#24: Forrest Griffin

Aug 21, 2023

Forrest Griffin, retired MMA fighter and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, shares his journey from leaving his job as a police officer to becoming a world champion. He talks about the importance of self-reliance, adaptability, and financial management. He also discusses the transformative impact of YouTube and social media in the fighting world and his dedication to being a supportive father. Forrest explores the history and evolution of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the key elements of the sport. He also touches on the democratization of information, balancing work and personal life, and the importance of learning the business side.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Evolution of Fighting and the Importance of Discipline

01:46 • 9min

Democratization of Information and Capitalism-fueled Charity

10:41 • 6min

The History and Evolution of Brazilian Jujitsu

16:59 • 20min

Helping Others and Trusting the Science

36:46 • 13min

Balancing Work and Personal Life

50:08 • 13min

Building Athlete Brands and Generating Income with Outside Sponsors

01:03:28 • 2min

The Importance of Learning the Business Side

01:05:16 • 4min

Ice Baths: Benefits and Debates

01:08:49 • 12min

Connecting and Reminiscing About MySpace

01:20:25 • 2min

Forrest Griffin is a retired MMA fighter and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, now serving as the VP of Athlete Development at the UFC Performance Institute. In 2013, he claimed a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.

In this episode, Forrest shares how he left his job as a police officer to pursue a career in fighting, faced financial struggles and injuries, but persevered and eventually became a world champion.

He also talks about parenthood and marriage, money management, the importance of self-reliance and adaptability, and what it takes to become a champion in fighting or any other endeavor.

He also speaks about:

Why we're drawn to combat sports
How Dana White persuaded him to take part in the The Ultimate Fighter TV show, launching his career
Dropping everything and moving to Las Vegas to train with UFC legend Randy Couture
The transformative impact of YouTube and social media on the fighting world, enabling easy sharing and learning of techniques
The key elements of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: energy management, adaptability in uncomfortable situations, and exploiting opponents' weaknesses
His dedication to being a supportive father to his daughter and encouraging her interests
The importance of financial management; living below your means and investing your savings to stave off inflation
His desire for a legacy that leaves MMA and Las Vegas in a better place, while being a good father
Developing a self-sufficient, adaptable mindset as a hedge against societal or governmental breakdown

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Forrest’s charitable cause:

Three Square Food Bank, Southern Nevada's only food bank and the area's largest hunger-relief organization, whose mission is to “provide wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community."

Books mentioned in this episode:

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Got Fight?: The 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat By Forrest Griffin

Be Ready When the Sh*t Goes Down: A Survival Guide to the Apocalypse by Forrest Griffin

Connect with Forrest on socials:

https://www.instagram.com/forrestgriffin

https://twitter.com/ForrestGriffin

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialForrestGriffin