Attributes that good fighters often exhibit include:

• Ferocity and extreme aggression
• Explosive mobility and balance
• Sensitivity to your opponent's energies
• Focused, analytical thinking
• Management of fear and stress
• A good sense of timing and rhythm
• The ability to relax in spite of fear and stress
• Excellent creative visualization skills
• Confidence and determination
• Power generation skills
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Reaction speed
• Movement speed
• Muscular endurance
• Aerobic conditioning
• The ability to take bodily damage and keep going
• Situational awareness
• The ability to make quick, intuitive decisions
• An expectation that Murphy's Law will come into play sooner or later
• An intuitive comprehension of the ranges of combat, angles of attack, and center-line theory
• Initiative and willingness to take proactive action
• Killer instinct and an "I'll do whatever it takes!" attitude

The development of these attributes, along with some basic fighting methodology, is the most effective approach you can take to improve your ability to fight. Time spent training towards these attributes yields enormous long-term dividends. Your opponent may have a higher belt ranking than you, but you will win the fight.