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!