“THUD” “THUD”  “Is that all you got!?” “Hit harder, punch faster, cover your face!!” “Are you tired already?!” “Come on faster, faster, you’re going to die out there,” shouted my personal trainer, his face flushed with anger. My usual weeknight had just begun. My only thought was “I am in hell”.

The biggest learning factor in my life was not from a specific teacher or even from school in general. It was and still is from my experience from a mixed martial arts team. I have learned the needs of teamwork and how to accept people for their differences. It has been an eye opening experience and has taught me a lot of lessons that you could not learn simply from an education acquired in a public school.

             Even though most people simply see it as violence and nothing more than two degenerates trying to kill each other, it is a sport. It is entertaining and a true test of skill, there is strenuous training for it the same as any other sport. Through this training you create friendships and learn how to respect people. The sport is also a great way to keep you in shape which makes you feel better about yourself and relieves stress which also helps to keep your anger in check. Another benefit would be the fact that you stay in great shape and when you feel healthy it is a proven fact that you are healthier mentally and socially.

             I remember the first time I stepped into the ring and stared across at the other guy, a friend I had trained with for a long time. Even though this was a friendly competition and there was no benefit if I won or lost, I wanted to win. I wanted to simply dominate. This was it. The time where all the wrestling we had done together, the punches we had mastered, the sweeps and takedowns, all the skills we had learned, were about to be put to the test.  

A popular size for MMA training bags. Courtesy of mmawarehouse.com

Punching and kicking bags, known as bag-work is one of the many MMA training methods used. Photo courtesy of www.tkipkorir.wordpress.com