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I ran a kickboxing club before Ultimate Fighting aired and of course it changed the world as we know it.
from then on out it became a mixed Martial Arts Club that literally welcomed anyone from any background to come train for free with us at the community center.
back then we had to run ads in the newspaper
We had navy SEALS, NAGA champions, pro wrestlers, ninjas, weightlifters and even Pride veterans involved in the gym.
We eventually built a pro fight team and even though I moved away years ago that team still exists today.
I personally suffered greatly back in the day
the no-holds-barred era of MMA was considered a blight and often times anyone participating in "cage fighting" was considered a ruffian thug
we were hated by the traditional martial arts community and discriminated against at every level in our personal lives and employment opportunities
Please remember that the guys that fielded Fighters back in the no-holds-barred era are the ones that set the stage for the wonderful mainstream sport we see today.
I had a high-profile job at the city level and had been running my little MMA gym out of a community center for many years without any trouble.
I was also the head wrestling coach at a local highschool
we finally got big enough to get a public access television show and soon after we were kicked out of the community center after one of the city managers saw it on cable
Even though our tax dollars paid to maintain the facility we were not welcome to participate in athletics there any longer because the city attorney's feared lawsuits and knew that a handful of poor guys we're unlikely to be able to hire attorneys and fight for their civil rights.
remember that participation in mixed martial arts carries with it a cloud of suspicion that you are a violent dangerous person and it may cost you dearly in employment and in your personal life.
you're participation in MMA comes with a heavy burden, its not just the bumps and bruises of combat athletics,
They will fear you, they will hate you, they will discriminate against you...
you are carrying a heavier load then a normal athlete
Please remember we lost jobs, we lost friends and we lost loved ones over the sport we chose to participate in..
I have full confidence that one day MMA will make it back into the Olympics and Fighters won't be considered Ruffians on the fringes of society as we were back in the day...things are getting better but that's because of the sacrifices that we all made.
stick together as a community, you're an athlete representing a sport that carries with it some serious onus
The club fielded fighters for the early NHB/MMA tournaments and helped keep the sport alive thru the dark days of the NHB era, our sacrifices helped pave the way for the modern sport
I, Gavin... [the founder] have relocated to Wilmington NC where we have a small free gym today
from then on out it became a mixed Martial Arts Club that literally welcomed anyone from any background to come train for free with us at the community center.
back then we had to run ads in the newspaper
We had navy SEALS, NAGA champions, pro wrestlers, ninjas, weightlifters and even Pride veterans involved in the gym.
We eventually built a pro fight team and even though I moved away years ago that team still exists today.
I personally suffered greatly back in the day
the no-holds-barred era of MMA was considered a blight and often times anyone participating in "cage fighting" was considered a ruffian thug
we were hated by the traditional martial arts community and discriminated against at every level in our personal lives and employment opportunities
Please remember that the guys that fielded Fighters back in the no-holds-barred era are the ones that set the stage for the wonderful mainstream sport we see today.
I had a high-profile job at the city level and had been running my little MMA gym out of a community center for many years without any trouble.
I was also the head wrestling coach at a local highschool
we finally got big enough to get a public access television show and soon after we were kicked out of the community center after one of the city managers saw it on cable
Even though our tax dollars paid to maintain the facility we were not welcome to participate in athletics there any longer because the city attorney's feared lawsuits and knew that a handful of poor guys we're unlikely to be able to hire attorneys and fight for their civil rights.
remember that participation in mixed martial arts carries with it a cloud of suspicion that you are a violent dangerous person and it may cost you dearly in employment and in your personal life.
you're participation in MMA comes with a heavy burden, its not just the bumps and bruises of combat athletics,
They will fear you, they will hate you, they will discriminate against you...
you are carrying a heavier load then a normal athlete
Please remember we lost jobs, we lost friends and we lost loved ones over the sport we chose to participate in..
I have full confidence that one day MMA will make it back into the Olympics and Fighters won't be considered Ruffians on the fringes of society as we were back in the day...things are getting better but that's because of the sacrifices that we all made.
stick together as a community, you're an athlete representing a sport that carries with it some serious onus
The club fielded fighters for the early NHB/MMA tournaments and helped keep the sport alive thru the dark days of the NHB era, our sacrifices helped pave the way for the modern sport
I, Gavin... [the founder] have relocated to Wilmington NC where we have a small free gym today
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