Mindset of a fighter?

Question

Does anyone know any good books on the mental aspects of fighting, dealing with fear, creating an invincible fighters mindset etc. I've done a bit of martial arts training, am fit and healthy and probably could handle myself however I believe i would freeze or fall to pieces if I ever got into a real fight. How can I overcome this?

Answer 1

Fighting is dishonorable but if you think you have to compete then my advice would be lose your fear or your going to get beat every time.Leave what's on the outside of the ring out there,because if you bring anything in the ring with you,you're bringing weakness with you.

Answer 2

the gify of fear by gavin de bekker doesnt exactly teach you to surpress fear but it does help you acknowledge it and te recognize threats before it becomes impossible to avoid.

Answer 3

A book is probably not the way to get your body and mind ready to react calmly to a hostile situation.  I would try "immersion" type training.  Train with someone in "real combat" type scenario training.  

There are a lot of these schools - they train outside, in rooms containing furniture, against multiple opponents, etc.  The best thing to do with a book is whack someone in the neck with it.

Think of driver's ed - you may have read all about awareness, signs, etc. in class, but it's not the same as driving.  There are unexpected situations that you have to negotiate through, some of which you cannot control.  Having the experience of training in a semi-realistic environment will help.  You'll gain confidence and environmental awareness under pressure at very least, which is vital to success.

Check out some Krav Maga or "Reality Fighting" schools.  If you are going to rely on books I hope you don't get in a fight outside of a library.

Answer 4

Fear is man made you were not born with fear just know that it is there but don,t let it over take you I have been in over 100 fights and I can tell you it was always there what help me was I had to get in there and fight the want was stronger in me than the fear 99% of the really good fighters have fear they just manage it better than most people if you are going to fight some one and you don,t have butterflys then you do have a problem every fighter deals with this in his own way if you do what your supposed to do before the fight just get in there and every thing will turn out all right now if you don,t train right you should be worried. Just relax and consontrate onwhat your going to do when you get in there I use toalways think how happy the crowed was going to be when they saw me fight I always gave them a show. What I have told you took me two years to learn.

Answer 5

I do not know any books about it. All you have to do is suppress the fear and anxiety. I am sure that there have been things that you have not wanted to do before and have done it anyway. It is the same thing. I have been in a ton of fights and the anxiety is always there. Take it, suppress some of it, but use the rest. Use the nervous energy to make you more cautious and aware. You are going to get hit and once you do, you will get a rush and realize that it is not as bad as you thought.

Answer 6

There is no such thing as a invincible fighter.  How many people know that fear is a great motivator?  Hmmmm.

What is FEAR?

False Evidence Appearing Real.

Many people are afraid of what they see in the shadows. But one must realize the shadows are always bigger than what caused the shadow.

Answer 7

its something your gunna want in yourself man

theres tons of fighters who wrote books talking about themselves but there not you

maybe your problem is thinking your gunna get tapped out so you avoid ground situation

i have a fear im gunna get knocked out, so i tend to use more takedowns and try to submit people or out wrestle them so i can work some ground and pound

i know in my head i can take the punches and kicks

you have to focus on yourself think whats your opponents weakness, forget being afraid of taking this or that

look over at the guy standing in your way and think hes trying to take away my glory, trying to ruin my pride, this man is gunna take my money that i've come all this way to get(should there be winning money)

no one can really tell you how to focus you have to do it yourself

i see my opponents as a wall and my fists and legs are my sledgehammers

its my job to take down that wall and nothing is gunna stop me from getting to the other side of it

its worked out pretty well too

Answer 8

The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker is a fantastic book on recognizing fear and understanding how to overcome it.

On Killing by Dave Grossman is great for understanding violence, response to it, and coping with the aftermath of combat. It's more research than advice, but can give you a place to start understanding people's response to fighting.

I also recommend Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. A bit "sit-around-and-hug new age garbage" but can teach some great lessons about tuning out your mind.

When you want to learn about overcoming fear in a fight, get hit. Train and force yourself to stand still and take a punch to the nose, then force yourself to keep going. It hurts a little, your eyes will well up, your nose will run, but you're still alive and you can still move. Train to move small and let the punches glide right past you. Don't think, just move -- when you think, you slow down and begin reacting. Train until you trust your -actions- (action is faster than reaction) to put you in the right spot.

One final tip: there's really no difference to your mind if you -actually- experience the fight or just imagine it. Sit comfortably and quietly, close your eyes, and visualize the fight scenario. Be realistic. Think about the way it builds, the way it starts, what attacks come in, and imagine yourself getting hit by each. When you feel actually tired from just imagining it (allow your body to twitch as it naturally desires to), then run through the scenario again. Each time before you get hit, move to a safe spot and throw a few strikes or whatever. Get in the mindset that you're not reacting, but making a separate action and initiating a new chain. Don't worry about it. Don't listen to your mind telling you "This is stupid". It's your ego talking, and your ego has no place in a fight -- It's what got you into that situation, trust your heart to get you out.

Most of all, just be relaxed. Smile -- smiling keeps you calm by releasing endorphins and unnerves your opponent (you're not supposed to be enjoying being attacked...)