So in between my training here at the OTC....I took a trip to California to train for 6 days!!  I needed to get a mental break and little physical break from the training center.   Its good for me to switch my training up and do new and exciting things...to keep me fresh and hungry to train.  I love to try new things in my training.  Like running the incline (COG) at the OTC, flipping big 500lb. tires, swimming, treadmill sprint workouts,  yoga....etc.  

Cali gave me a chance to try some other types of training out.  I got invited out to train with Jason "Mayhem" Miller.  It was a great experience for me.  I got to travel all over the L.A. area going to different gyms and doing alot of different types of training.  We worked out twice a day while I was there.  I learned alot about the MMA world and how they train.  It was probably the most fun I had training in awhile.  Everything was new and exciting, I got to hit some bags, learn some submission holds, boxed, and spared.  One evening I did an intense run on the Hollywood Hills.  It was hard but it was all worth it when I got to the top and there was a beautiful view of Hollywood and L.A.  All in all it was a great experience and it was great for my training and it was exactly what I needed.  

As of right now I'm back at the OTC.  We had one last hard push last week.  This week were just taking it pretty easy, polishing up some techniques and watching video.  This week I'm just really focusing on feeling my best.....as its going already, my body is feeling better and better everyday as we ease off the training. 

 Check me out training in Cali with Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Renato "Babalu" Sorbral at allelbows.com  Part two

So much has happened since I last blogged.  I'm sorry its been so long since my last blog, but i've been really focused on my training and getting ready to make the World Team.  One thing I can say is that i've done everything possible to maximize my potential at the Trials.  Training has been going great, probably some of the best training of my life and career so far.  Since U.S. Nationals I've been training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.   We had a national team training camp for 2 weeks to prepare us for trials.  Myself and the other top 3 guys at my weight 84kg were all in attendance, and I feel really good about how I performed against them.  We scrapped toe to toe for two whole weeks and pushed our bodies to the limit.  I took a little time off after nationals, but ever since then I've been training day in and day out most of the time twice a day, lifting, running, wrestling, drilling, watching video.  I've also been making full use of the recovery center here at the OTC, using the hot tub, cold tub,  and getting messages.  I chose the OTC as the place I knew I needed to be to get ready for the Trials because of all the perks like.... the coaching, the training partners, the food, the recovery center, the athletic trainers, the weight room and staff, the altitude training....and the main thing is that the FOCUS is on ME!!! That is exactly what I needed to prepare me for trials b/c I know in my heart and mind that I can win....and this could change my life forever.  

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.

Confucius.