Punches, Panda, and Freddie

I sparred at Joker's Wild Fighting Academy and I'm starting to mix my wrestling into my striking more and more. Joker has been helping me put all my skills together and has been showing me what techniques to do at what times. It has increased my awareness in a lot of positions. After Joker and I did technique, Erik Apple strolled through the door and we went about 8 rounds of technique sparring at about 70%. I'm starting to see the times I can shoot off my punches and when to clinch. It is starting to make more sense to me as I spar more and more. The vastness of mixed martial arts never ceases to amaze me. There is so much to learn and when you think you have learned everything in that position another series pops up. I'm having so much fun learning and trying to apply all that I have learned.
I also trained at Wild Card again on Thursday with Panda. He is refining my punching power, rather than just punching with my arms I'm getting my whole body into the punch. I feel that my standup is drastically improving. I know I have a long way to go, but I know that my punches are definitely more powerful. After I was done working out I had the awesome opportunity to talk with Freddie Roach. He is very mild mannered, polite, and considerate. He said that I am welcome anytime I want to train. He also said that he is going to start training Anderson Silva. In my mind I was thinking, "Wow, that would be a wonderful opportunity to get to spar the World's best." Can't wait for the time to come. I'm excited for the future and what it holds. (The above picture is myself with Freddie Roach & Tareq)

UFC Dependent on the Fight

I recently posted information (which I deleted) stating that I was going to the UFC win or lose. After checking the validity of the article, I was informed that going to the UFC is dependent on my next fight. My manager said that he was misquoted. I am told the UFC will base it's decision on which heavier weights they will take after the WEC's Dec. 3rd fight. Sorry about the poor information. I jumped the gun a little. In truth, I am not worried about what organization I go to next. Where ever God leads me that's where I'll go and where ever organization I fight for, I will fight with all my heart, strength, and mind. Thanks for your support!

Training and Wildcard Gym

Here is a summary of my last 2 weeks or so:

I have been training 2-3 days a week at Joker's Wild Academy with Mike Guymon, and 2-3 days a week at the Gracie Academy in Torrance. What is great about training at both are that Ryron Gracie shows me incredible jiu-jitsu, and Joker helps me put it all together and shows how to incorporate my wrestling into jui jitsu, which he calls wrestlitsu. Mike is not only a fighter, but he is a tremendous coach. It is amazing the amount of knowledge both have at their disposal. I started with both of them about 2 months ago, and when I first began they submitted me at least 10 times in a half hour. Now, I am submitted maybe once during a session. A couple of Sunday's ago, I went one-on-one with both Ryron and Rener Gracie. Both switched in and out on me for 40 minutes and they submitted me 5 times. That was an amazing feeling. These are multiple world champion jiu-jitsu champions, and I am learning a world of knowledge from them.

Last week I went to Las Vegas for the SEMA show, and got to train at Couture's gym. I saw some of my old college teammates there getting ready for their fights as well. They are both fighting on the Dec. 3 card with me. Then I went up to San Francisco and got some great training in with Ganyao and Tareq at Fairtex. We worked my hands and Muay-Thai all day for 3 days.

Yesterday was a great experience. One my dad would love to have seen! I went to Wildcard Gym in West Hollywood. If don't know about this particular gym, let me break it down for you. Pretty much, this gym has trained numerous amounts of World Champions in boxing. With the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, (which by the way I might score some tickets to their fight), Evander Holyfield, James Toney, just to name a few. Panda AKA Juan Carlos Martinez held mitts for me and tightened me up more and also taught me how to put more power on my punches.
The day before I sparred Tareq, Ralek, Rolland, and Jared Kwitty (another great fighter and friend) just in boxing. We went 5 rounds of 3 minutes. Tareq then led us through drills for 4 rounds. Immediately after we rolled and drilled jui-jitsu for 40 minutes then I rolled with Ryron. In the first minute he tapped me in a leg lock, taught me how to defend it and didn't tap me for the 15 minutes thereafter and we were gettin' after it. Scrambling, rolling, defending, you name it, we were rolling hard. I'm learning so much that I can't wait to train each day.
Tareq Azim, a personal friend of mine was my hook up with both the Gracie Academy and Wild Card Gym. He trained there in the past and then moved up to northern California to be with his family.
In between training sessions, I try to lift 2 times a week, I do some type of cardio other than mma 4 times a week, I coach at Fullerton 1-2 times a week (where I get my wrestling), I run a wrestling club 2-3 nights a week, and I am a full time dad and husband. I drop the kids off at school every morning, pick them up sometimes in the afternoons, and go to soccer and birthday parties every weekend. I am busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Since my move to SoCal I've met so many great fighters and have been befriended by many great coaches and trainers. I was hesitant of the move, but now I think it was meant to be. I am excited to see what the road holds for myself and my family.