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“I believe there is a champion in all of us. No matter the circumstances, each and every human being should be encouraged to achieve excellence in life. You should live your own dreams.”
Frank Shamrock
He grew up in poverty. His childhood was marred by savage abuse. Violence soon followed. And it wasn’t long before the prison doors slammed shut.
His future, it seemed, was cemented.
But Frank Shamrock didn’t just find a way out. He transformed himself wholesale.
This is his story.
As unimaginable as it is inspiring, it’s a tale about the fortitude required to face a set of circumstances so dire, a state of affairs so poisonous, it would have buried the best of us. Instead, Frank prevailed. With the support of the father that adopted him, he ultimately transcended inconceivable obstacles to emerge as one of the world’s greatest mixed martial arts fighters — a heroic pioneer of modern combat sports.
Dubbed The Legend during the emergent era of MMA, a time in which there were no gloves, no weight classes and basically no rules, Frank was the first true breakout champion and widely considered the sport’s first complete mixed martial arts fighter. He was the world’s first UFC Middleweight Champion. He was the first Mexican-American MMA Champion. And when the dust settled, he walked away from his career with four world titles, two world records (for the fastest championship victories in history) and the only athlete in sports history to win every major league title in MMA.
Post-retirement, Frank has had successful runs as a fight commentator, a fight promoter, a UFC and Strikeforce spokesperson, a public speaker, an entrepreneur, a mentor, a philanthropist, and the author of two books, Mixed Martial Arts for Dummies* and his memoir, Uncaged: My Life as a Champion MMA Fighter* (with a foreword by Mickey Rourke).
Frank’s accomplishments in the cage are amazing. But what is far more compelling is the extraordinary journey he undertook to overcome his past.
This a conversation about that journey. It’s about how he did it, and what can be gleaned from his experience that can inform how we perceive and approach our own limiters, both external and internal, to achieve our potential in any area of life, irrespective of circumstances.
Frank calls it the Shamrock Way. I call it unleashing your best, most authentic self.
You can call it whatever you like. I ask only that you listen with an open heart.
Podcast is also viewable on YouTube here.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange.
Peace + Plants,
Listen, Watch & Subscribe
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Filmed by Michael Gibson & edited by Blake Curtis
Thanks to this week’s sponsors
Note: One of the best ways to support the podcast is to support the sponsors. For a complete list of all RRP sponsors and their respective vanity url’s and discount codes, visit my Resources page and click “Sponsors”.
SHOW NOTES
Check out Frank’s books: Uncaged: My Life as a Champion MMA Fighter* and Mixed Martial Arts For Dummies*
Background, Context & Reference
- Connect with Frank: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Shop
- Documentary: Frank Shamrock: Bound By Blood
- Philanthropy: The Shamrock Way
- Jiu-Jitsu Times: Frank Shamrock Hung Upside Down By Knees As Child, Saved By Martial Arts by Chris Zahar
- Medium: The Importance Of Staying A Student (And How To Do So) by Louis Chew
- Fearless Motivation: Frank Shamrock – Uncaged: My life as a MMA Fighter by Sam Patierno
- Curve Finder: Frank Shamrock: A martial arts all-star and coach we can all learn from by Steven Thomas
- MMA Fighting: Frank Shamrock returns for fight he’s waited 18 years for at Rizin by Dave Meltzer
- MMA Mania: UFC legend Frank Shamrock on Conor McGregor: ‘This is when you make a power move like I did and walk away’ by Thomas Myers
- MMA Junkie: Frank Shamrock on coming this close to un-retiring for rematch with Tito Ortiz by Matt Erikson
- Bleacher Report: Dana White, Frank Shamrock and the UFC Hall of Fame by Levi Nile
- BJPENN: Frank Shamrock and Kazushi Sakuraba Hand Fought to a Draw at RIZIN by Justin Golightly
Notable People Discussed In Today’s Podcast
- Ryan Holiday: Author of: The Obstacle Is The Way*, Ego Is The Enemy* and (2x) podcast guest
- James Altucher: Author of Choose Yourself* and host of The James Altucher Show (Podcast) and podcast guest
- Anthony Ervin: 2x Olympic gold medalist in the 50 meter freestyle and podcast guest
- Ken Shamrock: known as the “World’s Most Dangerous Man”, godfather of mixed martial arts (MMA) and Frank’s brother
- Bob Shamrock: best known for establishing the Shamrock Boys Home in Susanville, Calif., a facility for troubled boys. Frank and Ken’s Dad
- Bas Rutten: Dutch actor and retired mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and professional wrestler
Related Podcasts You Might Enjoy
- RRP #45: MMA Fighter Mac Danzig – Athletic Prowess on a Plant-Based Diet
- RRP #294: John Joseph Returns: The Evolution Of A Cro-Magnon, Overcoming Insurmountable Obstacles & The Transformative Power Of PMA
- RRP #350: Paul De Gelder On The Shark Attack That Saved His Life
- RRP #237: Anthony Ervin: The Rebel Olympian on Chasing Water, Finding Meaning in Gold & The Search For Authenticity
- RRP #252: Dr. Michael Gervais On Elite Performance & The Psychology of Self-Mastery
- RRP #239: Ryan Holiday On The Perils Of Ego & Inherent Value Of Humility
Thanks to Jason Camiolo for production, audio engineering, intersticial music and show notes and Blake Curtis for videography and graphics. Theme music by Ana Leimma.
*Disclosure: Books and products denoted with an asterisk are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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