My name is Grant Thomas, I live in Utah working in the semi conductor industry as a mask designer. I have worked in the hi-tech industry for 40 plus years, most of the time has been spent behind a computer or desk; needless to say this doesn’t give me much exercise. Because I have a sedentary career I try to stay physically active as much as possible.

I am currently an instructor at Unified Krav Maga working on my brown belt. UKM offers both Krav Maga and fitness classes; both are focused on self-defense. I teach the morning Krav Maga classes and Combat fitness classes. The fitness classes I teach are called Combat Conditioning and their primary focus is on strength training, specifically related to the combat sports. 

My attitude towards training was changed a few years ago by an injury I  had; specifically I had a few herniated disk in my neck, the surgery required is called  Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), in a nutshell I had 4 vertebra in my neck fused. See My Story for additional information.

I think everyone has or will have a time when you realize you are not as young as you use to be, and it isn’t so much that it happens at the time of realization, it had been occurring for a while, rather it was at this time when it finally hits you straight in the face and you can no longer ignore it. It is at this time that you must decide what you are going to do.

• Are you going to accept it and give up?
• Are you going to fight and rage against it?
• Are you going to use the experience to change what you are doing, change your preconceived notions of what you should be doing and what you can do and find a path to accomplish your goals?

At this point I refuse to use my age or my physical limitations as an excuse not to accomplish my goals. Rather, I view my physical limitations as obstacles which are to be overcome on the path to that which I want to accomplish. The problem with rage is too many times it involves action without any thought; and just doing something to do something isn’t the best solution. I am choosing the third option and that is what the bulk of this blog will be focused on, hopefully others well be able to benefit from what I learn on my journey.