UFC Lightweight, Austin “Thud” Hubbard is High Altitude Martial Arts’ newest purple belt!
Austin has been busy in the UFC for the past year fighting in June and then again in August. His name will forever be in many UFC fans’ memories as the dude who was hospitalized with a rare condition – compartment syndrome – after his UFC win. Austin was the first case of compartment syndrome in the promotion’s 26 year history. The pressures within Austin’s upper thigh built up to dangerous levels, causing him to faint in the elevator at his hotel. To relieve the pressure, doctors had to cut Austin’s leg open to relieve the pressure, leaving a giant hole in his leg, requiring extensive surgery, and A LOT of stitches. [See Austin’s Instagram @austinhubb144 for graphic photos]
And also known for his recent fight against Max Rohskop and the controversy of Max telling his Coach, Robert Drysdale, in between the 2nd and 3rd round that he did not want to continue the fight. Drysdale was criticized for trying to push his athlete to continue. Although Austin admitted it was a “pretty cool feeling to break someone like that” he did feel bad for him given it was a short notice UFC debut fight for Max. Austin mentioned, “I feel like people are giving him a lot of heat and no one’s really giving me credit for it. That’s fine.” Moving up and onwards, Austin – on to the next!
Look for Professor Cody Donovan in Austin’s corner this weekend for UFC on ESPN 15 against Joe Solecki, whom he was already scheduled to fight once. Also on the card from Elevation Fight Team is Shana Dobson.
We wish you all safe travels to Las Vegas and best of luck to both of our competitors!
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Getting promoted to your purple belt can be a bittersweet moment. You’re overcome with joy as you realize you’re halfway to your black belt! Then you realize, you’re only halfway to your black belt; and that end goal can seem like a lifetime away. The purple belt: which is usually regarded by many as the toughest belt in BJJ – where it feels like you’re hitting endless plateaus and constantly feeling like you’re not learning enough. As a blue belt you were developing your game, adding tons of new techniques to your playbook, and putting all of the puzzle pieces together. This is where the purple belt struggle might happen. You feel like you are learning less, but because you actually know more, there IS less to learn. It’s the time to fine tune and pick up on tiny details that will improve your game. By now you will have a clear understanding of what your game is, where your strengths and weaknesses are, and it’s up to you to alter your jiu jitsu journey to fit your style. The purple belt can be viewed as a bridge rank; you stand squarely between novice and expert.
The competition is fierce at purple belt. Not only are the brackets bigger, but the range of purple belt skills vary vastly, and the competitors are hungry. Purple belts know that they have two choices, they’re either going to keep grinding and become a black belt, or they’re going to give up. That mindset is usually put out there on the competition mats. Many purple belts can attest to this rank being one of the first times they’ve felt true pressure on the mats, and the worst part is, purple belts still have bad blue belt days. When you’re having an off day, and a blue belt is having an amazing purple belt day, you will tap to a lower belt. It’s inevitable. Take the pressure off of yourself, move on, and continue to grow. You learn a lot by tapping out a lower belt, but you learn even more by tapping out to a lower belt. It’s all a part of the journey and your jiu jitsu development. Just keep telling yourself, one day you will be a purple belt having a brown belt day. One day you will get your brown belt. Keep going, one day at a time, one submission at a time.
Purple belts make great teachers and training partners for newbie white belts. Purple belts have definitive skills, a wider knowledge base, and refined technique. This belt shows the true commitment to the art.
Bobbie Bartholomew also received her purple belt earlier this month and said “You never feel like you’re ready or deserving of the next belt; but I trust my professors, I trust the process, and I trust the journey. Assistant coaching has definitely played a huge role in the growth of my confidence, skills, and mindset. That’s one thing I would suggest to anyone who is getting close to their purple or feeling like they’re at a plateau at any belt – assistant coaching. You begin to see moves differently, pick up on little details you missed before, and gain a completely new understanding when you actually have to explain it yourself. It’s powerful.”
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