In my first BJJ class, I got tapped out in under 60 seconds by a skinny 16-year-old kid.
At the time, I was 28, deadlifting 345 for reps, and had already spent years training martial arts.
That was the moment I realized there was something different about jiu-jitsu…and hand-to-hand combat in general.
Since then, I’ve trained with multiple UFC champions, helped fighters prepare for MMA bouts, and competed in BJJ tournaments.
At 49, I’m past my prime — but I’m still tough.
What training really teaches you, though, is perspective.
There are always people far more dangerous than you.
Guys who train twice a day. Three times a day. Every day.
And the more time you spend around real competence, the less interest you have in acting tough.
Aside from cauliflower ears, there’s no reliable way to judge how dangerous someone is by looking at their physique.
Be respectful out there.
My colleague Jürgen just got promoted to Staff Engineer after 14 years at Siemens
His new salary: an eye-popping €68,000 a year
I asked what he'll do now with the extra money
"I'm redirecting it to voluntary pension contributions of course" he said
His irresponsible wife suggested they finally take a vacation but Jürgen declined
They compromised on a long weekend in Belgium
He spent it visiting the EU Parliament
"There's something profoundly erotic about this building" he whispered to me
They don't make men like this in America
Weighing in at about 103kg(230lbs) im the morning right now. And the amount of abs and vascularity I still have compared to the last time I was this weight is stupid.
Kicking myself in the head for not taking more pictures the past years.
@GuruAnaerobic While getting decent at powerlifting I noticed this and it made me respect athletes in all sports way more. Even if it I watch a sport im not interested in I can just respect the amount of time the athlete has put in.
@BowTiedStack When the vids are sped up like this I have to actually pay attention to check if its ai. If im just scrolling past I would not even notice.
A new guy in my gym came up to me during my squats. Asked me some question about how long I have been training and what I focused on bb or powerlifting.
At the end he asked; "Are you still a naturel?" Did not expect that question. BIG compliment.
@bowtiedurbit Man we have whole parts of the highway where they put a camera at the start and one at the end. Based on the time between the 2 they will calculate your speed and fine you if you did. So you are not able to speed on a 5 lane highway for 15 kilometers.
Democrats now control the legislature and Governor's office in Virginia.
Here are just a few of the bills they've introduced
- New 4.3% sales tax on Uber Eats, Amazon, etc deliveries.
- New sales tax on admissions to a wide variety of businesses.
- Create two new higher tax brackets of 8% and 10% on people making over $600K.
- A new 10% tax bracket for anyone making over $1M.
- 3.8% investment tax on top of state income taxes.
- Raise the hotel tax.
- New personal property tax on landscaping equipment.
- Ban gas powered leaf blowers.
- Guarantee illegal aliens free education.
- Make it illegal to approach somebody at an abortion clinic.
- Extend the time absentee ballots can be received after election day to three days
- Allow people to cast their votes electronically through the internet.
- Expand ranked-choice voting.
- Extend the deadline for ballot curing to one week after election day.
- Redact the addresses of political candidates from FOIAs.
- Add Virginia to the National Popular Vote Compact for presidential electors.
- Make it illegal to hand count ballots.
- $500 sales tax on firearm suppressors .
- "Assault weapons" and large capacity magazine ban.
- 11% sales tax on all firearms and ammunition.
- Prohibit outdoor shooting of a firearm on land less than 5 acres.
- Lower the criminal penalties for robbery.
- Ban the arrest of illegal aliens in courthouses.
- Remove mandatory minimum sentences.
- Allow localities to install speed cameras.
- Replace Columbus Day with "Indigenous Peoples Day."