Celtic Warrior: Cody"Donnybrook" Donovan
"...A thousand years ago I would have been running around some island with blue paint on my body..."
From The Celtic Connection newspaper, August 2010 issue. Article by Pat McCullough, photos by Laura Klein, (www.LauraKleinphotography.com)
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Cody Donovan is a case study for the warrior gene. He doesn’t fight out of anger, hatred, or resentment. He fights because that is what he is meant to do. He carries the warrior gene, evolved over the ages from a need to hunt, protect, and survive. It’s a primal drive that suits his genetic makeup. “I feel blessed in being able to do what I love. Every day I wake up happy and look forward to going to work-- A thousand years ago I would have been running around some island with blue paint on my body" said Cody, referring to an ancient Celtic tribe known to paint their skin blue and run joyously naked into battle. “I think all of us would have been doing this no matter when or where we lived,” He said looking out towards his teammates who were warming down after a tough morning sparing session at the Grudge Training Center in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge.
Cody not only inherited the warrior gene, but also the Irish “gift of the gab”-- Not in a boastful way, but with the confidence of someone who is truly grateful for what they have and opportunities ahead. He spoke with high regard and appreciation for his coaches, trainers, and teammates at Grudge. “This gym produces some of the top fighters on the planet,” pointing out a number trainers and champion fighters and giving brief bios he continued, “It’s like a brotherhood, we have each others back. People might think we just come in here and pound on each other, but we try to help each other be better fighters. If you don’t have a fight you help the one who does...it’s a beautiful thing.”
MMA is a full contact sport allowing the use of boxing, wrestling, and other fighting techniques to be used during competition. Strategies include striking, take-downs, and submissions. Victory is determined by judges' decision at the end of the scheduled fight or by stoppage by the referee, fight doctor, the fighter (tap-out or verbal), a cornerman, throwing in the towel, or knockout. MMA initially had received negative press and painted as barbaric but that image is changing through education and regulation according to Cody. “There is nothing new to the idea of the sport-- organized hand to hand combat has been around since Pankration was introduced to the ancient Greek Olympics. With sanctioning bodies now involved at all levels it has become much safer.” Introduction of weight classes, rounds limited to 5 minutes, restrictions on the use of knees to a downed opponent, headbutts, eye-gouging, etc as well as properly trained medical professionals and referees are just some of the precautions set in place by the professions overseers. Some analysts have put forth data suggesting that MMA is considerably safer than boxing with less emphasis on continued head strikes and more time spent with wrestling, grappling, and floor fighting. Still, with all of the quality improvements made to the sport stereotypes remain about MMA and those who compete. “People think that we are retarded meatheads, but my teammates are some of the smartest people I know. They’re all highly competitive very motivated- but to be the best you have to be smart and keep mentally in control in the ring. As in most sports, fighting is 90% mental, you have to get past your circle of concern and focus on your circle of control.” One intense fight early in Cody’s young career was a pivotal lesson in mental control and intestinal fortitude demanded by his profession. Physically challenged by broken bones to his face and hand suffered during the match, he struggled with a reason to continue. “I broke mentally several times during the fight,” recalling his fight with Ian Berg, who is now a teammate and one of his best friends. Cody was able to make it through the fight and was given the win, but gave the respect to Berg. “When it was over we knew that we were in a war – they gave the fight to me in a decision, but Ian and I call it a draw.” After a fight like that, many would have considered a gentler profession, but for Cody it helped galvanize his resolve to be a MMA champion. “I knew after that fight that the MMA was my calling.”
A casual interest in martial arts lead Cody to Brazilian JiuJitsu while a student 19 year old student at Colorado Arts Institute. After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree he got a job in graphics design and animation. “I hated it – I just couldn’t sit still!” he laughed recalling his brief career at a desk. Cody studied Brazilian JiuJitsu (BJJ) at Nate Marquardt’s gym, High Altitude Training (HAT) in Aurora Colorado. It was Marquardt who initially got Cody involved in MMA by recruiting him to help another fighter who was getting ready for a competition and needed to train with someone who was big and had BJJ skills. (Marquardt, a champion MMA fighter, is also a teammate of Cody’s at Grudge). At 6’3” and over 200lbs Cody fit the bill. Cody also teaches BJJ, MMA and Kickboxing at HAT. With his skills and positive disposition he is a natural to work with the young students. “I’ve been fortunate to have so many people help me, so this is a way for me to give back to the MMA community.” Students train for different reasons, but for those who have high level of MMA aspirations it is helpful to have guidance from someone as grounded as Cody. “There is no Manual on how to become a pro-fighter. It would be a free-for-all if you let fighters enter the ring without strong foundation. You could show them a few tricks but they would fall apart. It’s like building a house-- you wouldn’t install the crystal chandelier before you install a good foundation. At ever level of every sport you always practice the basics to build and keep a good foundation.”
Cody practices what he preaches. He trains 3 times a day, 6 days a week -- alternating sessions of sparring, conditioning, and learning/teaching. Prior to a fight he goes through an 8 week “fight camp” where he trains in varying intervals and intensity. He will have to amend his 8 week fight camp routine as he accepted in mid July an August 7 fight with Ryan Lopez in Oklahoma. 29 years of age, Cody fights at 205 in the Light Heavyweight division. Although he looked ripped to the casual observer, he claimed he was a little overweight “I love Guinness and I love to eat” he chuckled, “Good thing that I love to train and stay in good shape.” Not a trash talker Cody analyzed his challenger succinctly. “He is a big scary looking guy, but I like my skills against his.” Cody talked about strategy and techniques and then added, “You have to believe that you can beat anyone in the world – or get another job.”
Grudge Training Center 4298 Kipling Street, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-432-8858 www.grudgetrainingcenter.com
Also find Cody at: www.myspace.com/donnybrookcody www.highaltitudema.com
Denver Gaels GAA Youth Activities Help Build Winners on and off the Field: “Gaels” Looking to Recruit Youth for 2010
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| ‘An Irish Hurling-Green: A Ballad for the Gael’
Full many years, ’neath foreign skies,
A stranger have I strayed,
I’ve mingled in their sportive joys,
And heard their music played;
But still the dearest spot on earth-
Which links me to its scene-
For cheerful, hearty, guileless mirth,
Is an Irish hurling-green... (The Gael, May 1887, NY)
Organized games of Gaelic sports have been played for over a century in parts of the United States, and sporadic informal play by new Irish immigrants reported even longer.
Odds are that Irish immigrants to the Rocky Mountain Region in the 1800’s would have been found swinging a pickaxe or shovel instead of a hurley (stick used in Irish hurling).
Whether or not Gaelic sports were played to any degree around mining camps, railroads,
and other areas where the newly arriving workforce congregated is unknown.
Remarkably, it wasn’t until 1996 when Dubliner Shay Dunne called a meeting with other Irish nationals living in Colorado and established the Denver Gaels, the first Gaelic sports organization in the Rockies.
Through tremendous efforts by coaches, players, families and sponsors the “Gaels” today
have members from all along the Front Range, and field competitive teams in Mens Football, Hurling, Ladies Football, Camogie (Ladies Hurling) and Youths Football.
Most of members today are young Americans who joined the Gaels with little or no experience in GAA sports but have proven to be very capable Gaelic players.
The Denver Gaels are part of the North American County Board, which is made up of approximately 125 Adult and Youth Clubs in the U.S., outside of New York City ( NYC has own New York County Board). These clubs participated in Divisional Championship competitions to qualify for the North American Finals in their respective sport and grade of competition.
In 2000, the underdog Denver Gaels traveled to Boston for the North American Finals and won their first North American Championship. Through the years the Gaels teams have impressed opponents with their feisty play and increased level of skill.
Last month a group of Denver Gaels committee members, coaches, players and supporters gathered to discuss the continued success and perpetuation of Gaelic sports in Colorado, with a specific focus of developing the Youth teams. They discussed broadening visibility of GAA Youth sports through programs at schools, PAL, YMCA, Parks and Recreation centers, special events, and helping kids/parents with equipment/travel expenses.
The Denver Gaels first fielded Youth teams in 2004 and began with a bang.
Martin Concannon, who grew up playing Gaelic sports in Ireland, played on the Mens teams and also coached the Youth teams that year recalls fondly. “The Denver Gaels hosted the North American Finals in Boulder that year...we ended up winning both the Youth U12 and U14 B Finals... We still had a lot of those kids playing up to this year in San Francisco at the Continental youth games. A good few of the kids have went off to college in Nebraska, Okalahoma, CSU, School of Mines and Metro.”
The later part of Concannon’s thoughts hides an underlying problem to the continued growth of the Youth Teams, and perhaps the Denver Gaels in general. A considerable number of the kids who started the Youth teams are now heading off to college. Many of these kids are sons and daughters of the Irish coaches and players. As their number decrease they will have to be replaced by kids from the general population with less ties to Ireland and Irish culture.
In a recent letter to Denver Gaels members, Alan Murphy, Gaels co-founder, player and coach echoed Cocannon’s praise and support for the kids in the Youth teams, but also made points of concern and called out for a concerted effort to recruit more kids.
He said in part, “...Our youth organization is very proud of the incredible high standards our kids have set since the club was formed in 2004. The club has participated in five U.S National finals and won four. Two of our players have represented a U.S National selection and played against teams from New York, Ireland and England. Our kids have represented their schools at the highest levels in academics, athletics, basketball, football, soccer, band and baseball with kids participating on state championship winning teams in athletics and football. Our kids have excelled in the classroom with some of them studying for business and engineering degrees amongst others. We thank them for sharing such a valuable part of their young lives with us while we keep an eye on their progress in the future.
We believe this is a vital time for Irish Culture in the U.S. During the past eight years National Security has slowed the emigration process and the influx of students has stalled. Our goal is to promote Irish Culture through sports, music and dance. We would ask you join in our quest with your kids or grandkids and make sure our Irish Culture is a great part of Denver’s future.”
Alan Murphy’s son Ryan is on of the kids who started with the first Denver Gaels Youth teams in 2004 at age 12. Now he is a Freshman student-athlete at Colorado State College in Fort Collins where he is a 6’7” wide receiver trying to balance his time between 5-6 hours in the afternoon at football meetings and practice, class time and studying to maintain his 3.6 GPA. “It takes dedication to both the sport and the schoolwork to get it all done, and I have to really manage my time well.” said Ryan who took some time to answer a few questions from his campus dorm room. When asked about his fondest memories playing with the Gaels he replied, “I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to travel across the country with my friends on the team. It was really fun to compete with other teams from across the United States.” Ryan also gave testament to his overall positive experience on the Gaels teams. “The GAA was definitely a positive influence on my life. I have made friends there that I will know for the rest of my life. As a student athlete in college, I can definitely say that the GAA has helped me to become a better overall athlete.”
The desire to keep Irish culture in sport healthy and provide youth with positive experiences has been challenged in different periods and places in the U.S. over the past century. According to Paul Darby in his book, “Gaelic Games, Nationalism and the Irish Diaspora in the United States” (UCD Press 2009), the health of Gaelic sports over these periods of challenge was reliant on fluctuations of Irish immigration, socio-economic and political conditions of specific GAA cities, and the local resolve and dedication of
individuals in working together to preserve and promote their sport.
Darby, who’s book focused on the Irish immigrant hot beds of New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, concludes with the argument that if the current immigration levels remain, the future of GAA will depend upon reaching out to young people living in America, including those not of Irish descent.
Darby also recognized that Irish in the U.S. historically have sought to appreciate and preserve their ethnic specificity and culture.
Somewhere in it all is the answer to the future of the Denver Gaels.
If you know of anyone who might be interested in playing with the Denver Gaels, they welcome any age and no experience necessary. Also anyone who would like to help
in any capacity are welcome to contact by email kidsgaels@gmail.com (if you do not have internet contact call the Celtic Connection and we will connect you with the Gaels)
For more information check out the Gaels website www.DenverGaels.com
The next meeting is Monday night January 18th at 7pm at the Celtic Tavern in Downtown Denver at Blake and 19th.
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