Just a thought

Hello all, this is just a thought. One thing is for sure about competing in a combat sport against another person, it exposes you in every way. Your feelings are amplified because it's against another human being. It is a test of will and there is no place to hide. Everyone will see how you react at times of great adversity as well as great success. Are you a gracious champion or an arrogant one, a respectful loser or a sore one. The strangest things can happen to men and women who put themselves in these situations. Wherever your mind and maybe your soul are at on that day it will be put on a pedestal for the masses and now replayed on Youtube for the entire world. I'm not sure why we do it, but I assume we ultimately long to be free and there is no more freedom than allowing everyone to view your faults and your greatness, your rise and fall with every punch delivered and received, and every choke and tap out. I did theater acting all through high school and college. I used to think that you exposed yourself while doing a play in front of an audience. And that is true, however nobody was trying to break my arm during The Crucible. That definitely would have made it more interesting to watch. Anyway, if you're looking for freedom, it is available to have. Just remember to be grateful and respectful to it because if you don't it will let you know. Also keep in mind that you're part of 1% of the world willing to offer themselves up.

Student and Teacher

I've enjoyed thoroughly this road that i've taken. I believe that I have been able surpass any expectations I might have had in the beginning as well as set new goals and deeper meaning in what I do. The thing that allows me to stay energized as a teacher is a first and foremost a love for what I and secondly the need to constantly learn. I have been teaching now for about 5 years. The one thing i've noticed is that as an instructor you go up and down. In a bag class setting sometimes training becomes monotonous. There are plenty of exercises to do, but after a while I start yearning to teach technique. Unfortunately, I teach more bag classes than hands on classes. I enjoy teaching in all formats so I have to counter that feeling, and I do that by becoming a student again. I have made my way back to the mat and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and with that, back to humility.

It is exactly what the doctor ordered. By tying that white belt around my waist twice a week and getting choked or arm locked, it helps push me to teach better. It gives me purpose when i'm feeling like I lost it. For whatever reason, when I want to get better I want to make my students better, and right now, I REALLY REALLY want to get better.

Motivation must be found! It can sometimes come from people, or born out of necessity. I get my motivation from the looks on the faces of my students and making myself a student as well. Whatever you have to do to evolve to the next level of life, you should do such things. As I progress further, my mentality changes. I get a spring in my step, my chest pokes out a little further and there is a strength in my voice. I love how humility makes you stronger.

Forever Ronin

Ronin- A samurai with no master.

   I've often felt that way throughout this journey. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with some of the best fighters, but no real coaches. I don't mind that it happened that way but there is always that "what if" factor of course. Nonetheless it suits my personality to do it solo. There is no blame to spread out, the weight lies entirely on my own shoulders.
  This way of pursuing fighting as a career or martial arts competitively is not for everyone. Having a dedicated coach to guide you along the path to your final goal is invaluable. I've made ridiculous errors along the way including choosing the wrong fights, fighting injured and sick, negotiating poorly, and training improperly. This could have all been avoided. I don't regret it because it has left me with a wealth of knowledge to pass on to up and coming fighters.
   Martial arts competitively will teach you discipline, perseverance, humility, how to overcome any obstacle even if you must go through it and what you're really made of inside. It is constantly exposing your weaknesses to build your strengths. In other words it will give you what you want but your foundation is what will carry you through.
  Find somebody who cares about you. Chances are if their palm is out 5 mins into the conversation they don't care about you or your well-being. This is a problem because even in amateur competition you risk serious injury and sometimes worse. Don't set yourself up for a downfall.  Do some research, ask around about good instructors. Go train at some different places and check out the fighters there. If you're not happy with your training partners you won't excel plain and simple.
  Lastly, set yourself some goals. When you finally settle on a coach, make sure you're both on the same page. You can reach your goals with some quality preparation ans a good support system. Take it from me, I took the hard road and hopefully you won't have too.

Peace
Luck