Member Spotlight: Mike P.

Mike is our new featured member.  Everyone loves Mike’s positive attitude and motivating spirit. Here, he tells about his fitness and health journey:

“I want to give a very public thank you to my familia ‪at Rothwell MMA.  I haven’t met most of you, but I believe that you are all part of this. I am not one to talk about myself, but I was asked recently to share my experience at Rothwell. I was a little hesitant, but I feel that if my success can touch one person, move and motivate one person… that is one less person that will have given up on themselves. One more person to show the world YES I CAN! Then that person can motivate one more person and so on.

I am a 40 year old divorced (and happily remarried) father to two awesome little men and one wonderful bonus daughter. I am a TWO time Cancer SURVIVOR (2010 Thyroid Cancer and 2011 Colon Cancer). Between the numerous surgeries and procedures, I had practically given up on ever getting into even decent shape. I had bounced around to different gyms and tried different things, but nothing worked for me. Until late February 2015. I ran into Ben Rothwell at another gym and heard that he had a MMA gym in town. So I looked into it and found this bootcamp program called KickFit. It seemed like a mix of Kickboxing, Crossfit, and Bootcamp. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to check it out. My wife and I walked into Rothwell expecting to be greeted by some minimum wage worker who couldn’t care less. We never expected to be greeted by Jennifer and Ben himself.

From that day forward, Rothwell MMA has been my home away from home. Almost every day they are open, Pushing. Grinding. Leaving puddles of myself on the mats Every day is a challenge but I simply cannot wait to get in there and do work with James Bochnovic. He is there to push when you need a kick in the ass or the encouragement to you going when you’re struggling. Every day is awesome! I walked in there in February at almost 320 pounds. I stand here today in the 270’s for the first time in 20 years. Admittedly, I have a long way to go (my ultimate goal is 230), but I am closer than I ever have been. But losing 50 pounds in 5 months….thats a hell of a start. Thank you to the Rothwells for having a place that is so full of positive energy.”

Want to learn more about our other featured members?

Check out previous Rothwell MMA Member Spotlights HERE.