WHAT DRIVES A FIGHTER TO FIGHT? FAME? GLORY? BLOODLUST? MONEY? FOR ONE FIGHTER IN L-A, THE REASONS TO KEEP PUNCHING GO MUCH DEEPER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. OUR ALEX GOLDSMITH HAS THE STORY
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SALVADOR BARRERA IS A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE LIKES.
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A LOT OF PEOPLE GO GOLFING, I LIKE FIGHTING.
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AND HE'S GOOD AT IT. BARRERA IS A MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER HERE IN LOS ANGELES. HIS FIGHTING BACKGROUND READS LIKE A RESUME.
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I HAVE EIGHT YEARS JIU JITSU AND A BLACK BELT IN THAT, EIGHT YEARS HAPKIDO AND A BLACK BELT IN THAT TOO. A FEW MONTHS IN KRAV MAGA. TWO YEARS IN KICKBOXING, AND I TEACH AT A BRAZILLIAN JIU JITSU GYM. SO I TEACH IT WELL. I KEEP ON MY TOES
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AND HE'S NOT AFRAID TO TEACH STUDENTS NEW MOVES.
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SO PUT YOUR ARM ON MY SHOULDER HERE
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HIS FAVORITE PART?
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I LOVE TAKEDOWNS
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*GUY HITTING A MAT*
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BUT BARRERA DOESN'T JUST FIGHT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO, HE FIGHTS BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO.
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IT RELEASES A LOT OF PENT UP AGGRESSION STILL REMINISCING FROM THE WAR.
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STAFF SEARGENT BARRERA IS AN IRAQ WAR VETERAN WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE ARMY FOR A DECADE. IRAQ WAS AN INTENSE PLACE TO BE.
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YOU HAVE NO TIME TO PISS YOUR PANTS OR TO LIKE CRY. ITS BASICALLY LIKE SURVIVAL MODE THE WHOLE TIME.
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HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR OWN HEAD IN A PLACE THAT'S SO CRAZY LIKE THAT? HOME. COMING HOME.
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AS A MEMBER OF SPECIAL FORCES, BARRERA WAS PART OF A TIGHT-KNIT TEAM OF 16 SOLDIERS. AND IT'S THAT GROUP THAT STILL OCCUPIES HIS MIND.
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IT TAKES ITS TOLL. 16 GUYS, 15 GONE AND I'M THE ONLY ONE LEFT BECAUSE OF A TECHNICALITY, BECAUSE MY KNEE GOT HURT.
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A KNEE INJURY THAT CAUSED HIM TO BE SENT HOME AND BARRERA THINKS MAY HAVE SAVED HIS LIFE BUT AT THE COST OF SOME OF HIS TEAMMATES'
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WHAT ROLLS THROUGH MY HEAD A LOT IS THAT IF I'D STAYED THINGS WOULD'VE BEEN DIFFERENT WE WOULD'VE AT LEAST COME BACK WITH AT LEAST SOME OF THE GUYS.
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BUT THROUGH FIGHTING AND TIME, HE'S STARTED TO FORGIVE HIMSELF.
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TRIED LETTING IT GO.. LITTLE BY LITTLE.
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BARRERRA'S TOUGHEST OPPONENT MIGHT BE HIMSELF. BUT SLOWLY, HE'S WINNING THE FIGHT. ALEX GOLDSMITH, W-T-V-F.
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