So I just got home from watching the new movie Fury with Brad Pitt. It got me thinking about the early days of my journey. Joining a gym with a competitive Fight Team that you want to be a part of is not an easy task. Many don’t have what it takes mentally. I can assure you that at the end of the day, thats what matters most. The physical gifts you were born with or worked for will only take you so far. Making it through what ever is necessary to become a member of the Team is a different type of accomplishment.

In the movie, the Tank Team gets a new member. I won’t go into too many details and ruin the movie, but at first, they aren’t too thrilled about having him. This is one of the parallels that made me think back to my early days as a “Fight Team Hopeful”. I knew exactly what I joined my gym for. I wanted to Fight. My very first day I met Mike Easton, Mike gave me a tour of the gym, went through some basics with me, and talked to me for about an hour about fighting and becoming a part of the Fight Team. Mike is that kind of guy, he genuinely is the type that is excited to talk about fighting, very down to earth, and very welcoming. I was fortunate that he was my guide my frist day. Thats not alwasy the case in every gym.  I know that if I’d had a different experience, I’d still be where I am, because I was set to my task. That said, I am very appreciative for having that experience. In the movie, the “new guy” wasn’t welcomed with open arms. Not by the team, not by their leader. He hasn’t done anything wrong, but he is coming into a group that fought and bled together. They have shared experiences and time that can’t be easily replicated, and possibly never will be. This is where those parellels started to jump out at me.

There is a quote by Jim Rohn. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. You take a group of people, that have sparred with each other, traveled with each other, been through all the highs and lows of Winning and Losing, you will see a little of each of them in each person. They move the same way, talk the same way, find the same things funny, they become a unit. So adding someone new into the mix won’t be an overnight process. This is where tough skin, and being mentally tough comes into play. Understanding that you need to put the time in, and that it’s not that they don’t like you. It may seem like that sometimes, but thats not usually the case (unless your just an asshole) From the time they spend together they develop those similarities and bond that you won’t understand until you’re in it. What is also tough for the new guy/girl to realize also is that many have come and gone. So although it’s not as drastic as War, where soldiers have seen other soldiers come, and die, all fight teams have had hopeful new member that start off with promise, yet eventually fade out. It’s just the nature of the game. So without realizing it, that core group will begin to put up a barrier, and not get attached to people as quickly. It’s human nature.

Also it’s important to take into account the “Rookie” stage. In pretty much anything you do in life you will need to get through this. Embrace it, understand that it’s going to be one of the toughest parts of your journey, but that it will also shape you for years to come. How you chose to navigate it could put you on a path to success, or send you in the complete opposite direction. Swallow your pride, take your licks, and press on. We have all at one point been the Rookie. It’s a right of passage. I’d reccomend keeping a journal. Document those moments. Having a real reminder of where you came from can ground you out when you need it. One day when you are the vet, that journal maybe helpul to a new Rookie.

Hang In There Rookie

A lot of this process falls to the leader. There maybe times where the Leader/Coach has become jaded the same as the Team. As I said people come and go. A coaches time is valuable. Accepting the time they offer is a contract. They give you their time and knowledge, YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING WITH IT!! Even if you never become a Professional Fighter, if you desire to be a member of the Fight Team you need to be willing to commit to it. With that commitment comes the responsibilty of also being there for your teammates. They need you at practice, they need you at the fights. Keep in mind, we are talking about being a Member of the Elite Group of the gym. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a casual member, the majority of people who train are, but once you have taken this step you should be sure you are truly prepared for what is required on your end. There’s no such thing as being a part time Fight Team Member. That does you and your Teammates no good. Another favorite quote of mine is “There is no standing still, you are either moving towards your goals, or away from them”. Let that sink in. The time you decide you have other things that come before the team and your training will set you back tremendously. It also creates a terrible cycle, you will take your break, come back, notice everyone has gotten better and is now a step a head, and some will stick it out for a bit. They start to feel like they are catching back up, then something else comes a long and pulls them out. Now you fall even further behind. Guys/Girls you started with now have fights under their belt. Eventually these types will lose their fire, mostly because they come back in and try to jump back into sparring and working with the Fight Team, then get a dose of how far behind they have fallen. If the team has a solid Leader/Coach, they will know how to guide you through all these things, and at what pace more importatntly. They have done it before, so listen to them, trust that they have your best interests at heart and follow their lead.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
John Quincy Adams

So take all this into account. Keep in mind that just because you join a gym with a Fight Team, doesn’t mean that has to be your path. If you train for fun or to get into shape, the majority of the classes are taylored towards you. You are an important part of the culture. If the Fight Team is something you thibk you want to be a part of, make sure you REALLY want it, and understand that giving your commitment to them, earns their commitment to you. I can personally tell you that I can’t imagine what my life would be without my Team. They are my family, I love them with all my heart, and I know they feel the same. If I was every in trouble I know I could count on them, and they know they can count on me. That bond is something special you won’t find many other places in life.

Coach Jason.