I woke up well before my alarm this morning, my head still very foggy with a nasty head cold. How am I ever going to train today—pushing forty and a bad head cold to boot?
Three shots of oil of oregano, a couple cups of coffee, and good soak in a hot bath to get my hips ready for the pain. No time for a real breakfast, heck I am too nervous to eat anyhow. It is GSP after all—I've been watching him on TV. I jump in my car for the 45 minute drive to the seminar location. One quick stop to make, all Canadians will understand how I can not make this drive without my Tim’s, but sadly the line is far too long.
As I drive I keep thinking about what I am heading for, what is in store for me. I think back on some other seminars I have attended and begin to doubt myself...I am never going to be able to hang with these kids.
I finally arrive at the location—only broke a few minor traffic laws on the drive in. I am relieved to see that there is still a line at the door. I quickly move through the line of fighters, thankful for the online registration. Two wrist bands are attached and I am in. I am surprised at the size of the room and at how full of Ultimate Fighter wannabes it is.
At first glance it looks more like the preparation for some B-rate martial art tournament than a seminar with the World Welter Weight UFC Champ. Approximately 200 students line the mats stretching and warming up, another 100 or so sit in the spectator section waiting.
The crowd starts a chant of GSP, GSP, GSP, accompanied with stomping and clapping, like we were waiting for a rock star to walk out on stage. Then the man of the hour walked into the room and the crowd erupted with a huge standing ovation. Dressed in training shorts and his Affliction tee shirt Georges St. Pierre sheepishly waved to all in the room. It is easy to see that fame has not gone to his head, as he openly blushes when the crowd continues the ovation for a minute or two.
Georges breaks the ice by explaining to the group that he does not have anything prepared for the seminar...hmmm, kind of the way I teach all my classes. Like a true martial artist he wants to have the flexibility and freedom to teach and demonstrate anything the group might ask of him. Georges could not hem making a few comments on his fights with Matt Hughes and the crowd answered back with a round of applause. He is just as he seems on TV—a very likable guy, well spoken, in broken English grant it.
For the next two hours Georges would go over a technique, demonstrating it in slow motion, semi-speed motion from all different angles. Fighters than paired off and practiced what was shown, Georges circulating around the room answering questions while we practised. He stopped us every now and then to change the technique or answer questions about, diet, training, cutting weight, etc.
The morning ended with a photo session, where Georges made himself as available as possible to everyone.
I then slipped out for a quick lunch to write down my thoughts and feed the machine. I had made it through half, but this was the stuff that is already my strength, how would I do when we started to roll?
The afternoon session started pretty much the same way. GSP, GSP, GSP, and out he came. A quick show of hands to see how many of us were in both seminars showed that more than half were training with me that morning. I am happy to say that there did seem to be less in the afternoon grappling session.
Georges again demonstrated techniques for all, slowly and from many different angles. We started with some basic take downs, single leg, again pairing off with a new partner to work on what was shown.
The afternoon session seemed to go at a much faster pace, we quickly moved to some more advanced techniques. It was great to see how smoothly Georges moves from one technique to another, seeming not to expend much energy at all. Training the take downs and ground work was a little difficult with the limited space but everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves.
I am sorry to say that my only one on one time with Georges was spent asking about the reversal of a guillotine choke, but his advise did really help.
For all of you out there that were hoping to hear more about Georges and his views on politics, or the French vs. English in Canada, I'm sorry. I am a fighter and this was a once and a life time experience for me. I was training with GSP.
Watch for the UFC to come to Montreal, you will surely be able to see and hear how Canada love RUSH!
Until then keep your hands up and your chin down!
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8 months ago
That sounds amazing. I am in my second year of college and have done martial arts since middle school with a little bit of wrestling in high school, but I would never consider myself a "fighter" or have the guts to go to a seminar like that.
I do know that I would lose my mind if I ever had a chance to train with him though. Aside from Anderson Silva, I believe GSP is the best fighter out there today so you must be pretty good to even keep up with a seminar. Sounds like a great time and I am glad he turned out to be a great guy to you and everyone there. He's all class.
8 months ago
What was the range of experience of the group, the age range, and the male to female ratio. Was the guillotine the hardest move tackled at the seminar"? How well did you keep up, did you pull any muscles, and are you over your cold now" Would you ever sign up to go again? Did any of his friends help with the demonstration or instruction? Where was the session held?
8 months ago
i agree, i believe anderson silva and gsp are currently the most talented and skilled fighters today. i always fantasize of the day when the two battle, possibly when gsp sweeps the welterweight division in the near future.
8 months ago
Most of the people at the seminar were experienced fighters, but there were some that must have been pretty new to it. I did see some people from a former training partner's kickboxing club. For the striking seminar I would say it was a pretty even split between male and females, but in the afternoon it was more like 90% male. The guillotine was by far one of the easiest moves, we did some great ground work working from side control. I did keep up very well, did manage to strain my neck but I am much better now thank you.
I would go again in a flash, it was very well done and very informative. He did have some guys there to be demostrated on. But George did all the demostrating.
Derek
8 months ago
I am a die hard GSP fan, I am 30 yrs. old and i had a successful college basketball career, but the UFC has made me forget about every other sport out there. You are a brave guy for getting out there and training with him, I respect that alot. I am wondering, do you think at my age that I would have a prayer ever being a mma fighter with hardly any experience and if so how long should I train before thinking of stepping into the cage. I am a really good athlete but from what I hear that only will take you so far. It's crazy but GSP makes me want to be a fighter.
8 months ago
Aweeee, sooo jealous...
8 months ago
Hey Jason, I have been told that you are never too old. At 30 you are really and truely hitting your physical peak. If you wanna fight, if it is in you, you will not be able to stop it... get out there and start training... NOW - today!! With some good well rounded training you could be in the ring in a year or so.
I will be 40 later this year, I have had a long career in various fighting arts - and I am pushing myself to get back in fight shape as I hope to get a couple MMA fights in this summer.
Good luck Jason, keep me posted on your progress.
Remember hands up, chin down!!
Derek
8 months ago
Hi , I'm no fighter and pushing 40 later this year also. My good friend is GSP's strength and conditioning coach . I had the pleasure of watching GSP and Dave the crow train, last night . First off GSP and the crow are 2 of the nicest guys you will ever meet . The crow is fighting in 2 days so most of the time he was the main focus in the studio . GSP is in such amazing shape that he is ready for Matt Serra anytime anyplace . GSP represents what hard training and clean lifestyle is all about . He fights for all of Canada not just us here in Montreal . I found it hard to belive that 3 years ago no one wanted to sponsor GSP or Dave Loiseau The crow . The word is out that my friend the coach is amazing and alot of the UFC fighters are coming here to Montreal to get trained by him . I want to send Matt Serra a Quebec medicare card so after the UFC in Montreal we can repair him. Derek if you want to get into ultimate shape drop me a line and I will hook you up with the best . GSP for prime minister !!!!!!! All the best Jet
from 8 months ago
Love to be put in contact with your guy. Just came from Freedom Fight 2008... great show, now I am going to start the push to get back into the ring.
Hook me up, send me a direct email, dereknoppe@yahoo.ca
Thanks
8 months ago
Hey Derek, Thanks alot for what you wrote to me, that is exactly what I am going to do, get started right now. I will let you know how it is going and please do the same for me on how your training is going. I bet you cant wait for april 19 in Montreal, are you going to be there? Well gotta go thanks again Derek! Serra is going down hard and he knows it!!
Later: Jason
8 months ago
Hey Derek, Thanks alot for what you wrote to me, that is exactly what I am going to do, get started right now. I will let you know how it is going and please do the same for me on how your training is going. I bet you cant wait for april 19 in Montreal, are you going to be there? Well gotta go thanks again Derek! Serra is going down hard and he knows it!!
Later: Jason
8 months ago
oops sent it twice, my bad
8 months ago
Good luck Jason... who knows maybe we will meet in the ring some day.
6 months ago
>He fights for all of Canada
Stop it.
The Raptors are NOT Canada's team (because everyone outside Toronto hate Toronto)
and GSP isnt fighting for Canada.
He is fighting for himself and for his fans.
Dont try to embelish his accomplishments by cheap nationalism. As if him fighting for a country would make this somehow worth more. GSW is a great fighter. Period.
Canada isnt as much a country as it is a couple that's sleeping in separate beds, dont have anything in common but cant get around to divorcing. A quebecer has nothing in common with an albertan except for our love of the queen (just kidding. no one care about the old bat). The languages, culture and everything else is different. The only common ground is US pop culture. A quebecer couldnt name a canadian author and a canuck couldnt name one single french singer (besides scrarcrow Celine).
Sorry for the rant but waving a flag doesnt make you a better person. It just symbolizes a piece of land where your parents had sex and where you were spawned.
My 'friend' knows Fedor, Snoop Dogg and Lindsay Lohan. That's the great thing about the interwebnets, we all friends like that.
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