How to Be a Better Fighter

With the rising popularity of mixed martial artists more and more people are interested in taking part in such events, or at least the training involved. Acquiring skills as a fighter is a long and intense process. It can feel fruitless considering there will always be someone bigger, stronger, faster, more experienced and more technically knowledgeable. However, even though fighting is a competition, being better means improving yourself from what you were, and numerous techniques are available to become a better fighter through your own efforts.

Instructions

    • 1

      Train in both strength and conditioning. The beginning of any success in a physical activity means you have to be in shape to participate. Focus on core strengthening exercises and cardiovascular endurance. Shake up every exercise routine to force the body to work harder. Such activities such as interval training, wresting drills and other such things can develop both endurance and explosiveness. Other fights are decided by who has the most fuel left at the end, strength training and conditioning gives good fighters a larger tank.

    • 2

      Practice through sparring. Conditions are constantly changing during any fight, and improving requires dealing with an actual opponent. Spar with a variety of partners who use different techniques. Similarly, practice different aspects of your own skills in different sessions, work on the jab in one, kicks in another, takedowns and so forth, before putting them all together. Sparring also brings down the nervousness that arises during a fight and makes it feel more routine.

    • 3

      Work on the different techniques used in fighting. These can be intangibles such as setting the pace of the fight or specific things like throwing jabs at different angles. Change the timing and rhythm of strikes, keep weight behind them, use feigns and dodges, limit punches to two or three at a time and practice swinging from the hips to generate power, all of these will make you a better fighter. As well, use whatever physical stature you have, don't fight bigger or smaller than you are.

    • 4

      Establish a fighter mentality. Fights can be decided at the start by which fighter has the greater confidence. Be sure of yourself and your skill, no matter the opponent. Tension can waste energy so practicing relaxing and exploding only when the opportunity presents itself. Develop a killer instinct but never be too eager. Lastly, study your opponent both before and during the fight, so you know how they move, their tendencies and techniques and when to press the attack and when to guard.