Heiho Dojo

What an amazing time we had at XFC XII this last weekend. Amazing fights from local talent, and out of province. We want to give Chris a huge shout out to all the work he put in the get him where he is. Chris fought a very tough opponent and made it last all three rounds. Shout out to his opponent Dylan for taking on the challenge. Great people, great event. And lots to chalk up to experience. Chris, you are a savage, we love having you as a part of the team!

Competition can be a funny thing. It can bring out the best and the worst in you, and trying to find a balance in the middle of all that chaos can be elusive.

So why put yourself through all that physical and mental stress?

I’m always curious to ask athletes this question: Why?

When you get below the surface, you get different answers all the time. Some people are trying to prove something to themselves, while others are trying to prove something to somebody else. Others are trying to rectify something that was wronged earlier in life. Some want to know if they can do it, or if they can handle it.

Regardless of the reason, the athletes who are able to rise above all of those motivating factors and stick to a real long-term training regimen seem to be the ones who go the furthest.

And I’m not just talking about competition either, but training recreationally for life as well.

There are multitudes of people who don’t compete but fight a different battle. All kinds of responsibilities pull us in multiple directions, so showing up and making time for a class that is probably one of the hardest things you’ve ever done takes a lot of gusto.

Maybe it’s stubbornness that gets you through. Maybe it’s a health goal that helps get you to the end. Either way, whatever the beginning, it’s always easier with a team for support.

Being in the position that I have been, I’ve had the pleasure of working with tens of thousands of people from all kinds of backgrounds. Their origin stories have always impressed me. But I’ve traditionally been even more impressed by their longevity stories.

What keeps you going?