Then my biceps starting swelling up so much from curling 75lb dumbbells that it looked like a witch doctor had shrunken my head, the ultimate peanut head. Then I realized that except for the wide receivers and running backs in football, most football players are in only relatively good shape, not fantastic or extreme shape, depending on the position and needs some are actually over weight and only condition their bodies for a quick explosion of physical exertion as most plays from the time the ball is snapped is only 4 seconds and then the football players can go to the sidelines after only a few plays for oxygen, a drink, and even a substitute to go in for them.
As I looked at the top runners, the ones winning the races, in the early days even envying the ones just finishing the races I looked at their bodies and saw mostly skin and bones.
This reminded me of the Olympic runner who was banned due to being an amputee and his prosthetics, Oscar Pistorius a distance runner because he “Shaved” off some weight and had additional spring back from his new bionic legs, called Blade Running.
Two years ago I stumbled upon MMA. MMA or Mixed Martial Arts was a “Sport” I had no prior experience of any type in.
I always watched wrestling, enjoyed boxing, and then UFC and eventually MMA as it gained popularity with a lot of admiration for the fighters and their discipline to get in shape and fight in their respective “Strengths” and “Sports”.
Have you watched MMA on TV? If you have or something similar like I had done prior to going into my first class, I had all of the preconceived notions that it is a violent sport and only suited for the young, or aged athlete again going for the “Last hooray”, again, I had felt I was far past my prime.
I walked into my first day of the MMA building where I had signed up and started to train and learn.
Not only was my body doing new things that I never knew my body could do or was capable of doing and my mind, it was almost more challenging as I was being pushed and challenged mentally in a way I never envisioned.
After my first class, I knew I was hooked, it wasn’t mindless weight lifting, or running till I’m skin and bones.
The professional MMA fighters and trainers were all in supreme shape, a perfect blend of strength, endurance, and mental balance.
Now about battling in the octagon, it is not required by any MMA school that if you start taking classes you need to ever step into or even support the “Action” in the octagon to test your skills.
There are beginner’s classes and children’s classes that focus mostly on the “Getting in shape” and TOTAL balance of mind, body, and spirit aspect of MMA. However, there are advanced classes and sparring and “Live” sessions where you can test all of your MMA, again, without entering the octagon.
If you have an over whelming desire or ambition of becoming a Pro MMA fighter, then this is the path you will be taking.
Bas Rutten, a UFC Heavyweight Champion, 3 time winner of the Pancrase world champion, now the retired Dutch MMA fighter is an MMA authority, revered and respected he advises that a fighter waits at least three years before their first MMA fight.
Until then it is all a work in progress, as I am and will continue to be for there is no “Perfect” technique or fighter yet they have perfected to the best of their abilities their own strengths and weaknesses and using that philosophy I worked harder on my ground game.
My next fight, I sought out another “Striker” as I thought this would be a good matchup, instead of fighting another fighter with a wrestling background.
That’s ok; I’ll just work harder at my ground and keep getting into the octagon.
I am hopeful and confident for my first win in the near future and eventual move onto the next level or wherever MMA takes me.
Even though a victory in the octagon has eluded me thus far, the shape I’m in, I couldn’t be happier with.
I say get into shape the MMA way and start today for a new body, mind, and outlook on life!
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