Yesterday, as 3 of my friends and I went to “Fast” Eddie Constanine’s house to check in on him, none of us knew the world was going to change in a way we would never forget. I love Eddie and as I type this, tears are streaming down my face. He was the kind of guy that would help friend and stranger alike as if he knew them forever, yet when it came to people helping him, he played everything off and never wanted to “trouble anyone”.
It took about 24 hours, but the gravity of the situation is fully sinking in now. I love Eddie and I want to spread his memory as the wonderful person he is. The reality is that right now I am not strong enough to do so.
Danny Acosta, writer for FIGHT! Magaine wrote an article today on his blog that I think not only fully encompasses the class act, wonderful kind of person that Eddie was, but also drills down to his core as a human being.
Please stay in touch as we have lots of plans for Fast Eddie’s Fighters. In the meantime though, we need to find our bearings and spend some time honoring our friend that gave us so much, and at the same time asked for so little.
Please read the following article written by Danny Acosta:
“Fast” Eddie Constantine of ProMMA.info dead at 31
By Danny Acosta
Edward Constantine, 31, known to mixed martial arts fans as “Fast” Eddie of ProMMA.info’s podcast “The Info,” was found dead by four friends in his Los Gatos, Calif., residence in the early afternoon of Jan. 25, 2010 after committing suicide.
The passionate and dedicated member of the mixed martial arts community is also known for “MMA’s Biggest Loser” — a weight loss competition against MMAjunkie.com’s John Morgan.
A purple belt under Renzo Gracie, Constantine was UFC and WEC veteran Tim McKenzie’s first jiu-jitsu trainer while the two were at University of the Pacific together. He was currently training under Dave Camarillo at the Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu founder’s Pleasanton, Calif., academy. Constantine taught friends and offered women’s self-defense classes free of charge in his spare time.
Constantine is survived by his parents, younger brother, friends, fans and Dachshund dog, Tuffy.
Funeral services are currently being planned. A memorial fund, “Fast Eddie’s Fighters,” has been established to preserve Constantine’s memory by sponsoring young jiu-jitsu fighter’s training under Camarillo and more to come.
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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)
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, Jan. 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 a 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 at 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.
