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He’s kind of like Batman, minus the fighting crime, living in Gotham and, well, wearing a cape — though he does have some massive and creative tattoos. Not sure Batman even has tattoos.
OK, so Detert’s not like Batman at all. He’s more interesting.
He’s an art teacher at Fillmore Central High School by day and a mixed martial arts enthusiast by night.
But that doesn’t fully tell the tale, because if you talked to Detert, you wouldn’t think he was an ultimate fighting addict. He’s a laid back, calm and cool character; a thinker more than a fighter.
But if you saw him working the bag or sparring an opponent, you wouldn’t think he’s a nerdy art teacher, either.
“I was a big nerd in school,” Detert, 26, admitted. “I’m artsy. I love art history, love producing art and love to write.”
Which is why he loves MMA. After all, it is an art in itself.
“For me, it’s a big chess match,” Detert said. “I don’t get angry ... I don’t have to make something up to get pumped up. For me, it’s if I can out think or outwit the guy. Can I get a step ahead?”
For five years Detert has been perfecting this art. It’s something that helped shape his life.
At the time of his graduation from Mosinee (Wis.) High School in 2000, Detert left with all kinds of accolades, including valedictorian and the school’s all-time leading scorer in soccer.
He was kind of this athletic nerd. He still is.
After he graduated, Detert took two years off from school to, more or less, find himself.
He tried college, but didn’t like it. So, he went to work, because, “I didn’t know what else to do.”
In 2003, Detert’s sister, Jenny Cooper, came for a campus visit to Winona State. Jayson came along and it turned out to be a blessing,
because he fell in love with the area. They both went to WSU and studied art.
“It was cool, because she was studying to be an art teacher, too,” Jayson said, “so we had all the same classes together.”
The two both love art, because their mother, Jean, is a middle school art teacher.
“We grew up with art, we were always around it, before school and after school, all the time,” Jayson said.
In the two years before Jayson went back to school he lost his athletic outlet, and, to put it straightforward, got fat.
Then he found MMA. It’s not exactly extravagant how he discovered it. He just saw a flyer on a bulletin board for a kickboxing class at Monahan’s Martial Arts Center.
“The funny thing,” said Jayson, who is 5-foot-9, “when I started kickboxing I was 215 pounds. I was a fat kid. Now, my fighting weight is 155.
“I kind of changed my lifestyle, started eating healthy. I realized eating what I was eating and drinking what I was drinking, I couldn’t do well at kickboxing. I wanted to be the best guy there. So I ate right, ran all the time and worked the bags.”
The combination of being a high school art teacher and a MMA fighter is unique, and there has been a couple of interesting days at school.
“In October last year,” Detert said, “we were doing a lot of sparring, groundwork and striking. It was the day before yearbook pictures and I got clocked by this 250-pound guy. He was gigantic, like a bear. The whole left side of my face swelled up and I had a nice big black eye. The principal (Heath Olstad) looked at me, shook his head and laughed. The lady taking the pictures that day didn’t know who I was or what was going on.”
There haven’t been too many incidents like that at school, and Olstad has no problems with Detert’s hobby.
“I know he’s come in a few times and must have been sparring,” Olstad said. “I told him, ‘As long as you’re able to teach on Monday, best of luck.’”
Over the years, Detert has pursued the never-ending task of perfecting this art.
“He’s very dedicated and shows it,” Monahan said. “When class is on, he’s focused and goes to work. He’s in here four or five days a week when most others are in here two or three. He’s very disciplined and dedicated to what he’s doing.”
In learning the art, there were a few things Detert had to get through.
The first punch he took, of course, “hurt,” Detert said. “I don’t know what else to say. You just take it and you’re OK. Getting leg kicked, though, it’s like getting hit with a baseball bat.”
The worst punch he took was from local MMA fighter Mike Howell, who some say is the best fighter in the area.
“I was sparring Mike, and he hit me so hard once my headgear turned completely around,” Detert said. “It flipped back and was over my eyes. It was unbelievable. I don’t remember what happened after that.”
But sparring is as far as Detert has gone with the sport. He doesn’t have that desire to step into the ring and fight.
It’s partially because of his job, but also because, even after five years of practice, he doesn’t have that confidence. It’s almost unexplainable why he hasn’t. The best way to put it is he just doesn’t have the guts yet. After all, he’s just a little 155-pounder.
“I have a curiosity about it, but, honestly, I just don’t think I’m confident enough in my skill set to compete,” he said. “I think I’m pretty good, but I don’t have that over-the-top confidence.
“It’s just a mental thing, really. It could be like a first punch. I was scared to get hit, but then you get hit and it’s no big deal. But I haven’t had the guts to step passed that line and fight yet.”
Regardless, MMA has done a lot for Detert. It’s helped him physically, motivated him to a healthy lifestlye, and given him an outlet because he’s so competitive. It’s also helped him mentally to focus and provided him with an outlet to take out frustrations if he needs it.
Now, if he just had a cape and a bat cave.
