CageJunkies.com talked exclusively to Mike Van Arsdale today (cheap plug) about Melvin Guillard's comments and his future with the camp he once coached. Here was his full statement:
"I don’t feel that way about Melvin. It’s an opinion. He can have any opinion he likes. I don’t have any ill feelings about that, so I doubt anyone does. When I coach I put my heart and soul into everything I do. The same thing about my athletic career, I put my heart and soul into it. You don’t win all the matches or the fights you would like to win in sports, generally, but the most important part about it is that you do your best. So hopefully he does his best in his next fight and just focuses on some positive things. In a career like that, they should all feel blessed they have a career in sports. Especially combative sports. Wrestling over 1500 matches over all those years and then at 32 having my first fight. I mean that right there, I feel really blessed to have done something like that.
As far as athletes making comments, whether they know me or not, if that’s the way they see me, then maybe I should do a better job of what I do. I put everything I had into coaching that team. And I did the same thing when I was helping coach at Iowa State, Arizona, Jackson’s MMA, American Kickboxing Academy, and now at the gym I’m going to open here next week. No matter what I am out there to show people what I know and to help them to become better. Not just better athletes, but better human beings in general. Like I said, I have no ill feelings towards Melvin Guillard, I didn’t know he felt that way. That’s his opinion. I don’t hold any ill feelings towards him or anyone else there. I wish all of them the best. And as a matter of fact I’m pretty sure I’ll be back down there helping those guys out from time to time as planned."
http://cagejunkies.com/2012/08/cagejunkies-exclusive-mike-van-arsdale-talks-melvin-guillard-and-his-future-with-the-blackzillians/
CageJunkiesYayo - And as a matter of fact I’m pretty sure I’ll be back down there helping those guys out from time to time as planned."
Hope Melvin gets some good one on one instruction from Coach Van Arsdale.
He sure handled that well.
I'm not saying he is a great coach or a great person, in fact I know very little about him as a coach.......
This is the first time I "tuned in" to read how he handled what Melvin (a friend of mine) said and I think he couldn't have handled it better in the media
Now.....
Was he just saying the "right thing" or does he actually believe what he said?
That's the real question.
But so far he is acting and talking like a true leader and coach. Minimal ego.
I hope it's his true self. But a couple of quotes doesn't prove anything 
OMA (tm) - He sure handled that well. <br><br>I'm not saying he is a great coach or a great person, in fact I know very little about him as a coach.......<br><br>This is the first time I "tuned in" to read how he handled what Melvin (a friend of mine) said and I think he couldn't have handled it better in the media<br><br>Now.....<br><br>Was he just saying the "right thing" or does he actually believe what he said?<br><br>That's the real question.<br><br>But so far he is acting and talking like a true leader and coach. Minimal ego.<br><br>I hope it's his true self. But a couple of quotes doesn't prove anything <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
Whether its his true self or not, he handled it a lot better than your buddy Melvin.
What did Melvin say about him?
Jsteven - What did Melvin say about him? <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
Bad Coach, Bad Fighter, that he shouldn't coach because he wasn't a champion and only champions have anything to teach, that he was a Can sent in to make guys look good, stuff like that. Pretty shitty.
Ttt
youarewhatiswrong -Jsteven - What did Melvin say about him? <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
Bad Coach, Bad Fighter, that he shouldn't coach because he wasn't a champion and only champions have anything to teach, that he was a Can sent in to make guys look good, stuff like that. Pretty shitty.
Damn
Respect for MVA! It would have been so much easier to bash guillard, but instead he took the high road. A lot of people could learn from that. 
Even if it's not his, "true self," (and you're right... who knows besides him?) he demonstrates a degree of professionalism that is sometimes lacking in the remarks of elite trainers and fighters. Those who don't know him personally would likely be left with a positive opinion of him from that quote alone. He comes off as a level-headed guy who is thankful for what he has instead of a hothead who is given to throwing people under the bus.
Respect to him for responding like that. He easily could have blasted Melvin and nobody would have thought he was wrong to do so.
MVAs wrestling career blows Melvins MMA career out of the water
MVA will be remembered as one of the original wrestlers in MMA
Melvin will be regarded as overrated over wasted talent that never got over his ego and realize that he isnt as good as he thinks he is. That his knowledge of MMA over 10 years equates to that of someone with a year of MMA knowledge.
Classy way to handle the situation but I wouldn't of been mad if he would of ripped into Melvin some.
OMA (tm) - He sure handled that well.
I'm not saying he is a great coach or a great person, in fact I know very little about him as a coach.......
This is the first time I "tuned in" to read how he handled what Melvin (a friend of mine) said and I think he couldn't have handled it better in the media
Now.....
Was he just saying the "right thing" or does he actually believe what he said?
That's the real question.
But so far he is acting and talking like a true leader and coach. Minimal ego.
I hope it's his true self. But a couple of quotes doesn't prove anything
It was a very classy response to some truly shitty comments made by your "buddy", Melvin.
MarcusRenatoBlackBelt - I don't understand why people are saying Melvin's comments were not classy and tasteless. He said what was on his mind and Van Arsdale AGREED with him. Why would anyone on this board have an issue with Melvin saying in when Van Arsdale certainly did not. It looks like Van Arsdale says "I should be better at my job" which is exactly what Melvin Guillard was saying!
Are you serious?
Class answer. Handled the situation as well as possible and better than most.
Very cool answer
youarewhatiswrong -hes trolling just read hisother posts lolMarcusRenatoBlackBelt - I don't understand why people are saying Melvin's comments were not classy and tasteless. He said what was on his mind and Van Arsdale AGREED with him. Why would anyone on this board have an issue with Melvin saying in when Van Arsdale certainly did not. It looks like Van Arsdale says "I should be better at my job" which is exactly what Melvin Guillard was saying!
Are you serious?