Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Adam Copley.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started training in mixed martial arts back when I started college. I also worked as a personal trainer at commercial gyms in the area while going to school.
I eventually became a professional MMA fighter. In 2011 I opened a gym in Porter with a partner and began coaching part time. A couple years later I moved the gym to Kingwood. Then in 2016 I shut down my gym and began coaching at other gyms around Houston. Including 4oz MMA where I met one of the owners of the gym, Jeremy Mahon. Shortly thereafter he opened up a new gym in Tomball, WAR Training Center. In September of 2018 I began coaching at WAR. In January of 2019 for the first time I coached full time. And I have been ever since. I currently coach the fight team at WAR Training Center alongside Jeremy. I’ve coached multiple champions in boxing and MMA, and currently have a roster of 40 MMA fighters. The roster ranges from amateurs all the way to current UFC and PFL fighters.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It requires a lot of hard work in this sport. And chasing the dream and coaching full time requires a lot of dedication and passion. To have success in this sports takes a lot of hours and hard work. Time that if put into other ventures would payout much more financially. You have to truly love the sport. Thankfully I do. When I first began coaching full time at WAR we had a roster of less than 10 fighters, mostly all amateur. Now I coach a roster of 40, mostly professional. But it takes time for that process to happen. And until fighters get in the big organizations, they don’t make a lot of money. Hence, neither did I.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In a sport where less than 1% of MMA gyms will ever produce a UFC fighter in the lifetime of being open, WAR has continued to produce multiple fighters. It’s a quickly evolving an growing sport. I think what sets me apart from most other coaches in this sport is being well rounded. And that just comes down to the time I dedicate. I constantly work on perfecting my craft. Watching film, studying, then making adjustments based on trial and error. At this point I’ve likely cornered over a 1000 fights in my career.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Spending time with my family. I love my family and there is nothing better in my mind than quality time in their presence. I have a beautiful wife and two wonderful young boys ages 11 and 8. I am blessed.
Pricing:
- If someone wants to have a 1 on 1 training session with me I charge $100/hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Wartrainingcenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copley_mma?igsh=MTZuamM3dzM2dTlocQ==
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-copley-b0aa0885?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
Image Credits
EZer Visions (Casey Ayala), Mary Carnott
