--- title: "Real MMA Coaching: Science-Backed Training for Combat Athletes" description: "Stop following influencer hacks. Get science-backed MMA strength and conditioning, strategy, and combat sports coaching from an expert. Train for the cage." canonical: https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/the-martial-artist-s-mindset-real-talk last_updated: 2025-09-25 --- # The Martial Artist's Mindset: Real Talk on Combat Sports Tribe Verified · Coaching serious MMA athletes across India. By [Pushkaraj Shirke](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit) · Online mentorship and travels to athlete's gyms across India · ₹3,000 per session (estimate) Part of [MMA Athlete Coaching & Mentorship](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/gallery) If you are looking for influencer hacks and shortcuts, keep scrolling. This is for the serious athletes who want to understand the science, the grind, and the reality of fighting. ## Photos and videos - [Video: A gym that forgets to have fun cannot build a community. It's not just about training to be killers. A good gym culture understands the importance of fun and camaraderie for mental well-being and long-term growth.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/730ca609-b69b-4945-b2c5-6926d9c47edd) - [Video: Do you need to be an MMA fighter to be a great MMA coach? No, but it helps. Coaching is a separate skill. The best coaches know their limits and build a team of specialists to support their athlete.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/55c5fe00-fbf9-4f8f-b059-8a37e2f8f7d0) - [Video: Why I stopped reviewing Indian MMA fighters for free. Most can't handle criticism and take it personally. I'm not here to make enemies for free by bruising fragile egos.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bc2be062-9606-4016-8162-dee4a68d2ab0) - [Video: My analysis on male vs. female longevity in MMA. I believe female fighters have an advantage due to physiology and lower cumulative damage, which is why India can produce some spectacular female athletes in the coming years.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/43553b94-d07e-4272-91e7-350fe98cb3b5) - [Video: A controversial decision at a local MMA event led to a social media circus. We can't let the sport become a popularity contest. Decisions should be contested officially, not through online trolling and character assassination.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a46ce7fc-d8dd-413d-9294-4001819588bd) - ![BJJ purists are still relevant in modern MMA. Kade Ruotolo's first-round finish at ONE Championship was a beautiful display of the art.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/7fd5743b-da2e-42dd-b864-a7d0c43862ae) - ![Ritu Phogat's loss at ONE shows that elite wrestling alone isn't enough in MMA. Without submission defense, you're vulnerable. It's a learning moment for the first generation of Indian women in pro MMA.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d5e2e228-89f8-4626-8cd1-7e05a5711dda) - ![A chart of Jackie Chan's film injuries. Why do we do the things that break us? For the unexplainable love of it. As someone with osteoporosis, he is a legend and an inspiration to keep going.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/13efcccf-eeb1-41c2-9da3-6858a8f945d7) - [Video: The future of Indian MMA looks bright. We're seeing young talent winning world championships with definitive finishes. I predict we'll have a UFC world champion from India within the next 10 years.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/66321c26-79c6-465c-9d2d-960316f81379) - [Video: Don't be delusional. 99% of untrained men overestimate their ability to fight. If you go up against a trained fighter, you will get destroyed. Train to fight, it's a life skill.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/18ac03d5-96f5-4499-8277-bf853708ea55) - [Video: Another example of why you shouldn't be delusional about your fighting ability. Seeing red isn't enough to save your ass in a real fight. Get proper training.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/06c2c36f-8c74-443e-be05-9376141cd130) - [Video: My take on giving free advice. People don't value it. They'd rather listen to some influencer in a bikini than a qualified professional. I'm not here for titillation, I'm here to help people who genuinely want to change.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/cf120387-4692-46ef-864f-1d2cd2b01c1b) - [Video: It's a true story. That feeling when athletes finally understand that nutrition, strength training, and psychology are just as important as skill practice for their growth.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3a36e994-bbb5-48d2-9fb6-d67f9c2e20b4) - [Video: Please do not follow celebrities for self-defense advice. Their "tips" will get you killed. Follow professional coaches and instructors who have trained for years, not actors promoting a film.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d7048ed3-ea1a-4478-99bd-8a75d780423a) - [Video: This matchmaking at Brave CF was bullshit. Pitting a washed-out, retired fighter against a rising star is not a real fight. I feel bad for Bharat Khandare, but this was a padded matchup.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/deeab17d-d416-4aec-bdb8-c123fc541733) - [Video: The controversy over Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. She's not a man, she's a DSD female with XY chromosomes, giving her an unfair testosterone advantage in a tested sport. Athlete safety is more important than being woke.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/58577744-2d75-458d-b86b-52971ced9a6f) - [Video: Tom Aspinall's entire UFC career is less than 15 minutes of cage time. People don't see the two lifetimes of grinding that made those 15 minutes possible.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d22cc047-7afe-42c7-aa05-914df146af52) - [Video: If your Krav Maga class is just drills with cooperating partners, you're wasting your time. You need to spar and pressure test your skills to be effective in a real-life scenario.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/2dec1038-e850-4583-8e4e-d410e03a656c) - [Video: My thoughts on Herb Dean's stoppage of Michal Oleksiejczuk's fight after his arm was broken. A ref's job is to protect your career from your ego. It was a good stoppage.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/fbd46299-c404-4b2b-b5f4-c21323cc356c) - [Video: Lyoto Machida represented karate in the UFC with honor. He was respectful, powerful, and humble. A true legend and a case study in martial arts values.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e5944053-b4d3-46bc-afa6-b8892809faa0) - ![An update on my athlete roster. No more freebies. I've seen too much ungratefulness in sports. If you want my professional help, pay the fees.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bf4348e4-46a3-490d-a6bf-ae53c8925619) - ![A point on ungratefulness. Athletes come with sob stories when they're struggling, but forget who helped them once they get a whiff of success.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/c0f144d5-a83f-46d3-b6f4-753f6b06903b) - ![If you want to be on the Project Battlefit roster, connect with me directly, but only if you're not looking for a freebie.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/65d110a5-60a1-432a-98d9-ae3b92b433da) - ![Starting June 1, I'm resetting my athlete roster. No more freebies or sponsorships. If you're not a paying client, don't expect anything.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/cff1cad1-0f3a-46b0-8a3b-00b40ad074d5) - ![The difference between a fighter and a martial artist, as explained by John Danaher. A fighter trains for a prize, a martial artist trains because it's an end in itself.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/1922aa9e-ebeb-4f3b-b00d-82bd635263d6) - ![If you take the lucrative things out of the equation, the martial artist would still train, whereas the fighter would stop.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/16357e38-7e6c-41f3-937e-9c00128c5765) - ![A fighter gets ready for the next fight. A martial artist is interested in the course of their life overall.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/33b51e80-ea57-4f11-aca6-3e9fd4772404) - ![So, what are you? A fighter or a martial artist?](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/4610a4c0-2f30-491b-a04e-14c6cf75b8d2) - ![More wisdom from John Danaher on the fighter vs. martial artist mindset. Training is an end in itself, as opposed to the fight.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f4641e50-5b93-467e-87b5-e4756acfda17) - [Video: Should a champion who is inactive for over a year automatically relinquish their belt? I think so. It's unfair to contenders to wait away their prime.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/191a0775-1394-4d0c-a5d6-3d8c14b805a3) - [Video: This is pathetic sportsmanship. Risking an opponent's life with a dangerous slam in a local competition just to show off is the mark of a bully, not an athlete.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/21932115-c70f-4232-ab82-6927820b68a7) - [Video: Terrible, crowd-appeasing matchmaking by Karate Combat. It was Pakistan's A-team vs India's B-team. This is politically driven bullshit, not sport.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/e46e91b8-fd5e-430f-9626-bce55400fdfb) - [Video: Saved by the pants! A breakdown of how Arman Tsarukyan escaped Charles Oliveira's super tight guillotine choke at UFC 300.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/840558db-e386-4271-8eba-c90d7935e48b) - [Video: The influence of Dagestani wrestling on modern MMA grappling. It's about static control and pressure, negating an opponent's ability to be dynamic.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a91e534b-1817-406d-969c-c466157414d7) - [Video: MMA grappling has become its own art form. It's less about dynamic submission hunting and more about static control, where the threat of strikes opens up submissions.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6351f05b-c70e-4207-bee3-6f59eeb41139) - ![My take on Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC. He wanted to be rich, and he is. He was unhappy with a contract, and he ended it. A winner in my books.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/f9c2d933-324c-4ec5-83e6-9bf521aa8cb0) - [Video: GSP on fear. Being real about your fears and limitations is what enables you to grow beyond them. Delusion is not the solution.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/35dde251-5e68-4ac6-a67e-9975463c3454) ## About The Martial Artist's Mindset: Real Talk You cannot fight unless you have trained for it, and 99% of people who think they can are just delulu. I don't give free advice because it’s never valued, and I’m not here for titillation or social media engagement. My coaching is for athletes who are tired of 'bro-science' and want a measurable, scientific approach to strength, conditioning, and strategy. If you want to stop guessing and start building a fight-ready body, we should talk. ### The Reality of Combat Sports Most people enter a gym looking for a shortcut. Whether it's cutting weight with unsafe methods or following workout advice from someone who hasn't spent a single day in a cage, the result is the same: injury or burnout. My approach to training isn't about looking good on Instagram; it's about building functional, pressure-tested power. ### Why 'Influencer' Advice Will Fail You I see it constantly—people trying to replicate complex drills they saw online without understanding the biomechanics or the goal. This is how you break a shoulder or tear an MCL. My strength and conditioning protocols are rooted in periodization and energy system training designed specifically for combat sports—not bodybuilding. ### What Real Coaching Looks Like When I work with an athlete, we cover: * **Movement Analysis:** Fixing weak kinetic chains before you step into the cage. * **Strategic Insight:** I don't just coach you; I analyze your opponent's tendencies, holes, and tells to build a winning game plan. * **Scientific Nutrition:** No 'daal mein protein hai' logic. We focus on bio-availability and precise weight-cut protocols that ensure you actually have the gas to perform on fight night. ### The Mindset of a Fighter Martial arts is a life skill. It’s about building the heart of a lion and the discipline to execute when you're exhausted. I don't coddle athletes; I hold them accountable to their goals. If you're ready to put in the work and stop playing pretend, then you're ready to train with me. If you’re just here for the 'aesthetic', look elsewhere. Cheers! ## About Pushkaraj Shirke I'm not here to make enemies for free, but I will call out the bullshit in the industry. I am a combat sports analyst and coach who works with athletes to bridge the gap between amateur effort and professional performance. [See all of Pushkaraj Shirke's services](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit) ## More from MMA Athlete Coaching & Mentorship by Pushkaraj Shirke - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/featured) - [Team Battlefit: Athlete Success & The Grind](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/team-battlefit-athlete-success-the-grind) - [Fight Talk: UFC Analysis & Commentary](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/fight-talk-ufc-analysis-commentary) - [The Science of Strength & Conditioning](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/the-science-of-strength-conditioning) - [No-BS Nutrition & Supplement Reviews](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/no-bs-nutrition-supplement-reviews) - [My Own Grind: Training, Injuries & Competition](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/my-own-grind-training-injuries-competition) - [Behind the Scenes & Community](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/mma-athlete-coaching-mentorship/behind-the-scenes-community) ## More services by Pushkaraj Shirke - [Strength & Nutrition Coaching](https://mytribe.in/projectbattlefit/strength-nutrition-coaching) ## Similar work from other experts - [Fighter Mindset: Real Discipline & MMA Training](https://mytribe.in/the_jamshedkhan/competitive-fighter-pro-coaching/coach-s-corner-philosophy) by Jamshed Khan · Competitive Fighter & Pro-Coaching · Training at Delhi Martial Art Academy, Tagore Garden - [My Philosophy: Real Talk on Martial Arts Training](https://mytribe.in/gulliyagaurav/bjj-grappling-coaching/my-philosophy-real-talk-on-fighting) by Gaurav Gulliya · BJJ & Grappling Coaching · Group sessions at Crosstrain Fight Club, Sainik Farm; Private at-home sessions across New Delhi - [Coach's Corner: The Philosophy of Strength & Discipline](https://mytribe.in/omjiujitsu_/mixed-martial-arts-mma/coach-s-corner-philosophy) by Om BJJ & MMA Academy · Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) · At Academy in Sector 46, Gurugram - [Building a Fighter's Mindset at Vajra MMA](https://mytribe.in/warriorstrength_/self-defense-training/the-fighter-s-mindset) by Kapil Gupta · Self-Defense Training · Trains at VAJRA MMA in Noida and across Delhi NCR - [Omjiujitsu Insights: Mindset for MMA and Life](https://mytribe.in/anand_omjj/mixed-martial-arts-mma-training/omjiujitsu-insights-my-philosophy) by Anand Sharma · Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Training · Train at OMJIUJITSU Academy, Gurugram; Serves Delhi NCR - [The Fighter's Mindset: Building Discipline at Dassault MMA](https://mytribe.in/dassaultmma/grappling-wrestling/the-fighter-s-mindset) by Dassault Mixed Martial Arts · Grappling & Wrestling · Classes at Dassault MMA Academy in Andheri East and across Mumbai ## Book To book Pushkaraj Shirke, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hey%20Pushkaraj%2C%20I've%20checked%20out%20your%20Martial%20Artist's%20Mindset%20cluster.%20I'm%20ready%20to%20stop%20the%20'delulu'%20training%20and%20need%20a%20serious%20plan%20for%20my%20combat%20sports%20journey.)