my story…

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My name is Josh.  I am currently heading up FIGHT CHURCH.  Over the last few months I have been working hard to meet as many fighters as possible and let them know about our organization.  One of the ways I have done this is through interviews.  During these interviews and various other meetings, it always seems I end up needing to share a little about myself. 

So, it occured to me that maybe I should put something on here that would at least let people know who I am…

Well, I grew up in Portage, Indiana.  My family attended the local Assembly of God church.  When I was in middle school my family began attending the Church of God across town.  I was very involved in our youth ministry and soon felt called to ministry.  My senior year of high school I applied and was accepted to Taylor University in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  This is also around the time I discovered mma.  The next fall I began my studies in Ministry and Psychology.  The next summer I married my high school sweetheart.

The following fall we started working full-time as Youth Pastor at a small inner-city Assemblies of God church and served there for almost 3 years.   I began hosting UFC parties in married student housing with any VHS I could track down!  We had our first baby and moved to Terre Haute, Indiana to work at another A/G church as an Assistant Pastor. 

We served there for three and a half years.  2 babies richer we moved to Kokomo, Indiana to work at another A/G church.   We worked with kids, youth and young adults.  For almost one year I was the only pastor on staff and had a tremendous increase in Pastoring responsibilities.  We also started a young adult/college age ministry. 

 After 5 years at that church and 10+ years in traditional, full-time ministry, we knew it was time for us to be a part of something very different!  So, we did 40 days of fasting and prayer… packed up and moved our family to fabulous Las Vegas, NV!  

We started hosting UFC pay-per-view parties at our house each month averaging 40+ people!  I am a pastor at heart and love to help people.  I am also a huge mma fan!  I never imagined these 2 things could come together!  However, through a whirlwind of events, things have worked out that way. 

Now, my wife and I are 100% dedicated to serving the people of the MMA community through the FIGHT CHURCH ministry!  We are attending as many events as possible, building relationships and partnering with fighters, coaches, gyms, promotions, etc.  Things are going very well and we are super excited to see where all this leads! 

Joy…

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I tend to be a pretty happy go lucky type of a guy.  I have had my share of rough and tough times, but I honestly try not to get too down about most stuff.  Like everyone else, I blow it sometimes.  The last couple of weeks have been less than ideal and so has my attitude. 

I’m not alone.  Over the last few years, I have notice that there are a lot of grumpy, unhappy people out there and many of them call themselves believers.  This doesn’t seem to add up.  The Bible is jammed with passages about joy, truth, being free, singing, dancing, shouting, being victorious, etc.  Seems to me that believers should be the most happy!

Brennan Manning put it this way and inspired me to check myself before I wrecked myself this week…

“The Gospel portrait of Jesus is that of a person who cherished life and especially other people as gifts from the Father’s hand.  The peripheral figures whom Jesus encountered in his ministry reacted in various ways to his person and his message, but few responded with gloom or sadness.  The living presence of Jesus awakened joy and set people free.  Joy was in fact the most characteristic result of all his ministry to ragamuffins.

‘I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. John 17:13’”

Sometimes we all need a reminder.  Life is life.  Things happen.  We get blindsided.  We can’t let things get us down.  A few years back, I was stuck on saying, “it’s not about you!” and “it’s not about me!”  It is important that we remember that there is something bigger than us and no matter what is going on, it will be ok, some way and somehow!  So, keep on keepin’ on, smile and have some joy!

Rodrigo Altilherio interview…

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Most MMA fans may not recognize the name Rodrigo Altilheiro.  However, many MMA fighters would.  I first met Rodrigo a few months ago at the THROWDOWN Training Center here in Las Vegas when I did a BJJ class.  At that time he was a BJJ instructor there.  After that, I saw him at various fight events, but we never had the chance to talk.  A couple of weeks ago, I finally caught up with him at his home for an interview.  I had a great time and wanted to share with you some of the things he had to say.

Before I get started with that, let me lay out some facts that you may not know about Rodrigo.  He is a world class wrestler and holds many titles such as the 2009 World Beach Wrestling bronze medal, 2008 Pan American Greco Roman Wrestling bronze medal, Brazilian Judo National Champion and 7 Time Brazilian Wrestling National Champion!

As far as MMA goes, Rodrigo hasn’t had many fights, but his involvement in the sport can’t be denied.  He has been a training partner of MMA superstars like Mirko Cro Cop, the Nogueira brothers, Junior dos Santos, Pedro Rizzo, and Paulo Filho. He is currently training with Vitor Belfort who will be fighting for a UFC title on February 5th. 

I asked Rodrigo to tell me his story and how he got into fighting.  He told me that he started training at 5 years old when his father, a major Judo player in Brazil, began to teach him.  Then he was involved in wrestling and eventually, of course, BJJ.  In addition to combative sports, Rodrigo also participated in every other sport available to him.  In 2001 he received his Judo Black Belt followed by his BJJ Black Belt just one year later.  Eventually, Rodrigo found his way here to Las Vegas, the MMA capital of the world.  He spent about 10 months as a BJJ instructor at the THROWDOWN.

At this point, I wanted to know about his Faith.  I was curious about his thoughts on fighting and being a believer.  I asked him to tell me that part of the story.   He told me that when he was very young he remembers going to church with his mother.  This continued until he was 12 years old and his mother passed away.  Between 12 and 23 years old he stopped attending church, but God never left him.  Then, at age 23, Rodrigo’s father passed away and he knew that if he was going to have a fight career, it was time to move to Las Vegas.

He put his life in God’s hands and prayed that if it was God’s will, that He would make it happen.  Rodrigo’s prayers were answered and doors began to open.  His face lights up as he describes this to me.  He mentions his green card and his position at THROWDOWN as examples of confirmation that God has big plans for him.  The excitement he expresses is instantly encouraging.

Rodrigo plans to stay in Las Vegas, train full-time, and fight.  He is currently training at Xtreme Couture, has a March fight in the works and is developing a wrestling program for children at the gym and his church.  It seems God does have big plans for Rodrigo and I am excited to see how it all turns out.  Please keep him in your prayers!     

me talking about not talking so much…

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I am going to begin regularly posting some things that I come across in my personal journey of Faith.  Sometimes they will be encouraging, fun and uplifting.  Other times they may be more serious, challenging and thought provoking.  My hope and prayer is that they will always be insightful and helpful.   Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments, etc.  I would love to discuss.

To kick things off, I would like to share a short section from a book that I read almost every day.  It is one I have read through many times.  It is called Reflections for Ragamuffins and it is daily devotions taken from the writings of Brennan Manning, author of one of my all-time favorite books, The Ragamuffin Gospel. 

I chose a section called “Compassion in Action” because last week when I read it, it stopped me in my tracks.  It reminded me of why I moved to Las Vegas and why I started FIGHT CHURCH.  To do something!  For so long I was frustrated that people were always talking about all the things that are wrong in the world, but very few ever did anything to help the situation.  It seems everyone has some cause or passion, but no action.

Jesus was not like that.  “Every time the Gospels mention that Jesus was moved by the deepest emotions or felt sorry for people, it led to his doing something…  The Good Samaritan was commended precisely because he acted.  The priest and Levite, paragons of Jewish virtue, flunked the test because they didn’t do anything.  ‘Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the man who fell in with the robbers?’  The answer came, ‘The one who treated him with compassion.’  Then Jesus said to them, ‘Then go and do the same.’”

I John 3:17-18 says “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

This is an amazing challenge.  It is so easy to talk a big talk about things.  It is an entirely different thing to put yourself out there and actually do something.  There are so many needs out there.  Let’s try to be more like the Good Samaritan and do everything we can to help out those around us!

www.fightchurch.com

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www.fightchurch.com exsists for those who are a part of the MMA community!  It is our desire to provide a faith based support system for fighters, coaches, and everyone else involved, as well as their families.  MMA like any other sport presents difficult challenges and requires extreme dedication.  As a result, those who participate can experience great pressure, stress, etc.

On top of that, there are also the regular challenges of life to consider.  Things happen.  Tragedy strikes.  Sometimes the going gets tough.  In those times, it is comforting to know that we are not alone and that there is someone out there who cares.  FIGHT CHURCH cares!  That is why we are here and that is why we have this website.

Whether times are tough or things are going well, it is our hope and prayer that our regular posts on www.fightchurch.com will be meaningful.  We encourage you to check back regularly.  You never know what you might find.  It could be something funny, serious, educational, emotional or practical, but hopefully, there will always be something useful.  In order to make this possible, please feel free to send us any questions, comments, suggestions or prayer requests.  Also, if you just need someone to talk to.  We would love to here from you! 

rollin’…

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For the last few months, I have been visiting the local MMA training facilities here in Las Vegas.  I have met a ton of great people and helped out wherever possible. 

In order to make myself more available to the MMA community, I have joined the Throwdown Training Center!  This is an amazing opportunity to meet and build relationships with fighters, coaches, staff, etc.  I am looking forward to making new connections and finding more ways that we can serve. 

In addition to training at Throwdown, I will continue to visit the other facilities and spend as much time at each one as possible. 

Things are rollin’ and I am excited.  It seeems that every opening and opportunity has led to another. 

Fight Church… What We Do!

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What we do is care!  A big part of chaplaincy takes place through the chaplain simply being available to the people in the MMA community, building relationships, making connections and helping wherever needed.  This happens naturally and mostly in an informal way at training events, social events, over the telephone, at fight events, during Bible studies, or personal appointments.

Here is a basic list of some of the services available through a relationship with the Fight Church Chaplaincy Program.

Gym visitation
Prayer & support before and/or after fights
Hospital visitation
Corner support at events
Spiritual care and support
Stress management
Grief & loss, bereavement
Family care & support
Pre-marital counseling & wedding services
Marriage & relationship development
Life skills & leadership training
Church and/or professional services referral
Bible Study (one-on-one or group)

2011 is going to be a great year!

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We are smack in the middle of the last two holidays of 2010 and in less than a week it will be 2011!  I am very excited.  Over the last few months, FIGHT CHURCH has naturally evolved and been intentionally shaped into a ministry that is impacting the MMA community here in Las Vegas. 

We have worked hard to build relationships with fighters, coaches, cut guys, gym staff, fight promotions, etc.  Many of those relationships turned into opportunities for us to help out.  It has been a true blessing and our honor to serve everyone possible in any way possible.   

This coming year, we will continue to make ourselves available, through our MMA Chaplain program, to both individual fighters and MMA training facilities/fight camps.  If you are a fighter or facility owner/coach and would like to know more about the things FIGHT CHURCH has to offer, please contact Josh Boyd through this website www.fightchurch.com!

Please check back often for updates!

Interview w/ Ryan Couture

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Just about a month ago, I met up with MMA fighter Ryan Couture at the Xtreme Couture Training Facility here in Las Vegas.  Let me start off by saying that Ryan is one of the nicest people I have ever met.  I’m not just saying that either.  I had bumped into Ryan a few times before the interview and even a time or two since then and he is the real deal, a genuinely nice guy!

So, other than being a good guy, what can I share about Mr. Couture?  Well, of course, I asked him how he got started fighting and I was rather surprised by his answer.  I figured that he had grown up watching his dad fight and felt like if he did anything else he would somehow tarnish the legacy of the Couture name.  Come to find out, that wasn’t even close!

He told me, “I grew up wresting through school, junior high and high school.  Then went to college and took some time off from athletics to focus on school and socializing and then basically getting fat.  Then you know I have always been a fan of the sport as long as dad has been doing it; that was obviously my connection to it.  And as his career grew, I became a bigger and bigger fan and followed the sport more and more closely.  I was always curious about competition but wasn’t in any kind of shape and didn’t really think I would ever get around to doing it.  After college, when I had a little more free time, I started taking more of an interest in fitness and getting back in shape.  I started grappling and dabbling in a little bit of kickboxing as well.  I competed in some grappling competitions and had fun with that.  Then when I got the opportunity to relocate to Vegas and work for the gym that kind of stepped up my interest even more.  The training went to a whole other level and it just grew from there.”

I asked what other skills Ryan had added to his arsenal over the past couple of years leading up to him becoming a professional fighter and where he felt he was strongest.  He says he has to go with his submissions and more specifically his “offensive and dangerous guard”.  Ryan was a Blue Belt in BJJ through his gym back in Washington and has since earned a Purple Belt under Neil Melanson here at Xtreme Couture.  Even though Ryan has only been fighting MMA since 2009, he racked up an amateur record of 5-1-1 with all of his victories coming via submission!  Then, on August 13th 2010, in his professional debut, he was able to triangle choke Lucas Stark for the win in just 75 seconds. 

One of the hot topics out there in the MMA world right now is the “lay and pray” fighting style, where a guy goes for takedowns, but ultimately uses them to score points with the judges and control his opponent with little to no effort being put forth to finish the fight.  I asked Ryan what he thought of the situation and he said that he can’t fault a guy for wanting to get his hand raised with no injury.  I followed that question up with the flipside of that coin. I asked about the pressure on fighters to “perform” because of the entertainment aspect of sports.  He said that it is always in the back of your mind and that is why some guys come out and take risks.

When I asked if there were any fighters that he looked up to he couldn’t narrow it down right away.  He mentioned a ton of guys at Xtreme Couture.  When he did start naming names, it was still quite a list… “Gray, Tyson, Martin, Mike, Jay, Rodrigo, Alessio…”

I was curious if there was anyone out there that Ryan wanted to fight, maybe to avenge his one loss or someone who might be gunning for him because of his name.  Turns out there are and somewhere down the line he would like a chance to finish his last amateur fight that ended in a draw.  He said that it was a real back and forth crowd pleaser.  Let’s hope that comes together for him.

Unfortunately, Ryan was scheduled for a fight this past November 19th, but was forced to withdraw because of a serious infection.  He is wrapping up some treatment and said as soon as he is released he will get to fight again.  This will probably be some time in March.  With 5 fights left on his STRIKEFORCE contract, we will get to see plenty more action from this young up-and-comer!  It is going to be exciting to see his career unfold.   

Ryan’s main sponsors are www.inflictsports.com and www.itaintchemo.com. 

He is a great guy and it was a lot of fun to sit down with him.  Look for him on FACEBOOK and TWITTER!