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A ‘Fast’ Eddie Constantine Fighter, R.I.P. Brother.
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Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
by Danny Acosta
(Left to right: “Fast” Eddie Constantine, his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Dave Camarillo, and FIGHT! Magazine’s Danny Acosta, Eddie’s student.)
A ‘Fast’ Eddie Constantine Fighter
By Danny Acosta, FIGHT! Magazine
When I entered Eddie Constantine’s home, I usually found a hug, an armbar and a meal, but not on Monday, January 25, 2010. That’s the day I found my friend dead.
He left us 23 days after turning 31-years-old, maybe even a day earlier.
I met Eddie, a purple belt under Renzo Gracie and journalist for promma.info, at Gilbert Melendez’s media day on March 30, 2009 at Cesar Gracie’s gym in Pleasant Hill, Calif. When I told him my name, he said he knew me.
I was surprised, but he knew my work. We started talking more and reporting less. We exchanged information. I had to come train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in his living room dojo, which sometimes made its way onto his back lawn depending on the weather, he said.
I became Eddie’s student. He trained me for free because he never charged anyone. He’d cook dinner for recovery and lend grappling DVD’s almost like homework, reminding me to practice hip escapes in his Brazilian-English parody voice—the impression every jiu-jitsu player does. His was especially Renzo. Eddie emphasized technique, hard work and heart, but most of all an enjoyable learning experience.
One day, we were sitting across from each other and stretching on his living room carpet. His weinerdog Tuffy came and sat between my legs, standing tall as if to protect me. We joked even Tuffy knows I’m about to get my ass kicked. Eddie was always having fun with whatever he was doing. His head would fall back when his laugh would thunder.
A plague of back problems kept his belt the same color for a decade. That didn’t stop him from loving fighting and teaching it to others though.
As both a teacher and a friend, I was constantly surprised at how genuine and loving Eddie was. He complimented me on stories I wrote I didn’t know had been published yet—that’s how dedicated he was to supporting those close to him. He believed in others, perhaps more than he believed in himself.
No matter how much I wash my hands, I feel they are tinged with death—a dirty, subconscious guilt that I could have helped and I should have seen it. The truth is Eddie did not want to burden others with his pain so he hid it. Tragically, he committed the lone selfish act of his life and it was fatal one.
So what do you do on days like these where your worst fears are realized? Today, I had an ill feeling of maggots burrowing into my gums. On days like these the world is still, cold and unreal.
After our first class, Eddie paid me high compliment: he said I was a fighter. After our last class, he commented he loved our training. Somewhere along the line, Eddie said he saw himself in me. I cried today like I was injected with torture, thinking about how much those words mean to me.
I celebrated the New Year with Eddie then his birthday a day after. I had no idea they would both be his last.
Yeah, I guess Eddie did know me, but after this it’s hard to comprehend if I ever knew him. Regardless, if Eddie believed I was a fighter, then I’m a fighter.
With that thought, I started a memorial fund for Eddie called “Fast Eddie’s Fighters,” which will provide scholarships for young jiu-jitsu fighters like the ones he trained free of charge. Eddie would always talk about being Tim McKenzie’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach while both were the University of the Pacific. McKenzie went on to fight in the WEC and the UFC.
To preserve Eddie’s memory, we hope to produce more success stories like that and eventually champions like Eddie believed anyone could be.
The world lost a great coach today; however, Eddie Constantine will forever be in our corner.
***
Donations for the services and the fund can be made to:
Fast Eddie’s Fighters
Care of: Status 5 Studio, Inc.
1250 Oakmead Parkway #210
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Or made via Paypal to: fasteddiesfighters@gmail.com
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Here’s an interview from the first day we met. Eddie asks the second question and I ask the third. And a photo from that day:
One of the greatest experiences I’ve enjoyed not just in mixed martial arts, but in life, was when Eddie and our friend Matt de la Rosa invited me in studio for their podcast the same day Dave Camarillo was in studio. We had an incredibly interesting conversation that Joe Rogan endorsed on the UG. It really illustrates how passionate Eddie was. You can listen here and on iTunes.
Here’s Eddie talking to Dave, patently calling everyone “my friend.”
Thanks so much to MMAJunkie for paying tribute today. Eddie loved MMA radio and he never missed anything I wrote. So I know he hears us now.
We love you Eddie.
One Response to “A ‘Fast’ Eddie Constantine Fighter, R.I.P. Brother.”
RIP Eddie. You are gone too soon and will be missed by many. May you find the peace that you sought. God bless you.