HELP!!! I'm becoming a mental midget.

[Nickuraba]

Guys,
maybe this is something every fighter goes through, but I thought I'd just lay it out to see if this is common amongst other fighters or maybe anybody could offer me some advice on how to fix this....

I'm an amateur MMA fighter with a 2-1 record. My last fight I lost by triangle choke in a fight I truly believe I should have won. This fight was in May and I haven't fought since. With that said, I don't think it was the loss that effected me mentally as much as the fact that soon after my loss, I started training at a different school. To be blunt, I went from a school where I was one of, it not, THE best guy.........to getting my ass handed to me on a daily basis at this new school. I don't mean for it to be an ego thing, but the fact is we all have one and when you get that reality check, it hurts....it hurts bad. Its really got me wondering if I even belong in MMA or if I'm just a dreamer. Deep down I know that training with better guys will only make me better, but I was shocked when one of my trainers told me last night that I was a better fighter when I first walked in the door than I am now and he doesn't know what happened between then and now. That was very disheartening, but I know he was only being honest with me and he believes most of it is mental. I don't know what to make of it, but I don't do this to be an average 50/50 fighter. I want to win a lot more than I lose....then again, who doesn't? Anyway, guys, any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I just don't know whats happening, but lately my hobby feels like a second job and I'm dreading my next fight instead of looking forward to it like I used to. I just fear failure so much and thats the risk you take when you fight, but I don't know how to overcome this fear. Thanks

 

[basisdaman]

u just gotta believe in yourself and lose the ego...so what you lose to people better than you...instead of getting discouraged when you lose, try to maybe lose in a less convincing fashion

 

[anaconda]

Have you tried taking some time off? If youve been training really hard it kind of sounds like a burnout...that being said, although I dont train mma, this happens in bjj...you get stuck in a little rut and you seem to be getting even worse instead of better. you just gotta keep your head down and keep chugging.

but seriously, take a few days off...dont even think about fighting/mma/anything. then before you want to come back watch a few of your fav fighters fights, and let it pump you up. if after all that you dont feel like training maybe you shouldnt be doing it. but i think if you do this youll learn to relove the sport, and the break will help you get a fresh perspective. it wont come back quickly, but it will come with time. basically oyull start going up again instead of down.

Good luck man

 

[Jinzumkei]

Sounds like you're just a little burned out man, thinking about it too much, maybe take a little time off to miss the training.

 

[Greoric]

I dont really think you should have ny troubles now. Obviously you already see your own problem, so the only way you can go from here is up. The only thing left to do is fix it in what way you see as best.

Goodluck and Godspeed

 

[OldSkool]

Very simple;

You used to just fight, now you are learning alot of technique which takes thought.

1] Compartmentalize your training. What that means is, some workouts think and learn new techniques and practice them till they become second nature.

2] Days that you spar MMA, turn off your brain and just fight. Afterwards take note if you used any new moves that are becoming second nature.

3] In time you will be able to combine both 1] and 2], for now to keep your love and enjoyment of the game you will have to have practices where you just fight.


Note, right now you are just in "Information Overload"


A technical fighter is the ultimate goal to be sure. Take this to the bank! You can not make a technical martial artist a fighter. A guy born to fight, you can make him more technical tho.



Your a fighter! enjoy that! ease up on your goals on the learning curve, that will come in time..............................enjoy what your doing and spend some practices just fighting.

 

[scorcho]

Training hard and getting beat in training should not effect your confidence when you step in the ring. Honestly, I would suggest that you try switching schools again. Blank slate, new start, whatever.

 

[bob]

mate i was 16 when i started boxing....i was put into my first fight after about 5 moths opf trainging and thought i was gunna be the bomb....i got smashed. i realised not long after that that i didnt want to be a boxer...i had one more fight to get a win and once i got thaat i stopped boxing as much and found bjj. and after competing in my ifrst comp even though i lost that too, i knew straight away that this was the world i was ment to be in.

being honest with your self is the easiest way to work out if your heading in the right direction. deep down you know if fighting in mma is the right thing for you to do.

 

[Circus]

Diffrent people need diffrent learning methods, maybe this school hasn't the right approuch for you?

6 months ago I've also switched schools because I felt I reached the top. It took me a month going from one school to the other before I founded the right one.

Also how long have you been training without a break? Take a couple of weeks off, It will reload you're batteries and you'll be coming back more eager to learn.

 

[YeahBee]

You switched schools for a reason mate, hang in there, you got caught early in your career no biggie, not even Fedor sports an unbeaten record

 

[fatu]

enjoy the domination you get from your training partners.. once you figure out all the fine details as to why they are beating you, you will be that good yourself. + they are there to help you..

- all goes back to the infamous saying that 'you are only as good as the people you train with'.

 

[knoxpk]

Dont overthink. When you switch schools you tend to train like they do and focus on what they do. If you were a guard player and now you are not doing so good in top guard that will throw you off...and vice versa.

I dont know enough about your past or current training to make an educated opinion but if you regressed and your coach told you so it is definately a mental thing. that being the case there will come a time where it starts to "click" again. Just fight through it, thats what fighters do and you are fighter.

keep your head up!
(literally and figuratively)

 

[mannywankenobi]

As someone else said, it sounds like burnout to me. Perhaps a week off or a small vacation will help. I've told myself that whenever I get to the point that I'm not having fun with my training anymore, in other words I'm dreading going to class more than looking forward to it, than it's time to take a little break. I really believe that whenever training is not fun anymore it's because you're burned out. I've found that a week off does wonders for my psyche because by the end of that week I'll be missing training so much that I don't care if I get my ass handed to me in 17 different ways, something inside of me says I just HAVE to get back in training.

 

[mannywankenobi]

I see you're in GA. I train primarily in Beaufort, SC but sometimes I train in Savannah, GA. What school are you with?

 

[sugarboyae]

yea like everyone said. i agree. its total burn out. sometimes less is more and just roll with a fresh start. worked for me in the past =)