Mixed martial arts student turns teacher
With Cris Barber’s rapid rise through the grappling ranks, it
seemed to be only a matter of time before the student became the
teacher.
A 17-year-old senior at San Benito High School, Barber abandoned
his role as pupil at Hollister’s Main Street Kickboxing in
September and took over a teaching position at the school, tutoring
all-comers of all ages in the fine art of mixed martial arts.
Mixed martial arts student turns teacher
With Cris Barber’s rapid rise through the grappling ranks, it seemed to be only a matter of time before the student became the teacher.
A 17-year-old senior at San Benito High School, Barber abandoned his role as pupil at Hollister’s Main Street Kickboxing in September and took over a teaching position at the school, tutoring all-comers of all ages in the fine art of mixed martial arts.
“I made him an instructor because he just progressed so fast,” said Danny Kelly, head trainer at Main Street. “Everyone knows his ability, knows what he does, and he does it well.
“When he teaches, everyone stops and pays attention.”
That’s because Barber – a student by day, teacher by night – leads his class by example, by his experiences.
Working his way up through the beginner and intermediate ranks in just three short years, Barber won the advanced teen no-gi heavyweight division at the 14th Grapplers Quest Las Vegas Championships in early December – the be-all, end-all for Barber’s age group, and an event he finished runner-up in just seven months previous.
“It’s the biggest (event) in the U.S.” Barber said. “As a teen, there’s nothing else I can do – just wait until I turn 18 and then go [professional].”
And don’t worry, Barber – both the student and the teacher – has every intention of turning pro once he graduates in the spring.
Consider it field work – more lessons and experiences learned from the mat.
“As a teen, I’m on top,” Barber said. “But I’ve got to go pro and start all over there again.”
And the ride to the top was certainly a rewarding one. Following his runner-up finish in May, when Barber lost in the championship final, he set out with a new sense of commitment, a new sense of urgency before his second Grapplers Quest in December.
He switched his practice regiment, slowing down each phase while paying attention to more detail. He extended his technique sessions from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. He moved to San Jose and trained for four months.
He worked on technique moves from his back, as well as technique over strength in order to stay off his back.
The loss was, perhaps, a blessing in disguise.
“I started training more,” Barber said. “I started training right.
“After the loss, I said I’m not gonna come back and let this happen again. It motivated me a lot … It was my first big loss of the year, so I didn’t really know what it felt like. Looking back at it, I’m glad I felt it.”
Barber, who grappled in six other tournaments before December’s Grapplers Quest, returned to Las Vegas brimming with motivation. Despite fighting in just three matches, the Grapplers Quest is a best-of-the-best event, and Barber’s convincing run through the tournament certainly quieted any doubters.
He defeated Dylan Owen with an arm bar in the first match, then downed Sam Stull in his second match with a triangle choke before triumphing over Andre Vaughan with yet another arm bar in the championship final.
The latter two matches took approximately three minutes combined for Barber to emerge victorious. And while in May, when he lost in the championship final lying on his back, Barber reversed his fortunes in December and won two of his three matches from his back.
“I was there for the belt,” said Barber, who thanked his sponsor, Halftime Energy. “There was more competition in December, but it wasn’t more difficult for me. I trained a lot harder. I was at their level.”
Currently ranked No. 1 in his division in California and No. 8 in the nation, Barber is now bursting with confidence. At a recent tournament in Berkeley, he registered late and was unable to join his specific division as a result. Organizers, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, said he could join a higher age or weight division, and Barber jumped at the chance.
He went 1-1, beating a grappler approximately 100 pounds heavier than him, while falling to another by a single point. The latter fighter, Kelly pointed out, weighed 300-plus pounds.
“And he pretty much stalled the whole time,” Kelly added. “For him to go in at that weight at that age, that’s big. It shows how strong his teaching is.
“His technique is really tight, really strong, and that’s why he’s able to do what he does.”
Now every bit the teacher – at least until he turns pro – Barber is finding other ways of grappling gratification.
During this interview, Barber heralded the performance of Fernando Lopez, one of his students, who finished second in the teen beginner cruiserweight division at Grapplers Quest.
Said Barber, “It feels pretty good to see my students win.”
