The famous saying ‘Thoughts Become Things’ highlights clearly that mindset can impact actions. Whether it is the will to learn a new language, musical instrument, or mixed martial arts (MMA), no outstanding achievement in life is an outcome of a limiting mindset. Thus to master MMA, the mind and body must be in harmony.
We have all seen martial artists performing swift bodily movements and fancy attack combinations requiring extreme mobility and core strength. Fact is, the physical effort required meets our eyes very quickly. But what evades it is the other half of the martial arts expertise equation - mental effort.
In ways more than one, succeeding in martial arts demands strength of spirit more than physicality. A huge part of developing a disciplined and focused mindset is choosing to accept these traits as a part of your personality. Further, at every opportunity life throws, act to those traits.
Constant Improvement
For striving excellence, those who are now experts never found themselves comfortable being average martial arts students. They sought new techniques, forcing them away from their comfort zones. To clearly state, setting your mind to accomplish goals beyond expectations is necessary to elevate and sustain yourself as a martial arts expert.
A relevant philosophy they hold dear is that as expert martial artists in the making, you should steer clear from any instances of comparison. Sometimes it may get ridiculously challenging, but ask your mentor, and they will tell you – martial arts is an individual journey.
Note: An eye-opening learning through martial arts will be the realization of your inner strengths and weaknesses.
Never forget - what you find difficult could be a cakewalk for another person. Train your mind to focus only on your journey and not compare.
Effort and Discipline
A brutal reality of martial arts practice is that you have to show up even on days you do not want to. This is what inculcates discipline in the experts.
In the course of a martial arts aspirant's journey towards perfection, they work rigorously to eliminate any bodily or external obstacles from slowing their progress. For an average trainee, this mindset can be a monumental task to attain. However, the conscious attempt and potent desire help you make appreciated strides on this path.
Discipline should extend to constantly keeping yourself in practice because there can never come the point when there is nothing left to learn. Not learning is attributed to being in a vegetative state that the masters vow to never be in.
The martial arts mindset about success is simple – effort and perseverance drive you towards it, not luck.
Patience for Perfection
Each martial art form is an aggregate of detailed techniques that can be perfected only with time. However, a typical rut young trainees get into is focussing more on power than technique. Placing priority on technique is just like learning fundamentals before perfection.
Power will follow proper technique. At this point, trainees realize the need to train their minds to be patient. Diverting focus towards building the foundation, which is the longest process in the journey of perfection, requires developing the composure to wait for results. Whom we know as experts today have mastered it!
The concept of patience is deeply embedded in MMA. Also, Kung Fu is often referred to as the embodiment of patience in the martial arts.
Embracing Failure
At any point in your martial arts journey, failures are inevitable. The trick is not to avoid a low point but to learn to embrace it.
There will always be someone better than you who can easily defeat you, maybe with minimal moves and no sign of a sweat drop. It is a universal truth for all forms of MMA, so don't feel bogged down.
You'll have days you can't do half the pushups you did yesterday, monthly goals you've consistently failed to achieve and a combination of moves you're struggling to master. Face it! Such challenges are inevitable, and there's no reason to spare yourself of them.
Experts accept failure as an integral part of martial arts. They do not attach it to them or their potential. Instead, it is a learning opportunity to polish their skills.
Failure can take many forms, which is not in anyone’s control. However, your reaction to it is entirely in your hands. Masters of MMA embrace it, affirming the popular saying, “Failure is proof that you are trying.”
Tips From the Experts
Here are some tips that our MMA experts themselves give to all those interested in training:
Verdict
You now know the often overlooked part of MMA. It is up to you to decide how far you want to take your martial arts journey. For admirers of the skills of MMA experts, we've got all the equipment, facilities and expertise in place.
Making minor changes in mindsets sum up to big signs of progress in your course of MMA expertise. Add this with lifestyle changes such as meditation and mindfulness to reap benefits sooner.