BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND

To be clear, I am in no way trying to preach, or ever do so, or tell people what they should be doing or that I am a symbol of perfection and never do any of the things that I am speaking on. So many things I write on or talk about is because I am checking myself and learning as well, and sharing my thoughts, not telling you what to do, how to think or what to feel.

                Whenever people ask me, when I think they should turn pro my response is always the same “Stay amateur as long as possible, within reason that is. My criteria for when it is time to switch is this (1) you just can’t get fights anymore because no one will fight you (2) you are running through everyone without any trouble or resistance. There is so much that can only be learned in an actual fight, I don’t care how long you have trained for there is nothing that can adequately prepare you for what it is like to be in there other than actually doing it. You should look at being an amateur as going to school. Get as much education as you can because once you are in the real world there is no turning back or starting over. Take advantage and get as much experience as possible.”

                Take a look at all of the greats in boxing, as well as other fighting sport, they have countless years of experience before they ever even stepped foot into a professional fight. Most other countries have classes, to where it is an experience thing; under ten fights you are in C class, ten to twenty you are B and so forth. I do not know the exact criteria, just generalizing, but you get my point.   

                I had rarely ever seen people on the flip side of this but more and more I have been noticing it, as well as several others bringing it to my attention; coaches that keep their students in the amateur game for far too long. Sure, it looks great on the surface when you keep racking up easy wins and highlight reel knockouts, but in the end, you will be that one that suffers, particularly if you ever decide to go to the big leagues.

                I put more responsibility on the coaches for this, as they should know better, but then again how many coaches out there don’t know either because they were never there or are doing it out of ignorant pride? That is why it is always important to educate yourself and set your sights at the top of the food chain for guidance.

                There is something to be said about building correctly but there is a big difference between developing a fighter and babying them, and I for one will always prefer to be on the far end, at least then you are learning and growing, however painful it may be. How many times have you seen this played out; a fighter is crushing everyone as an amateur, however minimal the competition may be, they gain recognition and make a name for themselves. Everything on the surface appears to be heading in the right direction. They have a few low-level pro fights and do well but eventually it will be time to face the music. You can only sell a lie for so long; eventually the truth comes out. That is when you will see them crushed, often from not even a high-level person, just an experienced one, and then the party is over. All that time could have been put into growing as a fighter, and a person, but instead you were more focused on looking good on the outside without a bit of substance to support it.   

                What do you get out of continually beating people that have no chance of testing you, this goes for all levels but particularly in the amateurs. It may look good on paper, and I am sure it helps sell the legitimacy of your gym having all those meaningless trophies and belts strewn across the walls, but you are selling a lie. I for one have never been a fan of medals or belts. Sure, they look pretty and are nice keepsakes but there are so many factors that go into them, and the majority of people do not know the difference. Everything has its context. 

                Just because you have a title does not mean a thing. Just because you are ranked does not even mean a thing, necessarily. Who, what, where and how are often lost yet the most important factors. Some of the best fighters in the world you may have never even heard of, for various reasons.

                Speaking to the youth and those just starting out, but really to all of us, set your bars high. Set your standards, as well as those you surround yourself with, and your goals at an almost unattainable place. We should all be trying to elevate this game, each other and ourselves. Continually seeking new mountains to climb and aiming for perfection is the only way to do that, not sitting on top of an anthill acting like a world conqueror.

                I for one, coming up, set my sights on seemingly unreachable goals as my standards. I did not want to be the best in the gym, the city or even in this country. I did not even want to be the best in the world. My sights were set on being the best that I could ever be and the only way for me to figure that out is to keep pushing myself and pursuing perfection, and the only way to achieve that is to always challenge myself. A known is not a challenge; we must continually dive into the abyss of the unknown in order to explore what is on the other side. Stop reliving the same patters. We need everyone to chart new courses and to find new paths.   

I actually wrote this part many years ago but figured I would add it, please forgive any repetition: 

                We have all seen those people that have only had a handful of fights, win some random ass title and then go around acting as if they are one of the greatest of all time. Now do not get me wrong, they have done a hell of a lot more than the person pumping their ego in the gym but is too afraid to ever step foot into the real ring. I am not saying that you need to be out there fighting the best in the world to feel like you have accomplished something. Regardless of your level, it is about continually testing yourself. Always seeking to improve and putting in the work to get there. It is about knowing that there will always be someone better, always new mountains to climb and more work to be done. That there are levels to this and you will never run out of levels. As soon as you feel like you have made it make sure to smash your head into the wall and get back to work.

                Don't be a douchebag but especially if you have not earned the right. Look at a guy like Dana White, Mayweather, etc., they have monster egos and many people view them as assholes and douchebags. I would never defend them or agree with the way they act in any way but like it or not they have at least earned the right to behave however they choose. They have paid their dues; they have put in the work, the blood, sweat and tears, and made it to the top. I have never been a fan of those that run their mouths and go around talking about how bad ass they are, I feel it belittles them and takes away from all the good that they could be doing, but I have to respect the fact that they put in the work and earned the right to act however they feel. It is the ones that have not accomplished anything, other than getting off their butts a few times and getting in the ring, or whatever the case may be, and have that same attitude that just baffles me.

                If you want to be a fighter, or anything else in life really, then go out there to be the best, at least go out there to be the best that you can be. Test yourself, risk losing, risk failure, risk embarrassment, because if you don't then you will never achieve anything. You will certainly will never know what you could have become.

                If you are going to do something than do it all the way or not at all. Don't half ass it, win one fight, accomplish one small thing, then use that as an excuse to act like you are better than everyone else. In some ways, you are even worse than the person who never tried. You saw what you were afraid of, realized how frightened you really were and stayed safe in your little box never having to face those fears.

                One thing that everyone at the top has in common is the fact that they were all willing to fail, and did so many times along the way. They never stopped trying, never stopped testing themselves. Even if you think you are the greatest and no one can touch you, and maybe you are, you still need to continually test yourself in order to stay there.

                “You have to test yourself everyday gentlemen. Once you stop testing yourself you get slow and when that happens they kill ya.”-Billy the Kid (Young Guns)

                It is easy to sit half way up a hill, looking down over everyone else and feel like you have accomplished something. It is another thing to be the person that is at the top looking out over the world. Never be satisfied, never stop learning and never stop growing.

                Believe in yourself and be grateful for all that you have achieved, but never be satisfied. Never become complacent and cease growth. That is how you will consistently be motivated to improve. You can always be better.