As a coach, one of the hardest things to deal with is a fighter that quits in competition. I have had this happen at every level of combat sports. People have quit at amateur shows with few people in the crowd and others have quit in the biggest MMA show of them all with millions watching. It is hard to swallow.
Coaches have to accept what a fighter is willing to do. My job as a coach is to make each fighter know that they are stronger than they realise and to bring to light the ramifications of their decisions. A decision today can haunt you for the rest of your days or give you the confidence you need to take on any challenge. I know this, and that is why I push people as hard as I do. You have to confront your demons in training so you can live the rest of your days knowing you did everything you could, win or lose.
I hate excuses and I hate quitters. I don’t get paid much to prepare one for battle. When you look at the hours and effort, I get paid pennies an hour. I don’t do it for the money alone. I do it because I like the challenge of creating success with an individual. I like to see people rise above what they see in themselves and become greater than they could have ever dreamed. If you don’t have this in you, I don’t suggest you become a coach.
The worst coach is the one who coaches to get their name out their. Fighters come 1st. It is their life on the line while the only thing a coach is risking is a reputation. If we are going to focus our attention, I think it is best to focus on the man of action instead of the abstract concept that is a reputation.
With all the above said, it is key that a fighter respects what the coach and team provide. Any serious athlete has to respect their coach and their team by giving everything they have in competition. Their coach will throw in the towel or the ref will stop the fight if it goes too far. Fighters have to give everything they have until their body quits or the bell rings. That is the deal, I poor all my knowledge and effort in to you so you can let it all go and give yourself every opportunity for a positive outcome.
When you feel outclassed and are afraid, fight harder. When you want to tap or sit down to end the fight because you are uncomfortable, fight harder. When the demons are talking and telling you you suck, shut them up and fight harder. This is what we train to do. When faced with pain and adversity, we fight harder because that is the person we have forged.
Loyalty to your coach, team, club school, dojo, etc….. is all built on blood spilt in training and competition. That is a graphic way to put it but it is the truth in this business. We sweat, struggle, and bleed together. The bond we forge is one unlike any outsider can understand. Never forget that you fight alone but found the strength to do it by working with a team.
My guys know the drill. You don’t quit and you don’t tap unless its gonna break. We train as a team and we fight for each other.
Brian Wright
Killer B Combat Sports