Happy Holidays!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday, Christmas with my family was out of this world. Last weeks workouts have been getting better, starting to feel better, more balanced now that I can do pull ups and modified push ups. Have a great New Year!

First work out back

Today was the first work out after the last(hopefully) of the wrist surgeries and man am I weak. I did 5 ladders of 20 lb KB presses of 3 rungs. Can't clean them yet on the left side so just pressing. Did the same with planks ,side planks,bridges and get ups. I forgot how much I like doing getups and how good it feels to do them. I finished up with 4 sets of two handed swings 30 seconds work 30 seconds rest, again i forgot how good swings make you feel. Not much overall work but wanted to go easy starting back at it.

Wrist Surgery #2

Got through surgery number two without much pain or getting sick from the anesthesia which was a blessing. Cant wait to start training again. Here is a new student Alexander Solonin with a video of his forehand, he has some work to do on it but is pretty good in the strike zone.

Nick Baez Backhand

Nick Baez's backhand was quite a mess when we first got to it but he put in as the song says "A hard days night" and now his backhand is a reliable weapon for him. On a personal note wrist surgery number two is set for Tuesday the 9th. I haven't been training at all, I became so imbalanced my back started bothering me. Cant wait to get back to it.

McMorrow's Serve

Short clip of Kyle's flat first serve. All the kids are ramping up for the national open, Denis Lin, Frank Carleton and JT Sundling are in Mexico playing an ITF tournament and then Kyle will join the boys for Eddie Herr and Orange Bowl in Florida later this month. Training for me has slowed to a crawl, only ten more days until wrist surgery #2 and then I should be able to get back to doing some balanced training. Right now my back is botched from not doing enough on my left side, very frustrating.

Wednesday Fitness

Just wanted to post a short video of some of the things we do at our wednesday at 4 o'clock footwork and conditioning class. Thank you to all the guys and girls who show up week after week, rain or shine, hot or cold, you all make it fun!

Good week of Practice

We had a really good weeks worth of work with the boys this week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we had Kyle Mcmorrow (U of Washington) Jt Sundling (USC) Dennis Lin (Stanford) and Frank Carlton (unsigned) out doing some great drilling. They were able to push each other to practice at a pretty high level of intensity, which for my money is where it is all at, the higher the intensity the better. It is really interesting to see how each of the players have differing game styles and strengths Kyle's got a big forehand, Dennis' backhand is just awesome, Jt's all around game and lefty serve really cause some problems and Frank's consistency and work ethic are great. It is also interesting to see how much better they all could be with some work on their weakness'. Kyle's backhand is much improved but he could be a much stronger volleyer, Dennis could also use a lot of work at the net along with some better footwork on his forehand, Jt has great talent but could use some discipline and concentration work and Frank needs to ramp it up quite a bit on the serve. All in all not bad for four guys all in the top 10 in the US. I think college ball will really help make these guys into some really, really good players. As for my training, took last week off after the little back problem which proved to be a very tight piraformis, from getting to one sided on the one arm swings. Need to probably go lighter until the left arm is able to do some work as not to unbalance my body so much.

Ouch bad back

Well after finally making some progress with pistols and one arm push ups, my back finally didn't like all the right sided workouts and the imbalance popped up in my back. So I've been on the dl for the week no workouts now with either side. My frustration with my wrist and now back has not made my diet any good which is a bad combo for body comp, but I guess I will look toward the long term and start over again with the etk rop when I all healed up.

My Friend

About seven years ago I hired a guy for the Head Tennis Pro position at the club where I am the tennis director. I didn't know it then but this guy would have a tremendous effect on my life. Over the course of time we became great friends and peers in the tennis world, learning much from each other about life and other pursuits. I saw him get married, buy a home and thought we would end up doing something in tennis or business together. Seven months ago we had a talk in the office and Jay told me of his plans to try his hand at the Ventura County Sheriffs Academy. I was shocked that he was going down that career path with all his other talents I didn't see this one coming. He got through the academy, which was one of the toughest things he has ever done, and yesterday on Halloween , his favorite day, he graduated! It was a little bittersweet knowing our paths may not cross much any more, and that I will miss my friend, but I am so proud to see what he has become and wish him all the good fortune in the world. Godspeed to you Jay Havelka.

Motivation Gone!

Since my injury my motivation has slowly been sliding away. I have been able to up to this point to get workouts in at least three days a week but find it harder and harder, with being so limited as what i can and cannot do. I have started do some ladders of pistols along with my etk rop but find them difficult, thus not very easy to get excited about, but shall persevere as best as possible. On a good note one of my best friends and former tennis pro Jay Havelka is graduating from the Ventura County Sheriffs Academy on Friday i am really happy for him and his wife Gina. He is one of the best!

Slow week

Had a slow week after surgery worked out on Monday doing a modified light day etk. Not really to into it arm hurts and i don't want to go to hard to get to one sided, but want to have some strength left. I have post op appt tomorrow to get stitches out and see how things are healing. I will give an update tomorrow.

Surgery kicks my butt!!

Wrist surgery on Tuesday brought me to my knees. I had shoulder arthroscopy 20 years ago and the anesthesia made me really sick, I told the doctors this time and they said things are much better now I shouldn't feel it to much. Ha Ha I spent the last two days curled up on my couch trying not to puke. The surgery didn't go quite as expected, a little more damage than anticipated. Lots of screws and pins. I feel much better today, though now my hand is starting to hurt a whole lot more. Looking forward to getting back to normal, its amazing what you take for granted, like being able to type with two hands!

Last two workouts

Finished the last two workouts before wrist surgery tomorrow. Did 5 sets of 5 clean and presses, assisted pullups, one arm push ups, 95lb deadlift(all the weight my wrist can handle) bridges and planks finish it off, after 4 sets of 30 second 35lb swings, my last set of push ups I managed to do 5 reps of the one arm one legged variety. Pretty good for me. Today just a lighter version of yesterdays workout just 3 reps of the same things and 4 30 sec intervals of right arm snatches. Surgery has me a bit nervous but im anxious to get back on the road to healing.

Busy Week

Whew! What a busy week. All the preop appointments had me running around all week and work was busy with a big ITF tournament in Tulsa coming up, the kids needed to get some good work in before leaving. Started working with Dennis Lin these last couple of weeks, very good player, top 5 last year in the 16s. Kyle McMorrow top 5 last year in the 16s as well has committed to University of Washington, JT Sundling another one of our players also in the top 5 in the 16s just committed to USC and Dennis Lin is going on his recruiting trip to Stanford this month. Great group of kids, lucky to have them all in our stable. Training this week has been pretty good I have gone back to a modified version of my ETK program, with clean and presses, one arm push ups, one arm assisted pull ups, and some deadlifts, along with the usual planks and bridges. Looking forward to spending a nice weekend with my wife and kids.

Deflated!

I knew it was coming but it seemed pretty final when the surgeon explained the procedure for my wrist. Three screws, artificial ligaments, 6 weeks in a halo cast then 6-8 weeks of rehab man I am bummed. The good news is I can do 3 one arm and one leg push ups with my right arm, still doing some c&p with the kettlebells need to go on dd forum get some advice on creating an imbalance only doing one side of the upper body.

Great Birthday!

I had a great birthday today, my 47th. First I got to take my 2 year old son Harris and my 4 year old daughter Magdelena to the gym where they got to go to the kids club which they love. I managed to get a little work in with sets of bridges, planks and t-stabilizers. I have been reading Pavels Naked Warrior and tried doing a few one arm one leg push ups I could do a few but they are tough. I also did some asissted one arm pullups 3 sets of 5, and finished with 5 sets of 5 35lb kettlebell clean and presses. My daughter went with me to get the arthrogram and MRI on my left wrist she was such a big girl and didnt cry when i had to get the shots and all the rest of the stuff. Turns out just what was expected torn ligaments in the scapholunate, surgery needed to repair,cant wait. My wife Terrymarie got me a nice backpack for my laptop and videocam so I can take it all together on the court for lessons. We all had a nice dinner and we had a cake that Maggie helped make with mom, it was a blessed day I am a lucky man.

Family returns!!!

My wife and kids returned late thursday night from a 6 week trip visiting grandpa in NY. It is great to have them home. My wrist is still botched and i will have an arthrogram and mri on monday the 29th which just also happens to be my 47th birthday, so training has been very slow not doing a whole lot and trying not to get frustrated. It hurts to type as well so keeping up with the blog has been slow as well, but as someone said on the DD forum look at the big picture and be patient. Bought two new books by Pavel Power to the People and Naked Warrior both really good so far, Pavel sure knows his stuff.

What a week

Well tuesday we did 21-15-9 of 95lb thrusters, pullups, box jumps 24inch, 40lb two anded swings followed by 100 yd sprints and walk back for active recovery. Wednesday was my etk medium day felt tired toughed through it though. Thursday played in our men's b-ball league and we actual won the game, hurt my wrist near half time going for a ball and decided i better go to the doc first thing fri morning, after 8 hours of primary doctors, insurance, specialists, and x-rays the verdict is mri on monday and reconstructive surgery later in the week. not sure what to do for training now.

Mondays ETK

Monday is usually my light etk work out. 5 ladders of three rungs 40lb clean and presses and pullups along with 5 sets of tgu's planks,bridges and t-stabilizers rolled the dice came up double 6's 12 minutes of snatches oh well it was my light day so it wasnt bad, actually didnt feel like i did enough work but i guess i'll take it 'cause there are alot of days it feels like to much. sold my van got to go looking for a new car yeah.

Sunday's work out

Another fun sunday in the park. Michelle a local HS volleyball star who will be playing at UCLA next year joined me for a modified "fight gone bad" 1.5 mile run followed by 5 rounds of 1 minute each of four exercises- wall ball toss 10lb 10ft high, two handed swings 35lb, sumo high pulls 35lb, 24 inch box jumps then a 100yd sprint, walk back for active recovery, finish it all off with another 1.5 mile run. all in all a fun day nice weather.

BYU Wins

My alma mater won against UCLA today 59-0 hard to believe the cougars could dominate the bruins like that. Did my usual ETK work out for the day 5 ladders x 5 reps clean and presses with a 40lb 5x5 pullups 5x5 tgu planks, bridges and t-stabilizers, rolled the dice came up with a 5 (seeing a pattern here) did 5 minutes of two handed swings with 30 sec rest between each minute.

Thursdays Workout

Did a modified "Linda" descending reps 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 of four exercises 24inch box jumps,burpees,40lb kettlebell swings and 40lb kettlebell clean and presses, after each set of reps 1 one hundred yd sprint, walk back to start for recovery and start next set. 5 sets of planks, bridges and t-stabilizers followed by 5 sets of 4 reps of body weight pull ups. Brought a young body builder friend along who has been wanting to do some crossfit type workouts, it almost killed him. Big difference in looking fit and being fit I guess.

First Posting

Very excited to have this blog up and running and look forward to comments and future posts. Congrats to Kyle McMorrow for qualifying for the USTA Pro Circuit Futures event in Claremont, Ca.