New things coming...couple of days away from blogging

Hello everyone...

I've got some re-arranging to do over the next couple of days with this site, so I might not post much in the next couple of days. Don't worry though, I am still working hard toward the U.S. Open. I've had a couple of real good days of training, and have begun a new phase in the training of martial arts specifics. We are under 2 months to go now...so much is happening. New things right around the bend, so stay tuned...

Have a great Mother's Day weekend...I will chat with you again in a couple of days.

:)

Breathe!

I received a call from a good friend a couple of days ago. For a few years I trained MMA fighters at the amateur level (we were on the verge of going pro when I had to step away in order to heal), and one of those fighters got back in touch with me after not seeing him for about a year. He has gone through somewhat of a personal transformation as well and it was good to hear he was doing well. He has won 3 of his last 3 fights by knockout, so I congratulated him BIG TIME! I asked him who he was training with and he said, "Nobody else, just keep doing what you showed me to do. I trust you." I was floored, but is there any greater honor to receive than to know you are trusted like this? When I asked him what he did to win his last 3 fights he said, "I just did what you told me to do all along...breathe!"

It's something I tell everyone I work with...breathe. Getting oxygen deep into your body, even in the most difficult circumstances, is one of the most important things you can possibly do. Without air, you're done!

So he and I are working together again and I will be preparing him for a new weight class and his next fight (I am sooo pumped about this!), and he said he is going to be able to make it to the U.S. Open! Can't wait to see him there...now he will be in my "corner" and I will be on the "mat".

My conversation with him reminded me to do something while preparing for the U.S. Open...BREATHE! When I get overwhelmed at just how big this thing is, I need to breathe. When I feel my body has had all it can take, I need to breathe. And when I feel like my mind is going to snap from the pressure...you got it, breathe.

This has been an exciting Quest thus far. Today is rest day. Tomorrow, back in the thick of it! Thanks for all your support...all of you! And for those of you there in July, I can't wait to introduce to you my good friend and fighter, KB!

Until then, Breathe!!!

Transformations...

It's about transformation...at every level!

When I began this Quest, I wasn't thinking in terms of, "Ooh, a tournament, cool...", and I wasn't thinking in terms of trophies, awards, recognition, etc. As a matter of fact, I braced for the most intense amount of ridicule. I prepared myself for people who would make promises and not deliver, for those who wouldn't believe in me, and for those who would say there was no way. I was prepared to lose a lot...sacrifice...whatever necessary to pursue this Quest.

I've experienced all that and more (and most of it nobody but me and my wife and sons know about), but as I was finishing up training this morning with a stint in the pool I just began to realize more than ever that I would have to be like the water. Flexible. Fluid. The most powerful force on earth when necessary, but also nurturing, healing, and calm.

It hasn't been easy so far, and it won't get any easier leading up to the U.S. Open in July, but I must remain flexible and fluid, powerful and and at peace, for I know the Quest I have embarked upon is worth it.

This is about so much more than "just a tournament". This is about transformation. The transformation of me, my outlook, my perceptions, my abilities, my skill levels, my family, my future...you get the point. But it goes beyond me, it affects everyone around me and even those I don't know about. That is why I must continue on and reach to heights that would be considered worthy of the U.S. Open...worthy of the Martial Arts...worthy of...everything that is meaningful to me and to those who are supporting me.

This transformation runs deep, and any time you engage such a process, you better be ready for fire. As the fires rage, I must constantly remind myself to be like the water, that I can get through this, I can succeed!

The Body Speaks!

Today has been such a beatdown! I began the day on the up, but then I was soon crashing (physically) and my body said, "Hey, remember when your legs were hallucinating a couple of weeks ago and you thought you were in pain then? Well, this is your WHOLE body talking tonight, not just your legs, and we are NOT hallucinating, we are completely conscious of everything going on and we are shutting you down today...do something light (after a nap), get in some good stretching, give us some reeeeealllly good nutrition, but after that... Don't even tempt us, we will rebel viciously and you will begin hitting yourself and falling down randomly, and throwing yourself headlong into the kitchen sink. We can and will control your limbs and functionality. Back off buddy...light is the word today, then go to bed."

I have listened. Took a nap. Did a light workout (and I mean light and smart), getting ready for some relaxing stretches, then some reading and lights out. I will heed the warning of my body as the whole kitchen sink thing just terrifies me, plus I don't need to risk injury or sickness just because I want to be gung-ho Samurai every day!

I guess yesterday I pushed a little too hard too long. Didn't realize it but I think I was in the sun a little too long yesterday too. I was really enjoying yesterday's workout, so I just kept going. Still gotta play this smart, though, as I am still a long way from the goal. 59 days and counting...I now have a counter to the bottom left so we can all count down the days...tick tock!

Oh, and I think there will be an article in a local Orlando-area paper soon. Holly took a call from someone today I think and she got it all set up. Holly is working on some very cool things behind the scenes to help me out, so I can focus on what I need to do. I will definitely post links for that when it happens.

Going to finish up some stretching and reading now...I sense a big week ahead of us!

Big day...and a Rescue during workout

Big day today! Strong workout, and a lot of mental training too. Of course, mental training is woven in everything, but I mean some very specific type stuff. Worked a bit today on the design of the new "Quest" shirt, and it is turning out to be amazing. I can't wait to share it with you all.

I did some work in the water today...the pool finally warmed up enough to keep breathing for a long period of time, so it was good to do some slow moving, resistance type training in the pool. Also did some "be still and know" type training...meditation.

While on our bike ride today, Michael and I completed a very important humanitarian act as well... Um, well, maybe it wasn't "human"itarian as much as it was "turtle"itarian...as we rescued a young gopher turtle that was heading straight for the concrete jungle of the highway. We enlisted the help of our local Nature Preserve employee and he helped the turtle find his way back to his borough. Proud of us? You should be! After all, turtles are people too...sorta.

Anyway...studying some kata (forms) that my coach just sent me, so back to that for a bit. This week begins some laser focus on that side of things for the tournament. Very tired too, so going to hit the sack soon...

New Phase of Training...My Training Routine...And Meeting A Fellow "Quest-er"

I spoke to my coach Lauren Kearney (http://www.laurenkearney.com/) briefly yesterday and we are on track for the next phase of my training. I am switching up my physical workouts this week in order to push past the plateaus I am reaching physically, and then she is leading me into some specific training on my katas and martial arts side of things. I'm looking forward to it, but I have to admit that I am a bit nervous too. I haven't been training hard and heavy in katas for a couple of years, and I know it will all come back to me (as it has in the past few weeks doing to bit that I have) but this is a very different level and I will be blazing into some new territory with what she has to teach me. Above all, I am excited and motivated moving into this new phase.

A few people have asked me about my training routine...stuff like, "When do you train?" "What do you do during your workouts?" "Where do you train?" "What are you eating or not eating?" "Is it easy?" (I always chuckle when I hear that one...) I have answers to all these questions, but I'll be honest and say I don't have a lot of time to fish out that type of info in great detail right now. I am however keeping notes and journals and details of my plans and will compile them for people to see soon. Right now, I have to focus on this singular task: Preparing ME for the U.S. Open.

With that said, I can give you some brief insight into my world. I train 6-days a week, with one rest day, and one "cheat" day mixed in as far as diet/eating is concerned. Even on my "rest" day I do something light, like walking, to keep my body "talking" and on the "cheat" days for eating, I don't go crazy. Maybe one meal is a former favorite, but slimmed down and then I work through the rest of the day wisely. Make sense? My meals are planned out for me and I simply eat what is given me most of the time. It's a very specific mix of foods and nutrition based on what I need and how much I need of everything to meet the demands of what my body is going through.

As far as physical training goes...I do a lot of bodyweight exercises, biking, walking, some weightlifting (but careful with that and not much), various other forms of cardio...things like yoga mixed in, as well as a lot of my basics in martial arts training...oh, and a lot of breathing exercises. That's really a snapshot as it is all scheduled out and strategically evaluated each week.

I play a lot too. That's right...play! I believe big time in the art and benefits of "Play". I will definitely explain that in future posts and when I make available my stuff in organized form, but "playing" is such an important part of life period and really breaks the "stress" of what I am trying to do here. It is strategic though, make no mistake about it.

Mentally I do a lot of training too. As a "Mind Coach" I know full well that what is going on in the coconut up top is a huge key to success and/or failure. I do a lot of visualization, meditation, journaling, reading, filtering, mental stress-management (my wife is a Certified Holistic Stress Management Coach - so I learn from her), and praying...praying not the least of what is on that list I assure you...especially when I start thinking about what a "Crazy" I am for even thinking about taking on this Quest. It is no small mountain that I am climbing here.

Keep in mind, everything changes weekly, and sometimes daily depending on the heights (or valleys) I am reaching in my training, so I am never bored in all of this. The fun part of this is that I see results daily. Little ones most of the time, but those add up over the course of a week or beyond. Some days I see big results, like I talked about in yesterday's post about my legs while biking, so results vary. I don't get discouraged about small results as long as I see consistency, and I don't get worked up too much about the biggies either, because the next day I could be in a whole different category and again, I am concerned about consitency.

Hopefully all this helps for now...more in the future for those that are interested.

On another interesting note, I met a fellow Martial Artist yesterday that said he is just beginning his training for the U.S. Open for next year. We chatted for a moment about it and I tried to encourage him and offered him my contact. I hope to meet all kinds of people like that on this Quest. My bigger goal is that somehow all this becomes an inspiration to others to join me in this Quest or jump into their own dreams all the way and make them happen.

So, to the friend I met yesterday just beginning his Quest and to you, I say "Go for it!" Let nothing hold you back...leave nothing to question in the end...where there is no trail - cut your own trail...where there are scoffers and doubters - smile at them as you pass them by...where there are encouragers - listen to them and let them energize you...and don't do this alone - find coaches, family, friends, mentors, and a support system to assist you and guide you along the way...but in the end (or the beginning)... "Go for it!"

Crashes and Part One of An Announcement...

Whew! Good workout this morning. Michael, my oldest son and official training partner for this Quest, ate it this a.m. Yes...ate it! He ran into a mailbox on the bike portion of our workout. I was cruising and took a peek back to see where he was and tell him something...he wasn't there!

Um...

He caught up with me shortly, and said he crashed. I said, "Crashed, like in, crashed crashed...?" (Like that made any sense at all!) He said, "Yes, I ran into a mailbox then tried to adjust and...cars coming..." Then he fell back into formation and got out of the way of any potential future crashes.

Of course, at first I was concerned, but then I was silently laughing my head off! I still haven't told him that (oh, wait, think I just did!).

Later on the same bike ride I felt like all the muscles in my legs and hips just blew wide open and I took off...I was like the wind...no, I WAS the wind. I was moving people! I kept looking back and Michael kept getting smaller and smaller. Haven't felt that kind of surge in years, and it felt dang good! Michael dropped so far behind that Holly, my wife, asked if we needed to take the car and go check on him after I returned home and Michael didn't show for a while. He showed up a few minutes later, and I don't like leaving him that far behind (just in case another mailbox were to step out in front of him) but I just couldn't resist taking that burst and going with it!

Oh...I will share with you PART of ONE of one of the announcements...I just can't wait. I have gained a corporate sponsor who is agreeing to produce shirts for the Quest! I've known this guy for pretty much my whole life (I think we invented breakdancing together) and he has a phenom business and is stepping up to make this happen for me. I will share with you his contact info, etc. shortly as we announce the shirt itself. I am very excited about this...you should be too! In the meantime, if you need some signage or screen printing done, let me know, I will send you his info personally. Other announcements coming soon.

I just had a well-balanced nutritious meal following the a.m. workout...going to take a short nap now and work some more this afternoon. I feel some breakthrough right around the corner...very excited about that!

Watch out for friendly neighborhood mailboxes! HA ha!