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