Sensible Being

A Japanese Style Omlette

2011-12-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

A simple tasty recipe I wanted to share...

Beauty in simplicity...

3 or 4 or 6 eggs, with yolk (always!)
a wee bit of honey
pre-cooked brown rice
a little bit of soy sauce

Whisk together the eggs, honey and brown rice.
Cook as an omlette (or scrambled) on low heat.
When finished pour on a small amount of soy sauce.

Consider having an adventurous vegetable on the side, such as raw sliced parsnips or radishes.

It can't get simpler. Yum!

A Bad Experience at a Nutrition Store.

2011-10-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Beware of the traps that lie within some nutrition stores! I had a recent experience at a nutrition store that made me feel compelled to share some warning signs. Here are some things to look out for at the nutrition store:

1. TOO FRIENDLY. The guy that works there was really my very best friend (not by my choice), and although I had just met him (or simply replied "hello"), I had a feeling that he was already planning to come over for dinner. His demeanor was way beyond good customer service, it was just plain fake and suspicious. I found myself checking to see if my wallet had been stolen, but it hadn't, but not for a lack of effort on his part! Plus his teeth were way too white.

2. NO PRICE TAGS. There were no price tags on anything in the store. This is done to force you to ask what the price of something is, so that they can trap you in and redirect you towards what THEY want you to buy.

3. BRAND RECOMMENDATIONS. When I took my item to the counter, he said "Can I make a suggestion?" I said "No thanks." He made the suggestion anyway. His suggestion was for a similar product from a different company that he said was of higher quality, and of course this company was the house brand. You see, they recommend things to you that they say are a better product, but in reality it is only better for them, because there is a better profit margin for them on their product. So don't believe the hype, their reasons for recommending their product is only to benefit them, not you.

4. CONTACT INFO. "Hey buddy, can I get your email address?" is what he said to me after my purchase. Certainly this involved some kind of scheme in which he would assure me that I could save lots of money, but I'd rather spend my money buying a bridge in Brooklyn. What happened to the good old days when you could simply go into a store to buy what you want?!

I'm sure those kind of Jedi Mind Tricks works on weak minded sheep, but it doesn't work on you or I, because we know their game! Happy shopping. :)

"The wise man does at once what the fool does finally."
~Niccolo Machiavelli

Dr Bronner's Castile Soap

2011-06-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite things...

Dr Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap!

I prefer the peppermint, but there are other scents as well.

The good thing about this soap is that it works great, feels great, and is great. Many soaps have lots of bad stuff in them that soak through your skin. Dr Bronners stuff (which is old school) has only natural oils and is certified super organic and fair trade. It can be used on skin or hair.

I highly recommend it. I've been using it for years. Buy it here...

Important Resources for the Catch Wrestling Enthusiast

2011-05-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

Must have resources for videos and materials on Catch Wrestling...

ISWA Catch Wrestling Excellent instructional videos by Kris Iatskevich.

Scientific Wrestling Videos and books on Catch and wrestling history produced by Jake Shannon.

Erik Paulson's CSW A great variety of videos from Erik's years of experience.

America Grappler Fight Wear For quality shirts.

USA Wrestling Instructional videos and resources for Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco Roman

Training is the ultimate resource. Catch Wrestling coaches are rare, seek out one near you!

Trusting a Teacher

2011-05-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

A teacher can take on many forms- a coach, a friend, a family member, an ancient philosopher, a person on the street, an author, a coworker, or an artist. Anyone that guides your life, directly or indirectly, for good or for bad, is a teacher. Teachers can be classified in two ways. One is a close person, such as a friend or family member. We often trust these people with our thoughts and ideas. They can be an excellent source of support, but they will often guard your feelings. The other teacher is a third party, a stranger. A person you don't know can be a great teacher from a completely different angle. They may know valuable things that can help you, without the set foreknowledge of who you are to taint their ability to help you with a goal. A good teacher can help you protect yourself from yourself.

As an example, if you have an expensive rare clock that is broken you would need someone to fix it. Regardless of your trust in a friend or family member, or how much they console you about your broken antique clock, that trust and consolation can't do what a neutral unbiased expert on rare clock repair can do. When the clock repairman comes over, you must trust his expertise to achieve the goal of getting the clock repaired.Your friends or family, even though well intentioned, may further damage the clock if they try to help.

Trusting a teacher is a scary situation. You are required to give total trust to a stranger in order to gain from their knowledge or service. This mean we have to let our walls down.
The goal of fitness often requires a teacher, or a guide. In fact, fitness isn't a goal at all, it is an absolutely mandatory condition of life. So the delicacy of your life can be far more delicate than a rare clock. You may find yourself broken, like a clock, and you may need help getting yourself repaired. If you are broken, like the clock, it is great to have the support of friends and family to help you, but you may also need the guidance of a true teacher to help you step outside of your comfort zone to reach something that is unreachable within your comfort zone.

No human being on Earth is meant to be unhealthy or overweight. You aren't designed that way. It's not a matter of simple guidelines, but rather a matter of letting go of your fears.
Here is a conversation I had with someone once...

Jane: "Laren, how do I get healthy? I've tried everything!"
Me: "No you haven't."
Jane: "What? Yes I have! I've tried eating right and exercising."
Me: "No you haven't."
Jane: "WHAT?! Yes I have! I tried a diet for two weeks and it didn't work so I quit, and I joined a gym. So I have tried!!! I am trying!"
Me: "No you aren't."
Jane: "I gained weight even though I swear I really have been eating right and exercising."
Me: "No you haven't."
Jane: "Huh?! What do you mean?!"
Me: "It is scientifically impossible to eat right and exercise and become unhealthy and obese. That's not how the human body works. There's no mystical voodoo curse on you that has made you physiologically any different than anyone else as far as your body's response to your lifestyle. There's nothing wrong with YOU physically. Your lifestyle, and your mind, however, must change. Otherwise there are consequences. Besides, what's your alternative? To not eat right and be healthy?"

Well I got her attention with those answers! She didn't get the typical pandering that she would normally get from family members to protect her feelings. She needed the truth, and truth is something that friends and family neither had the knowledge of or position to give.

Jane made lifestyle changes. She let go of her fears and justifications and started taking care of herself. All she needed was a good teacher to pry open her mind so that her body could follow.

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."
~Ernest Hemingway

American Grappler Fight Wear

2011-05-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

Visit the website and buy a shirt!

www.americangrapplerwear.com

Tiger Bend Pushups

2011-05-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a simple exercise that is harder than it looks when done properly.

1. Top Position: Arms are straight with shoulders extended far past the hands. Abs and shoulders must contract here for stability. Lots of weight forward. Tops of feet are facing the floor. From here inhale and lower into Position 2 (Down Position).
2. Down Position: The abdomen (not the chest or sternum) is hovering about an inch above the pushup board. From here exhale and drive back into Position 3 (Back Position).
3. Back Position: Elbows are dropped back so that the forearms are parallel with the floor. Heels shift back to the balls of the feet. From here drive forward to Position 4 (Down Position).
4. Down Position: Now back in the Down Position with abdomen an inch from the board and the tops of the feet facing the floor. From here press back up to the starting Top Position keeping the shoulders far forward.

Weight Gain with Olive Oil

2011-04-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

Weight gain? Not always so easy for athletes.
Athletes often burn a lot of energy and put a lot of physical stress on their bodies, so it is sometimes difficult to consume enough calories. Here's a quick and easy idea for getting more calories into each meal...

1 tbsp of olive oil is 120 calories of mostly healthy monounsaturated fats and contains zero deadly trans fats. It is high in vitamins E, K, and A and contains Polyphenols ad Oleic Acid for heart and artery health.

Consuming 1 to 2 tbsps with each meal throughout the day (3-6 meals) can add anywhere from 360 to 1440 calories per day! Depending on your energy needs. This is in conjunction with a diet containing healthy proteins, vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, and quality carbohydrates when needed.

Many Olympic athletes consume 10,000 or more calories per day when training. So if you are training hard, don't fear the calories, just be sure to be healthy and smart. Always buy extra virgin olive oil that is in dark glass bottles.

And if you want to stick to the Popeye theme, get plenty of spinach, it will help you get strong too.

Wrist Conditioning

2011-04-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is a video about wrist conditioning by our buddy Tony Torre of Miami Arnis Group. Tony has an extensive background in hand to hand and weapon fighting. Enjoy!

You can check out their website at...

http://www.miamiarnisgroup.com/

and their youtube page...

Miami Arnis Youtube Page

Full Range Leg Raises

2011-04-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Full Range Leg Raise is an excellent exercise. It can be considered a dynamic version of the "Plow" pose in Yoga (Halasana). It will help limber up the lower back and strengthen the abdominal muscles and the hip flexors.

It is important to control the exercise throughout the full range of motion. No swinging or jerking. Keep the legs as straight as possible. When the feet lower to the ground the head comes off the floor. This keeps the lower back slightly rounded and in a safer position. Keep the heels 6 inches from the floor. At first do not go all the way to the balls of your feet overhead until you have the proper flexibility. If this exercise is easy, then you aren't being too strict in your form. Every repetition should be as perfect as possible. Aim to build up to 50 or 100 reps.

Human Food

2011-04-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

If you were a turtle buff and were to buy a very expensive rare exotic turtle certainly some certain guidelines for it's health would be important. First a clean stress free bowl with fresh water. Then you would certainly want this prized possession to be healthy, you would feed it turtle food. I'm not talking about some kind of pellet feed you sprinkle in the bowl. This rare turtle has special specific dietary needs, and you would make sure his turtle food would be carrots and other similar vegetation that the turtle was meant to eat. Why? Because you love your turtle.

Now let's suppose you are a giant turtle, about 40 ft tall. You want to buy a pet human. Feeding it is important to it's health. It would be cheap and convenient to feed your pet human some hot dogs and chicken nuggets, and maybe some cookies to fatten your human up, but you decide that you want your pet human to be a healthy long lived happy specimen and the envy of of all your other giant turtle friends in your neighborhood. Plus humans are very prone to sickness and disease. So healthy human food it is!

So what does a human eat? and what is human food? These are two questions with two different answers. What humans desire to consume and what they are meant to consume are two different things.

Humans don't usually come with an instruction manual, and if you don't keep an eye on them they are apt to put all sorts of vile things in their mouth. So below is a very simple basic outline of human food.

1. Vegetables.
2. Fruits and Berries.
3. Protein: Lean meat, fish, eggs, fowl, and game.
4. Healthy Fats: Olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, tropical oils, fish oils.
5. Dairy: (for those that tolerate dairy) Milk, cheese, yogurt and fermented dairy.
6. Starches: Oats, quinoa, sweet potatoes.
7. Water.

Of course there are times when going outside the boundaries is ok. Allow some cheats and treats.
As a general rule, foods usually should be consumed in the rawest form that is reasonably edible, and food should be minimally processed. Avoid sugar as best possible.
If it wasn't on the Earth 10,000 years ago then don't put it into your body.

“A turtle travels only when it sticks its neck out.”
~Korean Proverb

Interview: Lasse Weiner

2011-04-08T21:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a short interview with our German fitness freak enthusiast friend and counterpart, Lasse Weiner.
Be sure to check out his fitness blogsite (German)...
Simples Korpertraining

SB: Tell us your background. What got you interested in fitness? Do you train other people?

I am a 27 year old German. I have a background of dancing. From the age of 7 I danced for nearly 14 years mostly ballet and contemporary styles. After that I gave myself a headshot and ran a few marathons. During the training for it I gained a permanent state of overtraining and lose muscle mass and power. Thats why I quit long distance running and got interesting in fitness. A few clips on the net motivated me to go out and do pull-up on branches and ush-ups. Even lifted logs back then.

SB: What are the differences in the fitness industry between Europe and America?

I dont care about that. They all want you to sell crap and try to tell you that THIS thing, THAT exercise MAYBE can change your fitness in just 5 MINUTES. What a crap. I dont think about the industry anymore.

SB: Please tell us some of the training you do. What kind of outdoors training do you do?

I love my gym rings very much. I like the training on it and during the cold winter months I often did static stuff, trying to work on L-sit, levers, cross-holds, ...
Now its getting warmer and I pulled out the rope to hang it up in a tree and climb it. I even like to hunt rocks on long outings and lift them up.
I have a goal to train outside every session from now on till the first snow is falling. This is my decision for this year.
Always try to train accordingly to a fixed plan. But hey, thats never happen. I always change things up. Its just that.

SB: What are some popular sports and training in Germany?

The most popular sport is soccer. We call it Fussball. We have won several world championships. Its a great sport. But I am not interested in it very much.

SB: Do you use mostly weigh training, bodyweight training, kettlebells, or running?

I have never lifted any serious weight for any longer. I always want to have an oly-bar to do deadlifts and power-cleans. Maybe next year.
Bodyweight training always catches my eyes. It is great to train everywhere. And with rings it is serious mass building too. I like it and will discover it more and more. Even the classic hindu exercises are very cool to me. But I prefer to work on static things these days.
Recently I want to compete in Girevoy Sport so I got interested in kettlebells very much. I have to admit that I like them but I dislike the girevoy training. Its ok to do it once a week but not daily. It just burns out my little brain. I like the bells just for conditioning. And I like to juggle them outdoors.
Running? I like it sometimes. I hate it sometimes. If i do it I like to run just 5-7k in a fartlrek style with jumps and stuff in it.
I have to use my yoga mat more again. Just to be honest.
Made myself a beautiful macebell yesterday. I am very consciouness to try it out!
I like hand strength training too. All kind of it. And boxing the heavy bag.

SB: Static training is awesome. Also it is great to make running enjoyable and functional. Please tell us about Parkour (freerunning) in Europe. It is starting to get popular in America. Is it common in Europe? What methods of running do you use most?

It gets common among the teenagers. I would be into it if i were a bit younger. Maybe I should give it a try?
I like its origins, methode naturelle. Thats just freerunning in the woods. Very cool. I dont have the time on most days for such long bouts.

SB: What are some traditional old school training methods of Germany?

Military training: push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups in high reps. And gymnastics. And oly lifting.
Oh, and there are fingerhakel-contests. Two men hook together their fingers and try to pull each other. Tug-of-war used to be very popular too.
Many old school training stuff has its Nazi-label on it now so people are afraid to train like that. And most books back from that time are illegal now and you just cant get them.

SB: That is an interesting historical situation that effects researching old training methods. What do you think is a good source of motivation for training?
Music, poems, history. In fact we live in a world where we have a billion choices in terms of equipment, exercises, diets. I recommend a "diet" of plain push-ups, pull-ups, squats. Go strict on form and do it every other day. on the days between run, jump, crawl. Thats just basics. It will teach everyone that we do not need more equipment. And after six weeks stop that. For oine week in which you eat all crappy stuff you can get, move as less as possible. That should teach all about motivation.

SB: Please tell us about your fitness blog.

It's nothing more than my training log. Too sad. I will change it to a more article-based blog.

SB: Thanks for sharing your ideas and motivations with us!

Superathlete: William Muldoon

2011-03-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

This is a special treat, and article about William Muldoon written by Dan Kanagie. Enjoy!

William Muldoon

“The Solid Man”

By: Dan Kanagie

      William Muldoon, widely known as the first World Champion Wrestler, and a pioneer of the early Physical Culture movement in 19^th century America, was born in Alleghany County, New York on May 25, 1852. The son of Irish immigrant farmers, young William was drawn to athletics at an early age. He excelled at sports such as running, wrestling and caber-tossing.
      Demanding to be treated as an adult and with respect, it’s not surprising that he ran off to join the Union Army during the Civil War at only 12 years of age. Serving as a Drummer Boy with the 6^th Cavalry, he saw action at the Battle of Opequan. Then after the war, he ventured out west with the 6^th to join in the Indian Wars, then later to France as a volunteer in the Franco-Prussian war.
      It was during this time in Europe where he met, James Gordon Bennett, Jr., who inspired William to pursue a Professional career as a Greco-Roman Wrestler.
      By the mid-1870’s, Muldoon was back in the United States, living in New York City. Former gangster, Bare Knuckle Boxing Champion and member of the infamous Tammany Hall, John Morrissey, was a New York City Senator who appointed Muldoon to the New York City Police Department.
      In 1880, Muldoon retired from the Police Force when he won the title of Greco-Roman Wrestling World Champion, when he defeated Thiebaud Bauer. Over the next year he defended his title over 8 times, including some notable matches against Tom Cannon of England, “Mat” Sorakichi of Japan, and Clarence Whistler. The match against Whistler, in 1881, lasted a total of 7 hours and 15 min., being called a draw as neither man could score a single fall.
      Due to the public’s response to the fight, Muldoon and Whistler joined together forming an Athletic Combination, and toured the U.S. as the Greco-Roman/Catch-As-Catch-Can Champions, respectively. After some time the partnership dissolved over a fight about a woman. For the next two years, Whistler would slander Muldoon in the press, trying to force a rematch.
      In 1883, Muldoon was in San Francisco, wrestling for Madame Modjeska. It was here that the two men met for their rematch. This fight lasted nearly 4 hours, leaving Whistler’s left Collar bone broken.
      Badly beaten, Whistler refused to give-up, forcing the doctor to stop the match. Muldoon quickly claimed the victory and re-friended Whistler.
      Immediately upon healing, Whistler challenged Muldoon again to finally settle the question of who was the Champion. The third and final match between them took place in 1884 and lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes, with the outcome being another draw.
      When reporters asked which man initiated the draw, the feud drew the two men apart for good. They dissolved their partnership and parted ways.
      For the next few years, Muldoon would appear in numerous Broadway shows. Some of these included, Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”, and in 1887 as the Fighting Gaul in “Spartacus”.
      In 1889, Muldoon took on the daunting task of training John L. Sullivan for the final Bare Knuckle Boxing Championship. This was thought to be an impossible feat, as Sullivan was severely out of shape, overweight, and was walking with the aid of a cane. His drinking was so bad that Muldoon would chain John L. in the barn where he lived and trained.
      It was during this time that Muldoon created some of the most important inventions in the world of Physical Culture. He refined the Medicine Ball to aid in Sullivan’s rehabilitation. He also designed and built an early weight machine to allow Sullivan to build the specific muscles in his core and arms that are used in throwing a punch.
      After the Sullivan fight, Muldoon wrestled his last professional match against Evan “The Strangler” Lewis in Philadelphia, 1890. After winning, Muldoon retired undefeated, passing his crown to his protégé, Ernest Roeber. Muldoon successfully defended his title for 10 years.
      In 1894, Muldoon moved his health farm from Belfast, New York to White Plains. He continued to train boxers and wrestlers, but devoted most of his time to refining his personal system of health maintenance and physical culture.
      In 1900, with the ban on Boxing in New York, he opened “The Olympia”, the culmination of years of study in health and physical improvement. This would be his life’s work.
      Nicknamed “The Professor” for his uncompromising attitude, there was talk that President Teddy Roosevelt wanted to appoint William to his Cabinet to oversee the nation’s physical health. This because of his work with such notable people such as Ralph Pulitzer, J. Franklin Bell Maj. Gen., Secretary of State Elihu Root, and female journalist Nellie Bly, who was the first woman to complete his system.
      In 1921, Governor Nathan Miller, appointed Muldoon to be the first NY State Athletic Commission Chairman. He was invaluable to Boxing regaining its legal status, and was renowned for his integrity and dictatorship of NY State athletics. This caused the press to dub him the “Iron Duke”.
      William Muldoon died on June 3, 1933 from terminal Cancer. He left many innovations in the world of health and physical culture. After his death, Boxing Champion Gene Tunney said, “All I know about training I learned from him…”
      Today, the old barn in Belfast, New York, where he trained John L. Sullivan still stands. It is currently the International Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, and stands as a memorial to all the great things this one man has done. Inside the barn you can still see the tools of his trade, some originals owned and used by Muldoon. There are the numerous Indian Clubs and Dumb Bells, as well as the Medicine Ball and Chest Press. There is a replica of the Weight Machine designed by Muldoon for Sullivan, while the original is stored away waiting needed repairs.
      Upstairs was his wrestling room. The mat was nothing more than canvas cloth stretched over hay and tacked to the floor. The ceiling is barely over 6 feet, not allowing for much in the way of overhead space. Believe me; it is humbling to walk where these truly great men and champions once trained. Today we have 10,000 sq. foot gyms with wall to wall mats and every conceivable machine and gadget out on the market. Yet we don’t produce any athlete who is stronger or better than them.
      I encourage everyone reading this to visit the barn in Belfast, New York. See where and how these champions of both the ring and the body trained. It will make you think twice the next time you step into your gym.

About Dan Kanagie:

Dan is the owner Wolfhound MA&FC in Philadelphia, PA and a leading authority on the subject of bareknuckle boxing, a striking style that we will be seeing much more of in Mixed Martial Arts due to its compatibility with grappling. You can find out more at the following links...
www.wolfhoundmafc.weebly.com
Head Coach International Bareknuckle Boxing Assoc.
IBKBA.weebly.com

Fish Oil

2011-03-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

I am very often asked for advice on supplements. Usually it is people asking for some kind of magic pill. Luckily there is no magic pill.

Although there are many supplements out there for many different needs, I do not feel there are many supplements that everyone needs...

Except for fish oil. I feel that most people should take fish oils.

Fish oil is high in Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Why is that important? Because the fats in our standard diets have many Omega 6 oils. There should be a proper balance of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids. Unfortunately we eat meats, eggs, and proteins from grain fed animals and as a result contain too much Omega 6 in relation to Omega 3. The ratios are all out of whack when we eat these sick animals.

A proper ratio can have anti-inflammatory effects that are positive for health and athletic performance. Fish oils promote heart health, eases joint pain, lower cholesterol and triglycerides, reduces inflammation in the body, combat against depression, helps physical recovery, and many other benefits.

You can get fish oil from oily fish like sardines, salmon, and mackerel. But if you need supplementation be sure to look for a quality brand that has been filtered of metals. Try to take one or two 1,000mg capsules with each major meal.

My Favorite Smoothie

2011-03-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

If you are a super active charged athlete that requires many calories then you should try my favorite smoothie.

1 can of coconut milk

2 frozen bananas

frozen blueberries (or other berries)

some almond butter

1 raw egg

Greens Plus

Chocolate whey protein

ice cubes if needed

*coconut oil can be added for extra calories, when blended into the cold smoothie they form into little coconut oil bits that are tasty.

Blend it all up in a blender. Depending on the amounts of each ingredient you add, this drink can be anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 calories. It's delicious. Enjoy.

Calcio Storico

2011-02-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

Calcio Storico is a medieval Italian form of football that makes the UFC look like a pillow fight. The name means "kick" (calcio) "history" (storico) and is still played today. I'm a bit uncertain of the rules but it is a brutal bare knuckle anything goes form of football that blends punching, kicking, and wrestling. Here are some videos....

Know Your Spine

2011-02-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

Your spine is part of your central nervous system and is houses nerves that connect most of your body to your brain. The spine is also the primary structure that allow movement of the appendicular skeleton while supporting the body and organs. The spine consists of 24 total vertebrae- 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and 5 lumbar vertebrae and extends from the base of the head to the sacrum. The spine itself moves in four basic directions:
1. Flexion
2. Extension
3. Rotation
4. Lateral Flexion
Unfortunately people don't use their spine much these days. Sitting in cars and office chairs will create an unhealthy spine. There is an old Chinese saying "You are only as young as your spine".

Proper stretching and Yoga are important supplements to an inflexible lifestyle (such as tv watching, car driving, and office typing). We were all meant to be mobile flexible hunter/gatherers, but now we aren't, so we must use exercise and flexibility training to mimic the lifestyle of our ancestors to keep us in good physical condition.

So when you stretch, think of your spine. It bends forward, it bends backward, it rotates, and it bends to the sides. It is a great goal of fitness to keep your spine strong and working in a good range of motion.

One thing is certain- Your spine is far more important than your phone bill, shining the rims on your car, sending money to an already wealthy tv evangelist, or whether or not your clothes have a wrinkle in them. Prioritize. What on Earth is more important than your brain and spine?

HERE is a site all about the spine.

Arnica

2011-02-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

Arnica (Anica Montana a.k.a. Leaopard's Bane) is a plant with medicinal properties that has been used for centuries. It's extract can be used topically to reduce inflammation, ease pain, and speed recovery from exertion, bruising, or injury. It is the main active ingredient used in the form of a gel or cream. If you exercise hard or engage in physical activity then inflammation, soreness, and pain are inevitable. Arnica is an effective natural pain reliever that works. Unlike menthol rubs which simply heat the skin, Arnica actually promotes healing.

I use Arnicare by Boiron.

Oatmeal Vindaloo

2011-02-01T16:15:00.000-08:00

Vindaloo is a combination of spices commonly found in Indian cuisine. It is a variation of a Portuguese dish that has been change to fit available Indian spices. Premixed vindaloo powder often contains, but isn't limited to, various spices such as Cumin, Coriander, Turmeric, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Cayenne, and Mustard powders in varying amounts.

Oatmeal Vindaloo
To make this strange, delicious, and easy breakfast side dish, take a bowl of soaked oats and heat it up. Then add almond butter and honey. After that you can mix in the vindaloo powder. Start out with a very small amount, such as 1/4 tsp, and add more if needed, but it won't take much.

This seems like a strange combination but it really is excellent so give it a try.

Poisonous Eyesores

2011-01-30T18:41:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time... (seemingly in a galaxy far far away)
...church steeples, water towers, bell towers, old courthouses, and even large old trees were the central landmarks of small towns. They were beacons that would lead you to Main Street. Towns with good stories, interesting people, and great food with locally grown ingredients.
But now there has been a crushing takeover. Small towns across America are losing their charm and quality. A poisonous leader has put towering signs above cities and crushed their character. The new town beacon reflects a new ideal- cheap convenience at the price of unhealthiness. Some cities have fought back and kept these foreign enemies at a distance, but many towns have fallen hard due to highways and fast food chains ripping the town in half, and drastically increasing their low quality high calorie intake.

Not only has the quality of character been disrupted, but also the quality of health.
Not long ago I was in a small town at an old restaurant (one of the few still remaining in the town). On the wall was a picture of that restaurant from 1939. It showed a full house. Everyone in the picture was healthy and of reasonable weight. I enjoyed the nostalgic view into the past. Then my focus shifted through the photograph to see the present day reflection of people behind me in the restaurant. All I could see was sickness and obesity. The whole restaurant was shockingly fat, whereas in the photo not even one person appeared overweight! I knew something had changed over the past 72 years, and it isn't the human DNA, it is certainly the diet that is often pushed on people.

I had seen this change before in small towns. A few years back I was taking a road trip to the mountains of Virginia. I was dreaming day and night about old school all American cooking that I had experienced in my youth. I knew there was to be fresh apples, smoked meats, and green beans, all made with some magical mysticism that had been passed along through generations of charismatic mountain families. I was certain I would find a perfect hideaway for a perfectly made country meal. However, when I arrived I was greeted by a highway that ran through the town and fast food restaurants off of every exit. Somewhere America had now become Anywhere America. Even a deeper search only found boarded up old family restaurants that couldn't compete with the fast food chains. The only privately owned eateries around were good, but not as good as what the past offered.

I believe towns should respect and reflect their people and their heritage. It is sad to see the golden arches standing high above all else that once had meaning in the American community.

“Is the small town a place, truly, of the world, or is it no more than something out of a boy's dreaming? Out of his love of all things not of death made? All things somewhere beyond the dust, rust, and decay, beyond the top, beyond all sides, beyond bottom: outside, around, over, under, within?”
~William Saroyan

Making Good Use of a Boxing Round Timer

2011-01-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

Set the timer to 3 minutes with a 1 minute rest (which will not actually be a rest). You will need a jump rope and determination.

Skip rope for 3 minutes.
When the yellow light rings you will amp up the intensity with high knees on the jump rope (this is for the last 30 seconds of the 3 minutes).
Then, instead of resting during the 1 minute rest period, you will do Hindu Squats. You should be able to hit around 40 Hindu Squats during the minute. That is 1 round completed.
Then immediately repeat for the rounds 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Build up to being able to do 6 rounds of this. It will be 24 minutes of non-stop skipping and squatting.
If you are a real monster you can do Jumping Squats instead of Hindu Squats.

Turmeric

2011-01-26T22:17:00.000-08:00

I've been on a turmeric kick lately. It tastes good and has many proven health benefits- anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, pain relief, antiseptic, anti-bacterial, benefits skin, and has positive effects in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.
HERE is a great link with information about turmeric.

Turmeric is very diverse and it is commonly used in Indian, Persian, Malay, and Thai cuisine. There are many different recipes.Below is a simple recipe that I like. It is quick and easy to make.

Free Range Ground Beef- 1lb
Garlic
Turmeric
Pepper
Cayenne
Cilantro
Quinoa- 1/2 cup cooked
Course Ground Mustard- 2 tbsp

Cook the beef and add the spices, then mix together with quinoa and mustard.
It's ready to eat. If it turns out a little bit dry you can add a small amount of olive oil.

Shooto

2011-01-24T18:26:00.000-08:00

Before there was MMA in America, there was Shooto in Japan. Shooto is a competition style mixed martial martial art that blends Catchwrestling, Judo, Sambo, and Kickboxing. It was developed in Japan by Satoru Sayama, a student of Karl Gotch and Sambo legend Victor Koga. Shooto is an amazing hybrid style with many great practitioners. I have been fortunate to train under Yori Nakamura (head Shooto instructor), Erik Paulson (first American Shooto Champion), and Karl Gotch.

For more about Shooto...

http://www.usashooto.com/

http://www.x-shooto.jp/english/

Superathlete: Jack Lalanne

2011-01-24T15:19:00.000-08:00

Jack Lalanne has passed away at 96 years of age. The passing of the great old timers gives me great fear in this time of trend-following fitness leaders we live in. The one thing about the old timers is that they were original. They didn't blindly follow the latest cool trends, they explored and put things to the true test.
Jack Lalanne was ahead of his time and ours in fitness and nutrition. He influenced the world of fitness for over 60 years. He didn't merely not die until 96, he LIVED until 96. I will let his athletic feats speak for themselves...

1954 (age 40): swam the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, underwater, with 140 pounds (64 kg; 10 st) of equipment, including two air tanks. A world record.
1955 (age 41): swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco while handcuffed. When interviewed afterwards he was quoted as saying that the worst thing about the ordeal was being handcuffed, which reduced his chance to do a Jumping jack significantly.
1956 (age 42): set a world record of 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes on You Asked For It, a television program with Art Baker.
1957 (age 43): swam the Golden Gate channel while towing a 2,500-pound (1,100 kg; 180 st) cabin cruiser. The swift ocean currents turned this one-mile (1.6 km) swim into a swimming distance of 6.5 miles (10.5 km).
1958 (age 44): maneuvered a paddleboard nonstop from Farallon Islands to the San Francisco shore. The 30-mile (48 km) trip took 9.5 hours.
1959 (age 45): did 1,000 star jumps and 1,000 chin-ups in 1 hour, 22 minutes and The Jack LaLanne Show went nationwide.
1974 (age 60): For the second time, he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Wharf. Again, he was handcuffed, but this time he was also shackled and towed a 1,000-pound (450 kg; 71 st) boat.
1975 (age 61): Repeating his performance of 21 years earlier, he again swam the entire length of the Golden Gate Bridge, underwater and handcuffed, but this time he was shackled and towed a 1,000-pound (450 kg; 71 st) boat.
1976 (age 62): To commemorate the "Spirit of '76", United States Bicentennial, he swam one mile (1.6 km) in Long Beach Harbor. He was handcuffed and shackled, and he towed 13 boats (representing the 13 original colonies) containing 76 people.
1979 (age 65): towed 65 boats in Lake Ashinoko, near Tokyo, Japan. He was handcuffed and shackled, and the boats were filled with 6,500 pounds (2,900 kg; 460 st) of Louisiana Pacific wood pulp.
1980 (age 66): towed 10 boats in North Miami, Florida. The boats carried 77 people, and he towed them for over one mile (1.6 km) in less than one hour.
1984 (age 70): Handcuffed, shackled and fighting strong winds and currents, towed 70 rowboats, one with several guests, from the Queen’s Way Bridge in the Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary, 1 mile.

For more about Jack see www.jacklalanne.com

"We don't know all the answers. If we knew all the answers we'd be bored, wouldn't we? We keep looking, searching, trying to get more knowledge."
~Jack Lalanne

Be Formless, Like Water

2011-01-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend."
~Bruce Lee

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

2011-01-10T18:54:00.000-08:00

A great visual for quitting smoking- a healthy set of lungs next to a smoker's lungs...

It is illogical that our society bans so many small dangers yet allows cigarettes to kill more people than Hitler, Stalin, H1N1, and terrorists combined! In fact cigarettes are the number one lethal substance in our society! Amazingly, people are actually convinced to pay money for illness! At an average $7 per pack and a pack per day a person will spend $2,555 per year, FOR ILLNESS! I can't think of a more irrational act for a person to engage in.

click here>>An overview of the risks of smoking <

If you smoke, quitting should be the primary goal of your life. The key to life is living! It is worth fighting for.

Ladders for Pullups

2011-01-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

The "ladder" method for pullups is a great way to get some reps done.

You can use various grips or rings. There are a few rep ideas you can try:

1. Beginner- 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 1 (10 total pullups)

2. Intermediate- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 1 (35 total pullups)

3. Advanced- 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 2, 4, 6, 8, 2, 4, 6, 2, 4, 2 (70 total pullups)

For the beginner example, do 1 pullup, rest 30 seconds (or more if necessary), then 2 pullups, rest 30 seconds, 3 pullups, rest, then 1 pullup, rest, then 2 pullups, then 1 pullup. With each cycle you run up the rep ladder. You can increase the difficulty by adding a higher rep in each cycle, or you can regress by scaling it down if necessary. You can also decrease the rest time, or add some weight. You can also repeat the whole cycle. The point is to get many reps without totally cooking yourself. This increase in volume will increase strength and workload capacity. Once your strength is up to par, you can graduate to rope climbing and gymnastic rings, but always work your various pullup methods. Fun stuff, try it out.

Reverse ladders are also fun. Example:

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1

Just Bento

2011-01-03T15:46:00.000-08:00

Anyone that knows me knows that I love Japanese food, and what sensible being wouldn't? I've taken people to eat Japanese that had never had it and they ALWAYS love it. To say you don't like Japanese food is irrational because there is something for everyone. I like sushi and chanko-nabe, but I love the simplicity of a Bento box. Bento is basically healthy fast food. Here is a link to a great site about Bento...

www.justbento.com

Enjoy!

How To Make Ghee

2010-12-31T07:11:00.000-08:00

Ghee, or clarified butter, is common in Indian and other cooking and can be used to saute foods or can be eaten plain for nourishment.

Here are the steps for a simple method of making ghee:

1. In a pot on the stove, boil up a bunch of unsalted butter on medium to medium high heat. Bring to a bubbling boil. Use a good quality butter.
2. Once the boiling (bubbling) slows you will notice that the butter solids have settled to the bottom and a froth is floating on top. The clear yellow amber liquid inbetween is what you want. It will smell like freshly baked croissant or the best gourmet popcorn you have ever smelled.
3. After about 15 to 20 minutes of bubbling turn off the burner and let the pot cool for about 10 minutes. Then pour the ghee through a cheesecloth into another pot (not plastic). Leave the bottom sediment in the original pot. You make strain through cheesecloth a second time if desired.
4. Pour the liquid (ghee) into jars with lids. Refrigerate. Well prepared ghee does not require refrigeration. Ghee can last up to a year. So make enough to last a while.

Ghee tastes better than plain butter and is more pure and healthy. You can use it for scrambling eggs, cooking meats and vegetables, as a spread, as a dip, or anything else that would be done with butter. It will supply you with much needed nutritious healthy fats.

The Long Jump of the Ancient Greeks

2010-12-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

The ancient Greeks were fanatics about fitness. The result of their lifestyle can be seen in statues from the period. Our modern day term "gym" comes from the term "gymnasium" which is the name of a training area in ancient Greece. The root of the word comes from "gymna", to be naked. Yes, the ancient Greeks trained naked, but I wouldn't recommend it in our modern times.

Greeks of the time did many forms of training- running, swimming, bodyweight exercise, weight lifting, throwing, jumping, wrestling, and a brutal fighting called Pankration.

The long jump was an important exercise in ancient Greece and can be seen in many paintings of the time and itself was a competition in the ancient Olympics. The long jump was (and still is) a phenomenal leg builder. It can be done with or without small weights in each hand. The ancient stone hand weights in the picture above are called "haltares".

To perform a static long jump you first squat down and throw your arms back, then swing the arms forward and jump as high and as far forward as possible using the forward arm swing as assistance with forward propulsion. Small weights will add to the forward momentum. You then land gently into a squat. This can be repeated in a continuous fashion. Like a kangaroo. This will cook your legs and develop excellent power.

“No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training…what a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”
~Socrates

Book: Hagakure- The Book of The Samurai

2010-12-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

The Samurai of Japan possessed incredible mental focus and can be a fascinating subject to study. The mindset and way of the Samurai (Bushido) is still used today in everything from martial arts to business.

"Hagakure" is a compilation of the teachings of Yamomoto Tsunetomo, a formidable Samurai in the late 1600s. After a lifetime of service, he became a hermit monk and changed his name to Yamamoto Jocho.

Here is a link to a free copy of Hagakure or you can purchase a hard copy below.

"There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you will still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything."
~Yamamoto Tsunetomo

The Hindu Pushup

2010-12-24T13:27:00.000-08:00

The Hindu Pushup, known in India as "Dand", is a very misunderstood exercise. In fact, I searched the internet for a video of a good example and all I found were experts that have poor form. Here is a description and video of the exercise.

First it is important to master both the start position and the end position. These are both variations of Downward Facing Dog "Adho Mukha Svanasana" and Upward Facing Dog "Urdvha Mukha Svanasana" found in Yoga. It is important to get the full range of motion stretch and to execute it with relaxed strength. I know the term "relaxed strength" sounds like an oxymoron, but if you fight this exercise it will fight you back! The chest glides past the floor (or board) at the bottom position by an inch. You must get as close to the floor (or board) as possible without touching it. The board makes the arch of the pushups greater. Hindu Pushups can be done with the hands on the floor, on a traditional pushup board (shown in video), or on pushup handles. You will notice the deep breathing in the video. It is essential to breathe deeply with the exercise. Another very important point is to NOT flare the elbows out. This is usually done by beginners as a compensation but can lead to a gleno-humeral joint injury, so keep the elbows reasonable close to the body throughout the movement. At first you may not be able to do very many. Start by building up to 25, then 50, then 100, then 250, and beyond. Please note that this is not a Divebomber Pushup. This is a smooth flowing circular rhythmic pushup designed for high repetition.When done correctly, the Hindu Pushup is very hard, so if it is easy your form is lacking somewhere.

Some people will lack strength or flexibility for a full Hindu Pushup. Below is a 4 step variation that will help increase strength and flexibility to build up to a full Hindu Pushup. There are four positions for this- 1. back (start), 2. straight. 3. lower. 4. arch. There are two breaths- in, out, in, out. You may also reverse the order of the breathing.

For a further regression, to build the strength and flexibility needed, a straight arm bending pushup variation can be used to really work the range of motion. This is basically a Hindu Pushup with no dip or bending in the arms.

Chanko-nabe

2010-12-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

This is an article about Chanko-nabe, a quick nutritious communal food eaten by Sumo wrestlers, grapplers, and martial artists in Japan.

Chanko Nabe, Sumo Stew

Maxick

2010-12-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to the book "Muscle Control" by Maxick. Free!

Muscle Control by Maxick

The More You Know, The Less You Know

2010-12-20T10:22:00.001-08:00

Knowledge is interesting. Every person on Earth has more knowledge about something than every other person on Earth, regardless of how insignificant that knowledge may or may not be.

One thing is certain, that the amount of things to learn grows exponentially every day. Therefore "potential knowledge" is limitless, and from a human perspective is only as limited as our mind and our ability to comprehend.

Since knowledge is expanding and far greater than the human mind or all of the minds of humanity combined can ever comprehend, knowledge can be viewed as squares on an infinite chessboard.

Suppose a person possesses four squares worth of knowledge, the surrounding twelve squares is the amount of immediate knowledge that the person is currently ignorant of. If this person studies and experiences life to gain greater knowledge, they have then expanded their knowledge to the twelve previously unknown surrounding squares and now their knowledge encompasses sixteen total squares. Now this person has greater knowledge, but now there are twenty squares of yet to be tapped knowledge surrounding this persons current knowledge. So technically, the more he or she knows, the more they have to learn, and expanding knowledge can lead to greater knowledge with effort, or it can stall with effort. Much like an airplane can accelerate with effort, or crash and burn with effort, or it can crash and burn with not enough effort. The expansion on the infinite chessboard of knowledge can continue to the limits of the mind, or it can stay limited and keep the mind ignorant. The more you know, the less you know, but the more you know, the more there is to learn.

Expansion, elevation, enlightenment are the ways to knowing less. Knowing less is to know more.

Here is a link to www.chess.com to give you something to do while thinking about how much you don't know. Ignorance is only an untapped resource. Time to drill!

"The more I learn, the more I learn how little I know."
~Socrates

Superathlete: Eddy Weicz Carpentier

2010-12-19T16:01:00.000-08:00

This is a special article about wrestler Edouard Weicz Carpentier written by his student Kris Iatskevich. Thank you Kris for this amazing article!

October 30th 2010, early Saturday morning ,my wife Isabelle phoned my Coach Edouard Carpentier to make plans for us to go over and work out some details for future projects regarding CACC. He asked her to call back the following Monday to make arrangements. Unfortunately he died of heart failure that same day.
The following Monday I was called by one of his close friends and asked if I'd be willing to read at his wake. I gave it some thought and eventually agreed.

Sitting in front of my blank computer screen, I pondered how to start writing his eulogy. Naturally, the obvious came to mind.
Edouard Ignacz Weiczorkiewicz was born in Roanne, Loire, France,on July 17th 1926
His father, a Russian immigrant, was a local innkeeper. His mother was Polish.
naturally gifted for sports,he had started as a boy practising gymnastics, wrestling,boxing and Savate. Edouard grew up in France during the Nazi occupation of that country. As a teenage boy he was a fighting member of the Underground, the famous French Resistance during World War II. His bravery and fighting skill was heroic enough to be later recognized by France.

He was captured by the invaders at age 16 and escaped being taken a prisoner of the Nazis and sent to one of their concentration camps. Joining the Resistance, he distinguished himself well enough to be decorated for bravery. For his efforts, he was the recipient of both the Croix des combatants (Combatant Cross) and Croix de Guerre (cross of war) medals. Edouard received them from the French government at the end of the war.His bravery went far beyond the ring, he was a real life decorated hero!

After the war, he resumed training in his favourite sports. Making his way to the national team in gymnastics and serving as an alternate on the wrestling team.
He would eventually represent France at the '48 and '52 Olympics.

Soon after,Edouard landed a job as a stunt man,where actor and wrestler Lino Ventura,impressed by Edouards athleticism and fighting skills proposed he try his hand at pro wrestling.

The next day Edouard made his way to the gym where the resident wrestler proceeded to,as Eddy told me ''me botter le derriere pendant des heures'' translated ''kicked my ass for hours''. The next day he went back,with the same outcome.He did this till finally they started actually showing him stuff.He was introduced to catch by the likes of Felix Miquet and Charles Rigoulot.

One thing that always comes up during conversations about Eddy was his phenomenal athleticism. When I met him around 1996,Eddy was then 70 years old.Every morning he would run with his German Shepard up the mount royal in Montreal,before heading to the gym where he would teach young wrestling hopefuls.
If you've never seen the mount Royal,trust me,it is no small feat making it to the top. He once told me how Karl Gotch and himself would climb up the side of that very mountain.
One man would load the other onto his shoulders and would walk up the wooden steps leading to the top.They would jog briskly down,then the other man would have a go at it.

Eddy made the acquaintance of Karl in Europe while Gotch (real name Istaz) was Working under the alias ''Karl Krauser''.
Being the European champion at that time, Edouard (who wrestled under the name Wiecz), soon left for Canada for a new career as Edouard Carpentier (in honour of his boxing coach George Carpentier)
Gotch kept in touch with Carpentier, and in 1959, accepted Carpentier’s invitation to come to Quebec and work for promoter Eddie Quinn.
Eddy picked up a lot technically from Karl and put him at the top as one of the most technical wrestlers he had met along with Lou Thesz.

The first time I mentioned Karl Gotch to Eddy was after a particularly gruelling handstand workout he had us do after our wrestling practice. We were down in the basement gym.The mats in the basement room were very thin and laid directly on concrete so breakfalls were particularly rough (It gave you a better understanding and appreciation for dominant top game strategies). After having done many front and reverse handstand routines, we started casually talking about his career and the people he met.So I asked him ''Have you ever met Karl Gotch'' ? ''Karl Istaz'' he responded...''No'' I replied ''Karl Gotch''. ''Exactly'' he said '' Karl Istaz''...
Now, given his age at the time, I thought maybe his memory was going. Noticing my confusion he added ''His real name is Karl Istaz,and he lived with my wife and I for some time when I invited him over to Canada''
He then went on telling stories about their gruelling workouts together.One thing that stood out was a story about how many wrestlers refused to be on the receiving end of Karl’s famous supplex,afraid they would get injured.So Karl, to demonstrate how ''safe'' it all was, would get behind Eddy (or anyone else brave enough to play along) and hit the supplex so slowly that he would gently deposit you on the dressing room floor.

Along with the Handstand workouts Eddy would have us perform,there also was Calisthenics, Hindu Squats, Hindu Push ups and Bridging exercises. One particular training we would do required a tire.
Eddy took us out to the park which was right across the street from our gym and brought a big ol’ car tire with him.The exercise consisted of throwing the tire as far as possible,sprint to it then throw it back.
We would perform 3 min rounds like that.The throws consisted of side throws , over the head throws (basically the move consisted of a power clean and a overhead throw) then we was the reverse overhead throws.

As far as Wrestling skills went,Eddy emphasized strong basics and drills.Everything was about repetition,making the movements as effortless,natural and fluid as possible.
He also,along with one of his assistants Tito Senza,introduced us to a more rugged form of wrestling.Most set ups were anything but nice.Leaving the gym battered and bruised was the norm,and contrarily to the general attitude these days where inflicting pain is frowned upon,we took pride in being tough and being able to take as much as we gave.

Eddy often spoke and had a profound respect for the technical skills of Yvon Robert,especially his famous ''clé de bras Japonaise'' a particularly brutal rolling short arm scissor. Robert is the man who brought Edouard to Quebec from Europe. Yvon Robert was a student of Emil Maupas a French Greco wrestler who,after honing his skills with the likes of Martin Farmer Burns,operated a wrestling school in the Laurentians. There was also Henri Deglane who greatly impressed Eddy. French born Deglane was a gold medallist in Greco Roman wrestling at the '24 Olympics before switching to Catch.
Deglane moved to Montreal in the 30' and lived there until his passing in 1975. Eddy never missed an opportunity to bring other wresters to come and teach their specialty techniques.Yvon Robert jr came in one day to teach us his father' trademark short arm scissor. Bob Langevin,another student of maupas,came to teach us some very intricate leg rides.These sessions were pure gold for guys like myself who wanted to learn as much as possible about the old school style of submission wrestling.
Yoga was also part of our training regime. being a powerlifter for years, I was sceptical about this new form of training.the gymnastics based movements,calisthenics Yoga etc. But soon came to realize it made me better aware of my own body and movements. Also,for the first time in years,my joints didn't kill me anymore and suddenly I became much more mobile.

Although I never once heard Eddy speak ill of anyone,in return many of his peers didn't have as much scruples. Eddy wasn't universally loved, in part because of his moody, loner personality, but also because of the challenges of working with him.
To the press, he was always gracious, extremely nice and never refused a request to pose, sign autographs, etc. but he took great pride in his appearance and his work,and perhaps some of that came off as ego-driven.

One of Eddy's opponents, Ivan "The Russian Bear" Koloff, put Carpentier
in league with the likes of Karl Gotch,Mil Mascaras and Billy Robinson.

"There were several guys like that who were in right great shape, and they're the type of wrestlers that you had to be on your toes and work hard to make a match," Koloff said. "Not that they were difficult that way, it was just the idea that they were proud guys and you just didn't kick them around in the ring.

"They made you work for it." (1)

Some,like Feddie Blassie would say of Eddy '' Edouard Carpentier? Very scientific, but very conceited.''
Actually,He was just very quiet, minding his own business. Not out to make friends with everyone.Especially not with those who didn't share his work ethic or his commitment to training.
Edouard was an easy-going guy who did things is own way and never kissed anyone's ass.

When out on the road for wrestling venues,fellow wrestlers would often flip a coin to know who would ride with Eddy.
While the other guys made there way to local pubs,strip clubs and the like.Eddy would prefer retiring to his hotel room early.
Even if he went to bed at 3 am he would get up at 6 am for his dayly 5 mile run.This was Followed by a healthy breakfast,for which he measured all of his caloric intake,then he would find a local gym and train for hours on end,before jumping into the ring that same evening.He seldom,if at all drank alcohol,never smoked and would rather spend an evening alone in his room reading a good book rather than go out and party with the boys.
His training routine also included Yoga which he said helped him focus and maintain his suppleness.

Extensive Calisthenics workouts,Greco Roman Wrestling,Catch Wrestling,Boxing,Savate,Judo,yoga... Eddy was cross training even before they had coined a term for it.

During social gatherings,he would never be centre stage.You would find Eddy sitting alone in a remote corner of the room while all the people mingled.
Oddly enough, everyone would flock towards him.People were naturally drawn to him. He always treated people with the utmost respect.
He was very generous of his time and of his person.
Soft spoken,mild mannered,highly cultivated and bright,he was the perfect gentlemen at all times.

Thank you Edouard for your time and patience and especially for those wonderful stories.
Bon Voyage

Kris

(1) slam sports wrestling

You can visit Kris at his site www.catchwrestlingcanada.com

Why a Tree is the Most Important Thing on Earth

2010-11-22T20:50:00.000-08:00

I'm no tree hugging hippie, but I'm a realist, a sensible realist. As a realist I feel that trees go relatively unnoticed. We often notice a cool picture, a flashy car, or a fancy building, but trees just go by day to day. As a realist I think that tress (and plants) are the most important thing on Earth.

Life on Earth is fueled by energy. Without the energy of life the earth would just be a dead rock in space. You, as an animal (specifically the mammal Homo Sapien), need to produce energy to sustain life. This energy comes from oxygen and food. Oxygen is supplied by trees and plants when they convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, and although our atmosphere is mostly nitrogen, it is the oxygen given off by trees and plants that we need for life. Food that we consume is broken down from plant and animal matter (protein, carbohydrates, and fats) to give us energy. The original source of this energy comes from the sun. Trees and plants are the first step of converting sunlight into energy by photosynthesis using water and carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis is also the source of carbon within all the organic compounds of living organisms, and we are carbon based lifeforms. Basically, trees are the coolest thing ever. Without them, you are nothing but cosmic stardust.

Nothing that anyone on Earth does is more important to you than the actions of a tree. No lawyer, doctor, priest, best friend, idol, or political leader makes more important decisions that directly effect your life than the day to day routine of a tree. Even the most important bill or law passed by Congress can't compare to the relevance of your next breath, and your next breath is all thanks to trees and plants. The silly things we worry about, our electric bill, our hair, our cars, our things, all mean nothing compared to what a tree does for us for free- they let us breathe!

So the question is this: Would you rather exercise in a bland gym with artificial lights, artificial sounds, synthetic rubber mats, and machines? or would you rather exercise outside next to a tree? Nature provides you the best gym, and it belongs to you.

Just a little something to think about the next time you are outside.

“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.”
~Martin Luther

Erik Paulson's Combat Submission Wrestling

2010-11-07T12:40:00.000-08:00

Erik Paulson is one of the top Submission/Mixed Martial Arts trainers out there. He is a former Shooto champion and trainer of many UFC champions including Brock Lesnar and others.

Here is a link to his gym in Orange County, CA:

www.erikpaulson.com

I have known Erik for many years and I am a Level 2 Coach in his organization. He is a wealth of knowledge and an all around great guy. I highly recommend attending one of his seminars if you are into grappling. This weekend I had the honor of again conducting a bodyweight conditioning and heavy club swinging segment at his Houston seminar. People really loved the unique exercises.
He is keeping Catch Wrestling alive!

The Karl Gotch Bible

2010-11-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

It's so awesome and hardcore that I had to post it again:

For this workout you will need a standard deck of playing cards.

Clubs: Double the value for Hindu Squats.
Spaids: Double value for Hindu Jumper Squats.
Diamonds: Number value for Straight Pushups (or half moon pushups)
Hearts: Number value for Hindu Pushups.

Number Cards (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)= Given value.
Face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings)= 10 value.
Aces= 11 value.
Jokers= 20 value.

Shuffle the deck well. Deal the top card. Do the number and exercise for that card. Then, without rest, deal the second card, and on and on until the entire deck is finished.

For example we will look at 10 random cards...

3 of Clubs= 6 squats
Jack of Spaids= 20 jumpers
King of Hearts= 10 hindu pushups
6 of Diamonds= 6 pushups
9 of spaids= 18 jumpers
King of Clubs= 20 squats
Joker= 40 squats or 20 hindu pushups
Jack of Diamonds= 10 pushups
Ace of Spaids= 22 jumpers
3 of Hearts= 3 hindu pushups
etc.....

This workout done at a reasonable clip should take about 30 minutes. It is not as easy as it looks so don't send me emails saying you ripped through the deck twice on your first try. All exercises should be done in perfect form.

The total number of squats is 420. The total number of pushups is 210. The total reps is 630.

Beginners can break the cards up into sets, or take longer time to complete, or take out the advanced exercises, change the exercises, or not double the squat numbers. Modifications should not become a crutch, just a means for progression.

HERE is a brief description by Jake Shannon at Scientific Wrestling.

You will never look at a deck of cards the same again.

Chaos Reigns

2010-10-28T18:39:00.000-07:00

The Universe and the Laws of Nature are a system of the most perfect order. The order is totally structured within a system of chaos, a lack of order, and chaos (disorder) is always structured within order. Within infinite disorder it is always possible to find patterns. This all sounds a bit deep, but it really leads back to simplicity. Chaos Reigns.

Many people ask me about training and they often expect a perfect answer, a perfect way, ABC and XYZ in some Universal answer that explains exercise exactly, but exercise is not an exact science. There is no exact answer. There are only simple explanations and tools one can give to help guide a person towards their own way.

My point is that there really is no exact method. The artistic expression of exercise works within science (order) but has the freedom of chaos (disorder). So when training, whether it's running, wrestling, swimming, Yoga, intramural collegiate Quiddish, or any sport, don't forget to be ALIVE in the moment. There is no need to follow a set style, trend, or way. Explore the various mediums for yourself and create your art with it. Imagine if Muhammed Ali had chosen to be a follower and train and box like everyone else. He would have never been a great fighter, but he chose to express himself in his own unique way. Or imagine if Bruce Lee had chosen to do the same martial arts as everyone else, he would have been like everyone else. Instead he carved his own way. Be a leader, not a follower. Be unique. Train harder. Remember, Chaos Reigns.

"In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order."
~Carl Jung

Almonds, Soaked and Blanched

2010-10-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

This is a great way to prepare almonds for easy consumption.

First thing is the soaking.
Soak the almonds overnight for 12 to 24 hours. Make sure to soak them only in a glass container. Plastic containers will leach toxins into foods over time.

When the almonds are soaked, put them into a pot of water that was just boiling, right at the point after you turn the stove top off. Let the almonds sit in the very hot (but not still boiling) water. Let the water cool to being lukewarm.

Then take the almonds individually and squeeze them between your fingers at the pointed end. The light colored almonds will easily pop out of the brown skin. This is the fun part, be sharp because they sometimes fly in wild directions! The almonds are now blanched.

Once cool they will keep in the refrigerator for an easy convenient snack.

Why soak and blanch almonds? One reason is that it makes them tasty and soft, yet still crunchy. However, the main reason is that the brown skin contains various nutrient blockers. Once soaked and blanched you can get more nutritional benefit from the almonds. They are high in healthy fats, protein, Riboflavin, Magnesium, Manganese, Vitamin E, and L-Arginine.

The 4 Hour Work Week

2010-09-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

Timothy Ferris has interesting perspectives of approaching work and life in a different way than most of us are conditioned to follow. Here is a short story from the book "The 4 Hour Work Week":

An American consultant was at a pier in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied "Only a little while".

The consultant then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

The American then asked the Mexican how he spent the rest of his time.

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The American consultant scoffed, “I am business consultant and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution."

“You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?”

To which the American consultant replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then, senor?” asked the fisherman.

The consultant laughed, and said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public. You’ll become very rich, you would make millions!”

“Millions, senor?” replied the Mexican. “Then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

Please help support this site by buying this book here.

Squats and Music

2010-09-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

If you find that high repetition squats are getting boring or stagnant, perhaps you can squats with music. Here are a couple of ways:

1. Do 100 squats at the start of each song of an entire album.

It should take around 2 or 3 minutes to complete 100 squats, so if a song is 4:15 and you complete your 100 squats in 2:30, then you get 1:45 rest. If another song is 3:10 and you complete 100 squats in 2:45, then you get :25 rest. Some songs are short and offer little to no rest.

You can use any album you like, but for the sake of discussion let's assume you are listening to "The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol 1". There are 10 songs of varying length. That would be 1,000 total squats. Some albums have more songs, some have less. Choose wisely.

2. Do squats to the rhythm of an album.

Each song will have a different meter and rhythm. This is usually noted as bpm, beats per minute. Some songs will be slower or faster than others, and some songs will vary their beat within a song. You can do squats while following the various beats of each song. Try getting through the whole album!

Different bands, styles, and albums will have very different moods and tempos. Try to vary musical styles.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

2010-09-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895-1986) was one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century, and of all time.
Here is a link to many of his publishings, for free:

The books of Krishnamurti

"I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect."
~J. Krishnamurti

Exercise is an Art, not a Science.

2010-08-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

I have spent many years studying exercise "science" and I have come to realize that exercise is not a science at all. It often is disguised as a science, and fancy words and slick labels are often used to bedazzle the layperson. I have dug under every rock looking for the truth, from college courses to mystical long lost secret training systems, and I am now convinced that exercise is truly an art and not a science.

I'm not saying that exercise is separate from the laws of science, but it is separate from a set scientific method. Much in the way that painting is an art and not a science. We can observe works of art from a great painter, such as 16th century Dutch painter Rembrant, and explain it scientifically. We can note the chemistry involved in the pigmentation of paints and the bonding of those paints to primer. We can analyze the physics of Rembrant's brush strokes. We can study the psychology behind the meaning of various paintings, to both the artist and the viewer. All aspects of painting can be explained scientifically, except for the one quality of painting that transcends science- the artistic expression of the painting. There really is no way to scientifically contain and define art, even though "art" is backed by sound science.

Art is alive. It does not exist in set patterns or best methods. Another great example is Jimi Hendrix, one of the greatest guitar players ever. Scientifically speaking, he was no classical composer and he was certainly a sloppy player, but he was truly an artist. His way trancended the explainable science of music. Sometimes art is about impact more than content. Context is often a key part. You don't need to be a Rembrant to be a painter, and you don't need to be a world class guitarist to play in a punk band, but both can achieve art by rising beyond science. Even the most perfectly structured classical piece can elevate above its strictness and science. There is a moment when music carries you away. This can't be explained, only experienced.

Bruce Lee said, "Before I studied the art, a punch to me was just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick no longer a kick. Now that I've understood the art, a punch is just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. The height of cultivation is really nothing special. It is merely simplicity; the ability to express the utmost with the minimum." He understood that an artist can build a large block of content, but then must strip it away into it's simplest form to reveal the true art within it.

I think a real expert is possibly someone who has forgotten more of his expertise than he or she actually remembers. Much like a sculptor that strips clay away to create the image within their mind, not by scientific method, but by artistic expression. So, for me, my path involves forgetting, and simply expressing who I am, and helping others express themselves. Each and every one of us, in some way, is an artist. There is no set way, science simply serves as a flowing river for art to float on.

“To me, ultimately, martial art means honestly expressing yourself. It is very difficult to do. It is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky and be pretty cool and all that… or I can make all kinds of phony things, and be blinded by it, or I can show you some really fancy movement. But, to express oneself honestly, not lying to oneself, that, my friend, is very hard to do.”

~Bruce Lee

Book: Anatomy of Hatha Yoga

2010-08-24T21:46:00.001-07:00

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Please help support this site by buying this book here.

Greens Plus+

2010-08-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

www.greensplus.com

Papaya, Yogurt & Berries

2010-08-10T10:23:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I like to have tropical fruit with breakfast, especially papaya. I like things that are quick and easy. Here is a very easy way to prepare it:

Cut one papaya down the middle, scoop out the seeds. If you would like, these seeds can be washed, dried, and ground in a pepper mill for a unique papaya "pepper".

Fill the hollowed out papaya middle with yogurt. Get the good plain REAL full fat yogurt. DO NOT EVER buy the little containers of fat free sugary high fructose corn syrup "fruit at the bottom" yogurt, regardless of how healthy the container says it is. You know in your heart that it doesn't compare to real yogurt.

Top with berries. I like blueberries, but any berries can be used. You may also top with some almonds.

To round off this breakfast scramble some eggs (and the yolks) with coconut oil and sprinkle it with some kelp flakes.

You can eat the papaya, yogurt, blueberries, and nuts right out of the papaya with a spoon. It is very delicious and nutritious.

It is important to get a perfectly ripe papaya. If you eat it too soon it may be a little bitter, and just a day late will make it taste funky. You may also use the smaller sunrise papayas. They have a longer window of time being perfectly ripe.

Papaya is high in the antioxidants Vitamin A and Vitamin C. It is also high in potassium and folate. Even though most of it's caloric value is sugar, half of a large papaya only has about 10 grams of natural sugar and about 4 grams of fiber, and a low glycemic load despite being a sweet tasting fruit. Papaya also contains a digestive enzyme called papain. Papain is found in much higher amounts in green papaya more than ripe papaya. Papaya is good for the digestive system and also helps with pain relief and physical recovery. Plus it tastes great, especially with yogurt.

Papaya is a nice treat. Give it a try.

Soak The Oats.

2010-08-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

I generally believe, or actually I know, that grains are the devil and should be avoided as best possible. You won't see me eating much bread, rice, or pasta. No need to get into the scientific facts about it right now. Trust me, not everything from the earth is good for you. Luckily rational science agrees.
However, glycogen replenishment is part of an athlete's life, so oats can be a reasonable form of nutrition, as long as they are fermented.

Fermentation is an ancient worldwide process of food preservation and preparation. In the case of oats fermentation helps reduce nutrient blockers (anti-nutrients) that occur naturally in the oats. You see, oats don't want to be eaten, so they have some defenses. Fermenting them makes them more nutritious for consumption.

The good news is that oats will not have an excessively heavy insulin response, especially when eaten in conjunction with protein.

There are many ways to ferment oats, here is a simple one...
How to ferment oats: (It's easy)

1. Put oats in a bowl. Buy the real oats, the good stuff. NEVER instant!
2. Put in enough water to submerge the oats. 1 cup of oats need a cup and a half or so of water.
3. Mix in a tablespoon or so of yogurt. REAL yogurt, not the fruity syrup low fat guilt free crap!
4. Cover the bowl with a plate to keep out dust, bugs, and other things.
Leave it alone to soak for 12 to 24 hours.
5. Then cook them a little bit. Add a bit of cinnamon (cinnamon is a blood sugar regulator). Maybe add a bit of honey too. REAL honey!

They will miraculously taste great! Give it a try.

SUPERATHLETE: Alain Ngalani

2010-08-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people come along that make me feel like I don't train even close to hard enough! This is Alain Ngalani, two time Muay Thai champion and phenomenal athlete.

Sun Salutation

2010-08-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

Yoga...

An excellent Sun Salutation, Surya Namaskar.

SUPERATHLETE: Patraic Currey

2010-08-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

My buddy Patraic Currey of Palm Harbor FL, at 65 years old weighing in at 170 lbs, sets a competition record 465 lb deadlift. No straps. Single ply suit. Drug free.

This is an impressive weight for anyone of any age or weight class!

Book: Vagabonding

2010-07-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

"Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts is an excellent book that will make you consider your perspectives whether you are trekking around the world or taking a day trip across town. I highly recommend it.

Superathlete: Albert Azaryan

2010-07-23T12:10:00.001-07:00

Albert Vagharshakovich Azaryan is a World Champion Armenian Gymnast that represented the Soviet Union in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. He won three Gold medals for gymnastic rings and invented an amazing and very difficult move now called "The Azaryan". Absolutely impressive. Many top gymnasts today can not accomplish this move.

Sweet Potato Leaves

2010-07-19T23:19:00.000-07:00

Going on the assumption that you regularly consume greens such as spinach and kale, I have an easy emergency green for when you open your fridge to discover nothing green to eat- the sweet potato leaf! The good news is that it is also a decorative plant that can clean air as long as it gets proper soil, sun, and water. You can pick them right off the plant and eat them raw, and they are good sauteed or cooked in omelets.

Here's how to grow them:
Cut a sweet potato in half and set the cut end in water and wait 4 to 8 days for the sprouts to start growing. Then plant the potato in some good quality soil in a hanging planter. The hanging planter will help keep the plant free of bugs and dirt and it makes the leaves easier to access. After a couple of weeks you will have leaves growing at a good rate. One half of a sweet potato will yield many leaves in the right conditions. Now you have a decorative hanging plant that you can eat.

Once they are growing well, you are free to pluck off leaves and eat them. Try them raw, and experiment with various cooking and seasoning methods. They have a unique nutty crisp flavor. Sweet potato leaves are a good source of Niacin, Calcium and Iron, and an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B6, Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Manganese.

CLICK HERE for detailed information about sweet potato leaves.

The York Handbalancing Course (for free!)

2010-07-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE FOR the York Handbalancing Course

Bhujangasana, The Cobra Pose

2010-07-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

Bhujangasana, or the "Cobra Pose", is an exceptional Yoga Asana for training the backbend. It is not to be confused with Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, "Upward Facing Dog Pose" (which is found in the Sun Salutation "Surya Namaskar"). It requires a more exaggerated backbend. Even simple Asana (poses) in Yoga are much more difficult than people realize and therefore equally impressive.

Unlike the Upward Facing Dog Pose, The Cobra uses bent elbows and palms on the floor slightly in front of the body to push the shoulders back to assist the backbend. The objective is to keep the hips down and eventually sag the abdomen to the floor. It is important to relax the back to settle in and to engage the shoulder girdle instead of shrugging the shoulders. To create a greater backarch, advanced practitioners can bend their head back to look at the ceiling, and curling the legs will seriously stretch the abdomen and and create great contraction of the hamstrings. Breath should be steady and this pose can be held for time.

No two people are the same, some can backbend further than others, however, regardless of your backbend, any two 100% backbends are equally amazing because they are both developed with time and effort to the maximum possible bend of the spine. So I feel that no one backbend is truly superior to another. Your maximum backbend is YOUR maximum backbend. Yoga is not a competition.

With Yoga, and many things in life, the simplest things are often the hardest to master. There are always details to perfect, so mastery can take a lifetime.

"Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory."
~Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois

A Comprehensive List of World Wrestling Styles

2010-07-10T12:00:00.001-07:00

Wrestling is the oldest sport on Earth and can be found in every corner of the world, in every region and civilization. Styles can be classified as pinning styles, submission styles, throwing styles, jacket styles, styles that blend striking, or combination styles.

Akseltag (Sweden)
Ankoumara (Georgia)
Arias de Mene (Philippines)
Armtag (Sweden)
Asilki (Belarus)
Azura (India)
Backhold (Great Britain)*
Bando (Burma)
Barilda (Mongolia)
Beach Wrestling (International)
Belgtag (Sweden)
Beltescast (Sweden)
Beri (Senegal)
Bersilat (Malaysia)
Bhimcencce (India)
Binot (Philippines)
Biscast (Sweden)
Bokh (Mongolia)
Bondetag (Sweden)
Boreh (Gambia)
Boukatag (Sweden)
Buhe Barildaan (Mongolia)
Buza (Russia)
Catch-as-Catch-Can (USA)*
Chidaoba (Georgia)
Chin Na (China)*
Cilnem (Mongolia)
Cornish (Great Britain)
Coreeda (Aboriginal Australia)
Cragtag (Sweden)
Cumberland (Great Britain)
Dau Vat (Vietnam)
Devonshire (Great Britain)
Djarazandj (India)
Dumog (Philippines)*
Epoo Korio (Papua New Guinea)
Folkstyle (USA)*
Freestyle (International)*
Galfava (Portugal)
Glima (Iceland)
Gouren (France)
Goutzanguiri (Tadjikistan)
Greco-Roman (International)*
Guilan (Iran)
Guresh (Turkmenistan)
Gushti de Boukhara (Tadjikistan)
Gushti Giri (Turkmenistan)
Hanumantee (India)
Hara Moriton (Mongolia)
Iliati (Iran)
Inbuan (India)
Istlish Taban (Saudi Arabia)
Judo (Japan, International)
Jujitsu, Jiu-Jitsu (Japan, Brazil, USA)*
Kalkha (Mongolia)
Kapu Kuia Lua (Polynesia)
Kestik (Afghanistan)
Kazak (Ukraine)
Kemet Mariama (Egypt)
Khiva (Turkmenistan)
Khmer (Cambodia)
Khouresh (Russia)
Kio-ii (China)
Kirpinar (Turkey)
Koch (Armenia)
Koshti (Iran)
Kordi (Iran)
Koresh (Kirghizistan)
Koshti (Tajikistan)
Kouchti (Pakistan)
Kourdstan Tustuu (Siberia)
Kurashe (Uzbekistan)
Kuresh (Kazikstan)
Kusag Guresh (Turkey)
Laamb (Senegal)
Lamakyuresh (Russia)
Lancashire Catch-as-Catch-Can (Great Britain)*
Letoussi (Burma)
Livtag (Sweden)
Loosehold (Great Britain)
Lucha Carania (Spain)
Lucha Leon (Spain)
Lutte Bretagne (France)
Lutte Parisienne (France)
Malla Yudda (India)
Mariwariwosu (Taiwan)
Mazendarani (Iran)
Moana (Tahiti)
Mossara Taban (Saudi Arabia)
Moulapta (Saudi Arabia)
Murangi (Madagascar)
Mundje Vance (Albania)
Nabast (Burma)
Nara (India)
Nubian (Africa)
Olva (Senegal)
Ou Chou (China)
Pahi a Mau Mau (New Zealand)
Pahlavani (Iran)*
Pancrase (Japan)*
Pehlwani (India)*
Pentjak Silat (Indonesia)
Psarani Pata (India)
Rangeln (Austria)
Re-efi Areh-Ehsee (Ethiopia)
Rigcats (Sweden)
Ringen (Germany)
Ristenes (Lithuania)
Ritpaini (Finland)
Rvanje (Serbia)
Sais (Kazakhstan)
Sambo (Russia, International)*
Schwingen (Switzerland)
Shootfighting (Japan, USA)*
Shooto (Japan)*
Shuai Jiao (China)
S'Istrumpa (Italy)
Skobar (Russia)
Spas (Ukraine)
Sssirium (Korea)
Submission (Japan, USA, International)*
Sumo (Japan)
Tahkti (Iran)
Tegumi (Okinawa)
Toubata (Sudan)
Tranta (Moldova)
Trinta (Romania)
Una Tar Taq (Inuit)
Vajra Mushti (India)
Viopaini (Finland)
V'skhvatku (Russia)
Westmorland (Great Britain)
Yagli Gures (Turkey)
Yoetikawa (Brazilian Amazon)
Zvaha (Togo)

*styles I have trained

note: This list is still growing! If you know of a wrestling style that is not included on the list please contact me with that information.

An Old School 5X5 Method for Kettlebells

2010-07-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

An Old School Five by Five Method for Kettlebells:

For good basic raw strength with kettlebells the old tried and true 5X5 workouts are great. This is an advanced method that should be worked up to.
This repetition scheme works best with good raw basic kettlebell movements, such as squats, cleans, and presses.

After a good warm up, choose a weight that you can handle for only 5 repetitions.
After the first set, rest 1 minute, then proceed to the second set.
For the second set, try your best to get 5 reps. Then proceed to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th sets with 1 minute of rest between.
5 sets X 5 reps.
So it is obvious that it will not be so easy to get all 5 reps on each set. It may look like 5, 5, 4, 3, and 3 for exmple.
In this case, stick to your 5 rep max weight for your workouts until you can hit all 5 reps for 5 sets.
Once you can execute all 5 reps for all five sets it will be time to increase reps.
Your next workout with kettlebells would now be 5 sets of 6 reps.
Then in successive workouts build to 5 sets of 7 reps, then eventually up to 5X8, then 5X9, then 5X10 reps.

So now you are hitting 5 sets of 10 reps with what was your 5 rep max weight, but now your muscles have adapted and it is your 10 rep max weight.
So it's time for a new 5 rep max weight.
Supposing you were using a pair of 40 lb kettlebells for you initial 5X5 and built it up to 5X10,
now it is finally time to increase the weight to 45 or 50 lbs for 5X5 and start climbing up the reps each kettlebell workout again.
Due to the low availability of kettlebells this rep scheme allows you to stick to one weight for long periods of time.

Kettlebell training can be very complex and unique, or it can be very basic. Many advanced exercises are very difficult and technical so seek out someone who truly knows kettlebells.
Unfortunately today, many trainers use kettlebells as a gimmick and are not knowledgable about the finer details of kettlebell movements. So use caution when learning to use them..

I train with kettlebells about once per week due to all of my other training. Sometimes I use them more often and sometimes I use them less. They can be fun, challenging, and difficult to master.

And one last thing: NEVER EVER curl a kettlebell!!! It is blasphemous to do so and defeats the purpose of training with kettlebells. That is not what the kettlebell was designed for. The kettlebell is used to train movements and athletic qualities, not to isolate bodyparts. Kettlebell exercises are compound and work many muscles together. No movement in life is an isolated movement. So please don't curl the kettlebells.

Hindu Squat Artice

2010-05-25T07:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice article about hindu squats written by Kris Iatskevich, Catchwrestling coach in Canada. His coach was Eddy Weicz Carpentier, a good friend and training partner of Karl Gotch.

About Hindu Squats

www.catchwrestlingcanada.com

Competition Catch DVDs

"Good Calories, Bad Calories"

2010-05-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

"Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes

"We don’t need another diet book, we need a book that explains to the medical establishment what’s actually going on, what the real science is and what we should believe until compelling evidence tells us otherwise."
~Gary Taubes

The Karl Gotch Bible

2010-05-18T14:01:00.001-07:00

For this workout you will need a standard deck of playing cards.

Clubs: Double the value for Hindu Squats.
Spaids: Double value for Hindu Jumper Squats.
Diamonds: Number value for Straight Pushups (or half moon pushups)
Hearts: Number value for Hindu Pushups.

Number Cards (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)= Given value.
Face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings)= 10 value.
Aces= 11 value.
Jokers= 20 value.

Shuffle the deck well. Deal the top card. Do the number and exercise for that card. Then, without rest, deal the second card, and on and on until the entire deck is finished.

For example we will look at 10 random cards...

3 of Clubs= 6 squats
Jack of Spaids= 20 jumpers
King of Hearts= 10 hindu pushups
6 of Diamonds= 6 pushups
9 of spaids= 18 jumpers
King of Clubs= 20 squats
Joker= 40 squats or 20 hindu pushups
Jack of Diamonds= 10 pushups
Ace of Spaids= 22 jumpers
3 of Hearts= 3 hindu pushups
etc.....

This workout done at a reasonable clip should take about 30 minutes. It is not as easy as it looks so don't send me emails saying you ripped through the deck twice on your first try. All exercises should be done in perfect form.

The total number of squats is 420. The total number of pushups is 210. The total reps is 630.

Beginners can break the cards up into sets, or take longer time to complete, or take out the advanced exercises, change the exercises, or not double the squat numbers. Modifications should not become a crutch, just a means for progression.

HERE is a brief description at Scientific Wrestling.

You will never look at a deck of cards the same again.

Laird's Laws

2010-05-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

A good little article on Outside Online.

Laird's Laws

Training in The Nature

2010-05-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

There is something different about training outside. Running, jumping, crawling, pushing, pulling, sprinting, cycling, climbing, hiking, kayaking, SUP, breathing. I feel alive when I'm outside. Outside is Nature's gym! You own the greatest gym in the world, it belongs to you.

"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher."
~William Wordsworth

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."
~Kahlil Gibran

"If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is nature's way."
~Aristotle

“Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve.”
~Erich Fromm

Jackie Chan: Persistence

2010-04-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

"A lot of people ask me when I do a stunt, 'Jackie, are you scared?' Of course I'm scared. I'm not Superman!"
~Jackie Chan

FOCUS

2010-04-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

focus: To direct toward a particular point or purpose.

focus
1640s, from L. focus "hearth, fireplace," of unknown origin, used in post-classical times for "fire" itself, taken by Kepler (1604) in a mathematical sense for "point of convergence," perhaps on analogy of the burning point of a lens (the purely optical sense of the word may have existed before Kepler, but it is not recorded). Introduced into English 1650s by Hobbes. Sense transfer to "center of activity or energy" is first recorded 1796. The verb is first attested 1814 in the literal sense; the figurative sense is recorded earlier (1807). Related: Focused; focusing; focussed; focussing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

http://zenhabits.net/2007/02/top-20-motivation-hacks-overview/

Sometimes focus is never concentrated or direct. Like a laser it can sometimes reflect and change course. The more focused one gets, the more they realize that the path will change, and in some cases can change the path with intent. I think "focus" is what makes us human. Having a purpose beyond just survival is what makes us special. It signifies the difference between thriving and surviving. What is your purpose? What is your FOCUS?

"Every man's life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain."
~Marcus Aurelius

SUPERATHLETE: Lateef Crowder

2010-04-18T21:58:00.001-07:00

Pause Box Jumps

2010-04-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

Squat with thighs parallel to the floor. Hold for a predetermined time. Explode out of the bottom position of the squat with enough power to reach the height of the box without swinging the arms. Stabilize stance at the top of the box. Drop back and smoothly land into the parallel squat position again. Repeat.

Doing jump train with a static pause is brutal and will create raw power in the legs.

Example of an ADVANCED pause box jump routine:

Set 1. 10-20 reps with a 5 second pause squat. (shown in video)
Set 2. 10-20 reps with a 4 second pause squat.
Set 3. 10-20 reps with a 3 second pause squat.
set 4. 10-20 reps with a 2 second pause squat.
Set 5. 10-20 reps with a 1 second pause squat.
Set 6. 10-20 reps with no pause between jumps.

Progressions for Achieving 500 Hindu Squats

2010-04-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

How to build up to doing 500 continuous hindu squats.

Step 1: Build to 100.

Do 40 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 30 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 20 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 10 squats.

That is 100 total.
Reduce the rest time each workout until you can do all 100 easily without rest.
(*100 squats takes approximately 3 minutes to complete)

When you can easily do 100 squats nonstop, move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Build to 300.

Do 100 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 80 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 60 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 40 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 20 squats.

That is 300 total.
Reduce rest time each workout until you can do all 300 easily without rest.
(*300 squats takes approximately 10 minutes to complete)

When you can easily do 300 squats nonstop, move on to Step 3.

Step 3: Build to 500.

Do 200 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 150 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 100 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 50 squats.

That is 500 total.
Reduce rest time each workout until you can do all 500 easily without rest.
(*500 squats takes approximately 15 minutes to complete)

BONUS: Build to 1,000.

Do 400 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 300 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 200 squats, rest 2 minutes.
Do 100 squats.

That is 1,000 total.
Reduce rest time each workout until you can do all 1,000 easily without rest.
(*1,000 squats takes approximately 30 minutes to complete)

SUPERATHLETE: Lynn Hill

2010-04-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

Lynn Hill is the Queen of Climbing for sure. Maybe her name should be "Lynn Mountain"!

Lynn Hill's Website

“There is probably no pleasure equal to the pleasure of climbing a dangerous Alp; but it is a pleasure which is confined strictly to people who can find pleasure in it.”
~Mark Twain

Stop Killing Your Kids.

2010-04-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

If you have kids, odds are that you are guilty of letting them be poisoned, ignorance is not innocence.

Here is a blogsite from an anonymous teacher about the horror that occurs during your kid's school day, and I wonder if it is any better at home! How can a human (especially a developing human) function with this level of toxicity and malnutrition? No wonder our kids are so obese and mentally deficient!

Mrs Q Fed Up With Lunch

"Human brutes, like other beasts, find snares and poison in the provision of life, and are allured by their appetites to their destruction."
~Jonathan Swift

Nature, Superior to Manmade.

2010-03-31T20:50:00.000-07:00

It always has been, and always will be!

Have you ever noticed that an amazing sunset is always more beautiful that the greatest piece of artwork? Have you noticed that many natural formations are more beautiful and majestic than the greatest architecture, even the Great Pyramids? Have you noticed that nothing artificial is softer than the fur of an animal? Have you noticed that candy never tastes as good as the fruit it is trying to emulate? Have you noticed that a bird's song is more beautiful than a flute or piano? Have you noticed that the scent of honeysuckles is more alluring than any perfume? You may have noticed that an ocean breeze feels better than a ceiling fan!

Why?

Because Nature does things RIGHT!

In the world of sport and fitness, nothing comes close to real foods. Not even sports drinks!

I decided to take a look at the difference between coconut water and Gatorade.

Coconut water is higher in electrolytes than Gatorade. Electrolytes help balance fluid retention in your body. In this case Potassium and other electrically charged minerals. Plus coconut water offers them in a natural state with less sugar, and the sugar is natural. When you are dehydrated you lose more than just water, you also lose various minerals that act as electrolytes, and until they are replenished your body will have a hard time rehydrating even if you drink water. Coconut water is a superior sports drink! So after a tough day of training or a day in the heat I often have coconut water. You can read more about electrolytes here and here.

Coconut water: One bottle or can- $1.39 (+/-)

Gatorade: One bottle- $1.59 (+/-)

Here's a comparison of the nutritional content:

As you can see, coconut water wins. So stock up and avoid that sugar and processed chemical water they call "Gatorade"!

“If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.”
~Henri Poincare

The Future of Food

2010-03-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

Watch this interesting documentary about the corruption of the food industry:

The Future of Food

“Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as they undoubtedly are today”
~Mahatma Gandhi

Quinoa Egg Drop

2010-03-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

This one is super simple and easy to make.

You will need:
Quinoa
Omega 3 Organic Eggs (You can also try delicious quail eggs)
Pepper

1. Boil the quinoa with excess water (or broth) to make it more of a "soup". Add a little sea salt if desired.

2. Crack eggs directly into the HOT soup. Stir.

3. Add fresh cracked pepper to taste. Experiment with other spices.

4. Eat.

Yum.

Some people in certain areas may have a hard time finding quinoa, you can order it through amazon.

Sugar: The Bitter Truth

2010-03-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

MUST WATCH!

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”
~Galileo Galilei

SUPERATHLETE: Masahiko Kimura

2010-03-16T14:34:00.001-07:00

Masahiko Kimura (1917-1993) was the best Judo practitioner that ever lived. His feats of physical conditioning included thousands of pushups per day and many other methods of extreme training. Today there is a submission hold named after him, the "Kimura" (ude garami), which he did not invent but used with such fortitude that he now is honored by it's name.

Here is a great article about him:

Kimura

"Think and Grow Rich"

2010-03-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is a classic motivational book. I have read it several times over the years. It is not necessarily a book about getting rich (as I am living proof of!). Motivational books are excellent supplements for life in general. I do not read "self help" books. I prefer mental power and motivational books. This one is a good start! All of the world's most successful men and women have two books close at hand: The Art of War by Sun Tzu and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. The link below is a free pdf file of this world famous book published in 1937. Enjoy.

Think and Grow Rich

“A goal is a dream with a deadline."
~Napoleon Hill

Held Up at Gunpoint and Forced to Cooperate.

2010-03-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

You are sitting at home tired from a long day at work and enjoying a soda when you hear a noise in the other room. You look at the door and suddenly a masked person appears with a gun and points it right at you! A strike of fear travels through your body. This can't be real!

It is real, very real, and the gun wielding maniac is starting to make demands. What should you do? At this point you are helpless. You will do anything demanded of you. Self preservation requires your utmost cooperation.

What atrocious demands will you have to fulfill to save your life? Money? Jewelry? Worse? At this point anything would be better than death. You have so much to live for. So you try to calm yourself and you rationally tell them you will do anything they ask.

The armed assailant starts screaming at you to start doing push ups and other exercises. This seems to be a strange demand. There is no demand for money, not even the briefcase full of $25,000 dollars in cash savings you offer will appease this person. You comply because the consequences of noncompliance are frightening. You begin exercising.

While you are pushing yourself hard to meet the physical demands you notice that the armed intruder is taking their mask off. Who is it? It's a woman! She looks familiar. To your surprise you do indeed recognize this woman. It is Mother Nature!

As beautiful and kind and giving as she is, she is also equally unforgiving and can not be reasoned with, bought, sold, or persuaded. The instructions for life she has set are unavoidable. You can't hide. You can't lie. She knows that you haven't been exercising. She knows that you were hiding in the closet eating potato chips. You thought no one could see you, but she sees all.

As sure as Sir Isaac Newton discovered the Laws of Physics when an apple fell on his head, you must also realize the Laws of Mother Nature. You can not get away with unhealthy eating or a sedentary stressful lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle is not a "choice" or an option, it is an ultimatum set forth by scientific law and encoded in your DNA. The consequence of not adhering to these laws is an eternal bullet that will take your life earlier than it should be taken.

The lesson? Please take your body seriously. It is your lifelong vehicle. It is more important than your car, electric bill, the next election, what Jennifer Aniston is wearing this week, and it is certainly more important than your petty cravings or laziness! Life is a one time thing. You are special. You are unique. Do it right the first time.

There is nothing else on Earth more important than your health and fitness. Without health, there can be no happiness, no success, no way to make life work in your favor. This may sound extreme, but I didn't make the rules, and I can't help you break them. Get to know who you are- as a human animal. Learn to take care of the animal you are as sure as you would learn how to program a TV remote or balance a bank account. Your health is far more important. It is the paramount priority of life. You are designed by Nature to be perfect, don't fall too short of the mark.

Begin a new journey.

"Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning."
~Thomas Jefferson

Dessert!

2010-03-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

Super delicious, super healthy dessert! Quick and easy.

You will need:

A can of coconut milk

A bag of frozen organic blueberries

Raw honey

Ground vanilla bean, cinnamon, ginger powder, or other spice

What to do:

Pour coconut milk into a blender. Add honey and frozen blueberries. The frozen blueberries will cool the concoction and make it cold. Add spice if desired. Play with the amounts.

Now here is the important part: Get a spoon and eat it!

"Ice cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal."
~Voltaire

Laird Hamilton on Trying New Things

2010-03-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

“Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”
~Chinese Proverb

Select Safe Seafood!

2010-03-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

Devour this page:

OCEANSALIVE.ORG

"How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean."
~Arthur C. Clarke

The Standard American Vegetarian Diet

2010-03-09T16:18:00.000-08:00

Breakfast:
A bowl of cereal with skim milk.
Coffee with sugar.

Lunch:
An iceberg lettuce salad from Panera.
Salad dressing (with High Fructose Corn Syrup).
A Sprite.

Snack:
A Snickers bar, or sugar coated salted dry roasted peanuts.

Dinner:
Salad. Pasta with spaghetti sauce and cheese.
A dinner roll.
A soda.

Dessert:
Fat free organic potato chips.
Ice cream.

WARNING!!!
PLEASE DO NOT EAT THIS WAY AND THINK THAT IT IS HEALTHY JUST BECAUSE IT'S "VEGETARIAN"! There is more to being a vegetarian than not eating meat!

*I would love to pretend that human beings were meant to live on soy chips, yogurt with "fruit" on the bottom, and soda, but I can't, you see, this site is about seeking nutritional truths.

SUPERATHLETE: Lindsey Vonn

2010-03-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

When some people think of tough athletic women they think of MMA fighter Gina Carano, but when Gina steps into the cage she doesn't have THE PLANET EARTH and GRAVITY and SPEED facing her in the ring ready to repeatedly twist and beat her with ice and packed snow with no referee around to stop the action!

This is Lindsey Vonn. World Champion and 2010 Olympic Gold medalist in Alpine Skiing. The first American woman to win gold in that sport.

Vonn Ski Training

Lindsey Vonn Balance Training

Lindsey Vonn Crash

St Moritz Euro Ski

Homo Ignavus

2010-03-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

“Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and never succeed."
~Proverbs 12:24

Avoid Work, Be Productive!

2010-03-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

This is a nice article from Marc and Angel Hack Life.

29 Semi-Productive Things to Do Online When Avoiding Work

“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.”
~Lloyd Alexander

SUPERATHLETE: Valery Fedorenko

2010-03-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

Kettlebell master and World Champion Valery Fedorenko!

130 Jerks with 70lb Kettlebells

American Kettlebell Club

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.”
~Anton Chekhov

Don't Summon The Devil

2010-03-08T06:51:00.000-08:00

A simple list of things to ABSOLUTELY avoid putting into your body:

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup
2. Hydrogenated Oils
3. White Bread
4. White Pasta
5. Cigarette Smoke
5. Narcotics
6. Sugar
7. Fried Foods
8. McDonald's
9. Soda
10. Taco Bell
11. Trans Fats
12. Corn Products
13. White Rice
14. Excessive Alcohol
15. Artificial Sweetener
16. Gasoline
17. Rat poison
18. Car exhaust

“If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred.”
~Walt Whitman

Sunny D

2010-03-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

As for the drink "Sunny D"- Don't drink that stuff or feed it to your kids! It is not fit for human consumption.

As for the real thing- Sunlight and Vitamin D- please enjoy sensibly.

Your body produced Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. Modern folk hide under clothes and stay covered in offices and therefore are lacking in Vitamin D. Then we go out and sit in the sun all day and burn. That is bad. Very bad.

Our ancestors were exposed to regular sun and well adapted to it. They didn't have to worry much about sunburn. They had healthy skin and Vitamin D levels.

What can we learn from our ancestors? A simple rule of thumb: Regular mild sun exposure leads to a suntan. Suntan good, sunburn bad. Excessive but infrequent exposure to the sun leads to sunburn. Suntan good, sunburn bad.

For more info on the benefits of sun and Vitamin D go here and here.

“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away.”
~Elvis Presley

How to eat like a Homo Sapien

2010-03-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

Modern humans, also known as Homo Sapiens (see nearest mirror for image), have been on Earth for around 200,000 years. Like all other animals we are designed to eat certain foods. Very modern humans (in most recent centuries) have suffered the extreme consequences of not eating what they are supposed to eat. Therefore it would make sense to eat what we were meant to eat. We are hunter gatherers by design.
Do other animals suffer from not eating what they are supposed to eat? Yes they do. Take a look at domestic cats and dogs, grain fed cattle, and farm raised grain fed fish. So let's focus on what is healthy. WHOLE FOODS! not Whole Foods the store, and not whole grains or whole wheat, but the actual real foods of the Earth that require minimal processing.

Now hold on!!! Put down that box of "healthy" whole grain sesame seed "vegan" trans fat free "natural" crackers from Whole Foods! Not everything at Whole Foods is healthy.

You see, people didn't start cultivating grains until about 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. Some tribal people still don't, and they are some of the healthiest people on Earth. Civilized modern man now eats far more grains than ever. Civilized modern man is now sicker than ever.

Some people call it paleo nutrition, or primal, or caveman diet. I simply call it eating what we are supposed to eat. It does vary. I can tell you that human food is the most delicious food on earth, far more delicious than candy or ice cream.

I will write more on the myriad of reasons for what is good and what is bad in the future. For now we will keep it simple.

Here is an outline of human food:

WHAT TO EAT

1. PROTEIN: grass fed meats, fish, seafood, fowl, eggs. Some dairy can be acceptable for many people. Nuts also contain protein. If you choose to be vegetarian you will need to be meticulous about getting enough protein and supplementing.

2. FATS: nuts, seeds, olives, avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, butter, animal fats.

3. VEGETABLES: spinach, leafy greens, peppers, broccoli, seaweed, onion, carrots, beets, radish, garlic, asparagus, mushrooms, etc.

4. FRUITS: berries, apples, bananas, coconut, oranges, etc.

5. SPICES AND HERBS: there are many with various benefits to health and taste.

WHAT NOT TO EAT

MOST GRAINS: Bread, pasta, noodles, rice (remember we lived for 195,000 years without cultivating grains). Why are they bad? They are full of things like gluten, lectins, and enzyme blockers. Also high carbohydrate intake increases insulin levels. Hyperinsulinemia is bad, very very bad. We weren't designed for these foods.

more info on lectins

MOST LEGUMES: Beans and peanuts. Peanuts are not a nut, they are a bean and contain toxins such as lectins. It is important to note that not all beans are created equal. Some beans are better than others, but as a general guideline the nutrients found in beans can be obtained from other sources. Beans should not be treated as a main food.

MOST POTATOES: Also toxic. Some potatoes (especially sweet potatoes) are ok to consume, especially for an active athlete that may need glycogen replenishment.

MOST DAIRY: Fermented dairy such as yogurt is ok. Some people can digest dairy. In that case enjoy moderately and buy organic! You don't want milk from a sick grain fed cow. Goat milk is excellent.

SUGAR: The number one killer on Earth. Avoid sugar and sugar products. Especially soda.

146 Reasons Why Sugar Is Bad for You

SALT: You get too much of it. More to write about salt in the future.

HYDROGENATED OILS: Intelligent human scientists came up with a great way to keep fats from melting at room temperature so that they can sit on a shelf longer. They bombarded the fats with hydrogen atoms. OOPS! Little did they know they would end up killing people. Guess what? It's still everywhere in the grocery store! One more poison hidden right there in plain sight.

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP: If food were religion, this stuff would be Satan. This is a cheap sweetener created by scientists and spread far and wide into every corner of the food industry. It turns out that it has killed millions and millions of people- more people than terrorists, Hitler, Stalin, H1N1, and cigarettes combined! It too is still available for you to purchase (hidden in your foods) without your knowledge of it's existence or what it is, but the world is slowly catching on!

Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup

A FEW OCCASIONALLY ACCEPTABLE EXCEPTIONS

quinoa, oats, lentils, sweet potatoes, cashews, dark chocolate, red wine.

"Shall I not have intelligence with the earth? Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mould myself?"
~Henry David Thoreau

SUPERATHLETE: Jordan Jovtchev

2010-03-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

Jordan Jovtchev is a Bulgarian Olympic medalist in Gymnastics and a very versatile athlete. He also competes on the show Ninja Warrior and tours with a professional gymnastic league. Here are some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgmlvfhxTVQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hvNQDMQ4NM

Tiger

2010-03-04T10:19:00.001-08:00

Tigers are beautiful creatures. Everyone loves them. They are protected and adored. So let's analyze the life and health of a wild tiger compared to the life and health of a human.

For this we will need a hypothetical visual analysis. Don't worry, we won't use real tigers, all you need is your brain.

Observation 1: Ten random wild tigers organized into one room for analysis.
Assuming they don't fight, we see ten beautiful, healthy strong animals that live in accordance with Nature. They eat what they are meant to eat and they get the proper exercise. They have healthy shiny amazing fur, they are flexible, nimble, powerful, aware, and intelligent within their environment. What we observe is Nature at it's best. Perfect.

Observation 2: Ten random humans collected from a shopping mall or flea market, stripped naked and put into a room together for analysis.
Assuming they don't fight, we see ten (at least 8 out of 10!) mostly repulsive, grotesque, fat, unhealthy beings that are not living in accordance with their nature. They have no idea what they are supposed to eat, they are a disease ridden species and are lazy and stressed out. They suffer nutritional deficiencies, hair loss, diabetes, cancer, and countless other maladies. Hardly what I would call "intelligence". What we observe is far from perfect life.

Test 1: We take the ten wild tigers and release them into their wild natural habitat. They flourish, eat well, and survive. Simple.

Test 2: We take the humans and release them into their natural habitat, the wilderness. Most die quickly, the rest survive for a little while and then die. They no longer possess the natural intelligence to eat properly and survive.

Test 3: We release the humans back into their current environment where they live a life of pollution, noise, social disorder, stress, economic turmoil, social pressures, alcohol, and bad nutrition. They develop sickness and disease, and they don't even seem to really care. They care more about their money and their possessions than they do their own mind and body! It's absolute shocking insanity!

Test 4: We release the humans into the room with the tigers. They become tiger food!

What can we learn from the tigers? We can learn the benefit of eating and living the way we were meant to eat and live. It just takes a little knowledge, self caring, and desire for life.

“Oh, the tiger will love you. There is no sincerer love than the love of food.”
~George Bernard Shaw

A little bit of grappling...

2010-03-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

Push the play button.

“I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler.”
~Socrates

Organicalogicalitoseositiness.

2010-03-03T12:36:00.000-08:00

Eating organic fruits and veggies can be expensive, even if it can save or extend your life. In order to grow large quantities of fruits and vegetables (and to maximize profit) farmers use pesticides and other chemicals to treat them to prevent crop loss from insects. NASTY poisons that kill bugs, and humans.

However, if absolutely financially necessary, there is a bit of a loophole! Not all fruits and vegetables MUST be organic to be reasonably safe to consume. Some produce can stand up to insect infestation better than others. There is actually a rating scale for pesticides in produce.

The basic idea is that most fruits that have thick skin that is not eaten (bananas, avocados, coconuts, etc) do not require as much pesticides and are reasonably safe to eat non-organic.

All fruits and vegetables should be washed before they are consumed.

Here is a simple list of the good and bad:

THE BAD (must be organic):

Peaches, Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Kale, Lettuce, Carrots, Pears, Spinach...

THE OK (reasonable to eat non-organic):

Onion, Avocado, Pineapple, Mango, Asparagus, Kiwi, Cabbage, Eggplant, Papaya, Watermelon, Broccoli, Tomato, Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, Coconut...

“Everything is the product of one universal creative effort. There is nothing dead in Nature. Everything is organic and living, and therefore the whole world appears to be a living organism.”
~Seneca

The Single Leg Squat

2010-03-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

SODA IS POISON!!!

2010-03-01T21:35:00.001-08:00

Interesting facts about soda:

1. It contains High Fructose Corn Syrup, a poison that is responsible for obesity, cancer, and many other diseases.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. The main active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It will dissolve a nail in about four days.

4. Phosphoric acid leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis.

5. Soda can be used to clean rust.

6. It can be used to remove stains from a toilet bowl.

7. It can clean corrosion from car battery terminals.

8. Commercial trucks must transport concentrated Coca Cola syrup in tanker trucks with signs displaying it as "Hazardous Material".

9. Drinking soda can contribute to depression.

10. Soda will make you fat, sick, and it will kill you.

11. The sugar and phosphoric acid cause tooth decay.

12. Causes diabetes.

13. Drinking just two sodas per week can cause pancreatic cancer.

...and the list can go on and on.

Soda really is a poison. It is not meant for human consumption. You can't just innocently drink "just one" soda. Mother Nature is always watching. People really do die from it. It doesn't just disappear in your stomach. It goes into your body and destroys you from the inside out.

It is ironic that the government wants to change the shape of hot dogs so that kids don't choke, but children (and grown ups) are socially encouraged to drink poison! The world can be a very backward place.

This is the short term effect when you drink a soda.

"90% of diabetes cases could be prevented with a healthy diet and lifestyle, including exercise." ~Healthy Eating, Harvard Medical School

The Tools of The Trade.

2010-03-01T21:31:00.001-08:00

Pushup Boards. Kettlebells. Gymnastic Rings. Medicine Balls. Heavy Clubs.

"Do not wait; the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."
~George Herbert

Sauteed Beets

2010-02-22T19:18:00.000-08:00

Slicing up beets makes the kitchen look like a murder scene, but the only thing I'm killing is those beets! I love them. Sauteed beets with the greens is one of my favorite side dishes. So easy to make. Here is how it goes down:

Ingredients:
Beets
Extra Virgin Olive oil

Step 1: Cut off the stem (save the greens for later)
Step 2: Slice the beets into small cubes.
Step 3: Put beets in a pan with olive oil and water on medium heat. Cover.
Step 4. After cooking the beets for a little while add the beet greens and any spices you prefer.
Step 5. When the beets are soft enough for your liking then take them out and eat them.

It is so easy that I can't even think of any other instructions! Experiment! There is more than one way to cook a beet.

Why are beets red? It's a cancer fighting agent called betacyanin that gives beets their color. The redder the better.

Why are beets so good for you? They have anti-cancerous properties, anti-inflammation compounds such as betaine, antioxidants such as Vitamin A & C, high in fiber, and essential minerals.

Beet breakdown

"Nobody ever says, 'Can I have your beets?'"
~Bill Cosby

Today's Kettlebell Training.

2010-02-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

Strong smooth controlled form.

Double Kettlebell Squats: 1 set-10X10lbs, 1 set-5X30lbs, 3 sets-5X50lbs

Double Kettebell Clean & Strict Press: 1 set-10X10lbs, 1 set-5X30lbs, 3 sets-5X50lbs

Double Kettlebell Bent Rows: 1 set-10X10lbs, 1 set-5X30lbs, 3 sets-5X50lbs

Double Kettlebell Alternating Lunges: 3 sets-10 reps (5 each side)X50lbs

Double kettlebell Alternating Press: 3 sets-10 reps (5 each side)X50lbs

Kettlebell Renegade Rows: 3 sets-10 reps (5 each side)X50lbs

Kettlebell Windmills: 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50lbs- 1 rep each side with a 30 second hold at the bottom. Then 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10lbs of the same.

“Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.”
~Napoleon Hill

SUPERATHLETE: Bruce Lee

2010-02-22T09:49:00.000-08:00

Bruce Lee.

For real. The essence of a superathlete!

http://www.brucelee.com/

The Lost Interview

The Tao of Jeet Kune Do

“I am learning to understand rather than immediately judge or to be judged. I cannot blindly follow the crowd and accept their approach. I will not allow myself to indulge in the usual manipulating game of role creation. Fortunately for me, my self-knowledge has transcended that and I have come to understand that life is best to be lived and not to be conceptualized. I am happy because I am growing daily and I am honestly not knowing where the limit lies. To be certain, every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. I treasure the memory of the past misfortunes. It has added more to my bank of fortitude.”

~Bruce Lee

Coconut oil Scrambled eggs

2010-02-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Simple. Healthy. Tasty. Fast.

Ingredients:
6 Cage Free Organic Eggs
A little coconut oil

In a pan set on medium low heat, put a tablespoon or more of extra virgin coconut oil.

In a bowl, gently stir the eggs whole, but not too much to the point where the white and yolk mix. You want patches of yellow and white.

Scramble eggs lightly until the eggs are fluffy.

You may add spices.

I would also recommend it with lightly sauteed spinach, sweet potato leaves, or beet greens.

There it is, the simplest, healthiest, and tastiest scrambled eggs ever.