As my dad would say…

I am a lean, mean, fighting machine!!!

The earlier part of last week I caught a nasty virus that made me lose quite a few pounds but I am happy to report I have gained it back where it was needed most. My muscles!

Exciting news!!! I leave for Poland on Thursday to fight at the Warsaw World Cup! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but it is a good nervous. I am anxious to get on the mat and see what 5 1/2, EXTREMELY INTENSE weeks in Japan has done for my judo I can see huge improvements at practice BUT I want to see it come tournament time! AND as long as I keep my head on straight (no second guessing myself, thinking too much, letting the nerves get to me) I KNOW I WILL! I have never been more prepared for any single tournament, including the Olympics, in my judo career. SO like I said, I am excited for Sunday!

Poland is going to be amazing for several reasons:

I get to see where my judo stacks up with the rest of the world

TOMMY will be flying into Warsaw to coach me!!! SOOOOOOOOOO happy about that one!!!! I have known Tommy since I was 7 years old and over the years he has become part of my family. To see him will be absolutely awesome!!!

And finally my cousin Shelly who lives in Italy and my friend Ivan who is studying abroad in Czech Republic, both will be coming to watch me compete!

All and all, no matter what happens… I am going to make the best out of this tournament!

G’night

My two new English speaking friends, Sachie and Julian, taking me out to dinner on my day off

They decided on a Texas restaurant in Nippon! Very thoughtful!!!

And YES the restaurant ZEST did have a mechanical bull! I think I lasted 10 seconds! Yeehaw!

Japanese cowboys

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