Complain or complete

In the fight world, we need to have very short memories. Within fight sports, generally speaking, we try to avoid making as many mistakes as possible. Some of the best fighters earn this title due to the limited number of mistakes made during their performances. In saying that though, it is a very difficult task, and this often results in a series of obvious mistakes. However, if we think about what just went wrong for too long, then the chances are you’re about to be drowning in a sea full of mistakes.

In the world of sports, they call it ‘complain or complete’. That is, if something happens, you can either complain about it, or get over it and complete it. Most people, after making a mistake – like dropping a ball in a game for example – will dwell on it for a decent amount of time. While this is a natural response, athletes have had to train themselves out of this. For example, top sports people might dwell on a mistake for about 30 seconds. Then you have the elite of the top sports people – they will dwell on a mistake for 10 seconds. The legends take 5 seconds to get over it, and the greats, 1 second. When I think of the greats, I am thinking the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Don Bradman and Pele. When they make a mistake, or have a bad start to the game, they would just move on and keep playing; they do not let that mistake affect their performance.

Martial arts are great for letting you know if you got something right or not. If you were hit, then you got it wrong – instant feedback. When striking, things are moving fast, and it seems you don’t have time to dwell on your mistakes until the end of the round. After analysing your mistakes, you can come out for the next round with your changes and see if you can incorporate them. However, in grappling and wrestling, it’s a different story. In wrestling, if you get taken down, the first thought is usually a swear word – then it’s figuring out what went wrong. In wrestling, you have to get on your feet for the restart. If you don’t have a short memory, all you are thinking about is the last takedown, how you got caught and how it will not happen this time. You see your opponent go for the previous set up and you think hell no and defend with everything. Your opponent takes this gift and gets you with something else – now you are pissed off. Once you are grumpy, things unravel really fast and that is how training, or a match can go downward. This is even worse in BJJ as once someone is caught in a submission, they do not want to tap again, so they tend to defend that limb (or neck) with everything they have. This usually means they give up position, which, usually, if the opponent is good enough, opens up for other submissions and the cycle repeats.

For the rest of us that do not fit into the category of the ‘greats’, we have to keep our minds in the moment (Thank you Bruce Lee). Think about the times when you are performing well. You’re not necessarily thinking anything good, or bad for that matter, you are just doing. There is no “watch out for this” or “go for that” thoughts in your head. You’re just doing. Going for what is available and defending what needs defending. Compare that to when things go badly. All you can think about is avoiding that move and making sure it doesn’t happen again. This takes your focus away from everything else you’re trying to do and gives you are very narrow focus. Of course, there are times for a narrow focus, but you don’t want this to dominate your thoughts. If I could give you the formula for keeping the flow I would, but you know how it feels when you are just doing it all subconsciously – it feels good.

The short memory is also relevant when you have success; get over it and move on. This situation has happened to me a few times. In striking for example, landing a punch and admiring it, then getting caught with a counter shot. The same occurs in wrestling when you admire a takedown before securing positon and missing the switch. Then BJJ, getting the sweep and relaxing as your opponent scrambles and betters his/her position. This is why the flow seems to happen against someone roughly your ability. If you are better than the person, everything is happening slowly, and you start thinking and trying/playing. Then against people that are better, you are just trying to survive. When you are against that person who is your level, their moves and counters happen at a pace that your brain can keep up with – if they were faster, they would be better. A faster fight brain has nothing to do with muscle speed – it is all about position, timing and being able to pick up the transitions. People with faster fight brains are frustrating to go against as it feels like they are always one step ahead. They always seem to find a way out of bad situations (that is everyone when you a starting). It seems you need an opponent with a fight brain speed that is close to yours in comparison to the slower or faster fight brain in order to have the best rounds.

Thoughts are very hard to control, but in the fight world you can’t get too up or too down. If something doesn’t go right, then deal with it and move on. If something goes right, don’t get too excited and then move on. Keep the process and the plan in your head and stick to that. One thing that makes all of this a lot harder in the fight world is the pain – if you miss a shot in basketball it doesn’t physically hurt… but a punch does. Making mistakes in the fight world hurt and as humans we try to avoid pain. In your fight training, work on completing moves and not complaining if you miss a move – it happens, move on, no excuses. Also practice success and don’t get caught up with it, complete and move on. In training try to get the flow as often as you can and your progress will be very visible and rather enjoyable.

Gareth Lewis
Head MMA Instructor