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| The Jake Clark Experience (European Winter Tour); Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 13 2006, 11:07 PM (1,491 Views) | |
| jake clark | Nov 13 2006, 11:07 PM Post #1 |
Super Fan
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Greetings to everyone! It's Monday night and I just returned from the Real Pro Wrestling Qualifier in Philadelphia. The competition went well and it was a pretty fun experience. I won my bracket and will compete for a spot on one of the teams in January at the Super Qualifier in San Jose. From what I was told, I will have one match there and if I win... I'm in! On Wednesday I am heading to St. Petersburg, Russia where I will train for a few days and then compete in the Lavli (spelling?) Cup. St. Petersburg might be my favorite place to travel to and I'm very excited to be going back there. I will only be there for about 5 days and then I'll make my way over to Finland, Sweden, and Estonia to finish off the tour. In Finland I will compete in the Vantaa Cup which is located a short drive from Helsinki. In Sweden I will compete in the Haparanda Cup which is located near the Artic Circle in the "Laplands". If anyone has any letters to Santa... let me know, I'll deliver them personally! ha ha. After Haparanda I will most likely take a few day trip down to Estonia for some so-called "training". I will try and update this journal as often as I can. If anyone has any questions... as always, feel free to ask! Take care and enjoy! Jake Clark |
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| bparlin | Nov 22 2006, 10:47 AM Post #2 |
Fantastic
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Hey Jake, If you get on the internet over there how about an update? Good luck in Finland this weekend! |
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| cwillaert | Nov 22 2006, 12:33 PM Post #3 |
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Fantastic
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Clark's too busy looking for the future Mrs. Clark to spend time at an internet cafe. :D |
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| Unit | Nov 22 2006, 01:59 PM Post #4 |
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Fantastic
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Keep Rock'n Jake! |
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| lilmatdog | Nov 22 2006, 04:04 PM Post #5 |
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Fantastic
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I heard their cafes had both. Choose wife #.... and transfer the money. :D |
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| jake clark | Nov 24 2006, 12:11 AM Post #6 |
Super Fan
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Greetings. Sorry I haven't had the chance to write yet, but for some reason the internet cafe I was going to in Russia would NOT let me go to the Guillotine Forum?! Darn Commies! My trip in Russia was short, but not sweet! The search for the future Mrs. Clark continues... ha ha. Actually, for those of you I speak with every so often... I have a few "adult stories" to share. Russia has grown quite a bit over the last few years. My first trip to St. Petersburg was in 1996 when I was accepted to join the Minnesota Cultural Exchange Program... it was EXACTLY that. A completely different culture than what I had experienced as a young buck growing up in the States. I reccomend for those of you who are young enough, or for those of you who are parents... these trips are an unforgettable experience and great learning opportunity. I grew up a bit on that first trip. 16 years old, first time out of the U.S., and spending about 2 weeks in the recently former communist Russia! Wow. Since then, I've been to St. Petersburg about 8 times. Every year it develops more and more. It's great to have seen such a change. Things are finally "clicking" over there... however, they still have a long way to go, and a handful of corrupt punks to fix! I'm glad to see the way of life is becoming better for the people though. For those of you that are curious... yes, the women are extremely beautiful... or on the other hand, extremely ugly. There is NO inbetween! At one of the clubs I went to, I think I saw the MOST BEAUTIFUL women I have ever seen in person. I was in awe. However, she was probablly 25-29 years old, and with a 50+ year old guy. If you have money... you get what you want! Before I get too carried away... I was over there to wrestle... and I only had one match. I wrestled up at 96 kilos (211 pounds), and it wasn't the smartest thing I've done... by anymeans! I got powerbombed for 5 in the first period... and then he dropped me nearly on my head in the second period for 3... then "stoned" me when I had the chance on top. His next match... he got destroyed. Yikes. Not to make excuses about my wrestling, but more so an excuse about why I was up a weight. I had been on vacation for about 3 weeks prior to heading to Russia and needless to say, I enjoyed my vacation a bit TOO MUCH and am paying for that now. My walkaround weight last year was around 200 lbs. Lately, it's been around 212! Puke! My speedos are definitely getting hid in the bottom drawer until I lose this "Willaert-esque" physique I'm kickin'! ha ha. I am now beginning to think that vacations SUCK! I never want to go on one again! I learned one thing on my trip to Russia... I'm definitely NOT a 96 Kilo wrestler! Now I am in Vantaa, Finland which is located near the capitol of Helsinki. It is a wonderful place and home to some of the most beautiful women in the world. I swear, this tour I'm on right now is "THE" place to be for a single-young buck (or a rich old one!). I need to keep reminding myself that I'm here for wrestling. Ha ha. I weigh-in today around 7 p.m. It's 7:30 a.m. I didn't sleep AT ALL last night and am about 7 Kilos over weight. For those of you that are not aware of the Kilo-Pound conversion. 1 Kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds. You do the math! Again, as I've said before in other posts. I DO NOT RECCOMEND weight cutting like this. I have 4 sets of plastics, 4 sets of workout clothes, a few excersize machines, a sauna, some Alboline (it's a make-up remover that opens your pores to help you sweat when you're in the sauna... just a little trick of the weight-cutting world), and 12 hours. Wish me luck. Oh by the way did I mention I didn't get the chance to enjoy a turkey for Thanksgiving?! That actually makes it 7 years in a row that I have not enjoyed a Thanksgiving. 6 in Europe, and one in Bootcamp. Yet another reason I look forward to my days of being JUST a coach! ha ha. I'd like to write a bit more, but I must go cook myself in the sauna like a Thanksgiving turkey! I hope all is well with everyone and I look forward to hearing more replies, questions, or comments. After being in some of the countries I've visited, spending the holidays in bootcamp with no way of contacting my family and friends, and being thousands of miles away from my family for a long period of time... I understand the importance of Thanksgiving and the opportunity the Holidays bring. Make sure to spend the time with your friends and family. Enjoy the time you have with them... take advantage of things like this... Because people like myself would give anything to be in your shoes! I have no complaints. I live a great life. I've been places and seen things that very few have, or will ever have the chance to. However, for those of you that get to share everyday with your family... you are the lucky ones! On that note, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays! Chillen in Finland (literaly), Jake Clark |
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| jake clark | Nov 25 2006, 12:35 PM Post #7 |
Super Fan
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Well... soon after writing the last post, I decided to stay up at 96kg again for this competition. I'm sure I'll pay for that, but I plan on making it down to 84kg by next weekend when we are up in Haparanda, Sweden (near the artic circle on the Finland-Sweden border). The weather here is unusually warm for this time of the year. In the past it's been so cold that you must bundle up and we try to stay inside as much as possible. This year I haven't used my jacket and it's comfortable to walk everywhere. By now, the ground is usually covered in snow, and so far on this trip I haven't seen any?! I must get going for now, but I will write soon after my competition is over (Sunday). Until then, take care. |
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| lilmatdog | Nov 25 2006, 03:04 PM Post #8 |
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Fantastic
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Jake, you kind of hit it on the head earlier when you were talking about the experiences you have had already, you get one life but give up another. Enjoy the traveling you are doing now, there will be a holiday every year and you will have plenty with your family or families in the future, when you really get a "Willaert-esque" physique. :rolleyes:
:D You write well and it is a pleasure to her your stories. |
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| zakiechan37 | Nov 26 2006, 09:26 AM Post #9 |
Super Fan
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i agree eith LMD, i enjoy reading your stories / expirences, please keep them coming and good luck in sweden! |
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| jake clark | Nov 26 2006, 02:04 PM Post #10 |
Super Fan
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The competition in Finland is over and I ended up going 0-2. My first match I drew Justin Ruiz. He is the #1 ranked U.S. wrestler at 96 kilograms. Just my luck. ha ha. I lost the match in two straight periods 0-3, 0-3. He turned me both rounds for 2 points each and earned his 3rd point by stopping me from turning him. I felt good on my feet, but I just dont have nearly the strength or size to do much of anything. Justin then made it to the finals, inturn bring me back into the action of the wrestlebacks. My next match was against the Belarussian. He is also a seasoned vet and I believe he medaled in a recent World or Olympic Championship. Again, I didnt have the strength or size to push him around and lost 2 rounds to 1 (1-1, 3-0, 1-1). He wasnt able to turn me, but won two coin tosses giving him the advantage. I was able to turn him with a front-headlock in the second round, but couldnt score after that. Ruiz went on to take 2nd place. Following the tournament we took a bus about a hour and a half north of Helsinki to a Finnish Training Center located in Lahti, Finland. Ive been to this same training site several times and its a pretty nice place. We are out in the middle of nowhere and theres not much to do besides train, play cards, and the highlight of this place... the SAUNA. Its crazy. The sauna is located on a dock going to a lake. At the door of the sauna there is some stairs that go straight into the lake. Usually the lake is frozen by now and the ground is covered with snow. They have a "bubbler" that sits a few yards out to keep motion in the water (not allowing a pool sized area to freeze over). Its a fun experience to say the least... and makes for good photos! Since the weather is so warm, Im sure it wont be as fun. We will train here until Thursday and then make our way up to Haparanda, Sweden for the Haparanda Cup. Haparanda is located near the artic circle and is an interesting place to say the least. It is located on the border of Finland and Sweden... which doubles as a time zone change. We stay in a small town that looks like a setting for some kind of Christmas movie or something. Its dark nearly every hour of the day and that can be quite depressing. To get around, people use these "sleds" that are similar to a dog sled... except there are no dogs. You keep on foot on a platform and kick with your other one to get around. These things are all over and no one really owns them. You just take one where you want whenever youd like. Its kind of fun and again... makes for a good photo. During the bus ride I was doing some "random thinking" and noticed that I have a pretty bad record lately. Its wierd to think about. Right now Im the #1 guy in the U.S. at 84kg for greco, but have a 1-5 record from the start of the World Championships in September. If someone were to ask me my record... after hearing it, they would think I was horrible! A 1-5 record is pretty bad, but then by looking at the people Ive lost to, its not too shabby. My only win comes against an Olympic Silver Medalist from Hungary. My losses are to; The 2006 World Silver Medalist from Turkey, the 2006 World Bronze Medalist from Iran, The 2005 96 kilogram World Bronze Medalist from the U.S. (Ruiz), the 2006 96 kilogram World Bronze Medalist from Belarus, and my other loss was to some Russian fella in St. Petersburg a few weeks ago. Those 6 wrestlers have around 10 World and Olympic Medalists between them! Talk about a tough schedule. Its tough to think about and its hard to keep a positive attitude with all of these losses, but wins are not too easy to come by on this level. I suppose thats all I have for now, but I will write again in the near future. Until then, take care to all. Jake |
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| Unit | Nov 27 2006, 02:46 PM Post #11 |
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Fantastic
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Jake, if you run into the Chez team, ask for Henry Valvera. He was the man at 149.5 I think for many years. He is now the coach for the team. Please tell him HI! from me as we hung out alot back in the early 90's. Do not believe a word he says :D :D just times it by 10 :o Stay hungry and train like a freak!!!! P.S. get his address for me as I think he may need some M/A as well ;) |
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| jake clark | Nov 30 2006, 11:46 AM Post #12 |
Super Fan
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Greetings from Lapland. We just arrived in Haparanda and again... there is NO SNOW! Its crazy. I got my weight down to about 4 kilograms yesterday (8.8 lbs) and felt quite drained. With all the traveling we are doing it is quite difficult to stay on a diet and drop that weight. Living out of a suitcase doesnt help either. I was hoping to get down to weight for this competition, but as of now... Im a bit skeptical. Once Im back in the States I will be able to start a NORMAL training schedule again. Hopefully this weight wont be a problem then! I must get going for now, but I will write again when I have an update. Until then, take care and Happy Holidays. Unit- I really dont know anything about the CHEZ team and havent heard of them or Henry Valvera himself. Sorry. Regards, Jake |
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| Unit | Nov 30 2006, 01:40 PM Post #13 |
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Fantastic
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No prob....if you .....on your travels run inot the Chez team, kindly ask for Henry, he is the Gordy Morgan of those freaks. If he is around just tell him HI! from me. Pretty slim chance you may run into them...ya never know!! Weight, can you get any of the local fruits??? if they have any? I remember alot of the meats have a fatty, grease taste to them. |
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| jake clark | Dec 3 2006, 12:10 AM Post #14 |
Super Fan
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Greetings yet again... It is 7 a.m. here in Haparanda and Im waiting for breakfast to open... I feel like a kid on Christmas morning! Im so hungry. Wrestling went well yesterday and today I will wrestle in the finals against someone who most would call my rival, Brad Vering. The finals are at 2 p.m. and hopefully I can keep things rolling. In my matches yesterday I won my first match against a guy from Finland, and then my next three against guys from the Ukraine... lets just say after 3 Ukrainians... I was definitely in NEED of a shower. I think I used a whole bar of soap! ha ha. Those of you that have wrestled people from that region of the world understand EXACTLY what I mean. All jokes aside, it was a good day for me. In a few of my matches I lost the first period and was taking a bit to find my groove. Howver, I was able to pull things together and come back and win the last two periods. Oh, I forgot to mention... I am wrestling at 84kg. Im not going to say I MADE weight... but the scale did read 85.7 kilograms (we are allowed 2 kilograms making the weight 86 kg). Also wrestling in this tournament are two other Minnesotans (now with the Marine Corps). Donny Depatto had a tough first match that he lost and was knocked out of the competition when the guy he lost to failed to win his next match. Jeremy Pederson also competing at 84kg had a decent day winning his first match putting him into the semi-finals against a Ukrainian that he lost to. At our weight alone, there were 5 Ukrainians and 5 Americans... kind of crazy. With my match tonite Im excited to wrestle Brad. It would be nice to wrestle another foriegner since we`ve traveled this far, but on the other hand, its good that we will have an All-American finals! I must get going for now, but I will write again soon... Its time to open those "Christmas Presents" that Im going to eat! Jake |
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| Rock Star | Dec 3 2006, 01:37 PM Post #15 |
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...Rock on
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Good Luck Jake.........Let us know the results....Rock On!!! |
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| Bloat | Dec 4 2006, 10:29 PM Post #16 |
Wrestling Fan
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84 kg/185 pounds Gold - Brad Vering (USA) Silver - Jacob Clark (USA) Bronze - Oleg Shokalov (Russia) Bronze - Dmytro Zaporozhchenko (Ukraine) Fifth - Sergiy Yeroshkin (Ukraine) Fifth - Oleh Olkovyy (Ukraine) Seventh - Vitaly Lavadnyy (Ukraine) Eighth - Kostas Falias (Greece) Ninth - Oleksandr Kovalchus (Ukraine) 10th - Jeremy Pederson (USA) |
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| Unit | Dec 5 2006, 02:10 PM Post #17 |
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Fantastic
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Try riding a train for 6 hours in that region.....Holy Zest Batman!
:blink: Nice job Jake!!!! stay in the game and go hard!!! |
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| jake clark | Dec 5 2006, 08:36 PM Post #18 |
Super Fan
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Greetings... Well, I'm back in Virginia and we ended our trip a bit earlier than expected. Instead of going to Estonia for a few days, we decided to come back to the States. I can't say I was "happy" with my finish in Sweden by losing to Vering, but I wrestled well and it just so happens he came out with the victory. I had a few tough matches leading up to the finals and it's an accomplishment just making it to the finals of a foreign tournament. I can't say my training has been how it should be over the past month or so, but I'd rather lose to Vering at that competition.... rather than at the U.S. Open or Trials! The next time I wrestle him I will be much more prepared than this last time... not to make any excuses or anything! ;) It's difficult for me to keep my focus on wrestling when I'm in Europe... so easy to get sidetracked! Overall the trip went well. I had a great time on and off of the mat! On Thursday morning I believe I'm going to fly back to Minnesota for my brothers fight at Myth Nightclub that evening. My high school (South St. Paul) also has a triangular that day and I might try to catch a few matches there. Then on Friday morning I'm going to fly back to VA and make my way up to Ocean City, Maryland where a few of my Team Okinawa kids will be competing in a tournament over the weekend. I haven't been able to watch any of their folkstyle matches so I'm pretty excited about that. Next on my schedule for competitions is the Real Pro Wrestling Final Qualifier in San Jose, Cali on the 7th of January. I will be in Colorado Springs leading up to that and hopefully it goes well and I make one of the teams. From what I've been told, I will have on match in S.J. and if I win... I'm on a team. Not too shabby. It would be nice to wrestle for the Minnesota Freeze if possible! I suppose that's all I have for now, but I will write again sometime in the near future. Until then, take care and Happy Holidays! Respectfully, Jake Clark |
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| djs7547 | Dec 6 2006, 10:07 AM Post #19 |
Member
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well done ,i enjoyed reading about your trip , and your progress in various tournaments. Some of my boys, from our club in glasgow travel on a fairly regular basis to some of the countrys you visited, and always really enjoy the experience win or lose. at the moment they are juniors, but as people say "you cant get to much experience". I feel its good for juniors to read of experiences like yourselfs, as it keeps them motivated, and gives them another level to aim for. Thank you for sharing your experience, all the best for your pro wrestling and I hope you have a good festive season YOURS IN SPORT Coach D Scott Milngavie wrestling club Glasgow Scotland |
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