- Joined
- Feb 22, 2005
- Messages
- 51,964
- Reaction score
- 25,233
Okay. So I figured a change of pace for this forum would be welcome. This is an article I been itching to write for some time because such a story just needs more coverage. Now a lot of guys when you read what it's about will wonder why it isn't in the MMA, Kickboxing, or other such forum. There's a couple of reasons. One is because it will be properly appreciated by those of you who compete, and who may have competed in similar events this story leads to. You'll also relate to what it takes to get to that point. Another is because the crop of posters in here is small, but the regulars are good guys who will learn from this.
This my friends, is the story of Flex Wheeler. I had read his interview in Muscular Development Magazine and something just appalled me that I had never heard shit about it before. Unsung is this man, especially considering his accomplishment(s) in 2005 specifically in the World of Martial Arts. Now a lot of you young bucks might have heard or read a thing or two and think you know the deal. But let me assure you you most likely don't. Read on, before you go wanting to counter-post about how Flex ain't shit and really didn't do shit but win a meaningless belt in a meaningless fight.
Ken Wheeler was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. If you want to know what that is go ahead and google "FSGS." A lot of ignorant pundits relate this to the use of steroids. This was the first question Flex asked the Doctors. They assured him Steroids had NOTHING to do with it. This is the kind of affliction that has children on their 3rd kidney by the age of 12. All through his bodybuilding career it plagued him. Had him passing out during sets. Literally fainting between exercises in the gym. When John Romano asked him why he so tortured himself just to compete he said "I was willing to take a couple of years off my life to take care of my Family..."
John Romano said: "You were willing to buy the farm to take care of your Family." Flex says: "That's what a man does." Flex had a wife and kids to look after, to provide for, and was willing to continue to compete even if it meant his life just to do right by them. There is not enough of this in Today's "man." Not saying I agree with the lengths he went to. But many of you guys have yet to be put in this kind of position, and understand what kind of sacrifice this means. This is as real as real life gets. And basically this man ran himself to the point where he was so sick the Doctors said to him "you don't understand, you won't feel a thing...you'll just drop dead at any moment."
Including the Kideny replacement he eventually needed. This man went on to have 9 surgeries in 11 weeks. He had a lot of complications from the surgery, infections and such. So recovery was very slow and painful. Now, if anyone in here knows how important a kidney is to health, and more importantly, fighting...then you'll understand why I went through the trouble of describing what Flex had been through with this particular ailment. This aside from him almost dying in a car accident in the beginning of his career and Weider as a sponser basically telling him to go fuck himself and taking away his contracts.
So, unable to bodybuild and extensively weight train, or use the kinds of drugs and supplements bodybuilders use. Flex turns to his long-time practice of Martial Arts. He decides he wants to get back into the spotlight, by competing in Martial Arts at the Arnold Classic. Now for those of you unfamiliar with what goes on at the Arnold Classic each year, you can look that up here:
http://www.arnoldmartialarts.com/2006_disciplines.asp?d=karate
And not only is he competing (with one kidney that formerly belonged to a young woman), but he's contending for a title. Now I've read A LOT of shit about this online in forums and whatnot. About how his opponent was just some fat dude. This was his opponent:
http://www.strategicmartialarts.net/Bio/SenseiRichieBio.htm
And I will contend that man has a better resume and can kick the ass of pretty much anyone who criticized him on Internet Forums. A lot of guys talk tough shit, but very few of them would sign up for this competition themselves and prove it. A lot of people also commented on the sloppiness of the fight. The fight looked no different than any of the point-fighting competitions I grew up watching in the 80's. FAST, kind of hurky-jerky, and almost NO defense, but still dangerous. During the fight Flex had a torn rotator-cuff, and in training from having the kidney transplant in '03, had almost no muscle control in beginning the training to compete at the ASC in '05. John Romano asked Flex if winning was vindication for him, to which he responded:
"You know what John, no. No, for the key reason that no one said anything. Not as an athlete. There is no reward for giving that much of yourself unless it's publically given back. It was so insulting when I came back to cover the night show. It was nothing, no mention, nothing at all. The only guy who said anything was you."
So, this is to the man Flex Wheeler. For having the gumption to compete despite life-threatening sickness which ended his career in another form of athletics. Think about this man's story before the next time you feel like you want to skip a day, or pull out of a fight because you might get your ass kicked.
This is for Flex, because I personally miss the days when men were badasses like this.
http://72.0.104.148/FlexFamily1004.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson69bbig.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson69abig.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson69cbig.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson6930.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson6931.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson6941.jpg
This my friends, is the story of Flex Wheeler. I had read his interview in Muscular Development Magazine and something just appalled me that I had never heard shit about it before. Unsung is this man, especially considering his accomplishment(s) in 2005 specifically in the World of Martial Arts. Now a lot of you young bucks might have heard or read a thing or two and think you know the deal. But let me assure you you most likely don't. Read on, before you go wanting to counter-post about how Flex ain't shit and really didn't do shit but win a meaningless belt in a meaningless fight.
Ken Wheeler was diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. If you want to know what that is go ahead and google "FSGS." A lot of ignorant pundits relate this to the use of steroids. This was the first question Flex asked the Doctors. They assured him Steroids had NOTHING to do with it. This is the kind of affliction that has children on their 3rd kidney by the age of 12. All through his bodybuilding career it plagued him. Had him passing out during sets. Literally fainting between exercises in the gym. When John Romano asked him why he so tortured himself just to compete he said "I was willing to take a couple of years off my life to take care of my Family..."
John Romano said: "You were willing to buy the farm to take care of your Family." Flex says: "That's what a man does." Flex had a wife and kids to look after, to provide for, and was willing to continue to compete even if it meant his life just to do right by them. There is not enough of this in Today's "man." Not saying I agree with the lengths he went to. But many of you guys have yet to be put in this kind of position, and understand what kind of sacrifice this means. This is as real as real life gets. And basically this man ran himself to the point where he was so sick the Doctors said to him "you don't understand, you won't feel a thing...you'll just drop dead at any moment."
Including the Kideny replacement he eventually needed. This man went on to have 9 surgeries in 11 weeks. He had a lot of complications from the surgery, infections and such. So recovery was very slow and painful. Now, if anyone in here knows how important a kidney is to health, and more importantly, fighting...then you'll understand why I went through the trouble of describing what Flex had been through with this particular ailment. This aside from him almost dying in a car accident in the beginning of his career and Weider as a sponser basically telling him to go fuck himself and taking away his contracts.
So, unable to bodybuild and extensively weight train, or use the kinds of drugs and supplements bodybuilders use. Flex turns to his long-time practice of Martial Arts. He decides he wants to get back into the spotlight, by competing in Martial Arts at the Arnold Classic. Now for those of you unfamiliar with what goes on at the Arnold Classic each year, you can look that up here:
http://www.arnoldmartialarts.com/2006_disciplines.asp?d=karate
And not only is he competing (with one kidney that formerly belonged to a young woman), but he's contending for a title. Now I've read A LOT of shit about this online in forums and whatnot. About how his opponent was just some fat dude. This was his opponent:
http://www.strategicmartialarts.net/Bio/SenseiRichieBio.htm
And I will contend that man has a better resume and can kick the ass of pretty much anyone who criticized him on Internet Forums. A lot of guys talk tough shit, but very few of them would sign up for this competition themselves and prove it. A lot of people also commented on the sloppiness of the fight. The fight looked no different than any of the point-fighting competitions I grew up watching in the 80's. FAST, kind of hurky-jerky, and almost NO defense, but still dangerous. During the fight Flex had a torn rotator-cuff, and in training from having the kidney transplant in '03, had almost no muscle control in beginning the training to compete at the ASC in '05. John Romano asked Flex if winning was vindication for him, to which he responded:
"You know what John, no. No, for the key reason that no one said anything. Not as an athlete. There is no reward for giving that much of yourself unless it's publically given back. It was so insulting when I came back to cover the night show. It was nothing, no mention, nothing at all. The only guy who said anything was you."
So, this is to the man Flex Wheeler. For having the gumption to compete despite life-threatening sickness which ended his career in another form of athletics. Think about this man's story before the next time you feel like you want to skip a day, or pull out of a fight because you might get your ass kicked.
This is for Flex, because I personally miss the days when men were badasses like this.
http://72.0.104.148/FlexFamily1004.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson69bbig.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson69abig.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson69cbig.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson6930.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson6931.jpg
http://72.0.104.148/drobson6941.jpg