Training with the right attitude

Last week we covered a few basics on the equipment to take to the gym with you but let’s not forget probably the most important thing: The RIGHT ATTITUDE. Don't ever come into the gym with the goal of hurting anyone. That is a dangerous mentality and can lead to the downfall of many a member and even an entire gym. It's not always to protect the other guy either. Realize that your partners will respond to you. If you hold a choke too long, push the pace too much, or fail to apply a submission respectfully, then you can possibly be looking to receive the same treatment in return. In fact, an overaggressive trainee will often come to the realization that more experienced member is rarely, if ever, going at 100%. The simple rule, if you had to rely on 100% to get the upper hand and your partner is holding back, then you are failing at your end of training. People that get into that habit will spoil themselves and find that their strength and aggression will not get them out of every situation.

Most often a cause of the above is coming to the gym with the mentality of winning at any cost: avoiding drills that make you look bad, avoiding partners that have an advantage over you, shorting rounds so you don't get tired (rare but true, some gyms may even see cheating and dirty tactics). Training should always be about improving, not winning. We train most effectively when we are willing to try new things. You will discover your strengths and make progress on your weaknesses. It will help you round out your game. If you know you’re a great striker, try to improve your wrestling and grappling work; don’t work only your striking with people you know cannot outstrike you. If you’re ‘better’ (that being a subjective decision) than your partner, try seeing if you can get out of bad positions. Be willing to get away from your strengths and train to survive bad situations. Work on being more technical, try new techniques, etc. If you’re still not being taken to your limits, then try training against fresh partners when you are tired. Always be willing to lose in training—and in that way learn what it takes to make it through. Some fighters make the mistake of sticking to their strengths and leveraging situations to use their entire gym as sparring dummies, tearing through their teammates without ever learning a thing. While having a Plan A tactic is preferable in an actual match, you must always prepare for the worst. Train to improve and in that way train to win.