Book Review: The Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Training Guide

In the interest of keeping my brain pliable I decided to take up a new thing to learn this past year.  After thinking of a few options I asked my wife if she thought I should learn the guitar or martial arts.  She suggested martial arts.  That's a good choice, my work is sedentary enough.

I have been training in Tracy Kenpo, CQC and Shootfighting.  I have focused on Shootfighting because frankly it's fun and more intense.  Shootfighting is an early type of mixed martial arts created by Bart Vale. He came up with this style in the MMA-like events that were popular in Japan much before they were big in America.  Basically what we do is a mix of stand up striking and ground work.  It borrows heavily from Muay Thai and Braizlian Jiu-Jitsu.

I've been doing this for a few months and I just now got the book 'The Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Training Guide'.  I wish I would've got the book sooner.  It covers everything, history of MMA, nutrition, workouts and the basics of the different disciplines required for MMA.  I highly recommend this book for anyone considering MMA training.

When Does Complacency Turn into Complicity?

At first I was like... Namoi Wolf: Why Barack Obama Got My Vote
But then I was all... Naomi Wolf On Obama’s Slide Into Fascism

At what point do the useful idiots on the left and right switch from being considered complacent and ignorant to complicit in our march towards totalitarian government?

Follow the links above and read how liberal Naomi Wolf was all surprised at how Obama carries on the same tradition as Bush.

After hearing passionate arguments from the Obama Administration, the Supreme Court acquiesced to the president’s fervent request and, in a one-line ruling, let stand a lower court decision that declared torture an ordinary, expected consequence of military detention, while introducing a shocking new precedent for all future courts to follow: anyone who is arbitrarily declared a “suspected enemy combatant” by the president or his designated minions is no longer a “person.” They will simply cease to exist as a legal entity. They will have no inherent rights, no human rights, no legal standing whatsoever — save whatever modicum of process the government arbitrarily deigns to grant them from time to time, with its ever-shifting tribunals and show trials.

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Crystal Ball

If you follow me on twitter you probably understand where I think things are going. I thought I'd outline it in one place though in a format besides a URL and a snarky comment.

Where we are
America is broke, even if we had the leadership to give it the focus of the Manhattan project, the Moon landing and the Cold War this is a problem we can't solve. Don't believe me, listen to the former head of the CBO (click here for video).

Here's great coverage on 3 reports from 2 government agencies and the Federal Reserve.

How we got here
This isn't a moral gray area this is taxation (of the youth and unborn) without representation. We got here by glorifying a large central government, by apathy of the citizens and a lack of leadership in government.

Because of the Bretton Woods system and the oil peg the US dollar is the reserve currency of the world. Because of this we have enjoyed amazing economic leverage on the rest of the world. We make pieces of paper and trade that for labor and materials sent from all over the world. It has been a good deal but the terms are about to change.

What we're going to do
We could raise taxes but Americans can be a feisty bunch. We could shrink government, still that wouldn't come close to covering our debt.

We do have an advantage though. Our debt is denominated in a currency we control. We don't have to go bankrupt we just destroy our currency. The plan is to do it in an orderly fashion over the next 9-14 years. I'm skeptical; an expiration date isn't a sought after feature if you're looking for a store of wealth. Expect a massive dumping of US dollars in the future.

What this means
If your wealth is in US dollars or dollar denominated assets you might see your real wealth cut in half. Expect to buy a lot less with the same bills.

A weaker dollar means that domestic production starts to make more sense. We'll see increased manufacturing and industry in America and the jobs that come with it.

Our standing in the world will be diminished. We won't be able to exert economic pressure on other countries like we have. We won't be able to borrow or print money to feed vast military expeditions. The BRIC nations will assume control of the world if not China alone. From a perspective of defending American soil, we have 2 oceans and a friendly neighbor to the North and a well armed population. We're relatively safe.

As for domestic life, hopefully we'll just experience a shift in perspective where we are happy with fewer things. Hopefully it's that simple, hopefully it's gradual and we demonstrate we are good people with good character.

In Soviet Russia Kettlebell Swings You!

I mentioned to a buddy that I was considering a big purchase of some adjustable dumbells. He said I should give the kettlebell a try. I hit YouTube found myself intrigued, bought a book and a 35 lb kettlebell.

Here are some reasons I'm digging it...

• It builds functional strength
• It builds explosive strength
• It encourages flexibility
• You can get good intensity quickly
• You don't need much to get a good workout (a kettlebell, some space and maybe suitable ground to lay down such as carpet or grass)
• The movements are natural
• It doesn't take up much room. If you have space in your home the size of a paint can you have room for a kettlebell
• You can't destroy it

Imagine standing in your spandex in front of a mirror concentrating on the supination of your hairless wrist so that you can get that double-peak on your bicep. Leaving you with vanity muscles useful for contrived movements and serving as great plumage. The body won't necessarily come in handy if you should have to move yourself or something heavy. Well, the kettlebell is the opposite of all that.

After a full day of work, driving 20 minutes to a gym to spend 45 minutes to an hour exercising doesn't appeal to me. I want to spend time with family and writing more code. To that end the kettlebell is a time saver.

In the Denver area, Play it Again Sports has Apollo brand kettlebells. They seem good, I've seen positive reviews, when I go up a size I'll probably go there.

Overall it's hard to describe. It's very kinetic, there's momentum, rhythm. Almost like calisthenics with weights. To get the kettlebell to do what you want it to do you are forced to move with a good amount of velocity and use leverage.

It's probably something of a fad. The main evangelist, Pavel, plays up on the Russian bravado in books and video. But the schtick is actually entertaining. Anyways, it's cheap, it's old school, it's something different, I recommend it even if you only have one nut.

Beck on The Dollar

Glenn Beck can be a tool on some issues but he's spot on here. This video is important. He knows the issue and expresses it reasonably well. This stuff is important, we live in interesting times and he explains why.