Here is a list of people to avoid when training MMA, and if you have trained for any length of time you will of come across them.
The UFC expert: The guy that knows everything, watches all the UFC events, and can tell you who won any fight – thing is they have no talent or skill but will still tell you where you are going wrong, based on what they have seen on the UFC.
The training CV guy: You ask the new guy the “have you trained before” question and they give you a look, with a slight smile, like they are hiding the winning lotto numbers. Then they proceed to tell you that they have trained in Kickboxing, karate, boxing, BJJ and have trained in America, Brazil and Europe. Turns out that they suck at all the styles that they have done, hence why they have done so many. This will not stop them giving you their CV before and after every session.
The Smart Guy: This guy will tell you the origins of each move and the percentage chance you have on landing it. Sadly the thing is they will also correct the instructor on any mistakes that they make, not so much on technique but if they mis-pronounce, mis-quote or get a date wrong.
The let’s go easy guy: The guy that will tell you that they have an injured shoulder so you should just take it easy, when what they really mean is that you go easy and they will try and rip your head off. Then if it doesn’t work they can always blame their sore shoulder if they lose.
The no tap guy: This guy is a direct relative of the training CV guy, they have done another style and are usually rather good at it, so they assume that they will be good at MMA. Turns out that they aren’t that good and they get their ass kicked. However they will not tap as they are too good for that, this leads the submission going on harder followed by a squeal (also known as the verbal tap) and then them complaining about you going too hard.
The little angry guy: This is the guy that is little and therefore believes that he can go hard on everyone bigger and they can’t go hard back, because they are bigger. If anyone ever beats them it is because they are bigger and stronger. They often complain that everyone goes hard on them and don’t realise their size.
The natural talent guy: This guy is a good guy and really likeable, however they have one big flaw and that is they pick stuff up so damn quick. They have been doing the sport for half the time as you and they are twice as good. When you ask how they get the move to work they answer “I don’t know I just grab a leg and go”. Since they are a good dude it makes it difficult to dislike them - difficult but not impossible.
The I want to fight guy: They tell you that they want to fight, a fight comes up and then you don’t see them for 3 weeks. On their return they will tell you about their injury but will be keen for the next one, when they find that that is only weeks away they then have a wedding / event / concert/ family thing to go to – and once again they are gutted.
This is only a sample of the people that you will come across on your MMA journey, chances are you already know some of them. Enjoy training with them as they do make each training eventful and some of them are great to practice your moves on.
Gareth Lewis
Head MMA Instructor
