I bet you would, but if you know what’s good for you in these upcoming months you betta get used to saying, “No Thank You!” a whole lot.

Why?

Well, when you look at all the the candy we eat during Halloween, then all the pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie in November and the couple of glasses of egg nog we chug down during this time of the year couple with Thanksgiving and the big dinners in December, you can see that your waistline won’t look like we’ve been in a recession but the after effects can put in a depression.

Don’t do it.

Don’t wait until January 2009 to get vigilant about your personal improvement.

Make a pre-emptive strike against your possible waistline increase and get the best piece of of the Pumpkin right here >>> http://www.rhadi.com/sales

And for those in the United States…… make sure you vote early.

Take care,

Rhadi Ferguson
*** GOOGLE ME!! ***
2004 Olympian
4X National Judo Champion
World Class Strength Coach

P.S.  Don’t forget that Rhadi Ferguson and Taraje Williams-Murray will be in New York and New Jersey on November 8th and November 9th to provide a bona fide judo seminar that will most certainly enhance your Judo game.

Taraje and I are going to show you some remarkable things that you can utilize immediately to increase your submission rate and your throwing percentage.
I’m truly looking forward to seeing many of you soon.

The Seminar in New Jersey is on the 9th of November
>>>> http://www.rhadi.com/Nov9Seminar/

The Seminar in New York is on the 8th of November
>>>> http://www.rhadi.com/Nov8Seminar/

Taraje and I will see you soon. If you have any questions about the seminar please don’t hesitate to email me at info@rhadi.com

Former Gold Medalist and 2000 Olympian Marion Jones did an interview with Oprah Winfrey yesterday.

This was her first interview after being released from prison for lying to the feds about the BALCO case where she said that she never took any performance enhancing drugs when in fact she knowingly took the drugs.

The funny part is that Marion Jones went to jail for lying, not for the drug use.  Marion NEVER failed any drug tests.  At one time, one of her drug testing samples was positive but upon testing the second sample, known as the “B” sample, that came back negative.

That just goes to show you that the drug makers are 5 steps ahead of the drug testers.

>>> http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow_20081029_marion

>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/sports/othersports/30mjones.html?em

On another note, I was happy to see Marion Jones on Oprah and I hope that she gets her life and herself back on track. I was a huge fan of Marion back then and I’m a huge fan of Marion now. I love her just as much now as I did back then. She made a mistake, I forgive her and I’d love to see her come out with a book that really tells the truth about some of the behind-the-scenes things in track and field and in the Olympics, per her experiences. I DO NOT WANT TO READ A BOOK ABOUT HER TELLING ON PEOPLE!

I also want to hear what she has to say about using Bolt (ha ha).

I’m sure Marion has a better understanding than we do if in fact someone can really run that fast “clean”.

=============
On Another Note
=============

I’m currently in Colorado Springs getting ready to attend the 6th International Conference on Strength Training.

I arrived in Colorado Springs yesterday and spent the bulk of my time speaking with the individuals in the Sports Performance department about some of the new and cutting edge practices and tools they are using.

Its kinda cool to see where the Olympic Training Center is in terms of sports performance in comparison to the rest of the world or the United States for that matter. In some areas they are behind and in others they are progressive, but they are always safe.

=============
The Pumpkin
S@le
=============

I told you before that I’m not a big fan of Halloween but I will provide you with a chance to get some of your favorite products during my “Pumpkin S@le”

You’ll be happy to know that I stayed with the whole October-theme and I’m still going to scare the pants off of you because the prices have been slashed seriously for your benefit.

As always I’m here to let you know that I feel and see the same burden that you see. I understand that times are rough and there are many parents out there who are struggling not only to make ends meat but to also but their children Halloween outfits and candy for the rest of the neighborhood. But in all things don’t forget that you still have to take care of yourself.  Because if you are not healthy, then your family isn’t healthy.

So please take this time to get the tools that will keep you healthy as we enter this holiday season which usually, very easily, puts one to two pou-nds on all of us.

Please enjoy the Pumpkin S@le (but don’t enjoy too much Pumpkin Pie!!!)   >>>>  http://www.rhadi.com/sales

============
Closing
============

The best tip that I can provide you today is to never stop learning.

I’m in Colorado right now because I value education and I value the expansion of my knowledge so that I can better help others become successful in their health and sporting endeavors.

I really think that many of us become  educationally stagnant and thus boring to those around us because we maintain the same conversation and the same schedule because we can do anything different because we haven’t taken the time to learn anything different.

If you are in a relationship, I can gua-ran-tee you that if  you read more books, watch more educational videos, change up your workout (or start working out) that your relationship will enhance.  When you increase the newness and ramp up the shared interest in your dealings, friendships, and relationships, then you will see some enormous growth collectively and personally.

Give it a try.

Take care and have a super fantastic day.

Sincerely,

Rhadi Ferguson
*** GOOGLE ME!! ***
2004 Olympian
4X National Judo Champion
World Class Strength Coach

P.S. Don’t forget the Pumpkin S@l3 will be here from October 30th until November 4th.   So get some of your favorite products today >>> http://www.rhadi.com/sales

P.P.S. 2004 Olympian Rhadi Ferguson and 2008 & 2004 Olympian Taraje Williams-Murray are coming to New York and New Jersey in November Taraje and I are going to show you some remarkable things that you can utilize immediately to increase your submission rate and your throwing percentage. I’m truly looking forward to seeing many of you soon.

The Seminar in New Jersey is on the 9th of November
>>>> http://www.rhadi.com/Nov9Seminar/

The Seminar in New York is on the 8th of November
>>>> http://www.rhadi.com/Nov8Seminar/

Taraje and I will see you soon. If you have any questions about the seminar please don’t hesitate to email me at info@rhadi.com

===========
Introduction
===========

In the recent years I have found just how much jealously rears its
ugly head.

I’ve received hateful emails, prank calls, nasty letters in the
mail and have had people who I thought loved and cared for me kick
me in the @ss and then in the way down, throw a bunch of tacks on
the ground for me to land on.

And you know what.

I AM TRULY Grateful.

I’ve never run from a challenge, fight or chance to test my resolve.

I’m actually thankful for the “haters”. They let me know that I’m
doing what I’m supposed to be doing.

==============
What it was like
4 years ago
==============

I can remember what it was like 4 years ago after I left Athens,
Greece. I left the Olympic Village, arrived at the airport and
decided to use the last little bit of room on my credit card to
purchase a Business Class seat for 300 Euros.

It was some of the best money spent.

I was sitting up front with 2 Olympic Gold Medalists in the sport
of swimming and some very very wealthy individuals who actually
thought that that was how they were supposed to travel.

They had me thinking that that may be it. Maybe we get what it is
that we believe that we are supposed to have.

At that moment I begin to think about how I could move this little
DVD that I made called “The Inner Realm”
>>> http://www.TheInnerRealm.tv

This is a  DVD that I made right after I made the Olympic Team so
that I could capitalize on the Olympic media rush and it was one of
the smartest things that I did.

Admittedly, I didn’t know what in the hell I was doing, but I knew
that I couldn’t sit around and do “nothing”.  Because if I did
“nothing” I would have “nothing”.

==============
Move Something!
==============

So I made the DVD, sold a boat load (or at least what I thought was
a boat load at the time) and that set me up for the career that I
have today.

Today, my job is to move something!

I make people move. I allow individuals to do more than they ever
thought possible in sport, business and life. And you know what?

I love it.

I love helping people.

Now the one thing that I don’t think that people understand is that
helping other people comes at a price.

=============
What’s The Price
=============

Unfortunately, the more you help people, the more people try to
hurt you.

For example, you can give money to a homeless person on the street
and someone will complain that you are holding up traffic.

That’s just how it goes.

I don’t think people understand that when you receive things you
have a HUGE responsibility to give to others and to tithe what it
is that you have (at least that’s what I believe).

I also believe that to whom much is given, much is required.

So to the haters all I have to say is this:

“If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can
damn well bet the water bill is higher over there too!”

So while the haters are hating’, I’ll keep motivating’!!

=============
What’s Next
=============

We’ll just so that you know; I’m having a super fantastic Judo
seminar at my home in Boca Raton, Florida where I am going to
literally knock the socks off of the attendees.

I’m going to go wayyyyyy beyond anything that you’ve ever seen on
my DVDs or heard on my Audio CDs and share with you the philosophy
behind what it is that I do and EXACTLY how you can train and
prepare like a professional athlete. YOU WILL BE SURPRISED by what
it is that I share with you. It will be absolutely PHENOMENAL!

If you practice judo, own a club or have a child who practices the
sport, this is a no-brainer
>>> http://www.TheJudoSystemSeminar.com <<<<

=============
Financial Crisis
=============

No problem.

We can bust the recession together with….

THE RECESSION BUSTER S@LE

http://www.rhadi.com/recessionbuster

Get all of your favorite DVDs, CDs, Books and ebooks right here,
right now, today and start improve your health, life and sporting
pursuits tomorrow.

==============
Conclusion
==============

I’m headed to DC to day.

I will be doing an absolutely PHREE 2 hour clinic in Virginia.
Well, Taraje Williams-Murray will be doing most of it.

He is about to hit the seminar trail super hard in 2009 and he out
there refining his skills and defining his seminar curriculum right
now.

So look for Taraje in the near future and check out his site at
http://www.Taraje.com (he just got back from the White House a
couple of days ago and put up some nice pics).

Take care,

Rhadi Ferguson

===========
Introduction
===========

Thank you so much for your emails, I want you to know that I’m REALLY working my way through all of them and responding to your questions through my blogs posts, my emails or sometimes a phone call.
I just wanted to fill you all in on what’s going on in my life so that you know what’s happening in my world.

=============
Number One:
=============

Rhadi Ferguson is now the Strategic, Tactical and Strength & Conditioning Consultant for Bahamian Judo along with Gerald Lafon who is the Technical Consultant for the Bahamian Judo Federation.  I recently returned from the Bahamas. I was there from October 2nd to October 7th. In that time I accomplished the following:

- Guest Lecturer at the College Of the Bahamas
- Instructed the FIRST Judo Class ever inside of the Bahamian Public School System
- Aided in the formulations and structuring of the Bahamian Elite Level Judo pilot program which is going to start on Monday and will be used and tested on a core group of players
- Created the basement level of the Bahamian Newaza and Gripping Systems
- Held one 2 hour clinic on gripping, one 2 hour clinic on newaza and taught several judo classes and a couple of private lessons

I will most likely return to the Bahamas about every 10-14 weeks to continue to implement systems and programming.

We haven’t even dived deep into the Strength and Conditioning part right now. Currently there are some things in place and we will assess the pilot program after it has been up and running for 12 weeks.

I am very excited and looking forward to seeing how the level of improvement of Bahamian Judo in the next couple of years.

Coach Gerald Lafon, from Judo America, has done some OUTSTANDING work with the Bahamian Judo Federation and has literally given their program some form and structure and some much needed direction. I take my hat off to him, I had no idea of the type of work that he was doing there and I was and am super impressed.

For those of you who don’t know who Gerald Lafon is, he is the father of Valerie (Lafon) Gotay and Natalie Lafon and the owner and operator of Judo American in San Diego, California. He was the Judo Coach of MMA fighter Terry Sokoudjou for quite some time when Terry moved to the United States.

To read more about the trip to the Bahamas go here

>>> http://www.thenassauguardian.com/sports/300055792324332.php

=============
Number Two:
=============

For those who don’t know or didn’t know, I’ve been training Brandon Vera for his fight against Keith Jardine on the 18th of October. Lloyd Irvin and I have been keeping it under wraps until know.  Brandon revealed that I was his strength and conditioning coach in an interview recently and attributed some of the training to his different outlook on his sport and his training and dieting practices.  The bottom line is this. Brandon is in excellent shape, great condition and is taught by one of the best Mixed Martial Arts strategist in the world, Lloyd Irvin.

I’ve worked with MANY Mixed Martial Arts fighter and coaches and I am telling you right now that Lloyd Irvin is a professional.  He asks the right questions, implements things quickly and moves on them right away. In internet marketing, Lloyd Irvin is known as the “Speed Guy” and I can see why. If I recommend something for Brandon to Lloyd, he’s not ordering it the next day…..He HAS IT the next day.   He doesn’t ask any questions, he just acts.  This is HUGE because there’s no sense in hiring someone if you are going to question them at every turn. Lloyd asks questions while things are happening, not in order to be convinced so that they happen.  I’ve never gotten more accomplished and had a better training camp than with Brandon Vera and Lloyd was a HUGE part of that success. Don’t get me wrong, Brandon Vera is a hard worker and a great fighter, but more importantly, he is smart for putting himself under the tutelage of Lloyd Irvin.  I did when I was competing and that was a major part of my success and why towards the end of my judo career I was winning 40% of my contests on the ground (in newaza).

To read the article on Brandon Vera go here

>>> http://strengthking.rhadi.com/2008/10/07/the-leaner-meaner-brandon-vera/

==============
Number Three:
==============

I’m REALLY looking forward to graduating in the spring or early winter session of 2009 with my Ph. D in education. To tell you that the dissertation phase is kicking me in my teeth would be an understatement.  I don’t think that I’ve ever encountered something that is so tedious and hard for a long period of time. Judo is tough, working out is tough, but this dissertation sh– feels like you are walking around with a rock in your shoe that you can’t remove. It’s absolutely brutal.  I’m still plugging away and looking forward to being done soon.

==============
Number Four:
==============

Please, no more questions about why Kimbo Slice is not training with Rhadi Ferguson.  I’m sure that Kevin has some excellent reasons of why he hasn’t returned many of my phone calls and why we talked earlier but cannot speak now. I’m sure he is receiving some excellent advice about his martial arts career and I can assure you that he is at no loss for money right now. My family has spoken to me, I’m sure some of them have spoken to him and I’m figuring that we’ll cross paths sooner or later. Until now, I wish him and his family the best and I would love for him to have a long and prosperous career in Mixed Martial Arts. He certainly has done a great deal in terms of popularizing the sport whether you agree with his fighting skills or not it is a FACT that Kevin Ferguson has single handedly increased the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts in less than one year. He has done more for the sport than many people recognize. He has been on Late-Night television, ESPN, and prime time television. And whether he has won or lost or fought tough people or tomato cans it doesn’t matter. The end result is that more people have become exposed to mixed martial arts. He literally took a demographic of people (African Americans and the WHOLE Island of the Bahamas) and introduced them to a sport which most of them would not have even cared about. This grew the market place, this helped MMA and this was good for the sport.  Jake Shields, Seth Petruzelli and many Gina Carano would not be household names if it were not for Kimbo Slice. Let’s get that point straight right now.

So, although many in the sport are critical of him and his skills, the bottom line is this…. Kevin Ferguson is a fighter. He fights who they tell him to fight. He trains who he is told to train with and he does what he is supposed to do. And that IS NOT HIS fault. Don’t hate of Kevin because he’s trying to make a living for his family.  Mixed Martial Arts is only a couple of steps removed from Professional Wrestling. The game is still the same. You have to have a sellable and likeable character and right now Kimbo Slice is it.  He’s sellable and he’s likeable.

===============
Number Five:
===============

I have a HUGE seminar coming up in December and I only have 2 more spots open for it.  It is an exclusive seminar that is reserved only for those who are looking at seriously elevating their Judo game to another level.  The seminar will cover everything from technique to strategy to strength and conditioning to tactical work. You will be able to really get a grasp and hold of how judo works, how you can win and the best way to set yourself up to be successful at judo.

You will also see why people fly me all over the country, outside of the country and schedule coaching calls sometimes 10 weeks in advance in order to get me on the phone to discuss their training issues and problems.

If you ask people what the best school for Executive Education and Leadership is, I’m sure many will blurt out Wharton or Harvard. Well, at this level of the game, and with my years of experience in coaching and in athletics, what I want to provide you with is an Executive Education in Judo.  Just so you know the cost of an executive education, I thought I’d provide you with Harvard’s website so that you can get a feel for the investment of an executive education >>> http://www.exed.hbs.edu/

Now I can clearly and honestly tell you that I have a great business, an awesome system when it comes to training, a super detailed match blueprint, a strategic framework for action when it comes to preparation and implementation and I can also tell you that IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.  If you are not the kind of person who is interested in attacking the sport of judo in a professional manner, then I’m not the guy you are looking for.

Case in point, I was hand-picked by Lloyd Irvin to aid in Brandon Vera’s preparation, not only for his fight on the 18th of October against Keith Jardine, but so that he can create and maintain a professional approach to training.  I was selected by Thiago Alves to prepare him for his fight against Karo Parisyan because Thiago knew that I had the technical wherewithal to break Karo’s movement patterns down in to minute iterations and then create a defensive system to expose Karo’s weaknesses by not allowing his strengths to manifest.  Taraje Williams-Murray hand picked me to manage his Judo career because he understands the importance of establishing systems and a professional approach.

So, what I’m really trying to say is that next week, I’m going to offer you the opportunity of a lifetime and the chance to be a part of the 1st Annual Exclusive All Inclusive Judo Seminar. That’s right all-inclusive. You get your plane ticket and hotel and I handle the rest. My personal chef will prepare your meal 

If you have any questions about the seminar please send them to info@rhadi.com   Take care and look out for my email on Monday, October 13th.

**** Remember, there are only 2 Spots Left for this Seminar  ****  This is not a marketing ploy, I’m not kidding, nor am I joking. This seminar is being held at my home in Boca Raton, Florida and I can only accommodate a certain number of persons.   So please govern yourselves accordingly when you receive the email on Monday, October 13th.  Thank you.

============
Number Five:
============

Taraje Williams-Murray and I are writing two books. One book is a follow-up of the Beyond The Rings DVD and the other book is about Post Olympic Depression.  The Beyond The Rings Book will probably be an e-book while the Post Olympic Depression book will be sold through the major book retailers like Amazon.com  We are excited about the books and they are coming along just fine. We certainly hope that you will pick them up and support the growth of knowledge and information in the marketplace.  Sports like Judo and MMA can only grow if we all do our part to grow them.

============
Number Six:
============

My wife and son are doing great!!  My son Rufus is a joy to be around. I love the little dude so much and I’m taking him to Homecoming at Howard University again this year. We’ll put some pictures up of homecoming when we get back.

=============
Conclusion
=============

Take care. Thanks for reading. If you are the praying type, please keep my family in your prayers, if not, please wish my family good “vibes” and “chi” 

It is always a pleasure to communicate with you on a more personal level like I’m doing today. I’m not always able to do so because I’m so crunched for time, but I was able to create a little bit of wiggle room in my day to let you know what’s going on.

So, take care and for my Judo people, look out for my email on the 13th of October for the exclusive seminar at my home in Boca Raton, Florida.

Peace!!

Rhadi Ferguson