YOU WILL FIGHT THE WAY YOU TRAIN! 🥊🥋

Introduction

What's up, guys? I wanted to do a little blog post real quick. Pretty simple topic, but honestly, I can't believe I even have to say this. For any of you young fighters out there, you're going to fight the way you train.

The Impact of Training on Fighting

As easy and simple as that is, you're gonna fight the way you train. I have students, and I'm always telling them, "Keep your hands up. Keep your hands up." Over the years, I've trained with people, and when I'd say, "Hey, keep your hands up," I had a guy one time tell me, "Oh, well, I maybe drop them now, but I'm gonna keep them up in a fight." And I said, "No, you're not."

You're not gonna keep them up. I mean, even I have a problem keeping my hands up. I'll be honest with you—I felt like I wasn't taught the right way initially, and it kind of haunted me over the years. So that's why when my young fighters have certain issues like not moving their head off center line or not keeping their hands up, they're too stationary, or they don't set their feet—they're gonna take those flaws into the fight. They will carry over whatever they're doing wrong in practice. Conversely, whatever they're doing right in practice, they'll also carry into the fight.

Practicing for Perfection

Here's the kicker: you can practice with perfect technique, 100% technique, as best you can, and you're still not going to maintain that in a fight. Nobody does. Floyd Mayweather is one of the most technical boxers in the history of the world, and even he has technical lapses. Sometimes when he fights, everybody does. So if you don't train close to perfect, you're definitely not gonna have great technique come fight time.

The goal should be to train as close to perfect as possible to make sure that you maintain as much of that as you can during the fight. If you halfway go through the motions, don't keep your hands up when you're sparring or hitting the bag or pads—whatever the drill—no one’s slapping you with the pads, no one’s correcting your defense.

Consistency in Training: Grappling and Striking

This happens a lot. I see a lot of people that are just pad holders but don't teach any defense. Whatever you do in practice, you’re gonna do in the fight. These bad habits, whether in grappling or striking, will continue into the fight. Don’t be naive or delusional enough to think that because you think it’s cool to drop your hands, all of a sudden come fight time, you're gonna magically keep them in perfect position when you didn’t practice that way.

Let’s say it's grappling: if you can’t get up in practice, you definitely aren’t getting up in a fight. I have a student that tells me, “In a real fight, I'll get up anytime I want,” and I’m thinking, “You can't even get up in practice.”

Practical Advice for Fighters

Just remember, guys, it really is that simple. You're going to fight the way you practice.

There are a lot of variables—nervousness, early injuries in the fight, or whatever. But as a whole, you’re gonna fight the way you practice. Ensure your technique is as close to perfect as possible in everything you do, because if you're lucky, come fight time, you'll maintain a good percentage of that. If your technique is off and sloppy in practice, it'll be even worse and really sloppy in the fight.

Key Takeaways

You’re going to train the way you fight, and fight the way you practice.

So make it count in practice. Make sure to:

1. Maintain Consistent Technique: Always strive for perfect technique in every drill.
2. Correct Bad Habits Early: Bad practice habits carry over into fights. Fix them in training.
3. Push Through Imperfections: Even the best fighters are not perfect. Practice brings you closer to perfection.
4. Prepare for Real Fight Scenarios: Practice just like you're in a real fight. The intensity and focus should mirror an actual fight.

Getting Started in Martial Arts

For those looking to get their start, check out my book, Martial Arts: The Ultimate Guide to Choose Your Martial Arts School & Instructor. The link is in the description below. Also, subscribe to this channel, I really appreciate it. Leave any questions or topics you'd like me to talk about in the comments.

Thank you, guys.

If you're ready to take your training to the next level, remember: the way you practice is the way you will fight. Stay disciplined, train hard, and keep pushing for that perfect technique.