, the ability to withstand pain. I don’t mean in a masochistic way, but in a sense of trial by fire, enduring what one must to achieve their goal. It’s a sense of knowing that when you step up on the stage, you feel that you have trained harder, smarter, and are willing to give more than your opponent.

If you have never been punched, kicked, head-locked, etc. the best way that I describe the feeling is sprinting until your lungs feel like they want to burst and stopping suddenly to catch your breath. But when you are fighting there is no stopping. Every bit of contact takes something out of you and you have to will yourself forward with your conditioning and pride.

I can teach someone a jab or round kick or spinning back elbow or rear naked choke, but I can’t teach someone how to have a good chin. You either have one or you don’t. You will get hit, it will hurt, and whether or not you can hang in there is genetics or will. Fighting is not for everyone assuredly, but it is an art form and the athletes are not only in exceptional physical condition, moreover they are mentally tough. The best example I can think of is the upset of Mike Tyson by Buster Douglas. Tyson had a bunch of his friends in the corner that fateful night in Japan, not professional corner-men. If you have ever seen that fight, when his so-called “trainer” is talking to him, he kisses Tyson on the lips! I have worked hundreds of corners and you have a minute to administer water, advice, and solace, but there is no time for kissing a fighter when the other person is trying to knock them out.

A fighter fights because they can, and because they love to. And because it is the purest form of expression that they know.