DO YOU HAVE TO BE ATHLETIC TO BE A FIGHTER! 🥊🥋

What's up, guys? Today, we're diving into a question that's on the minds of many aspiring fighters: how important is athleticism in fighting? We're going to break down whether being super athletic gives you a significant edge in fighting or if you can still succeed even if you didn't play sports your entire life.

Importance of Athleticism in Fighting

Athleticism Matters in Every Sport

Firstly, let's get this out of the way: being athletic in any sport matters.

Firstly, let's get this out of the way: being athletic in any sport matters.

Athleticism gives you certain physical advantages that can make a huge difference in performance, whether it's speed, strength, or agility.

Athleticism in Fighting vs. Other Sports

However, athleticism matters less in fighting compared to other sports like football or basketball. If you’re aiming to be a running back or a free safety in the NFL, the physical criteria are pretty strict. You need to be an athletic specimen running a 4.3 or 4.4 forty-yard dash to even have a shot at those positions.

But fighting is a different beast. Even if you're incredibly athletic, if you're 155 pounds, your chances of making it to the NFL are slim. However, in the UFC, you could build a good career at that weight. Athleticism here plays a different but just as crucial role.

Athleticism in Different Fighting Styles

MMA vs. Boxing or Kickboxing

Athleticism arguably matters more in MMA than in boxing or kickboxing. In MMA, athletes use little gloves, and fast-twitch muscle fibers can make a significant difference. If someone is fast, athletic, and hits hard, they have a great chance of landing a punch that could end the fight.

In boxing or kickboxing, larger gloves can cushion blows, giving fighters who are not as athletic a bit more of an edge. But in MMA, those four-ounce gloves mean that one good punch can be a game-changer.

The Role of Toughness

Let’s not forget toughness. Fighters may not be as athletic as NFL or NBA players, but what we may lack in athleticism, we make up for in sheer toughness. Fighting demands resilience and the ability to push through pain and adversity.

Fighters are tough. Fighters have to be tough.

The Athletic Base: From Childhood to Adulthood

The Advantage of Early Sports Participation

Playing sports growing up provides an invaluable foundation. Kids who engage in sports like basketball, football, or track develop coordination, balance, and strength early on. This foundational athleticism often translates well into fighting.

When you’ve played sports your whole life, your body naturally learns to balance, move quickly, and act instinctively. Those who didn’t play sports are at a disadvantage—they generally lack the same power and fast-twitch muscles, which takes them longer to develop.

Personal Experiences

I grew up in a small town in North Texas with no access to combat sports. All we had were football, basketball, and baseball. While I’m not the most athletic, playing these sports and lifting weights helped develop my body and prepare me for fighting.

Playing basketball, football, and track at a young age, in lifting weights, did help develop my body enough and it really helped me prepare for fighting.

My balance, takedown defense, and ability to get back up quickly can be attributed to my early sports participation.

Starting Late: Can You Succeed?

Building Athleticism Later in Life

For those who didn’t play sports growing up but are determined to become fighters, the road is a bit tougher but not impossible. Building that athletic base takes longer, but with dedication and the right training, it can be done.

Recommended Sports to Build an Athletic Base

If you can, engage in sports that mix well with martial arts, such as wrestling, boxing, Taekwondo, or Karate. These can significantly help in your fighting journey.

Try and play sports when you're young. If you can do sports that involve, that are mixed in with mixed martial arts like wrestling, boxing, taekwondo, karate, whatever, those really help.

Overall, having an athletic base is advantageous in any sport, including fighting. While it’s not a strict requirement, it certainly makes the path easier and helps improve performance.

Final Thoughts

Athleticism does help in fighting, but it’s not the only factor. Toughness, skill, and dedication also play crucial roles. Whether you’ve been an athlete all your life or are starting late, there’s always a path to success in the fighting world.

If you’re considering getting into MMA or martial arts training, check out my book, The Ultimate Guidance: Your Martial Arts School and Instructor. The link is in the description below.

Stay tuned for more insights and keep those questions coming. Drop a comment on any topics you'd like me to cover in future videos!