What does it take to be a champion?

[Nobski]

Just a simple Q. What, in your opinion, is necessary for one to become a champion?

[fire cobra]

Maybe not such a simple question!,

First join a good gym,if the gym has already created champions then they may be able to do the same for you,given that you put in the time,it will mean being dedicated and disciplined for a good while,working your way up through the ranks(n class c class b class a class) so patience is another requirement,try to build up a winning record,keep your goal im mind all the time,if you take a knock back come back stronger and more determined,losing is ok you can still become a champion but you must learn from the loss.

Mostly you need a good attitude towards the whole fight game,the training,the pre fight,the fight itself and the post fight(evaluate and work on your game).

Also a touch of luck also helps,sometimes opportunities are created other times they come along unexpectedly so try to be ready for those times to.

The first thing is to check around your area and find a sucesfull gym with a coach or coaches you can relate to,listen and learn,stay focussed and you can do it,good luck.

[the tick]

Just a simple Q. What, in your opinion, is necessary for one to become a champion?

A certain amount of talent. And then the rest of what fire cobra mentioned.

[bodhisattva]

Just a simple Q. What, in your opinion, is necessary for one to become a champion?

Meet up with a great group of guys who have a flexible mindset about training, and train with progressive resistance on high percentage moves. Invite various instructors in to do seminars and clinics and to help you work on your game - a great organization for that is Straight Blast Gym. They make it a requirement that you bring their coaches in several hours a year to wrestle and box with you, and to watch others wrestle and box with you, so as to establish where your game is at, and where you want to focus your time.

Then make use of that group of guys anytime you can. Train lots of sparring with less focus on focus mitts. Train lots of live time in the clinch both setting up throws and setting up strikes. Train lots of live time with takedown defense. Train lots of live time in groundfighting both with and without gi, and with and without punches. Be willing to travel and pay for instructors in other states to bring your game to the pro level or to pay for them to come to you.

Bring yourself to a superior level of conditioning. Strength is always important, but endurance is king in the fighting sports. Cycle in and out of a) strength endurance programs such as circuit training b) strength training - loads of squats and deadlifts and other big mover exercises c) anaerobic conditioning - high intensity interval training such as hill sprints

Always work the part of your game that you HAVEN'T developed the best - keep expanding into areas where you don't feel comfortable - if your clinch sucks - train it. You told me you came to train with us because you want to concentrate some on your boxing/hands game. That's the idea.

And then finally, train with progressive contact at non-injury levels. Then, as you get some skills, begin training once a week with a heavy level of contact. And make sure the guys in your gym have good hearts, and all care about you developing a better game as much as they care about developing their own game.

It doesn't hurt to be a friendly, kind person in the process. Most of the high level fighters I've met are friendly individuals with healthy attitudes and motives behind their actions. They tend to recognize one of their own rather quickly and help one of their own anyway they can. I haven't met many fighters that act like the guys on the UFC reality show.

[bodhisattva]

One other thing.

Train for longevity...

Don't train at clubs where they beat you senseless and call it "Real Training, dude. You saw Fight Club, Right?" Those are just people who don't know how to coach.

Train for longevity. Stretch after each workout while your muscles are still warm. Learn to do your weightlifting with correct form - especially with the deadlifts and squats. Don't let people beat on your head without some good reason for it in your training. And if you do get an injury, go with the injury - quit training - let it take its course - and come back when you're healthy.

Someone in Judo once told me "You don't just want to be doing this now, right? I mean, you want to be doing this when you're 50, too, right?"