Sohan

For what it's worth, my wife is an accountant in Georgia and says yes, but as an educational or professional expense. It's the same as a certification or licensing exam for any other professional. Still, check with an accountant in your area. With respect, Sohan

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I received some very helpful suggestions that have really helped in designing the camp curriculum. We start on the 19th so I'll let you know how things go! With respect, Sohan

I have been a competitive powerlifter and have a 1625 total at 198 to my credit, both drug-free. Won several state and regional championships and competed in a few drug-free nationals in the 80's and 90's before the equipment craze began artificially inflating totals. If you have specific questions, perhaps I can help. As far as getting started, the first thing you should do is get a subscription to Powerlifting USA. It's the bible for powerlifting here in the US. With respect, Sohan

Not speaking for yours, but our sensei would likely prefer us to focus on our style until at least brown belt level before we take time for other styles. I can see the reason for this, but it also makes sense to be a more complete fighter, depending on your personal goals. Since the two styles will be complimentary, I see no reason for you not to study both provided you can give each reasonable time and effort. Nothing is more frustrating to a sensei than having to take class time to continually re-train a student on materials that they aren't spending the proper time practicing. With respect, Sohan

Is this monster the real deal? 7 feet tall, 321 lbs, 44-0 record with a ton of knockouts. How do you box a guy like that? I'd be interested to see if he could make a good MMA fighter someday as well. The guy has a fist as big as my head.... http://www.nikolaivaluev.com/ What a beast. Teach him a few kicks and basic grappling and he'd destroy Bob Sapp. With respect, Sohan

Fighting isn't a bodybuilding contest. You don't need 20 inch arms to throw a devastating punch---in fact, big arms can be a hindrance. But Chuck Liddell is definitely solid. He also is deceptively fast, amazingly accurate, and generates tremendous power through the kinetic chain. Wouldn't want to get hit by him. With respect, Sohan

I was really referring to the plane that the dumbbell travels in. Elbows in, out, rotating, beginning from a reverse position vs. vertical fist position, etc. There are lots of variations that I use to keep my muscles from adapting to any particular movement pattern. But I basically grip the handle the same way, regardless. With respect, Sohan

I like double leg takedowns, though I am also particularly fond of sweeps. With respect, Sohan

I concur with this comment. Now that I'm a little older and over the barbell max obsession, I have spent more time using dumbbells and found my useable strength has really increased. Although I still do barbell bench and other presses, I use a lot of dumbbell presses with varying handgrips and pressing patterns. It's really helped in applying my strength to create more power, and I seem to get hurt less frequently. With respect, Sohan

6 years difference is not a big deal. I think Gracie got 1.5 million for that fight. (If I am wrong please let us know the correct amount he got) He walked in, fell down, got his money, and left. That fight definitely hurt the Gracie Family reputation. Hughes is an awesome fighter and would have won anyways, but Gracie should have put up a better fight. at least go 1 full round. Did Gracie's elbow break, I say no, but others are saying its broken. Being 39 myself, I'm inclined to disagree that there's not that much difference with being 6 years younger. I definitely notice a difference, though it is slight, and that small difference would be HUGE in an elite-caliber bout. But I do agree that the Gracies are smarting after that one. It's not about the money, it's the pride. My wife and I live and work with Brazilians here in Atlanta, and they are an extremely prideful and passionate people. With respect, Sohan

Not everyone works the same, it may work for him... Aodhan You have a point there, Aodhan. I have known guys who achieved substantial hypertrophy off of working arms one day and chest the next, though they never benched near as much as I did. I was friends with a fellow who had just incredible upper body development through training this way, and I know he was clean, but he maxed on bench at only 315 while I was over 400. Everybody responds in their own way to training methodologies. And training for muscle size is not necessarily the route to greater strength. With respect, Sohan

Glad to hear you had a good experience. We had a Wado black belt in our Shorin-ryu class a while back and she was very impressive in all aspects of her style---and she was only 14. With respect, Sohan

There was a good one I forgot to include. And I even had one many moons ago. With respect, Sohan

Welcome back! It must feel good to be back training again. With respect, Sohan

Welcome! With respect, Sohan

Wow, thanks! I'm humbled and honored. What a great web forum! With respect, Sohan

Apart from martial arts training, what would be your favorite aerobic exercise? Even if you're into more than one, tell us your favorite and why. With respect, Sohan

Thats asking for a comment!! And your comment is....? With respect, Sohan

I have no comment on the shake, but regarding the statement about the body only utilizing 46 gms of protein at a time, that's not quite true. Your body's protein needs change constantly, and the bioavailability of various dietary proteins coupled with your metabolic state (catabolic/anabolic) at any given time will be the determining factors as to how much protein is digested, absorbed, and utilized for physiological functions. With respect, Sohan

I completely agree with you. However, skills aside, we have to keep in mind that this was a rather skinny 39 year old past his prime going against a 32 year old fireplug of fighting strength completely in his physical prime. Strength and youth were definitely factors here. It would have proven more if Royce was about 7-8 years younger. In retrospect, it was a mismatch all the way, and unfortunately really doesn't prove that much today except for that Royce should consider retiring before he gets hurt. With respect, Sohan

Phenomenal fighter? He's definitely the best right now. But it's not like Hughes is unbeatable. He has lost 4 times, with two of those to Dennis Hallman. He's at his prime, and Gracie is not, simple as that---Royce has certainly beaten stronger fighters in the past. But there's a big difference between 39 and 32 years old. And IMO, it was indeed embarassing to Royce and the Gracie family to have his tail handed to him in the ground game. Listen to the post-fight interview---he absolutely wasn't in the mood for discussing the fact that he was beaten by his own style. Perhaps the Gracies were a bit arrogant in taking this fight and disregarding the obvious disadvantages in age and conditioning. With respect, Sohan

Say goodnight, Gracie. TKO in the first. Youth, strength, and a well-rounded training approach won this. Hughes was better both on his feet and on the ground with a near-submission of the legend---he beat Royce at his own game. I agree with Hughes' post-fight comments that Royce should never have taken the fight. That was embarassing, and I am a big fan of Gracie. With respect, Sohan

Gracie's age was certainly an issue, but it is obvious that the rest of the world has caught up with him. Hughes could certainly have beaten Royce up much worse than he did, but he showed a great amount of respect for his opponent in getting the job done quickly and efficiently. Youth, strength, and a more well-rounded skill set were what won this fight. In the post-fight comments, he made it clear that Royce shouldn't have taken the fight. I was surprised to hear Royce not rule out a return to the octagon, which I think would be a mistake. He should retire now, and not tarnish his legacy with a string of embarrassing losses like he received last night. BTW, the fight is available on youtube.com for anyone who cares to view it. With respect, Sohan

It's hard to say, Smitty, without seeing you. If this has been bothering you a while, I'd see a sports med physician for a checkup. In the meantime, I'd stop the posture corrections for a couple days to let whatever inflammation you have to subside, then start back again a little less aggressively. Use some antiinflammatories and ice if necessary and avoid anything that causes discomfort. A good way to improve your posture is sitting crosslegged on a cushion as if you were meditating. Pretend your head is attached by a string to the ceiling that is pulling it up. Keep your chin down and pulled in and keep your chest out. Seek a "flat back" position and maintain it while breathing slowly and controlled for about ten minutes. Do this once per day. Cut out the bridges for now. And another thing, when you start back on the posture corrections, focus on them more later in the day when your muscles are warmer and the joints better lubricated--you'll likely get better results. With respect, Sohan

My sensei sells T-shirts and other apparel that he orders once or twice per year. He charges a slight markup which I don't begrudge him at all. I wouldn't expect him to go to the trouble of designing and ordering a shirt for me at only his cost. The shirts are beautiful and I am proud to wear them in and out of the dojo. With respect, Sohan