scandinavian diary carl fisher - mixed martial arts training

Left the UK on an unnaturally warm day on the 1630 flight via Amsterdam; landed 2155H and met Richard at the airport; driven to the local Mc D’s and met Lelle, where I ended up staying for the first evening. Gilles from Finland was also over for the week and was also sleeping at Lelle’s place and he never shut up until about 3am. I had the honour sleeping on the couch and never slept a fucking wink!

Wednesday 16^TH April

Gilles got up early so I dossed on the mattress for a couple of hours, got up and went on the internet for an hour, before we went into Stockholm central to meet RB and he took us to the Dreamcentre, a locally run place for the down and outs of the city; very impressed! Came to the academy and had first session of the day with Lennert taking the class, partnered with Gilles, did OK, Gilles very good on the mats I must say. Rolled with some other guys and tapped them out so managed well for my first session as felt very tired and still not settled in.

Thursday 17^th April

Gilles and I slept in academy, which was OK; slept on the mats BIG mistake, hardly slept again! A/C units are all in basements so quite noisy, but soldiered thru it, gonna have to get used to the noise! Took the train to Sodertalje, RB’s home town and from there we drove to Gothenburg; I was going to go to this TJJ weekend seminar but ran out of coin so stayed with Richard; trained with Pilo and the guys is Goth and went for a nice meal with Pilo and talked shop. Had a walk into the centre to kill the time and stayed at Rolle’s house IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!

Good Friday 18^th April

Just my luck, Rolle’s doing his gaff up into apartments so we all worked thru the day and I began to start worrying about everything; WTF was I doing here etc. and was out of sorts all day with the guys…..felt scared and worried myself into a tizzy! Spent the evening in the house on my own to save money and watched a few movies and gradually chilled out and accepted the fact I’d be here all weekend.

Easter Saturday 19^th April

Must say that I am eating very well out here with the guys; plenty of fruit and muesli and bread and cheese; no ale and big fry ups here! Grafted again all day, on fibreglass duties which pissed me off a bit and ended up itching all night. Finished early as the lads were on at 6pm, so made myself comfy and watched another few vids and really started to enjoy the weekend. On my own no one to mither me, no hassles from people, etc. and phone never ringing added up to a nice peaceful evening in.

Easter Sunday 20^th April

Same as yesterday, more graft but hardly serious labouring like I’m used to! Again, finished early and added bonus when the lads left; managed to blag a video card and went to the local store and hired One Hour Photo — fucking A1 and watched a few others as well. Feasted on a chicken and 2 beers! Had a couple of nice walks and took some pix along the way, very nice houses and nice views — the stars at night were lovely.

Bank Holiday Monday 21^st April

Very hot! Fired off back to Gothenburg and had a last session with Pilo and Richard and learned some top moves, had a good roll and we went out for some food at a cool noodle bar; saw Rolle for last time and drove back home. Spoke to Richard at length about my plans and his for the BJJ scene and looking forward to the weeks ahead.

Tuesday 22^nd April

Woke up in academy and did 25 mins CV workout to tunes and some weights! Fucking ace! Had a sauna and then went to the library and made myself a member and took a book out to read; good training session with Lelle, just more or less went into rolling and had some hard matches against this strong guy, who kept making a beeline for me and wanting to rip my head off! Held my own and choked him out in one good roll, ha! Stayed over at Lelle’s and mailed my pix off to everyone and spoke to M.

Wednesday 23^rd April

E mailed again to the death and then took the tube back to the gym and popped in the library again for the Net! Chilled out in the academy and Kaoru came with the table so was well pleased and got the onthemat.com gear — got a nice beanie but just a tad small, and a vest and t shirt, not what I hope for but hopefully can sell it on. Good training again albeit stiff and a little sore; trained passing the guard with K-1 Holland winner Jorgen Kruth, whose shins are like fucking swords when they pass guard! Another hard session with that mad head who beat me as I was tired but bell rang just as I had a choke! Rolled with Jimmy, a good blue and lost it a bit, as I have no groin guard; he tapped me but I reversed him with my favourite move so not all bad; ended with weights and sauna. RB took Jacob and me into town for a kebab and rice that was lovely, been there before. One of the guys here is a personal trainer add has offered his skills to me if I get bored in the day so will take that offer up.

Thursday 24^th April

Cleaned academy and did another CV workout to Terence P! Top! Had a sauna and the went to the library to email and posted some letters, before doing a bit of shopping; chilling out before training and Jacob will be bringing in my new sim card, so well buzzing, in return for free massage. RB took my washing last night as well so nice on Richard! Lelle took the class, which was a very good one; we did open guard sweeps and did the omaplata into triangle before some light rolling with a few of the guys. Went on with one white belt who was built like a fucking brick shithouse and he gave me a hard time! Rolled with Andreas the Greek guy and looks like I’ve made a good mate; he’s a beginner and I managed to flog my Bad Boy jumper and onthemat.com t shirt for 500SEK so it’s a start, plus he wants a massage as well next week. Also, he has free time now and again, so he’ll come round te odd morning to roll with me, so all taking shape.

Friday 25^th April

Pretty bad night’s sleep again but not getting up til dinner time so fuck it! Cleaned the small room out when I got up and will sleep in there tonight; like a tomb but I think it’s the quietest part of the gym , plus we’re up and out at 5am tomorrow for the comp in Udevalla.

May 1^st

Went to the comp in Udevalla after a horrendous night’s sleep at Jacob’s; well it didn’t stop me grabbing my first win in Scandinavia, a kimura from the half guard; second fight I lost to figure four on the old foot after a leg lock battle and me pulling off a move I was shown in Brussels, from the open guard, spin into straight knee bar — buzzing!

Got up on the Sunday and chilled and grabbed a few beers and me a bloke from Radcliffe of all places, then back to the gym Monday night to prepare for the Exhale BJJ event; been a mixed week this week, had my good days and bad days — caught Sambo with a biceps lock that I only saw the other week, so dead chuffed; Sambo always makes it a point to spar with me which = him trying to rip my head off and every chance he can get.

Anyway Elvis Sinosic was in town tonight preparing for Fighter Extreme 3 which I believe is close by in Solna on Saturday night, so I’ll be able to get to that event and hopefully get it published in Japan’s magazine as well as FIGHT and make some coin on them, plus I’ll be able to get some good interviews with August and Elvis. Got a pre fight interview with him and some pix and he even took the time to point me out a few things I was doing wrong when I was sparring, which I thought was a nice touch - he’s a nice guy!

Managed a few massages this week, so that’s covered my food for a few days without having to break into my own funds, which eases things a little — well I hope I can make it to FE3 Saturday, as I ain’t going to Vasteras until Sunday, one coz I am skint and two I hope to get to the show.

May 19^th

Wow so long since I’ve been on here! Lots have happened since my last entry — the sleep thing seems to be OK now, not freaking out as much. FE3 was OK August was beaten by Elvis and the rest of the fights were OK, need more Shootfighting fights IMO. Vasteras was fun, met Tony Larsson and had to fight him again, my arse went and I almost bottled it, but we fought and I almost had the fucker with an arm bar — got a sweet picci of the arm bar but I missed it and he took the side, so I took his leg and stood up, he dropped guard and sunk in guillotine.

Marcelo came over to teach for 3 days the week after the comp, which was fun and plenty techniques to work on and study further; started a little routine with the bar bell, but as per usual over did it the first time and my elbows were in agony for 5 days. Now I am used to it I am blasting away! Nothing much major to report as the days melt into one blur really.

Good news today tho — got the green light to Helsinki for the Alliance guys, really buzzing about that one; gonna hang there for a while, then drop on in at FFG for reports and interviews, JOE won the ADCC! Also checked out Omar’s new place, so will be there this week I think, plus off tomoz to train Thai with Jorgen……AAAH! Gonna check out Hilti BJJ one day soon as well, job hunting going pretty shite, but fingers in the crossed eh? Emma comes out next week, then the day after that straight to Finland — seriously thinking about making a book out of this lark.

Went out for tea and met a Greco Roman guy who knows Richard so another reporting session methinks!!

Bunch of Purples