what makes a good, complete fighter?

I was laying in bed last night and was thinking about what makes a complete fighter. What styles of combat should a person study? What are some charactoristics that one should have? Here is what I cam up with......

To become a complet fighter one should study several different fighting arts. The ones that I think would be the best are boxing for the hand striking and the foot work that boxing is known for. Also BJJ should be studied for the submission techniques. Also I think that wrestling should be learned for its takedown, escapes, and reversals that its known for. Muy Thai kick boxing should also be studied so that the fighter learns how to use his/her elbow and knees as weapons and also learn how to throw these techniques from the muy thai clinch. I think these are the most important arts to study. Any additional ones would just be a bonus. It is also important to note that the correct attitude is needed to be a good fighter. One must have a ruthless aggression when fighting.

What do you all think? What have I left out? I look forward to hearing your all's response.

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Mark R.

I think it is raw ability allied with a desire to learn and improve and the single mindedness to keep training.

These ideals are embodied in my Sifu- James Sinclair for me. He is martial arts 24 hours a day (At the cost of his home life). He has an un-natural athletic ability anyway which lends itself to athletics, running etc and he possesses that strange way of being (single minded determination) that allows him the patience and desire to train minuscule elements of his art endlessly unless they are correct. He has a willingness to learn anything that will improve what he does without ego (i.e. if he encounters someone that can better what he does, he wants to learn it) and the constant desire to test his ability in raw combat, be that in challenge matches, cage fighting, heavy sparring- you name it, he's very up for it! His mixing of styles does nothing to diffuse his own style, but instead adds further to his experience and arsenal. He's a scary man!

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Faith itself, compelled by the Holy Spirit, possesses an inner dynamism that necessitates deeper understanding. ~Thomas Weinandy O.F.M.

Well, I think should also learn the art that practices patience and control. There is far more to a battle, then physical strength.

I think you should also practice arts like Tai chi chuan. It'll help you develop more control of your body, and will teach you patience which is very important for a good martial artist to acquire. It will also help develop balance and stability, which are always essential for martial arts. A great martial artist knows the right time to strike, and without learning patience and control you might never be able to see the right time.

It's like yin and yang.

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'Someday I'll be a ninja, once I stop tripping on roof's.'

What do you mean by fighter? Are you talking about winning UFC or other tournaments? Or do you mean talking out a home invader or the terrorist that wants to crash the plane you're on?

MMA? Gun?

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“	Originally Posted By: KungFuMan I also learned a praying mantis fist style from watching the actual insect itself. This was before I actually learned some seven star mantis.	”

“	Originally Posted By: lotusmaster What do you mean by fighter? Are you talking about winning UFC or other tournaments? Or do you mean talking out a home invader or the terrorist that wants to crash the plane you're on?	”

A street fight or a fight that would happen in a bar....that kinda fighter.

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Mark R.

“	Originally Posted By: Jade_Dragon_03 A street fight or a fight that would happen in a bar....that kinda fighter.	”

Ah, well in that case. I would say the ability to implement mental combat, and the willingness to do what it takes to be safe.

I know that answer sounds a bit vague so I'll explain.

I teach my students that the goal of physical combat (here after referred to as PC) is to take ground and kill the enemy (enemy could just be aggression) in which the outcome is you eliminate a clear and present threat but, the goal of mental combat (here after referred to as MC) is to make your opponent think the way you want them to and have them feel that it was there own idea in which the outcome is you gain a friend or ally.

That being said we see a bar fight as a battle with two opponents and a neutral force that could ally to either side. The opponents are;

• The aggressor
• The other customers at the bar

The neutral force is the police.
The aggressor you will engage in a mix of PC & MC. PC because it seems to be coming to that MC by trying your best to trigger a flight response instead of a fight response.

The customers you will engage with MC by saying, acting, and doing thing in such a way that they unanimously feel that you are the victim even after the guy is laid out. If successful your new ally will then inform the neutral force (the police) that you are a victim in need of their support. Thus the outcome is total self-defense even from criminal and in most cases civil prosecution.

Interesting . . .

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“	Originally Posted By: KungFuMan I also learned a praying mantis fist style from watching the actual insect itself. This was before I actually learned some seven star mantis.	”

I agree with you Jade on the arts you mentioned, but I don't agree that people need to study "arts"... they just need to learn the principles that make each art specialize in its own range. By studying all those arts completely and individually there will be a lot of time wasted on learning things that do not apply in other ranges and redundant things that will cross-over.

The things that make a complete fighter-

Technical skills-
Godd punching/hand skills
blocking/redirecting
footwork
kicking
wrestling/takedown skills
clinch fighting
takedown defense
positional submission grappling skills
submission skills
submission defense
Positional awareness in ralation to striking and striking defense on the ground

Attributal skills-
Speed
Quickness (reaction time)
Strength (2 dimensional and mostly 3 dimensional)
Flexibility
Endurance

Intangibles-
Intelligence
Toughness/Durability
Gameness
Pain tolerance (lol)

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Rock On!
Cam
"Raise up your mind....."

“	What do you all think? What have I left out? I look forward to hearing your all's response.	”

Weapon skills from FMA.

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"To alcohol ! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems" - Homer Simpson

I'm no expert (espessially when it comes to fighting!) but I'd say this...
Skill, determination and sensibility, (i.e. not beating your opponent senseless etc...etc...)

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God is coming one day. Are you ready for His return?
If you don't choose Him, Hell is your future.

“	I agree with you Jade on the arts you mentioned, but I don't agree that people need to study "arts"... they just need to learn the principles that make each art specialize in its own range.	”

Stated perfectly! In my opinion it is about developing the skills of an art, then those skills can carry over and mold into just about any other fighting style you choose to study/practice. Without the actual skill, no matter how many techniques or counters you know, they won't have the neccessary components to back them up and actually make them work.

“	The things that make a complete fighter- Technical skills- Godd punching/hand skills blocking/redirecting footwork kicking wrestling/takedown skills clinch fighting takedown defense positional submission grappling skills submission skills submission defense Positional awareness in ralation to striking and striking defense on the ground Attributal skills- Speed Quickness (reaction time) Strength (2 dimensional and mostly 3 dimensional) Flexibility Endurance Intangibles- Intelligence Toughness/Durability Gameness Pain tolerance (lol)	”

Again, in my opinion, stated perfectly!

-Ngfamilymember

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If you want something you have never had, You have to do something you have never done!
-Unknown

That really only applies to empty hand though . . . are we including firearms, knives, swords, guns, tanks, and assault helicopters as well?

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“	Originally Posted By: KungFuMan I also learned a praying mantis fist style from watching the actual insect itself. This was before I actually learned some seven star mantis.	”

That depends on your definition of the word "fight". I know in a broad sense of the word any conflict can be a "fight" but then we would have to include board game skills, video game skills, debating skills, arguing skills, rock, paper scissors skills, and the list goes on and on and on....

My definition of a fight and a fighter falls under the general assumption of an equal sided duel. Anything beyond that is no longer a fight but becomes war, crime or street violence. Those things are no more akin to a "fight" than an automobile accident is.

If you were walking down the street and were jumped by 6 guys with sticks and they took your wallet would you go home and tell your wife "I got into a fight"....? probably not... Most people would simply say "I got mugged".

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Rock On!
Cam
"Raise up your mind....."

I think a complete fighter should have situational awareness. He/she should know when to get away if necessary. Or to avoid the conflict all together if possible.