The Sweet Taste of Victory

The hours passed by really 's-l-o-w' yesterday in an event that was not organized at all. For some reason, all the fighters had to come in at 3pm to register and do some physical exams followed by a fighter's meeting at 4:30pm. After finishing my physicals and registering, I noticed a guy starring at me aggressively. Realizing that there are only 2 fighters wearing the Team Hybrid t shirt and that I am the smaller one, it didn't take a me a lot to realize that he's the one i'm fighting. But why angry?

Later on, since we were part of the only Thai fight happening at that night, we had to meet separately so the coaches can agree on the rules. Eventually, we agreed that elbows to the head are not allowed but knees to the head are. We shook hands and the guy seemed polite but determined. He was shorter than me but more muscular. That made me feel so comfortable because I hate not having enough reach to hit someone.

Hours passed slowly, and I tried spending my time between reading (couldn't read more than 5 pages) or listening to music. At 8pm, the event started (and that would be one hour late). All my friends were here which made me feel great. Coach Harvey asked me to stay away from the fights. He told me that it will break me down to see people getting knocked out so I was better off in the back room listening to music; and that's what I did. The fights were going so fast. It's like the fighters realized the event was running late and were trying to finish early. All I was hearing is Tiesto music distorted by the noises of people screaming, cage slams, and the MC announcing a quick finish for a fight. The fights were (according to my friends) really quick and vicious. KO after KO my fight was getting closer and closer. I was scheduled to fight at #7. At fight #4, I started warming up. Shadow boxing lightly to break a sweat followed by some stretching exercises. Then, I started hitting the pads with Coach Pete and Coach Harvey, and listening to Coach Buck who was telling me how there is nothing worse than the hell I took in the academy in the last weeks - now it's payback time. Little by little I was getting in the zone. I was relaxed, confident, and for me, it felt like losing was not an option. My plan was simple: Use my height advantage and throw some of my favorite body kicks and finish the fight early...

After gearing up and warming up, I heard my name being called. It's showtime... I step in the cage after checking in with the referee to put oil on my face and double check my gloves, shin guards, mouth guard, and groin protector. I got calmer when I stepped in although I can hear the people cheering in the background screaming for a Knockout! The referee told me some things (and honestly had no clue what he said). In a matter of seconds, I was standing in front of my opponent. "Are you ready?" (hell no, I had no clue what to do at that point). "Fight!!!", I lift my hand to salute the guy, he salutes and charges in hammering me with his punches. It was a good wake up call, the fight started.

The videos of all 3 rounds are attached below. You can see how I dominated the first 2 rounds, but realized that I definitely need to work on my power. Clean shots but not enough power to knock him out. Starting the 3rd round, I was gassed. I hit that wall I was warned about. I even ended up taking a hit that rocked me for a few seconds but I quickly clinched with my opponent. Again, kicks count more in Muay Thai (and especially knees) and I threw many of these. The 3rd round ended, and you can see I was getting slower and slower. When the bell rang, that was the best sound I ever heard all week. It was a unanimous decision, I won...

Round I



Round II



Round III



Mission completed, I was passing out (literally). Told my coaches that they need to get me out of the cage asap since I wasn't feeling good at all. I saluted the crowd and walked back to my corner. After that, I collapsed... I blacked out for 30 min just sitting on a chair having the worst migraine ever. At first, I thought it was just the adrenaline dump but later on, I started puking and it looked more like a minor concussion. After all, he hit me the same place on the head where I got hit in my training less than 2 weeks ago, when I got rocked.


Celebration Time



These are times when I realize how blessed I am to have great friends surrounding me. Friends like Salim, Youssef, Mert, Igor, Joey, and I could keep going forever (especially those who came to see me). They definitely added a sweeter taste to my victory.



It's funny how I didn't realize how many times I got kneed on my thighs till after the fight. After going back home (and that's after the party that lasted until 5:30am), I couldn't sleep from the pain and had to take some pain killers (many pills). My thighs were burning (and still are).

When is my next fight?

I'm not sure... I want to take easy till after December. I need to focus back on school. However, I am definitely moving up in weight class. Definitely working on getting more strength and improving my techniques. I want my next fight to be a KO. I hate leaving it to decision. I know that I have a longggggg way to go. But definitely, there will be a next fight in the near future.

Finally, I just want to thank my second family, Hybrid Training Center for their support. I wouldn't have made it without them. Starting from Coach Buck, Coach Chase, Coach Harvey, Coach Pete, Coach Jose, all the way to the pro fighters and amateur fighters. Also, special thanks to John Scamordella and Akiemo Robert Rollins who always pointed me to the right direction and fixed my technique flaws. And, to the pro fighter Jeff Peterson, sparring with you is still way harder than the actual fight...

Let's get ready to Rumbleeeeeeee......

The last 3 days were definitely interesting. As I was surfing the web, I go to the Modern Gladiators website (http://www.moderngladiatorsfc.com) and see this on the fight card:

#8 Eric Russi One Spirit Martial Arts, Herndon VA Vs (155) George Arauot Team Hybrid, Virginia Beach

Cool right? other than they destroyed my last name (which is something I got used to), the weight was 155 and not 160. No panic - probably a typo error. I ask coach about it and we double check it and true, I am fighting at 155. This affected my whole diet of eating healthy nutritious food and drinking Vitamin Water and Gatorade, to simply eating fruits and drinking one bottle of Vitamin water a day (sipping through it). As I followed this diet, and I was walking at 170 lbs at that time, it worked terrificly. Yesterday after having my last "easy" training by just doing the boxing/conditioning class (basically just hit the bags with some combos), I weighed 162lbs. How to get rid of the remaining weight without killing my body as it needed nutrition? The options were numerous. Surrounded by so many skilled coaches and pro fighters, I looked like the task was not as hard as I thought. Yesterday all I had was a milkshake (banana and strawberry + non fat milk) and a Gatorade bottle (whole day). As I woke up today, I weighed in 159lbs. I went for a 3 miles jog with my friend Mehdi and was shocked to see my body collapsing at 1.5 miles. I was wearing sweat pants (it was way too hot for a whole sweat suit) and still without water nor food. We had to walk the way back. At this point, I realized that I need to find another way to lose that weight without using my body. The best way ---> what I hate the most "SAUNA". I got to the academy and weighed in at 157 lbs (yeah that jog didn't do much). I got in the Sauna with my iPhone and thought 30 min in it would be just fine (spend it probably playing games or facebooking). It took less than 10 minutes for me to start choking. It was the first time I felt like this. I was totally dehydrated. I felt like a claustrophobic person (and I'm not) who is dying to get out. It's like my body was begging me to get out of that tiny room. I was dripping water more than the usual because, Melissa, one of the female fighters, gave me Avalon, a product designed for make up that opens up your pores and lets you sweat dramatically! 20 minutes were over and I was going nuts. I couldn't even concentrate on a simpl fighting magazine written in poor English. I got out, weighed in, and it was 156lbs. One more pound to lose. I go back again, another 10 mins, I rush out, wash my face, wondering how the hell am I going to go back in there. I was putting cold water on my shirt and rubbing it all over my face (it felt better than anything at that point!). Occasionally I would put it on my lips and try to suck as much water I could from it. Another 10 minutes go by and I literally can't take it anymore. I get out weigh in at 155.4lbs . As I start walking around realizing that cutting weight for me is probably harder than the fight itself, Coach Chase asks me to weigh in without my shorts. I was wearing MMA shorts that don't weigh anything, but then realized that they absorbed a lot of the sweat so as I weighed in naked, my weight was 153.8lbs - yes, I felt like an idiot. At this point it was 3pm and I had 3 hours to lose before the weigh ins. I took a shower and literally collapsed. I laid down on the floor for more than two hours not being able to move or think. I sipped a bit of water since I was almost 2 lbs under but didn't want to take any risks. Sometimes, their scales are different.
Eventually, I went to the weigh ins and it was less formal than I thought. It took place at VBAMA (10 mins away from our academy). I went there with Coach Pete (the boxing instructor) and Lee Marvin Rahrlien who is fighting for the Welterweight Title on the same event with me. I weighed in 154lbs and realized that since it was my first fight they would have allowed me to weigh in at 156 lbs. Thanks! too late now...

Now i'm on a REHYDRATION MISSION. As soon as I weighed in, I was already sipping a bottle of PediaLyte - a drink that tastes horribly but refuels your body with electrolytes faster than anything else. Champions call it the Magical Remedy (yes also researched it - I'm a geek). It definitely does work, since I have taken it at 6:15pm, and it's 8:05pm now and feeling great already...




One thing I promised myself is to never go fight at this weight class again. It was a nightmare for me to cut down to this weight, since all I had to lose was "water". It was a time where I envied people that had bellies or extra fat. That would have been so easy to lose. Monday, I'm hitting the gym to gain all that weight back, or shall I maybe just take a week off? :)



So how do I feel now? Actually it feels good. I am trying not to think too much about it. I feel very confident. Do I have a plan? not really. More like, whatever works on my opponent to finish the fight quickly. Trying not to take it to decision. I am going for the KO and not worried about getting knocked out. It's a game, you either win or lose, there's no shame in it as long as you don't quit. I have been trained by the best and took my body to the extreme. At this point, I want to win so badly, but accepting any decision. The reason being is that this training camp was simply a very beautiful experience to me. I got to see how everyone would help you get in shape, get better, and point your mistakes. I got to see that Hybrid Academy was another family that I had. I would be sparring with someone and random fighters would step in and start correcting techniques and giving advices. People I barely know. I would be doing some sit ups and again, random fighters would come and start pushing me "You have a fight coming!", "Come one, you can do this ALL DAY", "Go Teach him a lesson".... god , I love this academy.

All I can say is, tomorrow's win is dedicated to them more than anyone else. It's not going to be for me, but for them...

Am I ready ???

"It doesn't have to be fun to look fun" coach Buck Grants says... The techniques, the endurance, the hard trainings, the pain, the dieting. This all takes away the pleasure from training and fighting. My favorite days of the week were the sparring days. Now, I realize, it was because I was sparring either with the beginners, or with fighters taking it really easy on me. Now, sparring for a fight is extremely different. It's tough, painful, and not fun.

I sparred the other day with Kellen Ray, an MMA professional fighter, and it was like a wake up call to reality. Even worse than sparring uncomfortably with him and getting beat up, the round ended with a high kick in the back of my head, and lights out. For a split second (and this was the first time I ever got knocked out from a blow to the head) I lost control, my legs gave up, and I was down. The funny thing is that "there was absolutely no pain". I got up right away ready to engage, but coach Buck didn't let me because I had a fight coming and couldn't risk another hit. I took a round off then went back again. Later on when I was done training, I felt like I was going to puke. Yeah, that is a minor concussion and I shouldn't be taking many of those... My confidence took a huge hit, but again, it's better than discovering that later in the ring/cage.

So, more about the fight, it's on the 25th of September, Modern Gladiators XII, probably it's going to be in a cage but fighting under the Muay Thai rules. Everything is allowed as far as elbows, knees (to the head and body), clinch, etc. My opponent is Eric Russo, I tried to look him up but found nothing. He is also doing his debut with a (0-0) record just like me (or at least 0-0 recorded record). It would have been definitely beneficial to know at least his size (as far as height and reach).


Team Hybrid


How do you feel? is a question that almost everyone asked me. Honestly, I am feeling good. Am I ready? I don't think you can ever be ready for such a thing. You just go there and do your best. This is what I'm going to do. Am I confident? yes I am! I am training with the best...
In the recent weeks, I discovered main flaws in my techniques. When I get tired, and especially since it's my first fight, the flaws are going to hunt me, I know that for a fact. So, in other words, I could have been way more ready than how I am now. My techniques could have been improved. I also realized that throughout all this year, I worked on two things: My defense which I did improve a lot; and improving my accuracy. In the last weeks, I realized that I have been missing 3 main arts:

1- The art of hitting fast - throwing the punches with absolutely no power (but all speed) and clenching the fist right at the end. This gives it more speed and saves you a lot of energy.

2- The art of kicking hard - my background in freestyle Kickboxing definitely gave me a good inventory of "cool kicks", but how hard and effective they were, not so much. The fully locked Muay Thai kick is definitely much more effective.

3- Combining the first two arts in order to become an effective striker, at least in my opinion.

Good news is that I have no major injuries before the fight, more like minor. I hurt my wrist during Cross-fit the other week, swollen fingers, and sprained toes, nothing major. When I spar I totally forget about them. After the shower, that's when the pain starts.

Last Friday, I sparred with John Scamordella, an amateur fighter who fought an epic fight on his Muay Thai debut. After getting knocked out twice in the first minute of the fight, he came back really hard, dominated the fight, and near the end of the 3rd round, knocked out his opponent so hard that he couldn't get up on his feet. The only advice John and many other fighters gave me is, watch out for what I like to call "The Adrenaline Wall" (known for everyone as the adrenaline dump). Basically, while fighting, the adrenaline and the intensity KILLS your energy. You end up reaching a wall where you slow down dramatically and be barely able to breathe. What makes a fighter better conditioned than the other is at the end of the round, when both opponents are worn up, the 1 minute break will be enough for the better conditioned fighter to refuel and get back in the game. That's exactly what happened with John. After surviving his first round, he came back hard while his opponent was exhausted.

The dieting is certainly the worst. I love cooking and eating and definitely drinking; my whole lifestyle has recently changed. I haven't had a drink or smoke for more than a month now. Doing some research (yes, I am doing my Ph.D. after all), drinking alcohol while training for a fight is like giving up the fight already to your opponent. Strength, speed, power, and agility are all dependent on the efficiency of our central nervous system. Alcohol has a depressant effect on the central nervous system, thus affecting all our "winning necessities". Even more alcohol dehydrates you, which relatively affects your performance. As many recommend stopping drinking at least 72 hrs before the fight to completely take the alcohol out of the system, I have stopped drinking for the whole month. I am training everyday around 2-3 hours; I cannot be dehydrated in any of those days or I will be risking the safety of my immune system and body (getting dehydrated, pancreatitis, etc). Alcohol consumption also effects your hormone levels especially your Testosterone hormones. Testosterone, the male sex hormone that plays a major role when it comes to strength and aggression, will be decreased. Also, alcohol consumption increases Cortisol levels (Cortisol is a feminine hormone - you really don't want that while fighting!)

The fight is next Saturday, less than 6 days away. The weigh-ins are on Friday one night before the fight (thank god!) allowing me enough time to rehydrate, and of course treat myself with a nice non fatty meal.

On the 25th, all I want to do after the fight is to go to Red Dog, get a big fatty Greek Pizza (with extra cheese) with a pitcher of Bud Light. Go out, get drunk on pure Grey Goose Vodka on the rocks (my favorite). After that, sober up at the Dinner Dinnette next to my house with a nice breakfast and sleep and recover the whole next day - yes, I am dreaming about that already...

It's Time!!!

I took July off as my family was visiting the US for the first time. With them leaving at the end of july and taking the Ph.D Candidacy Exam out of the way, I have now more time to focus on training. I've been training nonstop this month and took me only a week to get back in shape. Training 6 days a week divided between Cross-fit, TRX, API, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Conditioning (bag class), I feel just great!

Coach Buck Grant got back from Thailand as he was filming "Tuff Girls" with Master Toddy. Two nights ago after sparring, he asked me if I still want to fight and if I am ready. My answer was "Anytime!". I just wanted to do it... He scheduled me for Modern Gladiators on September 25th. Closer than I thought, but no more excuses, I got almost a month to train for it.

With Master Toddy



I reached last month 165lbs by simply cutting drinking and eating healthy. I didn't like the way my body looked but this is just temporary. However, this month I was lifting weights and eating anything that has protein which put me back to 178lbs. In other words, I got to lose 18 lbs by Sept 25th since i'll be fighting at 160lbs. I love fighting but definitely HATE dieting...

I shot a video of me sparring with one of the fighters in our academy (Tom):



Doing the TRX workout:



I am still in the beginning of my 3 weeks training camp and gotta admit, I can already feel the chills. It's not that i'm scared or anything. I just don't want to let my academy down (1) and I have NO IDEA who am I fighting (2). The training changes dramatically if the opponent is tall/skinny or short/muscular, and I simply have no clue. Again, "Competing" is not something that I particularly enjoy. I like the sport, and competing is taking it to the next level, making it more realistic. I like challenging myself, and this is simply just another challenge...

What pushes me to train harder every day are the members of HTC. If I had to describe this academy in one phrase, it would be: "It's not a place where you train to be good but a place to get better". Whether you were an amateur, pro, skilled, or maybe super naturally talented, you can always get better in this academy. The limit is the sky. The conditioning drills are always changing. The techniques are always modified depending on UFC fights to make sure we're using what is PROVEN to work in real situations.

It's September 4th, and the training camp is still at the beginning. Monday, Wednesday, Friday = Conditioning (1 hr), sparring (1 hr), then a workout they call "Fighter's workout" (which takes also around 45min). Tuesday, Thursday = pad work followed by API or Crossfit or TRX. Saturday lift weights and sprint on and off for around 30mn. Sunday = rest!

I am forcing myself to do something before going to bed as I started having the fighting dreams, again. I just wake up kicking or clinching with the pillows. Yeah it's day 4 and I already started losing it...

Decision taken

It's not a matter of YES or NO anymore. It's just a matter of WHEN...

Preface:
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From childhood, our human nature is curious. Walking around searching out curiously, going to places we’re not supposed to go to, doing things we're not supposed to do, following our instincts, driving really fast to get the adrenaline rush, riding roller coasters, etc... There is something that we always want (or demand) that drives our physical and mental capacity to the extreme limit. Things that we can barely handle. Rides that we don't know their destination.

I always had this part inside of me that always wanted to fight. I don't know why since I am not a violent person in nature, but this adrenaline feeling I get when I am sparring, I simply can't describe it. I need a way to prove "to myself" where I stand in a real actual fight against a trained person and not an average thug. I have to take it to the next level...

The background that I come from is definitely not a fighting background. I am working on my Ph.D. in Engineering Management (half way through) with a Scholarship since my Masters. Having all my plans set since I was 18 and working hard on accomplishing each and every goal I set up previously. Been involved in music for quite a while now, I thought i'll end up being either a musician or be more rational, get a degree, and work my way to the top with a steady job. Never thought I would want to do this... Now I am pretty sure I want to fight.
People call fighters different names like "meat heads", "crazy", "unintelligent", "violent", "Blood thirsty" , or the latest one I heard when I mentioned the idea of starting to fight to my friends --> "Retarded"!!! - Well I am certainly not unintelligent, not a meat head, not violent, and definitely not Blood Thirsty. Crazy? not as long as this will not end up being my career which is definitely NOT THE PLAN!



It always starts as a hobby, I have been involved in Martial arts since I was 13 years old. By taking Judo classes, where I learned more about 'discipline' rather than close contact defense, my father wanted me to learn Jūdō (柔道 jūdō, meaning "gentle way") simply because I was a trouble maker. Stopped training 3 years later after getting my Orange belt because I thought it would not help me in a street fight (and still thinks so). After that, I was interested in Free Style Kick Boxing. Started my private training (me and 2 other guys) in a house garage with a Lebanese called "ABDELRAHMAN BAKKAR" (Middle East Kick boxing Champion for several years). I loved the training and the intensity but never thought about stepping in the ring. Was it because I was scared? no, simply because I did not want to get my head pounded on a daily basis. I wanted to get my degree and move up in a steady lifestyle, no music, no martial arts, no risk. A steady life that I have control on.

As I arrived to the US to get my Masters, things changed a bit. Started by Brazilian Jiu Jistui training at Gustavo Machado, got my Blue belt from one of the Gracie Combative centers in Norfolk (Norfolk Karate Academy). One year later, getting tired of just rolling around (pure street BJJ) and becoming more interested in MMA (especially the UFC fights), I transferred to Hybrid Training center and started my training under the supervision of Kru Buck Grant (Muay Thai, MMA, CSW), Chase Walden (Muay Thai) and Scott Oates (BJJ). I have been training for 5 months now in this academy and definitely intending to stay. Other than having the best and most experienced instructors in the area, I am training with the best students as well. From pro MMA fighters to pro BJJ practitioners to pro Muay Thai fighters, I am one of the very few in this academy who has not fought yet.


Present:
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As coach Buck is encouraging me to have my debut Muay Thai fight this summer (in July), I thought about it and decided not to take this fight as I am not "physically" ready although I am more than ready mentally. I don't want to go get knocked out from the first round. I also have my PhD Candidacy Exam coming in mid June and will be taking most of my time. I want to be able to commit to my training and be ready for the fight. However, I will be taking the first "next" opportunity after the summer as I am starting to condition myself in a 5 days training (conditioning and sparring), no fatty food, and less alcohol (that's the hardest). Fighting Muay Thai will be my first step. Then, I am thinking about stepping in the cage of Mixed Martial Arts (now this is the craziest).

When I will have a set date for the fight, I will totally cut drinking, late parties, junk food, and try dropping 15 to 20 lbs. I am now 175lbs which is considered "FAT!!!!" according to my height and muscle level. God knows how I'm going to lose 20 lbs!!!!!!

QUICK VIDEO OF MY FIRST MONTH TRAINING