So, folks wanna know about my little journey with this MMA stuff, specifically how the whole AFN thing ties in. It’s kinda funny looking back.
It started pretty randomly. Wasn’t looking for a new hobby or anything. I was flipping through channels late one night, you know how it is, nothing really on. Landed on AFN, Armed Forces Network. They were showing some old stuff, maybe combatives training or something like that, not exactly glossy UFC production, more raw. Wasn’t even pure MMA, but something about the intensity, the grappling, it just clicked. Made me curious.
Getting Started – The Watching Phase
First thing I did? Like everyone else, probably. Went down the rabbit hole online. Started watching actual MMA fights. Old Pride FC bouts, early UFC cards. Man, it looked brutal but also kinda intricate. Tried figuring out what was what.
- Striking seemed straightforward enough, punch, kick.
- Then there was the ground game. That looked like a mess at first. Just guys rolling around.
- Took me a while to even tell who was winning on the ground.
Didn’t really know any terms, just watched a lot. Saw different styles. Some guys just wanted to stand and bang, others were all about taking it to the mat. It was confusing but definitely interesting.
Trying Things Out (The Awkward Part)
Watching is one thing, right? Eventually, you get that itch. Gotta try it. Now, I wasn’t about to jump into a cage. Started super basic. Found a local gym that had some MMA classes. More like a mix of kickboxing and basic jiu-jitsu, really.
Lemme tell ya, that first class was humbling. Thought I was in decent shape. Nope. Five minutes of warm-ups and I was gasping. Trying to mimic the moves felt super awkward. My coordination was just… gone. Shadowboxing felt silly, like I was swatting flies.
Rolling on the mats? Even weirder. Getting tangled up, not knowing how to move, feeling completely helpless when someone even lightly controlled me. It wasn’t like the fights I watched on TV, where everything looked smooth. This was clumsy and sweaty.
The Grind and Little Wins
Decided to stick with it though. Went a couple of times a week. It was tough. Sore muscles became a regular thing. Sometimes you’d get dinged up a bit, nothing serious, but enough to remind you this stuff is physical.
Slowly, things started to make a tiny bit more sense.
- Learned how to throw a basic jab-cross without falling over.
- Figured out a simple guard pass (well, sometimes it worked).
- Got submitted less often by the beginners. That felt like a huge win!
It wasn’t about becoming a fighter. It was more about the process. Showing up, getting pushed, learning something new, even if it was just a small detail about shifting my weight or keeping my hands up.
Where I’m At Now
Still messing around with it. Not training like a pro or anything close. Life gets in the way, you know? Work, family. But I still try to hit the gym when I can, maybe roll a bit, hit the pads. Still watch the fights, understand them a bit better now, which is cool.
It’s funny that it started from just randomly catching something on AFN. Didn’t expect it to lead here. It’s been a good experience overall. Taught me about pushing myself, being humbled, and just the basics of moving your body in a different way. Good stuff, even if I’m still pretty rubbish at it.