Commencement = The point where one thing must end so that another can begin. I am leaving the world of MMA. I retired from competition a few months ago after what I feel was a reputable come back. Now, I am leaving the job of coaching. There isnt a single reason. There are lots of reasons and one big one unfortunately is money. When I began Martial Arts over 20yrs ago with Galen Humphrey, it was just boxing to keep us out of trouble. When I saw the 1st UFC, I was immediately hooked. I went to everyone from traditionalists like Pete Mills and Sifu Leroy Kautz to the great Mark Hatmaker trying to learn things. All I wanted was to be part of that world. Thanks to guys like Kory Hays and the late ,great Pedro Brandao, just a few short years later, that world became a huge part of me. My 1st student as Joseph Tyler who almost as quickly added me as family along with his mother who treated me as a son . Ive had hundreds of students since then. Good and bad,they brought me through the evolution of the sport. I was able to achieve my original goal in the sport. I became a part of the highest level of the sport. I KNOW UFC GUYS!! How awesome is that?!? I know champions of all of the major east coast promotions. Ive been punched and kicked by Rafaello Oliveira . Ive been kicked across the room by Scott Holtzman. Ive been squished when rolling with Ovince Saint Preux . Not very many regular people can say theyve hung out with Randy Couture ,Raphael Assuncao and Sara MacMann . I can call Alonzo Butler on my phone right now. Hes in my phone..!!!! However, I do have other priorities. Anyone that knows me at all,knows how close I am with my son. He is the greatest kid to have ever lived. He was there for me when I lost my girls. Now hes going through some things and I can do no less than be there with him through this. Hell be fine. He just needs me to be here for him a bit more. Beyond that, Ive tried for a number of years to work for years to work on missing childrens cases. The many sleepless nights it takes to devote to MMA has never allowed me to dive into this specific goal. And I LOVE MMA like very few normal people will understand. But the reality is, what we do in the gym and the ring is not important. I need that. I need to do more than punching dudes and yelling at dudes to punch other dudes for fun. None of this is a plea for sorrows. I just dont want to spend the next 5 years explaining to people that I left MMA or why. Im not known for always making the right decision. In this case, I am doing the right thing. My team will be taken care of. I am sending them to the teams I think will be the best suit for them. Now, Ive made sooooooo many friends through MMA. I freaking LOVE you guys! I also know a bunch of you through MMA that only know me for business. You can delete me. Nothing personal. I just no longer want to be contacted for MMA purposes any longer, as I am working on a life that doesnt involve MMA. I wish you all the same amount of joy and excitement that this sport has brought me and nothing less. Farewell all.... Commencement....
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 07:47:59 +0000
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