#88 Nick Suriano: Episode II - Mastering the Wrestler's Trifecta of Nutrition, Training, and Mental Grit

**Discalimer** We are trying out some new mics! Liam's got pretty well dialed in. Mine, not so much! But the show must go on!!


Unlock the secrets to peak athletic performance as we engage with wrestling powerhouse Nick Suriano in a riveting exploration of the synergistic trifecta that is nutrition, training, and mental resilience. He brings to the mat an arsenal of strategies from heart rate-monitored cardio to biomechanical enhancements, and divulge how transitioning to a fat-adapted diet has revolutionized his energy levels and cognitive clarity. This episode promises to guide you through the same transformative journey, whether you're gracing the wrestling arena or aiming for personal health milestones.

Imagine starting your days with the sharpness of a well-oiled machine, as Nick delves deep into the lifestyle changes that have not only sculpted his bodie but also honed his mind and spirit. We navigate the delicate dance of disciplined nutrition with the occasional indulgence, and share how to maintain this equilibrium amidst the chaos of travel and competition. The wisdom imparted by a Chinese nutrition master, Frank Jasper, the camaraderie within teams, and the personal anecdotes like Nick's "Handsome Tuesday" movement, paint a vivid picture of the wrestling world's fusion of body, mind, and soul.

As the episode draws to a close, the focus shifts to the grit and gratitude that propels an athlete towards the Olympic trials. Nick expresses heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering support from his  mentors and friends, while offering a sneak peek into the meticulous preparation that goes into each grueling session. Join us as we celebrate the relentless pursuit of excellence, and the power of personal connections that might just redefine the boundaries of combat sports. This encounter with Nick is not just about wrestling; it's about mastering the art of living fully, one takedown at a time.

Transcript

Speaker 2: 1:37

lot and we're live. We are live, man, all right. So I'm gonna tell everybody this right now the last time we did an episode, I got a little chaotic. I did that for some reason, I did everything else that I needed to do, but the power wasn't plugged in, so way to go me, way to go me we're championing. At this time we're plug in, we're gonna stay live, we're gonna not have to jump to all their things, but if you guys hear a little bit of an echo, is what it is man but, that we are joined by none other than Paul Liam hey, state champ four times state champs team.

Speaker 2: 3:51

Right, we got him on finally. It's been a while since he's been on. And then we are joined by our special guest, pan Am champion, nick Serriano that's a lot cooler hey, so we wanted to get back on you and I kind of touch base a little bit about what we might want to do and we decided we want to talk a little bit about nutrition because number one the man that's dealing with that nutrition is kind of what brought us together right, the whole vision quest everything.

Speaker 2: 4:25

Frank himself, that's right yeah, frank, frank, that's right. Um, he's helped Liam as well. So that's kind of the the mix that we got going on with that and then, plus now seeing you out there a little bit, your training man you're. You look like core training, I mean everything you're doing everything well.

Speaker 4: 4:45

Yeah, I'm in Tempe, arizona. I'm in a hotel right now, just uh, getting ready to focus on winning the Olympic trials yeah so you're wrestling with the Pan Am's.

Speaker 2: 4:55

I got to see a match or two. I mean, you made some pretty good work. I think Joey Silva was the the close match you had, but the guys just like you were just doing a clockwork, baby, you were. You were tuned in, so let's talk about how you know. Liam had a couple questions. When it came to just the competition, what was?

Speaker 3: 5:14

so I noticed, I noticed there was one match where it was close was it Joey Silva where it was two yeah it was three, two yeah three, two and then the next match. You just steamrolled the guy. So what was? Do you think it was like a, like a mentality thing that made that one match close and then that second match. Not so close, was it? You know what? What? What happened where the scores were so different in those matches.

Speaker 4: 5:37

I think there definitely was a mental and energetic shift in my physiology. Yeah, I was definitely a bit anxious in the morning to compete. I was excited for that infinity. Honestly, yeah, you know, being overseas is always a challenge, and competition is something that you can never take for granted. So I hadn't competed in a long time. It's was since last April at the US Open.

Speaker 4: 6:02

So yeah first match, acapulco was extremely excited to wrestle, but I don't know, I definitely tough opponent, definitely felt bigger and you know, wrestling at 61 versus 57, this definitely yeah. So but I think you know the key to any wrestling tournament is, no matter what happens in a match, we're in the first period or in the first exchange, it's.

Speaker 3: 6:27

It's kind of how you continue to wrestle and enjoy the process yeah, and then what like, because obviously you prep for each tournament is is your prep lift and wrestling or is it just wrestling? Or do you do lift and wrestling and then, closer towards the tournament, you just do wrestling? Yeah?

Speaker 4: 6:48

uh, that's a great question. It's majority wrestling I do do. Base rate heart rate. Monitored cardio yeah, about four times a week, which is a steady jog, and that's something I do. I usually do something called sprint eight, maybe once a week, which is yeah, I can see that. I've heard of that. Yeah, a minute and a half, uh, breathe, and then I do something called uh, you know, with move as a human and andrew hamel, here in phoenix I've been working on my biomechanics. Okay, keeps me strong and structurally aligned yeah, yeah nice, nice.

Speaker 2: 7:23

We're definitely gonna be touching on that, because we we also know, you know that you got a fuel right. You got a fuel that body. So that for yeah, yeah, for sure. We know, obviously, that you have a close relationship with frank. Uh, frank, jasper, if any. If everybody is unaware, uh is a uh, I believe, is a master's degree in chinese nutrition, and the knowledge that this guy has is, it's not just basic, um, it's, it's pretty intense in the things that he knows so what we've been talking about, especially with me, I'm just kind of making sure that you're fueling yourself during the season because you can.

Speaker 2: 8:04

You can lead astray candy bars, ice cream, you know things like that, especially as kids. The relationship that you've dealt with, frank over the years. Now I can't remember. I think it was just before mish, was it before michigan? Just before mish?

Speaker 4: 8:18

can that you wait, wait before it was uh be specific, perhaps, I don't know 2019, after I won the title and okay, okay, okay for sure so where where were you at when it came to nutrition?

Speaker 2: 8:34

what was your, your, your frame of mind when you that you reached out to him? What, what made you get to the nutrition factor first?

Speaker 4: 8:42

um, well, I had some several injuries, which have happened, you know, happened to athletes, but for me it was the sickness and the addictions and things that were, uh, disrupting my physiology that weren't healthy and normal. I had several infections in my knee and and things that I was trying to find out answers to, and luckily I was introduced to frank uh at his clinic at osani and in la and it changed my life. We've been in touch ever since, um, and and some of the information to this day, I I not question, yeah, I just like, I'm like, wow, how can this be right? You know, this is so right that things, great things, are happening.

Speaker 4: 9:23

Um, and and I grew up in a household where we were eating complex carbohydrates and sugars and, yeah, processed foods um and, yeah, it just took time to evolve to the understanding that that isn't the way that humans are designed to function and operate. Uh, in terms of peak performance and sport, to be a champion wrestler, and in life, uh, and for life extension and health um yeah, so it it converted to fat for fuel.

Speaker 4: 9:53

Um, first thing, being a fat adapted athlete, which should take me several years, uh, and I still think it's a process in our evolution um, day, day to day. Uh, yeah, truly, be a fat adapted human being and what that means in terms of intermittent fasting and how you start your day, what you're eating, what you know, when you're eating, and there are so many modalities to keep us going yeah, it's interesting you bring that up because it you've been seeing you at michigan, when I watched you wrestle at the nca, and even throughout the season, your physique changed like it was.

Speaker 2: 10:32

It was noticeable you were um.

Speaker 1: 10:35

I lack of a better term vainy, you were the fat.

Speaker 2: 10:38

The fat looked like it was you weren't.

Speaker 4: 10:41

You weren't the rugger's neck.

Speaker 1: 10:43

Let's put it that way you were cold you were in shape and I was like man.

Speaker 4: 10:47

This kid went through a transformation it was refreshing to see yeah, uh, you know, and frank you know, being a mentor, a guide, somebody on a level way above me, uh, I was lucky to have him a part of that process which was so personal uh, at the time for me as a young man finishing his college career uh at michigan, and it was you know a three month season. You know march is coming out, march. Here we are now and are coming up.

Speaker 4: 11:20

So I can kind of remember it very vividly, the processes that I was doing and the nutrition plan that kept me going to make the wait three days in a row, and when that was on my mom's birthday, which is frank shoots, uh, extraordinarily enough, but um, it just was really a process close to professionalism, I'd say, and I couldn't do it without his mentorship. So I'd love to discuss some of the things that you know got me to be in that champion on on that day yeah, yeah for sure, so let's talk about that, but not, I mean, there wasn't a lot of.

Speaker 2: 11:59

Until you were there, no one really knew what was going on, no one, and it's really nobody's business. We all know that. Right, it's not like people should be reached out. We're like what are you going on? Or willy's trying to figure out what's going on? It was, it was your hunt, it was your, your quest, right?

Speaker 1: 12:16

so we did that quest at michigan where did that? Where did that?

Speaker 2: 12:21

what did that mean to you? Like just the start of it. Like you, you're at ruckers, you know you had it, I'd be a stellar. I would say a season, obviously, so then you go to michigan what? Was what happened.

Speaker 4: 12:34

What was what was that? What was that quest like? Um, I chose michigan. I felt there was an intrinsic motivation way beyond myself to not only win on my mom's birthday, no matter who the opponents were, but to perform at my best. And the team, the team race, was something that really interested me, um, and that's something I don't, I don't want to talk about, but but we did, uh, do what was needed to be done at big tens in linkin, nebraska, yeah, and you know ncaa's, uh, you know penn state came out on top and yeah, but for me at least, it, uh, it was just a very personal loving time in my life where, again, I was in a relationship at the time and uh, uh, you know it, it just came down to very specific, serious, uh, moment to moment.

Speaker 2: 13:33

You know, very truthful, it was a very challenging experience so we hear us talk a lot about relationships as far as we'll say, like a girlfriend or whatever. Did you find that it affected you or impacted you in the wrong way? Having a relationship during a season? Do you think it elevated you?

Speaker 4: 13:52

absolutely not.

Speaker 4: 13:53

It just uh, it gave me something to love, closer to the ultimate goal of what god wants me to become one, just that extra piece, and and that brings me back to la, meeting frank and osani holistic um there in pacific palaces, my favorite on earth, although I've had great, great, great lovely time and experience in training here with sun kiss kids in tempia, arizona, uh, but it's just been a journey and I'm still unlocking and discovering the wise and the who's and the what's, but it seems like right now I'm with the right people.

Speaker 3: 14:33

The environment I'm in is inspiring I'm nutritionally supported and my body is thriving, so how, like how many times in a regular season would you say you're switching meal plans? Like, are you switching for every event that you have, or is it just whatever frank throws at you?

Speaker 4: 14:55

I know it's a, it's a way of life and it's it's the guidance that I've received and the trust that I have for that guidance, knowing that the information is way more than I could understand, coming from the understanding where I come from and what I was taught to be right and what college sports is telling athletes to be right, yeah, uh, which isn't but just something simple like ketone iq throughout the day, is something that keeps me honest. I'd say, um, I like to start the morning with a, a fat adapted coffee, mct oil, goat butter preferably would be great yeah, I know you got that coffee with you.

Speaker 3: 15:34

You want to. You want to show that off a little bit.

Speaker 4: 15:36

Show the oh yeah, it's got a sedonal water label, which is great. I went on an awesome hiking journey there with my mentor mine but uh, it's really just a bulletproof coffee with some mct oil nice, I usually don't have to do in a day.

Speaker 4: 15:51

I usually just start the morning train and break fast at around I don't know 12, 31 o'clock if you. Sometimes too, on a really good day, yeah, and I prefer to um have protein, okay. The eggs, it could be some steak or a mixture of both. It could be salmon, it could be protein and fat and veggies are great, and try to keep it to two meals in a day, okay are you fully organic? I think so I I'm still clearing out a lot of bad tendencies, habits, so sure?

Speaker 2: 16:27

Hey, there's nothing wrong with a guy going out and slamming down a slice of pizza.

Speaker 3: 16:34

Once in a month, like he moves a matchy like you know like five-time grab or jujitsu world champion, and all he eats in a day Is pizza that's cool.

Speaker 4: 16:45

I've done that before too, but that guy.

Speaker 3: 16:49

So just how, how does that affect you when you started doing the diets with Frank 2019? How did that affect you mentally? Did were you? Were you constantly battling it or was it just you just kept going? It didn't really affect you Like trying to break those habits.

Speaker 4: 17:08

No, I think. I think it's a process of understanding in terms of our evolution and what our body truly needs. But, for instance, like with Frank, he he got I thought yesterday was great training, yeah, here in Arizona, and it was challenging, my body was Going through a purging process and just there was some things that I'm like, man, this is challenging, it's a challenging experience. And he was like, hey, have some, some berries, you know berries, right. And I was like, wow, okay, that's, I look forward to that and yeah, I did. I felt great. So I'm always open to listening and learning. Yeah, but pretty specifically, I think the fat adaptation lifestyle is it's kept me cognitively, spiritually clear. Yeah, this.

Speaker 2: 17:58

So with the nutrition, then as you go, you know, kind of like Liam asked, if you don't change much, that you you're trying to create a clear path of what you do day to day to make it so it's a routine, and as you get into that routine Do you find yourself having to mix. You know, a little bit, because you said twice today, so that's kind of.

Speaker 1: 18:19

To me.

Speaker 4: 18:22

So do you find?

Speaker 2: 18:22

yourself in the middle of the day.

Speaker 4: 18:26

Not every day, it's not. It's not a Regimented only one way or another. It's, it's, it's. Yeah, preferably if I can get two meals and have a snack in between macadamias or walnuts sprouted, have tons of vegetables cooked, depends what kinds. But yeah. For carp. I mean, I'm having carbs. Carbohydrates aren't the issue, it's the fat adaptation. Yeah, ali, that is Expanded my you know my mind, body and spirit. So do you do.

Speaker 3: 19:03

You Obviously. Obviously you want challenges, you want to be uncomfortable, but do you ever feel like, like, do you ever feel like you would rather be more comfortable in the situation that you're in Than uncomfortable? Like those those days where you just feel like you're hungry? You know, like, do you ever feel like you would rather be Comfortable than uncomfortable, or you just always looking to be as uncomfortable as possible?

Speaker 4: 19:28

Um, I Prefer, I prefer what's sustainable, what's organic. Yeah, I mentioned and, and what's true, and, and I just think there are certain sugars and certain ingredients and certain foods and starches included. I'd say that can alter the brain state and how I feel and function and, again from my upbringing, how things were. It's just you know, that's just how things were. But what are things and what can things be it, what is the bigger picture and what you know, and and what am I striving for and what's and?

Speaker 1: 20:10

how do I?

Speaker 2: 20:11

see and go yeah. Okay, okay. So when you're traveling, you know when you, when you travel to, is that a challenge? You know, cuz like Liam's about to leave for Estonia and things change a little bit right. So you find yourself challenged a little more when it comes because, again, the food is the fuel. Right, you can fool yourself mentally, but you find yourself challenge trying to Keep that balance for yourself, especially when you're going to competition.

Speaker 4: 20:39

Oh yeah, you know, in Acapulco there was a. It's an interesting experience because, oh, I Couldn't drink the water, you probably get sick. So we were informed about not drinking their water and Not eating certain cooked your vegetables and things along those lines, because who knows what can happen. But those are things that happen when you travel overseas. You know, yeah, yeah, it's a different Way of life, different, it's just, things are different and mm-hmm.

Speaker 4: 21:08

That's okay, but you have to be prepared for it. So Some of my food got taken at the airport, but that's whatever and I may do, and that's why I think the fat adapted lifestyle Sufficient, because we're not relying on sugar and carbs and things like that to keep us going superficially. It's more of a deeper Process to empower me.

Speaker 2: 21:30

Alright. So as we kind of dig through the nutrition portion, I know that there's, like I said, there's a lot of fuel to it, but now, like I said, you're out there a little more and you're putting some stuff out and we see you're working out a little differently. It seems like your workouts are a little more intrinsic. They're really focused on what your body needs.

Speaker 2: 21:52

But Right how did you know what you needed? How did you know, when you got to that, that this is like guess? This is what I need. You know yourself, right. So, what would you do the places that you're at?

Speaker 4: 22:04

The guidance from above, the people above me that have the answers. Yes, some some of those answers I don't have and I'm on the process of discovering those answers.

Speaker 1: 22:15

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 4: 22:16

Al Capulco winning a Pan American championship gold for team USA. Yeah, I think on those lines. You know Frank Jasper's mentorship Keep me, keep me going. They keep me getting closer to not the things that I want but that you know the universe can provide if we have faith and stress the process.

Speaker 3: 22:36

So when you get those, like when, when you get put through those Exercises that you that you've been posting on your Instagram Does, does Frank look at those two before you do them to make sure it fits with everything like is is everyone that you work with In on those or you know which?

Speaker 4: 22:53

workout you're referring to. I don't you.

Speaker 3: 22:57

You were on. It was the one where you were using the bar and you were really. You were twisting and you're, you're moving everywhere with it.

Speaker 1: 23:06

Yeah, I don't know how to explain it.

Speaker 3: 23:08

Yeah, I was a gym, I was a.

Speaker 4: 23:10

Yeah, that was with a CJ great movement and strength based trainer, just a new flair. That's. That's in San Luis Obispo, california. Okay, I love the second coast, but I think mobility and strength tied together yeah, how do you define power? So there's a lot of levels to you life, being a human being and being a champion in wrestling and that's kind of why, you know, training in the Central Coast was great.

Speaker 4: 23:37

But I kind of felt the need to reconnect with my coach, mark Perry, out here at Sun Kiss Kids and work on some technical aspects in certain technical positions so that we can beat the competition around the globe. And there's a job to accomplish, like I said before, and and but no, I don't usually. I'm sure Frank has seen them and I think he supports them, but uh, yeah, janalza has been great, andrew Hamill here has been amazing, victor from Move is a human's been great and, yeah, everybody's. I mean there's a lot of support. Yeah, they straight Cardio's and in the way and things like that. Everything is kind of merging together. But we have work to do, we have work course, yeah.

Speaker 2: 24:27

So there's always gonna be work to do, no matter what, and we all know that. And the work that you put in right now just seems a little different than what most guys do, and to me Difference not bad, there's nothing wrong with it. There's the different that that pushes someone. But then there's also a different that motivates. Are you finding yourself a little more motivated? I mean obviously one hands, but like now, with just the workouts you're finding Do you find yourself a little more motivated each time that you're working and find these new dynamics that help.

Speaker 4: 25:01

Absolutely, absolutely. You know, when I see what the competition is doing, I try to pay no mind to it because I trust the mentorship that I have and and the people around me now, yeah, which which is an ultimate motivation for me, and Because it's it comes from here and that's what matters. The clutter out there is weak, and I think when you're close to your unit and your coaches and your people, your tribe, you, you, you're strong, yeah.

Speaker 2: 25:35

Mm-hmm yeah, I think, I think.

Speaker 3: 25:43

You feed off of the energy that they, that they give you.

Speaker 4: 25:46

So if you're, if you're with people who want to work hard, who want to, who want to win just as much as you do, you're gonna, you're gonna elevate to that level, if you're not already there right and the seeing of that and believing and that is key and I think, yeah, and I've been in environments where it's you know you gotta just it's it can get very personal, yeah, so yeah, our coach personal. I wanted to be inspiring, uplifting and motivated.

Speaker 3: 26:12

Yeah, our coach always Coach mainly said a lot trust the process. That was his big thing with a bunch of other things, but that was one of his biggest like key sayings was trust the process. It's gonna work, you know, and obviously it ended up getting the job.

Speaker 2: 26:31

Yeah it's interesting that you say trust the process, because a process at your age, a process is given to you yeah, whereas Nick, you're creating. So there's a process that maybe your team goes through right, but you're creating your own process and, like you said, you're getting Notifications, will say, from wherever it is that are telling you driving you there. Do you find sometimes that you question the process, like is this right? Do I need to go this?

Speaker 1: 26:56

way.

Speaker 2: 26:57

It's not even like a scared question.

Speaker 4: 26:59

You're just kind of like is this the best way? Maybe I'll try this. That's a great question because, yeah, there, there are always, I don't know if it's doubts, it's no doubts. It's more questioning and Trusting the process, like, like Liam said, and that's, that's the, that's what, that's what's important. Um, and nothing can get in the way of that when you do so.

Speaker 1: 27:42

And what other you decide to do one or the other, and we're gonna be written for you later.

Speaker 4: 27:53

Way 125.6 pounds is the way class all right. Has been since Detroit and before that. Yeah, he's France Paris international airport over. You know, at Nice there's an international tournament and the weights 57 kgs, although I think it was 30 that day.

Speaker 3: 28:13

So so then, how do you Like? Was it just you were trying out being 61 kgs, you just wanted to try to just wrestle a little bit bigger, or what was? If the goal was always 57, why 61 kgs at Pan Am?

Speaker 4: 28:27

though that's a great point. I, you know, throughout the summer I was trying to heal and recover my body. Yeah, I helped play and there were contemplations, but it was always 57 kgs, okay, okay, in terms of Pan Am's for Team USA. It was kind of an opportunity that was given to me, okay yeah, and I absolutely and oh yeah, I definitely seem to be. I mean, in that first round I thought I was a Little bit smaller than the opponent, but that's a part of the competition, that's a part of the training and the preparation and the jazz.

Speaker 3: 29:01

so Speaking of that match, do you do you think it was it was all you know, physical and then mental. Or do you think it was also because of maybe some technique was slipping up, because you were, you were really, you were excited to wrestle that you, you were going really fast on some of the little sloppy. Or do you think it was all just you know?

Speaker 4: 29:20

physically he was bigger and mentally, no, there's a lot that goes on in an arena overseas and things happen. I I think trusting your coaches is key, honest. Yeah, I seem to be supported in the process, but in terms of my wrestling I could have attacked more. I could have got take down first. There are a couple exchanges that I didn't finish, I didn't get the points, but I think in all three matches I was down, I was losing and I had to come back. So you know victory.

Speaker 2: 29:53

So so that's silver match was interesting because it was one points you know is pushouts, things like that and but things seem to get a little tense. Thank you a little hand, things like that. I would say an agitabway tense, but kind of feel the fire a little bit for you guys. We were wrestling.

Speaker 4: 30:10

I Thankful that that matchup happened for me. I take it is great preparation and yeah turning, because I mean again I had it competed in wrestling in a while. That matchup for me was great and I had to overcome that. It threw that round and then, as you mentioned before I, after that one, I just was like, wow, I'm gonna Enjoy this process genuinely. Yeah, people around me In the background was very important to keep me Uplifted and inspired to win the Pan American championships.

Speaker 2: 30:54

Yeah, Well, man, we were here in the US chair for you. Man, that was sweet to watch. It was good to see you because we were talking before you went.

Speaker 4: 31:02

No, no, it was just kind of the unknown.

Speaker 3: 31:20

It was, it was great, and so here the just the whole experience represent USA grassland and so do you Because obviously you've, you've, you, you have a process, and so, like that, do you have a pre, pre-tournament, pre-match, like kind of Thing that you do every time, like when you warm up, you're doing this, this and this, or is it? Is it kind of just going with the flow still?

Speaker 4: 31:47

I definitely could get better at that. In a way, I think a lot of it's centering and grounding the energy, especially when there's a lot of competition around you. It's great to be with the people that uplift and see eye to eye with you, are on the same task as you. For me, that's important. I appreciated that with Team USA. That kept me going to say, hey, I'm going to wrestle my hardest. If it turns into a tough fight or a close match, I'm going to dig deep. I have the right support around me through Team USA to get the job done.

Speaker 3: 32:24

Of course, yeah, and you did.

Speaker 2: 32:26

You've got it done. Well, man, let's talk a little bit about what's going on. You started this handsome Tuesday movement. What do?

Speaker 4: 32:33

you got there. This is ketone IQ.

Speaker 3: 32:37

Okay.

Speaker 4: 32:38

Nice, I'm watching this ketone. It's great for the brain, gentle, fat burning, energetic state.

Speaker 3: 32:45

My biggest question and I've heard it a lot from my teammates that's here handsome Tuesdays, and I see and where did the Lakers had originated? Where did you get it when you first met Frank? Where did the Lakers had come from?

Speaker 4: 33:02

Oh, do you like it I?

Speaker 1: 33:03

love it. It's amazing. Thanks buddy, I love it.

Speaker 4: 33:07

I'm going to be with my buddy mentor and friend, Jay Moore, New Jersey. Jay, hey, Jay.

Speaker 2: 33:13

Yeah, Jay is cleaning solar. Maybe that's good to see.

Speaker 4: 33:15

Really funny guy and but now it has been another crucial mentor to my success and being a better man.

Speaker 3: 33:24

Okay.

Speaker 2: 33:25

So that's interesting that you found that connection. Where did that handsome Tuesday? We got a handsome Tuesday Army fellow here.

Speaker 4: 33:33

Jeff, that's right. It's a good day coming up soon, but yeah, Thanks to him for that. It's just inspiration and how I can put myself out there in a positive, uplifting way for people to see when did you run into Jay Moore?

Speaker 2: 33:48

How did that relationship happen?

Speaker 4: 33:50

I can thank my mom for that. I remember, after I won the Nationals for Rutgers in 2019, I was doing a clinic at a jujitsu school with a high school teammate of mine and, yeah, it was great. And mom said, hey, we're going to be in that area. There's a comedy show Jay Moore is playing. He mentioned something about you we heard on the radio, I don't know. Mom said something like that. I said, hey, yeah, sure, it's only like 10 minutes away. It was at what's it called A Palisades Mall.

Speaker 3: 34:21

Okay, New York.

Speaker 4: 34:24

So we ended up going and I met Jay backstage and he was wearing a shoot vision question and I said, wow, this is amazing. The show was absolutely hilarious and it was just really cool. I think we saw it and we connected him being from New Jersey and me the same yeah, jeff also said it would be sick to have you do a seminar at the jujitsu training center. It would be great if you could Jeff, or is that? Yes, yeah, um.

Speaker 3: 34:55

Is there anything else there?

Speaker 4: 34:58

Junior oh, that's great. Um, that's true.

Speaker 3: 35:05

The some people have. Oh, they thought when you first started doing it they thought it was really strange. So I just want to know what. What is not the message, but what, yeah, what's the meaning behind it? What is it why? Why did you start it? What's what's the meaning? And is it just what is it?

Speaker 4: 35:26

It's a social media trend to spread a positive message of truth and live it to the people and something to keep me active on social media because, especially at Michigan, I wasn't active on social media.

Speaker 3: 35:39

I have a hard time with that too. I just gotcha.

Speaker 4: 35:42

Yeah, I I you know, at Rutgers I was on the social media a lot and Michigan wasn't, and it's good to be back in Arizona training. It's been a great journey and I represent what I believe in and I think is key parts we believe in it too.

Speaker 2: 35:59

We believe in it too, my friend. I mean, that's the biggest thing that I think, that once we met Frank and kind of realized how much not only just the mental aspect that the diet can do for you, obviously, but also the physical aspect a lot of people don't think about, you know, and putting the pieces together with that, and I think what.

Speaker 1: 36:16

I think is in this point is straight with it is. You are always fit to be.

Speaker 3: 36:25

We're like energy drinks and stuff. We'll hit him in the top. Yeah, um, okay, this is so. At my clubs that go to, I train at Askren, and then even during our high school practices we would play dodgeball. Do you guys do that out there in Arizona, or is that where you?

Speaker 4: 36:42

guys, just strictly on soccer. I know there's a couple of soccer with the word forza on it, which means strength in Italian, but I, uh, I like to do the backwards walking on the treadmill and Mark's been great because putting me coach Perry has been great with putting me in positions under hooks and strong positions to work on technically right away.

Speaker 3: 37:01

Yeah, and uh, is that your? Thing Like no more of an under hook guy, or or are you kind of yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah?

Speaker 4: 37:10

Yeah. Yeah yeah, yeah, for sure. I mean Be, you know, learning how to wrestle in tie-ups and then learn how to wrestle outside of the time, so you can't guess one. And then what, what tie-ups you like and what tie-ups relate to you and which ones don't. So yeah, get trying to get better at wrestling here.

Speaker 2: 37:27

Yeah, right, exactly. So when we talk about, when we talk about fed, adapted diets and things like that and just the just kind of the Metamorphosis that you've been going through, do you find that your your outlook as far as where you're at in life and it looks like you're skyrocketing? I know like you are in place in a place you've been happy, since you've been on the West Coast.

Speaker 1: 37:53

It seems like it's elevated a lot of what you think of and how you think um Do you think that it's also kind of?

Speaker 2: 38:01

changed.

Speaker 4: 38:04

I don't want to say lifestyle, but it's really your lifestyle because it seems like you're you're.

Speaker 4: 38:11

Absolutely cold therapy. I think the way of life on the West Coast, which took me quite some time to discover, being from New Jersey and and you know, just that was my upbringing and it was great. But there's good and better and there's more and there's truth and there's love and there's great things out there and, mm-hmm, it's a blessing to be able to train with Cal Poly at the time In the build up to Al Capocco Pan American Championships, to be with team USA. You know in between that I was training at the Olympic Training Center a little bit and had the right guidance and mentorship, frank Jay and, and you know, my family. But it's just, it's been a blessing to be on the West Coast Discovering how to be a better wrestler, how to implement these life-enhancing Nutrition protocols and things along those lines so that I can accomplish my goals and now I'm starting to realize that my goals are Not my, only my purpose.

Speaker 4: 39:10

There's a purpose way beyond me. Yeah, fact that I can be better than my best is it keeps me going every day, more and more and more.

Speaker 1: 39:21

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 2: 39:22

Have you found what you're doing now to affect the relationships you have outside of the rest and you're not in the bad way, but just like enhancing them? Maybe you find that it's enhanced, maybe with your parents or it's an uncle.

Speaker 4: 39:35

Can you expand on that so?

Speaker 2: 39:39

Enhancing your relationships. Like you find it? You find.

Speaker 4: 39:43

Instead of like something that would have set you off before and angered you.

Speaker 2: 39:46

Do you find more of a common?

Speaker 4: 39:48

piece with something when you're confronted with it now.

Speaker 4: 39:51

Yeah, I think I can realize what's truly aligned and what's true. What are the things that I've had to let go of to get to that and to Be what God wants me to be and instead of trying to be everything I want to be, which is really shallow. So I but, yeah, I've learned to flow and and what flow means and and what that aligns with and who that aligns with, and that's what brought me to where I am today and to be able to be back in Tempe, where, you know, I got COVID-19 at the last Olympic trials. I couldn't compete. I was training with Sun Kiss Kids In Arizona for quite some time, for several months more. Yeah, I was here for a year, I think at the time before I actually know it might have been like 10 months, but so, being back here at this time, there's very, there's a lot of importance and, in truth, so do you?

Speaker 3: 40:55

Do you think the, the definition of flow for you is different for the next guy, or do you think it's pretty, pretty self-explanatory because you, you, you are obviously the guy that that goes with the flow. You know you, wherever the, wherever the wind takes you for the best, that's where you're gonna go. But do you think that's different for other people? Or do you do you think it's it's pretty similar for everyone, that's a great question.

Speaker 4: 41:21

I don't know that answer specifically, but I do know that everyone is on their process as a. What that means is Beyond me as well. I still trying to discover those, those reasons and lessons and and understandings. But I think being in a flow state, especially in a wrestling match, is Certainly a challenge, but one that's taken its place it. It's unstoppable.

Speaker 2: 41:51

So I'm gonna piggyback off that with what he asked. Is that process that you're going through Something that the guys around you are starting to pick up on and you notice, maybe, them taking not everything, but taking a piece of what you're doing and being blood looks like you really work. You notice guys around you kind of gravitating towards something that you have a little bit of um, do you mean here in Arizona? Yeah, yeah, or even on a Cal Poly when you're working with those guys out there.

Speaker 4: 42:18

Definitely, absolutely so um and it was cool to see it be recognized with team USA Mm-hmm. Wrestling is the key part of this game, so seeing that overseas, in Agapogo, for the Pan Ams was, was key because, you know again, hadn't competed. All right, where am I? Have a tough first match? Okay, where am I? Okay, here I am, I'm in the flow, I'm down, though it, and flow has guided me here. Yeah it's definitely asked.

Speaker 2: 42:52

So we're gonna, we're gonna end. We'll talk a little bit here because we want to ask you about you. Obviously, nta's are coming up right.

Speaker 4: 43:00

Yes, they are.

Speaker 2: 43:02

Oh, are you watching anyone? Is there anyone that you're rooting for? Is there a guy you got you like? That's my guy. I'm hoping he does well. Is there anyone you're rooting for?

Speaker 4: 43:11

Definitely rooting for Chance Lamar.

Speaker 3: 43:13

Okay.

Speaker 4: 43:14

All right. Yeah, polly for sure. Yeah, I'm as well. Yeah, okay, great guys. I know Arizona's got a bunch of them. So I just focus on what's ahead for me, focus on my training day in and day out, listen to my coach, listen to my coaches, my mentorship, and Be honest and see. See where people are, what they're doing, see that and then see where I am and what we're doing and how we are. Course did.

Speaker 3: 43:45

Obviously there's a true freshman, braden Davis. Right now 125 pounds at Penn State. Have you seen some of the Ready to catch up?

Speaker 4: 43:57

Raptors, guys are doing well too, but bring it, oh yeah good, yeah, um, he, he's the.

Speaker 3: 44:05

Have you seen some of the I guess you could say memes that have been going on about the, the Penn State 125 pound curse since you've left. Oh, like they're kind of saying Davis could break that.

Speaker 4: 44:20

I don't. I I've heard of some. I don't know if I must have heard something like that. Yeah, you know, it was great seeing some of the Penn State coaches, like Jake Barnard, backstage. Yeah, I'll go. Some of the guys there, a cow, the cow Snyder nice.

Speaker 4: 44:37

Olympic champions, things along those lines. I'm Super respectful, yeah and on. And what it takes to be an Olympic gold medalist Just being able to see that again yeah, I was was really inspiring. But no, I haven't seen those memes lately. I, as much as I'm posting these days, I try to yeah, you know Me too much, yeah.

Speaker 3: 45:02

Do you? You Do you read a lot, or is it just?

Speaker 4: 45:05

you're just working out all the time. I definitely have some ADD that I'm getting over, which is why the fat adaptation, the ketone IQ. Yeah hydrogen water. Yeah, cutting out the sugars and then things, unnecessary carbs keeps me, keeps me honest, keeps me in sync and in tune and, yeah, grounded champion by design baby. Absolutelycom yes.

Speaker 2: 45:28

I'm right there.

Speaker 4: 45:29

I'm so. Who, though, was the prime example of oh yeah, I'm dying, that's, that's for sure. Yeah, yeah, here so yeah, good.

Speaker 2: 45:38

Well, nick, you spent a lot of time with us, you got training and you got recouping and resting Shoutouts who you want to, who you want to be shouting out right now, anybody in particular my friends and coaches and mentors here in Arizona, marquery and you know, just getting ready to win the Olympic trials.

Speaker 4: 45:57

That's the focus mm-hmm objective and you know, yeah, and shout out the team USA and men's and women's wrestling, it's really important and should, should be noticed, and I think it's gonna be Just to really I can't even put words to experience that's to come at Penn State. So good luck to the Penn State wrestlers and um, that's all I could say. That's all you got, man, that's all you got Well, I appreciate it. By the way.

Speaker 2: 46:31

Jeff S Said he's out in white planes New York for that jiu-jitsu camp that you ever want to do one, jeff S, is it? You put it up right here he's out in white planes New York. He says so, maybe, maybe you get done with all this and you head out the white planes and maybe run a clinic, right Is that?

Speaker 4: 46:48

far away from the Palisades, oh, hey.

Speaker 2: 47:01

Just like we always do at the end here. But we're gonna close this out and Everybody. I hope you appreciate the episode. Go check them out. You get some inside info. Man on the dude.

Speaker 1: 47:12

We're all right, nick, congratulations Good. Thank you so much, peace.