From UFC Gold to WWE Championship, How Ronda Rousey’s Mother Played a Vital Role in Her Success

Ronda Rousey is one of the best MMA fighters of all time and has also had a successful run in the WWE! But MMA wasn’t what she really started with.

At age 11, she began training in Judo with her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, who she has credited several times in interviews too. So, let’s look at who AnnMaria De Mars is and why she has been so influential in Ronda’s career.

Know AnnMaria De Mars, the mother of ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey

AnnMaria De Mars has been a vital part of Ronda Rousey’s career. She has trained her daughter to be the baddest girl inside the ring, and no one can even come close to the ‘Rowdy’ one.

Her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, isn’t your everyday momma. She is the first American to win gold at the World Judo Championships, a feat she achieved in the 1984 tournament.

Ronda and her husband Travis Browne recently joined the Tough Business Podcast. During the podcast, Ronda spoke about the valuable training she received from her mother growing up. Being a Judoka herself, De Mars made sure her daughter grows to be a tough S.O.B.

“My mom was very big into like, ‘you’re gonna f***** win, you’re not there to make the goddamn team.'” “This was very drilled into me as a child like my mom was the first American World Champion in Judo and a PhD of Education Pyschology, so she really knew how to f*** with me at a very young age. Get me to be like a really motivated killer.”

Ronda definitely lists the training her mother gave her as one of the recipes for her success.

“When I was a kid I’m like, ‘my mom is goddamn psychopath.’ Like one of my favorite examples is my first major injury.

“I was 11 years old, and I broke my big toe in Judo practice, and my mom made me run laps around the mat for the rest of the night. She said, ‘what if you break your toe at the Olympics? You need to know that you can keep going.’ She taught me a valuable lesson.” concluded Rousey.

AnnMaria De Mars’ career outside Judo

Apart from having a successful career as a Judoka, De Mars currently serves as the CEO of 7 Generation Games, an Educational games platform. She also serves as the CEO of The Julia Group, a collaboration of consultants from different fields.

Forbes named her in their “40 Women to Watch Over 40” in 2013 for her significant contributions in innovation and disruption. AnnMaria De Mars is a star in herself and super tough. Now we know where Ronda has picked her toughness and resilience from!