Every great fighter has a story. But behind every great story, there’s often a voice in the corner, steady, sharp, and unshakable. For Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Umar Nurmagomedov, that voice belongs to Javier Mendez . The Mexican-American mastermind behind American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), who transformed a humble San Jose gym into a fortress of champions.

“Latinos don’t beg for help. We do what we gotta do to make things happen.” This guiding belief, held firmly by Mendez, reflects the grit and determination that defined his journey to success. Speaking to Men’s Health, Mendez reflected on his early struggles as an immigrant in the United States. “ Coming here was not a good experience for me,” he shared, recounting obstacles such as language barriers, cultura

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