To be a pro fighter - Gear

This is my second 'blog' but its a subject I had wanted to post about for ages. Its the equipment you use to train and fight. Or the the lack there of. So many good fighters dont understand the difference between Century and Everlast. Or for the matter the $20 Walmart Everlast to the $50 Dick's Everlast. Cutting corners is great, but not on your tools to improve your game.

Fight Gear:

The Gloves. The previous link in 'The Gloves' are the top of the line for actual fighting. Grapple, hold your wrist, protect your hand, ect. Its all you can ask for and more. Hayabusa are the best company I have had the pleasure of using the products from. Rush Guards, Gloves, Pads, and Shorts. All were great. I STRONGLY advise them for the cage. Bar the shorts, but thats because I prefer Vale Tudo shorts. I will add the Bamboo Tee is impressive and feels great, which is a surprise for what your paying for.

The Shorts. If you are like me and prefer Vale Tudo shorts, these are for you. The lose fabric on normal board shorts makes my knee shots sloopy. I clinch often and knee into the liver, and any lose fabric forces me to give up speed/power due to resistance. Plus, if you go into five rounds, you dont want short burn on your knees. From personal experience I can assure you its painful. But, some guys like the breeze, thats on you. Stick with my old friend Hayabusa for qualities sake in the cage.

The Mouthguard. I was a top and bottom man for a long time, until I switched from cheapo and Tapout to Shcok Doctor. Impressive to say the least. Habing been knocked out once in sparring from a normal guard, this Shock Doctor actually allowed me to take harder uppercuts and stay up and fight. Thats a win - lose situation within itself, and it comes down to mouth guard. Its worth more money.

Thats all you 'need' to be in the cage. Sparring means you can use gear which costs less. Century is still a lot, but good. Even the Century UFC hold up. Plus, UFC striking gloves are some of the best striking gloves I have used, as a pure striker, I was glad I used them. Extra's are feet guards, pads, ect. Most are the same. But some brands are in a league of their own, but it will cost you. Its ok to go cheap on sparring, but not on cage fights. Thats a mistake you will regret later, take that advice from the guy who used a double mouth guard and had to spit it out in the middle of one of his fights due to asmtha complications and the ref did not notice. I am lucky to have all of my teeth, you might not be.

The MMA start.

Everyone gets into MMA for a different reason. Some do it for the competition, the excitement or even some demonic urge to hurt others. I have seen all the reasons and at the very least sparred against each type or motivation of fighters I have encountered. Although I enjoy any opponent who is willing to get into the cage with me, especially any who is willing to pay or sponsor a fight, each start and back ground has its own merit.

I started MMA on a fluke to be completely honest. Started with Boxing, then Krav Maga, then Oyama Karate, and I went up against a few MMA trained fighters, who had a huge advantage over me. In a singular mode of combat, you can learn the style and just become the best at it and win. The problem is currently most sports dont have a lot of fighters who are naturally skilled enough to have a good league. Boxing is the perfect example. A few amazing fighters every few generations is all we get now. MMA was different. I could be the best Boxer in the world, but lose to a kid who put half the time in but know a few holds and the error of my stance. Its a cold day in hell when you train eight hours a day, enter a boxing ring and before the bell rings you get taken to the ground on sucker punched in a position you cant get out of.

After not being able to hold my own against such men, I started to widen my scope into Jeet Kune Do, and began to win against amazing fighters. Not just your normal MMA fighter, but guys who had years in and were in better shape than I was. At such a level of competition you must be your best every day or you will lose. And I for one loved it.

This is not for everyone. Fighting at a deeper level, in my opinion, should be earned. I became great at my individual styles before I got into any serious bouts with MMA fighters. In todays day and age of fighters, no one else takes such an approach. The standard "MMA" branding of gyms which teens dive into gives them the basics and are generic over skill building. It may produce some good fighters, but this 'McDojo' mind set does not breed champions. It produces athletes who can put you into a basic hold, but not go five rounds with a south paw who trains on a 200 lb bag bare handed. Its just not the same. Thats the wrong start from my experience. Many may like the surge of McDojo's and such fighters but I hate it. I want fighters with a solid MMA foundation, and a better start to the world of combat.