"Wrestling has always provided for me," said Jake, who has won national titles in every age group. "Not necessarily financially because wrestling is not a sport that is going to provide financially for you, but it has provided so many opportunities. The opportunity to travel. The opportunity to meet so many different people. The opportunity to do so many different things. It is my sport."
Jake Clark and Joey Clark have remained best friendsJake, who is 31, has been on the U.S. National Team six years and has made the U.S World Team twice. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the U.S. at 84 kilograms (185 pounds) in Greco-Roman.
Joey, who turned 35 last month, placed several times at the U.S. Open and U.S. World Team Trials, but hung up his wrestling shoes in 2002 and transitioned to an MMA career. He found immediate success in MMA and began headlining MMA events.
Shortly after beginning his MMA career, Joey received a call out of the blue from UFC star B.J. Penn.
Penn had spent some time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with wrestlers and was looking to learn more wrestling skills to help him in his MMA career. While at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Joey's name was given to Penn by Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler Kevin Bracken.
Joey recalled his initial phone conversation with Penn.
"He says, 'Hello, this is B.J. Penn. I got your number from Bracken. Do you want to come help me train?' I was like, 'When?' He says, 'In two weeks.' I was like, 'Sure.'"
Just like that Joey became a training partner for B.J. Penn. Jake joined as a training partner for Penn after he finished up in the military. The Clark brothers have traveled to Penn's native Hawaii several times to help him train for fights.
"I haven't scratched the surface with what Jake and Joey Clark can teach me," said Penn, who is only the second fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different weight classes (Randy Couture was the first). "We have a good relationship and get along great. I have much to learn from them. They make me better and my camps so much better."
For Jake, training with MMA fighters is a much-needed change of pace from the daily grind of wrestling training.
"It's just a good experience for me," said Jake who has trained with several MMA fighters (in addition to Penn), including Kendall Grove, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt, Mo Lawal, and Bobby Lashley. "It changes up my training a little bit, which I think helps in my wrestling too. After 25-plus years of wrestling and working out, it's good to change it up a little bit and it brings a whole new fresh side of training."
B.J. Penn paid a visit to Ambition MMA last month"One thing that is important to us is that we don't want to take them from their clubs or hometowns," said Jake. "So we came up with a schedule that usually works. Usually their practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays in the summer, so we went with Fridays and Sundays."
Jake missed this year's U.S. Open due to injury, but plans to compete at the U.S. World Team Trials, which take place June 10 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
"When I'm competing now I want my body to be at a hundred percent," said Jake. "I don't feel that I have things to prove to anybody. I know that I'm the No. 1 guy at 84 kilos. As long as my body is healthy and I'm able to train the way I need to train, then everything will go my way."
Jake Clark (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)"My main goal right now is the Olympics," said Jake. "I've been on some World Teams. I've won nationals at every age group. I'm a World Cup champion. I've accomplished quite a bit and I'm happy with what my wrestling has done. But I've always had that dream to be an Olympian and that's what I really need to concentrate on. Not that I'm looking past this year's World Team Trials, but everything I'm doing right now is in preparation for 2012."
So would Jake retire from wrestling competition if he wins an Olympic medal in London?
"That would definitely be a great way to go out," said Jake. "To get the medal, you have to make it there. I'm trying to make sure I'm concentrating on the Trials prior to that. If I really can do this game plan that I have in my mind, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to get a medal.
"To get a medal in the Olympics in wrestling ... I'm going to be honest, the stars have to align. That day everything has to be right."
Regardless of whether the stars align or not for Jake, the Clark brothers will be forever grateful for the opportunities wrestling has provided and continue to give back to the sport.
"Wrestling has been unreal for all the things that it has brought to my life and my brother's life," said Jake. "We're very grateful for everything that it has done. For us to have a chance to give back, we want to take advantage of that. We want to bring to others what the sport has brought to us."
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