The knee joint is an amazing structure of the human body. It’s surprising that it holds up at all in the sports world in general, in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, or even in every day life, being asked to perform in ways biomechanically that are a challenge to all it’s structures. Think about it. The knee is like 2 tooth picks stacked on top of one another end to end. What holds it together under the shear, torque, and rotational forces that it is exposed to?

Lets start with understanding and defining the major anatomical players of the human knee.

At the most basic level the human knee is a hinge joint made up of the articulation of the femur and the tibia. It’s important to note that the patella or knee cap articulates primarily with the femur, not the tibia.

With deeper inpection we see that the human knee has 3 functional units or subdivisions which are the femoropatellar articulation, the medial femorotibial articulation, and the lateral femorotibial articulation. These three functional units or subdivisions can be considered separate joints.

Next, let’s cover the ligaments of the human knee.

The anterior cruciate ligament / ACL and posterior cruciate ligament / PCL are the 2 cruciate ligaments of the human knee found in the intercondylar fossa of the femur and attach to the tibia below. They control anterior and posterior displacement or movement of the tibia on the femur. Note that they line up at oblique angles and from a biomechanical and engineering perspective this allows for flexion and extension of the knee. Without this oblique positioning there would be no flexion and extension of the knee. Amazing!

The lateral colateral ligament / LCL / same side as the fibula and the medial colateral ligament / MCL / same side as the tibia provide lateral and medial support to the knee as the names suggest.

Next we have the menisci, both the lateral meniscus and the medial meniscus of the knee. Again, from a biomechanical and engineering perspective, the knee meniscus provides expanded distribution of vertical and compressive forces over a larger surface area. In essence, the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus of the knee provide shock absorbing properties, act as spacers between the femur and tibia, and also contribute to the circulation of synovial fluid in the knee during flexion and extension.

Working from stand up is considered a closed kinetic chain position with both feet planted on the ground in a weight bearing position. This can be precarious as you can find yourself in unique positions where things happen fast.

Working from your own guard is a open kinetic chain position and is not weight bearing. It presents a different set of challenges being a non weight bearing position.

An extremely short list of common injuries to the knee include ACL tears, MCL tears, and meniscus damage.

Years ago a torn knee anterior cruciate ligament / ACL was a sports career ender. Not any more. One of the earlier cases in pro sports of knee anterior cruciate ligament / ACL reconstruction comebacks was Kurt Warner, a running back for the Seattle Seahawks. Although not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Mixed Martial Arts, Kurt Warners case was the precursor to the knee injury comebacks that are much more common today. He had anterior cruciate ligament /ACL knee reconstruction in 1984 and came back to successfully rush for over 1000 yards in three of his next four seasons.

Today, the procedures are far more advanced and guys come back quicker with even better results.

Jerry Rice the great wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers made one of the fastest comebacks from knee anterior cruciate ligament / ACL surgery / reconstruction. He came back in 3.5 months. Unheard of at that time.  He was always known for pushing the outer limits of human performance and for a great work ethic. However, although he worked hard post surgery and came back fast, maybe too fast, he also experienced reinjury to the same knee very soon thereafter.

Well known cases of successful knee anterior cruciate ACL comebacks include Tom Brady and Wes Welker, both of the New England Patriots.

Well known Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitiors and Mixed Martial Artists who have come back or are in the process of coming back from knee injuries include Junior dos Santos, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and George St Pierre.

In closing, keep in mind that an intelligently managed strength and conditioning program will contribute to keeping your knees healthy and functional in the short and long term. This includes viewing your knees as well as your body as a whole, as a human resource that should be intelligently managed if you hope to get the most from it.

Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS

Call Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems today at 480-241-2621 and mention this article by Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, and the Anatomy of the Human Knee, and receive a free consultation with Joe.

About Joseph Sale

Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS, is a board certified nutrition specialist and a nationally accredited strength and conditioning specialist. His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Joe has been an adjunct faculty instructor and guest lecturer at numerous colleges, universities, and corporations covering human anatomy, physiology, performance nutrition, corporate performance, and precursors to musculoskeletal sports injuries among other topics. He’s been a guest expert on radio and television and is the author of the Optimum Human Performance Course.

Let’s lay the ground work, no pun intended, with a definition of a high percentage move. High percentage moves are moves with strong statistics that back their chance of success.

So how does that relate to nutrition? It relates to nutrition in that nutrition is a variable in the human performance / Brazilian Jiu Jitsu equation that you can control, provided you have the knowledge and discipline to execute it.

I usually say, “If I can control it, and if it’s a known influencer of success then I pay attention to it.”

This can be compared to the 80 / 20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle.

Many competitiors in many sports, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are walking away from percentage points in what I call “the success equation” by ignoring nutrition as a key variable. Although high quality nutrition is a high percentage move, it is not convenient. That’s OK. Success in any given project usually isn’t convenient.

In our society unless you are clear about what you will and won’t eat, you may find yourself eating whats easily available.

Another way of looking at it is, what’s convenient usually isn’t successful.

Is high quality nutrition the same for everybody? No. Everybody is, in varying degrees, biochemically unique. Nutrition is not cookie cutter, one size fits all. As an example, some people can thrive on a vegan or vegetarian diet. Others don’t.

Why is nutrition a high percentage move in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Nutrition is a high percentage move in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because nutrition is the raw material your body uses to repair tissue and microtrauma, regulate inflammation, build neurotransmitters, optimize biochemical and metabolic pathways at the cellular level. digest food, detoxify organ systems, squelch free radical activity and the list goes on.

Race car drivers use high quality fuel in their race car. You are a human race car. What is the quality of the nutrition you use to feed your body?

Macronutrients, proteins, carbs, fats, water, electrolytes, micronutrients, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, amino acids, essential fatty acids etc. All are player in the nutrition equation. All have the potential to influence how well your body works on the matt and off the matt, in both the short term and the long term. The plot thickens due to synergism either on the upside or the downside based on how macronutrients and micronutrients are combined and in what volume.

I mention both short and long term. To progress in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or any discipline you have to be in the game long enough to evolve your game. That happens by getting huge numbers of reps which takes years. Any sport requires massive numbers of reps in order to push skill sets from the conscious mind to the subconscious mind. From conscious competence to unconscious competence. The subconscious mind is that place where you no longer think about it to execute it. In varying degrees it’s on automatic pilot.

High quality and well managed nutrition will influence the health and well being of your human race car so that you’re capable of training for many years, accumulating reps, evolving your game and fulfilling your potential.

In closing, congrats to Nova Uniao, Arizona and Gustavo Dantas for their 1st Place trophy win at the 2012 All Americas Jiu Jitsu Tournament promoted by NABJJF. Nova Uniao, Arizona won the adult division with 20 competitiors and 18 medals.

Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS

Call Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems today at 480-241-2621, and mention this article by Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS, Nutrition as a High Percentage Move in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and receive a free consultation with Joe.

About Joseph Sale

Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS, is a board certified nutrition specialist and a nationally accredited physical conditioning specialist. His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Joe has been an adjunct faculty instructor and guest lecturer at numerous colleges, universities, and corporations covering human anatomy, physiology, performance nutrition, corporate performance, and precursors to musculoskeletal sports injuries among other topics. He’s been a guest expert on radio and television and is the author of the Optimum Human Performance Course.

Rarely is the path to any goal or successful outcome an easy and direct ride. Yet the public most often sees or hears only about the end result and / or when the media picks it up. What’s missed and what the public often doesn’t hear about is all that happened in route, the work that was done, the sacrifices made, the life lessons learned, and the temporary setbacks that had to be overcome on the way to any given goal or destination.

My objective is that through these interviews, the reader will pick up pearls of wisdom and overriding universal life principles that they can apply to their own life regardless of their destination.

- Joseph Sale, Founder, Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems

Joe Sale / John, on your website you talk about your passion for photography. What is your story leading up to your work as a photographer?

John Cooper / Ever since I was a child I have always been interested in photography. I used to shoot with those old 110 toy cameras and would have a stack of the cartridges laying around until my grandmother would go develop them for me.

I never really considered doing photography as a main profession growing up because I never wanted it to feel like work (or maybe I was just lazy because photography is WORK). I would just shoot what I could here-and-there and hope to capture something that interested me.

Anyway, I went on to study graphic design and worked for many years at a small advertising agency. I even started doing product photography for several of our clients but I was always more interested in shooting the tiny details of the product rather than a static, boring shot for an ad (which didn’t make the clients too happy).

I started taking photography courses shortly after and tried to learn as much as I could about the technical side of photography. I always felt I had a decent eye but I needed to improve my knowledge about how to get the most out of a camera.

In 2007 I began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I fell in love with the sport immediately and started attending tournaments, as a spectator.

One of the first tournaments I photographed was the 2009 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships. I had shot a couple of smaller tournaments but this was one of the big ones. The funny thing is I didn’t get too many photos because I would catch myself watching the matches rather than snapping photos. Besides, trying to shoot from outside the barricades with all those people around posed its own challenges.

Now I try to attend all of the major (and some smaller) tournaments on the west coast with plans of traveling to shoot the ones that are further away.

Joe Sale / John, I’ve see your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu photos on your website cooperfoto.com. In my opinion they are absolutely amazing. What are your thought processes as you shoot at a tournament?

John Cooper / Thank you. My main goal at any tournament is to shoot the emotion of the matches. Yes, I like to capture the takedowns, the submissions, etc but what’s more important to me is the emotional range that athletes go through during a match. My main goal is to capture that range. One of my favorite photos came to me by accident. It isn’t a technically perfect photo nor is it well composed but the photo tells a story. I was shooting a match right in front of me when I heard a scream from across the gym. Someone had just won a gold medal at the brown belt level. As I looked over, their backs to me, I saw his hand raised so I started snapping photos. He then runs towards the crowd and jumps into the arms of his coaches and friends. I shot the whole sequence not thinking much of it. When I got home and looked at the photos I noticed in the bottom left corner of the photo was the losing athlete with his head in his hands being contrasted by the winning athlete embracing the crowd in victory. I didn’t even notice the other athlete at the time I shot it.

Joe Sale / When you shoot a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu match how many photos do you come away with that are “A game” photos?

John Cooper / That’s a good question. During a single day tournament I will shoot upwards of 2000 photos. I try to eliminate the obviously blurred, etc photos during my down time so that number is probably higher. As far as ‘A’ game photos, I would take a guess at maybe five or so. These are the photos that I would call portfolio pieces. That isn’t to say the other photos are bad but these ones really stand out.

Joe Sale / How is shooting Mixed Martial Arts different from shooting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

John Cooper / The biggest challenge for me is the cage itself. I have not had the opportunity to shoot above the cage yet so I have only shot through the fence. Other than that, it is basically the same for me.

Joe Sale / What other sports do you shoot? How is shooting other sports different from Mixed Martial Arts or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

John Cooper / I have photographed football, basketball, soccer and baseball. The main difference is where the action is taking place and trying to anticipate that place. Of those sports, baseball is probably the easiest for me because the action is sporadic. Basketball is probably the hardest for me because it involves quick passes, running etc. (plus it is probably the sport I have the least experience shooting.

Shooting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t like that. I know where the action is going to take place. Because I have trained I have an idea what to expect in certain situations (I am no expert though). And maybe just my passion for it makes it seem easier for me.

Joe Sale / John, your photos can be found on BJJ Legends and in GracieMag. I imagine it’s great to see your work out there. Please expand on that.

John Cooper / Yes it is. But not from an ego stand point. If I have a photo that I think is great I want to share it with everyone. I sometimes wish I could have everyone over to my house and watch a slideshow of all the photos just so that I am not the only one to see them. And I love when magazines like Jiu-Jitsu Magazine, Jiu-Jitsu Style, GracieMag or BJJ Legends call and ask for a photo of so-and-so from that one tournament because now everyone gets to see it, not just my wife (Sorry for the shameless plugs).

Joe Sale / John, on your website you say that “photography is about capturing and immortalizing those moments in time that can never be captured again, at least not with the same meaning.” I thought that was so well stated. Please elaborate on that.

John Cooper / Part of the reason I LOVE sports photography is that it is unscripted and once a moment happens it is gone forever. My job is to capture that moment. Yes, I can photograph 1,000 triangle chokes, but not one of them is the same. I don’t just mean from a technical stand point or and angle stand point. I go back to the emotion of the moment as well. What is going through the athletes head when he/she is trapped in the triangle (other than escaping)? What about the athlete who is on the verge of winning a championship? Hell, what about the white belt who is competing in his first tournament (and maybe only one) and he has that triangle locked tight! Wow! THAT is what I mean by it can never be captured the same again. You have one shot to capture it.

Joe Sale / John how can people or organizations contact you to book you for an upcoming event, photoshoot, or tournament?

John Cooper / You can contact me through my website, Cooperfoto or email me at john@cooperfoto.com. You can also ‘Like’ me on Facebook at Cooperfoto or follow me on Twitter @cooperfoto

Thanks so much Joe for the interview. I had a great time.

About John Cooper

John Cooper is an avid sports photographer and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu enthusiast. His work has been published in magazines, on websites, promotional materials and academy walls. He lives in Orange County, CA with his wife of 13 years and their two children Analiesa and Aedan. Look for him at a tournament near you.

Photo by Cooperfoto

More specifically, I will discuss the three macronutrients, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and their functions for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Practitioners and Mixed Martial Artists.

Let’s start with proteins. Proteins are made up of chains of individual amino acids. Different foods have different distributions and ratios of amino acids.

Amino acids can be categorized primarily as essential amino acids and non essential amino acids. The topic of amino acids is somewhat complex and will be covered in more detail in an upcoming article.

As an example eggs are known to have the highest Biological Value / BV as a source of protein. In essence egg protein becomes the yardstick by which other proteins are measured. Another marker used to measure the quality of a protein is known as the Protein Efficiency Ratio / PER. More specifically Protein Efficiency Ratio / PER represents to what degree a given protein is a catalyst for muscle growth. In the case of eggs this simply means that the unique make up of amino acids found in eggs is highly recognizable and usable by the human body.

Is egg protein great for everybody?

No.

As I mentioned in an earlier article, people are, to varying degrees, biochemically unique. So, it’s not cookie cutter, one size fits all.

Protein and their corresponding amino acids are the major constituents involved in muscle tissue repair. For the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Practitioner, Mixed Martial Artist, or any athlete that trains at an intense level, high quality protein used correctly is extremely important.

The delayed onset muscle soreness / DOMS that athletes experience about 36 hours after workouts is due to high intensity training.

It’s generally accepted in sports nutrition circles that the consumption of varying amounts carbohydrate with protein increases the release of insulin from the pancreas which acts to drive nutrients, such as amino acids into cells where they can do their work.

Next on the list is carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide nourishment for the physical body as well as the brain. Carbohydrates range from simple to complex. They are an ultimate source of glycogen which is stored in both your muscles and liver and functions to meet energy needs, an obvious concern for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Practitioners and Mixed Martial Artists.

Last but not least are fats. Fats have important functions as a macronutrient. Some fats are good while some do not support human performance. Monounsaturated fats, like olive oil are an example of healthy fats while trans fats / hydrogenated fats are now recognized as less than desirable.

An often overlooked function of dietary fats is its role of metabolizing the fat soluble vitamins. These include vitamin A, D, E, K.

A more well known function of fats is as a back up energy system. It’s also important to note that from a caloric standpoint fats are a more dense form of calories at 9 calories per gram as opposed to proteins and carbs which weigh in at about 4 calories per gram each.

Another overlooked benefit of healthy dietary fats is their influence on satiation. So for guys working to make weight for competition dietary fats are important which can be considered counterintuitive. As I mentioned earlier at 9 calories per gram, fats pack more calories per gram than protein and carbs but in very controlled volume, dietary fat will allow your brain to minimize the desire for more calories.

Another role of scientifically managed macronutrient consumption is it’s role in inflammation. As a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Practitioner or Mixed Martial Artist preparing for competition, getting dinged up is par for the course. Most times it’s more than dinged up. At times guys go into fights already banged up. That’s rough. However, there are ways to manage macronutrient consumption to at least lessen the inflammatory load from wear and tear, and acute injuries during training.

Many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Practitioners, Mixed Martial Artists, and athletes in general train hard but don’t pay attention to their nutrition.

I usually say, “If I can control it and if it’s a known influencer or cofactor in the success equation, then I pay attention to it.”

I met with Gustavo Dantas recently. He is a well known and well respected 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and President of Nova Uniao, USA. In our conversation I referred to well managed nutrition as a high percentage move for the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Practitioner.

Gustavo Dantas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is opening a new Academy in February of this year. Gustavo is known for producing many high end Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Medalists and he also enjoys helping people improve their lives through the practice of Jiu Jitsu. Gustavos programs also include Kids Jiu Jitsu and Womens Jiu Jitsu instruction.

It’s the finer nuances and finer distinctions of managing nutrition that can make a significant difference when it comes to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts competition and in managing your body and mind as a human resource in both the short and long term.

Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS

Call Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems today at 480-241-2621 and mention this article by Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS, Managing Whole Food Nutrition for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts, and receive a free consultation with Joe.

About Joseph Sale

Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS, is a board certified nutrition specialist and a nationally accredited physical conditioning specialist. His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Joe has been an adjunct faculty instructor and guest lecturer at numerous colleges, universities, and corporations covering human anatomy, physiology, performance nutrition, corporate performance, and precursors to musculoskeletal sports injuries among other topics. He’s been a guest expert on radio and television and is the author of the Optimum Human Performance Course.

In this interview with Azantis biotechnology, and Mickey Schuett we discuss new product development and the science behind nutraceutical ingredients in terms of how and why they influence human health.

- Joseph Sale, Founder, Optimum Performance Human Performance Systems

Joe Sale / Mickey, Azantis is a science and research focused biotechnology company. The growing Azantis portfolio includes Polyphenols, Carotenoids, Omega 3 Phospholipid blends and Fatty Acids that influence human metabolism and human performance. Please talk about the company, raw materials. and the clinical science and research behind the raw materials.

Azantis / Azantis is a company focused on innovation of science based products in the lipid area that include (but are not limited to) Astaxanthin, Krill Oil, Phospholipids, Liposomals (Vit C & Glutathione) & Algae. Most of the products that Azantis markets have clinical trials that have been done on the individual ingredients. Azantis puts these ingredients together to make finished products for its client base. There are years of research on all of the ingredients mentioned above.

Joe Sale / Liposomes which are made up of phospholipids are now being used as a nutrient delivery system for molecules with low bioavailability. In essence nutrients are embedded in the liposome to enhance delivery. Please discuss the benefits of the Azantis proprietary liposomes.

Azantis / Yes, the amazing thing is that the idea came from the pharmaceutical arena. Drug companies have been using liposomes to deliver very toxic cancer fighting therapies for some time. The pharmaceutical model uses synthetic chemicals to construct their liposomes. For their application this is fine, since they are delivering highly toxic drugs anyway.

We saw the potential of using natural liposomes to deliver healthy nutrition. It took several years to review the pharmaceutical model and convert the liposomes into totally natural ingredients. When we were done, we realized that our liposomes are made of such great materials, using phosphatidyl choline, that the liposomes themselves would be good for a person even if they didn’t have anything in them. So, we have the only totally natural liposomes on the market that specify the amount of PC (Phosphatidyl Choline) per dose (a generous 400 mg) and that use natural Phosphatidyl Choline.

A couple other people have had the idea. But they are using ingredients that don’t meet our quality standards. What they get is either an emulsion instead of a true liposome, or if they do get a liposome, they are using hydrogenated Phosphatidyl Choline. Phosphatidyl Choline is a lipid, or fat, so it can be hydrogenated. Everyone knows that hydrogentated fats aren’t the best choice. It goes clear back to the difference between genuine butter and margarine. Margarine is hydrogenated fat. It causes blocked arteries, high cholesterol. Not what I choose to put in my body) I should mention that we have seen a label claiming they use ‘hydroxylated’ Phosphatidyl Choline. This is just a trick to try to hide the fact that they are using hydrogenated Phosphatidyl Choline.

Anyway, back to the story: The hydrogenated Phosphatidyl Choline is likely being used because other companies haven’t figured out how to make stable liposomes using the natural Phosphatidyl Choline. We understand. We could have come to market 3 years sooner if we had lowered our standards and used the hydrogentated Phoshatidyl Choline. But we stayed true to our values and we took the time to make genuine liposomes that are made of truly natural, truly healthful materials.

To put it in just a few words, our liposomes are 1. Real liposomes, as opposed to others that are just emulsions (mixtures of oil and fat) masquerading as liposomes. 2. Totally natural, with 400 mg Phosphatidyl Choline per dose, so that the size of the liposomes will be correct.

Joe Sale / Does the liposome particle size influence nutrient bioavailability and nutrient absorption?

Azantis / Yes, it does. In fact, not only does it influence bioavailability, it is a good measure of whether you have true liposomes or just an emulsion. This is very important, because you don’t want to pay for liposomes if you are only getting an emulsion. You can buy emulsions at the grocery store, they are called salad dressing. The ideal size is between 100 to 400 nanometers. At this size, you have a pretty good indication that you have real liposomes and that they will absorb well. The small size allows them to absorb right at the villi in your intestinal tract. And the size also allows them to carry enough nutrient that you are getting a significant dose from each liposome. If the liposomes become too small, they won’t carry much inside them. Our liposomes are very tightly controlled to be just the right size, they average about 275 nanometers and fall within the ideal range of 100 to 400 nanometers. This indicates excellent formation and we believe it makes for the best absorption.

Joe Sale / What are the benefits of liposomes as a nutrient delivery vehicle?

Azantis / I can mention three great benefits.

One: They protect the nutrient inside them from the harsh conditions of the stomach. So delicate molecules aren’t pulled apart by the acid in the stomach. This is the case with glutathione. Glutathione is well known to have tremendous benefit for the liver. It is called the master antioxidant. If you google it you will see all kinds of wonderful things written about glutathione and what it does in your body. Protects your liver, is considered an anti-aging supplement. Good for the brain as well. You will also find multi-level marketing companies selling product that talk about glutathione. But when you look closer you see they are just selling milk protein. Well, I agree milk protein can be good for you. But the advertising is a bit misleading and they make no claims as to actual glutathione content. Then, if you look at the supplements, you won’t find glutathione. Why is it that glutathione isn’t sold everywhere? Because it breaks down in the acid of the stomach. So you don’t absorb it intact. This is a perfect application for our liposomes because the glutathione inside the liposomes is protected from the harsh stomach acid. So you can absorb it intact.

This works out quite nicely, because the only way people could take glutathione was to go to the doctor for a shot of it. Now, you can take it orally, every day. Obviously, a lot more convenient and less expensive.

Second: It can protect your digestive tract from a nutrient that might cause upset. A perfect example is vitamin C. There are lots of people who wish to take larger doses of vitamin C. At doses of several grams people start getting loose stools-the stomach just can’t handle that much acid being dumped into it. Also, studies show that larger doses aren’t absorbed well. So there isn’t much point. Again, the only way people can get a large dose is to go to the doctor’s office and get and intravenous injection. But inside our liposomes, the vitamin C doesn’t bother the intestinal tract even at 3, 4 and 5 gram doses. And you can take the 5 gram dose several times a day to keep the vitamin C levels extremely high in your blood stream. Our absorption studies show the vitamin C remaining at much higher levels with a single dose—up to 10 hours. This is all the natural function of a well made liposome—you absorb more, for a longer time. This is the ideal absorption method, and it is totally good for you.

Third: Our liposomes are healthy, even with nothing in them. The natural PC (phosphatidyl choline) is good all by itself. We know of famous clinics in Europe that use nothing more that PC injections to address all kinds of liver problems. One clinician I know describes it this way: These clinics are taking in alcoholics who drink until they can’t function any longer. They go in for two weeks of PC injections to regenerate their liver and they are good for another six months of drinking.

Of course, we don’t suggest doing such a thing, but it does show the power of PC and how it works in the liver.

Joe Sale / What are the benefits of Krill Oil as compared to Fish Oil on human metabolism and human health?

Azantis / Krill Oil is a highly absorbable type of Omega 3 fatty acid that happens to be in a phospholipid form. Most of the phospholipids are (P-Choline) needed by the body on a cellular level (especially the brain). Fish oil does not have such a make-up. The Omega’s in fish oil are higher in EPA/DHA but lower in absorption. Thus krill oil works different than fish oil and both have needed benefits.

Joe Sale / Mickey, thanks for taking the time to discuss your company, Azantis, and new developments in the arena of nutrient delivery for low bioavailability molecules, Liposomes, Omega 3 Phospholipid bends, Krill Oil, and Fatty Acids.

About Azantis Biotechnology

Azantis is a biotechnology company specializing in the discovery and development of  small molecules from sustainable natural biomass sources. Azantis products are aimed at improving human health and well being throughout the lifespan. As a research centered company Azantis core capabilities include discovery and screening, clinical research, process engineering, and product development.

Rarely is the path to any goal or successful outcome an easy and direct ride. Yet the public most often sees or hears only about the end result and / or when the media picks it up. What’s missed and what the public often doesn’t hear about is all that happened in route, the work that was done, the sacrifices made, the life lessons learned, and the temporary setbacks that had to be overcome on the way to any given goal or destination.

My objective is that through these interviews, the reader will pick up pearls of wisdom and overriding universal life principles that they can apply to their own life regardless of their destination.

- Joseph Sale, Founder, Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems

Joe Sale / Kristina, allow me to run through a short list of your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu stats. You train under the expert Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction of Gustavo Dantas and compete at 129 lbs. You rank as a Purple Belt and have a current Medal Count of 47: 29 Gold, 6 Silver, 12 Bronze. Your team is Nova Uniao / Gustavo Dantas Jiu Jitsu. How did you become involved in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Kristina Barlaan / I first started training at the Cesar Gracie Academy in Pleasant Hill, CA in 2006, but at that time, I only enrolled in the Muay Thai program. I really had no idea what Jiu-Jitsu was. My Muay Thai instructor, Dan Black, was a Blue belt under Cesar and was the first person to show me any kind of Jiu-Jitsu. He showed me some No-Gi moves and I remember I didn’t really care for it. It didn’t make any sense to me, especially since everyone was telling me that even though I was small, I could still be really good at Jiu-Jitsu. When I rolled, I just felt like a fish out of water. A year later, in 2007, one of my team mates loaned me his gi and told me to give Jiu-Jitsu another chance. I was hooked. All of a sudden, as soon as the gi was introduced, Jiu-Jitsu made sense. Jiu-Jitsu just felt really natural. After 8 months, I competed at my first tournament and I was a little surprised by how much I enjoyed competing. Now, it’s my life and sometimes I’m still in disbelief.

Joe Sale / Kristina, please talk about your “Inspire” project which I believe is a female only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu event.

Kristina Barlaan / Inspire is a female only Jiu-Jitsu open mat. It allows ladies from different schools, and even from out of state, to come together for a few hours to just train and build bonds with each other. Ladies who have never trained before are also welcomed to participate so that they can be introduced to Jiu-Jitsu in a way that I feel is less intimidating because of all the positive female energy. Younger girls are also able to participate. The best part too is that Inspire is, and always will be, free. My first Inspire event gathered over 50 ladies and the second event gathered close to 70 ladies. Although the female Jiu-Jitsu community is small, I’m happy to provide events, such as Inspire, which help promote the growth of the sport, especially among women. In the future, I hope to promote female only workshops, seminars, day camps, and competitions.

Joe Sale / In recent years do you see a growing interest in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for women?

Kristina Barlaan / In my short 4 years of training, I have seen a huge growth in the amount of women training and competing in Jiu-Jitsu. Divisions are getting bigger at tournaments and I see more women training in class. It’s really great to see. In the years to come, I believe the women’s divisions at tournaments, especially in the higher ranks, are going to become stacked with many tough competitors.

Joe Sale / Kristina, are women who come to you for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coaching more interested in competition or primarily self defense?

Kristina Barlaan / I feel like the majority of my students and female team mates are looking more to add something different, exciting, and challenging to their lives. Every now and then, I have women ask about self-defense, but unfortunately, most women are not comfortable learning the techniques because of the close-contact nature of Jiu-Jitsu. Most women want to learn how to knock a guy out with one punch or one kick, but that isn’t very realistic. Also, most women who start training don’t even consider competing right at the beginning. I was actually one of those women. I just thought Jiu-Jitsu was fun and I really enjoyed learning new things, plus I really got a kick out of being able to control men who were bigger and stronger than me. I think those qualities of Jiu-Jitsu are what attract women the most to the sport.

Joe Sale / I read about your story on www.GDjiujitsu.com Gustavo Dantas website. Please talk about the role Brazilian Jiu Jitsu plays in your life.

Kristina Barlaan / Jiu-Jitsu completely changed my life in the best kind of ways. For one, in order for me to even begin training Jiu-Jitsu, I had to end a 3 year relationship that was not very healthy. At the time that I started training, I was also in school to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. My decision to go to school for that profession came from me wanting to please my parents. I knew that I loved Jiu-Jitsu, but I had no idea or plan on how I could make a living from it. Then, I met Gustavo. He was the door that opened me up to many opportunities for Jiu-Jitsu. I had lived in the same city for my entire life and after only 6 months of being with Gustavo, I had decided to pack my things and move to Arizona to make my dreams a reality. Jiu-Jitsu is what gives me purpose and is what made it possible for me to live a life that is completely for me.

Joe Sale / I read that the first time you put on a gi was in October 2007. Please talk about that experience.

Kristina Barlaan / My team mate, Virgil Ortigas, offered to let me use his gi to try out a gi class. Although it was my first time officially taking a Jiu-Jitsu class, I had watched the warm-ups and drills many times before so I just did my best to mimic whatever everyone did. At that time, Caio Terra had just started teaching at the Academy and his English was very limited. I think for most that would be a hindrance to learning, but I found it helpful because all I would focus on would be where he was specifically placing his body, his grips, his hips and legs. Every small detail he showed, I made sure to note in my mind. I just remembered being amazed by all the things he could do by just shifting the angle of his body or changing the position of his limbs. Rolling was fun and exhilarating and when class ended, all I wanted was to do it again.

Joe Sale / Kristina, what are the biggest setbacks or challenges you have overcome in your life and in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Kristina Barlaan / My whole life, I have struggled with depression and anxiety/panic attacks. I used to have to take medications and receive counseling, but I hated that I needed to depend on pills to “fix” my problem. Some days, my anxiety would exhaust me to the point where I would be unable to function normally. As soon as I started training, I noticed that my panic attacks were less and less frequent. Whenever I am injured and unable to train, I can feel myself sink into depression and again I become very anxious. Essentially, Jiu-Jitsu is the glue that binds me together.

Joe Sale / In closing, please share the most important life lesson or universal life principle that has had the greatest impact on your life and your success in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Kristina Barlaan / Anyone can achieve anything. Once an idea or dream is fully realized and set into motion, it is impossible to stop. It can be delayed or may not take a direct route, but if a person is willing to act, patient in time, and maintains their ability to keep dreaming, then their destiny is inevitable.

Joe Sale / Where do you coach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and how can you be contacted for coaching requests?

Kristina Barlaan / I coach a women’s class and am an assistant coach for the kids class at the Gustavo Dantas Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Prospective students can contact me through my email, Kristina@gdjiujitsu.com.

Joe Sale / What is your website / blog address and Gustavo Dantas Jiu Jitsu website / blog address for those who would like to read more about you?

Kristina Barlaan / You can read more about me, my team, and school program at gdjiujitsu.com or you can follow my personal Jiu-Jitsu blog at tumblr.com/kbjiujitsu.

Joe Sale /Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Kristina Barlaan / I would like to thank my sponsors Amazon Forest Acai, CTRL Industries, FighterTech, CrossFit Southwest, Preferred Rehab, Many Weapons, and AGGRO Brand for their ongoing support and belief in my abilities. I would also like to thank Gustavo Dantas for all his instruction and guidance and for sharing his love of Jiu-Jitsu with me so that I may follow my dreams.

About Kristina Barlaan

Kristina Barlaan is a successful Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner and competitor.  She represents Team Nova Uniao and trains under 2x World Champion and 3rd Degree Black Belt Gustavo Dantas. Kristina has taken State, National, and International titles at both her weight and the Absolutes, despite only being a Featherweight. Her most recent and prestigous wins are the 2010 Pan Am Jiu Jitsu, 2010 Rio International Open, and the 2010 American National Champion. She is Gustavo Dantas first female Purple belt in his 15 year teaching career.

Eggs are recognized as have an extremely high Biological Value / BV. Biological Value is a unit of measure used in categorizing the ability of a protein to be utilized in protein synthesis.

Eggs contain the fat soluble carotenoid antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin

Lutein and zeaxanthin, are more specifically categorized as xanthophylls, which are a specific type of carotenoid.

The eyes contain high concentrations of these two nutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin, found in eggs,  which provide fortification against light induced oxidative damage.

Studies report high bioavailability from the lutein and zeaxanthin found in eggs.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in the egg yolks.

1 egg contains about 7 grams of protein

1 egg contains about 70 – 80 calories

Eggs contain high concentrations of lecithin / phosphatidyl choline

1 egg contains about 100 – 125 mg of choline which has a positive influence on cell membranes.

Eggs are a significant source of Vitamin B2 / riboflavin, B12 / Cobalamin, Selenium, and Vitamin D

Eggs are a substantial source of the nine essential amino acids, valine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and histidine.

The term “essential” amino acids is used because the body does not have the ability to synthesize these amino acids so they must be consumed in the diet to receive them.

Eggs contain the branch chain amino acids, valine, leucine, and isoleucine which also fall into the larger category of essential amino acids.

Eggs are also a source of the non essential amino acids, arginine, glycine, proline, alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, tyrosine, cysteine, and serine.

The non essential amino acids are categorized as non essential because the human body can synthensize them.

Please visit the Optimum Performance Blog Menu for additional nutrition posts, interviews, and much more.

Call Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems today at 480-241-2621 and mention this post by Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS, Facts You Should Know About Eggs, and receve 20% off your customized nutrition program.

Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS

A greater understanding of the shoulder and its components and complexities will help you to manage your shoulders better in both the short and long term. Since the shoulders take substantial wear and tear in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well as in other sports, the human shoulder becomes a resource that needs to be intelligently managed. The shoulder can become a rate limiting factor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu meaning that it’s involved in almost everything you do on the mat, so maintaining shoulder health is important.

Most people think of the shoulder as one unit when it actuality it’s far from that.

The shoulder is often called the shoulder complex and that is an accurate descriptive term. Complex.

To start off, the shoulder has the largest range of motion of any joint in the human body. However with that large range of motion comes a greater capacity for shoulder problems.

The shoulder is made up of four joints, not one as is commonly assumed. They work in a synergistic manner in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and also in everyday life.

A dysfunctional state in one of these joints can lead to a dysfunctional compensation in the other joints of the shoulder complex.

For example, limited range of motion in the scapulothoracic joint of the shoulder due to injury etc is many times compensated for in the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder.

The four joints that make up the shoulder are the glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint, scapulothoracic joint, and the sternoclavicular joint.

The 2 joints most commonly injured in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and other sports are the glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint along with corresponding tissues and structures, for example tendons, ligaments, bursae, hyaline cartilage etc.

Injuries to each of these joints is explained or categorized with different verbage.

Sprains and strains can occur in the shoulder. Sprains involve ligaments, which attach bone to bone. Strains involve muscle or tendon. Tendons attach muscle to bone.

The rotator cuff of the shoulder is made up of 4 relatively small muscles and their corresponding tendon attachments. The rotator cuff muscles have a variety of functions and also provide stability to the shoulder.

The glenohumeral joint is known to dislocate. The acromioclaviclar joint doesn’t dislocate in the absolute sense of the word. First of all the acromoiclavicular joint is not a ball and socket joint like the glenohumeral joint. The acromoiclavicular joint is known to separate not dislocate and there’s a big difference.

The glenohumeral joint is like a golf ball on a tee with the tee being the socket and the ball being the head of the humerus. It’s  a very shallow joint unlike the hip joint / the acetabulum which has a deeper socket creating more stability.

In the sports world a well known case of shoulder dislocation occurred during the 2005 football season. Although not Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, it’s a great story of coming back from a significant shoulder injury. Drew Brees was the quarterback with the San Diego Chargers at the time. Tackled on a  play, his throwing shoulder was dislocated and his glenoid labrum was also torn. In addition he sustained rotator cuff damage. As I mentioned earlier, since the glenohumeral joint is an extremely shallow ball and socket joint  it derives some extra stability from the labrum, a fibrocartilagenous ring, similar to a washer.

Drew Brees made one of the more remarkable shoulder rehab comebacks out there regardless of the sport. First of all it was more than a dislocation. There was also damage to the rotator cuff, severe damage to the labrum, and the more obvious ligament damage that goes along with dislocation. Many people in the sports world didn’t think he could come back from such a severe shoulder injury, especially since it was his throwing shoulder and he was a quarterback. His work ethic during rehab was reported as outstanding. He exceeded expectations. We know the rest of the story. San Diego traded him to the New Orleans Saints and the Saints and Drew Brees eventually go to win the Superbowl.

The acromioclavicular joint is known to separate. The separation severity is usually graded anywhere from 1-5. This is concluded based on the space created between the acromium and the clavicle due to the injury as well as the degree of ligament damage. At the extreme level there is a complete rupture of the coracoclavicular ligament and the acromioclavicular ligament.

Intelligently applied strength and conditioning, fine tuned functional human movement exercise and high quality nutrition will go a long way in keeping you on the matts with healthy shoulders and in avoiding unnecessary and premature wear and tear problems.

In closing, one of the best and easiest things you can do to maintain healthy shoulders and healthy joints in general is to warm up thoroughly. One of the benefits of warming up is an increase of the movement and circulation of synovial fluid within the joint which reduces friction. Synovial fluid also acts as a transport medium for nutrients making their way to articular cartilage.

I addition, high quality Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coaching will pay dividends in the short term and long term. Gustavo Dantas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Tempe, Arizona has an excellent reputation. I’ve had numerous conversations with Gustavo as well as interviewing him. He is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and President of Nova Uniao, USA. Gustavo Dantas knows Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and he knows the human body.

Call Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems today at 480-241-2621 and mention this article on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the Shoulder and receive 10% off your customized sports nutrition program or functional conditioning program

Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS

About Joseph Sale

Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS, is a board certified nutrition specialist and a nationally accredited conditioning specialist. His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Joe has been an adjunct faculty instructor and guest lecturer at numerous colleges, universities, and corporations. He’s been a guest expert on radio and TV and is the author of the Optimum Human Performance Course.

Rarely is the path to any goal or successful outcome an easy and direct ride. Yet the public most often sees or hears only about the end result and / or when the media picks it up. What’s missed and what the public often doesn’t hear about is all that happened in route, the work that was done, the sacrifices made, the life lessons learned, and the temporary setbacks that had to be overcome on the way to any given goal or destination.

My objective is that through these interviews, the reader will pick up pearls of wisdom and overriding universal life principles that they can apply to their own life regardless of their destination.

- Joseph Sale, Founder, Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems

 Joe Sale / Bruce, please talk about your background and history leading up to the writing of your book Ethical Intelligence / Five Principles for Untangling Your Toughest Problems at Work and Beyond.

Bruce Weinstein / When I was in high school, one of our assignments in government class was to pick three books related to politics, read them, and write reports on each. One of the books I selected was something I’d seen in my dad’s home library and been intrigued about: Plato’s The Republic. I couldn’t believe how entertaining it was; not at all a dry, boring book of philosophy, it read like a great movie script, filled with terrific dialogue about things that matter. This experience prompted me to major in philosophy at Swarthmore College. (I’ll admit that another reason I chose philosophy as a major is because Steve Martin, one of my heroes in stand-up comedy, had done it!). This led to my decision to go to graduate school in philosophy at Georgetown University and eventually become a professor. But ultimately I wanted the world to be my classroom, so I left academia to become The Ethics Guy and teach ethics everywhere. My dream has come true; I live it every day.

Joe Sale / Why did you choose ethical intelligence as your specialization or focused area of expertise?

Bruce Weinstein / It’s simple, really: I can’t imagine anything more fascinating to study, write about, discuss, or teach than how we ought to live our lives. The ethically intelligent life is the best way to live.

Joe Sale / Bruce, do you believe there a relationship between ethical intelligence and work / life balance?

Bruce Weinstein / My friend Joanne’s grandfather Charlie prided himself on never having missed a day on the job. He had grown up in poverty and wanted to make sure that his family was provided for in a way that he himself had not been. The upside was that his family, which included Joanne’s dad, Brian, had a comfortable place to live, plenty to eat, and new clothes when they needed them. The downside is that Charlie missed all of his six children’s high school graduations. He never attended any of the kids’ baseball games, choral concerts, or swim meets. His son Brian grew up without seeing his dad very much.

Not surprisingly, Brian adopted the same work ethic, but with a twist: he did take time off for his two kids, but work was always involved in some way. Brian was the head of the PTA, a deacon of the church, and the coach of Joanne’s softball team. Late every evening, after a busy day at his job and various community activities, Brian would plop himself down on the couch to watch TV — and promptly fall asleep. Joanne’s memories of her father, now deceased, are usually associated with work of some kind. She loved her father dearly but wondered what he would have been like away from the many jobs he undertook. “I’m grateful for all he did for my brother and me,” Joanne told me recently, “but I wish we had just ‘hung out’ once in awhile. I would have liked that, but it’s too late now.”

No issue presents a greater challenge to our ethical intelligence than what is referred to as “work-life balance.” The way we approach it determines not only the quality of our lives but also the quality of the relationships we have with our family, friends, and community. Work-life balance is an ethical issue because a key principle of ethical intelligence, Be Fair, calls upon us to give others their due, and one of the things we owe to others (and ourselves) is our time. In fact, our time is the single most valuable resource we have because everything we do is based on its availability. It is also irreplaceable; once we’ve spent it, it’s gone for good. How we allocate our time between our careers and everything else speaks volumes about our commitment to fairness. It shows how ethically intelligent we are with respect to every important relationship we have.

I should say that I don’t like the phrase “work-life balance.” It suggests that we have our careers on the one hand and everything else on the other, but work is a part of life, not apart from it. Still, this is the term of art, so to be consistent, I do use it, under mild protest.

Joe Sale / How does ethical intelligence influence personal health, well being, and quality of life?

Bruce Weinstein / In the following ways:

• The principles of ethical intelligence help you make the best decisions possible, because they bring out the best in you.

• Life is easier when you’re honest, because you don’t have to remember which lies you told , when you told them, or who you told them to.

• Striving to live according to the principles of ethical intelligence –as difficult as this can be—is the best way to get the thing you want out of life.

Joe Sale / Bruce, What is the relationship between ethical intelligence and emotional intelligence?

Bruce Weinstein / Suppose that you and I know each other well and we meet for coffee one day. You ask me how I’m doing, and I say, “I’m fine.” But several signs suggest I’m anything but fine: I avoid eye contact, which is unusual for me; my voice is quieter than it normally is; I’m not smiling, which isn’t like me; and I seem unusually distracted. It is your emotional intelligence that allows you to notice these signs and to correctly conclude that I’m not fine at all. Someone who doesn’t possess your level of emotional intelligence (or any at all) wouldn’t notice that something is amiss when we meet.

But now comes a tough question: What should you do? The answer isn’t obvious. Is it better to mention the fact that I don’t seem all right to you, or should you just ignore it? If our chat over coffee doesn’t give you any useful information about what’s really going on, would it be right to follow up with a phone call or email, or simply say to yourself, “He’s an adult, and if he wants to tell me what’s going on, he will”? Emotional intelligence alone won’t — and can’t — tell you what you ought to do. That’s because emotional intelligence is a psychological matter, but the question “What’s the right thing to do?” is an ethical one. To be fully human, it’s not enough to have emotional intelligence. We need ethical intelligence, too.

Joe Sale / Bruce, in closing, please share one life lesson or universal life principle that has had the greatest impact on your life.

Bruce Weinstein / The best songs have music that amplifies, enhances, or suggests the lyrics. I Want to Make the World Turn Around, written by Steve Miller, performed by Steve Miller Band on Living in the 20th Century (Capitol Records, 1986) is one of those songs. I was in graduate school when this overlooked gem was released, and after I heard the lines, “Turn the darkness into light/turn the wrong into right,” I picked up the phone, called a volunteer hotline, and asked what I could do. I ended up working at the House of Ruth, a shelter for homeless women.

I’d been studying ethical theory for years, but it was a simple lyric in the context of a great chord progression that prompted me to actually do something for my community.

* * *

Postscript: I travel around the country speaking about ethical intelligence, so if you’re looking for a lively, interactive keynote speaker for your next meeting, I’d love to contribute! For more information, please contact Michael Frick of Speakers Platform: 877-717-5327 x101.

Ethical Intelligence is available now in paperback and eBook formats at Amazon.com http://tiny.cc/gu0h8 , Barnes & Noble http://tiny.cc/lssbw, Apple’s iBookstore http://tiny.cc/wjnf4 and your favorite independent bookseller!

About Bruce Weinstein

Bruce Weinstein, Ph.D., The Ethics Guy®, has a simple purpose in life: he wants to enrich your appreciation of ethics in everyday life and to help you make the best decisions possible. He writes the column, “Ask the Ethics Guy,” for BusinessWeek.com.

His clients include the National Football League, The National Guard (South Carolina Division), HDI, Vistakon/Johnson & Johnson, Pri-Med, the National Grocers Association, the Eastern Michigan University College of Business, and 300 other leading groups.

Dr. Weinstein appears as an ethics analyst regularly on CNN and has also appeared on NBC’s “Today Show,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” MSNBC’s “Live,” FOX Business Network’s “Cavuto,” FOX News Channel’s “O’Reilly Factor” and “Fox & Friends,” CNBC’s “Capital Report,” Bloomberg Television’s “Personal Finance,” and NPR’s “Leonard Lopate Show.” Visit him online at The Ethics Guy.

To find out more about the book, Ethical Intelligence / Five Principles for Untangling Your Toughest Problems at Work and Beyond by Bruce Weinstein, please visit New World Library. 

Rarely is the path to any goal or successful outcome an easy and direct ride. Yet the public most often sees or hears only about the end result and / or when the media picks it up. What’s missed and what the public often doesn’t hear about is all that happened in route, the work that was done, the sacrifices made, the life lessons learned, and the temporary setbacks that had to be overcome on the way to any given goal or destination.

My objective is that through these interviews, the reader will pick up pearls of wisdom and overriding universal life principles that they can apply to their own life regardless of their destination.

- Joseph Sale, Founder, Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems

 Joe Sale / Dorothea, allow me to share a short list of your credentials and background. You are a Diplomate in Comprehensive Energy Psychology. You have been a nurse clinical specialist and clinical psychologist for more than 30 years. Much of your practice is focused on mind / body / spirit integration. You are the author of 9 books covering the expansive topic of energy therapies. Please discuss your personal journey that has led to your career involving Energy Modalities / Healing Touch and the writing of your fascinating book Healing Touch / Essential Energy Medicine for Yourself and Others.

Dorothea Hover Kramer / Since childhood I’ve had a sense of human energies beyond just what the five senses reflect. I became a nurse to help people not just to give medications so I kept asking about how we could assist our patients in better ways to relieve emotional stress and lessen pain. After receiving a master’s degree in public health nursing and a doctorate in educational psychology and becoming a psychotherapist, I still wondered what would really help most effectively since humans are multidimensional—physical, psychological, and spiritual beings.

In the 1980’s change was afoot in healthcare with the emergence of holistic, integrative thinking and the first energy healing program, Therapeutic Touch, in hospital settings. Within the American Holistic Nurses Association, I encountered authentic nurse healers like Janet Mentgen with whom I helped to organize the Healing Touch educational program in 1989. The program currently has more than 100,000 practitioners and is known worldwide in integrative healthcare settings as well as mainstream hospitals. I moved on in 1999 to co-found the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) so that psychotherapists could also use energy-oriented modalities in their practices. Both of these networks are thriving because public interest in modalities that address the whole person has grown so exponentially.

Joe Sale / A good place to start is with foundational and functional definitions to lay the groundwork. For the readers that may not know, what is Energy Medicine, Energy Therapies, Healing Touch, and Energy Psychology?

Dorothea Hover Kramer / “Energy medicine” and “energy therapies” are the broad phrases used to describe all modalities that address human distress in which the practitioner uses one or more aspects of the human electromagnetic vibrational field to bring about relief. Energy psychology is the branch of energy medicine that is most focused on psychological well-being and uses resourcesof the human biofield, the meridian accupoints and/or the human energy centers. Healing Touch is one of more than 250 currently identified modalities of energy medicine that address whole person healing. It is the leader in energy medicine because of is well-defined and credentialed educational program, its large numbers of practitioners, and its worldwide outreach.

Joe Sale / Dorothea, in your book, Healing Touch / Essential Energy Medicine for Yourself and Others, you say that, “One of the most pressing realities of 21st century life is that most people are sadly disconnected from the awareness of their own bodies.” My question is a 3 pronged question. Why are people disconnected from the awareness of their own bodies? How do people become disconnected? How can people reconnect with the awareness of their own bodies?

Dorothea Hover Kramer / We live in a “high tech” world; most people spend more time seated in front of computers and TV’s than in building connection with others, using their own bodies, or the natural world around them. The brain seems to be all there is. In addition there is a tremendous focus on external events rather than on one’s inner being, values, and behaviors. Recapturing one’s true essence can be achieved by learning to listen to the body, taking attentive care of it, and learning to develop our own self-healing capacities.

Joe Sale / In your book, Dr Mehmet Oz is quoted as saying that “Energy Medicine is the next great frontier in medicine”. What do you see as the future for Energy Medicine, and all energy modalities like Healing Touch?

Dorothea Hover Kramer / The public is eager to learn how to stay well. The understandings of energy medicine put the power to manage one’s health into the hands of each person with its practical knowledge of self-care methods. The field of energy medicine will continue to grow as people come to realize the limitations of conventional medicine in addressing the issues of chronic illness and positive aging.

Joe Sale / What is the theory behind Energy Medicine and Healing Touch?

Dorothea Hover Kramer / The electromagnetic nature of the human body has been known in science for several centuries but has only come into actual use in medicine recently with instruments such as the MRI and EKG which measure vibrational frequencies. That these aspects of the human body could be enhanced directly through hands-on gestures or the presence of a centered practitioner is the basic theory of energy medicine and the practice of Healing Touch. Specific theoretical material, the scientific basis of the work and the current research are discussed at length in the book as well as actual methods for relief of stress, pain, or anxiety that anyone who is interested can readily learn.

Joe Sale / Dorothea, what is one concept or idea that a person can apply to their life today to improve their health, wellness and experience of life?

Dorothea Hover Kramer / Body and mind are closely intertwined. Every time you activate a positive thought such as “I am a loveable and capable person.. I deeply love and accept myself” you activate the neurological wiring, the body’s biochemicals, and cellular information systems to feel better. Adding touch to a specific area of the body, such as the heart center, further empowers this message. Repetition of the pattern begins to entrain your bodymind and replace negative patterns.

Joe Sale / Dorothea, in closing what is the one life lesson, life principle or universal life law that has had the greatest impact on your life?

Dorothea Hover Kramer / There is much I can do to help myself as I align my body, mind, and spirit with the beauty of the Universe and its many creative gifts for me even in the darkest times.

About the Author

Dorothea Hover Kramer, EdD, RN, DCEP, is a founding elder of Healing Touch and cofounder of the International Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology ( ACEP ). Her other eight books include Second Chance at Your Dream and the current practitioners’ textbook entitled Healing Touch Guidebook. For more information on this book and Dorothea Hover Kramer’s work, please see healingtouchbook.com.

To find out more about the book Healing Touch / Essential Energy Medicine for Yourself and Others, please visit Sounds True.