Apologies for the long explanation. I thought of making this thread yesterday, when I reached for something in the fridge to my right and realised that my instinct was to roll under a nonexistent punch to my left.
Over the maybe 15 years since I stopped training properly I’ve found myself using the muay Thai way of switching for a kick when swapping legs, e.g., whilst walking around, and I would say my situational awareness is pretty good because of training, and it never switches off - for example, I don’t remember it because I was hammered, but apparently someone in a pub threw a jokey punch at me and I slipped the punch and turned the corner, ready to throw. Even though I’m an old, fat fuck now, I still benefit physically from my years of training, with a low resting heart rate (latest reading was 51 bpm), and I have a good understanding of my own limitations and an honest relationship with my own fear and uncertainty. I know how to push myself physically (though I suspect I had that before).
I know I’m no kind of tough, but because of combat sports I also know I am willing to fight. I think I’ve spoken about it on here before, but I’ve been in the ring with someone better than me, and not ‘better on the day’ or anything like that - he was just better all-round - and I stood there and threw back and ended up not getting knocked out. Because of this and other circumstances I know I’m a ‘walk forwards’ person and that I don’t panic. (As it happens this probably helped me when I had a failure in skydiving.)
So my question is, how has/did your combat sports training affect you, good or bad, and how long do you think this effect will last?
I’d be particularly interested in hearing from those who gave up training more than 15 years ago.
If anything, I’ve learned if I get in a situation where a physical confrontation is going to happen, I’ll be okay. At least to where I should be able to remove myself from the situation.
Also, sizing people up and having more awareness of potential problems and avoiding them.
Haven’t really trained in 15+ years, but still occasionally fuck around with friends that still do.
Simple shit like standing leg sweeps/reaps is insanely effective, practical, and won’t land you in jail
Funnily enough one of the go-to things I’d often use in the gym was a little leg-lift thing I got from judo - you go deep on a leg reap and then straighten your leg, and uke pops up and backwards. I’m sure it has a proper name but I’ve forgotten it if I ever knew it. I’d love to land it in an actual fight.
I think you did a pretty good job of articulating things that will stick with you even after long training has stopped, ie situational awareness, mental callouses that keep you from freaking out if in a physical encounter.
However, on the flip side, I do think the durable skills of actually being able to fight erode faster than people believe. It might end up with you over estimating your ability to handle yourself if it comes to that.
I train 0 striking these days, and haven’t for a long time. I make it a point to remind myself of that, so I don’t think mistakenly rhat I can shut people off like I used to be able to.
I would imagine it’s similar to running across the street. I remember how to run and it’s just a straight line but it can go horribly wrong just from a groin hamstring perspective not to mention Achilles. So if you imagine a quick clinch after a 60 seconds escalation staredown and a couple of judo reaps while being hockey punched in the face there are too many variables for hypotheticals
Thanks very much - great point. Luckily I always took the view that I was probably going to lose, so I doubt the kind of hubris you described will affect me much. I’ve sometimes wondered whether this pessimism was what pushed me to train harder than anyone else (at least in my camp).
I do have the benefit of natural power, though, and apparently that’s the last thing to go. Funnily enough I didn’t know I hit hard until I’d had a couple of ‘gym fights’ (interclub contests).
That’s a fair question, but I did actually fight. I think I alluded to it in my post, but if not, my bad.
I know I don’t freeze. I’m no badarse, but I’ve been in lots of stressful situations (not just fights), and I know I can throw down. I didn’t always know that, mind - so again, it’s a fair question. Thank you.
Fighting teaches you to take a punch on the nose or get the wind knocked out of your lungs after getting slammed and not just curl into fetal position, you assess your situation and then fight or flight
I’m not sure about the tail end of your post, but being comfortable with getting punched in the face is a huge point - thank you. I never really had an issue with that (it seemed obvious to me), but I guess that’s not the same for everyone. Plus I came from rugby, which was a lot rougher!
Yeah I don’t fuck with Rugby guys, you guys have a ridiculous tolerance for pain
I taught my kids to fight and swim at an early age, the oldest base is Judo and he studied under Doctor Iver Simonsen (RIP) probably the strongest old man I have ever met
He afterwards went onto Taekwondo and that is how his younger brother dedicated his life to it.
We are packing our bags today to go with his little brother to the Junior Worlds in Uzbekistan. I’m so excited !!! He has won his spot in Team Canada 3 years in a row and lucky enough this is his 2nd participation at the Worlds
I love it because they really roll out the red carpet for the national teams and Canada is well liked by everyone at the international stage
Perspective: Once you do something that is truly hard like going through a grueling fight camp, everything else seems easier
Confidence: once you start working with newer people who haven’t worked on this stuff, you realize that 98% of people can’t throw a decent punch, and are completely clueless to even the most basic grappling.
I would guess this stuff lasts until you’re too old to care.
So my question is, how has/did your combat sports training affect you, good or bad, and how long do you think this effect will last?
The biggest benefit I’ve experienced is the daily ego boost.
If I’m at the grocery store and an employee is getting a bit snappy with me when they catch me swiping napkins and mayonnaise packets from the hot bar, knowing I can tap him out provides an immense endorphin rush.
I anticipate this effect, i.e. thinking I can physically dismantle up every man I encounter, to last until I actually get tested and beat up.
I think I’ve written about it on here before, but there was a night out with my colleagues at the time where I didn’t get into a fight with three people because of having trained (and possibly fought…I’m not sure of the timeline). Before then I’m certain I would have thrown a punch just to get the upper hand, but I quickly came up with a plan in my mind for what to do if it started. I suspect if I hadn’t been so calm they would’ve started a fight, but in the end nothing happened.
I always assume I’m going to lose and be harmed or killed, and consider whether I’m happy accepting that risk. I do the same with freediving, and I did the same with skydiving and climbing (I don’t do either any more). This approach has served me well over the years.
