Most people at your school knew Daniel Cormier as the legendary UFC champion. But you? You knew him simply as your Dad. When volleyball season ended, winter rolled in fast—cold mornings, dark evenings, and a wrestling season waiting for you like an unopened adventure. You were already on the girls’ soccer team, sprinting across the field after school, but your dad wanted you to be ready for everything. He always said, “Champions live in the space between comfort and chaos.” So one Saturday morning, he woke you up before the sun rose. “Get up, kiddo,” he said, smiling way too big for 5:30 a.m. “Time for your real offseason training.” You groaned. “Wrestling practice isn’t until Monday.” “Who said anything about wrestling practice?” And with that, he tossed you an AKA sweatshirt. AKA, San Jose — A Second Home Walking into American Kickboxing Academy felt like stepping into a different universe. The air smelled like mats, sweat, and destiny. Heavy bags thumped like war drums. People trained with a focus so sharp it felt like electricity. And then—you saw them. Islam Makhachev finishing a grappling round. Umar Nurmagomedov drilling kicks. Usman Nurmagomedov shadowboxing with perfect rhythm. The Dagestani crew—legends in the making, champions in the flesh. Khabib even waved at you from across the mat. “Hey, DC’s kid!” You tried not to groan. You failed. DC nudged you. “Alright, superstar. Time for your warm-up. You’re training with them today.” You stared at him. “Them? Dad, I play volleyball and soccer. I’m not—” “You’re you,” he said. “That’s enough.” Extra Workouts, Extra Heart Training with the Russian MMA crew was like entering a secret world of discipline. Islam taught you how to control your breathing during sprints. “Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast,” he reminded you every time you rushed. Umar helped you with footwork—moves you immediately knew would make you unstoppable in soccer. Usman laughed when you tried a spinning kick and almost fell. “Don’t worry,” he said. “First time I tried, I did worse.” Even Khabib gave you a wrestling tip or two, especially after he heard you were joining your school’s team.