The Discipline Behind Martial Arts and MMA

Hello World,

It's been a while since my last post.  I apologize to my followers for not being able to update the blog.  To be frank, I've been distracted with a family emergency that has required my complete attention.  Although this is still a major part of my life and my daily ongoings, I thought I'd post a little something that is an important part of life and applies very much to sport fighting. 

Discipline!  Discipline is a word that many people throw around loosely.  Although it's rather subjective, discipline comes in many forms.  The discipline to adhere to your workout routine.  The discipline of your fighting style.  The discipline of your overall life style.  Even the discipline to exercise good self control, judgment and relay this in life. 

When we talk about Mixed Martial Arts, some people cringe.  They think of grown men stepping inside a cage and just beating each other to a near-death state.  Fact of the matter is, that's not what MMA is about.  It's a common misconception. 


MMA and sport fighting has evolved.  Fighters are more disciplined than years past.  Back in the day, the UFC didn't use gloves and all the viewer wanted was blood and beatings. Today's fighter is much more well-rounded than that.  To think that you stand a chance in the fight world without true discipline is foolish.  To think that sport fighting and MMA is undisciplined and unorganized is equally as foolish. 

Today's fighters train hard, and fight harder.  They are disciplined in their lifestyle to push their bodies to the limit and still function as normal human beings and operate within the constructs of today's society.  To be a fighter doesn't mean you're an animal.  On the contrary, it means the exact opposite. 

Don't get me wrong.  Some fighters are pure animal with no regard for their opponent.  Their ideology is to inflict the greatest amount of physical harm possible.  We'll that's part of it, but a small part.  To step into the ring and demolish your opponent in some fashion may it be via KO or submission is the objective.  But it's discipline that keeps that type of mindset in the cage doesn't allow it to spill over into every day life.  You can't just go around pounding on people just because you can.  That takes discipline and self control. 

It's more important and more productive to be disciplined enough to know your body, your opponent, your limits, strengths and weaknesses.  Engage on a level that is more intelligent than animalistic.  

If you're ignorant enough to come at Urijah Faber with nothing more than a couple of street fights under your belt, you'll find a rude awakening at the other end of a 4oz glove.  Be disciplined enough to know that you might be the toughest guy at the barbecue, but you're not UFC heavyweight material. 

Discipline and self control go hand-in-hand.  Just think, if every martial artist or MMA practitioner went around throwing down with everyone that pissed them off, the world would be a bloody place.  It takes a disciplined fighter to know and understand that social constructs, morality and ethics keep us from wreaking havoc on society.  Just because someone called you an asshole or flipped you the bird doesn't mean you can slap the shit out of them. 

If you are in fact a real fighter, you know that.  You're disciplined enough to understand that you have to exercise self control and walk away, drive away or turn the other cheek.  Sometimes walking away is winning the fight.  Fighting an assault charge because you couldn't keep your cool is a fight not worth fighting. 

So for all of your practitioners out there and even you non-practitioners out there, take it from a former hot-head, keep your cool and keep the fight in the cage or the dojo. 

Exercise good judgment and be disciplined enough to know that fighting isn't about kicking the shit out of anyone you can.   Be a fighter not a chump or a felon. 

Shane