For Those About To Rock...

...I Salute You!!!

Here we are friends. The moment has arrived. The 2009 U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships kicks off tomorrow. Please visit our new site for my sponsor information, and all the info and updates you need to stay in the loop...

http://www.questfortheusopen.com/

West Orange Times...New Site Address...2 WEEKS TO GO!!!

New Site Address: http://www.questfortheusopen.com/wordpress

Thanks to the West Orange Times newspaper for publishing an article about me and this Quest For The U.S. Open. Thanks to everyone who is supporting the Quest...we are almost there...2 WEEKS AWAY!!!

New Site Address: http://www.questfortheusopen.com/wordpress

New Site Address!

Just a reminder...our new site is up at QuestForTheUSOpen.com/wordpress

Please show the love and spread the word!

See you at the U.S. Open in just a few weeks.

New Site Address...

New site here:
http://www.questfortheusopen.com/wordpress

Please check it out!One month to go!!!

Happy 30 Days Til The U.S. Open!

Happy 30 Days Til The U.S. Open To You!!!

We are 30 days away and I am soooo excited about this month. It will be difficult to be sure, but this is a dream come true and I am looking forward to this final stretch toward the BIG DAY!!!

In just a couple of days I will be launching a new site to support what we are doing with this Quest, so please stay tuned to that. Everything will still be updated here as well, but our primary site will shift to the new location in the next few days.

If you are new here or haven't caught up on everything yet, here are some things to take a peek at:

Why am I doing this?:
http://questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/2009/04/it-has-begun.html

http://questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/2009/04/warrior-risesa-father-becomes-hero.html

http://questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/2009/04/personal-goals-journal-entry.html

http://questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/2009/04/attacked-with-swords-during-training.html

My Coach:
http://questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/2009/04/very-big-announcementintroducing.html

The Event:
http://www.usopen-karate.com

Thank you so much for hanging in there with me and encouraging me along the way. We are almost there friends...30 days out. I am feeling good, have overcome injury and obstacles along the way...and am looking forward to some hard work in the next month.

Please plan on attending the event in July. Info is at the event link.

I will keep you updated on the new site developments and as soon as it launches, I will announce it here first!

Talk to you soon...

Mixing It Up!

This week continues to take me deeper into my mental game. I have continued to peel away layers of distractions and things that demand my attention away from training for the U.S. Open. It is crucial that I be focused, now more than ever.

Later this week I will meet up with a new partner in training for the self-defense portion of the tournament, and then over the weekend, Michael and I will travel South to train with our coach, Lauren Kearney, at her location. I am looking forward to both training sessions, which will be completely out of the norm from what we have been doing. Change is good. We might even try to sneak in a bit of beach time while down there!!!

Can you believe we are already into June?! It's almost time. Thank you for your continued support as we fly further toward accomplishing this dream and high goal that is the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships! I would like to invite you and very much encourage you to plan on attending this event...even if you live out of town, or even out of state...this will be well worth a couple of days (or even catch the main event, Night of Champions, on Saturday eve) in Central Florida.

We just wrapped up our morning workout a bit ago...filled up on some good and restorative nutrition...now on to further training of the mental game.

Much more to come throughout the rest of this week...stay tuned!

"Mental" Training and Looking at Values

I spent some time doing quite a bit of "mental" training this weekend in addition to my physical training. As a certified life coach and hypnotist, one of the things I know better is to focus as much if not more on the mental side of daily training. The past couple of weeks, I must admit, I let that slip slightly. So, this weekend I took some time to unpack a lot mentally and zero back in on my mental disciplines. All I can say is clarity of thought and mind feels sooooo much better! It is extremely empowering to live each day with a heightened sense of discernment, insight, and vision.

I would encourage you to focus on your mental game as well.

One of the things I revisited during this time was my personal set of core values. It's good from time to time to open those up and find out where you are on a scale from 1 to 10 with regards to your values and how you can improve during the next season of your life.

I have a set of 10 values that directly speak to and about my life, and that I try to live out each and every day. One of the ten is "Inspiration".

Simply, I want to live an inspired life. I want to inspire others and continually allow myself to be inspired by others and by the creation around me. Lately I have talked with some people who have been following me on this quest and I have discovered they, too, have found inspiration from this quest and have embarked on things like daily exercise or simply trying to eat healthier. Every time I hear of things like that, my inspiration levels go way up.

Even my wife has been inspired lately by the changes she is seeing in my physical progress. She told me a couple of times this weekend that I looked slimmer, and she even used the word "sleek" one time :) AND she told me, "Your arms are getting freakin' huge!" Us guys like to hear that, by the way. It certainly made me feel better about my progress! :) :)

It's always good to give and receive compliments. Try it out today and encourage someone...inspire them. In return expect to be encouraged yourself, even inspired by the beauty and wonder all around you!

In the meantime, realize we are closing in on the final 30 days here. This is a crucial stretch of time moving into the training and preparation. I am excited and have a great sense of victory in all of this!

Keeping The Vision In Front Of Me!

Interval training is hard as...MUY HARD!!!

Not a long workout today, but pushed it pretty good. Felt good, though it was definitely a climb.

Going to be doing a LIVE Stream broadcast of a tournament again tonight at 7pm on www.Kickgen.com from the New England Open. Supposed to be an appearance by an American Idol finalist too...pretty cool.

We have been working around the clock the past few days on everything. Going into this final 30 days (in the next couple of days) is kinda trippin' me out! I feel like there is still so much to do, and time just keeps clicking away. We will do this though, no doubt whatsoever! From the beginning I have said that no matter what comes of it, just to be doing this and to have my family supporting me and cheering me on along the way has shown me that I am already the Champion!!!

To boot, I have had so many friends like you come along side me and lift my arms in this battle and encourage me, and even get in my face when necessary. Together we are showing the world that anything can be overcome, anyone can bounce back - even when "experts" tell you there is no way.

I just keep the vision in front of me (literally...I have a US Open poster in my face every time I sit at this computer) and keep reminding myself why I am doing this: To honor my God, to care for this body of mine, to overcome the biggest hurdle I have had yet, for my wife, for my two boys, for my family and friends all over the world.

I hope you can come to the event, not even really to see me though that would be welcome, but to be inspired by some of the most amazing and talented people on the planet! I kid you not, these martial artists are the best in the world and to be around them, hanging out with them, watching the limits they have pushed...there is nothing like it. Check out www.usopen-karate.com for info on attending.

I spent some time last night writing and just staring at the stars...it was good to do some mental detox and realize just how big this universe we live in is. I am simply a part, you are simply a part...but together we can change and conquer anything!

Have fun and check us out on www.Kickgen.com tonight at 7pmest if you get a chance. Live chat open to everyone, so see ya there!

Gut check in the near future...Literally!

So, the past few days I have realized my clothes are not "fitting" me the way they used to. Like tonight I was walking across a college campus and had trouble keeping my pants from hanging like the gangster that I am :)

There have been a few times when I felt downright goofy due to the fact that some of my shirts are so big on me now that I look like a doof wearing them. Not going to buy new clothes yet though. Celebrate with a shopping spree later...who wants to go shopping!?

I don't pay much attention to the scale as I understand muscle weighs more than fat, and I have been building muscle quite a bit lately in preparing for the U.S. Open. But I do pay attention to inches. Losing inches can tell you something significant about your success.

Of course my family has told me they can see the difference each week (sometimes daily) but I can't always see it or feel it. so...

I think I am going to do a gut check in the next several days...literally. Gonna' pull out the 'ol tape measure and measure how many inches I have lost.

Now, don't get all giggly just yet. Not like I'm going to win the Biggest Loser right now...I still have a ways to go. This has been a big mountain to climb (especially the one around my waist!) and it ain't over yet! It is good to see progress though, so we are going to check the progress in a few days.

Tune in, tell your friends...I might just video it if I feel froggy enough about it!

Kata and self-defense practice tonight...should be fun! I think we are going to be getting some sunshine here in Orlando in the next couple of days...muy much can't wait for that!

Talk About Winds of Change...God might have been laughing at us today!

Oh my goodness people! I think God was laughing at us today...in a good way. :) We did the bike today and I thought my legs were going to POP!

The winds were so strong going in one direction, we were literally crawling on the bike to get down the road at one point. Then when we made a turn and I was sure we would at least cross the wind instead of it coming head on...the wind changed...head on again! Arrrggggh!

THEN...

When we pulled out of that direction to go in the direction where, originally, the wind would now be at our backs (did that make any sense at all?)...you guessed it...wind change, A-GAIN!

God had to have done that on purpose just to play with us...who knows!?

We only completed half of the bike today, along with the rest of our workout, because we thought we would die for sure if we had to do the other half. Call me a pansy, I don't care... All I know is that was the hardest ride so far during our training.

Everything else went well (except for my arms feel like they have steel rods going through them because I switched my upper body workout this week).

We are definitely approaching the final stretch here (check the countdown clock to the bottom right)...there is a lot more to accomplish but I am feeling good about everything. Just excited about finally living out a dream of competing at this level in the Martial Arts when there were those who told me I might never compete in sports again.

Talk about winds of change...

Oh, and our shirts should be ready soon. I will definitely let you know on that one.

For now, going to keep upping the intensity this week in honor of our men and women in uniform who have and are serving us every day on the front lines! See previous post for info on that...

Keep it real friends and live intensely! Just watch out for changing winds...(that sounded deep!)

Memorial Day Observed...Thank You!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!



More about the "Why" of this Quest...

It Has Begun!
http://questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/2009/04/it-has-begun.html

A Warrior Rises...A Father Becomes A Hero!
http://questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/2009/04/warrior-risesa-father-becomes-hero.html

My Coach...
http://questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/2009/04/very-big-announcementintroducing.html

The Event...
http://www.usopen-karate.com

My community of martial arts friends...
http://www.kickgen.com

And The Sun Breaks Through...

Earlier this a.m. I went for a refreshing walk to the lake to do some stretching and reflection. It was simply beautiful as the sun was breaking through after a week of nothing but clouds and rain here in Central Florida. I was soaking it up...sun, the sound of water lapping up on the land, sitting near a meditative crane and watching turtles play and bask in the sunlight. Peaceful...

I decided to listen to some Matt Kearney (no relation to my coach Lauren Kearney that I know of...if so, she bess be gettin' me some talk time with the man! j/k. :) Anyway...

While listening, walking, praying, and enjoying the sun I began to experience a deeply spiritual moment, to the point of my inner well of emotions bubbling up to tears, smiles, laughter, and a serene sense of empowerment. I am going to write in my paper journal (yes, I still use paper!) about this in just a bit, and I don't want to go too much into it here, but suffice it to say it was one of those breakthrough moments that reminded me I belonged on this Quest...this is the RIGHT thing...that no matter the end result in terms of the tournament (though a win would be very cool) this Quest is so much bigger than me, the tournament, and anything that happens along the way. During this moment I was taken back mentally and emotionally to some very trying times (like the first big auto-accident that really began my downward spiral) and some relational hurts that I have since forgiven and moved on from.

In this moment, it was good to realize I have healed from all these things in the past, and this Quest is about reclaiming the power and strength in my body and releasing the power of my mind to do good for others and empower and lead others to their own experience of overcoming and healing and living life to the fullest.

I thank my God for this experience, for this Quest, for the U.S. Open, and for all those (you) who are with me along the way. I truly believe so many lives can and will be changed through this journey that will not end at the Open, but will truly blossom into some very powerful opportunities.

The sun is breaking through this morning, in more ways than one...enjoy your Sunday and take time to reflect on some good things. Have a chat with God, have a chat with yourself, allow the sun to break through in your own life.

Peace!

P.S. - I don't know if that crane was really meditating. I thought about asking, but then I would have felt really silly :)

Crossroads...

There comes a place in a person's life where you dig deep enough to face yourself for who you really are and who you are striving to become. I have crossed that path previously a couple of times in my life, and now I am searching for that place again. This Quest is taking me through the fire on so many different levels. This is not an easy place, but inevitably I will rise from these ashes alive, and with an inner (and outer) strength not previously experienced in my own journey.

I encourage each of you to take some time and search deeply within yourself and see if you can find that place I speak of...a place where you realize you must reach to places you have only dreamed of so far, and then to a place where you reconcile within yourself the only thing to do at this point is to take the action necessary to achieve those dreams, to reach those places and conquer them...no matter the cost or sacrifice, no matter how long it takes, no looking back, leaving nothing to question, leaving it all out in the open for the world to see and regardless of how the world judges...you still move on!

Today we worked hard and tonight we will play hard!

Rest Day Recovered and Busy Saturday!

Sitting at breakfast yesterday a.m. (Friday) I realized something that made my whole day...I MISSED A REST DAY ON THURSDAY!

At first I was like, "Dang it! I missed a rest day again!" Then I was like, "YES! That means I get one today!"

Just in case you were wondering, I thoroughly enjoyed my rest day! Back to the grind early Saturday a.m. Train early, Farmer's Market for some fresh goodies, probably another round of training, and then on to a Graduation Par-tay and UFC...

Update on my injury from last week: doing pretty well for the most part. If I feel any twinge of pain at all, I just back off. For now everything seems to be firing on all 8. Made me sweat there for a couple of days, but thankfully I have a good team of people around me making sure I don't do anything stupid (other than bike 10 miles in a deluge of rain!)

Holly is changing my nutrition schedule around slightly and Michael and I are revamping the training routine again. Can't get into a slump or a plateau at this point. Also probably taking a trip to South Florida this week to meet up with Lauren Kearney (www.laurenkearney.com) my coach and tighten up some technique.

Getting close, people, getting close. I hope to see many of you at the event in July! Go to www.usopen-karate.com for info on the event...

Some shut-eye for now and up and at 'em for a busy day!

She Who Challenges...Should Be Challenged! (At Least That's The Way I See It...today)

To a break from training today to get some biz and some writing done...just finished some things up, and back to training. I think whoever issues a challenge (see my last two posts, including the raw video in the post from yesterday) should be out there DOING the challenge...and I told Holly myself! She smiled at me and said, "You wanna compete in the U.S. Open...go train and stop griping at me."

Hmph. Of all the nerve! Whatever...

I'm back to completing my daily challenge and workout and preparing to step on the greatest tournament stage in the U.S. - the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships!

btw...this weather we are having in Orlando is not the best weather to stay motivated in...pray for some sunshine (at which point I will probably pray for rain to escape the heat!)

Doesn't matter, rain or shine...this thing is ON!

P.S. - A reminder of what this is all about...my first post here on this blog that started it all!

The Challenge...The Misery!

Here's a vid in the middle of training for the U.S. Open, and more specifically doing the daily duties of my new training challenge set forth by Holly, my wife and all-consuming manager (see yesterday's post). It's pretty raw as we captured it on a cell phone on the fly, and I was already so tired I was slurring my speech and was soaking wet from this non-stop rain here in Orlando. It was miserable...cue the violins...




At this point, we have finished our forms training for the day staying on track for the challenge of a minimum of 5,000 before the U.S. Open. All I can say is I am not doing well right now...I will catch all of you LATER!

The links I mention in the video, by the way, are:
This site: www.QuestForTheUSOpen.blogspot.com (please share)
The U.S. OPen: www.usopen-karate.com
And where I write daily motivation and martial arts oriented material: www.Kickgen.com
Of course, you can also reach me on Fb and at www.twitter.com/dougmcgannon

Hope I can still feel my feet in the a.m.
Doug out.

P.S. - the bigger point here is that you (and I) can accomplish anything we set our minds to...got a dream? Go For It! Ok...now...Doug out!

Rock You Like A Hurricane...The 10,000 Challenge!

The rains could not stop us! Michael and I worked out in the rain today (it got real messy), and at one point "Rock You Like A Hurricane" popped up on my iPod. Thought that was funny! Rain or Shine, Hurricane or Drought...gotta' keep going. If you are living any where near Central Florida you know the rain has not stopped for two days straight.

It was cold at first working out outside. Kinda reminded me of when I raced triathlon/biathlons in Northern Georgia one winter. Got through the run portion and my teammates said I had something hanging off of my face. Icicles had frozen on my face and hair while running. CHI-LLY!

Can't stop for the weather though. Too little time, too much to do. The rain can be energizing though, especially when you love water like I do. Twas a little scary at one point as my front tire started hydroplaning during the bike ride...thought I was a goner for sure.

As for the challenge I was given last night during my date night with Holly...

She has taken over all the logistics of my training. Talking with sponsors, working with schedules, and making all kinds of things happen. We were talking through some training options and concerns and I mentioned how I was working through 1000 run-throughs of my kata (form) between now and the U.S. Open. She looked at me and said, "That's nothing! I want you to up it to 10,000!" At first, I thought she was joking...she wasn't. Then I told her she was out of her mind...she isn't. Then she leveled with me and said she knew I could push further than 1000 and she expected me to give everything I've got to the end...win or lose...nothing left on the table here!

We talked about it some more, and I began to think through it, remaining silent. When I got home I did some calculating. I would be doing kata 12.5 hours a day to accomplish 10,000. I showed it to her and we began to talk about what level was the minimum level I would have to train at in order to really be a contender.

We agreed that 10,000 was a goal to shoot for, but considering the time left we wanted to be realistic. She said she would accept anything over 5,000 prior to the U.S. Open, but to go as far past it as possible. We are still talking over 4 hours a day JUST ON A SINGLE FORM!!!
To be sure, this is not an unacceptable request in the scope of achieving Mastery. Regardless of what number I hit before the U.S. Open, I will continue afterward until reaching 10,000.

Before that, I've some real work to do. To boot, I must complete 10,000 repetitions in something else that is related to my training. Grrrr...

This is in addition to preparing for the other events I will compete in AND continuing my physical workouts for weight loss and general well-being AND my time committed to mental work AND working AND being a father and a husband AND sleeping AND brushing my teeth AND the time it is going to take to remind myself of how crazy I am for even attempting all this...you get the point!

I think it definitely worth it and necessary though. After all, to be a Champion, one must go farther than anyone else is willing to go, to do more, to study more, to practice more, to risk more, to sacrifice more...

Michael looked at me at the end of the conversation and said, "Well, if you really want it, you've got to do what it takes and this is worth it and it can be done." I was kinda' hoping he would be on my side, but he chose Holly's side in this...guess that's what a good training partner is for!

Wise words from my 17-year old training partner and one of my three closest friends in the world.

Nuff said!

P.S. - No wait, one more thing...HELP!

A New Challenge Has Been Issued...

I received a new challenge from Holly (my wife and now, Manager) tonight during our weekly Monday-night Date Night...

All I can say for now is 10,000 each...!!!

What!? I have to process this challenge before I make any announcement proper.

Can I deliver? That is the real question. This is about as daunting as the U.S. Open itself, but no doubt would put me at a different level of performance.

Sweating...bullets...can't...breathe...somebody...help!

Back in Orlando...Almost Hit By Car (twice)...Into The Final Stretch Here!

Back in Orlando now...Gator Nationals was awesome, and I had a great time meeting some of you there. I have to admit, I relaxed on my eating plan slightly while there, and I didn't do as much as I would have liked in the area of actual training, but I think it was good nonetheless in terms of resetting mentally and giving my body another chance to catch up with itself.

Lauren and I had the opportunity to do some live broadcasting of the main events Saturday night during Kickgen.com's live stream of the event. It was pretty raw (we didn't plan anything, just went with it...) but it was a lot of fun and we have received some great feedback. Looks like there is more of that to come.

While working out today I was almost hit twice by two numbskull drivers who decided they had no reason to pay attention to the rule of law while on the road. That kind of stuff drives (no pun intended) me nuts... PEOPLE! Obey traffic laws and watch out for bikers and pedestrians!!! One of the guys just smiled at me and waved his fingers around his head like he was admitting he was a dummy...um, YEAH!

Working out today was light, and as soon as I was finished the storms rolled in. I laid down with the little guy to get him to take a nap. Ends up, he stayed awake and ran off to play and I was out for a few hours apparently! I have lost a bunch of sleep this past week with the injury, stuff going on at work, and trying to integrate new schedules, so I hope I'm nearly caught up now.

This weekend gave me an opportunity to relax, enjoy some great competition, meet some really amazing people and look forward to hitting training hard and heavy again. We are almost there friends. The US Open is right around the corner, and what I saw this weekend in terms of competition is no laughing matter. This weekend also helped me see how serious some people around me are about this Quest for the U.S. Open. Lot of open eyes for me over the past few days.

I need nothing short of a miracle to step on the mat with these people (my competition). One thing I realized though...I belong in the U.S. Open. I am meant to stand next to these men and women in competition. I have full belief that I can do this and do it well. I want to be worthy of it, so I will continue to train hard and focus like a crazy-man.

Getting some technology on board to make this blog better is slow-going right now, but I'm ok with it as training and preparing for the Open takes priority. If it takes a few more days or a week in order to train properly, I'm ok with that. Remember, I'm doing this with just me and a couple of other people physically helping me do things, and there will probably be fewer people the closer I get to the Open. It's just the nature of things...in the end, only I can stand on the mat and do what must be done. If there are those who don't take this seriously enough to put in the resources needed, or simply cannot go on further with me on this Quest...so be it, I'm ok with that too.

It's time to cut all excess loose and begin the final race to the finish line, so to speak. The U.S. Open is July 3-4, and there is a lot more work to do to prepare for it.

I thank you for your prayers and support, and I hope to see as many of you as possible at the Open or along the way on this Quest.

Here we go, folks...raise the torch...let's finish this race!!!

Just Arrived In Daytona Beach...Time to Re-Center and Re-Gain Momentum

Holly, Michael, Nathaniel, and I arrived in Daytona Beach, FL a while ago for the Gator Nationals Martial Arts Championships (at the Ocean Center if you are anywhere nearby). This is a big tourney with a lot of very talented people competing. I'm here to observe, soak it in, meet up with Lauren (my coach), and basically re-center mentally.

This week was brutal. The injury...closing the business (nationally all our stores are closing)...having a full plate of other responsibilities...AND still training and trying to be careful so as to not make the injury worse. Two days ago, I thought I was past the worst of it, then yesterday..WHAM! I felt as bad or worse than I did at the beginning of the week. Lost a lot of recuperative sleep this week too, which hasn't helped AT ALL!

I haven't been able to get through a full practice session with my kata this week, which is driving me nuts because time is so very critical right now. For me, I can't simply focus on the kata...but also the physical training to be able to present the kata. It is not easy, but then if it was, it probably wouldn't be worth it. Right?

The best thing I can do is breathe, relax mentally and use this time in Daytona this weekend to get it together, so to speak.

My back feels so-so today, but I am not taking any chances.

I'm going for a light workout with Michael tonight at the hotel just to keep my body "awake" to the fact that we are still in this thing. Won't be going too long as I'm going to hit the sack and sleep in just slightly tomorrow before heading over to the tournament.

We will break away at some point tomorrow and get some beach time in then be back for the live stream of the main events tomorrow night beginning at 7pm on http://www.kickgen.com/. I will be tweeting throughout the day updating on the event. Posting some pics too...probably here and at Kickgen.com.

I really need your thoughts and prayers right now. This has been a hard week, and I desperately need to regain the momentum I had going into this week. We are almost at the midway point, and if I ever needed your prayers and encouragement...it is now.

Talk to you some more tomorrow at some point. Night!