Ben Askren was one of the most iconic collegiate wrestlers in NCAA history, amassing a record of 153-9 at the University of Missouri, taking home two national titles, and twice winning the Dan Hodge Trophy for being the best college wrestler in the country. He represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and later used his wrestling pedigree to win titles in two separate promotions once he transitioned to mixed martial arts. When he retired in 2019 at the age of thirty-three, Askren was not only one of the most accomplished fighters in combat sports history—he was one of the most popular.
“Ben Askren as a competitor at the highest levels in both wrestling
and MMA is a one-of-a-kind story any sports fan should know.
What Funky does is lay down the details of his story with
the clarity of a man who never holds anything back. He talks about
how he had to fail to succeed through the process, and ultimately
innovate his style to dominate the competition. Those who believe
in the ‘where there's a will there’s a way’ credo will find the
greatest example within these pages.”
*Charlie Lee, creator of Litecoin*
“Whether you are an elite level athlete or the furthest thing from
it, Funky is an inspiring read for all. Every page of Ben Askren’s
journey is told with refreshing honesty, which, if you know Ben, is
no surprise. This book is for anyone who believes that pure talent
or natural athletic prowess is the main factor in achieving
greatness or that success is a straight line to the top, Funky will
prove you wrong in the best way possible.”
*Laura Sanko, broadcast analyst and reporter*
“While legendary wrestler Ben Askren’s memoir Funky is
not a self-help book, it is one of the most helpful books you can
read if you want to achieve more in life. Unlike the superficial
portraits of success that most self-help books
give, Funky explains in unvarnished detail the thoughtful
persistence that is required—persistence that can take a long time
to be rewarded, with plenty of setbacks along the way.
Funky also gives readers the gifts of Ben’s fascinating and
proven approaches to mindset—approaches that helped him defeat far
more athletically gifted opponents, and to be one of the great
innovators in wrestling history. I am grateful to Ben for taking
decades of elite achievement and hard-earned lessons, and
condensing them into a book that’s both fun to read and easy to
learn from.”
*Alex Epstein, philosopher, energy expert, bestselling author, and
BJJ Black Belt*
“Reading Funky was fantastic—what a ride. I thought I
knew Ben, but after reading the book I can now say
I know Ben Askren. It was everything you’d expect from a
champion like him: Fun, informative and well written. His is a
one-of-a-kind story.”
*Daniel Cormier, former UFC and Strikeforce champion, US
Olympian*
“This is a wonderful and revealing look at one of the greatest
American athletes of the last twenty years. From wrestling to MMA,
very few have enjoyed success quite like Ben Askren has. The best
part? He did it his way. Unapologetically. Even when most have
advised against it. I have immense respect for the approach he took
to life and fighting, and that comes through in these pages. This
book is honest, and I’d expect nothing less from Ben Askren.”
*Ariel Helwani*
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