Old Rower Turned Fighter Now Back to Rower

capnbenzo · Post by **capnbenzo** » January 31st, 2008, 8:55 am

Hi All,

I just wanted to post to introduce myself to the forum. I'm a former HS and collegiate rower who got into BJJ/MMA and Crossfit. After 2 knee surgeries I've decided I need to quit fighting and focus on fitness through Crossfit and erging.

I'm training for an erg race on 2/9 and I really excited. I've been blowing it out this week before my taper for the event and it feels good to get some TR work done and teach my heart what some erg-pain feels like.

Anyone else going to the Capital Carolina erg sprints on 2/9?

Happy Erging,

Capnbenzo

johnlvs2run · Post by **johnlvs2run** » January 31st, 2008, 12:33 pm

Have you noticed any benefits of the crossfit and mma training, for your rowing?

capnbenzo · Post by **capnbenzo** » January 31st, 2008, 2:16 pm

Absolutely! With the BJJ and MMA, my idea of mental toughness and what is 'fatigue' changed drastically. With these combat sports it is much more difficult to slack during a combat situation since that can mean real bodily harm. During competitions I would find myself completely unaware of how tired I was during the matches. I would only realize it afterwards. I was too focused on not getting hurt. Thus, I realized I could cause myself way more pain endurance-wise than I previously thought.

Going back to rowing I had a different view on what 'tired' really was and was able to push myself more. After weathering a long fight other things seem less scary!

Crossfit has given me a new idea of what fitness really is. I was a good rower, but Crossfit made me realize I was a poor all around athlete. It also made me realize the importance of variety and intensity in my workouts. They're what got me back on the erg... they're only interested in results and they (like us) have found that few things produce a better workout or can raise your HR like a C2 rower.

It's funny because I work out at a 'globo-gym.' They have 3 model C ergs which are poorly kept up and rarely used. There's no place to do pullups, deadlifts, box jumps, etc... Only bodybuilding-type Nautilus equipment. The C2 rowers, IMHO, are BY FAR the best mechanisms to develop fitness in the whole gym, yet no one uses them. Every night I watch trainers (90% of whom are overweight) walk their clients right by the C2s and over to a curl machine, or to a calf-raise machine. I'm flabbergasted. These 'pros' likely have no idea that 20 mins on the rower could change most of their clients' lives. My jaded personal theory is that when it comes to fitness most people will do anything to lose weight, except work hard and eat right...

Best,

capnbenzo

Rowan11088 · Post by **Rowan11088** » January 31st, 2008, 10:13 pm

Hey Capn, welcome

It's interesting to see someone who's taken that path, as I'm about to go off in the same direction...graduating in June and planning on transitioning to bjj/mma. The only difference for me probably is that I'm not a very good rower (not at HW anyway), but I feel like I'm pretty generally fit. Any advice for someone looking to get into the fighting scene?

capnbenzo · Post by **capnbenzo** » January 31st, 2008, 11:18 pm

Rowan11088 wrote:Hey Capn, welcome It's interesting to see someone who's taken that path, as I'm about to go off in the same direction...graduating in June and planning on transitioning to bjj/mma. The only difference for me probably is that I'm not a very good rower (not at HW anyway), but I feel like I'm pretty generally fit. Any advice for someone looking to get into the fighting scene?

Rowing will definitely give you a good base of fitness from which to begin. I really found that the only thing that can prepare you for BJJ/MMA is BJJ and MMA. Things like crossfit which incorporate intense work with random rest are a good start. Strong legs are essential because if they fatigue easily, it is so crippling. You can't do anything without strong legs. Even a good punch starts from your feet.

Good luck! Where are you gonna train?

Rowan11088 · Post by **Rowan11088** » February 1st, 2008, 3:26 pm

I'm not sure yet about where...I've looked into the Militech camp in Iowa, but I'm not sure how I'd support myself there. There's a Bas Rutten-certified training place near my hometown though, so I might start there during the summer, and then once I figure out employment type stuff, I'll have to go by where I'm located. I do have 10 years of karate under my belt though, so I definitely want to focus on the BJJ side first to even myself out.