I'm recently realizing how most guys don't listen to their corners. Watching Rampage in TUF, and then listening to bitching of my own coaches during sparring when a guy doesn't listen. I just find it odd. The corner people will say the same thing over and over, and the guy won't do it... I have never had this problem, I don't even hesitate when they tell me to do something. I KNOW that even though I am well trained that I don't see EVERYTHING when I am in the middle of the action in the ring. When my trainers tell me to do something, I do it, and it pretty much always works. I even find it very comforting in a way. I like having an extra set of eyes... I'm not really asking a question, just kind of saying that if you're not listening to your corner, you're missing out IMO. So lets hear some chatter
It's weird how a lot of guys don't listen. If you have a good corner it's almost like they're in there fighting with you.
I often had really rubbish corners so that's why I choose not to listen to them or they say nothing at all. I've found a surprising successful strategy is to listen to the other persons corner. If they are calling out for their fighter to go to the body then I go to the body because it is the last thing they expect! I listen to my opponents corner better than they do sometimes lol. I think one of my strengths is how responsive I am to suggestions in a fight. I'm like a fighting robot waiting for commands. Just a pity I don't get a better corner. I love watching the TUF7 fights. Rampage and Forrest are both excellent at giving instruction.
There's a great quote from a good movie: "All Fighters are pig-headed in some way, always think they know better than you about something. And even if they're wrong, even if it'll be the ruin of them...if you can beat that last bit out of them then they ain't Fighters at all." This very principle is why many many Fighters don't listen to the corners. Then there's this, Teddy Atlas once criticized a Fighter for not listening, but he immediately also said "We have to always keep in-mind the trainer isn't getting hit." The whole purpose of learning to Fight and being Great at it mastering the "Fight or Flight" response. Most people instinctively will do everything they can to avoid being damaged. As Fighters you have to live in the opposite mind-frame, and it's terribly difficult. Not only do you have to find solace amid chaos, but you have to then think constructively and attempt to get things done. It's not an easy task to do alone, nevermind taking 3rd party instruction while doing so.
Shit, I have a terrible habit of doing this. Mainly because I let pride get in the way of thought process (something i'm currently working on diligently) and regardless of how many times i hear "DON'T STAND THERE AND BANG" sometime i just go on autopilot and kick myself in the ass afterwards for not heeding good advice. It also becomes a bigger problem the more i get hit. I start taking a beating worse, my bull-like mindset kicks in and I'll purposely take shots to give some. It doesn't cross my mind until afterwards that I looked like I was taking a beating the whole time.
Well, you can't blame them if freddie roach is the cornerman. I admire fighters who can understand what he is saying.
I just worked at a fight and one of the kids took the other guy down pushed him into his corner. Not only did he have his corner telling him what to do, the guy on the bottom had to listen to each command and watch each one get executed on - you could just watch it demoralize him. Most fights aren't like TUF - most fights are so loud you can't hear the ref in your ear muchless the corner.
I think freewill is great and I thought about that a little, but I disagree. I don't think that not listening is a good fighting quality at all. It's not like I don't do 99% of the thinking myself. I just feel that I have accomplished the kind of connection to my team mates/coaches that is beneficial. I know they know what I am capable of, and what I need to work on. I also know that from the outside they can see a ton of things that I can't see while doing my thing. Besides, what the hell is the point of having your corner yelling at you do what you want anyways? I agree it is mostly a one man/woman show, but I totally feed off the shouts of others. Besides... you can't argue with results... it's almost a gaurantee that if I listen to them I get a good shot in. The thing that they tell me to do that I can't or don't seem to do is "relax" or "don't get mad"... but we'll see if that will ever change.
