Training and managing fighters

[okimura]

Please forgive my ignorance. This may be a dumb question. Do you need to have experience as a professional boxer/muay thai fighter in order to later train and manage other fighters?

The reason I ask is because I believe I would make a far better trainer and manager than actual fighter. As a fighter, I don't believe I would make it very far. I simply don't have the desire to be in the ring myself. But as a trainer/manager, I think I would have a lot more to contribute. I enjoy teaching people martial arts, although I still have quite a lot to learn myself. And I enjoy watching and examining fighters in action in the ring.

If it's possible, training and managing fighters is something I'd like to do in the future, and I would sure like to hear from anyone in this forum that has experience. I'd like to hear how you got your start.

Thanks.

[shark]

I think to train and manage fighters well i think you need to be able to understand what is going on in their mind. To do this i believe you need to of had the same experiences.
If you have fought you know how nervous you feel in the beginning when you start fighting, you know how down you feel when you loose, you know the thoughts of doubt that go through your head when someone hits you hard, knocks you down etc What can you say to turn it around, to motivate someone.
If you have fought you get the chance to learn from your own experiences, things your trainer did or said that helped you or didnt. If you are not motivated to get into the ring will you be able to motivate others to get the best out of them?
To be a trainer your own skill must be at a higher level, there is a big difference between training at the local club 3-4 time a week and ing for a fight. Its more intense and you are highly motivated, training like this lifts your own level faster.
If you have fought you will have more respect from those you teach because they can relate to you. What will you say if they question if you know what your talking about?
I think you should put your doubts aside my friend, train hard and fight. Get the experience, you will be a better trainer with at least some experience and you may find out you LOVE it instead of looking back in a few years time wondering "what if"?

[shark]

I think to train and manage fighters well i think you need to be able to understand what is going on in their mind. To do this i believe you need to of had the same experiences.
If you have fought you know how nervous you feel in the beginning when you start fighting, you know how down you feel when you loose, you know the thoughts of doubt that go through your head when someone hits you hard, knocks you down etc What can you say to turn it around, to motivate someone.
If you have fought you get the chance to learn from your own experiences, things your trainer did or said that helped you or didnt. If you are not motivated to get into the ring will you be able to motivate others to get the best out of them?
To be a trainer your own skill must be at a higher level, there is a big difference between training at the local club 3-4 time a week and ing for a fight. Its more intense and you are highly motivated, training like this lifts your own level faster.
If you have fought you will have more respect from those you teach because they can relate to you. What will you say if they question if you know what your talking about?
I think you should put your doubts aside my friend, train hard and fight. Get the experience, you will be a better trainer with at least some experience and you may find out you LOVE it instead of looking back in a few years time wondering "what if"?

[theprophet]

fighting

I agree, train hard and fight. Even if you lose you will have more to offer as a trainer.

[Khun Kao]

While I agree that having fight experience will only broaden your abilities as a trainer or manager, it isn't totally necessary. One of the best boxing trainers of all time was Cus D'Amato, a man who never fought.

But then, since it'd be foolish for any of us to suppose we are the "next" Cus, my recommendation is that if you have the opportunity to train, prepare, and fight, you should do it!

[ryangruhn]

"While I agree that having fight experience will only broaden your abilities as a trainer or manager, it isn't totally necessary. One of the best boxing trainers of all time was Cus D'Amato, a man who never fought."

Some of the best trainers and teachers I have ever had, didn't fight. Respectively, some of the best fighters I have ever trained with, didn't teach/manage/train. In the same light some of the worst teachers I have ever experienced were world class competitors and some of the worst competitors I have ever seen were world class trainers/promoters, etc.

I personally do a little of everything on both sides but if I were to cut out one of them I don't think it would make me any worse at the others which I participate in.

In regards to saying that in order to manage a fighter you have to fight I 100% disagree. As I already stated I have seen people who try and manage who are an A+ in the ring but when it comes to organization, staying on top of things, etc. they are a C-. To say that being a previous fighter is a necessity to being a manager is like saying in order to be a good personal trainer you need to have done some sort of body building competitions or used your training to progress you somewhere competitively. I would be astonished if people disagreed that the majority of fighting is the training itself. Have fun, motivate your fighters, learn from your mistakes and enjoy your time doing it.

"If a person can teach me one thing, they are of value to me"

Gruhn

[thai_me]

Some of the best trainers and teachers I have ever had, didn't fight. Respectively, some of the best fighters I have ever trained with, didn't teach/manage/train. In the same light some of the worst teachers I have ever experienced were world class competitors and some of the worst competitors I have ever seen were world class trainers/promoters, etc.
Gruhn

I agree with this. I have seen some awsome fighters who are terrible at training people. Some are really disorganised. Some still have egos and are just downright dangerous with respect to sparring and drills, not using equipment correctly etc. Having said that, my trainer was a former pro but he also really wanted to train people and had his head screwed on. I think once you get in the ring, you are very much on your own and there is only so much your trainer can do for you there. He will give support and guidance, buy you have to do all the work in the end.

In a lot of ways too, once you know your technique, the rest you will learn from your sparring partners.

On the other hand it is easier to be inspired by someone who is a former champion and just the honor of training alongside ex-pro kickboxers can really motivate you. For me, i dont care if my trainer was a fighter or not, it all comes down to whether or not you like your trainer and how much knowledge in his head he has, not how he can use his fists.

[WhiteTiger]

...

I think you shuold have foght some fights. As shark says. The one how has fought knows whats going on.
You could be a really good trianer if you havent fought but I dont think you are really that good in training fighters.
The experience gained in the ring is something that you gett there and not in sparring and so on.
I have fought one fight and soon I shuold do my secound.
After my first fight I became much better in all aspects and understands alot more now.
Then I think your students will respect you more if you have been in there and fought.
And with that respect upcoming fighters will do anything for you and thay are better motivated.
But Just to train a class how just wannt the fittness and techniq I think lots of peaple with good understanding of muay thai can traine them.

[sportmuaythai]

I agree with Khunkao, ryangruhn and thai me. I assume that you want to have and manage a stable of fighters. In this case, I think that you should attend lots of fights, visit plenty of gyms, and get aquainted with as many fighters and trainers as you can. Don't neglect to study sport medicine and other sport education courses. You should also study contract laws. Mean while you need to find channels to get into term with fight promoters. Finally, you'll need a lot of money to embark on this career. If you lack most or all of these requirements, then you should start at the bottom by making friend with a good fight trainer, and offer to assist him as an apprentice. This could be a non paying job, but bear with it and learn.

[WhiteTiger]

... should start at the bottom by making friend with a good fight trainer, and offer to assist him as an apprentice. This could be a non paying job, but bear with it and learn.

I agree to that. Learn from someone else and be his helper and he will help you.

[Scott Bolinger]

as a coach and manager, I allways have to be on a look out for more training in any area of fighting. My primary training is Kickboxing, but I also teack boxing, but I also have guys that compete in MMA. So I allways have to learn more about each art. One thing you'll probably want to do is build a portfolio of different schools, coaches and promoters which will hopefully keep you informed of the different events in your area. Hopefully get hooked up with a promoter and run on specific circuits. I primarily run on the CBA circuit for MMA and boxing, then WRKF on kickboxing and those are desant circuits for the midwest.
Also learning more of how to be effective as a cornerman would be helpfull. Studying sports medicine and fitness and nutrition are helpfull. Attend as many events you possibly can and learn whats being done.
Get in the habbit of checking up on the stats of anyone you put your fighters against. First time fighters, you usually don't want them put up against anyone that has more than 5 fights. Thats a general rule of thumb.