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Home » Blog » Learn the Winning Secrets of Georges St-Pierre

Learn the Winning Secrets of Georges St-Pierre

April 30, 2011 By Sensei Matt Klein

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Georges St. Pierre secrets

Georges St. Pierre showed us what it takes to be a champion


Tomorrow Georges St-Pierre (GSP) defends his UFC Welterweight Championship for the sixth time. Regardless of the outcome GSP is and will continue to be known as one of the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artists on the planet. What can he teach us that can help us be our best? Here are some of his top secrets. Learn them and you may someday follow in his footsteps.

Focus—GSP is a master of Zen-like focus

When asked about fighting UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, St-Pierre said “I don’t even think about this right now,” at a press conference before his fight with Jake Shields on the 30th of April. “I never thought about it. I always live in the present moment, and my biggest problem is Jake Shields”. It is a characteristic of all great champions to focus on the task at hand, and never overlook the current challenge.

Fear—GSP lets fear drive him to victory

“I’m always scared,” said St-Pierre. “I’m scared to lose. I’m scared to let my training partners down by losing”. I’m scared that I’ll make a mistake and I’ll lose”, he said recently in an interview with UFC Australia Magazine. This fear drives him to bring his best to the cage. It also illustrates that it is natural to be afraid.

Work ethic is the key

GSP has one of the toughest work ethics in the business. He is known as the world’s hardest working fighter for a reason. Having grown up on a farm outside Quebec, Canada, GSP knows hard work. His father set an example as a very hard worker that GSP was determined to follow. GSP wants success bad enough to put in hours upon hours of work in the gym.

Thirst for knowledge

GSP stops at nothing to learn what it takes to stay on top. He has trained with the best including boxing trainer Freddie Roach, MMA legend Greg Jackson, trainer Firas Zahabi, New Zealand grappling expert John Danaher, Muay Thai trainer Phil Nurse, and BJJ expert Renzo Gracie. St-Pierre has black belts in BJJ, Kyokushin karate, and Jackson’s Gaidojutsu. He has even trained with the Canadian Olympic Wrestling Team.

“I always train with better wrestlers than me, better boxers than me, better jujitsu guys than me,” Georges St-Pierre says. “When you train with people who are better than you, it keeps challenging you”. This thirst for knowledge has taken GSP all over the world in an effort to train with the best.

Respect for his teachers

GSP shows the utmost respect for his coaches, according to sources close to him. He listens intently to what he is taught, absorbs it, then drills it over and over until he is ready to use it. The mark of a great champion is this ability to respect the judgement and experience of the teacher and take on their advice. This respect carries over to his opponents, as we saw above.

“There isn’t a better style — that’s a lie. There is better person but not a better style,” said GSP. This shows his respect for all martial arts.

Rituals are important

GSP is known to post photos of himself on the wall of his dressing room before fights. He wrote on the photo before the last fight, “On the 27th of March in New Jersey, I will beat Dan Hardy and remain the champion”. He has done this before every fight.

Visualization works

Fans saw how important visualization was during the 29-year-old’s tenure as coach on “The Ultimate Fighter 12”. Many thought it was an act when he made his understudies role play the next day’s fight activities, even going as far as arranging an entrance walk while team-mates cheered. GSP did the exact same thing just hours before the biggest fight of his career.

Goal is to reach the top

Underlying each of the secrets listed here is his desire to be the best. It drives him in every way, from his work ethics, respect, focus, and fear. What does it take to be a UFC Champion? “A desire to turn your name into a legacy,” says George St. Pierre

GSP is up-front about his goal; to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He is nearly there.

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Filed Under: For the Martial Artist, MMA

Comments

  1. John W. Zimmer says

    May 1, 2011 at 11:16 am

    Hi Matt,

    I’m looking forward to watching this fight, Couture vs Machida and Aldo vs Hominick. Should be a good night of fights!

    I like St-Pierre, Couture & Also but have respect for Sheilds, Machida and I don’t know much about Hominick yet.

    I don’t like the hype for some fighters but rather like to see what they can really do.

    Cheers!

  2. Sensei Matt Klein says

    May 1, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    Hi John,
    Yes I was too but was at a tournament all day. Team got first. Shields definitely gave St-Pierre a run for his money, but George is still in a league of his own. Very little trash talking before this UFC, lots of respect from true warriors. Sorry to see Randy end his career like this, but what a run he had! 47 years old, that is a huge inspiration for us all.

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Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
mihir-joshi-kenpo-freestyle-sydneyOver the years, through Karate, I found that my confidence and self-esteem levels had sky rocketed to heights I never thought it would go. I thank Sensei Matt, and all those who have helped me in Karate, for helping me understand such values in a fun and social learning environment.
Mihir Joshi

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Mihir's story.
09/01/2014
Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
mihir-joshi-kenpo-freestyle-sydneyOver the years, through Karate, I found that my confidence and self-esteem levels had sky rocketed to heights I never thought it would go. I thank Sensei Matt, and all those who have helped me in Karate, for helping me understand such values in a fun and social learning environment.
Mihir Joshi

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Mihir's story.
09/01/2014
Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
Friendly yet disciplined approach towards karate at Australia’s Youth has helped enormously. It enabled Mihir to build a sense of belonging and improved his motivation to excel. It’s amazing how learning the Martial Arts helps build confidence and improve overall personality.
Yogendra Joshi, father of Mihir JoshiImage
09/01/2014
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I like Karate because it is really fun and I love going on the weekend to see all my friends and Senseis. Karate makes me feel safe because I don’t worry about bullies at school because I know they can’t really hurt me.Tyvian-Macfarlne-Kenpo-Freestyle-Sydney
Tyvian Macfarlane

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Tyvian's story.
09/08/2014
Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
The confidence karate has given Tyvian is amazing. He is takes pride in himself and he has matured. The focus, confidence and discipline he has gained through karate has transferred to other areas of his life such as educational tasks, looking after younger children both in and out of his family and demonstrating empathy for others.Robert-Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlane, father of Tyvian Macfarlane
09/08/2014
Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
I owe my confidence, strength, fitness and leadership skills to Karate. It has taught me to persist with everything and that the only way to improve is to try harder.Adam-Loader-Kenpo-Freestyle-Sydney
Adam Loader

See our Karate Success Stories Page for Adam's story.
09/01/2014
Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate
Look at what you have achieved Matt, we can’t thank you enough for your contribution to shaping these two young men. We are often complimented about the maturity of the boys and we know their Karate has played an important part in developing that maturity. Brings a tear to my eye!
loadersRobert Loader, father of Adam and Jacob Loader
09/01/2014

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