What makes a good fighter? Good training or inner spirit?

Question

Consider that someone being bullied learns boxing to get confidence, but if faced with the same tormentors, they would still be the same person inside, so despite having the skills, they could lack the confidence to use them.
But, someone with no training could kick butt because they have the confidence to do so.
What makes a good fighter? Good training or inner spirit?

Ok, maybe "inner spirit" was the wrong term to use but most of you got my meaning - the inner fight, inner strength... the character of a person, I suppose.

I am leaving this question to the voters because there are so many different views, and so many good answers, I cannot decide which to pick as best.

I would like to say a big thankyou to all who have contributed.

Answer 1

I was an amateur boxer at the age of sixteen,i was thought from an early age that you dont fight with your fists you fight with your heart,my friend is a third dan black belt but he watched his girlfriend get beat up one night by a man because once he was outside the safety of the ring he turned into a heartless coward,you cannot be thought to be brave if its not there to begin with,if your any good a boxer you should be able to drop a non trained person with one swift blow to the chin,stand up and be counted,being hit does not hurt too much,living like a coward will kill you

Answer 2

The most obvious answer is you need both. I feel that one actually leads to the other. But the cyclical relationship between the two is quite complex as they both support each other.

If a person has good training they will have a good inner spirit. The way I train requires a strong inner spirit, in fact 80% of our students withdraw from our school in the first year because the spirit is not there ( most of these people are looking to buy a quick black belt and we don't work that way). Many times the only thing that keeps us going by the end of the night is that inner spirit.
Good training will develop the inner spirit. It will hone it like a fine steel edge. Heat makes the sword stronger and force makes the sword sharper. Without either the sword is useless. Same with spirit and training. They cannot be separated.

Answer 3

In the case of someone being bullied I would say that person needs strong inner spirit and an awareness of how to effectively defend themselves, against the current attack and prevention of future ones. Martial arts encourage inner spirit but without a long period of training do not provide a quick physical fix. There is a system of self protection/preservation which can be learned very quickly and effectively and is probably better than flashy moves - I have seen it used on a real tough bully by a small quiet person - the bully said he would think carefully about picking on her again , but the interesting thing is she didn't even need to touch him!! It was body language and use of voice - very intimidating especially if there is an audience (bully's friends?). Try this for effect!!

Answer 4

I think in this case it would take both of the skills to be a good fighter if you have the training then you will know how to handle yourself in a fight and you will know when to stop attacking someone , inner spirit is different if you have this as well as your training you can come through anything as i have experienced it my self and i saw light at the end of the tunnel .

Answer 5

Good question BOB I have asked my self this question many times over the years and I am sure that there are many things that make a great fighter I know that there has never been a perfect fighter all fighters have flaws you just have to find them but I believe that the number one thing all great fighters must have is a great attitude about what he is doing the second thing is and indomitable will to win above every thing else he must be willing to sacrifice everything including his health to win this is what has to be on the inside of every great fighter the mental part of boxing is just as important as the physical and vic verso so if you can get the head to follow the body you have a good chance of really doing some great things

Answer 6

i say a combination of the two because if you have no inner spirit your not going to be inspired even with a really good trainer (believe me i have to work with this). Also if you have no training you dont know what you are doing and when put in a situation you may be able to get through it based on adrenaline but if you wanted to get away faster and have been trained you know where to hit someone

Answer 7

Superior attitude will defeat superior technique every time. Here's an example:

In feudal Japan, a wandering samurai was taking his noontime meal in a small inn just outside a city. At one point his meal was interrupted when a small, rather meek old man accidently bumped into him, causing him to spill his expensive saki. Feeling he had been slighted, the samurai became angry at the little old man, and being unreasonable in his rage, challenged him to a duel to "settle this matter of honor." The old man, who was sincerely apologetic, felt duty-bound to accept it.

As the samurai retired for the evening, the little old man sought out the famous samurai warrior, Miyamoto Musashi(who also happened to be lodging nearby). He asked for advice on how to die well, seeing no other possible outcome due to his lack of knowledge about the fighting arts. Miyamoto questioned the old man about the events and how they transpired to put him in this predicament. He also questioned him narrowly about what sort of background he might have in any of the warrior arts.

The old man said he had none. Finally, however, it came out that the old man practiced the tea ceremony. Nodding, Miyamoto told the him to perform the ceremony right there for both of them, and that afterward he would tell the him what his advice was to be. The old man readily did so.

As the old man set about preparing and serving the tea, the samurai watched him very closely. Upon completion, the old man looked at Miyamoto who told him,"My friend, you have honored me with the tea ceremony. I can see that you are a master of the tea ceremony. A master of Life is a master of Death as well and as such there is nothing I need to say to you about dying well. You will do that no matter what I say or do right now. However, so that this unhappy event will be years from now instead of mere hours, I will tell you to do this one thing tomorrow morning..."

The little old man listened closely to what the samurai had to say, and left for the evening with Miyamoto's own short sword to be used in the duel the next day.

At dawn, the two men took their places at the designated location. They bowed to each other formally and took their stances. The angered samurai was taking his final breath before his charge when he noticed the look in the eyes of the meek, little old man. There was a peaceful determination to him. Right away, the samurai knew that, though he could easily kill him, he would also gain his own death thereby.

He threw down his sword, begging forgiveness of the old man. Thereafter he became a disciple of the old man, learning how to become a master of the tea ceremony, and thus, as master of Life and learning how to live without fear.


Nice little parable, eh? So what does it mean? Mastering the outer art is only the first step to mastering the inner art. Whether through the tea ceremony, or the martial arts, or through music, or dance, once someone has learned to give something total commitment in the moment, life and death can be let go. All that exists is the moment. When you can give that moment total commitment, you cannot lose.

Answer 8

wow what a difficult question too answer!
I did Tae Kwon Do for 6 years and became British champion for the TAGB. I was exceedingly good at fighting in a controlled environment, by the time I was half way to my black belt (1st Dan) I could whoop people alot more experienced than me!
In a street fight situation, you need arrogance, confidence and indomitable spirit (the will to win regardless of your opponents size or strength) so it really doesn't matter about the skills you may have. I stay away from fighting out of the ring because all though I have alot of experience, above average focus and above average speed the nutter in the pub who's coked outta his head will stab you, bottle you, stamp on you and probably not give a damn if he permanently damages you.
IN SHORT...... INNER SPIRIT, CONFIDENCE AND THE WILL NEVER TO BE BEATEN!

Answer 9

It takes both to make the best fighter. Raw skill is empty without soul! The will to go beyond your physical limitations and to produce inner strength will prevail in the long run! The well-balanced fighter must have split second reactions to both offensive strikes and defensive counters. Training combined with self discipline creates fluid movements to enhance the skills.

Answer 10

The question of "training" vs. "inner spirit" is artificial, in the sense
that: Why does it have to be either/or? The truth is that ALL
training is good training. Can you think of sex and then realize
that when it comes right down to it, ALL sex is good sex! (o.k.,
some times it is a lot better than other times). But, my point is,
that the more you train, the more you develop "inner spirit." You
not only build your body (strength, speed, endurance, technique),
the more you build your mind, willpower, & self esteem.

Answer 11

Training. Ignore these people who feel that self confidence is all that it takes. Take your example, someone being bullied - imagine being full of spirit and confidence and taking on the bullies, without any training or experience. You'd get creamed! Without training it's far better to run away!

You can 'get by' with training alone, you CANNOT get by with spirit and confidence alone. In addition, the training will give you something to be confident about!