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How Bad Do You Want It?
When I begin working with an athlete, one of the first questions that I’ll ask is simply:
How bad do you want it?
I then make note of the answer, and will often remind the athlete of this answer when he starts to slack off during his training. After all, it is one thing to want it when you are fresh and rested, but another thing to show it when the going gets tough. That is when you will really find out what the athlete is made of inside.
All the talent in the world doesn’t matter if you aren’t willing to push when the going gets tough (because the time will come when you need to push). And trust me, there are plenty of other athletes out there who will literally push until they collapse.
For a real world demonstration, take a look at the heart and determination displayed in this video clip:
Enjoy,
Ross Enamait
10 Comments so far
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I think courage, will and drive are what separate the elites from the ordinary.
Fantastic video!
It reminded me of Dan Gable saying that he hoped every day to reach that state and have his team mates have to carry him off the mat…at EVERY PRACTICE!
That was great motivation. Thank you.
Strong will is one thing and I totally agree, but this is very close to being stupid and damaging your body.
I’m all for hard work, determination etc. but sometimes ( as in this case or in ultra-endurance events generally) because you can doesn’t mean that you should.
I agree, it’s great to have extreme mental toughness like that but it can lead to some serious injuries of done consistently.
I have very strong will power and have to sometimes make myself stop working out because I know I’m going to injure myself if I keep going.
A few months ago I got to the point where I made progress EVERY SINGLE time I worked out just to see how far I could push my body..and I wound up with tendonitis in my elbows and couldn’t exercise for a few months.
Thank god I finally can again, but I’m being a lot more careful this time around. I still push hard, but I give myself more rest than I used to.
Jeremy
http://www.fitness-made-fun.com
Working out and competing in an athletic event are not the same. Competing in a sport isn’t about health and longevity. It’s about winning and giving everything you have.
Don’t confuse the two, as it really boils down to apples and oranges.
Ross
yes, i agree.. this video is hardcore..working out and training is to allow you the ability to redline when you have to
I agree Petr. R, Whilst admiring the resolve of the athletes I’m sure the crowd wouldn’t have been cheering so hard if one of them had collapsed and died.
I’d go along with Ross. Stop sparring when you are hurt or it doesn’t make sense anylonger. But get your ass up in the ring if you are able to. Never give up.
Thanks for posting that vid. I remember seeing it when it originally aired back in 1997 and was touched by the ‘don’t quit’ fortitude displayed. I tried looking for it before unsuccessfully. Serendipitously, I came across it on your blog – cool!
If anyone finds a clip of Gabriele Anderson-Scheiss painfully completing the last 400m of the 1984 Olympic Women’s Marathon, please post it.
Regarding, “Don’t confuse the two, as it really boils down to apples and oranges.”
I’d like to think the distinction is that simple. Unfortunately, too many ppl take the ‘give it your 110% 100% of the time’ too literally and end up overtrained, burned out, &/or injured.
thanks for the video, it touched my heart.
we all have to carry that “never quit” attitude everyday, in training, in competing,at work, in life etc…
as I see it, for martial art, combat sport, first and most thing: protect yourself, protect your body from any harmful situation,and fight back !
knowing that when to push to over your limit, when to stop ,that’s enlightment,
you are competing again yourself, you are already a winner as long as you know which side of you are winning !
train hard also train smart !
like Ross, his training is hard core, also very intelligent.