Advance Praise for The Fighter Within
“Christopher Olech revels in the success of a life fully improved by hard work, commitment, risk and sacrifice—a life improved by martial arts.”
—Elias Cepeda, MMA & boxing writer for Yahoo! Sports
“Olech strips away the cameras, fame, money and fans and takes us on a journey through the explosive sport of MMA.”
—Jason Chambers, actor, mixed martial artist, fight commentator for One Championship, UFC Fight Pass commentator and star of Human Weapon
“Christopher Olech reminds us that—regardless of background—the study and pursuit of martial arts can move mountains in your personal and business life.”
—Bobby Razak, producer, director and founder of TapouT Films
“Christopher Olech put his heart and soul into this project—it’s a book not to be missed.”
—Tony Reid, owner of Rattling the Cage, contributor to Fighters Only, host of ESPN 92.3 WVSL
“Olech brings the average reader into the world of Mixed Martial Arts that few, outside of the realm of its elite participants, will ever experience. A truly uplifting memoir, with a brawler’s backbone.”
—Conner Cordova, MMA journalist
“This book should be on the shortlist of reading material for all MMA fans.”
—Mookie Alexander, staff writer for BloodyElbow.com
“Christopher Olech shares an amazingly personal and heroic journey in martial arts and in life, and his action-packed competitive journey to Grapplers Quest.”
—Brian Cimins, founder of Grapplers Quest
“Olech left his job, hit the road, and ventured into the savage world of MMA. Fortunately, he came back alive to tell of everything he saw and learned in this book. Read it cover to cover.”
—Marcelo Dunlop, editor of GracieMag
“This book helps people understand the new game of martial arts.”
—Grandmaster Toddy, UFC trainer and coach on Oxygen’s Fight Girls reality television show
“Martial arts has been my passion since I was 13 years old. I always enjoy exploring other journeys and perspectives, and Chris’s journey definitely gives a unique look into the sport.”
—Mark Hominick, UFC, WEC and Affliction veteran
“Just like any great fighter, this book is all about heart.”
—Phoenix Carnevale, producer of everything martial arts, fight commentator, wise-cracking nerd
“The Fighter Within is a wonderful collection of essays on the personal journeys of several world class athletes and inspiring individuals. A must-read for any serious MMA fan.”
—Brian J D’Souza, author of Pound for Pound: The Modern Gladiators of Mixed Martial Arts
“This is a knockout book for everyone looking to succeed in business, life and fighting.”
—Tom DeBlass, UFC veteran, Bellator fighter and BJJ black belt
“A great book for MMA/UFC fans and also for martial artists!”
—Mike Smith (“Blacksmith”), Kyokushin Karate black belt and world-class boxing trainer
“As a martial-artist-turned-MMA-media-member, Christopher Olech views the sport from both sides of the cage. While telling the tales of the titans of the sport, he inevitably penned a tome with a moral.”
—Jason Kelly, co-host of Rear Naked Choke Radio, staff writer for Combat Press
“This book gives an insider’s look at the world of MMA. Christopher Olech does a fantastic job showcasing what it truly means to be a mixed martial artist.”
—Chris Horodecki, veteran of WEC, Bellator and IFL
“Christopher Olech is able to take you deep within the world of MMA to see what it really takes to be a fighter. If you are a fan of MMA, you will be a fan of this book.”
—Adam Guillen Jr., writer for mmamania.com
“Christopher takes you deep into the heart of MMA. This is a great read.”
—Jeff Phillips, owner of Beardo Wear
“Christopher Olech provides an entertaining glimpse into a mixed martial artist’s heart, soul and psyche.”
—Bear Frazer, lifestyle editor of Fight! magazine
“Christopher Olech’s great new book has a really nice foreword, written by a very good-looking guy; Bas Rutten! It’s an enjoyable read about a guy whose inner search leads him to MMA and martial arts in general, and he meets a lot of wonderful people along the way.”
—Bas Rutten, UFC heavyweight champion, MMA legend, actor, author and television personality
CHRISTOPHER OLECH
Foreword by BAS RUTTEN
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore
Please note that the publisher and author of this book are NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may result from practicing the techniques described within. Martial arts training can be dangerous—both to you and to others—if not practiced safely. If you’re in doubt as to how to proceed or whether your practice is safe, consult with a trained martial arts teacher before beginning. Since the physical activities described herein may be too strenuous in nature for some readers, it is also essential that a physician be consulted prior to training.
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
Copyright © 2016 Christopher Olech
Front cover photography by Ryan Loco
Back cover photography by Hector Quintero
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress cataloging in process
ISBN 978-0-8048-4595-3
ISBN 978-1-4629-1840-9 (ebook)
Distributed by
North America, Latin America & Europe
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon,
VT 05759-9436 U.S.A.
Tel: (802) 773-8930; Fax: (802) 773-6993
[email protected] www.tuttlepublishing.com
Asia Pacific
Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd.
61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12
Singapore 534167
Tel: (65) 6280-1330; Fax: (65) 6280-6290
[email protected]; www.periplus.com
Japan