jiu jitsu | The spott3r blog

We’re thrilled to welcome Zach to the Spott3r community! In addition to being a professional MMA fighter, the 31 year-old is also an entrepreneur and co-owns Finishers MMA and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Pennsylvania. On March 7th, Zach will be participating in his first professional fight since 2004, at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA. We asked the kickboxer and black belt a couple of questions about his workout routine.

What is your favorite workout?

I like to change my workouts up all the time to keep it interesting. I have been doing yoga for flexibility and movement, swimming and running for cardio, and kickboxing and kettlebells for strength and conditioning. My favorite workout is jiu-jitsu for sure because it’s so much fun. It requires the use of technique to overcome someone’s strengths. On Sundays, I usually do one hour of yoga, 5 x 5 minute rounds of jiu-jitsu sparring, and 5 x 3 minute rounds of kickboxing with either partners or pads.

What type of music do you like to work out to?

I listen to different types of music, and it’s dependent on the type of workout I am engaging in. Jiu-Jitsu is reggae all the way – Nas and Damian Marley, Patience Rebelution, Comfort Zone, On the Road to Zion – are some of my favorites.

What is your biggest fitness achievement to date?

My first ever MMA fight happened because I was a late addition and took the fight for someone who had gotten injured while training. I ended up winning the USMMA Reality Fighting Championships in 2002.

What is your current fitness goal?

My current fitness goal is to become more flexible and really concentrate on body movement.

What motivates you to get to the gym?

I want to be the best that I can be and I know the formula to achieving my own personal goals is to be consistent and never give up. Embrace The Grind.

What’s your biggest excuse for not working out?

Sometimes slight annoying injuries hold me back, but the two things that I can do is continue to eat healthy foods so my body gets all the right nutrients to heal quickly, and make sure that I stretch before engaging in any hard physical activity.

What makes your fitness journey unique?

I feel that my story is unique because, while I have been training in martial arts for a long time, I’ve been out of pro competition for over ten years. This year, I decided to make a comeback and represent my style and team in the upcoming fight at Sands Casino.

If you could give one piece of fitness advice to a newbie, what would it be?

I would recommend starting small and working your way up the fitness ladder – don’t go from 0 to 100 too fast. Set goals, stay consistent, and fall in love with living a healthy lifestyle. The results will follow.

What gym do you work out at and what’s your favorite thing about it?

I train out of Finishers MMA and 10th Planet Bethlehem. My favorite thing about our gym is the positive atmosphere and the people that I get to spend everyday with, doing what I love. I am blessed.

What’s your favorite fitness quote?

My favorite quote is actually from my favorite childhood athlete, Michael Jordan. He said “Limits like fears are often just an Illusion.” I believe that anything is possible when you think positively and believe in yourself.

Spott3r will be sponsoring Zach for his fight on March 7 at the Sands Casino. Good luck, Zach!

You can keep up with him on Twitter and Facebook or learn more about the classes (including a kids program!) at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

Check out this video of Zach in action. Talk about inspiring!