Grapplethon 2 - The Aftermath (Part 2)

An unforgettable event filled with great training, camaraderie, and supporting Frank Edge

I'm sure everyone who was apart of it can agree Grapplethon 2 was a successful event. As all of the participants may have left with some great memories and increase in skill aside from being in a lot of physical pain afterwards and  mixing my cell-phone with my VCR remote the past two weeks have been hard for me to grasp which has lead me to a current conclusion that just maybe the primary component that has helped me to become a "better man than I once was" was right in front of me the entire time.

Throughout the week of maintaining a full time paper job and commitment to helping a fellow teammate  with his "Battle Within" in preparation for the IBJJF Nationals the constant thought of how Frank Edge is doing and my willingness to put my body on the line in an 180 minute challenge for someone I barely know still plays in my mind on a daily basis in regards to what is truly important to me  being apart of this great fight community.

Two questions have popped up from time to time from various people. One was why did you go 180 minutes to help  a guy you didn't know ? and  The other is why do you constantly write articles on many MMA fighters ( some who are unknown) for no pay ?

The answer is simple to understand Pain . Not to sound like  a wacko but when I speak of Pain I am referring to the struggles we all undergo  in our daily lives. A good friend Tyler Maples made a great point which he referred to a fighter's journey as dark and lonely. Whether it is Frank Edge's fight with Cancer, an ambitious MMA fighter chasing  UFC dreams, or a solider putting their life on the line defending his country.. pain is simply unavoidable . Nevertheless there are also ways to cope with it.

The greatest lesson I've FINALLY come to realize through my writing and this charity Grapplethon event is that everyone  has the ability to inspire, learn, and help  each other through the pains we are dealing with due to the similarities in struggles or our noble initiative to at least acknowledge it and pick someone up when they are down.

The work of helping someone through these events must be done for the work and work alone which primary goal centers on bringing some light to dark circumstances.(which should never center on expecting something in return)

Examples: giving a friend some advice for a problem he is having or even giving spar change to someone homeless on the streets

If anyone has read my blog on "The Influence of Writing" you  probably would understand the value and importance of the friendships I have made in writing articles which has made a positive impact on my life in many areas. A give and receive theory sorta speak.

What I am about to say is very hard for me to say because I don't want people to think I am a PUSSY because those who know me (especially my track record from back in the HEY DAY) I'm far from it. It's a choice based on what's truly important to me and what has really helped me to become who I am today. Unbeknownst to the after effects the Frank Edge Grapplethon experience has given me I have come to the conclusion that although returning to competition  has been great for me which has allowed me to overcome fears and collect a little "Bling" in the process it fails in comparison to the feeling of helping someone, receiving a thank you,  being called a brother or any aspect which centers on the camaraderie I built these past 3 years.

The feeling that I had of being able to  put a smile on a man’s face dying from cancer is indescribable and even a bit emotional/overwheeliming for me to talk about as a write this blog,a feeling far greater than winning a tournament match. It keeps me going it lets me know I have some sort of worth in the world or in people's lives to say the least. (Especially since I’ve experienced some depression back in the days when I was coming up in bjj/mma).

This statement is not to say that Im done with competing. Like I said I never expected grapplethon to have this profound effect on me  so for now I'm going to take it day by day, and if I want to compete I will, but I'm not going to be heavly searching to do it" .

For almost nine years as a student of this art I always tried to be notice whether it is showing how mean I can be on the mat or chasing being the BEST (back in the old days) ..always thinking about my arrogant self. Nevertheless sometimes becoming a better man than you once were is  exhibited by what you do for your fellow man which will define your true character." #SELFLESS


Thanks to all my friends and most importantly  Frank Edge for finally making me realize this.

1 % Better Everyday

-monta(y)