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Learn How to Turn Injuries Related to Training for Mixed Martial Arts into Stepping Stones for Success

It’s only a matter of time before you get injured while training for mixed martial arts.

In an ideal world you would never be injured while participating in any combat sports. As our past and current injuries demonstrate, reality is quite painful. If you play any sport, especially a contact sport, on a regular basis, there’s a good chance you will eventually do some damage to your body. Of course it’s your responsibility to do what you can to reduce the risk.

If you follow these three powerful tips, you might actually become the type of athlete that returns to the sport faster and stronger. Maybe you would discover that your body could actually be in better condition after the injury than before it. If you take all the right precautions and still find yourself frustrated with an injury, here are three steps to conquering that frustration:

Tip #1: Learn From it

Mistakes can serve as the greatest teaching tool. However, it can only be helpful if we apply the lesson our body is teaching us. Your must listen to your body and apply what it is telling you by changing your behavior and actions. Did you warm up properly? Did you dedicate enough time to the warm up? Did you execute a technique incorrectly?

Keep analyzing what happened, and ask yourself this question: What can I do differently? Get a pen and piece of paper and start creating a list of all the actions you can do in the future to avoid this from happening again. Commit yourself to take action immediately on at least one thing from that list.

Tip # 2: Ease Back Into it

Many athletes experience recurring injuries because they return to the playing field too soon. Don’t rush back to training if you’re not ready. Come back to it slowly. Don’t expect to train with the same intensity as you did before the injury, especially if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines for three months. You may be limited to only observing others train for the purpose of keeping your head in the game. Also, you may practice but limit yourself to certain techniques.

Tip # 3: Use the Opportunity to Develop Other Aspects of Your Game

As you acquire more experience training, you’ll get to know your body. You will be able to judge how severe your injuries actually are. Some injuries may put you out completely while others will just cause you to make modifications in your training. You may be forced to work off your back. As a result, you develop a better guard. Perhaps you won’t be able to throw power punches as you did before but you’ll end up with a more effective jab and/or hook.

Right now I’m rehabbing an AC joint sprain and shoulder contusion. I’ve decided to work on other areas, which include lower body (more specifically hamstring), core strength, flexibility, footwork, and lead hand punching. I’m also watching instructional and competition videos in addition to reading instructional books. In the long run, I will increase my athletic and physical ability because of this minor setback.

Combat goal setting and visualization are other things you might consider doing when you can’t train. Training the mind can be just as important as training the body.

I know it’s hard to imagine being thankful for an injury, especially when it first happens. Just keep in mind that within that injury is a seed of opportunity. It’s easy to get frustrated and contemplate quitting, however, with a little persistence you can reach levels never imagined.

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