AUSTIN, TEXAS: UFC commentator Joe Rogan is a well-known name in the industry, with a career spanning more than two decades. He is loved by fans of mixed martial arts, and many regard him as more popular than several fighters on the roster today. However, even someone as successful as Joe has not been immune to childhood bullying.
Rogan’s podcast, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, has claimed the apex spot in the Top Podcast list by Spotify multiple times. In episode #1141 of ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, Rogan spoke on the subject alongside fellow comic Theo Von. They discussed mental health and self-confidence and Rogan also shared a story about one of the most important decisions he had to make when he was younger.
'I was scared'
Rogan is someone who believes that certain experiences can have a long-lasting impact on a person's life. He mentioned that some of these experiences can define us and stay with us forever. During the podcast, Joe mentioned an incident that took place in a locker room where he had a physical altercation with another child. He spoke about how this incident had a lasting impact and changed the course of his life.
Rogan said, “I do remember him getting me in a headlock, throwing me on the ground, and then leaning like he was gonna punch me in the face, but deciding not to. and I didn’t know what to do.” Rogan stated how much he “panicked” during the moment. “I had no martial arts skills.” He continued, “I avoided that kid every time I saw him. I was like I see him on the other side of the school and I was like, ‘f**k I gotta go around.’ I don’t wanna see that guy who threw me around and could’ve punched me in my face.”
While narrating his thoughts at the time, Joe said, “I was like f**k this, I gotta figure out how to fight. I don’t want this to happen to me anymore.” He continued, “I gotta learn how to wrestle, I gotta learn some martial arts or something.” Joe said, “I was bullied like most people. I didn’t know how to fight. I was scared. And I was like ‘I need to learn how to fight. And I joined a martial arts school and I just got obsessed. with it.” “But that bullying, that fear of being helpless made me get into martial arts,” Rogan concluded. As a result of this incident, he began attending karate and wrestling classes. That day led him to take one of the most important decisions of his life, joining martial arts.
'It can ruin your f**king life'
Rogan is well aware of the importance of mental health and the challenges that come with maintaining self-confidence. During the podcast, he shared that childhood bullying can be incredibly damaging and shake a child's confidence. He said, “People get bullied, and it ruins their lives. It can ruin your f**king life, man.” Rogan added, “I really feel for people who get bullied. Because if you get bullied in high school and you just decide ‘That’s who I am, I’m just this f**king loser, I’m just gonna hide.'”
The 55-year-old podcaster also described how the after-effects of bullying make people hide from all kinds of situations in life. He added, “You hide in your apartment, you hide in your house, you hide at your job, and like, your life is hiding.” Rogan's story of childhood bullying is a reminder that no one is immune to the negative effects of bullying.
