In this episode of the Modern Warrior Podcast, I’m joined by Ryan Curtis, a professional MMA fighter whose journey through the darkest depths of trauma, recovery, and mental resilience is nothing short of extraordinary. Ryan opens up about his upbringing in inner-city Dublin, the lessons that shaped his fighting spirit, and the tragic training accident that left him with a broken neck and a long, uncertain road to recovery.
But this is not a story of defeat—it's a story of grit, humour, heart, and unshakeable belief. Ryan shares how visualisation, discipline, and mindset pulled him from paralysis back into motion—and how he's using his experience to inspire others. This is one of the most powerful and emotionally charged conversations we’ve had on the podcast. Let’s get into it.
💥 Episode Summary – Key Points (from Gavin’s Perspective)
- Ryan and I spoke about his early life in inner-city Dublin, where growing up tough wasn’t optional, and confrontation often became a means of survival.
- He shared how, even from childhood, he was smaller than most kids and an easy target—yet he learned to meet conflict head-on, which built the resilience that would serve him later in life.
- We explored how fighting was never something he sought out for ego—it was something he felt he had to do to hold his ground and avoid becoming a victim of his environment.
- Ryan opened up about the loss of his father to addiction, growing up without role models, and how martial arts eventually filled that gap, giving him structure, purpose, and discipline.
- Then came the life-altering moment: a freak accident during training where he was dropped on his neck, instantly paralysed. What followed was a two-and-a-half-hour wait for an ambulance and a spinal injury that left him unable to move or hold his daughter.
- What blew me away was Ryan’s never-wavering mindset. From day two, he visualised his recovery. He told himself, “I’ll walk again,” long before any medical evidence backed it up.
- We talked about how he used techniques like mental imagery (Kill Bill-style toe wiggling), intense discipline, and self-trust to achieve small wins—like flicking his toe—that snowballed into full-body movement.
- Despite the devastating pain, emotional trauma, and even being left by his partner during recovery, Ryan never stayed down. He felt the feelings, processed them—and got back to work.
- Ryan’s mantra was simple: “We’ve a job to do.” And he treated recovery like the most important fight camp of his life.
- He’s now walking, training, and even beating old times on fitness drills. His transformation isn’t just physical—it’s deeply spiritual and mental.
- He’s working on a documentary, still in recovery, and using his platform to inspire others through mindset coaching, speaking, and showing what's possible when you take radical responsibility.
- His story is a masterclass in ownership, belief, and the power of showing up for yourself, even when the world writes you off.
