(Little) Girls and Kettlebells!

Hey! It's never too early to start swinging! Kettlebells, that is!

Emily and Madison show you how it's done! At 11 and 10 years old, respectively, they're already on the right path!

Take a look:



Kettlebells offer unique training variables. Good swings create effective glute activation and better knee stability for girls and women.

What does this mean for you (and your daughter/sister/teammate?)

The opportunity to VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE non-contact knee injuries like the ACL tear and even sprains and strains!

Contact us here to find out more about how we help girls play stronger, faster and longer without knee pain and injuries. I want to be faster, stronger and injury-free!

How about you? Are YOU swinging in the Athlete Underground?

Twinkies, the Ultimate Fitness Food ?!?

Would YOU like to lose 25 pounds or more in just 2 short months?

Would you like to lose that weight while eating nothing but Twinkies, Ho-Ho’s, Devil Dogs, Little Debbie snacks and other convenience store goodies

Well…YOU CAN! Or so it would seem.

That was the experience of one Associate Professor of Nutrition at the Kansas State University. In so doing, he helped to prove a point I’ve been making for years. A calorie is a calorie.

He also helped reinforce a basic and accepted law of physics proven by Einstein, Newton and many smarter people before me. That law is simply this: energy taken in by a body versus the energy expelled by a body will result in either mass lost or gained.

Professor Mark Haub spent 2 months last summer eating nothing but sugary, crème filled snacks like Devil Dogs and Twinkies and lost 27 pounds in 2 months! Amazing, right? Wrong!

You see, the real reason Dr. Haub dropped the 27 pounds is that he did the one thing that will always result in a loss of mass (body weight) for any body. He reduced the amount of energy he took in!

Dr. Haub reduced his caloric intake from 2,600 kcal per day to 1,800 kcal per day during the specified period. Since a pound is made up of 3,500 calories, we can do some simple math and deduce the largest portion of his reduction. Almost 14 of the pounds he lost are attributable to the 800 kcal per day caloric deficit he created.

The remaining 13 came from the increase in activity he undertook during the study period. There; simple math and a simple fact: calories (energy) in vs. calories (energy) out equals mass (weight) gained or lost.

I’m NOT endorsing the Twinkie diet, or any other ridiculous “diet” plan out there. What I am saying is what I’ve said for over 12 years. If you consume fewer calories than you burn each day, you will reduce your weight. Period.

When it comes to the essential definition of a calorie, one calorie of Twinkies is equal to one calorie of steak is equal to one calorie of salad is equal to one calorie of Haagen Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond Ice Cream.

This doesn’t mean you should ignore the quality of the calories you put in your body. It simply means that energy (calories) and mass (body weight) are related. Duh!

What we do know about calorie quality is this: whole foods have a far more thermic effect on the body. Additionally, our bodies tend to burn the calories from whole foods better and more readily than those from processed foods.

Scientists at Pomona College in California recently published a study in Food and Nutrition Research which showed that processed foods reduced the rate of diet-induced thermogenesis – calories burned while eating and in digestion - by almost 50% when compared to meals made of whole foods.

When you consider that up to 10% of your total caloric expenditure for a given day may be the result of diet-induced thermogenesis, a 50% boost starts to sound pretty good! For a 2,000 calorie a day diet, that’s an additional 100 calories burned just because you choose whole foods. That adds up to one pound lost every 35 days, provided your output (exercise and activities of daily living) are equal to your intake (food.)

So in theory you could eat a reduced calorie diet consisting of Twinkies or Snickers bars. But why would you?

Eat a varied, fresh, whole food diet and watch your “burn rate” go up. Reduce caloric intake and watch the weight come off.

Do both in conjunction with smart exercise (try this Power Fitness Camp) and watch the body fat fry off while you chisel the muscle! Soon, you’ll reveal the great physique hiding under that layer of “insulation”(you know, F-A-T!)

If you’re looking for an organic, whole food snack that’s delicious AND convenient, you have to try Prograde Cravers! Read about them here Prograde Cravers! and find out how they can satisfy your craving and help you maintain the “burn” of thermogenesis!

Cloud Circuits...gotta love 'em

Saturday April 9th.

A beautiful spring day.

Great day to "blow it off" and relax, right?

WRONG!

It was a great day to be in the Athlete Underground!

"Cloud Circuits!" 3 exercises per cloud, 5 clouds. 2 minutes to work, NON-STOP, with 1 minute rest.

Now we're talking Athletic Circuit Training!

Here's a quick look:



Questions? Contact us right here:

Still struggling with what supplements you should be using? The nutritional products you need are right here!

One "tiny" factor in YOUR energy levels

Many things affect our energy levels.

Some of us just don't get enough sleep. Others have our sleep habits disrupted by repeated schedule change and interruptions. People working swing or night shifts and parents with newborns and infants know just what I mean.

Stress is a big energy drain. Manage your stress (sleep, diet and exercise all help...I know, easier said than done!)

Others are affected by pharmaceuticals, either prescribed or recreational. Everything from alcohol to the harder stuff can take a toll on energy levels.

Diet and exercise, of course, also impact our energy levels. But aside from the obvious things like calorie intake, sugar and fat intake and lack of (or too much) exercise, there's a "tiny" factor that greatly impacts your energy levels and how your body produces energy.

Mitochondria are microscopic structures in your cells. In muscle cells, they produce ATP, or adenosine tri-phosphate, which your muscles use to create energy for movement. Here's a closer look:

An "inside" look at your mitochondria

Many things can affect mitochondrial ATP production as well as the number of mitochondria in your cells.

Diet and exercise are two big factors. Regular exercise can increase the number of mitochondria in your cells, providing the potential for more energy production.

Poor diet and lack of certain critical nutrients, however, can hurt your mitochondria and your energy production.

Here's a great article that talks about some specific nutritional action YOU can take to nurture your mitochondria and crank up your energy production: Secret Microscopic Help in Your Weight Loss Battle!

The writer describes some specific things to do and eat to make these little engines chug along better!

If you want help with the exercise side of the equation (and the nutrition side) contact us!

Getting Enough Fruits and Veggies? This Can Help!

It's recommended that we eat 6-10 fruits and vegetables a day. That's what's been suggested to maximize vitamin, mineral and antioxidant intake to maintain good health, healthy weight and avoid the conditions and diseases associated with poor diet and obesity. Here in the States it is reported the actual average of fruits and veggies eaten each day is just 2.

Yup, just 2.

Now, I don't know where you stand on this, but overall, it really is a sad state of nutritional affairs. We live in a world where we're constantly under time, work, family and other stresses. We often reach for the foods that are most convenient, but not always the ones that are most nutritious.

Unfortunately, potato chips may be made from potatoes (maybe) but they don't count as vegetables. And "drinking" your veggies in the form of some mutated fruit juice is not going to get it done either.

Coffee comes from a plant and beer is made from grains (barley malt, wheat) and "veggies" (hops) but these don't fill the bill, either. It would be nice if they did, but no dice.

But do not despair! It's not that tough to get more fruits and veggies in each day.

Here are some super simple tips to get you started:

1) Buy 'em already chopped

Look, I can be lazy, too;-) There's nothing wrong with not wanting to go through the hassle of having to chop up fruits and veggies. If you want to buy them pre-chopped go ahead. It's much better for you than not eating them. Alternate: Spend an hour a week chopping vegetables and fruits into serving sizes. Then you'll be able to:

2) Carry 'em with you

Load up a plastic baggie with your pre-chopped veggies and bring them to work. Seriously, see how easy this can be! Especially if you've used my suggestion from #1! Bringing the "right number of bags and making sure to eat them all is a great way to ensure maximum fruit and veggie intake, even in a stressful, busy day!

3) Add real fruit to your yogurt

Have some yogurt for breakfast and add some fresh blueberries, raspberries or blackberries. It's that simple! Cherries, bananas, red grapes, chopped plums, chopped nectarines, chopped peaches and chopped pears also work. Whatever fruits you like, use 'em in your yogurt!

You can even crank up the fiber content by adding a few tablespoons of high fiber cereal!

Bonus tip: A great way to provide your body with the nutritional foundation you need each day is a Whole Foods based multi-vitamin. Prograde Nutrition VGF 25+ is one example. It's made from 25 veggies, greens and fruits. There are other great whole-food based multi's on the market and if you know of one, go for it. This one is a great one, however, providing maximum bang for the buck.

Here's another great article on how to be sure you're getting enough fruits and vegetables each day: Getting Enough Fruits and Veggies?

Be sure to use these tips and let me know how they help you out. Or send me some of your own!

Chocolatey Goodness...and GOOD FOR YOU!!

Hey...a quick post today...

Here's a little chocolate treat that will make you smile. Best of all? It will help you get your sweet on without filling out your waistline!

Enjoy!

Delightful Dark Chocolate Chunk Muffins

Preheat your oven to 350, then mix:
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 c. shredded zucchini (peeled before shredding)
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 tbsp. agave syrup

Whisk well then add:
• 1/2 c. Quinoa (uncooked, dry; preferably red)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 c. gluten free pancake mix
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 scoops Prograde Chocolate Protein powder

1. 
Blend more till smooth. If desired, add 1/2-3/4 c. dark chocolate chips or chunks.
   Note: Your batter will be very wet.
2. Pour the batter into muffin tins, bake 'till they spring when you touch them, about 15-20 minutes.
3. Let them rest on a counter for 10-15 minutes to cool. The quinoa becomes nutty and delicious within the muffins.

These are best served cooled.

Makes 1 Dozen.

Nutrition Facts: (per 1 muffin)

Calories: 86
Protein: 4 gms
Carbohydrates: 13 gms
Fat: 2 gms

"Sound Bite" Training is hurting our youth athletes

"Put 4 inches on your vertical in just 4 weeks!"

"Be the fastest player on the field in just 6 weeks!"

These are the kind of "sound bite" claims being made by traіners who want to traіn your kids.

Right now, as you read this, these frauds are trying to dupe you!

If you're not sick of them and the culture they foster, I am.

6 week traіning programs aren't helping our athletes improve. They just don't work.

Yet that's pretty much all you see out there. Inflammatory, sensationalized flyers, brochures, ads and websites telling you how fast, strong and powerful your kids will get in 6 weeks with "Super traіner!"

It's a bunch of crap.

And it's a major cause of іnjury and over-traіning in youth sports.

Whenever I hear or read one of these traіners' claims about the miracles that will happen to your kid in his or her 6 week program, I ask the same question.

Then what?

Short term traіning programs are like promises in a political campaign. They sound great. They appeal to our desire for improvement and success.

When first presented, they make all the sense in the world. They generate excitement.

They're convincing, display clarity and simplicity, and like political campaign promises...when the chips are down and it's time to deliver, nobody can remember them.

Not that it matters; there's no chance they'll create lasting change or success. Like the political sound bite, the short term traіning program is intended to get your vote!

With the traіning program, you vote with your time, your hopes, your enthusiasm...and your money. Not to mention your kids' health!

What happens when the 6 week miracle traіning program is over?

Do you really think those improvements will stick?

Will your kids be more іnjury resistant?

Will they have learned proper traіning techniques, ones that will help them progress consistently, play better in the long term and enjoy their sport(s) more?

Or will they simply learn to focus on a "product" instead of a "process?"

You see, coaches and traіners too often use "product" based coaching, rather than focusing on creating successful "processes."

In other words, they harp on things like the faster 40 yd. dash and the bigger vertical leap without teaching their players proper mechanics and strength-building techniques.

Think about it. If you devote traіning time developing great takeoff and landing mechanics for jumping, and combine that with functional strength development, doesn't it seem to follow that the athlete's "vertical" would inevitably increase? Of course it does!

Just like the combination of teaching great sprint technique, dynamic flexibility and functional strength will dramatically increase speed in all directions!

The trouble is, this kind of long-lasting, highly available athletic skill-set development can't be accomplished in a "6 weeks to 6 inches, etc." miracle program.

It comes from consistent, longer term traіning systems and good habits on the part of athletes and kids.

This is especially important for younger athletes and children. Between ages 8 and 13, it's a great time forus to help them develop proper functional movement patterns.

For many kids, this means getting them up and moving, period. Programs focusing on functional movement, that deliver fun and variety, will always outperform set and rep based programs for this age group.

Developing great movement patterns at an early age allows us to reinforce them, load them and make our kids stronger, faster, more agile, healthier and more resistant to іnjury!

The best part of this process is that the improved performance athletes get from a consistent, intelligent, "process" based traіning program will stick with them and help them in all their athletic endeavors.

Long after the "6 week miracle traіning program" and it's temporary nonsense has disappeared, like a tax cut promise in a political campaign, gains made through the development of good habits and consistent effort (in other words, a quality "process") will still be serving the athlete well.

More importantly, because of the good habits developed, the athlete will continue to get stronger, faster, more agile and more іnjury resistant.

The "6 week miracle" athlete will be steadily losing the"edge" they gained, and slipping into the "іnjury zone."

Here's a few well known examples of athletes who've benefited from a long-term athletic development program:

• Michael Phelps won 8 golds at the Beijing Olympics. (Embarassing photos and acts aside)
• The US Womens Soccer Team beat Brazil for Gold.
• The US Men and Women took home Volleyball Gold.
• The US swept the 400m.

It wasn't the "6 week miracle traіning program" that got them there.

Can you guess how they got their medals?

Think it might have been through a quality traіning "process?"

Can you guess what kind of programs we use at All-Star Sports Academy?

I'll give you a hint: 6 weeks is just about a good start.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to let me know!

Phil

Congressional knuckleheads introduce bill to "solve" a problem they helped create

So according to the news, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) have introduced a bill to re-establish Physical Education in schools. Read about it here: http://www.mdnews.com/news/2011_03/rep-kind-senator-harkin-reintrod...

These 2 geniuses think that by "mandating" that "all school districts and states to report on students’ physical activity, including the amount of time spent in required physical education in relation to the recommended national standard," somehow that will solve the childhood obesity epidemic.

Silly congressmonkeys, passing bills isn't really "working" on the problem!

Hilarious. Seriously, these 2 guys are supported by educational reformers who have consistently worked to install useless "educational reforms" so our kids have to study everything from "cultural awareness" to "anti-bullying sensitivity" (actual school course/program titles.)

Teachers and administrators have challenging jobs that get tougher every time one of these ridiculous "Advancements" gets shoved down their throats.

The important point here: Congress has been a large part of the problem in the development of childhood obesity and the move towards fatter, unhealthier kids (and adults) in this country.

Senator Harkin has taken well over $5.5 million dollars in reported campaign contributions from organizations and individuals related to the agriculture, pharmaceutical, hospital and "food manufacturing" industries (i.e., companies who make all the fat and sugar laden "food" that makes our kids fat. Harkin has supported corn growers in congress, as well as companies making high-fructose corn syrup, a major factor in the fattening of America's kids!Harkin now blames our educational system for the rise in childhood obesity. Um, yeah...

Mr. Kind is no better. Congressman Kind took well over $1 million from agribusiness and health/hospital related organizations and individuals. Wisconsin is well known for it's dairy products. So while he protects his constituency by representing their interests in congress, he now turns around and blames a lack of P.E. in schools for the epidemic of childhood obesity in America! Okey dokey, Ronnie...

Look, corn is fine. Cheese and dairy have their place in normal nutritional plans.

On the other hand, Congress has no place telling parents and kids how and when they should exercise and then mandating others to pay for it.

Here's a thought: let's encourage these congressmonkeys to stop their constant meddling in education, fitness and nutrition.

Let's try this:

1. Let's return to a scholastic concentration on the basics - math, english, sciences, literature, history...and phys ed.
2. Let's focus on the safety and security of our towns and neighborhoods so kids can get out and play.
3. Let's work together to create and support true "rec" sports programs.
4. Let's encourage kids to turn off the electronics (as I write on my laptop...irony!) and go engage in physical play.

Let them play tag. Let them play kickball. Heck, let them play dodgeball! We do, and they love it!

All-Star Sports Academy is here to support a return to physical play. Ask us how we can help YOUR kids return to a "physical culture" and feel, look and DO better!

We've been helping parents motivate their children to love exercise and fitness since March 2008 and we have no intention of letting up now!

Call us today and come on over and play!

Phil Hueston, NASM-PES, IYCA-YFS
All-Star Sports Academy

http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com/

"Welcome to the Athlete Underground!"

Is Cheerleading the Most Hazardous of All Sports?

While reading up on the whole "Is cheerleading a sport?" debate, I came across a few interesting factoids that seem to be overlooked. (Btw, cheer IS a sport - you train to create precise "plays" and you get scored on it...'nuff said)

According to this article http://www.nationalcheersafety.com/cheerisasport.pdf, "71% of catastrophically injured female college athletes are cheerleaders" - Mueller F. O., Cantu R. C. Twenty-Sixth Annual Report for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research. Fall 1982–Spring 2008. Chapel Hill, NC: National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research; 2008.

Ankle, knee, shoulder and back injuries make up approximately 50% of all injuries to cheerleaders. (Several sources, including the American Association of Pediatrics and the National CheerSafety Foundation.

Unfortunately, head and neck trauma and spinal injuries from falls make up a significant portion of the remaining 50%.

The good news here? The ankle, knee, shoulder and back injuries that occur most frequently in cheer are eminently preventable with the proper kinds of strength, power, flexibility and core training!

When you employ the concepts and techniques of integrated sports fitness to the cheerleader's body and sports performance, joint stabilization and overall strength is greatly enhanced and cheer skills get sharper. The net result is the virtual elimination of non-contact joint injuries!

That's great news for cheerleaders AND those who love and support them!

Want to know more about how to cheer better and with fewer injuries? Contact me or give All-Star Sports Academy a call at 732-597-3725 and we'll be happy to help.Cheer on - injury free!

Phil Hueston, NASM-PES, IYCA-YFS
All-Star Sports Academy

http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com

"Welcome to the Athlete Underground!"

Can you do this? KB SB Crunch Press

Here's a great core strength and stabilization exercise.

Lumbar spine stability during upper extremtiy extension and pushing movements is critical to both power production and injury prevention.

The ability to recruit the deep abdominal stabilizers during functional movement also aids in throwing movements and is critical to speed, agility and quickness for athletes.

If you're a football player or other iron athlete, we'll show you how this can help you get a bigger bench!

See you in the Athlete Underground!

http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com

Can YOU do THIS?

The SAQ Ladder Crossover Shuffle helps athletes develop the ability to change direction quickly, particularly in situations requiring the athlete to step across his/her body.

It also assists in the development of good ankle mobility, knee stability and the stability of the lumbar spine during counter-rot......ational athletic movements.

Ready to be a better athlete? Tired of looking up the depth chart and wondering when you'll "get your shot?" Ready to get noticed by coaches, recruiters and scouts?

Get into the Athlete Underground and raise your game!

http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com

SL Squat and Roll

Can YOU do THIS?

Deceleration skills and the ability to effectively break falls is essential to preventing injuries for athletes.

Here's a great core exercise that emphasizes glute strength/stability and both deceleration skills and ability to break your fall.

If you can't do this at least this well, we'll help!

http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com

Goings-on April 26, 2010

More fun and work(??) at All-Star Sports Academy!

Want to be a better athlete? Get some here!

http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com

Become a "fan" on Facebook: http://budurl.com/allstarfacebook

Quick look April 22-23

Here's a quick look at the goings-on here from yesterday and today!

Get some!

http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com

DODGEBALL!! Again!

For all of you who love to play Dodgeball with us and have been asking "when is the next tournament?" here's your answer!!

DODGEBALL!! Saturday, May 8, 2010 at All-Star Sports Academy in Toms River!

Get your 'ballers together, get the sweet uniforms ready and get registered NOW!

At 6:30 PM the madness begins!!

This is 6 v 6 Dodgeball, with a maximum of 8 players per team!

Only $75 per TEAM!

Kids, adults, even granny can play...

Check it out on Facebook: http://budurl.com/hurricanedodgeball

Contact us and we'll email the registration form to you!

We'll see YOU at the Athlete Underground for Dodgeball!

A look at April 21 at All-Star

A quick look at some of todays workouts!

Enjoy!

Become a "fan" http://budurl.com/allstarfacebook

Dave Mitchell Memorial Dodgeball Tournament

Here's a little video from Sunday's Dave Mitchell Dodgeball Tournament this past Sunday, April 18.

Thanks to everyone who participated we raised over $1,800!!

See if there's someone you know in this little bit of video wonderfulness!

Next Dodgeball Tournament: Saturday evening, May 8!! Watch for details!!

Join us on facebook: http://budurl.com/allstarfacebook

Visit the website at http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com

Frankie Edgar – The Champ is Here

CONGRATULATIONS TO FRANK EDGAR!! All-Star Sports Academy has a champion in the UFC!!

By Thomas Gerbasi

Frankie Edgar had been here before - on the wrestling mats for Toms River High School East and Clarion University, and now, thousands of miles away in Abu Dhabi.

He had just given everything he had in 25 minutes against the best lightweight fighter ever, BJ Penn, and now he just had to wait for Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer to render a decision that would determine whether he would have to settle for second as he did in high school and college, or if he would finally have the spotlight all to himself at the top.

50-45 was the first score, one met with oohs and aahs from Yas Island to Hilo and the Jersey shore, mainly because in a fight as close as this one was, it was shocking that someone saw it as a shutout

“I talked to my friends back home, and they thought I was getting screwed when they heard that one,” laughed Edgar. “But when I heard it, I just tried staying positive, and that was the best thing I had done through this whole camp. I thought, ‘That’s gotta be me, I know I won a bunch of rounds.’”

Score number two - 48-47.

“In wrestling in (high school) States, my biggest goal was to win a State title, I took second,” recalled Edgar. “Winning a national title in high school, I took second; to become an All-American, I lost in triple overtime in the All-American round.”

Score number three 49-46.

“For the winner,” bellowed Buffer, “annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd NEW!!!!”

For Frankie Edgar, UFC lightweight champion of the world, everything went blank.

“I’ve been there so many times that this was just unbelievable – I didn’t know how to feel,” he said. “I had been there so many times and disappointed so many times.”

Not this time, and while Edgar’s win over Penn was rightfully seen as an upset considering ‘The Prodigy’s dominance over the division since 2008, it came as no surprise to Team Edgar, who approached the entire fight and the training camp leading up to it with a calm that made it look like Edgar had been in 10 championship fights before. Forget having a deer in the headlights look due to fighting a future Hall of Famer or being overwhelmed by the UFC 112 media crush. Edgar was unmoved by any of it, even getting in a pre-fight snooze before the biggest bout of his career.

“I just believed in my preparation,” he said. “Every fight I get more and more comfortable – the week leading up to it, the night before, the day of. I took the best nap ever the day of the fight. (Laughs) I slept two hours straight and I could have slept more. Usually your heart’s racing, thinking about the fight, but I was calm, and I knew I had done everything I could do to win the fight, so there was no reason to add extra stress to the whole thing. Obviously, I was still nervous and still afraid to lose, but I was really confident.”

That confidence showed in the fight, as Edgar utilized a stick and move strategy that kept Penn off balance all night. Penn was not blown out of the fight by any means, as he landed hard counters when the two traded on the inside, but it was Edgar who dictated the pace and location of the fight, even scoring two quick takedowns for good measure. What may have been the most impressive aspect of the fight for Edgar though, wasn’t his discipline and strategy, but his stamina, as he kept the pace of the fight high for 25 minutes. Not surprisingly, the humble champion deflects the praise and directs it to his team.

“My intensity’s always the same,” he said. “I try to go full blow every time I do a strength and conditioning workout as far as intensity, but I definitely added some more rounds on (in this camp). I worked with Brian Blue out of All Star Sports Academy in Toms River, and he’s a young kid, has got an open mind, and he comes to me with new stuff. I’ve been working out with him for over a year and a half now and I don’t think I’ve done the same workout twice. So it was that, and my boxing coach Mark Henry is just on me. He doesn’t just hold pads in front of you like a lot of guys do – he moves with you and works out with us. He makes you move constantly while doing pads, and I think that’s the trick. You’ve got to train the way you want to fight.”

And Edgar did everything he wanted to last Saturday.

“You can’t go into a fight with BJ Penn and say you’re gonna stop him because you’ll totally mess yourself up mentally,” he said. “So I went into that fight knowing that I’m gonna have to fight five hard rounds, stay active, and execute my gameplan. But I’m very critical of myself and I definitely saw some things that I need to sharpen up, and that just shows me that I’ve got room to grow, and I’m happy about that.”

Continually elevating his game has been Edgar’s MO throughout his UFC career. He came into the UFC in 2007 as a scrappy wrestler with a lot of heart. By the time his 2009 bout with Sean Sherk arrived, he had developed a refined standup game that opened plenty of eyes around the MMA world. And as far as he’s concerned, the victory over Sherk was the one that gave him the confidence to rely on his standup strategy-wise for the Penn fight.

“It’s just a natural progression of everything,” he said. “By no means did it just come overnight. Every fight, even before I was in the UFC, I was willing to throw my hands, so I think I had that naturally on my side. But I think it was the Sherk fight, where I knew that a takedown wasn’t gonna come easy, so I knew I had to rely on my boxing. And that really gave me the confidence that I could do it at anytime.”

And today, he’s a world champion, with all the perks and perils that come with it. On the plus side, he’s the talk of the fight game, and he’s got a nice shiny belt on his couch that he promises he won’t be wearing around the shore this summer. “The win means much more than the belt to me,” he smiles. “The belt will be for my kids when I’m old.” But on the other side, despite being the king overlooking his kingdom of contenders…

“Heavy lies the crown,” he interjects with a chuckle. “I just got a nice bull’s eye painted on my chest.”

“But I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”

You know he wouldn’t, but there is a growing list of contenders lining up for the next shot at the belt, one of main responsibilities of being the man at the top.

“Right now, I’m not even thinking about it to be honest with you,” he said when asked about what’s next and his thoughts on possible challengers like Gray Maynard and Kenny Florian. “I’m sure my coaches are, though. (Laughs) Both of those guys are well deserving – Florian just runs through people, and Maynard, he beat me last and it was my only loss. So obviously those two guys are deserving. Even BJ is deserving for a rematch – he’s a legend. So whoever the UFC decides, I’ll start training for.”

But for now, it’s time for Frankie Edgar to sit back, relax, and enjoy being number one.

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Shake (Easy Recipe)

If you like easy...

If you like chocolate...

If you like peanut butter...

If you like bananas...

Well, then this latest creation from my partners over at Prograde Nutrition is right up your alley.

Check it out here ==> http://allstarsportsacademy.getprograde.com/power-packed-breakfast-shake.html

See you in the Athlete Underground!
Become a fan on Facebook: http:budurl.com/allstarfacebook

Visit the website: http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com

TRHC Bantam B team Wins Districts!

For the record, the Toms River Hockey Club Bantam B team earned every inch of this championship banner!

They worked as hard or harder than any team we've ever had the pleasure of working with!

They grew as players, people and as a team and their 2010 AAHA District Championship is proof that doing the right things will make the right things happen!

Way to go, boys!

So when will YOU get to the Athlete Underground?

http://www.allstarsportsacademynj.com