'When your brain is destructively primed and looking for a reward you will be able to more rapidly recognize and respond to those things that will facilitate that reward ...'
Steve Morris
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What Steve's saying resonates with something I've read, that says that skill acquisition is 'turbo-charged' if our brain sees the need to learn something as being of 'life-or-death' importance.
This is why, in the fight context that Steve is referring to, if we can 'trick' our brain into thinking we're struggling for our very survival in training (ie. creating a mindset that 'if I get hit/thrown/pinned that's the end of me'), then not only will this build us psychologically to perform better, but will recreate a 'fight for survival' state in our brain that 'locks in' on the things that work, and 'burns' them onto our neurons.
We can do this to varying degrees of intensity, but the NEED to win/escape/survive/solve the problem (not just the desire) has to be pressing; overwhelming; blocking out all else.
This relates to that tenacity and 'hunger' that makes champions,
or makes an immigrant walk thousands of miles to flee a warzone and find 'a better life', or also to the mother bear that protects its young against overwhelming odds.
Sports psychologists work on developing states like these in athletes, although to get to top level they must have already been present to a very real degree.
People that have succeeded in life and done great things despite all odds; passing through great hardships and/or starting from challenging backgrounds all have that 'it' factor we're talking about.
Look for it in others, but especially in yourself.
Cultivate it, feed it; it will do its job- the one nature/evolution/God put it there to do.
When you're training, 'playing' or competing in combat sports, drills or exercises, make yourself REALLY BELIEVE that your life depends upon it.
Because maybe it WILL, one day.....