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Archives for May 2015

Ronda Rousey Quote on Sacrifice

By Ruben Avila  · May 27, 2015  · @RubenEAvila

Ronda Rousey quote

People love the idea of winning an Olympic medal or a world title. But, what few people realize is that pretty much every second leading up to the actual win is uncomfortable, painful, and impossibly daunting both physically and mentally. Most people focus on the wrong thing: they focus on the result, not the process. The process is the sacrifice; it is all the hard parts – the sweat, the pain, the tears, the losses. You make the sacrifices anyway. You learn to enjoy them, or at least embrace them. In the end, it is the sacrifice that must fulfill you.

– Ronda Rousey

People love the idea of winning an Olympic medal or a world title. But, what few people realize is that pretty much every second leading up to the actual win is uncomfortable, painful, and impossibly daunting both physically and mentally. Most people focus on the wrong thing: they focus on the result, not the process. The process is the sacrifice; it is all the hard parts - the sweat, the pain, the tears, the losses. You make the sacrifices anyway. You learn to enjoy them, or at least embrace them. In the end, it is the sacrifice that must fulfill you.Click To Tweet

Gui Mendes Retires from Competition

By Ruben Avila  · May 20, 2015  · @RubenEAvila

gui mendes retires

Whoa!  I did not see this one coming.

Gui Mendes has retired from jiu-jitsu competition.

He made the announcement yesterday via Instagram:

We all have different goals that we set up for our lives. When I started Jiu Jitsu at 12 years old my goal was to become really good at it, because I knew that being really good at something would provide me a chance to have a good future and build a family. When I got my black belt I realized that slowly my dream was turning into reality. Last year I won my 4th World title in the black belt division, the number that the IBJJF requires to make you eligible to enter the Jiu Jitsu Hall of Fame. My life has changed a lot and I feel very blessed to have the option to redirect my goals, dedicating myself to do something bigger than just competing. It’s a new chapter in my life and to achieve my goals I’ll put the same effort that I’ve put to become the athlete that I am today. I want to lead my team, become the best I can be as a leader and professor, work to create the best athletes in the sport, keep innovating the art and build a team of champions that people have never seen before. Today, this is what drives me forward. I know that winning another gold medal would feel good for the moment, would make me proud of myself one more time, but I’m ready to do something bigger now and I know that I can do it.

A photo posted by RAFAEL & GUILHERME MENDES (@mendesbros) on May 19, 2015 at 9:50am PDT

This is going to change the competitive landscape considerably in the light weight divisions for years to come.

What’s your take on the matter?

Kenny Florian on BJJ

By Ruben Avila  · May 19, 2015  · @RubenEAvila

kenny florian bjj quote

BJJ has been the most important teacher in my life.  It taught me that if you just keep showing up everyday with a positive attitude that you can achieve anything & everything.  Being on the mat is tough but so is life.  For both you have to be flexible, resistant, humble & tough and know when to be what.  This belt means everything to me but it also means nothing.

-Kenny Florian

That Awkward Moment When You Go Against the Spirit of Jiu-Jitsu

By Ruben Avila  · May 11, 2015  · @RubenEAvila

women-respond-to-ralek
Say what?

When asked about the prospects of women in future Metamoris cards, Ralek all but shut women down. Part of his response really upset a big segment of the bjj community.

We had that one match and it was cool, but that was more of, “That’s cool and that was interesting and I want to see that again if the girls are cute.” You know how it is. The UFC wouldn’t even have a women’s division if it wasn’t for Ronda Rousey. They wouldn’t even have it.

-Ralek Gracie

[Read more…] about That Awkward Moment When You Go Against the Spirit of Jiu-Jitsu

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