a lesson in humility…

8 years ago I was a 20 year old kid.

5-3 as a professional in MMA, I got a call to face BJJ Black Belt Charuto as a last minute replacement in Hawaii.

Having the ‘Anyone–Anywhere–Anytime’ type of attitude…I allowed my manager to advise me into accepting a fight for money and a free trip against a fighter who was ‘way above my skill level’–

Young–Dumb–and Cocky–I entered the ring unknowing of the beatdown I was about to receive.  Good locally–I was far from Internationally talented…and coming in as an ‘opponent’ against the Black Belt who was working with BJ Penn…I played the part perfect.

Dancing my way into the ring before getting Ko’d from the guard as Charuto pounded me…He picked up an easy win in front of his home crowd–which eventually led to Charuto getting signed to the UFC and his Championship Fight against the ‘legendary’ Matt Hughes. (A controversial loss that many people felt he won)

…8 years have gone by since our fight.  I haven’t seen Charuto in all of that time

…until I arrived at the Spike 22 academy this weekend in Guam for a Belt promotion seminar.

Losing to Charuto taught me a lot about humility.  I learned to become a better martial artist from the defeat…and can’t help but to think that the loss is one of the reasons why I continued to evolve until I had learned enough about myself and  BJJ to represent the rank of Black Belt myself.

…as the old saying goes….’In most Jiu Jitsu School the instructor has earned the right to teach only because he has tapped more times then anyone else in the room’…lol…now whether you can get someone to admit that fact…is another thing.

My loss to Charuto taught me more about myself–humbled me as a martial artist…and was just one tough defeat in a career that has lasted 10+ years.  Getting to see Charuto again today was a great experience.  He’s a nice guy…but I can’t help but to wonder if the Ray Elbe of 2011 faced the Charuto of 2003…what the outcome of that bout would have been :P