Issue 191
Rocky Marciano is arguably one of the most celebrated fighters in history, but not thanks to skills like Muhammad Ali or speed like Jon Jones. It’s because he could absorb the most pain.
The mid-century boxer's unique ability helped inspire a movie franchise, in turn giving an insight into human nature because it illustrates we worship toughness and the ability to block out pain. And failing to take any notice of the aches is an enormous element in MMA success.
“When you feel pain, you know that you are still alive,” said Bruce Lee. And this could be why many MMA fighters are involved in the sport: they actually like pain. But whether you’ve got a Nogueira-like tolerance or not, there are ways you can break the pain barrier to become more resilient in training and competition. This is you vs pain – no holds barred.
IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD
What surrenders first, the brain or the body? Feels like the body, doesn't it? When the lactic acid boils over and your form gets sloppy, you can tell yourself to go a bit more, but your body simply won't comply. So your mind drifts to a hot shower and a cold beer.
But your body often has plenty more juice in the tank, and research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has pinpointed where that stop order comes from. “Our brains turn on the pain before we actually run out of fuel,” says study author Dr Tim Noakes. It's a safety measure – the brain tells the body to shut down to protect it from injury.
But champions like Eliud Kipchoge - who won gold in the marathon at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil - have figured out how to fool the brain and slave-drive their body into doing more, even after the brain says no.
So if the pain gets too much, know that you always have more to give. Take that philosophy into your next training session or fight and you’re bound to win against your opponent and yourself.
LOOK AT YOURSELF
Mirrors might work as well as painkillers. Research in Psychological Science, found that looking at the area that’s in pain can significantly reduce the pain felt. “The image that the brain forms of our own body has a strong effect on the experienced level of pain,” says Flavia Mancini, the study author.
So if you’re working a muscle group – legs, biceps, whatever – then keeping your eyes on it while you train that muscle will help you push through the pain of at least one to two more reps.
CRANK UP THE MUSIC
Your favorite Rage Against the Machine tune can help you squeeze out more reps. Research in the Journal of Pain found listening to music reduced pain in people, especially those who were naturally a little bit anxious. So find your walkout music and put it to good use when you’re training, then switch stations to something relaxing afterwards because chilled music has been shown to aid recovery.
DON'T THINK ABOUT IT
If you’re scared of pain then it is likely to feel more painful than you expected it to be, found research by the American Gastroenterological Association. “People who have high expectations of pain may have a harder time coping with the actual source of pain,” says Dr Steven Coen, the study’s lead author.
So if you’re the type of fighter who gets really nervous before a bout then you’ll probably feel the full force of the blows compared to the guy who doesn’t worry about anything. The solution? Try to relax before you step into the ring, doing anything to distract yourself, and the pain will seem less intense.
BLAME, OR THANK, YOUR PARENTS
Your dad’s reaction to a stubbed toe could be making you feel his pain. How well your parents coped with pain influences how you deal with it even after you’ve grown up and started paying taxes, found research in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. So your old man is the strong silent type; you’ll probably follow suit. But if you’re sensitive to a few knocks then it is time to realize this is less about genetics and more of a learned behavior, and one which you can unlearn.
HOW AND WHY YOU FEEL PAIN
Step 1: You get smacked in the face.
Step 2: The pain receptors in your mug – called nociceptors – are activated and fire off a response.
Step 3: This response travels to your spinal cord, which issues a reflex response telling you to move your face away from said fist. Sometimes this is easier said than done.
Step 4: If you’re in the ring, your adrenaline will be pumping, masking the pain and letting you continue to fight. But if the punch was an unprovoked king-hit then you’ll move to the next step.
Step 5: The pain signal continues on to your brain where it catalogues the pain and creates an emotional response to it for future reference.
Step 6: As the pain signals continue this tells the brain to devote resources to repairing it.
