04/12/2021
5 years ago I was running a program in Italian public schools to help change kids lives through sport/MMA. Lately I’ve heard too many people, talk about their hard lives and struggle but I wish I could invite you to these places. In these places there are no opportunities, everything looks grey but these kids are different because they invent opportunities. I am so proud of the project because coaching these classes was like coaching in a jungle, these kids wouldn’t respect any professor or care about anything, but when they would come to my class they would all act in line. Everyone wanted their chance to show they were ready for anything, these kids would be happy to take on the top UFC fighters and would never say no or turn away from an opportunity. These are my kids. Kids that are aren’t scared of anything, and sadly for their ages they have already seen too much. I never like to show my achievements but I understand the times have changed and if you don’t show all you have done and what you have given no one will see your value. Look at them, to them there’s no difference between colour, race or religion, it’s just about the opportunity. One of the reasons I share this picture is because one of these kids has recently reached out to me and warmed my heart. When you do these things you don’t do it for any return, never expecting or caring for anything to come back to you, but you do it because you’ve been in that position yourself. This kid told me recently that this project changed his life, it showed him a way out. These kids are now 18yo and most of them didn’t end up on a great path, but one thing I’m proud of is that I was able to give some opportunity for change to at least some of them. There’s a lot of coaches out there for Instagram. Not a lot of coaches out there to change lives.
