Inauspicious Beginnings
I am seriously thinking that I am going to use Johnny Cash’s song “Hurt” as my entrance theme… It seems appropriate.
This week was my first official week of training for the fight, and quite honestly, I am not off to the best of starts. One of the guys at the gym has a fight coming up and he was working five minute rounds, with a new opponent every round. Midway through my round with him I threw a midline kick with my right leg, which he caught and worked for the takedown. I kept hopping way with my left leg and tried to sprawl. In the process I landed toe down on the mat and folded it in half. I knew right away that it wasn’t good. I rather suspect it is broken. It is currently an interesting shade of gray/purple, but it is straight so no point in going in.
Later we were free grappling and not surprisingly I couldn’t use my left foot to do much. Casey (1-0 pro) caught me in a quick armbar, which I defended for all of about 4 seconds before I started to tap. Unfortunately Casey didn’t feel it, and didn’t let go of the armbar until my elbow popped. So in recap: One practice into my quest to fight, I have a broken toe, a popped elbow and I am actually in much worse physical shape than I let on. This is a recipe for success.
My “injuries” kept me out of the MMA gym for the remainder of the week. I did make Crossfit about 4 times. Crossfit workouts are ridiculous. Thursday’s workout was named “Nate”, but it could have just as easily been named “shit I can’t do”. Muscle ups, handstand pushups? Who are they trying to kid. Fat kids like me cannot do these exercises.
I have the best of intentions with my diet. Four days a week I do pretty well…then the weekend rolls around. We have been eating out a ton and I have been having more than my fair share of beer. I still ended the week down about 3 pounds at 214lbs. But I recognize that I am going to have to get serious about the diet part to make 185.
I finalized the arrangements for a seminar with UFC/Pride veteran Chris Brennan for December. He will come up and do a 4 hour seminar, which should be awesome for our group, particularly me.
The idea of doing this blog seemed like such a good one when I came up with it, and when the guys at “From the Gut” agreed to publish it, I thought this is cool, but now the idea of doing this blog makes me at least as nervous as the fight preparation.
I have high hopes for next week’s training, until then…
