Thought about something a coach had told me once and my path.

I was thinking today about what my first boxing coach had told me a long time ago. Asa Gordan was 80 years old (can't remember exactly his age at the moment) and I were talking about why he is still involved in boxing. I was just curious to know, he was very good about sitting down and explaining life to us long after we had finished training, many times we would go out to eat after and just sit and listen to stories and learn all we could from him, but back to the question, He told me that he had a boxing trainer who told him that he was a "Keeper of the Art" and to just keep teaching and passing the art on to the next generation. So that is something, he was doing and asked us ( Richard Trammell and I ) to please do the same. Richard and I have made the commitment to do so. Not only was he a very good boxing coach, he also owned a men's clothing store and ventured into many other successful business' throughout his life.
He would also talk about manors and respect, which is not being passed down. Looking back, He taught us how to be men. For that I am thankful for getting to train and have him as a part of my life.
Not only have we ( Richard and I) kept the promise to keep the art of boxing going that he taught us, We are also keeping to our roots as martial artist and keeping this art alive. We are also the "Keeper of these Arts" is which we have learned and trained in over the years, It is who we are. I was speaking to some young men last night about how long I have been interested in the Arts and remembered back in 1st and 2nd grade getting the same book at the book fair of Japanese Karate, it had a ton of pictures of  him kicking, punching, it also had in the top corner when you flipped through the pages fast of him doing a Kata, something about that just hit me hard and I knew I would someday be doing this. I loved watching "Sugar" Ray Leonard, Haggler, Hearns and many other martial artist growing up (yes, boxing is a martial art). God put me on this path to be a "Keeper of the Arts" and to pass it on. So I ask you reading this, to please be a keeper of the art and keep it alive, even if it's just to your child as long as it is passed on. Osu..

 Kelly Leo, Head Trainer and MMA coach at Full Throttle Fitness, North Georgia's Premier Combat Sports/ Fitness Gym.

Master the Basics

If you truly want to become the best you can in fighting of any kind, you must first master the basics and learn form someone who has done the same. When it comes down to it the basics are what will win the fight, from the ground up. Foot work, shifting your weight in you legs to generate power, using you back and hips for power, learning to snap punches (not swing them) throw with purpose not with hope that you land it. Work on head movement, sprawling, timing, positioning, angle's, basic kicks. Learn all these type stuff, before you try and move on the the flashy "highlight reel" stuff, that has such a low percentage of working and if not done so with proper technique can put you in an even worse position than you could have imagined.
 I have seen guys who are so hard headed that no matter how much you talk to them, show them etc... they always try to re-invent the wheel. they always look on the Internet and see some cool thing on "YouTube" or some other kind of mma or site. They will see if and might hit someone with it once or twice and think they have arrived, but when they try it again later on that same person in which they hit, they can't figure out why it doesn't work again. This is because he/she did not spend enough time learning the basics that is the foundation to the flashy technique or learned also how to set such things up.
As you grow as a fighter, yes, you do have to change the angle of a technique, or they way in how you deliver it. but not until you first learn the basics, so you can also reconize what your opponent is trying so do or set up. If you think you know your stuff and are self taught, go train with osmeone who has mastered their craft, you will be sadly mistaken. Botton line, humble youself and open you mind to learning, you will only benifit from taking a step back and learning new GOOD habits. this is the only way you can truly meet you full potentail. Trying to duplicate what someone does with out the knowledge is not how you do things.

 Kelly Leo, Head Trainer and MMA coach at Full Throttle Fitness, North Georgia's Premier Combat Sports/ Fitness Gym.

Experience teachers, trainers etc...

All to often today there are many people who start a fight team, gym etc...with little to NO experience. They have been in a couple of bars brawls, may have had 1-2 years wrestling in middle school had about 3-4 mma bouts ( lost most of them) then decide to open a gym, start a fight team and really have no clue what the heck is going on. Yes there is always room to improve and get better, that's the magic behind Martial Arts.
 I had been training in sports combat for most of my life and thought I had about everything i needed, then one day I was introduced to a 5'8" Korean who said do anything you want to try and take me down. He was friendly and knew I needed to be humbled a bit ;-)
So the bell rang and I tried everything I could think of, I failed miserably and all he did was laugh and throw me all over the mat, lol. His name is Master Kim ( MORE ON HIM LATER). He had a small but nice dojo and he taught Judo and Kendo and knew Tae Know Do and boxing. Well, I was hooked, I didn't get to go as much as I would have liked to, but every chance I got I met with him and learned all I could from him. He had answers to about any question. He told me that to be a great teacher you have to learn, train and compete for many years in order to understand how to teach someone else and have answers to help them become better. In Korea you did not teach until you turned 40 years old. I know in the USA it is not that way, but from what I see in today's, everyone wants things like a fast food restaurant. They go and get a little bit of experience, come back and beat up all their buddies and they are considered a GURU. There is not much we can do about these posers and wanna bees but just hope and pray they don't get someone seriously hurt or killed. Saw some junk on a site today and it just made me think about how I am glad to have had all the great teachers, trainers, training partners I had to tell me the truth and lead me in the right direction. Just do your research and take your time in the art of sports combat, not someone who is just trying to cash in and get a quick buck at your expense.
Osu

- Kelly Leo, Head Trainer and MMA coach at Full Throttle Fitness, North Georgia's Premier Combat Sports/ Fitness Gym.

Training and why

  Many people get into something and go as hard as they can, because it's new and they really enjoy it. At first they are 100% dedicated and never miss, eat all the right things and so on, they cannot seem to get enough. However I also see in more cases than not how once the newness wears off, they start missing and slipping back into old habits because they burnt them selves out, trying to race to the finish per say. Fitness, fighting, training etc...is never a destination, it's is the journey that keeps me coming back for more. The people I meet, the people I help, the progress I gain, even if it's very little, if any. Yes, I am human and get burnt out too, just slow down or try another angle to keep moving forward. If you just can't find the motivation to train hard, just keep moving, you will find your drive again.  Life will throw us curves, such as life, training is one in the same. Always remember why you started doing what you are doing in the first place. Even if you are older, more busy, etc...find away to give to yourself too. Do what you do because you love it, not to get rich or famous. If that is the only reason you got into something, you will not last, if those things come along in your journey, take it in stride and ride the waive while it last, but in the end it should always go back to loving what you do.

Osu,
 Kelly Leo, Head Trainer and MMA coach at Full Throttle Fitness, North Georgia's Premier Combat Sports/ Fitness Gym.