Gracie Family.

I have had the pleasure of hanging out with and taking a Jiu-jitsu seminar with Daniel Gracie. What a fun family to be around, happy and full of life. I learned a lot and this just makes me want to dive deeper into Jiu-jitsu. Why not, I have nothing else on my plate right now, except the 100 other things I need to get done.

If Daniel is anywhere in your area you need to go and meet him and train with him if the opportunity is there, you won't be disappointed.

On lighter notes

I have been working phase two of Sr. RKC Neupert's program and it is very different then the first phase, not the exercises but the rep schemes. It has put more of a strain on my nervous system than before, which is always fun. The workouts are brutal but still have a good flow.

I will say it again, it's nice to be able to grab two bells and look at what I have to do for the day and do it. I don't have to design anything "I just gonna do!" as said by Brazilians.

I'm Sorry My Friend

I had to do one of the hardest things in my life on Monday afternoon. I had to put Maximus down. He has become increasingly aggressive over the last year, which all came to a head Sunday afternoon while I was in San Jose. He attacked the small dog of the house Willa without cause. This is a scary thing with average size dogs but when the small dog is 95 pounds of muscle and the big dog is 140 pounds of muscle you have a very large problem on your hands. The results could have been much worse than they were, but they were not good by any means. When you lose trust in an animal that could easily take your life or another, you must take action.

There was something wrong with him that just snapped Sunday and he was going to kill Willa and anything else that was in his way. Luckily a neighbor heard the fight a jumped over the 6 foot fence and helped break them apart. He told me it was the scariest thing he has ever seen. Not words you want to hear about your dogs.

I miss my buddy. He was always happy to see you and steal the covers while you sleep but I would not be able to live with myself if he had harmed anyone or anything. It was an hard choice to make but it was the right one.

Well worth it!

It was a 5 hour drive to San Jose Saturday, to visit the RKC. What a group of incredible group of people. It's always like going back to summer camp with all of your friends with a little pain thrown in for good measure. The energy at the certs always makes me smile. There is nothing like watching a group of strangers become a family through pain and suffering. Not to mention the transformation that happens to the participants.

I was well represented by Dini Leopoldo. She was a last minute invite and went in only slightly prepared and killed it. All she has left to do is the snatch test and she will be a full fledged RKC. Congrats DINI!!!!

Then I have another crew that came up and waved the Team Nepodal flag HARDCORE!!!!
Rusty, Tim, Laura, Sean, Myk and Bubba were victims on Sunday. The funny part of that is that they do the exercises better than those that were supposed to be teaching them. I stood there like a proud Papa as instructor after instructor, Pavel included, came over to tell me how solid the whole crew was and why they all hadn't signed up for the course. Got love that!!!! Thanks to the SB crew for making me look good.

It's like CRACK!!!!

I picked up the Super Duke last weekend. I have been busy so today was the first time I have had time to go for a good ride. I rode a bunch of roads that would take me a week of riding in Ohio to rack up the number of turns that I did in two hours today.

Then I headed home down the 101 at rush hour SUCK!!! But wait does it??? Lane splitting is LEGAL here. Off I went in between two lanes of traffic and was laughing the whole way. It is just like CRACK I wanted to split lanes all the way home and I had to fight urge the whole time. Wow I will be riding as much as i can for the next few weeks.

Heading off to San Jose in the morning to hang at the RKC.

Pics from Jiu-Jitsu Thanks to Bones

TOBO STUDIOS

Geoff was my friend!

I thought that Sr. RKC Geoff Neupert was my friend but I guess I was wrong. I finished the 6 week program that he wanted me to test drive. Drive it I did!!! The book is going to be great and workout is intense and the results were just what Geoff was looking for. I have to say the last set of the last workout of the cycle was brutal to put it mildly. THANKS GEOFF!! I think?

Here is the best part I called Geoff at the being of the week to tell him that this was the last week. After telling him I had fun with it Geoff then asked if I wanted to do the second cycle. SURE I can kill myself all over again. So yeah I'm starting the second cycle tomorrow morning.

GEOFF WAS MY FRIEND, now I'm not so sure!

Like a Viking!!!!!

Thor the god of thunder! Ever since I was little I wanted to be Thor and have to power to fight giants and throw lightning bolts. How sweet would that be!!!! I guess I will have to use a kettlebell instead.

I do have to say that I have been thinking about where the kettlebells have taken my strength levels since I started with them in 2002. I looked like I was in shape but a 16kg bell drilled me into the ground. Ever since I have trained them anywhere from 3-6 days a week and I'm stronger than I have ever at a lower body weight. So if I can't be THOR I guess I will settle for being mortal but a strong mortal, LIKE A VIKING!!!!!

Time flies

It seems like just yesterday that my brother landed in LA and now he is heading home. It has been a crazy week of running around going to metal shows, motorcycle races and having good food and company. I'm not somebody who misses many things but hanging with my brother is always a great time. I have a feeling that he and Toni will be out again soon. Next time I hope they don't bring crappy Ohio weather with them again.

Bones it was a blast and I will see you soon.

BJJ

I have been really enjoying my jiu-jistu training these days. It has got to be one of the most practical martial arts. In the real world a fight is going to end up on the ground and once you are down there then what?? Well as you train jiu-jitsu there are a million things that can happen before the other person knows what has happened. Here is a video clip of Felicia Oh, Jiu-Jitsu black belt and RKC!

3.5 hours of sleep, dehydrated and totally worth it!!

Last night I went to one of the most brutal concerts I have ever attended. Meshuggah!!!!!!!!!!
Didn't get to bed until 2am back up at 5:30am to do a training session, Ouch! I was so spent for the whole day. I was on auto pilot for my workout. It did however go really well considering I was, under fed, sleep deprived, dehydrated and bruised up from the pit. Tons of water and sleep tonight along with masses of flesh should solve the problem.

Bones is in the House!

My brother and his girlfriend Toni are in town for a week. There are a ton of things that we want to get done so it is going to be a crazy week. I will fill in the details as we go. Tonight is the Meshuggah concert and Saturday is Supercross. I'm sure there will be plenty to fill the time in between these two events.

My training is going really well and to workouts are tough but you just have to power through them. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE BREATHING HARD DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE GOING TO DIE!!!!!

So thanks Geoff, grocery bill to follow.