A True Champion

          A while back, I asked one of my trainers to write a blog on "how to train a winner?".  After a few months of sweat, soreness, kicks, punches, and screaming we have ourselves a WINNER.  It is really not about "winning or losing", it is about training the mind and transforming one's life.   We are excited to let our readers know that we got a fighter/winner/champion in our team.

        Alexander "The Great", 17 years old, has trained at XTC for about five months with George and Angelo, is ready for his first fight.  He is a dedicated young man with a bright future. We, his XTC family, wish him all the best in his new way of LIFE. 

The Art of Capoeira

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chegado and I have been training the art of Capoeira for 14 years, each of us stumbled upon the art in different ways but stayed for the same reason, it is truly a captivating art.  It is an art form that challenges you physically and intellectually.  Each person that trains Capoeira is drawn to it for their own specific and personal reason, it develops  your rhythm, strength, agility, reflex, as well as your musical, acrobatic and dance skills.  But for most, it is the history, the tradition, the cultural and the profound sense of community that are sticking points. 

Capoeira is the art of survival, with a history that dates back more than 500 years to the slave trade in Brazil.  It was and is an art of empowerment, a celebration of the African roots in Brazil; from the music to the movement it tells the story of a people oppressed, enslaved and later liberated through their strength and will.  

We made the decision to pursue the art form professionally because we believe Capoeira is a vehicle for positive change and cultural enrichment.  The art form promotes diversity, understanding, creativity, health, and discipline for youth and adults alike. Northeast Los Angeles is a vibrant and eclectic community that appreciates and searches out cultural diversity in the arts and we are blessed to have found our home here.

 

 

The Great Art of MMA!

 

 Damon Dyer has been wrestling for 23 years. During  that time, he has competed in freestyle, high school(where he was 2nd in the state), folkstyle, and at college level. After leaving Michigan State University, he began assistant coaching at the high school in his hometown. In 2007 MMA caught his interest. That meant Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, and Kickboxing became part of a daily routine. During that same year, he went back to his roots and became a folkstyle wrestling world champion.

 

 Damon loves both teaching and competing, and is very happy being part of the XTC staff where he can share his knowledge with others.  He looks forward seeing his students get fit and be ready to go to the next level through personal protection and self defense.

XTC is very grateful to have Damon as part of the Multiple Martial Arts program.

The Power of Multiple Martial Arts!

George Giovanis:
He started boxing at the young age of 12 where he became a member of Rhode Island Boxing.  This east coast gym was the home of legendary five time world champion Vinny Pazienza.  During his many years training, George learned the importance of belonging to a gym environment, acquired the discipline to excel and experience to teach. 
  
As time passed, George’s interests expanded into Kickboxing and Muay Thai.  He devoted many years to these sports and he fought out of the Sampalis Kickboxing Academy where he helped train professional fighters.  In his spare time, George also made three feature films that went on to screen at various film festivals and win many accolades by critics and judges alike.  

He moved to California in search of the sun and the pursuits of all his passions.  He happily works at XTC Gym.  George loves to see his students mature, hour by hour and week by week - while they achieve their own personal fitness goals, and gain the knowledge of personal protection.

Redirect Your Energy!

Spring is around the corner. New life is starting everywhere.  Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and trees are blossoming.  What about you?

Dealing with adversity takes a lot of energy-physical and psychological-especially when you see your circumstances as beyond your control.  Initially, what little energy you have can easily end up being channeled into  negative thoughts, feelings, and actions, which keep you from moving forward with your life.

Here are some very simple steps that you can take to redirect your energy: 

•  Shift your time frame- the benefit you are seeking has to do with future, and not the past. Sitting around ruminating or sulking about the past will only keep you “stuck” where you are-in the state of perpetual distress. 
•  Focus on what you can control, not what you can’t.  When and “accident” occurs in your life and stops you from your routine, look at it as an opportunity to get done  the things that you put on hold for a while.  Think about ability rather than disability and you will feel a whole lot better.
• Be productive in both thoughts and deeds.  Reliving a not so pleasant situation that happened to you  years ago day after day is counter-productive if you are looking for a way to achieve a moment of happiness.  Resisting all efforts to get you back into the mainstream of life3 is also counter-productive.  Better to think “what can I do?” and then do it.