The appropriate MMA conditioning routine is the key to winning a battle. While physical strength, incredible stamina and deadly fighting skills help you excel in the sport, MMA trainers claim that it isnít all about muscles and brawn.

Brute force may weaken the opponent but relying solely on physical strength and fighting skills is not enough to bring him to the ground. Mental conditioning is the missing link in winning a fight between two equally strong and skilful fighters.

Performance-enhancing mental strategies result in better focus and concentration, dominance over emotions and true confidence when confronted with the enemy. Mental MMA conditioning techniques are the key to cultivating that hard-core approach to winning. Here are some of them:

Positive Thinking

Avoid using the word ìDonítî and banish it forever from your vocabulary. Replace mantras containing negative phrases such as ìDonít strike outî or ìDonít miss the shotî with positive words and concentrate on a positive outcome while hitting your target.

Itís alright to occasionally slip into negativity or be distracted just as long as you pull yourself together and return your focus on improving performance.

Relaxation Techniques

A martial artist must learn relaxation techniques to establish a mind-body connection. Relaxation quiets the mind and body, relieving the fighter of stress and anxiety. Techniques to conquer tension and improve concentration include the following:

• Focusing: Choose a favourite personal object, look at it and concentrate your thoughts on the positive feelings it evokes. Breathe slowly and deeply for 2 minutes and do not allow negative thoughts to intrude into your psyche. Then feel your muscles loosen and your mind getting calm and the tension leaving your body.

• Meditation: Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Concentrate on inhalation and exhalation and feel your chest and abdomen contract and release. Block all other thoughts from entering your mind. Say ìpeaceî and ìcalmî drawn out as you inhale and exhale. Continue until you feel sufficiently relaxed.

Visualisation

Visualisation is used to build confidence and prepare mentally for a devastating attack on your opponent. It involves imagining the steps leading up to the fight: putting on the gear, flexing and un-flexing the muscles, hearing the roar of the spectators and finally, beating the enemy to a pulp.

Playing these images repeatedly in the mind is known to boost the chances of winning.

Goal Setting

Setting realistic and time-bound goals gives you something to look forward to. By focusing on your training goals, you are able to direct all your actions towards achieving them and staying motivated.

Through proper MMA conditioning, the mind, body and spirit come together and transform you into an unbeatable fighter and champion.

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