JRE MMA Show #45 with Justin Wren & Rafael Lovato Jr.

Training

Joe Rogan, Justin Wren, and Rafael Lovato Jr. explore the nuances of training philosophies in martial arts. Lovato shares how his strength and conditioning coach, Luke Tyree, shifted his approach to focus on pure, clean movements, emphasizing health and awareness over intense, exhausting workouts 1. Wren describes his experience training with Lovato, likening it to being under a "building of melted hot cheese," highlighting Lovato's unique coaching style that breaks techniques down inch by inch 2.

I've been coached by Kels Anderson and Kendall Cross and Kenny Munde, Olympic gold medalist in wrestling. Fantastic people, amazing coaches. There's something really special and different about the way he teaches and coaches that you really start to grasp everything.

--- Justin Wren

Lovato's teaching journey began at 16, helping his father in Oklahoma, which laid the foundation for his detailed and trust-building coaching methods 3.

   

Ethics

The discussion shifts to the principles and ethics that martial arts instill in practitioners. Lovato emphasizes the core values of loyalty, respect, honor, discipline, attitude, and family, which are central to his academy's children's program 4. These values, he believes, are integral to the martial arts journey and distinguish it from other sports. Wren shares his cultural experiences, like the importance of respect in Dagestan, where even a simple act like whistling can be seen as disrespectful 5.

It's not about money. It's about honor and respect.

--- Joe Rogan

Lovato's martial arts journey, deeply influenced by his father's passion and support, highlights the lifelong commitment to learning and self-betterment that martial arts encourage 6.

   

Evolution

Balancing tradition and evolution is a key theme in martial arts, as discussed by Lovato. He reflects on his journey from Brazilian jiu-jitsu to MMA, driven by a desire to represent American talent on the world stage 7. Despite achieving significant success, he felt a calling to transition to MMA, seeking new challenges and reigniting his passion 8. Lovato's training incorporates evolved striking techniques, tailored for MMA, which blend traditional Muay Thai with modern adaptations for takedowns and defense 9.

It's not muay Thai for Muay Thai, they call their system evolu. Sounds evolution, you know, and it's evolved into this system that is designed for MMA.

--- Rafael Lovato Jr.

This evolution reflects the dynamic nature of martial arts, where practitioners continuously adapt to remain competitive and effective.