Exploring a Fighters Mind

Mentally, what type of person fights?
It takes a person who has an iron will. Their determination, competitive edge and discipline are enormous. The average person cannot comprehend the intensity and discipline involved to compete in the ring or cage at a serious competitive level.

A fighter develops that iron will and mind power as they go along. My view is that it is innate. They have the ability, and it comes out. It unfolds and emerges with training because it has always been there.

Fighters have a strong competitive quality. They plan to win, and they bring that mentality to other aspects of their lives. If they do something, they do it all the way. It’s like an addiction in a positive way. They like the competition, adrenaline and winning.

It’s a difficult lifestyle with the training and sacrifice, and it takes a lot of discipline. They are willing to do the extra work that others are not. They enjoy that Spartan type of training. Fighters are often asked why they work out at 4:30 in the morning, and they always answer “Because I know my opponent is sleeping at that time.

Pressure of the Fight
On fight night, there could be nervousness and there could be pressure. However, fighters feel that adrenaline rush and that energizes them. Years ago when I first got into boxing, I noticed I would have diarrhea and throw up before a fight. Quickly I learned it was very common in the sport of boxing.

Those types of emotions would wipe out the average guy. For the elite athlete, however, he takes the adrenaline flow and is ready to go out there and perform at his best. He takes the nervousness and reinterprets it as energy and a force going through his body.

The Rewards of Winning
Some say its money that attracts a fighter, but that’s far from the truth, it’s more the satisfaction from winning because they realize they can do something that no one else can do. A boxer friend of mine, who is very short, once told me that when he gets in the ring he feels 6 feet 6 inches tall.

The Pain Factor
When the adrenaline is flowing, fighters are not going to feel pain. They could be injured and will not know it until the match is over. Or they may not care. Some guys will even say, “You can break my arm, but I am not going to tap out.” They accept the discomfort and tune it out. They may even look forward to it. The endorphins give them a good feeling.

The Devastation of Losing
A loss can be devastating because a fighter often identifies himself with winning. It is common that after a loss, he may not view himself the same. As a result, it makes him more determined to come back and win. If he suffers too many losses and age catches up with him, it can have a devastating effect on self-esteem because he realizes he cannot do what he used to do. This can create a void or a depression, and that’s pretty common. In the worst case, a fighter could get into drugs or drinking. All the self discipline goes out the window because he no longer has that reinforcement. That is why it’s important for them to channel the competitive drive into a different avocation or occupation.