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Who is the Master?

I want to reflect back to 1985. I was a young boy watching Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon movie with a few of my friends. Like most boys I was amazed by the speed and grace of martial arts.

For those of you not familiar with the movie; the main character Leroy Green (a.k.a. Bruce Leroy) searches for the "master" to reach his final level of martial arts mastery known as the glow. During the course of his journey he must fight an evil martial arts expert known as Sho'nuff (a.k.a. The Shogun of Harlem) and finds himself having to rescue a beautiful singer from an obsessed music promoter. I know most of you are probably saying, “What kind of movie is this?” remember it was the 80’s.

The most significant part of the movie, in my opinion, occurs during the final battle between Bruce Leroy and Sho’nuff. The setting is an abandoned warehouse (why wouldn't’t it be I thought all movies had to have an abandoned warehouse scene) where Leroy and Sho’nuff have been battling back and forth. Sho’nuff has Leroy held over a large tank of water and continually submerges Leroy’s head into the water while asking the question, “Who is the master?” As Leroy is being held under water he starts to think back to the many lessons that he has learned during the course of his journey and realizes that the answers he has been searching for have always been within him. When Sho’nuff pulls him from the water one final time to ask, “Who is the master”, Leroy confidently answers….”I am”. Leroy develops the “glow” by believing in himself and defeats Sho’nuff before rescuing the girl.

The point that I’m trying to establish is that everyone that I speak with today seems to be in search of the “master”. Advertisers hammer home their messages. Store layouts, movies, television, radio, and magazines and of course the internet all sending us messages of where to find the “master”.

We’ve become a society in search of instant gratification. If you call this 800 number, if you send back this card, if you log onto this site………..I’m sure you’ve heard them all. The health and fitness industry has capitalized on this concept. You know the one’s……..take this pill for 30 days and lose 30lbs., buy this ab crunch gadget use it for 2 minutes a day and be shredded, hook these pads up to your stomach and stimulate your abs for only minutes a day! All of these things to help us get the “glow”.

I hope you understand that we are no different than Bruce Leroy. We are searching for answers that are within ourselves. When it comes to your health and wellness, you are the “master”. You have to be willing to put in some hard work, sweat a little and do your best to have a clean diet. There are no magic pills or gadgets to help, and please don’t hook any type of electronic pads up to your stomach!

Start the year off right and remember, “You are the master”.

by Shawn Moody

Owners Joe and Jane

Joe Divosevic - A.S. Science, Co-Owner
Joe has over 10 years experience as a strength coach, resistance trainer, business owner & professional athlete. Former professional heavy weight boxer and Junior World Record holder of the deadlift and combined weight total at 1992 APF Senior National Powerlifting Championship.

Jane Fontana - B.S. Health and Phys Ed/ K-12 Teaching Certificate, Co-Owner
Former national competitive bodybuilder with extensive experience in resistance training and nutritional counseling for young athletes and children up to adults and senior citizens.

Rich Mushinsky, Boxing Instructor

Rich is a former amateur lightweight boxer, with over twenty years of combined boxing and training experience. He has worked with many boxing trainers, including Angelo Dundee (the world famous trainer of Muhammed Ali and "Sugar" Ray Leonard) and has been with M.A.C. since the day we opened.

Rich's sleek footwork, quick punching ability and personable approach to boxing gives him t he edge needed to make a complete boxing instructor.

Beau Clark, Grappling and Jiu Jitsu Instructor

Beau (below, center) began his training in 1989 in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Hawaii under Relson Gracie and studied with Rickson Gracie and Blackbelt Romolo Barros. He moved to Colorado to train at Grappler's Edge in 1995 under Blackbelt Magazine Hall of Fame Instructor Sheldon Marr. Beau became Mr. Marr's top-ranked student in four years and began working as one of Mr. Marr's instructors.

In 1999, Beau began teaching submission grappling at Grappler's Edge and has trained individuals who have competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride, King of the Cage, Pancrase Japan, the Abu Dhabi Combat Club, and Division I NCAA Wrestling.

Beau has personally competed at the 2003 Abu Dhabi Combat Club World Championship of Submission Grappling (San Paulo, Brazil) and is a contributing writer for Grappling Magazine.

Dan Shaw, Boxing Instructor

Dan Shaw is from Washington D.C. and grew up training with Sugar Ray Leonard in Maryland. He is a USA Certified Boxing Trainer and Judge.

He has 40 years of boxing experience. He trains both amateur and Professional Boxers.

Rayco Saunders, Boxing Instructor

Rayco 'War' Saunders was a three time Pittsburgh Golden Glove Champion (1996, 2001, and 2002), a Pennsylvania State Champion (2002), and a member of the Pennsylvania National Golden Glove Team (2002).

Rayco had 29 professional fights (16-11-2), 7 K-Os. He's now retired from the professional circuit, but is actively involved in Sin City Boxing.

He's come to M.A.C. Fitness to share his expertise with our members.

Frank Fazio, Boxing Instructor

A super heavyweight fighter who moves like a middleweight, Frank's experience goes far beyond his 25-fight career.

Not only is he an active boxing coach and group boxing instructor at M.A.C., Frank is also a sparring partner for professional heavyweight contender Calvin Brock (ranked Top 10 in the world).

Ray Snow, Boxing/Kickboxing Instructor

1979 PKA 5th ranked light weight contender, a 5th degree blackbelt in Shotokan, and an instructor since 1990, Ray offers a wealth of knowledge and experience to his students.

Ray is also the designer and developer of the i-Flex athletic gear, including the glove dog and shoe dog sold at MAC Fitness. -Flex has many products used by athletes in a host of sports, including boxing, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, and professional dancing.

Jon Schall, MMA Instructor

Brazilian jiu- jitsu, kickboxing, muay thai, submission grappling, and offensive lineman Pitt Panther football (with Larry Fitzgerald) are just a few of the passions and achievements of our newest MMA instructor. A short list of his accomplishments:

-2 ½ years tutelage under Carl Malenko (aka Carl Greco-Ognibene) former PRIDE fighter and submission wrestling/shootfighting expert.

-3 years of MMA training under professional MMA fighter and martial arts hall of famer, Ralph Garcia.

-3 years no-gi Brazilian jiu- jitsu training under black belt Ross Kellin.

-3 years of American kickboxing training, under the legendary Joe Lewis fighting system.

Pro MMA Record - (2-1); Amateur Muay Thai - (1-0);
1st place winner, heavyweight, 2006 Planet Submissions Grappling Tournament

Check out clips from a few fights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZurY9XlW2g

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