Combat Athlete MMA Alert! Beginning MMA Training in Montville, New Jersey 30 day FREE Trial!

 Alert! Beginning MMA Training in Montville, New Jersey 30 day FREE Trial!

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA (Serving the Montville NJ area) , good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaching of the Gracie family lineage can be found right here at  Combat Athlete MMA. Our teacher and owner Paul “Opie” Fahey is demonstrating and teaching Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu every day in it’s truest form. Paul is a Serra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Matt and Nick Serra. If you don’t know Matt Serra he is a Renzo Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt of the highest order, Renzo is one of the Gracie pioneers to make this the great art it is today. Matt Serra is also a former UFC champion, and is 1 of only 2 people to beat George St. Pierre UFC and MMA god! Combat Athlete MMA is the ONLY MMA school in New Jersey authorized to represent a former UFC champion (Matt Serra). Combat Athlete MMA has multiple GI and NO-GI champions in the NAGA, and Grappler’s Quest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. The unique thing about this is that these Combat Athlete MMA students all won 1st place in their first go at it!

From Top left to right. Paul Fahey with former UFC champion Matt Serra, Paul with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Renzo Gracie , and below showing the finer points of BJJ to 2 Serra students

So you can see the pedigree of sensei Paul Fahey coming down from the Gracie family tree just to give you a good sense of his background. The atmosphere and camaraderie is matched by none at Combat Athlete MMA  , and there’s absolutely no pressure to join! I know because it was my 4th and final Brazilian Jiu-jitsu MMA school I tried out in the Montville NJ area, and its safe to say I found a home! I am in better overall physical shape at 42 then I was at 25 years of age. The cardiovascular benefits are matched by no other type of physical exercise. The proof is in the pudding! My total cholesterol is under 200 at 42, for the 1st time in 11 years!!! We also have a great Muai-Thai kick-boxing program as well with owner Kru Jonesly Theus, he is a certified Muai-Thai kickboxing instructor by the United States Muai-Thai association, oh and by the way he’s also a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Paul Fahey AND a physical therapist by trade!

Here’s Paul “opie” Fahey with Combat Athlete MMA students and UFC stars Matt Serra, Chris Weidman, Costa Phillippou, Gian Vilante, and Pete Drago Sell at the SerraJitsu (Matt and Nick Serra’s flagship school.)

Matt Serra fighter Chris Weidman will face UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 162 on July 6, 2013 for the middle weight championship of the world.

Kru Jonesly Theus Owner of Combat Athlete MMA is one of the best Muay Thai instructors around, a former New York semi-pro champion with a 7-1 (4 KO) record, and also is a Certified Physical therapist. The best of both worlds!

Some of the best people you’ll ever meet are students of MMA, People looking for MMA in Caldwell NJ area will find that right at  Combat Athlete MMA

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or BJJ is a art, a sport that will quickly humble the proud, and egotistical. You will quickly find that out. there’s 2 type’s of people I have seen people that are born humble, and those that are MADE humble!. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners soon find that out. It not a sport of EGO’s because it’s such a mental game of relaxation, focus, and controlling the emotions, not letting your emotions control you. Rest assured you will find these types at  Combat Athlete MMA  in the Montville NJ area.

Would you like to take a 30 DAY FREE TRIAL of MMA in Caldwell NJ area?

That’s right when you come to Combat Athlete MMA you get a *FREE* month of  MMA in Montville NJ area come down you’ll love it!

************ CALDWELL NJ RESIDENTS WE HAVE THE MOST COMPLETE BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, MUAY-THAI MIXED MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL IN THE AREA!*****************************

MMA
MMA
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Number one contender Johny Hendricks to the welterweight belt knows how Mixed Martial Arts can liberate the spirit and soul.

Mixed Martial Arts a liberation of the spirit and soul!

“Paige’s MMA Dad” Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA Mixed Martial Arts can have such a positive life changing effect on ones life its really amazing! It sure did on me. In the picture above is my favorite fighter in the UFC and in all of mixed martial arts, the number one contender to GSP’s crown, Johny Hendricks. When Johny was asked one time why he got into mixed martial arts after his heralded collegiate wrestling career He said, “The 1st time I sparred I got knocked out unconscious, I woke up the next morning and felt great, and alive, never felt better!” Wow now that doesn’t make sense at all, but in a weird way it does. I think sometimes when we are pushed to the brink mentally and physically in a conscience state of being the way Johny was it can be liberating in a tremendous way because you are forced to let go of all your fears at that moment. You know I look at Mixed Martial Arts this way it will bring out every emotion in you, for good or bad ,it will expose your true personality because the training and fighting is like a tree being stripped of it’s bark becoming bare. You see everything for what the tree really is! Then it is rebuilt stronger and better!

Every facet of mixed martial arts training will change you including injuries.

When I started training mixed martial arts at the age of 39 I learned real fast that your emotions controlling you can be very dangerous. One time in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training I broke my opponents guard and threw his legs to the side to gain position then I belly flopped onto his knee under my rib cage completely forsaking technique. It was the worst pain of my life, getting knocked out my wind, and ended up almost cracking ribs on my left side. To make a long story short I wasn’t able to take class for a few weeks, and I couldn’t take any impact at all on the ground for at least 3 months! Today that scar that developed due to cracked cartilage on my ribs has hardened like a steel plate, and actually to my surprise has made that side stronger then prior to that injury. Yes though that side had healed to be stronger I still learned to never make that mistake again. The person I look up to most in the world of mixed martial arts is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu icon and legend Renzo Gracie. He once said, “People would see a lot of times fighting as a ugly thing, as a thing that denigrates the human being. In reality, you see fighting on everything… Everything’s fighting. Doesn’t matter what it is. You wake up in the morning, to get out of bed is a fight, believe it. So, fighting is actually the best thing a man can have in his soul.” It’s so true everything is a fight in life because negative forces from wherever they come from always try to bring you down. Pain and injury in mixed martial arts can be learned from in a great way, only when we at our most vulnerable in life is when we learn the most about ourselves. To me training MMA has taught me more then any other sport to have intestinal fortitude.

Georges St. Pierre’s new book epitomizes the soul of mixed martial arts to it’s fullest.

Georges St. Pierre’s new book, “The Way of the fight”, is everything what I am trying communicate about in this article. Talking in a interview about himself Georges says, “I’m happy to share it and I talk a lot about my errors (in His book) because if you admit that you’re afraid, then you can overcome it. If you fear and you don’t admit it, that’s when you’re lying to yourself. Sharing it with the people, I’m honest with myself and I can step over it”. So true I think mixed martial arts teaches you how to take your fear, not cover it up, but admit it, and turn it into a positive output. GSP over and over in His book talks and centers on all his life’s experiences and how it affected Him, and what lessons He’s learned from them. He goes on to say his book is not only about about mixed martial arts but about life, and how the two intersect with each other in his experiences. Mixed Martial Arts a liberation of the spirit and soul, there’s no other sport like it. There’s a never ending learning of knowledge and wisdom to it. It’s the art that makes me feel more alive then anything else I have ever done.

mixed martial arts
mixed martial arts
mixed martial arts
mixed martial arts
mixed martial arts

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Fatigue makes cowards of men in MMA training. I found that out for myself.

In MMA training fatigue makes cowards of men

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA MMA training specifically the training that is meant for building endurance can be way more intimidating then sparring against a very tough opponent. At Combat Athlete MMA our Strength & Conditioning class is one of the most intense MMA fitness training classes you can take. Kru Jonesly Theus our head Muay Thai kick boxing instructor, and co-owner of Combat Athlete MMA Fairfield, N.J. devises a master plan every few weeks and thinks of different ways to train us and raise our MMA fitness to the next level. The class consists of 6 or 7 different core circuit training exercises to absolutely push us to the limit. Each exercise is done for 30 seconds with a 5 second rest moving onto the next movement. After about 20 minutes of doing this your gasping for air, and every muscle in your body hurts, your heart is beating out of your chest. Remember what I said, “Fatigue makes cowards of men”.. It is always coined also in our school by Paul “Opie” Fahey BJJ instructor and also co-owner of Combat Athlete MMA .

MMA conditioning there is none like it!

MMA conditioning there is none like it! Imagine you need to be in shape and fighting with energy for 15 to 25 minutes depending on a 3 or 5 round fight. It takes hours and hours of sparring , rolling, and conditioning to not only withstand inflicted punishment from your opponent for all this time but to make it through to the end. Punches, kicks,elbows,knees all of it! Name one sport on the planet that needs this kind of preparing for. Every time we train Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu everything is centered around our conditioning and technique, and of course the more we fatigue the more our technique breaks down. Kru Jonesly always has us spar at the end of class when we are good and tired so our 100 percent energy output is actually at a 50 percent level. The more we train, the better shape we get in then the technique stays good for longer periods of time. It’s a great method of training.

Kru Jonesly associates fighting with fatigue in our MMA strength and conditioning class.

Once again I will reiterate “Fatigue makes cowards of men”. If your looking for a challenging workout to push you beyond your limits  Combat Athlete MMA has the one of the most comprehensive MMA Strength & Conditioning workouts around. Kru Jonesly will finish off one of these grueling yet ever so satisfying sessions with associating fighting with fatigue, ever so genius, let me elaborate. Setting up the high hurdles in the middle of the floor, running and jumping them back and forth, back and forth (suicides). Doing that till we hear the whistle, and at the start point theres a bag waiting there for us to rain elbows 3 each side until another whistle sounds. To appreciate this you have to see it, or better yet do it! You gain a huge sense of fatigue while simulating some ground and pound with elbows. That one took me out! But took me to the next level. “Fatigue makes cowards of men”, what this truly means is that the true heart of a man comes out when he’s tired beyond words in the fight. You will see the soul and spirit of a warrior reveal itself for better or for worse.

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Firas Zahabi at heralded TRI STAR gym sitting in with Georges St. Pierre, and up and coming star Alex Garcia. He spoke about both of them to me.

Firas Zahabi tells me how the TRI STAR world is doing

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA Firas Zahabi TRI STAR gym’s leader and head instructor had sometime to give me a quick interview in his very busy schedule. Here’s what he had to say below.

Rich Finaldi : 1st of all congrats on another great win for Georges St. Pierre against Nick Diaz. You also had Yves Jabouin fighting recently at UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic. How is he doing after being KO’d by the dangerous Brad Pickett?

Firas Zahabi:  Yves is doing good back on the horse training after the knockout, Pickett was very powerful.

RF:  Who in the Tri-Star stable is up and coming and someone we should look out for?

FZ:  An up and coming fighter we have is Alex “The Dominican Nightmare” Garcia, I really look to see him hit the International stage and to be the next big star in MMA.

RF: Where is Georges mind at right now and who do you think he will fight next? Anderson Silva or Johny Hendricks.

Firas Zahabi: Georges will most likely fight Johny Hendricks 1st, then Anderson Silva and then call is quits, but nothing is in stone right now. I feel GSP has nothing to prove after these 2 fights. He will fight only at 185 against Anderson.

RF: Will Georges training be affected at all by being in the new Captain America film sequel?

FZ: It won’t be affected at all Georges will just be filming 4 or 5 days for the Captain America film.

RF: How is Rory McDonald doing after the neck injury? How is his rehab and training going? and will he fight this summer as rumored?

FZ: Rory Mcdonald is doing well after the neck injury, training good ,We are hoping he will return to the Octagon this summer.

RF: Lastly Firas How do you stay humble ? How do you not let the success of Tristar gym,and all your achievements in MMA not get the best of you in your career being now maybe the most successful trainer in MMA.

Firas Zahabi: I am always looking for the next best thing in my training of fighters so we at Tri Star don’t fall behind , always staying ahead of the curve . I always come from that state of mind , don’t let your gym , and team get bigger than then sport of MMA. …

Firas thank you very much for your time! Firas Zahabi has hit the pinnacle of the mixed martial arts world though you wouldn’t know it with his great approach and humility towards the sport and his fighters. Keep up the great work Firas, and good luck.

Firas Zahabi
Firas Zahabi
Firas Zahabi
Firas Zahabi
Firas Zahabi

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Will Johny Hendricks knock Georges St. Pierre off the mountain? Seen here praising each other on their UFC 158 win’s

Will Georges St. Pierre get thrown off the mountain by Johny Hendricks?

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA Well Georges St. Pierre will not have to guess who is going to challenge him for his title next time he steps into the octagon. That man will be the long denied, but very happy Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks. He made it look fairly easy with many a take down, and many significant left hand strikes to the face of the former UFC interim welterweight champion, Carlos Condit. Dana White made the declaration loud and clear, “No doubt about it. That fight was amazing tonight, man. I’m actually glad that it worked out that way. Because those really were the two guys to see who the number one guy is to face Georges St-Pierre. It was a sick fight and Johny Hendricks deserves it.” To me honestly Johny Hendricks faired much better then GSP did against Carlos Condit. In the other clash Georges St. Pierre made easy work in his efficient fashion of the brash brawler, Nick Diaz. Johny Hendricks is quite the match for the UFC’s welterweight champion.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks let’s break down the styles!

Georges St. Pierre has a great jab, very good Jiu Jitsu, and great elite level wrestling. He also is a genius when it comes to game planning before a fight, and state of the art training that no one can match. He has every plus factor going for him when he walks into the octagon on fight night. The question is with all that being said, is it enough to beat the tough Texan Hendricks. Maybe the question can be reversed also, With all that Johny Hendricks has, world class wrestling pedigree, with knock out power that resembles Mike Tyson’s back in the day, a very good chin, and the fact that he hasn’t even reached his full potential yet is a scary thought. One thing I know is that GSP will not be able to keep Johny down for too long if, and that’s a big “if”, he takes Hendricks down to the ground. For Georges to stay in the this fight and remain champ He will have to attack on angles and not, I repeat not stay lined up in front of Johny Hendricks because that’s when the big left hand will come right down the pipe, and that’s what Johny is great at, making up distance fast and throwing that left handed bomb. For Georges St. Pierre to win this fight He will have to approach this fight the way he did the Josh Koscheck fight, work the jab religiously, and have success with it. If that happens then Johny Hendricks will be protecting that right eye and forgetting about every other attack that GSP poses to bring. I honestly think Georges will not be able to do that against Hendricks, He’s better then Koscheck. I really think the main ingredient to beating Johny Hendricks will be to step it up get into heated exchanges with him then go for the take down and ground and pound. This will not be a decision type victory for Georges St. Pierre. No doubt it will be the most physical fight of his career.

Getting his much coveted title shot can Johny Hendricks upset Canada’s son Georges St. Pierre?

Johny Hendricks can definitely beat Georges St. Pierre , and take the belt from him. Here is what I think the winning formula will be. If Johny Hendricks can close the distance on GSP like he does against everyone else he’s fought and make this a stand up fight then I really think Georges St. Pierre as good as he is standing up will not be able to trade power punches with Hendricks. Also will GSP over compensate take down defense knowing Johny is a great wrestler?, and that Georges knows also he has that great wrestling defense as well. It could work against St. Pierre. That could gives Johny Hendricks the opportunity that he had against Jon Fitch, and Martin Kampmann which could spell a quick demise for the UFC’s welterweight champ. If it does go to the ground we will see that Hendricks has very good Jiu Jitsu as well if GSP ends up on top. If Georges St. Pierre manages to stay away from this type of attack from Hendricks then He will win. In order for Georges to win I think He will have to approach this fight the way he did against Josh Koscheck as I previously stated, GSP’s jab being effective can be the ultimate decider in this fight. If it is as successful as it was against Koscheck with Hendricks this can take Johny right out of his game plan. He might try often to take this fight to the ground and hope for a grind out victory which I think will play right into Georges St. Pierre’s hands. Johny Hendricks has stated He wants to fight Georges St. Pierre in September later this year, and He will wait for his title shot. Time will only tell if there will be a new welterweight champion in the UFC.

Georges St. Pierre
Georges St. Pierre
Georges St. Pierre
Georges St. Pierre
Georges St. Pierre

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Cat Zingano training for her upcoming fight with her husband Mauricio Zingano for Miesha Tate tonight at the Mandalay Bay events center in Las Vegas at the TUF season 17 finale.

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA  Alpha Cat Zingano has exploded onto the women’s MMA scene now in the UFC with her other counter parts, champ Ronda Rousey and Cat’s next opponent Miesha Tate. If Zingano beats Tate at The Ultimate Fighter season 17 tonight in Las Vegas, she will be the next contender in line to try to beat the face of women’s MMA today, Ronda Rousey. I had the chance to interview Cat, and this is what she said just about everything. I did this interview last month.

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
Cat the 1st question , and the most asked question. How did you get into Mixed Martial Arts?

Cat Zingano – I was looking to get back in shape after having a baby and ended up stopping by Zingano BJJ and Mauricio Zingano, now my husband, told me to take a class, I did and the rest is history…

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
Being in the UFC now, is this surreal almost like you have to pinch yourself to see if your dreaming?

Cat Zingano – It’s awesome to be in the UFC, it is surreal. I don’t pinch myself because I know that I belong in there, but none the less, it’s pretty awesome.

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
You have the fortunate situation that your husband Mauricio Zingano is a world renown BJJ black belt, and your main trainer. How does that all shake out for Mr. and Mrs. at the end of a hard day?

Cat Zingano – Some days are harder and some days are easier, but we make it work:)

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
At this point in your career what part of your game is your strong suit ? BJJ or your striking game? Or do you feel they are evenly matched ?

Cat Zingano – I think I’m pretty evenly matched I think.

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
When you got the call from the UFC and found out that you’d be fighting Miesha Tate at the TUF 17 finale next month what was your 1st reaction?

Cat Zingano – Well, I know my management and coaches had asked for that fight since the StrikeForce contract. I was pretty happy to get it.

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
When you were at UFC 157, part of something really big with all the attention on womens MMA. Did you feel your career took on more meaning for this historical fight?

Cat Zingano – Yes, for sure, It’s a big deal.

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
If you beat Miesha Tate , and face Ronda Rousey for title fight. What advantages do you think you have on her in the Octagon? And what’s your plan to avoid her outstanding arm bar?

Cat Zingano – I don’t have a “plan”, I don’t watch footage, I don’t game plan, I just fight. I guess we will find out what my advantages are.

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
Speaking about Rousey’s armbar , why do you think everyone else no matter how hard they trained against it still get caught in it?

Cat Zingano – Because she is good at it…. and I think people go in to concerned about it that they don’t go in in a offensive mode.

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
To me I think there are only two people that can deal with Rhonda’s strength in the Octagon, you and Cris Cyborg. Everyone else seems to get bullied by her. What’s your take on this?

Cat Zingano – I agree, I have no plans of being “bullied” by anyone.

Paige’s MMA Dad (Rich Finaldi) for Combat Athlete MMA
Lastly Cat, Once again if you beat Miesha Tate , who will be the 1st person you thank when Joe Rogan gives you the mike?

Cat Zingano – I’m sure you guys can guess the answer to that:)

Yes and I think that answer is “Mr. Zingano” Cat good luck! I think a lot of people will know exactly who you are after your 1st fight in the UFC with Miesha Tate at the TUF 17 finale.

Cat Zingano
Cat Zingano
Cat Zingano
Cat Zingano

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A hungry Johny Hendricks proves to be the most dangerous threat in the UFC’s 170 pound division photo courtesy of www.graciemag.com

A hungry Johny Hendricks at UFC 158 is a dangerous man!

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA I have had the pleasure of following UFC top welterweight Johny Hendricks for almost 2 years now, and the more I follow him the more I feel the anticipation of him getting closer to being the UFC welterweight champion. I have met him with my daughter Paige showing nothing short of great class and kindness, watched him beat Josh Koscheck in person, and have seen his stellar knockouts of Jon Fitch and Martin Kampmann. I will tell you this Johny Hendricks might not the biggest draw in the UFC, but he is truly the most dangerous man in his weight class. This is debated often, but look what he’s done the past 2 years. His quiet and very respectful demeanor he has left Johny temporarily to call out Georges St. Pierre for the title fight he so desperately wants a shot at. His hunger to win that belt has awakened the beast within. I have heard him in all his interviews and he really sounds like he will not be denied his dream, UFC gold.

The competition just doesn’t match up against Johny Hendricks.

TEAM TAKE DOWN’s corner of Marc Laimon, Steven Wright, and Adrian Ramirez which makes up Johny’s great team of trainers has told me to my face Johny has “heavyweight” power and strength. No wonder why he KO’s people so easily in the 170 lb division. You could actually see that his powerful left hand is not the power of an average welterweight. I don’t see how Carlos Condit in UFC 158 next week will pose a big threat for BIGG RIGG. The only way I see Condit having a chance against Johny is if he can get out of the 1st round without sent to the canvas like a collapsing building in a hurricane. Then at that point if he does evade Johny’s killer KO power, Carlos Condit needs to stick and move just like he did against Nick Diaz. If Hendricks decides to try to take down Condit it could be a very long night for Carlos in more ways than one where he could get grinded out like GSP did to him for 5 rounds. We all know that Johny Hendrick’s wrestling pedigree is a much higher level then Georges St. Pierre’s is. Speaking of the king himself GSP, some have said including Johny Hendricks that he has ducked the fighter from Oklahoma fearing his knock out power, and overall game. I watched UFC Insider with Jon Anik this past Tuesday when they miked up Rory Macdonald for UFC 154 where Johny Hendricks KO’d Martin Kampmann in :46 seconds of the 1st round. Rory was very impressed in Hendrick’s performance, and the one thing he said that stood out to me is that amount of space Johny can cover to be in your face in a split second. I said to myself besides the power that he has, and the great wrestling Johny has, his ability to cover distance in a short amount of time maybe too much for anyone to deal with. I think the only person that might have a shot of beating Johny Hendricks is Nick Diaz. The reason being Nick can stand with anyone, and if it goes to the ground he has a chance of submitting Johny.

My take on Johny Hendricks and why I think he’s the best welterweight in the world.

When I watched Johny Hendricks knockout a very very tough Martin Kampmann in :46 seconds I was sold, I was convinced 100% that this 2 NCAA national wrestling champion is the best welterweight in the world. I honestly don’t think Carlos Condit, Georges St. Pierre, or Nick Diaz can beat Johny Hendricks. Many people will disagree with me, but Johny keeps proving the naysayers wrong. Not to mention Johny has a very good BJJ game that goes unnoticed because most of his fights finish with him standing. Another thing is that he probably hasn’t even come close to reaching his full potential yet. Sometimes to me his great ability seems to be raw, which is a good thing because that means he can refine certain aspects of his game more and more. At the age 29 Johny Hendricks going into UFC 158 is rapidly approaching his peak in his MMA career. The clear path thought to be after the Kampmann fight to the title shot with GSP only proved to be a bumpy road, but the road that Johny is has only made his desire to be champion that much greater

Johny Hendricks
Johny Hendricks
Johny Hendricks
Johny Hendricks
Johny Hendricks

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Paul “Opie” Fahey and Kru Jonesly Theus co-owners of Combat Athlete MMA. A lot more then a typical Mixed Martial Arts school

Combat Athlete MMA  Mixed Martial Arts and more!

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA our school is much much more than a regular mixed martial arts school. You’ll learn about life, the human psyche and about yourself, moreover the other advantages and benefits are getting in great health, learning combat skills, and how we interact with each other in the in the sport of mixed martial arts. We have two of the best teachers in the tri-state area, Brazilian ju-jitsu instructor Paul “Opie” Fahey who is a Brazilian ju-jitsu black belt under former UFC welterweight champion Matt “The Terror” Serra and his brother Nick Serra. The second part of this winning formula is our Muay Thai instructor Kru Jonesly Theus. Jonesly is a semi pro Muay thai champion in all the five boroughs of New York boasting a seven and one record with 4  knockouts. See what Paul and Jonesly try to give their students at Combat Athlete MMA is the tools to succeed in life through the lessons we learn from A to Z in the training of mixed martial arts. I will now mention some of the valuable lessons I have learned through both of them the last few years.

Valuable lessons I’ve learned training MMA at Combat Athlete MMA

Though all the stresses in life we all have, training mixed martial arts the last 3 some odd years has taught me how to fight not only on the mats of our school but apply these same lessons and wisdom to our lives. These two men cast pearls of wisdom every single class that I take at Combat Athlete MMA. Kru Jonesly Theus always says “Fake it till you make it”. In other words keep training keep fighting keep working the technique that is taught in class that day and even if your technique isn’t that sound at first. Keep doing it, don’t give up ,don’t get down and eventually it will improve and become second nature. My very first class at Combat Athlete MMA I felt so uncoordinated, really lost and demoralized. Here I was my whole life an athlete playing football,baseball,soccer,basketball, and good at all of them. Mixed martial arts is a totally different animal. Because brawn, strength, and aggressiveness means very little in MMA. Paul “Opie” Fahey our BJJ instructor at the school is a tremendous teacher he can teach a very technical move to a beginner in the sport and make it very understandable to him or her. Or the opposite Paul can make an advanced BJJ student understand a very simple move and make make that student understand all the knowledge, and the nuances of it to see a deeper understanding of its meaning. Paul like Jonesly has coined a few phrases that he likes to repeat that really makes a lot of sense. He always says, “Fatigue makes cowards of men”. What that means to me is you can be big and bad, rough and tough, but when that persons opponent doesn’t get tired that easy into the fight and weathers the storm whether it be on the mats or on the street if your endurance isn’t good you will fade to a person that has greater cardio, technique, and heart. Really makes sense.

What makes Combat Athlete MMA better then other MMA schools?

I am going to be 43 this June, and I started training MMA at some point during my 39th year. I found a little of what I was looking for in a few MMA schools I tried. The problem was that I couldn’t find everything I was looking for in any of those schools, not even close! Combat Athlete MMA is not an overpriced school in these tough economic times were in. Very fair prices! Different plans for everyone! Also the professional instruction from Kru Jonesly and Sensei Paul is second to none. The quality of teaching they possess is priceless compared to overpriced schools that promise a black belt in 4 years. Which I know of one What happens in these types of schools is that when they goto competition in BJJ tournaments they find out their belts and ranks don’t hold the weight like they thought it did. Also the people their are awesome, a few other mantras that Paul and Jonesly preach are things like, “Leave your ego at the door” or “Train like a team, fight like a family”. These 2 men really understand how to handle every type of student in the school from the person that wants to fight, to the person that just wants to lower their cholesterol , lose weight, and get into good health. I would never suggest another type of school to beginner searching for the right fit in an MMA school. Come down the atmosphere is fun, fun with a purpose, challenging for each person to meet their own goals, not the schools goals. Overall Combat Athlete MMA possesses everything you look for in a great MMA school. No need to look any further!

Combat Athlete
Combat Athlete
Combat Athlete
Combat Athlete
Combat Athlete

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Philippides the ancient Greek courier teaches us that you can literally push yourself to death to accomplish your mission if need be making us realize we have way more fight in us then we think

When you think you have no fight left in you …….think again!

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA When you think the fight has left you think again. Kru Jonesly Theus at my school Combat Athlete MMA frequently before or after class will give us a huge piece of wisdom that he has learned for himself. Last week he spoke about the traditional story that relates Philippides an Athenian courier or herald back in ancient Greece. He was sent to Sparta to request help when the Persians landed at Marathon, Greece. He ran 150 miles in two days. He then ran another 25 miles from the battlefield near Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon he subsequently died once giving the message. Just amazing! Think about it when we think we have left it all on the mat training BJJ or sparring in Muay Thai, or even in a strength and conditioning class, we always have more somehow to give. The human body and spirit is a lot stronger than we think. Ancient Greek writer Lucian wrote the account this way: “Philippides, the one who acted as courier, is said to have used it first in our sense when he brought the news of victory from Marathon and addressed the magistrates in session when they were anxious how the battle had ended ; “Joy to you, we’ve won” he said, and there and then he died, breathing his last breath with the words “Joy to you”

We have way more fight in us then we even know

Just amazing, determination, heart, spirit, and the human will is boundless. Kru Jonesly went on saying, “We think we go to the brink, to the end of ourselves, and have no energy or fight left to give, then we always find out there’s a lot more”. Philippides literally in every sense of the word “gave his all” then died. His heart just gave out, like a car overheating and the engine dying, it has taken all it can handle. How do we apply this to our mixed martial arts training? In many ways, I will just mention a few. When were gassed on that mat and our opponent is sinking in the rear naked choke, you can’t breath anymore, your arms are lifeless, you have nothing more to give! Or do you? See when we gas out or have trained or fought in a class until we just can’t breath, can’t stand up, can’t do anything we need to the know the lesson of Philippides. He did give every fiber of his soul and being to accomplish his task in letting the Athenians know they won in the Battle of Marathon. In sparring your gassed again your opponent is going in for the kill you can’t let your arms down, you do have more to give! It’s our mind that stops us. It’s a very true lesson to know that it does not matter how many times you get knocked down of tapped out, but how many times you go back for more and more. That plays on your opponents mind. That never give up spirit that Philippides had. It was a never say die spirit until he actually did die, but the key was he never gave up.

Like Kru Jonesly says the fight starts when your tired and have nothing left.

Kru Jonesly Theus at Combat Athlete MMA says that the fight doesn’t start until you have nothing left in you, energy is gone, technique breaks down, and you feel like a building is on top of your chest squeezing every last bit of air out of your lungs. It’s really a horrible feeling I’ve got to tell you. Then and only then is when you have to grab deep down inside for every bit of will, and intestinal fortitude you can muster up in a fight, and believe it or not that’s where the battle is won or lost. Our BJJ instructor Paul “Opie” Fahey always says, “Fatigue makes cowards of men”. Think about that it’s so true. It’s easy to come out guns blazing even with the knockout punch, and your opponent is down, BUT not knocked out. I see this so so many times in the UFC a guy is getting blasted in the beginning, it looks like lights out for him, his face full of blood, and your like,“It’s over”. Next thing you know he’s hanging on for dear life just like Philippides did thousands of years ago when he brought his beacon of hope and message to the Athenians to say victory was theres. The next time your in this position about to give up remember you have a lot of fight left in you before you could actually die. This insight alone will help you push yourself harder and harder when your training in MMA in a combat situation.

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fight
fight
fight
fight

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Red hot Anthony Pettis Dropping to Featherweight to face Jose Aldo for UFC title. (photo courtesy of Sherdog.com)

Anthony Pettis Dropping to Featherweight to face Jose Aldo for UFC title

Rich Finaldi here once again for Combat Athlete MMA UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis for the meantime can be called a “featherweight” as the UFC announced he will get the title bid against the stellar Jose Aldo on August 3rd this year at a to-be-named event on that date. Pettis looked absolutely perfect in his recent fight against Donald Cerrone at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson with a TKO. This news came as a shock to the MMA world as Anthony Pettis was thought to be fighting Ben Henderson for the UFC lightweight belt. It would be a rematch for the two from their WEC clash where Pettis hit the highlight reel knockout kick off the cage.

Anthony Pettis , Jose Aldo a beautiful match up skill for skill

Anthony Pettis is a high level black belt in Tae Kwon Do. His kicks and acrobatics come at all different levels and from all over the place with insane accuracy. Jose Aldo as we all know has tremendous kicks the legs that can chop down a Douglas fir. His Muay Thai and striking ability is 2nd to none except maybe Anderson Silva. See Frankie Edgar the great champion he is in every sense of the word was not a good match up for Aldo. I think reach, size difference, and matched speed kept Edgar at bay for the most part. Pettis brings a whole different repertoire to the dance against Jose Aldo, head kicks, multiple technique and multiple level spinning back kicks etc..etc. etc.

My prediction for the Anthony Pettis vs. Jose Aldo clash

You know predictions for fights I am learning are very hard to do. Unless it’s a very clear pick, but even then you never know. One thing I know this fight should be very close. I do indeed think there will be a finish from one fighter or the other. If Pettis can stay away from Aldo’s flying knees, and leg kicks, he has a great shot to win just like Frankie Edgar managed to avoid those kicks for the most part and turned out a valiant performance. I think these 2 fighters are very similar. I honestly think this fight is a pick em who makes the least mistakes will win. The only question will be how does Anthony Pettis handle the weight cut to 145 lbs? After I saw Antonio Big Foot Silva knock Alistair Overeem senseless last week, anything is possible. Aldo on the other hand might take the fight to Anthony Pettis with constant pressure and break him down systematically. We shall see.

Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis

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