Hey fighters!
As humans, we are wired for hierarchy. We walk into a room—a boardroom, a party, or a gym—and we immediately scan for social cues. Who is in charge? Who is the listener? Who is the leader?
Psychology tells us that once we identify these slots, we have a terrifying tendency to fill them automatically. We take on the roles we are assigned, often without a second thought.
The most famous example of this is the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted in 1971. In the study, college students were arbitrarily assigned the role of either "guard" or "prisoner." Within days, the "guards" became authoritarian and abusive, and the "prisoners" became withdrawn and defeated. These weren't bad people or weak people; they were simply people who acted out the script they were handed. They reacted appropriately to the costume they were wearing.
I see this happen in the ring every single day.
The Deferential Shift
It happens the moment you step through the ropes with someone you perceive as "better." Maybe it's a coach, a fighter with more experience, or just someone who looks physically stronger.
Before the bell even rings, a silent transaction takes place. They project the role of "The Authority," and you, perhaps subconsciously, accept the role of "The Subordinate."
I see it in the body language. Shoulders roll forward. The chin tucks a little too low—not in defense, but in hesitation. You stop throwing combinations and start "surviving." You box defensively. You wait for them to hit you so you can counter, rather than initiating the action.
By doing this, you are actually helping them beat you. You are validating the role they chose for themselves. You are giving them the space to be the "Hammer" because you have already agreed to be the "Nail."
Rewriting the Script
The hardest part of boxing isn't the physical conditioning; it's the ability to reject the role the other person is trying to assign you.
You have to decide what your role is.
This is where the concept of "embodied cognition" comes in. Sometimes, your brain knows the other guy is better. Your brain knows the coach has 20 years of experience on you. Your brain is saying, "Back up."
But you have to let your body overrule your brain.
If you step to the center of the ring, hold your ground, and throw a stiff jab with authority, your body is signaling a different role. You are physically adopting the behavior of a winner, even if your mind hasn't caught up yet. Just like the students in that study who became "guards" simply because they put on the uniform and sunglasses, you can become the "aggressor" simply by adopting the posture and the pace of one.
Even if you don't fully believe it yet, your body might. And more importantly, your opponent will feel it.
The Takeaway
In the ring, and in life, people will constantly try to assign you a role. They will try to cast you as the underdog, the listener, or the person who steps aside.
Don't read their script. Write your own. Step to the center, set your feet, and decide who you are going to be before the bell rings.
What is a role that you have been assigned, and what role would you rather chose?
Drop a comment or shoot me an email! Trainingwithaisling@gmail.com
Let's train hard and live smarter!
A friend and I were just talking about this recently - the challenge of the mental hurdle of getting into the boxing ring and believing in yourself. The mental aspect of boxing is so much harder than the physical aspect for me. It has taken me years to get comfortable with sparring and it's constant work! I have to stretch that "mental muscle" every week.
ReplyDeleteA highly under-appreciated part of boxing that sometimes only true fighters understand!
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