‘Filipino Wrecking Machine’ wants to hold free wrestling clinics

Mark Munoz (Getty Images)Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Mark Munoz, christened “The Filipino Wrecking Machine,” may not have a title belt yet, but he has the heart of a champion Filipinos all over the world can be proud of.

For Mark, winning bouts and gaining fame from UFC are not the only reasons he became a mixed martial arts fighter. Also a wrestling coach in college, one of his aims in life is to give free clinics for children or teenagers interested in wrestling.

According to Mark, wrestling may look simple to spectators but when they get involved in it, like train in the sport, they'd see how hard it is to learn its rudiments. As a professional fighter, he wants to share what he has learned, his experiences and techniques to the youth.

“I love showing kids the techniques and let them do it on a wrestling mat. It's very rewarding. You don't only teach them techniques on the mat, but you also exemplify and help them with being a champion off the mat.  That's what I love. I also want to show them that there's more to life than wrestling. You have your life and then you take the principles you learned from wrestling into your life,” shared Mark during a recent press conference held for him by Balls channel of SkyCable Platinum that airs UFC fights.

He added that he teaches fundamentals -- from beginning techniques until the advance levels. But it's not easy getting to the next levels because there are “in between” skills they have to learn to advance. That's also one aspect of teaching that he loves - concentrating on fine minor details of wrestling techniques.

Mark the teacher

Teaching is nothing new to Mark.  A Bachelor of Science degree holder in Health Science, Mark was a coach in UC Davis Aggies wrestling program before he joined UFC.

According to him, his success in wrestling can be attributed to his relationship with his coaches. He shared that he would always ask his coaches questions and he would always try to learn everything. At times when he was beaten in a competiton, he would always learn techniques that would eventually make him triumph over his opponents.

Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera

Another reason he has the heart of a champion is that Mark never forgets friends who have helped him succeed in UFC like MMA fighter Brandon "The Truth" Vera.

He said that Brandon told him that he would be big someday in the sport of MMA and in UFC. Looking at his UFC stature, Brandon's words were the “truth” about his MMA career. Unfortunately for his mentor, he has to surmount his own injury before he could make a comeback in the sports of Mixed Martial Arts.

“He is like my ‘Kuya.’ He believed in me. I'll help him in his wrestling and helped him in his training workout and he took me in. He was there in the beginning when I started and he is still here; we're close. He is planning to train with me in the weeks to come. I still believe in him and I'm going to do all I can to help him out,” Mark said.