Procrastination and laziness. Nobody wants to do or be either but we're all guilty. As participants in the human race and competitors in this game called life we are all striving for something. Be it greatness, or the next mocha latte, we all have the ability to get what we want. We're hardwired to do it, that's what our brains are for. Little does anyone know, but our brains are heat seeking missiles, it focuses on things we bring to our attention. Whether that attention is negative or positive it's up to us to decide. You get what you focus on in all areas of life. As a martial artist it is imperative to simplify. However it doesn't stop there. To get the things and achieve the goals you set for yourself you have to KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. It's like a beautiful combination, set it up with some Clarity, then follow it up with Focus and finish with Action. Don't kid yourself we all have goals, they are just things we want and unless you're a Buddhist monk...that's something we're all guilty of.

Ever driven in a central New York white out in the bowels of winter? It sucks right? Symptoms often include but are not subject to: Freezing cold, non stop snow, so much snow you can't see, you're using wipers but you still can't see, but you somehow manage to make it to your destination (or put on your flashers and pull over like a sissy...but you eventually get where you need to get). Miraculous isn't it? The technique isn't important. Whether you're glued to the windshield sitting like an old person or laid back listening to Queen you probably are only looking at the 5 feet that's visible to you. That "5 feet" is what I want to stress on, it's all you need. It's clear you want to get to the mall or home or wherever but you'll never get there if you don't focus on what's in front of you. With respects to goals and martial arts, your overall GOAL may be to become Godlike (Guilty!) but you'll never get there if you don't start doing things...that god's do. What do god's do? They start small...and they set MINI GOALS!!! When I was younger I had a goal to get stronger (goal), and one of my visions of getting stronger was to improve (or begin) doing pushups. So at the time I set a realistic goal. 30 pushups twice a day, 30 before school, and 30 before bed (mini goal). So I began, now I had all the best intentions but being young and weak I could only do 7-10 at the time so did I get discouraged? HECK NO, GODS DON'T GET DISCOURAGED THEY OWN THINGS. So I kept the 30 twice a day on my goal list and worked my way up to it. I worked on WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME and that was my 7-10 that I could do, and guess what? It eventually got to 10-15...15-20...25-30. Eventually at my pushup peak I was banging out 250-500 pushups a day, doing them in between commercials, while taking a break playing video games etc...Your goal maybe to become a better martial artist and that's fine but realize that's a very broad spectrum goal. Let that be your overall goal in a lifetime of achieving like my desires to be godlike. Let those be things to constantly strive for but be CLEAR and have those mini goals and stay focused on the road ahead. Remember mini goals aren't the end all be all, they are just another piece of the puzzle to making a better you. Will it take 5 mini goals to be the X that you want to be? Or 1000? That's up to you to decide, to be clear on. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. When you know, the next step is easy. Have unrelenting focus.

Why unrelenting? Well, if you have half a$$ed focus things get muddied...things are no longer clear (see above paragraph) and that's a no no. It goes back to knowing what you want. Sometimes I was tired in the morning...heck I used to hate getting up for school and never was a morning person. You think shooting for 10-30 pushups was on my list of favorite things to do as a 14 year old? Definitely not! However since I was clear and kept focused I got it done. The two work hand in hand. If you are not clear you will not be focused. It's easy to keep at something you want when you can see the destination. Focus is crucial. If you are constantly reminding yourself and (for lack of better and simpler terms) are focusing on the task or goals at hand you WILL get there.. Why am I doing pushups again? To become stronger...oh yea and to BE GODLIKE!!!

Like I said before the above two are interconnected and the last ingredient just as important as the latter two. Once you have the pretty image of your being awesome or a montage playing out, after all that clarity and focus the next step is to.....DO IT! DUUUUHHHH. Otherwise your dreams stay dreams! Your feeble mocha latte you want stays a mere mocha dream unless you go out there and get it! What does that require? ACTION!!!! For example right after this blog I'm going to devour some much needed fuel for my Godlike body/dreams and to do that I'm going to have to stop yelling at you guys and get up. This entire post is self explanatory and all in all very simple. Sometimes we need elaborate and grandiose methods to show us that.

Goal setting can be tough. If it isn't you aren't setting goals that are worth going after. Anyone can go for a jog for 5 minutes and quit, but you want to be GODLIKE and improve those numbers and be consistent. We are simple creatures with complex inner workings, conventional wisdom tells us we need reminders so what was all this ranting about again? Goal setting and begin awesome and to do that you need to follow 3 very easy steps:
1) Know what you want : Get clear
2) Stay focused on the task: Focus pocus
3) Get off your butt and do it: Think Nike slogan

Also don't let your mortal thoughts steer you away, we are only human. "But Pete what if I lose track and go back to old habits" (slaps you) It's simple...just get back to it. Perfection is impossible, determination is is always available. Ever hear a person say they quit smoking 2-3 times within a year? Yea I want to slap them too and they never actually quit. You can use that same logic for yourself but in a good way. Just because you stopped getting at your goals doesn't mean you stopped altogether, just pick up the good habit again and all is well. Have fun, be safe and get to it!

"It is like a finger pointing a way to the moon (SLAP)...don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory."
-Bruce Lee

That's a human being first and foremost! However it's the things we do and the experiences we have to share that define who we are. As for me, it's being a martial artist. I maybe a professional MMA fighter (Mixed Martial Arts) but from day one till the end a martial artist is a big part of who I am.

When I was a wee lad I never had the dreams and aspirations of the kids around me. Never did I say "I want to be a cop," or Doctor, fireman, or any other respectable profession. I never said I wanted to be a fighter either, but what I lacked in words I made up for with kicks and punches at imaginary foes and my undying adoration for the man: Bruce Lee. My mother and father were and still are big action movie fans and I remember growing up watching Chuck Norris, Van Damme, Seagal and Bruce Lee. For me Bruce had a charisma and intensity that jumped out at you, a presence you could feel, needless to say it made an everlasting impression.

I grew up on the outskirts of San Antonio TX where as a troublesome young man I had an undying thirst for candy, video games, and trouble. I used to get into little scrums outside of my neighbors house where we would trip each other and get into pushing matches. Mario was the "champ" at the time, a wiry, Hispanic boy who was unusually toned and strong for his age. After watching some Bruce Lee movies I thought I knew it all and challenged him. The "fight" was fast and furious, beginning with the ever popular back and forth push attack, after some time and my lack of patience kicking in I grabbed him and executed a trip of some sort. The other boys were surprised as was I and cheered for me. To my dismay Mario was down but not out and he was out for blood...I could see it in his eyes. Fortunately for me my mother yelled out for me to come inside and to stop the nonsense. My father was a military man and he was not impressed with my way of "playing." He was more unimpressed with the trouble that my "playing" got me into while I was in school. Needless to say joining a martial arts school at the time was not feasible.

The lack of support and my hunger for martial arts wasn't all too bad. It taught me self reliance and relied on thy self is what I did. Years later we moved to Tully NY, and then to the hills of Otisco NY, where I was secluded from friends, the town, and most importantly bored out of my mind! This wasn't all too bad because it gave me lots of time to watch Bruce Lee movies on VHS! I also made some $ doing A LOT of work around the house and yard, I helped my dad renovate, make a garden, chop down trees, and fight bears in the woods. With what little allowance I was given I saved my money up and on our bi monthly trips to the mall I would go to the bookstore and find/buy any Bruce Lee related books I could find. I studied his methods, philosophies and applied them. I worked out on my own, doing simple punches, kicks, jump roping, calisthenics, stretching and meditation. I wanted to be in the best shape I could! I didn't have money for a punching bag, so grabbed three logs that were as round as an average car tire and about 2 feet tall a piece and stacked them on top of each other. My dad let me use some left over carpet remnant and I wrapped it around the logs and nailed them on the backside: problem solved. Now Bruce was an action star, and a martial artist but he never believed in actually using his techniques unless it was for exhibition or to display his physical talents. He reminded me that MA is used for self defense, and when the time comes to use it there are no rules, only kill or be killed in the most extreme circumstances of course.

At this point I was past my "getting into trouble phase," Taking in martial arts and my father putting the fear in me helped out with that. With the arrival of the world wide web, came new opportunities to grow and learn. I downloaded countless videos and pdfs on all martial arts and at the time MMA or "UFC" was getting popular. Bruce always stressed on not having a style and ultimately to integrate them. If you think about it if you know how to box and you fight someone who wrestles the boxer can knock out the wrestler and the wrestler can take the boxer down and finish him. What if you knew both, then in theory you are safe from the ko and takedown and have the option of doing either or to your opponent. This is when I really picked up my training. I bought a heavy bag and started integrating other arts into my regime. I also joined the high school wrestling team and didn't fair so well but it gave me an excellent base and taught me mental toughness, and how to take people down. The 2 years I wrestled played a huge roll in my life and career. I experienced true competition, camaraderie, sacrifice, dedication, and work ethic. Sadly when Highschool ended, so did wrestling, which led me to Lee and the Eternal Knights Martial Arts (EKMA). There I met Lee and the gang. We hit it off, having fun while exchanging techniques. I really enjoyed their humbled approach and the philosophies of always being a student and realizing that the martial arts is a never ending path. For when you put a limit on something, you stop learning, when you stop learning, you stop growing and when that happens you're finished.

It doesn't end there but I'll cover my professional career some other time (I'm hungry). I just want to say that I have taken all the positive experiences from my pasts and apply them to future ones. The philosophies of Bruce, the discipline of wrestling, and the fun and enthusiasm from EKMA added to my lust for life and the arts has proved invaluable to my life in the ring and out. Never forget where you came from and know that when you put your mind to something you will ALWAYS get it. There are no reasons for mediocracy, just excuses and in the ring, at work, or in life excuses don't fair too well. Remember to always believe in yourself, self reliance is the remedy for blaming others for your misfortune (which is a no no).

-Pete
"Greatness is in all of us, just be willing to pay the price."