Okay, so I pulled a classic clickbait move on you - but hey, it got you here, didn't it? I promise, it's all for a good reason. We're here to dive head-first into the wild whirlpool of hosting an RFL event. Now, RFL stands for Run, Fight, Lift, and it's as intense as it sounds.
Once upon a time, back when I was a bright-eyed coach of MMA fighters, we developed a nifty little program called BOA - Body of Armor. Picture RFL as a workout routine instead of a tournament, and voila! You've got the BOA. But here's the plot twist: as soon as we rolled out the red carpet for people outside our little circle, things got...well, a little rocky.
Picture this: Runners recoiling at the thought of lifting or fighting, fighters grimacing at the notion of lifting, and lifters, in turn, recoiling at the thought of running or fighting. Talk about a game of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors!' Stitching these three disciplines together to form a single competition, and that too for a combat athlete, was like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded!
Fast-forward to the RFL tournament era, and the saga continues. Now we had these three disciples in the ring, but folks were pulling punches left, right, and center. The common cry? "I'm not trained well for that!" But hey, isn't that the whole point of a triathlon like RFL? It's not about being a powerlifter capable of monumental single rep lifts, at least not initially. It's about getting out there, doing those volume lifts, and expanding your horizons.
Now, let's talk strategy. I might be going against the grain here, but I firmly believe in the power of diversity when it comes to training. Volume lifts, explosive lifts, power lifts - it's all music to a combat athlete's ears. And the melody doesn't stop at lifting. Long-distance running, sprints, bag work, sparring - it's all part of the symphony. And guess what? This playlist doesn't get everyone's foot tapping.
We've all seen it - the martial arts, weightlifting, and running die-hards with their almost religious fervor for 'right' and 'wrong' in their fields. But that's where the beauty of the RFL lies. It's the ultimate 'show, don't tell' platform. Can't lift or fight but can run? Your limitations are on display. Can't run or lift but can fight? Same deal. Can't run or fight but can lift? You're not fooling anyone here.
The hardest part, the Everest of RFL event planning, is getting people to stare their training gaps right in the face. We're inviting them to step up to the plate, put their training theories on trial against others, and truly measure their worth. It's an opportunity that has the potential to revolutionize combat sports training and highlight individual capabilities.
Look at top-tier events like ADCC. The athletes shining on that stage? They're well-rounded. They can run, fight, and lift. They're the living, breathing embodiment of the RFL. What we're doing is merely providing a platform for everyone to measure their skills in these areas, giving them the opportunity to participate in a full-fledged grappling, striking, lifting, or running event.
And let me tell you, finishing or even placing in one of these events is no small feat. We're talking about some of the most grueling physical combat sports events on earth, back to back. I know this will be worth it in the long run, and I can't wait to meet the athletes who have the grit to thrive in this one of a kind event.
