Hannah “the Rock” Scoggins is pounding the punching bag. The bag weighs one hundred and fifty pounds, outweighing her by forty five. It swings wildly back and forth absorbing her well aimed blows. Her RDX gloved fists hammer a storm of combos:
1-2 KICK
1-2 STRIKE
2-1 JAB
She alternates a high right leg and a low left sweep. She shows off moves coined by Coach Cody Freeland and executes them with deadly force.
“This is the moneymaker!” she grins through her mouthpiece, her large hazel eyes ablaze.
THUNK-CRUNCH-JAB
“Bitcoin!”
ATTACK-ATTACK-LUNGE
“And this is the bow and arrow!”
WELT-POUND-BASH
Limitless energy. Ferocious pace.
I met Hannah at the UFC gym in Greenville, South Carolina. She texted me about a traffic delay and worried she might be late. She wasn't late but it's a fitting example of what true martial art entails; intelligence and respect. Hannah's a natural athlete and started out as a gymnast who gravitated to jiu jitsu. She excelled in the sport and trained higher. Her lifestyle of self-control exemplifies the reason behind fighting; building strength, confidence not arrogance. She views each fight as an opportunistic challenge; a chance to outsmart and outmaneuver an opponent with mental strength and physical endurance. This is a special emotional ability to think and react under stress using a system of levers and applied pressures. MMA fighters have a bad reputation. They aren't all hot headed, trash talking barbarians seeking to spray blood across the ring. They are driven toward victory because the win is a gain of mutual respect, offering personal growth.
The first time we meet, she hugs me lightly and leads the way to the women’s locker room. Her personna is friendly. There is no facade or guise. She’s a young, Christian athlete who grew up in the South, relocated to Minnesota with her family and returned to Southern roots. She’s married to Justin Scoggins also an MMA fighter. She explains that her long time coach, Cody Freeland is sick today, so they won’t spar. She has another coach, Jimmy Fowler and a team of fight doctors, specifically Ari Kramer who help with pre fight camp, weight cutting and training. Her mother, Julie Rokala (hence the cage name, the Rock) supports her career with ticket sales, merchandise and venue bookings.
We walk onto the gym floor and she breaks down her routine for this session. She's had enough talk of numerical charts, data for dietary regime and caloric intake. With a sudden flip of her long, dark blond hair she tightly braids it and puts on her gloves. It's time to go to work. The work out is full on bursts of non-stop activity just like the rounds of a fight.
Physically, Hannah is strong and sculpted. Low body fat, and long corded muscles but somehow her stature appears bigger...As if her mass of molecules expand while in motion generating intense heat. Humility is one of the most beautiful qualities she possesses. She points to Jesus, loves her husband, family and graciously accepts the support of all who stand near #imwithscoggins
She likes talking about her faith as a born again Christian. Her mother, Julie told me a story about a women prophesying over her while pregnant with Hannah. The woman declared Julie to be carrying a warrior. It seems as if Hannah is clad in an omnipotent shield. In the Bible (KJV) Romans 8:31 says “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Psalm 27:1 reads “The Lord is my light and salvation. The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Who can stand against an opponent cloaked in Biblical truth, primed in a formidable vessel designed by God?
Her record is 6-1-0 pending the upcoming March 9th fight against Kristi Garr in Michigan. This is a reschedule as the fight set for March 2nd was abruptly cancelled. The cancellation stranded her in the middle of weight cutting along with other crucial variables that affect cyclic nature of females for weigh ins. She stayed the course and is ready. Hannah won the 2017 IMMAF Asian Championship and is ranked nineteenth out of two hundred seventy three active female fighters in the Southeast. Pound for pound she’s first out of twelve South Carolinian women. She's burning through her amateur path toward professional rounds.
I ask Freeland for a word which best describes her style. We both watch as Hannah pummels the bag again. He glances at her and smiles.
FREELAND: “I don’t wanna give her a big head or anything but Hannah is the total package. She’s disciplined.” He nods toward her again. ”Like today, she’s here. She commuted even though I’m sick. She’s putting in the work. Her commitment extends to how she studies the moves, learns and repeats until she masters them. That’s complete discipline.That’s what she is”
Hannah walks over for a water break. She’s breathing hard but not winded. She answers more questions but is ready to finish. I watch her leap onto a floor bag, decimating the same spot over and over. She battles on the training floor and goes to war in the cage. She fights with nothing held back drawing on massive exothermic flames leaping up from deep within a secret warrior reserve. Her drive is in the blood. It's something undeniable and unstoppable. It courses through and circulates the doctrine of martial arts. She demands respect because she gives respect. She is the principle of discipline.
This Saturday, Scoggins is going to show everyone what she’s been training for. Support her. Pray for her. Watch with awe.
www.instagram.com/hannah_scoggins/
www.facebook.com/hannahtherockscoggins/
http://rmapf.com/
*photos used with permission*