Active Duty Air Force & Pro MMA Fighter Breaking Barriers with Blake Perry

Warriors, Fall In! 

It’s Time for formation.

Ladies and gentlemen, standing across from your host today at 6’3” and 175 lbs is a military service member who represents our community through his Mixed Martial Arts endeavors. 

Today, I am joined with an Air Force Service member who caught my attention on social media when I saw a short video where he had severely broken nose in 3 areas during one of his fights last August and this warrior opted to keep fighting. He even got it adjust shortly after the fight with no anesthetics.

Anyone who attempts to call him part of the “Chair Force,” will face off against a professional with a determined will to fight and the self-motivation rarely found in today’s society. I asked him to be a guest on The Morning Formation Podcast because I’m sincerely curious to learn more about this warrior. 

Connect with Blake on IG: https://www.instagram.com/blakemma170/

Transcript

KP: 0:30

This episode is powered by act now education, go to www.actnoweducation.com for free comprehensive educational resources and opportunities for active duty, veterans, military spouses and children.

Blake Perry: 0:48

Are both aspects fighting and military has taught me leadership by example, speaks volumes over the do's it just chirps from the sidelines you know.

KP: 1:05

Warriors fall in, it's time for formation. Ladies and gentleman standing across from your host today, at six foot three 175 pounds, is a military service member who represents our community through his mixed martial art endeavors. Today, I'm very fortunate to be joined with an Air Force Service member who caught my attention on social media when I saw a short video where he had severely broken his nose in three different areas during one of his fights last August. Now this warrior opted to keep fighting during that fight. Even got it adjusted shortly after the fight with no anesthetics at all. Anyone who attempts to call him part of the cheer force will face off against the professional with with the determined will to fight. And the self motivation really found in today's society. I asked him to be a guest today on the morning formation podcast because I'm sincerely curious to learn more about this modern day warrior who chose to join the Air Force. So Blake, I want to thank you for joining us on the morning information podcast.

Blake Perry: 2:05

I appreciate you have me man taking the time. Yeah, like I said, I've seen seen some of the episodes and stuff. And I really liked what to do. So I appreciate you having me on.

KP: 2:17

Man, The honor is all mine. It's great to find folks like you, especially modern service members, like yourself, I got out in 2007. And I also have been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the last 11 years now and I'm a purple belt. And over the years I've I've created so many great relationship, relationships, and I have such a great respect for the martial arts community. So it's my honor to have you on the show today, Blake. And just to start things off, you know, I'm, I'm genuinely curious to know more about you. Would you mind telling us about yourself where you're from originally, and why you chose the Air Force? And tell us about your military service so far?

Blake Perry: 2:58

Um, yeah, of course. Yeah. Happy to be on. And first off, that's awesome. I didn't realize you did jujitsu. And so that's awesome. You're super familiar with it been rolling for 11 years. That's, that's dope. But yeah, so I joined the Air Force in 2017, June of 2017, and six year contract with the Air Force. So I'm actually I'm in I got about six, seven months left. But uh, yeah, my first term of the Air Force joins, were originally from Ohio, and a small town called Jefferson. closest big city is Cleveland. So like my maps, and all that stuff was through Cleveland. And yeah, shipped out in June of 2017. Went through basic training and everything in Texas for the Air Force. And then after that, my first duty station was Hawaii. I was out there for about three years and a little over three years, from 2018. Until about midway through 2021. Out there at Hickam Air Force Base. On Oahu in Hawaii, it's joint base with Pearl Harbor. And then from there, I got sent to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, in April of 2021. And then there since and that is where I will finish my contract out. I'm a crew chief for C17s. So just a lot of mechanic stuff for cargo planes. And yeah, it's been super, super, super great experience so far. And I can't complain. Honestly, with anything. I've gotten to do a lot of cool things and have had two pretty pretty awesome duty stations, you know, Hawaii and California, so I can't Can't complain.

KP: 4:47

Now, I want to ask you right off the bat, because I did scroll through some of your chat on your Instagram. And a lot of people automatically assume that you were a marine or you're in the army. Do you get that a lot?

Blake Perry: 5:01

Yes, it's funny. I'm sure you experienced this being you know, from being in the military yourself that a lot of times, especially people aren't the people that aren't in the military. Just call everyone the army. And for some reason, I don't know. I don't know if you've encountered that yourself, but a lot of people what's the word I'm looking for? They almost use the word military and army interchangeably if they're not familiar with the branches stuff. So a lot of the time people will say army meaning the military. That just you know that, and I don't want to be a jerk and correct them. So I usually do, I'll say, Well, yeah, I'm in the Air Force, you know, and then I describe it. But ya know, I get that a lot army Marines, you know that the tough branches, you know, people are surprised a lot when they hear your air force, you know, because you think the smarter guys but what can I say, Man I can do both, you know, smart answer. Yeah,

KP: 5:59

no. I think it's badass man. I really do. So a little bit about me like I served four years in the Ohio National Guard enlisted then I went active duty as an officer. So I kind of got to see both sides of the of the coin when it comes to the rank structure anyway. Yeah. And yeah, people's and while I was becoming a an officer, my university which is right state, in Dayton, Ohio, which I'm sure you've heard of it before. We had the ROTC, the art, the Air Army, and the Air Force ROTC. And there was a very stark difference in the physical training department anyways, as far as the expectation, so I could see why the Air Force kind of comes with a stigma or stereotype anyways of the type of person and I think it's awesome, man. And when I saw that, I was like, This guy is a character, I gotta get this guy on my show,

Blake Perry: 6:53

I guess a lot, a lot of the stigma is or, you know, they're there for a reason. Because, you know, being in really good shape and stuff to be what like brutally honest with you, it's stuff I do on my own, you know, I'm not gonna sit here and act like the Air Force PT standards are insane, or because they're not, you know, each branch has their, their purpose. And, you know, obviously, the Air Force has a very, you know, technical, a lot of mechanic jobs, a lot of tech jobs, a lot of, like, Intel type jobs, you know, it's just, that's what they're there for, you know, so, a lot of the times, you know, the, you know, the physical standards aren't insane to be in the Air Force. But, um, but, you know, I guess every branch has this, its purpose to make to make the whole machine work, you know,

KP: 7:43

right. Yeah, most definitely know, at what point in your life did you decide to start training and mixed martial arts and actually start fighting?

Blake Perry: 7:53

So I've always had an interest. You know, since I was a little kid, I grew up wrestling in Ohio. I wrestled from junior high all the way up through high school and college, even out in Berea, Ohio, and the Cleveland area had Baldwin Wallace, but uh, yeah, man. So I've always wrestled and love that. And then, you know, I really I remember watching UFC fights and stuff with my dad, when I was probably like, 11, or 12, you know, so the interest is definitely always been there. But I started to really take it serious. After after I was done wrestling, and after I joined the military, I started taking jujitsu and stuff. And at first, it's kind of funny, because I was like, ah, you know, I'll just be something good to get that competitive edge out training and stuff. And then I started, you know, training jiu jitsu for a few months. And then, you know, it's that that competitive drive and stuff never really goes away if it's in the, uh, you know, so I knew that I definitely wanted to do MMA. And then in 2017, I started training out in the Cleveland area, and then once I got sent to Hawaii is where I really, really kicked it into gear, just training out at a spot called United MMA on Oahu. And just really, really started to make it my lifestyle and training and just kept pursuing it to the point that I ended up getting my first fight that year.

KP: 9:22

Wow. And you know, what's funny, Blake, when I first started looking into you, and looking at your background, it's it's quite amazing how much we have in common geographically, because I was born in Hawaii. I was born in Wahiawa, actually grew up in Waipahu. And then I went to my father retired out of the army and went back to his home state of Ohio. And that's how I ended up in Ohio. graduated high school in Ohio. I wrestled in Ohio, too. And I now live in California. So Oh, geographically, we've Yeah, geographically. We've been in all the same places. Yeah, I'm currently just outside of Los Angeles. But um, I can tell you, I want to underline and highlight this that sports in Ohio is a big deal. And I played football, wrestled ran a couple years of track and it was seriously like Friday Night Lights for football and wrestling was super competitive man, especially going into like a big city like Cleveland or Columbus and having to compete against those kids. So I could totally see how growing up where you did sort of set your trajectory into where you're at right now and what you're doing professionally. It makes more Short spin.

Blake Perry: 10:31

Yeah, that's that's crazy. First off the like how that worked out that's I guess I didn't realize that that those three areas that's actually super super crazy um speaking of walkie Well I was just there for like almost a full month for my buddy's training camp out I flew out there and stay this spot and train there all month for my my buddy has a fight coming up. But anyway, yeah, growing up in Ohio Yeah, you said it perfect. And it's funny because I think it's kind of a product of a lot of times places where there's not a lot to do elsewise. I feel like sports really, really takes over, you know, because there's a lot of a lot of parts of Ohio where it's it's nothing but cornfields and just nothing for miles and miles, you know, so what else is there to do besides being a wrestling room as a kid or be out on the football field? You know? So yeah, definitely. It's definitely a hammer house for sure. When it comes to I would say those two specifically football and wrestling are super big. You know, football in that whole area of the country. And same with wrestling, you know, is you know, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York. That whole it's crazy out there. But yeah, it's cool each area to has its own things, you know, because then fighting in Hawaii is crazy. You know, I mean, like, I swear every every little kid out their tick boxes or is doing some type of boxing or some type of did do a striking or so. No, it's definitely I was pretty fortunate to kind of the trajectory of where I lived. It just was like a perfect lineup, you know, because I grew up in Ohio. And then, you know, so that's where I got my bass for athletics. And then my fighting bass, I got all out in Hawaii. And then now I'm out in California, so it worked out perfect.

KP: 12:30

Oh, I totally know, like, I grew up in Hawaii. So, you know, the, the pidgin English of, you know, oh, he likes crap. Like beef. The guy? Yeah, it's just like, I went from that to the cornfields of Ohio, like, literally, out in rural Madison County, Ohio, out in the middle of nowhere. So people out there were great man I actually have part of my heart is in Ohio, I always say and I go back to visit, you know, my old man and see a lot of my old teachers and some of my friends that still live out there. So I just thought it was kind of wild man that we're kind of geographically following each other. So this interview was meant to be man. So yes, I can tell you that. Over the years since I've been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I've learned quite a bit just about myself. And I've got lifelong friends that I've, you know, traveled around trained with, who lived halfway across the map. And it's, it's certainly a different feeling. When you train with someone in a combative sport, such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai boxing, you sort of develop this closer relationship with them, you know, whether they end up putting you on your can, or you put them on their can, and you have a good day, you have a bad day, you always find a way to pick pick each other up and outside of the octagon, and outside of training, you know, with mixed martial arts, what, what has what has all of this taught you about yourself, your life in your career?

Blake Perry: 13:57

Um, I would say, to be completely honest, it's definitely taught me that this is, like what I'm meant to do, if that makes sense, you know, because I don't know, man, this, like, nowhere else in my life, that I truly feel like, I've 100% fit in. And this is where I'm supposed to be at this very moment. You know, I feel like everything else in my life, I kind of do. Like for other people, almost, if that makes sense, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. You know, it's not it's not a complaint. However, I feel like most everything else I do is for other people, or because I have to, in a way, and fighting something that I do want 100% For me, and I truly, truly feel like I was like, put on the earth to fight you know, just in some facet. You know, I was just meant to, to endure and get through tough scenarios and come out on top. And so, but I would say it's one big takeaway just on like, a personal level, like aside from competition and aside from even the training itself in the sport, you know, because everything else, you know, everything else I've done in my life, professionally, or it has been a job to me, you know, I show up, do what I have to do get paid so I can pay my rent, you know, but fighting is something that I would do for free 100% of the time easily. And it's just I don't know I When I'm there is like the only time in my life where I feel 100% I'm doing something for me that I'm meant to be in that exact spot at that exact moment. And but yeah, I'm just I truly think that I'm just made for it. And I'm there for a reason.

KP: 15:48

Yeah, man. So do you do you plan on continuing this even after the Air Force and taking it up a notch? Yeah,

Blake Perry: 15:55

100% I think for sure. Definitely want to continue. And to be honest, I don't ever want to fully leave it behind. You know, even when I'm too old to compete and fight myself, I always kind of want to be in the world, you know, of fighting, whether it's coaching or something, you know, I mean, something working with a promotion, doing something or coaching or training or friggin commentating, I don't know, something, you know, um, but I don't ever fully want to leave it behind just because it's been such a big part of my life. Since I was little to be honest, you know, combat sports in general, like wrestling, fighting, whatever it be. But yeah, so definitely after the Air Force, I plan on even cranking it up, you know, and definitely burning the candle at both ends and going as hard as I can as smart as I can. While I still can, you know, yeah. And then down the road, when my time of fighting is up. I don't ever want to really leave it behind fully, you know?

KP: 17:02

Yeah, I don't think you ever will, man, like I found myself over the years, training others. And I definitely think that's an option for you forever, for always to give that gift to someone else. And I truly think that is it is a training gift that you can give other people to help them find that fire inside of them and help them push themselves to new levels of I mean, because the the reason I love grappling, and I love Jiu Jitsu, is because if I go in for a workout, I don't control that workout, my partner controls the workout. Now, if I go in and I decide to lift weights, I could pick up a 15 pound dumbbell and curl it. Now, when I when I go in Monday morning, and I go to train, the guys that are there that show up and the gals that show up, they're going to be the ones that dictate, pushing me to that next level. Like I don't have a choice. I got to, like once I get on the mat, I got it, I got to hold myself, right. And that's what I love about it, man. Like it pushes me and I love the way I feel afterwards. So yeah, I definitely. I'm really looking forward to seeing like, where you go after the Air Force, man, are you plan on going back to Ohio and training there?

Blake Perry: 18:10

Um, that's a good question. Um, I got to kind of figure out my plan to be honest, but I don't think so. At least not. Not for right now. I'm always gonna visit and see friends and family and that's always where my my my roots are, you know, but I don't think so. I don't think I want to live there full time. Now right now I kind of still I like the Nomad life a little bit. You know, I like I like bouncing around seeing places I haven't seen going places I haven't went yet. And I kind of liked that lifestyle. And I think I'm gonna keep it up for at least while I'm while I'm young. You know? Keep keep my options open keep exploring new areas, I think.

KP: 18:55

No, Blake, the the clip that I saw you on where you broke your nose in three places. And absolutely amazing man that you still I mean, you almost didn't even flinch. After the clinch in the knee. You were so in the zone, man. And I love it like i i love that fighting spirit that you have. And if you don't mind, I'm gonna go ahead and play the clip. And if you would mind just talking to us sort of about it and kind of walk us through like what was happening or what were you thinking at the time. Is that good with you? Yeah, of course. Alright, so can you see that? Yeah. All right. Cool. I'll turn it down. And I'll just go ahead and play it. So this is this is where you're getting, you're getting your nose fixed, right? Yeah. Now, there's no anesthetics for this is there?

Blake Perry: 19:43

No, unfortunately not. No, it was at a emergency room in Stockton, Stockton, California, that me and my opponent both went to Marcel McCain. So directly after our fight in Stockton, they made us both get in a ambulance vehicle and we had to we had to ride over there. Together and yeah, no, they. He just had to do he had to do right there with his hands. I forget the doctor's name, but he was super cool. But yeah, so you gave me credit for not flinching during the fight. But I'll I'll give the credit to adrenaline for that because that shit sucks afterwards because I was the one I got a bit realigned. That was a few hours later by that point, probably like close to like three. So I was I was relaxed and back in my normal resting state by that point. But yeah, it's I really didn't feel that much during the fight. But I definitely felt it when they were lining it back up.

KP: 20:53

Oh, boy, I mean, you were pretty strong when they when they lined it back up. You. The doctor even apologized to you. And you were just like, Nah, man, don't worry about it's not your fault. Thank you. Like, you're very polite about it. And so in this clip here, I mean, you can see that you're in your corner right now. And they're going to let this fight continue, right? Yeah,

Blake Perry: 21:12

I thought I thought they were gonna man because so yeah, it was right, I ate a pretty good knee, man, I broke my posture, which is like Muay Thai 101 You know not to do. You know, if I'm like helping out kids, when they're Muay thai, it's like, the number one thing that I tell little kids when they're in a clench is not to duck their head and get broken down like that. So, you know, I guess that's a good training tool for little kids for the future to you know, keep their posture strong and keep your head up. But uh, ya know, it's I got kneed. And then, like I said, to be 100% honest, it's just there's like, so much chaos and stuff in a fight. It really it doesn't hurt like you would think, you know, because the pain and all that kind of stuff came came later. But during it just felt like I got hit in the face pretty good, you know? Yeah. And, but between rounds, you know, I honest to god, I felt okay. You know, I was, I even felt like the fight was going pretty solid, to be honest, outside of that last flurry at the end, but I was, I was hopped up, I was ready to go for the second round. But unfortunately, the doctor wouldn't let it continue. Watching, I can't, can't argue I was pretty amped up at the time. You know, I was like, trying to get him to let me continue, you know, because I felt good man. Like, my body felt good. And I truly felt that had to continue to could have went my way. However, I also get he's a doctor, you know, so it wouldn't look great on him if, you know, he looks at my face. And he's like, Yeah, you're good, real good. Like, I get it, man. Live to fight another day. But yeah, it was. It was a good day.

KP: 22:58

Yeah, man. You know, I'm just a hobbyist. I'm not training to be a fighter. And even me in the last 11 years or so having trained all the hours and hours and weeks and weeks of work that I've done and the different tournaments that I've been in jujitsu tournaments, I've been pretty beat up to like, I've actually tore my pec muscle, I tore my Achilles tendon. And so I know what you're saying like about, and I'm now 42 years old. So now my concern is making sure that I stay limber, and I stay flexible, you know, for into the later years, so I can get out of bed. But a lot of people are very concerned about training, any kind of martial art because they don't, they don't want to get hurt. And I'll tell you this, like, I've trained, like I said, for 11 years, and I've had those two big injuries. But some of these injuries are related to my job as well, my my full time job. You know, for anyone out there that's thinking about training or has thought about training before, but they might be reserved or fearful to take that first step. What would you say to them?

Blake Perry: 24:07

I would say, I think a lot of the times like people probably have this like notion in their head that an MMA gym or a jujitsu gym or any type of combat sports gym, they probably have this idea in their head that it's like, a bunch of like macho douchebags, you know, that are like gonna assert their dominance. And you know what I mean? Like, which if someone had never done it, you think MMA or Jiu Jitsu, and you think, Oh, I'm gonna go in there and just get murdered and everyone's gonna, like, borderline fully meet, you know what I mean? Whereas, from my experience, at least, and I would imagine from yours, you know, doing jujitsu as long as you have that. It couldn't be further from that, like the most humble people I've met easily in my life are people that train some form of combat sports, because anyone who trains combat sports, has gotten their ass kicked a million times. You know what I mean? No matter how, no matter how good you are, you weren't always that good. You know, or I just think I truly think it makes better people if that makes sense. Like more approachable, more people willing to teach, willing to learn. I think, like I would definitely want my kids to my future kids to do some type of comp even if they never, ever compete. I just think it's a good tool to learn not only physically for, you know, defending yourself and all that, but just from like a, like, humbleness aspect and from like, the just the way you treat people, you know, it's

KP: 25:48

confidence.

Blake Perry: 25:49

Yes, exactly, exactly. Confidence. And, you know, I just I truly think it makes good people. So I guess that's what I would tell someone that if they were hesitant to try it, I guess from that aspect, because a lot of times people probably have, I know, a lot of times people have a wrong idea, because all they see is a competition, right? And you see some MMA fighter who looks like a psycho in there, and you're like, oh, man, that guy's probably a jerk, you know? Or you see some dude in a grappling competition, you know, choking some dude out, you probably think he's, oh, man, that guy's gotta be mean, you know, but for my experience, and I would imagine most people in the combat sports community, it couldn't be further from that. And people should absolutely do it, if they if they have the desire to at all, even if it's a little bit, I think I think everyone should, at least, to at least try it.

KP: 26:46

I agree with you 100%. Some of the most humble, confident, intelligent, friendly people that I've ever known, have been some of my friends that actually do actively fight in mixed martial art. And I think that sometimes when you train, and you understand how to respect others, and never judge a book by its cover, because I can tell you countless times, I've rolled with people, and I thought, oh, yeah, okay, well, this is just a little skinny kid, or this girl, I'm gonna, I'm gonna Molly, you know, like, somebody that's skilled, and you hear her laughing because you probably had these moments too. I understand where you're coming from, when you talk about what you're just talking about just now and understand why you would want your own kids to train as well. Now, would you mind talking to us specifically, like between your military service and your your mixed martial arts training and competing? Has, what specifically has all this taught you as far as leadership?

Blake Perry: 27:52

So I would say, from from, I guess, I'll start with the fighting. In terms of leadership, it's really, I think, I guess, actually worse for both, you know, both the military and fighting, but just, you know, people say a lot, but leave lead by example, you know, because I know from, you know, being on a fight team, right, it's, it's one thing to, you know, be the especially I think today, in there's so many like Instagram fighters, you know, you know what I'm saying, like, a lot of a lot of people do stuff for social media and want to put off this persona. But when it comes down to actually doing it, they're a different person. So I think leading by example, is huge man, you know, because it's one thing to be the guy that types out, sometimes Instagram about being the hardest worker in the room, you know, and then, you know, there you hear stories about, they're just out partying all the time, and never train. And so I think in terms of leadership, you know, be be the dude who's lifting after practice, or doing sprints after practice, you know, like, be that guy, lead by example. And people respect And same goes for the military, you know, it's, everyone's had that. that NCO, every person in the military has had that NCO, who, you know, will gripe at you for this and this, and then there's a laziest worker in the shop, you know, and everybody knows that, you know, and then not even just the military, I'm sure anyone who has a job anywhere, you know, has had that boss, that's the first bitched at someone for this or that or not doing something. And then when it comes down to the nitty gritty, and, you know, hopping in the trenches with your guys, they're nowhere to be found, you know. So I think just both assets are both aspects fighting and military has taught me leadership, by example, speaks volumes over the dude that just chirps from the sidelines, you know?

KP: 29:59

Yeah, yeah. I'm glad that you say that, because that one of the reasons why I want to cover that today is because I've been having a lot of folks who are executives, who've never been in the military before have mentioned to me things along the lines of leadership and how rank has its privilege and all these different things. And I'm like, No, not necessarily because even when I was a lieutenant, or when I was a captain in the army, if if my soldiers were outside doing something in the rain, then I would be outside doing something in the rain as well. So I love what you say out that man is, uh, you know, talk to talk walk the walk. Right. And that's, that's, uh, you know, that's an excellent point that you bring up. So your future plans you do plan on getting out of the military, right? I do. Okay, and then from there, you haven't really mapped out where you're going to go or what what's your gonna seek the seek text?

Blake Perry: 30:51

Yeah, I was going to ask you, man, I was hoping you'd have something for me. You got? You got like employment in your office over there? I'm gonna need a job here pretty soon. No, man,

KP: 31:01

actually. No, seriously, I'm a board member for academic education and military not? Yeah, it's a military nonprofit, where we help with the transition process. But yeah, we'll talk offline because I do. I do know, some potential opportunities for you.

Blake Perry: 31:19

Oh, there we go. But, ya know, I plan on getting out. Like I said, I got about six, seven months left on my contract, if not, right, at the end of my contract, I might do extension, for up to about a year, just to give myself a little more time to kind of really get my feet underneath me. But first and foremost, you know, I definitely, I'm definitely going to run with run with fighting and take that as far as I can, you know, my ultimate goal is to get paid to the point that that can be my full time job, you know, between training and fighting, that that'd be what I what I do, you know, because I get paid currently, however, to be brutally honest, it's nowhere near sustainable living. You know, I right now, where I'm at in my career, I could never just do that and make it in the world, you know, so I have to have a job to a normal job, you know. But yeah, so I got about, like I said, probably, I do have six months left on my contract, I might extend for about a year. But other than that, I plan on getting out, maybe using my GI bill going to school. And then just but first and foremost, definitely fighting full time. And continuing that is a top top on my list. For sure. That's, that's happening no matter what my day job is, you know,

KP: 32:50

my hat's off to you, man and having those dreams and those goals. And we'll definitely have to talk offline because I do have some resources for you to take a look at. Before we end this episode. Blake, would you like to share any final pieces of advice or words to live by? Maybe something that we didn't cover during this episode?

Blake Perry: 33:12

Yeah, sure. So I guess, in terms of advice, you know, at the risk of sounding corny and preachy, I just said, do something that makes you happy, you know, because I feel like, there's so many people that just go to work and go home, which is totally cool. If you're passionate about your job, if that makes sense. So there's got to be some outlet in your life, you have Passion,

KP: 33:35

dude, I listen, I've already talked to my buddies, and we're I guess, you know, so whether it's your job, something you do after your job, your kids, your family, whatever is something training Monday morning. Hey, listen, I'm already thinking that gets you going, you know, because there's so many people in my life, I know even that I'm close with that. Just wake up, go to their job that they complain about. Come home, watch TV, repeat, you know. And it's like, Damn, man, no wonder no wonder you're depressed. You know, that's, that's a rough way to live for anybody, you know, so? Yeah, I guess like, it's nothing groundbreaking or new to hear. But I say just, you know, do that thing that gets you fucking pumped up, go do it. And about it. And I'm already excited about it. And I'm not trying to wish my life away. I have a lot of stuff going on this weekend. You know, the UCLA USC game that I'm going to is exciting. But I'm thinking about Monday morning when I go in there and I train with my buddies. I love it because one of the things I didn't mention there in this show, man is over the years. I you know, we all go through rough times, and I've been through some rough times like everybody else, you have two choices. Either you can go to the bars and deal with it through alcohol and doing all the things you're not supposed to be doing. Or you can put yourself at a gym. And anytime that I've ever had those rough patches in my life, I have been very fortunate to have the the will and to have that I guess that instinctual first step out of the way already because of my my history to just find the gym and go train. And things like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu have really kept me in the kept me in the right but then kept my mind clear and focused on what I need to do, and I guess, this isn't the Mixed Martial Art Podcast, but I talk about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and grappling and things like that. Because it has meant so much to me over the years, it really has. And I have some of the best friends that I've ever had that live all the way across the map. But I know that if I ever needed something, they'd be right here. And these are my previous training partners. And so, you know, it's it's a, it's a very deep, meaningful thing for me to have someone like you on who kind of serves both purposes. You're, you're a military service member. And you're also doing this great thing in mixed martial arts and your perseverance through that fight, man and how tough you were. It's an absolute honor for me to have you on right now on this show, and just to highlight you so thank you so much, Blake. I really appreciate it.

Blake Perry: 36:21

I appreciate you, man. For everything, you know. Yeah, having me on and it was just good to talk to you. Learned a lot about YouTube that I didn't know before this. So it's pretty cool. I appreciate it.

KP: 36:33

Yeah. I haven't done a very good job of talking about myself all that much according to some people, but if anyone out there is interested in following up with you, Blake, what social media platforms can they find you on?

Blake Perry: 36:43

Um, so all I really have is Instagram. And my handle is Blake MMA one, seven.

KP: 36:50

Okay. And I'll make an I'll make sure I put that in the show notes as well. So if you're listening to this on a podcast on audio, scroll down to the show notes at the description down there. You'll see him at the bottom if you're watching this on YouTube. Same deal. Check out the description. You'll see how to follow Blake as well. So Blake, thanks again. I really appreciate your time today. For everyone else out there. I just as always want you to stay tuned. Stay focused, and stay motivated. Warriors Fallout