Saturday, December 31, 2011

Cheers to 2012

December 31, 2011.

Another year has come and gone, and the older I get the faster they go. Fact! 2011 wasn't my best year, but as I look back I can't help but smile. I was dealt many bumps in the road and things could have certainly gone better, but such is life and you must take the good with the bad. The most important thing about fortune or misfortune is how you let it effect you, and I choose to stay positive through thick and thin. Although I faced many disappointments, I feel I learned more about myself and who I want to be this year than any other. I developed many solid relationships through business and pleasure that I hope to continue for many years to come. It wasn't all disappointment though, I did some really great and amazing things in the year 2011 and I'd like to share a little highlight recap of how it went, from my perspective.

I started out the year with a break-up. Which was probably one of the most positive things to happen to me. I knew it wasn't right from the get go, and was happy so see another Kim K wanna be walk in the opposite direction of me. My only thought is this, 'What WAS I thinking in the first place?'. Think with the head on your shoulders fellas, trust me.

I chose to switch camps at the beginning of the year as well. I joined forces with 4 oz fight club and Team Tooke MMA. I can't even begin to name all of the great people I've had the privilege to work with and become friends with between these two awesome Academies. But I can tell you, that Houston MMA is alive and very well represented by both schools. Some of the best of the best not only in their crafts, but in their quality as people.

In February 2011 I signed a multi fight contract with Bellator Fighting Championships. This was the biggest move of my career and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to compete in the Summer Series FW Tournament on Mtv2. I devoted every minute of my life to that Tournament from the time I knew about it, until the time I walked out of that cage in South Florida disappointed. It did not go my way, but that's MMA for you. Gotta keep your nose to the grind and improve yourself and your game every day. I can promise you this much, I have been working hard and Adam Schindler, the fighter, will be making waves in 2012.


With loss comes a list of emotions I'm not sure I have enough room on this page, or mind capacity to name. So in the aftermath I did what any logical, single 28 year old in emotional pain would do.... I spent 8 days in LAS VEGAS! I have a really great friend out there that put me up for free and we had one hell of a week. My brother's best friends actually were out there at the same time, so it got double crazy when we met up with some of the wildest Mountaineers from The Wood there's ever been. I spent WAY too much money, but came away with memories that I'll never forget and am SUPER surprised I actually remember. I won't tell details because as we all know 'What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas.....  except herpes, that shit'll come back with you' lol. But I'm sure you can use your imagination.

I let it all out in Vegas and came back ready to work. I had a fight lined up but I was injured and had to withdraw. With a string of unfortunate incidents I felt that my time in Houston was nearing an end. I love Houston MMA, it's a great place. But I needed a change. I had no idea where I was going to go, I had no idea what I was going to do. Luckily I have great people in my life and was given an opportunity in Austin to build from the ground up. It's a perfect fit for me right now and I've taken it and am running with it.

I have to say my favorite part of 2011 was without a doubt the 5 days I spent over Thanksgiving with my brother's family and my mother in Little Rock, Arkansas. I got to meet my nephew, Israel Schindler for the very first time and he instantly took the #1 spot as favorite little buddy. He and I really hit it off and I am so excited to see him grow. I am very proud of my family, especially my little brother. I always have been. One thing I plan on improving in my life in 2012 is to spend more time with my family. We have great distance between us but I vow to make more time for them in the upcoming year.

So, that was my 2011 in a nutshell. Which leads me to goals in 2012. I don't generally make New Years resolutions but I do always set personal goals for myself. This doesn't happen only at the new year but is an ongoing thing in my life.

-First and foremost to be kind to others and a positive role model.
-Deal with O.P.P. Only Positive People, there is no room for negativity in life
-Do my best in school(Yes, I'm back in college and taking 12 hrs this semester, woohoo!)
-Continue to grow as a fighter and as a person, develop my game and apply it on a world class level
-WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, at all costs
 -See my family as much as possible and spend precious time with them

I could go on and on but I know no one wants to read a to do list for someone else. In conclusion to this year I'd like to say 2011, it's been real. 2012, I'm ready for you. I'll go out tonight, dress nice and have some laughs with friends. And tomorrow come 1 pm I'll be doing interval runs for 5 miles at Lake Pflugerville ensuring my 2012 promise to WIN WIN WIN is more than just talk.

I'd like to finish this entry with one of my favorite quotes, 'Sometimes you're flush, and sometimes you're bust. And when you're up, you never think you're gonna be down. And when you're down, you never think you're gonna be up again, but LIFE GOES ON!'

Have a great night and start your life right in 2012!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The past 2 years in my life have been a whirlwind. I have lived in San Antonio, Houston, and Austin. I have visited Thailand and Korea. I have fought 6 times & I have represented 5 different gyms in those fights. I have fought in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Miami, and Kansas City. As a middle class boy  from Ravenswood, West Virginia, I'm thoroughly enjoying my life. I have had the opportunity to meet many great people along the way, and record memories that will last a lifetime.

I love what I do everyday. My time in the military taught me that your time is precious and that you should always do what you love. I train hard everyday, twice a day most days. The amount of dedication and discipline it takes to fight on a world level in this sport is not something your everyday human can even fathom. When I first started, I had no idea the time and effort I would end up devoting to these art forms I dearly love. Fighting is not just a sport, it is a lifestyle. Physically it is very demanding, but it is the mental aspect that will make or break you. That sets the elite away from the obsolete.

Although the life may look glamorous from the outside, I assure you, it is not what it seems. We don't get paid Million dollar contracts like your modern day athlete. In fact the best of the best and the most affluent fighters make only hundreds of thousands when they fight. Which makes a 6 figure contract something well sought after. A fight isn't just 1-25 minutes of work, it is a culmination of all your sacrifice, all your emotional and physical energy you have put into your training over the last 8 weeks. Sometimes for only a couple thousand dollars. (I know right :/ ). It is the love of the art that keeps me going, the love of the competition. The absolute love to push myself to my deepest limits and keep going. To constantly test yourself and your true character. There is no better 'See what you're really made of' competition on the planet.

With that, I'll say this. Everyone loses. You WILL lose in MMA. I have lost, and losing is something I am not used to, but I have learned more about myself and my character in my 3 losses than in my 9 wins combined. Your ego will be checked, & there is always someone bigger and badder. It's how you come back from that adversity and how you handle failure that defines your character.

I am training in Austin, Tx at Austin Muay Thai & Jiu Jitsu. I feel very fortunate to be here. I had some unfortunate events in my career in 2011 and I feel I am back on a path to the top. I have a great coach in Elton Wells and superb training partners. Not to mention I am lucky enough to train along side UFC/Strikeforce Badass Tim Kennedy on a daily. But what sets the environment apart is the team aspect. All for one and one for all, my last teams were like this too.. but there is something different about this place and I believe it starts with our leaders Elton & Tim, leading by example. Never settling for anything less than your absolute best. That is what brings out the best in me as an athlete. I cannot be allowed to slide(although I try not to). I must be pushed well beyond what I think is possible, and that's where mental strength comes in.

Currently I'm in the middle of my training camp for my January 28th fight for G1 Fights against Yoshiaki "Bancho" Takahashi. This is a great international opportunity for me and I'm approaching the fight as a 'must win' in my mind. I have had a couple set backs and I'm sure I have doubters. Which fuels my fire to prove them wrong and rise to the top. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm putting in the right work to be victorious.

In conclusion to my first blog entry, I thank you for stopping by to read and learn a little about me. I'm sure there will be much more to learn as I unfold and write my thoughts and life into the blog world. I will keep this blog updated on my daily routines and just random things that cross my mind as I live my life the only way I know how, my way.