Free My Fight / Your Fight by Ronda Rousey Page A

spent the day relegated to what I referred to as “Ronda’s Happy Corner of Matwork,” where I grappled the entire time. I couldn’t use my leg at all. As the afternoon session wrapped up, the event organizer made an announcement.
    â€œFollowing this session, we ask you all to stay as Jimmy Pedro will be presenting awards,” he said. “These are awards that Jimmy has determined himself. Afterward, Jimmy will be signing autographs.”
    The disappointment I had felt on the way to the clinic returned, only worse.
    â€œCan we leave?” I asked my mom.
    â€œI thought you wanted him to sign your belt,” my mom said.
    â€œI just want to go,” I said.
    â€œOK,” she shrugged.
    I was hobbling over to get my bag, when Jimmy walked to the front of the room.
    â€œFirst of all, thank you so much for coming out here today,” Jimmy said. The room cheered.
    â€œI was really impressed by everyone,” he continued. “I see a lot of potential when I look around this room.”
    Dozens of kids sitting cross-legged on the mats suddenly straightened up. I felt my eyes start to burn. There were more than one hundred kids from around the L.A. area at the clinic, and I knew I was better at judo than every single one of them. I also knew there was no way I was getting an award.
    â€œThe first award, is one that I hope will soon be near and dear to my heart,” Jimmy said with a smile. “This is the ‘Future Olympic Champion’ award.”
    The room laughed as if Jimmy had told a hilarious joke. A three-time Olympian who had won bronze in 1996, Jimmy was making one final push at an Olympic gold.
    Jimmy called the name of a boy who jumped up, cheering as if he had actually won the Olympics.
    I shoved everything into my bag as fast as I could.
    â€œThe next award I want to give out today is one that is certainly near and dear to my heart—‘Future World Champion,’” Jimmy said.
    At the mention of world champion, the room burst into applause.
    â€œAnd the winner is . . .”—Jimmy paused for dramatic effect—“Ronda Rousey.”
    I froze, then dropped my bag. I felt my cheeks flush as every head in the place turned to look at me.
    â€œGo up there,” my mom urged as the room applauded.
    I limped up to the front of the room to shake Jimmy’s hand. He picked me as future world champion , I thought. Me . I was thrilled and flattered and in disbelief.
    I waited in line to get his autograph after the impromptu ceremony.
    â€œRonda Rousey,” he said, grinning when it was my turn to approach the table.
    I still couldn’t believe he knew my name.
    He grabbed one of the photographs provided by the event organizers for him to sign.
    He scribbled out a message with a Sharpie and handed the paper to me. I looked down at the photo in my hands.
    To Ronda, Keep training hard and see you at the top. Jimmy Pedro.
    I read and re-read the words “see you at the top” the entire way home. I was overwhelmed by the idea that he had faith that I had so much potential that someday I would be at the pinnacle of the sport like he was.
    When we got home, I taped the photo on my wall, where I looked at it through the rest of my recovery.
    Now a blast of cold air hit me as I stepped onto the Jetway, pulling me back into the present. But reality seemed surreal. If this worked out, Big Jim was going to be my coach. I would be training with Little Jimmy.
    After two weeks, I called my mom.
    â€œThis is the place,” I said. “Big Jim is the coach.”
    â€œOK,” my mom said. “We’ll figure something out.”



FIND FULFILLMENT IN THE SACRIFICES
    People love the idea of winning an Olympic medal or a world title. But what few people realize is that pretty much every second leading up to the actual win is uncomfortable, painful, and impossibly daunting—physically and mentally. Most people focus on the