Marcos Menega, fighter and martial arts instructor in the MMA scene, shared valuable insights into his career and preparation methods. In the interview, he highlighted the influence of his parents and renowned athletes, such as Alex Poatan and Charles Do Bronxs, on his career. Menega highlighted the importance of persistence and shared plans to expand his reach through the construction of a new training center. His story and advice are sources of inspiration for aspiring martial arts athletes.
Your life journey and activities seem inspiring to many people. Who are the figures who have inspired you along the way, whether in the world of sports, business or life in general?
I am inspired by my parents, who were always fighting and giving the best they could despite all the difficulties. I also highlight the athletes Alex Poatan, Charles Do Bronxs and John Wayne, who came from little and through persistence reached the top. And finally, all the people around me who in some way are inspired by me. Every message received, every demonstration of affection and care always makes me want more and gives me strength to continue doing my best every day.
In addition to the physical aspect, fight training often has a challenging mental dimension. How do you work on your mentality and that of your students at Menega Fight Club?
Normally my psychology is worked on with the help of Avantepsi, including in my last fight I had a consultation with therapist Katia Balbeck who was fundamental in keeping me in control and confident of the entire situation I was going to face. As for the mentality of my students, I work with a lot of dialogue and companionship, I also use examples during training, showing in a practical way how fights and this whole world in particular works.
What are your future plans for Menega Fight Club and for your own personal and professional development? Are there any goals or projects in planning?
Currently my work is all carried out in a rented hall, my biggest personal plan and for Menega is the construction of the CT, where it will better serve my students and be able to offer better preparation for both them and me.
In addition to physical and mental skills, work ethic plays an important role in an athlete’s success. What advice would you give to young athletes looking to achieve their goals in the world of martial arts?
My advice is to be persistent, the life of an athlete is not easy, often the return is quite slow, in the beginning you don’t have much support, but the secret is not to give up, if this is really your dream go after it and make it happen, keep at it. Side the people who really root for you and never forget them.
Competing in fighting championships, MMA for example, requires intense physical preparation. Can you share a little about your training routine and how you prepare for competitions?
I usually do technical MMA training in the morning 3 times a week, in the afternoon there is physical training at the weight training gym (AGM) every day and in the evening there is jiu-jitsu and muay thai every day and kickboxing twice a week, all lasting at least 2 hours.
Injuries are inevitable in fights, have you ever experienced a serious injury that required you to stop your activities?
No, no injury serious enough to make it impossible for me to continue with activities.
We know that in addition to always being in shape, maintaining health is vital in an athlete’s life, regardless of their sport. In your case, how does your preparation day usually work and what are the steps to getting into the Octagon?
Basically, I have a good physical preparation, with the help of partners and teammates, good hydration, a sleep routine and without a doubt a good diet, which today I have organized by nutritionist Gabriel. There are many steps to reach the octagon, but I want to highlight the physical and mental preparation and challenges of dealing with fatigue and wear and tear on the body and mind.
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*WithRegina Soares