While many training programs focus on preparing the body to fight, a key component of any serious mixed martial arts training covers the mental aspect of fighting. A fighter may be trained to the peak of physical condition, but if he can’t deal with the mental aspects of pain, if he lets his opponent “psych” him out, or if he fails to see “tells” in his opponents moves, all that physical conditioning will have been for nothing.

Training one’s mind for mixed martial arts competition can be much more difficult than training the body. The indicators of progress are less obvious for mental conditioning than physical conditioning, and the mental exercises that work for one person may not work for another.

However, those who keep up with UFC news know that all of the top contenders in mixed martial arts competition include mental preparation in their training toolbox.

Here’s a few key components of mental conditioning:

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