By David Michaud Throughout my time as a Mixed Martial Artist I have learned a lot about the type of people who train and I think that training in the various aspects of MMA has done wonders for many people I know. Training in various Martial Arts, or wrestling and boxing for those of you who do not consider them “martial arts”, is a great way for people to boost their self-esteem while making themselves healthier. I understand that for many people in Indian Country it is not always easy to join a club or gym that teaches Ju-Jitsu or Muay Thai, but it is a little easier to find a boxing gym or a wrestling room. In Pine Ridge we have the Rez Rumblerz, or if you are only interested in the sweet science, North Ridge Boxing Support your local reservation gym Club has come back around. Rod Janis, who was my first boxing coach, has been working with kids around his community and got them interested in boxing again. There is also Black Bull MMA on the Rosebud Reservation. The trainer there works with kids to teach them the main tenants of MMA while getting them in shape physically and mentally. While these gyms and trainers are in smaller communities they are no less knowledgeable. The only downside to small-town training, from what I can see, is the lack of training partners at times. Programs like these are a great way for people to help themselves get in shape and learn more about martial arts in a safe environment. Not everyone who trains is going to compete in MMA, nor should they. On average, 95 per cent of people who train are not going to compete. And that is fine. Not everyone wants to step in a cage or ring. When someone begins training his or her goal should not be competing anyway. If that is the only reason anyone begins to train you will fail. When a person starts training they need to come in with an open mind that only wants to learn. This is the best way to approach every day. Every day that I go to the gym I am trying to learn something new. Learning and bettering oneself should always be the goal. Those people who go to gyms with a closed mind never last long. They are always the ones who come in with an attitude and try to hurt people when they should be learning. And when you try to hurt someone you almost always are the one who ends up with an injury. Never forget, there is always someone better than you. So while I think that everyone should be trying to better themselves in some way, I do not believe that everyone should, as I hear them say a lot, “want to fight.” That is not the right attitude to have, ever. People who just “want to fight” never make it far. If you wish to go into the gym, bring the right attitude with you. Go in looking to make yourself a better person along with trying to make your teammates better and in doing so, you will become a true martial artist. (Contact David Michaud at bulldawg_252000@hotmail.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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