Self-Styled

Describe "your game" - it's a question that's been high on my list for the past 16 weeks. Its a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition question put to me by my mentor and friend Cody Fielding.  His point being that I have my own distinct way of moving, preferred flow patterns and strategic preferences. I need to be able to explain that system, if only to myself.  When I roll I don't scramble through my mind-library of BJJ technique in hopes that I'll come up with a game plan that works, I have my own pre-existing style.  This style can be honed / adjusted / game changed but essentially its my way of moving.

Take this a little broader and apply it to personal relationship to physical practice.  Do you do take a generic / mainstreamed attitude to exercise or do you self-style your experience?  Are you driving it, or is it driving you? This is different than say, intelligent program design (it matters!).  Self-styling is an inspired attitude and a customized approach based on one's individuality.  

Outside of a sport or enjoyment context sometimes I think through the cultural push to exercise for health reasons or for aesthetics.  These can be considered neutral objectives that can either be externally driven, or owned and self-styled by the individual.  External drives tend to be somewhat hollow and lack the sense of calm and relationship with self that personal ownership offers.  My sense is that personal ownership leads to confidence, power and passion for the practice.  

It strikes me that those who are truly masterful at their practice tend to be excellent at the specific array of techniques / movement patterns that come naturally.  They have taken their style or their game to an elite level by playing to their strengths.  

Our personal relationship with our own physicality can be one of the most intimate relationships we have.  Why not hone our individual styles, get to know our own game and kick some seriously empowered ass!

Why We Do This (Originally Written For Juno Fitness)

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!

On July 14, 2011 this email arrived at Juno: 

Hello!

As you can see I am very near by. I am looking for a trainer to work with who will get in my face, not take my bullshit, and push me to do what I know is best for my middle age, middle class, white lesbian, 250 pound body.  So please tell me the truth, is that you?  There's aches and pains and 60 hours a week of work and I have two labradors and a damn elliptical in my garage that I clean every month or so and my heart rate only goes up when I'm in the hot tub every morning. I drive by you all the time and wonder if we were working together would I walk the 8 blocks or drive? My life has become a series of mental negotiations to avoid exercise.

So, are you for fit folks wanting to be fitter or can you take on a struggling ex-athelete trying to figure out how to get some amount of control back in her life?

the before

I feel like I'm writing a personal ad but I'm a little desperate.

Best,

Marj

Juliet asked me to make the follow-up call and Marj began training at Juno in early August of 2011.  

From day one Marj knew she had some demons to face and some work to do BUT she never actually complained. Not once. I have rarely seen such drive and dedication. Marj was ready.  

Soon Marj's partner Tracy started training too and they inspired each other in a team effort.  They initiated major changes in their nutrition and educated themselves about what foods work the best for them individually.   They began working out between training sessions on their own and together. Their dogs didn't know what hit 'em!

Of course there were setbacks. There were the aches and pains that accompany a leap into exercise.  There were times when we had to construct workout work-arounds to keep the momentum going despite old injury flare-ups and the body shifts that come with such full commitment to lifestyle change.  

They developed mental toughness and self-compassion.  They learned about physical self-care, respecting their limits and how to keep going when the going gets...hard.  They learned perspective. 

And: They took everyone with them.  They became vocal about their commitment to health and fitness.  Marj participated in a cardio challenge fundraiser and began posting her workouts online.  People noticed.  Juno noticed.  

Their hard work paid off: They are in amazing shape.  Their in-session training intensity is high-level.  Over 14 months Marj has lost 60lbs and Tracy has lost 40lbs.  And they want to take this further. THEY ARE NOT DONE!

They took themselves on a walking tour of Tuscany last week and I got this email from Marj: 

The trip is fantastic! We are hikers! I've always wanted to be hikers. People talk to us like we are hikers. Yesterday we hiked 5 miles straight up and down a hill (twice because we took a wrong turn) and it was totally doable. We thank you with every step.

We, at Juno could not be more proud of, impressed with and inspired by the two of you. (Juliet admitted she actually shed tears over how far you have come, and Juliet is...well...badass).  This is why we do what we do.  THANK YOU. 

the after

[Junofit.com]

-Carey

Look Alive

My chin hurts from the NAGA Grappling tournament this weekend.  My opponent made a valiant attempt at a choke and aimed high - it was a potential finisher after a sweep and taking mount.  She won the fight on points but didn't get the choke.

I needed to get back to competition and to my commitment to keep things fresh.  I want a life built on  expanding my capacity and experiencing growth in the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual realms.  To me they are all related.  I need events that push me to perform at my best and avoid complacency.

My best advice on this is: "Don't be too precious about it."  I can't remember who first recommended less preciousness but it has stuck with me.  Its never going to be perfect but small performance tests and activities that push us to develop ourselves are better done at all then indefinitely postponed in pursuit of perfection.  The rush that arrives when in pursuit of a worthy challenge is worth it.  It affirms we are alive and shows us who we are outside of our jobs and familiar self-referencing.

This autumn my commitment is to compete in more Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu events and to prepare for the bigger comps this winter and early spring.  I'm actively looking for another event to try out - a trail run or learning to rock climb or another day learning parkour.  I'm switching up my nutrition and my conditioning program.

What are you doing to change things up? How are you keeping your practice fresh?  What do you have to gain by pushing yourself to grow a little?

Alexis Davis: Invicta FC2: For OTM SF

Alexis Davis is scheduled to fight Hitomi Akano as the co-main event at the Invicta Fighting Championships 2 in Kansas City, Kansas on July 28, 2012.  She is a renowned Strikeforce Fighter, the 4th ranked 135lb Female Fighter in the World (Unified Women's MMA) and the 2011 WMMA Female Bantamweight of the Year.  She has a Black Belt in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and holds a professional MMA record of 11-4.  Davis is Canadian and currently resides in the Bay Area studying under Cesar Gracie.  She is a leader in the rapidly growing world of Female MMA (FMMA) and definitely one to watch. 


The following is an introductory interview leading up to her July 28 fight:

How did you get started in martial arts?

A friend of mine asked me to do kick boxing with her. After taking an interest in Martial Arts, I joined BJJ. I have been training for about 8 1/2 years now. I am currently a 4 stripe Brown Belt in BJJ and a Black Belt in Japanese JJ.

What made you decide to compete in MMA?


I got interested when I watched one of my instructors train for a fight. I saw it as a new way to challenge myself.

How do you structure your training camp leading up to a fight? 


I usually train about 4-5 times a day consisting of BJJ, conditioning, Muay Thai, stand up and ground. I study the film/video style of my opponent and add specific training geared towards that.



How do you describe your fight style?


A lot of being hard headed and a lot of heart. (lol) I refuse to give up or give in. I train to be the best and I fight to be the same.

What are your thoughts going into your July 28 Invicta fight?


I am happy to be a part of the inaugural Invicta events. This promotion is bringing the FMMA to a level never seen before. I am happy to be a co-main and represent all the females wanting to excel in this sport!

Who do you want to fight after Invicta?

I would LOVE to fight Miesha Tate, I think our styles of fighting would make a fight that would have the crowd standing every round. I respect her and know this would be a FIGHT OF THE YEAR nomination


What advice do you have for women in MMA?


Stick with it no matter what, although the frustration and hard times may come, focus on where you want to be. Stay positive and supportive of all the females training to be the same. We are in this together and together we will make FMMA a respectable sport for all to watch.

Limits vs Results

Two quotes have repeatedly flowed through my social media channels over the past week kicked off by two people who have been very influential in my own fitness development: 

1)

2) 

"I'm constantly tempted to change my career. As one book says . . . and I paraphrase - 'I love my industry - it's the people in it that I'm starting to dislike'. Fitness sells people on RESULTS! Results this and Results that!!!! Hell - we don't even know what results are anymore!! We think it means the accomplishment of a goal - but that is NOT often the case - especially when the initial goal is misguided!! The majority of long-term PT clients (e.g. >5years) don't look much different then when they started their PT experience. BUT - THEY OFTEN BECOME DIFFERENT PEOPLE. WHY? Improved function (however that is measured from person to person) changes a person's reality, and a person's life by default. If you can live a BETTER life because of your physical and spiritual improvement due to training - then you just have to look GOOD ENOUGH to live that BETTER life!! lol You don't have to have a six pack, get into a size 4, or even look 10 years younger to live that better life!! When your kicking ass - a size 8 can look pretty sexy, a 36 inch waste looks pretty thin when its owner passes your ass on a 5k run, and a little wrinkle here and salt and pepper hair there become the SEXY SCARS OF WISDOM!! SO - kick your client's asses, get them in great shape, make them tougher in this world full of pussies, AND you will see - "they wont give a shit if they don't look like the "Air-brushed and Photoshopped" Models that grace the cover of our demented magazine!!" There - my rant for the day!!" lmao 

-Juan Carlos Santana

There is a common thread in these two quotes: Expand your concept of success.  Look at the inner development that is happening, celebrate the character that is building and allow external pursuits to reveal natural talent even if it happens through failure.  External results matter, they serve a purpose but they are not the whole story.  Limits shed light on methods that no longer serve us and point toward a more productive direction.  The core qualities and intentions can still be in play even if the external means becomes limited in one direction.  Fulfillment is available in any pursuit if the experience becomes the teacher. 

Mental Note:

Don't ever let pedestrian problems block your brilliance.

Habitually override procrastination.

Live your potential.

I Went to TSAC 2012

Thursday, 4.12.12, 14:45 PM
Las Vegas Airport, Pre-Flight Purgatory

This week I attended the NSCA-TSAC conference in Las Vegas.   TSAC is the division of the National Strength and Conditioning Association developed to address Tactical Strength and Conditioning, specifically the fitness needs of the military, law enforcement professionals and fire fighters.  It was an incredible experience and I would like to attend this conference annually.

The lectures on schedule were presented by leaders in each field and the content was relevant and insightful.  I was impressed with the presenters' willingness to note where they felt their research was limited, and how they felt the testing, training and priorities might be adjusted going forward to better serve their demographics.

There were a few recurring themes that made the content of this conference markedly different from a general fitness or strictly athletic conference. Several times it was presented that the success measure for athletic performance vs tactical performance distills down to win or lose vs alive or dead.  The injury reporting rate for service professionals is far lower (they tough it out and don't tend to request treatment) than that of the athletic or general public populations.  The tactical training priority is to complete physical conditioning safely and effectively rather than over-focus on mastery of formal lift technique.


I have a deep appreciation for many traditions of physical training.  The commitment required to reach any physical milestone is noteworthy.  Practice that involves self-mastery is some of the most courageous work we can do.

I also note that when a physical training needs analysis is focused on preserving life in extreme physical circumstances - in battle, in a fire, in a violent altercation or in any other circumstance of physical danger - the emphasis on survival comes first.  Preserving life is the immediate goal of the exercise program.

Being part of a culture that is recovering from some ailments of a prevalent sedentary life-style, sometimes the immediate life-preserving aspects of fitness slip off the radar.  The idea that eating well now and exercising now for health later doesn't carry the same urgency as eat well and exercise now to stay alive now.  This conference woke me up to my own sense of time-lapse lethargy and inspired me to pay more attention to the immediate factors in my own life, even as a civilian with comparatively low risk.

This conference was great for my own growth because historically I have had some insecurity about moving in military-oriented or perceived conservative communities based on some fears of not-belonging.  The presenters were clearly motivated by genuine care and compassion for the demographics they serve and there was an impressive level of attention and respect amongst the participants.  I met a couple new friends over an epic coffee incident the first morning, which made the whole experience so much more fun than I could have anticipated.  I look forward to seeing how this conference will evolve in years to come.