Grand Rapids Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

Yesterday was the first day I got to work with the Grand Rapids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club. I am going to be helping out with some of their conditioning. Which is basically some of the most demanding conditioning you can ask your body to go through. High Intensity Anaerobic work in a Aerobic environment. Take your body close to redline, back off, repeat. They have some fighters getting ready for a May 1st fight at the Delta Plex here in Grand Rapids, MI.

I was impressed with the guys conditioning already, and there willingness to put out. Dig deep and keep going. I think it will be a lot of fun helping these guys get into even better fighting shape. If your ever interested they have a brand new gym located on the corner of 32nd and Jefferson. It's really a great looking gym. It's run by Clint Crabtree, a blackbelt in BJJ. Which if you know about the sport, speaks for itself.

Expand Your Mind With These Jumps

This is some amazing stuff. It's eight minutes but the last jump is incredible. Crazy. Enjoy!

Monday Motivation

Last week I recently had the opportunity to hear Greg Mortenson speak on the Grand Valley State University campus. Greg is the author of "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones to Schools." I haven't found the time to read Stones to Schools as I've been quite busy getting my private Chiropractic office/Gym up and running for it's opening in May, but "Three cups of Tea" was a great book. If you haven't read it, pick it up and let me know what you think.

It was a great to hear him talk about his adventures and beliefs for an hour and you can't beat the price, FREE! He closed with this quote that I had never heard before and have been thinking about. He credited Martin Luther King JR.

"Even if I know the world would end tomorrow, I will still plant my seed today."

Testing The Thyroid Gland

The Barnes Thyroid Test is an easy and possibly more accurate test for your thyroid then blood work. It was in fact developed by Broda Barnes MD in the 70's. It's easy and cheap. The only thing you need is a basal thermometer, they work better then digital. Immediately upon rising, with as little motion as possible, you place the thermometer in your arm pit. Relax for ten minutes. Record your temperature. Repeat this for 5 days. Take the average. The mean changes depending on who you ask. The last nutrition seminar I attended had normal 98.2-98.8. Dr. Barnes felt that this test was a check on the most basic function of the thyroid gland: its ability to regulate the metabolic furnace of the body, and to control temperature.

HCL Deficient Checkist

Hydrochloric acid (HCL) is a very important stomach acid. Many people with Western diets are deficient. Lets put it this way, if you don't have enough HCL your not going to digest and assimilate the food you ate. Why can we be deficient?

1. Stress: Sympathetic overload shuts down the parasympathetics.

2. Excessive Protein: Requires more HCL

3. Poor Eating Habits: Eat a ton all at once. Don't chew well. Drink a lot of water during the meal.

4. Lack of Thiamine/Zinc: B1 and Zinc are both necessary for HCL production in the stomach. Zinc is the #1 deficient mineral in the body.

5. Antacids: This an other meds, can suppress stomach acid.

6. Alcohol: Robs the ability to make HCL.

7. Salt free diets: Sodium is needed.

8. Aging: Decreases HCL production.

Juicing

I'll admit I go in streaks with juicing, mainly because of time. I just get lazy. I figured I would bust out my juicer to see if I can help out with a little healing for my elbow. This is one bag of carrots, two apples, five beets, ginger root and some cherry juice. Total time 23 minutes from start to clean up. It made 16 oz. Total cost 4.17 cents. I bought this juicer in Chiropractic school, I don't remember the brand name and weirdly enough it doesn't say it on it. I remember researching pretty carefully and getting one that doesn't heat up to kill the enzymes. Do you have any favorite juicing recipes?

Elbow brace

It's been almost three weeks post surgery. Here are a few pics of the brace I have to wear. 3x a day in extension, 3x a day in flexion, 30 minutes a pop for each, 3hours total. Each time trying to get a tad further then previous, fighting to get a tiny bit more range of motion.