Words With A MAD Coach

On this episode of Words With A MAD Coach, Coach Ses sits down with Don Rodger of Lightning Strikes and Apex Martial Arts to discuss his mission to create greater opportunities for kickboxers and Muay Thai fighters in the Carolinas.
Don previews an ambitious three-event weekend featuring full-contact amateur competition, point kickboxing, and a pro-am card headlined by a U.S.-versus-Canada showdown. He also explains how his relationships with the IKF and World Muay Thai Organization can give athletes a pathway from regional competition to international title opportunities.
The conversation goes behind the scenes of promoting, from personally funding events to developing electronic scoring and live tournament brackets. Don shares his journey from boxing to kickboxing, his concerns about North Carolina’s rules, and why respect for fighters and coaches remains central to his work.
It’s a candid conversation about passion, persistence, and building a future for the next generation of strikers.
 
For Tickets and streaming
Triangle Kickboxing
 
To See Fighters and Brackets
Southeast Regional Tournament Nov 20 - 21

Can an older fighter overcome declining physical abilities through superior timing, positioning, and fight IQ? Can experience extend an athlete's competitive career? And at what point does the physical cost become greater than the advantage of accumulated knowledge?
In this episode, we'll use a stop-and-discuss format to examine the research, challenge some assumptions about aging, and explore why getting older doesn't always mean becoming less effective.

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You cannot create more hours in a day, but you can change how you use them. Whether you're preparing for a fight, managing your family, or simply trying to arrive at work on time, success requires recognizing your habits, organizing your responsibilities, and adapting when life interrupts your plans.

The argument is that modern society is becoming increasingly focused on producing results while paying less attention to the processes that make those results meaningful. We're becoming better at distributing information without necessarily becoming better at transferring knowledge.

Taking a look at the Top 5 fighters in each Category 
 
NC P4P

Before you prepare for a fight, you have to learn how to fight—and understand what that learning demands. In this episode, Coach Ses steps back from individual matchups to examine mindset, purpose, accountability, and the stages of becoming a fighter.
With Fight for It 29 and other regional events approaching, we break down clips that connect belief and ambition to the daily work of preparation. Wanting to compete is a starting point. Learning, accepting correction, and working through difficult stretches are part of the commitment. Nobody chases failure, but understanding what went wrong can give your next attempt a purpose.
From the athlete’s mindset to the coach’s responsibility, this conversation brings those lessons back to our local combat sports community. Are you rushing toward fight night, or building the understanding and habits that will prepare you when it arrives?
#MADWorld #CoachSes #FightForIt29 #FighterMindset #MMA #MartialArts #Coaching

Canelo Alvarez reclaimed the WBC super middleweight championship with a unanimous decision victory over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earning scores of 115–112, 116–111, and 117–110. Despite Mbilli's aggressive approach and higher punch output, Canelo relied on veteran experience, superior defense, effective counterpunching, and a calculated body attack to control much of the contest. Mbilli struggled with predictable combinations, inefficient movement, and defensive habits that Canelo increasingly exploited as the fight progressed. Although Mbilli showed flashes of technical improvement, he couldn't sustain those adjustments against the former champion. The final punch statistics told the story: Mbilli threw 668 punches but landed only 117, while Canelo landed 158 of 504, including 132 power punches. At 36 years old, Canelo demonstrated that experience, timing, and tactical efficiency can overcome youth, aggression, and volume, proving once again that working harder doesn't necessarily mean working more effectively.

Social media and AI platforms have been monitoring our behavior for longer than many of us realize, yet most of us continue using them. Ultimately, we must decide for ourselves how we interact with these platforms while remaining aware of the changes that could affect our lives. Ignorance is not always bliss.

Modern gloves generally feature several important components:
Padding: Helps distribute impact forces and protect the hand.
Wrist support: Helps stabilize the wrist during punching.
Thumb attachment: Reduces certain risks associated with an exposed thumb.
Leather or synthetic exterior: Provides durability.
Weight classifications: Standardize glove specifications for different purposes.
Professional boxing commonly uses 8-ounce and 10-ounce gloves, depending on weight division and governing rules.
Training gloves are often heavier, with 14-ounce and 16-ounce models commonly used for sparring.
However, glove weight alone does not determine safety. Padding design, condition, fit, and punching force also matter.

DO THE FANS KNOW THE FIGHTERS? We know the gyms are working hard. We know the fighters are promoting themselves. But are we telling their stories? Do fans know Isaac Cleveland, Cody Maltais, Caleb Rea, or Ned Burgess? Do they know who's fighting for championships, who's climbing the rankings, and which matchups deserve their attention? A fight card tells us who's fighting. A great promotional campaign tells us WHY we should care!
 
Follow up on Samurai Fighting Championship --- https://youtu.be/ptN45pefwn4