Wendy Anundson

At our gym, we always say we’re more than just teammates—we’re family. On the mats, it doesn’t matter what your background is, what you believe, or what you’re going through. We show up for each other, push each other, and most importantly, we’re there for one another through the hard times too.

I’ve personally gone through tough seasons where my mental health wasn’t in a good place, and I know how important it is to have people you can lean on. Recently, our gym community has felt the impact of losing someone we cared about, and it’s a reminder that these conversations matter. No one should ever feel like they have to struggle alone.

If you’re going through something, please reach out—to me, to a teammate, to anyone you trust. You are never a burden. And there are incredible organizations like In Your Corner dedicated to supporting the combat sports community and providing mental health resources when they’re needed most.

I want everyone who walks into our gym to know: your fight is our fight. And if you’d like to help make sure others in our sport have the support they need, you can donate directly to In Your Corner and be part of that mission. @inyourcornerinc

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Let’s keep taking care of each other, on and off the mats. 💙