--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wrestling definitely shaped the direction…" description: "\"Wrestling definitely shaped the direction of my life because, before that, I wanted to fit in so much. I wanted to be one of the cool cats. I was frien..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/kamaru-usman-6792_captain_wrestling-definitely-shaped-the-directio_3077369.jpg" --- # Wrestling definitely shaped the direction of my life… ![“Wrestling definitely shaped the direction of my life because, before that, I wanted to fit in so much. I wanted to be one of the cool cats. I was friends with the captain of the football team because he had all the chicks. I wanted to be that guy.” quote by Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/kamaru-usman-6792_captain_wrestling-definitely-shaped-the-directio_3077369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/kamaru-usman-6792_captain_wrestling-definitely-shaped-the-directio_3077369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71a/kamaru-usman-6792_captain_wrestling-definitely-shaped-the-directio_3077369.jpg) > “Wrestling definitely shaped the direction of my life because, before that, I wanted to fit in so much. I wanted to be one of the cool cats. I was friends with the captain of the football team because he had all the chicks. I wanted to be that guy.” [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wrestling gave purpose and identity, replacing a desire for social acceptance with disciplined achievement. **In simple terms:** Wrestling replaced the need to fit in with personal growth. Key Takeaway Use sport or focused activity to build self‑worth. Themes identity discipline self‑esteem growth Mood reflective determined inspirational Type personal motivational storytelling When to use this quote - career building - personal development - team dynamics - overcoming insecurity Key Concepts sports psychology social identity theory Questions to Reflect On - How did wrestling change your self‑view? - What other activities could foster similar growth? A Different Perspective May overlook other paths to identity beyond sport. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Football team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-team/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [To be honest, I have a lot of mental demons in life and wrestling has definitely helped me out with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-ripley/to-be-honest-i-have-a-lot-of-mental-demons-in-life-and-wrestling-has/) [Rhea Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-ripley/) > [I feel like being a professional wrestling has definitely made me a better MMA fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-hager/i-feel-like-being-a-professional-wrestling-has-definitely-made-me-a/) [Jake Hager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-hager/) > [I was insecure and ashamed. Unless you're gay, being gay has never been looked at as being cool. And I wanted to be cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-was-insecure-and-ashamed-unless-you-re-gay-being-gay-has-never-been/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [I've always wanted to write pop music. I never wanted to be cool or make a hipster record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-ve-always-wanted-to-write-pop-music-i-never-wanted-to-be-cool-or/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [It was important to me to be cool as a comedian. I didn't want to be a crowd-pleaser who sent out the vibe of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/it-was-important-to-me-to-be-cool-as-a-comedian-i-didn-t-want-to-be-a/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I wanted to be a cool mom. It was hectic. I felt very isolated for a long time, but in the end, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolandi-visser/i-wanted-to-be-a-cool-mom-it-was-hectic-i-felt-very-isolated-for-a/) [Yolandi Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolandi-visser/) > [“the room had grown smothery. He wanted to be out in some cool and bitter breeze, miles above the cities, and to live serene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/the-room-had-grown-smothery-he-wanted-to-be-out-in-some-cool-and/) [F Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald-2/) > [That young man that I was in 1988 - I was insecure. Besides making good music, I wanted to be cool; I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/that-young-man-that-i-was-in-1988-i-was-insecure-besides-making-good/) [Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/) > [The way I see it, if its EASY for someone to walk out of my life, they never wanted to be there anyway, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-way-i-see-it-if-its-easy-for-someone-to-walk-out-of-my-life-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wanted to be cool - and I wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mccausland/i-wanted-to-be-cool-and-i-wasn-t/) [Chris McCausland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mccausland/) > [I always wanted to be where the cool was because I didn't think I was cool. But music was cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-iovine/i-always-wanted-to-be-where-the-cool-was-because-i-didn-t-think-i-was/) [Jimmy Iovine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-iovine/) > [I was hanging out with no one under 21. I thought that if I really wanted to fit in I had to... show them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-osbourne/i-was-hanging-out-with-no-one-under-21-i-thought-that-if-i-really/) [Jack Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-osbourne/) > [“He hadn't let what he looked like run his life one way or the other, any more than he'd let the Combine mill him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/he-hadn-t-let-what-he-looked-like-run-his-life-one-way-or-the-other/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [I felt free once I realized I was never going to fit the narrow mold society wanted me to fit in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-graham/i-felt-free-once-i-realized-i-was-never-going-to-fit-the-narrow-mold/) [Ashley Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-graham/) > [I so desperately wanted to fit in. There was a trajectory, and obviously, our society tells us that you go to high school, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-so-desperately-wanted-to-fit-in-there-was-a-trajectory-and/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) ## More by Kamaru Usman > [My thing is, if you're going to talk online, if you're going to come at me with a certain energy, when you see me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/my-thing-is-if-you-re-going-to-talk-online-if-you-re-going-to-come-at/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [At the end of the day, I'm a professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-m-a-professional/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [You can't say I don't have the confidence, because I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/you-can-t-say-i-don-t-have-the-confidence-because-i-have-that/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [I'd like to think I'm a hybrid to where, if you had to pick, where would you say I'm weak? I can outwrestle guys;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/i-d-like-to-think-i-m-a-hybrid-to-where-if-you-had-to-pick-where/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [When you go to hotels, who are the maids who work at most of those hotels? A lot of them are immigrants. We take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/when-you-go-to-hotels-who-are-the-maids-who-work-at-most-of-those/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [I believe, if I beat Demian Maia, it's going to be very hard for the other top guys to go around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/i-believe-if-i-beat-demian-maia-it-s-going-to-be-very-hard-for-the/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [You can't out-wrestle me. You can't out-strike me. You don't have more power than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/you-can-t-out-wrestle-me-you-can-t-out-strike-me-you-don-t-have-more/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [I ask for the fights. Sometimes I get them. Sometimes I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/i-ask-for-the-fights-sometimes-i-get-them-sometimes-i-don-t/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [In other countries, being from somewhere else is celebrated. But not in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/in-other-countries-being-from-somewhere-else-is-celebrated-but-not-in/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [There was a time when guys just had a specialty, like boxer or wrestler or jiujitsu guy. Then came guys who could blend taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/there-was-a-time-when-guys-just-had-a-specialty-like-boxer-or/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [I fractured my left foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/i-fractured-my-left-foot/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [There comes a time in our careers that you get that one guy. That guy that just makes your blood boil. That really pulls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/there-comes-a-time-in-our-careers-that-you-get-that-one-guy-that-guy/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [You can't say that I don't have the skills. You can't say that. I have the skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/you-can-t-say-that-i-don-t-have-the-skills-you-can-t-say-that-i-have/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [When you're doing something like wrestling - wrestling is one of the toughest and hardest martial arts to learn - but it's still a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/when-you-re-doing-something-like-wrestling-wrestling-is-one-of-the/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) > [I want Dong Hyun Kim. He's a grappler, he's a strong stand-up fighter, and I think that would be a great fight. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/i-want-dong-hyun-kim-he-s-a-grappler-he-s-a-strong-stand-up-fighter/) [Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) [Explore all 97 Kamaru Usman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/) ## More Captain quotes > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [I think anyone who wants to go up against Captain Marvel ought to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/i-think-anyone-who-wants-to-go-up-against-captain-marvel-ought-to-be/) [Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/) > [Jon Moxley - great performer. I'm sure he's a nice guy. But at the end of the day, I think people are sick and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-jacob-friedman/jon-moxley-great-performer-i-m-sure-he-s-a-nice-guy-but-at-the-end-of/) [Maxwell Jacob Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-jacob-friedman/) > [I've definitely grown into the job after that difficult first Test against Pakistan. I'd been captain for the Sri Lanka one-dayers, which hadn't gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-ve-definitely-grown-into-the-job-after-that-difficult-first-test/) [Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/) > [“ The captain? Sophia stood staring numbly after him. Had he just said he’d introduce her to the captain? Of someone else was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-captain-sophia-stood-staring-numbly-after-him-had-he-just-said-he/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think there will be one overarching coach for Tests and one-day cricket. I think you need one person in control and in charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-think-there-will-be-one-overarching-coach-for-tests-and-one-day/) [Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/) > [Obviously as players we want to play every game. But when you do miss out, I strongly believe the job is to not sulk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/obviously-as-players-we-want-to-play-every-game-but-when-you-do-miss/) [Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/) > [Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/jay-jay-okocha-on-and-off-the-field-he-was-the-captain-you-looked-for/) [Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/) > [It’s up to the captain. I certainly feel my golf is worthy of playing in the Ryder Cup. But I’m not sure I’m on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-langer/it-s-up-to-the-captain-i-certainly-feel-my-golf-is-worthy-of-playing/) [Bernhard Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-langer/) > [“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul and all that jazz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/i-am-the-master-of-my-fate-i-am-the-captain-of-my-soul-and-all-that/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [I will be captain for my teammates and be captain of Manchester United is an important achievement for me but I think everyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-will-be-captain-for-my-teammates-and-be-captain-of-manchester/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [You are here because you some Justin Beaver, Miley Cirus lookin' muthas. -Captain Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/21-jump-street/you-are-here-because-you-some-justin-beaver-miley-cirus-lookin-muthas/) 21 Jump Street > [Captain America is an interesting character because it makes you ask those questions in yourself as a writer. What do we want as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/captain-america-is-an-interesting-character-because-it-makes-you-ask/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [Captain looks at Janie closely. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," she says. "You're gonna have a heck of a shiner by the time the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/captain-looks-at-janie-closely-jesus-mary-and-joseph-she-says-you-re/) [Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/) Browse all 873 Captain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wrestling definitely shaped the direction of my life because, before that, I wanted to fit in so much. I wanted to be one of the cool cats. I was friends with the captain of the football team because he had all the chicks. 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