--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's something that I'm learning to…" description: "\"That's something that I'm learning to play smart. OK, if I get rocked, don't stay standing and try to give it back. You can pull guard. See if they com..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/mackenzie-dern-6502_learning_that-s-something-that-i-m-learning-to-pl_2034408.jpg" --- # That's something that I'm learning to play smart. OK, if I… ![“That's something that I'm learning to play smart. OK, if I get rocked, don't stay standing and try to give it back. You can pull guard. See if they come into your guard.” quote by Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/mackenzie-dern-6502_learning_that-s-something-that-i-m-learning-to-pl_2034408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/mackenzie-dern-6502_learning_that-s-something-that-i-m-learning-to-pl_2034408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/mackenzie-dern-6502_learning_that-s-something-that-i-m-learning-to-pl_2034408.jpg) > “That's something that I'm learning to play smart. OK, if I get rocked, don't stay standing and try to give it back. You can pull guard. See if they come into your guard.” [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adopt a strategic defensive mindset: when pressured, retreat to protect and counterattack later. **In simple terms:** Play smart by pulling guard and waiting for opponent’s move. Key Takeaway Use defense as a platform for counterplay. Themes martial arts strategy defense counterattack Mood calm focused strategic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - MMA sparring - self‑defense training - competition - stressful negotiations Key Concepts Game theory situational awareness Questions to Reflect On - When do you choose to retreat versus engage? - How can you turn a defensive position into an advantage? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on defense can lead to missed opportunities for proactive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Come Guard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-guard-3754060/) [Guard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guard/) [Guard Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guard-come-3754061/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Pull Guard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pull-guard-3754059/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Stay Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-standing-3657145/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s time you go back to your cell. Your phone call is over. If anyone wishes to speak to you now, we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-shadow/it-s-time-you-go-back-to-your-cell-your-phone-call-is-over-if-anyone/) [Bella Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-shadow/) > [“Baby No Matter What You Do ; Im Going To Stay Standing =)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/baby-no-matter-what-you-do-im-going-to-stay-standing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sir, I think you’d better come with me,” the guard said, grabbing James by the elbow. James wrenched it free and demanded Aaron’s room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-smith/sir-i-think-you-d-better-come-with-me-the-guard-said-grabbing-james/) [Jake Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-smith/) > [Who is to guard the guards themselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/who-is-to-guard-the-guards-themselves/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Who will guard the guards ? If we're the guards of society, then who will watch us and make sure that we're not dangerous?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/who-will-guard-the-guards-if-we-re-the-guards-of-society-then-who/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I can't think of much higher praise to give a player than to say, 'This point guard reminds me of Jason Kidd.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howland/i-can-t-think-of-much-higher-praise-to-give-a-player-than-to-say-this/) [Ben Howland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howland/) > [I still say, to this day, I could not guard Nigel Lloyd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/i-still-say-to-this-day-i-could-not-guard-nigel-lloyd/) [Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/) > [I don't know how many people have ever seen the National Guard break in somewhere, but they mean business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzie-smith/i-don-t-know-how-many-people-have-ever-seen-the-national-guard-break/) [Ozzie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzie-smith/) > [Well, for me, my favourite 'Indiana Jones' is 'The Last Crusade,' because you get tears in your eyes when you see the old guard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-winstone/well-for-me-my-favourite-indiana-jones-is-the-last-crusade-because/) [Ray Winstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-winstone/) > [“Some, in an effort to protect and preserve the gospel message, have become like the guards in that museum, fueled by fear that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-hipps/some-in-an-effort-to-protect-and-preserve-the-gospel-message-have/) [Shane Hipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-hipps/) > [You don't have to run from baseline to baseline when you play guard. That helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/you-don-t-have-to-run-from-baseline-to-baseline-when-you-play-guard/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) > [This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-miracle-of-me-is-mine-to-own-and-keep-and-mine-to-guard-and-mine/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [First at the outset, let me commend the great men and women of the United States Coast Guard for what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-fossella/first-at-the-outset-let-me-commend-the-great-men-and-women-of-the/) [Vito Fossella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-fossella/) > [There's always a good point guard in this league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/there-s-always-a-good-point-guard-in-this-league/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) ## More by Mackenzie Dern > [Whenever I finish the training, if I see my weight's down too low, I'm eating a little bit more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/whenever-i-finish-the-training-if-i-see-my-weight-s-down-too-low-i-m/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I wanted to have my kid watch me fight. I think that's because I grew up watching my dad compete and I'm so inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-wanted-to-have-my-kid-watch-me-fight-i-think-that-s-because-i-grew/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I got into MMA because of what Ronda did. She showed that we can live off of sponsors, we can live off of MMA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-got-into-mma-because-of-what-ronda-did-she-showed-that-we-can-live/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [In the fight, you have adrenaline and don't feel anything until it is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/in-the-fight-you-have-adrenaline-and-don-t-feel-anything-until-it-is/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I've always wanted to fight a wrestler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-ve-always-wanted-to-fight-a-wrestler/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I think I was able to show that I can be someone that gets better and better, when before people used to say, 'Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-think-i-was-able-to-show-that-i-can-be-someone-that-gets-better-and/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [We can't let people stop us from going after our dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/we-can-t-let-people-stop-us-from-going-after-our-dreams/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [Really I want to win a title at 115.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/really-i-want-to-win-a-title-at-115/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [Even at 115 pounds, I have curves. Many women fighters, when they cut weight, they look like skeletons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/even-at-115-pounds-i-have-curves-many-women-fighters-when-they-cut/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [In Brazil, there's the beach, there's partying. It's hard to be focused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/in-brazil-there-s-the-beach-there-s-partying-it-s-hard-to-be-focused/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I just need to win the round. If you do that each round you win the fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-just-need-to-win-the-round-if-you-do-that-each-round-you-win-the/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I had my dad teach me that and all of the ups and downs and battles I went through... I can make it an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-had-my-dad-teach-me-that-and-all-of-the-ups-and-downs-and-battles-i/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [We can get hurt in a fight, we can lose sponsors, we can lose value as a fighter, but let's go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/we-can-get-hurt-in-a-fight-we-can-lose-sponsors-we-can-lose-value-as/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [I'm a curvy 115er. I'm not tall or skinny. I'm more Brazilian style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/i-m-a-curvy-115er-i-m-not-tall-or-skinny-i-m-more-brazilian-style/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) > [You need to think more about yourself, not just putting on a show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-dern/you-need-to-think-more-about-yourself-not-just-putting-on-a-show/) [Mackenzie Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) [Explore all 98 Mackenzie Dern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-dern/) ## More Guard quotes > [There's always a good point guard in this league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/there-s-always-a-good-point-guard-in-this-league/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [First at the outset, let me commend the great men and women of the United States Coast Guard for what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-fossella/first-at-the-outset-let-me-commend-the-great-men-and-women-of-the/) [Vito Fossella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-fossella/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [This miracle of me is mine to own and keep, and mine to guard, and mine to use, and mine to kneel before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-miracle-of-me-is-mine-to-own-and-keep-and-mine-to-guard-and-mine/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [You don't have to run from baseline to baseline when you play guard. That helps me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/you-don-t-have-to-run-from-baseline-to-baseline-when-you-play-guard/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) > [“Some, in an effort to protect and preserve the gospel message, have become like the guards in that museum, fueled by fear that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-hipps/some-in-an-effort-to-protect-and-preserve-the-gospel-message-have/) [Shane Hipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-hipps/) > [Well, for me, my favourite 'Indiana Jones' is 'The Last Crusade,' because you get tears in your eyes when you see the old guard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-winstone/well-for-me-my-favourite-indiana-jones-is-the-last-crusade-because/) [Ray Winstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-winstone/) > [I don't know how many people have ever seen the National Guard break in somewhere, but they mean business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzie-smith/i-don-t-know-how-many-people-have-ever-seen-the-national-guard-break/) [Ozzie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzie-smith/) > [I still say, to this day, I could not guard Nigel Lloyd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nurse/i-still-say-to-this-day-i-could-not-guard-nigel-lloyd/) [Nick Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nurse/) > [I can't think of much higher praise to give a player than to say, 'This point guard reminds me of Jason Kidd.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howland/i-can-t-think-of-much-higher-praise-to-give-a-player-than-to-say-this/) [Ben Howland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howland/) > [Who will guard the guards ? If we're the guards of society, then who will watch us and make sure that we're not dangerous?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/who-will-guard-the-guards-if-we-re-the-guards-of-society-then-who/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [Who is to guard the guards themselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/who-is-to-guard-the-guards-themselves/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [I can always make trouble for who I guard and control the effort I bring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/i-can-always-make-trouble-for-who-i-guard-and-control-the-effort-i/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [Defensively, I think I'm very versatile, I can guard different positions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knox/defensively-i-think-i-m-very-versatile-i-can-guard-different-positions/) [Kevin Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knox/) > [“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/guard-with-jealous-attention-the-public-liberty-suspect-everyone-who/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) [Browse all 567 Guard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guard/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's something that I'm learning to play smart. OK, if I get rocked, don't stay standing and try to give it back. You can pull guard. 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