Because consistency is more important than martial arts talent
8 mins read

Because consistency is more important than martial arts talent


Some people think that talent is the secret sauce that leads to greatness in martial arts, but that’s not how things really work. Consistency beats talent almost always. Sure, having natural ability may make it easier for some to master techniques than others, but martial arts training is a marathon, not a sprint.

The greatest martial artists are often not the most naturally gifted fighters. Typically they are the ones who consistently show up to workouts and grind hard every session. These people are more likely to achieve great things as martial artists, such as becoming a ONE Championship belt holder.

Understand why talent is not enough to be exceptional as a martial artist

Talent can make things easier when you start training in martial arts. For example, a naturally flexible person might find it easier to throw a high roundhouse kick the first time they attempt it than someone with limited flexibility. However, these talents fade without consistent training.

Sticking with the example above, while the flexible person may find it easier to throw a roundhouse the first time he is shown it, his technique will not improve unless he continues to work at it. Meanwhile, the stiff person who cannot raise his leg high enough to throw roundhouse kicks can improve his flexibility by stretching regularly and continue to master how to throw roundhouse kicks better than the naturally flexible person.

The world of martial arts is full of naturally talented individuals who never reached their full potential because they relied on talent alone. These people are often surpassed by those who are more disciplined with their training.

An example of this would be Mike Tyson, who seemingly had all the physical attributes needed to excel as one of boxing’s champions. Despite devastating power and insane hand speed, Tyson lost fights to opponents such as Buster Douglas, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, who were nowhere near as naturally gifted as him.

If talent is a flashy sports car, consistency is the fuel that keeps it going. Without fuel the car goes nowhere. No amount of talent makes up for a lack of discipline, dedication and work ethic.

Martial artists demonstrating the power of consistency

MMA legend Georges St. Pierre is an excellent example of how many of the most successful martial artists who ever lived made it to the top. Georges wasn’t always the MMA champion that most people know him to be. He was once a skinny kid who was bullied at school.

The bullying was so bad that it eventually led him to take up martial arts to learn how to protect himself. He started with Karate lessons and eventually moved on to wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

St Pierre was widely recognized as one of the best fighters in MMA history when he retired, but he didn’t start fighting as a child. Georges began wrestling later in life when he began competing in MMA, but became a better wrestler than many of his opponents who had wrestled since childhood, such as Josh Koscheck, Jake Shields, and Jon Fitch.

The power of habit

Consistency with martial arts training helps build good habits, which can be more valuable than technique. For example, always showing up to class regardless of how you’re feeling mood-wise or if you’re still sore from your previous workout helps build mental toughness, which can be helpful on the mat.

Training consistently also causes your brain to build neural pathways that help strengthen your skills. Over time, these movements become second nature to you, regardless of how challenging you found them when they were first demonstrated to you.

Consistent training leads to the ability to perform high-level techniques without having to think about what you are doing. For example, Floyd Mayweather is one of the most gifted defensive specialists in boxing history, and one of the main reasons why his defense is so good is because he has developed the right muscle memory over the years.

Fighters like Mayweather don’t consciously think about what they’ll do next in the ring; it is a reflexive action for them. Depending on variables such as the type of punch thrown, how far away his opponent is and the angle the blow comes from, Mayweather’s brain automatically figures out the best way to dodge it. Muscle memory is like turning on autopilot during a race. Your body knows just what to do.

Talent levels while consistency makes you grow

One of the most significant problems for martial artists who rely on their talent is the plateaus it leads to. It’s easy to hit a training wall when you’re used to following what comes naturally. On the other hand, consistency is about showing up and grinding to get over those plateaus. It’s about making small, incremental progress over time.

Let’s use the typical journey of new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students to illustrate this point. Some white belts are athletic by nature, but do not take their training seriously as they can still use their athleticism to dominate other beginners. However, white belts who consistently show up and focus on improvement eventually surpass their abilities. The same white belts who could once dominate with their strength end up becoming much better fighters than them.

An old saying in BJJ circles goes, “A black belt is just a white belt that never gives up.” Black belts are the people who continue to show up for classes even when they encounter obstacles.

Stay consistent with your workout even when you don’t feel like it

Consistency means creating a routine that works for you and sticking to it. That doesn’t mean you should burn yourself out by overtraining. Some simple things you can do to get the most out of your martial arts training include:

  • Set small, achievable goals: Instead of trying to workout seven times a week, start with two or three classes a week and work up from there.
  • Keep yourself accountable: Tell your training partners and instructors your goals so they can hold you accountable.
  • Celebrate progress: Always find a way to celebrate all your successes in the dojo.

Effort always pays off

Training hard and consistently isn’t always glamorous, but it will always be better to rely on your natural talents. Fighters like ONE Championship flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson didn’t get there by luck; it took years of constant hard work to refine their techniques.

Success in martial arts rarely happens by chance; it is earned through discipline, consistency and perseverance. Talent might get you noticed early, but consistency will make you great.

Ready to start your martial arts journey? Come to one of Evolve MMA’s free introductory classes to train with our world-class instructors.

Book your free trial lesson with our world champions below!

If you have additional questions regarding Evolve MMA and the programs we offer, you can reach out to our member executives at the following locations:

Evolve MMA (Far East Square)
26 Via Cina
Far East Square n. 01-01
Singapore 049568
Telephone: (65) 6536 4525

Evolve MMA (Orchard Central)
181 Via del Frutteto
#06-01 Central Orchard
Singapore 238896
Telephone: (65) 6536 4556

Evolve MMA (KINEX)
11 Ask Bag Road
#02-52 KINEX
Singapore 437157
Telephone: (65) 6288 2293

Evolve MMA (Star Vista)
1 Green Exchange View
#02-26A The star view
Singapore 138617
Telephone: (65) 6539 9590





Boxing