It’s funny to me the range of responses and emotions and feedback I have received over the past few months while on this Quest For The U.S. Open.  I have learned to be very careful who I share certain information with, though I love to talk about my experiences to everyone who is willing to listen.  Most of the time I receive support, encouragement, and a general “Go for it, you can do it!” attitude from people.

Every once in a while I come across someone who is more or less trying to convince me to do something else, tone it down, or simply give up “while you still have the chance.”  It’s quite humorous to be sure.

The reality is this:  I AM going to compete in the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships, I AM going to ramp up my excitement and intensity, and I AM going to go all the way and forget that anyone ever suggested to give up.

I have to remain focused on the vision ahead of me, competing at the highest level of martial arts in the world…the U.S. OPen.  I have to remain focused on why it is I am doing this…for me – to overcome, for my family – to honor, for my God – to be thankful!  No matter that there are naysayers and those who aren’t convinced that someone like me can overcome the odds…no matter!  HELLO PEOPLE…I HAVE ALREADY OVERCOME THE ODDS…NOW IT IS TIME TO SMASH THE ODDS!  What matters is that I have set my mind and my body to do this, and I WILL DO THIS!

As a matter of fact, I will do this in 2 WEEKS!!!  Whoa!  We are almost there folks.  Just a couple of more weeks and the doors open to the “Super Bowl” of Martial Arts tournaments!  Just a couple of more weeks and I step through those doors!!!  I am (just a little) excited.

I still have a lot of work to do, but let me share with you some of the successes so far:

• To date (since I decided to take control of my physical body again) I have lost just over 50lbs.  That is about the halfway mark for me to recover fully from what I gained after all the accidents, treatments, and meds…but 50 LBS!  That is a huge milestone!  Coinciding with that, I have gained a tremendous amount of functional strength and muscle that was pretty much shot before this.
• I have dropped 2 sizes in my martial arts uniforms and could possibly drop another one before the U.S. Open.  All my clothes are baggy now and I haven’t gone out and bought any more clothes, so sometimes I look and feel funny, but it is encouraging knowing I could go on a shopping spree and drop some sizes.
• I am able to put in full workouts regularly and am eating right.  What’s great is that through my own “mind work” I have reprogrammed my cravings and desires about food.
• I can get through a full martial arts workout.  After what I accomplished Wednesday in Palm Beach, I gotta admit, I was ecstatic about it.  A few months ago I struggled to get through a single kata just once or twice back to back.  Wednesday we went for nearly 4 hours (with a lunch break, but still!).
• This experience for me has mended relationships, and strengthened already strong ones.  It has shown me in many cases who I DON’T need to hang around too much, but for the most part, it has strengthened friendships.

All this from training for martial arts?!  Yep.  And so much more.  People that knew me years ago and now see again after all the crisis have told me, “I can see the Lion in your eyes again and can hear him beginning to roar.”

2 Weeks friends…and the Lion roars!