Welcome back to the team room! Are you ready to dig deep into the psychology of water confidence and training with a true professional? Well, buckle up for this weeks riveting episode of the Ones Ready podcast.  In this episode, Maki Pitolo, a professional MMA fighter and co-founder of Deep End Fitness, shares his journey into MMA and the importance of breath control and mindset in his training. He discusses the transition from football to MMA and the mentors who inspired him. Maki also explains the benefits of Deep End Fitness, a program that focuses on water confidence and breath work. He emphasizes the importance of breathing through the nose and shares techniques for managing anxiety and stress. Maki highlights the positive impact Deep End Fitness has on mental acuity and stress management.  In this conversation, Maki Pitolo shares his journey from being a kickboxer to becoming a coach and mentor at Deep End Fitness. He emphasizes the importance of mental preparation and never giving up on oneself. Maki offers advice for those who are starting something new and may lack confidence. Takeaways: Transitioning from one sport to another requires dedication and a strong mindset. Breath control and mindset are crucial in MMA and other aspects of life. Deep End Fitness helps improve water confidence and breath work. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Maki's Journey into MMA 03:03 Transition to Full-Time MMA 03:30 Mentors in the MMA Community 04:11 Meeting BJ Penn 06:10 Imposter Syndrome and Knowing When You're Ready 09:30 Accepting Fights on Short Notice 10:10 Always Being Ready and Deep End Fitness 12:15 The Importance of Breathing and Breath Control 15:09 Teaching Water Confidence and Breath Control 17:26 Closing Tabs and Focusing Outward 20:46 Dealing with Setbacks and Losses 25:02 Importance of Efficiency in Breath Holding 27:58 Benefits of Breathing Through the Nose 30:09 Breath Work Prior to an Event 31:47 Finding Deep End Fitness 33:57 Improvements in Mental Acuity and Stress Management 36:05 Overcoming Challenges and Focusing on the Positive 38:41 Advice for Starting Something New Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready Alpha Brew Coffee Company - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete CardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADY Dread River - Promo Code: ONESREADY Eberlestock - Promo Code: OR10 Hoist - Promo Code: ONESREADY Trench Coffee Company - Promo Code: ONESREADY The content provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The host, guests, and affiliated entities do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. The use of this podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship, and the podcast is not liable for any damages resulting from its use. Any mention of products or individuals does not consti...