It has been almost 2 years since I was out here, but it’s like I never left. Almost everything is the exact same around the gym and around town. Some things have changed, but it’s really just more of the same. I was telling Shane being in Hilo is like being caught in a time warp or something. It’s almost like Hilo is still in the 80’s! Just feels very old from the small diners to the old pickup trucks driving around. It really is awesome.
I told everyone I was coming out to Hawaii to train with BJ… but how has it been going? I didn’t want to be blogging about it TOO much while out here… because it would have been a whole bunch of “More good training again today”. And who wants to keep reading that over and over? Not you, and not me.
To give a quick summary though: It’s been GREAT training. I have only been around for a couple weeks but I can see why BJ has looked so great in his last few fights. Marv and Gary Marinovich are on top of things here. Last time I was out it was a much looser training regiment but that is no longer the case. There is a lot of structure and a LOT of hard work going on around here. BJ amazes me all the time because even when I think he can’t get much better, he continues to find new ways to make big jumps in his training. I say all the time that I think BJ is the best pound for pound fighter in the world, and his continual progression is the reason he stays on top.
On top of all the great stuff I have learned to do from Marv and Gary… I have really learned a lot of things NOT to do. Apparently I am not much of an athlete… because I do pretty much every activity with the worst form they have ever seen. I have horrible flexibility and I am just a nightmare. As Marv put it though: “Imagine what you will be able to do when you become a real athlete.” I guess that just means I have a lot of room for improvement, right? I have made good improvements compared to how I started out though. I will have a LOT of time to improve on things before August rolls around anyways.
I have been working with Rudy on kickboxing while out here too. Rudy really is the man. Guy just loves to teach and help people out… and he is the only guy I start out hitting mitts with and end up on the ground going for an armlock. Picked up a few great things from Shane and others here as well.
Overall… it’s been a great trip so far. I am out here until Friday night and then I land back in Boston on Saturday. It’s great to be out here… but it will be good to be home too.