The Problem With Combat Sports

Combat sports are great, but they’re not going to get you selected.

When you’re balancing strength, running, rucking, swimming, and calisthenics, that alone will be at least 5 – 6 training sessions per week.

It’s a lot to juggle and improve, even without doing other sports.

And when someone tells me they’ll just do technique or light rolls, how many guys actually do that?

From my experience, very few.

But let’s say you had the time, resources, and drive to do it all.

Guys are often surprised when I still say, “I love training competitive grapplers, but also, it’s time to stop training jiu-jitsu.”

Guys are often surprised when I still say, “I love training competitive grapplers, but also, it’s time to stop training jiu-jitsu.”

In this edition, first, I’ll share what I like about combat sports.

Second, I’ll share how it conflicts with training for selection.

What I Like About Combat Sports

Combat sports force you to learn lessons

First, you will be humbled – hit hard, face mashed into the mat, and dominated by guys far lighter and smaller than you. That’s humbling.

But over time, if you keep training, you’ll develop skills, techniques, and high self-efficacy.

That ability to take your hits, persevere, learn, and develop is invaluable.

But, when your goal is training for selection, combat sports come with their own unique risks, namely:

We’ve already touched on time management and recovery costs.

Injury risk is real.

One leg lock, blow to the head, or shot to the knee could put you out of commission for a year.

When you commit yourself to training for selection, it should be your sole focus.

Sure, a year out, keep training in your respective sports.

But 3, 6, or even 9-months out? Your training should reflect that you’re training for selection.

Hope you found this insightful.