Bonds
Above is a picture of my team from my time in Japan, Sakaguchi Dojo. They are wonderful people, all of them, and I consider myself extremely lucky to know them.
Japan can be a difficult place for someone who goes there, maybe a little arrogantly speaking close to no japanese as was the case with me. Getting used to the culture, knowing virtually no one, and just trying to get my footing was a trial of sorts. Odds were pretty stacked against me from the start, but everything changed because I met really great people at Sakaguchi Dojo. I no longer felt lost and was happy to belong. I made great friends and have so many good memories training and just being around everyone there. I was truly blessed.
I am writing about my team back there in Tokyo today, because the dojo I trained at closed down this week and I really wish I could have been there for the last couple days. I have a strong bond with everyone there and would have liked to be there at the end. Training there and just seeing everyone day in and day out my time in Tokyo was one of the happiest times of my life. Life was busy but there was always good people around so it was a happy existence.
Things are good though. There’s a new Sakaguchi gym in Yokohama now with my good friends, Yukio, Eriya, and too many other great friends. I miss everyone and hope I can catch up with everyone soon.
Steve Magdaleno
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Testing Testing One..Two..One..Two
On To The Next World
January-11-2008
So this is how this thing works huh….hahaha! Alright enough maniacal laughter. Time for introductions I guess. My story isn’t too different I guess. My name is Steve Magdaleno and I am currently chasing the dream of my life. I’m a pro MMA fighter with a record of 5-0 and I’m determined with every fiber of my being to see just how far I can go, how far this heart will carry me.
If you look at my last name you may wonder to yourself, “I wonder what kind of last name magdaleno is?”. Well, it’s spanish and I’m very proud of it. Both of my parents originally came to the U.S. from mexico and met here in the states. They always taught me to work hard and to not give up on my dreams. I’ve had the very best of teachers.
I’m an accomplished martial artist and a top level grappler having won many jiu jitsu competitions, along with my pro record. I lived in Japan for almost two years where I worked to become a more complete mixed martial artist. I won three pro mma matches my time there and was the 2008 Pancrase Neo Blood Champion, even was lucky enough to get the MVP award. That was a feeling like no other.
More importantly I met great training partners, great friends, friends I wouldn’t give up for the world. ….so I think that’s about up to date with me now. Don’t worry there’s more to come but you better have the common courtesy to buy me dinner first, ha!
I train at VMAT in El Segundo, California with a great coach/great friend, Vladimir Matyushenko. I treasure my friends, my family, and I promise even greater things are yet to come. I’m definitely on a road but to exactly where is yet to be seen. I can only do my best, but I promise you nothing less than absolutely that.
Steve Magdaleno
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