The Twelve blogs of Christmas: Longevity

Me and my buddy Dan.

What's up all! I'm pressed for time so i'm keeping it moving on these short blogs. Hope you and and your families are well!!
    On the fourth day of Christmas I was blessed to have longevity! While I never expected to be anything other than a guy learning how to kickbox or a student of Jiu Jitsu, i have far exceeded any expectations that I have for myself. I am truly passionate about what I do. I love combat sports and everything they entail. It's almost obsessive, but it has led me on a tremendous journey. I have met the most amazing people and had some crazy adventures. It's been the best outcome I could ever imagine.

Working with boxing coach Eddie Rivera 

Teaching MMA

    I started this journey years ago when I was introduced to Taekwondo and the feeling of the martial arts just never left me. When I was invited to a kickboxing class I had no intentions of teaching over a decade later. I was so taken by kickboxing and boxing that I gave up on basketball and literally trained almost everyday, first with some friends and then by myself for a number of years. I was not to be denied. At some point I was offered a job teaching a cardio class. I ultimately got turned on to MMA and before long I was teaching a basic MMA class. Some people I think are content to be a trainer but my mindset won't allow me to just mail it in on a regular basis. I made it my business to watch as much video as possible and learn as much as I could from every person I came in contact with. Eventually and much to my surprise people started to take me seriously.

Me and Eddie

    I started "Bomb 1st", which was a clothing line and website dedicated to fighting. At that point MMA was still considered human cockfighting. Nobody really even knew what it was. Ultimately this is about doing what they always tell you growing up, "find something you're passionate about and make that your job". It's not an easy task, however it is so worth it. Don't let them tell you're crazy, be ready to hurdle or trudge through the obstacles and above all believe in yourself. It's been a lot of years since I started doing this and I plan on this being the legacy of my life. I hope that you find what you love and leave something beautiful behind even if it's just a smile from doing something that makes you happy.

Twelve blogs of Christmas: Fun

Hey guys, trying to keep up with these blogs for Christmas has been a bit challenging but I am determined. Love you guys!!

Hear no, Speak no, See no..  Felipe - Jorge - Ben

    On the 3rd day of Christmas I got to have FUN! We all know how hard it is to prepare for a fight, but the rest of the time the training should be fun. Not everyone is going to fight and even if you're pursuing a fight career, take some time to enjoy the training. Have some fun with the people around you. crack a smile for goodness sakes. It's not all smashing elbows and head kicks. Even if it is, would it hurt to smile while you're doing it. There's enough so called "tough guys" walking around.
    I love what I do and I love my job, and I love the attitudes of the team. Always smiling, always laughing, and always training hard. Trust me when I say that I couldn't do it everyday if it wasn't for the fun. You should try it some time.

The twelve blogs of Christmas: Truth

   Hey guys, it was deifinately a long weekend. I watched some terrible refereeing

in which my fighter got fouled at least seven times in a fight and lost a split decision. Next time we're gonna send him in the ring with a folding chair to smash over his opponents head. It won't get called so we're not worried. Anyway, that's a blog for the future, this one continues the 12 blogs of Christmas series. Enjoy.
    On the second day of Christmas Muay Thai gave to me. Truth, and the truth is, you're tougher than you think you are. This is one of the most common revelations after spending enough time training and sparring and this confirms yet again that people love the safety of their own space. Most will never put themselves in a position that challenges the way they perceive themselves. It's unfortunate, but truth isn't for everyone. Hence the saying, "Ignorance is bliss". I suppose the reason for that is that sometimes the truth hurts. I've come to find out that the ones that think they are the baddest guy at the barbecue are really sheep in wolf's clothing. Either way, there will be a revelation. It might come after the first time you take a strong hook to the chin, for others it might come in the first two hour train as they push themselves beyond their perceived limitations. It has to happen because there is no place to hide from yourself when the fists are flying.
   From kicking a bag in a cardio class all the way to sparring with champions in two years is something that can't be taken away. It is a bi-product of realizing that we are all just men and women, no one better than the other and all just trying to find our way. Once you get that, sharing a punch, kick, or choke is the same as having a coffee together, just with more bruises. This one is definitely for Jorge, who has gone from quirky to cornerman duties in a of couple years. Finding his truth required a concentrated effort to slow him down in the ring. It was often like being on a merry go round sparring with Jorge. He circles better than anyone in the business..lol.. However, once he slowed down he actually proved to be able to trade punches and kicks with speed and accuracy. Jorge's problem was he didn't believe he could take it. It's a hard concept to accept that you are going to get hit and it's completely legal. After taking his first real power shot to the chin in a heavy sparring session, Jorge proclaimed, "Damn, I'm tougher than I thought I was". He put himself in a position to find the truth. That's Jorge's truth, what's yours?

The 12 Blogs of Christmas: Heart

Happy Holidays to all the LMTers out there. I wish the best for you and yours this holiday season. I'm still recovering from Thanksgiving and with Christmas right around the corner I decided to do a series of  twelve short blogs leading up to that wonderful night when old Saint Nick leaves you boxing gloves, mouthpieces, and Judo Gi's under  your tree, or something like that. Don't judge me...

Me and Pam after a private session.

    On the first day of Christmas nobody gave me anything, because you can't teach heart. As combat sports go, there are those that plan on fighting and those that don't but are  just as addicted to the training as  those preparing for battle. Training at least four times per week and sparring with sharks on a regular  basis without fear. The biggest thing about combat sports for people like this is they don't have to do it, risking injury with no set goal other than to do something athletic that they enjoy. People often start  doing a little contact and quickly decide that maybe they should  stick  to tennis. Others get injured and limp away with the mentality that it is just par for the course. In most cases it's weekend warrior types of guys ready to fulfill their testosterone fueled dreams, but not in this case. In this case it's just Pam. Yep, 1st grade school teacher, Pam. I've watched Pam get her nose broken twice and leave a healthy deposit of blood on the canvas and as soon as possible be back in class working on her technique. She is the epitome of heart. She could be kayaking, or mountain biking, or Yoga but she loves Thai boxing and has been consistently getting better and giving the boys a hard time on a regular basis. Now she's doing private lessons and putting it all together nicely. It might seem like nothing but after looking at her with blood dripping from her nose and tears pouring from her eyes, and watching her stand back up and keep fighting it just validates everything I believe about heart. I've watched muscle bound grown men quit on their stool in the
corner because they, "can't  breathe". While  everyone is running around TRYING to be a badass, I would rather just be like Pam and have heart.

A view to a score

My view as a judge for MMA

So I had an opportunity to judge an amateur MMA event on the Friday night before the Hendricks vs GSP fight. The fights were okay and I was definitely a little nervous going in. I really wanted to make sure that I was judging fairly. I have a lifetime of experience with striking, and about about 6 years experience grappling, etc.. As the fights went on there was plenty of one sided fights and early stoppages so it was pretty easy and then there came a fight where both fighters were well trained. One of the fighters pushed the pace from beginning to end and landed strikes with reckless abandoned, the other fighter fought going backwards landing strikes out of desperation but none of which were enough to slow down his opponents forward momentum. At one point during the second round the fighters ended up on the ground the dominant fighter on top and looking for a submission, he locked the submission in but it was being defended well. The fighter on the bottom was able to sweep into top position but the dominant never let go of the submission and shortly after the bell rang. The dominant fighter continued his aggressive attack all the way through the third round. I had no doubt of the outcome as I handed the scorecard through the cage but as the announcer began to read "We have a split decision"... I was in shock, the dominant fighter went on to win but I was confused. I looked at the judge next to me and said "split decision?", he walked over to me and said "the other guy was on top in the second round". That's when it hit me, this kid knows his striking and watches fights, is a fighter, however he didn't know what was going on during the grappling portion of the fight. Now i've already done a blog on judging and I have had my own issues with judges with fights i've had, but now i've judged and it is in no way an easy job, but how do you do a job that you're not trained for?

GSP vs Hendricks scorecard

        And then UFC 167 happened. Everybody will have there own opinion on the fight but the overwhelming majority of people have voiced there disgust with the judging in that fight. The champ, George St. Pierre won and retained his title but looked as if he got run over by two trucks and three busses. There are whole slew of problems with the point system, some say with the rounds and time limits, but the reality is even if those things were fixed and the fight goes to the judges scorecards at this point you still just don't know what will happen. Like the guy that judged the fights along side me, the majority of the judges out there judging MMA fights just don't have the training. I don't believe it's relegated to just MMA we see it in boxing, and in some team sports which is why replay is becoming popular. Even the well trained ones get it wrong sometimes, but at least they're trained. I have plenty of experience teaching and competing and I still felt the pressure of judging, I can't imagine having to judge squarely a world title fight. It must be an assault on your senses. Now all that being said, there has to be a solution, furthermore there needs to be. When it affects whether a fighter is going to be paying his rent or couch surfing for the next three months while awaiting the next possible fight to pop up. Most of these guys aren't rich and a loss on their record in a fight they should have clearly won could possibly reshape their careers. Some for better and others for worse, but should that be left in the hands of someone who quite possibly has never taken a Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai class or for that matter even stepped inside a gym? Sounds crazy but unfortunately it's true. Bad decisions and judging put a huge black mark on the sport of boxing and continues to do so and now it seems as if it's starting to seep into MMA judging. Hopefully this undereducated judges pool is held accountable for their actions and then maybe we'll see some proper scores on those cards. Until then every time it goes to the cards both fighters will grit their teeth and cross their fingers while the scores are read.

Some pads with Jorge

Felipe preparing for his December 7th fight.

Have a vision

         Hope all is well with each and every one of you. It's been an amazing year and as we come closer to the end of the year I want to touch on the subject of Vision. I'm talking about foresight and why it's so important. Going into the forthcoming year, we'll all start doing the usual goal setting for ourselves. But

are our goals empty promises? This isn't about setting a goal, this is about envisioning the goal as you undertake the process of reaching it. Setting a goal is not enough, you have to see it in your own mind. If you can't do this, accomplishing what you set out to do will be extremely difficult. You'll have a hard time convincing other people of what your going to do if you don't first believe it yourself. There is something to be said for imagination. Everything that has ever been made from human beings started first as a product of someone's imagination. In that same frame of mind, everything you want to achieve in life has to first start in between your ears.
          As far as sports go, it is often heard in interviews throughout the season,"our goal is to win a championship". These teams have their eyes on the prize as a collective unit. However, some extra ordinary players often have visions of  hitting game winning shots ie. Magic Johnson's hook shot in the 1987 NBA finals
to propel the Lakers over the Celtics. Magic has publicly stated that he had dreamed about beating the Celtics in this way and he believed it. You can still go out to the basketball court on any day and see and hear guys counting down and imagining hitting the buzzer beater game winning shot. There are many variables that have to fall into place in a team sport for the championship run to all work out. Unlike in the combat sports where a lot of the success one has starts from within. It does take a team of trainers etc, but the real idea of where a fighter wants to end up is solely based on his or her personal desires.

         At UFC 162 everybody got quite a shock when, who many people believe to be best fighter in the

world, Anderson Silva was knocked out by Chris Weidman. It was a surprise to everyone but Weidman and his coach, both of whom proclaimed victory long before the fight was to even happen. Chris Weidman had visualized beating Silva and even in the faces of the media and naysayers he stuck to his prediction and in the end, it worked out as he had envisioned it.
         Having a vision or spending time visualizing your goals is not some new concept to the world, but I doubt we do it enough. It is a great tool to prepare you for any goal being pursued and at least when it comes to getting kicked in the face or choked unconscious it's better to have as many tools as possible. So take some time before, and during your personal quests to see in your mind the future that you desire and then take those visions and run with them. The more you see it the closer it is to being accomplished!
        

Glory 11 and Out of the shadow epilogue

Ringside view of Glory 11

Hello all, I have really enjoyed writing this blog and because of that learning more and more about myself as it pertains to martial arts of any kind. I have come to the realization lately that things are finally changing for the better at least in the world of kickboxing. I was blessed with tickets to Glory 11 in Chicago from my awesome fiance as you might have read in the previous blog. I was absolutely stoked for the fight card and couldn't believe I was going to there. My buddy Jorge and I talked it up everyday at the gym. We probably made everyone sick but we knew it was going to be a great show.

Hooked up with hoodies

       Now the funny thing about teaching, fighting, and just being around kickboxing everyday all day is that you forget that it's not hugely popular in the states. After seeing and experiencing what I did while in Chicago I know in my heart that that is about to change. First off let me say that we had no idea where the seats were until we arrived and realized that we are sitting front row behind the red corner and every fighter had to leave walking past us. Then I noticed that Joe Schilling, the winner of the Glory 10 tournament and one of my favorite fighters was sitting 2 seats over. I struck up a
conversation and he was nice enough to take a picture and shoot the shit.

Me and Joe Schilling

We were close enough to hear everything being said in the corners and hear every punch and kick land with thunderous thuds and slaps. After an early knockout, the winning fighter celebrated with us and his cornermen gave Jorge and I their sweatshirts. It was an electric night! The crowd was into it , the fighters were performing at the highest levels. There might have been 4 or 5 decisions out of 14 fights. Glory as well as Lion fights are waking up the masses to a sport that is as exciting as anything on television. And ultimately that is the key...Television. Glory 11 aired on Spike and Jorge and I were even receiving text messages that they saw us celebrating a knockout. It was absolutely incredible.

Cool ass Errol Zimmerman

       I have been fortunate enough to have gone to a lot of sporting events. NBA, MLB, NCAA(basketball and football),NHL, Boxing, Bellator...etc and this ranks as high as they come for an event. Even better were the fans, nobody screaming racial slurs or obscenities and no fights in the stands. Hopefully with the introduction into the mainstream that won't change. Anyway, the most awesome thing about the show was that all of the fighters were accessible. Errol Zimmerman chopped it up with us and even told us after Rico Verhoeven won the Heavyweight tournament that, "watch, i'm gonna knock him out again", referencing their last fight.  No big entourages keeping fans away, they were willing to sign autographs and have a conversation. They were down for their fans.
       I can only say that it was an absolute blast and that finally Muay Thai and Glory are getting their just reward for being so damn exciting. No worry about lay and pray fighters in a sport that allows you to get swept to the floor but then makes you stand back up and defend yourself. Btw, that's not an MMA diss, the last UFC card was sick and I absolutely miss Jiu Jitsu, but that's another story. For the record the trip and show was better than I could have possibly imagined and I can't wait to go again.

Out of the shadow: Epilogue

Lloyd Sr. and I

      Something else happened in Chicago, dinner with senior. It went amazingly well. He was humble and very cool. His fiance was awesome and we took steps to start a much needed dialogue. Since then we've been in touch and trying to stay on each others radar. This is a good beginning and I look forward to continuing this as we move into the future. Life has a way of  offering you different paths to follow and allowing you to make the decisions on which ones to take.Some times life offers the same path twice.

Out of the shadow of Senior

Hey guys, I am really happy to have all the support from my readers, students and friends, so thank you all. The last blog I wrote was my 100th post and as small as that might seem to some, for me it is awesome. I started writing the blog to just find another way to communicate my thoughts and reach out to others with similar interests and for some therapy. It turned out to be a pretty good idea and allowed me to give people insight into my personal life in a way that I don't normally. All that being said and in lieu of some recent happenings I think it's time to talk about my father and how martial arts taught me the lessons that he didn't, including how to accept him.
      I turned 41 years of age on September 14th of this year and on that day I received a message from my father saying that he apologized for our non-relationship etc.. I responded to that and it set the wheels in motion that has us meeting for dinner in Chicago when I go to watch the Glory 11 kickboxing event. I don't think I could possibly do justice to the rollercoaster ride that is my relationship with my father but I will try.

NCAA finals vs N.C. State

     My father whom from this point forward I'll call Senior. I am calling him Senior because we share a name and I was never fond of it because of our relationship and still feel uncomfortable with it at times. Senior was a basketball superstar in Chicago and had a very well known college career at Marquette University as well as playing the NBA.I would hear these legendary stories from people in Chicago in the neighborhood I grew up in as well as in Texas and in Miami from random people. Once I was working as a bag clerk at a grocery store in Texas and as the man whose groceries I was bagging saw my name tag he laughed and jokingly said, "You wouldn't be related to Lloyd Walton that played at Marquette University would you?.  I responded,"That's my father.". The man's mouth dropped as he went on to tell me how amazing he was and how he once held him to "35 points",  and that was as good job in his book.  I smiled as the man asked how he was doing and I gave him a generic answer because the truth was that I really didn't know. My father and I have always had a strained relationship. He was never married to my mother and was in and out of my life past the age of three or four. I never really knew when I would see him, but I would often hear stories of his greatness. The men in my family, my cousins, uncles, and grandfather had serious problems with substance abuse and Senior was no different. He had succumbed to his addiction and lost his NBA career along the way. I watched from a distance as my family structure crumbled and when I needed a male figure in my life there wasn't any available, but there was always martial arts. Even when my mom and I moved to Texas the lessons taught in Kung fu movies and Tae Kwon Do classes are the ones that stuck with me. Discipline, courage, hard work, and peace through connecting mind, body, and spirit. All of these lessons were fantastic however there was something missing. Not as a detriment or disrespect to my mother, aunt, grandmother, and other aunts and women in my life but there was no man around to teach me how to be a man. The women in my life worked tirelessly to teach me how to be a good person but I can honestly say that I am still a product of not having a father figure always around. I learned plenty about life while playing sports, and I have played plenty competitively growing up. However for a boy, nothing compares to having a male figure to look up to and emulate.

Milwaukee Bucks1979

       Where senior faulted, martial arts took over. From reading IRON FIST comic books, to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, to The Last Dragon, I was all in. I still am and always will be a martial artist, I devoted my time to it even if it was just reading about it and it carried me through every kind of pain you could imagine. It even carried me through the pain of having to let go of the idea of having Senior around. I suppose it sounds a little whiny, but I was constantly in the shadow of my father. He was considered a great ball player and he never was completely out of my life or the NBA. I would hear stories about him, see him on television, read stories in the newspaper, and for a time he was the director of the Jordan center in Chicago, a coach in the development league, he even ran for political office. He has always been in the spotlight and people would always ask about him and why I didn't play ball, and wasn't like him. It's damn hard to live up to a name you share but barely even know.

Me saying appropriately, "Finally".

      Over the years there have been chunks of time when senior and I didn't speak. five years here seven years there. Also, several times of reconciliation without serious commitment on either side to continue communications after. I always welcomed some sort of dialogue but it was never a consistent effort. As I began to fight and win I began to realize my true passion and create my own name. I have garnered the respect of my peers and no longer feel like I'm living in the shadow of Senior. Now when I have feelings of doubt, or depression, or uncertainty I train my arts, and they in turn help to calm my soul. So after all this time and finally reaching a place that I can accept myself, maybe I can also choose to accept him whether in my life or not. Time will tell.

Are you willing?

Hello all, I hope this blog finds you well. I had a great Muay Thai camp last week and I'm really enjoying watching everybody progressing and growing as Nak Muay and  martial artists. It is very humbling and I am honored to be a part of their journeys as they are a part of mine. I wanted to speak on willingness and how it shapes you as a fighter also as a person.
          One of my students came and asked me, "How do you get inside on somebody taller with a longer reach?". I responded, "You have to be willing". It's a very simple concept that applies to everything we want in our lives. What are you willing to do? World championships, a better job, or getting inside on a longer fighter. It all lies in the hands of the person facing the challenge. Now I'm not saying that chance doesn't play a part in all things, but as the old adage goes, "Chance favors the prepared mind".
          Are you willing to sacrifice some sleep to study harder for a test, or stay late nights at work in pursuit of a higher position. A championship of any caliber in sports is a huge undertaking. In order to win one, you have to give a piece of yourself. Literally blood, sweat, and tears will fall as you chase your dream. Some people just aren't ready to sacrifice any part of themselves for any reason, they are content in being on the level they are on. "To each his own", but they might be missing the point of the game.

        I think people believe that the medal, higher paycheck, degree, etc. is the biggest prize of the process. However, this is not the case. Although, the prize is important as Floyd Mayweather so eloquently put it, "I'm a prizefighter, that's what I'm supposed to do, fight for a prize. Duh.." Well that may be true, but one thing you know for sure about Floyd, he has won plenty of prizes but there's one prize he's still after. Retiring undefeated as maybe the best ever. He gets it. See the real prize is yourself. It's looking back and saying I was willing to push myself to the limit and test the boundaries of what I thought was possible. I tested this body and mind and I now realize what many won't truly know and that is that the limits are boundless. We are indeed capable of greatness.
        Are you willing to sacrifice time, friends, the luxuries of life,

and yourself to truly find yourself? If you are not then, then you should be. The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train. It is evolution, elevation, and enlightenment. So cry through the pain, physical and emotional, believe when they doubt, and become your dream. It is all up to you. What are you willing to do?
     

Punch parry, counter kick.3gp

Teep parry to body kick

Ben London learning the long mitt combo

Getting the monkey off your back: Through darkness comes light

          I am sending out a big hello to all my LMT people, fellow martial artists, and regular joes out there! Just back fro Austin, Texas visiting my extended family and this one comes on the heels of a huge victory for me. It was my first trilogy and the first time my woman was coming to see me fight,this was one of the biggest moments in my competitive life and one of the proudest moments as a human being in the pursuit of expression.

After the victory

    I had been haunted by this for about the last 9 months. I think I first fought Micky in October of last year, I thought for sure that I had won, but to my surprise the winner was announced and it wasn't me. The crowd boo'ed I had lost a split decision and I was furious, I sat in the venue on one of the benches before driving 4 hours back home in complete disbelief. I wanted a rematch as soon as possible which brought me into the new year somewhat blinded and confused about what direction I was going in. I was pushing myself to the limit and really losing focus of myself. I had spent the first fight dodging and countering however this time I was determined to stand and bang and count on my chin. When I weighed in I realized that I might have made a slight mistake I only weighed 180lbs the fight was set for 185lbs and Micky was clearly at least 195lbs on fight night but I was determined. I repeatedly rocked Micky in the second fight and thought that I had laid it all on the line but it was dubbed a draw and I was saddened. I was learning the hard way about myself and who I wasn't being in my life and competitively. After regrouping and leaning on my family for support, I felt like I had remembered what it was that I enjoyed about training and what I needed to do to get back there. I realized I needed to get back to being a martial artist. Living the way that I teach. My feet are firmly planted and rooted in having a solid family structure and discipline within myself as it pertains to the time I spend working on my craft. I have a beautiful woman by my side, a 5 year old that loves to train and hang with me, I have my health and a great group of friends and family. It ultimately is all I need. Once I got back in touch with that I felt like nothing could stop me. I asked for help from my friends and worked my ass off the way I used to. I felt amazing...

Micky (191lbs) and I at the weigh-in

 Life however has a way of throwing you curveballs when you're waiting for the fastball. About 2 weeks before the fight we had a big loss in our small family and it shook me. To the point that I was having reoccurring dreams leading all the way up to the fight. Instead of doing what I normally do and becoming depressed,introverted and living in my own head. I used it for motivation. I pushed harder. When bad things happen that are out of your control, you can't let those be the things that slow your process or derail your dreams. You can only control yourself and the choices you make. I chose to make this fight a dedication to my family and it carried me when I was down.

Thanking Kru Dom for the opportunity

         All that being said I am so grateful that I got to be a part of a trilogy. I have no regrets about any of it because I have grown immensely as a person, fighter and teacher. Also, I came away with a new friend that I really respect. Micky Pederson is an awesome guy and i'm glad it wasn't some angry wanna be tough guy. I can totally understand why competitors always think they can do better or want to do it again, it's hard to walk away from a challenge. For real though I am just happy that I have far surpassed my dreams and I still have a lot to offer. Love you guys, never stop pushing and "if they say that You can't then You must!"

Live in your moment

   Whassup people, I hope this blog finds you happy and healthy. Training is going great for me. My jiu jitsu is starting to come together and my Muay Thai is ever progressing, these are my loves and they are a constant work in progress.
    Something I have realized lately is how a person's focus changes rapidly and each person has his or her own goals and obstacles to surpass. However challenging or rewarding those things may be, we must learn to live in our current moment. When i'm teaching class I should be focused on that moment, not the seconds before or after. When preparing for a Jiu Jitsu tournament I may be focused on winning a medal but the truth is, when I hit the mat and continue to focus on that medal my fate is surely sealed.
    For those of you that fight, either for fun or for glory, you should live in the fight and embrace every moment from bell to bell. Don't get lost in the clouds. There is no time but this exact time. To get lost in the past is to miss the now and to forfeit the possibilities of future. This doesn't mean for a second you shouldn't remember your mistakes, but don't let them bring you down. Use them to evolve your game and your life.
I am the first to admit that I get caught up in my own head and the dreams of what could happen and the glories of times that are behind me. However, I am aware of these faults and work regularly to be in my moment. The easiest way I know to combat the constant barrage of thoughts outside of the now is to breathe. Deep breathing accompanied by the mantra of relax runs through my head over and over until I start to truly feel relaxed. I try to focus on what i'm doing, how my body is moving and what mistakes i'm making as well as what i'm doing well. It helps to realize that this moment will never come again, you get one chance to live at this particular time in this particular space. It is yours, own it fully and wholly.
    Btw, this doesn't just go for fighting, this goes for every moment in life. Dig in and live it. Don't live in the past and use your now to create your future. Be blessed and thanks for listening.

Training days 1

Getting to know somebody the hard way.

                    In the movie The Matrix, Seraph tells Neo,"you won't truly know someone until you fight them". That quote is amazingly true. Some of the greatest fight rematches and trilogies have come from 2 fighters that have come to truly know one another through epic battles. The fights often become even better in the rematches because the fighters are aware of each others abilities and flaws. The window available for exploiting those flaws becomes smaller and the fighters must rely fully on their technique and conditioning to win the fight.Sometimes these battles endure and sometimes they end dramatically as in Pacquiao vs Marquez IV.
                  However something else happens as well, something the crowd doesn't see. A bond is created between the two warriors, a level of respect is reached that most people will never experience. This is not to say the fighters will become best friends or even like each other, but they will forever respect each other on a higher plane.
                  I am now facing the same opponent for a third time and I have nothing but respect for the guy. Mickey Pederson brings it every time and though I thought along with most people that I won the two previous fights, you only win if your hand is raised. The last fight ended in a draw and it was the first of my career, I can only say that this is one of the best experiences of my life and I am honored to be a part of a fight trilogy, and a good one at that. I'm looking forward to a good fight, he knows what I'm going to do and I know what he will do. It's going to be a fantastic fight.
                 These are a few of my favorite trilogies I hope you take the time to watch them they are so worth it.

Boxing:    Arturo Gatti vs Mickey Ward
                 Muhammed Ali vs Joe Frazier
                 Roy Jones jr. vs Antonio Tarver

Muay Thai: Buakaw vs Sato

K-1: Peter Aerts vs Ray Sefo
   
MMA:  GSP vs Matt Hughes
             Randy Couture vs Vitor Belfort
             Quinton Jackson vs Wanderlei Silva
                  

Finding the reasons

         What's up all you blog readers, hope you are well. It's been about how I thought it would be since my hiatus and refocusing, BRUTAL!!!! Other than the mind numbing lactic acid pain, the loss of a little bit of explosiveness and technique, I feel good. I'll be sure to update you on how the training is coming. I have been working nonstop and picking up clients left and right and it has been a fun restart. Next up is to work on getting back in the ring and on the mat competitively in the near future. Until then, I will keep training with that purpose in mind. I have been blessed over the last couple of weeks with a new training partner and she is the real deal. She trains nonstop and is actually upset when we have to leave the gym. Her love of being in the gym has given me a new found desire to get better and have fun with my passion. The girl that changed it for me is 5 years old and none other than my own, Luna or "Bear" as I call her. She is the daughter of the love of my life, my beautiful lady Taylor. She is not mine by blood but it sure seems like it in the gym. She has inspired me to be a good father for sure, but now she is inspiring me to be a good fighter and an even better trainer. Taylor also has an affinity for Thai boxing and trained with me in Thailand, it's becoming a family affair.

I don't want Luna fighting, but if she decides one day to enter the ring, then I am responsible for making sure she learned properly. Furthermore, if I am teaching anyone, I have to have the same feelings about it. It's either do it right or do nothing. It has made me a better man having my little sidekick with me and I am stoked that she is interested in Muay Thai. As you move forward in your own discipline you will soon realize that there is always something or someone there to inspire you, you just have to open your eyes to see what is right before you. So without further adieu here is a clip from last Saturday, she can already do the speed bag and next will be pads. I might have to chronicle the journey, maybe not as it might scare away all potential future opponents.

From burnt out to turnt up!

                Okay people, i'm back. After an extended hiatus it is nice to be typing the keys of this computer again. It was necessary to take a step back in order to properly calculate my direction going forward. I realized that I had started to burn out, and it was definitely getting to be a problem. So I took a break and now I feel like I have a better understanding of myself and my goals as an instructor and fighter.

           Over the last 2 1/2 years I was fighting Muay Thai or Jiu Jitsu as well as training my two amateur fighters and teaching multiple classes per week. I was also investigating a location either in Miami or Texas to bring Lucky's Muay Thai to life as well as helping some pro fighters prepare for their fights and dealing with a slew of injuries.

Needless to say trying to maintain a strong relationship at home, with friends, and with workplace was nearly impossible. A couple of months ago I lost a dear friend and I believe that was the same moment when I was having an epiphany about where I was. I had been spreading myself thin and offering my energy to everyone but me.
       
        Here I had been thinking I was trying to perpetuate my career and my relationships with people as well as spread the word about Lucky's Muay Thai and I was doing the exact opposite. I was trying to force myself onto a higher plane, an impossible feat for a human being. After stepping back from everyone and everything for a moment I was able to see it for the truth that it is.
                All that I have now in my current existence were brought to me through the purity of the training Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I didn't really make everything happen as much as it happened because of my belief in my passion. My training has provided for me everything i've needed including my family. I can't make it give me what I want, all those things will come as I naturally progress in the two sports that I have made my life's work. So now that I have come to this point the next thing I had to do was train. I did that and as I sat with my Jiu Jitsu Sensei Jorge Periera listening tom him give me advice on my guard game and it hit me like a ton of bricks again. This is where i'm meant to be, this is the language I speak. Its not the fighting that does it, its the love of getting an education not available through books. This education comes through the combination of mind, body, and soul at the very moments when they are necessary and the constant pursuit of that connection. Looking within and at the same time respecting what is outside of your current reach. As sensei would put it via Rickson Gracie,"finding a little bit of heaven inside of hell". I am amped to train a serious day of Muay Thai with the feelings of refreshed energy I have running through my body. I will definitely keep you all posted with new blogs and updates on the LMT movement. Love you all!!!

               That being said, I suppose there are some things in my life that might be better told in long version and for that you'll have to buy the book. Yes, i'm working on a book. Some stories of my life mixed with philosophy and my personal relationship with the martial arts is what to expect. Excerpt soon to come!

Dream Hunting!

I've been at this for some time. It's been a long road. I visualized teaching, fighting, and creating a team. I have far out accomplished what I thought I was capable of. I am on the verge of bigger dreams now, dreams that will allow me to take care of my family and give a sense of stability that can be passed on for generations to come. There have been extreme ups and downs and times where I wasn't sure why I was even doing this.The only answer I had came inside the gym. No matter what the circumstance the gym was there and I was there, kicking and punching my dreams into existence. I feel blessed to have found something I love and worked hard to study my craft in a way that I can teach it to others and make a living. It is a modest one but the future is bright. I encourage you all to do the same. Get out and hunt for it. Your dreams will not fall into your lap, it is your responsibility to hunt them down. As you take steps towards your dreams, they will take giant leaps towards you. There will be situations where you will be tested, do not let them slow your momentum. It may not happen overnight. The fact is I know it won't, but if you stay on your path and stay focused your dreams will happen and then some. Believe in yourself and do your best to let go of the things that hold you back. Anger about past situations and anxiety about future ones are merely obstacles and not what make you but what should drive you. There is a happiness in the journey alone, before you ever arrive at your dreams you become a different person, you feel a sense of purpose, of accomplishment. What started out as confusing as being lost in the woods will become clearer over time. The more you believe, the harder you work, the closer it will come. In your dreams you will find piece of mind and in your soul you'll find a fullness. Go dream hunting, you won't be sorry

"Yo name Floyd?"

           Hello all, I hope this finds you healthy and well. I've been thinking about writing a book for years and decided why not now. During this process I realize that have many untold stories and I suppose I could share some of them in my blog and perhaps they'll end up in the book. Some of you might know that the beginning of my education came at a Catholic school, uniforms, mass,communion, the whole nine yards. However, by the time I was in sixth grade I was made to go to a public school (Louis Worth) on the other side of town. I had to catch two trains or three buses to get there. It wasn't that it was so far from where I lived but more the fact that I didn't know anyone there that bothered me. I made my way through the school with caution as due to the building gang violence and bullying factor along with the lack of support made it a little unsafe at times. I suppose there are a couple of examples where my Taekwondo training came into play while I was there at Louis Worth. At 6th grade I had been doing Taekwondo for about 2 years.
          Even though I tried to keep a low profile during my time at Louis worth I somehow attracted a bully. I don't remember his name but I remember him having some older gang member buddies and a seriously bad attitude. We had a class or two together and he would berate me and throw things at me, the usual bully stuff. I did my best to avoid him and duck him whenever possible. When it wasn't possible I just simply ran away. He wanted to beat me up pretty bad but he just couldn't catch me. It became laughable at some point. However, no matter who you are and what you're running from, either you're gonna get tired of running, or whatever it is you're running from will catch you. I eventually just got tired of running. During lunch one day we started doing our regular thing he would chase me and I would run but this day was different, this time I just decided that I had had enough. I stopped. There he stood in front of me hands held high and saying every nasty thing in the book but at that moment I became very relaxed and comfortable my target was clear as day. His hands were so high up that his stomach was exposed. I struck it with a straight punch just as Sensei Carlos had taught me and all the talking faded as he reached for his stomach and kneeling down in pain. I didn't stick around however, I took off running. It was my best weapon. Although I was never bullied by him again, I don't know if it was the punch or if he just got tired of chasing me.
           At some point I met a girl that lived near my hood that went to the same school. I remember liking her, of course at that age I probably liked every girl I saw. Anyway we had exchanged numbers and calling people on the phone was still a new and daunting task especially on the bright yellow rotary phone that hung just near the doorway in the kitchen. One wrong number and it was start all over again. I had become a master dialer in later years, I could speed dial on a rotary now that's talent. So one day after school I call her and we start a conversation about menial little things school etc.. At some point in our conversation she brought her brother up. He was an 8th grader that I didn't really know. I had seen him around the school a couple times but that's about it. Now i'm no idiot, I wouldn't have said anything bad about her brother I just wasn't in the habit of putting myself in harms way. A couple of days pass and i'm standing outside during lunch. A voice from about 10 feet away shouts, "Yo name Floyd", "What?" I responded. Now he was standing over me, it was her brother and a few of his friends towering over my small lanky frame. "Is yo name Floyd?". Now I could have said anything, Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike(yeah I did that), but no I said it, like a moron. "My name is Lloyd", at that very moment as the words slid from my lips, I knew I had screwed up. He fired an uppercut to my stomach, now I suppose I should have folded, not to say it didn't hurt but it wasn't harder than the stuff I was taking in training with sensei. A glared at him as he continued to curse at me and tell me he was on the phone listening to me talk to his sister. I for the life of me can't figure out what I could have said to cause the attack. Anyway he was doing the usual threatening talk you become used to on the South Side of the Chi., but in his face it was definitely a bit of shock. I mean I should have been on my knees but there I was staring right back in his face. They left me a lone and walked away. Thank god for two things that I applied from my training, a strong body and a strong mind. I can truly say that if it hadn't been for my Taekwondo beginnings I wouldn't have made it through some of the situations I found myself in.

         Last one, this one has a couple of lessons to take away from it. So I had a few truly thug friends around my hood and that's just how it was. Some guys were cool and some guys were grimy but we were all in the same hood struggling the same way. My boy Eric was that way. We hung out quite a bit breaking windows out of abandoned buildings with rocks, playing basketball, and basically running around causing mischief. I was playing basketball at he park and though we hadn't hung out a lot in recent weeks Eric was there. As I remember he had gone almost full on gang member and subsequently become criminally active. I had seen him hanging out near where I had put my things including my basketball as we were using someone elses ball for the game. I looked up and it was gone and so was he. I was pissed, I'm sure i went on a little bit of a rant about him stealing my ball before I took off home. A couple hours later I got a knock on the door, it was Eric. No one else was home and he sort of pushed his way in, he was pushing me and telling me not to go around saying that he stole my ball. I was standing my ground and telling him I knew that he did it. He looked furiously at me as he pulled back and threw a right hook, I ducked the right hook and dropped him into the corner by the front door with a right cross(trust me I was shocked too). In disbelief, mouth wide open, I felt like I had to say something because everything had gone quiet. I opened my mouth and it spilled out' "that's what you get" and I turned and walked away. My heart was pounding and I was in complete shock. I walked back to my bedroom at the end of the hall and shouted to the front,"you better leave or I'm gonna call the police". I heard the door slam and I sat up on my bed. I walked to the living room and a huge smile came over my face as i realized he was gone. I was re-enacting the duck and punch and even staring at my hand for long periods of time and then I noticed it. My other basketball the one I considered "the good one", was gone. I think most of us in the hood had 2 basketballs, the one with the slight bubble and "the good one" lol.. Anyway when I walked away he took his opportunity to snag the other ball on his way out.
        So I learned two lessons from that experience, believe in the technique(because it works), and it ain't over til it's over. Stay focused or you might lose something more valuable than a basketball or in this case 2.

Martial Artist vs MMA Fighter vs Respect

In my personal growth as a martial artist, coach, instructor, and fighter it has become obvious to me that maybe the lines between martial artist and MMA fighter are becoming more and more skewed. It's hard to tell if MMA fighters believe in their specific martial arts backgrounds or if they even care anymore. I mean the martial arts that people are practicing in order to fight in MMA competition are supposed to have a pureness and honesty and yet these "high level strikers" and world class grapplers" are all cutting 20 to sometimes 30 pounds. So are they really as good as themselves, the promotion,or the announcers claim? I don't know, what I do know is that little Thai guys that are fighting guys from all over the world aren't cutting weight to compete in one of the most dangerous sports on the planet that happens to include a clinching game with bigger guys.. I'm pretty sure Master Helio Gracie wasn't cutting weight to compete in serious Jiu Jitsu fights with men that dwarfed him in size(that goes for Royce as well). I understand that's the game now, however while everyone is studying their respective martial arts diligently I contend that because of the ridiculous amount of calling each other out, posturing, and weight cutting to be the bigger guy that the martial arts aspect in MMA is becoming watered down and tainted. Maybe it should just be called cage fighting instead... I mean K-1 kickboxing is not running around calling itself Muay Thai though Thai fighters compete in it. The only thing keeping the martial arts alive are the guys at the end of their careers that are the best in the world. Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre, and Lyoto Machida will still wear their Gi's into the cage. I really haven't seen the newer generation participating in keeping the Martial Arts culture alive other than a bow here and there. I love MMA so lets not get it twisted the shows are exciting and guys for the most part aren't afraid to throw down. I'm just not sure if guys are getting it, where's the real spirit? There seems to be a lack of humility and honest respect for the arts or each other. I happened upon a conversation on FB in which a bunch of amateur MMA fighters at least one coach and a few friends are threatening each other, discussing whether or not they had criminal records, questioning each others training abilities without any care of whether or not people are listening or reading the conversation. Yes, these are the same guys teaching the after school programs to your kids, how to choke out your opponent, throw a liver kick, break an arm, etc... Where though is the respect and discipline? My first Karate instructor would have privately handled me for any disrespect of anyone. I can say without any reasonable doubt that he would have simply driven to any other instructors school and had a conversation about respect instead of going back and forth threatening to whoop anyone's ass. If you cut more than about 12 pounds through the process of training naturally then maybe you're not the badass you thought you were. Anyway, the new wave of MMA is here and the old ways of Martial Arts is quickly finding it's way out. I've always said I was a purest and I am proud of it. I can definitely understand what MMA is but more and more it's becoming less Martial Artists and more fighters.

Hanging with sensei: "Going for the war"

Hello all!! It's been a crazy few weeks getting my fighters ready for their fights while training vigorously for mine. More on those fights in the future. I would have to say that i've been pretty lucky in my studies as a martial artist. I have had an opportunity to connect with a lot of different students and masters. In this case I am stoked to have come under the tutelage of a Vale Tudo legend, Sensei Jorge Pereira. Sensei Jorge was known for his brash style in MMA and Vale Tudo, and his dominance in tournaments. He currently is a 6th degree blackbelt in Brazillian Jiu Jitsu(BJJ) graduated by Rickson Gracie he also holds a blackbelt in Judo. Born in Rio, he is truly a member of the old school. While new techniques such as the berimbolo are all the rage, traditional techniques are his main stay. He is a firm believer in self defense being the first and foremost reason for BJJ, it is with you for life. BJJ should help you to prepare for any situation no matter the setting, whether that be in the street, the cage , the tournament...etc. When I first met Sensei Jorge, I was teaching a Muay Thai class at Knockout Zone gym in Miami. I had been looking into getting back into Jiu Jitsu. I had done a couple of years of No-gi Jiu Jitsu and even won a tournament. My teacher at that time had moved away and I wasn't sure where I was going to find my BJJ fix. I walk in, and there he was teaching a pass of some sort. I ended up meeting him that day and we shook hands as he invited me to come and try it out. I ordered a $50 gi online. Yes, for those that know, I said 50 dollars and yes it felt like it. Over the next couple of weeks as I waited I did some research on Sensei Jorge and just like most high level fighters there were plenty of opinions about him. I was never discouraged as I let my keen judgement of character prevail over all. I am so glad I did. Under Sensei Jorge I have already pulled in two medals. One silver in the state tournament and a gold in the IBJJF Miami Open. I can connect with Sensei Jorge because I am a traditionalist in the matter of Martial arts. I can relate to the way he teaches because he teaches in the way of the old style. Respect, Honor, and a Warriors spirit are the base for the way he teaches and the way I teach Muay Thai as well. These qualities are as important as the techniques themselves. TUESDAY MORNINGS It all came together on Tuesday mornings. For whatever reason I seem to be the only one out of God knows how many students that likes to get up for the Tuesday morning 9a.m. class. Which means every Tuesday it's just Sensei Jorge and little old me. I think most people would think wow you get a private class with a legend every Tuesday morning. Most would think that my technique is getting better because of this training, and those that believe that would be correct. However, it isn't so much the hour or so I get choked, bent and basically treated like a rag doll that is causing me so much growth. The thing that affects my BJJ skills the most is what happens after the rolling is done. It's the history, good and bad as told by someone that was there in Rio de Janeiro living it. Training with the Gracie family, Carlos Gracie jr. and Rickson Gracie to be exact, left sensei with hours of stories and memories. For whatever reason he shares them with me and they are amazing. The time of the Samurai in Brazil was still alive and well. MMA was a distant future and the days of masters from opposite schools challenging each other were still in effect. Street fights were normal for young Brazilian samurai chasing waves and girls in the hot tropical sun. "When we fought back then Lloy,(leaving off the "D")we went for da woar" he would say. In a thick Brazilian accent mellowed a little by his stay in the U.S., he waltz's through stories as if they happened yesterday. Often citing the fights as "da war" mainly because they meant a different thing in the past. The fights weren't about money as there was no real money in those days being dished out for fighters. In those times they fought for the honor of their schools and the respect of their teachers and their peers. Since the introduction of MMA and money the fights for respect and honor are like dinosaurs of the past, we know they existed but it's hard to imagine that they were real. I have been privileged enough to hear these stories and have often pressed him about writing a book. It has been considered, although some may not be so happy about their stories being told to the world. I can honestly say that these stories have helped my growth in BJJ. They help me to understand the mentality that made this form of Martial arts become one of the most dominant forms of fighting in the world. From crazy street fights to tournament fights, all the way to no time limit fights lasting in excess of an hour I have heard it all. I have gone from white belt to blue belt and am prepared to stay here at blue belt until my belt literally falls off and has to be replaced by a purple belt. I am ready to fight for honor and earn the respect of my peers. There isn't money at this level of Jiu Jitsu competition, it is only a test of will vs will one man to another. Though it isn't prevalent the way it was in Rio, I believe one can still get a glimpse into the past. I am not going to fight MMA and therefore hitting the Jiu Jitsu circuit in my preparation, I am only a warrior looking to appease my warrior ego and spirit in combat. I hear my Sensei's voice as I walk towards my opponent. I don't want to shake hands until it is over. I only want to do two things at that moment, fight with honor and do what they had done for many years in Brasil..."Go for da woar!".

Felipe going in!

What's in a (nick)name?

I am not sure who the first fighter was with a nickname but he started a trend that has lasted the test of time. We have been blessed with some of the greatest nick names ever. This trend crosses all boundaries and is common in all sports from basketball to Muay Thai. Nicknames have a soul, offer the fans a glimpse into the warrior mindset of the fighter they're going to see or are a fan of. I mean where would we be without one of the most famous monikers ever "SUGAR". Ray Robinson's style was considered "sweet as sugar" by his manager and the nickname sugar was born.

Now it's considered a bit of a sacred nickname. If you want to call yourself "sugar" you better be able to back it up. "Sugar" Ray Leonard and "Sugar" Rashad Evans have surely proven to be able to do that in their careers.

Of course my favorites are some of the greatest MMA and kickboxers of all time. Guys like "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva or Anderson "The Spider" Silva. No hype here, just a whole pile of whoop a$$. How about "The Flying Dutchman" Remy Bonjasky. He was given that name because of his jumping striking techniques."The Iceman", "The Natural", and "The Jet". I could do this all day. Nicknames are a part of the fight culture. Part of the culture period, I nickname almost every person I get to know. I can't help it..lol. Anyway, that brings me to my current fighters.

I fooled around with nicknames for them but it's official Felipe has to be "Babyface", I don't think his genes give me much choice. Yoka will be billed as "The Diamond" after someone I think she relates to, Ramon "The Diamond" Dekkers.

Anyway, nicknames are fun for fans, crucial for promoters and fighters when trying to sell fights and entice fans. It's also a way fans relate socially when debating the fights upcoming and in the past. I guarantee you'll probably never hear Ray Robinson's name mentioned without "Sugar" in front of it, heck Ray Robinson wasn't even his real name...