Vladimír Lendvay: The bronze from the world championship is the result of work, discipline and patience
Author: Mgr. Ing. Marek Herda
1. Vlado, Michal Kuzma won a historic bronze medal at the IMMAF World Championships. What does this success mean to you personally, and what were your first emotions after the semi-final?
This achievement is a big moment not only for Michal but for our whole team. Winning a world championship bronze medal is the result of long-term work, discipline and determination. After the semi-final the feelings were mixed: on one hand it was a bit painful that we did not reach the final, on the other hand pride in what Michal achieved prevailed. It is a significant result and confirmation that our work makes sense.
2. Let’s go back to the very beginning. How do you remember Michal’s first trainings? What attracted you to him, and when did you first realise he could have world-class potential?
Michal was from the start a lad who wanted to work on himself and keep progressing. I was impressed mainly by his approach to training, his discipline and his willingness to learn new things. I gradually saw the potential in him, especially in how he developed, how he took feedback and how he worked even in demanding situations. I think these qualities are an important prerequisite for achieving results at a high level.
3. How long have you been working together, and what did you have to go through so that Michal could reach the level of the best fighters in the world?
We have been working together for 5 years, and in that time we have gone through many trainings, preparations and competitions. The road to world level demands a lot of sacrifice, discipline and regular work. Behind every success are hours spent in the gym, physical and technical preparation, sparring and, of course, difficult moments to overcome. It was important to gradually gather experience, work on weaknesses and keep moving forward.
4. Michal competed at this championship in a higher weight category than his natural one. How did you approach this decision, and what advantages or disadvantages did it bring him?
Originally Michal was to compete at 65.8 kg, but in the end he competed at 74.8 kg. The advantage was that Michal did not have to go through a demanding weight cut, so he could focus more on his performance and recovery. On the other hand, he faced opponents who had a natural advantage. It was another valuable experience for him, which showed that he can assert himself even in more demanding conditions.
5. During the world championship he delivered several fantastic performances. Which fight was the most demanding in your view, and in which did Michal surprise you most?
The most demanding, in my view, was the fight against the Angolan representative, which Michal lost on points just before the final. It was a tough fight in which details decided. What surprised me most was the KO he managed to win against a South African representative.
6. The semi-final against the Angolan representative was extremely hard, technical and dramatic. How did you see this fight from your coaching perspective? What decided it, and what do you think was missing to reach the final?
From my point of view it was a very high-quality fight in which Michal delivered an excellent performance. The decisive moment was one knockdown, which ultimately affected the result. I think without it we would have won this fight and Michal would have reached the final. In fights like this, however, small details decide, and this time those details went against us.
7. After the fight you said you were incredibly close to the final. Looking back now, does disappointment from the narrow defeat or joy from the historic medal prevail in you?
Joy definitely prevails. Of course, the semi-final defeat bothered us a little, because the final was within reach, but when I look at it with some distance, the most important thing is the result achieved. A bronze medal from a world championship is a great success and a historic moment. I am glad Michal achieved this result, and I believe it will motivate him for further work and new challenges.
8. Michal showed tremendous tenacity and mental resilience throughout the tournament. What do you consider his greatest strength, and in what can he still improve?
I consider his head and overall mental attitude to be his greatest strength. Michal can stay focused, handle pressure and not give up even in difficult situations, and that is very important in MMA.
9. How do you evaluate the cooperation with national team coach Richard Konc and the whole Slovak coaching staff during the championship in Tbilisi?
I evaluate the cooperation very positively. Throughout the championship we had very good communication and cooperation. I also rate the whole Slovak coaching staff positively. We formed a good team, experienced many nice moments and took away a lot of great memories from Tbilisi.
10. How do you perceive the level of world amateur MMA? Where do you think Slovak fighters can already match world elite, and where do we still have reserves?
The level of world amateur MMA is in my view incredibly high, as was evident at this championship. Slovak fighters can already match the world elite technically, tactically and mentally. However, we still have certain reserves, especially in the possibilities for quality preparation camps, training conditions and the overall facilities for fighters.
11. Michal has a sporting career ahead of him. Do you see his future still in amateur MMA, or is it time to consider the professional scene? And what potential do you see for him in the 65.8 kg category?
Michal is already heading towards a move into professional MMA. His amateur career has given him a lot of experience and the chance to compare himself with the best fighters in the world. In the 65.8 kg category I see high potential in him. He certainly has good prerequisites to assert himself among professionals too.
12. You are the head coach of Laugaricio Combat Gym Trenčín. What does this historic success mean for your club, for other fighters and for the young athletes who are growing up with you?
For our club it means a great deal and is a huge motivation for further work. It is a confirmation that the work we have been doing for a long time makes sense and that we are heading in the right direction. I believe Michal’s success will be a motivation for other fighters and young athletes in the club too. It shows them that with discipline, patience and honest work they can reach world level.
13. What are your further ambitions as a coach? Is Michal’s bronze the beginning of something bigger, and do you have other fighters in the club who could follow his path?
I want to keep training fighters who want to work on themselves, are determined and have clear goals. I see Michal’s success as the beginning of something bigger and at the same time as motivation for the whole club. We still have many dreams and goals that we would like to fulfil gradually. I believe we have other fighters in the club with the potential to achieve nice results.
14. Behind every athlete’s success stand many people. Whom would you like to thank for supporting Michal and your club on the way to this medal?
First of all I would like to thank all our sponsors, who support us and help create the conditions for our functioning and preparation. A big thank you also goes to everyone from our gym, whether training partners and sparring partners, or people who support us and stand by us. Each of them has a share in this success. Without such support the road to similar results would be much harder.
15. And finally – if you had to say one sentence to Michal today as the coach who accompanied him on the way to this historic world medal, what would you tell him?
I would tell him to stay as he is, to believe in himself, to keep working hard and never lose his attitude and desire to keep moving forward. This is just one of many successes he has ahead of him. I am proud of him and believe we have many more shared victories ahead.
Thank you for the interview and congratulations on this historic success for Slovak MMA!
