A brilliant chat with Amir going deep into the realms of the art of charm to create positive gym atmospheres, weight cutting strategies in fight camps and a closer look at what it takes to teach women how to protect themselves.
Amir Ghassemi is the current BFL lightweight kickboxing champion, striking coach and manager of Lions MMA, Vancouver, Canada.
Timecodes
00:00 CBD Mountain, the sport and fitness CBD
00:40 Introduction
01:20 The art of charm and how to approach new and current gym members, alike
04:15 Maintaining a sense of community whilst businesses have been forced to close
06:40 Keeping momentum as a gym whilst closed and shifting to online platforms
09:25 How adaptation is key, in martial arts and in business
10:35 Ladies only self-defence seminars at Lions MMA and the purpose of training
15:30 Teaching women about situational awareness and the importance of understanding probable scenarios
17:10 The best weapon for women to use in compromised situations
18:55 Why BJJ is number one when it comes to understanding the framework for women’s self-defence
22:20 Free self-defence seminar schedule Battered Women’s Support Services Charity (https://www.bwss.org/)
24:30 Children’s Anti-Bullying seminar
25:22 Amir’s martial journey
Jean Claude VanDamme (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Cl…)
Kickboxer (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097659/)
Bloodsport (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092675/…)
32:20 Amir’s Top 3 Kickboxing Fights
Mike Zambedis vs Chahid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knU8I…)
Peter Aerts vs Semmy Schilt (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPlEe… )
Rammon Dekkers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6en-A…)
38:00 Amir’s dream list of striking coaches to work with
Big Mike Passenier ( https://mikesgym.com/ )
Kirian Fitzgibbons ( https://www.instagram.com/csagym )
Damien Trainor (https://www.instagram.com/trainor103 )
Notable strikers from Mike’s Gym
Badr Hari ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVnNr… )
Melvin Manhoef ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TMR_… )
Gokhan Saki (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcXEV…)
Murthel Groenhart (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uIV8…)
42:30 Coach – Fighter relationship and the importance of getting out of your head and trusting your instincts
46:30 Can mental toughness be taught?
51:50 Fight camp durations, staying ready, watching tape for pattern recognition
56:05 Cutting weight in MMA vs Kickboxing, methods of losing the pounds
1:00:25 Advice for strikers staying sharp during quarantine
Andre Ward (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXpk5…)
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