In fighting, as in life, there are no real secrets to success. The internet will try to convince you differently; people will tell you that there are shortcuts you can take and corners you can cut. Don’t listen. There are no secrets. There are no shortcuts. There are, however, keys to success as an MMA fighter: principles that you can follow to get your desired results.
Find Your Specialty as an MMA Fighter
It was Bruce Lee who famously said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” You can be a jack of all trades, but that really only means that you’ll be the master of none, in other words.
If you want to be truly successful as an MMA fighter, you have to have a breadth of skill, sure, but more importantly, you have to work at getting specialized. Find what works for you, and become the indisputable champion of it.
Surround Yourself with MMA Fighters Who Have Similar Goals
No matter where you are or what you’re doing, association is one of the most fundamentally important considerations to make. When you’re looking for an MMA gym to join, make sure that you ‘jell’ with the other fighters. Your gym will become similar to a second home, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s the right fit.
The most successful people surround themselves with other successful people—that same principle applies to MMA fighting. Find a group of fighters who have similar goals and work ethics, and you’ll be bound for success as a fighter (and as a person).
Never Believe You’re the Best MMA Fighter
Complacency is the enemy of progress. If you already believe that you’re the best MMA fighter you could possibly be, then there’s no reason for you to train to get better.
Many people ask what the key to staying motivated is. The truth is, the key to motivation is believing that you always have further to go. If you keep striving, you have nowhere to go but up.
