More Progress in Training, Kettlebells, Krav Maga, and More!

Training has been progressing very well, and I figured I'd give a few updates on that side of things as well as share the latest ad image that NuHealth is using to promote their ReCharge line of products.

I am always evolving my core workout, from tweaking to making new additions.  Without question, the core workout is at it's best point yet and I think it features a nice balance of flexibility, cardio, endurance, and strength/power training.

The bulk of it is Krav Maga, with loads of drills in combatives, heavy bag work, working with a training dummy, Retzev segments and working in new techniques.  At this point the core workout features a very good range of drills and techniques, and I believe strongly in the drill, drill, drill approach when it comes to techniques.  This can make for a very solid pace and level of intensity as the workout flows through the combatives and techniques.

I always have a good warm-up segment and flexibility work prior to getting into that phase of the workout.  I've recently added a few more movements and types of stretches in this part of it and I've come to appreciate just how important and vital the warmup/flexibility part of the workout is to everything from injury prevention, to recovery, to progress in training and to getting me prepped for the more intense parts of the workout. Warming up properly and giving time and attention to stretching matters.

I also work in a nice dose of body weight exercises, with a few types of pushups and several types of pullups, mixing those in with some of the combative segments.  I recently added another type of pullup, bringing my total there to 5 different types/grips of pullups making for a pretty good range of coverage on that type of exercise.

The other part of the core workout that I began integrating in December of 2015 were kettlebell exercises.  I have carefully built onto that since beginning with some basic movements, and just this week added the kettlebell version of the viking push press and single arm swings (I've been doing the two-arm swings since December).  I've found the kettlebell training to have an art of its own, and it is a type of training that is very compatible with martial arts with its ability to offer powerful movements that make us of multiple muscle groups, especially the core.  I've seen the benefits of the kettlebell training integration already, in terms of speed, power, and strength improvements.  I've been studying all I can about kettlebells and find them very fascinating.  I'm looking forward to learning more, improving my use of them, and reporting on the progress in that area as well.

I really hope to give the NuHealth folks another progress photo in the near future. They recently ran the advertisement below that shows 4 images, with a before and 3 progress photos.  The final one is about 2 months old as of now and I have made more strides since then, but want to be sure I give them an image that shows a very noticeable jump forward.

The training is going very nicely, though, and the core workout has advanced to its best level yet.  Onward and upward. ;)

Proud to Announce New Association With and Endorsement of NuHealth and Their Recharge Line of Health Supplements

I am very proud to announce a new association with and endorsement of NuHealth and their Recharge line of health supplements.  This could not be a more pure of an endorsement situation, as I have consistently used their products throughout my fitness journey, one that has seen me drop close to 180 pounds and go down eight pants sizes over the past 21 months.

Being hypothyroid, I have a challenge when it comes to a slower metabolism, and I found that using products such as Recharge Metabolism and Recharge Testosterone, for maintaining healthier metabolic rates and overall testosterone health and support (as when I started this journey I had a lower T level) was very helpful in the full process.  I also use a product of theirs called Muscle Shred 3D, also for metabolic support.  These products truly have been a valuable part of my full approach to health and fitness, which includes maintaining much healthier diet habits and a dedicated exercise regimen centered around training in the martial art Krav Maga.

Bryce and the good folks at NuHealth have always been kind and supportive of my journey, from the earliest stages and far before any kind of association was ever discussed or even any significant "before and after" picture could be taken.  They are truly engaged and good with their customers, champion healthy living, and I am convinced of their integrity having experienced it for almost two years first-hand.

With a store located in Lexington, Kentucky, NuHealth has a line of health supplement products that are also available at their online store at www.nuhealthlifestyle.com . As part of the new association, anyone who uses the code "ZFORCE" at the online store can get 25% off, including apparel items.

I am very excited to be associated with the NuHealth family.  With proven integrity on every level, and products I have found to be effective in a time-proven manner, NuHealth is a company I can put my name behind without hesitation. I am very grateful to Bryce and the NuHealth family for their support of my own fitness journey and look forward to a wonderful association ahead. Onward and Upward! :)

2016 Looms. Will This Finally Be the Year?

As I've mentioned before, the holidays are a real trial period for me, for many reasons.  They have turned into something to get through and endure, not something that I enjoy anymore.  I do think I can return to the days when I loved the holiday season more than any other time of the year, but that time is not here yet.

Before I get too frustrated, I look at what's been percolating in the past year.  I've made more strides professionally and in early 2016 I will be getting underway with the development of the largest project I've ever tackled, one that will return me to the world of movie-making.  I'm going to be moving forward with the development of a potential TV Pilot based on my character Rayden Valkyrie, from my novel Heart of a Lion.  That's a world that holds a lot of potential for excitement, new horizons and new doors to open.

Physically, I've come to a place where I'm in the best shape I've been in since my 20's, and able to do some physical acts that I could not do back then.  Training has been solid and consistent.  I am always adding new elements and even today I added in some new kettlebell exercises.  Krav Maga has become a wonderful part of my world and something that gets me through the worst of days.  By the time spring rolls around, I think I can reach an amazing place in my physical journey, both skill-wise in martial arts as well as in my physical body.

Writing-wise, I am now underway on the follow-up to Heart of a Lion and also the 4th book in the Fires in Eden Series.  Both of those projects will be big parts of early 2016, and at least one of them should see release in this coming year.  It is also likely that a new volume of Hellscapes and possibly another Chronicles of Ave volume could come to light in the forthcoming year.

Seventh Star Press has made excellent strides, and some exciting new authors coupled with an array of new titles from our core author family give many reasons to expect 2016 to be a big step forward.  There is a lot of positive energy and momentum heading into the beginning of this new year.

I have some exciting things looming in in terms of some conventions I am looking to participate in, both as an author and as a representative of Seventh Star Press.  Some will take me to places like Las Vegas in 2016.  Those are always grand adventures with lots of new people to meet, new networking opportunities, and inevitably the birth of new projects.

I've also gone through two hard years developing the Imaginarium Convention, which is an event based entirely around creative writing.  The third year is primed to really take off.  In fact, we just landed a tremendous Guest of Honor, the one and only Brian Keene.  Imaginarium is something that I take a lot of pride in for what it does in empowering writers, filmmakers, musicians and other artists.

Despite all pitfalls and disappointments, I believe in myself.  I've paid a lot of dues at this juncture, and I've said for awhile the best is yet to come.  There are signs that those days may well be on the horizon, or at least a big step closer will be achievable with the coming of this new year.

Looking at it that way, I have a little more with me to help endure the holidays.  I have taken steps to change my world, and know that I can transform it entirely, and take things to an all-new level.  I will definitely give it my best shot.

Krav Maga - A True Blessing and Gift

The name itself means "contact combat" in Hebrew.  It is a system founded by Imre Lichtenfeld, a very courageous man who had the fire to resist during the 1930's and beyond.  It has been developed extensively by the Israeli military, drawing off a number of various styles of martial arts, ranging from judo, to akido, to boxing, and others.

Its very symbol has an opening in it, signifying the openness to new ideas and evolving.  It is focused on practicality and things that work.  Techniques effective for an abundance of situations are what is emphasized.

The workouts are intense and strenuous, challenging you to give it your all.  I can testify to the results, as Krav Maga has been at the core of my workouts for over the past 18 months, a period that has seen me drop over 170 lbs and 8 pants sizes as I set my mind on regaining myself.  Growing up I had training in Kung-Fu, Wu-Shu and Karate, but nothing ever resonated with me like Krav Maga has.

I wrote a recent post on Retzev, a mindset at the core of Krav Maga that reflects it's Hebrew meaning, essentially "continuous motion".  I absolutely love the dynamic core of this approach, to Krav Maga itself and how its mindset can be applied to all aspects of life.

Everyone that knows me has heard me say how it is of utmost importance to keep moving forward, to keep moving onward and upward.  Retzev reflects that, and that is reinforced each and every day in my training.

From combative drills to combinations, from flexibility work to conditioning exercises, to heavy bag work, my core workout is constantly evolving with what's in it and the techniques practiced. I can say without doubt that I give it my all in every workout, everything is left behind when I finished, and a soaked t-shirt is thrown in the laundry bin.

From fitness to mindset, Krav Maga has been a blessing and gift.  I spring out of bed in a limber state in the morning, and am at a weight I haven't seen since I was 21.  I am very confident in being able to handle myself in self-defense situations and can happily "talk down" an aggressive person knowing that if they cross the line and initiate aggression I am going to be able to handle it efficiently, powerfully and very quickly.

Every day I feel stronger, faster, and more youthful.  The essence of what I train in fits my physical strengths well, and are efficient in every way.

I am very grateful for the gift of Krav Maga.  It is a system open to new input and development, it is focused on things that work, and it delivers in so many spheres, mentally, physically, and even spiritually.

Keep moving forward.  Retzev!!!

Just a Few Updates Both Personal and Book-related

This week and last week have been incredibly busy. Blog tours are definitely big projects for an author, at least if you want to do one justice.  I've had two back to back, one coinciding with the release of Hellscapes, Volume II last week and this week for Heart of a Lion.

The posts, interviews, and reviews have gone very well. I got several amazing reviews for Hellscapes, Volume II, and have already added a couple more good ones for Heart of a Lion this week.  I hope everyone is enjoying the guest posts and interviews, as they do shed more light on my personal world, my writing, my approaches to writing, and both Hellscapes II and Heart of a Lion in particular.  It does take a lot of work to do a blog tour.  For example, I rounded out three guest posts today that totaled about 4,100 words.  That's a good chunk of output, writing-wise.

I really make every effort to make each post special and I think that comes across to anyone who reads of them.  I put in the extra effort out of respect for the blog hosts and readers, as I want to give both my very best.  I really enjoyed putting together the three new posts, one that has a list of theme songs I picked for Heart of a Lion, another that lists my "sweet sixteen" of all-time fantasy movies, and one that discusses five of my most inspirational heroines from history, legend and screen.

The blog tour for Heart of a Lion wraps up Sunday, and then the Fire HD 8 contest I sponsored that covered both tours (Heart of a Lion and Hellscapes, Volume II).  I intend to get a little downtime after that as I've had the afterburner going solid for this period.

I have been hitting my training really hard.  Krav Maga workouts are really intensive and I have been seeing more progress physically.  I really look forward to the daily workouts, as they are a period in which I clear my mind and also let a lot of things out.  Today I had a Danzig playlist cranking on the speakers and I hit it hard. I have been having some of my best workouts ever lately and am very focused on my training.

Saturday I'll be going on a tour of the Wild Turkey Distillery, joining my good friends Eric and Kylie Jude, Rachel Jude, Lisa Marie Ross, Bobby Little and Robin Blankenship.  Time to get another stamp on my Bourbon Trail passport book.  Should be a lot of fun and I'm REALLY looking forward to it after going full throttle recently.

I'll close out with a photo of me with my brand new Pete's Wok t-shirt. As folks who know me are well-aware, Pete's Wok is my favorite eatery of all time, and Pete Spencer, the owner, inspired the Lee Chen character in my Fires in Eden series.  I sometimes eat there five times in a week.  Ahhh. the life of a bachelor (though I'd love to change that status, LOL).  But the food is great, I eat healthy, and I support a great family and their business.  A win-win all around! :)

The Philosophy of Krav Maga's Retzev and Daily Life.

The core of my martial arts training these days centers on Krav Maga, an amazing system that I have come to love due to the no-nonsense approach it embraces.  Everything resonates with a vibe of practicality, and the workouts are very intensive.

It is not a system that involves memorization of long katas, but instead focuses on an array of core building blocks that are under constant scrutiny and evolution based on outcomes in real-life encounters and situations. I've found it to suit my own mindset very well and look forward to my daily workouts.

Martial arts offers a path that brings together a focus of mind, body and spirit in a disciplined manner, and I often find myself making observations and recognizing areas where martial arts ideas and principles can be applied to many other areas of life.

Within the heart of Krav Maga is the principle of  retzev, which is a Hebrew term that essentially means "continuous motion".   Retzev is seen all throughout the practice of Krav Maga in a seamless integration of defensive and offensive techniques.  In a nutshell, it results in eliminating "dead space", in reacting to an attack, counterattacking and continuing (appropriate levels) of physical combat techniques to subdue the threat.

With retzev, you find yourself entering a flow of movement, where you aren't "thinking" about the next move as much as you are executing a continuum that is honed from a foundation of hard training and drilling in an array of combatives.

I have given a lot of thought to the idea of retzev and what it means on deeper levels.  Life has dealt me quite a few trials along the way, and I find myself in a few at the moment.

The questions facing all of us in times of trial is how to react.  When bad things happen, I like the idea that retzev brings to mind.  One must "defend", "counterattack" and continue on the offensive, and keep in a mode of continuous motion.  Staying inert is the only sure way to be overcome in life.  Reaction and forward action gives you the fighting chance to overcome life's hurdles.  

To overcome personal hardships, one must go into a mode of positive action in a flow gleaned from one's personal foundation and values.  This, in many ways, reflects the idea of retzev, only applied to the combat of life, an arena that is not fair, often is filled with ambushes and things that come at you, and must be reacted to and dealt with.

When life comes at you, you must act in response and keep moving forward, which gets at the idea of continuous motion as understood in retzev.  Martial arts truly does offer a mindset that can be applied across all spheres and I am very grateful for the practice of Krav Maga for keeping the idea of retzev forefront in my own mind when navigating the rougher patches of life.