You must be shapeless, formless like water.” – Bruce Lee
When you’re in the ring, it’s really easy to get caught up in your head. Remembering combinations, trying to be that machine, not unlike Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. The thing is, that can be your greatest enemy, not just in the ring, but in life.
We take a lot of pride in staying focus, and yes, there is a place for that. But there also has to be a level of flexibility. That’s what keeps us on our toes. Becoming complacent to what you have set in your mind will ensure failure. Things happen. There are roadblocks that you won’t even anticipate. That’s part of life. That’s part of boxing. You can study your opponent, but you’re not in their head, so you have to be ready.
Such as the case in life. You can’t tell the future. We can’t predict the next two hours, let alone the next year. Wrenches will be thrown, situations will change. We cannot control that. We can only adapt and become the water and flow over the rock-like obstacles.
We are not robots. We aren’t Ivan Drago. Let’s strive to be better – to be the best version of ourselves, which starts with not trying to control our opponents or the environments around us. Just embrace for what you can’t see and success will be the learnings and the road to becoming an all around fighter.