Reasons You Should Train or Compete in a Combat Sport

Self-help and personal growth have exploded into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Millennials are the driving force of the growth and would commit to spending nearly $300 a month on self-improvement. Books, podcasts, seminars, and personal coaches are some of the most utilized methods. If you are a frequent reader on this website, you see quality articles every day for these categories.

It's easy to get overwhelmed with the number of options there are to utilize. You need to find the best way to acquire, retain, and apply the information. Some people aren't good at retaining what they read or hear. I love to read but sometimes I don't retain as much information as I want. If I can't remember what I read or heard, how can I put it into action?

Everyone who is interested in that content knows you have to face your fears, get out of your comfort zone, improve your self-talk, seek mentorship, maintain a positive attitude, and don't quit. There's not much new information about it. It gets a fancy new format and a new cover to sell more books. It's easy to think you are doing those things if you read about them all the time. You feel better about yourself since you are doing "something" to get better. It may be all a waste of time.

What's the thing you will commit to doing every day to put your goals into action? The answer isn't picking up another book. Pick an activity that scares the crap out of you, requires commitment, enforces discipline, increases mental and physical toughness, and humbles you. Improvement always comes from doing something hard.

It's easy to think you are doing those things if you read about them all the time.

Martial arts are the perfect vehicle to accomplish all those things. Pick a sport you can afford and a gym close by so a long drive to the gym isn't an excuse to skip training. Make a commitment to training at least four to five times a week. That consistency enforces discipline and will get you results if you train hard. Most people who train at martial arts gym don't compete but want to. They lack confidence and let fear dictate their goals.

If you want real growth and are medically able, get in the ring, on the mat, or in the cage with a sparring partner and learn what it's like to face real fear. That's a real-world situation to get you about as far out of your comfort zone as possible. The good trainers are there watching to provide instruction and ensure safety. It's a form of controlled danger.

The first time you get in the ring will suck. You may think you can fight if you were a tough person in school, but that environment is nothing like a martial arts gym. The person who is trying to punch you in the face is trained to do it and has a lot more experience than you. He/she shouldn't be there to knock you out but will teach you some lessons in toughness and humility.

Pick an activity that scares the crap out of you, requires commitment, enforces discipline, increases mental and physical toughness, and humbles you.

It's a great test for managing your emotions when another person is landing every punch and you can't get a lucky shot in. How emotionally mature are you to keep your cool? Are you mentally strong enough not to quit and have the courage to keep trying? Once you survive a few sparring sessions you realize how physically strong you are, and you already can handle yourself better in a real-life confrontation.

You will notice positive improvements in every aspect of your life by training for martial arts. The next step, which isn't for everyone, is taking your skills to the next level for competition. You'll see the positive effects get amplified by the intensity and commitment needed for that. There's something about telling your friends and family you are stepping into the ring or cage to become a stronger person and putting yourself in one of the most uncomfortable situations possible.

I've been taking boxing training seriously for a couple of years and I'm getting much closer to my goal of an amateur bout. I'm 38 years old and had to start from scratch since my overall strength needed a lot of improvement and my cardio wasn't as good as I thought. It's a long road, but it will be worth it.

Parts of my training have gone on hold due to unforeseen world circumstances we're all going through, but I've dedicated myself to running and will run in a marathon as soon as I can sign up. It's important to stay dedicated and focus on ways to achieve your goals when your normal options get taken away.

My fight day will be one of the most memorable days of my life. It will be the first time I tried something hard no one could see me doing. A win would be a great outcome, but the best result is me fighting as hard as I can, overcoming my fears, increasing my confidence, and showing people anyone can become a stronger person. The best way to experience personal growth is to be an example of it.

I'm not training to become an amateur champion. It's to view myself as a champion in life and that I can overcome big obstacles and challenges when they come my way. The lessons from this experience will be much harder to forget than ones I read going through a personal growth book on the weekend. Amateur boxing provides real-world experience to apply all the principles you read in a book. When we can all get back in the world, sign up to do something challenging like this, and you will grow faster than you could imagine.