User:Chrispedroza

CHRIS PEDROZA'S BIOGRAPHY

I was born April 10, 1987 on the Westside of El Paso, Texas. I was the youngest of four, one brother and two sisters. My dad was a distribution manager and my mom was hairdresser at JCPenney’s Salon.

Due to my weight of 230lbs my childhood and teenage years were very unpleasant and most challenging. I would be harassed at school by my peers and when at home I would sit in my room and cry for food. That being said, a lot of those memories have been blocked off. At the age of fifteen, Peggy Sutter, a high school math teacher and trainer pulled me aside and basically told me “if you don’t do something to help yourself now, later on it will be too late to realize.” By realizing what Peggy said and taking it into account with all of the negativity from the past I decided to get my ass in gear. During the Summer of 2002 and with the help of Mando Rosales, Manny Colorado, Mary Ellen Jerumbo and Rafael Castelon the transformation was underway. Two months later…I lost 50lbs by following a regimented program of weight training six days a week and a very strict nutritional plan. Heads were turning when I returned to school in the Fall. In 2005, my graduating year I earned the award most changed.

During high school, I didn’t want to go for the typical sports so in addition to my weight training I was introduced to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) by Mando Rosales who at the time was a student of Jessie Clay. We, Team Clay, trained out of “Big J’s” which was next to the old comedy club. A few months leading to me turning 17 I was in my first fight and ironically it was with a fellow teammate. My teammates opponent never showed up so I was asked to participate but under the condition that since we were teammates that we said that we weren’t so that we could go at it. I had the judges score cards in my favor until the final sixty seconds and his third attempt with a triangle choke finished me off.

After graduating high school in 2005, I went to college at El Paso Community College to pursue a degree in kinesiology. In addition I continued my weight training and MMA training at Bone Crushers, both El Paso and Las Cruces. My next fight in was in 2007, my opponent wasn’t in my weight class but I decided to take the fight anyway and got knocked out in the first round. Although defeated I didn’t leave empty handed, I had learned the next day that my opponent had received a few broken ribs as a result of a round house kick that I delivered to the left side of his rib cage.

I had reached a point in my life where I realized the psychological issues that I was experiencing was brought on by the group of friends that I was associating with. In addition to my physical changes I re-evaluated not only my life but also the current network of friends and eliminated those that were negative influences. I withdrew from life as it was and re-shifted my focus to a better path to righteousness. This was also where I received help from my instructor, Christian Daghio, my mentor, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and my now best friend and guardian angel, Tracy Chenault-Shank. Christian was the first and only Italian to win at the Lumpini Stadium in Bangkok. At that time he held a record of 96W and 44L, totaling 140 fights. I had the honor of training with Christian for 8 months and received my certificate of completion for Full Contact Muay Thai Training from Phuket Muay Thai, Thailand. After training with Christian, I competed in six underground fights and as a result won them all. Then there was my mentor, Geshe, a Buddhist Monk from Tibet who I was introduced to by Christian. Geshe acted as my psychologist, someone that I could really open up to and receive guidance from. Tracy came into my life as a friend, training partner and confidant. She believed in me and made me realize the gifts that I have and my true potential. I have her to thank for not only helping me to turn Supreme Assailant around into the successful business it is today but for making me a better person overall. My life is definitely headed in a more positive direction. In the beginning, I trained only to look better, but I soon realized what an impact  it had made on my life. Not only did I look better but I felt better and was accepted and recognized for my efforts. My efforts not only got to where I am now but also made me realize my passion for training others. Helping those in need by paying it forward and achieving one’s goal gives me a better sense of well being to know that “I” was the one to help them. “NO ONE IS THE BEST, JUST BETTER”