I will begin today's sermon with a biblical quote for you - "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds..." (Matthew 5 verse 16). Why quote that here on an MMA website?... well it's a reference to setting a good example. In a Christian sense this would mean behaving in such a way that people associate with Christians i.e not swearing, carousing, gambling and robbing orphanages. But instead showing love, charity and faith.

                                                        

In my job (which you may have noticed, I refer to regularly) I do this on a daily basis. I have to so that the kids can have a bench mark for their behaviour. If I ran around smashing windows and calling the headteacher a '****er' then they would follow suit with smiles on their faces. Likewise, as I mentioned in one of my first blogs, if I ask anything of a student it is never, ever anything I wouldn't be prepared to do myself. An important facet of my work is positive modelling - demonstrating behaviour that you want the kids to copy. Also you need to give them the attention and care they need to learn and progress and to develop the skills which will see them included in society rather than excluded. The theory is essentially to demonstrate the skill, teach the skill, refine points through coaching, then put them in a situation where they have to apply the skill practically. Eventually you hope they have learned enough to show off their skills in a challenging setting i.e society. Then it's down to them and our fingers remain crossed. Some succeed, others fail... such is the harsh reality of life.

           
 

So how does this apply (once again) to MMA? I am constantly drawing comparisons between the different areas of my life. At school they are fed up of MMA, at MMA they are fed up of school and in my personal life I am fed up of both.... that was a joke boss.... and Pep. Well the parallels between the methods of learning are clear. The teaching, demonstrating, coaching, etc is obvious in most sports. And the challenging setting in MMA is the fight, when the cornerman have to stay out of the ring and leave you to it. But there is more to it. That is where the biblical reference comes in.

 

It boils down to passion. Ultimately that's what makes the difference. I have in the past gone through the motions and stuttered and stalled and my learning has plateaued and even dropped off. Having a genuine passion for something you love is difficult to maintain when you're purely self motivated. However, if you start paying more attention to those around you the pay offs are huge, because everyone makes progress, everyone enjoys and everyone makes that minute amount more effort for each other. I have said in the previous 2 blogs that I have a fresh resolve with MMA and with life and this is something I see as key. I have also mentioned previously about MMA being a team sport. Well the 'team' starts with every individual contributing. Think of it like a body... without a hand or a foot the body is incomplete and won't function fully. Even the smallest part has a role vital in the body's smooth running. Well I am a 'hand' in the team, others may be the 'head'.... Matt is almost certainly the..... no I won't say it.... and John the stomach. My resolve now is to play my role as best I can for the good of the body as for too long I have conceitedly considered myself the 'heart'. That is a pious and egotistical comment, but probably true.

 

                                                    

To refer back to the quote at the start. 'Good deeds' and 'letting your light shine' means putting yourself out willingly, it means being 'professional' in your aproach, it means listening to the coaches and not being so pompous as to talk over them, it means looking after your team mates in and out of training and showing in your behaviour and words and actions that the team matters and counts for something. Perhaps even more importantly it means not doing anything that would contradict any of these aspects as that would be negative and damaging. 

All the members of any successful sports team will talk about the 'family' feeling they had and the lengths they will go to for each others' success. Doing this is a long process. You cannot overnight expect people to see your 'good deeds' and for the team ethos to build... but in time those deeds will become more apparent and the team gets stronger.   

 

I have tried to wring some of my ego out of my personality recently and with luck, as time passes, I can 'let my light shine' for the good of the team... hopefully without blinding anyone.'



Photos are of Dave's last fight at Ultimate Gladiators, Provided by Laura Slater