HaMMerHouseFAN - Reading your post I was thinking you should stay away from the sport. Four years is a long time to be away from the sport, especially at the highest level. No need to get beat up and go through the grueling training camps and days of training. You've so done a ton to help out the Pygmies over the last few years.
Having said that, if fighting is really what you want to do, you should go for it. You only get one life to live and why have this regret about not fighting if it's something you really want to do. Fighting is one of those things that has a shelf life that you have to do earlier rather than later in life.
Hope you decide to do whatever it is you really want to do and go for it.
iFish - Doesn't matter what you do bud, you've already done more good than most of us ever will. I show your threads to my daughter as an example of what people are capable of.
Whatever you do, best of luck.
That humbles me knowing you show this to your lil girl... Bless you bro.
Where do you live and where do you go fishing? One of my favorite past times and I've only been able to catch minnows on bamboo sticks since being here, lol.
crescentwrench - It doesn't have to be an either/or decision. You and the rest of your staff can do the work there digging the wells and setting up villages. But they likely can't (re)train to become a world class fighter and get their face on the big stage. So even if you decide to fight again it's not like you'll have to keep quiet about your last four years. Quite the opposite in fact. Being on-site putting in the work is important but exposure is also an important aspect of charity. The training you would put in doesn't take away from the time you'd spend in villages, it IS putting in time for the villages. You would be investing that time and effort not only to test yourself and make a run at your own dream, but also for the opportunity to raise awareness for a whole lot more people than the animals on the UG :). That's the way I look at it. Just look at what the ice bucket challenge did. It was nothing more than people dumping cold water. But it caught on and wormed its way into our national consciousness for a time and it wound up being a boondoggle for ALS charities. Exposure is a powerful thing, people can't help if they don't know what you're doing. Your hiatus and your comeback has a story, I say give the powers that be a reason to help you tell it.
Voted up. Lots and lots of wisdom in this post to reflect on. Thanks brother
zackthewop - What a great way to get your cause out in the public.
I say go for it but don't let it interfere with all the great work you've been doing. You are changing people's life's over there. Physically and spiritually and there is nothing in a cage that can be as rewarding as that.
I think there's a reason you're having those dreams brother. I think your heart is telling you that you haven't completed your fighting life, it's who you are, as evident from your amazing work in the Congo. I think you needed to step away, you needed to start some new missions and learn some new things about yourself.
I can't tell you what you should do, but I can tell you that I'll support your decision 100% either way.
SidRivalRespectsTheHellOutOfMe - Follow your heart brother. Only you know what is truly right for yourself. If coming back and fighting is something you seriously consider we would all embrace your choice. Winning can ultimately draw more attention to your cause. On the other hand no would ever question or think differently of you if you were to stay helping the pigmys that have become such a huge part of your life. Whatever you decide i support you and you have made a fan for life.
Thanks bro, good post... means a lot.
I am still in the that tug-O-war match between my brain and my gut and my heart is caught in between. Maybe if I get back, get checked up... Then start training again... Then maybe I will know more from there.
brandonrollins - You know that scene from Rocky II, the scene where Adrian wakes up from her coma. She tells Rocky to ''Win''. That's what you need to do.
FETT_the geek - I think there's a reason you're having those dreams brother. I think your heart is telling you that you haven't completed your fighting life, it's who you are, as evident from your amazing work in the Congo. I think you needed to step away, you needed to start some new missions and learn some new things about yourself.
I can't tell you what you should do, but I can tell you that I'll support your decision 100% either way.
Your a strange brew bro... How's good ole Canadia? :-)
I appreciate your post a lot, and having met ya at Franks charity event at Renzo's I could tell you were a really good dude. I'll chew on this post a little while.
Wow guys thanks so much for all the positive support! Reminds me of the days of old and why this place had so many awesome fighters posters here (I remember being a high school kid posting on threads of dudes that I had posters of up on my wall).
I still post from "old school" UG forum if I'm on my computer :-)
I hope to keep getting more input from you guys while I'm on this journey. Please come back on here and post some more if something comes to you, or if you are just lurking this thread. I appreciate you guys!
This Tyson quote always rings through my head: "Boxing gives you so much, but it takes so much more." I know the feeling of walking away before you've "left it all" in the ring/cage and how it nags you. Only you know whether you have the time, motivation, and resources to be able to make a comeback. I just hope you make an informed decision and not just based off of the UG, because of course we got your back. You're the fucking man and I love your posts, so this random internet guy supports you.
There is no doubt fighting would give you a great platform to attract more support for your organization. But you have to weigh that against the time/money it would take to train and such.
Maybe send out some feelers to sponsors about the idea see if they would like to sponsor you in the cage fighting for a cause.
Whatever you do it seems like your heart is in the right place and that is most important.
“Everything’s been about the journey, I never really set out with goals for fighting; it’s been about the adventure along the way. When you’re on your death bed, it’s those stories, those little adventures that are going to be the things that you remember. It’s not so much getting there, but how you got there.” -Evan Tanner
You've got a great story, Justin. Fighting could definitely help bring attention to the people and issues that you care about, but ultimately it's about your journey and which direction you want to go. Whatever you decide, the UG has your back!
Justin-what you have done (for others is phenomenal. I do believe our life's journey needs to have balance of selfish and selfless acts (we need to nurture ourselves as well as others). You have started a tremendous situation in the Congo (which has come with varying degrees of sacrifice) My 2 cents is that it's now time for Justin to fulfill that other side of that equation (although you thought it was left behind- the dreams/subconscious is telling otherwise).
Let others continue to carry the Congo torch while you step away for a bit and take care of the other pull/passion in your life. You can always go back brotha....
Your heart is in the right place, but you can't fight forever, you can however do your outreach, and philanthropy work at any age. If you at all think you would regret not giving it another try then you should try fighting again.