What has happened?

There were many versatile athletes, I stress – there were. For example Lew Jaszyn, who stood with equal freedom in hockey and football goal. As the first football goalkeeper he began actively and effectively play on the foreground, he gave his team a lot more security than his contemporaries and even successors. He was called a "Black Panther", poets celebrated his parades, sculptors put up monuments. He won with the team in CCCP T-shirts with on their backs all that could be achieved at that time. He repeatedly led his Moscow club to a national championship. However, he played hockey "just" well, not so splendidly as on the pitch.
High-performance sport, especially in the Soviet Union was already at the stage of specialization. So what sort of features of this player made him fight successfully on ice in a very strong hockey League and simultaneously be a genius between the wood studs? As our excellent goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski maintains - Lew Jaszyn had a "minus reflex" so he knew earlier than the attacker where the object of the game would fly. Whether it is the disc or the ball, it is another matter.
Owning to reflex it is (was) possible to combine two sports disciplines. Actually I shouldn’t have written "was" because – it is still possible. The champion Adam Małysz is close to become a multi-athlete through an excellent reflex and some kind of courage needed both in jumping and in the rallies. Courage is, to tell the truth, not what is called motor skills (that's right), but after all, we can extract the number of "types". Another "kind of" courage is ascribed to a boxer, another to a rally driver or a ski jumper. Courage can not be trained, but can - through thousandths of exercise - lead to a situation when we can do more things consciously in a situation where someone else is paralysed by fear. Sports that combine the need of some kind of courage are all "quick" sports, so exactly just ski downhill, ski jumping, racing, motorboat racing.
So let’s get back to the athletes successfully combining many disciplines. There were such who played hockey in the winter, and when the ice (natural at the time) melted - they caught a tennis racket and reigned on courts. Representatives of the famous highlander clans competed in cross country and downhill skiing, and jumped on equally high level. Why?Because they were simply versatile, and that it was enough for them to dominate at the domestic backyard at the beginning of the 20th century.

Let’s recall Władysław Komar. He began with boxing in the heavyweight. He had a "hoof", as he just hit - an opponent flowed. But ... he received himself too but hit rarely. He was advised to leave boxing. He went to rugby and scraped along, but he was not a star. Finally, he found his sport, his Olympic, champion way began.
It would be the best to know right away, from the first steps whether a "material on an athlete" should swim, run, throw, fight, ski or lift weights. In the right past the German Democratic Republic there were attempts to do so and (relatively) the championship in the selection was reached .

Sports versatility has two faces. The first one is the selection (whatever it sounds) at the initial stage of productising sport professionally. Paradoxically to... avoid the versatility! For now, just now, when the four year old kid has to choose between the racket and skates - make the right choice. The versatility the other way around!
The second aspect is ... continuation of a career by a player who - for various reasons - changes the discipline.
When it concerns a little-known player, a perforce hardly no one cares if Mr Smith started in the weights for eight years and then moved to the track-athletics.
However, when we are dealing with a Star – almost everyone is mobilized by the case. You already know that all this pseudo access was not about sport but about the …

Does He have predispositions?

What, you need to add to. Well, what to? To being a champion in strongman competitions? He does! Was proving it and proved it! And here stealthily, silently, the question arises whether Mariusz retired strongman career? Adam Małysz finished his. He announced it, wiped his tears and jumped for the last time. Now he can compete in races and have no more success, drive just for fun. He is a sports pensioner and no one will laugh at him if you does not achieve any success in motor sport. A famous rally driver Sobiesław Zasada competes also in the regatta and does not necessarily win. He plays and enjoys, he does it with passion, but the agencies do not provide places he comes.
Pudzian did not end his strongman career! There was no official announcement! Mariusz "changed" his sports discipline. Only that much and so much!

If a proverbial Smith, instead of pooling out and tossing, will start to crouch, push and pull – there is no theme. Neither the weights lose nor the track-athletics gains. Nothing will happen.

However, in the case of Mariusz – each of his moves has powerful media implications. And in today's Poland, "media" means more than just media. So are we on the trail of a conspiracy? Maybe ...
I have a right to write about it, because I accompanied Mariusz as the author of articles and interviews from the beginning of his career, I have spoken many times and for the purpose of making the news public and just so normally, so honestly.
I have great remorse that I urged Pudzian for combat sports. But I easily justify myself because there is no such concept as "persuade Pudzian" to anything. He will not accept anything without thinking it over, without adjudication of pluses and minuses. He has his own vision, his assumptions and there is no possibility that he can be influenced by anyone against his own will.
Thus Pudzian "got persuaded" to combat sports? Yes! He allowed to persuade him, he got enticed, but consciously. He wanted this. He listened to suggestions, but he already wanted it.

So, how was that?

How did it happen, who's behind it? Good old proletarian question. Before I will describe it – it is necessary to trace the whole career of our Hero. Of course, in terms of suitability for a particular discipline and. .. that he is the Star.

The origins so...
... the father sets an example

Senior Pudzianowski talked with pride about the exploits of his sons. Sons lifted. Like all teenagers at that age, and these "natural circumstances". Lifted more and more.

Did Pudzian had a talent for lifting? Let us not ask about it for now. Did he have the talent and abilities to karate? Some, he certainly did. But if it had greater "than the law provides for" none of his previous coaches should have "let him go"! Did he trained boxing? Well, yes, he did! If he had a talent for Polish heavyweight champion... He was released, lost by gentlemen, coaches ...

And before that? He had no chance to become a champion of the weights? In track-athletics? Nobody realized? Neither Roman nor Arkadiusz? Nobody? That’s too bad!
He trained boxing. "I was training boxing for the Legia" – he said in interviews.

Why did none of the coaches offer him a boxing amateur career?
Why did Andrzejs G. and W. did not invite Pudzian to their groups? No, they did not invited him because they knew from experience that Pudzian is not suitable for boxing! None of the professionals even mentioned of such a "buy"!
Than from this, than from that Mariusz began to practise Mixed Martial Arts. I will write honestly, that this was a very bad decision. I admit that from the very beginning I was fascinated by the change of the discipline, I supported it and. .. now I consider it to be a very bad decision.
A transfer of such a Star to another sport - immediately directed the eyes of the fans at this discipline. Millions of people who could not even pronounce the name of Mixed Martial Arts - sat before the TV-sets and in halls.
Proving, that Mariusz is not a material for MMA competitor was ransomed by severe, common, collective effort, his, his training partners and people called coaches work. What did we need it for?

Did all the people supporting this action lost their heads? Didn’t they realize that if boxing experts (professional or amateur) had not "taken" Mariusz earlier – does it mean, they know better? MMA promoters, MMA coaches, journalists, among whom I also was - we all showed up almost incredible carelessness and lack of expertise. How could we even believe that a competitor of such an organism, with such abilities - will be able to turn into the player fighting for a whole round, then regenerating, and picking up another one?
A perspective that, thanks to Pudzian our beloved Mixed Martial Arts will gain an enormous popularity has clouded our eyes. Of course there were (and still are) people who cynically used the sudden jump in popularity of MMA, and - paradoxically - they are the only ones I do understand. I do not understand why I fall into a trap of media considerations that "he might succeed", that "Pudzian is working hard".
I understand however, that the cynical use of Pudzianowski has paid off very many people and it should be appreciated that they had taken the risk and it is utterly used it. Praise them for it.

But did Polish MMA benefit from this? I wrote myself optimistically that, yes! That thanks to Mariusz tribunes were filled, other players will start to earn more, that is, or the other thing.
Now - I see it differently.
Polish Mixed Martial Arts did not benefit from the occurrence of Pudziana in the ring. On the contrary! Mariusz fights, ransomed with hard work, showed ... only that Mariusz is talented, hard-working and ambitious. They showed Mariusz and only him. When he finishes fighting in the ring - MMA galas will return to its former level of popularity. Air was implicated air, it was stumped on the ring and that’s all.
Pudzian is obviously thinking of what to do next. He is in a difficult situation.
The first question I asked him at a press conference before the fight with Najman was – weather he is not afraid of losing his "hot" popularity, when blood will appear on his gloves. He answered evasively.

Now I ask, if he is not afraid that he lost his great popularity and the affection of millions of people? And not because he fought, he lost ... because he made a mistake! That he should have know that for his body a 10-minute fight is a barrier not to cross. People think this way: "Didn’t he know? Or maybe he did it for money?"- and according to this line of thinking - in a moment they will stop feeling sympathy for him.
That’s too bad!

Wojciech Fibak was able to move seamlessly from the end of a career on the court to the equally excellent passes in business. He was liked as a tennis player and has remained popular as a businessman. We wish Mariusz the same, because he deserved it with his hard work. And that he sometimes made wrong decisions? That we can forgive. But ... only once!

Thinking over this whole situation, I am trying to objectively assess it - where Mariusz could rebuilt himself, and at the same time fight with the best, not only in Poland but also in the world, taking into account all his skills and knowledge. I was able to reach a constructive conclusion, a very good solution would be a bit of ...armwrestling - in Poland, yet underestimated discipline, despite many successes of the Poles. Our staff indeed fight on equal terms with such global powers as the United States and Russia. I think that is where he would have a chance to test himself against the best players from around the world, to show once again - who is the best!

That’s why now, aware of what I previously wrote and what you read above - I do not recommend, I do not have the courage to persuade Pudzian to armwrestling. I have only one, argument “in favour”. In armwrestling It can be with full responsibility checked before if you have proper conditions or not.
Therefore we will not see Pudzian prepared at "seventy" percent at the table. If he approaches the table - only fully prepared!
That’s what I wish You Mariusz, because I know that it will be hard for you to move away from the sport permanently. You can take off in armwrestling for many, many years.

And now I have to ask myself honestly, Peter, don’t you feel we are going to the "minefield" once again that once again you participate (through this writing) in something that may turn against? I asked ... here's the answer: we can be sure that nobody is able to persuaded Mariusz to do something if he does not want to. That’s the first thing. The second are the examples of other athletes who have "passed" to armwrestling. It’s enough to mention the great Denis Cyplenkov, a strongman Russia champion, and now the winner of the Professionals’ World Cup. Another one is Alexey Voevoda, a runner, karate fighter, bobsleigher, then armwrestling champion and again bobsleigher. The European World Armwrestling (2004) Champion, winner of the Professionals’ Armwrestling World Cup (2003 and 2004) and two-time Olympian in bob-sleigh (silver in Turin 2006 in bob-sleigh fours and bronze medal in Vancouver 2010 in bob-sleigh doubles). Once a leading player of the Russian National Armwrestling Team, today in the bob-sleigh. And as Alexey says himself "I do not exclude a return to my beloved armwrestling. It, like bob-sleighing is very important to me and releases a lot of excitement. But approaching an armwrestling table emotions are several times higher than while bob-sleighing. I want to note that to win a medal is for me less exciting, than to beat a very serious opponent at the table "

I am also sure that the experience of Polish armwrestling experts is greater than our people "from the MMA". Do not kid yourself, Polish Armwrestling is closer to the world one than our MMA. Therefore, we hope that Mariusz will not lose but gain.
Will the Polish armwrestling also "pull up" with the help of Pudzian? Certainly yes! But, again - but, unfortunately, once again (despite myself) I am adding that "but" – he risks much too. Because Pudzian cannot be just one of many players. He needs to be a Champion again. Will it work out We'll see soon ...