Popularly known as Superman, American MMA fighter JJ Ambrose who was in the city recently, shares tips on fitness, Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and why there’s no better way to beat your opponent than by submission
American MMA fighter JJ Ambrose
Winner of 21 fights, American Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter JJ Ambrose was recently in India to play official during the Evolution Grappling Indian Open 2 at the Oberoi Mall, Goregaon.
The MMA player, who won his 21st fight last month, also conducted a one-day MMA/Submission Wrestling seminar where he shared his skills and experience from over eight years of competing professionally. Excerpts from an interview:
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Vital stats
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 75 kg
Age: 27
Reach: 177 cm
Category: Lightweight
Fights won: 21 (4 knockouts, 12 submissions)
Fights lost: 5
Q. Mixed martial art is a combination of different martial arts; please could you share a bit about your fighting style and the martial arts that you have learnt?
A. I’ve studied different martial arts all over the world, from Thai Boxing to Judo, but my personal favourite has always been wrestling and Jiu Jitsu. In boxing, when you knock someone out, it’s involuntary; the lights go out and they are done. But with Jiu Jitsu, they tap out willingly. There is no greater triumph than making someone quit because of the technique applied.
Q. Once inside the ring, there can be two outcomes only — a win or a loss. Fights are filled with blows and punches; how do you motivate yourself to get back to the ring?
A. It’s hard to explain to anyone that hasn’t fought the rollercoaster of emotions that go through, before and after a fight. You are filled with anxiety and excitement for days, you then touch gloves with someone that wants to destroy your dreams and face, and then you either feel the biggest “high” of your life with a win or more depressed than a girl breaking your heart with a loss. It’s a gamble that every fighter takes. It’s an addiction of sorts that I just can’t seem to quit risking it all for. It’s a hard life but so rewarding, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Q. How important a role does mental strength play in MMA? As part of the training, do you also train on how to carry on during a fight?
A. The biggest battle is the one fought in the mind, every day. You have to convince yourself that this meal that tastes like nothing is good for you, that the third training session of the day is the one that is going to win you the fight. The mental game is everything. We out ourselves in deep water or bad positions at practice so that when the fight comes around, we aren’t in mental shock. Mental conditioning is what determines giving up under pressure or rising to victory through adversity.
Q. What do you do to relax?
A. I’m a nerd at heart. Video games, reading fantasy adventure books, dungeons and dragons. I also enjoy playing with whatever dolls my daughter makes me play with, her favourite at the moment is frozen, she won’t stop singing the songs, they fill my head all day.
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