What started out as a way to protect and defend himself has turned into a championship novice career for Max Stary, who hopes the numerous mixed martial arts titles he has earned will eventually propel him to a professional career in the sport.
“I wanted to learn how to fight because I used to be picked on a lot,” the Chippewa Falls native said. “I just wanted to be able to protect myself, so I kind of just found it on the internet and once I started doing it, I realized I wanted it to be my career.”
So at the tender age of 10, Stary started taking Jiu-Jitzu and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) classes and the rest, as they say, is pretty much history.
As far as that goes, so far, so good for Stary, who has accumulated several accolades in the seven years he has been participating in the sport of MMA and the best is likely still ahead for him, too.
He is not only the 2023 GAMMA world champion, he also was the 2022 IMMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) world champ and a 2023 IMMAF silver medalist. Add to his list of accomplishments that he is a four-time GAMMA national champ and a two-time IMMAF national champ and you can plainly see that Stary is not only accomplished in his chosen sport, he is also dedicated to it, as well, willing to spend the long hours it takes for all athletes to reach the pinnacle of success in their chosen sport.
Currently in Argentina for the Pan American championships, Stary will be in Abu Dhabi this August for youth worlds and he already has a date with destiny this December when he will travel to Indonesia for the GAMMA World Championships.
Obviously having achieved such athletic prowess before he has even reached the ripe old age of 18 has taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears on Stary’s part. It has also meant that the Chippewa Falls High School senior has also sacrificed a lot to get to where he is today.
“I’ve spent a lot of time (practicing and competing) and especially during the school year, it’s hard to find the time to hang out with family and friends,” Stary said.
It’s all good, though, for the 17-year-old, as he said all the sacrifices he has made are more than worth it to him.
“I think it’s worth it, it makes me happy. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing,” he said, adding that when he does have some free time, he has a favorite hobby he pursues.
“I like video games, just like a regular teenager,” Stary quipped.
The bulk of his free time, though, is spent at Ronin Fitness, tucked away in the back of Banbury Place in Eau Claire. Stary said that while the suite the gym is located in hasn’t always had the Ronin Fitness name, it’s a place he’s well familiar with and it is almost like a second home to him.
“It’s been a couple of different gyms, but I’ve spent seven years in this room,” where the sit down feature interview with the Leader-Telegram was held recently.
Joining him for the many hours spent at Ronin Fitness is Sam Gaier, who is both Stary’s coach and training partner. He explained just how dedicated the 17-year-old is to the sport and why he is having such success in it.
“He was the hardest worker in the room at his first adult practice at 12 years old. He is the hardest worker in the room today. The results speak for themselves. He is objectively the best pound-for-pound youth fighter in the world,” Gaier told the Leader-Telegram.
As for Stary, he knows what it takes to succeed and he has been willing to spend the time to be the best that he can be, knowing that he could one day reap even greater rewards as first an amateur MMA fighter and then the hope is to eventually turn that status into a professional one.
Still considered a novice, he turns 18 in December and then can actively pursue both of those goals, with an even loftier ambition in mind.
“Hopefully I’ll turn pro and then get signed to a major organization after a couple of pro fights,” Stary said.
For now, he will continue the path he is on, knowing how far he has come since he began in the sport and realizing that others who might have the same ambition as his one day need to heed these few words that have been so influential in his pursuit to greatness.
“I’d say train as much as you can, but make sure it’s something you really want to do,” he said.
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