Getting over mental blocks

[Andy Rickert]

How do you guys get over the mental block of fighting? (some may get it some may be lucky) When grappling I feel comfortable, but when striking I just get this mental block, especially with my right hand. It will refuse to move itself.
For instance, during my first mma fight I just could not seem to put together combos, just jabs. I have tried just relaxing during sparring and it has seemed to work, Iv slowly been working on it, just trying to be more comfortable striking.
I know sparring is most definately the answer, but what do you guys do to overcome mental bloacks of yours?

 

[Don Richardson]

My mental block seems to only come when I spar against my instructor. I know he's bigger, stronger, and better skilled than I am, which makes be very tentative. When I spar against anyone else in class, I'm fine.

When I go into my fight in May, I don't think I'll be tentative, but I really won't know until it happens. It will be my first. You mentioned you had a mental block in your first fight. Im curious, how did the entire fight turn out?

 

[TacWar]

the question is what exactly is your mental block, were you not throwing your power hand b/c you were afraid of getting hit, or you just didn't feel it was there for you? if it is you are afraid of getting hit you just gotta get hit and convince yourself its not that bad, and if you don't think it is there for you it might just be your timing is off and maybe even your footwork, ask yourself why your body didn't want you to throw it and then move from there.

 

[Tom Hishon]

Are you fighting MMA or KB? I think you need to slow down and re-examine what sparring is all about. I mean we have plenty of gym wars, where we start bucking down on one another. But that is for the more experienced guys and guys we are getting ready to fight.

In traditional sparring you should be going about 50% speed and 50% contact, working on your combinations and setups. You shouldn't be all freaked out like you are walking into the ring for real. Sparring is supposed to get you to let your hands/feet go and feel confident in what you are doing. Plus with 16 oz. gloves and head gear there should be little chance of you getting injured. Although it does happen.

Try not to think about anything but keeping the proper distance from your opponent and focus on landing combinations. Also, work on your defence man. If you have faith in your defensive skills, you start to not fear anyone cause you can protect yourself. Good luck man I hope you find your way thru it. It sounds like you are the road to righteousness, I would hate to see you get frustrated and walk away from the sport(s).
Tom

 

[Andy Rickert]

This would be for mma, so its sometimes an issue just because of having to worry about so many things. Im not afraid to get hit, more like Im just not sure it is there (if only striking was as easy as shadow boxing! We all have good control in sparring, its not the pain I am worried about, its just me throwing those combos out there with confidence. Im going to do some boxing sparring today so Im going to work on all of this, thank you for the advice guys.

Dj Brosco...the fight was sort of an unplanned thing. I got a called from my trainer the monday before the fight (saturday) one of the guys pulled out so I decided to fill in. I had to cut down to 170 (about 10 pounds) and I didnt have enough time to really work on what I wanted, my opponent was a 2 time state champ wrestler. I mean Im in training all the time but for a few weeks I had been doing mostly judo for a judo tourney. ANYWAYS,

The fight started and I basically froze (I dont know why), I threw one jab and he fired in for a takedown. Even sprawled he was still able to pick me up (little 5'8 guy) so onto the ground it was for most of the first round. He tried to do some gnp (which really doesnt hurt just pisses you off), I tried some submissions, then the ref stood it up, round over.

2nd round I came out and threw one more jab and was thinking to myself "ok I know the shot is coming so maybe Ill be able to avoid it and spend some more time getting used to the standup" but low and behold I couldnt avoid the takedown. My takedown defense is usually good but not that night. Anyways he ended up in mount and as I tried to bridge up and get out I was dumb and didnt cover the left side of my face. He hit me with 2 huge shots that dazed me then went around for the choke. Unfortunately I lost but it was great experience and Iv learned my lesson, and that you need more than a damn week to train haha.

 

[Sgt. Angel Eyes]

i would work on your agression- that's what helped me. you go out there, and you just wait for things to get put together- and nothing will really happen. you gotta go out there, and impose yourself on them. grit your teeth. breath quicker, get your heartrate up. PUT YOUR EVIL INSIDE THEM...lol, ok, that might be a lil much, but u see what i'm getting at. if there's ONE thing in MMA that i've learned in the past few years, it's fighting passive- youre fighting to not lose. you can't really win a match like that unless you're WAAAAAY better than the other guy. you have to fight to win. trust me, you'll notice a difference in sparring.

 

[Don Richardson]

Dj Brosco...the fight was sort of an unplanned thing. I got a called from my trainer the monday before the fight (saturday) one of the guys pulled out so I decided to fill in. I had to cut down to 170 (about 10 pounds) and I didnt have enough time to really work on what I wanted, my opponent was a 2 time state champ wrestler. I mean Im in training all the time but for a few weeks I had been doing mostly judo for a judo tourney. ANYWAYS,

The fight started and I basically froze (I dont know why), I threw one jab and he fired in for a takedown. Even sprawled he was still able to pick me up (little 5'8 guy) so onto the ground it was for most of the first round. He tried to do some gnp (which really doesnt hurt just pisses you off), I tried some submissions, then the ref stood it up, round over.

2nd round I came out and threw one more jab and was thinking to myself "ok I know the shot is coming so maybe Ill be able to avoid it and spend some more time getting used to the standup" but low and behold I couldnt avoid the takedown. My takedown defense is usually good but not that night. Anyways he ended up in mount and as I tried to bridge up and get out I was dumb and didnt cover the left side of my face. He hit me with 2 huge shots that dazed me then went around for the choke. Unfortunately I lost but it was great experience and Iv learned my lesson, and that you need more than a damn week to train haha.

One positive out of that fight is, even though you lost, you still made it to the 2nd round after taking the fight on short notice...and it was your first. You got your feet wet and I'm pretty sure you'll win the next fight, especially with more time to prepare.

 

[Tim Chan]

i think you probably need to examine yourself, and know what makes you effective. you should examine how you talk to yourself, and why you don't want to use your right.