I wake up at the crack of dawn, put on my sweats, suck down a shake, and I’m out the door. Time to hit the road. It’s early. It’s dark. It’s cold. But I can feel only one thing—my adrenaline pumping as “Eye of the Tiger” pumps through my headphones.

I start out with a jog. As my body warms and the tunes keep jamming, I only have one thing on my mind—my opponent. How hard is he training? Not as hard as me. If he runs three miles, I run five. If he runs five miles, I run ten. I will do whatever it takes to be the best. I will not allow my opponent to beat me. I will not allow my training to beat me.

Everything in life that has come across my path is just another opponent that must be dealt with. This run…that’s right…your ass is mine. I finished in 30 minutes yesterday. Today it’s going to be 29. As my legs get through each mile, I do not tire. Instead, I get stronger. Every mile is one mile closer to my destiny to be a champion

Most people are exhausted after a run but not us. We are a whole different breed. The run is just a warm up. Just a little taste of training. We start steady and finish strong. As we get closer to the finish line, we can’t help but think, “Am I working hard enough?” I must push myself harder! I must train harder than him! I will not, I can’t be beat! So, instead of slowing as you tire, you dig down and pick up the pace. That’s right…finish strong. That’s how we win.

Now that my morning therapy session is complete, it’s time for a quick protein bar and a bottle of water. What next? Oh, yeah! The weight room. This is where we get strong. Loud tunes, weights clanking, lots of sweat. How much do I bench? More than you! How much do I squat? More than you! That’s right, I don’t care who you are. You don’t train harder than me!

The other team did ten reps so we’re doing 12. My opponent squats 300 lbs. I squat 350 lbs. And if I can’t, I will not leave this room until I can. Why? I am determined. I am on a mission. I will be a champion. I will lift harder, I will lift longer, and I will train with twice the intensity as you. Are you prepared to lay it on the line for one thing? Are you prepared to sacrifice as much as me? Are you willing to give your life to this cause? You better be because I am.

Shower up and get a quick meal, something light because we’re not done yet. A couple hours to study and then off to the ‘ole room. The smell of sweaty, stinky clothes and knee pads that haven’t been washed in a year. It’s 90 degrees plus, so stuffy it’s hard to breath and you can only think of one thing—I love this shit!

Time to get to work. Two hours of non-stop, hardcore, balls to the wall training. On-on-one, man to man combat. Me verse you. One of us is going down, and it ain’t gonna be me. We are on the same team and we are brothers, but in this circle, you are the next opponent to be dealt with.

Break a finger? Tape it up and get back in there. Bloody nose? Stuff some gauze in there and get back to scrapping. Knocked out cold? You okay? Good, then on your feet. Seven minute match! In here, we sweat, we bleed, and we hurt. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Welcome to our world. We are Centenary wrestling.