Issue 104

August 2013

It’s the masterminds behind the fence that can make or break a fighter’s career

Take the time to listen and learn from the unsung heroes of the Octagon and you’ll soon realize, cornering is an art. The best in the business are cornermen who are able to strategize, adapt and deploy actions through their fighter. 

JOE BELL

Chartered sport psychologist and one of few mental performance coaches specializing in combat sport, each issue he provides tips to improve your approach 

These are the real psychologists of the Octagon who have the capability to gauge, extinguish or ignite high-octane emotions when the time calls for it. They are the vital link that is overlooked in a fighter’s quest for glory and can often be the difference between victory and defeat.

To get the best from a fighter take a leaf out of Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn’s book, arguably the most successful camp in MMA. Their résumé speaks for itself, boasting an over-80% success rate. They are some of the most proficient conductors of the ‘corner’ and have trained numerous UFC champions, including current welterweight and light heavyweight belt bearers Georges St Pierre and Jon Jones respectively. 

Here’s a quick crash course in cornering using skills mastered by these two incredible tacticians.

Formation 

Jackson always starts from something he calls the ‘stack’ (a bespoke seating arrangement or tactical formation). The stack starts with a stand-up and striking coach’s stool on the frontline, followed by a second stool with a ground game specialist, the third stool is reserved for a secondary striking coach. 

Jackson is always the anchor and the ringside shrink, making a final assessment based on the other fighter’s body language or subtle ‘tells’ that might aid the psychological warfare.

Comms  

A good cornerman is a second pair of eyes for their fighter, but what the cornerman sees is useless if they are unable to communicate that information. The primary rules in cornering are simplicity and to leave emotions at the door; jeering or screaming only translates to panic. The job of a cornerman is to impart instructions clearly so a fighter can comprehend them in their amped mental and physical state.

Jackson-Winkeljohn’s corner use a series of well crafted number code systems and, nine times out of 10, are always prefixed with the fighter’s name to avoid confusion. This code system has been drilled into their fighter’s reflexes which fire automatically on command.  

Avoid suggestions like, ‘Slip the jab, left hook, overhand right, low kick, then shoot.’ These instructions are too complex for a fighter’s mind to process when they’re in the midst of throwing leather.

Between Rounds  

Before the 10-second clap, each cornerman should know his role and who says what and when. But no matter the gravitas and nature of the fight, Greg Jackson always forces eye contact with his fighter (sometimes holding their head if his fighter has been rocked, eyes can roll like a little slot machine causing the head to swirl) combined with the use of their name, increasing their initial focus.

He follows this up by commanding the fighters to copy the rhythm of his breathing, all instructions are conveyed with calmness and assertion which washes over his fighter. 

The result is it reduces the heart rate, that allows the fighter to access the rational part of their brain which leaves them receptive to the order and content of instructions offered by the relevant coaches.

Emotional Rock 

Not every fight has a happy ending. In times like these the fighter is most vulnerable in particular psychologically. The job of the corner is to adapt to the needs of the fighter: do they need reassurance, or space? Whatever they need, never reject them even if they didn’t follow the game plan – there is a time for reflection. In victory step back and let the fighter enjoy the spoils of war, they will pay tribute to you if they are worthy. 

Remember, fighting is as much about heart as it is about skill. Paradoxically, so too is cornering. Cornermen can instruct a fighter to fight in a particular way to tip the scales, but understanding why fighters fight and tuning into what keeps them there is the key to becoming a master of the corner.