Pan-Ams

I have the BJJ Pan-Ams this coming weekend. I am entered in my weight division, as well as the open weight class.

I am not looking forward to it. I am just not mentally or physically ready. I have not gotten my cardio up to my pre-knee injury levels, so it has made it harder to get mentally prepared. I will still go, compete, and try to have a good time. But this is the first competition in a long time where I am not very confident. It is a disappointment because it is my first comp as a brown belt. I was really anxious to get on the Pan-Am mats a few months ago. Now, not so much.

Oh well. I will still be able to eat at my favorite restaurant in the world (Curry House), hang out with one of my best friends Jerry Wetzel and his uber-cool wife Gigi, and watch A LOT of high level jits.

No worries.

meeting the champ

This past Saturday, I had the privilege of meeting Xande Ribeiro, the reigning Open-Weight champ from the last BJJ world championships.

My BJJ coach, Megaton, was having a surprise birthday party for his daughter Mackenzie, and Xande and his older brother Saulo came over from San Diego (Saulo and Megaton being great friends for a long time) to participate.

Now, BJJ is not the big money sport of football or basketball, nor is it popular on the level of movies or TV. But, Xande is still the world champ of a world wide sport and martial art. He is a celebrity of sorts. It would be not surprising if he were a little stand-offish. But that could not be farther from the truth. Xande is one of the nicest, most down to earth people you will ever meet. Not only is he approachable, he goes out of his way to introduce himself to strangers. I had the chance to have a nice long conversation with him. He is a great guy.

I bring this up because I am constantly reminded how nice most well known BJJ practitioners are. It is a welcome change from athletes who refuse to sign autographs or celebrities who won't interact with fans. It is just another reason I am proud to be involved with BJJ.

what about the other guy?

I was talking with my BJJ coach, Megaton, in his office after a class the other day. We were discussing the problem of guys who train like their life will end if they get tapped out by someone. You know, the type of guy who thinks (or who wants to project the image) of himself as a bad ass. Generally these people don't care if they hurt others, and usually they don't last in the long run because at some point their ego takes too much of a beating.

Funnily enough, in Brazil, where machismo and being tough is almost a religion, they don't really have this type of problem. It is the American/European who have it. That is why in BJJ academies in Brazil, if an American /European goes there to train and they don't know you, they will be very cautious at first until you prove you are not one of those idiots.

Anyway, Megaton said something so profound that I was momentarily stunned. Now remember, Megaton is one of the baddest mothers you will ever meet. He loves to train and he loves to compete. He is a legend in that regards. As a matter of fact, he is the ONLY man to compete as a black belt in every single BJJ world championship. Think about that. What it means is that most of his contemporaries who he came in with have long since retired, yet he is still out there putting it on the line against BJJ BB's 5 - 15 years younger than him. So his competitiveness is well documented. Now if anyone alive could be justified in being a little self-centered in his training outlook, it is him. Yet, having said all that, here is what he said to me that shook me:

"The other guy (your opponent in training) deserves a good day too"

Now think about this for a second. Here is a guy who has every reason to go hard every session and try to do his best, yet he is advocating that we should also take into consideration the well being (physical and emotional) of the other guy across from us on the mat. I have tried to be a nice guy when I train (some of my friends tell me too much so at times), yet I have never thought about it in the context that Megaton expressed. Just brilliant.

How much better would ALL of our training experiences be if we all followed this? The gym would be a true place of refuge and solace. The pressure on us would always be OUTSIDE, in the real world, not on the mat or in the ring. And then, what would happen if we followed this philosophy outside as well? Every single one of us would be responsible for some improvement in the world. A nice thought, in my opinion, and a much more lofty goal than making my triangle better.

So, for me, this will be a new mantra for me. Maybe someone else will follow suit. I hope so.

watching vs participating

In today's USA Today, there was an article on a guy who is REALLY, REALLY into fantasy sports leagues. He has become some kind of super expert and is now involved with ESPN as some sort of commentator. He was bragging in the article how he has been playing since he was 14 (he is now 37) and how he has played in more leagues than almost anybody.

I truly don't get it. How does this matter, and why should I care? I mean, this is about FANTASY SPORTS!! I suppose it can be fun for some people to play in these kind of things, but to this extent? This guy NEVER mentions where he actually played the real version of these sports, or in fact, whether he ever did any physical activity. How can someone get so involved in something as a spectator, but not as a participant? And how in God's name can he be an "expert" when he has no clue at all without first hand participatory knowledge? You don't have to have played pro football, but it would be nice if you had stepped on the field once or twice in high school.

Fantasy can be fun, but it is probably a little more important to PARTICIPATE i the real world every now and then.

what "dead patterns" really are

Recently, I was watching an instructional DVD from a somewhat known MA personality. The DVD basically dealt with ways of integrating techniques from MA styles that were pretty popular in the '80's and early '90's into a modern MMA paradigm. I have also read a number of internet posts from said personality that followed similar lines. He spends an inordinate amount of time trying to justify his use of "dead patterns". He also spends an inordinate amount of time (on both the DVD and in his internet posts) trying to use the term sarcastically, letting you know he is obsessed with trying to prove they are not, in actuality, "dead patterns". I keep laughing every time he brings it up, because he truly does not understand why those training methods are being critiqued. In case he reads this (a highly dubious assumption), or anybody who sees his work and is curious about that criticism and just happens to stumble over my blog, I will try to clarify some things.


The greatest problem with so-called dead patterns is NOT that they do not work. Obviously, there are a lot of fighters who have come through that type of training and can functionally demonstrate their skills. ANY practice of a physical movement will increase your ability in using that movement in a "real" situation. That is obvious and not up for argument. Rather, the question is, is there a better, more efficient, and faster way of accomplishing the same thing as a "dead" pattern. The answer is a resounding yes. And, even better, that is an easily provable fact. It is actually a weird semantic debate that is pre-loaded with negative feelings because of the term dead. So, getting past that, what we are dealing with is what is a better way of training someone to perform adequately in a fight?

IMHO, modern MMA methods have built up an unassailable history of proof. These methods work because we see, on a constant basis, the results. Watch UFC, Pride, IFL, Bodog Fight, EXC, and tons of smaller local competitions. We can see them in BJJ and submission grappling tournaments, where average people demonstrate the validity of these methods. The methods work because if they did not, these competitors, from the average amateur on up through the top professionals like Chuck Liddell would not be using them. Let's be real for a moment. Right now, there is a great deal of money at stake for the top guys (Liddell made over 2 million from the last Ortiz fight). Do you honestly think that if there was a better way to train, these guys would not jump at the chance, since that might mean the difference between earning $20,000 and $2,000,000? If someone could show Liddell that doing chi sao for 2 hours a day would give him an edge in his rematch with Rampage Jackson, do you not think he would do it? The fact is, there is a better way of training for a fight. And by better, I mean faster, more efficient, more sure, more specific. And that is the crux of the arguement. A professional fighter could devote the time to use "slower" ways. He has nothing but time. But for the average person, who might have 2-4 hours a week available, they don't. They need the most efficient methods. And simply put, the MMA training paradigm is superior, hands down.

As soon as someone can debate that, I will listen. But the debate HAS to be that the "dead patterns" work as easily and as efficiently as MMA methods. Please, let's not base the debate on "dead patterns work too". That is irrelevant. Focus on the heart of the matter. Otherwise, we are wasting valuable free time that should be spent in more productive ways.

what Gracie Jiu-jitsu really teaches

I have read some internet posts lately by people involved in self-defense/martial arts with a certain agenda. That agenda usually revolves around trying to come up with reasons they don't train in Gracie Jiu-jitsu. You have probably seen the stuff that they propagate. Something along the lines of "you can't go to the ground because ......."

1) mulitple opponents
2) weapons
3) hard, uneven, surface

Those are the "holy trinity" reasons of the anti-grapplers (who usually happen to be completely out of shape and either overweight or sickly un-muscled). We know the real reason they don't train in GJJ is because they are deathly afraid of having their ego destroyed by not being able to perform. They know they will be tapped like a typewriter by some unathletic looking white belt, which will shatter their self-styled image of the bad ass reality based "combatives" expert.

While they do everything in their power to not get on the mat, I believe they are overlooking the most important thing that BJJ actually teaches. In my opinion, the single overriding concept in BJJ is how to deal with a larger, stronger, faster opponent at torso to torso touching range. This is usually expressed on the ground. HOWEVER, it is just as valid when you are upright and on your feet i.e. where nearly all "self-defense" techniques usually begin. I submit that every time you roll, you are hard wiring your system to handle an attacker at contact distances. It is not hypothetical, it is real because you are doing it, over and over. And, moreover, you are doing it constantly with an unending variety of opponents. All the "combatives" training you can possibly do will not be able to say that. And that constant variety will implant a subconscious ability to handle whatever "fighting" situation comes your way.

To sum up, 99% of non weapons fighting will involve some torso to torso attachment, usually with a disparity in physicality. Gracie Jiu-jitsu trains there, day after day, 24/7. You don't want to fight on the ground? Fine, then you better learn how to keep a bigger, stronger opponent from controlling you. I am still waiting for someone to show me another martial art that does that as well as BJJ.

open hand vs. closed fist

I was recently reading a blog article regarding the virtues of the open hand in a fight versus a closed fist. I think this is a very interesting and important discussion. The article itself was fairly good. Most of its reasoning was well supported. However, there is a really important aspect that not one pro-open hand person has ever successfully addressed (at least to my experience). For all their pushing of the virtues of the open hand strike, they have yet to overcome the single most outstanding virtue of the closed fist. No matter how you throw it, no matter how fast and non-telegraphic, EVERY single viable open hand strike will be circular. Some might be less circular than others, but they are ALL circular to some extent.

Don't believe me? Try it. Hit a heavy bag really, really hard with an open hand. Every possible way of effectively doing it that actually transmits some power has to open up at least slightly on the delivery. If you don't, you either hurt you hand/wrist OR you only hit with partial power. Still don't believe me? Do this experiment. Videotape a sparring session with a partner. The first round only use open hand strikes. The second round use only closed fists. I guarantee the punching in the 2nd round will be more direct and leave you less open for counters. It is a fact that closed fist strikes can be delivered incredibly straight, while keeping yourself defensively covered much better than the most efficient open hand blow. Plus, it is much easier teaching someone to hit straight without exposing their heads than it is teaching them the best method of open hand striking (at least it is if you know CM).

must hear music part 1

Okay, I have already tried to inform people about books and little known movies. I might as well add music. This will be the first installment of great music that might have slipped through the cracks. First up.......

Rockpile - "Seconds of Pleasure"

Rockpile might just be the best band of the late 70's and early 80's. Made up of Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner, and Terry Williams, they played great basic rock 'n roll. They only made one album as a band, but they were always the backing band on most of Lowe's and Edmunds' solo records during that time frame. Another album that is a great example of their technical chops is Carlene Carter's "Musical Shapes". On it, Rockpile showed they could also play blistering countrified rock. Besides that and the single album as a band, Lowe's "Pure Pop for Now People" and Edmund's "Repeat When Neccasary" are must haves. Here is a link to more info http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/rockpile/artist.jhtml

merry xmas motherf'er

So I am walking through a parking lot at a local mall. A guy is walking past me. Being in the holiday spirit, I smile at him and say "Merry Christmas". He looks at me like I just hawked a big, green, loogie on his face. He stops and says in a tone of complete disgust, "I am not christian!" And then walks away. I was dumbfounded. I was trying to be friendly, and was treated like I was a child molester.

Look, I don't give a crap if you are or are not religious of any faith. I like to think of this season as a peace on earth, goodwill towards man kind of thing. I didn't realize that was a religious thing. I thought it was just a nice way to act. If you are so petty and mean spirited that you cannot take a greeting in that light, you really need to examine your own pitiful life. If someone were to say "happy hanukah" to me, I would be happy, even though I am not jewish. You want to wish me meery kwanza? Cool! I will respond in the same spirit.

In the immortal words of Bill and Ted "Let's be excellent to each other" I think that transcends a particular religion. At least, I hope so.

a good motto

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO!! What a ride!"

an xmas poem

Here is a poem I received by email. Is it corny? Yeah, but so what. The fact is, there are people in this world who will sacrifice a lot for something they believe in. Whether you agree with them or not is moot. The fact that they can look beyond themselves deserves nothing but respect.

A Different Christmas Poem....

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack; brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures; he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you a s you mattered to us."

Congrats to my buddy Jerry Wetzel!

One of my dearest friends, Jerry Wetzel got his well deserved purple belt last week from Chris Haueter. If you know Haeuter, getting a belt from him is like squeezing blood from a rock. It ONLY happens if there is NO DOUBT in his mind that the person is ready.

So besides being a bad a** striking, he will now probably be able to beat me on the ground. Thanks alot Haeuter!

updating

I know I have not been doing a good job of keeping up to date with this blog. I have had a lot going on, both personal and business wise (and being out of the country for 8 days - which I will blog about soon) , so I have let other things lapse. Besides this blog, I have also been a little lax in talking to my friends. I am have been able to touch base with some, but I have a couple more to call.

One of the things that has been a problem us that I tore some meniscus in my knee and it has caused a good deal of problems in my day to day life. I had to endure some doctor visits, an MRI, and finally surgery, which was yesterday. So I will be down for the weekend (I have to be on crutches until Wednesday morning) and my goal is to play catch up with life in general. A few phone calls, some random thoughts to blog on, etc.. I plan on making at least 3 or 4 posts in the next couple of days. Hang in there with me!

working around injuries

So I torqued my knee pretty good two weeks ago. I did a good number on it too. I cannot put any weight on it with the knee bended (i.e. squat or crouch type motion). Since that encompass' most of the physical training stuff I do, I have been in an interesting postion. The first week I did nothing but ice and rest it, but now into the third week it is a little better and the swelling is going down. I have been going stir crazy not being able to get on the mat. I have felt like a slug, so I have tried to come up with variations of training methods I can do. Here is what I have been able to so to date.

1) jump rope - this doesn't put any stress on my injury, so this has been my bread and butter for the past week. It has been awhile since I did much of it, and I had forgotten how great it is. I think I will keep doing this regularly even after my knee is back to normal.

2) shadowboxing - I can't go very intensive, because I can't put excess stress on my knee where it hurts, but I can do it around 60% intensity, which is better than nothing.

3) breathing - this is becoming a little bit of a revelation. Focused, dedicated training of breathing patterns actually seem to be doing some good. The one I am working on now is from a book called "Bodyflow" and emphasizes exhalation while letting the inhalation just "happen". I will also keep this up, because being asthmatic, I can use whatever breathinghelp I can get.

I will update my progress in a week or so.

why I like Gracie Jiu-jitsu

I love brazilian jiu-jitsu. I love it so much that I spend the majority of my training time working it. That is not to say that I don't work the whole game. I do. I train stand up, clinch, BJJ, and (most importantly) the integration of all three. I also spend a little time on the pure "street" aspect, like unarmed weapon defense (all Red Zone - thanks Jerry!), and dealing with sucker punches (using the three point cover- thanks Rodney!) etc. On a rare occasion, I even get out the sticks and helmets and do my impression of the Dog Brothers. They are all important to being well rounded, and they all help to keep training fun. But, I probably spend between 60% - 70% of my weekly training doing pure BJJ. Why? Well, here are the main reasons.

1) Relatively safe - It is functional without being excessively damaging to the body - At 42 and someone who makes my living as a businessman who needs to look professional, this is so important. To have a functional fighting system, you must continually test yourself and your tecniques/ideas. That testing is sparring. Sparring (whether easy or hardcore) is essential. But getting hit or putting your body through the pounding of takedowns is hard on the body. Injuries, cuts, fat lips, black eyes, etc. are typical results. BJJ allows constant sparring but minimizes the risks. Yes, injuries happen (as I am writing this, I am nursing a good knee injury), and there is the occasional bump or cut. BUT, it is must less than a striking oriented art, and the torture your body goes through is nothing compared to wrestling or judo. I must know that what I am doing works, but I would like to be walking when I am 55 as well. BJJ addresses this better than anything else.

2) Fun - Simply put, it just is a lot of fun to do. The challenge of trying new things, pitting my skills against someone of superior physical ability, learning new things, all make this a fun art. Plus the fact that, in general, I have found the people involved in BJJ to be really decent human beings that are nice to be around.

3) Age is no barrier - Where else can I do a sport where I can participate with a world class athlete and my kids at the same time? Everyone can do it. Literally, from 5 years old to 95. One of the best matches I ever saw was in Brazil at the International Masters between two 60+ competitors. I like the idea that I won't have to give this up at a point in the future. I can keep it up as long as I am breathing. Can a Thai Boxer say the same thing?

4) Competition - If this is important to you, you will always find a place to compete. There are kids divisions, old fart divisions (where you will find me), and super athlete divisions. Male or female, it doesn't matter. And you can approach as fun, or as a serious athletic endeavor, where you might make a little money. BJJ has the entire spectrum.

5) It works! - This kind of goes with out saying. The fact that EVERY MMA champion has at least the basics of BJJ, and that the modern Army combatives program is about 80% BJJ pretty much shows it's effectiveness. BUT, the beauty of the art is such that if you disagree, you can challenge it at any time. Just be ready to eat crow at the end.

6) endlessly learning - The art is continually re-inventing itself, and seeking improvements every year. Just when you think you know everything about it, some new aspect reveals itself. And the true wonder lies in the continual improvement in the things you already know. By that I mean, you will always be able to perform that armbar a little better, that guardpass a little cleaner, as you keep training. The fundamentals can be refined almost infinitum.

Anyway, this is my perspective. I love the art. So there.

Chris Hauter seminar

This past weekend I flew to Athens, Georgia to attend a seminar conducted by Machado BJJ black belt Chris Hauter. All I can say is "wow!"

Chris is simply one of the best coaches I have ever trained with. He actually cares about improving his athletes performance. He shows things that NO ONE shows, and the things he shows that others teach he presents in a new way or with a new training method, or with some subtle tweak that is unique.

The weekend started off with takedowns to warmup. He show some new ways of getting your opponent to the mat off an over/under lockup. One of the methods had the entire 60+ attendees fighting to be the first ones to try it. As a matter of fact, there is a good chance the public might see it this coming tuesday on Spike TV (just a hint ). From there, we went to holding posture in guard where Chris showed a trick that I know pretty much no one does, but makes holding posture so much easier. After that, we moved to guard passing. Again, more "tricks" that anyone can use to perform better. Then, he went to ways to attack that from the point of the guy holding guard. Real good stuff.

The second day was even more of an eye opener. The majority of time was spent on guard retention. I will state this publicly. This material was some of the best, most unique stuff I have ever seen. Chris' way of getting this material across is so good and different, he should patent it. No one presents it in such an easily understood and digestible manner. Just mind blowing. Both days eneded with a lot of rolling where I got to witness Chris Connelly (a great guy from Alabama) get his well deserved brown belt, 3 new purples, and some new blues.

The seminar was put together by Adam Singer at his HardCore Gym. A great facility, run by great people, with a gym full of great guys, both on and off the mat. If you get a chance to go there, DO IT!

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend. I cannot wait to train with Chris again. If anyone out there is thinking about bringing him in for a seminar, or attending a Hauter seminar, or training with him one on one, you will be richly rewarded. Training with Chris is on my small list of things to absolutely do, no matter what.

stealing ideas from the Gracies

My 10 year old son does jiu-jitsu. He does competitions as well as regular training. He loves it. I want him to keep loving it. I have spent a lot of time worrying whether I might become a "little league dad" and push him so much that he starts to hate it. I have tried to make sure that never happens. One of the things I have used is something I stole from Helio Gracie. I have heard Royler Gracie tell a story about the first time he entered a competition when he was about 8 or 9. Of course he grew up watching his brothers and cousins win, so he thought it was important to win as well. His father, Helio, took him aside before the match and said "if you win, I will give you five dollars (actually, the then current Brazilian equivalent). If you lose, I will give you ten." Royler realized that he would win either way, so the pressure was gone.

Before my son's (Ronan) first competition, I used the same tactic. It worked. He went, tried hard, and had fun. Since then, he has competed numerous times, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. But either way he was fine with it. Now, we have a little ritual we go through every time. I say to him, "What is the most important thing today?" He always answers "To try my best!" I then say "What is the second most important thing?" He says everytime " To have fun!" Then I hug, kiss, and headbutt him, and off he goes.

As soon as he comes off the mat, win, lose, or draw, I pick him up and tell him how proud I am of him and call him champ. That is something else I stole from a Gracie, this time Rickson. The first BJJ comp I was at, I noticed how most of the black belts were so passionate about winning, to the point of being sore losers, and argued every point that went against their athlete (not my coach though. Megaton believes in having dignity and letting the athlete do his thing and not overshadow him). If the athlete lost, the blackbelt/coach usually said something nice and then moved on. Not Rickson. Every one of his guys,from the rawest white belt to his oldest student, whether they won or even lost by submission in the first minute, was greeted with a huge smile, a big hug, and the heartfelt words of "great job, Champ!" You could tell he was just happy that his student had the guts to get out on the mat and test himself. Rickson showed me how a real coach acts. So I use that with my son and two of my nephews who do BJJ. So far, so good.

more big oil garbage

My favorite business entity (he says incredibly sarcastically) is at it again. They are doing everything they can to screw consumers.

Here is the deal. Gas at the pumps is sold by volume. When things get hot, they expand (duh). So, when gas gets hot, it expands and therefore has LESS mass per volume than when it is cooler. So, following that logic, if gas is being bought/pumped when it is hot, there will be less being put into the tank than when it is cooler, BUT the cost to your wallet will be the same. The fair thing to do would be to adjust prices when outside temperatures negatively affect the gas sitting in the pump. Guess what? Because of lobbying efforts by Big Oil, only Hawaii has regulations to that effect. All the other states who have a tendency to be hotter more and longer during the year (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida) have NO such regulations. So those of us in those states are wasting x amount of money every year that go to directly profit Big Oil. By how much? It is estimated as much as $150 MILLION!

Yeah, they are good caretakers of the public welfare. Oooh, more sarcasm. Great job, all you politicians for taking care of us.

You are in charge!

There was a terrific article in Tuesday's USA Today regarding a Harvard study about American life expectancy.

Essentially, it said there are 8 different America's. They are separated by life expectancy. For example, "America 1", the highest, is asians, whose life expectancy is 85. The lowest, "America 8" is comprised of high risk urban blacks, at 71. Here is what is really interesting. The study found that those things that are always assumed to be the most important factors in living long (higher income, better health care, etc.) actually make only a small contribution. The second longest living group, "America 2" are made up of low income whites in the midwest, an area of the country that traditionally has a lesser level of high level health care. Here is a quote from one of the researchers. "There's no way differences in the quality of health care can explain 20 year gaps in life expectancy".

So what do they say seems to make the most difference in living a long life? Diet, exercise, and smoking! All things that each one of us has direct control over! Basically, eat right, exercise smartly, don't smoke, and manage the stress in your life, and chances are you will live into your late 70's or 80's. Don't gripe about it all being someone else's fault or responsibility. It's yours. Do the right things, and they will pay off, especially in the long run.

new Fight gear

There is a new fight gear company called Yesithurts (www.yesithurts.com). It is run by a friend of mine, Mike Grandinetti, and they deserve a strong look. First, the owners are completely trustworthy who understand the importance of customer service, and the gear looks good! They have a bunch of different designs and solid prices. Right now they have t-shirts and board shorts (BTW, I know that Mike spent an incredible amount of time to make sure the shorts are as high quality as possible). There are other stuff in the works.

Cecil says, check them out.