Life is a trip. Enjoy the ride. The martial arts lifestyle has been a true blessing. See the world, stay healthy and be happy doing what I love.
Month: October 2019
Sparring With An Invisible Opponent
We are all ‘Sparring with an invisible opponent’ of some sort. Be it emotionally, mentally, physically…or all of them coming at you full out. Since I was a kid, one thing has been a constant, training. Before I started sports I was constantly on the go. Once I started sports the ‘go’ was more directed: rope climbing, swimming, track & field, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, wrestling, water skiing, snow skiing…I liked practice and competing! As I started martial arts it was simply an extension of my sports, another form of training. OnceI started competing I wanted to win, so that meant more and harder training. I started to love to push myself and began doing more training on my own. Training became a habit. I learned early on that all you have to do is get up and start…just get up and start! My desire push myself became part of my character, who I was and wanted others to see. I had 26 years of training, competing, Fighting and getting my ass kicked by myself and others to prepare for the fight of my life. I had learned to quell the negative voices, to fight back and submit my inner wuss. I developed the ability, skill and mindset to push to failure and muster everything I had to push a little more. I understood the pain of burning muscles and lungs, of utter fatigue, of sprains, strains, tears, breaks, cuts, and injury. I knew how to push through a lot of pain. I understood victory and defeat, trying and failing, and how to keep going, come back and succeed. I sought out ways to push myself harder, I never backed down…even when it probably would have been smarter. My nature had been forged to fight, push and never give up. I wanted to be an example of hard work and toughness. Well, it paid off when I would get more pain than could ever be imagined, fatigue and pain that didn’t stop. More agony, doubt, fear and emotional, mental and physical warfare than I ever had faced. But, I kept saying, “I might have cancer but, cancer can’t have me” and “I will fight until I live or die, I will never give up or give in” I wanted to live to see my kids grow up. I wanted to live!
Reality Check
Definitely brings you back to reality.
Life Is A Fight, Fight Back!
Life is a fight, fight back! No matter what you will be fighting something at sometime. Addiction, anxiety, bad decisions bad ideas, death, depression, doubt, emotions, failure, frustration…I could keep going. But, we were created to fight from the beginning. Do not fight your own nature, which is to fight back and survive. Know what you’re fight for and who you’re fighting for and get to fighting. Believe me, you are not alone!
Growth Demands Struggle
Growth demands struggle and struggle demands endurance. Struggle never tires, never gives in or gives up and ends up bringing the best of who we are out. Therefore, honor the struggle and seek it out so you can struggle through it and reap the rewards facing it and fighting through it.
Forward Head Springs
Forward head springs is a great athletic warmup used in wrestling and all grappling arts. The better athlete you become the easier it is to learn physical movements… not rocket science.
The Wise Man Keeps The Heart Of A Child
Like father, like son. Since we are doing Snap Downs in BJJ this month, here Gunnar explains how to collar drag into Front Head Lock into a Guillotine at the 2004 CSW Camp at the Inosanto Academy in Marina Del Rey. 4 years old growing up on the mat and just playing around is the best way to start your journey. Then when you get in your 50’s just keep doing the same thing. ‘The wise man keeps the heart of a child’ and some of us keep the mind of one as well 😜
Pure Bred Tough
Most of us are born tough. We have to be to get through all of life’s battles and fights. From the beginning I ran and pushed the rules. Injury #1, I stuck a screwdriver through my tongue on a slide. Can’t remember how old I was but, it did t stop me from pushing on hard.
Snap Downs
Snap Downs all month. Today from Whizzer to Snap Down to Front Headlock and go behind. Back control to arm triangle (Kata Gatame). Working back control submission flow tonight.
Start Small
You can’t boil the ocean, so start small. It’s like when learning takedown, submissions and ground & pound. Don’t start with big people that can beat you…start with small children and build your confidence 😁 Life Hacks!