Piste Or Bust

Travel stories of the brokest Dominican Fencer

[knownlegend001]

Dominican Rollercoaster

Even as I start to write this post, I have yet to organize what I really wanted to say... here it goes... 2016-2017 season was one of a lot of ups and downs along with new life changes and achievements. 1. Life: For those who are late in this news... I got dumped by Franchelis. At first, it sucked and I became uber depressed and everything became a spiral. Of course my parents didn't help out by forcing their opinion on me and it felt like they took her side over mine in the matter. Weeks, later, I found out she cheated on me and got pregnant which was the cause of why she dumped me. Natural reaction was of course loathing her and telling her off in english and spanish. I continued to live at home a few more months but, now that I was helping out with the rent and my parents found out what really happened, I barely got an apology for what was unfairly said to me about it. This led to the real reason of why I moved out and now live with two awesome roommates. July was a tough month, being that it was 6 years ago that my closest friend, Angel, committed suicide because he found his girlfriend literally in bed with another man. This next part will sound shocking but I've been recovering mentally and have been a bit happier but, I attempted suicide right before World Championships. I was at the pier near my house and was ready to jump and drown and my mind literally checked out but when it was time to fall forward, my body just clung onto the rail and brought me back to the earth. Maybe it was cold feet but I've been better about it... somewhat. I recently have been casually dating this new girl, Rosie, funny long island italian girl. We went on a few dates and honestly, I've been going above and beyond to hangout with her and make her laugh and such... we'll see how this will play out. 2. Fencing: Let's be for real here, this is the first year right after the Olympics and I felt a bit sad that I couldn't make it with the obstacles I had to face from my last fencing club and the Dominican Federation. Still, fuck them for everything they had me do to get to some of the places. It's been a long arduous process because halfway into the '16-'17 season, I was ready to quit and bring Franchelis over to live and make a family, but when she dumped me, it extended my career timeline. Definitely blessed to be working for and with Dan at Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club. I've been growing as an athlete and as a coach and it's been great! I'm an A again which was something that I lost while I was at the other club, and I currently hold F.I.E pts. Little mile stones guys.... little mile stones... 3. Working Out: Strength Training will always be my foundation and a place I call home. Ever since it was integrated in my life, I always yearned to push myself harder, faster, and heavier when I'm in Rye or at the Equinox just brushing up on technique. Subconsciously, I would like to be shredded and maybe compete in the olympic weightlifting competitions near by... In sum, my life isn't wholly organized but, I've been bouncing slowly but surely. We're starting the '17-'18 season and maybe I'll grow a lot or maybe a little but, somehow, something in me woke up today and said, "you'll be great this year, just let go and be the fighter I was before I had to assume the role of responsibility from work"

[knownlegend001]

Coming off of a high weekend! Got myself an early birthday present getting my rank up. Someone asked me "Jose, do you want anything for your birthday?" Me: "Nah, matter of fact, more squats please". Finishing off my squat sets of 10,12,15 with a set of 20 reps at 70kgs @body_focus_performance. #birthdaygains #fencing #foil #florete #esgrima Next stop: Long Beach, California! (at Body Focus)

[knownlegend001]

So, I went in there confused as to why with 120 of us in Div1A, we have a 2:30 start time. Went in there, warmed up and after being 4-2 in pooles, started clawing my way up in the D.E's. Anyways point of te story was that I met Stuart Holmes here a long time ago and we've been college buddies even though he went to Sacred Heart and I went to Hunter. He beat me pretty badly, but I'm happy with finishing 3rd and going from a B15 to getting an A17! Thanks! @brooklynbridgefencing @dkellner76 for the hardwork! Next stop! Long Beach! Also big thanks to #teambbfc for helping me throughout the day it really got me through (at Cobra Fencing Club)

[knownlegend001]

Note: Not taken with my non-iPhone 7. "Reminiscing those days back in the school, my whole crew would come through and rap with us too. Go ahead try and talk shit on me, I squad up came back with a few" - G-Eazy. #squadgoals on tournament day. Peep the fancy socks @brooklynbridgefencing got us. Lockin it down with style. #teambbfc #fencing #foil #esgrima #florete (at Brooklyn Fencing Center)

[knownlegend001]

"NO SLEEP TILL!!" *Cue the beastie boys guitar riff* Repping the national colors and the spiffy new socks that just came in. Locking it down at practice! But them quad muscles though... #teambbfc #teamDOM #quadgains #fencing #florete #esgrima #foil #practice #athleteswag (at Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club)

[knownlegend001]

"Step into the game game throwing the dice to get a chance chance makin it doin it up. Step into the game game fighting the spot to get a chance chance makin it fightin it up". That pre-tournament turn up visionary ritual. Credits go to Zohaib's mom for catching me in my Michael Phelps zone. #tunnelvision #teamDOM #esgrima #fencing #florete #foil #turnup (at Downtown Columbus, Ohio)

[knownlegend001]

This picture was taken six years ago by my mom. Missed fencing at homecoming at Hunter College. Any who, gearing up for this weekend's NAC at Mission. Despite a slight hand life has dealt me recently, I can always fall back on fencing and just set my mind to what needs to be done. If everything that has happened this year, I'm grateful for having an amazing family at BBFC. Hopefully this will set me on the right path to #tokyo2020 #tokyonomachini (at New York, New York)

[knownlegend001]

One of the perks at working in one of the top clubs around the world is having the opportunity to fence this legend right here, Andrea Baldini. Growing up in the fencing world, I've watched countless youtube videos of this guy winning lots of bouts and even closing for the formidable Italian national foil team. For me, he has the best hands and wish I had them like his if not, better. He to the Italian team is like Mariano to the Yankees, the best ever. Thanks @brooklynbridgefencing for letting me work and train here, it's been the best. Photo credits to @sam_moelis

[knownlegend001]

I mean, damn. Good morning world! Saw this ad #nike is putting out with this quote. How does this not make you want to strive for greatness?! Among you, me, and the world, I'd like to be recognized by my effort and reach the top because, ambition is priceless and that's something that won't change, so you can put that on my name. #nike #teamnike #bigcityofdreams #empirestateofmind (at Harlem)

[knownlegend001]

Soooo trato de organizar mis pensamentos pero, mis padres recien llegaron a casa have un rato desde La Republica Dominicana y me trajeron regalos que @franchelisramos se compro para mi. A pesar de las galletas, bizcocho de pasa, perfume, y queso... esta carta sobresalio porque ella queria darmela cuando gane 3ro en el campeonato de centro americano despues una semana horible en el panamericano. Habia pensado que esa medalla no le importo a nadie, pues la bote para olvidarlo. Pero ella aseguro de decirme un par de veces que para ella, soy lo mejor esgrimista aunque todavia no lo creo hasta que obtenga una medalla. Eso es mi unica prueba para decir que si soy lo mejor. En verdad, me siento un poco triste en donde estoy en mi carrera y aveces, he pensado de dejar el deporte y comenzar mi dia pero ella sigue apoyarme de darlo mejor que pueda. Thanks for making me cry, Franchelis Ramos #support #fencing #esgrima

[knownlegend001]

Sometimes it's ok to fail things when you try the first time... So long as you come back and do it again 😅😂 First attempt at deadlifting 127kgs. #whenyoudontsucceedtryagain #deadlifting #fail I guess that described how my journey to NCAA's went 😂✌🏽️ #bleedpurple #huntercollege (at Body Focus: Strength Training Gym)

[knownlegend001]

When you've been training by the Guru under the bridge and you've been leveling up. Time to take on the boss of New York City. Stage: Rooftop. 📸 by: @corkcicle It was awesome working with them and @mchamleywatson #fencing #takingbacktuesday #corkscicle #scherma #esgrima #Olympian #florete #dominicano #dominican (at Long Island City)

[knownlegend001]

Now that the Fencing Olympics are over, told them to keep an eye out for me in Tokyo. I'm seeing a fencing doctor now and he's fixing my eyesight. I wasn't 20/16 but by Tokyo, I'll be 20/20 perfect to go. I'm callin it now. I'm living in the forward and trusting everything I'm doing. #fencing #causecantstopwontstop #teambbfc #dominican #RoadtoTokyo #Tokyo2020 #Tokyonomachini #perfectvision #foil #teamdom #esgrima

[knownlegend001]

The Beginning of the Aftermath

Disclaimer, this may be a long post so if you can get through it all, kudos to you. Then again, it may not be.

That’s a wrap of the 2016 Summer Nationals in Dallas, Texas. Kind of a bummer for the little ones to get their probably only and possibly first ever nationals because of the shootout in the Downtown area. To be honest, felt good wetting my feet again being able to referee 12+ hours and doing a billion finals and still name actions and etc. (Makes me wonder how the fuck do they get some of these calls wrong lmao not like I’m a perfect fencer either but there’s some leverage for error… But still). The conclusion of Summer Nationals also marks the ending of what my four year attempted journey to the Olympic Games in Rio 2016. Now that that’s over, here’s my opinion. Fuck those that run the Dominican Federation. I’ve never met a group of people that run such a biased idea of how things should be done for the athletes no matter where they live/train. Their mentality is like a damaging loop where in order to receive funding or attention, you have to dominate the American Zone (which is difficult at this point but not impossible) whereas a majority of the teams travel and train in Europe. That smelled like a disaster from the start. This argument/rant has no substance against my teammates because it is not them that I pointed that argument towards. However, I do raise a general complaint I have with a few that show little to no support at all. Well, four/five years ago, I joined what looked like a promising team until I really got to know what a troublesome group it was to assimilate to. Moreover, the club/work/training situation at the time wasn’t helping any better. For the most part, I didn’t let any of that stop me and aways sought a better horizon to expand my abilities and test myself out. You know, to prove that an inner-city kid like myself can make a dream and actually achieve it. A few years later, started rolling better opportunities and things were kinda getting done. On the other hand, the relationship between myself and the federation was getting shittier as the years gone by. Never felt so disposable as an athlete ever, and believe me, that’s a terrible feeling to endure. Perhaps if there was one thing I learned from Durkan about all of this was that “money makes opportunities and moves people to agree with what your proposal is so long as you don’t hinder what they’re doing”. Because what sense does it make to wear the colors and never use it eh? What hurt more was that I made a special breakthrough at Central American Championships and medaled for my first time internationally ever! What happened? My result was overshadowed by a situation that happened to our Sabre girl. So that made me feel like it was all for nothing. Special thanks to Dan Kellner btw for helping me achieve that goal :). Anywho, working at this new space was great. Faced some difficulties and hit a dark time at an age I thought was critical in my breakthrough in fencing (or I could be wrong about that). In the middle of my attempt for the Olympics, it felt like I got dropped harder than Skrillex at an EDC concert. Like fuck. I still pushed on and tried anything to not let anything derail me. Overtime, opportunities were lost and obstacles grew taller to make it but I hoped over them gracefully to some extent. But alas, no FIE points and no pass to the wonderful Olympus everyone has dreamed of. I’m not sure what anyone else thinks but to be able to walk in the same room as the guy that once told you that it isn’t feasible to achieve and to wait for the next cycle without knowing the details of this one sucks ass… Like getting dumped by your wife after being married for a few years ya know? Unfortunately after all of that, I grew this thought that “in life there are two things: winners and excuses. If you’re not winning, you’re terrible and no one wants to know why you suck”. Thanks to the Dominicans and this guy I once trusted all of my training to. At the end of it all I was told something that totally sent me into darkness. “You can trust anyone you want to teach you fencing, but at the end of the day, they get to sleep comfortably with everything they had already accomplished”. That totally pissed me the fuck off. To sum it up, I’m no longer doing this for anyone but myself and will enjoy the time I have left in this sport. So, fuck the Dominican Federation, and fuck those individuals that wagged their finger and helped denied my opportunity to be an Olympian today. At the end of the day, I’ll be looking out for myself and only myself so if it doesn’t make sense to you, you probably don’t benefit my cause homie. Peace.

[knownlegend001]

All Summer Nationals '16 is now over! After the terrorist attacks on the police officers, US Fencing cancelled today's last set of events. So what's there to do? Help pack shit up and get some post-season workouts in. #lesstalkymorelifty #doyouevenliftbro #fencing #summernationals16 #bodybuilding lmao (at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas)

[knownlegend001]

All Summer Nationals '16! Celebrating Independence Day MURICA Style! Lol Gotta get in the All American look. Yes, the hat was made with the 18 case of Heineken bottle box. (at Omni Dallas Hotel)

[knownlegend001]

Last but not least, gotta take a podium shot... Being one with the three... Felt good bringing back what was never meant to be lost... Photo credits to @elisasegninibocchia kinda wished I had a chance to present a coaches medal to the man that made this journey happen this season #teamDK #fencing #esgrima #dominican #foil #scherma #fioretto #centralamerican (at Hotel El Panama)