How to Train in Martial Arts Like a Champion

Let me preface this article by saying that this is by no means a definitive or perfect list. Many things are going to be left out since I am writing an article here, not a book.

How Do I begin?

The first, and most important question you have to ask yourself is, "Am I willing to commit?" By this I mean, are you going to train consistently? When it's raining? When it's cold? When there is something good on TV? When you are a little sick? If the answer to any of these is, "No." then you probably aren't ready to train like you mean it. After that, go find yourself a very demanding instructor. You are looking for the kind of guy who will hold you accountable for your progress and will push you past what you thought were your limits. I cannot over stress the importance of having a demanding instructor.

What will I need?

Fortunately in the world of Martial Arts there is very little you NEED to train effectively. Most importantly (aside from an instructor) is someone to train with. Boxers don't become champions by only shadow boxing and jumping rope. They slip their gloves on and get in the ring with someone. And as for what gear you will need, this depends on the style of your art. But a general rule to go by is to wear a cup, mouth guard, and proper hand protection. In my opinion, headgear is optional since getting punched will be a reality of life and most kicks to the head are easily blocked. And I am against chest protectors since a part of training is learning how to deal with the pain of getting hit. You'll also need lots of room to move around. This can be in a gym with mats, a back yard, boxing ring, etc. you just need a lot of space.

What can I do on my own?
Specific exercises will vary depending on your style but some general rule is to improve your stamina through conditioning exercises. My favorites are running and swimming but there are a plethora of endurance methods for you to try out. Find one you enjoy doing (or one you hate the least) and do it. I also recommend watching fight videos. Coaches watch their players very carefully; often times replaying the same play a dozen times to find their team's mistakes. You can do the same thing while watching other people's fight videos or even by having your own fights recorded and scrutinizing every mistake you made.

Other than that, read supplemental books on your style or to pick up individual techniques from other styles. Just remember, a book is not a substitute for an instructor.

Anything Else?
Most importantly, fight. Fight a lot. The more comfortable you are with hitting and getting hit the better off you will be. You need to make the ring, dojo, octagon, etc your second home. And try to fight only with people who are better than you. They can give you a wealth of tips and information and help you spot your errors that a coach might not see from a 3rd party point of view. And when you loose be respectful and chalk it up to an experience. No one was born knowing how to throw a punch, they had to learn it.

Now stop wasting time on the Internet and get to work!