Functionality Part 3

The workout of a modern fighter is unique in its diversity. What I mean is that, no other sport comes close to the variability of the demands put on the fighter’s body. Imagine soccer or hockey, the athlete is mostly doing sprints for short periods of time, not requiring much upper body power/endurance other than for pushing other players around. Ask Wayne Gretski how much of that a player needs to be good at the sport! An American football linebacker might be able to squat four or five Muay Thai fighters but would probably puke after one 3 minute round hitting the pads! A Basketball player must have a phenomenal vertical leap and the lateral direction changing ability of a barrel racing pony, not to mention the natural genetic dispositions but let’s see him try a flying fireman carry like some people we know!
A Mixed Martial Arts fighter needs a blend of power, speed and endurance to compete. He or she must be as strong as a plow ox yet make weight, coming in as light as their body’s frame will allow. We must have strength and stability from every angle, defending from below, punching from above, stuffing a takedown from the cage wall or launching a knee from the center of the ring.
Because of this fact fighters and trainers have assembled workout programs that put the body through more rigours than the Seven Labours of Hurcules!
There are a million Youtube vids and thousands of books, training camps and classes to give one ideas to improve their regimen but my one recommendation would be to try to strengthen every aspect of your physique, mix it up as much as possible. Make sure your cardio is always up to par, do some power lifting, speed training, core and stability exercises and always train in as much of a realistic way possible to the sport you are competing in. If you are doing a B.J.J. or Wrestling tournament, roll every day, if you are doing a Boxing or Kickboxing/Thai fight, hit the pads tonnes and spar your face off!
I personally think that M.M.A. is spawning a new generation of unique and elite athletes; we have only seen the beginning. As much as I loved the old guard; Tank Abbott, Royce Gracie, and Maurice Smith etc I can’t help being excited about the new level of physical and technical mastery and what is to come in the future!

At RAPTOR we are tirelessly adapting and developing the Crashfit fitness program. This program will benefit any athlete in their pursuit of excellence but for the fighter or the person wanting overall fitness and weight loss there is no equal!

Is it worth going organic?

So many people ask me why I only eat and buy organic produce and meats, why I only use natural home cleaning proucts. There is only so much time in a day and so much info, so many reasons why you should, if not eat organic, at least open your mind and be aware of what you are putting in your bodies!
If some dude walked up to you on the street and offered you a sandwhich I thnk you would pause before taking it, so why do we trust giant corporations to have our best interests at heart. How many times in your life have you heard stories of people getting sick due to the negligence of some fast-food joint or some large agricultural conglomerate? The next day I'me sure you don't even hesitate to strap a drive-through feed bag to yer face!
I heard a story a couple days ago and I wanted to share it with all of you who are interested in this subject then I will give you a link to a website that deals with the subject in great detail, much more than I have time to pontificate upon.
In Canada, as in most of North America, we have laws that are put in place to protect us. We have learned from a history of powerful people causing harm to the public in order to further profits and inluence and we have, at least attempted to, guard ourselves by restricing the use of things like pesticides that cause illness.
So we shouldn't have to worry about the apples in a Canadian supermarket!? Right?

Draw your own conclusions from this but I was shootin the breeze with a freind at work the other day and he was telling me about his home in the Okanogan where they grow heaps of fresh, beautiful fruit. He was worried about all the spraying in the nearby fields and he moved to the lower mainland. A short time later he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and only months after that, the man who bought the Okanogan House from him was diagnosed with the same! Bear in mind that studies linking the diseases with the causes are funded with money and who has the money; you guessed it, the big corporations!! Quelle surprise!



So, I'm not trying to preech to anyone, eat what you want. I only ask that you start to become aware of what you put in and on your body, and what effect it will have on your health.

Here is a good resource for information on organic food and agriculture etc. These people have far more time than I do and have put together a very comprehensive website on the subject. ORGANIC FOOD!

I have used a home delivery service for organic food and cleaning products called Ladybug Organics, they deliver quite cheep and you can set up a monthly or weekly drop. Check it out if you want.