Valentina Shevchenko- MILITAR MINDSET
Having started off as a professional kickboxer/ Muay Thai fighter, Valentina Shevchenko is now one of the greatest mixed martial artists (MMA) in the world.
She currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she reigns as the flyweight champion! Prior to the UFC she was competing regularly in Muay Thai and kickboxing. She compiled a fantastic record of 57 wins with just 2 losses.
Winning 8 world titles over the years that she competed in the International Federation of Muay Thai Associations (IFMA)! She is highly regarded as one of the best female Muay Thai fighters in the world.
As well as competing in Muay Thai and MMA, Shevchenko holds a black belt in Judo and Taekwondo ! With a Master of Sports in Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Boxing, Kickboxing and Judo. She really is a complete mixed martial artist! Shevchenko gives her all in anything that she wishes to pursue, displaying that she has the MILITAR MINDSET!
How has Shevchenko displayed the MILITAR MINDSET?
Shevchenko has shown us that her MINDSET is strong and positive. She would start her martial arts journey at just the age of 5, where she began training in Taekwondo.
She would start Muay Thai at the age of 12, which is where she started to compete and really excel within the combat sport. Her mother was a former Muay Thai fighter and multiple time champion whilst her father served in the Soviet Navy.
She would also start to compete and fight at this young age of just 12. It is said that she had a fight with someone who was 22 and won by knockout, rewarding her with her nickname ‘bullet’! Whatever Shevchenko does, she wants to become the best at it. She will do all in her power to make sure that she can reach her full potential.
We can clearly see this with the amount of master of sports she holds and the black belts that she has in various martial arts!
She has said: ‘When I grew up, the idea that I had to be the best at everything I do was put in my head by my mother. This is just how I am. I’m not just here participating.’ Here we can see that from a young age she was raised with this mindset. Shevchenko always strives to master whatever she puts her mind too, aiming for nothing but perfection .
Having this mindset has allowed her to be successful in everything she does and across all the martial arts she has competed in. You must always have a strong mindset when chasing your goals. Staying focused and positive will help you on your journey to achieving your dreams!
Shevchenko continues to INSPIRE!
Shevchenko has become an INSPIRATION to many people with her journey so far. She has shown people that whatever they want to do, they can do it by giving it their all.
Shevchenko was one of the greatest female Muay Thai fighters in the world before she moved her focus over to MMA. She won numerous world championships and had only lost twice in 59 fights! Inspiring women around the world, showing them that their dreams in martial arts can become a reality.
She was like others who had a dream, but she worked effortlessly till it happened! She may have completed one dream of becoming a Muay Thai champion, but she wasn’t done there! Shevchenko moved on to her next dream. An even bigger one. Becoming a UFC champion.
It wasn’t at all an easy road for Shevchenko to achieve this dream. She would have her first attempt at a UFC world title in 2017 against Amanda Nunes for the UFC bantamweight title. Unfortunately, she would lose via a split decision in what was a close fight, with many believing she had won.
This didn’t stop her from driving towards her goals. She continued to work hard and finally achieved this dream in 2018 when she defeated Joanna Jędrzejczyk for the UFC flyweight belt. Again, inspiring people across the world with her belief and desire to achieve her dreams.
As shown in the header image Shevchenko told us: ‘My focus is my preparation, my good condition, and every time, I go forward and forward, and nothing can stop me.’ We can see that she is always prepared and ready to go out there and chase her goals. When training, she makes sure everything is done correctly, taking no shortcuts.
Showing people once again that you must prepare yourself both physically and mentally when striving towards your aspirations. Once she does this she only looks forward as she steps closer to her goals!
When striving towards your goals you will most likely face setbacks. But from these setbacks you will learn, ultimately helping you to achieve your dreams!
Shevchenko is LIMITLESS
If anyone is LIMITLESS it is Valentina Shevchenko! All the accolades she has already achieved across many different martial arts are outstanding. Having black belts in Taekwondo and Judo and also having multiple different Master of Sports in Russia. Shevchenko really does put her full effort into anything she does.
As we know, she has competed at the highest level in both Muay Thai and MMA. But she has also even had professional boxing fights! Her record is 2-0, but she decided to focus on her Muay Thai, then on her MMA career.
She was also on a Peruvian reality TV show where she had an exhibition wrestling bout with David Zegarra who is a professional boxer competing in the middleweight division. She would submit him within a minute despite the clear size difference!
Outside of fighting, Shevchenko also competes in pistol shooting competitions, living up to her name ‘the bullet’!
She once said: ‘I go to bed dreaming, thinking that I want to be the best in the octagon and be a champion.’ Showing us that it was something that she visualised, way before it happened!
From visualising her dreams, she was able to set herself goals to work towards, in order to reach her ambition. Keep an open mind and dream big when chasing your own goals, be limitless!
Shevchenko is able to reach her own INNER-PEACE
Shevchenko is able to reach her own INNER-PEACE. Outside of fighting she is still an avid martial artist and is always training. As we can see throughout all of her achievements so far, martial arts is a big part of her.
She also has an older sister who also competes in the UFC flyweight division too.
Shevchenko has told us: ‘Martial arts, for me, is not just some kind of job to gain some money or whatever. No, martial arts, for me, is my lifestyle, my religion, my philosophy… Martial arts are everything for me.’ Here we can see how much martial arts means to Shevchenko. It is her life!
Through constant training she is able to stay in good physical and mental shape. Training from such a young age has been instrumental for her on her journey to reaching her own inner-peace. You must find what you value most to fulfil your very own inner-peace
Shevchenko has shown the importance of TIME
Shevchenko has displayed throughout her career so far that she understands the value of TIME. She has been fighting for a long time. A very long time. Having trained since the age of 5, Shevchenko has always been chasing her dreams, but she was patient in her approach.
Having started her Muay Thai/ kickboxing career at just the age of 12. It is also known that she actually had her professional MMA debut at the age of 15! However, she would not be consistently fighting in MMA and focused on her Muay Thai career.
Once she had achieved her dreams in Muay Thai, she pursued her MMA dreams signing to the UFC at the end of 2015. As we can see just from here, she had already been training and competing for a long time upon her arrival to the UFC.
She decided to focus on her striking skills, perfecting the craft before transitioning into mixed martial arts. This has proven to be great for Shevchenko as she has been hugely successful since she entered the UFC octagon.
Though she was not active in her MMA career at the time, the experience of fighting in general in Muay Thai transitioned well into the octagon.
In 2018 she would fulfil her dream of becoming a UFC champion. Through these courses of events, we can see how Shevchenko gave things time. She started training at the age of 5 in Taekwondo and would achieve here dream of being a UFC champion at 30!
There were many years where Shevchenko had mostly highs but also lows that allowed her to evolve into the person and fighter she is today.
Shevchenko has said: ‘My coach has taught me since 5 years old, and he stresses not just the quality of training but the mental part. Technique and the mental game have to mesh, balance.’ Reiterating the importance of training and staying both mentally and physically in shape.
Over the years she has been able to have a good balance of both the physical and mental aspect of the game, allowing her to succeed significantly.
You must be patient and give things time as things won’t always go to plan. But through overcoming the adversities you face you will be able to step closer and closer to achieving your dreams!
Shevchenko stays ACTIVE
Shevchenko is always ACTIVE! We can clearly see this from what she has been able to achieve so far. She knows that if she continues to work, she will constantly find herself improving. Though she is on top of the world right now, she knows that to stay there she must continue learning and developing her skills.
As reiterated before, martial arts really are an integral part of Shevchenko’s general life! She is always active in training as it is her lifestyle, not just something she sees as a job.
We can also see this in the number of fights she has had so far competing in over 80 professional fights in boxing, Muay Thai/kickboxing and MMA! After each fight she has learned and improved herself enabling her to reach incredible heights.
When fighting in Muay Thai, Shevchenko would be required to fight regularly. In order for most Muay Thai fighters to make a living from competing, they must compete often. The likes of some tournaments would require Shevchenko to fight multiple times on the same night!
Shevchenko has stated: ‘If you can see all my life, I’ve been training since a very young age. I’ve been competing in so many different competitions, so many different opponents, and so many different countries’ Showing us the amount of work and effort she has constantly put in over pretty much her whole life so far!
All these different experiences have helped her to adapt and enhance her skills. You must stay active on your pursuit to achieving your aspirations. No matter how big or small the progression is, it is progression nevertheless!
Shevchenko has always been RELENTLESS!
Shevchenko is nothing but RELENTLESS! Ever since she started her first ever martial art at the age of 5 in Taekwondo, she has gone from strength to strength.
Dominating in her Muay Thai fights winning multiple world titles then going onto become yet again a world champion in MMA! Something not many people can say they have done!
She has shown she is truly one of the greatest mixed martial artists in the world. Shevchenko now aims to cement her legacy in the UFC as she continues to defend her flyweight belt and build up her already fantastic resume.
Shevchenko is also known to be relentless in her fights, which earned her the name ‘the bullet’, as she does whatever it takes to win. Defeating most of her opponents in style or domiantely!
She is the true embodiment of what hard work and dedication can get you, displaying it in both her Muay Thai and MMA career.
Shevchenko has said: ‘I believe in my strengths – in my power, my speed and technique.’ Through her hard work she has developed a strong belief in her abilities.
She knows that she has all the assets needed to become a great champion as she has been relentless when it comes to training and perfecting her craft. When striving to achieve your dreams, be relentless in your approach!
Shevchenko is one of the greatest mixed martial artists in the world, having displayed her skills in both Muay Thai and MMA. We can all take inspiration and knowledge from what she has been able to achieve from her life, dedication to martial arts, and her dreams.
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I have shown how Valentina Shevchenko has implemented Militar values throughout her life. Make sure you subscribe to our blog to find out how other people you look up to have! Next up is…
