Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
– Helen Keller

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.
– H.E. Luccock

It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.
– Charles Darwin

No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.
– Reid Hoffman

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.
– Michael Jordan

Take your pick, the mantra of the greatness to even the individual is that it takes a team. Alliance MMA in Chula Vista California is a cooperative team of individual combatants and coaches with the singular goal of achieving championships. The head coach of this amazing team is Eric Del Fierro who works with his pro fighters in a multitude of capacities from striking coach to dietician, to counselor, and mentor. Him along with Coach Miguel (boxing), Jflo (wrestling), Adam (Muy Tai), ____ (jujitsu), and others the team sharpens their skills to be as complete a fighter as possible. The curriculum is designed by the coaches and administered weekly regardless of champion or fighters still fighting through the ranks, everyone is expected to train and follow the direction of the coaches.

Without accountability and encouragement to a singular vision the team falls apart. In a sport where the mettle of a fighter is tested alone, they carry with them the education imparted to them by their leadership. When a fighter commits to the program and challenges themselves to maintain discipline like Dominick Cruz, Jeremy Stephens, Angela Hill, and the rest of the fighters you can achieve great heights in all facets of life.

Training partners, without a doubt are important to the education of the fighter. They press the endurance and durability of each competitor to their ultimate limit and beyond. With them being integral to the training of any combat athlete the importance of having them in the practice arena with you is as important as any coach. They bring their skillset, discipline, and creativity to force the champions to see and feel different styles and fortitude.

So, just like Dominick Cruz is a champion, he built his foundation of coaches and training partners to make take him to the top of the bantamweight division and remain the King. He is the best, because he trains with the best and learns from the best. Be like Cruz, listen to your mentors, your coaches, and bring in people that will only make you stronger!