Mental Aspects of my Success
There are many different mental aspects that can change the course of a competition or a career. One of the aspects that played a large part in my success as a wrestler was my tenacity. I was always seeking to break my opponent’s position or score. I lived and breathed this philosophy to score points and to prevent my opponents from scoring. If younger athletes were hesitant and uncertain of their skills, I would encourage them to open up and try moves, even if they make mistakes along the way. This is how you learn to be an offensive competitor rather than a defensive or reactive competitor. Defense is an important part of winning, but it will only take you so far. This truth really hit home after my fight for Titan Games. I was hesitant with my striking abilities and fought a ‘reactive’ fight rather than trusting in the skills that I have worked so hard to execute. People told me, “You are young in striking, it will come,” but that is not the entire truth. It will come, but only if I decide to force myself to be more tenacious before I actually think my skills are up to par. I have to be willing to make mistakes again. I have to be willing to lose position or even the fight to pursue MMA in the way that is true to me as an athlete. There is a time where you want to fight ‘smart’ and to limit your risks, but I am at a point where my need to grow is far greater than my need to win. I am at a crossroad where I can take the safe route and stick to my skills or I can push my talents as far as they will go. Stay close to the tree or go out on a limb? I think I will go out on a limb because that’s where the fruit is. I will trust the saying that, “Seeing isn’t believing, but BELIEVING is seeing” and know that if I take that chance I will be a great fighter one day.
