Nick Rouse- week 1 blog

Hello fight fans, my name is Nick Rouse.  I am the owner and head trainer at Spartan Strength Performance Gym.  I would like to introduce myself to you and share with you some insight into how I will be preparing for my upcoming fight.  I was born and raised on a hog farm in Northwest Iowa near Emmetsburg, where I first learned the importance of hard work and preparation.  In high school I was on the wrestling and the football teams, both of which were among the most successful programs in the state. After graduating high school I attended and played football for Drake University, where I later became a coach before moving to Arizona and then Chicago.  In Arizona I began personal training and worked as the fitness department manager of a gym called Pure Fitness. Upon moving to Chicago I decided that the corporate gym was not for me, and I opened my first performance training facility.  I worked with several local high school athletic programs along with a junior hockey team on their strength and conditioning.  In July  2008 my wife Mary-Beth and I moved back to the great city of Des Moines where we knew we could open a gym and fulfill our dream of starting a family.

In November of that same year we opened Spartan Strength Performance Gym in Clive.  Spartan Strength is a performance training facility focusing on functional training and utilizes some of the newest training tools in the industry.  I personally design daily workouts that emphasize all aspects of performance training; strength, power, speed, agility, endurance and flexibility. Spartan has become a popular training facility for fighters and athletes involved in various other sports along with anyone looking to improve their fitness level and reach their maximum potential in a fun, challenging environment.  In the past two years we’ve had the priviledge of working with some amazing clients and helping them achieve their fitness goals.  Check out more about Spartan by visiting our website at www.Spartan-Strength.com
I have always been a fan of MMA and began training after working with some of the top local fighters such as Josh Neer, Joe Brammer, and Jeremy Stephens, and looking for something to replace the void that no longer playing football has left in my life.  I have always loved physical sports and especially the dedication and discipline it takes to prepare for competition.  I started my training in 2009 by working with fighters that I was training in strength and conditioning, I also did a lot of reading and studying different fighters and what they were doing successfully.  As my love for the sport continued to grow and with some persuasion from friends as a challenge to myself I decided to try my hand in the cage; where I was successful in my first two amateur fights.  This year I have become a member of the Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy and  have taken my training to the next level.  I have also been working with the fighters of New Beginnings MMA, which includes Andy Branson, Elvis Mutapcic, and Miguel Rios.  In the upcoming weeks I will give you and inside look at my training, strength and conditioning, and diet leading up to the Thanksgiving Throwdown.  I would also like to take this time to thank my wife and daughter, Addison Louise, for their support and the sacrifices they have made so that I can do something that I love.  Thanks to everyone reading and I look forward to blogging in the weeks leading up to the fight.

Nick Rouse