Saturday September 22, 2007

Today I hosted a Muay Thai training camp with my friend Duane "Bang" Ludwig as a guest instructor. We had a short hour and a half session and focused on striking, footwork and position. Duane is very technical and precise with his footwork and hand positioning. I will continue to work with Duane as a private trainer for my competitive fight career. I was excited to see Sven Bean, Ring of Fire Promoter, along with Scott McHugh, Talent Coordinator, out at my studio for the "Bang" training.

After the session we had a great time talking and it was here that I told Sven that I was very interested in fighting for him when the time was right. His eyes lit up and he smiles with enthusiasm. I expressed how I had been thinking about it for a long time but had some reservervations due to the fact that I practice non-violence. He stated that fighting is more of an athletic competition than a violent act. He also spoke about how he very much enjoyed having wrestlers get involved because of their hard-core training, weight cutting skills and ability to perform well on stage on front of a crowd.He asked when I wished to get involved, I told him the next show. He told me to look in his eyes, and shake his hand with a verbal agreement. I gave him my word and shook his hand.

It was excited and felt good about the decision I had made.

I do feel that I am ready but need to work on specific things and train much harder. The transition to competition mode was instantaneous and I now had a goal, a focus of intention. We took some pictures and they packed up and headed out.

Jay and I spoke deeply about dreams and personal goals. He is a very good friend of mine and we are working towards the same outcome, so it is easy for me to express my views. We then hit up a heavy training circuit and pushed ourselves through an intense workout.

Sunday September 23, 2007

I went to the metro league wrestling meeting in the morning and headed to the gym to teach the young kids. Jay got them going for me and when I got there they were sweating good and ready to roll. It's late in the evening and I watched 300 and felt quite inspired so I went downstairs and hit a short hour session. It was intense and focused. I worked on hand strikes and footwork that Duane was teaching as I bumped my Runaway breaks mix. I really took to heart keeping one hand back as the other was striking. And internally rotating my fist to keep my face safe while throwing punches. I was sweating hard and found a new way to use strengthen my body, bones and connective tissue. I am trying to connect with myself through this process and take a more spiritual outlook on my training. I am really trying to set intentions for my training and why I am doing this.

I closed with finalizing my dragon tao salutation and felt confident about it. I will use it when I begin any training session and focus my attention and set my intention.

Monday September 24, 2007

Stretched out good with two of my clients doing Sun Salutation and did some core exercises with them. I did some heavy bent over rows and pull-up with Ryan Ferrin (CampTeam.com) as he trained. Just trying to get extra sets in whenever I have time.

For lunch I met with my good friend and mentor, Bob Leid (Owner and Founder - CampTeam.com), and spoke about what has happened over the weekend and my new goals and aspirations. I conveyed to him my need for sponsorship to help me with food, supplements, clothing and training fees for my teachers. He said he could help out and to get him something on paper. I will write it up soon.

In the evening I did the wrestling warm up with Marc's football team and sweated quite good. I need to get my conditioning going, but it come back so fast I don't need to worry.

Late night I watched UFC 76 and analyzed styles and strategies. Many upsets from the underdog. There is always a way to win if you are open to it and can push yourself to the limit. I know it is not going to be easy but I have trained all my life for this.

Tuesday September 25, 2007

Confirmed with Stephen Joffe (MARTIALWORKS - BOULDER) to begin training two or three times a week on striking. We start Tuesday October 2 and I am excited. He is a great friend to me and I respect him very much. I know he will help me immensely and he will be in my corner when I fight.

Got a good lunch and will be eating more protein from eggs and fish.

I spoke to Allen Watkins about fighting amateur or pro right off the bat. Allen believes as Zach Stratton does that I should go pro. But after speaking with Sven I was convinced to fight amateur first then go pro when Sven feels the time is right. I trust him in his knowledge and experience. I do feel he will guide and lead me to where I need to go.

Trained with Jay Wymer from 730-9pm and we worked on grappling and ju-jitsu. We also put some effort into leg kicks on the heavy bag and did some hand combos on the focus mits.

The dream has been conceived through my belief and those who know me can all see the truth behind the cause and feel that I have everything it takes. That's all I need.

Wednesday September 26, 2007

I got to sleep in today till 11 and felt good about it for I am still a little under the weather but feeling better every day. I have been taking a lot of Emergen-C and Cayenne pepper which is an excellent blood purifier.

I did some circuit training with little Kyle Grosvenor and am trying to workout with clients when I can. He did great today and his focus was there.

I trained with Jay Wymer later in the evening and worked on resistance shots, circuit training and a couple hundred thai kicks to the heavy bags. I am trying to strengthen and build up my leg kicks and will begin to work on leg checks. I anticipate the challenge.

I realize now that everyone can and will get beat not matter who the individual is. Also, depending upon the energy expenditure of the athlete he or she may be better or worse on any given day. When one thinks of hydration, nutrition, sleep and stress, these are areas that need to be in alignment for the performance to be channeled. So if two fighters battle 5 dates in a row the outcomes are usually varied and the general style, intensity and predictability are always changing. I've seen people who had less talent but believed they could win beat people who were much better athletes. And it is this fact that keeps my style unorthodox and unpredictable by nature. I enhance and advance while making things simpler at the same time. Strange to me how the simple act of faith and belief in oneself can raise an athlete to a higher level of performance. I must continually train my mind to focus and be open to universal consciousness so when the time comes for me to channel the portal will be open for the connection to be made.

Until then.....

Thursday September 27, 2007

Today I tried to sleep in a little later and am finally getting quality sleep now that I can breathe out of my nose. I did feel slightly tired but pushed through and kept up on my vitamins and juices.

I met with Seth Davis, a journalist from the yourhub.com Arvada/Wheat Ridge division. He tracked Next Level Sports randomly to do a article on the gym and our camp with Duane, but when he found out I was getting ready for my first fight he was more interested in doing a story on me and my quest for self-experience.

He asked some very thoughtful questions and made me really think about what I was doing and it very real and confirmed I am not dreaming, this is happening. He was sincere and honest about why he was interested in the mixed martial arts world.

I then personal trained and did some sets in the weight room and pushed myself quickly but with intention. I felt a little displaced from reality for a moment but I feel that often. Seth Davis came back at 7:00pm for my fight training with Jay Wymer and took some photos while we were grappling. After he left, Jay and I did another 200 Kicks per leg and beat up our shins nicely. I figure by the time the fight comes I will have done about 10,000 kicks per leg. That is how you create a reaction that is instinctual and not forced. I then talked with Jay about strategy and mental state in the cage.

I can feel my chi rising and my body buzzing at times. I need to raise my personal vibration and manifest a soulful experience. I'm on my way. My focus gets greater everyday. My intention deepens with every breath I take. I think of her often. Another day another time, I once again think in rhythms and rhymes.

Friday September 28, 2007

To day a light day in that I just did some circuit training with Dwight Howes and wrestled awhile. Usually I have him do a power circuit with dips and core raises, climbing ropes, heavy bag body lock squats and band core twists. We then did a lot of shots drills with the bands as resistance followed by footwork and situations. We rolled for a while and had a great time. Dwight is going to be big trouble for anybody who has to mess with him on the mat. He will definitely do anything he sets his mind to. I have a huge support group of young athletes, parents and families. I will help me immensely as I step into the cage and hear their screams and cheers. Until then....

I then met up with Lawrence Gayton at the Kick Down fights where he was competing at 155 pounds. He fought hard but the ref stopped it at the end of the 1 st period. I was proud but know he didn't train hard for the fight. He has a lot of talent but needs to channel it and train like a madman. I will train him on shots since he has a strong ju-jitsu game.

I had the good fortune to meet Joe Montalvo from Colorado Combat Zone, who was Lawrence's corner man. He did a great job and his hands wraps are phenomenal. He told me he learned to wrap them like that in Brazil. He has wicked stand up skills and a plethora of knowledge. I will try to work with him on my stand up when I can and perhaps do some trade with teaching some takedown seminars at his gym.

Things are happening quickly and I am meeting people who are like-minded and who have good attitudes and are working towards the same goals as I am. Everything happens for a reason and I feel certain people are being put in my life for a reason.

Before I went out for the Heavyweight Dub Champion show in Boulder, I worked on position and shadow boxing in the mirror and hit the heavy bag in my basement for about 45 minutes. I got my lungs burning and sweated a little. I washed off then was out the door. When I go out to the clubs and there is music I really enjoy I will practice movement meditation while I dance. It seems more like a combination of Tai Chi, popping and break dancing.....a style I have created by combining movements of many into one style.

Sunday September 30, 2007

This morning I trained with Brent Bingham (Agogewarrior.com), who is a trainer who interviewed for martial arts position at my gym. He is well educated in weapons and hardcore body conditioning. We worked on some brutal blocking techniques where I meet the force of the strike of kick instead or moving away from it. He has studied Jeet Kune Do, which is Bruce Lee's style he created yet he wished he had no style or name at all for how he fought. We did lots of destruction blocks that are quite damaging to the aggressor or opponent. My forearms both inner and outer are quite beat up along with my shins. However it is a feeling that is both painful and pleasing at the same time. Fighting and training are sadistic in many ways and I am excited to see, feel and know that I am advancing at an increased pace.

I then worked on ju-jitsu and collegiate wrestling with Kevin Lucero who will be getting back involved in college wrestling next year. He is a great partner for me in that he weighs 160 and is fast and well trained in grappling arts. However, where he is tense and tight I am relaxed and focused. The styles and composure of different athletes are interesting in that everyone shoots and moves in unique ways. Some move more like robots and some move like water. I prefer the latter and wish to be fluid yet able to crash like a wave of power when I need to.

After the open fighters left the youth wrestlers came in for practice. I did the warm up and power drill with them and sweated heavily. The kids get to see how it is done when I participate instead of just coach. I'm sure it makes them work harder as well. All the kids and parents said that they are going to come to the fight and that makes me feel good.

I then did some paper work in the office then went to see my massage therapist, Sonja Charles(Touched By Magic Therapeutic Massage). She knows my body well after working on me for the last two years. My back and legs were pretty sore after training and she went a little deeper into my muscles. I felt a lot better and then went to my parents house for our traditional Italian Sunday dinner which has been in our family for my whole life. I talked with my parents about my training and how things are going. I feel that they are getting more accustomed to the idea of my fighting and are realizing that I am passionate about it and they support me in every way. As with everyone, they wish for me to be safe and worry. But an athlete can get hurt in any sport at any time.

Monday October 1, 2007

Two Months away from the fight!!

Today was relatively relaxing and I feel that I have to have at least one day a week to rest and no stress my body. I have felt the repercussions of overtraining in college and know how detrimental it can be to an athletes performance, recovery time and progress. I stretched and worked on some rejuvenating yoga movements. I feel that on these days I will put more attention on meditation and mental conditioning than physical training. I feel good despite having some residual pain in my forearms and shins.

I ate good and healthy as always and have been adding in more protein from natural food sources such as egg whites, beans and rice, and have been eating a little more chicken here and there. As always I consume quite a lot of whole grain pastas and complex carbohydrates. My hydration is good and I have been drinking a lot more Super Food or Green Machines which have all the essentials such as spirillina, wheat grass, blue green algae and chlorella. I have been adding in 2-3 Emergen-C packets a day to aid in antioxidant recovery. I'm feeling good and know I will have to begin increasing my caloric intake due to higher intensities of training.

Tuesday October 2, 2007

I headed to Boulder early this morning to begin my training with Stephen Joffe (MARTIALWORKS), and we focused on a three-fold training systems he has mastered in his countless years of training and fighting. I will be working with him 3 times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. We will be concentrating on weapons training in the Philippine combat system called Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Here we practice the brutal art of stick (sword) fighting along with single and double knife defense systems. From the weapons we moved to close quarter hand combat minus weapons. The concept of training weapons first then moving to hands makes sense after being introduced to the system in that weapons are merely an extension of your hands and the movements and footwork remain the same as you attack and defend.

Stephen has trained, fought and traveled all over the world and in my eyes he is one of the most grounded and spiritually centered men I have every met. He is also my first real meditation instructor and teaches 8 Extraordinary Meridian Chi Kung, which has a ancient Taoist background. And it is from these meditations that I have modified and created my own style to teach the young athletes that seek out my expertise.

Stephen comes from a culture and background based upon fighting for survival. He was born in South Africa and learned quickly he had to fight in order so survive, especially as a Caucasian. He has been training and studying martial arts for over 25 years and his credentials are stunning. I will be training Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Pekiti Tirsia Kali, and Chi Kung Meditation from him and know that we will be working together for a long time. I look forward to having him in my corner and when things take off havinghim by my side as we travel. Until then....

Later in the after noon as usual I led the kids in power yoga series and did some plyometric exercises and some light core training.

In the evening I worked with my training partner, Jay Wymer, and we focused on Tang Soo Do. He spent about an hour teaching me hand strikes movements that countered my opponent's offensive attacks. Similar to Wing Chun these techniques are wicked with nice parries and counter positions leading to destructive strikes. To me this makes much more sense that just blocking shots with the back of my hands or taking heavy hits to show how much of a beating I can take. My speed on my feet is my strength but my timing is something that need to work on when it comes to stand up fighting.

Jay has an deep past in many brutal styles of fighting that he rarely teaches or shoes due to the destructive nature. Also he doesn't need to teach these styles to just anyone off the street because to the damage they can cause. I feel honored to have Jay open up his arsenal and feed my what my style is lacking. In turn I teach him my elite ground came and takedowns that I have cultivated over that last 22 years of competitive wrestling training I have endured. We have been working together for over a year and a half and he has really absorbed everything I have taught him and works on it on his own time and it shows. Now I have trouble fighting him off when he gets to my legs. It's a challenge working with him for he outweighs me by 45 pounds so my quickness and angels are my advantage. His power and determination are his.

After we train we usually sit and talk in my office for an hour or so and it feels good to have a real friend like him, someone I trust and can confide in. many lives we have been training and fighting together and we manifest it once again in this lifetime.

Wednesday October 3, 2007

I got to the gym late today and spent time cleaning and organizing the place. I received a call from my good friend, Tina Siegrist(USANA HEALTH SCIENCES), who is a very successful entrepreneur. Her main business is Usana Health. I had conveyed my interest in the product line and wanted to know how I could get involved and if she could sponsor me with a full supplement line to complement my training for the fight. She was very excited to hear what I was doing and wanted to help me in any way she could. The company USANA doesn't sponsor athletes but athletes work as distributors for the company while taking the products themselves.

The reason I was so interested in USANA was the credibility around the world and all the scientific backing behind the products. Also, being closely tied to the NCAA, they use no stimulants or chemicals in their products to enhance athletic performance. Since I am a very health conscious person and try to eat organic and sub-vegetarian food sources their product line makes the most sense to me. Also, being in the business I am in it only makes sense to train myself and use the products while helping others become healthier in a safer manner. The business opportunities for me as a trainer and gym owner are going to be very beneficial for my body as well as my business.

Evening time training was intense when Kevin Lucero stopped by to wrestle and practice ju-jitsu. He was a former Pomona High School star wrestler and has a very impressive 138-10 record in high school. He is now training to get back involved at Mesa State College and wrestle. He took some time off and will be getting back on the mat again next year. He tracked me down through my friend Ray Castillo and wants to train with me on the mat. He is great for me to work with because he weighs around 160 and is very fast and powerful, not to mention he knows how to roll hard. All my partners who push my are around 20 pounds so its nice to have a fast and strong partner such as Kevin. I look forward to seeing him in my gym when he has time. He is very committed to his training and his goals and it will be very beneficial for the both of us. We rolled hard for about an hour then he had to head out.

After that Jay and I did some body conditioning. We focused on core, upper body and explosive power. I finished off the night by doing tow drags shots back and forth on the mat. Basically, Jay has two of the heavy resistance bands wrapped around my waist and holds the handles from behind. As I shoot my takedown shots he pulls and creates tow resistance from behind. This causes major my legs to work over time like a pit bull dragging a tow sled. After 10 runs back and forth my legs are on fire and I do make one more run down and back without any resistance and take a water break. Lastly, I tie into the vertical jumper, which is anchored to the ground on the right and left of me with three heavy bands per side. As I explode into the air with repeated vertical jumps the bands pull me back to the ground causing quite a bit of eccentric muscle contraction. I hit a set of 30 jumps, then 20, and then 10. With my legs burning I take of the belt-harness and hit another 10 jump without any resistance. My explosion is enhanced greatly despite the fatigue in my legs. After a month or so training with the jumper is should be able to gain 1-3 inches in my vertical jump not to mention plenty of power explosion in my takedown shot. I feel that my takedowns are unstoppable and it is here that I will be very hard to beat when I step into the cage.

Thursday October 4, 2007

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings I head to Boulder to train with Stephen Joffe. I usually arrive at 9 and we train till 11. We warmed up with Sia Naum Tau then began Chi Sau. The style is close combat and very complicated and technical. I know however that it will be very conducive to my grappling style which is very intense and in your face. Stephen knows my game is either out of range or close quarters. He believes that it makes no sense to engage in mid-range striking exchanges where most MMA fighter train and fight. I enjoy working with Stephen for he is my friend and my trainer. He makes me smile and work hard at the same time. He teaches the technique then conveys the practical application in combat. And having trained with Indonesian and Cantonese fighters who have similar styles such as Wing Chun he explains how they differ and how they are equally effective. We close with the 5 Attacks of Kali and work footwork and transitions, broken attacks and bridging the gap distance to enter contact.

We talk about the future and what he sees happening for both of us and expresses his views about working with me, and the excitement he feels about training me. He truly lives for combat and training and I can see, feel and hear it when we train together. He believes that the MMA world is just a stepping stone to greater things in the martial arts world and he has a greater vision of our future together. He speaks of foreign lands and the fighters and masters he has encountered and worked studied under. He has my back in all ways and that truly makes me feel at ease even in the thick of combat.

I return to my gym and train a few clients then meet with Tina Siegrist (USASA Health Sciences), and speak about how she and USANA can help me in my training. Her knowledge and opinion mean a lot to me for she has been using the products and maintaining a very successful business with the USANA umbrella. We discuss what products would be best for me to aid in my recovery both physically and mentally. I feel good right now but as the intensity of my training increases so should my caloric intake and antioxidant levels. I need to clean up my liver and detox my entire system. The beauty and genius of USANA is that they are 100% Free of chemicals, preservatives and genetically modified ingredients. Being and naturalist and health enthusiast I need to have quality products and food substances in my system to make me run at full potential and quicken my recovery thus strengthening and repairing my muscles, connective tissueand bones. Tina is going to take care of me and get me going on the USANA products and build my business as a distributor for USANA. It is a win-win situation forme in that I get the best products in the world and can create a very successful business within my current business. Everything that is happening is perfect and falling into place exactly is it needs to. I do believe and fate but also that I have a very crucial part in creating my reality around me. And so I create....

I get a call from my mom who says she opened the paper and saw my picture on the front page choking Jay. She says she is proud and wanted to know why I didn't tell her about the article. I have been so busy that is slipped my mind and maybe it was better to be a surprise for everyone involved. I check it out online and am very happy at the way it is written and the nice photos that compliment the story that Seth Davis wrote from yourhub.com. I will call him to express my appreciation for everything he has done for me concerning the story. Once again, things are happening and people are coming into my life at the right time and for the right reasons.

Later in the afternoon, while training the 14 year-old girls basketball team they wanted to learn come fighting techniques. They always ask me to teach them boxing and fighting but I am hesitant. So I grabbed the Thai pad for heavy leg kicks and taught them how to load from the hip and kick with the shin. There were about 15 girls and a lot of them play soccer as well so when it comes to kicking they bring it. So they lined up and had a three step running kick and dropped some really nice shots on a Thai pad which is not really that thick in general. Most of their kicks made contact with my outer calve and back of hamstring. They dropped a kick then circled around and around again. I probably took about 200 kicks to each side and my legs felt it. It was quite a unique body strengthening exercise and I felt some deep bone and muscle pain, which will only make my stronger.

When Jay showed up he could see I was walking funny and laughed after I told him what had happened. He thought it was a great training tool both for the girls and for me legs. I agreed. I couldn't move to well on the ground and was kind of drained from the day from training and not eating enough. I was quite lethargic while training with Jay but started to feel better as we moved into it. We focused again on Tang Soo Do and blocking defenses and parries along with footwork. My timing is coming along and I feel better each day on my stand up game. I know that I need to start picking up the pace and hitting and getting hit harder to condition my body and pain tolerance. I agree with what Duane Ludwig said when referring to getting a lot of time with experienced fighters training and sparring at full speed and contact impact. I can take a hit but am not used to repeatedly getting pummeled. And I all reality when I feel out of sorts I naturally resort to my ground and grappling game which are my strongest assets. But I know that I need to be trained and conditioned in all facets of MMA combat. I advance each day and that is all that matters. I have a whole lifetime to master myself, and my style and am not rushing the process. I take one step at a time to reach my destination.

Friday October 5, 2007

Due to some personal issues I will be taking the day off from work and training. I will however put much effort into healing and relaxing when time complies. I got to finally make it to Sunflower Farmer's Market off of 38 th. I have been putting off buying produce at major supermarkets due to the common uses of pesticides. So today I stocked up on a healthy mixture of much needed supplies. I have to but tow of certain items to stock up at the gym as well, which is where I spend most of my time.

I made a huge lunch where I began sautéing garlic and cayenne pepper. I then added 5 egg whites and 1 yoke and scrambled it till done, I then added half a square of extra thick tofu and half a box of Seitan. I then added red and green peppers, cucumbers, hot salsa and rice. I ate as much as I could because I knew I was low on protein and calories for the day. I relaxed for an hour then made a protein shake with some new Jay Robb's Whey protein which I was referred by Carmen (USANA Health Sciences). I mixed it with 10 ounces of Vanilla Soy milk, a cup of Yogurt, a tablespoon of natural peanut butter, one Emergen-C pack and topped it off with some honey. Blended it to liquefy and drank it slowly. The Jay Robb's Whey has all the Branch Chain Amino Acids that are so vital to an athletes training needs. I am going to try to increase my grams of protein per day to around 150-200 when my diet and time permits.

In the evening I went to the Indian Hot Springs up in Idaho Springs and sat in a private outside tub for an hour with my best friend, Shawna. She was the first person to introduce me to meditation and energy, both within our bodies and in everything that exists. Me spent most of the time silent and closed our eyes and meditated on our own personal goals and dreams. She is moving back to Hawaii and I am taking on the quest of fighting. She commented often on how serious my face and demeanor was and I replied that my mind is predominantly focused of fighting, training and situational scenarios within the cage. I truly feel more focused now that I ever was in my youthful practice of wrestling and grappling competition.

I new phase I have entered and a new dream I am brining into fruition. I feel that this is not a joke and really not something I can waste time going through the motions for. My mind needs to be like steel and my body like water. I must flow and crash when I need to. I am leaving some very longtime habits behind and am stepping away from much of the nightclub culture in which I was so immersed. I feel better each day and more determined even as I write this.

I arrived home super-relaxed and fell asleep soon after sitting on the couch.

Saturday October 6, 2007

I spelt in as long as I could today and will say that by body needed it. I was still lightly sore from the thigh kids two days before but felt relatively fresh and ready to go. I drank a protein shake with all the fixings and cleaned the house and rearranged some things.

I practicedSiu Nim Tau from the video of Stephen and I and ran through the movements a couple of times after both with my body and in my mind. Siu Nim Tau is the first series in Wing Chun and it is very important to understand due to the many technical movements that are ideal for close range combat.

I them ate another filling of the egg white, Seitan and Tofu dish that I really like and went outside and practiced my Kali Attacks with the sticks and knives. Today, I tried to incorporate the other stick and practice the double sword style, which is by far more complicated and technical.I moved up and down the path attacking and backpedaling for defense. The sticks wore some nice blisters on my hands and I felt good about putting in personal time away from Stephen. I will pick them up whenever I can and advance in any way possible as a martial artist. I worked on Chi Sau from Wing Chun by myself and then went inside to take a shower and relax.

Sunday October 7, 2007