“We make all our trainers compete in a strength sport. You cannot be a trainer for us if you don’t. Because that’s how you know (what your clients/students are going through) ... You have to push the envelope. For yourself and for your knowledge.”
--Matt Wiedemer, S&C Coach, Member of the team currently training Jon Jones as he moves up to heavyweight.
I remember a woman, a blue belt, once criticizing higher belts at our academy for not competing more in local events. She felt strongly about it - that the higher belts were not putting themselves to the same sorts of tests, trials, and tribulations as the lower belts. I go back and forth about the idea of coming out of retirement. But I’ve never forgotten what she said.
