We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melissa Prieto. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melissa below.
Melissa, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
I truly believe it comes from a deep sense of purpose. My goals are bigger than myself, and that gives me the drive to keep going, even when things get tough. I’ve also learned to embrace the pain of discipline because to me, that’s far better than living with the pain of regret or failure.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a Sports Performance Specialist, currently developing a global platform, a digital ecosystem for combat sports athletes and coaches to connect, learn, and grow through access to vetted experts, personalized services, and high-performance resources. I’m building something that will redefine how performance services are delivered in combat sports bridging the gap between elite knowledge and everyday application.
What excites me most is the opportunity to blend cutting-edge sport science with the real-world needs of fighters. Working on multiple levels, helping athletes build sustainable performance physically and mentally. It’s not just about harder training, it’s about smarter systems and long-term development.
One of the things I’m most proud of recently is being awarded the 2024 International Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. And this fall, I’ll be presenting at the SCS 8th Annual Summit at Oslo Sports Science University alongside the UFCPI Senior Vice president ,where I’ll be sharing insights on combat sports performance and the evolution of training practices in the field.
At the heart of it all, my mission remains simple: to help athletes become who they’re meant to be, not just for a season, but for a lifetime.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Brain retraining :Learning to shift limiting beliefs, reframe setbacks, and create new mental patterns has been a game changer. It helped me go from operating in survival mode to leading with intention and clarity.
2. Nervous system regulation: High performance requires a regulated system. Understanding how to manage stress, stay grounded under pressure, and recover efficiently has not only made me a better coach, but a more resilient human.
3. Unshakable belief in my vision : There were many moments where logic said “quit,” but my vision pulled me forward. That deep sense of purpose has been my anchor through challenges, transitions, and breakthroughs.
My advice for anyone early in their journey is this: don’t just focus on the external skills train your inner world just as much (brain ). Read, get curious about your patterns, learn about the nervous system, and create a vision that feels so true to you that giving up isn’t an option. That inner work will carry you further than any strategy ever could.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I use a combination of pattern interruption and nervous system regulation. That might mean stepping away from my screen, moving my body, or doing something completely unrelated to break the loop. Then I let myself feel what’s coming up no bypassing, just being present with it because I’ve learned that emotions move faster when you stop resisting them.
What helps most is remembering that I’ve already overcome harder things. That reminder grounds me and puts everything into perspective.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @melissapriieto
- Linkedin: https://mx.linkedin.com/in/melissa-prieto-8b6223290
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