“Coenen, You’re about to fight Gilbert ‘The Hurricane’ Yvel. K1 fighter. One of the most aggressive guys in MMA….”
I was already tuning out.
The instructor’s words were just noise by that point. I wasn’t really hearing him.
I just looked at my gloves, popped in my mouthguard, and locked in.
I was ready. Game on.
The next minute felt like an eternity.
I got absolutely demolished.
This was back in my Special Forces days, and training was constant.
Skills, fitness, everything you’d expect.
But this day was clearly about one thing: Mindset.
They threw me in there with five elite martial artists, one after another, for a minute each.
Just surviving that line-up felt like a win 😉
Here’s what I learned:
– “Everyone has a plan—until they get punched in the face.” — Mike Tyson
I had to throw this one in because it was literally so true that day.
Whatever ideas I had going into that ring?
Gone the second the hits started coming.
Suddenly, it wasn’t about plans. It was about reacting, staying in it, and finding something deeper to push through.
– Working with a professional is a humbling experience—but there’s no substitute for it.
Let’s just say, after fighting Yvel, I understood the value of working with (or ´against´ in this case) a pro on a whole new level.
There’s a reason we look up to people who’ve put in the years, mastered their craft. Yvel was an absolute Master.
They push you to places you can’t reach on your own.
Like they say, “If you think it’s expensive to work with a professional, wait till you work with an amateur.”
– Mindset is everything.
It wasn’t about winning that fight—trust me, winning was not really an option.
It was about showing up, knowing it’ll be tough, staying in the moment, and pushing through.
You don’t grow in your comfort zone; you grow when you’re challenged.
Looking back, that day taught me more than just how to get destroyed by a professional fighter.
Sometimes, it’s not about winning; it’s about showing up, taking the hits, getting stronger…….and keep going.
So when life gets tough, remember: you’ve been through hard stuff before.
You’ve taken hits and kept going.
That is how you grow, both in business and in life.
How about you? How are you challenging yourself to grow as a person?
Let me know!
About the picture: Me getting humbled by Gilbert Yvel, possibly the longest minute of my life, hahaha 😉
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