The Shittiest Day

Before this year, life wasn't too difficult.  I didn't push myself much.  I was afraid to fail. I didn't try.

This year I began pushing myself.  Believing in myself.  And I have realized that I have much more potential than I ever thought possible.

Before you assume that everything has been successful, take a look at my face.

Fractured orbital and broken nose.  But I don't back down from a fucking fight.

Long story short, I fail, but I don't quit.  And I have learned from my mistakes more-so now than at any other point in my life.

If you want to do something, do it.  Failure is  possibility, but you will never know if you don't try.  The greater the risk, the greater the reward.  Don't forget that.

The night of the fight, I was talking to some guys who served in Iraq.  Great guys, I have nothing but respect for them.  I asked them about the shit they saw and one thing they said stuck with me.  Sometimes the best medicine for wounds over there was a bullet to the head.
When you think you're life is rough, don't forget you have a better existence than 90% of the world simply by being in America.  Make the most of it.

But for the tougher times, watch this video.  If you do, you will understand the "do not resuscitate pact" that some soldiers sign.
WARNING: ITS GRAPHIC

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=fc1_1318259413

To our soldiers in Iraq, you are better people than any of us.


"The hotter the fire, the harder the steel."

Jiu Jitsu in Brazil- The Fraternity

Spending a year in Brazil was great.  Becoming a part of the Carlson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Team was an honor.

Jiu Jitsu in Brazil is different. In my experience, it was like being part of a gang.  Loyalty to your Sensei is a must, which sometimes comes at a price.  

As my friend Damien says, "There are good senseis and bad senseis".

If you had a bad sensei the 200 dollars you gave to your sensei for a gi would be buying weed and hookers. Needless to say, you would not receive your gi or your money.  You would be beaten up at the gym, regardless of how young you were.  Elbows were used on you when someone had you in side control. You would be introduced to some new drugs (marijuana, the s-vitamin, PCP).

I was fortunate that this was not my experience, although I have some stories that would be wiser for me not to post on the internet.

I don't know of any American jiu jitsu teams that have secret handshakes or tattoos when they reach the black belt level.  That is the norm in Brazil.

When a Carlson Gracie member reached the black belt level, he gets the bulldog tattoos which are shown below.

For lack of better pictures, the two guys in front of the podium are some of the best guys I know, and I thank them for training me.  To Gunther and Alessandro, OSSSSSS

I will post more about doing jiu jitsu in Brazil in the upcoming days. And by the way, doing jiu jitsu in Brazil, and being good at it, will have the Brazilian ladies all over you.  And considering what they look like...

Keep it positive people.  Have a good day.

Get A's. Learn shit.

Get A's.  Take control of your life.  Learn and be curious. Stop being a pussy and get your head in the book.

It isn't what you study, but how you study.  Active learning is better than passive learning.
Here are some tips I have acquired and put into practice.  I can't say I have straight A's.  I can say I am on the Dean's List.

Here we go!

1. Make a study concoction.  Thanks to Tim Ferriss, a mentor of mine, I have learned the yerba matte concoction is a powerful tool.  Tim uses a mixture of wine and yerba matte- a 1:3 ratio.  I think vodka and green tea works well.  You think I'm joking? Try it.  Both Green Tea and Yerba Matte have strong fat burning qualities as a secondary benefit.
   http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/08/25/the-creativity-elixir-is-genius-on-demand-possible/
2. Get a timer.  Study for 50 minutes straight, then take a 10 or 15 minute break.  Focus must not be broken.  No calls, no texts, no bullshit.
3. Look into modafinil if you are really struggling.  Mymodafinil.com is a legit site, a European pharmacy.
   Modafinil is a powerful tool if you want to be highly productive.  Don't expect it to come without a few side effects though.
4. Use flash cards or answer questions as you read text.  This way you will be actively thinking through the material as you learn.  It is outstanding preparation for a test as well.
5. Put yourself in a position where you must learn or die.  This is the difference between taking Portuguese class and going to Brazil.  It is like taking out a loan: it will light a fire under your ass.  Being in debt is a good thing from time to time.
6. Meditate.  Meditating for 20 minutes a day will enhance concentration.  Make a goal to stick with it for 40 days.  Check it out:  http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/how-meditation-may-change-the-brain/
7. Nicotine.  Nothing beats a lip of grizzly.  I don't recommend cigarettes.  Nicotine patches work. Studies have shown that nicotine improves memory.  Tell your mom.

Any other study tips that help?

Chapter 1

Confusion.  Lack of realization. Search for meaning.
We hope to uncover some answers in this blog.

Marcelo and Mark are two beings walking this earth, searching to improve the lives of ourselves and others.
Follow us and relate to us.  We can answer questions, write about topics dearest to our readers, and give direction.  The two of us hope to receive direction as well.

Meditate, exercise, stretch, read, have sex, volunteer, take vitamin d.

Until next time.

Mark