Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

MMA

5 Business Lessons We Can All Learn from Ronda Rousey

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faceIt’s never easy being the champion or leader in your industry.  You constantly are looking over your shoulder as challengers pop up trying to take what you worked so hard to build and attain.  They may be leaner than you and they may be hungrier than you which can be a very dangerous combination.  They may also have training, skills, and experience that you don’t have.  Recently, UFC champion Ronda Rousey was believed to be unbeatable.  However, last Saturday night she wasn’t just beaten she was destroyed by challenger Holly Holm getting knocked out in the second round of their fight.  I believe that we can all learn some lessons from Ronda Rousey to apply to our businesses and professional lives.

  1. Don’t believe all of the hype.  Your business may be all the rage with you getting amazing press coverage, large blogs, or even major National news on a regular basis.  That’s all great, but the danger is in once you start believing all of that hype and start thinking that you are actually unbeatable (I think this was a major contributor to Ronda Rousey’s loss).  There is an obvious advantage to being the incumbent but that hardly means you can’t be challenged.  One thing is for sure, everyone and every business can be beaten.
  2. Stay sharp and constantly challenge yourself to learn more and get better.  Ronda Rousey put together a good team of coaches but she didn’t get world class striking/kickboxing training (if she did she ignored it completely).  Holly Holm is a heavily decorated boxer/kickboxer and knowing this Ronda really needed to spend time focused on her opponent’s strengths.
  3. Don’t run around chasing your opponent allowing them to control or manipulate your time.  In the fight, Ronda was chasing after Holly Holm and completely allowing Holly to control the pace and style of the fight.  If you allow your competition to dictate the pace plus how you fight your chances of beating them are not good.  Try to focus on your strengths and get them to fight you on your terms.
  4. Don’t block punches with your face.  As Ronda found out she actually was not indestructible.  She repeatedly got punched/kicked in the face and eventually that led to her getting knocked out.  If you allow your competitor to keep hitting you and knocking off your clients one at a time or beating you in one market at a time, eventually they will take you out.  You need a proper defense to block their attacks as often as you possibly can.
  5. Talk is cheap and isn’t going to be enough.  You can talk like the champ but that is simply not going to help you when you are in the heat of battle.  You have to be able to back up the strong words and banter.  Better yet, just let your actions do the talking for you.  If you are the leader in your industry act like it but also stay as hungry as possible.  You have to work hard to stay on top because you can be sure your competition is busting their butts.

There are a lot of other lessons that we can learn but in the end Ronda Rousey is fortunate because she will absolutely get a shot to get her title back.  In business, rarely are we that lucky.  If your competitor knocks you out you could be permanently down for the count.  What are you doing today to make sure that doesn’t happen to you or your business?

The 10 Fastest Knockouts in UFC History

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ludwigWhile mixed martial arts is, by definition, comprised of many different techniques and tactics for winning a fight, some of the more exciting finishes are the result of a knockout. These wins are even more explosive when they happen early in the fight. With this in mind, here are the ten fastest knockouts in UFC history.

  1. Todd Duffee – Seven seconds into the very first round at UFC 102, Todd Duffee knocked Tim Hague out after refusing to touch gloves with his opponent.
  2. Chang Sung Jung –Also clocking in at seven seconds into the first round is Chang Sung Jung, who knocked out his opponent Mark Hominick with a devastating straight right at UFC 140.
  3. Ryan Jimmo –In a three-way tie with Duffee and Jung. the at the time undefeated Ryan Jimmo put much-hyped opponent Anthony Perosh to sleep with a massive right punch at UFC 149.
  4. Don Frye –Way back at UFC 8, Don Frye made his debut and UFC history by dispatching opponent Thomas Ramirez in a mere eight seconds. For more than a dozen years, this legendary knockout was the fastest in the promotion’s history.
  5. James Irvin –Tying the previous record set by Don Frye, James Irvin made quick work of opponent Houston Alexander at UFC Fight Night 13. In just eight seconds, Irvin was declared the winner by knock out.
  6. Gray Maynard –The only victory by stoppage of Gray Maynard’s career was also his first UFC win, when he delivered a left hook that left opponent Joe Veres unconscious at UFC Fight Night 11 just nine seconds into the first round.
  7. Mark Weir –In his UFC debut at UFC 38, Mark Weir took out opponent Eugene Jackson with a jab ten seconds after the fight began. Despite his impressive opener, Weir’s first fight was also his last. After the loss, opponent Eugene Jackson left the UFC altogether.
  8. B.J. Penn – At the time a relatively inexperienced fighter, B.J. Penn made quick work of his more seasoned opponent, Caol Uno, at UFC 34. Eleven seconds into the fight, Penn knocked out Uno with an uppercut. Later, he would go on to win the belt and establish himself as one of the most accomplished fighters in his weight class.
  9. Duane Ludwig – In addition to being one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history, Duane Ludwig’s triumph over opponent Jonathan Goulet at UFC Fight Night 3 is also one of the most contentious. Officially, the fight ended at eleven seconds. Unfortunately, the Nevada State Athletic Commission timekeeper was slow to stop the clock. Evidence points to a six-second knockout, which would have been the fastest to date in the UFC. Still, the Commission stood by its initial ruling and Ludwig is not officially recognized for setting such an impressive record.
  10. Rob Emerson – Despite securing a knockout victory at UFC 87 against Manny Gamburyan in twelve seconds, Rob Emerson lost three of his next four fights and was subsequently cut from the organization’s roster. Still, he holds a spot on the top ten list of all-time fastest knockouts for the promotion.

As the UFC continues to grow in popularity, some of these legendary knockouts will be replaced by even more spectacular finishes. Still, each and every one of these fighters has earned a spot in UFC history.

10 Ways to Avoid a Fight When You Encounter an Idiot

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punchFor most people, a physical altercation is something to be avoided at all costs. There are those, however, who love nothing more than starting a fight when they’re angry. While it can be tempting to knock some sense into a loudmouth who just won’t quit, a fight will introduce far more complications than it solves. The next time you’re faced with a person of questionable intelligence who just won’t back down, try these ten methods of avoiding a fight.

  1. Don’t Give Them What They Want – More than a bloody nose or a round in the dirt, most violent and angry people want attention. The best way to avoid a fight with an attention-driven opponent, therefore, is to simply deny them the attention they’re seeking.
  2. Keep Your Own Emotions in Check – It’s easy to avoid a fight when you’re calm and collected, but it’s a much bigger challenge when you’re also struggling with your own temper. If you let your emotions get the better of you, you’re less equipped to diffuse the situation. Even if you’re offended or furious, try to stay sane and rational until you can put some distance between you and your antagonist.
  3. Give Up On Being Right – There are few things more infuriating than trying to get a point across to someone whose intellectual capacity just won’t allow them to see the light. You can shout them down until you’re hoarse, but you’re not likely to change their opinion. You know the person you’re arguing with isn’t so bright, so leave it at that. You don’t have to be formally acknowledged to be correct.
  4. Get Some Space – There’s usually no good reason for staying put when you’re trying to avoid a fight. Even if you’re able to diffuse the situation and talk your opponent down for the moment, you’re still standing next to a powder keg until you leave the area. Since you’re going to need to put some distance between you and your opponent anyway, why wait? Walk away and save yourself some headache.
  5. Apologize – Even if you’re in the right, what will you actually lose by dishing out an apology to smooth things over to avoid a fight? In these situations, you can be right, or you can avoid getting punched. The latter is usually the way to go.
  6.  Step Back – If you’re committed to solving the argument without resorting to violence, keep a few feet of distance between yourself and a not-so-bright combatant while you try to talk it out. You’re less likely to see an attack coming, or avoid a punch, if your opponent is in your face.
  7. Watch Your Language – While you want to avoid cursing at someone when you’re trying not to fight, this isn’t the only kind of language of which you need to be aware. Using phrases like “calm down” or “you’re being ridiculous” are counterproductive to your aims. Instead of using accusatory language to bring things down a notch, use phrases which imply mutual culpability. “Let’s talk this over” or “we should take it easy” includes both of you, and can be more effective.
  8. (Don’t) Put Up Your Dukes – Make a conscious effort to mind your body language, keeping your hands in a non-threatening, palms-out pose. Be sure you’re not making a fist without thinking, because this sends the signal that you’re ready to throw down.
  9. Watch Your Back – If you’re going to walk away and the situation is still tense, be careful about turning your back to your opponent. This gives them an opportunity to attack from behind, and you less of a chance to defend yourself. Back away until you have plenty of room.
  10. Assume Your Opponent is Armed or Trained – If you’re having a tough time convincing yourself that violence isn’t the answer, remember this: you have no idea if the idiot with whom you’re arguing is carrying a weapon. Assuming everyone in a potential altercation is armed is a great way to get your priorities back in line, so you can talk your way out of a sticky situation.  Also, keep in mind you don’t know how much combative training this idiot has had.  He could be a black belt in jiu jitsu and you could find yourself in a bad position very quickly.

At best, you’ll be walking away from a situation with the potential to end in stitches or criminal charges. A worst-case scenario can have far more permanent implications. While it may hurt your pride a bit to let your opponent “get away” with causing a scene, your pride will recover and you’ll experience no lasting effects from choosing not to fight.

A Bit About the First UFC Champions at Each Weight Class

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jens-pulverCan you imagine what it must be like to ascend to the top of your sport? MMA fighters in the UFC are rightfully recognized as the best in the World. It’s incredibly difficult to compete at that level taking incredible skill, talent, and maybe a bit of good luck/timing. There have been many great champions, but here is a break-down of the first in each weight class. Some are already in the UFC hall of fame and it’s my hope that they will all get there eventually.

  1. Women’s Strawweight – Carla Esparza – When the UFC introduced a Women’s Strawweight division in late 2014 (TUF19), Carla Esparza eventually took the belt and became the first champion in the new weight class. Born in Torrance, California on October 10, 1987, Esparza, also known as “Cookie Monster,” began her career on the varsity wrestling team during her junior year at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California. Carla is one of my favorite fighters to follow on Twitter @CarlaEsparza1 because she does interact with her fans.
  2. Women’s Bantamweight – Ronda Rousey – “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey became the first woman to earn a championship belt in the UFC, fighting in the bantamweight division. In addition to making history in the UFC, Rousey was also the first American woman to earn an Olympic Medal in Judo, and is widely considered the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. She made her feature film debut in 2014’s The Expendables 3 and just won a fight in 14 seconds at UFC184!
  3. Men’s Bantamweight – Dominick Cruz – The featherweight champion at World Extreme Cagefighting when the WEC was acquired by the UFC in 2010, Dominick Cruz fought for the UFC title at the last bantamweight fight WEC hosted. He retained the title until vacating it due to injury, when Renan Barao became the new champ. Born in Tucson, Arizona on March 9, 1985, Dominick “The Dominator” Cruz has been repeatedly sidelined by injuries but still plans to make his UFC return. His break-down of fights on UFCOnFox are solid (both pre and post fight).
  4. Men’s Flyweight – Demetrious Johnson – Demetrious “MIghty Mouse” Jonson is the first and as of 2015, also current champion of the UFC flyweight division. Born in Madisonville, Kentucky, Johnson began his career in 2007 and was the Word Extreme Cagefighting Champion before the organization was purchased by the UFC.
  5. Men’s Featherweight – Jose Aldo – Another champion of the WEC when it was absorbed by the UFC, Jose also still holds the belt. Winning the majority of his bouts by knockout, Aldo began training as a fighter learning the art of capoeira, which led to an interest in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He’s facing Conor McGregor in his next title defense and it will be an absolute ripper (hat/tip to Michael Schiavello).
  6. Men’s Lightweight – Jens Pulver – In addition to being the first lightweight champion in UFC history, Jens ‘Lil Evil’ Pulver was also the youngest to earn the title. I’ve had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time with Jens and it’s easy to see why he is so successful. He is one of the most passionate and driven people I know. If he sets his mind on something, it’s getting done, you can bank on it!
  7. Men’s Welterweight – Pat Miletich – Croatian-American fighter Pat “The Croatian Sensation” Miletich was the first beltholder in the UFC’s welterweight division. Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 6, 2014, he’s built an effective and highly successful career of training and coaching in recent years. Plus, he is absolutely one of my favorite fight commentators calling fights on AXSTV for Legacy, RFA, and many more!
  8. Men’s Middleweight – Dave Menne – Competing for Cage Rage, Shooto, RINGS and Bellator in addition to the UFC, Dave “The Warrior” Menne was the first middleweight champion in the promotion. The victory was short-lived, though, as he lost the belt at his first defense against Murilo Bustamante at UFC 35.
  9. Men’s Light Heavyweight – Frank Shamrock – When Frank “The Legend” Shamrock earned his first UFC belt, it was in the middleweight division. Later, the division was renamed to “light heavyweight,” which Shamrock defended successfully until he retired. In addition to holding the first UFC Light Heavyweight title, he also holds the current Guinness World Record for Fastest UFC Title Fight Victory by Submission (don’t tell Ronda Rousey that after her 14 second submission in UFC184), beating Kevin Jackson in sixteen seconds. The adopted brother of fellow fighter Ken Shamrock, Frank held titles in a variety of organizations over the span of his career.
  10. Men’s Heavyweight – Mark Coleman – Former NCAA collegiate wrestler Mark “The Hammer” Coleman was the Pride Fighting Championships 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix champion, the first UFC Heavyweight Champion and is an inductee to the UFC Hall of Fame. Born in Fremont, Ohio on December 20, 1964, Coleman is credited with proving the value of wrestling in mixed martial arts competition and was a pioneer of the now-common ground-and-pound method.

Belts change hands and champions will come and go, but there is only one first-time champ in each weight class. These are some amazing athletes that deserve to be celebrated and appreciated!

My Big Fight

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As fighters we get old but fighting never gets old!  I participated in a Muay Thai event called King of the Ring and ended up going the distance against an opponent half my age.  He was quicker of course and overall stronger but we both gave it our all.  I tore my right bicep and you can tell that is when the punishment started (broken nose).  in any event I hope this inspires others and at least shows my ids the importance f not quitting and following through on your dreams/goals.  Here is some video from the fight (I am the fighter in black).

10 Tips for Safely Teaching Your Kids Jiu Jitsu

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jiujitsu-youthThere are a host of benefits associated with martial arts training for children, from increased athleticism to self-defense and a heightened sense of discipline. In fact, I have written about that on multiple occasions on this blog and on other martial arts sites.  I am a HUGE fan of training our kids.  When it comes to jiu jitsu though with submissions specifically you have to be careful about what you teach your kids and when it is taught to them.  They need a healthy appreciation for the responsibility that goes along with understanding ways to manipulate the body that are core to jiu jitsu.

  1. Research Local Gyms – Before you sign your child up for the first gym to advertise youth jiu jitsu instruction, make sure you’re doing your homework. Not all gyms are created equal, and you’ll be able to sort the better quality options from others in your area by asking for referrals, looking at the facility and paying attention to unique ethos of each gym.  Basically, how do they approach jiu jitsu for kids if it is no different than what they do for adults I would recommend finding a different gym.
  2. Choose Instructors Carefully – An instructor who only teaches youth classes because they drew the short straw may not be as well-suited to teaching kids as the instructor across town with a passion for teaching youth combat sports. Make sure you take the time to ask about instructors’ qualifications, as well as their curriculum.  Teaching kids takes an incredible amount of patience as their attention span is well… short.  Make sure the instructor is equipped to handle that with something other than just yelling or sitting them out.
  3. Ask About Instructor-to-Child Ratios – High-quality gyms will staff each class appropriately, but it’s always best to do your own research. One instructor heading up a class of thirty kids means not everyone is getting individual attention, and some kids may not be performing maneuvers as safely as they could be.  In fact, this is a huge risk because kids may not realize the risks associated with improperly practicing an armbar for instance.
  4. Invest in Proper Gear – Minimizing the risk of injury means investing the appropriate gear to keep your child safe. You can’t send your youngster to class without head gear, mouth guards or groin protectors and expect them to be fully protected. Ask your child’s instructor about recommended safety gear, and invest appropriately.  Realistically other than a gi and mouthguard not too much is normally required for jiu jitsu but knee and elbow pads may also be a good idea.
  5. Take Time to Learn the Rules – Most parents who enroll their children in martial arts classes have no training themselves. While you don’t have to sign up for adult beginner classes to keep your child safe, it’s always a good idea to learn the mechanics and underlying philosophy of jiu jitsu in order to help your child better understand what they’re doing and how to stay safe.  Plus, it gives you something that you can share with your kids which likely will create memories that will last a lifetime.
  6. Listen to Your Child – No matter how badly you want your child to reap the benefits of instruction in jiu jitsu, you can’t make them feel the same interest. A child who doesn’t want to be in class and has no interest in learning proper technique may be reckless or inattentive, which can lead to injury in some cases.  I’m not talking about a child that every once in a while doesn’t want to go to class because EVERY child will feel that way at some point (just take them anyway).
  7. Reinforce Jiu Jitsu Lessons and Values at Home – Kids who are excited about their new skills are going to want to try them out on everyone they meet, so it’s your job to keep not only your child but others safe from this boundless enthusiasm. Talk about the lessons they’ve learned and how they can practice at home without submitting the untrained kid next door.  You may want to get a wrestling dummy or let your children practice on you.
  8. Understand the Implications of Contact Sports – It’s not abnormal to want your child to reap the benefits of jiu jitsu instruction while still feeling some trepidation about the risk for injury. The truth is, jiu jitsu is a contact sport. Just like football, soccer or baseball, there will be some risk for injury and there will be some bumps, bruises, and mat burns along the way. Keeping your expectations realistic is one of the best ways to mitigate some of the risk, and to understand the difference between a bruise and serious danger which generally should not be the case with jiu jitsu.
  9. Observe Classes – If you drop your child off at the door and never observe a class, how will you know the instructor is stressing proper safety measures? How will you know if the gym is clean and the facilities in good repair? Make a point of observing classes and remember that your jiu jitsu instructor is NOT a babysitter.  Sometimes YOU will need to keep your child in check and focused.
  10. Keep Lines of Communication Open with Instructors – No parent wants to hear that their child isn’t doing well in an activity they like, but it’s important to listen to your child’s instructors when they’re training in jiu jitsu. Also recognize that the instructor knows best whether your child is ready for a belt promotion, stripe, etc.  Especially with jiu jitsu (which takes several years to master and get a black belt) it’s not about how quickly they get their black belt it’s about learning some valuable life lessons.

Jiu jitsu is growing rapidly in popularity and there are many opportunities for competition as well that your kids may love (but be warned that every kid won’t necessarily get a trophy in this sport).  Just like any other sport though there are rewards that cannot be overvalued by teaching them jiu jitsu.  It’s not about protecting themselves (although that is a definite benefit), it’s about giving them something that if they want they can literally do for the rest of their lives.