Controversial cagefighting background...(?)

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ZacharyMD

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Alright, before you jump into a presumptual flurry...allow me to explain myself. I have an extensive martial arts background (Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Shorin Ryu Karate, Judo,...more) and I have worked hard learning and participating in something that I am passionate about. As I began college, I started to do MMA (cagefighting) matches while unfortunately disregarding the potential negative image that I would eventually build for myself. So here's the deal: Yes, I've done cagefighting, I've K.O.'ed other people, submitted them via chokeholds, and performed other horrid acts in the nature of sport. But...outside of this I am not a violent person. I have a passion for science, people, and medicine. My true dream is to become a practicing physician and I don't want my past to ruin it. I've had a life outside this hobby involving a volunteer position at a Children's Hospital, EMT certification, lab work, physician shadowing, and charity work. I've been a good student and have a clean citizen record (never even had a speeding ticket).


My question to you all is simply...how badly do you belive this will be viewed in the eyes of med school admissions teams? How much have I damaged my chances. I'm not asking you to sympathize with me, just give me perspective please and a realistic view of what I'll be dealing with. To all who are willing to give me real and non-smartalec advice: I sincerely appreciate you. Thanks.
 
I don't see it as a negative at all. I mean, sure, it could be depending on how you phrase it, but as long as you don't talk about having a deep thirst for blood or something, you're fine. You can most likely just talk it up as a physical fitness thing and/or a hobby.
 
Yeah, I don't see anything to be concerned about. Talk about it as a hobby and talk up the things you've learned from it (discipline yada yada). In fact I bet you'd add to the "diversity" of a class.
 
You've competed in Martial Arts for X Years. You've learned X, Y, and Z. It has demonstrated you can be A, B, and C.

If asked what types, you don't need to name them all. Just keep MMA out of the mix if you're anxious at all.

Edit: Be safe when competing!
 
What the hell? You realize you don't need to call it cage-fighting, right? I'm surprised that someone inside the sport would call it cage-fighting, let alone act like that's the only way to address it. It's called MMA! No one knows what MMA is, and you could use that as an opportunity to explain the purpose of the sport and why you're interested in it.

Troll? Someone in this position can simply choose to not mention it ("Will it hold me back!? How much have I damaged my chances!?" What the hell, haha). Plus, calling it "cage-fighting" is ridiculous. WEC (World Extreme Cage-fighting) simply uses this term to hook in all the idiots.
 
ZacharyMD said:
Yes, I've done cagefighting, I've K.O.'ed other people, submitted them via chokeholds, and performed other horrid acts in the nature of sport.
Click to expand...

I don't think you should phrase it quite this way to the adcoms. You've mastered many hard skills that required a lot of work, and have competed using those skills. No need to get too gory about it. Just present it like an EC that you're very passionate about.

BTW, this will probably be the thing that really makes you stand out from other applicants, so don't sell yourself short on it. You might get interviewed by an alpha-male surgeon who loves this stuff. It could be your chance for a slam dunk interview.
 
Use your head, just call it MMA and it is a sport. I compete in grappling myself, and I listed it on my application. I would not get specific at all when comes to terms of explaining rear naked chokes, triangle etc... People that have know idea what competing in this stuff is all about, see this as irrational behavior/violent behavior. It is not, well maybe a little violent haha. I have had many people ask me about competing, I just tell them it is like a human chess game, and that is all. Now if someones who knows what MMA is really about....not some tool that watches spike tv, then talk about it.
 
Isn't this just common sense? I'm sure you've received varied reactions when you've mentioned MMA to people, and I don't think it's a good idea to discuss "cagefighting" with an intellectual group of academic physicians. Boxing and the traditional martial arts have been around long enough to develop an "art" and philosophy, as well as likable ambassadors (Mohammed Ali, Bruce Lee, etc.) that makes the violence publicly acceptable; MMA definitely has not, and the stereotypical MMA fighters on TV (tattooed hicks) certainly don't help. I think you risk turning off more adcoms/interviewers than you would impress. Stick to discussing your involvement with traditional martial arts and how they've helped focus you mentally, and you'll be fine.

Just food for thought.
 
Mention your passion for martial arts but omit your amateur fighting career.
 
I have to agree with some earlier posters.
1)I dont see the issue, if you dont want to, dont mention it in your applications or interviews.
2)Dont call it cagefighting! Cagefighting is a term utilized to sensationalize the aggressive nature of MMA and the meatheads who get involved.
3)As someone with extensive training in jiu jitsu, and judo (and yes i have trained muay thai and mma too), I used it as a positive experience in my ps because it does really define me and relate to other areas in my life.

You also refer to submitting someone by choke as a horrid act, and mma as making you violent and such, that really does give you the tone of a troll.
 
I played football and ran into people real hard. No one on adcoms is going to think I'm some kind of psycho cause of that.
 
Just don't call it human c*ckfighting and you'll be fine.
 
Use the application process as a sales pitch, an advertisement for yourself, because that's exactly what it is.

If something that doesn't have to be mentioned makes you uncomfortable to talk about, don't bring it up. However, if it's something that you've put a great deal of effort into and have pride in, there's no need to avoid it. Just keep the spin positive, and avoid apologizing.
 
Last edited:
PreMedPrincess said:
this HAS to be a troll
Click to expand...


My premed advisor put on a program one time about applying to med school, and was laughing about a cage-fighter we had on campus, as if he had no shot of getting it. I think it's a legitimate question, cause there ARE "cage-fighter" pre-meds out there.
 
PreMedPrincess said:
this HAS to be a troll

lol
Click to expand...

Seriously? Not sure what part of my post sounds so incredible that my integrity would be questioned. I'm really just like any other pre-med athelete...I just happen to be a fighter in a sport that is very controversial. To those who have responded to my post with sincere advice: thank you. My MMA bouts are probably something that cannot be ducked but I will definitely try to emphasize my martial arts training over the competition and diffuse it.
 
ZacharyMD said:
Seriously? Not sure what part of my post sounds so incredible that my integrity would be questioned. I'm really just like any other pre-med athelete...I just happen to be a fighter in a sport that is very controversial. To those who have responded to my post with sincere advice: thank you. My MMA bouts are probably something that cannot be ducked but I will definitely try to emphasize my martial arts training over the competition and diffuse it.
Click to expand...

Dude, you have nothing to worry about. Don't try to gloss over it: if it's important to you, talk about it. I don't think this is nearly as controversial as you think. You're blowing this **** way out of proportion.
 
As a fellow cage-fighter pre-med, I intend to use "tact" to handle this situation.
 
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