Former SCSU lineman Council pursuing MMA career
By BRIAN LINDER, T&D Sports Editor The Times and Democrat | Posted: Tuesday, January 4, 2011 5:45 am
Joe Council stepped up to the heavy bag and unleashed.
Pistoning his arms back and forth, Council pushed his fists into the bag as quickly as he could, creating a repetitive "thump, thump, thump." After 15 seconds, he switched from speed shots to power shots, rolling his hips into the blows more and delivering his fists to the leather bag with a great "thwack, thwack, thwack!"
After alternating between speed and power twice, a total of a minute of continuous shots, Council stepped away, took a deep breath and looked for another drill to run through. Just over a month ago, Council was a defensive lineman for the South Carolina State Bulldogs, helping the team win the MEAC title and play in the FCS playoffs the past three seasons.
But when the 12th-ranked Bulldogs' season ended with a 41-16 loss to Georgia Southern in the first round of the FCS playoffs Nov. 27, Council turned his attention to the world of mixed martial arts.
He found a home at Black Force MMA, a small gym located in the front of a strip mall off Bacons Bridge Road in Summerville.
"I went there, and it was my first time getting to learn anything," Council said. "Before, I didn't know how to hold my hands. The most I learned was how to pass guard, and I kind of learned how to throw a kick. I've learned so much at Black Force."
Council's infatuation with MMA began as a child.
"I got two tapes that had Royce Gracie and some older fighters on them," he said. "We picked them up at the flea market. I wanted to see if it was real or not, and once I saw it, I knew it was something I wanted to be doing."
In the gym, the 6-3, 250-pounder stands out with his chiseled frame, power and unrivaled athleticism. But, Council is not relying solely on that. In fact, Black Force MMA owner Dwight Decker called Council "a sponge" in refering to his approach to learning mixed martial arts.
"I love being in the gym," Council said. "I get in the gym, and there is a unique peace from being in there. Those guys I'm with are just like me. All of us are the same. It's a great feeling, and everybody is so good. I'm learning something new every day. And, we have some really good fighters.
"I definitely have to learn a lot of stuff," he added. "You know, I can get caught in a choke or something like that just because I did something wrong that was really small. It's learning ... just like a chess match. There is so much more that I need to learn. I'm just starting. I'm not even near where I need to be. But, I'm coming in to (Black Force) to earn my respect and just work."
Despite his pursuit of mixed martial arts, Council hasn't given up on football. After recording 14 tackles, three for loss and a sack in 2010, Council is preparing for S.C. State's pro day this spring.
"I'm going to be doing both (MMA and preparing to work out for pro scouts)," Council said. "I get back to training for pro day as soon as I get back to school. And, I will be training at Black Force. Fighting helps with football though, I think. My main thing is, see what I can do with football, get the fundamentals in mixed martial arts, and by the summer, I will definitely know."
Council said he believes his best chance as a football player on the next level is as a 3-4 defensive end.
"I just have to be a rough, tough, strong guy," he said. "One gap. Hold a gap. I can play defensive end and move around a little bit. My coach is telling me to stay around 255-260, and staying at that size, I can also do MMA. I'm naturally about 250.
"I definitely see myself as somebody who has to go out there every day and battle. I see myself as being a workman in the league. That's my mentality. Everything I've had, I have earned."
Council calls pro day "the most important day of my life."
But, if things don't go his way and he doesn't get a shot with a pro team, Council is prepared to move forward in his pursuit of MMA and potentially a professional career as a fighter.
"Definitely ... I would love to be a fighter," he said. "I love every aspect of it. Going in there is like living a dream. You just go out there and bang heads.
"Everything about it attracts me. I like everything associated with MMA and fighting. It just feels like I belong."