I have been talking about the mentality and commitment it takes to become a mixed martial arts champion, but I want to make it clear that this isn’t the only reason to practice a martial art. Because I’ve been such an avid competitor, people sometimes think that I force my students to compete. The truth is that I don’t push anyone to compete. As a matter of fact, my school does not have a huge competition team. We do have a quality competition team, but it is certainly not as large as other academies of the same size. We have a large number of students that have never competed and have no interest in it, and that is fine with me.
Martial arts are for everyone. The slow, the fast, the large, the small, the young, the old, the competitors and the noncompetitors–all have a home here. They all have something to gain and something to contribute. If a school is so dedicated to competition that it segregates or ridicules the noncompetitors, then it is limiting access to the sport to the very fit and denying a lot of people the chance to learn a great art.
One advantage to competing is that you participate in more intense training sessions. As the competition nears, the training gets harder and harder and your techniques and timing get sharpened quickly. Needing to score, the competitor has to narrow the scope of his game to put certain moves into practice right away. He experiences bursts of progress brought about by these intense demands.
On the other hand, the regular student generally trains at the same pace every week, so his progress is more steady. You don’t learn certain things as fast, but without a specific time frame artificially set by tournament schedules, you can concentrate on the nuances and finesse of every move until you have it down perfectly. Do not concern yourself with winning every training session or whether you got submitted many times in class. Your concern is steady gains. First, develop you defense. Once you have a solid defense, the attacks will come. Once you have the assurance that you can protect yourself in any situation, then your mind is free to look for opportunities for reversals and submissions.
Most of all, if you train for personal gain, make sure you enjoy every training session and always leave your gym with a good feeling. As I like to say, whether you’re driving a Ferrari or a VW Bug, if you stick to the right road, you will get to the same destination. And that is all that matters.
For more Tips, Information, or an MMA Gym in your area, please check out this website: Pure MMA Fighting
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