Fighting To Teach Discipline
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
"It's me that believes in it," Firari said of his new venture with Mixed Martial Arts. "I believe I can help people with it. I really look at it has a contribution to the community."[[In-content Ad]]Working out of Total Jiu-Jitsu, 2307 E. Center St., Suite B, in Warsaw, Firari plans to begin teaching all levels of boxing and MMA conditioning in early February. Boxing skills will be taught three times a week, with the MMA conditioning taking place on Tuesday and Thursday, but Firari's willing to meet at the client's preference.
"Seeing people improve is what gives me a charge," Ferari said of his new endeavour.
To illustrate his commitment to teaching boxing skills and keeping people in shape, Ferari is trading in 24 years of work at Rohm/Haas to become an instructor.
"I saw that this was more than a phase," Ferari said. "I thought I'd go ahead and make a go at what I love. I'm really giving up a lot, in term of benefits."
Ferari began his boxing career in 1983, fighting in Battern's Pig Bouts. He continued boxing until 1993, becoming the USABF Indiana State Middleweight Champion in 1987 and Lightweight in 1990. Along the way, he also became a certified Tae Kwon Do instructor. In 1996, Ferari was on the Warsaw Community High School wrestling staff, also coaching the Warsaw Greco/Roman wrestling team to a state title in 2002.
It was coaching those Warsaw wrestlers that let Ferari know what he really enjoyed doing.
"A dream of mine has been to have something positive for kids," he said. "I view myself as a good coach."
While he's viewing himself as a good coach, he is also aware of how some view MMA - as a violent sport. However, he doesn't see it that way.
"I'm against violence," he said. "I'm against war, street fighting and hitting spouses. I don't view this as violence. It's violent, but it's two willing combatants. It takes as much discipline as any pro dancer.
"There are colorful people involved with the sport," he added. "A lot of them are good people. They're not just psychos running around, which is what a lot of people think."
And when at MMA events, instead of watching two guys fighting, Fiari sees more.
"It's an art, but the basics have to be there," he said. "If you want to write a play, you need to know how to spell and something about grammar."
And he's here to teach the basics.
Many people may be more interested in just getting a good workout from the MMA conditioning, but for some, MMA may become a part of their lives.
"This is the Golden Age in MMA," he said of the sport. "It's the fastest growing sport in the world. I've been doing it in my spare time, but now I can utilize the space at the Jiu-Jitsu gym to teach the sport."
In MMA, combatants adapt skills from various fighting genres inside an eight-sided cage. The fight generally ends with one tapping out, and seeing such action live is the way Ferari suggests.
"It's always special, at almost any level," Ferari said of watching MMA fights. "You have to see it live to get a real feel for it. On television, it's more like watching a tap dance in tennis shoes."
He may enjoy the fights, but in terms of teaching, he's more focused on discipline.
"You don't have to be a fighter to be a part of this," he said. "A lot of places just want first-rate fighters. This is not like that, it's more of a family-atmosphere.
"You don't need to get into shape before coming," he added. "I can adapt to anyone's physical state."
But that doesn't mean the workouts will be easy.
"When beginning, you do want to take it slow," he said.
He recommends that beginners take it slow, but with him diving head-first into the business world, he's optimistic that others in surrounding area will buy into the sport.
"I'm determined to do what it takes," he said. "If it were up to me, I wouldn't charge anything, but I have to in order to be able to do it."
Equipment is provided for the workouts, as participants may learn the proper way to hit punching bags, take part in non-contact co-ed bouts or just work up a good lather to stay in shape. Regardless, Firari is ready to work with anyone.
"I like working with beginners," he said. "A lot of instructors don't have the patience for beginners, but I like all levels."
For more information on Firari's endeavour, visit www.bbbsw.com
"It's me that believes in it," Firari said of his new venture with Mixed Martial Arts. "I believe I can help people with it. I really look at it has a contribution to the community."[[In-content Ad]]Working out of Total Jiu-Jitsu, 2307 E. Center St., Suite B, in Warsaw, Firari plans to begin teaching all levels of boxing and MMA conditioning in early February. Boxing skills will be taught three times a week, with the MMA conditioning taking place on Tuesday and Thursday, but Firari's willing to meet at the client's preference.
"Seeing people improve is what gives me a charge," Ferari said of his new endeavour.
To illustrate his commitment to teaching boxing skills and keeping people in shape, Ferari is trading in 24 years of work at Rohm/Haas to become an instructor.
"I saw that this was more than a phase," Ferari said. "I thought I'd go ahead and make a go at what I love. I'm really giving up a lot, in term of benefits."
Ferari began his boxing career in 1983, fighting in Battern's Pig Bouts. He continued boxing until 1993, becoming the USABF Indiana State Middleweight Champion in 1987 and Lightweight in 1990. Along the way, he also became a certified Tae Kwon Do instructor. In 1996, Ferari was on the Warsaw Community High School wrestling staff, also coaching the Warsaw Greco/Roman wrestling team to a state title in 2002.
It was coaching those Warsaw wrestlers that let Ferari know what he really enjoyed doing.
"A dream of mine has been to have something positive for kids," he said. "I view myself as a good coach."
While he's viewing himself as a good coach, he is also aware of how some view MMA - as a violent sport. However, he doesn't see it that way.
"I'm against violence," he said. "I'm against war, street fighting and hitting spouses. I don't view this as violence. It's violent, but it's two willing combatants. It takes as much discipline as any pro dancer.
"There are colorful people involved with the sport," he added. "A lot of them are good people. They're not just psychos running around, which is what a lot of people think."
And when at MMA events, instead of watching two guys fighting, Fiari sees more.
"It's an art, but the basics have to be there," he said. "If you want to write a play, you need to know how to spell and something about grammar."
And he's here to teach the basics.
Many people may be more interested in just getting a good workout from the MMA conditioning, but for some, MMA may become a part of their lives.
"This is the Golden Age in MMA," he said of the sport. "It's the fastest growing sport in the world. I've been doing it in my spare time, but now I can utilize the space at the Jiu-Jitsu gym to teach the sport."
In MMA, combatants adapt skills from various fighting genres inside an eight-sided cage. The fight generally ends with one tapping out, and seeing such action live is the way Ferari suggests.
"It's always special, at almost any level," Ferari said of watching MMA fights. "You have to see it live to get a real feel for it. On television, it's more like watching a tap dance in tennis shoes."
He may enjoy the fights, but in terms of teaching, he's more focused on discipline.
"You don't have to be a fighter to be a part of this," he said. "A lot of places just want first-rate fighters. This is not like that, it's more of a family-atmosphere.
"You don't need to get into shape before coming," he added. "I can adapt to anyone's physical state."
But that doesn't mean the workouts will be easy.
"When beginning, you do want to take it slow," he said.
He recommends that beginners take it slow, but with him diving head-first into the business world, he's optimistic that others in surrounding area will buy into the sport.
"I'm determined to do what it takes," he said. "If it were up to me, I wouldn't charge anything, but I have to in order to be able to do it."
Equipment is provided for the workouts, as participants may learn the proper way to hit punching bags, take part in non-contact co-ed bouts or just work up a good lather to stay in shape. Regardless, Firari is ready to work with anyone.
"I like working with beginners," he said. "A lot of instructors don't have the patience for beginners, but I like all levels."
For more information on Firari's endeavour, visit www.bbbsw.com
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092