At first, the connection doesn’t seem too obvious. Gay matching. Rigorous MMA combat. In the latter, two guys adopt techniques from a variety of fighting skills – including wrestling, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), judo, karate, boxing, and jujitsu – then slug it out inside a cage before a baying audience. The loser is sometimes defeated by being knocked out, and even the victor is unlikely to emerge from a contest unscathed. So, what does this extreme combat sport have to do with gay matchmaking? When you delve a little deeper below the surface of MMA, you’ll be surprised at the lessons in dating that can be learned. We’ve identified five key MMA attributes which gay singles can take on board to enhance their chances of finding a successful partner.
Dedication to personal growth
To the uninitiated, combat involving throwing punches and kicks with the sole aim of hurting opponents hardly seems like it could inspire positivity. But there’s so much more to MMA than the purely aggressive, physical side of this sport. Preparing for competitions involves dedication – lots of dedication. Anyone entering the canvas without having adequately trained, spending hours in the gym toning muscles and developing cardiovascular strength, is heading for a short, sharp lesson. These aspects are of utter importance for hookups and dating as well, as a person investing in personal growth is more interesting to the potential gay partners.
Using technology to your advantage
As stated, achieving optimum physical power requires hours of selfless devotion to personal training. Fighters will spend lengthy periods sparring with training partners or working on weight machines and treadmills. They can also employ technology in a variety of ways. The most obvious of these is tapping into YouTube and other forms of social media to observe contests, and picking up pointers. The parallels with gay dating are that individuals can psyche themselves up for impending meetings via web browsers. Once upon a time, gay matches were sealed in LGBT-oriented clubs or bars. Nowadays, singles seeking prospective partners can refer to trusted gay hookup sites. MMA fighters learn how to home in on web resources proving the clearest information, and this is a similar scenario. By referring to an overview of the best websites for single action, gay males can narrow down their search for the ideal service. Poring over reviews and comparing subscription amounts or available features will give a clear idea of which hookup outlets would be worth joining.
Setting goals and intentions
If you’re a gay dude wishing to take advantage of MMA tips, a worthwhile comparison would be to consider how singles interested in MMA might approach dating. In the preliminary stages of getting to know a prospective partner, you might get into some seriously flirty conversations. Web platforms make this sort of interaction straightforward, proving a discreet messaging channel that encourages users to be relaxed, but even more important, forthright in declaring their intentions. Singles who are into MMA could use the same empathetic skills to introduce conversational icebreakers. If you’re a gay male eager to connect with a compatible single, using MMA as the common ground to initiate passionate discussions, you might voice opinions about forthcoming contests. Is Jake Paul, holder of a professional boxing record of six wins to nil (including four knockouts) confident of beating Nate Diaz, the veteran US fighter with 15 years’ Ultimate Fighting Championship experience?
Overcoming challenges with resilience
Fighters have to train in agility. But the area where MMA fighters can fine-tune their attributes is where the mind is concerned. To perform well, they need to be at peak levels of fitness. Their mental strength must be equally potent. Pre-match, novices will sometimes dwell on the frenetic moments of the contest that lie ahead. Seasoned veterans will be much less anxious, having coached their minds to be singularly focused on the task ahead. This fortitude for overcoming challenges is a superb trait that can be extrapolated into any situation. For instance, say your relationship has foundered and you’re only just coming to terms with this. Having the mental capacity to forge ahead can be empowering. This can make the difference between sinking into a depressed state or looking to the future with a renewed heart.
Learning from defeats and mistakes
Last of all, the attribute which is particularly transferable to any human relationship is adapting to negative events and turning them around. Elite MMA professionals never dwell on past errors – they’ll analyse them from a sporting point of view, perhaps watching video re-runs to see where they could’ve done better. But the onus will be on turning today’s defeats into tomorrow’s victories. Top fighters will accept that an important part of their ongoing success is taking lessons on board from times when they didn’t perform as well. When it comes to partnerships that didn’t work out, putting these behind you will help the healing process, giving you the mental strength to seek exciting new pastures.