Bulky Boy invades Japan!

While waiting at Narita airport for Brad Dunn to arrive, this kid thought we were Pro Wrestlers & wanted to take a picture with Pat and I!

Me & Pat Coleman boarding the shinkansen. This was first time on the bullet train.

Brad Dunn & Anderson getting their grub on at Denny's Japan.

This was my order at Denny's. CRAZY!

My other portion of dinner at Denny's. It was kinda like a loco moco, and really good!

Whats up Bulky Boy fans? This is Grant Higa, of the Bulky Boy Strongman team, and I am writing you from Nagoya, Japan!

I am here to do a Strongman demonstration at Yokota Air Base tomorrow,at the FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL. Over 200,00 people will pass through the gates this weekend! This is my 4th time coming over to Japan, and I enjoy everytime I visit here.

My friend, Pat Coleman, is the Fitness Director at Yokota Air Base. He flew me and Brad "WOLVERINE" Dunn up here, and met us at Narita airport. Brad is a fellow Pro strongman from the USA.
After flying in, we took a train to Tokyo station so that we could connect to a Shinkansen bullet train to Nagoya. Nagoya is the 3rd largest city in Japan.
I never rode the shinkansen before, and man, was it FAST. It was so smooth though, that you can't feel the speed. Pat said, if you drove a car from Tokyo-Nagoya, it would take 2.5 hours. We only took 40 mins on the shinkansen!

After arriving in Nagoya, we were picked up by a Brazilian friend of Pat. We made an appearance at his MaxxMuscle smoothie/nutrition shop. It was great, because one day, he wants to host a Strongman contest there. I was really surprised at how much Brazilians, or mixed Brazilian/Japanese live in Nagoya. Hearing these Japanese people speak Portugese was unreal!

I gave Fernando a ICON Muscle Tshirt from Bulky Boy, and he LOVED it! He is interested in possibly carrying the Bulky Boy clothing products in his 3 smoothie shops that he owns. Hopefully, he can do business with us!

After that, we went to eat at Denny's. First, I wasn't too happy to eat at Denny's, because I don't normally eat there in the USA. This was the BEST Denny's experience I have ever had! Wonderful Japanese food was served there! It was awesome!

We are about to leave for a 4 hour drive to Yokota Air Base. I will blog you guys later on from there!

Sayonara from Japan!
HIGA MONSTER.

Watch Team Rider Solomon Ortiz surf in this event LIVE!

SPONSOR ME AND TRANSWORLD SURF PRESENT THE ALA MOANA BOWLS PRO-AM LIVE WEBCAST
August 15th - 22nd

Who: It will feature 80 of the Hawaii's top pro surfers including last year's champion Flynn Novak will be joined by Davey Boy Gonsalves, Makuakai Rothman, Daniel Jones, Myles Padaca, Marcus Hickman, Kekoa Cazimero and many more will be battling for not only a shot at the Sponsor Me Hawaii Pro Am title, but also the chance for the top placing locals a crack at earning a slot into the prestigious VansTriple Crown of Surfing this winter on the North Shore.

What: The Sponsor Me Hawaii Pro Am a WQS 1* rated ASP Hawaii Event with a $10,000 prize purse.

When: The Sponsor Me Hawaii will run over the best two days of surf during the holding period of Saturday, August 15 through the 22nd.

Where: The premier spot on the South Shore of Oahu—Ala Moana bowls, brah! Tune into http://surf.transworld.net/ala-moana-bowls-live/ and check out the action at Bowls!

About Ala Moana Bowls: Ala Moana has starred in over 30 surf videos including “Endless Summer” and “Tales of the Seven Seas” which includes a scene that perfectly characterizes the spot - massive tubes, boards flying, ruthless drop-ins, and the climactic conclusion of a catamaran being capsized by a cleanup set. One of the best places to surf in Hawaii, Ala Moana Bowls is a popular spot on Oahu. It’s an exposed reef break with consistent surf. This left-hand reef break is the symbol of great South Shore waves. Packed and very competitive, it’s virtually reserved for locals who know how to surf inside the bowl. Ala Moana is a long wave with a few different tube sections and a range of takeoff spots. The bowl is just that-an inside-out section halfway in that forms between the Ala Moana boating channel and the Pacific Ocean. It holds waves of 4 to 12 feet. The takeoff is steep and fast; getting caught behind is risky. It’s most ideal when a south swell detonates on the initial bowl section. The water next to the reef has been dredged for the harbor so the swells are unique. Ala Moana Bowls is at its best in summertime due to the south swells that provide the surfing community a much needed opportunity to win valuable WQS points at home breaks. These points will count towards qualification for the 2009 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the 2009 elite World Championship Tour.

Please vote for Bulky Boy Team rider Sol Ortiz!

Come watch the first ever North Shore vs. South Shore, one-day, high-speed comp at Sandy Beach. The best surfers in Hawaii will go head-to-head to win bragging rights and the other teams' boards. KaiBorg Garcia and friends will judge which shore owns the surf.

-Red Bull Rivals is a one day surf event to pit Oahu’s legendary shores (North Shore vs. South Shore) against each other in a head to head surf competition(Call ‘em out format) to settle the score. 



-Event will be held on the Eastside of Oahu at Sandy Beach (Neutral Territory) no surf event has been held at this popular surf hangout location since the Gotcha Pro back in the Early 80’s



-Teams will compete for:

-Each others surfboards (used in competition) instead of a traditional purse (like racing for pink slips)


-Territory advantage in next years competition


-The ultimate surfing bragging rights




-10 surfers for each team will be chosen and must have at least 1 girl and 2 groms (17 or under) surfers TBD after voting this week


VOTE HERE FOR SOL ORTIZ!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=CLF7oYc_2fIL_2bI6ibGSbuQkw_3d_3d

*A “ringer” will be allowed to be a part of each team and does not have to be disclosed until day of competition (this can be any surfer from anywhere in the world) and will not be included in the original team of 10



-Team Captains can be anybody and will be chosen by team 



-A best of 5 “Roshambull” (Rock, Paper, Scissors) will determine honors(who surfs first) or possible coin flip


-Honored surfer will choose competitor 


-Surfers will battle head to head in 20 - 10 minute heats and judges will determine who surfed the best and noted shore will receive a point


-“Halftime” will be after the 10th heat to let each team re-group and strategize

A THANK YOU TO BULKY BOY!

Our team participated last month in "Over The Line". Its San Diego's beach softball tournament with bit of Mardi Gras. I have been playing for the past 2 years. This year there were 750 teams in the Men's Open Division, and out of that we placed in the top 30. The tournament was over 2 weekends(July 11&12, 18&19). The first weekend we won 3 games straight and advanced to the next weekend in the winners bracket. The next weekend we lost our first game to a ranked top 16 team. After that it was an uphill climb, we managed to win 3 more after that and finally lost our fifth game by 2 runs.

Thanks to Bulky Boy we were one of the best looking teams out there. Bulky Boy hooked us up with the best uniforms and most of all the best support an athlete could ask for. They were always there no matter what we needed, and bent over backwards for us. They welcomed us in like family. I would like to thank Bulky Boy for all the support that they our team. Cant wait to do it again next year.

BULKY BOY, "ITS ALL ABOUT THE ROLL"!!!


Thanks Again Guys,

Rick Martinez...(Active Bulky Boy!)

National Night Out (Maple Valley, WA)

My daughters and I with braddah Jesse Babauta. He is on the SWAT team for King County Sheriff's department. He is originally from Guam, and worked for HPD in Honolulu.

"Guardian One" making a landing in our neighborhood park.

"Guardian One"

All of the kids checking out the "Peacekeeper".

Me, trying to get my daughter off the "Peacekeeper". She had no problem climbing into the vehicle, but had issues getting off of it. :)

Last night, "National Night Out" made 5 stops in the south King County area of Washington. Fortunately, one of the stops was in our own neighberhood! Members of the Maple Valley fire department, King County Sheriffs, and SWAT team were there.

Free hot dogs, chips and sodas were provided to the community. The police chief of Maple Valley lives in our neighborhood, so she was also present.

Aloha!
Grant Higa.
"HIGA MONSTER"

A visit at the hospital with a "Strong" girl.

Me with Ali (green shirt), her roommate and other competitor. (5/21/09)

Ali flipping a 400 lb tire.

Ali trying to lap the 116 lb stone.

Ali with her 1st place trophy, and the Bulky Boy shirt/stickers I gave her.

On July 13, 2009 I was on a connecting flight in Phoenix. I received an email from a client, asking if I knew this young lady on a KOMO4 News video clip.

I opened up the email, and almost cried on the plane when I saw that on July 4th a boating accident had happened in Vantage, WA. A girl had her left leg cut off above her knee in that accident.

That girl's name was Ali McWeeney. I had met Ali earlier this year at a Strongman contest in Ellensburg, WA.

On May 21, 2009 I was the MC for the "Central Washington University's strongest man & woman" contest.

Ali was one of 4 girls that competed. She was a track athlete at the university, and threw discus, shot put and the hammer. She will be a senior this Fall. She did unbelievably well, and WON this contest. BULKY BOY was kind enough to have me donate a t-shirt to each class winner, along with some stickers for the students.

When I found out it was her, my heart just dropped. However, what stood out in that newsclip, was that she is ready to accept this challenge of rehab.

Here is a link to the news clip, after the accident:

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/50627812.html

This past Tuesday, I went up to Harborview Medical Center to visit Ali. She had no idea I was coming.

I got to the room, and she was shocked to see me and asked how I found out about the accident. Poor girl was so drugged up on painkillers because they had changed her dressings earlier that day. But, she was trying her best to stay up and talk with me.

I made her day when I gave her a contest t-shirt from my recent "Washington's Strongest Apple" contest, and told her that I hope to have her come by next year to watch it. She said, "Grant, I am going to compete in your show one year with my prosthetic leg!" Hearing that, just made me melt, and I am so glad that she has this spirit within her.

She even had 2 pairs of dumbbells by her bedside, so that she can do Incline Dumbbell presses in her bed and Bicep Curls. Ali even hopped off the bed on her one leg, and showed me that she was able to do some tricep dips on the chair in her hospital room.

With this kind of attitude, Ali will be able to recover quickly. It was so funny....she said, "Grant, I lost those Bulky Boy stickers you gave me at the CWU contest. I was so upset! Do you have any more? I want to put them on my wheelchair."

Don't you worry Ali. I'll get more stickers for you, and if you ever need any help, I will be there to help keep pushing you along.

HIGA MONSTER.

Washington's Strongest Apple 2

Jon Eklund (California), pressing a 209 lb Axle.

Two heavyweight competitors getting ready to pick up 287 lbs in each hand!

Group shot of some of the competitors.

Erick Rasmussen (Idaho), walking with 287 lbs in each hand.

Tyler Scott (Washington) vs Chris Roth (Oregon) in the keg load. That box is 50"tall!

Mahalo Bulky Boy! We all appreciate it!

Whats up Bulky Boy viewers? 
This is Grant Higa, the "HIGA MONSTER" with a little write-up of our recent Strongman contest we just promoted.

The "2nd Washington's Strongest Apple" was held on July 18, 2009. The location was the beautiful City of Des Moines Marina. This majestic setting is on the banks of the Puget Sound, with the Olympic Mountains in the background.

I had 39 amateur strongman competitors, including 2 women. They had 4 tests of strength.

TIRE FLIP (up to 775 lbs)

AXLE CLEAN & PRESS (up to 263 lbs)

FARMERS WALK (up to 287 lbs in each hand)

KEG LOAD (up to 290 lbs)

Big mahalo to Bulky Boy for designing the contest t-shirts! All of the competitors thought they were the SICKEST design they have ever seen!

I also bought some "SECURITY" shirts for my staff/loaders, so that the contestants knew that we are not to be messed around with. :)

Here is a video link to a media clip I had with the local NBC affiliate here in Seattle:

http://www.king5.com/video/savemoney-index.html?nvid=381205&she=1

It was alot of fun doing that clip! Notice, I am wearing the "ICON" Bulky Boy shirt in that video. Gotta give the viewers a taste of what Bulky Boy designs look like, right?

Thank you again Bulky Boy for helping me out with this contest! You guys are the best! This show will be bigger & better in 2010!

Aloha,

HIGA MONSTER.