The Three Horsemen

Self doubt, indecision, & fear the three horsemen that destroy your chances for success. If you have one of these feelings the other two are nearby. If you have doubt in your abilities as a fighter or are incisive on how you are going to fight your opponent, fear will automatically kick in & take over. Your chances of being victorious before even entering the ring will be knocked out. These emotions will effect your performance due to the mind / body connection. You will hesitate on fully committing to your techniques & combinations while fighting. You will telegraph your movements due to indecision and your speed of your techniques will slow down due to being stiff & rigid.

Like animals, which sense fear, humans are no different. The vibrations of fear pass from one mind to another just as quickly & surely as a human voice. Your opponent across the ring will sense your fear and use it to his advantage. The three horsemen need to be mastered before claiming your title in or outside of the ring.

Here are some tips

-Think from your opponents mind, what would he do?
-Watch & analyze your opponents fights to get a sense of his game plan
-Focus & remind yourself of your strengths as a fighter.
-At night before going to sleep rehearse your fight plan in your mind & what you will do to counter attacks
-Have a flexible fight plan ready in your mind & stick to it

"In order to achieve victory you must place yourself in your opponents skin. If you don't understand yourself, you will lose 100% of the time. If you understand yourself you will win 50% of the time. If you understand yourself and your opponent you will win 100% of the time."

Tsutomu Oshima

Mixed Martial Arts Punching Conditioning Exercise

Here is an exercise that will increase the speed and strength of your punching power. get a hold of either a large tire or heavy medicine ball the heavier the better. Now throw it 25 times against a solid concrete wall as fast as you can. Go and box a full round with your sparring partner immediately after doing the exercise.

After the round is complete run back to the wall and perform 25 tire or medicine ball throws again. When completed go on the mat and have your training partner mount you and try to reverse your position, have this round last a minute and a half. When all is said and done your punching power will increase (even though most of your power should be coming from your hips) your stand up and ground endurance, arm strength and mental strength will also increase dramatically.

Variety Is The Spice For Mixed Martial Art Life

Variety in your exercise routine will give you greater and quicker gains in your mixed martial arts game. Try changing your routine every 5-6 weeks so your muscles do not become accustomed to what you are doing. You can also change your abdominal routine everyday of the week, giving a rest period on the 7th day then restart your routine (don't just do the same exercise day in and out) Keep in mind you can also mix up your exercise routine with different elements all at once such as weight training then do some cardio such as running, back to strength by doing some isometric exercises then immediately go to the mat and grapple with an opponent. By changing things up you use different parts of the muscle group plus you push yourself much further than sticking to the same old routine. You will find your endurance and strength will increase twofold, improving your mixed martial arts game greatly turning you into an ultimate fighter.

No One Achieves Greatness Alone

Take a look at all of your fighting idols, each one of them has a team of trainers, role models and idols that they respect and look up to on there team pushing them to be there very best. We are a direct reflection of our idols, peer group or team. If your fight team is filled with unfocused, unsupportive people with negative attitudes that do not give you the discipline or support you need, you will unconsciously take on the same attitude and get no where in your fight career. You will not believe in yourself, be motivated to train and will not become the best you can be inside and outside of the ring.


Choosing your idols, role models and fight team members should be taken seriously. We take on the attitudes of those we look up to, respect and interact with. Choose your fight team wisely in regards to everyone on your team being positive and supportive so that you can achieve your goal. Each member should push you to your limits that you thought you could never rise to because they give you strength and encouragement when you feel like giving up and you feel that you can not go any further.


“If you can tell me who your hero's are I can tell you how you're going to turn out in life” Warren Buffett


This quote hit the nail right on the head, we take on the attitudes and beliefs of our peers and hero’s. That is why it is important to have focused, positive and supportive people around us and to rid ourselves of anyone who brings us down. That is how to achieve and obtain a high level of success in our fight careers and in life in general. Champions are made up by a team/group who contribute their knowledge and effort for the attainment of a definite goal or purpose “ THE TITLE BELT” It’s important and essential that your team is this way for you to be a champion. Choose to associate with people who share common goals and have a strong desire to contribute to the overall effort.


Trail and error is part of the process. Sort out what strengths and weakness’ you have when it comes to your fight game, look for individuals to help you eliminate your weakness’. Sort out each team member’s strength’s and weakness’ and in fine tuning your plans each team member should have a specific purpose or responsibility to make you a better fighter and bring out the best in you and your abilities in the ring and outside of it.