Training…and Traveling for Warriors
For those who know me, or for those who have followed my tweets or Facebook for a long time, you know that I follow the work of Martin Rooney. Martin is an athletic performance specialist who has worked with some of the best in the business including those in the NFL, UFC, MLB, and NBA , along with many others, as well as Olympians. What really impressed me about Martin’s writing is that he does not just teach you how to develop as an athlete; he teaches you how to develop as a human being. Listening to him speak in an event, such as the Perform Better Summit, is inspiring. It’s always fascinating to see how one person can motivate an entire room.
Martin Rooney
Last year, I learned that Martin was presenting a Level 1 Certification for his system known as Training For Warriors. If you are unfamiliar with Training for Warriors let me explain. TFW was originally created for fighters. Given my background and that I’ve been in and around the martial arts world throughout the greater portion of my existence, you can see how that already appeals to me. It builds not only physical strength, but also mental toughness and includes evaluation along with specific warm-ups, speed training, strength training, endurance training, flexibility work and nutrition. From this, TFW grew to include everyone, not just fighters, but those who have a fighter’s spirit and the will to make themselves better in all aspects. TFW is not one of those programs in which the goal is to kill you every time you step foot into the gym. TFW’s goal is to make you better and help you grow. That’s where the difference lies. I jumped at the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business!
The Level 1 Certification was amazing! It was packed with tons of information and every day we all left energized and motivated! Through this process I met some of the most amazing and driven people from all over the world. Now with over 1000 instructors worldwide, TFW has grown to over 70 locations in 18 different US States and 10 countries. Clearly, I’m not the only one who feels that Martin’s methodology and philosophy are awesome!
The only girl at this cert and to my knowledge the only TFW Beauty Queen
In my blog “Live!†in July 2012, you started to see my thirst for adventure and travel. As you saw in my previous blog “Follow Your Moral Compassâ€, I was able to get a taste of that in the Dominican Republic when I competed and in my next blog you’ll get a taste of Mexico. While in Mexico I was privileged to spend time with my first non-blood, blood relative (I will explain what I mean by that in my next blog), who I first met at the TFW Certification. Over the past several months I’ve made the decision to travel the world and fill my passport. Why not, right?! I’ve always wanted to travel since I was little; I just never thought it was financially possible. Now I’ve decided, who needs money, I’ll figure it out. I’m a warrior. If I am faced with an obstacle I will go over it, around it or through it to get to my goal. Nothing is impossible.
“Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.â€- Carl von Clausewitz
That last paragraph may have seemed a bit disjointed. What does traveling have to do with TFW? Two things actually! First, TFW, as I stated, is not only about developing yourself as an athlete, but also as a person. That is what this trip will do. It is also through the “Go for Your Goals†attitude that TFW instills that I can embark on this adventure. Secondly, as I not so randomly mentioned, TFW has over 70 locations in 10 different countries. I sense adventure! Since I’m traveling around the world, why not meet motivated and likeminded people? Why not visit the affiliates, hear what they have to say, see what inspires them and share it with everyone?! I have a plan! I plan to be the self-proclaimed TFW roving reporter. Throughout my travels if there’s a TFW affiliate I will report on their challenges, successes and philosophies, not only to learn about them, but also to learn lessons about life. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me and where the path of the Warrior leads!
Getting to stand along side greatness… I’m sure Martin and John must feel really privileged! Ha!
 “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselvesâ€- Sir Edmund Hillary
boom!