Characters I Have Met.......

Back in June, I had the experience of a lifetime. My wife, Kelly, sent me to a professional Cage Fighting Training Camp, at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. (Check them out at: http://xtremecouture.tv/)

I detailed this experience here on my blog. See my posts from June 14th, "Countdown to Training Camp," June 23rd, "Back from Camp and a Little Bit Sore," June 24th, "Back From Camp Part 2," and June 26th, Back From Camp Part 3."

While at this camp, I was able to receive instruction and work out with several World Class Athletes, including Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, Forrest Griffin. My training partner was a 38 year old guy name Matthew. Mathew was almost as tall as me, and probably 20 pounds lighter. He had a lot more experience and was gracious in showing me some of the finer points of MMA. He had told me that he was a published author, and was now working on a book about MMA. I asked him the name of his book, and he told me it was "American Shaolin." He was very humble and said it was moderately successful. I figured he was probably over stating his success and didn't think much more about it.

Fast forward to August 23rd. I'm looking at the Xtreme Couture Blog, longing to return, when I notice a story, and a link to the Las Vegas Sun newspaper. It turns out that not only was my training partner pretty famous, he actually continued on to train at Xtreme Coture after camp, to continue researching his next book. He also went on to have his first fight which he won.

(Check out the article at: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/aug/23/coutures-son-victorious-best-selling-author/)

This got me to thinking, "hey I should read this guys book." Well I just finished it and it was great. It is the story of Matthew Polly, dropping out of an Ivy League College to chase a dream of becoming a Shaolin Kung Fu guy, like David Caradine in the old "Kung Fu" television show. He went to China, not even knowing where the Shaolin Temple was located. He found it, and actually lived with the monks for 2 years while training in Kung Fu. The book chronicles his journey as he challenges his beliefs on life and begins to learn who he is. During this incredible journey, Mathew actually fights in a National Chinese Kick-Boxing tournament, and actually takes second place.

The book is fascinating, even for those not into the martial arts. This book can stand alone as a travel book, or even a philosophy book. Matthew was being extremely humble when he described the book as moderately successful. He has won numerous awards, made the talk-show rounds, promoting the book, and his book has been optioned to become a major motion picture.

On an interesting side note, one of the guys I work with immigrated from China. One day on our morning walk, I told him that I was reading a book called American Shaolin. He got very concerned and replied "There are no American Shaolin." I told him there was. He was my training partner at Xtreme Couture. I went on to briefly tell him about Matthew's story. He said, "Oh yea, I remember him now. He was very famous in China. He was on television often. He speaks Chinese very well."

The book based upon his MMA adventure is tentatively titled "Full Contact Writer." It is scheduled for release around March of 2010. The book will chronicle his journey to learn Mixed Martial Arts, including his journeys to Brazil, Russia, and of course Las Vegas. I'm expecting at least one chapter on the big, tough guy who was his training partner for Fight Camp at Xtreme Couture!

Kelly Catch-Up

Hi All - A lot of people have been asking how my wife, Kelly, has been doing, so here goes.....

Kelly had Gastric Bypass surgery (RNY) on July 6, 2009. She has adapted well to the new dietary requirements and admits to having cheated only once. The good news is she has learned the limits of her new and improved tummy pouch, and still hasn't vomited.

It has now been about 3 and a half months, since the surgery. She walks every day, and continues to get stronger. She is even planning on starting some yoga workouts in the near future. She also talked one of our neighbors into walking with her when the neighbor gets back from vacation. What is funny, is it is the neighbor with the pet pigs. (see blog entry for July 20, 2009 "Looking for a Pig - Part 2") She wants to walk the pig on the leash along with Kelly and Rex. I'm hoping to get a picture of this!

Kelly has already lost about 68 pounds and dropped 4 jean sizes. We have been to the mall (yes I even went with her) and bought some new clothes. She feels good and she looks great! She wishes she had more energy, but that will come.

I am extremely proud of her!!!!!!

Birthday Blues

Well it happened. I had the birthday I didn't want. I turned 50 a couple of weeks ago. I don't know what it was, but man, it hit me hard. It was almost like a switch was flipped. I started moving slower. I felt sore. I started reducing my workouts. I just seemed a little off. I fell in a hole. I guess I had the Birthday Blues!

The other day, my buddy Roy gave me a call. Roy and I have been friends since Kindergarten or First Grade. We have been through a lot together, including ending up, upside down at the bottom of a ravine in his Mom's Mercedes and running his Dad's Porsche into the back side of a Chevelle. Ahh the dumb stuff you do when you're 16.

Roy, his Wife and Daughter all live on the East Coast, but once a year they come to the left coast to visit Roy's folks and extended family. During this yearly trip, we get together, hang out, watch some UFC and do some kind of a workout. This year we went hiking at the Elkhorn Slough (http://www.elkhornslough.org/). When we got back, I introduced him to my heavy-bag routine. My heavy-bag routine is a vigorous strength and cardio workout. It consist of 10, 3 minute rounds, with a 1 minute rest period between rounds. Not only did he survive it, he actually liked it, and is incorporating it into his workout as well. Here it is.....

Round 1 - Jab Pyramid
Begin with a left jab, followed by a straight right. This is the basic 1-2.
Now do 2 jabs, followed by a right.
Now do 3 jabs, followed by a right,
Continue up to 10 jabs, followed by a right.
Now work your way back down the pyramid.
9 jabs, followed by a right.
8 jabs, followed by a right
Continue all the way back down to 1 jab, followed by a right.
For the rest of this round, do 1 and 1, reset and repeat, until time expires

Round 2 - Straight Right Pyramid
Begin with 1 right, followed by 1 jab.
Now do 2 rights, followed by a jab.
Now do 3 rights, followed by a jab.
Continue up to 10 rights, followed by a jab.
Now work your way back down the pyramid.
9 rights, followed by a jab.
8 rights, followed by a jab.
Continue all the way back down to 1 right, followed by a jab.
For the rest of this round, do 1 and 1, reset and repeat, until time expires

Round 3 - Hook Work
For the first 1 minute of this round, alternate left hook and right hook.
Deliver as many blows as possible.
For the remaining 2 minutes:
50 left hooks - no resting or stopping.
50 right hooks - no resting or stopping.
20 left hooks - no resting or stopping.
20 right hooks - no resting or stopping.
For the rest of the round, alternate left and right hooks - no resting or stopping.

Round 4 - 4 Strike Combo
Engage the bag.
Strike left jab, right straight, left hook, right hook.
Disengage, reset and repeat.
All strikes should be quick, and as hard as possible.

Round 5 - 4 Strike Combo Pyramid
Engage the bag.
Strike left jab, right straight, left hook, right hook.
Count each strike. 1-2-3-4.
Disengage and reset.
Repeat the 4 strikes, but add an additional left hook and a right hook.
This would count out as 1-2-3-4-5-6.
Disengage and reset.
Repeat the previous set, but add an additional left and right hook.
This would count out as 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.
Repeat this process until you count out at 20.
Work your way down the pyramid until you get back to your original 4 strike combo.
For the rest of this round, repeat the 4 strike combo.

Round 6 - Speed/Cardio Round
This one takes a little getting used to....
Stand a little closer to the bag than normal.
You want to strike it 6 times in quick sequence, alternating left and right, almost like a speed bag. Make sure and turn your fists over as you strike. The bag will be moving away as you strike. After the 6th punch, the bag should be swinging back for you to restart. This is a timing exercise, combining speed and coordination, and do not worry how hard you hit the bag. It takes a little getting used to, and is harder with boxing gloves, but easier with MMA gloves.

Round 7-10 are all about Power Strikes.

Round 7 - 4 Strike Combo
Same as Round 4 - Let leather fly for the entire 3 minute round

Round 8 - 2 Strike Combo
Left Jab, followed by a straight right - Again keep repeating for the entire round.

Round 9 - 4 Strike Combo
Same as Rounds 4 and 7

Round 10 - 2 Strike Combo
Same as Round 8.

That is a guaranteed tough workout, especially if you do it after your normal strength training or cardio workout.

So Roy called me the other day. He wanted to talk about the bag routine, check on what's up, but mostly, ride me about turning 50. I guess he could sense I was down because he started telling me to get back to the gym, and to get back to my heavy-bag routine. He kind of ragged on me for a bit. He didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, but I guess I just needed to hear it.

I'm happy to say that I took it to heart, and went back to the gym that afternoon. I also increased my intake of my EFA's, Protein, and Greens.

Well after all that, I'm back and feeling better. You know they say that 50 is the new 20!

Quick Catch Up

Hi All - I guess it is time for a quick catch up on everything.

My appointment with the Endocrinologist to review my MRI was rescheduled to the 15th. I met with her yesterday and she explained about the Pituitary Gland. Mine looks pretty good. The elevated hormone count is common among Gastric By-Pass patients but nobody knows why. She then told me she wanted to run another test.

For this next test, she gave me an injection to stimulate the Adrenal Gland, had me wait for an hour, then check my blood again. Afterward, I was extremely tired and took a nap for a couple of hours. Well the results from that test came back this morning, and the results were great.

My doc is convinced that I have sleep apnea, so she ordered a self monitored sleep test. This means that today I get to go to the Sleep Center. I meet with a technician who is going to teach me how to wire myself up to a bunch of equipment, so I can monitor my sleep tonight. I then take the machine back to him on Friday. He will download the data and analyze it. I then have a consult with the Sleep Guy in November. I guess business is good for sleep disorders.

I also tried to talk with her about the cyst that was identified in my sinus, but she said that wasn't her specialty, and referred me out to an ENT guy. I go for a consult with him before I head over to the Sleep Center.

So that pretty much explains why I haven't been updating my blog. I'm hoping to start feeling better get back into it. I've got upcoming updates on my Training Partner from Extreme Couture, the new season of Biggest Loser, and on a new fight gym I visited in Watsonville. Stay Tuned! :-)

MRI = Good!

Well the MRI is back, and the good news is that my pituitary gland looks normal. There is no tumor pushing on it! The Endocrinologist called and had a consultation with a colleague of hers up at Stanford. It turns out that this elevated "Insulin-Like Growth Factor1"is pretty common among gastric by-pass patients. I still have the symptoms from the elevated count, but at least it isn't a tumor. The MRI did show a small cyst in my sinus cavities and I'm meeting with my doc on the 14th to discuss that, and what to do about the elevated counts.

Another bit of good news....... Since I've been taking my new supplements, I've greatly reduced the amount of joint pain I had been experiencing, and I am picking up more energy. The recovery shakes do wonders, and I'm actually learning to like the taste.