Archive for December 2015
Success Story:In-Depth with Robert Hollander
What motivated you to change your life?
Our proud X3 member Robert Hollander
That is an essential question when talking about getting fit and actually doing something about it. You will get many different answers, but one of the best I’ve ever heard is: “Look good naked.”
Yes, that simple but true answer comes from X3 member Robert Hollander, our Success Story feature this month. We met up with Robert at the X3 Sports Inman Park location, where Robert has worked with personal trainer, Brian Meadows, five days a week for the past year.
Clearly he loves it! At the ripe age of 62, Robert desires to continue challenging himself with classes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and PowerTrack. Read Robert’s personal story of getting fit, boosting his self-image and even increasing his success rate with women!
What changed your life and made you join X3 Sports?
“It’s that image of my father and what happened to him. So my determination is that I don’t want that to be me.”
We understand what Robert means. Seeing a parent, or anyone you love, decline in health and become immobile, is difficult to experience.
“Whatever years I live, I want them to be quality. I want to able to enjoy life.”
Robert toning muscle at X3 Sports
Shortly after his father passed, Robert decided to put his health first. He had a health assessment which included photographs. After seeing the photos, he immediately went online and researched personal training.
After his first Health Assessment, Robert before X3 Sports (January 2015)
After your health assessment, how did you feel?
“When I looked at the photos, I could not believe what I looked like. I couldn’t believe that was me. It was terrible. I had been taking Crossfit for a year. I had no idea, that I absolutely looked that bad. I had to do something about it.”
How did you discover X3 Sports?
Robert realized that Crossfit was not the program for him and wanted a more personal regiment to emphasize toning of his body. Having no idea what to do, he went back online to do research.
“About that time, I discovered Mixed Martial Arts, and Ronda Rousey specifically. Ronda Rousey, she’s just amazing. Reading about her, I discovered one of her specialities was in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
If I’m going to learn something new, that sounded very interesting. So I googled ‘Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’, and the first hit was ‘X3 Sports’.”
Lifting weight during his Personal Training session
Why did you join X3 Sports?
“Wow! I saw all the energy and excitement that was going on here, and the classes, and the enthusiasm…it’s infectious! It was a no brainer. I was here to sign up.”
What made you sign up for personal training at X3 Sports?
Robert recalled seeing X3 Sports trainer Brian Meadows for the first time during his X3 Sports tour and thinking “that guy looks like he does body building,” and Robert wanted that same look.
“I signed up right then and there.
When I look at current selfies and compare them to older ones…I can feel it. Everything. I feel huge!”
Robert accomplishing his objective: “Look good naked.” (October 2015)
How often do you have personal training sessions?
“My first week, I did two sessions. My second week, I did three sessions. After doing three sessions for a couple weeks, I said I would like to do work up to the point where I do a session every day. It took me a couple weeks more to get to the point where I do a session every day.
My general level of fitness is much higher than it was than in those days.”
What motivates you to stay in shape and train at X3 Sports?
“The objective is to look good naked!” responded Robert laughing. Definitely a great answer!
“The question I ask myself is what motivated me before? And so this desire to not be like my father is probably what has kept me going even when I haven’t seen results. But now what motivates me is every week, I can see an improvement.
- One, I don’t want to be like my father.
- Two, I’m 62 years old, so if I don’t do it now, it’s not like I’m going to do it next year. Time is my enemy. That’s why I’m here five days a week. This is a priority, my health is important.
- Three, the results. Not only do I see the results, other people see it too.”
Robert lifting during his Personal Training session
Do you enjoy taking selfies now after becoming fit?
“I have never been one to take selfies, but now I take alot. I never did that before. I take selfies everyday now. I can tell the difference from three weeks ago, from the week before.”
- Robert gaining his confidence, self-esteem and presence back!
Has your confidence changed?
“I’ve never been somebody to admire the way I look, and now I do. I have random people, saying to me ‘You look great’ and ‘You’re in great shape.’ Especially lovely ladies!
Yes, especially in dealing with members of the opposite sex, my confidence and self-esteem has gone way up. My physical presence among other people has gone through the roof!
My success rate has gone way up, as far as meeting ladies and going on dates; it went from nothing to a lot. With the only difference being that I’m exercising.”
What are your next goals at X3 Sports?
“My next goal is to integrate something along with my five sessions a week. And that goal is, at the moment, return to the original objective of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.”
A jovial laugh is the perfect ending to our interview with Robert. He shared his journey from the beginning to almost a year later at X3 Sports. We feel so inspired! He’s going strong, and we cannot wait to see him on the mat!
And of course, a selfie with Robert!
Personal Training Success Story: In-Depth with Robert Hollander
What motivated you to change your life?
That is an essential question when talking about getting fit and actually doing something about it. You will get many different answers, but one of the best I’ve ever heard is: “Look good naked.”
Robert Hollander
I signed up right then and there after my X3 Sports tour. I saw all the energy and excitement and the classes and the enthusiasm…it’s infectious! It was a no brainer.
What motivated me to get fit is this desire to not be like my father (who was immobile in his later years). Whatever years I live, I want them to be quality. To be able to enjoy life. What motivates me now is every week, I can see an improvement. I can see the difference, but more importantly, I can feel the difference. My general level of fitness is also much higher than it was in the past.
My confidence and self-esteem have gone way up, especially when dealing with members of the opposite sex. My success rate has gone way up as far as meeting ladies and going on dates, it went from nothing to a lot. With the only difference being, I’m exercising.
My next goal is to integrate something along with my five personal training sessions a week. That goal is to return to the original objective of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. SEE MORE OF ROBERT’S STORY ON OUR BLOG*
Nathan Williams: MMA Amateur Fighter Turns Pro
Exclusive One-on-One Interview with Nathan Williams
If you’ve seen him fight in the ring, you’ve seen the burning passion in Nathan “Nasty Nate” Williams. Nate is a local mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter from Stone Mountain, Georgia, who started wrestling in high school. Loving the challenges of MMA, Nate sees himself going against other intelligent and strategic fighters such as Connor McGregor, currently ranked the #1 in the UFC Featherweight division, someday.
Nate is about see one of his dreams turn into a reality. This weekend, “Nasty Nate” will take the stage for the first time as a Pro Fighter.
With a background in sports, Nate is a natural in the ring and trains at the X3 Sports West Midtown location. Learn how he got his nickname “Nasty Nate” and why he will be the next big MMA fighter!
Congratulations, Nate! What does going Pro in MMA mean to you?
“Turning pro is a dream come true! It is really a stepping stone into a longer journey ahead. A lot of people do not make it to the pro ranks, so I thank God for letting me get this far.”
Your MMA nickname is “Nasty Nate”. Where did that come from?
“My nickname came from my second amateur fight. I was fighting for Conflict MMA and the announcer came to the back to ask me if I had a nickname. I said no, but my boy Demarques Jackson told the announcer that it was “nasty”. And ever since then, it just stuck with me.”
How long have you been training as an MMA fighter?
“I have been training in MMA for three years now. My first class was Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, at the X3 Sports Inman Park location with Helio Soneca.”
What about MMA do you love? How does it challenge you?
“I love that MMA has a wrestling aspect to it, as well as all the other aspects it contains. Being a 13-year wrestler, I wanted to be able to use my strong suits, as compared to boxing, which I felt I would be selling myself short.”
“Mixed martial arts challenges me because I want to be the best in the world! And there are so many fighters in the world, that it is a constant struggle to be the best.”
What are your favorite moves in the Octagon?
“As a wrestler, my favorite moves are takedowns and chokes. I tend to take people’s backs pretty easily, so essentially choking them comes next.”
What is your walk out song and why?
“My fight songs vary. Right now it’s “Ambition” by Meek Mills and Wale because I feel fighting is my ambition, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
How did you discover X3 Sports? And what has X3 done for you?
“I discovered X3 Sports just off of an internet browser searching for “mma gyms”, and it was one of the first results that came up and was relatively close to my house. I went for a free class and signed up the same day!”
“X3 has changed my life completely! Besides giving me two cauliflower ears, LOL, it has made me become the martial artist I am today! I’ve earned a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well as red belt in Muay Thai! I’ve also won several Jiu Jitsu competitions, as well as amateur fights and it would not be possible without X3 Sports.”
What is your daily routine at X3?
“My daily routine at X3 begins with an hour of Muay Thai, then an hour of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, followed by an hour of fight team training.”
What are 3 words you would use to describe X3 Sports for other fighters who ask you about where you train?
“Best gym in Georgia! 4 words… I know!”
I read that your MMA idols are Connor McGregor and Jon Jones. Why these two?
“Connor McGregor is my temporary idol because he has a dynamic striking style and has taken the MMA world by storm. He will be a future opponent soon enough, so that’s why he is temporary. But in my opinion, Jon Jones is the best fighter of all time. I try to emulate his style as much as possible. Plus, we are only three days apart in age.”
You won your last two fights at NFC 75 and 76 and have a big fight coming up at NFC 80 against Jason Everhart – how are you preparing and what is your strategy against him?
“I don’t really focus on my opponent as long as I am on my game. My game plan is to come into the cage, take control, win the battle on my feet, then take him down and submit him.”
You started fighting at Featherweight 145, and moved into Lightweight 155 – what is your reasoning behind that?
“Lightweight is a very easy weight class for me to make! I’m a little on the smaller side in the lightweight division, but my grappling and movement are strong enough to compete. 145 is the weight class that I used to fight in because I am considered a large featherweight and I can impose my will in that weight class.”
We know you are cutting weight right now, but after making weight and winning Saturday, what is a big meal you’d love to eat?
“A big meal I would love to eat is Chinese! I am a Chinese food fanatic, so anything Chinese I am satisfied with!”
I see you hanging out with a lot of the other MMA fighters who train at X3 Sports, how important is that support system and training together?
“Us training together is the key to all our success! We are able to help push and motivate each other. We also help each other cut weight. Even when we aren’t fighting, we are still there each other in the saunas and definitely at the fights. It’s a brotherhood we have now, and I wouldn’t change my team for the world!”
Congratulations on your engagement! What does your fiancé think of MMA? Have you taught her any moves?
“Thank you very much! Yes, my fiancé is actually a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu herself. We help each other out on moves, but me more so then her.”
The holidays are coming up, what will you be doing?
“I will be training! I’m trying to be in a major fight organization by the end of 2016, so that means I will be grinding my butt off in the gym!”
Lastly, tell us and your fans out there, something cool about you that we don’t know!
“Something cool about me is that I am a very outgoing and sociable person. I am probably the nicest laid-back person one can meet. I love to smile! Back in high schoo, I had braces and glasses, so my smile has already been paid for.”
After speaking with “Nasty Nate”, I’m even a bigger fan of his. His persona really shines. I’m almost inclined to call him “Nice Nate”… 🙂 Remember to say “hello” when you see him training at West Midtown!
ADDENDUM: “Nasty Nate” wins his first Pro MMA fight with a triangle choke in Round One at 1:31.
