Week 24 - An Exercise of the Mind

I'd have to say that the results on the scales this week very much resemble those of last week, except in terms of actual progress.  A couple of days below 100 kg including a 99.0 which is my weigh in figure for the week and a point in time loss of 500 grams.  The other five days fluctuated to the point where my average weight only dropped by 100 grams.  A trip away this weekend will make things difficult on the scales next week.  There's discipline you apply to every day and then there's that which you apply in this sort of circumstance.  I don't believe in missing out on life.  After all, is not the goal of getting healthy to live your life to the fullest?  Yes it may cost me a little progress in the short term, but, this is a big and meaningful weekend, as my coach competes for the first time.

Whilst I don't drink or smoke or anything, and parties can present some issues for the introverted soul that I am (remember my introvert vs extrovert post? Watch that fantastic video and you will know what I mean), allowing myself to relax on the diet a little will be part of the weekend and I want to be part of this weekend!  It won't look like the old me that would binge out on such occasions. But, it will be a little relaxed shall we say.

On to the business at hand.  One of the things that I enjoy about mixed martial arts (MMA) is the mindset of openness.  The approach that is open to new things.  To different ideas and a variety of techniques.  The ultimate goal being to gain exposure to a broad range of skills and find what works well for you as an individual in forming a well rounded kit bag of martial arts tools so to speak. This week I had the great pleasure of participating in a Martial Arts workshop run by Richie Cranny, who is my coach's coach.  It was the third time I had such an opportunity and I took it up eagerly.  Such a wealth of knowledge, along with a willingness and an aptitude for sharing it was too much to pass up.  Doesn't hurt that he's a good bloke too!

Along with some new techniques and strategies to work on in the coming months, Coach Richie also challenged me (and others in attendance) to be thinking about the mental aspects of practicing and competing in MMA.  At the beginning of the session he asked who had thoughts of competing and why they held those aspirations.  I answered truthfully that primarily, the idea of competing at light heavyweight had been incredibly motivating in my desire to lose weight and get healthy.  As usual though when speaking in an impromptu fashion in a group and on topics that can be somewhat personal, I found that my answer was nothing resembling complete or articulate.  That along with some time to dwell on the question leads me to chronicle my motivations as they have developed over time with hopefully a little more clarity here.

You may have read my original blog post, The Magic Number, which at the time outlined my reasons and goals associated with training and competing in MMA.  Whilst they are all still true and relevant, I have added to them along the way.

First off I should say that I really enjoy the sport.  The training, the concepts and particularly the people.  The functional fitness that I have gained through MMA training has made real and significant change to my fitness and appearance.  I've been fit before.  Very fit.  With this style of training though, I have found that I am becoming very fit and retaining more speed and strength than I can remember ever having.  That is of course in the context of the athleticism that remains with me being nearly 40, but, I am hard pressed to remember a time where I have been fitter.  I certainly cannot remember a time where I have been this weight and body fat levels as I documented in last week's post about my visit to the dietician.

The other aspect of MMA that I have found fascinating and very rewarding has been internal.  The journey of the mind.  I have found that the idea of training to compete in a combat sport has very much made me reflect on why I would want to do such a thing.  I could very well achieve all my physical goals without the need to step up and compete.  Goals do motivate me and competing at light heavyweight, along with just reaching the eligible weight itself, do help me stay hungry (like that diet reference?).  However, the desire to test myself and the skills that I have learned has also become something that is driving me towards competition.  Sometimes I even think of competing before I reach light heavyweight.  I make sure to catch myself, because it would hollow out much of the meaning to the experience.

I am a pretty competitive person and the opportunity to measure my skills against a willing opponent is a very appealing proposition.  When I say that I am competitive, I should say that I very much enjoy competing.  I can honestly say that is generally independent of the outcome of said competition.  What motivates me is attempting to perform and execute skills to the best of my ability.  How that stacks up against my opponent is largely irrelevant to me, because their skillset and execution, their training and experience is largely, if not completely beyond my control.  What I can control, or attempt to at least, is my preparation and execution.  Therein lies the challenge and the interest in competing.  Can I do my best in the heat of the moment.  A great challenge indeed.

As you may remember from my post a couple of weeks ago (To Thine Own Self be True), and as I have mentioned again earlier in this post, I am an introvert, which means that I think and think and think about stuff.  As such, this is post 1 of 2 about the mental aspects of my MMA journey and experiences.  I reckon, I have gone on enough for one week and I don't want to write a novel all in one post!  'Leave them wanting more' as they say.  So hopefully, you'll join me, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel, next week.  Hope to see you then!