JRE #351 – Georges St. Pierre

This podcast is a captivating conversation with UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, offering insights into his fighting philosophy, training regimen, and personal perspectives. Provocative topics include his vulnerability, fear of aliens, and controversial opinions about MMA rules. Underlying themes explore the importance of honesty and self-awareness, the power of visualization and goal setting, and the complex relationship between physical and mental strength.

1. Georges St. Pierre’s Honest and Unfiltered Nature:

• St. Pierre openly admits his fear of aliens and even reveals that he keeps a sword in his house for protection.
• He candidly discusses his vulnerability, acknowledging his fear of losing and how this fear actually makes him stronger.
• He emphasizes the importance of being honest about one’s vulnerabilities, suggesting that it’s crucial for growth and evolution.
• His willingness to be honest, even about seemingly outlandish topics, makes him relatable and authentic, defying the typical “tough guy” image of a fighter.

2. The Power of Visualization and Goal Setting:

• St. Pierre strongly advocates for visualization as a key element of his training and life.
• He visualizes fight strategies, personal goals, and even specific details like future business ventures and interactions with others.
• He has a detailed plan for his life, including his desire to have a wife and five kids, showcasing his deliberate approach to personal goals.
• His commitment to goal setting and visualization underscores the importance of having a clear vision for what you want to achieve.

3. The Evolution of MMA and St. Pierre’s Perspective:

• St. Pierre advocates for a rule change that would eliminate rounds in MMA fights, allowing for longer, more decisive bouts.
• He believes that the inclusion of rounds in MMA is a direct result of trying to conform to boxing standards.
• He expresses his strong preference for fighting in a cage, comparing it to a more natural and authentic environment than a boxing ring.
• He even suggests a potential alternative to the cage, a platform with a boundary line, allowing for more dynamic movement and strategy.

4. The Importance of Diverse Training and Skill Development:

• St. Pierre’s training regime incorporates boxing, jujitsu, karate, strength training, and even gymnastics, showcasing his commitment to a holistic approach.
• He emphasizes the importance of being comfortable with getting tapped in jujitsu, considering it crucial for developing grappling skills and understanding the nuances of the art.
• He believes that while specialized techniques like spinning back kicks are valuable, they should be supplemented by more fundamental skills for everyday use in MMA.
• His dedication to diverse training demonstrates the need to constantly evolve and challenge oneself to reach peak performance.

5. St. Pierre’s Views on Physical Conditioning and Training:

• He strongly advises against bodybuilding, claiming that it is not the most effective training method for MMA, focusing instead on functional strength training.
• He prioritizes strength conditioning and gymnastics, believing that they are more beneficial for MMA, offering increased agility, power, and flexibility.
• His personal experience with bodybuilding and his subsequent shift to a more functional approach offers valuable insight into what truly works in MMA.
• His embrace of gymnastics highlights the importance of cultivating a balanced and well-rounded physique.

6. The Impact of Fear and Pressure on a Champion:

• St. Pierre acknowledges the pressure of being a champion, facing a constant line of contenders vying for his title.
• He emphasizes the importance of taking each fight one at a time, focusing his energy on his current opponent.
• He believes that his intense training and the pressure of his position can sometimes lead to mental fatigue, requiring periods of mental restoration to avoid burnout.
• His perspective reveals the psychological demands of being at the top of his game and the strategies he employs to maintain focus and resilience.

7. The Search for Truth and the Limitations of Human Understanding:

• St. Pierre explores the nature of truth, questioning the existence of a singular truth and suggesting that there are multiple truths to uncover.
• He embraces the idea that the human brain is not designed to fully grasp the vastness of information available in the modern world, emphasizing the limits of our understanding.
• His fascination with the psychedelic properties of DMT and the potential connection to alien abduction experiences reflects his openness to exploring the unknown and challenging conventional thinking.
• His search for truth and his acknowledgment of the limitations of human understanding showcase his intellectual curiosity and his willingness to confront complex questions.

8. The Reality of Training with a Champion:

• St. Pierre reveals the challenges of finding training partners who are both skilled and respectful, avoiding those who might intentionally try to injure him for personal gain.
• He highlights the pressure and potential pitfalls of training with a high-profile athlete, emphasizing the need to be cautious and selective.
• He emphasizes the importance of having training partners who understand that the primary focus is on improvement and skill development, not on causing harm or gaining notoriety.
• His experiences underscore the unique challenges faced by champions in their training environments, navigating the delicate balance between pushing limits and protecting themselves from unnecessary risks.

9. The Importance of Mentorship and Collaboration in MMA:

• St. Pierre acknowledges the crucial role of mentors and training partners in his success, mentioning coaches like Freddie Roach for boxing and John Danaher for jujitsu.
• He expresses his admiration for the intelligence and expertise of John Danaher, recognizing his unique approach to jujitsu instruction and his impact on the sport.
• He emphasizes the importance of seeking out guidance from experienced coaches in different disciplines, showcasing his collaborative approach to training.
• His recognition of the value of mentorship highlights the importance of learning from those who have mastered their crafts and sharing knowledge to elevate the overall level of the sport.

10. The Quirky Side of MMA:

• St. Pierre recounts a hilarious anecdote about Jean Charles, a Muay Thai kickboxer who arrived at training drunk after a night of partying in Paris.
• He shares the amusing chaos caused by Jean Charles’s unpredictable behavior, making it clear that even highly skilled fighters can have their own unique quirks.
• He highlights the diverse personalities and backgrounds within MMA, showcasing the sport’s ability to bring together individuals with different approaches and perspectives.
• His anecdote reminds us that behind the intensity of competition, there is also a human element and a healthy dose of humor within the MMA world.

11. The Rise of Kickboxing and its Influence on MMA:

• St. Pierre acknowledges the high level of kickboxing in Europe, highlighting its unique style and emphasizing the differences between pure kickboxing and kickboxing in MMA.
• He suggests that the emergence of glory kickboxing on CBS Sports could bring more awareness and interest to the sport in America.
• He contrasts the strategic differences between kickboxing and MMA, acknowledging the impact of grappling and takedowns on MMA strategy.
• His insights highlight the growing influence of kickboxing on MMA, recognizing the potential for cross-pollination and the sharing of techniques between these two combat sports.

12. The Importance of Understanding and Accepting Loss:

• St. Pierre reflects on his loss to Matt Serra, analyzing how his pride and desire for immediate retaliation led to his defeat.
• He contrasts his reaction to Serra’s knockout with his more controlled response to Carlos Condit’s kick, showcasing his growth in accepting and adapting to adversity.
• He suggests that his defeat to Serra ultimately helped him develop a more strategic and composed approach to fighting, demonstrating the value of learning from setbacks.
• His insights underscore the importance of acknowledging and understanding loss, recognizing that it can be a powerful catalyst for growth and learning.

13. The Potential of Super Fights and the Future of MMA:

• St. Pierre addresses the frequent speculation surrounding a potential super fight between him and Anderson Silva, highlighting the challenges of weight classes and logistical considerations.
• He acknowledges the widespread interest in this matchup but emphasizes the need to focus on his current division before exploring such possibilities.
• He discusses the ongoing evolution of MMA, recognizing the emergence of new contenders like Johnny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger, further solidifying the sport’s growth and dynamic nature.
• His reflections on potential super fights and the future of MMA demonstrate his awareness of the sport’s landscape and his openness to new challenges and opportunities.

14. The Ongoing Evolution of Georges St. Pierre:

• St. Pierre emphasizes the importance of taking breaks from intense training, allowing for mental restoration and ensuring long-term sustainability.
• He acknowledges that while he continues to train regularly, his focus is now on enjoying the process and exploring new skills, rather than solely on performance.
• He expresses his enthusiasm for expanding his horizons beyond fighting, involving himself in projects like acting and writing, showcasing his ambition and versatility.
• His perspective reveals the ongoing evolution of Georges St. Pierre, demonstrating his dedication to personal growth and his pursuit of new challenges beyond the confines of the octagon.

5 Memorable Quotes:

• “I don’t wanna be I don’t wanna look like a fighter when you talk to me. And let’s say on the phone, I wanna I wanna like, I don’t know, normal human being.”
• “I’m not scared of what people gonna think. They have to to see me as I as I am. So I’m not scared to admit that I’m scared.”
• “I’m afraid of a lot of thing, you know. But what else? But I’ll get I’ll get into it. I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t talk about it right now.”
• “I would rather find another rule like this. I think we’ll be more honest. Like, who’s that better, man? That damn fighting.”
• “I split myself enough. You know? And for me, the last two fight were close to each other, and my second fight, the training candidate, it was brutal. I can know with that. I never mental break. Now I need to take a little break mentally to come back stronger after because otherwise, well, I will get tired of what I do. I will not be as good as I I could I could be.”