MMA News and Fight Videos

The videos below tell the story of Richard Jensen (full story here).

As a former methamphetamine addict and ex-convict, Jensen is now a 37 year old college student, and a member of the Clackamas Community College wrestling team.

As stated in a past entry, we’ve all made mistakes in life.  No one is perfect, but we all have the opportunity to change our lives and improve.  Each day presents that opportunity.  Some wake up and go for it, while others sit back and let the days pass.

Jensen is a real life example of human resilience.  It’s one thing to wrestle competitively at age 37, but it is entirely more impressive when you consider his mistakes over the 15+ years beforehand.  We all have bad days from time to time.  Some may have bad weeks, or perhaps even a bad year.  But how many have had 15 year stretches of hardship, including serious drug addiction and prison?  I’ve made my share of mistakes, but these are two that never made my list.

And please don’t mistake the message behind this blog entry.  Jensen has clearly made mistakes in life.  I’m sure he’s hurt people over the years, perhaps without even realizing it.  I’m not here to overlook his mistakes or to suggest that they are okay.  He paid his debt to society however, and has shown that we all have the ability to turn things around.  That is the message that I hope to share through this entry.

Like Jensen, I too am in my 30’s.  I know men in their 30’s who I knew as kids.  Many have done nothing with their lives.  Jensen’s story shows that it is never too late however.  How many 36 year old former drug addicts wake up one day and decide to enroll in college?  Many would have assumed that it was already too late.  After periods of hardship, many unfortunately give up on life.  They honestly do not believe that change is possible.

Fortunately, most who make such decisions have never gone through half of what Jensen has endured.  This isn’t to say that one problem is better or worse, as our problems are our problems.  Nothing hurts more than a problem that is our own.  Yet, with that said, seeing Jensen turn his life around should give hope to others who currently see no hope in their future.  No matter how bad it has been, it can always get better.  Sure, it can get worse, but we all have the power to write our own future.  It won’t be easy, and the decision isn’t one that you make one time.  You’ll likely need to make the decision day after day, or perhaps hour after hour.

If you want something, go get it.  It is yours for the taking.  Often times, the only thing that can stop you is you, just as the only thing that can start you is you.

Ross

PS - the full video of Jensen’s story can also be seen here 

With the Olympic Games underway, it is a great time to focus our attention towards an Olympic powerhouse.  And while the story alone is interesting, there are important lessons that can be realized by studying the success of one small island nation.

Cuba is without question the most dominant force in amateur boxing.  This small island of 11 million people won its first Olympic boxing medal in 1968.  In the time since, Cuba has captured 32 medals, including 26 gold.  These astounding numbers are slightly deceiving however, considering that Cuba boycotted the 1984 and 1988 games.  Their totals would have likely surpassed the 40 medal mark (through 2004) if they had competed in the 1980’s.  In 1992, they came back and won 9 medals, including 7 gold.
So, how does this nation of 11 million people create so many champions?  New York City alone has over 8 million people.  Cuba isn’t competing with New York City however.  Cuba has dominated the United States, along with the rest of the world.  An entire world of boxers cannot compete with an island of 11 million people.

How can it be?
Many will read of Cuba’s success and assume that the nation has the most sophisticated training methods in the world.  They must have dedicated PhD’s, sports scientists, nutritionists, certified trainers and specialists, etc. all working around the clock, right?  After all, our industry promotes the message that one cannot excel in today’s sporting world without highly sophisticated methods.

Yet, to your surprise, Cuba’s methods would be considered rudimentary by many in our world.  Their athletes are not successful because of a state of the art facility.  Their coaches didn’t become successful by paying thousands of dollars on Internet certification programs.  Their small island isn’t blessed with a superior genetic pool.

So, what is the secret?

There really is no secret. Cuban boxers begin training as youngsters.  There is a boxing academy in each of Cuba’s 14 provinces.  Children have access to the sport, and take pride in becoming champions.  Within the video clips below, you’ll see how the Cubans advance through their system.  One of the young fighters makes the following statement:

“To become someone, you have to make sacrifices.  If you don’t, you can’t become what you want to become.”

These young fighters are raised with this mentality.  They train hard and become active as youngsters.  The combination of hard work, consistent work, pride, and experience is instrumental in their success.  Boxing is one sport where experience is a must.  No amount of bag work in the basement can substitute the need for real competitive experience.  Cuban fighters commonly rack up well over 100 amateur bouts, often much more.  This amount of experience is worth its weight in gold (literally).
Take some time to watch documentary below.  There is a related story at this link.

The Cuban story highlights many truths regarding athletic preparation.  Successful coaches know their sport.  Their knowledge wasn’t developed in a laboratory.  It comes through years of involvement in the actual sport. Speaking from personal experience, many of my own mentors would be considered uneducated from a societal standpoint. Their knowledge of the sport however is as refined and advanced as the most educated professional.  There is absolutely no substitute for experience.

There is also no substitute for hard work, just as there is no substitute for pride in your work.  The fact that a nation of 11 million people can continually dominate the international boxing scene shows us that there is much more to athletic success than simply having superior genetics.  Hard, consistent work with experienced coaches is the only real secret, and this is the message that we should all be preaching.
And no, this isn’t a knock against sports research and science.  A week doesn’t pass without me actively studying new material.  There are times however when we must fall back on the most simplistic definition of science.  Merriam-Webster lists the following definition:

Science - the state of knowing

Cuba knows how to develop champions, which makes their methods as scientific as any.  As a coach, it is useful to learn from those in the trenches, who continually produce champions.  Spending time in an archaic gym that produces champions then becomes just one more step in the “scientific” process.

Ross

Looking for inspiration?  If so, look no further than Melanie Roach.  At age 33, this mother of three is off to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games.  Sounds pretty inspiring, right?  Perhaps, but there is much more to her than age and children.  Once you read the full story, you’ll understand that her strength goes above and beyond the weight room.

Take a moment to read her inspiring story at the link below:

Finding Inner Strength 

You can also watch Melanie in action in this tribute video:

As a parent, I truly commend her efforts, and wish her the best of luck next month.

Ross

The video below serves as a follow up to a past entry. Within that entry, I discussed the potential fault in taking someone else’s word for the way things should be.

There are different types of people in this world. Some automatically heed the advice of others without questioning it. They never search for their own answers. If so-and-so said so, it must be true. The puppet master is always right, as the follower is lost without someone or something to follow. Others (such as those highlighted in the video above) are too proud and stubborn, and rarely take someone else’s word. They will hear what others have to say, but hearing and believing are not the same.

I am a proud member of the latter group. I can’t imagine living any other way. I will gladly listen to the advice of others, but I don’t assume it to be true. I’d rather come to my own conclusion. No one lives inside my body. No one can tell me what I can or cannot do.

Even science isn’t always right. Humankind has a history of mistakes. Who knows what will happen in the next 100 years. I’m sure that future generations will look back and laugh at some of the ideas that we assumed to be true. And if you don’t have the patience to wait it out 100 years, start following a current scientific journal. Conflicting studies are regularly released. Who is right when one study “proves” fault in another? I’m sure both parties were pretty damn sure they had it right the first time around.

Often times, we are not as smart as we think. Humans are far from perfect. We all make mistakes and even the know-it-alls have been wrong before. When someone tells you what you can or cannot do, how do we know it isn’t one of those times when human error has reared its ugly head? Wouldn’t you rather find out for yourself?

As a kid, I remember hearing how children of divorced parents were more likely to have this problem, that problem, and then another problem. The list of problems seemed endless. According to these researchers, I was doomed. My first thought however was that they were full of sh*t. They don’t know me. They didn’t study me. I’m not like anyone else, so how can the results of others somehow determine what will happen to me?

This is how I thought as a kid, and in many ways I still have this mentality today. Some may say that I’m ignorant or stubborn, or a combination of both (and then some), but no one else lives my life, so I honestly don’t care. Why worry about what someone else thinks? Who cares what so-and-so said I can do?

As much as we know about the human body, there is far more that we still don’t know. The complexity of our inner workings stretch far beyond our own comprehension.

As a coach, I will gladly train the youngster who walks into the gym with an unstoppable mindset. I want the kid who will try to fly if I tell him he can. It is these people who often exceed their supposed potential (according to others).  Believing in yourself and going against the grain when necessary will often take you places that you’ll never reach otherwise.

As the legendary Babe Ruth once said,

It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.

Ross

The clip below serves as a useful follow up to my last entry.  It comes from the final Rocky movie.  As a long time fan of the original Rocky movies (I and II), I wasn’t too fond of part 6, but it did have its moments.  The clip below is perhaps the best (and most inspiring) part however.  

Within this segment, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) gives his son a speech about life.

And while Rocky is just a movie, most do not know how it all began.  Refer to this entry for another inspiring (related) story.  Stallone the person (not the actor) knows a little something about what he says in his speech.

Enjoy,

Ross

When I was younger, I often wondered how my life would unfold.  What would I be?  Where would I live?  What would I do?  The list of self-asked questions was endless.  Sure, I had dreams as a young fighter, but after my hand injuries, I didn’t know what would happen.  Everything that I wanted was gone.  I was miserable and depressed.

Fortunately, I got over feeling sorry for myself and woke my ass up.  I eventually found my way back to the gym and started helping the young fighters.  Soon after I realized that my injuries were a blessing in disguise.  They opened up a door that I would have never found as an active fighter. 

Here I am many years later.  I’m in married, in my 30’s, and have two wonderful kids.  Ten years ago, I would have never guessed that I would be sitting here mentioning my two children.  I didn’t even think I’d be married.  So sure, having a family is a bit of surprise to me, but then again, producing kids isn’t a difficult task for most men.  The latest census figures certainly support this hypothesis. 

And please don’t take this the wrong way, as my kids are my life.  They mean everything to me.  I’d give my life for them.  The point of this entry isn’t about having kids however.  The message that I’m trying to convey is that we all have the ability to define (or redefine) our lives.  Each day presents this opportunity. 

An Honor For Me

A few months ago, I opened my mail and was shocked to find a Flag and certificate from the US Marines Corps.  Below are pictures of the framed certificate, as well as a close up. 

I was blown away after opening the package.  Ten years ago, I would have never guessed that the Marines would send me a Flag that had been flown in my honor.  To say that I was honored is a huge understatement.   

Where Am I Going With This?

Fortunately, I’m not here to toot my own horn and impress you.  I’m not a big shot or high roller who walks around like his sh*t doesn’t stink.  There are still fighters that I’ve known for years who don’t even know I have a website.  I’m happy keeping to myself and have no interest in impressing anyone.  There are better things to do than live your life wondering what someone else thinks about you.  We’ll all be 6 feet under one day, so why bother with the trivial nonsense. 

My point with this entry is that life presents many opportunities.  None of us know where we will be in 5 of 10 years.  My advice is to embrace the uncertainty and pursue even your most challenging goals.  To think where I came from and where I am now is still mind boggling to me.   I’m still a regular guy who is far from rich, but I’m rich in other ways.  I’m happy with my life.  I love what I do and have a wonderful family.  I’ve lived at both ends of the spectrum and am glad I figured things out while I was still young.  We’ve all had our heads screwed on backwards at some point, but we can all snap out of it and get back on track. 

Time does fly by, but that doesn’t mean we cannot improve and enjoy ourselves during the whirlwind of life.  I see so many people who have given up on life, many who are younger than me!  Let the past be the past and get on with it.  So you messed up and fumbled an opportunity.  Who hasn’t?  Your life doesn’t need to be defined by past mistakes.  It only is if you let it.  A mistake or setback is nothing but an opportunity for you to get up off the ground and redefine who you are as a person. 

As Napoléon Bonaparte once said,

“After making a mistake or suffering a misfortune, the man of genius always gets back on his feet.”

Get up, shake it off, and get on with life.  It comes and goes in a flash, so get up and find your true passion and then pursue it with relentless desire.

Ten years from now, you’ll be happy that you did.

Ross

The video below serves as a nice follow up to our last discussion.  There were some excellent points raised within the comments section.  Yet despite all the questions that were raised, there are still plenty of honest, hard working athletes who stay busy busting their ass, day after day after day.

Ross

Last year, I linked to a story about the then 40 year old Dara Torres, and her plans to pursue the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. 

Almost a year has passed, and the now 41 year old Torres is off to her 5th Olympic games!  

Her story is clearly inspiring, as she has shattered many age related myths regarding athletic performance.  Any 41 year old (young) mother who has a legitimate chance at a Gold medal is worthy of respect, and then some. 

Yet, despite her tremendous accomplishments, it should come as no surprise that there are haters looking to rain on her parade.   

For example, a recent Sports Illustrated article stated the following: 

*******

Torres arrived at these trials knowing people would wonder how someone her age could possibly make it to the Olympics without some sort of illicit help.  She endured those whispers in Sydney, where she won two gold medals and three bronzes at age 33, and it ticked her off.

That’s why she volunteered for extra drug testing this time around. She was accepted into a new program that focuses on a dozen athletes in different sports, subjecting them to additional testing and the latest technology.

Since March, she’s been tested at least a dozen times, with testers drawing five vials of blood from her body each time to look for the telltale signs of illegal drugs.

“Anyone who makes any accusations, I take it as a compliment,” she said.

*******

I’m appalled that society is so quick to form an “assume guilt, prove innocence” opinion towards athletes.  The media attention harnessed around the Barry Bonds story (among others) has given casual fans the impression that all athletes are illegally enhanced.  Any worthwhile physical accomplishment will raise eyebrows and questions about illegal drug use. 

Why must a few bad apples spoil the bunch?  Yes, there are dirty athletes in the sporting world, but there are just as many (more) clean, legal athletes out there who have busted their ass and earned every bit of success.  Why can’t we give them the benefit of the doubt? 

Perhaps the has-beens or never-weres feel better blaming their lack of achievement on everyone else’s imaginary drug use?  How pathetic is that?  Could it just be that the never-weres either weren’t good enough or just didn’t work hard enough?  Why must they cast doubts on others?  Perhaps to comfort their own failure?    

Could it be that the never-weres have a different interpretation of hard work when compared to a lifelong, dedicated athlete? 

Those who hate on athletes such as Dara Torres should observe the training that takes place behind the scenes of a world class athlete.  Training is a full time job.  Torres didn’t start swimming last year.  She was an Olympic athlete in 1984.  Clearly, she is blessed with talent, but that shouldn’t mask the hard work and dedication that she has endured for over 20 years.  

Many people in this world sit on their ass all day.  Many never competed in anything (not counting the professional armchair quarterback).  These people have no idea what kind of work is required to produce a world class athlete.  I’m talking about the kind of training that literally beats your ass up, down, and all around.  When you dedicate your life to this kind of training, year after year, it is amazing what the human body can achieve. 

We have far more potential than most will ever realize.  When someone such as Dara Torres offers a glimpse at our potential, we should applaud her achievements, rather than looking to spoil what she has worked so hard to achieve.

Hats off to Dara.  I’ll be cheering for her next month!

Ross

Last week, I received an email with a link to Barbara Guerra’s video below.  It was suggested by a reader as a possible blog entry for the site (sorry, but the video cannot be embedded):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_0d8FDwdbpY

As soon as I opened the video, I knew it had a place within the Inspirational category here.  All that was needed was some corresponding text to go along with the entry.  I was busy last week however adjusting to our baby girl, so the Guerra entry was put on hold… 

I had almost forgotten about the video until reading an email this morning.  I received an email from an 18 year old man who was complaining about his height.  In his words, he is only 5′9″ and is desperate to be at least 6 feet tall.   His tone signified the end of the world.  He was really that upset (if he only knew that I wasn’t even 5′9″).  I’m lucky to tip the scales at a monumental 5′8″.

Anyways, after reading his email, the Guerra video popped into my head.  Is height really that big of a deal?  When you watch the video above, you’ll see that there are much bigger problems in the world.  It will put your height problems in perspective.  You’ll also see that strong people (body and mind) like Barbara Guerra don’t let obstacles hold them back or slow them down. 

Based on the video above, she doesn’t view her situation as a handicap.  It is what it is, and she does what she does.  It is pretty obvious that she doesn’t sit around all day moping about her situation.  Instead, she gets up each day and goes for it.  She can serve as an inspiration for all. 

At the end of the day, life isn’t that bad.  Put your problems in perspective and you’ll often realize that your problems will barely register on even the strongest microscope. 

Ross

In recent threads (particularly here and here), I’ve stressed the benefits of healthy living. I’ve emphasized that healthy living does not equal deprived living. You aren’t giving anything up that is worth keeping (ex. junk food). Without question, a healthy lifestyle is more rewarding and enjoyable.

Yet, despite these truths, transitioning to a healthy lifestyle may not be easy at first. If you’ve lived the last 20 years with poor nutritional habits and limited (or no) physical activity, you can’t expect to suddenly transform yourself into the next Jack Lalanne. Self discipline will be needed to kick start the transition. Any change in habit requires a conscious (active) effort on your behalf.

Once you see the light, you’ll realize that it’s easy to keep, and certainly worth your time and effort. You won’t see the light on your first day however. The transition from inactive and unhealthy to active and healthy is one that will take time and patience.

If you find yourself in the beginning phase of such a transition, it’s often useful to put your problem in perspective. Many tend to forget just how capable we are as human beings. Our individual problems are often insignificant when stacked up against the struggles of others. You’ll realize that giving up candy and cookies isn’t much of a problem at all.

Take a look at the video below for a visual demonstration. There is a good chance that your struggle pales in comparison to the struggles endured by Adam Bender. I was blown away by this video. His courage and perseverance are difficult to describe with words alone.

If there is something that you wish to accomplish, stop thinking and start doing.

Ross