Here's a lean, punchy look at the real people behind Ronda Rousey's rise — the guides, protectors, and creative lights who shaped her journey. No fluff, pure heart.
From the moment she began judo at age 11, Ronda’s toughest, wisest coach was her own mother.
AnnMaria wasn’t just a parent — she was the first American to win a World Judo Championship and held a PhD in educational psychology. She homeschooled Ronda, coaching her through world juniors and Olympic bronze at Beijing 2008 with a mix of steely discipline and deep emotional support .Even when Ronda accidentally broke her mother’s wrist with a throw? Mom just said, “Well, let’s keep going.” That’s love forged in steel.
When Ronda moved into MMA, she found a rough-and-tumble family at North Hollywood’s Hayastan Academy. Gokor Chivichyan ran it, but it was Manny Gamburyan who became more — trauma-time coach, gym opener, constant believer.
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