Developing a fighting mentality...

I am looking for any articles or coaching techniques on developing the fighters mentality... without doubt... a fighters mentality before a fight plays a huge aspect upon the outcome of the fight...

I am looking on techniques and ways to improve the mental edge so that when I step in the ring I feel confident, self-assured, and most importantly... ready to turn someone's face into hamburger...

I brought this up in another post... I was raised to be very polite to people... as a child was taught it was never right to hit or hurt someone... this upbringing is seriously hurting me in the ring... I need to at least be able to seperate in the ring from real world. When I am in the ring I still see another human being standing across from me... I think I am becoming much more aggresive in the last several months... but I still do not have that spark inside of me that makes me a true warrior...

My body is banging, my skilz have improved many times over... now I need to develope the mind... I do not believe for an instance that you either have it or you don't... I believe that it can be learned and developed...

Thanks for any help you can offer...

Blackvenom-2001

I don't think of fighting as being a personal attack on someone else because we're both in there to be pushed and challenged. So I don't have to feel like I hate my opponent or feel aggressive - just eager to push myself all the way. I think I have to give them everything to take them seriously and give them what they wanted out of it.

For me competing is about keeping the nerves under control, trying not to freeze up or freak out and being aggressive with energy rather than any personal anger sort of.

I know other people have different perspectives on this. Maybe ultimately it's an individual thing. I can't and don't feel like I need to turn on any hate - just competitive aggression. I don't feel I'm doing the wrong thing by trying to take their head off. I hype up in the warm up but try to think confident thoughts and forget performance pressures - just like a really hard spar.

If you read some of Andre posts on the subject you wont go far wrong

Try rossboxing.com aswell hes a knowlegable fella and has written a few good arctibles on the subject

Thanks for the directions... I will try to find Andre's articles that you talked about...and will also head over to Ross boxing.

Sharla... I am not really talking about being mad or hating... but there is a different mentality that must be taken when entering the ring... one where you refuse to be backed up, pushed around, beaten down... and willing to inflict pain on another individual and not think about how you are hurting them...

I do not want to be angry or hate... I do think that is wasted energy... I think we are talking about the same thing... I'm just looking for ways to develope this mindset...

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Originally Posted by Scrap

If you read some of Andre posts on the subject you wont go far wrong

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enjoying his reads a great deal 8)

Ive recently changed some of my training techniques,especially when dealing with female fighters,incorporating some outside training techniques
To explain
Years ago,I attended an early morning seminar on female fighters,at the time I thought alot of it was just bosch,but Im seeing the truth of it.
Little girls are taught their entire life,be pretty,demure,and dont hit,so while you can get them to throw a punch,and throw a pretty good one,theyve had the natural instinct thats encouraged in men,to throw with truly mean intent,trained right out of them.
Enter what I call rage training
We have a railroad tye tuck in the back yard,every day Feur,is handed a stave of rattan,and told to hit it,but not just hit it,REALLY hit it.Slowly teaching her how to,well,get really pi$$ed off at something.
Now the reverse
Pain
Little girls are also not supposed to get hit,let alone take a punch.
For this,I had to bring in some of my martial arts training
This is going to sound mystic,but its not really,its about finding a true center
Meditation,exhale weakness,inhale strength,at least thats how its allways worked for me,but eventually you find your center.
Its convincing your body that what should have hurt,didnt,Im just going to say its a way to convince your head to pre-release endorphins.
And it does work
Last night I hit Feur with a two knuckle,bare handed strike to the gut after she'd meditated,that was hard enough to send her back two steps even though she was in stance.
She blinked,maybe twice,and that was all.
I realise these are seriously alternative training techniques,and ones I was reluctant to bring in to the gym,but they are effective,especially when dealing with a female fighter,who is starting with the obvious handicap of upbringing,and societal expectations.

I am very polite, was much more so as a child. I don't think that that is important in being a fighter. As Jim Corbett said a fighter should always find time to be a gentleman.
In the ring, it is competition and a job. You do your best because you owe it to the spectators, yourself, your trainer. I'm not a big believer in "killer instinct." The whole idea has become perverted over the years. Look at Louis, Dempsey, Chavez...any great finishers They didn't act 'animal.' Their approach was very methodical.
I think today that there is too much emphasis on "attitude" and acting the part. Just get in and do your job. The old-time guys were so humble and unassuming yet far tougher, much more "fighter" than the buffed-out posturing clowns of today.

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Originally Posted by greynotsoold

I am very polite, was much more so as a child. I don't think that that is important in being a fighter. As Jim Corbett said a fighter should always find time to be a gentleman.
In the ring, it is competition and a job. You do your best because you owe it to the spectators, yourself, your trainer. I'm not a big believer in "killer instinct." The whole idea has become perverted over the years. Look at Louis, Dempsey, Chavez...any great finishers They didn't act 'animal.' Their approach was very methodical.
I think today that there is too much emphasis on "attitude" and acting the part. Just get in and do your job. The old-time guys were so humble and unassuming yet far tougher, much more "fighter" than the buffed-out posturing clowns of today.

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Ah but the instinct to put a man down,and keep a man down,thats animal insticnt,its a natural instinct we have trained out of us,so we can function in society together.Ask any mobster,they can describe how you can methodically and clinically beat a man to death
Its not being a buffoon before hand,or after,its knowing when to let the beast of the leash,and when and how to put him back on.

What I'm trying to get at is harnessing that beast to the professionalism of the job. Is it more effective to be an "animal" and throw punches or to maintain pressure and pick your punches, like Louis or Chavez, for example?
By the way, long time no talk to. How are you my friend?

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Originally Posted by greynotsoold

I am very polite, was much more so as a child. I don't think that that is important in being a fighter. As Jim Corbett said a fighter should always find time to be a gentleman.
In the ring, it is competition and a job. You do your best because you owe it to the spectators, yourself, your trainer. I'm not a big believer in "killer instinct." The whole idea has become perverted over the years. Look at Louis, Dempsey, Chavez...any great finishers They didn't act 'animal.' Their approach was very methodical.
I think today that there is too much emphasis on "attitude" and acting the part. Just get in and do your job. The old-time guys were so humble and unassuming yet far tougher, much more "fighter" than the buffed-out posturing clowns of today.

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Nice post ! I always say its the quite fellow in the corner that has my full attention... , big mouths just give me a hard on, you got no worries from that lot. its a con job in an attempt to get themselves and you into believing they can win.. a sign of weakness and self doubt most of the time.

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Originally Posted by greynotsoold

What I'm trying to get at is harnessing that beast to the professionalism of the job. Is it more effective to be an "animal" and throw punches or to maintain pressure and pick your punches, like Louis or Chavez, for example?
By the way, long time no talk to. How are you my friend?

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Doing fine,how's things with you?
Kind of what Im getting at,is you have to do both,when to let it off,and put it back on,your defense will suck beyond sucking if you cant do both,you become Vinnie Paz just walking in to punches and getting by on heart,and eventually finding out the hard way,heart wont get you past the concussion you just got

Yeah. Be enthusiastic, but temper that enthusiasm so that it doesn't become reckless.

Joe and Lords cc you know

I am getting ready for my first fight and have the same problem. I have never been in a real fight in my life, but I need that attitude that will get me the win. I have been hit through the course of my training many many times, but initially found it difficult to respond, and initially I would just cry and get really emotional.

The thing I found out is that there is no noble beauty in actual fighting. If you try to find it, you never will because it ain´t there. The objective of fighting sports is to incapacitate the opponent as soon as possible. It is not the same as soccer or volleyball or whatever other sport. It is brutal and violent, or at least should be. So what Im saying is, you have to be a monster. If you´re a nice person it might seem wrong, but fighting is never really right. It is wrong, and thats the way we like it.

You must ENJOY it. You can´t just think, I have to do this, or else you will need a big shot of adrenaline before you can get into it, all the while thinking, well I don´t really HAVE to do this, I can just quit. You must enjoy seeing the other person fall over from one of your punches, or hunched up, completely demotivated, while you pound their guard. If not, you might as well forget fighting. Its like going to a brothel without being ready to enjoy sex.

That said, every human being has, or should have, a code of ethics. You arent going to kill the person, so you might as well enjoy bruising them up. It doesnt mean you can go home and treat your friends and family the same way. But don´t be scared of breaking someone´s nose, especially if they came all the way over to bash you up. If there is any part of you that enjoys it, that should be the part that is in control when u fight.

I just want to add that whenever I face directly the issue of violence being enjoyable, it actually makes me feel more confused. It is a part of you that you must relax and let take hold, not try to create.

Next time you spar (with someone who at least knows how to fight), try to make their nose bleed. And dont regret it.

Good luck

I am/was raised to turn the cheek... but I feel no qualms about beating someone in the ring :p

Sorry about coming late into this thread. Very interesting reading. My totally unprofessional view is, I'm a wimp when it comes to fighting. When I was in street fights and sensed a fight was coming, my heart was about to come out of my chest I was so afraid. My Dad taught me, love people and do all you can to stay out of fights, but if you have no choice, then you show them what vicious means. My parents didn't raise me to be a victim.

For ring fighting, I couldn't do it. Light sparring, ok, but all out boxing, no. There is too much research to show that is not healthy for the brain so I would feel bad not only having it done to me, but doing it to them.

Still, I love watching and learning.

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Originally Posted by atgatt

Sorry about coming late into this thread. Very interesting reading. My totally unprofessional view is, I'm a wimp when it comes to fighting. When I was in street fights and sensed a fight was coming, my heart was about to come out of my chest I was so afraid. My Dad taught me, love people and do all you can to stay out of fights, but if you have no choice, then you show them what vicious means. My parents didn't raise me to be a victim.

For ring fighting, I couldn't do it. Light sparring, ok, but all out boxing, no. There is too much research to show that is not healthy for the brain so I would feel bad not only having it done to me, but doing it to them.

Still, I love watching and learning.

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See I don't understand that way of thinking. I understand the risks too, but they don't deter me from boxing. Also why would you feel bad for the person your sparring? They are in the ring with you to improve their boxing not to just inflict pain on you. Also why would you need research to prove to you being hit over an over in the head isn't good for you. :confused: I just think your focusing on the negative which scares you from really getting into it.

I've only recently started sparring, and I too was worried. Not scared of brain damage, but of losing a tooth since I like my teeth. However I got past it since I really do enjoy boxing. I have to say it was one of my favorite experiences of my life. However I want to improve myself greatly before doing it again though since I was shown how ineffective my skills were. My point is that if you really do enjoy boxing don't worry about the risks and just live your life. Hell you could be hit by a car crossing the street tomorrow. About 5,000 pedestrians are killed and another 64,000 are injured in motor vehicle accidents every year in this country. If you want some stats to worry over that effects all of us.:p


As for the topic. Being mentally prepared to box is all about how you perceive it to be. I see sparing as two people improving themselves. So when I got clocked clear in the chin from a uppercut when I was leaning I wasn't pissed at the guy I was sparring I was annoyed at myself for leaning too much. It's all how you perceive it to be. Understanding why your in the ring will help you be able to perform in the ring. Punch your opponent to win. If you don't want to punch your opponent,or want to win. Then your simply there to get punched so get out of the ring.

I just freakin love punching people in the face! lol

Not in some cruel, or angry way, but have always loved it, so it is likely a good thing I found boxing when I did, young.

I'm NOT saying a boxer is cruel. Like you said, it is expected that the opponent does their best and not hold back. It is fair since both understand the sport. I am saying that I can't do it.

Risks? I ride a motorcycle for 99% of my transportation, but I do wear all the gear and read and follow safety on a regular basis. Sorry, but I'm a realist. I don't want to live in a pretend world or be guessing at things that involve my safety when I should be studying it to cut the risk. People spend hours watching TV but don't care about things they should know by just taking a small amount of time to see.

You say, "My point is that if you really do enjoy boxing don't worry about the risks and just live your life." My philosophy is, if there is something I really enjoy, I investigate the dangers and see how safe I can make it. If you're not concerned about how you can cut back the odds about brain damage by the best head gear, gloves and possibly holding back on the power of some power punches, then have it and ignore the data. Since when is knowledge bad? Hopefully I will take up boxing some day even in my old age, but it will be in a fashion that involves safety. Nothing is worth serious damage to me. Often, you can have your cake and eat it too, you just have to figure out how.

Then I would suggest that you don't box. Enjoy watching the sport from ringside. Studies have also shown head gear doesn't completely prevent brain damage. So it will never truly be safe enough for you to do it. If you aren't willing to take the risk stay out of the ring. I'm sorry but you are living in a pretend world. No amount of gear can protect you completely from a blow. So there will always be a little risk. Boxing isn't about going out and getting hurt. Boxers take every risk into account that is also why boxers train as hard as they do. Also sparring isn't always about going out to kill the other guy. It's about improving skills so if your willing to take a hit you can do it. That's the problem I see with you. Your not willing to take the hit. Boxing is about two people trying to hit each other while avoiding each others punches. My gym offers boxing classes for those who only wish to train as a boxer, but don't want to fight. I would suggest trying a class like that. You'll receive a good workout without being in any danger. I can't see you being in boxing any other way. Boxers don't ignore risks, they embrace them, and train harder because of them.

Aweless, we agree to just a bit. Yes, you can get hurt with head gear, but head gear does protect the eyes, nose, etc. The hits I'm talking about are the power hits, like a big hook that knocks head to the side suddenly. Head gear for that kind of punch just goes along for the ride. That's why I said I could box as long as I understand and the sparring partner understands, we both go at it, but hold off power to the power punches. If that puts me in a "pretend world", that's fine; I just want to learn and keep my brain intact.

Talking about a pretend world, I have watched so many boxing training videos about slipping jabs and how to counter them, of course all done in slow movement, when in real life within striking distance, if the puncher did not telegraph the jab, and the jab was all out speed, they get hit, no time to slip. I made boxing robotic boxing arms that jab at real speeds and the two boxers that tried it could not slip them. So at least I won't pretend I could slip a fast jab and I'm much better off keeping my guard up to begin with.

Agreed too, you have to take some risks and believe it or not, I have taken more than most, but I still try to study what I'm doing to cut down on the risk. I could see why you love boxing. It is a great sport but too bad it couldn't be done and won more safely. Realizing though, in a street fight you can use those same skills and make it as unsafe as possible for the person attacking you.

Its a funny one, Ive got an old wedding Photo 13 of my old mates on it. Theres only 3 of us left, the other 10 got killed on Mountains. It was there choice of freewill to do it. This week Monday went to the Boxers Writers Dinner, met up with of my old mates. None the worse for wear. Yet last night Jason Rushton is rushed to Hospital, know Him well and His Dad, sad. But its the persons choice to do. People who do it can turn into Cabbages those who dont already are. :rolleyes:

The way I see it: the determination and discipline I learn from boxing is worth the few neurons I lose.

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Originally Posted by Scrap

Its a funny one, Ive got an old wedding Photo 13 of my old mates on it. Theres only 3 of us left, the other 10 got killed on Mountains. It was there choice of freewill to do it. This week Monday went to the Boxers Writers Dinner, met up with of my old mates. None the worse for wear. Yet last night Jason Rushton is rushed to Hospital, know Him well and His Dad, sad. But its the persons choice to do. People who do it can turn into Cabbages those who dont already are. :rolleyes:

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Awesome. :)