| Once you have squelched your ego at the door, the | | | | for without it you will be like piece of wood adrift on a |
| journey begins as all do with the mind. | | | | raging sea. |
| Focus (mind control) | | | | Balance is important from the start as your body must |
| Easy to say but what exactly is it & how do you do | | | | always be in an general state of physical condition this |
| it? In order to learn and assimilate knowledge the mind | | | | begins with diet and general exercise. The same is |
| must be focused without any outside (or inside) | | | | true for those as well, your diet should be balanced |
| chatter. Much can be said about the ability to focus | | | | between the 4 basic food groups as your physical |
| under pressure but what about focusing in when there | | | | strength and conditioning training should be a balance |
| is no pressure? For if you are unable to control your | | | | of aerobic, anaerobic, body weight, progressive |
| mind in everyday circumstances, how will you be able | | | | resistance... remember that your training should be |
| to focus in a live combat situation? If you can not | | | | geared towards performance; therefore, depending on |
| control the mind while learning how can you improve? | | | | where you are on your journey a balance must be |
| This concept of 'mental focus' is often overlooked but | | | | found between technical training vs hard sparring, |
| always a part of the make up of a successful mixed | | | | standing vs ground, mental vs physical, strength vs |
| martial artist. When learning it is best to clear the mind | | | | conditioning... and do not forget training vs recovery. |
| so their is no 'self-talk', either positive or negative that | | | | As for physical balance, efficiency of movement is |
| will interfere with the process. When the mind is clear | | | | increased by perfect balance as is power, speed and |
| through breathing or centering exercises you can now | | | | technique. Always perfecting your technical form will |
| focus on the techniques, movements, drills... being | | | | help to develop each of them as well. Speaking of |
| taught. The more senses involved the better: with your | | | | physical balance, one of your first MMA lessons most |
| eyes to see it, with your ears to listen and with your | | | | certainly will be about 'stance' when standing or |
| touch to feel... see the technique, listen to instructions, | | | | 'posture' when on the ground and how to move while |
| feel the correct way to do the technique then do it | | | | remaining in these positions. These lessons are often |
| over and over again. Embed the movement in your | | | | the most important and the most overlooked. |
| mind and body, physically with an opponent, alone with | | | | Remember when learning new moves or techniques |
| 'shadow' movements and mentally with visualization | | | | to take great care in understanding where the correct |
| exercises. | | | | balance points are for you and for your opponent. |
| When completely focused your senses are on high | | | | Another often overlooked factor when first learning |
| alert and your mind becomes a black box refusing to | | | | MMA is that there are 'outside factors' that can help or |
| let anything from the outside in except what you have | | | | harm you, when dealing with balance one major |
| deemed worthy. Remember that just like the body, the | | | | 'outside factor' is gravity. Another is your opponent. |
| mind must be exercised and trained through breathing, | | | | Balance in combat is a dance between you, your |
| meditation, visualization and other forms. While most | | | | opponent and gravity. Learning to use or coalesce with |
| MMA students in the West are generally in great | | | | these factors will give you a deeper understanding of |
| physical condition most lack this one vital element of | | | | balance. |
| mental mastery. This often leaves the searcher | | | | In closing here are a few axioms to remember: |
| confused, agitated and off balance. | | | | * Put the "be" into becoming by starting at the |
| Balance | | | | beginning |
| When learning MMA their are many skill sets to master | | | | * If your goal is to learn: stop the self talk, get out of |
| from punching and kicking to takedowns and | | | | your own way and focus on the instructor |
| submissions, MMA encompasses many martial art | | | | * Exercise balance in all areas |
| forms. For those just starting out the task seems | | | | * Learn to develop that "sixth sense" - there's a |
| daunting but always remember that there are certain | | | | reason it's called "a sense of balance". |
| principals that apply no matter what the art form. One | | | | And remember, especially those just setting out, "The |
| basic component of any combat art form is balance | | | | best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. |