In order to better understand the trials that fighters go through in their careers, MMA reporter John hyon ko has started training with the ultimate goal of competing in an MMA bout himself.
Ko is a Senior MMA Correspondent with The AllStar and he is documenting his experience in a variety of ways. His first video was about what motivated him to start.
I felt like I needed to have a new experience after covering MMA for a few years. Right now, that is what I am doing.
Ko arrived in Thailand and settled in at a Muay Thai and MMA establishment. The gym has a current UFC strawweight and a former UFC champ training there.
A new update was posted by the MMA reporter. He discovered through his own training that MMA fighters are more likely to suffer serious injuries than people think.
I don’t understand how fighters do it. Fighters have niggles, and when we think of them, we think of a toe or a finger, but they are not the same as a minor injury. I think a fighter would fight through a shoulder injury, they would train through it and just say it’s a problem. They don’t think it would affect their ability to get their workouts in.
“There’s Never A Time When It’s Perfect”
Ko has realized how important it is for fighters to be able to adapt.
An injury to his shoulder has forced the MMA reporter to return to South Korea, where he plans to train at some of the top gyms there.
I had a plan when I first arrived in Thailand. You have to adjust since that plan will be thrown on its head. Fighters are very good at adapting and forming.
The sport allows them to get around things that other people can’t. There are always changes in the sport. Something is always going on. It can never be perfect. I don’t believe someone would say that had a perfect training camp. No, nothing is perfect.
Ko is excited to see how the gyms in South Korea differ from the ones he had in Thailand. After completing the first phase of his plan where he focused on getting into shape, the MMA reporter is now in the second phase where he wants to develop his technical skills as much as possible.
Ko has been in touch with Thailand Fighting Championships about the fight he is working towards. Once he feels ready to compete, he’ll head back to Phuket for his training camp, where he’ll fight at the Bangla Boxing Stadium.
What do you think of Ko going from just covering fights to training for a fight of his own?