Will or Skill ?

[Shamrock]

It's probably been asked on here before but I'm pretty new so indulge me....

Which is the most valuable attribute...I've met so many guys over the years who were naturally gifted but just didn't have the will or desire to either stick with the training or stick with the fight when it got rough or things didn't go there way in a fight. I've also seen guys walk in off the street and they instantly grasp some of the timing and punching ability that it takes others years to almost master.


In the pro's you had a fighter like Kirland Laing who was so immensley naturally gifted... and others who don't have the skill but have a heart the size of George Foremans feet... so which is the most valuable to a fighter and which would ou take... Will or Skill ?

[Andre]

Can get out of trouble and win with skill.
Will is heart I suppose and is great,but if you got massive skill you dont have to call on heart so much; like you would hane to do if you had no skill .
So definatley Skill for me.

[StrictlySP]

Hi Shamrock,
The mind controls the body thus will supersedes skill in the overall scheme of things combative. With that said, a primary goal in fight training is to infuse will with skill and skill with will. Now, when you genuinely have a three-dimensional integration of the two, you're another breed of "animal;" you're a true warrior...

For example, analogy-wise, what good is it having the most souped-up high-performance Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc (metaphorically representing skill) if you have no gas in the tank (metaphorically representing will). Gas (i.e. Will) is what's needed to power and drive the car (i.e. skill). No gas>no power>no drive>no good.

Here's another analogy to drive the point home. Imagine your body being a gun, your hands being the bullets, and your mind the trigger. Without the trigger, the gun and the bullets are impotent.

The development of a strong mind (i.e. strong will) is of the utmost importance in functionalizing and maximizing skill. How do you do this? First and foremost, learn how to proactively control and positively channel fear...

Take Care,
Lito

[Spicoli]

You can train up and refine skillset over time,But Will is the core,Instinct,willingness to endure and confidence In said skills.Some say boxing is 3/4 mental...I agree.

[Youngblood]

Boxing is 90% mental. The other half is physical.

[Douglas]

It takes will to produce skill, so really they're both important.

[Shamrock]

It takes will to produce skill, so really they're both important.

Lol you ducked the question clubber

[RozzySean]

It takes will to produce skill, so really they're both important.

True, but there is a difference between the will/dedication it takes to get skill and the will/heart it takes spar and compete.

It's a continuum. If a guy with more heart that skill gets in with a more skilled guy with less heart, a guy who gets hesitant once you hit him hard, the less skilled guy can impose his will if the skill gap isn't too big and if the gap in will/heart is significant. If the guy is so much more skilled that the guy with tons of will, the will won't become a factor.