The Chains of Generations

Written by Edir Terry, MMA & Fitness Coach

Edir Terry, Pro MMA fighter, top Miami coach, and founder of Belico MMA & Fitness, blends martial arts, fitness, and spirituality to inspire transformation. Entrepreneur, future author of OCTF, and documentary creator, Edir empowers others to unlock their best selves through discipline, resilience, and growth.

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The chains of generations are powerful. They link us to families and ancestors who lived hundreds, even thousands, of years before us. The more you learn about where you come from, the better prepared you’ll be for the future.

But here’s the truth, every generation carries with it blessings and curses. Not “magical” curses, but habits, values, education, ethics, character, and ways of living. Your ancestors did the best they could with what they had. They learned from the generation before them and passed those lessons on.

The chain will continue forever, unless one day someone decides to break it and do something completely different. That someone could be you.

Because at the end of the day, life is simple, you get to choose. You can be a winner or a loser. It’s not your parents’ fault. It’s not your circumstances’ fault. The responsibility is yours, and only yours.

A story of two sons

Let me share a story I’ve told to my closest circle and some of my students.

There was a father and mother with two twin sons. They worked hard, owned a home, and tried to provide the best life possible for their boys. But there was a problem, the father was an alcoholic. He fought constantly with his wife, disrespected her, and filled the home with negativity.

The twins grew up in that environment, watching the same scenes over and over again.

Years later, as adults living on their own, their lives went in completely opposite directions.

• One son became highly successful. He worked in a great company, earned a strong income, built a loving family, and carried himself with respect.

• The other son struggled. He bounced from job to job, surrounded himself with toxic people, had unstable relationships, and lived without direction.

One day, a doctor asked both men the same question, “Why do you think your life turned out the way it did?”

Both gave the exact same answer, “because of what I saw at home growing up.”

The lesson is powerful. One son saw his father’s mistakes and decided to do the opposite. He used his pain as motivation to create a better life. The other son copied the same behaviors, believing that chaos was normal. He continued the chain of negativity.

Now I ask you, which son are you? Is your life the fault of your parents? Your past? Your circumstances?

No. The answer is clear, it’s you.

Breaking the chains: Step by step

You might be thinking, “Okay, but how do I fix this? How do I change my path?”

Here’s how:

Step 1: Take responsibility

Stop blaming others. Take ownership of your life. Yes, it hurts to admit, but where you are today is because of your choices. The good news? You can change it starting right now.

Step 2: Recognize effort

Your family did what they could with the knowledge and resources they had. Each generation faced different challenges. Respect that, but don’t let it define you.

Step 3: List the good and bad

Write down what you’ve inherited, both positive and negative. Decide which patterns you want to keep and which you will break. Start with the hardest ones first. Progress comes step by step.

Step 4: Be patient

Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll make mistakes. Stay positive, keep faith, and surround yourself with people who want to see you grow. Distance yourself from those who hold you back.

Step 5: Expect loss

Not everyone will support your growth. Friends, family, even close people may walk away. Let them. The real ones will stay.

Step 6: Trust the process

If you are doing something different from the generations before you, you’re winning. Remember, your life is your choice.

My own family chain

Let me give you an example from my own story.

• My great-great-grandfather was a military man who fought in a world war and became a businessman.

• My great-grandfather left Europe to start a new family in South America, also becoming a businessman.

• My grandfather continued that legacy in South America, again as a businessman.

• My father immigrated to a new country, built a life from scratch, and yes, was a businessman.

And then there’s me.

I became the first professional athlete in my family. The first to appear on TV. The first to be featured in newspapers. The first to make the name Terry Ramirez known worldwide. I chose to be different.

I became:

• A professional MMA fighter

• A coach and fitness instructor

• A cutman, commentator, and analyst

• A businessman and entrepreneur

• A podcaster, manager, sponsor, and investor

• A designer, philanthropist, and soon, a published author

I am not limited by what my past generations did. I honor them by going further. I break the chains by building a legacy even stronger than theirs.

The bottom line

If you take anything from this, let it be this, you are more than who you are right now. I believe in you. But you must believe in yourself first.

Life will throw challenges at you, pain, loss, failure, but you must remain positive. You must keep moving forward.

I want to hear your story. Message me on Instagram. I do my best to respond to everyone. Share how you are breaking your own generational chains.

And remember, this is only the beginning for me too. Soon, I’ll release my first book OCTF. It’s built from over 20 years of experience, mistakes, victories, and lessons. My goal is to give you tools to live stronger, grow faster, and avoid the same mistakes I made.

If this chapter has impacted you, share it with your family, friends, or coworkers. Even if it changes just one life, then I’ve done my job.

Because I know this truth, we were put on this earth to leave it better than we found it.

Follow me here on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

Read more from Edir Terry

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Edir Terry, MMA & Fitness Coach

Edir Terry is a dedicated martial artist and fitness professional with a passion for transforming lives. Using the philosophy of mind, body, and spirit rooted in martial arts, Edir has trained over 300+ amateur and professional fighters and impacted 5,000+ individuals, helping them achieve personal goals in school, work, and life. His mission, "Make the best version of yourself," drives his work, bringing joy and fulfillment as he inspires success and growth. Edir's approach empowers students to unlock their full potential and embrace lifelong change.