By David Tepera, February 25, 2021

If you’ve ever competed in anything, you’ll understand the battle before the battle is where you gain confidence to win.

For any sporting event, you’ll battle all the practices, training, coaching, along with possible sweat, blood and tears. The harder the work and the more dedication you put into this will prepare you for game day, which is obvious the ultimate battle.

During the 1990s, as an assistant football coach for La Marque Cougars, the battle started in July. Two-a-day practices in the brutal heat, following a season of games and leadership helped a five-year span of state final appearances, winning three of them. Remember, state championships are in December, so everyone battled for six months to get to the biggest battle of all.

As a coach, your goal is for all those athletes to learn to take that “battle before the battle” attitude in life.

What are you battling today? What’s your ultimate championship you’re trying to win? This could be academic. It typically takes four years to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Maybe, you’re an apprentice learning a new trade. It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to obtain just keep battling until the end.

Whatever you’re trying to accomplish, it’s the battle that’ll get you to the big battle. You must take on the mindset to win. Don’t settle with sitting on the bench as satisfaction. Don’t fly below the radar and not get the promotions. Whatever you’re battling, out-work your opponents.

I have to give a big shout out to all my fellow competitors. The 2021 bodybuilding season has started, and we are all battling each day to get ready to battle each other on game day.

Tina, our 20-year-old daughter Daylyn and I are competing in a show this coming October. Our training intensity started this month. It’s crazy because we’ll train for the next eight to nine months to step on stage for only minutes at a time. We aren’t there to be in the show, we are there to win.

The year 2020 was a big set back to many of us. Don’t let that deflate you. You’re better than that. It’s time to regather yourself and get back in the battle. Let the blood boil, put your game face back on, so get out there to kick some serious butt. No one can keep you down but you.

Now make today the beginning of your battle before the battle because you’re going to win the championship.