DreMalone’s BodyBlog

Doc says I can go back to grappling in a few more weeks, that my arm will be better. Thing is, it feels good now. I can do pushups again, but for more strenuous work, I should lay off the grappling til then.

I hate getting injured, haha!

The other day at MMA class, I got injured. I was put into a basic arm submission, and that was cool. I was gonna tap. But then, my opponent decided to stretch my arm above my head while my arm was still in the submission hold. Everyone around heard SNAP-CRACKLE-POP literally! Nothing was broke, but it stretched my arm and ligament tissues beyond their elasticity, and yes, it hurt like hell!

Now I’ll be out for about 4-6 weeks, and right before a small tournament that I was gonna enter. It sucks, as I was really making good progress. But such is life, and such is that class. I’m actually gonna take the doc’s advice and rest and heal up, so I can go back to class with no problems, as I’m the most hardheaded person you’ll ever meet. But I want to compete, and the next tournament is in Vegas, February 09.

As the title says, fighting=honesty. Fighting will expose every single weakness you have and will do one of two things: either improve or keep being weak. Over the past few weeks, I’ve practiced with some very good BJJ stylists, and they’ve worked the shit out of me. After not seeing a dojo for a few years, it’s expected. Knowing me, I went in thinking I know what I know, and I’ll get them a few times.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I was stretched and done like a pretzel a few times, and yes, it was very humiliating. And humbling. It let me know what I need to work on, which is a LOT! It made me get my focus back, that’s for sure. That’s been lacking for quite a while, and it’s showed in so many things in my life, lately. But I wouldn’t change any of this for the world.

Now I understand why the Japanese have martial arts as part of their school curriculum. It teaches focus and discipline, something very lacking in Western society. It also teaches them the value of taking a hit and getting back up. Many of us take the hits and move forward. Some of us take hits and stay down, getting the "pity me" syndrome. **** that, I’ve always gotten up from hits, cause life hits harder.

Back to the subject. Fighting = honesty = character. Again, fighting exposes your weaknesses. Then, you have to be honest with those weaknesses and work on them. Out of all that, you build your character. I know I have a strong character, and I try to let it shine in everything I do, but it can always improve. I’m still human, even if my son says, otherwise. I still have faults, but I work on them, but I don’t apologize for them.

So what am I getting at? Everyone should fight. Even old folks. Everyone should step into a ring and fight to see exactly what they’re made of. There’s lots of shittalkers out there who talk good, but can’t swing worth shit. Fighting will let you know what you do and don’t stand for, what you will and won’t tolerate, and help make you the person you want to be. An asswhippin’ in humbling, but I’m glad it’s making me become a better person.

Peace.

Got my ass kicked tonight, and it felt good! Like the title says, it’s my first night of training for no-gi grappling and Muay Thai. I had fun, and realized how out of fight condition I really am! I got winded, tapped out 3 times, got kicked in the side and it hurt like hell…but I loved it!

Got pics of all the battle wounds, too, but I’ll put those up later. Gonna hit the shower and soak in Epson salts, haha!

"Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill" - Muhammad Ali

A little off topic from bodybuilding, but oh well…

Want to know what the secret of life is?
Come closer, and I’ll tell you…

Eat when you’re hungry…
Sleep when you’re tired…
Have a movement when you have to…

Pretty simple, right? For some people, yes. For others, it’s the ****en hardest thing out there. And it’s funny, cause people ask me what the secret to life is all the time. Again, it’s simple. It boils down to choice.

How you live your life, what you do with it, is your choice. No one can make that choice for you, and even if they did, would you follow it? I sure as hell wouldn’t. In this life, we have to do what works for us. But when times get rough, do you throw in the towel, or tough it out and get that life experience? Many folks throw in the towel, and go home not learning a damn thing. Others choose to tough it out, and get that life experience for "next time".

It’s about choices. Robert Frost talked about the "road not taken". Which road will you take?

WOD "The Mix"

Pushups (decending reps) 12-8-6-4-1

Ab Wheel (decending reps) 6-4-2-1

Hindu Squats: 20 reps between sets

I got advice from a good person on here…DawnMelanie. I asked her about her "lifestyle eating". Very simply…cut out sugar. See, that’s hard for me. I love my sweets, and I have the biggest damn sweet tooth at times. I found out a while back that sugar cravings are a sign of dehydration, and you need water to fill you back up. For the past few days of not eating ANY sugar, a few things happened:

*I’m not constipated. Yes, that sounds gross, but we’re human and we all have movements. Cutting back on the sugar has made my insides feel better

*I’m sleeping better. My wife being a cake decorator, we sampled lots of stuff at the house, my son and I. Two days of not eat crap has actually calmed my mind and I’ve been going to bed at a decent time. Sleep is good!

*I can focus. Acting like a hyper ass kid messes with your energy when you eat lots of sugar, but right now, I can focus enough to do my homework right after NOT eating sugar like a crackhead.

So, special thanks to Dawn and the folks who sent me links and info about their eating habits. Much appreciated, and my family thanks you as well.

You to the Rescue
When life throws you curveballs, you can dodge them or let them hit you right between the eyes. Sometimes, though, you don’t get a choice. For the moments when you can’t avoid them, create a “Rescue Me List.” What kinds of healthy things make you feel better? How about a bubble bath, taking a walk, or getting a massage? The next time you’re staring down a crisis, reach for the list, not a bag of chips.

I’m still doing my workout, even though I’ve been sick for the past few days. I got into a routine, and I don’t want to stop it. Don’t you hate goal setting?