On Letting Go

I love cheese.  I mean LOVE cheese, and ice cream, and cheesecake, and I gave it up last April.  I had chronic sinus infections for years.  After the most powerful antibiotics known to man, three surgeries and every natural cure I could find, I read that dairy could be a major contributor to my problem.  So I made a firm decision to give it up for two months, if I didn't notice a difference I would go back to my regular diet.  As much as I was hoping it wouldn't work… it did.  After two weeks I noticed a difference, and have been feeling better ever since.  What I wasn't expecting was the change in my body.  I lost ten lbs. Gone. For months now, and I've never had much fluctuation in my weight.  I diet hard for my fights, and within three weeks I creep back to my normal weight.  And now I've stabilized ten pounds lighter.

Letting go of something you love isn't easy. If you realize that it’s bringing negativity into your life you have an important choice to make.  You can ignore what you've seen and carry on, or you can let go.  There’s no in-between.  At first you will notice the obvious improvement, negative factor removed.  Then the real magic starts.  Your life will be filled with beautiful things you never expected.

I met a woman today who told me that she started noticing the negative speech of her extended family.  She was afraid of the repercussions, but she just couldn't hear it anymore.  She put a few of the worst offenders out of her life and she said the rest just went away too.  Negative factors removed, but now she says she meets the most amazing positive people everywhere she goes.  Her life became better, times two.

We only have so many hours in the day, and so much energy to give. When you let go of anything that is holding you back, that time and energy will find a better place to spend itself.  Are you ready?

www.KatieCasimir.com

How to Get a Perfect Body

Is there such a thing as a perfect body?  I've had coaches ask me how tall I am, and from there inform me what weight I need to be to fight.  Most people believe a tall, lean body is ideal (for martial arts as well the fashion industry).  I hate to admit it but I started my martial arts career wishing for a different body.  Then I met Darby Evans, one of the best coaches I've ever come into contact with.  He taught me how to use angles and close distance, basically he taught me how to fight with my body at any weight.

You can quote me on this, "Your disadvantages are only disadvantages until you learn to use them to your advantage."  (If you don’t believe me check out Baxter Humby or Nick Newell.  Both of these guys are amazingly talented fighters who only have one arm.)  Having long limbs can present a significant advantage for striking, but so does a low center of gravity, i.e. my short thick legs, or having a good sense of timing, or great endurance.  It’s about appreciating what you have and learning to make the most of it.  Often your competitors will seek to exploit your obvious weaknesses, with that knowledge you can develop your strategy.

It breaks my heart when I hear women say, “I wish I had a body like Heidi Klum” when they’re built like Marilyn Monroe.  All the diet and exercise in the world will never make that happen.  We must work every day to be our best selves and love ourselves for the effort.  If you are strong, be strong.  If you are fast, be fast.  If you are smart, be smart, and if you want to be strong, work hard to be stronger.  If you want to be fast, work hard to be faster.  Self-improvement will take you to your ultimate potential, self-pity and self-loathing will hold you back.

Your body is already perfect, it’s just waiting for your heart and mind to get on board.

www.KatieCasimir.com

My Take on the Belt System

“So, are you like, a black belt?”  Nope.  I’m a white belt in everything.  Except of course, Muay Thai, Boxing, grappling, you know the sports which most closely translate into MMA. They don’t have belts.  It used to frustrate me because I’ve put years into my training, and somehow that doesn’t mean as much to the common observer as a belt color that they probably don’t understand anyway.  Now it’s become one of those questions I answer with one word “nope” and let them ponder why not.

In theory it’s good.  If you put the time and work in you will receive a visible merit, which will distinguish you in any academy within your discipline.  Anyone holding a lower belt will show you the respect deserved, as you will respect those with belts higher than your own.  To achieve the level of black belt is recognized as a major accomplishment and is deserving of the highest level of respect.

My first problem with this is it is an entirely extrinsic motivation, in one of the most personal, internal endeavors I have ever encountered.  People are highly motivated by these things, to a point.  We want the respect and recognition that comes with titles, President, Director, Master.  Title is everything.  How many times will you be passed up for a promotion before your motivation will give out?  Maybe your boss or your master doesn’t recognize your talent or hard work. Or if it’s only a matter of showing up every day, people will, at some point see the lack of actual accomplishment and drop out.   If you are motivated only by your desire to improve and grow, these things will not discourage you.

The more time I spend in martial arts, the less respect I have for the whole belt system.  Some schools give out black belts like toys in Happy Meals (to quote Chael Sonnen).  Other schools let students remain in the same rank for years so they will win competitions in those divisions and bring trophies and recognition to the school.  Jiu-jitsu has age limits on belt levels (ex. You must be 19 to receive your black belt) and Judo requires that you must compete at the highest levels to attain the highest belts, while some disciplines have 12-year-olds testing for their 10^th degree black belt.  I fully respect the rank of black belt, and those people who truly deserve that honor. But honestly I would have that same respect for those people if they held lower belts because of their dedication, knowledge and passion for their discipline.

I was told once that the original martial arts only had two belts. White and Black.  I don’t know if this is true, but I like the idea.  You are a student until you are a master, and when you are truly a master you are always a student.  You build your reputation with your skill and determination… Something like Muay Thai, boxing, grappling, and Mixed Martial Arts.

www.KatieCasimir.com

10,000

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”  -Bruce Lee

Ok, there it is, the “magic pill” for martial arts.  Find a technique that makes sense to you and drill it, and do it again, and do it until it is instinct and not technique.  Practice the basic principles and the advanced technique.  Teach it.  Learn it so that you always have an answer to any problem you are given.  Then practice it some more.  This is not fun per say, but it’s fun when you nail it in competition.  It’s fun when you become recognized around the world for being the best at it.  It’s fun when your opponent knows what you're going to do and still can't stop you. 

We all know one of those people who changed their major 7 times in college, or has a new soul mate every other month.  Commitment can look stifling when you consider all your options.  However, like choosing a career path or life partner, making a commitment is the only way (save a lot of luck) to attain what we truly desire.  I find more freedom in marriage than I did before I met my husband.  I’m free to make mistakes and fix them.  I’m free to grow into the person I want to be.  Likewise when I chose a career in martial arts, I knew I was moving in the right direction.  I want to be doing what I do every day.  And I do it every day, even if I don’t feel like it, because I never finish a training session and say “That was a waste of time…”  I have 10,000 dreams, and I have chosen one to peruse 10,000%

There is no substitute for hard work, but if you work with focus and purpose, your hard work will take you farther than you can ever imagine.

www.KatieCasimir.com

On Vices

I once heard that no one should step on a scale except boxers and jockeys.  I support this 100%.  Maybe I’m a little hypocritical in that because I fall into one of those two categories, but the fact remains I need to be in control of more than how my clothes fit and what I see when I look in the mirror.  As you can imagine, the idea of trying not to obsess about your weight while maintaining a constant awareness of it can be maddening.  It all comes down to self-control and character.

Self-control and character.  It’s easy for me to turn down a cookie at work.  Everyone there respects what I do and I’m praised for my will power.  I don’t have that same accountability when I’m home alone.  Every moment is a choice, will I do the right thing when no one is watching?  Am I practicing what I’m preaching?  One cookie will not change the outcome of my “weigh-in” the next morning and it certainly won’t affect my weight at my official weigh-in.  It will make me a liar.  That does not go without consequences.  Chances are good that it won’t stop at one cookie even if it’s only one cookie that day.  My integrity has been compromised.  There’s the disappointment in myself, and the stomach ache (from the sugar) that will follow.  None of this is healthy, but it gets pushed a little further to the back of my mind with every cookie.

We’re all human.  We want things that are bad for us, and we don’t want the consequences.  We know we shouldn't do certain things, so we try to escape the judgment of others, and we do those things in the dark.  Whether or not anyone sees our misconduct, it happened and the consequences are there.  My consequences will be on display for everyone.  Missing weight would be humiliating, and have serious consequences on my career, not to mention losing a percentage of my purse.  The consequences of sneaking a cigarette out of the view of your children may never come to light, but if you think your lack of integrity on this won’t show up in other areas, you are mistaken.  And by he way, people know, especially your children.

 I have found that I have success by creating some accountability for myself.  I keep one treat in the cabinet, and I can have it any time up until two weeks before weigh-in.  It’s the only treat I can have in that time and I usually don’t end up eating it.  I always ask myself “Do I need this more today than I will later?”  Usually the answer is no.  My integrity is not compromised because it’s in my rules, and I don’t have to feel guilty for enjoying it, if I chose to.  I feel better about the whole situation.

Being honest about your vices can be humiliating, but it’s the only way to have any control over them.  It starts with being honest with yourself.

www.KatieCasimir.com

On Trade Secrets

There’s no such thing as a secret move in martial arts.  As soon as you use it in competition, it’s not a secret anymore.  Yet fighters hoard their best stuff like that ring in that movie.  I understand the mentality.  I used keep my secrets, and I had coaches that made me feel like I would be betraying them to do otherwise.  A few things have happened in my life to change that. 

My husband, will teach anyone who is willing to learn the secrets of his kneebar game.  He has spent years putting it together, testing, reworking, researching, testing etc. and he will give that away.  It may seem foolish, but if he only has one mind working on the project it will take exponentially longer to find perfection than if he has two.  We all have different ideas, different bodies, different perspectives, and different observations.  If we share them we can all grow together.  We teach a kids class specifically for kneebars, and we learn as much from the kids as they do from us. 

The greatest fighters don’t usually create anything new, they just become very good at a specific skill set which works well for their body type, fighting style, and opponents.  I don’t think Wanderlei Silva has a “secret punch”.  He knows the same basic punches they teach in cardio kickboxing.  He knows how to use them to make himself one of the greatest ever.  He differentiated himself with his fearless aggressive style, not a specific move.

I've heard that you retain 90% of what you teach.  I’m not sure I've ever seen the research, but I know teaching is certainly a test of your knowledge (you can B.S. your students, but you know if you’re lost).  What better way to refine your skill than to teach it to someone else? Lose the fear that someone will teach it to your future opponent and keep growing yourself.  Lose the fear that people will discover your weaknesses, and be grateful for the opportunity to become stronger. 

In business, sports, and life, don’t look at your innovations like a precious ring.  Instead think of them as seeds that will grow and bloom and create new seeds.  In that way you will achieve immortality.

www.KatieCasimir.com

Some Thoughts on Motivation

“What motivates you?” That was the best question I've ever been asked in an interview.  I wasn't prepared.  I pulled a quote from the only useful motivational speech I've ever heard.  “To be a little better than I was yesterday.”  I learned in that moment, that is the principle of Kaizen, a philosophy I hold dear, but it’s not what motivates me.  I guess the answer worked, because I got the job.   More importantly, I believe the question changed my life as I began to search for the answer.

I think most people define their motivation (if they define it at all) extrinsically.  I want to be champion.  I want to be my boss’s boss.  I want to be the best parent ever.  If these things motivate you, to what length?  Would you take performance enhancing drugs?  Step on your friends and colleagues to get ahead? Kill a girl that made the cheer squad over your daughter?  There’s nothing wrong with extrinsic motivation, but I think you must define the whole picture or you can drastically miss your mark.

That motivational speech to which I referred, the man was a millionaire.  His greatest accomplishment was to be successful as a parent, husband and friend.  He also said that no matter what he forgot when he left home, it could be shipped or replaced, the only exception was his integrity.  This was a man who had his goals and his motivation defined and separated.

I define my motivation as this: I want to be a person I can be proud of.  I want to be a person that awkward eight-year-old tomboy Katie is ecstatic that she grew up to be.  I’m a professional athlete, how cool is that?  I work hard, and don’t cut corners.  I’m devoted to my family, my integrity is intact.  I speak my truth, and I truly care more about being myself than what other people think of me.  I think I have found coherence in that, and when I achieve my goals, I will still have the same motivation.  This goes back to my original answer, Kaizen.  Every day I try to make that eight-year-old a little prouder.

www.KatieCasimir.com