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  By Sven Coanraad

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Whether you train in an Ashram, Dojo, Dojang, Kwoon, Academe, gym, or mat-room, the quality of your training is determined by your partners. Knowledgeable partners, who know when to push and when to let up, are essential for a fighter's progression. The ability to both teach and learn ensures continual development. By teaching, you learn, and by learning, you teach. Recognizing when to push and when to go easy not only prevents injuries but also extends productive training. Seek out and Honor partners who embody this principle.

 

Ultimately, it is the people you train with who define your training environment and your progress within it.

 

Ask yourself, why are the other people there? Is the coach the draw? Sometimes. The equipment? Occasionally. But most often, it's the sense of community that keeps everyone returning. It's the people in the room.

 

Rules about the room:

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-If you never lose and always win easily, you're in the wrong room. You will not progress and will overestimate your skill.

-If you never win, that is, it is difficult to complete any successful moves; you're in the wrong room. You will never get better because you will not learn how to win and will have a false sense of how bad you are.

-If you are somewhat in the middle, but dislike those who always beat you, you're in the right room. Check your ego at the door and learn.

-If you dislike your coach but he helps you win, you're in the right place. There is a reason for his approach. Don't judge him; his methods work.

-If you dislike your coach and don't win, you're in the wrong room. Failing to succeed makes you dislike training and may even make you quit.

-If you like your coach, but never win, you must reevaluate your situation. If you wish to win, you are in the wrong room: move soon. The longer you wait, the harder it will be. If you are OK with your losses, you have what few will have: happiness in pure training. Stay in the room.

 

Regardless of where you are in your training, at what level, or how long you have trained, these rules will hold true.

 

At a press conference before the 2025 Final X, Zahid Valencia, USA Freestyle wrestler, credited his recent wins to moving from Arizona to Oklahoma. As a youth, he and his twin, Athany, trained with the well-known coach Valentin Kalika. At St. John Bosco Academy in Southern California, Valencia achieved a 158-1 high school record, including 100 pins. He was a three-time California state champion, a four-time Walsh Jesuit Ironman winner, the Junior Hodge Trophy winner, and the ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year in 2015. His only loss came in his sophomore year, when he wrestled with a broken ankle. (Abbott, 2015)

Both the twins were recruited by Olympian Zeke Jones to attend Arazonia State. Zeke had just left his position as head freestyle coach at USAWrestling. The twins were to be the center of his new powerhouse team. Zahid had a dominant collegiate wrestling career at Arizona State University (ASU), finishing with an overall record of 121-3 (or 129-5 including redshirt matches). He was a two-time NCAA Division I National Champion (2018, 2019) and a three-time All-American at 174 pounds. He was a three-time PAC-12 Champion and the PAC-12 Wrestler of the Year each year. (Rittenhouse, 2018). He never made it to the top of the Freestyle podium until 2025.

 

An equally impressive wrestler, Kyle Dake, had a 137-4 college career, winning the NCAA 4 times at 4 different weight classes (141, 149, 157, 165lbs). He won the Hodge Trophy in 2013. Remarkably, he ended his college career with 79 straight wins. Dake has earned two Olympic Bronze Medals in Tokyo and Paris (2020, 2024). He has 4 world championships (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022).

Dake and Valencia never competed in college. Valencia is approximately seven years younger than Dake. They first wrestled in 2018 at the Final-X event, where Dake was dominant. They did not face each other again until 2025, when Valencia defeated Dake in all four of their matches. Valencia defeated Dake in both the US Open and the Final-X to secure a spot on the U.S. World Team at 86 kg. Dake struggled to score consistently against Valencia in all four bouts. (Asmann, 2025)

What happened? Did Dake finally run out of gas? Possibly. They're about seven years apart but both have high battle mileage. Was Dake competing at too high a weight? Also possible. Dake had moved up and was wrestling at 86KG, but he said he managed weight cuts well and might drop down again. The most likely reason, however, is that Zahid changed training environments.

 

Dave Taylor, a great wrestler in his own right, replaced the legendary John Smith as head coach at Oklahoma State. While Zahed was not eligible to wrestle in college, he could train at the regional training center Taylor had established at the school. (Klintworth, 2024) Zahid described the move as vital to his success, and that both his new coach and current training partners challenge him in meaningful ways. His reasons were many. No doubt his brother's leaving to train in Mexico was a big factor.

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Interestingly, Zahid competed in the 2024 World Team Trials finals, where he finished second to David Taylor.

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Also interesting, Dave Taylor competed against Kyle Dake several times but was never able to defeat him.

 

Since the move, as of this writing, Zahid has won the 2025 Senior World Championships, conceding no points. He won the Pan/Ams with a dominant style.  And he won the 1st 2026 ranking series in Zagreb, Croatia, the Zagreb Open.

Before the move, Zahid had won a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships (92 kg).  His only other international medal stand was a 2017 Junior World Championship Silver Medal.

 

The most important training decision you will make is where you will train. Bad training is not really training. It is a risky endeavor and can lead to bad form or injury. Training partners who lack knowledge will increase the risk of injury, and you could lose years of valuable progress.

 

If you're new to an area, try out all the gyms to find the best fit. If none work, consider driving to the next town—I've driven an hour to reach a gym I liked. When unable to make it, I felt cut off; the entire trip was actually a three-hour workout. On the drive there, I focused on what I wanted to accomplish, visualizing the movements until they felt fluid. At the gym, I moved from slow to fast exercises with my partner, listened to his suggestions, and worked on improvements. On the drive back, I reflected on my movements and the changes made. For me, it was a meditation in three stages: planning during the drive there, intensity within the gym, and reflection on the return. I truly looked forward to it and missed it when I couldn't go.

 

Do not be afraid of a long commute—it gives you time to think.

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If the gym smells unpleasant or is dirty, it shows a lack of care. A fungus or bacterial infection is easy to pick up when you are stressed. (Lee, 2026). When under training stress, an unpleasant smell or sound will make it all the more stressful. You may lose focus and train poorly.

 

Train in a clean environment, and you will thank yourself and those who keep your mats clean.

 

Take the time to pick a training facility that will add to your training, not take away. You will spend a fair amount of time and money there. It is a major investment in your battle preparation. Choose well.

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Sven Coanraad is a writer and martial artist. He lives with his family on a handmade wooden boat in the Pacific Ocean.