For years, athletes have chased better conditioning as the key to performance – but according to Georges St-Pierre, there comes a point where that pursuit stops making a difference.
Speaking with Thomas DeLauer, St-Pierre explained how his perspective changed, using his own experiences on the mat as proof:
I met guys that were older than me and I was in much, much, much better shape than they were. And they beat me up so much…
Especially in Jiu-Jitsu, my instructor John Danaher.
Physically, GSP had every advantage:
I’m in way better shape than him.
If we go run or do any sport, I’m going to beat him in pretty much every sport.(But in Jiu-Jitsu) he was beating me up like there was nothing I could do.
I was only trying to survive. He’s so good.
The reason, he said, had nothing to do with athleticism;
Not because he’s stronger, faster, or a better athlete than me.
Because he’s got more skill, more knowledge.
The lesson extended beyond his personal experience. He pointed to elite-level judo athletes as another example:
A lot of them didn’t do any conditioning. They only do judo and they’re the best in the world.
Check out the full interview with GSP on the video below:
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