Who's going? : Paradise Warrior Retreat

[jegray]

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I just wanted to know if anyone here was going to this event? I plan on being there and hope to atleast know someone there.

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[Boo]

You had mentioned you had a trip planned to California. Was this the reason you planned on going or did you just get lucky? That's quite the lineup of trainers. Sounds exciting.

[Easye1982]

I live all the way out on the East coast...and have bills to my eyeballs. So I will not be going. :(


Looks like it will be a great time though. Enjoy :D And make a thread when you get back, filling us all in on the details ;)

[jegray]

Yeah- I actually planned my trip for this event. I saw it and thought- thats my vacation for this year. Actually... I think this will be my first vacation. But I will try and get some pictures and publish a few on here provided I have permission from those people in the pictures. In any case I'll let everyone know how it was.
:crutch:

[Grabaka]

Simi Valley is about 30 minutes from me. This event is around my b-day though and most likely I will be out of town on vacation. I remember seeing it advertised last year, so I'm sure I'll get the chance to go next year too. The line up of guests and instructors this year looks to be bigger and better than last years. Should be a great time for you jegray. Simi Valley isn't all that great, but you aren't too far of a drive from the beach and other cool stuff.

[the boogeyman]

Lucky...I wish I could go.

[jegray]

I had a great time in Simi Valley. I got to train with BJ Penn, Gokor Chivicyan, Kevin Randelman, Benny the Jet, and Shawn Tompkins. We went over some basics, fine tuning our technique, and went over some more advanced techniques. In the end it was a great experience working with those instructors and also in getting to know the people around me. Everyone had different backgrounds, different interests, and different experiences while we trained. In the end I think all of us got to experience what the organizer, Uri, wanted us to experience; a spirituality within our combative selves.
Benny the Jet was very inspirational in his delivery about spirituality and energy warfare. I found it very interesting and even inquired about a book he told me he will be publishing soon.
We worked out for an average of 10 hours a day for three days. This included light to moderate striking drills and grappling technique. At one point Gokor even gave those of us participating, the chance to grapple with his students which included Manni Gamburyan who competed in Spike Tv’s Ultimate Fighter.
All in all the experience was good and I got a few pictures I will post when they come back from the developer.

[Easye1982]

Sounds like a good time :D Can't wait for your pics....:D

[jegray]

I hope they turn out...

[Boo]

Wow, sounds great Jegray. Sooooo after 10 hours a day, are you still hurtin'?

[brvheart]

How was BJ to work out with?

[jegray]

Well of course he is very knowledgable but he is also very good at explaining techniques and building up a technique structure so it flows well with his session. Gokor was the same of course but Gokor spent more time with us (two sessions) and he allowed us to build on our grappling defense as well as offense. They are both very friendly and very understanding to those who wheren't getting the techniques.

[jegray]

Wow, sounds great Jegray. Sooooo after 10 hours a day, are you still hurtin'?

No Boo- each morning of course I was stiff; especially my ribs. The guy I worked with was like 315 lbs, I reffered to him as The Chiropractor. Cause everytime we practiced a trow he'd land on me and crack my back. But no. The worst thing was the jet lag. Getting there took me nearly 8 hours then it took me an hour to discover my bag was lost another hour to find out my rental car wasn't available anymore, and two more hours to get to the hotel; which then I slept in the car from 3am to 630am before I went off to checkout the universities and housing before we all got together at the hotel to begin training at 10am. The return home was about as bad; I was in the rental car from 730pm and didn't get home on the plane until 900am. I'm 6'4" and planes are not comfortable for me to sleep on. I need a jumbo jet with jumbo seats. Not that I'm fat or anything.

[Boo]

No Boo- each morning of course I was stiff; especially my ribs. The guy I worked with was like 315 lbs, I reffered to him as The Chiropractor. Cause everytime we practiced a trow he'd land on me and crack my back. But no. The worst thing was the jet lag. Getting there took me nearly 8 hours then it took me an hour to discover my bag was lost another hour to find out my rental car wasn't available anymore, and two more hours to get to the hotel; which then I slept in the car from 3am to 630am before I went off to checkout the universities and housing before we all got together at the hotel to begin training at 10am. The return home was about as bad; I was in the rental car from 730pm and didn't get home on the plane until 900am. I'm 6'4" and planes are not comfortable for me to sleep on. I need a jumbo jet with jumbo seats. Not that I'm fat or anything.

That sounds positively miserable. I hate to fly. I mean the whole thing. The finding a parking place, the lines, the new rules every time I fly lately, the waiting, the cramped planes, dehydration, etc.

How do you book your flights? If you don't already, do it online and pick your own seat. Get one in the first row if you are early enough, an emergency exit, or on the aisle so at least one of your legs can stretch out.

[jegray]

That sounds positively miserable. I hate to fly. I mean the whole thing. The finding a parking place, the lines, the new rules every time I fly lately, the waiting, the cramped planes, dehydration, etc.

How do you book your flights? If you don't already, do it online and pick your own seat. Get one in the first row if you are early enough, an emergency exit, or on the aisle so at least one of your legs can stretch out.

Thats what I do but that poor other knee gets its bad. I wish I could have sat next to a gorgeous woman- then after a little flirting I probably could have laid my head down or put my feet up on her lap and stretch out. But no- I aways get the old smelly guy or over weight non-english speaking girl. Irritating.

[jegray]

Here are some pics- I'm the dopey looking one.
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[welsh_lad_04]

Great pics :thumb:

[Easye1982]

Thanks for the pics... :) Glad to see you had such a good time....again Thanks for sharing :D

[Boo]

Thanks for the pics Jegray. You are a big dude to pretzel into an airline seat. Now what you posted in the Randleman thread makes more sense. I didn't notice that he was on the poster till just now. If you have never seen Kevin's website, check it out. He posted details and pictures from his operation to remove that wierd lung growth he had. The guy really has been through a lot recently. [Only registered and activated users can see links]

I can't remember what it was now, but I saw a documentary that had Benny in it. He would be an interesting guy to meet. A legit pioneer.

[jegray]

Thanks for the pics Jegray. You are a big dude to pretzel into an airline seat. Now what you posted in the Randleman thread makes more sense. I didn't notice that he was on the poster till just now. If you have never seen Kevin's website, check it out. He posted details and pictures from his operation to remove that wierd lung growth he had. The guy really has been through a lot recently. [Only registered and activated users can see links]

I can't remember what it was now, but I saw a documentary that had Benny in it. He would be an interesting guy to meet. A legit pioneer.

Benny the Jet was awesome. He was very insirational. I asked him if he has a book coming out- when it does you can be sure I will get it.
As for me being big- are you calling me fat? I squatted down a bit for everyone except Bas Rutten. but thanks for calling me fat Boo. lol

[Boo]

As for me being big- are you calling me fat? I squatted down a bit for everyone except Bas Rutten. but thanks for calling me fat Boo. lol

Ahem.....let me restate. Wow, you really are a TALL, well-proportioned dude to pretzel into an airline seat.

:caked:

[jegray]

Ahem.....let me restate. Wow, you really are a TALL, well-proportioned dude to pretzel into an airline seat.

:caked:

Thank you Boo. But is that a pie you just threw at me?

[neonatural]

Lucky man, looks like fun. Thats probably one of the best places you can go to learn. Gokor, Benny the jet, Penn, Bas all under one roof?

the pretzled airline ride would be well worth it :)

[Boo]

Thank you Boo. But is that a pie you just threw at me?

Why, I believe it is. :becky:

[duran]

Great thread. I'm glad I read it just before my workout. It must have been inspiring to train with these guys. I would have been like a sponge.
LET US KNOW WHEN BENNY'S BOOK COMES OUT! It def sounds like a must read.