***So you want to be a fighter??*** Hey guys :) Been a little while since I had a moment, to place a write up on here. The write ups I post, are usually aimed more towards the traditional aspect of our training. But as you know, our system is a blend of both traditional martial arts, and combat sports. So, that being said, Im going to focus this write up, on the combat sports, more specifically, towards people who have goals of becoming a combat sports fighter. In the course of being a trainer, I often get asked how soon before a person can get a professional fight?. Well, while innocent enough, that is a tricky question. It would be the same as looking at the clock, and seeing that it is noon. You have plans to go to the movies tonight at 9:00. You turn to your buddy at noon, and say when is this movie going to end for god sakes??? Point being, actually finding yourself in a professional fight, is the end result of many factors. First off, you gotta train. This means, many hours, perfecting the skills you wish to fight with. In the business of professional fighting, the athlete has to have a skillset that a professional fight promoter is interested in. This skill set, has to be obvious in the actual fight itself, win or lose. If not, there is no repeat offer for the fighter, and, the trainers reputation as someone that can produce a quality fighter is put into question, making it harder, if not impossible, to find fights for his other fighters later on down the road. It doesnt matter how tough you think you are, or that you did Tae Kwon Do as a kid, etc, etc. The only training that matters, is the training you do with your current trainer, and be prepared to do lots of it. You have to have what it takes to be able to stick to the training, even when no fight offers are coming. Many quit because they arent getting fights. This is stupid. A person has to accept that they are a practitioner first, and a fighter second. If you cant handle the wait, how are you going to bounce back from a loss? Second, forget what you think. Its what your trainer thinks, that flies. End of story. Third, you have to have class. Sadly, not all gyms require this, but I sure as hell do. Forgive the language, but I dont train assholes or tough guys. I train sportsmen and gentlemen. Fourth, can you put your face where your mouth is? Meaning, can you stick around, after getting hit? I have seen many who want to be fighters, and are experts at drills, etc. But when they get to the sparring stage of learning combat sports, and get hit, hard, they quit. If you cant handle getting hit in a controlled environment like the ring at our gym, you best keep away from the professional fight scene!!! Fifth, you have to have a full set of medicals. Blood tests, CT scan, EKG, etc. This is at YOUR time, and in some cases depending on the doctor you use, YOUR expense. Sixth, you need to be aware of many set back possibilities. Fights get cancelled last minute, opponents can back out, etc. That fight you trained for during the last 6 months? Gone in one phone call, the night before the fight. Can you handle that? If, you are a true practitioner first, and fighter second, you will. Seventh, fights are rare to come by. You may see 1-2 per year, depending on what is going on in the local fight scene. At one time, getting fights further away meant more frequent opportunities, but those days are gone, as the fight sports have become very saturated. Again, youll need to be a practitioner first, and fighter second. Fighting is tough business, and not for everyone, actually, for very few to be honest. Being a martial artist, will teach you the attributes you need mentally and emotionally, to be able to handle the rigors of being involved in the fight sports. If you are a UFC fan, do you remember former light heavyweight champion, Chuck The Iceman Liddell? I was talking to his trainer John Hackleman on the phone once, and he told me that Chuck, and any fighters in his camp, have to train as martial artists first. They wear their uniforms, test for their belts, etc. At the time of that conversation (2010), Chuck was ranked at 5th Degree Black in Korei-Kan Kempo. A great example of practitioner first, fighter second. Its the right way. Not how all gyms do it, but how we do it it. So, how long until you can get a professional fight? Lets train first. The rest will fall into place :)
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 12:39:25 +0000
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