UFC 102 (Portland, OR)

This was the view from our seats.

My friend's Hank, Shawn & me.

Me and my brother in law Fred.

Me and the Nogueria brothers. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira is wearing black.

Me and Jacob "Stitch" Duran. UFC cutman.

I just got back home from Portland. Here are a few pictures with me in my "Hawaiian Flag" shirt at the event.

It was my first time at a live UFC, and it was a blast! Enjoy!

Grant Higa.

5th Yokota Strongman Challenge (Fussa, Japan)

Contest t-shirt.

I was able to setup a booth for Bulky Boy.

Brad Dunn, Guild and me showing our mean mugs.

Matsubara-san in the Farmers Walk.

Me doing a Log Press demo.

I loaded all 3 stones, then pressed the 205 lb stone overhead.

Bus pull! It was too easy! I need to pull something heavier next year. ;)

All 7 competitors. Yoshi on the far left, won the contest!

Grinding some spam musubis at the "Sons of Hawaii" booth.

"Sons of Hawaii" group shot.

Me & Brad rocking out to "Van Hey-san!"

Me and Brad with the guitarist of Van Hey-san.

Hey Bulky Boy readers! Its Grant Higa again, blogging from Japan.

We had the "5th Yokota Strongman Challenge" yesterday. A total of 7 competitors, including one airman from Yokota AFB. 3 guys even took a 5 hour train ride from Kyoto, to compete.

The events were:
FARMERS WALK
LOG PRESS FOR REPS
TIRE FLIP
STONES (205, 245, 260 lbs)
BARREL LOADING RACE (55 gallon drums filled w/water)

Brad Dunn and I did some exhibitions in b/w, and then we also did a Bus Pull. We filled the bus up with people! Kids were standing in the walkway too!

After that, I stopped by the "Sons of Hawaii" booth. This group of Hawaiians consist of airmen/airwomen and their ohana, who are from Hawaii.
I gave them alot of Bulky Boy "HAWAIIAN FLAG" stickers, and they loved it!
They fed me and Brad alot of spam musubis, brownies and hot dogs!

After fueling up on spam musubis, we went to the outdoor stage to see our favorite band, VAN HEY-SAN. This is a Van Halen cover band, who ROCKS! Always good to see them when we come up here.

Brad and I are about to get a workout in 1.5 hours. Then, we are catching a bus back to Narita airport. I will see you back stateside!
Mahalos to Bulky Boy, for allowing me to bring some product to Japan, and for always being supportive in my Strongman contests!

Arigato!
HIGA MONSTER.

Bulky Boy invades Japan (Day 2)

All of us stopping at a Rest stop.

Posing in front of Suwako.

Giving away some Hawaii Bulky Boy stickers to the girls!

Its Day 2 on my trip here in Japan.

We drove almost 7 LONG hours from Nagoya to Yokota AFB today. Traffic was terrible, and it usually takes over 4 hours. We actually drove through the longest tunnel in Japan. I counted up to 750 seconds in this thing. Pretty scary, if there was in accident or an earthquake because this tunnel runs under a huge Japanese mountain.

I gave some Bulky Boy "Hawaiian Flag" and "Ali'i" stickers to Pat Coleman. He is going to slap those on his car and represent!

Just ate a massive dinner here with Pat and his ohana. The Yokota Strongman Challenge starts tomorrow at 12pm. 200,000 people pass through the gates of Yokota AFB during this Friendship Festival.

Will blog tomorrow, after the contest!
HIGA MONSTER.

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"