Why Game Plans Can Be Bad – Do Whatever It Takes To Win

Mike Tyson: “Some guys plan to throw the jab, the left hook, [but] I win, my strategy’s totally to just win”

The mark of a complete fighter and a true champion, is the ability to adapt to styles, and do WHATEVER is necessary to win, whether it’s beautiful or ugly. How it looks shouldn’t matter to you, if winning is your number one priority. So many fighters and athletes alike, are stubborn in their approach when involved in a match. And it makes some sense to some degree, especially for those that spend weeks working on a specific strategy and plan, made with the intention of exposing their opponents weakness. But what happens when your opponent doesn’t play ball, you get in there and s/he isn’t what you expected? It is at this point that most break down.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying having a match plan is bad, because it’s not. Being prepared is never bad. However what is bad, is when the strategy you formed is your ONLY method of winning. It isn’t about being against a game plan, it’s about being against the mindset that favours a game- plan over another. You have to be ready and willing to anything it takes. Most of the elite champions in history, are known for their longevity. Whilst the times and opponents of the times change, they remain. When the times change, new opponents arise, and facing new and different styles are inevitable. However, a true champion adapts, and always finds a way to win.

Mayweather knew the importance of adapting

Floyd Mayweather Jr,.: A true champion can adapt to anything”, “I don’t need a game-plan, I don’t need to study any tape, I get in there and I can adapt to any guy, my game plan is to win.”

The problem with most fighters is that they rely on a limited range of methods towards winning and succeeding. So it’s inevitable that they will eventually come up against a guy who has their number, and because of their strict preference to a specific plan, they have no answer and they are in no man’s land. Of course, a fighter’s always going to have preferences, but if needs be, he has to be always ready to change.

Being able to adapt is one of the most important necessities you must work on, if you plan to be successful in the long term. You need to work the mental muscle of coming up with solutions to new problems.Don’t become emotional or distressed when presented with a problem. Simply, look at it as a beautiful challenge that will grow your knowledge in the craft of boxing.

‘In times of adversity, expand’ – Les Brown

In training, you have to work on your weakness, otherwise how else are you going to get good at it? And if you do not, what are you going to do when the times comes when you need to use that particular part of your game that is still weak? It’s not weak to acknowledge something you’re not good at. If you work towards improving it, it’s SMART.  For example, if you aren’t good at throwing the left hook to the body, work on it. It may take some time, but if you practice it over and over again, maybe thousands of times if need be, do you really think you’re not going to improve it? If you hate fighting counter-punchers or pressure-fighters, in training, that is exactly what you should do the most. Because a time is going to come when you’re going to come up against it and if in the back of your mind you know you’ve done all you can to prepare for it, then you can remain confident.

Final Note From Reemus

Always have in mind, champions do more than everyone else around them. While everyone else is naive and negligent to their weaknesses, you must embrace it. Think of it as your baby. They are vulnerable and crude, but it’s this because of this exact reason that they require more attention than anyone else. Are the others doing it? No, so this is exactly why you have to.