My Fight/Your Fight

DISREGARD NONESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Everything in the world is information. The information you choose to acknowledge and the information you choose to ignore is up to you. You can let outside factors beyond your control throw off your focus. You can let aching muscles hold you back. You can let silence make you feel unfomfortable. By choosing to focus only in the information that is necessary, you can tune out every distraction, and achieve far more.

RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE RUINED EASILY WERE NEVER WORTH MUCH

“I expect that if someone is overseeing such an invaluable and important part of my life as my career, they should give a damn about me.”

The longer you’re in a relationship, with a coach or anyone, the harder it becomes to walk away. A lot of people stay places too long because they don’t want to have those difficult conversations or risk ruining relationships. But if the people arround you aren’t willing to accept what is best for you, your relationship with them wasn’t as meaful as you thoght. A relationship worth anything will endure the process.

SOMEONE HAS TO BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD. WHY NOT YOU?

That is a question Ronda’s mom asked her many times. Her question was not rhetorical. She knwe what it took to be the best in the world. She had been a world champion. Being the best in the world is not easy, but is completely achieable.

VOCABULARY

Inflated:

Endure:

A LOSS IS STILL A LOSS, BIT IT’S BETTER TO GO OUT IN FLAMING GLORY

"I’ve always gone for the finish, giving my all until the very end. The idea of losing while platying it safe is appalling me. I just can’t stand the idea of not leaving everything out there. I would rather take a big risk and throw a Hail Mary, hoping it will work, instead of playing it safe in those last few second and losing the decision. I woudn’t be able to live with the regret that would come from wishing that I’d tried something crazy instead. I don’t gamble on the hope that maybe it could go my way with the judges. I throw everything on the line while it’s still in my hands.”

“I will never be OK with losing, but losing in the wrong way, losing with regret, can take your pride away. I’ve never chosen to lose that way.”

THIS IS MY SITUATION, BUT THIS ISN’T MY LIFE.

When you’re in the middle of the hustle, there are going to be times whn your life is complete shit and you’ve got absolutely nothing to snow for the effort you’ve put in. I dont’t just mean tough times, ut the moments when you have to swallow your pride and check your ego. I’m talking about the kind of times where, if it were happening to someone else, you would silently be thanking God that it wasn’t to you.

YOU CANT RELY ON JUST ONE THING TO MAKE YOU HAPPY

There are moments where no matter who you are or what you represent, people will be so impressed by what they see that the will forget everything else. If the performance is great enough, nothing else matters.

VOCABULARY

Sewage:  Liquid and solid waste carried off in sewers or drains.

Kettle: A vessel, usually made of metal and with a handle, used for boiling liquids or cooking foods.

Scooped:  pick up and move (something) with a scoop.

EVERYTHING IS AS EASY AS A DECISION

"You’re sitting in the cubicle at the job that you hate and you feel awsome. And you’re sitting on the beach with a drink in your hand and feel terrible. Hoow you feel is entirely in your mind. Your mind has nothing to do with your environment. It has nothing to do with anyone around you. It is entirely your decision.

Making a change in your life is as easy as making a decision and acting on it. That’s it”.

WHEN DO WE CROSS THE MAGICAL BOUNDARY THAT STOPS YOU FROM DREAMING BIG?

“People talk about how I’m so arrogant. They don’t realize how much work went into getting where I am. I worked so hard to be able to think highly of myself. When people say, “Oh, you’re so cocky. You’re so arrogant”, I feel like they’re telling me that I think too highly of my self. My question for them is: “Who are you to tell me that I need to think less of myself?”

“People want to project their own insecurities on others, but I refuse to allow them to put that on me. “Just because you don’t think that you could be the best in the world doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t have the confidence to believe I can do anything.”

PEOPLE APPRECIATE EXCELLENCE NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE

“There are moments where no matter who you are or what you represent, people will be so impressed by what they see that the will forget everything else. If the performance is great enough, nothing else matters.”

VOCABULARY

Purge: Eliminate unwanted things.

“ Purge the air from a water pipe.”

Zoomed:  move or travel very quickly.

"We watched the fly zooming about"

Dripping:  extremely wet.

PEOPLE AROUND YOU CONTROL YOUR REALITY

This is a great chapter because it talks about Ronda’s evolution living without her family and in New York. What I liked about this chapter is the time when Ronda notice she is not good there and she needs to be with her people not the bunch of hypocrites she usted to live with.

Sometimes people need a break from their reality but not in a drastic way like Ronda did. But the good learining about the experiences that she had is that made her realize that her life wasn’t as bad as she tought and instead she realized she was very blessed.

“You can’t just be attacking people because you don’t like what they say.” My mom was irate. “If that was the case, people would be punching people in the face all the time.”

THE END OF A FAILED MOVE IS ALWAYS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT ONE

“Instead of being frustrated by what most people saw as a failure, I looked at is as an opportunity to create something new.”

This was a very short chapter but a very wise one. The quote that is up here shows perfectly what I think when I have a problem, I always try to see the positive things about the worst scenarios and try to create something so that I don’t have a bad time.

ANYTHING OF VALUE HAS TO BE EARNED

"When you earn something, you never have to worry about justifying that you truly deserve it.”

Here Ronda talks about the second time she went to the Junior World Judo Championship but thanks to the referees she didn’t won her second medal, she  would be the first American to win two of them. She knew she deserved the victory and that’s way she was so upset and angry, she didn’t deserve the lost.

VOCABULARY

Shrieked: scream with a high-pitched noise

“She shrieked with fear"

Immersed: when you are involved deeply with something or a particular activity.

"She immersed herself in her work"

Breezed: a thing that is easy to do

NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BEAT YOU

Ronda talks about her first victory in the Junior World Judo Championships and how proud she felt when she knew she was the first American to win it.

“Don’t hope for the easy draw,” my mom used to tell me. “You are the bad draw. You be the person other girls hope they don’t have to face.”

Ronda’s mom said this to her three weeks after Ronda lost the Olympics and she took it very seriously because at least I don’t want to be inside in an octagon with her, I know she is my idol  but also the person I am scared the most.

YOU WILL NEVER WIN A FIGHT BY RUNNING AWAY

“It’s not about winning, it is about how you win.”

This chapter Ronda talks about a mistake she made when she was 18 and at the top of her life at that moment. Everyone makes mistakes but it depends of each one what you do to correct it but Ronda learns that running away wasn’t the best idea she felt coward.

DON’T RELY ON OTHERS TO MAKE YOUR DECISIONS

Ronda talks about her first weeks living in an other city after she escaped to NYC. The first weeks were very cool she thought she had control of everything in her life but then her best friend kicked her out of her house because she was there more than 3 weeks. At the end Ronda sees that it is not as easy as she thought it was.

It is important to make your own decisions as long as you think carefully before executing them.

VOCABULARY

Faux: Something o someone fake/flase, not genuine

“My faux of coach was getting into my nerves.”

Relentlessness: it is a good word for describing something that is harsh and persistent.

“My relentlessness make me do anything I want to ”

Shrugged: raise one shoulder slightly with ignorance.

 KNOW WHEN TO MOVE ON

In this chapter Ronda talks about the first experience she had when it was time to change her coach. As she said:

“Talking the next step isn’t always easy. [...] They let fear hold them back.”

Only wise people know when it’s right to let things go and change their environment so that you can explore more of yourself and don’t be affraid of the unknown.

FIND FULFILLMENT IN THE SACRIFICES

“Most people focus on the wrong thing: They focus on the result, not the process.”

Few people know the difference between each one but not everybody choose the process over the result. People only want to know if you win not the journey you had along the way to commit your goals.

 In this chapter Ronda talk about the first few weeks when she was in Massachussetts with her new coach, Big Jim. After I read it I was shocked because here Ronda talks about the first experience she had with bulimia and what developed this disorder.

YOU HAVE TO BE THE BEST ON YOUR WORST DAY

The name of the chapter says it all.  In this chapter Ronda talks about the experience she had when she was 17 and it was the Olympics in Athens, Greece. She didn’t win a medal she was 4th place but of course for she it wasn’t enough at that age that she didn’t win a gold medal, but everyone was more than excited. She was the youngest athlete in the entire Olympics.

She did have a bad day but it din’t affected from her goals instead she returned to the US so that she can trained harder so next time she could win.

The name of the chapter it’s kind the motto of my life you can’t let people turn you down instead you have to take every experience and make it worth it.

VOCABULARY

Anew: a new, different and positive way

"Her career had begun anew, with a lucrative Japanese modeling contract"

Heaved: lift something with a lot of effort.

"He heaved the sofa back into place"

Natatorium: a swimming pool.

PAIN IS JUST ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION

“I refuse to allow pain to dictate my decision making”

This is a quote from the introduction of the chapter and I like a lot what Ronda said about it “Let the following story serve as a cautionary tale if you are considering cutting class”. This is a chapter where Ronda talks about one injury she had when she was in high school and broke her toe.

Here is a a quote that Ronda’s mom said to her:

“If you want to win the way you say you do, you need to be able to compete, even when you´re in pain.”

I love the way Ronda’s mom raised her, but sometimes Ronda needed love some times. And I can´t agree more with her if people has the determination and they do what they say the will everyone can accomplish their goals.

TURN LIMITATIONS INTO OPPORTUNITIES

“Don’t focus on what you can’t do. Focus on what you can.”

I love this chapter, thanks to an onther knee injury that she had, she developled the hability of doing amazing armbars, wich they are her signature. You need to see every single opportunity you have infront of you even if you think you can’t make it that’s when you surprise yourself.

TRUST IN KNOWLEDGE, NOT IN STRENGTH

“One of the tenets that judo founded upon is “Maximum efficiency, minimum effort.” That has really defined my carees. It’s the foundation of all techniques and everything I do.”

In this chapter Ronda specifically spoke about drugs in her sport, MMA. She never use drug because she said that people who use them don’t believe in themselves and the only thing people can’t inject into thier asses is belief. I really think the same as Ronda because drugs are a lie where people can live in their world and drag them off.

VOCABULARY

Propped: Support something with a rigid object.

“My teammate sat with her foot propped up"

Hobbled: Walk with difficulty because of a injury.

“I start to hobbled becuase I hurt myself.”

Whir: the sound of whirring, a humming or buzzing sound.

TRAGEDY PRECEDES SUCCES

Well this chapter talks about what Ronda’s familiy had done after her dad’s death. I found a quote that describe a thought that Ronda and I can share and not everybody think the same.

“My dad’s death set off a series of events that would not have occurred had he lived.”

WOW, not everyone see the death of someone beloved as Ronda do. I respect a lot the death but also in every miserable situation you have to see the bright side even if you can’t see it immediately  for me it was very difficult, it took me almost two years to see that side after the death of my best friend.

DO NOT ACCEPT LESS THAN WHAT YOU’RE CAPABLE OF

“Don’t you ever let anyone tell you that not doing your absolute best is good enough.” - Ronda’s mom

Ronda’s mom is a very wise woman, after I read the book I admire the way she raised Ronda. She is the responsable of Ronda’s attitude of life and I want to reach the level of self-confidence as she has.

JUST BECAUSE IT’S A RULE DOESN’T MEAN IT’S RIGHT

“In sports, there are rules that keep you safe. In life there are rules that keep the world from descending into total chaos. In both, there are rules that people make up to hide behind or for their own benefit. You have to be smart enough to know the difference.”

Once more, I agree with Ronda.  Not everyone know the difference between each one. That’s way the smartest people don’t let anyone fool them or make fun of themselves.

VOCABULARY:

Fractal: a geometrical stucture with an irregular shape.

“Denis gave my mom a pink fractal with roses for Valentine’s”

Tugged:  pull something hard or with effort.

“I  tugged the bell rope so that other can hear the recess was over.”

Sob:  cry uncontrollably.

EVERYTHING CAN CHANGE IN A SPLIT SECOND

“The knowledge that everything good can be taken away at any second is what makes me work so hard.”

I think the same as Ronda does. I am a person that works hard to make everything that I want possible and to make memories that worth it.

In this chapter Ronda talks about the start of her worst tragic ever, the accident that his Dad had when she was 3 years old. But that doesn´t make her to stop doing what she liked, it was very strong for Ronda to look at her Dad like that, she said that after Dad’s accident no one in her family was quite the same.

NEVER UNDERSTIMATE AN OPPONENT

Ronda talks about of the speech struggles that she had when she was very little. I love this quote:

“A sleeper just waits and when the time is right, they come out and wow everyone. That’s you kiddo. Don’t worry.” - Ronda’s Dad

This is basically one of Ronda’s philosophies of life and I loved this when I read it. You don’t have to be the loudest person or the cockiest so that people know you exist. Like Ronda’s Dad said, the people that are sleeprs are the ones that surprise more to everyone.

LOSING IS ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING EXPERIENCES IN LIFE

“When I lose, I mourn a piece of me dying. The only thing worse than that is mourning the dead of somebody else.”

This has been the strongest chapter to me. She talks about the dead of his father and I could understand what she was feeling. My best friend comitted suicide 3 years ago, I know it’s not the same person that we lost but it is the same cause why we lost one of the people who we loved the most.

VOCABULARY

Volatile: when something or a situation changes rapidly and  unpredictably especially for the worse.

“The economic tituation of Mexico was becoming more volatile"

Mourn:  feel or show deep sorrow or regret for someone or their dead.

“Ronda mourned her dad" 

Talipipe: the pipe through which exhaust gases in a motor vehicle.

WHY I FIGHT

This is a small chapter were she talks about why she fight and why she does what she does. What I relized about every chapter that I’ve read is that she inspires you to always do more from what you think you can do. 

This is a quote that I found very powerfull on page 2

“Life is a fight from the minute you take your first breath to the moment you exhale your last.”

I think the same as Ronda, life is a fight where you have to push you everyday to be better and to fight for what you want because nobody is going to give you what you want except if you fight for it and earned it.

“And you have to fight for people who can’t fight for themselves.” 

FIGHT NIGHT

“I bow when I enter the cage, a slight nod that is a habit from my judo days. I stomp my left foot twice. Then my right. I jump and stomp them both. I walk toward my corner. I shake my arms. I slap my right shoulder, them my left, then my thighs. I touch the ground. My corner unfurls my sponsorship banner behind me. I bounce from foot to foot. I squat and pop back up. I stomp my feet once more. Then I stop.”

This quote describes perfectly what she is talking about. You can see all what she does from the begging of fight day from the moment she wins. Everything we do needs to have preparation and have steps so we can deliver perfectly our execution.

I WAS BORN READY

When I read this small chapter I realized that Ronda and I have at least one thing in common, we were born ready for whatever we have to do. I love when people ask Ronda is she is ready to fight and she answers “I was born ready.” She start thinking that because the day she was born her Mom asked her Dad if he was ready to had the baby and he answered “Darlin’, I was born ready.”

WINNING IS THE GREATEST FEELING IN THE WORLD

“When I was little during judo tournaments [...] My mom would pull me away and say, “Sit there and think about winning. Stop Messing around.”

From this quote you can tell that Ronda’s Mom is no joke. That is one of the reasons Ronda admire her so much. In this chapter Ronda talks about the difficulties that she had on her childhood for example she couldn’t talk until she turned 3 years old but she realized that it’s not because she couldn’t it’s because she didn’t need it.

VOCABULARY

Unflappably (p. 4): A person who is  by extreme calm and  have composure in difficult situations.

Listless (p. 10): Someone who has lack of energy or spirit.