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PrimeTime Pic of the Month
Our "Pic of the Month" is two of our loyal promotors Scott Ward of Springfield, IL and Tony Biondi of St. Louis, MO along with our PrimeTime President.
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Northcoast Showdown
Jan 19th
- Euclind, Ohio
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Scott Ward's Warrrior Challenge
Jan 26th
- Springfield, IL
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EGO Grappling Tournament
Feb 2nd
-Louisville, KY
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Mission Submission Grappling Tournament
Feb 2nd
- Richmond, VA
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Joe Goytia's Total Fight Challenge
Feb 9th - Hammond, IN |
Combat Sports Challenge
Feb 23th
-Richmond, VA
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Dave Strasser's Team Strasser v Team World
Feb 23rd
- Kenosha WI
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Victory Fighting Championships
Feb 29th
- Lincoln, NE
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We've Moved To Glenview!
Ever since we moved from our 1st location on Ridgeway Ave. many of you have been aware of the struggles we've had in dealing with our company's growth while getting our warehouse operation in order. Well now, thanks to some very good luck, we've landed in a great facility in Glenview, Illinois -literally just a few miles up the freeway.
The advantage to our customers is simple. Bigger facility + More staff =Better and quicker service and more available inventory. We now have a warehouse staff lined up to continue providing some of the best service available in the sport which includes same day shipping (call before 11:00). As always, we'll ship your order within 24hours.
Furthermore, our staffing now includes a full time warehouse manager as well as an in-house 'picking staff'. Katy is still with us and will have a stronger role in managing our marketing efforts, but don't worry, she'll continue to work with our customers. After all, as we all know, if you need anything done and done well, Katy is the person you need to reach.
And, Mark ... well, what can we say? Without so much worry about internal issues, he's planning to go back to his 'mad scientist' role in Product Development and Marketing. You'll soon see a plethora of new product made with full contact fighters in mind. If you've liked our Level 4 MMA gloves, our new line of fight shorts and our "Bloody Glove' ads of the past, you'll love some of the 'off the wall' things he's working on now. Trust me, it'll be worth the wait!
So for all you wholesale customers out there who owe us money, send your checks to our new address;
PrimeTime EFG
4326 Regency Drive
Glenview, IL 60025
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PrimeTime New Advertising Format
Over the last 60 days we've asked ourselves many questions about 'who' we are. Leaving the existential issues behind (not enough memory in ANY hard drive to address that!) we took a look and decided that, yes, we are 'on point' and we're doing what we set out to do when we first opened our doors i.e. BE BEST OF CLASS in everything that we do. Great quality & more features all at a price equal to or less then what our competition charge for 'schlock'. That's our 'thing'.
So, Mark then asked us 'since our advertising has always been about our customers as well as our product, have we kept pace with all the additions we've made in every area?' Needless to say, the answer was a resounding 'no'. Further, Mark asked if we've really focused on the issue of Authenticity and have we leveraged the fact that we're a legacy brand i.e. a brand requested by name by full contact fighters as well as being one of the first true brands in the marketplace. Once again the answer was 'no'. So naturally, the next question was more of a statement "Then we need to fix it. NOW. Starting with our next ad in Tapout Magazine."
And that in a nutshell is why we've begun to make changes in how you'll see the PrimeTime brand advertised. Many of our newer customers didn't know that PrimeTime has never paid for endorsements, yet prestigious magazines such as England's Fighter's Only & California based Tapout Magazine have given great reviews of our product lines. MMA Worldwide did a fantastic article on how PrimeTime gloves were the first MMA gloves sanctioned for use by the Thailand Sports Commission.
PrimeTime is also one of the true authentic brands in our sport. That's why KICK International, The WKA & The Thai Sports Commissions promote our gloves. That's why Nevada & New Jersey (the toughest State Boxing Commissions) approve our gloves for pro and amateur MMA. The message is clear. We've earned our position.
Many ask 'what about the fighter's? Who do you sponsor?'? The answer is simple. We've never paid anyone to say they prefer PrimeTime Gear. That's not authentic. It's not real. I don't think Mark will ever pay to have our logo on the ass-end of a UFC fighter's shorts. Yet, some of big names in the sport want to be associated with PrimeTime because they recognize our name is synonymous with full contact fighting and our gear is considered top of the line.
Bottom line is that we've made some big changes in our advertising to keep pace and better reflect who we are. We think you'll like it. In this next Tapout Ad we focused on some of the bigger name UFC, TUF, & Bodog fighters who have supported us as well as the promoters, fight teams and sanctioning bodies that approve and/or require our gloves. This month check out our ad with Chris Lytle, Steve Berger, Sean Douglas, Dan Hornbuckle and Keith Wisneiuski
We're all about our customers. Without your support we never could have reached this point. We know it. We appreciate it. We thank you. For everything.
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PrimeTime Fight Shorts - Kids Sizes Coming Soon
"I love the new fight shorts! Do you have kids sizes?"
Very soon the answer will be YES. We will have fight shorts available for kids. But, don't remind Mark. Don't go 'poking the bear'. Remember last year's quote in MMA Worldwide? It went something like this " ... our customers are full contact fighters, not some McDojo whore of an instructor that sells blackbelts to 10 year old kids"!
We've been working on him for quite sometime. But, if you know our PrimeTime President, you know that he's focused and very stubborn. His martial arts roots began in the '70s 'when men were men' and yes, he had to walk 10 miles to school uphill in the snow ... both ways! So you get the point.
What people don't realize is that he's really a 'softie' when it comes to kids. The fact is that he loves kids in the mixed martial arts. He can't get enough of programs that feature kids and teach them the reality of a proper mixed martial arts foundation and how the diversity of training creates a truly well rounded individual with unquestioned integrity. Not to mention kickass fighters that any instructor would be proud of.
So he's given in. Soon you'll see kids sizes in all our fight shorts. He doesn't realize it yet, but we already have kid's sizes in boxing gloves, MMA gloves, 'wraps' and shin guards. So it was only a matter of time.
Need more kids sized items? Call Katy at 866.698.6683.
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That's right. Beginning Feb 1st, PrimeTime will have our own myspace page. Why you might ask? Does Mark even know what 'myspace' is? Has he figured out how to plug in his computer yet? The answers are as follows;
Because you've enjoyed our wry commentary, many of you have asked us to blog on a regular basis. We're glad that we've entertained you, and as a service oriented company we think myspace will allow us to do more commentary on the 'state of MMA' on a real time basis and in a very efficient manner.
The answers to the other questions are ... not really and no. But he's a smart guy and he'll learn (I've been paid to say that. Don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain!) The reality is that Katy will be the force behind these efforts. Mark will be relegated to 'supervise'. We think it's best that way"
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Fitness Corner Featuring Jemal Crisp
Doesn't know his core from his elbow
 If you have been around any gym, fitness center, training hall or water cooler you have heard the word "core".
"Yeah man, I got to work on my Core"
"If your core was stronger you could hit the ball so much farther"
"Superstar X does a gazillion sit ups a day to have a core like that".
As a trainer in the fitness industry for over 15 years I am going to go on record and say; "I am sick to death of all of the Core workouts and Core this and that!" In the examples of typical water cooler talk, if I asked anyone of these people what there core was, 8 out of 10 would say there abs. 1 more might include there oblique and the last one would walk away from you and think that you were just too stupid to even acknowledge.
As fitness professionals, the real problem is that we don't agree on what the core is either. Most professionals will agree that the abs, obliques, and muscles of the lower back can be considered "the core". A few more will add to this list gluteus, hamstrings, and muscles of the lesser known lumbo-pelvic hip region.
Well, I am going to make it very simple for you. Please remember that what I am about to say is just one person's opinion. Opinions are like butts. Everyone has one! You may agree with me and you may not, but at the very least lets see if I can give you some different ways of looking at your "core".
In my world, the core starts at your arm pits and circles 360 degrees around your body. Then, from just above your solar plexus down to your knees.
Why? What is your rationale Mr. Trainer Boy?
Try this little experiment with me. The next time you are in the gym and you and your partners are working on throws and wrestling, try to throw your partner without bending your knees or twisting your body. Makes it a tad tougher doesn't it.
People have this idea that the core only helps you bend and maybe, if they are enlightened, twist. Your core is your body's Alpha and Omega. It is where your balance and stabilization make things work. Without a strong and stable core you are about as strong as a 3 year old wearing a 200lbs. weight vest.
Still not convinced? O.k. experiment number 2. Throw a punch at one of your training partners without rotating at the hips. One more thing, your training partner gets to move. Crazy, right? Then why, in the name of all that we hold near and dear, do so many tough and intelligent fighters only do crunches, side bends, and only if they are forced, do a back extension? Whenever I ask that question I get everything from a blank stare to, "that guy over there only does this and he is a bad ass".
Well, if this "bad ass" is going to fight, grapple or work stand up for you, then o.k. But if you are going to compete on your own let me "throw" you a couple of suggestions:
1. Hire a certified personal trainer. Some of the internationally recognized organizations are ACSM, NASM, NSCA,ACE and the Chek institute. These certifications are a little more challenging to get and maintain. You can learn a great deal from anyone of them. Explain to the trainer exactly what it is that you do and pay attention. Suck it up and learn what you can.
2. Get a clean bill of health from the Doc. Before you start to train. Especially after an injury. Better safe than sorry.
3. Don't always listen to the old school guys about 'how they did things 'back in the day'. They do have some great training regimens in their 'back pocket'. But, nowadays, there is a wealth of new information that is scientifically updated daily. If it's not your job/career to keep up with the 'best and brightest' you will fall behind. And, by the way, this landslide of data must be managed. They can also set you up for a nasty injury. Injuries cut into training time which should be considered as you look to become a 'lean, mean fighting machine'
4. Don't always listen to the guy who is the gym "bad Ass". He may have a naturally strong core and thus far has been lucky.
5. Really listen to your body, NO, REALLY LISTEN!! If I hear one more person spout "Pain is a sign of weakness leaving your body" or my favorite, "No pain, No gain." I am going to personally choke that person out or slap on a heel lock and ask them if the pain they are feeling is gaining them anything. The slogan should be, "No good pain, No gain". What is the difference you ask? Experiment number 3. Have your same training partner, who probably thinks you are just plain weird by now, slap on a submission of his choice on you. You don't' get to resist or tap. Stupid? Serves no purpose? Think about it.
In closing, I promised Mark that I would behave myself and try to communicate health and fitness issues in 'layman's terms. This first article is just to lay down a foundation so that you know where I am coming from. The next set of articles is going to be a little more specific and have some suggestions on your core training and improving your fight game.
For now just try a Pilates or a core/ Abs class. Those of you at LifeTime fitness should check out their core classes -those routines will have you moving in the right direction.
Until then, Train hard but train smart.
Jemal Crisp has been a PrimeTime fighter and martial arts instructor for over 20 years. He is an accredited Personal Trainer with certifications from ACE (American Council on Exercise) and NASM (National Academy Of Medicine). He is currently a Master Instructor-Trainer at Lifetime Fitness in Algonguin, IL. Oh, and ladies, by the way, he likes long romantic walks by the lake in the moonlight
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Keep Training!
Mark Wodika
PrimeTime President
www.PrimeTimefightEFG.com
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