Being humble! Kindness or Weakness?

Wow guys, what a year. I want to thank all of my readers for following the blog and also sending me emails and comments. Now let's get down to business. Anyone that knows me also knows that I have a hard time accepting compliments. I just don't think of myself as better than someone else as a person because I was blessed in one way or another. I'm grateful to just be able to do things I love everyday, to see my family, or even just crack a joke. That being said, I only ask to be respected. Don't blow smoke up my butt or push me too far out of ignorance or rudeness. I am not weak and I don't take well to a%#holes. I am a regular guy so I can imagine how this can be amplified for those professional athletes in the public eye. I've had the pleasure of meeting quite a few pros from all different sports and I can only say that some are very humble and laid back and some are egotistical and rude. These meetings prompted a 2 part blog on humility and ego, so first lets talk being humble.<br> <br/> Because of who I am I never mistaken kindness for weakness. Case and point Kenny Florian. I had the pleasure of meeting him recently and he was very cool. I work also as a doorman at an upscale nightclub in Miami and "Ken Flo" happened to stop by. He at no point demanded any special treatment and at the end of the night went out of his way to stop by and take a pic. He is a big name in the fight world and he acted as if he was just another Joe on the street. Just so you know for those not familiar with him. Kenny Florian is a beast in the octogan and he will smash you if you happen to be on the other side of the cage from him. It was really cool to meet a big name with a humble attitude. I don't expect everyone to be or act the same but I will express on the ground level that people don't appreciate conceit. If you're blessed enough to live your dream and earn money and a living from that, you should feel honored to be recognized. People work their fingers to the bone and save money to order these expensive pay per views or go to see the fights live. Fighters should be humble when they meet fans because without them there is no big money, house, or car to brag about. Ego is next so stay tuned. </p> <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.2</div>

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"If you ain't tappin', you ain't learnin'"

In view of last weeks brutal submissions of Machida and Noguiera, I think we should discuss tapping. I know competition is different than training, however, I don't know if not tapping is an expression of ego, determination, pride, strength or stupidity. It may be a little of them all and possibly some other attributes. All I know is that I would rather tap in a couple fights, learn from it and improve for my next fight, than not tap and risk a possible career ending injury or not be able to make money for months while recovering. I might even have to agree with "Rampage" Jackson when he says, "man I don't trust anybody", in reference to tapping during a fight. It's true, Rousimar Palhares, Bas Rutten, and now Jon Jones, who let Machida fall like a sack of potatoes as he walked away never looking back to see if his opponent was even alive or Frank Mir, who snapped Tim Silvia's and Nogueira's arms respectively, don't care if you don't tap. There are guys in this sport that will put you to sleep and break you in half or worse if given the chance. The risk is all up to you!

Now, that being said there are a couple guys out there that bend like rubber. Ben Henderson and Dan Hardy have defied the odds when defending submissions or at least hanging on until released from the grip of their respective opponents. When you see arms rotate in positions they shouldn't be in and then seconds later those same arms are throwing punches, it leaves you shaking your head.

All I can say are the words that were repeated to me over and over again. Train hard, learn how to be comfortable in awkward positions, and last but not least, "if you ain't tappin', you ain't learnin'".

The following are some videos from the Nitro tourney a couple years back. Enjoy!

She doesn't have to get it, she's your mom!

Hello all, hope you guys are well and enjoying the holidays. I myself am working like a dog. So lets get right down to it. Your mom may enjoy watching violent sports, such as football or hockey, but she will never be completely ok with you getting punched in the face or kicked in the ribs. I believe my mothers words went something like this after finding out about me fighting, "why the hell are you doing that?", followed by a "you're gonna end up like Ali". Now I know that sounds a little rough, however, that's simply how deep a mother loves her kid, even if he's grown. I place the blame entirely on her for putting me in Taekwondo at a young age, even though that was completely my idea. I never got it out of my system. Martial arts is strange like that, once you do it for any length of time, it stays with you forever.
Anyway, mom has since lightened up and become super supportive of me fighting and just generally being involved in something I love and am passionate about. So no, I don't know if she'll ever fully understand why I do what I do but she respects it and me for sticking to it. Don't expect for people to "get it", especially your mom. As long as you are real about honing your skills in and out of the cage/ring/mat it will shine through and you'll receive plenty of support. All that being said, I'm happy to introduce my mom in Bruce Buffers voice as my new editor: And in this corner writing out of St. Louis, Missouri, carrying a record of 40 and 0, the marauder of the midwest, my moooooom Kathy "The Letter Killer" Jooooooooohnsoooooon.!!!!

Just a little footwork

The Plateau

Plateau-The level reached in training at which one levels out. The "I don't feel like I'm getting any better" stage. This is usually accompanied by boredom and lack of motivation.

For those that have reached this place in their training, I understand your frustration. I too have felt the woes of leveling out. I don't know of any easy way to get out of this phase. I don't know if it's like in basketball, when you hit a dry spell, you just keep shooting til you make one or like in baseball, you swing yourself out of your rut. Of course, in both of those sports like many others, you sometimes need to make changes in order to step up to the next level or at least start performing well again.

Plateaus need to be treated like living in a city way too long. At some point you (the human body) needs a change of scenery. A change in training or at least training habits can force the body to have to adapt in order to keep up with the new training. This should bring some noticeable results in a hurry. Your level of skill depends entirely on your evolution in training. Don't get stuck doing the same training with the same people if nothing new has been introduced. Once you've reached a certain point you must change, adapt, and just plain evolve.

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Pads with my buddy Max

It's a Dirty Game

Ok, so let's touch on the dirty business. From loaded gloves to underhanded promoters, the fight business can be a difficult thing to navigate. Let's take recent events into view first. After the fight with Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito was busted in his next fight with Shane Moseley. Every excuse in the book was made by he and his training staff to discount the matter. The fact is that he could have seriously injured and or killed his opponent by having loaded wraps. When Cotto caught wind of this, he and just about everyone else were convinced that those same loaded wraps had been used on him in the fight prior and I would be inclined to agree. I mean the punches he hit Cotto with in the first fight seemed to do more damage then any regular punch i've seen, and i've seen thousands. It left him battered beyond belief. Let's fast forward to the rematch last weekend. The punches Margarito hit Cotto with this time hardly phased the champ and he ended up stopping Margarito in the 8th by TKO. I don't know for sure if Margarito did the unthinkable in the first fight but this is surely the payback that was required regardless.
Next, let's get into the promoters, from Don King to Bob Arum, the unsavory taste is in the air and hard to deny. He admitted to bribing the International Boxing Federation president to receive a more favorable ranking for one of his fighters. He was also fined by the Nevada State Atheletic Comission for a bribe to get one of his fighters sanctioned. One word to describe these actions...hmmmm... DIRTY! In connection to the Margarito incident, oh yeah, he's promoted by Arums company. It's all "racially motivated". The suspension given to your Mexican fighter for getting caught trying to use loaded handwraps in California(of all places) where he was set to fight a black guy was somehow racially motivated. This statement shows a serious lack of ethical and logical thinking. There's just no telling who's on the up and up these days. So if you got good friends that are close to you, keep it that way cause new ones may not be friends at all. Beware of the dirt, once it gets on your hands, its hard to get clean again. I know of people in the industry that won't even shake hands with promoters. I would say something about Don King but I wouldn't want to end up like 2 other people that crossed paths with him. Wikipedia it...

Fighter Mills?

I recently had a fighter come to me and ask about doing some training. I honestly always get a little nervous when they mention the gym they come from, if its considered one of the "best". I'm always concerned about the name and reputation it carries. I don't doubt my skills as a trainer but my reputation isn't as grandiose as some of the trainers from these gyms. More and more however i'm noticing a trend in the fighters, they lack simple fundamentals. The fighters lack proper stance, balance, don't keep their hands high, not throwing punches properly...etc, etc, the list goes on and on. Within 30 minutes of training this fighter I pointed out at least 5 major flaws. The response from him was "damn I've been at ______ for months and they never mentioned those things". At least one of the things I pointed out was a direct cause of him taking damage in his last fight. Why didn't the big name gym and trainers notice it, you ask? The answer is very simple. The saturation of combat sports in the recent future has made way to greed and "fighter mills". When MMA was still considered "human cockfighting", the trainers and fighters had to work very hard to even get fights, let alone win. Now you can find a fight anywhere. Because of this, gyms are no longer making fighters work their way up skill wise before fighting. Now, if you know how to throw a 1-2, they're willing to let you get on a card to fight. Guys aren't sharpening their tools the way they should be in exchange for the possibility of stardom and fast money. It sort of reminds me of when Hip-Hop was just starting and guys were signing deals for cars and gear but no real investment in future income. I'm not knocking the hustle, but instead the quality of the product. If you, as a trainer, aren't making corrections in your fighters skill set, then you're not a very good coach. Also, if you're a fighter and you aren't being corrected on your stance, defense, or offense, then you're being taken for a ride. Keep an eye out for the snakes they'll throw you to the wolves. If you know he's a snake and you get a beat down after they've been feeding you the "you're unbeatable" line, well you knew he was a snake. Money from the promoter, the sponsors, the fighters, and the fans is blinding the gyms and coaches. Beware of the fighter mills and make sure you share a connection with your trainers. They should care about everything you do. I would.

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Just believe

Something to think about when they say you can't. You have to.

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Product review: Triumph United Superlative Shinguards

Ok guys so in the spirit of Christmas here's a review of some shinguards you might want under your tree. I was on the hunt for some new shinguards that are protective, durable, and priced well. I had always used cheaper $40 grappling shinguards because they are light and I wanted to condition my shins(I like the feeling). This time however I wanted to try out the straight Muay Thai shinguards. I always felt that they looked heavy and even robotic on other people and since I like to move a lot I thought they would weigh me down. I researched plenty of brands before I came across the Triumph United Superlative Shinguards on sale. Before we go in depth I will only say they are the best shinguards I have ever owned. The hook and loop closure never comes loose and this after countless hours of sparring. These things are light and I never felt weighed down or sluggish. They are super durable and very protective I think I have had like one ding on the shin since I started using them. The color hasn't faded, the straps haven't ripped, and the elastic under the foot is still holding strong like the first day I put them on. I am overly impressed. The only thing I miss is the feeling of some roughed up shins after hard sparring, but that is a personal preference. I think i'll buy some of the Triumph United grappling shinguards for the days that I really want to feel it. I can only say if you need some quality shinguards the Triumph United Superlatives will not let you down. Oh yeah and I just looked them up and they're on sale at Triumphunited.com for like $53.00, crazy good deal. Happy Holidays!

Cough, cough, cough... (throat clear) cough...ugh!

Ok guys, so I learned a huge lesson about being fight ready the hard way. I was training like craaazy with an amazing instructor. I got my cardio up better than ever, I was feeling like a beast, but there was one thing wrong the week of the fight, I was sick and not flu sick but congested, coughing, and weak sick. Though I felt mentally like I could destroy Allistair Overeem if he looked at me wrong, my chest and muscles had a different idea. I had started with daytime cold meds and nighttime cold meds cause I couldn't sleep due to the coughing. By the 3rd day I was into some antibiotics I had leftover and a little extra on the nighttime meds. The thought of cancelling the fight crossed my mind once and I literally laughed it off standing in my kitchen swallowing said antibiotics like some mad scientist. I ended up calling out of work and a work related dinner the next 2 nights because I figured I would be fine with a little extra rest. The next day got on the road and made great time getting to Daytona and checking in the hotel. I hadn't really worried about my weight too much as I was good about my eating habits throughout training so I thought I would be right on as I hit the scale. Wrong again, I was about 2.5 lbs lighter than my fight weight, shrugged it off(dumb). Let's fast forward to the fight. As I got loose in the dressing room I kept thinking that my legs felt "soft" for lack of a better word. The fight starts and my thoughts in my head started with "holy shit I can't move". My wildly aggressive opponent besides ducking his head and windmilling punches at me, hit me with a spinning back kick to the old noggin which I never saw coming and knocked me to the canvas. Not sure what my opponent was thinking after I got up but with those points scored he abandoned trying to knock me out and instead decided to ride it out laying his weight on me on the ropes. I didn't have the strength to move him the ref would split us and again he would barrel in and lay on me on the ropes. I would take my L like a man, he did what he needed to do to win. So I know I was sick, but I was in shape. I felt horrible (understatement) about my loss until I looked at a picture I had taken before the fight. I had run into Din Thomas and really wanted a picture with him, dude is super cool, he obliged. My eyes in the picture tell the story, half open and swollen I looked horrible...ugh! Never again! Lesson learned, if you are remotely ill, I totally advise against fighting. I got lucky to be honest. It could have meant the end of my career, don't let it be the end of yours. Don't fight sick!!!

Getting back on the horse

Hey there H20'ers, I know it's been a while but i'm back and ready to update and educate(lol). Okay so if you don't know or it's your first time reading my blog I was taking some time away to prepare for my fight. I lost a decision. Yeah I know, it sucks. Well these things happen and I could go into details of how and why and a million and one excuses but at this point that's not important and I plan on writing on some of those things later. What's important now is getting back on the horse and back to training. Working towards getting better and shoring up those holes in my game. I could sit back and tell you all the cliche quotes in the world from every kind of philosophy about getting up after being knocked down but the fact of the matter is in every aspect in life you will find adversity. From relationships to fighting to working a 9 to 5 you will be tested on all levels, physical and mental. How will you deal with your adversities? The truth is you never know til it happens and the only advice I have is to KEEP GOING! None of us are perfect and we all will fall, not all of us will get back up. Just for the record though, I will and I hope you do as well. Only when you face adversity head on can you genuinely say you're really alive. So live people!! Get back on that horse when it bucks you off and ride it with your head high and your shoulders back because nobody can beat you but you. I love you all and I will be fighting again in February 2011. I have plenty of subject matter to discuss over the coming weeks so check back regularly. Peace!!!!

UFC fan or MMA fan?

Let me start by saying every fight you see in a cage is not put on by the UFC. Adding to that, watching the UFC doesn't make you an MMA fan. Yes they are the biggest organization out there however they are not the only game in town. In fact there are organizations all over the world that put on quality fights, some big some small. A true fan of the sport of MMA may have favorite fighters in other organizations some of which UFC fans have never even heard of. If you really "love the UFC" i suggest you broaden your horizens i guarantee you'll enjoy watching some of the other talent out there. Also, watching the styles that make up MMA in competition such as jiu jitsu tourneys or kickboxing and boxing matches allows you to see your favorite fighters compete at a high level while honing their skills outside of MMA. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world, not only because of the UFC but also largely in part of other promotions putting on fights locally or regionally. I'll leave you with a list of promotions for you to check out. Hopefully, you'll now get more of what you love.

MMA promotions:

(MFC) Maximum fighting championship

(KOTC) King of the Cage

(XFC) Extreme fighting championship

M-1

Bellator

Proelite

Strikeforce

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Age?

44-year old Jörg Lothmann proves age ain't nuthin but a number at his MMA debut.

Get the kids involved

I know this is a touchy subject for some but for me this is easy. Find a good martial arts school or MMA gym and put your kids in it. I can totally attribute my demeanor and lessons in discipline to taking Taekwondo when I was a kid. Cities across this country are cutting funding for after school programs leaving kids to find something to do with their idle hands. There has been a rise in crimes committed by kids and teens as well as a rise in gang memberships. Bullying has become an epidemic so serious that teenagers are committing suicide to cope with the problem. Childhood obesity is out of control in this country. The uneducated might believe that putting kids in martial arts promotes violence but in fact it does just the opposite. Martial arts promotes principles of discipline, respect, hard work, and health. In fact, what i've come to learn is that the more you learn how to fight the less you actually want to fight. Not only that but after a while you begin to exude confidence that can be seen in your posture, heard in your voice and noticed even in your walk. Usually, bullies will stay away from the confident type and if that doesn't work at least they will know how to protect themselves.
Martial arts can be a single parent's best friend. You can almost guarantee that your child will be safe at the local MMA gym. At the very least kids will be safer than they are out in the streets hanging with their buddies after school. In our world of fast food, video games and extreme excess martial arts are a great way to keep kids active and keep the fat off. The lessons learned will carry throughout the lives of these kids all the way to adulthood. So don't hesitate to shop around for a good martial arts or MMA gym and let the good times roll. You might actually get some peace and quiet at home as well.

Fight Prep: Pads with Jex Fontaine

I'm working hard to make corrections and have been blessed enough to work with another world class fighter(shout out to Sarah Z.). Hope you enjoy!

Why I bow and why you don't have to.

Ok so I don't expect you to bow to me if you are not a martial artist but I will always give a slight bow even if I am just meeting you. Its something that i've been doing since Taekwondo in my childhood years. In my mind its a sign of respect and humility. I am a gentle hearted warrior and I choose to offer myself first as a human being with compassion and respect. There have been few times i've not offered a bow upon greeting and usually those aren't good times. I also have the belief that anyone that trains like a warrior should receive due respect before and after competition. Many of the new breed of fighters especially those coming into MMA have a background in boxing or maybe wrestling, they traditionally don't bow so I don't expect them to.
In Zen Buddhism the practitioners bow 1080 times throughout a day. Though it is commonly used in Asia bowing isn't restricted to Asian countries. Bowing has traditionally been a part of European culture as a symbol of respect or gratitude. In the Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Islamic religions bowing is a commonly used show of acknowledgment of faith. I don't expect everyone to bow but if you think it's ridiculous that others do it or have the nerve to say ignorant things like "we're not in China", look around you as there may be more people showing you respect than you're showing them. Peace and Blessings all(yes i'm bowing right now).

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What do you do with the monster?

So after the eight weeks of training hard grueling hours and the hard fought victory what do you do with the monster you created? Lets get some real understanding about fighting, if you didn't create a monster while training then you probably didn't train hard enough. You have to touch something primal to even want to compete in fighting another person. There is definitely something different about a person after they finish training camp and I do believe whatever is built up inside a fighter is hard to let go of even after the fight is done. During that eight week training camp fighters deprive themselves of their normal social activity, commonly eaten foods, often training away from home, and even sex. The combination of these things adds to the aggressive nature of the fighter, over time building to a boil to be unleashed on fight night.
What happens when the fight is over? There are often reports of over the years of fighters getting in to fights on the street, in their own social circles as well as with their spouse. This isn't relegated to fighting, this problem crosses sports boundaries into professional football, basketball, hockey, and I imagine a few rugby players have had some bad run ins as well. Once you gear up for the competition how do you bring yourself back down to a normal level? Some athletes do other sports, i.e. Nick Diaz competes in triathlons. I think the best way to deal with the beast you created is to refocus the energy into something else. Find another sport, a hobby, burn some of that energy doing some physically draining activities like crossfit, climbing , or even rowing. After the combat is done and you still feel that energy simmering inside, do something with it even if that means taking a long vacation in which you do nothing. Don't allow it to get the best of you.

Where's your head at?

You often hear the phrase in most sports that "this game is 90% mental". Doesn't really matter what sport you throw in there most will agree that without great mental focus and concentration it's almost impossible to compete at a high level in any sport. Very few people are so extraordinary that they just have this built in, most of us have to learn different techniques and really work on keeping our concentration sharp. I myself have on occasion used mantras, not sure why I did but I would look in the mirror and repeat the same thing over and over again. I stared at myself said over and over again that I was going to knock out my opponent before I did it. I believed it after I said it so many times I never thought about losing. Now mantras aren't for everybody, again still not sure why I use them but they work for me so i'm not stopping.
Maybe for you it's meditation. Sitting legs crossed concentrating only on your breathing and allowing the thoughts to come and go. I feel like this is a great way to center yourself and I know of a lot of successful fighters that meditate daily. It's also a good way to learn to control emotions which can get away from even the best fighter during combat.Prior to fights you can always see fighters sitting quietly listening to music. Some are pumping themselves up and others are calming themselves down but all are trying to find the best place in their head for the upcoming battle.
Some seek out a sports psychologist to help weave through the muck when training for a fight or even after a loss to help recover mentally and emotionally. Sometimes a set of unbiased ears to listen to thoughts about an upcoming event or past one can shed new light on those thoughts and keep you a little more centered.
Getting centered is very important. You'll often hear me tell people i'm training to, "find it...find it" especially in between rounds where its necessary to slow down your breathing and heart rate in order to refocus your brain and make adjustments for the next round. You must find what keeps you grounded because when you lose control you lose technique, power, balance, you start to leave yourself open to take unnecessary punishment and an almost positively a loss on your record.
Its the same in life as it is in combat, keep a cool head because "cool heads prevail"!

"The Spider"

Research your opponent

Ok people, here's the deal, if you have the ability to learn about your opponent don't hesitate. Don't feel so good about your skills that you neglect a very important part of the fight game and that's studying believe it or not. I'm not saying there is always a video out there but in this day and age just about everyone has a video camera on their phone and a Youtube or Facebook account. You should get in the habit of checking your opponent out to help form a gameplan. Watching videos helps you see the mistakes he/she might make in previous fights that you can capitalize on. Knowing ahead of time helps focus your training towards your opponents weaknesses rather than waste time and energy on an offense that may be ineffective come fight night. You can always make adjustments in the corner and you will but having a visual may also help you to know what to expect. Whether or not your opponent likes close range or long distance, does he/she drop their hands when throwing strikes, which direction does this person like to go and can I cut them off and counter that movement are just a few ways watching a video can help.
Some fighters just like to wing it and I totally understand the idea. Being prepared for anything is always at the forefront of the mind. However, every little bit of work you do in preparation is another piece to the puzzle of becoming one of the great fighters. Most of the time you can get your coach to do the research with you and in some cases your coach has already scouted out the opponent and prepared a gameplan for you to follow in the fight.
If there is no video, a lot of times you can ask the promoter or someone that may have seen him/her fight or even someone that fought your opponent in the past can give you insight into what you're facing. Leave no stone unturned, remember your fight and possibly your health may be in jeopardy.

You are not alone

This may come as a bit of a shock to some of you, but fighting is a team sport. Every time you step into the ring or the cage you bring the whole team with you. The pressure to win the fight or put on a good show is much higher than one would think looking on from the outside. We as fans concentrate so much on the fighter but hardly ever on the team. Those of us that actually fight or train can name other trainers, camps and locations in and out of the country(shout out to Mike's gym in Amsterdam and Duke Roufus in Wisconsin). On most occasions the team that helps get a fighter ready for battle sacrifices almost as much as the fighter. That old phrase blood, sweat, and tears is an understatement. Boxing coach, muay thai kru, jiu jitsu coach, conditioning coach, massage therapist, sparring partners, sponsors, nutritionist, agent...etc. All these people give their time and efforts to support the fighter sometimes for minimal pay. These people, though you may not see them, are all in the fight. A dedicated team is necessary for most fighters to keep improving and even get fights. I remember the first time I actually saw a team that supported each other unlike anything i had experienced to that point. I remember seeing 4 or 5 guys with a couple of friends getting them ready for the fight and that's about the average. On this particular day I was getting ready to watch one of the fights on the muay thai card I was fighting on and out of nowhere i start to hear this chant growing louder and louder that chant built into a battle cry for the fighter about to do battle. All of a sudden this group of 15 or 20 people all dressed in red began to lead their fighter to the ring. I was in awe of this show of support and it had to be intimidating for the opponent as well. That team was Elite Muay Thai headed by Kru Domnique Simmons. When you have this many people backing you up, its hard to think about anything but winning. Every time you step into the ring you have your whole team with you. When you win they win and they take the loses to heart almost as much as the fighter. If you're looking to go into the combat sports find a team you feel comfortable with, that supports you and most importantly feels like family. Your success in fighting will depend upon the people around you as it does in life.

Can u make the cut?

I find it really interesting that one of the most dangerous aspects of combat sports hardly ever gets any attention. I'm talking about weight cutting. For some this is one way to get an edge on their opponents. By cutting large amounts of weight before the weigh in(generally held the day before), the fighter can put the weight back on in the hours leading up to the fight sometimes in excess of twenty pounds. In a lot if cases it offers a large weight advantage over opponents that might be closer to their natural weight. I have mixed feelings on this issue as it can be very dangerous if done incorrectly and as of now no steps have been put in place to regulate it. There's also another aspect of this, there are fighters attempting to cut sometimes 30lbs and knowingly missing the weight cut, then by rule if the opponent still accepts the fight(and they will if they want to get paid) they lose a percentage of the purse but still get to fight and in most cases, win. They already know they can't make the cut but instead of moving up to a more suitable weight class, they'd rather lose 10% of their winnings to fight someone smaller. I've seen some real mismatches. A few months back i got a call to corner a fighter that was coming from out of town and needed a good corner. A natural 155 pounder it was his first venture up to 170lbs. just to get a fight and get his name out there. After i held some pads for him i was surprised and just knew he would do well. Fast forward fifteen minutes and i'm walking him out of the cage his head red and swollen with a few knots. His opponent was a giant at least 20lbs heavier. It was blatantly obvious that this was set up to pad his record. My guy didn't stand a chance with the weight difference. It was so bad that the announcers first words were "you look like you're in a different weight class, how much weight did you cut?" To which the giant replied "none at all, this is my natural weight"(devilish laughter included). What a joke.
Beyond getting an unfair advantage their is a huge safety issue. Some competitors don't cut weight the right way. Depriving oneself of proper nutrition leading up to a fight goes directly against the efforts being made in training. Dehydration is not proper weight cutting. It might be okay for 5 lbs or so, but trying to get off ten plus pounds in a day or two could have you hold up in the locker room with an IV in your arm. Instead of being sharp in the fight you run the risk of being slower and weak. Also, being more easily damaged from shots to the head is a possibility as well. When you're dehydrating yourself you're also drying up some of your brain fluid which makes it easier to get that brain rattling around when hit with even light punches. Making weight should be a combination of good diet and hard work in the gym leading up to the last week and the day of the weigh ins. A gradual cut is more beneficial to a fighter effectiveness in the fight. I understand the strategy for it but if you claim to be that awesome of a fighter then do as the old adage says "pick on somebody your own size". At least someone close to your size, I mean jumping around after beating somebody with a twenty pound weight disadvantage is not a good look in my humble opinion. I had heard in the past there was talk about making a same day weigh in so that fighters don't get away with being ridiculously larger than their opponent. Maybe we'll see less of these size mismatches and fighters gassing out early if this is implemented. Either way til that happens watch for the circus fights and make sure you're cutting properly.

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Product review: Tuf Wear 16oz Sparring gloves

This is my first product review for "Like Water", and first one for me as well. I do this all the time at the gym mainly because i've wasted plenty of money searching for the right equipment. From mouthguards to headgear to gym bags if they make it I have wasted money on it. So when somebody asks about equipment I can surely steer them in the right direction. Let's see if I can do the same for you, laymans terms of course.
The first product to be reviewed will be Tuf Wear sparring gloves. I recently had my gear bag stolen out of my car carrying easily $1000.00 worth of stuff inside(yep, still sucks) including my Top King gloves. So obviously I needed to replace these ASAP. I went on a mission ordering one pair that was made with synthetic leather(sold em'), another pair that tore up inside the first day I used them they were horrible. I was already broke and not sure how I was gonna get a quality pair of gloves for a cheap price. I had seen these Tuf Wear gloves a million times on the Title boxing website. I even own and use a pair of the original Tuf Wear lace up gloves when I want to work on power. So, for 59 dollars I had to try them out, to broke to shoot any higher. Holy crap they are exactly what I was looking for. The leather is nice, the design is a really cool black and white two tone and the double wrist strap adds extra protection that you just don't find in gloves at this price. The original Tuf Wear gloves have a canvas type of interior that just really added value to the gloves they were made well and felt great. I was curious about how that was going to translate to the new style. The gloves interior is soft and and made of some sort of cloth presumably cotton. It felt like putting a pillow on my hand. The gloves are firm and perfect for sparring and bagwork. After 2 mos of heavy usage they are still like new. At this price there is no reason to hesitate. I will get a pair of Top King gloves again but these are half the price and are an awesome buy. So go buy a pair and punch a friend in the face, you'll thank me for it.

Defend yourself

This one is for the ladies(mostly). I'm not trying to freak you out or scare you in any way. I am however trying promote safety mainly yours. I can't begin to tell you how many female friends I have that have been assaulted physically and/or mentally at some point in their lives. I have heard many horror stories as i'm sure you have as well. From kidnappings to random beatings i have heard them all and even had to jump in and stop a few. Its time to educate yourselves in self defense. In many cities across this country self defense for women is offered by different organizations, Police departments to local gyms. They teach awareness as well as what to do if ever attacked. Its not right what people do to others sometimes but you have the power to combat that, so use it. It gives you confidence to know you're prepared and generally speaking when you walk with confidence you will often be left alone. Bad guys want to attack people that won't fight back and if you look aware and confident you don't look like an easy target. Until you can make it to a class try to follow some simple rules -

- Always be aware of your surroundings
- Don't walk alone at night if at all possible
- Let a friend know where you are
- Keep your mace in your hand when walking by yourself
- Know how your panic button works on your keychain
- Walk with confidence not with your head down
- Walk with your keys between your fingers in a tight balled up fist just in case you gotta let a
punch fly

If someone approaches you and all else fails do the one thing we all know how to do SCREAM!!

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Just Chill

"Find your beach" the beer commercial exclaims. That is a phrase that should be taken seriously especially for those of us that train constantly. I know you're king of the gym. You're the one that comes in early for your first session, push ups after lunch, and then right back in the gym for an evening session. Maybe you're the hardcore workout person doing crossfit three times a week mixed in with a spinning class, cardio boxing and yoga for flexibility. You sound like you got it all figured out, but I think you forgot something. R-E-S-T!!! We all need some time to relax and unwind. Your body needs time to grow, heal, and even learn. New movements always take a few days for my body to adapt and understand. The harder I try to force myself the further away I get from proper technique. If you're trying to muscle up you can't go everyday and push heavy weight at some point you need sleep or even a couple days off so your muscles can grow. Without rest in your routine you are not going to get the results you want or reach your goals.
When it comes to injuries I can't be more adamant about treating the problem. You should know the acronym R-I-C-E from high school health class(they're still teaching that right?). Anyway it stands for Rest Ice Compression Elevation. It really is self explanatory but you can easily take a common sense approach to this. If your foot hurts because of a sprain, stay off of it. If you have swelling somewhere ice it as soon as possible. You have nothing to prove to anyone, we already know you're tough by the activities you do.
We all need a break sometimes whether it be just rest from everyday life, overtraining in the gym, or for injury. Take some time for yourself and I guarantee you'll come back stronger and heal faster. You don't have to listen to me for advice, you can just simply listen to your body it definitely knows what it wants.

Oh damn Tyrone, don't hurt em'

Get your game up for the afterparty!

So now you've gone to the weigh-ins, pre-fight pressor, and watched every fight from the beginning through the main event. It's time to hit the town in style. While some rick expensive Big face watches and necklaces that resemble something "Rampage" Jackson would wear walking to the cage, I choose to go a little more low key. No need for too much bling just let your swag do the talking. I get laced with dope jewelry at a decent price through one of my favorite people. My homie Alaire Harris owns and operates GeorgeNightengale(link in the link section of the blog). Cool handmade jewelry, check her out.
So you can usually catch me in a not too busy well designed shirt. T-shirt or button down doesn't matter as long as you don't look like you just walked out of the Wizard of Oz. Jeans, not skinny jeans, no offense but i just don't think I look good in someone's little sisters jeans. That doesn't mean go the other way where you can't take a step without having to reach to hold them up.
If you're gonna step out in a budget you can evern throw a black bandana around your wrist or in your back pocket for a cool look. Whatever your style just look good and not like you just got attacked by Tinkerbell riding a fire breathing dragon in Japanese fairy tale land.

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Roadwork; RUN...RUN...RUN

There's no substitute for running. The image on the right could be your best friend if you're doing it effectively or your worst enemy if you're neglecting it. I am always amazed at those people that train for fights that don't run yet complain when the fights over that they "gassed out". Usually going into the fight there is this amazing surge of adrenaline that courses through the blood stream offering you an incredible boost to your energy level. Funny thing about adrenaline and oxygen though, they are not friends. For new fighters going in, this adrenaline surge could really be a problem as it seems to push you to go harder which at the same time burns your oxygen faster. trying to find a balance between the two is paramount when someone is trying to take your head off. You'll get cardio everywhere when training but in my experience nothing beats good old fashioned running.
In my second fight I still didn't have a trainer and hadn't really figured out training yet but I had won my first fight on adrenaline and speed which I thought would get me through every time. I was wrong. I ran into my opponent prior to the fight, I knew him from a previous event and he asked if I had been training, I gave a shit eating grin and replied "a little", thinking this is gonna be a breeze. Before the fight started I noticed that my opponent who once looked a little chubby to me had gotten ripped and looked to be in impressive shape making me a little nervous but again I thought I have some natural ability that he can't match. Ding! The fight starts and I come out swinging immediately threw a punch directly to his stomach with everything I had. He shrugged it off. I moved around and landed a few more strikes that I thought would slow him down but not a chance. I spent the rest of the round taking random punches and kicks and locking him up in a clinch to stop my inevitable beating. When I go to the corner I realize something is wrong, I can't breathe. I say to my friend who I asked to corner me what I should do and he exclaimed "stick and move"... move, yeah right. As the second round started I felt like I was standing in drying concrete. He began to execute his gameplan at will. A variety of punches and kicks had me looking like a pinball. I got stuck in the corner towards the end of the round and took a pounding as the bell rang the ref called the fight. Now in retrospect I could probably have beaten my opponent if I would have known the importance of pounding the pavement for some miles before the fight. If you expect to win, you have to do your roadwork.
My suggestion is that at least 3 to 4 times a week you strap on those running shoes and hit the road. Don't run all long distance, you also need to do sprints to simulate how your lungs are gonna feel when you're fighting. Its great to head outside especially if you have some hills in your area but if you're stuck in the gym jump on the treadmill. This is one of those things that no one can really help you with, this one is all you. If you gas during your fight only one place to look and that's the mirror.

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Hygiene anyone

Let's get right to it, I can't stress enough the importance of being clean when heading in to train and when its all said and done for the day. Its no fun at all to spar or roll jiu jitsu with someone who smells like they've spent the last year in and out of mexican prisons eating bean and cheese burritos the whole time. However, its not the smell that gets to me as much as the thought of the bacteria living in the sweat that's so scary. I'm not interested in getting a staff infection, ringworm, strept or any other nasty bugger running around out there. If you don't want to clean yourself then don't come train its a combat sport yes but not a disgusting sport.
For the love of god don't smoke a pack of cigarettes before you train(shouldn't even have to say this). Nobody wants your hot smokey breath invading their nostrils while in the clinch or working for position on the ground. Come on man...
Last but not least, its not just your breath or your bacteria laced sweat. Your clothes are an accomplice to the crime. Once they mildew... toss em'. You cannot wash that smell out no matter how much you try. I said toss em' but you might as well burn em'.
You don't need to smell like you're going to paint the town red with a couple UFC ring girls but at least wear some clean clothes, eat a mint, and for goodness sakes wash yo' a_ _!

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It carries me

Hey guys, surely you've heard the footprints in the sand poem in which the traveler asks God "Where were your footprints in the sand when I needed you the most?" God replies "I was carrying you". I really believe that you are given strength when you really need it to do what needs to be done to survive. When my chips are down and I am being carried by the forces that be, I use that energy to train. Release my aggressions constructively. Don't get it twisted I have bad days like everyone else, but what you do with your time is what really matters. The one thing myself and my training partners love about what we do is the ability to leave our troubles at the door when we walk in the gym. When it hurts...TRAIN.
Remember that when there are dark clouds overhead, there is always a bright sun shining behind them. You are always shining even when you can't see it. Take your frustrations out at the gym working the bag or conditioning like a maniac. You'll feel better when you're done and maybe even have a clearer idea of how to fix what ails you. There's nothing like going ballistic on a heavy bag when you've reached the end of your rope. So train, train, train, and then train some more. Love ya'll.

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Buakaw baby! Best ever.

The misconception

"No, i can't beat everyone up", "no i don't kick trees", and "no i'm not going to the UFC" that last one always cracks me up. I often have to answer questions about training and fighting which I love to do. However, just because I am a trainer and fighter it doesn't mean i'm ready to open a can of whoop ass if someone looks at me funny. In fact the real truth is due to my training I am way less likely to fight outside the gym at all. Also, I am not invincible. I have seen many times guys with no skills whatsoever beat a guy with years of training by a simple lucky punch. I would agree that fighters are definitely a little intimidating but ravenous scavengers of the untrained...I think not. Here's an example of how training can backfire. When I was about 11 years old i was a green belt in Taekwondo. I went to visit my cousins in the projects in Chicago. For whatever reason they exclaimed to their friends that I was taking Karate and that I could beat up everyone. I was then challenged to a fight by one of the kids, I immediately declined. After massive amounts of peer pressure, name calling and so forth I decided to take the challenge, besides i know all of my forms to a "T" and i've been known to break a couple of boards in my day. So I got in my best stance and prepared for battle. The kid then grabbed a mop handle leaning against a nearby wall and whacked me squarely across the head. Lesson learned.
Just because we train hard with blood, sweat, and tears doesn't mean we can beat up the world. I think it definitely gives us an advantage in a street fight but we are human. Again, most of the time we don't want to fight in the street anyway. How do we earn any money or have the ability to even take a fight if we're nursing a broken hand from smashing Billy Badass over a parking space.
In closing, try your best to maintain your humble demeanor or fighter's karma may come back to whack you in the head with a mop handle.

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Teach!!!

What's up H20ers? This one goes out to the tough guys that would rather sneer at people or even laugh at people that are interested in combat sports but not educated on the subject. I'm not saying its your responsibility to start a class on the theory of the Teep or the anatomy of the Kimura. I simply believe that if you expect the critics of the combat sports to buy into what we do, then we have to be ambassadors. Engage in useful conversation talk about your favorite fighters and why. Express your love of what you do, not conceit of what you do. With the rapid growth of MMA and Muay Thai it is a perfect time to be a teacher and not a class clown. Its up to us to explain even briefly what, why, when or even where as it concerns fighting or training. Every little bit of info helps us progress forward and you would be surprised at how much people want to learn and understand as well as how much respect you'll gain along the way.

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Legend?

As you might know, the picture on the right is that of Royce Gracie brutally applying an armbar. When it comes to legends it's impossible to deny his status. Winning in impressive fashion against bigger stronger opponents and setting the standard for all MMA fighters to come. His name is legendary throughout martial arts everywhere.
Although some well known fighters are known as legends and it is undeniable, there are some that just don't fit the bill. I'm just going to touch base on what makes a legend, an actual legend. Please feel free to chime in with your legends list or a list of those called legends but really don't deserve the moniker.

What makes a legend anyway? Is it amount of fghts fought i.e. Jeremy Horn and Shonie Carter? Or is it an impeccable record no matter who they've fought? Do you have to beat a legend to be a legend? I'm so confused. Does one legendary fight make you a legend(Kongo vs Barry comes to mind). Well in my humble opinion winning belts in different weight classes should put you in that category for sure(Pacquaio and Mayweather, Henderson and Penn). Anyone moving up and down in weight and still being effective is surely a name that should be considered in the debate. Also the quality of opponents is a huge factor in deciding who's a true legend. I mean really, I gotta know some of these guys names.

I'm not sure what the criteria are for legendary status but I am sure that it is not an easy road to get there. As far as i'm concerned there is one factor that is nonconforming when it comes to making a case for being a legend and that factor is the fans. We decide the value of the fighters based on an endless list of ideas and reasons. Not only are we a factor in determining legends but we are always right.

Gotta love this!!

You are not a fighter...!

Just for the record, t-shirts and a Taekwondo or Jiu Jitsu class at the local rec center does not make you a fighter. Sure you might know the terminology, and you might even know how to apply a rear naked choke to your best friends little brother Kyle, but that still doesn't cut it. So since you might not be clear on the subject, maybe cause you're just naive or just haven't ever been around real fighters, either way i'm gonna lay it out for you.
Let's start with sacrifice. Fighters sacrifice relationships with their families, wives and husbands, and even their children sometimes in order to provide for them in the long run. Some quit their jobs and move across country or to the other side of the planet with penny's in their pockets to pursue this dream. These warriors also sacrifice their bodies risking broken bones, being blinded and in some cases death.
Real fighters are some of the hardest working most underrated athletes in the world. Training sometimes 3 times a day and working a full time job while being husband and father or wife and mother. Dealing with cuts and dings while training is one thing but having to work an 8 hour day standing on a sprained ankle or stocking boxes with an arm that got cranked too much in sparring is far from easy.
Actually competing or having had competed is a necessity. We won't even get into how many fights a fighter has to have before he can even start earning a living doing what he or she loves. That's a whole other post.
I just want to conclude by saying you can do whatever it is that makes you happy. Wear your shiny dragon t-shirt while choking out Kyle after sucker superman punching him if you deem it necessary. Just remember to respect real fighters when you meet them and remember the one thing that makes a real fighter and that's heart. When fatigue sets in and technique falters and everything else has gone out the window the only thing that remains is a fighters HEART!

Yellow card please!!!

Can we start a push for instituting the yellow card in American based fight organizations. I think it works wonders in Japan. It would mean the end of the lay-n-pray fighters as well as game plans that involve stalling. Fighters already don't get paid enough so threaten a 10% loss from their purse and we are sure to get an increase in action and decrease in boring.
Not for nothing but I love all aspects of fighting and as far as MMA goes there's been a huge influx of wrestlers. I heard Dana White(president of the UFC) say on TUF that if a person can't get off bottom position they shouldn't be here anyway. I contend that a fighter who's initial training background lies in striking and has only been doing grappling and wrestling for 3 years is gonna have a very hard time getting off their back when a former NCAA wrestler is controlling their every move. Controlling and actually fighting are two different things, another reason to bring aboard the yellow card. Wrestle to your hearts content but don't just smother your opponent with your 15 plus years of tournament experience but not ever posture up to lay down some serious ground n' pound or pull a submission. It isn't fair for the 65$ pay-per-view buyer or the 200$(or more) ticket buyer. If you're gonna steal my money by simply laying on your opponent for 15 minutes I want the organization to take some of it back. We need some more Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz types in MMA. Btw this doesn't let off the hook Muay thai, Boxing, or any other combat sport where fighters are stalling. Give the people what they want and that's ACTION!!!

Are you in good hands? Judges

We've all heard it a million times, "don’t leave it in the hands of the judges". One of the most ridiculous phrases i've ever heard. The notion that every fight should or will end in a knockout or submission is at best wishful thinking. You would hope that if 2 well trained combatants go all the way that judges would do them a great service and be able to make a real determination of the winner. Unfortunately for all involved it has been an ongoing disaster. From judges inexperienced in MMA to judges awarding the fight to the wrong fighter in almost every sport. So when someone says "you can't leave it to the judges" what they really should be saying is we need more experienced judges officiating and a system of checks and balances to keep it fair. I mean if we can't let it go to judges then we should just get rid of them and fight til someone is unconscious or dead, hypotheticaly of course. That being said do your best to finish fights and if it goes to the judges expect nothing but demand fairness. We all work to hard in this fightgame to be robbed. Blessings to all that offer blood sweat and tears for their passion.

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All things equal: Women in MMA

Okay, I wrote about this topic a couple years ago and my thoughts on the subject haven't changed. Any woman that trains like we do in MMA or any of the combat sports and deems it her dream to make a career of it should be allowed to fight and earn a living by doing so. The thought that there are not enough women to make a real division is ridiculous. The fact that no one has taken the time to create one seems to be more like the issue. I've heard excuses ranging from "I just don't like to watch girls fight" all the way to "The women just don't have a good skill set". Well one of these is an opinionated view and the other is just a flat out untruth. I could run down the list from Shayna Baszler to Megumi Fuji to the beast herself Christianne "Cyborg" Santos and all of these women have a strong skill set and there are more out there like them. The women are just not being given a true chance to shine. Boxing, Muay Thai, and even Judo in the Olympics have women's divisions.
The good thing is that in recent years we've seen more fights and the doors are opening slowly but surely but we need to get down to business on this. I find it laughable because the truth is the first organization to institute a real women's division will definitely profit from it greatly as well as reel in a larger fan base. All I can say is I emphatically support women in MMA and i'm looking forward to more great fights. It also might help by adding more content for broadcast...just sayin'. Anyway ladies if you're listening, train hard and keep pushing for equality in this sport, you deserve it.

Let the rhythm hit em'

I don't know about you but music helps motivate me during training. When I teach I play a variety of music, from John Lee Hooker to Outcast. However, when i'm training I go with something hard whether its hip hop or rock, and sometimes even punk. This is only a preference. I think you should go with what you relate to but it should be upbeat for sure. For me, there's nothing like going from Slipknot to N.W.A. to Rage Against the Machine seamlessly while working over a heavy bag for extended rounds. I'm adding a playlist for you to check out. Leave me a comment and let me know what you listen to.

Slipknot - Duality
Rage Against the Machine - Testify, Bulls on parade
Linkin Park - Bleed it out
Kanye West - Power remix
Tool - The Pot
Young Jeezy - Gangsta music
Avenged Sevenfold - Critical acclaim
Jay-Z - Public service announcement
Nipsey Hustle - A Million
Royce da 5' 9" - Gun Harmonizing, Gangsta
Ice Cube - She couldn't make it on her own, Click Clack-Get back

These are just a few of my favorites. Enjoy

American Muay Thai is legit!

Ok first I must start this off by saying this is merely my humble opinion. If you're an american thai boxer be proud of what you do. I often hear and read criticisms online and in interviews about how thai boxers and trainers laugh at americans that claim they train muay thai. "We don't kick properly, we don't punch properly, our defense sucks, and we move too much, god forbid we don't want to take ridiculous amounts of punishment for no reason. I totally understand that what they see is not thai boxing from Thailand, but we are not from Thailand we are from America. I think it would be ludicrous to think there's some beef between brazilians and japanese over who owns jiu jitsu. We train very hard here and no we don't kick exactly the same, maybe cause a whole lot of us come from some sort of karate or tae kwon do background. I promise my kicks still hurt. As far as moving and actual hand strikes being different well most of us grew up on western boxing so we will always value that at a high level. We are taught to stick and move as well as slip punches. I've seen countless thai fights end in knockouts from american fighters with better hands. We deserve our t
respect, keep training hard and promote American Muay Thai while supporting and respecting it's roots.

One Love

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Just a little something to keep you motivated!

Let's talk sparring

First things first, SAFETY!! Always have the right gear, there is no doubt that there is a cosmic force that has the ability to always know the day you forgot your cup. On that day if you spar you will no doubt be doubled over in pain. So let's run it down: cup, mouthguard, shinguards, 16oz gloves or mma sparring gloves, headgear, and most importantly know the rules. Everyone spars a little different and for a variety of reasons, make sure you go over it with your sparring partner before you start. Don't be too brave is probably an understatement. If you're hurt or rocked, just take a knee, no need to take further unnecessary damage during sparring. Learn from your mistakes, you're not in there to continue making them. While we're talking about bravery, if you're in a gym in which you are not a member, don't quickly agree to spar anyone. Not everybody is your training buddy, I have heard enough horror stories to not ever jump right in with just anybody. I know of a guy that had gone to Jit schools was choked out and drug out to the parking lot, and maybe even worse you actually beat the dude and they go get a weapon or there boys jump in wanting a piece of you. Really!?!
Next I would say you need to know your intensity you can't expect your going to get a lot of rounds in going 80-90%. My understanding is that Dutch kickboxers go hard in sparring but they don't fight as often, where Muay thai fighters spar much lighter because they fight much more often. Just know before you start sparring how hard you're going, its better not to be surprised by strong right hook or surprise your partner with a leg kick that has him hobbling out of the ring.
Last but not least if you sustain an injury during training, treat it and if necessary get it checked out. If you don't have your body how can you train for that matter fight?

Happy punching each others faces.

"Protect yourself at all times"

Okay, since its fresh in our heads I can only ask what the hell was Victor Ortiz thinking? I mean really was it a sucker punch as some suggest or was it lack of mental focus by Ortiz who was being outclassed by Floyd Mayweather on every level. Well it doesn't take a scholar to know that launching oneself head first at your opponent is surely not something you spent time working on during your training camp for the biggest fight of your life.
Apparently street smarts have evaded the up and coming Ortiz through his struggles. I say this because he must be crazy to think that after an uber-intentional headbutt, a kiss on the cheek and a hug was going to smooth things over with a fighter that comes from the hood. He's lucky that it was in a professional setting cause on the street it could have been much worse. Did he really think Mayweather was gonna let that sort of thing slide, I mean who puts their hands at their waist during a professional boxing match after a break!!??!!
Last but not least, after he was hit once why didn't he protect himself then?? He looked at the ref to be saved I suppose but even if he thought it wasn't right where's the excuse for not raising his hands after the first hit? I don't know but I do know this he didn't protest to strongly for someone who just lost his title on what he thought was a sucker punch...

Weigh in on this if you want but make sure you do one thing in a fight - Protect yourself at all times!!

"Water can flow and it can crash"

Well this is the first of many blogs to come and I just thought I would give a background on the the name of the blog and myself. Like water as most martial artist know is quoted from Bruce Lee's famous interview in which he explained how to be as a martial artist. How we should not get caught up in forms and styles because that put simply is limiting. We should adapt to each situation as they are all different, some fighters are short and stout and like to work inside while others are long and have great reach and prefer to work from range. On the ground during grappling some fighters like to muscle their opponents while others are patient and like to use decisive technical ability. You would not attempt to fight these opponents all the same way. In order to be successful you must adapt and change for each fighter.


I myself have been studying different forms of martial arts since the age of 11. Now I get asked all the time "are you one of those MMA guys?", I simply reply "no, i'm a freestyle fighter". I enjoy stand up striking as well as ground, also throwing arts like Judo and Sanshou. I love training different things and feeling confident that I can hold my own in any given situation. I plan on covering different training aspects as well as giving my humble opinions on everything from boxing to Jiu Jitsu. I don't claim to know it all but I do want to share my thoughts and I encourage you to join in on the discussion. So here we go!!!