So I haven't posted in a while since I've been dealing with not only required overtime at work, but some personal things as well.
Anyways, here's the training update:
The value of video:
I never realized how useful video of one's own training would be so good for improvement until I had video of one of my training sessions. Man, oh man, did I find tons to improve on-keeping guard up, form with certain punches, form with some kicks, keeping elbows in, ROM-you name it! However, having that video has made me decide I will have video done at least once a month or so to track progress and continue to identify areas in which improvement can be made.
I also saw a lot that I was doing right-strike surfaces, power, movement/footwork.
Cutting weight-it sucks. Hard. No me gusta! I've been on a reduced calorie diet and taking Hydroxycut to help curb my appetite. Cutting about one to two pounds a week until I hit goal weight. Not doing any of that crazy dehydration crap since it is so bad for me. Instead, I'm focusing on cutting my bodyfat percent down and will maintain a pound or two above fight weight. I'm about 8-9 pounds out as of last weigh-in.
Eating tons of fruit/veggies as filler and making sure to get protein intake from shakes and supplements. I kinda miss real food, though...
Aaaand adventures in ink! Whoooooo!
I now have four fresh tattoos for a total of twelve, and they are healing up quite nicely. Got the Southern Cross on my right shoulderblade, some phrases on Greek on each arm and my Spartan helmet on my upper left arm in honor of my Papou and my heritage. I'm thinking about getting some fill on both arms/pecs done and having quarter sleeves since each arm has a coherent enough theme (left is my heritage, right is my MMA side) and will be discussing it with my awesome and epically nerdy artist to see what we can come up with.
Aside from that, just the normal grind: work, training, relaxing some. Right now, I'm healing up from a pulled hamstring/gluteal chain from the weekend that's manifested all the way up my lower back! Not fun since I hate being out of training, but I have to rest to let it heal.
The other fun thing was I went to a local gay bar a few weeks ago with a friend. Once someone saw my Octagon necklace, he freaked out on me. Like went the hell off and started on about how his TKD training (two years) would allow him to kill me if he wanted. I calmly mentioned my training background and said he probably wouldn't have a chance, but he continued to go off. Later, he let it slip that he was pissed I was doing a "straight guy trashy sport" and as a result "setting back the gay identity" that has been forged because I'm not a stereotypical fag. I'm sorry, but the only "straight guy" activity would be dating and getting it on with women. Sports have no inherent sexual preference of their own, now do they? Yes, my sport is a bit more masculine than most, but at the same time as a younger gay man, I'm part of a newer generation that is coming up with a new identity.
We are ourselves and our sexual preference is but a part of who we are. Some of us are effeminate. Some are masculine. Some are neither. Some play softball. Some play volleyball. Some play football and still others do my sport. Some do drag and some don't. But the one thing that binds us is that we are true to ourselves above all else, and as such, we are changing opinions. Not only opinions of straight people, but of gay people as well-we show the world that not all gays are a lisping, campy stereotype. We show the gays that one's whole identity doesn't have to revolve around that one single aspect of the whole. And those of us in sports like MMA show that we, too, are just normal guys.
I believe this makes many "old guard" gays uncomfortable since it is a huge change in identity and self-image, and it may not be something they are ready for. But my generation is, and we will push ahead as we are for there is only one person we must answer to and that is the one who stares back at us from the mirror. Above all else, we must remain true to who we are, not what society (gay or straight) expects us to be.
