Why are the benefits of training in combat sports? This an intersting question, isn’t it? Most of us, who have developed an interest in combat sports, whether by watching UFC, One Championship, Boxing or it just an interest you have picked in your life in recent times (probably that’s why you’re here) because you felt pressed against the wall. There is something natural about combat sports, it is definitely has to with the effects it leaves on our attitude. You become sensible, you become courageous, you feel like you have become abled in other aspects of your life after involving in combat sports.
The good thing about practicing combat sports is that you don’t have to buy expensive items for training, also, there is no need for lawns and big grounds such as are requisite in other sports. One might wonder that it is so tough and at moments, can be devestating, should I still do it?
Well, the answer is of course yes. Things look tough and hard as long as long as you let the illusion tell you that it’s not appropriate for you. It is certainly a professional sports, that’s a fact but given that, there are no obstacles in training for combat sports and once you get to know the supernatural benefits of this art, you won’t be able to resist your interest.
How Combat Sports Can Help You in Life?
There are two aspects of training in combat sports: 1) Mental firmness and 2) physical fitness. This is the combination you need to actually have a life that is more than goes beyond surviving daily needs. Now you should realise that a significant amount of time of your life you have been spending on irrelevant things with no productivity, there is no result, you just spend it on social media or doing some things you shouldn’t do because actually you don’t have any control over your body and mind.
For that reason and only for that reason, you should know the importance of mental firmness and physical fitness. The former gives you the understanding about making right decisions and defending it against all sorts of challenges. Folks, this might sound uncanny but every step you take out of your comfort zone is a testament of your mental firmness. On the other hand, physical fitness (not in terms of having an attractive or shredded body) but to feel the sense of strength and force that can help your mind in overcoming obstacles.
Discipline Comes First
When discipline comes, bad habits take a departure. You must have heard Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in short all greats, talking about the importance of discipline. When you start to train, you feel a sense of discipline. Although it’s not something you earn in a day but the effect of discipline is quite diverse.
Discipline is the essence of combat sports and you can not adapt to something without understanding its essence. Give yourself just a week and you focus seriously on training, then you will see that there are these thoughts developing in your mind that you have get rid of bad habits, bad company and live a disciplined life. The discipline you earn through combat sports is going to make your life easy in all aspects.
Fit Body Confidence
Ever wondered why people involved in combat sports are naturally confident? They are extremely fit guys for a reason but first of all you should know what is the definition of being fit? The fitness that is gained through combat sports training is what we call primitive fitness. Your entire body is involved in a kind of movements relating to torque, strech, strength, power shots and velocious force.
This is perfect for reaching a low fat, fast moving and muscled body. You will have more stamina in your body, you will feel powerful and agile and you will feel conditioned for tough bodily challenges. In result, you will be supremely confident about your body that is what being fit truly means. If you are thinking if you will be more fit than gym blokes sharing insta reels. Absolutely yes, you will be on another level in both fitness and confidence.
Tiring But Fun Nonetheless
If you are particularly training in disciples of Muay Thai or BJJ, trust us, it is going to be so much fun. There are 100s of moves you will try, some of them do require special bit of training but others are enjoyable while practicing. Here we will request you to read the book Complete Kicking: The Ultimate Guide to Kicks for Martial Arts Self-defense & Combat Sports by Sang H. Kim. Perfect way to start for a layman.
Just think about imagining a game like situation where you have three opponents you have to disarm and disable. You create this scenario and test your technique, skills and accuracy. That’s how the fun part of combat sports is enjoyed.
The Art of Self Defence
A core principle of combat sports is solid defence, it is as much important as attack. Living in a society where problems can arrive from any corner, knowledge of self defence can come handy. It is not only going to help you but also to others who are your close ones. If you are a true human being, you must feel a responsibility of defending yourself as well as your loved ones. In that case, combat sports training can really make your body prepare of handling ordinary and sometimes even serious threats.
The actual thing is, training makes your muscles move and this is a biological process where your muscles and organs reach a level of awareness. So when you see a threat target in close range, you will automatically feel few things if you have been training substantially:
1) What should be your stance?
2) How threatning is the target?
3) When the situation can escalate?
4) What should be your first move?
If you haven’t started training, you will not have answers of these questions but once you get in that zone, swiftly and steadily, the answers will be naturally come to your mind.
Concentration & Perseverance
“Life is tough so are you”, people who love to face challenges have better chances of surviving in adversary conditions. Combat sports is a challenging art, often you feel it’s too much and you can’t proceed further but that is the pivotal point where you have make a decision, when it feels like you can’t do it anymore, then that’s the right time you put more effort. That’s how you learn about perseverance. Pushing the limits is the only way you get to face the difficulties and perseverance is the only way you overcome them.
Haven’t you seen combat fights? A millisecond of lost concentration can put a fighter in state of unconsciousness. Concentration is of cardinal importance here, there is no such thing as loose traning, everything you do during your training, should be done in virtue of concentration. There is w deep learning in the concentration part of combat sports training, this is how you learn not to lose your focus even when you’re in a struggling phase of life.
How to start the training?
“Nothing in excess”, this is very important to know that overdoing it will not make a good impact. Just simply start with choosing a combat sport or better you can do is to divide how much time you want to give specific sport.
For example, you can give two days to Muay Thai, two to BJJ, and one day to boxing and one day to strength and conditioning. Take a day off or make it two days off in the initial phase of your training. But remember whatever you do, do it like you love it. Not because you’re bored and have nothing else to do but because you are simply interested in it.
Usually start with finding a perfect stance. Every fighter has their own way of standing and sensing the atmosphere. You are not a professional fighter but still, you have to be serious about it. In case of BJJ, you have to find a isomorphic form that allows you to run through the strength and force in most fluid way possible around your body.
Next step will be focusing and solidifying your hip and shoulder movement. It doesn’t matter how much power you have in your hands, if you can’t master the movements of your hips and shoulders, your result will always remain less than your potential was. These movements are like switches of your body that allow you create angles and cover short distances.
It is time to use your other limbs. Perfect one then the other then synchronise the both. It is going to take some time to master this tough art and surely there will be another article mentioning how to start training, it is summed up added extra information.
Yes, always stay humble and kind. Combat sports training doesn’t make you superior to others in egoistic senses. You have seen the most tough fighters being most humble. Always remember, you traning to find your potential, perfect your life and to be a better version of yourself. Being a fighter, the smashing instinct will be there but there is respect involved in earning that status and you don’t want to ruin the dignity of it by exposing it in ordinary and unwanted circumstances.
