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!!

Kayleb's life through a camera 2003 to Jan 2007!

Hope you enjoy some footage I've put together of Kayleb!!
Let the camera forever provide us with more memories...

Feel free to post comments,
love to all!!

The All Mighty Ego...

=========Personal Discovery:============

We all have one, some of us more then others! It's a Big bad EGO! I realized mine has been "showing" in training!!

Last week I was rolling with a guy I was starting to "gas" real fast and real hard, he had me in a choke that wasn't really on however I didn't have enough in the tank to fight my way out of it!!

Due to gassing and having my head in a tight space, I felt really INSECURE and I mean to the point that my EGO wanted to "show" it's ugly head through "anger" and I wanted to explode out of the hold and get him and rip him apart!!

What did I do? I "tapped" out!!

Am I a Champ or a Chump? To some, I'm a big TIME "chump" end of story! At the time I felt like one trust me, I was gutted to have got caught by someone I can beat and to not have the energy to get out!! (I did get caught again from him about 90sec later in the same choke! Same feelings same result!)

Here's the lesson I have learn't from that experience on reflection!

When I'm rolling with people of the same belt level (actually they are all higher as I'm a white belt), I don't allow myself to be dominated because my EGO wants to win and my EGO/Insecurities don't like the feeling of being spanked or dominated!

I know intellectual that we all must "lose" in order to win, and I thought I was ok with it, man was I wrong!!

I related it too life and realized the same thing, in life I have the same "issue" when a person/(male) try's to dominate me through EGO, often I fire up and want to fight fire with fire!!

This is my EGO/Insecurity's fighting another person's ego/insecurities, I consider myself very passive until I'm confronted with a Bully type person.....

The result of knowing this, well last night I consciously choose positions that would allow me to get dominated so I could "deal" with my ego/insecurities, it felt great after wards to "let go" of my ego! I know I still have work to do in this area however it's a great start to be conscious of it and then go to the "hole" that brings out my ego.

To my EGO, you haven't got the best of me :-)

The basic ego patterns are designed to combat it's own deep-seated fear and sense of lack. They are resistance, control, power, greed, defense, attack. Some of the ego's strategies are extremely clever, yet they never truly solve any of it's problems, simply because the ego itself is the PROBLEM!

From the book, The Power of Now;
by Eckhart Tolle

===========Training=============
I'm now in Phase 2 (Power Phase) of my training for Australia BJJ Nationals:
Didn't get off to a great start yesterday with not doing my Power training due to lack of communication between Tracey and I with "time's" etc.. however I'm still on track and learn't more on the mat with extra rolling!

==========Personal==============
Had the Sommah and Kayleb all weekend, was awesome we had heaps of fun, just mucking around at home. Sommah and I went to Harry Potter movie which was cool, was just great to be all together for a lazy weekend!!

That's it from me for now, take care and much love to all.

Missing sessions....

Funny after posting about my training template and HOW I haven't missed a workout, I've started missing some, kind of!

I didn't go to BJJ or League training last Tuesday on the 3rd July. I'm glad I didn't as well as with doing the extra work being a postie it's been kicking my butt with the change of weather i.e. wind, cold just takes it out of you plus with all the extra training I'm doing it's making it a challenge!!

The other reason I didn't go, is because that would make it 4 nights I'm away from Tracey. I get up at 5am return home about 9ish to eat then do my postie round get home about 1ish leave again 4:30ish to train and return home around 7:30pm. When she's travelling it's great it gives me something to do but when she's home I do feel a bit guilty, I mean I leave first thing and don't see her again till after 7 when sometimes I'm smashed and ready for bed again at 9:30pm!!

So with all these "feelings" about being stuffed and Tracey I decieded to stay home and spend time with her for a change!! I'm glad I did too!

Had my final booze up in the weekend which lasted till 4am! I'm still suffering and contemplating not going to training tonight because I'm still buggered from getting on it!! While my other "justifications" may sound justifiable and to some they are, after all I used it without guilt for missing training that's for sure!!

This is not acceptable!! I will not be drinking for a while as it does nothing for you when you are trying to achieve a goal! Plus there is another reason that will be reveled in due course however I will not be getting on the Pi$$ again to at least this tournament is over and maybe longer!!

*****Family**********
Took Kayleb to the movies the other day to watch Transformers, he loved it!! The story was beyond him but the transformers doing their thing wasn't!! Highly recommend taking the kids along.

He was asking me questions right throughout the movie which I had to ask him to ssshhhh. His reply, STOP telling me to ssshhh dad, why are you telling me to ssshhhh!?!

Very cute! Sommah is over the coast working very hard by the sounds of it, Tracey and Kayleb where going over their for the weekend until it snowed through the pass so trip canceled.
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That's it from me, love to all!

Week 2 of 11...The Journey Cont.....

I'm just at the beginning of week 2 of 11 before the BJJ tournament in Aussie, still haven't paid entry fee or for flights yet waiting for some "special" for the flight to come along, which it will!!

I haven't missed a training session yet and juggling it all so far from personal to training to work! My schedule looks like this:

Week 1: Monday 25^th June to Sunday 1^st July 07

Day	Monday	Tuesday	Wed	Thursday	Friday	Sat
AM	Work 6-2pm	Work 6-2pm	Work 6-2pm	Work 6-2pm	Work 6-2pm	Work 10-2pm
PM	Gym 4:30pm Stre 5x 5 BJJ @ 6-7:30pm	League Training or BJJ every other wk	Gym 4:30pm Stre 5x 5 BJJ @ 6-7:30pm	League Training	Rest	Kaiapoi vs Riccarton 3pm

I get about 3-4hrs from end of work till gym work and then BJJ training some times I'm stuffed in that 4hr window!

Training:
The gym work hasn't been too "stressful" although each week, I'm raising the intensity! My goal in the first 4wks is to increase my foundational strength in the gym and each week raise the intensity by adding functional exercises into the recovery part of the foundational movements.

I've been so inconsistent with gym training this year that lifting heavy is HARD work at the moment and is taxing my cardiovascular system!!

I'm finding League training a little 'difficult' at times as my attention span is very limited because i don't get the same intellectual stimulus from Rugby League as I do from BJJ! I feel the league will take care of itself though i.e. my BJJ conditioning/training will transfer over to the league finals in late August as it's my Power phase then!! :-)

Personally:
I'm loving 'knowing' what I'm doing it gives me something to focus on! I do find switching "on" and "off" a little hard though, especially as the intensity of training starts to increase! I will be more conscious of switching 'on' and 'off'. What will help me is that I'm a father, partner and friend FIRST and a competitive male 2nd! No arguments end of story!

I no longer have 'scared' mindtalk, the more I train on the mat and in the gym the more constructive my talk is to myself! I have 100% belief that I will NOT lose because of Strength or Conditioning, PERIOD!!

Well that's enough about me so far, will talk more about the kids in the next post :-)

Let the journey begin...

I'm writing today about my little journey I'm going to take in the next 11wks. I've entered the Australian Nationals Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Submission tournament in Melbourne Australia September 8th 2007 (white belt division of course!:-).

I've been doing BJJ for about 6ish months and LOVING it!! For those that don't know anything about BJJ, it's a submission grappling sport that is very technical and strategic, you can win by submission via choke, arm/leg lock etc.. and it has a point system.

Basically you are trying to submit your opponent via putting his limb in a very uncomfortable position where he wants to "tap out" or you can choke him out!

Now I've decided to do this tournament, I'm a little nervous and fearful. I know it's just my mind playing tricks on me however never the less the mind is the most powerful muscle we have and it will CREATE YOU or it will break you!, So ultimately the choice is "ours"!!

This will be the first of many posts, some I'll put here and others I'll put on my Fitness Blog. Just to finish off this post, for the first time in a LONG time (4ish yrs) I feel ready to be competitive again, I "think" at this stage that's what scares me a little putting my heart and soul into sport again! However in writing that with the support of Tracey, the kids and of course Mum, I know I won't become to selfish!

Much love to you all,

Love the Coast!

We spent the long weekend at the coast, had another primo trip just hanging out with the kids, Kayleb, Sommah, Xavier Jack, Maria and Sommah's friend Bailey!

Some of the highlights;

• The kids feeding the cows and chief pukunui (1 of the calfs) head butting the kids for the grains. I had to jump the fence to sort the little Sh#t out as the kids where getting scared :-)
• Driving to Lake Kaneira and Hokitika Gorge was absolutely beautiful!!
• Visiting Tracey's grandfather at the urupa
• Working although we didn't do that much this trip around the house
  
• Taking the kids to get watercress for the boil up
  

It was great to see Kayleb experience a little more of the coast every trip we go there!

Thanks to the Tauwhare's,
Lots of love
Spida and Tracey

Nana Lil's Visit...

We were very fortunate that mum has been here to see us for 5days!! We all had a great time and thank you very much for making the effort to visit us mum!

Some of the high lights:

• Talking about my youth with Sommah, Paula, Tracey, Me and Mum. Had some good laughs!
• Beating mum in last card just like when I was a kid :-)
  
• Having Bailey (Sommah's friend) over for a night
• Kayleb's Ninja Turtle pj's
• Tracey's birthday dinner, can't beat good old fashioned mum's cooking!

There were more however it's been 2 nights since she left and I've been buggered and very busy since she left to provide more detail.

So thanks to everyone that made it a great short trip for mum, love to all!

p.s. We are off to the coast tomorrow which is always good fun!!

Happy Birthday Babe

What do you get the one you love when you have no idea and are not very creative? Hmmm a blog page for her and us to document the whanau life of living life and to post a big happy birthday sweet heart as the very first post!!

Why not! Happy birthday my darling may we have many more creative prezzies from me with many more birthdays to come. I love you with all my heart and soul and thankyou for being the person that you are!

4Evaville.....xoxoxo