The Secret Ingredient of Successful Fighters: Developing a Sense of Urgency
The Secret Ingredient of Successful Fighters: Developing a Sense of Urgency
What's up, guys? Today, we're getting into a topic that a lot of people overlook, but it's one of the main things that separates top fighters from the pack. I want to talk about the sense of urgency—and honestly, it’s not just about fighting. If you’re trying to get ahead in anything in life, keep reading, because this is a game-changer.
What Is a Sense of Urgency?
You hear a lot about hard work, discipline, and talent in fighting. But today, I want to break down something different—the thing that sets apart the guys actually going places. It's not flashy, and a lot of people don't talk about it. But the fighters who make it? They all have it: a sense of urgency.
"A sense of urgency means you treat practice, training, and self-improvement like they’re life and death. There’s no just coasting."
A sense of urgency is that fire in your belly, the thing that gets you pissed when you miss a practice, even if nobody notices but you. It’s what pushes you to sprint to the gym when you’re running late. It’s the itch that keeps you up at night thinking, “Am I doing enough?”
Why Do Successful Fighters Have It?
First off, you need to understand—nobody makes it to the top by accident. It’s never just luck, or even just talent. The ones at the top, the ones in the UFC or killing it in business, got there because they push harder, every day.
So, why do successful fighters all seem to have this sense of urgency?
- Belief in themselves: If you really believe you’re going somewhere, you treat every rep, every drill, every minute in the gym like it matters. Because you know it does.
- No Plan B: The gym isn’t just part of their schedule; their whole life is built around getting better. Practice comes first—everything else is second.
- Continuous improvement: They know someone out there is working to be better than them. That’s enough to keep them moving.
"You need to be mad if you miss practice. It means you care. If you don’t care, you’re probably not going anywhere anyway."
What Does a Sense of Urgency Look Like in Training?
Let’s get specific. Here’s how it shows in day-to-day training:
1. Never missing practice
If you do, you’re not happy about it—and you make up for it.
2. Harder, smarter training
These fighters don’t walk into the gym late, and if they do, they’re running, apologizing, and getting down to work immediately. It’s about respect—for your coach, your teammates, and especially yourself.
3. Getting more reps
If someone else is getting ahead of them—getting more reps, putting in more effort—they notice, and it lights a fire under them to never let it happen again.
4. Setting life around practice
Their life is planned around their training schedule. Not the other way around.
Why Does It Matter If You Miss Practice?
Let me tell you, when I was coming up, missing practice made me feel awful. Not just because of missing the workout—but because someone, somewhere, was getting better than me while I was slacking.
That’s what urgency feels like.
If missing a session doesn’t bother you, you need to ask yourself: How bad do I really want this?
- Missing practice = someone else gets a step ahead.
- Late to the gym = you short yourself reps, experience, and progress.
- Blowing off a session = you’re saying “it’s not that important.”
"If you miss practice and you're not mad about it... it's highly unlikely you're going far anyway."
Real Fighters, Real Stories
It's not just me. I've known and worked with a lot of fighters who reached the very top—guys who made it to the UFC, who stayed at a high level for years. Every single one of them? They had urgency.
Sodiq Yusuff: The Definition of Urgency
Let me talk about Sodiq Yusuff for a minute. I trained with Sodiq Yusuff off and on for about eight years. He's like a brother to me. And you know what? The guy never missed practice. Not once.
Sodiq had his life structured around training. That urgent attitude? It didn't just get him to the UFC—it kept him there.
Multiply That By 10
I've trained and coached a bunch of guys who made it. The pattern is the same:
- Never missing practice
- Making up lost ground when they fall behind
- Letting nothing get in the way of the grind
It’s not about being a natural. It’s about never letting opportunities slip by.
Life Beyond the Gym: Sense of Urgency in Business and More
This isn’t just about fighting. I coach a guy named Paul Wiggins, former NFL player, super successful businessman. He didn’t even make the bulk of his money in the NFL—he did it with multiple businesses after.
You know what Paul told me? He said the exact same thing: Every person he knows who made it to the top—did it with a sense of urgency.
"Everything successful people do—they do fast, with purpose, knowing there’s no Plan B."
Whether it’s getting your degree, building a business, or just trying to be great at something, urgency matters.
People who become successful:
- Are never casual about practice/study/work
- Feel pressure (in a good way) to always improve
- Don’t waste time—because they know time wasted is ground lost
Calling Out Common Excuses
Let’s be real. There are plenty of ways people try to justify taking it slow. Here’s the truth:
Excuse 1: “I’ll make it up later.”
That’s like telling yourself you’ll get serious next year. The present is the only time you’ve got.
Excuse 2: “Nobody noticed if I was late.”
You noticed. That’s enough. The person you have to answer to is the one in the mirror.
Excuse 3: “I’m just tired.”
So is everyone at the top. But they show up anyway.
The Big Takeaway
If you’re just strolling into practice ten minutes late, acting like it doesn’t matter, you’re wrong. See how mad you get when you think you’re falling behind? That’s the urgency winners have.
How to Build and Keep Your Sense of Urgency
Some people are born with this, but truth? Anyone can build it. Here are steps that work in fighting, business, or wherever you want to go:
1. Start with Belief
You have to believe you’re meant for more. If you don’t, urgency is hard to come by. Set a big goal.
2. Build Your Schedule Around Training
Don’t fit practice in where it’s convenient. Make everything else fit around your core mission.
3. Hold Yourself to Higher Standards
Get mad when you fall short. Not in a self-hating way—but to spark you to do better next time.
4. Track Your Progress—Honestly
Did you show up late? Did someone get more reps than you? Be honest, hold yourself accountable, and take action.
5. Find a Circle That Pushes You
Train with people who have that fire, who get pissed when they’re not first. That stuff rubs off.
6. Make Up Lost Ground
Missed a day? Come in early next session. Stay later. Don’t forget to do the work you missed.
Advice for New Fighters (and Anyone Chasing Success)
If you’re just getting started—maybe even just looking for a gym or thinking about martial arts—here’s what I want you to know. The earlier you really get this sense of urgency, the further you’re going to go, and the less regret you’ll have.
Get Real With Yourself
- Are you okay skipping practice?
- Are you relieved when practice gets canceled, or does it annoy you?
- Are you showing up early? Are you fired up, or just “there”?
If this stuff doesn’t matter to you right now, that’s fine. But if you really want to do something special—start now.
Practical Steps for New Fighters
- Find a gym: If you need to know how to pick a solid school and instructor, check out "The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Martial Arts School and Instructor".
- Talk to your coach: Ask them how they set their schedule, how much urgency they expect.
- Track your attendance: Literally count days. Visual reminders help.
- Reward yourself for consistency: Show yourself that the little steps pay off.
"Have a sense of urgency—don’t come late, don’t miss practice. If you do, make it up. That’s what separates the ones who make it from the ones who don’t."
Conclusion: Make Urgency Part of Who You Are
Let’s wrap it up: If you want to get somewhere in fighting—or in anything big—success isn’t just about talent or skill. Everyone at the top had a sense of urgency.
- They showed up, every day, almost obsessed.
- They got mad when they fell behind.
- They built their lives around training, not the other way around.
And—the truth is, if you don’t care about missing out, about letting yourself down, it’s probably not going to happen for you. But if you do—if you get a little mad, a little fired up—use that. That’s urgency, and it’s not “extra.” It’s the main ingredient.