The HaganaH Blog

If you attended the 7th Annual HaganaH Conference here at the National HQ’s at the Israeli Compound two weekends ago you know part of registration was our “Qualifier”

This qualifier was not a pass or fail qualifier to attend training sessions at the conference , it was a way for people to gauge where they were in their training performance and for us to set a standard for our Black Belt level in HaganaH. All Black Belts who attended to train were put on the spot to “Complete” the qualifier and set the standard time for the 3 laps (approx. half a mile). Please notice that I did not put Any of the Black Belts on standby for this qualifier, all were surprise by it without notification. Even one of my best friend , Anthony Kuntz, HaganaH Black Belt from Tampa had to go through it even though he said and I quote ” Maaaaan, I’m here to chill….I’m not doing this”. My reply was : “You either do it, or you going home Mofucker!”

The qualifier consisted of 3 laps around the building (approx. half a mile) , 12 push-ups, 8 bur-pees, 4 pull-ups, 8 jump box and 12 kettle-bell swings.

To “Complete” the qualifier you had to do the entire thing in a consecutive way without any rest completing all reps.

All HaganaH Black Belts who took the “Qualifier” completed it successfully….all 4 Black Belts Candidates not only completed it at the qualifier at the beginning of the conference , they also had to redo , and complete it, at the beginning of their test on Sunday. The fastest time on the 3 laps was 2:33 by Joel Burrough our HaganaH Black belt from Chicago and the slowest Black Belt was 3:21….originally I was going to take the average time between the fastest and slowest among all Black Belts which brings it to 2:57, that’s under 3 minutes. After the actual “Qualifier” performed by both the Black Belts and the Black Belts candidates at this year’s conference I decided to make the slowest qualifier among the Black Belts the standard to beat! In other words, the Black Belt “Qualifier” at the beginning of HaganaH Black Belt testing is set at 3:20. All testing Black Belts will have to do the qualifier at the beginning of the conference running at 3:20 or under and complete the entire “Qualifier”, that’s their entry ticket to test that weekend……then, at the beginning of their test on Sunday , they will have to complete it again as the kick-off of their test.

As Garret says : “Don’t Tell Me You Can Do It, Show Me You Can Do It”

I am officially promoting Mark Thomson “6 Stars” and Ryan Ortman to 3rd Degree Black Belt!

This promotion is in result of unparalleled dedication to the HaganaH system and hardcore consistent training in our system and in other tactical and fitness systems as part of these individual’s cross training….congrats on this rank well deserved guys.

This past weekend over 85 HaganaH practitioners from all over the country gathered at the HaganaH National HQs in south Florida to train hard for two and a half days under the tutelage of James Cooper, Garret Machine and myself.

Also, this year , Combat Wrestling Chief Instructor John Clarke put together a take-down competition on sunday morning….congrats to all that competed and to Jared and Ted who won the competition.

It was to date , BY FAR, my favorite conference. Registration included a Combat Fitness qualifier, surprise surprise It was hot, sweaty, intense, and all advanced tactics…and I loved every minute I taught this year!!! Thank you to all who came in to train in my house….my school is different than all other schools around the country. It’s rough looking, it doesn’t have air conditioning running, it’s completly functional without any foo foo gimmicks to attract the general public….but, its ME!

Congrats to the 3 awards recipients : Joel Borrows- Fit2Fight Award, Joe Bogart-Black Belt Instructor Award and Garret Machine- Warrior To Warrior Award.

And… as usual the highlight of the conference was our notorious Black Belt test. 6 candidates were scheduled to test at this year’s conference with 1 of the candidates pulling out of the list two weeks prior to the test and another candidate pulling out the day of the test. 4 candidates went through the 3 hour grueling test this year and passed their test. Their will and heart were put through a very hot fire, there was blood, there was throw up, there were tears and they all did GREAT!!!!! The youngest testing was 26 years old with the oldest being 53 years old.

Congrats to Coleman “Godzilla” Ray, Marc Douglas, Chris Lohman and Luis Rosario on acheiving the highest honor in our organization….the prestigious HaganaH Black Belt. You make us all proud!!!!!!!! To those who went through this fire before , you all know how truly hot that fire is: The Strongest Steel, Is Forged In The Hottest Fire!!!!!!!!!!!

We are less than a week away from the 7th HaganaH Conference, here are a few things you need to know:

1) DIRECTIONS: if you never been to the new HQ’s yet, it can be tricky to find it the first time. the Address is 6851 SW 21st Court, #14 Davie FL 33317
from where ever you coming , East or West , you will need to be on 595 Interstate. The same Interstate the old school used to be on. Get off at University and go East on State Road 84 (the service road of 595). Take a right at 70th , you will see “Signature Grand” on the corner. Go about 400 yards to 21st Court , you will see “Amerigas” at the corner, take a left at 21st Court. Go all the way to the last alley between the two buildings and make a left….we are located at the end of the building. If you arrive early enough, do yourself a favor and scout it out earlier…

2) TIMES: Friday, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm registration…..you must register during this time! No exceptions. 6:30pm to 6:50pm Orientation. 7:00 to 9:00 Training.
Saturday, 8:00am to 9:45am Training. 10:00am to 11:45am Training. Lunch Break. 1:00pm to 2:45pm Training. 3:00 to 4:45pm Training. 5:00 to 6:00 Black Belts Meeting
Sunday, 8:00am to 9:45am Training. 10:00am to 11:45am Training and Combat Wrestling Take-Down Defense competition. Lunch Break. 2:00pm Black Belt Test.

3) NO SPECTATORS: No Exceptions!!! If you not a registered participant in the conference you will be asked to leave, please don’t put us in that position.

4) EQUIPMENT REQUIRED: 1) Headgear 2) Mouth Piece 3) Boxing Gloves 4) Shinpads 5) Groin Cup 6) Training Gun 7) Training Knifes both rubber and aluminum

5) DRESS CODE: Training Tshirts are required in all sessions. NO Tanktops!!! MMA/FIGHT Shorts or FIGHT Pants required in all sessions, NO fitted spandex (i.e. – Speedo/Underwear look alike)

6) WATER: It will be very hot. Bring a lot of water!!!!! and training towels.