09 Aug The Long Path: High Return & Low Risk
In April of 2012 I got out of the Marine Corps, I was a 6-3 amateur fighter and my goal was to get 1 more fight in and then turn pro. I felt my skills were truly turning a corner and that I was set up to quickly ascend the ranks as a pro. Suddenly my plans got changed. I had dealt with shoulder pain for over a year. I had seen various doctors, chiropractors and other body work specialist but there was little rhyme or reason to the pains occurrence or intensity. In June of 2012 I suddenly had so much pain in my neck and shoulder I could barely stand, let alone train. Everything hurt, I couldn’t sleep at night and I had to completely shut down all training.
It turned out I had a herniated disc in my neck. The disc was causing a pinched nerve which left me in a great deal of pain. At one point I feared I might never fight again and might potentially be stuck having surgery. Instead thank to the incredible efforts of Vinny Marra my neck was healed and I got back into training cautiously. I then moved to Las Vegas to train full time. With the unlimited access to top level training I started to notice some of the issues returning. This moment marked a huge turning point in my training. I had passed the point of relying on my old habits. In short, the behaviors that got me to this point would not get me to my goals.
I sat down and really analyzed my training. Which sessions, habits, partners, situations were causing problems versus resulting in the most growth. When was my ego getting me into trouble and how could I systematize an approach that led me to success. 8 rules were put into place to keep me safe and progressing at all times. I printed these out and had one copy on my goal wall, and another copy in my gym bag. This became the compass that led me to some of the best progress of my career.
Training and Competition Rules
- Always be properly fueled and rested for practice
- Have the right equipment
- Set and write down an intention for every practice, session, or competition
- Show up early to be prepared
- Always start sparring with a sweat and dynamic range of motion stretches
- Warm up thoroughly for every competition and practice
- Select Championship Partners
- Every partner must be the right size and skill
These rules seem very simple but they intentionally cut out situations which were causing injuries or stagnation. Most of the rules revolved around doing the right things before I ever came to training. Being fueled, having the right safety equipment, showing up early to be prepared, and having a clear intention of what I wanted to accomplish in that training session eliminated many of the issues. Requiring a warm up forced me to avoid walking on to the maps and jumping in cold. I consistently felt better the more warm up and cool down time I had before and after practices. The final rules were all about partner selection. When training and trying to refine techniques sparring partners are key. Ego will push you to never turn down an opponent, but practice is not the same as a fight. I chose consciously to pursue partners that grew my skill set not those that had no interest in making me better.
Whenever I short change these rules I pay an even greater price in the long run. I hope they will serve as a guide for my students and others in guiding their own progression.