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Win or Learn
Win or Learn
Apr 15, 2025 3:21 AM

Author:John Kavanagh

Win or Learn

Conor McGregor's trainer tells the amazing story of his long road to success in the world's fastest-growing sport

Growing up in Dublin, John Kavanagh was a skinny lad who was frequently bullied. As a young man, after suffering a bad beating when he intervened to help a man who was being attacked, he decided he had to learn to defend himself. Before long, he was training fighters in a tiny shed, and promoting the earliest mixed-martial arts events in Ireland. And then, a cocky kid called Conor McGregor walked into his gym ...

In Win or Learn, John Kavanagh tells his own remarkable life story - which is at the heart of the story of the extraordinary explosion of MMA in Ireland and globally. Employing the motto 'win or learn', Kavanagh has become a guru to young men and women seeking to master the arts of combat. And as the trainer of the world's most charismatic champion, his gym has become a magnet for talented fighters from all over the globe. Kavanagh's portrait of Conor McGregor - who he has seen in his lowest moments, as well as in his greatest triumphs - is a revelation.

What emerges from Win or Learn is a remarkable portrait of ambition, discipline, and persistence in the face of years and years of disappointment. It is a must read for every MMA fan - but also for anyone who wants to understand how to follow a dream and realize a vision.

'For anyone interested in following their dream to the end of the line' Tony Parsons

'It kept me up well past my bedtime' Sean O'Rourke, RTE Radio One

'Remarkable' Irish Times

'Kavanagh is open and honest about his upbringing ... The journey hasn't been easy, but Kavanagh's inbuilt determination has carried him all the way' Irish Examiner

Reviews

For anyone interested in following their dream to the end of the line

—— Tony Parsons

Remarkable

—— Irish Times

Kavanagh is open and honest about his upbringing ... The journey hasn't been easy, but Kavanagh's inbuilt determination has carried him all the way

—— Irish Examiner

A good, entertaining writer, laugh-out-loud funny in parts.

—— Irish Independent

It’s a hoot.

—— Michael Kerr , Daily Telegraph, Book of the Year

Terrifically engaging

—— Times Literary Supplement

[An] entertaining travelogue.

—— Sport

Moore’s books are strangely inspiring. It’s hard not to be impressed by a man in his early 50s who hasn’t really ridden for two years…deciding to undertake a huge ride on a completely inappropriate bicycle. It makes the daily struggle to get motivated for ride to work seem a little weak, and whets your own appetite for a bike-based adventure. It probably won’t be quite as amusing without Tim Moore for company though.

—— Bike Radar

An epic trip… Underpinned by Moore’s pinpoint accurate observations and engaging style that has you rooting for him from the moment he pedals forward on his folding bike.

—— Peter Sharkey , Post

If you enjoyed reading about Moore's travels in France and Italy, chances are you'll love this too.

—— Road Cycling UK, Book of the Year

An epic, hugely amusing journey… Perfect Christmas fare.

—— Dorset Echo

It is well worth reading.

—— Paul Cheney , Nudge

Moore lurches from crisis to crisis in a hilarious 9,000km, 20 country, ride along the old Iron Curtain from the Norwegian-Russian border to the Bulgarian Black Sea with quasi-frostbite and a few rusted watchtowers thrown in

—— GQ

Calling it a 'proven formula' is not to take anything away from Moore's achievements, both in completing an incredible cycling journey, and then writing another entertaining book about it: to have done both three times is impressive. To keep to the successful formula, Moore first needs another ridiculous challenge as the theme of his journey: check. Then he must use wholly inappropriate equipment: check. Try to avoid any fitness training before the journey: check. Make sure that there are numerous challenges and obstacles to overcome along the way to provide amusing anecdotes: check. Finally, make sure that you can write in an engaging and humorous style: check… Tim Moore does it again, enhancing his reputation as one of the best exponents of the cycling travelogue

—— Richard Peploe , Road.cc

Tim Moore is a serial cyclist who loves to do things the hard way… His blackly comic account of his adventures will convince you that extreme cycling is best appreciated in anecdotal form

—— Jane Shilling , Daily Mail

Filled with laugh-out-loud scenes and witty comments, alongside serious reflections on the consequences of the Communist dream and reminders of how disparate Europe still remains, this book was difficult to put down

—— Rhiannon Roy , Time & Leisure

He is quite, quite bonkers - and very funny

—— The Bookseller
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