--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a rugby player I got into the habit of…" description: "\"As a rugby player I got into the habit of tackling without thinking. But in MMA you've got to land the right way. You can't flop. You've got to bounce ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/james-haskell-5960_feet_as-a-rugby-player-i-got-into-the-habit-o_1946154.jpg" --- # As a rugby player I got into the habit of tackling without… ![“As a rugby player I got into the habit of tackling without thinking. But in MMA you've got to land the right way. You can't flop. You've got to bounce back to your feet. You've got to use your sprawl.” quote by James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/james-haskell-5960_feet_as-a-rugby-player-i-got-into-the-habit-o_1946154.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/james-haskell-5960_feet_as-a-rugby-player-i-got-into-the-habit-o_1946154.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/james-haskell-5960_feet_as-a-rugby-player-i-got-into-the-habit-o_1946154.jpg) > “As a rugby player I got into the habit of tackling without thinking. But in MMA you've got to land the right way. You can't flop. You've got to bounce back to your feet. You've got to use your sprawl.” [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. MMA demands deliberate technique and adaptability, unlike instinctive tackling in rugby. **In simple terms:** MMA needs technique, not just instinct. Key Takeaway Train technique, stay adaptable. Themes discipline adaptability technique sports Mood focused pragmatic Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - sports training - martial arts class - cross‑training Key Concepts motor learning combat strategy physical conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How does deliberate practice improve performance? - When is instinct valuable? A Different Perspective Technique alone may limit spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Rugby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rugby/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“No rugby player, no matter how talented, has ever won a game by playing alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hunt-davis/no-rugby-player-no-matter-how-talented-has-ever-won-a-game-by-playing/) [Ben Hunt-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hunt-davis/) > [In my youth I thought I was going to be a professional rugby player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgie-fame/in-my-youth-i-thought-i-was-going-to-be-a-professional-rugby-player/) [Georgie Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgie-fame/) > [Every rugby player in Australia and New Zealand or wherever they are from wants to play in the World Cup, and I am no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-bill-williams/every-rugby-player-in-australia-and-new-zealand-or-wherever-they-are/) [Sonny Bill Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-bill-williams/) > [I think the first thing that I thought I would go and do as a career was be a rugby player. I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dunster/i-think-the-first-thing-that-i-thought-i-would-go-and-do-as-a-career/) [Phil Dunster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dunster/) > [I was a big rugby player and into my motocross, so I lost loads of weight and a rumor went around the town that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newman/i-was-a-big-rugby-player-and-into-my-motocross-so-i-lost-loads-of/) [John Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newman/) > [He was a professional rugby player in the area that I played as a youngster. So a lot of people who I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-giggs/he-was-a-professional-rugby-player-in-the-area-that-i-played-as-a/) [Ryan Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-giggs/) > [I've been a professional rugby player all my life; I don't really know anything different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-o-driscoll/i-ve-been-a-professional-rugby-player-all-my-life-i-don-t-really-know/) [Brian O'Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-o-driscoll/) > [I come from a sports family and my husband is a rugby player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-gallacher/i-come-from-a-sports-family-and-my-husband-is-a-rugby-player/) [Kirsty Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-gallacher/) > [I wasn't picked for any of the sports teams at school because I was half the size of everyone else, but now everyone assumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/i-wasn-t-picked-for-any-of-the-sports-teams-at-school-because-i-was/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [As a rugby player, you strive to be an All Black, win a World Cup, and win a Super Rugby title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-bill-williams/as-a-rugby-player-you-strive-to-be-an-all-black-win-a-world-cup-and/) [Sonny Bill Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-bill-williams/) > [“I could've been a professional rugby player... but then I saw a new Gaunt's Ghosts book come out...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-scott/i-could-ve-been-a-professional-rugby-player-but-then-i-saw-a-new/) John Charles Scott > [“The width of neck and shoulder suggested a rugby player, the broken nose confirmed it. Which shows just how wrong you can be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/the-width-of-neck-and-shoulder-suggested-a-rugby-player-the-broken/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [I am a rugby player and first and foremost I am a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/i-am-a-rugby-player-and-first-and-foremost-i-am-a-man/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [I was a rugby player, I was a hockey player. You know, I just love to challenge myself, and I love to compete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-priestley/i-was-a-rugby-player-i-was-a-hockey-player-you-know-i-just-love-to/) [Jason Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-priestley/) > [Gethin Jenkins is one of the best loose-head props in the world. He hits up to 40 rucks a game, makes at least 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/gethin-jenkins-is-one-of-the-best-loose-head-props-in-the-world-he/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) ## More by James Haskell > [Going to Stade Francais will not just make me a better player but make me a better player for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/going-to-stade-francais-will-not-just-make-me-a-better-player-but/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [It's important as a team that you don't get too excited with a win and you don't get too disappointed with a loss. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/it-s-important-as-a-team-that-you-don-t-get-too-excited-with-a-win/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [A lot of people make the error of thinking rugby is going to last forever and they need to quickly discover that that isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/a-lot-of-people-make-the-error-of-thinking-rugby-is-going-to-last/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [I was always on to the next thing. I didn't celebrate all the little moments in my career that I should have done, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-was-always-on-to-the-next-thing-i-didn-t-celebrate-all-the-little/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [I've lost count of the times I've been asked what I do for a living. When I say rugby people say: 'Yes, but what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-ve-lost-count-of-the-times-i-ve-been-asked-what-i-do-for-a-living/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [When I left rugby and bought my first commercial gym membership it was a shock to the system. I went in there and saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/when-i-left-rugby-and-bought-my-first-commercial-gym-membership-it/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [There's no doubt that 'the plank' is one of the best core exercises on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/there-s-no-doubt-that-the-plank-is-one-of-the-best-core-exercises-on/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [Someone once told me I looked like Mr Incredible out of 'The Incredibles.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/someone-once-told-me-i-looked-like-mr-incredible-out-of-the/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [You bring your strength to the game - that's what I've learnt, and that's what I try to bring to England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/you-bring-your-strength-to-the-game-that-s-what-i-ve-learnt-and-that/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [When I am doing something I give it 100 per cent. I work on it, do it and go onto the next thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/when-i-am-doing-something-i-give-it-100-per-cent-i-work-on-it-do-it/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [I'm always pretty fair-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-m-always-pretty-fair-handed/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [My best games for England were under Eddie Jones. Eddie got the best out of me. He understood that I needed an arm around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/my-best-games-for-england-were-under-eddie-jones-eddie-got-the-best/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [People talk a lot about the Welsh fans but English supporters are also among the world's best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/people-talk-a-lot-about-the-welsh-fans-but-english-supporters-are/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [I've always been confident in my rugby ability but with England I had to adjust my behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-ve-always-been-confident-in-my-rugby-ability-but-with-england-i-had/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [Rugby is a sport in which you can lose heavily one week and still come back and smash the opposition the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/rugby-is-a-sport-in-which-you-can-lose-heavily-one-week-and-still/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) [Explore all 100 James Haskell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) ## More Feet quotes > [The minute you step onstage, you get eight feet taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/the-minute-you-step-onstage-you-get-eight-feet-taller/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/) [Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/) > [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [We can't love a place or a person if we always have one foot out the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-can-t-love-a-place-or-a-person-if-we-always-have-one-foot-out-the/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [When I was 3, my parents strapped on a pair of Playskool plastic roller skates to my feet, and that's where the story begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/when-i-was-3-my-parents-strapped-on-a-pair-of-playskool-plastic/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [“Always wash you feet last.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-wash-you-feet-last/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My husband really loves my feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-curry/my-husband-really-loves-my-feet/) [Ayesha Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-curry/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Griezmann is an exceptional player. He's brimming with talent, and he knows how to keep his feet on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-matuidi/griezmann-is-an-exceptional-player-he-s-brimming-with-talent-and-he/) [Blaise Matuidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-matuidi/) > [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [I could not prove the Years had feet-/Yet confident they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-could-not-prove-the-years-had-feet-yet-confident-they-run/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) Browse all 6,557 Feet quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a rugby player I got into the habit of tackling without thinking. 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