Brazilan Martial Arts: Capoeira Sparring

After my Capoeira Knock Out post I did some more browsing and found this video of Capoeira sparring. Its very slow, deliberate and controlled, that way no one gets hurt. Also it helps strenghten the stabilizing muscles and increase balance.

This video as shot in New York City by Concrete Beat


"...Spread your Awesomeness[!]..." Sun Tzu

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Capoeira T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Capoeira Knock Out in Mixed Martial Arts

This honestly the first time I've ever seen someone use Capoeira in combat in addition to actually knocking someone out with it! It really took me by surprise and its a pleasant site to see. Capoeira is an interesting martial art that I'd like to learn and incorporate in to my own training. I like the unpredictable nature of it and it will be the perfect addition to creating the Ultimate Martial Art!

In general Capoeira seems to always have been portrayed as just a dance and recreational activity/sport, but never as a combat sport. Which is understandably so considering the long history it has in Brazil and the stigma it once possessed.

"...Spread your Awesomeness[!]..." Sun Tzu

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Mixed Martial Arts Careers

Mixed Martial Arts: Mixed Martial Arts Careers

Today I'm am officially announcing my desire to become a professional fighter. After four (4) years of intense study to get my degree in "Graphic Design," three (3) long hard years of HELL and the cruel reality of the design/advertising industry, I've decided to say FUCK THIS SHIT!!! I've put up with so much bullshit and right now enough is enough. Some people may not understand why I feel this way and others know exactly why I do. (right now I don't feel like explaining in detail.)

Everything I've worked hard for has been nothing more than a lie and my dream has become a nightmare, I feel as though I've wasted valuable years of my life only to be overlooked and pushed to the side for less talented and less qualified people while being crushed under massive amounts of student loan debt. (Now I know the truth about education)

So I've decided to go the route less traveled, as you should already know I'm in the process of starting my own business, (egad apparel) currently I'm researching all of the business certificates and documents I need and where to get them from as well as training for my black belt. Now I'm taking it one step further and I've decided to go pro!

With the current economic downward trend (a.k.a. The 2nd Great Depression) I can't look forward to even attempting to advance my career, i.e. get a better job. In addition to that I've been hit with two (2) back to back financial set backs with the coup de grâce looming steadily over head. Instead of sitting and waiting for the inevitable I'm going to be proactive and explore all of my options.

p.s. Bas Rutten is an excellent Martial Artist and I love hearing him speak, he represents Martial Arts and Mixed Martial Arts well.

"...Spread your Awesomeness[!]..." Sun Tzu

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

How To Do Wind Sprints!

Today I decided to change up my jogging routine and do wind sprints instead. For a while I've been getting comfortable with endurance/distance running and though I've increased my stamina substantially, my training lacks intensity and cardio.

So, with this in mind I did what any serious martial artist would do, run like hell! I began my day like any other day, yoga, stretching and eating a fruit or vegetable, today I ate a carrot. (note: Never workout on an empty stomach, eat an apple, banana or carrot. Preferably something natural, light and non greasy. If you don't take this advice you'll find out the hard way.) Then I stepped out to begin my workout. First I started off with a quick 2 block jog as a warm up. Next, I walked half a block to catch my breath and let the warm up kick in, then I sprinted the rest of the block. Afterwards I tried to keep a sprint 1 block and walk 1 block pace, as well as trying to keep the distance the same. (Street lengths were uneven at times.) Lastly, while undertaking this new routine I decided to run my usual distance to get the maximum effect and believe it or not you do have the stamina to do this.

Wind Sprint Directions (I love making lists!)

1. Pre-Work Out Prep
   • Eat a fruit or vegetable
   • Drink water
   • Yoga/Stretching
   • Place a bottle of water at the end of your jogging/running route. (Trust me this will come in handy)
2. Working Out
   • Jog 2 blocks at a medium pace
   • Walk 1/2 block to allow the warm up jog to take effect
   • Sprint 1/2 to raise your heart rate and correct breathing
   • Walk 1 block
   • Sprint 1 Block
   • Repeat the Sprint and Walk steps until work out is complete.
3. Cool Down
   • Drink water (I told you the bottled water will come in handy!)
   • Yoga/Stretching (This reduces cramps and soreness, it also feels great!)
   • Eat a fruit, vegetable or drink a smoothie
   • Take a nice and relaxing shower

I hope you enjoy this work out as much as I did, thanks for listening and have an awesome day!

Please visit this link How To Do Wind Sprints

"...Spread your Awesomeness[!]..." Sun Tzu

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Back to business

After 2 weeks of hustling a.k.a. freelance work, I'm finally back to business and resuming my routine. My legs are a bit sore from not running for a while, but I'm back in stride none the less. Also I met a boxer from James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym, he was a pretty cool and relaxed fellow. That's great I hope every one else at the gym is mature as well. He also gave me the address to the gym, now I'm going to check it out and see if its the type of place I'd like to be.

Train hard and stay Awesome!

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Great Googly Moogly! Good and Bad News

So far this week my work out routine as gone to shit, but in a good way. I've got freelance projects to do which means my nights and mornings are shot. Its a recession so I need to hustle my ass off.

Ok it is as bad as it seems, I'm eating healthier and doing more stretching in addition to drink a lot of water.

Remember train hard and stay awesome!

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts an funky apparel

Whats That Pose?

What is the name of that yoga pose you ask? Well that question now has an answer Whats That Pose? and yes that is the name of the blog. I found it while looking for images to use for my blog post that mentioned Bakasana. I thought the blog was pretty cool and decided to add it to my blog list. Whats that pose is a pretty cool blog.


Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

I've learned my lesson

Today I've learned my lesson, don't expect an Olympic caliber performance in the morning when you've had two large Reese's peanut butter cup sundae's the night before. It was so sad that I barely broke a sweat and at the same time I barely got through my "warm up" with out taking a break. I was sluggish, slow and could barely get into rhythm, while fighting off hyperventilation and stumbling down the street. Needless to say Monday morning's run was awful. (I'm glad not many people were out today or it would have been embarrassing.)

So I admit this openly an honestly, ladies and gentleman I have sabotaged myself and paid for it, I will not make this mistake again!

Keep training and stay Awesome!

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Another Awesome Week!

Again I've had an Awesome week! Yoga, Jogging and Martial arts. So far my running time has decrease even with my increased distance, Awesome! Yoga has improved my flexibility and I've gotten better at All have been pretty damn good this week, to bad the weekend is going to be lame with all the rain and cold weather.



I borrowed this image from "I Drew You A Heart"


Besides that, Train hard and stay Awesome!

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Martial Arts,Yoga and Running

Today is the end of a perfect week. I've increased my running distance while decreasing the time, I improved my flexibility and finally did the crow pose for more than 2 seconds, I did a bit of shadowboxing and best of all my hard work and training has inspired my girlfriend to start jogging again and a friend of mine to want to train with me as well. This has been an Awesome week!



Hmmm... now that I think of it, I'll make a Crow Pose/Bakasana t-shirt. Yoga!

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Getting Back on Track

As of today its been about two weeks since my training was interrupted and I'm finally getting back on track! I really hate being sick and I try my best to avoid it, but certain sicknesses are almost unavoidable. It left me very congested (see phlegm ) and made any sort of aerobic exercise almost impossible. So, with that said, my yearly cold/flu is finally over!

My jog on Monday and today went great (minimal atrophy) and Yoga was awesome! (As usual) So like I said, I'm getting back on track with martial arts, yoga, running and healthy eating. This summer is going to be Awesome!

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Jogging in West Philadelphia

Today was my second time jogging this year and I certainly felt a lot better than last time. Its only been a few days but my stamina has noticeably increased and my running time as gotten better, also I wasn't so out of breath that I was laying on my living room floor. So I ask my self what next and here is a small plan I came up with

• More running
• Yoga, this a very important aspect that most people over look
• Push Ups, gotta build strength
• Squats, running isn't the only leg work I need
• Shadow Boxing, I need to work on my basics
• Forms / Katas, more basic training
• Oat meal w/ Flax flakes, the breakfast of Champions!
• Sleep, the most important part of training

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

Create The Ultimate Martial Art

I am a student of the Salem Bando Club, a school of the American Bando Association. I'm getting back in shape to get my black belt (I went to college before I was old enough to get it)and after that I plan to perfect the style that I've learned. I will first begin with striking, since that is what I know, then move into grappling. I have a strong understanding of combat and martial arts, so I know what will and will not work. The art form will be perfected in battle.

This is my true life long dream that is above all else, even above starting my own t-shirt apparel company. Martial Arts is what got me through the worst years of my life and it is the martial discipline that has facilitated my success in various non-martial undertakings. It has kept me from becoming a sad stereo type and statistic.

In addition to creating this new art form, it will be my way of showing thanks and my way of honoring my teachers Sam C. Willis and Carl G. Beaman. They have dedicated years of their lives teaching me this art form and handing it down to me as it was to them. I understand how important it is and I shall do the same. Their hard work will not be in vein.

I first wrote this on my "43 Things page," then I decided to write it here since it was so long.

to see a full size version of the "Create the Ultimate Martial Art" header.

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel

My First Jog of 2009 - A New Beginning

Friday morning February 13th marks the beginning of my re-commitment to the marital arts. I'm getting back in shape and quiting bad habits permanently. Its has been a long time since I've had steady martial arts practice and training, I'm optimistic about this year and beyond even though the economy is in shambles, so I have decided to regroup and get everything in my life into tip top shape. Everything.

Somethings may change a little and some a lot, but in the end it will be for the best.

Adrian Davis
Soldier Complex: Martial Arts T-Shirts and Apparel
egad apparel: eclectic t-shirts and funky apparel>