Nick Newell and Jim Abbott

A great video with two great one-handed athletes in Jim Abbott and Nick Newell. Abbott says: Believe that there's a way.

If you can be optimistic, if you can have that belief, you can do it.

Nick Newell: I'm a fighter that happens to have one hand

Nick Newell speaks with MMA HEAT's Karyn Bryan about just being a fighter. Not focusing on his lack of hand, but just being a fighter period:

I'm more of a fighter that happens to have one hand, than a guy with one hand that happens to fight.

Newell is a great example that you don't have to let perceived "disabilities" hinder your ability to pursue your passions. You just adjust to what tools, skills, and gifts you have and maximize them to the fullest.

Sort of ties into a great quote by Gina Carano on being happy with all the great gifts and abilities you have and not being envious of other peoples' gifts:

"We're all given gifts. You shouldn't be greedy. You should feel good about yourself and not be greedy of what other people have. It's a constant battle for everybody, but you need to be happy with yourself."

6 Things to learn from one-handed fighter Nick Newell

One-handed fighter Nick Newell is a very inspirational figure in mixed martial arts. There's so many things we can learn from Newell, but here are six which stand out.

1. No Excuses

Nick could have easily looked at his situation and thought to himself that he was dealt a bad deck of cards and should give up on any dreams which entered his mind, and folded. But he had the mentality that he wasn't going to let any physical afflictions get in the way of him pursuing his passions and dreams.

2. Adapt

If you injured your right arm, now it's a great opportunity to work on your left. If you can't do Jiu Jitsu training because of a certain injury, now you can work on your striking. If you're out of commission and can't train for six months, you can work on strengthening your mind, you're mental game, your nutrition, and other intangibles which an improve your life and career.

3. Perseverance

With a dismal 2-22 record his first year in wrestling, Newell could have easily given up and tried something else, but he decided to keep at it, work hard, and persevere. It wasn't his natural physical abilities which has led him to success, it's his determination.

4. Change your identity

Nick Newell wasn't at all satisfied with a 2-22 record in wrestling his first year; his identity was that of a winner and to him that was a disgusting feeling to have that score to his name. He worked hard to overcome that, work his way into MMA and generate a perfect MMA record. His view of himself was that of a winner and he worked hard to get to that position.

5. Believe in yourself

Nobody would have believed that Newell would be able to become an MMA fighter, and then actually become a great competitor in the sport. He had to believe in his own abilities and really dig down deep to have faith in himself when even the closest around him doubted.

6. Inspire others

When you work for a cause bigger than yourself, that can have a tremendous impact on how far you go. Newell isn't just fighting for himself, but to inspire others who have physical disabilities and the world in general. He fights for his own fulfillment, but there's also a bigger purpose for motivating and inspiring the world; and he has done a tremendous job.