The Achieving Women’s Guide to..summoning your fighting spirit

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A post shared by Miesha Tate (@mieshatate) on Jun 11, 2019 at 7:04pm PDT

She’s quite the multi-hyphenate: New mum and also Strikeforce World Champion Miesha Tate is in Singapore not just as a trainer, she has also joined fight competition One Championship as its vice president.

This means she is now in the +65 actively grooming our future generation of athletes, possibly seeking out cupcakes (her favourite guilty pleasure and also famed moniker), and on the lookout for playdates for little Amaia Neveah Nunez, her 10-month-old daughter. 

She’s regarded as one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time, and we recently spoke to the 33-year-old in between her busy schedule.

How she got started in wrestling: 

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“I got into martial arts by wrestling in high school. I sucked at basketball, and the other sport offered was wrestling. It wasn’t even offered to women, so I pushed my way in there, and I decided to wrestle. I wrestled even when there was no women’s wrestling team, by competing primarily against men.”

How she finds time to train (Although technically retired, Miesha still makes time to work out (or sneak in a work out) at least five times a week: 

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“Even on flights I’ll go into the bathroom and do squats. Sometimes even by holding my daughter. I’ll do it in spurts like I’ll do 10 squats really fast, and I’ll wait a few seconds, do another 10, and I’ll do a set of 50. I also like resistance bands. They weigh nothing and I bring them with me everywhere I go.

When I can’t get to the gym, I use them. I’m in a better mood overall if I get a workout in for sure, particularly if I’m able to punch something.”

On introducing her daughter Amaia to MMA:

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A post shared by Miesha Tate (@mieshatate) on Apr 13, 2019 at 7:21am PDT

“Yes. Out of any sport there is – and I have played many – the values that a child gets from joining a martial arts programme is something you don’t find as easily in other sports.

You train together, but you compete as an individual, so martial arts teaches you how to work with others; how to have teammates, but also how to compete independently, and have independent goals.

Also, the core values of integrity, humility and respect are all invaluable lessons you gain when you learn martial arts.” 

On her new roles in Singapore:

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“My primary responsibilities as VP at One Championship is that of a pundit, commentating on the matches. I’ll also be heading various charity projects in partnership with Global Citizen. And I’ll be coaching at Evolve, so my schedule will be quite full. But I will make time for my daughter. I want to be a good example for Amaia. I want her to see that she doesn’t have to choose between having a family, and accomplishing your career goals.” 

Akin to Miesha entering the octagon, some of us enter the boardroom, confrontations, negotiations, the labour ward (a Whatsapp chatgroup, a packed MRT at peak hour, family gatherings etc.) you name it, in dire need of an inner fighting spirit. So we ask Miesha to fire us up a mental roadmap, by sharing tips on how she summons her fighting spirit, and how we can mentally prepare when facing challenges. 

Photo: 123rf

For those looking to get a workout with Miesha Tate, you should know this: 

“I’m a trainer who will lead by example; how much you give is how much I will give.” 

So are you ready to bring it?  

Miesha Tate has no fixed schedule at Evolve MMA (https://evolve-mma.com/) and teaches all through the week.

ALSO READ: THE ACHIEVING WOMAN’S GUIDE TO...GETTING AHEAD IN THE WORKPLACE