Posts Tagged ‘Philosophy’
Article Summary: Self talk (ST), or inner talk, is vital to a healthy mental game and performing well - and mixed martial artists should spend some time thinking about it.
Imagine bombs blowing up around you, gunfire whistling past your head, and you’ve still got save the President from terrorists and get the girl. You’re freaking out, which is normal considering the circumstances. Now, what do you say to yourself to calm down, kick ass, and get the job done?
It’s obvious that something like, “Stop freaking out”, “I’m going to die” or “Don’t panic” won’t be as effective as “I can do this” or a confident “It’s go time.” This makes intuitive sense, right?
However, few people manage their self talk as a technical part of their mixed martial arts game. Ironically, UFC fighters frequently talk about how important the mental game is.
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Tags: game plan, MMA, Philosophy, psychology, self talk, winning mind set
Want to be a warrior? Me too. A couple of articles from the net got me thinking.
There is beautiful, philosophical side to martial arts. MMA has it too - even though it’s popular to wash over it with a testosterone-driven gladiator mentality.
Rodney King, from the Crazy Monkey Defense crew, addressed some of this in his post on his Embodied Warrior blog, called The Everyday Warrior - How MMA Can Be A Positive Force In The World
… [W]hen one speaks to these men in modern martial arts today, about going beyond the physical- about using the vehicle of (Mixed) Martial Arts as a way to become more as human beings, to make a positive difference in other men’s lives- an uneasy silence befalls the air.
True warriorhood is the ability to deal with ones dark side … and to admire ones positive side. This requires a philosophy that sees the physical expression of martial arts as a doorway to a purposeful personal enlightenment and transcendence above the narcissistic needs of the self.
I’ve had the good fortune of dealing with both extremes in the fighting/MMA sub-culture. Some guys are just in it for the physical, technique driven, beat-the-crap out of you part, and that’s fine by me as long as you have a positive energy behind it. I love rough-housing just for the sake of play.
On the other hand, there can be a philosophical, spiritual side to a warrior. It doesn’t have to be a new-age let’s hold hands and heal the world type of spirituality either. There is a refinement of character with physical discipline, and martial arts can bring a new appreciation of the frailty of human life and the reality of death.
People can point fingers at the MMA forums and fans, saying they are immature loud mouths who crave violence. I can’t say that their wrong - because many probably are. But there is more to it. Anyway, a nice article.
Also, over at the Art Of Manliness, there is a post titled, “The Hard Way.” To me, it emphasizes how the path of least resistance, easy living and hacks are chipping away at our life. As my old Sensei might say, “There are no secrets to the art. Relax and keep drilling.”
The author of the post says it succinctly:
We’re missing out on a fundamental truth of manhood - doing things that are hard molds boys into men of strength and character.
Again, worthwhile read. Bushido isn’t dead in MMA, it’s growing.
Tags: MMA, Philosophy, warrior
Especially true for amateurs, there is always someone better. Some times it’s a harsh thing for your ego - but a good thing for your character (the best ego defense is not to have one).
BJ Penn has cleared out his division and was handed a crushing defeat by GSP. I remember when Wallid Ismail beat Royce Gracie with a clock choke back in 1998 - it was the first time I heard of a Gracie being defeated. Now of course, there are tons of people better than me, but I recently got owned by John McCain (not the Presidential candidate, but a Utah local MMA’er ) while rolling. John was kind enough to show me a couple pointers on how he uses side control, and I was grateful for his help.
Does this stuff diminish from how good the Gracie’s really are? Or does this mean that BJ isn’t top notch in his weight division? Of course not. For a moment, sure, there’s a depression with the loss but ultimately, if you let it, defeat can be an awesome tutor.
Defeat is an opportunity - so is criticism and failure. So you’re the biggest fish in your grappling pond? Finder a bigger pond and work your way up the food chain. If you’re at the top, it just takes one bad day, another set of rules, or a new weight class and boom - #2 spot for you.
I think it’s kind of liberating, actually. Instead of having to defend and justify - you can just accept, evolve and move on.
In short, there is always someone better. Unless you are this guy. 
Tags: Philosophy
Note: My remarks were sparked by some thoughts given by Paul R Scheele in his incredible book, “PhotoReading“. If you’re into accelerated learning or speed-reading, check it out ASAP.
Also Note: This lion cub is totally submitting the other with the rear naked choke (mata leo choke, ten finger variation). I’m totally going to make “grrrrrrr” noises next time I get this move.
Also Also Note: Fedor choked out Sylvia in the Affliction Banned event with this choke. You know, FYI.
Summary
Strict practice has it’s merit and place. Try incorporating playfulness to sparring or drills and being creative with your training methods. Keep your ego subdued - compete against opponents, train with friends, and have fun with a lifetime of martial arts.
The Human Animal
Man, as a species, is an unusual animal. We are the only animal that is not born with the innate knowledge of how to survive. When it comes to fighting, we may have the natural emotion and cause to fight, but we don’t intuitively know how to do it. Children have the inborn inclination to wrestle, but do so without technique.
This type of play-fighting is done by most hunting animals (lions, tigers, etc), and is an essential part of activating their abilities to stalk, strike, and kill. For humans it’s no different - playing is a big part of how we acquire skills.
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Tags: Philosophy, training
Sometimes life just beats you down, and that’s a good thing. Don’t get angry, don’t seek revenge, just deal with it in a positive way. Some guys just don’t get good until they get defeated. It takes a lot of mettle to rise from a loss. The physical and emotional breakdown and rebuilding process is tantamount to a great fighter’s spirit.
Now don’t take it the wrong way - you want to take on tough competition, but you don’t want to fight out of your league just to get pummeled. I think that’s Kimbo’s story - he had some internet fame and was hyped up and pushed to compete at a level that he’s just not ready for (Team Xtreme Couture agrees). He probably could make himself a good fighter but needs to crescendo into the sport.
When you get defeated, you need to make an important distinction: did you lose because you were doing the wrong thing (attempted putting square peg in round hole: double wrist control jujitsu vs. ground and pound wrestler) or you just didn’t do the right thing hard or well enough?
If you are in the first category, you have the opportunity to expand your mind and kill your egoist blind-spots. It takes time to gain the conscious awareness of how to modify your fighting style mid-competition. It’s easier to watch a fight on video and comment, “Oh, I should go for an arm bar here,” or “I need to throw more straight punches.” Seek out a good trainer who can help craft drills for you that focus on pattern recognition and adaptive counters. Cut back on your athleticism when training and focus on keeping a calm, open mind. Train your mind to be flexible enough to flow beyond what you normally do and take advantages of opportunities as they arise. Be like water.
If you’re in the second category, it’s time to channel your frustration. Step up your game by being more disciplined in your exercise routine and what you eat. Focus on the “boring” repetitions that make you a good fighter. Drill the same move a hundred times. Avoid over-training and injury, but push yourself. Limit the number of new moves you learn in favor of perfecting the basics.
Bottom line: Be thankful you’ve been shown how to improve your game. Defeat is an excellent tutor.
Tags: Philosophy