Stay Focused

  Life has been pretty eventful since my last post. I've been working on some things for the blog, I put on 20lbs in the week after the tournament, shot some videos, got a few requests for training (San Diego, maybe a trip out to Colorado to teach for a few days)... I had everything planned out, start lifting heavy again, maybe do a triathlon or crossfit competition with Moose. My next 6 weeks were set! Lots of plans quickly became lots of "change of plans". Just like in a match if you can adjust and not lose focus of the goal you will probably be alright.

Not so fast mister!!!

   First, I got offered a job as strength and conditioning coach for a local H.S. wrestling team (which of course I jumped at).  I also decided to take a shot at the Team Punishment fighter tryouts. Which means A LOT of that 20lbs has to come back off. I really like the gym and would love to be a part of the team at the same time really challenge myself and see what I'm made of. 

   Its been a while since I have done any stand up (boxing/ Muay Thai) so the focus for my training over the next few weeks is gonna be on my hands. (Thank you again Moose for letting me punch you). I'll always be a a Dirty Wrestler and unlike the grappling tournaments, Catch Wrestling moves aren't illegal in MMA so I will have that advantage. 

   This is gonna be fun and scary. I have no idea if I will make the fight team, but I'm training hard and ready to put my pretty nose on the line! Hold on, it's gonna be a wild month!

   Oh and a side note. I've been working with my brother Noah, putting together videos as well as shirts and shorts for Dirty Wrestler. The art and pics he is doing absolutely ROCK!!! Instructional videos will be on their way soon, but for now check out the pics he did.

2nd place stinks...

   2nd place stinks, it stinks for hours and hours. You eat a bit, your friends pat you on the back everybody laughs and gradually the smell fades. You wake up the next morning in far worse shape then if you had taken first. Victory is a great painkiller. You watch the videos of your wins a couple times, you watch the losses dozens of times and see all the mistakes. Knowing you should have won... Could have won...  If there was any doubt before, there is none now. You're gonna do this again!!! You're gonna train harder. Train more! You are gonna spend every penny you can sacrifice on your training. You will not accept defeat. You're gonna eat, sleep and breathe on the mat! You did not simply get humbled, YOU GOT MOTIVATED!

  That said... I was very lucky to have so many friends and family show up to cheer me on. I won 2 matches and lost 2 matches, but my cheering section didn't seem to care, and it really surprised me away how affected I was by the support. I know I didn't do this alone.

   My dad put up with a lot of attitude during the weight cut, I owe him an apology as well as thanks. He is my first coach and my first fan...Thank you dad, for the understanding, support and setting me on this path!!!!

   My brother who has helped immeasurably, from the use of his truck to get to training, making the shirts and shooting the video. He has quietly made this possible. (And my nephew Neal who doesn't ever seem to care if I win.) Thank you Noah.

   My buddy Bryan at FitBlender for believing in the Dirty Wrestler product (Me) and for hooking me up with some great guys to workout with. I have to mention his wife Kate who lets me crash on their couch and wrestle on the living room floor when I come to visit. I'd probably still be "talking about Dirty, instead of getting Dirty!" without Bryan. 

   My roommate Moose who had to put up with dieting moods, late night 10k's on the rower and hogging the washing machine. He has been obnoxiously positive and encouraging and tolerant. Thanks buddy!

   The list can go on and on.... Lynn and Max (her dog and my new favorite running partner). Stacy my boss and friend (who really "gets it" even if she does think I'm crazy). The guys at Punishment Training center, Jake at Scientific Wrestling, Clint and Lawrence for there ridiculous loyalty to an old coach! Dana out in Colorado the best training partner ever. Betsy who always believes in me, even when I don't.

2nd place doesn't smell so bad today. Thank you everybody!

Saturday

   I had a very interesting night... attempting home repairs instead of relaxing. I had planned and managed everything very carefully leading up to this tournament. After some driving and hauling and cleaning the major crisis was averted, but it was late and not part of my plan! I wont lie I was all kinds of pissy. Hungry, dehydrated and ready to get this thing over with... I may have been a bit difficult to be around...

   LORD I APOLOGIZE!!!

   I woke up early and my weight was good. No more need for the sweats and plastics. But I was dieing for some coffee! So I drove over and picked up Dad. Early morning weigh-ins just like in high school. Funny enough, this tournament is being held at my old high school (I haven't been this light since i was 17). Just like the old days! 
   In the car was a bag full of goodies. Lots of water, plums, sweet potato chips, coffee all the things I couldn't have yesterday. I made weight (157lbs) I have never in my life missed weight and it is a point of pride for me... Quick as I could, I was dressed and eating again. My attitude slowly relaxing, and not nearly as edgy and rude but I cant afford to pig out because I still have to perform well Sunday. 

   Feeling re-hydrated, we went and watched my roommate Moose kickass at the NLI competition (crossfit style). 

   Back at dads, on the couch... Just gonna watch the fights on tv, eat a lil BBQ and get ready for tomorrow. My reward for all the hard work is 5 min on the mat!!! (YKWYK!!!!)

"in it"

I got the question the other day...

   I went in to pay my rent and the girl who works in the office asked; "Are you feeling ok? You look like you've lost weight."  I couldn't help but smile. Its one thing to feel lean and hungry. It's a completely different thing when others notice, even if they mistake what they see. Its as if mortals cant fathom doing this on purpose, it is so alien to the soft and undisciplined that they cant fully process what is in front of them... something must be wrong. 

   I am in it. In that zone, feral and a edgy, with a wild eyed hunger and I love it!

   It's funny, but after a point during a weight cut my body always acclimates. (I do a long and slow lead up. I would rather make weight early and eat my way back up, restoring some of my blood sugar. I may lose something in the weight advantage by not cutting a lot of water but I gain it back in energy.) My body adapts quickly to the long, intense workouts and the insufficient calories. My body relinquishes the hunger pains and lethargy. I feel loose and light, ready to fight, using body fat for fuel. I feel like a machine.

   I completely enjoy the weight cut associated with an event or competition. Yes the abs and the sharp cheekbones are cool too, but the discipline and sacrifice add an intensity and sense of purpose far greater then just trying to win a medal. It turns everyday into a quest. The harder I push, the more spartan my existence, the better I feel. My mind is as sharp as my body and I live each day in the bliss of exhaustion. Feeding off endorphins instead of food. I sleep hard and deep. I savor little things.

   You don't really know how amazing a strawberry tastes until you eat one at 11pm on a day (or the 5th day) that you've worked out for 4 hours and eaten only some tuna and a handful of almonds and maybe a tomato. 

 -Drained -Slightly dehydrated -Low blood sugar-

   Your skin wrapped so tightly around your muscles the veins pop out like road maps. You know you can stop bullets, crush granite in your fist. You ARE discipline and sacrifice, and there it is a small bright red reward for a day of commitment. You take a bite and BANG! It tastes like happiness...  

"Yeah I'm fine. No I'm not sick. I'm cutting weight."

No holiday for me!

    I thought, rather then talk about the workouts I've been doing I'd put up a quick video of me actually doing them... This weekend has been pretty intense. I'm gonna hop on the bike for an hour then going to bed early!         

9-1-74 a Dirty Wrestler was born...

   Thought it was time for another post on my favorite subject (wink wink) ME! 
   Yes it is my birthday, I am officially 37 years old and I feel every bit of it this morning. I got up early and swam. took it really easy on the bike and tried to recover a bit. I spent a LOT of time in the jacuzzi, on the chi machine and on the knobby foam roller. My roommate Moose didn't let my birthday pass without pranking me a bit but came threw with an OUTSTANDING gift. New board shorts for the competition, size 30! Yes I fit in 30's... last time i wore them was in Jr. High.

   Now the presents didn't stop there. I dragged my tired old butt into the gym for evening wrestling. Once again my take downs lacked grace and precision but that's why we train our weakness not our strength! Iron man drill time and I feel good once again defending the take downs. My really solid workout partner Tommy was there to really push me but its a young group and coach decided I needed to be taken down a notch. 

   So, the gracious Mr. Tito Ortiz decided to step in. I was, to put it mildly... taken to school. I couldn't budge him, it was like wrestling a bulldozer. Regardless of the weight advantage, I was at a serious deficit in skill and took my lumps as best as I could. It was all in fun and I wouldn't trade it for anything. After enough of the public humility lesson we wrapped up and despite my lack of success i came away feeling very good about the tournament. For the first time since I decided to compete, the anxiety and nerves seem to have disappeared...   

   While i still have some big holes in my game and Coach is gonna have his work cut out with me, I have no doubt I will get better every time I set foot on the mat. there is no more grappling for me at this point. Weight management and recovery is key. I've emailed everybody I can think of about the tournament and hopefully I will have a pretty good cheering section. To steal a quote from my buddy Clint "luck plays a factor in everything but when the time to perform comes the time to prepare has passed"

                                                     I believe I'm ready!

From 8-31

   Ok I'm really sore! I had a great workout at Punishment. It was so nice to finally have guys my size to work with. I seem to be a 30lbs disadvantage with all the guys I know so this was a great opportunity to gauge my actual strength and speed. As I suspected it was fine, but my "mat fitness" is still lacking. No amount of cardio makes up for good old fashioned wrestling!

   First off let me say Tito is an Outstanding coach. I come into the class with my own habits and baggage, and I never heard "that's wrong" "that's not how you do it". Instead he focused on adding details, correcting form or offering suggestions on how to clean up my game. It was really easy to learn from him, and I feel I improved noticeably after 1 workout.

   I've never been comfortable with shots, single, double or high crotch, so it was good that we worked those very moves. I've always been more of a counter wrestler and would rather tie up and work for trips or throws, maybe get to "collar and elbow" for the duck under/ankle pick option. It was valuable time spent shaking off the rust, I've spent so much time with Catch and submissions that my Wrestling fundamentals have gotten very weak.

   Of course once we got to the live sparring (takedowns) I instantly reverted back to my countering ways. "sugar footing" my way in, inviting my opponent to shoot so that I can get to sprawl and head control. N.S. is still my favorite position, it opens up power-half and chin pick twist and a host of front chokes. I find the same style I use on the ground is the one I use standing. Find a way to control the opponents head, get his eyes facing the floor, grind grind grind. The transition into Stockade sets up a host of submission possibilities as does CPT (chin pick twist) which gives me a tight head &arm or even a 5 finger guillotine after the turn...

   So what is the point of this rambling entry? 

   Simple I found a gym and an coach that really fit my style, the other wrestlers are really cool and there is not a drop of ego to get in the way of learning. I felt like one of the gang as soon as we shook hands. I think I've found a home at Punishment, and I cant wait to go back on Thursday. 

             (I'll try and get a pic for the next update)

From 8-29

       My weight is holding at 165ish so I'm right on pace. (I'd like to drop a couple more pounds so i don't have to dry out too much. I'm just too old to sweat off more 8 or 9 lbs.) My target is 158 on Saturday for weigh ins as I'm not certain about my scale and I really REALLY don't wanna miss weight and have to go up or wring out 1 more pound from a tired and dehydrated body.

    My workouts for Monday went like this: 

am: 4mile run easy,                                                                   30min amrap... 200m run, 10- pull ups, 20-hip heists, 20-100lbs sit ups. (amrap= as many rounds as possible)     

finished with 30 min on the bike.

pm: Bike for 45 min, 10k row-41min

10min amrap... 20-burpies, 20-bag sprawls, 20-35lbs kettle bell swings

Finished with 1k row HARD                                                               Tomorrow will be a long and easy am workout then off to Punishment Training Center to work on wrestling in the evening.         

From 8-25

   Had a great day of training today. Went down to San Diego yesterday to train with Cyborg (Evangelista Dos Santos). Took a no-gi class with Jake Mapes, who is an great instructor, in the morning. Then came back for a second session with my buddy Bryan and Cyborg. We spent the time working clinch and takedown defense on the cage. We worked head control, crossface, pancake, power-half, all the classics!

   It was beyond fun getting to share Dirty Wrestling with Cyborg as well as learning from him. Considerably bigger and better then me Cyborg was still a great training partner and I cant say enough about how genuine he is, the language barrier made very little difference as we both speak grappling.

   He is preparing for a fight in Strikeforce on the 10th, my tournament is on the 11th, so it is a little late in both of our camps but more wrestling workouts are in the works and this gonna be a regular road trip. 

   I got cleaned up and began the long drive home to the O.C. with a ton of new bruises and a huge grin.