I talked with my friend Kenny Florian today. Kenny is a MMA fighter who is enjoying a very successful career. A lot of people know Kenny as a tough competitor. A lot of people don't know that as tough as he is physically, he's much stronger mentally. One of Kenny's strengths that keeps him at the top of his profession is perseverance.
Talking to Kenny today reminded me that a positive attitude is imperative to any endeavor. Kenny is often judged by critics as being too small and too weak.
Kenny doesn't listen to critics. Kenny listens to himself.
Because of his faith in himself and his ability, Kenny possesses a confidence that is fostered by an iron-clad work ethic and an acute awareness of his spiritual beliefs.
Generally, when people think of mixed martial artists, they think of kick-ass tough guys who like nothing more than pummeling someone into submission. Compare this to a traditional discipline like Karate-do, which is usually thought of as a more peaceful or serene form of martial art. Mixed martial arts seem primal and injurious.
Kenny Florian, however, possesses a socially conscious and spiritual ethic that often takes most UFC fans by surprise. He is the quintessential example of what we strive to achieve through the vehicle of traditional martial arts.
While some mixed martial artists are focused primarily on their public persona, Kenny is focused on his self imposed expectations of his mind and body. This endeavor, for Kenny, is a work in progress whose finality will be achieved not when Kenny wins a world title, but when Kenny Florian deems it so.
I'm proud to call him my friend.
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