Poker face and martial arts, why is it so important?
I've actually seen sites won and lost because of the ability, or the inability of putting on a poker face. Poker face and being stoic look the same from the outside, but there are some differences. Being stoic implies that you were internalizing your strength, discipline, and some of the other tenants that stoicism includes. Having a poker face shows those traits outwardly but not necessarily from the inside. A poker face implies that you are disguising something or trying to fool someone by your outward appearance. And obviously, the term "poker face" came from playing a card game called poker, and you want to try to hide your emotions when you look at your card. You try to keep a neutral face if you get a super good hand or a terrible hand, you want to be the only one that knows it, do you want to disguise your facial and your body language.
How does that equate in martial arts, and why is the poker face so very important? It's even more important in martial arts than it is in poker, or in any sport for that matter, because the consequences include life or death, and sometimes that relies on how well you can fool your attacker, which means you have to have a good poker face. I'll give you a couple of examples. You get jumped in the Walmart parking lot, somebody shoves you and starts trying to punch you in the face, you have your family in the car, and if one of those solid punches lands, it could take your consciousness away, and we all know what that means. the attacker connected with a hard kick and he broke a rib. The pain is a screw shedding, and it makes it hard to breathe, you have two options here number one, drop to one knee, grab your ribs and start writhing in pain. Well, if you choose option number one, you might get lucky and you might have a very caring and considerate criminal attacker, and he might leave you alone, or he might even give you some first aid. I think we know how stupid that sounds, and we know that if you show pain to your attacker, he will capitalize immediately and finish you off, and after that, he'll probably go after your family.
Now let's go to option number two. You have the same injury with excruciating pain and difficulty breathing, but now you pretend that you are an absolutely no pain or distress, and you keep fighting. And even though you may not win, your chances just went up from a 0% chance of winning to 100%.
Another example for youth, sport, martial artist. And you're in a five-round UFC world title fight, you just finished the fourth round and it's even on all judges scorecards. Two rounds apiece. You are exhausted and you have a broken hand. As soon as the bell rings, you could put your hands on your knee and start shaking your broken hand and you could have a grimace on your face. You could walk back to your corner with your shoulders, humped over, and shaking your head. What do you think that facial and body language will do to your opponent? I'll tell you, it will give him the surge of energy and confidence that he will need to dig down and get the power to beat you. On the other side of that if you have the same broken hand and you are just as exhausted, but you show absolutely no sign of either, and you walk back to your corner with your shoulders back and a victorious look on your face, which takes no more energy, then showing defeat in your face and in your body language. The two actually take the same amount of energy, it just depends on which one you choose. I think we both know that walking back to the corner with your head high and your shoulders back and a look of victory on your face might take the wind out of your opponent's sails. A lot of times, the poker face takes no more energy or effort than the "I am defeated" face.
A lot of martial artists have this poker face, and it comes natural for them, but it can also be trained. You can work on it when you're exhausted doing Burpee's. Try to show no one how tired you really are practice your poker face. When you're on the bag and you're exhausted, keep your hands up keep your chin down and keep hitting hard until the round is over. If you're sparring, and you are exhausted, or even your toe hurts or something, don't let anybody else know it. Hide it. It's very important to practice these techniques, it could mean the difference between life or death, or winning, or UFC, world, title, or not.
Basically what I'm saying is the poker face is a technique. Like a left hook or AA take down it is a technique that could help. You win a fight and stay alive, or the lack of that skills could cost you your life, or a world UFC title. I know how much pain can be caused in a fight, and I know very well how fatigue and exhaustion feel during a fight. With that said, practicing your poker face will make you a better martial artist, will increase your chances of staying alive, or even winning a UFC title. Only show your attacker or your opponent what you want them to see. Put on an act if you have to, disguise something if you have to. Dig deep and hide complete exhaustion and pain. You are a martial artist so you can do that. Please give me some feedback if you'd like, my weekly newsletter and blog. Please give me any feedback or ideas on future subjects, or if you have any complaints, I'm open to that too. My main goal is to make every one of you a better martial artist, whether you want to protect your family and yourself from attack, or win a world, UFC title. Aloha.
