What Liberals Can Learn About How To Succeed At Life From Female UFC Champ Ronda Rousey

Townhall.com ^ | May 23, 2015 | John Hawkins

[Kaslin]

“People love the idea of winning an Olympic medal or a world title. But what few people realize is that pretty much every second leading up to the actual win is uncomfortable, painful, and impossibly daunting—physically and mentally. Most people focus on the wrong thing: They focus on the result, not the process. The process is the sacrifice; it is all the hard parts—the sweat, the pain, the tears, the losses. You make the sacrifices anyway. You learn to enjoy them, or at least embrace them. In the end, it is the sacrifices that must fulfill you.” – Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey is the most compelling female athlete in a generation. She’s attractive, witty and an unstoppable monster in Octagon. Shockingly, she may also be the biggest name in mixed martial arts today. Who would have ever guessed that a woman fighter could become that popular? Certainly not UFC president Dana White who once laughed and said “NEVER!” when he was asked when women would join the UFC. Ronda Rousey was such a Phenom that he changed his mind.

So, what does it take to make a Ronda Rousey? What does it take to make a Olympian who was the first American woman to ever medal in judo and who could fairly be called the best female fighter on the planet? You can learn the answer to that question by reading her new biography.

Sadly, Rousey’s father died when she was 8 years old; so she was raised solo by her mother who was a former judo champ. Her mother loved Ronda to death, but she didn’t seem like the type who worried that her child would be traumatized by a fall on the playground or a teacher grading in red ink.

"My first injury ever was a broken toe, and my mother made me run laps around the mat for the rest of the night. She said she wanted me to know that even if I was hurt, I was still fine."

Her mom also wasn’t the, “Aww, you tried and that’s all that matters” type either.

Two weeks later, I lost my second judo tournament. I finished second, losing to a girl named Anastasia. Afterward, her coach congratulated me. “You did a great job. Don’t feel bad, Anastasia is a junior national champion.” I felt consoled for about a second, until I noticed the look of disgust on Mom’s face. I nodded at the coach and walked away. Once we were out of earshot she lit into me: “I hope you know better than to believe what he said. You could have won that match. You had every chance to beat that girl. The fact that she is a junior national champion doesn’t mean anything. That’s why they have tournaments, so you can see who is better. They don’t award medals based on what you won before.

Are we better off coddling our kids or pushing them to their limits? For that matter, are we better off coddling ANYBODY or encouraging people to be better? We spend an awful lot of time in America throwing pity parties for people who are having a tough time and patting “victims” on the back. What if we talked to them more like this?

“Someone has to be the best in the world. Why not you?” My mom asked me a variation of this question every day. “Why not you?” she said. “Seriously, why not you? Somebody has to do it. They’re handing out Olympic medals. They’re literally handing them out. Why don’t you go get one?” Her question was not rhetorical. She knew 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 it is completely achievable—if you are willing to put in the effort. My mom taught me to expect that I could be the best.

It’s true that EVERYBODY can’t be a world champion. But, can 99.9% of Americans get educated, pay their own way, get a job and support themselves and their families if they work at it? Yes, they can. Human beings really do live up or down to the expectations of people around them. Ronda Rousey’s mother EXPECTED her to be a champion – and she is. Do we expect people to support themselves or to be on welfare? Do we think most Americans are strong and capable of taking care of themselves or are they delicate weaklings who can’t make it through the day without the help of the government?

The response to that is usually some variation of “Life is hard.” Well, life was hard for Ronda Rousey, too. When she started her mixed martial arts career, she did workouts that would put a normal human being in the hospital.

Once he hit me so hard in the body that it knocked the wind out of me. I moved to take a knee, to catch my breath; he grabbed me with one hand and pulled me up. “You’re not taking a knee,” he said. “If you take a knee, I’m going to hit you more. You don’t have the choice to get hit or not get hit. You have one choice. You can get up and get hit or I can hit you down there.” That was the last knee I ever took. He kept throwing punches.

While this was going on, Rousey had to work three jobs to pay her bills.

My MMA career was getting off the ground, but I needed another job to carry me through until fighting started paying the bills. I hustled to find work. My sister Maria called a friend from high school and got me a job working the graveyard shift at 24 Hour Fitness. The job sucked, but every time the resentment welled up, I imagined the backseat of my Honda as my bedroom. A few weeks later, I got a second job: judo at a club on L.A.’s Westside. I picked up a third job working as a vet assistant at an animal rehabilitation clinic. It was piecemeal employment, but it was enough to pay (most of) my bills.

Today, Ronda Rousey may be the biggest name in mixed martial arts; she has a new book out; she’s doing movies; she’s in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and she’s making millions in endorsements.

She didn’t get there because of a government program, “safe spaces,” or because she was treated like she was made of glass. She had a long, hard road to get where she is today and she can take pride in how far she’s come and what she’s accomplished.

There are a lot of lessons there for people who are willing to hear it – particularly liberals. Why liberals? Because their whole philosophy revolves around encouraging victimhood, dependence and weakness. College kids don’t need “safe spaces;” they need to test themselves. Poor Americans need to learn to depend on themselves, not the government. Our society doesn’t need to become “more sensitive;” it needs to get tougher. Everybody doesn’t have to fight for a living, but we all have to struggle. Teaching more Americans to embrace that battle instead of shielding them from it will make us into a better nation.

[Terry L Smith]

I agree, with the premise, and with Rousey as the example.

Now having said that, watch the seconds hand on your wristwatch
for the coming retort from the metrosexual in the basement,
“Yeah, for a white girl.”

While in SouthEast Asia, the girl who I wished to marry,
was a competitive kickboxer. I lettered in high school
in cross country, so what I saw, snd learned a little, was
pure heart, dedication, no knee ing allowed, more than
the ten mile runs in practice ever taught me.

[jsanders2001]

Sounds like her mom did an amazing job of raising her. The basic premise I kept seeing through the article is that life isn’t fair, its not meant to be. You have to get up off your fanny and make things happen yourself and are responsible for your own success. Sounds like Rousey earned her stripes. Liberals could definitely learn a thing or two from her.

[Common Sense 101]

First of all: 1) Liberals are incapable of learning, given that they are convinced that they already know everything, and 2) liberals have no appreciation or even basic understanding of the type of work required to achieve, given they see achievers as “lucky” or “life’s lottery winners”. Other than the premise, great article. Ronda’s mom sounds like most guy’s fathers... 40 years ago.

[gattaca]

I don’t think liberals will learn. They’re being told from Obama that people like this won the lottery. They don’t see what it takes.

[9thLife]

I have no use for ufc (they're often the creepiest guys in the gym) or women in a ring of any kind, much less a cage.

Nonetheless I wept frequently during the movie "Here Comes the Boom" (it's a home run) and yeah, you can never compare yourself to others or stop pushing. Why not you?

I also didn't have a word for "pain" until I was in my late 40's. I recently got knocked on my ass by a guy 6 inches taller and 25 years younger while out for a walk and the only reason we stopped was because a bunch of women surrounded us filming with their iphones and I didn't want to be on youtube. About a day or so later I realized I had a concussion because my head hit pavement.

[TurboZamboni]

I’d like to see her beat up Mayweather and maybe Putin.

mostly just Hairy Reed.

[When do we get liberated?]

No, Ronda’s mom is so much more badass than most dads 40 years ago. She once sent Ronda to a tournament telling her that she would meet her there along with her coach and other judoka from her school. When she went there nobody showed up, because they never were going to be there. Her mother wanted her to be the best in the world, not on her best day, but on her worst, with nobody there for support. When Ronda was a coach on the Ultimate Fighter TV show her 60 year old mom showed up and worked in with the fighters....

[Terry L Smith]

Dear 9TH LIFE,

Whether you think the ufc is creepy or not, the life
lessons THAT WERE THE SUBJECTS OF THE ARTICLE,
are the points, in yor paradigm, that you missed.

Admitting to not knowing what ‘pain’ is, unil you got
‘flattened after 40’. provides me the idea you were,
as Yoda would say, ‘not mindful of where youwere, or
what you were doing’.

Lastly, you stopped yoir post. without finishing your statement.

[9thLife]

Terry,

You seem to have difficulty with reading comprehension; esp disturbing is your tendency to read things that aren't written.

I take full responsibility for foolishly presuming intelligence when I posted my comment.

Best for you to disregard, as it will only compound your confusion.

[Terry L Smith]

Dear 9th,

Ill remember you in my upcoming fictional writeups.

Remember, writers can make anyone a character,
and either have the joys or displeasures of killing
off said characters.

Besides, six years as a columnist, cured me of my
inhibitions of being liked or not by the general public!

[9thLife]

ah, what-fVcking-ever, homey.

[Terry L Smith]

Dear 9th,

I believe you short changed yourself, and insulted
the divinity that gave you your power of reason, by using
the very word .... whatever.

Those that employ that word, have not the command of
American English, as you have demonstrated that you do.

As you have that command, dont be such a Richard!!!

[Impy]

"While in SouthEast Asia, the girl who I wished to marry, was a competitive kickboxer."

That's hot.

[Impy]

Rousey has been marketed extremely well and she backs it up in the cage. She’s arguably the face of the sport in popular culture, a female fighter, that was unthinkable a few years ago.

[Terry L Smith]

Dear impy,
All five feet one and tiger eyes,
Every day a new surprise.

The rest I leave to your surmise, but this,
As a G.I, i could not marry her,
For alas, her daddy was Thai Communist!

[Impy]

Hahaha.

Oh well, better to have loved and lost...or is it?

[MattinNJ]

I never thought I could watch two women fight, let alone pay money for it. She is an American badass.