Doug places 2nd in Traditional Forms At The Central Florida Sport Karate Challenge Today!

Today is my birthday (happy birthday to me!) and I decided to compete to celebrate!  I had the opportunity to compete in the Central Florida Sport Karate Challenge in Lake County, FL.  Only competed in one event, Traditional Forms, and placed 2nd.  I will say this, the gentleman who bested me today deserved it as he performed a very clean kata (form) and was a worthy competitor.  I believe he also went on to place 2nd in Sparring, so mucho congrats to him!

It was a fun day, and I was honored with the presence of a friend and his son as well (thanks for hanging out with us Jeff and Marcus!), so good times all around.

I did get to experience a different side of tournament competition today…Judging!  They needed a couple of judges to fill slots and I volunteered (so did Michael, which was cool), and got to judge Creative Forms, Traditional Forms, Creative and Traditional Weapons, and Sparring…mostly for the younger competitors.

I must say I probably had as much or more fun judging as I did competing.  Probably because I always enjoy seeing and helping others succeed, and that, in some way, is what judging is about.

It was a smaller tournament, but a fun one and one that I will enjoy attending in the future…next time with a team of my own students!  Woo Hoo!!!  Oh, and I didn’t know it until yesterday but all the proceeds from this tournament went to benefit kids in Lake County through the Police Athletic League, and I am very honored to have been a part of that.

We are nearly ready to launch our new Martial Arts Program for students here in Orange County and I am so excited to be this close to being able to share details with all of you.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as this will be a tremendous opportunity to invest in young lives here in our area.

I will continue training and competing until I reach my personal goals, physically and in competition.  It has only just begun!

On the note of training…I did have an opportunity to have a drink with a friend and Personal Trainer yesterday and he has given me some things to work on to push through the current training plateau I am in, so I am excited about the next few weeks of training.  Stay tuned for more great results to be announced!

Until next time, I hope everyone is having a wonderful day on my BDay and I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you along the way!

Doug

P.S. – A lot of people have been asking me if I am going to start sparring again or fighting again in the future.  Hmmm…it is a very real possibility and one that could (hint, hint) be in the works within the year, given I can pass medical clearance from the past injuries.  Looking good though.  Oh, and in case you are wondering about any future “mountains” to climb…I am currently training toward reclaiming another passion, in which I have actually competed professionally and nationally in…long-distance running.  A couple of 5K primer runs look to be in the near future, so again, stay tuned…it’s about going as high as we can go!

Definitely want to attend or compete in this event!!!

It has been a few days since I updated here, but for good reason.  This past weekend I battled out several championship rounds of food poisoning.  Certainly a worthy opponent, this food poisoning, but in the end who’s still standing?!  You know this!

It definitely was not what I had on the agenda over the weekend and for a couple of queezy, uncomfortable days following.  To say the least, my writing here and for other sites and publications I write for took a break.

I am better now and will pick up full-time training again tomorrow (light today) and begin mentally and physically preparing for my next tournament which is right around the corner.

Originally, I was heading toward the Battle of Atlanta (that’s in Atlanta by the way   but we received an invitation for the same date to a wedding of a dear friend and someone who used to serve as a leader in our outreach to youth.  We are very excited to be a part of this event and celebrate with her…and so the Battle of Atlanta will have to wait another year for me, but you better get your peachy little self right on over and check out this phenom event.

I would seriously encourage you to check it out if you are in that part of the country, or jump in there if you are a martial artist.  This is a quality event that attracts some of the best in the world and is one of the most exciting tournaments in the world!  Check them out at http://www.battleofatlanta.com.  I know a lot of our readers are in and around the ATL area, so you guys get out and support the sport in this area!

I will be competing locally (Florida) again this time, and I will post details soon as many of you are asking about hanging out at the next tourney again.  Too much fun!!!

The opportunity to work with a group of students here in the Central Florida area is progressing and I look forward to sharing details with you soon about that.

Here Doug and Michael are competing in Self Defense, but at the local College it was Michael producing the tapouts and takedowns!

Michael and I had fun demonstrating self-defense at a local Community College last week (before the food poisoning!), to which he commented, “I am really enjoying seeing you tap right now,” during the demonstration.  He was the defender and I was the aggressor so he had some fun taking me down   It was fun overall and there was good feedback for the demonstration.

I am really excited that this “Quest” is only growing at this point and is becoming much more about investing in other people’s lives and leading others to overcome challenges in their lives…and many people are getting involved with martial arts and experiencing the benefits of what the arts have to offer.

As an update on my physical condition:  To date I have lost close to 60 lbs and am daily experiencing a surge in my energy, and a drop in my clothing sizes.  It is still humorous as I have yet to go shopping for new clothes and many of my clothes kinda look silly on me now…at least that’s how they feel.  Several people who have known me for some time, who saw me at the U.S. Open said, “WOW!  You really have lost a lot of weight!” and commented about how far I have come (these people really knew the inside story of how much I have really been through, and how far I’ve come back up.)

I am continuing to cross train with other martial arts experts and coaches and gain new insight and experience with some exciting top level people, so I will continue to physically reap the benefits of this cross-training.  I look to break through another plateau with my weight and body tone in the next few weeks, so that is exciting (I am just past the halfway point of my goal for body size and weight).

As I said earlier, I am pumped that this is becoming about helping others and I thank you for sending your encouragement and stories about how some of you are breaking through your own obstacles to reach your dreams and goals.  Keep going and never look back!

Pic from the very beginning...here we go again. The fun has only just begun!

A  I jump into training again the next few days, I will share some updates and how I am doing and give details about the next tournament.  We have a full schedule both in and out of the area for the rest of the year, so it is exciting!

Here’s to your success!!!  Rock on!

P.S. – I am not affiliated with Battle of Atlanta in any way…just want to make that clear.  I simply think this is a wonderful event and I want to support the sport as much as I can.  So, get on over there and get yourself a Georgia Peach and enjoy some of the best athletes in the world perform!

U.S. Open begins tomorrow, July 3-4, at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL

…I salute you!!!

Well, here we are friends!  This is the Final Countdown (another shameless tribute to big music and big hair from the past :)  Tomorrow begins the world’s most prestigious Martial Arts tournament…the 2009 U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships.  Martial Artists from all over the globe are converging on Orlando as I type (they have been arriving all week) preparing to go head-to-head in everything from Jiu Jitsu, Freestyle fighting, Forms, Weapons, Self Defense, Synchronization, Sparring, Team Demos, XMA Trick Battles, and so much more!

Here’s one thing I know…with all the martial artists in the area this week, Orlando should be the safest big city in America !

Doug and the team getting ready for the U.S. Open

We had some good, light training yesterday with the team, and then Michael and I went back out for a couple of hours to do some more work on our own.  Today is a rest day…mental training day…enjoy the process day.  I just got word that I may be going out in just a bit to help set some things up with my friends over at www.Kickgen.com who will be onsite all weekend doing live stream broadcasts and capturing the entire event on video, and interviewing some of the top athletes.  I’ve got family coming in from out of state and other friend arriving in Central Florida as well for this mothership of tournaments!  This should be a fun day in anticipation of tomorrow’s events kicking off.

I will be posting some results and happenings as I can and am not engaged in competition throughout the weekend, then after it is all said and done, I will post some links to vids and final results and also let you in on what is happening for the future as a result of this training experience.

If you need times and locations of my events, please see my previous post…

I look forward to seeing you there!

P.S. – Please take a moment to thank my sponsors and friends who have supported this effort by visiting their sites, sending them a message…or better yet, get a hold of some of their products and services.  Only the best for you my friend!  Now…let’s rock!

Can you believe that after all these months, we are only a couple of days away!? Yahooooo!

We did quite a bit of training today, but light in intensity.  I’ve had to wrap my ankle as it twisted yesterday twice…nothing major, and it wasn’t even during training when it twisted, but still need to take care of it as I do a lot of heavy pivoting on it.  Pinkie toe still jammed up from being broken a couple of weeks ago in Palm Beach, so keeping that taped too.  All in all, though, training is coming along well.

We meet with our coach again tomorrow and have another team practice tomorrow late…then move into the final 2 days.  I went for a 2.5 mile walk this a.m. to warm up for some training time and got caught in a beautiful storm.  I found a gazebo to get under and just sat through it, watched it, and did quite a bit of visualization and meditation during the storm.  It was quite an energizing and powerful experience.  Holly even drove out to find me to give me a ride home, and I just wanted to stay through it…very refreshing and empowering.

I have some times and locations for the events here.  Remember the U.S. Open is taking place at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort.  You can get more info about everything location and tix at www.usopen-karate.com.  Here are times for our events:

• Friday, beginning at noon our divisions for Self-defense and Synchronized forms begins.  It will be held in the Veracruz Exhibit Hall.  These divisions begin at noon, but we may or may not be competing at that time (possibly later).  Never can tell exact timing until things get going.  As it stands now, we will be in Ring 3 and on the Stage for these events.
• Saturday, traditional forms begin at 11:00am in the same Hall.  Again, exact timing for when I will compete is to be determined based on how many competitors…where I line up in all of it…and how many divisions there are.
• I do want to mention that one of our team-mates, Mike Tatum, will be competing in the Sport Jiu-Jitsu Freestyle Fighting competition beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.  Support for him is mucho appreciated.

Please plan on visiting the Kickgen.com booth while you are there, and if you need help finding people or places, just ask anyone…I am sure we will be just as enlightened as you .

Just a couple of days away…look forward to seeing you there!

The Dream Becomes A Reality This Week...Let's Fly!

I took a rest day yesterday and stepped away from everything training-wise.  Thursdays are my normal rest days, and I forgot to take one again this week.  We just had so much momentum with some good training days, that Thursday just flew by and next thing you know…it’s Saturday night and I was wiped!

At the end of the day yesterday (Sunday) Michael and I made a home-made dinner (it was exquisite!) then we hung out for a while.  Later in the evening we were sitting in the back yard and just reminiscing about the past several months and how the back yard has basically been our dojo (training facility) along with a local park.  Sometimes it has felt like Rocky in that movie where he went out to the wilderness in Russia or something and trained off the land for a while (YO!  Adrian!!!)   We have come so far in the past few months and this is the week.

In just a few more days I will step on the world stage at the 2009 U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships.  Kinda’ surreal!

Today I trained hard all morning and into the afternoon, took a few minutes to cool off in the pool before heading out and doing a short training time with the rest of the team.  Tonight was date night for me and Holly and we had a “heart-to-heart” and just realized how much has happened over the past few months and what it all means to us at this point.

It has been a great experience, however difficult, however strenuous, however just downright scary sometimes…it has been worth it all and I am excited to be back “in the saddle” as we prepare to compete this week.

I am confident about our performances.  Of course, there is always room for improvement, but we have trained hard and prepared deeply.

In a couple of days I will list some times and dates for my events, so stay tuned.  We’ve met some great people along the way, seen new opportunities, and watched some people turn away (not everyone can go the distance and reach these heights).  I will be proud to stand next to my family and friends this weekend and take my place among Martial Arts competitors from around the globe.

Hope to see you there too.  Thanks for your support and encouragement…  Dreams really do come true!

Mike, Chuck, Doug, and Michael having some fun and training for the U.S. Open, July 3-4

As you know, preparing for and competing at this level is no “one-man” show.  There is always a team of people working together to make things happen.  That’s simply the way things work in any situation.  A couple of days ago I introduced you to Chuck, who is on our team and assisting me in one of the events at the U.S. Open.  I mentioned how he had been working to regain strength and full-function of his knees over the past seven months.  I’d like to introduce to you the people responsible for helping him “get his legs back” and also help him shape up and become stronger overall.

Matt Bloom, Brian Schwab, and the team at Orlando Barbell (see their link to the right and below) have been on the job for months working with Chuck, and we are thankful to them as it has afforded Chuck the opportunity to train with us and compete with us at the World Championships next weekend.

Matt Bloom is an accomplished trainer who holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Fitness from the University of Central Florida, is a Certified Strength Trainer by the world-famous Westside Barbell, and a Certified Fitness Trainer by the International Sports and Science Association.  That is a mouthful, but it gets better.  Matt has coached and trained some of the NFL’s and MLB’s top players including Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, World Series and All Stars champions.  He has coached some of the fastest NFL players, and has trained next to world-record holding powerlifters at the world’s strongest gym, Westside Barbell.  I have put a complete listing of his (very impressive) credentials on our Friends and Sponsors page.  Let’s just say this…if you want to be trained by one of the Nation’s best Strength and Fitness Coaches, you need to contact Matt.  His contact info is on the Friends and Sponsor page as well.  Matt trains at several locations in the Central Florida area, including Orlando Barbell where Chuck has been training for several months now.

Orlando Barbell is home to some of the nations top trainers and athletes

Orlando Barbell is led by Brian Schwab who hold a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Florida.  In addition to his many certifications, Brian is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  Brian has been ranked #1 in the Nation in the 148lb. weight class for the past 6 years, holds national records in the 165lb. weight class as well, and is a featured athlete on Orlando’s WESH News Channel 2.  Brian is a published author and has been featured on several national magazine covers for his accomplishments.  We, here at www.QuestForTheUSOpen.com are most impressed with his work with one of our team-mates.  Thanks Brian!  You can learn more about Brian and Orlando Barbell on our Friends and Sponsors page or visit www.OrlandoBarbell.com.

U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships, July 3-4, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando...visit www.usopen-karate.com for more info and to get your tix!

We are less than a week away from the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships and I am soooo excited!  This has been a dream for many years and now it is within reach.  I have reached some significant milestones in my own life personally through all of this, and there are a couple of opportunities opening up as a result too.  I will share with you more the closer we get to the Open and as things are more concrete.

As we launch into this final week, I want to say thanks to each of you who have followed me through this very important time and experience.  There have been many times where I have gone back through posts, comments, emails, and voice messages during times when I wanted to give up and your encouragement has been my fuel.  We are doing this together and I pray you have been inspired along the way to accomplish your own goals and dreams!

We are not finished yet…less than a week and we step on one of the greatest Martial Arts stages the world has to offer.  If you didn’t get a chance to read my interview with Mike McCoy, owner and promoter of the U.S. Open, and learn more about the amazing history and the future of the Sport Martial Arts, please click here and hear from a living legend.

For now, it’s dinner time…see ya!

P.S. - When you visit our Friends and Sponsors Page, be sure to check out the link to my Coach, Lauren Kearney, who is a multiple World Champion Title holder…it just blows me away every time I think that I’ve had the opportunity to work with her through this Quest…Thanks Lauren!

my US Open hat that I keep nearby with my poster and Black Belt to remind me each day of what I am working toward!

O.K., so today has been rough physically.  Main reason why is that I was up past 4:30a.m. this morning not being able to sleep.  I went to bed early enough to unwind, worked through my mental relaxation, and as I was dozing I suddenly, and really like a mental machine, began going through each step of every event that I have been practicing for…over and over and over and over.  I found myself at one point actually breathing heavy with my heart racing as I was imagining the effects of competing in my events back to back, hearing the crowd, feeling the pressure in the room, executing each technique with my training partners…  It was quite a surreal experience.  I could very nearly feel as though everything was happening in the room with me last night.

Sometime shortly after 3a.m. I sat straight up, drank the whole glass of water I keep bedside and tried to shake it off.  Holly woke up, realized what was happening and so she got up with me and began talking me through each and every family vacation we have ever been on together, beginning way back in Southern Germany, across the U.S., down in the Keys, and tried focusing her words on things like peaceful waters or our quiet hikes through the mountains.  I’m glad she didn’t go through the vacation where we spent a summer traveling the East Coast riding every roller coaster we could find…I might have been sick at that point.

It was actually a chore, but eventually we were able to switch my thinking to peaceful scenes and away from the tournament.  I looked at the clock for the last time at 4:36a.m.

A personal journal entry from a couple of years ago where I listed my goals for the U.S. Open (I marked off other things as there are some other big things getting ready to happen on that page too). WOW! From a couple of years ago writing it down to being a week away from it happening!!!

I suppose this is what it means to eat, breathe, drink, and SLEEP what you are involved in…for me, it the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships.  The struggle came just a couple of hours later when I had to be up to take Michael to a school evaluation, and then straight to a couple of hours of training with the team…outside…in the sun…and humidity…in full gear…waaaaaaa!  I know, I know…stop whining! 

I’m kidding really.  It was tough, but well worth it all for what will be taking place one week for now…ONE WEEK AWAY!  I really believe I mentally switched another gear last night during that experience where I am now in full-on “get it done” mode for the tournament.  Pumped!  Not that I haven’t been getting it done all along, but this is a very different level now…does that make sense?  I feel very different today, even beyond being tired.

I have some more people to introduce you to later, but for now…I am taking a NAP!  See ya!

P.S. – Take a look at yesterday’s post and meet the rest of the team if you haven’t already…cool stories coming out of our Quest!

U.S. Open Night of Champions Stage being prepared for the main event...soon to be prepared for the 2009 U.S. Open at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando!

This week I had the privilege of interviewing a legend in the world of Martial Arts.  He’s a living legend…Mike McCoy, owner of the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championship Tournament!  It’s not everyday you get to sit down with someone of this caliber and talk to them and learn from them.  My experience in this Quest for the U.S. Open has afforded me this opportunity and I would like to share it with you.

http://kickgen.com/martial-arts-legends/index.html

This link is the original post at www.Kickgen.com where I write inspirational material for an online martial arts social networking community.  If you are a martial artist and have yet to connect here, please take a moment and do so…I promise you will have a BLAST!

Enjoy the interview and learn more about the U.S. Open, it’s relationship with I.S.K.A. and ESPN, the future of sport martial arts, and what we all have to look forward to at this year’s event (which are some pretty incredible additions to the tourney).  Please let me know if you have any trouble with the link, as you definitely want to check out this interview.

Thanks much!

P.S. - On the training side of things, it has been a challenging day so far…I am off to another session right now that will probably go past midnight, then up again in the a.m. for a full day of training tomorrow.  Your prayers and encouragement are coveted!

Michael wrote an article for my regular column at www.Kickgen.com.  Please take a few to read it, you can find it under the KG News tab at the top of the home page.  It was a special Father’s Day message, and it made me proud!

I had some really fun times with both of the boys today, including some pool time, a nap, some wrestling and playing and good conversation.  Tomorrow will be an enjoyable day.  There will be a workout, but it will end up being a light day me thinks…

On that note, Happy Father’s Day to everyone.  I pray this is a wonderful day for you.  I will see you back here on Monday for some serious countdown (less than 2 weeks now) to the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships.  If you haven’t bought your tix yet, please visit the U.S. Open site and get on that this week.  I will appreciate your support, but beyond that, you will definitely want to witness some of the world’s top athletes going head to head in major martial arts action.

Have a fantastic Father’s Day!

It was great to be able to share some experiences along the way to the U.S. Open with new friends.  That’s a lot of what this Quest is about…new friends, new challenges, new victories!

So, thanks Patrick, it was very nice to meet you…and great job teaching that “ninja” some lessons!

Two weeks to go everyone…home stretch.  See you there!