For any fighter, going into a new territory expecting the unexpected can be an overwhelming prospect.
It feels lonely. It feels like life, in a way, is at the heart of an impasse. Suffice to say, it takes heaps of confidence, courage, responsibility and a whole lot of passion to follow your dreams.
But, there are very different reasons why such fighters would just pick up their bags and move to start afresh. Some do it to avoid a troubled past. Others will make the move to better their career opportunities.
Either way, when the final boarding call is made on the public announcement system at the airport, that’s when the person knows whether it’s the right step forward in their lives. Or not.
For England’s Helen Harper (2-0), it was a blend of circumstances that landed her in Phuket, Thailand. But once she touched down, she felt the adrenaline feeling of knowing that she was about to embark on a Mixed Martial Arts journey, that could be a turning point in her life.
“I was offered a smoker level fight the day I landed. And I agreed to it, despite my lack of stand-up experience,” she told MMASucka.com. “I had only really done Gi with a few lessons in kickboxing, so I got knocked out in the first round by an elbow.”
“It didn’t matter though; it only made me want it more.”
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu played a pivotal role in the 27-year-old’s desire to dabble in Martial Arts. Harper saw a change that needed to be made in her life. Eventually, that desire for a change in her lifestyle opened up an opportunity for her that she never really expected. And before she knew it, she was able to harness her new passion to turn things around.
“I only discovered martial arts at the ripe old age of 24. Prior to that, I worked in the equestrian industry which is about as opposite as it gets. During a particularly bad relationship, a friend of mine suggested I try Jiu-Jitsu,” Harper continued. “Without going in to the details, I quickly became hooked and it was the only thing that got me through. My first ever Gi class was June 1st, 2011 so that’s when it really began for me.”
“I went to Thailand the following year in March and since then, I’ve amassed one K-1, two smoker level MMA, two pro MMA and three pro Muay Thai bouts.”
The development of martial arts in her daily curriculum naturally took precedence overtime. But after spending two years in the tropical landscape of Phuket, Harper made another life-changing decision. This time, a decision that saw her pack her bags for Las Vegas for the UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter: 20 try-outs.
While an argument could be made that it was probably a bit too early for someone who was only in the scene for a little over two years, the 27-year-old, on the other hand, was confident she could up the ante by making it into the house.
Although she didn’t make the final cut in the end, Harper took pride in making it to the final 20 ahead of fighters who had years of know-how. The friendships forged, the participation and the experience in itself, meanwhile, were the main things she truly savoured.
“TUF was insane. Actually, everything in Vegas was insane,” she said. “It was a completely surreal experience. One minute you’re just chilling out, minding your own business and the next minute you’re sitting at a table with Roxy (Roxanne Modafferi), Meisha (Tate) and Ricky (Lundell). It was madness!”
“Initially, Roxanne (Modafferi) came across as one of the nicest people ever and that fact was proven when she showed me around Vegas.”
Sometimes a fighter is lucky enough to see the inside of a cage or a ring several times a year, and that is considered to be an acceptable pace. Unfortunately for Harper, her opportunities in pro MMA competition have been barren, to say the least. But the humbled Brit hasn’t been deterred by her frustrations at the lack of in-cage experience. Harper was willing to explore options that existed for her in the realm of other combat sports.
The lack of depth in her natural weight division was one thing she had to contend with. The other? The fact that Women’s MMA in Asia was still at its infancy.
“There are very limited female fighters in the world, and even more limited female fighters at specific weight categories, in specific countries, available on specific dates,” Harper stated. “It’s been almost a year since I had an MMA fight, simply due to lack of opponents. Luckily, I have had three Muay Thai fights and a K-1 fight (not to mention multiple grappling tournaments) so I’ve kept myself out of trouble.”
“Women’s MMA in Asia is extremely limited. I was kindly offered a contract with ONE FC but had to decline due to lack of potential opponents.”
Politics in gyms have been a staple in most fighters’ careers and unfortunately for Harper, she was a victim of it. After two incredible years in the lush lands of Phuket, she figured it was time to move on.
It made even more sense, given the lack of fights on the table. It was a while since she last donned a pair of four-ounce gloves and entered a professional MMA fight. She needed to get that cage rust off her chest.
It was time for another change.
After realizing that heading back to home soil was the best option for her career, Harper was willing to test the waters there. A one-way ticket, knowing exactly where her end destination should be.
“Asia was fantastic. All the gyms I had the pleasure of training at taught me something different. The Muay Thai is obviously unbeatable in Thailand, and I was extremely lucky with all my coaches at Phuket Top Team,” she added. “I think the main thing to be taken from the whole experience is never to take any situation for granted. My time at Phuket Top Team was the closest I came to having a family in Asia, but unfortunately it ended badly when one of the “family” disliked me (for reasons I am still unaware of). Luckily every cloud has a silver lining, and in this instance the silver lining is coming back to the UK where my family is, and setting down roots at Andy Roberts BJJ. I’ve started teaching beginners Muay Thai and personal training with great success so far. Everything happens for a reason.”
“I had visited so many gyms that I never felt 100% at home – always in my head thinking, ‘Where will I go next?’ Now, at Andy Roberts BJJ, I am finally starting to feel at home. The guys there are great, so kind and helpful, and genuinely seem to care whether I do well or not.”
Competing professionally isn’t considered just a sport for Harper. It’s become her life. It’s something that she pours her heart and soul into every day of the week. It’s what fuels her, it’s what makes her who she is.
Within a month of returning to her roots, Harper got her wish and was offered a fight at a local event set for September 6th. She took it without any hesitation, finding herself in the very real situation of being a full-time professional fighter.
She’s been through the highs and lows of life, including the feeling of being away from routine, familiarity and loved ones.
Leaving Thailand took a lot of mulling over, but she’s now close to her loved ones, appreciating the adulation of support of those that are dearest to her.
That feeling of loneliness might finally be gone.
Her story may be far from perfect, but with her career beginning to flourish, she made the right decision to follow her heart three years ago. And it just so happens that England might bare witness to see all of her professional dreams come true, too.
“As long as I keep training hard and pushing myself, I believe I will continue to improve. No fighter knows everything there is to know, it’s literally impossible, so there is no reason to ever stop learning. For this reason, yes. There is a hell of a lot more to come,” Harper said. “I train hard and I will get results. What’s not to like? I don’t see myself stopping until that 115-lbs UFC belt is around my waist.”
“I feel like if I’ve given up everything to chase my dreams, and I work really hard, then I should see results.”
Right now, the 27-year-old’s daily routine has effectively meant that she can forever wave goodbye to the possibility of a “normal” work life – Something that’s normal to her but a dream for so many others.
But, besides her life as a professional fighter, Harper has another passion, which is teaching and being around young kids. She hopes to accomplish something along those lines in the future.
“I would love to have my own gym one day,” she concluded. “And do a similar thing to Melvin Yeoh (in Malaysia) by helping troubled kids use martial arts. I find his work very inspirational.”
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