When I looked at the state of women's MMA, what I saw was that it was missing rivalries or anything theatrical about it. Everybody was trying to be Miss America, unwilling to go under any kind of criticism, and taking the safe answers. I thought I needed to do whatever I could to get attention.
Interpretation
Ronda Rousey emphasizes the need for drama and rivalry in women's MMA to attract more attention and excitement.
In this quote, Ronda Rousey reflects on the early state of women's mixed martial arts (MMA), suggesting that it lacked the rivalries and theatrical elements that engage audiences. She criticizes the trend of women in the sport striving for overly polished images rather than embracing the challenge of criticism, highlighting her belief that success in the sport requires not only skill but also the ability to stand out and create a compelling narrative.
In practice
During a motivational speech for aspiring athletes, one could use this quote to inspire them to embrace their uniqueness and stand out in their sports.
When I was in school, martial arts made you a dork, and I became self-conscious that I was too masculine. I was a 16-year-old girl with ringworm and cauliflower ears. People made fun of my arms and called me 'Miss Man.' It wasn't until I got older that I realized: These people are idiots. I'm fabulous.
I never really liked weightlifting because there is no problem solving, whereas when I am fighting, I am trying to solve a problem, so I don't think about being tired. I box, wrestle, do jujitsu, run up sand dunes; every single day is something different so that I am mentally engaged. That's what makes me want to train longer.
People say to me all the time, 'You have no fear.' I tell them, 'No, that's not true. I'm scared all the time. You have to have fear in order to have courage. I'm a courageous person because I'm a scared person.'
A belt does nothing but hold your gi together. A belt has assigned significance, a belt is someone else saying you're good, you don't need other people saying that you're good in order to be good.
I had all the usual ambition growing up. I wanted to be a writer, a musician, a hockey player. I wanted to do something that wasn't nine to five. Acting was the first thing I tried that clicked.
I am unlimited in my own ability to create the good in my life.
The thing, when you're down two sets to love, is to stay calm, even though it's hard, because people are freaking out, people are worried for you.
I never think that there's something I can't do, whether it's beating my opponent one on one or practicing another hour because something about my game is just not right.
One of the principal reasons why so many fail to get what they want is because they do not definitely know what they want, or because they change their wants almost every day. Know what you want and continue to want it. You will get it if you combine desire with faith. The power of desire when combined with faith becomes invincible.
Nothing ever built arose to touch the skies unless some man dreamed that it should, some man believed that it could, and some man willed that it must.
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