Tuesday's workout

I know it's late in the day to be posting a new workout for today but better late than never. This workout is a Crossfit variation of "Grace": 30 Clean/Jerks using a 135# barbell and for the ladies use 65#. Each time you stop to catch your breath do 5 pulls and then go run 1 mile.

Recap:
30 Clean/Jerks (men use 135# and females use 65#- at least)
During each rest time perform 5 pull-ups
Run 1 mile

Drink plenty of water afterwards. Enjoy

Andy Stolarik

IT'S A NEW START by Andy S.

I would like to start a weekly if not a daily workout. I know that some you have been following us and keeping up with our news. So to get started I would like to offer this workout. It's one that I did and may I remind you that it's not an easy one but you can modify it to fit your needs and ability. The goal: Just Get Through it.

5 rounds or sets of the following:
15 push-ups
*heavy deadlifts (I mean unconfortable heavy- I used 400#)
15 bodyweight or air squats

* The dead lift reps are going to decrease by one every round. start off with 5 reps, followed aby 4, 3 ,2 and finally 1.

Keep in mind just finish and use an appropriate amount of weight so you don't hurt yourself.

Introducing Andy Stolarik...Our Jiu Jitsu Instructor

Andrew Stolarik is a certified teacher in Georgia who specializes in teaching special education and physical education.  I was born and raised in the Ohio Valley with not much to do until one day my parents asked me if I wanted to take karate lessons.  Being a little boy I was excited about learning the same moves that I had watched the “Karate Kid” use to defend his honor, so naturally my parents enrolled me in classes and then from that point on I was hooked.  Over the past 26 years I have studied a variety of styles and have rank in seven forms of martial arts.  I have seen and met a lot of people from all walks of life.  Some I still keep in contact with and others were just passers.  After high school graduation I attended Wheeling Jesuit University where I studied psychology along with judo and taekwondo.  It was here that my views and knowledge of self-defense really expanded and seeing how the grappling arts were useful when combined with the kicking arts.  Under the direction of Dr. Larry Driscoll I achieved a yellow belt in judo and a red belt (brown belt under modern colors) in taekwondo.  After four of college I had earned a B.A. in psychology so now I need another home to practice my martial arts. 

I found the school Ohio Valley Jiu-Jitsu School that was headed up by David Vannest. At first sight I was hooked by the way he taught his style of jiu-jitsu.  It was combat oriented with some sportive aspect mix in.  Within a couple of years I obtained my first jiu-jitsu rank as a blue belt.  It was this rank, the knowledge that I had obtained from my college days and David’s instruction that carried me to a black belt in Judo and traditional Jiu-Jitsu. 

After I received my blue belt rank under Dave I decided to move to the southland (Georgia) to look for a job.  I had the degree but no job, now was the time to become self- supportive and raise a family.  Once I started work I began to look for a new school to continue my training and it was this new school that led me to my study of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  I started to train at the Itto School of Self-defense under Tommy Lunsford in Judo and Shin Shin Jiu-Jitsu.  As the years passed I earned my Black Belt in Judo and in Shin Shin Jiu-Jitsu.  Tommy belonged to an organization that had many experienced martial artists and some I found to be quite good. Others I found to be all talk with little substance, however, it was all good because I became friends with Dr. Larry Beard and Professor Larry Brooks. Both individuals have helped me out tremendously with techniques but I also became good friends with them on a personal level.  It is under Professor Larry Brooks that I’m currently studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and have obtained a purple belt. 

After my Black Belt testing I met another individual that would change my outlook on physical fitness and my personal endeavor to learn self-defense.  His name is Arjan Scott Hicks and he was my Muay Thai coach.  Under him I had a winning Muay Thai fight record of 8 wins and 4 loses.  The training I received from Arjan Hicks was the best.  When I was finished fighting I was in the best shape of my life; Thank you Arjan.  It was this experience that compelled me to compete in strongman contests, obstacle races and jiu-jitsu tournaments all of which I have placed quite well.    

Currently, I train and teach at High Octane Fitness/Hybrid JiuJitsu & Martial Arts along the side of Tim Hart.  Tim also has many accomplishments to his credit. 

My current rankings are:

• Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt) in both Yudo (Korean Judo) and traditional Jiu-Jitsu under Tommy Lunsford
• Purple belt in BJJ under Professor Larry Brooks 
• Blue Belt in Combative Jiu-Jitsu under David Vannest. 

Each of them has their own organization and I am a member of each. 

I also conduct personal training combining my past experience of old school weight lifting, kettlebells, circuit training, bodyweight conditioning and strongman experience.  It is a unique blend where every workout is different from the last one.  My main objective in training is to protect myself and my loved ones and to not be ashamed to take off my shirt.  

Big Ron Captures 2 Gold Medals!!!!

:by Andy Stolarik
High Octane Martial Arts captures another win at River City Freestyle Grappling Meet.  On June 25^th H.O.M.A went to River City Freestyle Grappling tournament in Alabama.  The tournament was submission only which was awesome.  Among the competitors only one stood out among the rest.  Our very own Big Ron.  Ron has been a Ju-Jutsuian for about 14 months and has already made a name for himself in the world of Ju-Jutsu.  His size, ability and the way he conducts himself has proven to be his advantages to ward off the bigger guys.  Ron entered the tournament to have fun and to test his skills against strangers.  He competed in two divisions- gi and no-gi.  The competition was a mixture of Judokas and fellow Ju-Jutsuian, however, it didn’t matter who faced him they were no match for Big Ron.  After the clean up of his victims, Ron was crowned champion for his weight division (heavyweight).  He showed the true meaning of grappling- beat those who needed it and scare off those who were thinking about it.  WAY TO GO RON.  YOU ARE AN INSPIRTATION TO US ALL.  By the way, Ron received his yellow belt just before the tournament.

Big Ron!!! by Andy Stolarik

Over the years, I have taught all kinds of people from the couch potato to the professional fighters, individuals with special needs, young, old and middle aged and when that special event arrived they all agreed that the training was worth it.  However, none them was truly tested to see just how fit they actually were. 

Now let me introduce you to Ron.  Ron is a jiu-jitsuian, former power lifter at heart and a safety consultant by trade.  This safety consultant has lifted more weight than I ever could and is by far the most athletic person that I have ever known. Oh did I mention he is also in his 50’s.  When Ron walked through the dojo doors of High Octane Fitness he was already the strongest guy there, however, he didn’t know how to use this strength to his advantage but within a couple of classes he figured it out.  Ron continues to lift as do so many of us do to keep in shape, gain muscle or increase strength to compete in strength and endurance events.  About a week or so ago Ron attended a safety conference and one of the booths offered a body composition analysis.  Ron being one who likes to show off his hard earned health said what the hell and completed the analysis.  To his and all of us at H.O.F. couldn’t believe his results.  Ron was nice of enough to share his results.  It goes to show to you that lifting heavy weights and practicing jiu-jitsu could literally change your DNA to more of a youthful inside.    

Spartan Race!!!!

 by: Andy Stolarik

This past weekend High Octane Fitness (HOF) had a couple of fighters who participated in the Spartan Sprint run. Those of you who do not know what the Spartan Sprint run is let me tell you it is fun combined with hell. The Spartan Sprint (http://www.spartanrace.com/spartan-sprint-obstacle-course-race.html) is a 3.5 mile run with at least seven obstacles added in for good measure. As the run progresses the obstacles get harder or so it seems. This was the fun part of the race.This year HOF participated in at least two obstacles races and I can tell you it will not be the last. We had so much fun that we will do it again.In honor of the Spartan Sprint run I dedicate the following to those who sacrifice their bodies, time and mental well being to follow in the footsteps of their warrior forefathers. Remember, as ways move forward, never retreat and never surrender. This is the Spartan Code.

3 rounds as fast as possible (AFAP):
15 clean/jerks (use 115#males/95# females)
Walk a balance beam for 15ft.
Run 1 mile

Job Well Done!!!!

On March 9, 2011, High Octane Fitness/Martial Arts promoted their first Yudo and JuJitsu students. After a year of training, they were ready to advance in rank. Joseph Barnes obtained a junior yellow belt in Yudo and Alonzo Travis earned his Kukyu (yellow belt) in JuJitsu. These ranks were highly earned and not given away. They both went through a 1 hour grueling test that covered physical and mental limits, as well as knowledge about their fighting style. At High Octane Fitness we pride ourselves on teaching self-defense first and sport as a secondary means to achieve the ability to defend ourselves and love ones. Congratulations to both Joseph and Alonzo for an excellent job well done.