There are 11 weeks until Grapplers Quest Canada and I am taking this tournament for real. This is my 'World's' for this year. One of the greatest grappling and jiu jitsu promotions is coming to London Ontario and the teams from each association are expected to be huge. Our team will be no different and I want to not simply go there to compete. I am going there to win. So if this is the case I need to put in some extra work and enlist the help of a strength and conditioning trainer who can help take my athleticism to the next level.

A friend and training partner who is a strength coach, Nicole Dinn and I spoke and we came up with a plan. Nicole will be working with me until the tournament and is designing a sports specific program that will hopefully bridge a gap in my training and better prepare to represent Toronto BJJ and Professor Britto on Oct 30th.

In this first Video Blog I capture a few moments from our first meeting. We did alot more than I documented during the +2 hour assessment which will allow Nicole to understand fully where I am at right now and from many levels and from that, with her knowledge of Jiu jitsu and conditioning, she will help me raise my endurance, strength and ability to last longer while fighting. Check Nicole's Bio after the jump and feel free to get in touch with her through email or the facebook page...

The Road to Grapplers Quest Video Blog 1

Nicole Dinn, PhD (c), MSc, BKin, CSCS, PFLC

About Nicole:
Nicole a strength coach specializing in neuroscience and biomechanics of movement. Her research interests include gait, postural control, biomechanical analysis of sport techniques, and neuromuscular control of movement. She is specifically interested in applying these techniques to athletic populations, athletic development and high-performance athlete conditioning. Although super nerdy, she has worked with everyone from your grandmother to the kids next door, all the way up to varsity and para-Olympic athletes. Nicole combines her research background with upwards of 10 years of professional experience as a strength coach, fitness consultant, and post-secondary instructor, to give her clients effective and creative training geared towards optimizing performance and improving overall health and fitness. On her approach to training, Nicole says, "It's not just about training. Everything else has to be included in a fitness development program, and that includes assessments, nutritional planning, supplement advice, injury management, and even cognitive behavioral strategies to help clients overcome barriers. By addressing fitness in a holistic manner, you get a complete package."  Nicole can be contacted at nicoledinn@gmail.com .