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

[p4pking]

Really depends where you draw a boundary in defining skill.. I mean I think of skill as entirely aquired tactics, therefore a great skillset is indeed something that requires a strong will to develop, they go hand in hand. If your talking talent, or natural ability, that's entirely different. I'd go with talent and ability any day over will, if I had to choose. As with great talent and skills, as Andre said, you don't need to call upon your will as much. Wheras no matter how strong your will, you will always run into a fighter at some point that wants it as much as you. And if he's the better skilled fighter, your in for a beating. Just my take on it I guess. I also believe that you can develop a strong will by setting goals and making sacrifices etc, that brushing up on your skills will actually increase your will to succeed at the same time. You can't exactly acquire talent.

[El Kabong]

I think it's more focus than anything else and it takes both WILL and SKILL to be able to focus during physical abuse and the draining of energy and it takes will and skill to impliment what you are focusing on doing.


So FOCUS

[Douglas]

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

Lol you ducked the question clubber

What I'm sayin' is you've got to want whenever you train. Raw will alone in the ring will probably not be enough. However, if you are willing to put some hours into training and put some effort into those hours, you can learn new skills.....

[cpcompany]

I doubt that many boxers are naturally gifted, although they will have some attributes that initially stand out.
There are obviously exceptions to this, but its quite common for coaches to say Such and Such a fighter wasnt a natural talent or the best in the gym when he was young. Some fighters that I could include in that would be Pavlik, Hearns, Marciano, Tyson (Atlas said on camera that Tyson wasnt a natural), Ali. All of whom have had their trainers remark on the fact that they were no great shakes when they started.

[Trainer Monkey]

My broken rib,and nose are saying a bit of both would be nice.
Hadnt been training,but got suckered in to bare knuckle MMA.
The will made it good,the lack of training on the other hand..........
What is both for 500 Alex

[Chris Nagel]

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

Lol you ducked the question clubber

Haha, I'd have to go with letter c, brains.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Fact is, will is only useful if it's the will to learn, develop and adapt.

Reliance on Will will see a fighter set up for glorious failure.
Reliance on Skill will see a fighter extended to the limits of his skill and beyond.

The most important thing you have in the boxing ring is your mind. You need to exercise good judgement, analyse quickly and make informed decisions in split seconds.

So I'd turn down both will and skill in favour of a boxing brain, which would serve me with the mental capacity to develop skill and the desire to develop great will.

[Youngblood]

Fact is, will is only useful if it's the will to learn, develop and adapt.

Reliance on Will will see a fighter set up for glorious failure.
Reliance on Skill will see a fighter extended to the limits of his skill and beyond.

The most important thing you have in the boxing ring is your mind. You need to exercise good judgement, analyse quickly and make informed decisions in split seconds.

So I'd turn down both will and skill in favour of a boxing brain, which would serve me with the mental capacity to develop skill and the desire to develop great will.

Quoted for awesomeness.