The unlucky break

I got offered a fight on the 18th Feb 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

So I started to mentally prepare myself for the event.

As one would know you require a high level fitness and strength to enter the ring so I hit the usual exercises - skipping, heavy bag, pushups, situps and kettle bell stuff.

Last night I went to training. All was going well, learning new takedowns and practicing escapes.

I was a little too dynamic in an escape from side control and I tore cartilage in my lower rib :(

I will now need six weeks to heal before I can roll again.

No fight now, but a chance to help my team mates with boxing and cornering.


Train hard my friends, osu!

Got gear? So do I.

Good kit = comfortable, long lasting  

For my training, this is my basic week to week kit.

Datsusara PGB-03 

This bag is made from hemp and is rated one of the best gear bags for our sport. It has pockets and areas for everything. I filled my bag with everything below and I had heaps of space left for a towel, fresh clothes etc. It even has a 'nasty bag' to put all your post training wet gear in.

Sprawl and Datsusara Fight Shorts

My Sprawl shorts are the my favourite as won my first fight in them. Super comfy, mouth guard pouch and thigh grips. The Datsusara shorts are 100% hemp and 100% awesome. Chris the owner of Datsusara offers the most amazing pre and post sale service. Through your money at him and support hemp and small businesses.

Smai 14oz and Fairtex 5oz gloves

The Smai gloves are a basic leather boxing glove, great for training and sparring. My Fairtex gloves are best for training and even in the ring. Fairtex is a top fight gear brand!

Black Eagle Gi

This is the most comfortable gi I've ever put on for rolling.

Mouth guard and box (cup)

I'd never roll/spar without one in place!

First Aid, vasoline and head gear

Always bring these to class, hopefully not to use them.

Under Armour Rashguards

The only brand that I trust and it lasts. I have 2x short tops, 2x long tops and 2x compression shorts.

Brute knee pads

Great for BJJ, I have a cheap set of non-branded pads in case my brute pads are tooo stinky!

Fairtex shin guards

These neoprene guards are the best! Heaps of pros use them and if you are serious about training so should you!     

Grapple Comp Time!

I am currently training for the a competition in November this year. I need to cut a little weight and really work on my condition.

Spilt squats
Hindu Squats
Push ups
Pull ups
Neck rolling

The big one is grip strength. Now to find some big ropes to shake and pull weights!

How it all started

Birth
Growth
Passion
Experience

I have been passionate about martial arts ever since I was a small boy watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
I mean think about it. Teenage, Mutant NINJAS that are turtles.

I always wanted to learn martial arts, especially because my best friend's brother would often try out his latest technique learned from Ninjitsu training on me... often with absolute fear and pain attached. On a quick side note I still flinch when I'm around him now 16 years down the track and he is scared to train with me!

From this conditioning I wanted to learn Ninjitsu, but in Christchurch at the time there was very limited options for training. So 8 years later I finally got the change to learn the war art of Bujinkan Ninjitsu.

I first trained under sensi Richard Leech. Richard was awesome. He taught me that having fun and doing everything slowly a key to the budo way. Beers after training was encouraged and it was a very painful yet fun learning enviroment. Sadly due to Bujinkan politics in Christchurch, Richard stopped teaching and he stuck to Judo. On the last class he awarded me my green belt (7th kyu).

A few of the class members continued training in a hall in St Albans.I continued to learn from there for a couple of years till I met sensi Andrew Nateman, who I continue to train with once or twice a year (typically at seminars).I put Ninjitsu on the back burner as I was busy with Polytec & work. 

Me with Shihan Natascha Morgan

My sister Ava wanted to get fit and since I was training to run a marathon I'd thought that I would give her a hand. She joined our local non for profit gym/training center Cricton Cobbers and I followed. They offered all sorts of training there: Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Hapkido, MMA/BJJ, Judo and TDK. This was all inclusive of my $7 per week joining fee! Sadly this training centre got destroyed during the 22 Februrary 2011   Christchurch Earthquake.

Im on the far left. This was a Saturday session for the fighters @ Cricton Cobbers

I thought I was pretty fit and MMA had caught my eye from people posting about it gpforums.co.nz. So I thought I'd try it out.


My first session showed me how when you think you are fit, you are rubbish compared to grapples and strikers. I was shaking after the 2 hour class, but I was hooked. 


MMA:
The brotherhood,
The emotion,
The bar that gets raised,
The addiction




Two fights in the ring (A class rules) with a record of 2-0-0, I'm looking forward to new submissions, strikes and a few more fights!


Osu!!!


-Keeley

First and last fight @ 65kgs. Round one submission: Triangle Choke

Second fight @ 70kgs. Round one submission: Rear Naked Choke