Queenstown Trip!

This is the view at Lake Tekapo Church, even I would go to church for this view!!

We spent a couple of nights in Queenstown, which I think is one of the top 4 tourist spots of the WORLD! If it true or not, it defiantly looks and is priced like it!!

We had the best time and if you haven't been in 5+yrs then I would highly recommend you go, it would feel like you are in another country!! Plus you will be paying like your in another country so this will help towards "feeling" like your in another country! :-)

Enjoy the pics!!
Here's me eating a Big Al burger from Fergburger which is the best burger bar I've found to date!! Nothing like a good kiwi burger!!

Here's a pic on top of the Gondala we where heading up to the luge part which was so funny and cool! Of course I fell off the luge, I was being a boy and trying to go to fast and knock Tracey off here luge and what happened, I got what I deserved :-) made for bloody good laughs that's for sure!!

I realize most kiwi's probably won't get to Queenstown, however if you do you won't be disappointed as it's very lively and worth the experience of seeing what Hawaii is like. Beautiful and commercialized!

Riding Bike!!

Today Kayleb rode his bike, we have had about 4-6 practices since he got the bike in July 07 with me holding on to him while he's staring the bike. During the last couple of practices I have let him go as I felt he would be able to do it on his own, but I didn't tell him I let go!

Today as he was riding I let him go and told him that he was doing it on his own, (I even thought about running past him). He was quietly stoked and let me have a rest and then asked if we can do it again and I let him go!!

I was really wrapped for him as it's more a "confidence" thing then a skill factor, so I reckon another 2-3 more practices and we'll have it sussed!

He'll be riding on his own, doing skids on people's lawns, jumps, wheelers etc... or I hope he is :-)

We had fun today we even crashed and we both cracked up laughing!!

Awesome my boy, love you lots!!

Here's a couple of pics of the dinner we had (17th Sept 07) at home to celebrate the old man! Was a primo night thankyou so much my darling for thinking of me!!


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My training!

Training is going awesome with Jessie, been training at Bishopdale a couple of times and loving the change of environment although I do feel a bit of an "outcast" being different and actually doing work :-)

Why have we created a culture were mediocrity is the "norm" and even worse this is an accepted culture?!

I'm starting to compare myself to the "norm" and for the first time ever realize that, yes I am unique in the training world. I look good, I train hard and I STRIVE for more then what I have!

This puts me in a small category of people who want to "achieve", I understand that this is my "field" so my "own self limitations" are less then in another "field", however I still believe that I would choose to achieve my own version of personal excellence!! Rather then have the mindset of turn up because it makes me feel good and "something is better then nothing"!!

It's all good these are the "thoughts" that I've been pondering over. End of the day, I'm loving back training and it helps having Jess because he is EGO free and looking to go beyond where he is today!!

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Queenstown

Off to Queenstown next week for a couple of days which will be primo, I haven't been to probably the most expensive town in NZ since I was 16 (13yrs ago) so would be great to drive down and enjoy the beautiful scenery we have!!

Love to all!!

I love "Soap"

I have to tell you a story about Kayleb 3wks ago!

Kayleb was a bit grumpy after I picked him up, as we pulled up at home I told him "stop being silly and grumpy and hop out of the car" he told me to Fu$k off and shut up!

I told him to get out of the car and I kicked him up the a$, then I told him to come with me and we went into the bathroom and I washed his mouth out with soap!

The funny part; we have been discussing the incident openly and laughing about it and talking about one of Tracey's friends use to scrap the soap on her kids teeth. Kayleb has been listening in on these conversations with friends.

Then 1 week ago, Kayleb and I were wrestling on the ground and I was doing my usual "trash talk" with him telling him he's a little guy etc...!

Then all of a sudden, he jumps on top of me and gets in my face and says, "yeah, yeah, what ever Dad, I'll get the soap and wash your mouth out with it and scrap it on your teeth"!!

Well, man did I pis$ myself with laughter!! It was so great to hear him use his "learning curve" as humor and a way for him to express it!

We have been very open and expressive about the soap incident and this is great to see it come back around at me in a humorous way!!

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Sommah has 5 more sleeps before she returns home from the UK with her dad!! It will be great to have her home as we have missed her heaps! I'm sure she will have loved the experience even if she probably won't know it for years to come!
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Back training this week, with 3 weight sessions and 2 BJJ sessions, man I'm feeling it as I write this, my body isn't too bad but my mind is very tired.

My goals are to increase my mass at the moment I'm 86kg (lost 2kg in the last 2-3months) at 12.5% Bodyfat (according to scales measurements) I would like to get to 90kg before next league season increase my strength/power for next season and be allot fitter then what I was this year!
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I'm so grateful that I have a lovely partner that supports my time away from the house because often I feel "guilty" for the amount of time I'm out of the house!

Love you my darling and thanks so much for being a cuddly rock :-

Results & "Truths"!

Thanks so much for all those that have supported me on my journey of Australian Will-Machado BJJ Nationals, to my friends and family you have made the journey so much more, by knowing that NO matter what, you are all there!!

The best thing about friends and family, is that they don't care WHAT I am, they care WHO I am and that is the rock that makes the difference that we all live by for each other!!

The picture above I recieved the day before I competed, how cool is that!! Thanks so much, from the back left Kayleb (my son), Tyreice, Joel, Dave, Deejah & Mel. I felt very proud to have got the pics you have all made the effort to make!

Results:
I got spanked in about 45-60sec (May have been less) from a choke called the "Guillotine"!! To say I was disappointed is a understatement I was quite pis$ed off to be completely truthful! I carried that "disappointment" with me for most of the day and it didn't leave me till about 10pm that night I reckon!

Before I give you "details" I have to say a big awesome Congrats to John Erskine who won the 80-90kg white belt division that we were in, he was the pick of the division with out a doubt!!

My "Truths"!
Although my match didn't last long and everyone commented on my "awesome" pick up, most people have said to me.

Why didn't I slam him into the ground?
Here's my truthful answer! The tournament to my "understanding" is not a win at all costs, sure their maybe exceptions.

So while I had him in mid air from a 2 legged pick up, I "choose" to put him down comfortably rather then send him to mars to try and breath for air, as would of happened if I had carried on with the momentum that I had generated from the pick up and slammed him into the ground!

From my action of being "passive" he was able to whip on the Guillotine choke and due to my lack of experience I didn't have the "tools" to get out of it, the end result I tapped!

99.9% of men I have told, have said I should of slammed his A$$ to the ground with NO mercy! Trust me, after I tapped and sat their cursing under my breath I was thinking exactly that plus some more!!

What has shifted me from that thinking of next time I will have a mindset of NO MERCY?

• I was their to learn about myself and BJJ, winning was a bonus (if it had of happened)
  
• I had reached my goals before entering the tournament
• The tournament is about learning BJJ from each other not full contact MMA!
• I was reminded from talking with Cam who is head instructor of Dominance Mixed Martial Arts that their is no need to slam people at this tournament!

And 2 of the more defining questions for me;

1. What would someone have done with higher morals and values?
2. If my son was watching would I have been proud to have slammed that guy? HELL NO!

Some people will still believe that I "should" have slammed that dude into No tomorrow (or think I'm soft :-), hey that's cool with me. While I would have loved to have actual wrestled him I have NO regrets upon getting spanked!!

Most people won't be "truthful" because it opens up possible insecurities and perceived weaknesses, however in my hearts of hearts the above is more important to me then "winning", plus I also know that he only got that choke on because of my actions, not his!

Leave your EGO at the door!

Leave your EGO at the door!!

This was the message on the entrace door when I rocked up to Dominance Mixed Martial Arts for my first visit last week for thier open mat class! I can assure you what a relief to see that on the door!

Let's be honest Spida, if you are in the martial arts world either training or competing, their is a shyt load of EGO!! I've written about my experiences with letting go of my ego and I continually "learn" about my ego in so many different ways in life and competing!!

Since the open mat session I have been to 2 other classes, I have throughly enjoyed my time at Dominance and I would highly reccomend that if your into BJJ and in Melbourne to pop along and have a play, all of who I came across where very EGO free and this is a testament to the Instructors (Cam is the head insturctor) and the culture they have at Dominance!!

I have 1 more sleep to go before the Aussie Nationals, I have to admit after rolling with the Dominace crew, my mindtalk is talking a bit more crap into my head of mostly fear! However, I know I will do very well, I've already achieved most of my goals, which where to learn, experience other teachers/clubs and have fun! Now all I need to do is compete to top it off!!

If your are a fighter or would like to train like one in a "ego free" way then check out some of the methods I have used to train Jason "Psycho" Suttie and Shane "Choppa" Chapman.

Try to remember that if you are fighting, struggling, taking 1 painful step at a time to get the outcome you desire. Stop and ask yourself, Is it this hard because I BELIEVE I have to have "pain" in order to achieve?

Let go of this believe and you will let go of your ego! You may be surprized at how "easier" it is to attain your goal no matter what the goal it is you want!!

As I say often, "NO Pain, NO Gain was made by an idiot for idiots!!"

Thanks to all those that have been texting me good wishes, I will do my best as always and regardless of the "Result" I will have lots of fun!!

Healthy Regards,

Spida Hunter

http://www.ehpfitness.com/

p.s. My rugby league team Kaiapoi Bulldogs play the Best West Coast team this on Saturday in the National Competition, so hopefully the boyz will win that so I can come back and play the next game :-) have fun boys and see you when I get back.

p.s. Next time you hear from me I will be home, have results and experiences of my first ever Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament. Will put them on the whanau life bl.og.

Bulldogs Have Created History!!

Wow, what a weekend for sport!! The Warriors are in the top 8, the mighty Waikato mooloo boyz have take the Ranfurly shield and .......

Kaiapoi Bulldogs have created history by Winning the Pat Smith Trophy for the 1st time ever in the club history and this is done on the 50th Anniversary of the club!!!
This is Bambi, Couchy and Becks showing off the silver wear!!
What an awesome day it was too, CRL put on a great day with some freestyle moto X dudes that I heard were awesome!! The sun was beaming people were chanting, some of Kaiapoi junior grades doing the haka for us before we ran on!!

It would have to be one of the best highlights through out all the sporting things I've done!! Going to Aussie when I was in the NZ Under 16's rugby doesn't even compare to this, I mean their were over 3,000 people going crazy for us on the field!

And we won with playing 40mins of the game with 12men, 1 of our guys got sin binned in the first half another player got binned in the 2nd half then he got sent off with 25mins to go!! So that's 45mins with 12men on the field!!

What a feeling to be part of Canterbury & Kaiapoi rugby league history! I was wrapped with how I performed, don't get me wrong I was a little "scared" however once out their that all went away and I just tackled my a.s.s off!!
(That's me trying to get to the outside of the winger)

Thanks so much for all those that text me and said congrats, I feel so grateful to be part of a club that is about whanau (family)!! That is what the "difference" was in our team, once we put the jersey on we are Whanau!

To all those that have past on that have been part of making Kaiapoi Bulldogs, the victory is for you!!


To read the write up in the Christchurch press click here, now we have national competition in a couple of weeks!!

The next generation of Bulldogs doing the haka at the end of the game!

Bulldogs Creating History!!

The Kaiapoi Bulldogs have the opportunity to CREATE history this weekend (26th Aug 07 at 3pm) as we play Linwood for the Christchurch Rugby League Grand Final!

Kaiapoi have NEVER won the local competition EVER!! It's the club's 50th anniversary this year and we lost our trainer Harry Toka to a heart attack late last year, so we have lots to play for!!

Can the bulldogs win the grand final for the first time? Well, you will have to turn up on Sunday at 3pm Rugby League park to find out!!

I'm really looking forward to the game, I mean I'm in a team that has the opportunity to create history how cool is that!!

I love the Bulldogs, it reminds me of my home town Putaruru, small and everyone supports and follows league!! In the era of professionalism in rugby or league Kaiapoi Bulldogs are still about family!

********* BJJ Training ********
Last week I took the week off ANY training and the week before that I didn't follow my "plan" of weights!

While I have come up with the "ideal" plan for the Aussie Nationals, I'm starting to take a more relaxed approach. After attending John Will's seminar I'm trying to take away some of my "win" mentality.

As he puts it, it's all about having fun when you are rolling around so just play and when it's time to WIN which is 10% of the time on the mat then "let it happen"!

In other words after looking at my strengths/weaknesses, all I'm doing in my training is increasing my STRENGTHS i.e. My training consists of increasing my Strength, Power & Fitness!

Weaknesses are Technical, which is time on the mat!! If I'm about "winning" I use my main tool (strength) ALL the TIME and don't develop my Technical game!!

I entered the tournament not to WIN but to LEARN, while my EGO told me to win, my true self (with the help of people and learning) has brought me back to full circle.

I told you that EGO won't get the better of me :-)

Take care and GO the BULLDOGS!!