A Good Omen--Damien Trite's Story

For those of you who don't know who Damien Trites is, he is a 7-6 professional fighter who has trained with Wai Kru down in Boston and Team Link in Springfield Mass.  Damien first got interest into the sports in martial arts back when he was young and he was being bullied a lot.  Living in New York at the time and his parents not having a lot of money he was forced to drop out of boxing and martial arts.  Suddenly at a young age he lost a close friend to suicide and that was when he really felt the struggle in his life.  He started hanging out on the streets and drinking 40s to try to cope with it all.  It wasn't until he turned 19 and he met Mike Tosti that he started getting more involved in mixed martial arts.  Tosti would build mini motorcycles and introduced Trites into UFC and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and he has been hooked ever since.

MMA however wasn't his only addiction.  Trites found himself getting addicted to drugs and alcohol. It wasn't until later he realized it was the alcohol that was leading him to drugs and fueling his addiction.  Then he met John Doomsday Howard in the Job Corps is Maine.  They were just two guys with a background in the martial arts.  Next they got out of Job Corps and Damien moved to Springfield and Howard went to Boston.  Howard was training in Wai Kru and Damien would frequently go there to train.  He eventually moved to Boston to train full time and it wasnt long after that he stepped into the cage for the first time.  His first battle in the cage was for WCF against Justin Dwork and he won by submission in 2008 and he has been fighting off and on ever since.  The drinking and drugs however always stayed with him.  A few years back Trites was in Miami Florida and he reached rock bottom.  He did so much cocaine on his vacation he thought he was going to die.  Sitting there and thinking about his life he knew he needed to change.  He realized all the people he hurt throughout his life and knew if he didn't he would be dead or in jail in the near future.  Change is never easy but Trites did just that.

He started going to AA and training more with Team Link. He tells me now that he has been sober for 1 year and it has been the best year of his life.  He went to therapy and faced his demons.  He knew he had to put the past behind him to move on.  He told me he even apologized to Dany Lauzon which was an on and off again battle whenever they met online and in real life. He is currently working at Smith and Wesson and taking care of his girlfriend and his son Damien.  His family and his coach Marco Alvan have been a tremendous positive influence in his life and keeping him on the right track.  Alvan taught him how to carry himself and to act humble at all times.  Damien wanted to share his story with you all so you can all see that people can change and make a difference.  We all have our demons and no one is alone.  Damien has felt the toll of the alcohol and drugs on his body and has a message to future fighters.  Keep it under control because it does wear you down and set you back.  Anyone who is struggling and wants to talk just find Damien Trites on Facebook and send him a message.  Happy Holidays to you all and thanks for taking the time to read this.  Feel free to comment below and let us know what your thoughts are.