MMA Lucena members Jam and Jasper grappling on the mat. Photo courtesy of MMA Lucena
To ordinary viewers whose encounters with Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is limited to what they see on the TV or the internet, the mention of the sport usually brings the images of fighters with rock-hard physiques battling it out in a metal cage to mind – trickles of blood gushing from cuts and gashes obtained from attempting to knock the other out or forcing them to surrender while holding on for dear life.
However, to actual MMA practitioners who have staked their all on the ring before, there’s more to MMA than sweat, pain, and the perceived machismo that has often been associated with the sport.
This week, let’s take a glimpse at the world of mixed martial arts as members of MMA Lucena, headed by Coach Marc Louie “Maui” Aldovino, tell us about their stories.
What is MMA?
Coach Maui: They say MMA is different martial arts put together to find out which is the most effective, but for us, MMA is a sport that combines the different aspects of various martial arts to produce one solid art.
How did you get your start in MMA?
Coach Maui: An article featuring Yaw-Yan – a hybrid form of kickboxing — caught my interest. I’ve been doing Karate and Taekwondo since I was a kid, so I thought it might be worth a try.
I initially fought on underground matches as a prize fighter until I decided to make the jump from an amateur to a professional MMA fighter.
In 2009, I started teaching MMA. I started with training two guys, then ended up having around sixty-five trainees under my wing.
How about you guys, what inspired you to take up the sport?
Willie: Coach was an instructor at the school where I’m studying. I was impressed by his skills, so I was inspired to join the team to achieve a higher level of understanding of martial arts.
Jam: At first, I just wanted to become stronger and fitter, but as I continued training, I learned other things like focus, loyalty, and camaraderie. Now, MMA is my life.
Dave: My goal was mostly fitness and self-defense at first, but after I got to see how good and well-rounded the trainer is, I became inspired to keep doing it.
Raymark: I got involved in a fight before, so I wanted to learn how to defend myself. I gave it a try, saw it was fun, and now, here I am.
Bong: At first, I found it was a good way to release pent-up stress, but as I kept training, I grew to love the sport and the sense of discipline it instilled in me, so now it has become a part of the lifestyle that I live by.
Diane: I’ve been training in boxing since I was studying in Manila, and I would compete in tournaments at times. After I got back in Lucena, my dad encouraged me to join the team.
Kim: I’ve always wanted to train in the martial arts, but I never had the time. Luckily, I found this group.
Is MMA a violent sport?
Coach Maui: No, not really. I guess it’s just that compared to other traditional martial arts, MMA does not place much emphasis on standard forms. Traditional martial arts require precision; MMA focuses on efficiency – on finishing the fight as quickly as you can.
Some moves seem to involve some degree of pain. What motivates you to keep training?
LJ: Pain is always a part of many sports, so it cannot be completely avoided; but I can say that so far, none of us has gotten seriously hurt. It’s really up to how you handle the training.
Dave: Trust. Coach is very hands-on when it comes to the training. He personally watches over everyone, and he won’t let you get hurt.
Reymark: The coach makes sure that we’ve had appropriate training and conditioning before we step in the ring, so we’re not really worried about getting hurt.
Jenna: For me, it’s the passion to learn and grow.
What is your training regimen like?
Coach Maui: Our training is like a pyramid composed of three levels: the base which can be judo or wrestling, kickboxing or Muay Thai for striking, then Jiu Jitsu for grappling. It depends on the trainee because we allow them to choose what they want to learn.
MMA Lucena coach Marc Louie Aldovino and member Art Mendiola posing together after the latter’s win at the recently concluded Pan-Asian Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament held last May.
Photo courtesy of MMA Lucena
How about the hours? How often and how long do you usually train?
Coach Maui: Training is Monday to Friday and usually starts from 7 PM and ends at 10:30, but since a good number of our trainees are working professionals, we let those who can’t come in earlier to practice until much later — sometimes even until dawn.
Have you guys competed in any MMA tournaments?
Coach Maui: Yes, we participated in our first MMA tournament on June 20, 2012 and we’re proud to say that all of the eight guys who competed won. We also participated in the Philippine Novice Open in Jiu Jitsu, the Academy Fighting Championship, the International Jiu Jitsu Open, and the Pan-Asian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi and No Gi & Kids International held last May 12-13 where our team was proclaimed the overall champion.
What’s the best thing about MMA? What about the most challenging thing?
Willie: Size doesn’t matter, so everyone has equal chances of proving their skills. The only challenging things are maintaining self-discipline and the endurance training.
LJ: It’s not a mainstream sport yet, so we get to introduce it to more people. Also, you get to lose weight while practically playing around.
Jam: There are equal opportunities for both genders to excel. As a girl, it’s empowering to know that we can stand our ground against male opponents. The challenge is to stay strong, perfect your techniques, and tap them out.
Dave: The best part is you can learn at your own pace; the challenging part is applying what you learn in real life. Practicing it on the mat is easy; fighting with actual opponents in official matches is a different story.
Has any of you guys suffered any injuries before? How did you deal with it?
Gico: No major injuries that we can recall. Just a couple of mat burns. That’s normal in the sport. It eventually heals.
As a practitioner of MMA, what are you most proud of?
Willie: Even if I’m still young, I get to spar with much older fighters who are about twice my height and size. Being able to overcome those obstacles – it can be quite fulfilling.
Jam: I think just to be able to keep up with the other trainees every night in spite of the intense training is already an achievement in itself. Also, I’m proud that our coach is really good, so we get to learn a lot.
Raymark: The members of the team are all well-disciplined. None of us has any records of getting into fights because we consider the ring as our battleground.
Members of MMA Lucena posing for a quick group shot after one of their training sessions.
Photo courtesy of MMA Lucena
Do you have any specific goals that you want to achieve as an MMA fighter?
Raymark: To represent MMA Lucena in the URCC.
Willie: To gain more recognition for MMA Lucena.
LJ: For the team to grow even bigger and to be able to invite more youngsters to join the team.
Diane: To be able to participate in an MMA tournament.
Do you have any advice or message to other people who are interested in taking up MMA or joining your team?
Jam: Training is fun, so it’s really worth the time and effort.
Raymark: Before you join the team, make sure you do it for the right reasons. If you think MMA is about fighting and looking cool, you’re getting the wrong idea.
Willie: Training is fun. Everything will be taught to you step-by-step, so you don’t need to feel pressured or afraid.
LJ: Taking MMA is a good way to stay fit, so if you want to lose weight, you should give it a try. Aside from that, it’s also a great way to boost your confidence and learn how to defend yourself.
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