Creating a Champ Part 1
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Champion is a state of mind. You don't need a belt to define you as a fighter. What a belt usually becomes is a goal, a finish line that you set for yourself. So what about after you win that belt, what then? You better be prepared because that is not the finish line. You have a lot more work ahead of you and a lot higher goals to reach.
In Dominick Cruz's fight against Brian Bowles, right before we walked out of the dressing room, after the warm up had been done, seconds before they came and got us for the walk out to cage, Dominick looked towards me with a nervous but ready stare, and is just quiet. I say, "Dom this is your moment now, this is not about the belt, I could care less about it. Today you start your legacy, today you create a name for yourself and you show the world why you will be the best in your division." As I finished that sentence, Dominick just smiled nodded his head and I swear I couldn't have scripted it better. His entrance music came on. "Remeber my Name" by Maino. I knew at that moment that there was no way in hell he was losing that fight and he knew it too. Dominick walked out to that cage more confident than he had ever been in any previous fight. The rest was played out on national television.
This is the 1st part in a series of blogs, that I plan on writing on this subject. It will be a very detailed look into coaching and the development of fighters in this sport of fighting.
To give you a little background on me, I have been involved in some sort of fighting or Martial Arts for the last 15 years or more. I have a background in boxing, kickboxing, grappling and MMA. I also did Kenpo and Philipino Stick fighitng. Don't ask why I did that one, that shit hurts. Getting hit with a stick on your knuckles is not the business. I will gladly take a leg kick any day. Coaching has always been a hobby for me. I am a full time fireman/emt, that is my career of choice. I never wanted to fight I just loved martial arts and loved fighting. My biggest assets as a coach are my leadership skills and my ability to connect with people mentally.
Dominick Cruz said it best when he talks about his fighting ability, "Fighting chose Me" well in my case, "Coaching chose Me" and it really has given me some of the happiest, as well as, some of lowest moments in my life. When I coach fighters at this level of the sport, I literally give a part of myself to that fighter. I put so much time, effort, and passion into the fighter that I am forever connected to that person.
This subject is gonna take a while to explain so try and follow my blogs titled: "Creating a Champ?" TAGS: |
