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!

Doug and Michael performing during the Self Defense competiton at the U.S. Open this year. Doug and Michael will both demonstrate a classroom version of Self Defense principles and techniques at Valencia Community College this week.

Doug and Michael McGannon, fresh off of an exciting competition at the 2009 U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships, are set to demonstrate Self Defense principles and techniques at Valencia Community College this week.  This will be a one-time event when Doug is given special permission to join Michael during one of his classes to provide teaching and demonstration to students at the college.

Actually, it is Michael who will be doing most of the teaching, and Doug will be getting his bum handed to him in front of everyone.   It will be tons of fun, and both Doug and Michael are honored to continue sharing their training with others through Martial Arts.

In other news, Doug has been approached by an official in the public school systems to begin developing a Martial Arts program for students.  Doug has done this before in other states and looks forward to working with students in Orange and surrounding counties through Martial Arts and personal development.  The details cannont yet be released, but as soon as we have permission we will share with you, our friends, more about this exciting venture.

Currently, Doug’s training schedule and tournament schedule has been set for the remainder of the year and into the first quarter of 2010.  We are just a few weeks out from the next competition and will announce locations, times, dates, and events in the next several days…stay tuned!

Thanks again for everyone who is supporting Doug on his Quest not only to compete at the highest levels again, but on his Quest to regain his physical body back to full stength and do what some “experts” told him he would never do again!  Here’s to the overcoming power that each of us can tap into…

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!

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!

Doug McGannon, Mike Tatum, Michael McGannon

Myself, Mike Tatum, and Michael McGannon (my son and primary training partner) out in the open field training some self-defense over the weekend.  Can you say HOT and MUGGY (the weather, not the pic)!!!

Mike Tatum

Here’s Mike T. (right) striking a pose…um, I mean, traditional stance…   Congrats to Mike for receiving his Black Belt the night before our training on Friday.  He was preeeettty sore whilst undergoing some self-defense maneuvers (hee, hee!).

Doug holding a new uniform from The Bold Look!

There is definitely a lot happening this week as we zero in on some technique-specific training with our kata (forms) and self-defense.  Michael and I will be heading south again on Wed. for some intense training with our Coach, Lauren Kearney, and I think she is going to team us up with some other tournament champs in order to raise our game a bit.  There is certainly nothing like learning from a group of people that are waaaaay above you in this game.  Good times!  I am looking forward to learning more.

We are so close now…to the point where I physically felt the pressure of being less than 3 weeks away today.  It has all come down to this.  I will be prepared, and this will definitely be a “moment” to remember.

Do me a favor and check out my friends and sponsors (link up top and links to the right).  I would appreciate it and I know they would appreciate your support!  There is no way I could do this alone, and to have some great people and companies in my “corner” for this Quest means a lot.

July 3 & 4 people…here we come!!!

Soke Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi

So, today we focused on self-defense training specifically. Michael and I worked on several sequences this morning together and then later we met up with Michael Tatum, a student with Bunjikan Tenguzake Dojo, here in the Central Florida area. This Dojo is in the line of instruction under Masaaki Hatsumi, the reknown Master from Japan.  Truly a man and a system of Martial Arts deserving of much honor and respect.

Michael Tatum will be working with our team for the self-defense portion of our training and presentation. It is an honor and a privilege to be working with him.

What was NOT such “an honor and a privilege” was training in the deluge of rain that came upon us while in the middle of the field we were training in. The rain came so fast and so hard we really had no other choice but to stand there and “enjoy”   Actually, it kinda reminded us of the dreams we have as kids (and adults) about being warriors standing in the rain looking off toward the battlefield ready to engage the enemy with power and skill, ready to lay down our lives for honor…and with a huge rolling mist engulfing us…um, cut to the credits

It was refreshing, pun intended, to work outside and specifically on self-defense techniques ranging from Muy Thai, Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Hapkido, Karate, and Judo to weapons defenses.

I always enjoy working self-defense and am grateful that the U.S. Open has a platform for this portion of our Art to be demonstrated and performed.

We will train for quite a bit tomorrow on this again, as well as with our kata (forms) training in addition to our physical workout.

Then…on Sunday we travel South to meet with Lauren Kearney, my coach, to really begin fine tuning a lot of our training.

We have accomplished a lot this week and are looking to make significant strides in the next few weeks in our preparation for the U.S. Open.

Stay tuned…