Ron Lutz II ~ Me!
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area October 15th 2018
April 21 - 2018 Photo by Teri Lutz
I've been sitting on this photos since I took it over two months ago. I thought I'd keep it until I had something to really "say" about my life up to this point. Well, two months later and I just turned 50 years old and I still don't have anything to really "say." I've been an artist all my life but will never be known as one. After years of experimenting and working in a variety of mediums I eventually choose photography as my means of expressing myself. Unfortunately this coincides with a time when being a photographer is greatly devalued. This has resulted in my never having become rich or famous (which was never a goal to begin with). It has also caused moments of self doubt and feelings of worthlessness at times. Being an artist still has power over my identity. It's changed over the past ten years from being what medium I working in to how I live my life on a daily basis. It's no longer so much about the method of how I create something but about experiencing life as it unfolds and trying to really appreciate what is happening around me. Life seems to keep placing me in the exact right places at the exact right times. I don't take any of it for granted. I'm a very fortunate man indeed, even though I am not wealthy or popular. My barometer is my family, especially my daughter. I'm also constantly amazed at how my timing seems to just "work out." Take this photo for instance. I've come to this dock at night for many years just to think. I ended up here randomly after a night in self reflection, listening to the drums of the Tuchux as I sat nearby their encampment. I happened to have my camera and tripod and decided to take a self portrait. By the time I took this shot, holding still as I meditated, the moon had risen above me. I left feeling resolved to continue trying to be the best father & husband I could be. It's how I stand against the darkness in the world. #morainestatepark #lakearthur #artist #artistsofinstagram #art #selfportrait #artistlife #artwork #nightscape #fs_longexpo #nightshooters #nightimages #longexposure #longexposures #longexposureshots #nightsky #nightphotography #longexposure_shots #buddhist #buddhism #learningthedharma #meditation #spiritual #spirituality #mindfulness #pennsic #pennsicwar #tuchux #worldprime #earth_shotz
Over the past couple of years I occasionally pose for figure study classes. It's an interesting experience having to stay perfectly still for long periods of time. It's somewhat taxing, but mainly it's very meditative. As for being nude in a room full of people, it just doesn't bother me. Only the first time I did this was I even a little nervous and that flew out the window when I dropped my robe.
Dr.Jim Stoppani's Shortcut To Size I guess today marks the halfway point of doing this program. I've been hitting it pretty hard, being sure to take it muscle failure each time. I'm not so much sore as fatigued a lot of the time. Today was especially rough. I'd gone with my head martial arts instructor and the two of us went to another BJJ school. We rolled pretty hard there and let me tell you, grappling with dudes half my age is rough. They have so much energy! Hitting the gym an hour later was a real test. I've been using My Fitness Pal for over a week now to keep track of my calories and nutritional needs. My protein intake is up, fats are down and I have to admit I feel good despite the fatigue. While I still have a layer of old fat around my waist, underneath my core is now really solid. When the weather breaks and I begin trail running again I'm hoping I can burn off the last of my fat. It'll be interesting to have abs for the first time in my life! We've also a new head coach for our BJJ classes at Infusion that started this week which means an added class on top of all my usual classes. The next six weeks will be interesting to say the least. I'm looking forward to this program's end so I can moderate my workouts.
NAGA Illinois Grappling Championship - 2015
A photo of me rolling hard at NAGA in Chicago, 2015. My first tournament. I found that I really LOVE grappling. I was able to keep my cool and lost to some really skilled opponents. I'm looking forward to developing my technical abilities over the next year and competing again someday. Physically and mentally I did just fine and am proud of my performance even though I lost all four fights I was in. I simply didn't have the martial art skill level to beat the competition. They rolled hard, as did I and I enjoyed every blessed second of it. When you rise up off the mat laughing you know you found something you have to treasure and develop. God I love this sport.
Ronald Earl Lutz II
Freja & I swimming in the emerald waters of Slippery Rock Creek. 07-12-2018
I came very close to breaking my routine this week. On Monday I went in but had to MAKE myself lift. Part of me kept saying, "You could use a week off. Just this week." I've been climbing the walls a bit too. I've not trained with @thalesblaso in an entire MONTH! My family has been needing my at home. Doing the "Dad thing" is the most important thing to me but I am dying to get back to training. I also had a plumber come into my home on Wednesday to quote a job that needed done. @therealmadtitan came in and we naturally talked about gym stuff. The only thing is that the next day while in the gym I felt "weak & small" by comparison. It was the first time I had to fight through a workout not due to laziness but due to feeling out of my element. I shared my plight with the gym manager @andrewst44 and he summed it up perfectly when he said, "Welcome to weight lifting where you are Forever Too Small!" LOL Today things seemed to return to normal for the first time all week! Wew... #barbell #fitnessjourney #fitness #martialartslife #wendlers531 #training #strength #weightroom #lifting #anytimefitness #gym #gymlife #fitnessaddict #gymrat #weights #freeweights #weightraining #531 #jiujitsulifestyle #bjj4life #brazilianjiujitsu #jiujitsu #graciejiujitsu #martialarts #bjjlife #jiujitsulife #goodmornings #deadlift #formcheck
Taken with a timed exposure at Moraine State Park. 2017
Over the past couple of years I occasionally pose for figure study classes. It's an interesting experience having to stay perfectly still for long periods of time. It's somewhat taxing, but mainly it's very meditative. As for being nude in a room full of people, it just doesn't bother me. Only the first time I did this was I even a little nervous and that flew out the window when I dropped my robe.
Last night I was awarded my Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Thales Blaso, a 2nd Degree Black Belt under Luiz Claudio. While I am very proud to have earned this and left the White Belt behind, I truly feel I am just beginning this process. There is so much I still don't KNOW how to do. So many techniques elude me, and I am not reacting to opponents quickly enough to always take the lead in sparring. During the drills last night I left myself open to attack a number of times. I was taken down over and over by upper-belts, and I mismanaged my energy levels. My situational awareness was really spotty, especially as I began to fatigue. I have to keep in mind that it's just the BEGINNING. By earning this Blue Belt I've been able to prove to myself that I can indeed remember techniques. That I can survive sparring. That I do have the willingness to step out onto the mats. First, I was lucky to have Infusion MMA prepare me for almost two years. Master Instructor Brandon Tracy really "knocked the burs off" me as I transformed from an overweight, untrained ape. Now he and Thales are helping me "file off the edges." How fortunate I am to be able to train in as pure, old school Gracie BJJ as can be found up here in the icy North? Rickson Gracie>Luiz Claudio>Thales Blaso> and then there's me learning as a 4th generation of this lineage! My goal is to be a sharp Black Belt. #bjj #bjj4life #brazilianjiujitsu #jiujitsulifestyle #jiujitsu #graciejiujitsu #martialarts #grappling #bjjlife #jiujitsulife #fitness #bluebeltproblems #bluebelt #gym #fighttraining #Selfdefense #bjjtraining #martialartslife #fitnessjourney #artesuave #oss #mma #graciejj #bjjmadison #bjjwisconsin #riseup #riseupmartialarts #infusionmma
While on a camping trip, just the two of us, we both had some fun with my camera gear. I'd recently added a number of new flashes and modifiers to my took kit. It was simply just a lot of fun to set up portrait shoots. I'd intended for this to be a setting for another series with Teri but she talked me into being the shooter instead. Our campsite was right next to some very steep cliffs that ran along a bluff above the Bad River. With the sun going down I thought it offered some great natural textures to play around with as far a lighting them. As for me, well, I guess my age is showing and my hair is once again growing all crazy. Must be the summer heat...
Dr.Jim Stoppani's Shortcut To Size After having to begin anew for the third time due to my having had to travel out of state a couple of times this winter I'm finally completing Phase One. My goal is not so much to just build up my size, but to focus on gaining strength. Today really marks a new turning point as I've begun to actually calculate my nutritional needs to in order to maximize achieving my goal. I have actually been counting my calories, and trying to get a handle on how many grams of fat, carbohydrates, and proteins I'm eating. My aim is to become healthier and more durable so I can continue to train in the martial arts. I know that proper technique is key to being a successful grappler in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but I also feel the need to have the physical ability to handle the rigorous drills I am often put through. With turning 50 just around the bend I feel I don't have any time to waste. I have to admit, it's sort of kicking my butt...
Ronald Earl Lutz II
So today marks the end of the kid's summer break and the beginning of a new school year. We can't believe just how quickly it went by. At the start I was worried the kid was going to be "too old and cool" to play with her dad this summer. As it turned out I had little to fear. I know that sooner or later she won't be wanting to climb on me, or be around me as much. It's inevitable and normal. But this past summer she was my "Baby Kaiju." We had so much fun and I will always remember it. I especially loved her coming into work with me once in a while. Many thanks to my wife for snapping this awesome photo of us playing in my home waters of Slippery Rock Creek!
For the past few years I've done a bit of art modeling for the UW art department. I try to do as dynamic posing as possible while tying to stay perfectly motionless. It's not easy. I begin with a series of 30 second quick poses in which I try to convey action. By the end I'm holding motionless for up to 30 minutes. This particular sketch was done while I was holding a 20 minute pose while standing. I take these frozen moments to really practice my meditation and mental focus. For instance during a 30 minute pose last night I began to play around with how I perceived the very space around me. While keeping my eyes locked on a specific spot I began to pay attention to all the dark areas in my peripheral vision. Once I have them defined I began to focus on all the lightest areas while holding onto the dark patterns. Then I began to reverse the light & dark. I'd then let it all go back to shadows being dark but now all the mid tones would be more evident. Everything within the direction I was facing then would snap into a hyper 3D awareness, including the subtle motions of the artists drawing me. I'd then return to "normal" vision. Once that returned I'd begin the process all over. Each time it became easier and easier to control my brain processing how I viewed my surroundings. It felt as if I was literally training my mind just the same as when I lift weights to train my physique. I became so engrossed at times that I'd forget about even having a body! #art #draw #drawing #sketch #lifedrawing #figure #figuredrawing #figurativedrawing #figurativeart #figurestudy #figuremodel #pencildrawing #pencilonpaper #model #artmodel #artmodeling #artistmodel #nudeartmodel #nudeart #lifemodel #lifemodelling #bodylanguage #nudedrawing #contemporaryart #postcontemporaryart #artistsoninstagram #artcollector #art_spotlight #artoftheday #contemporaryartist
Over the past couple of years I occasionally pose for figure study classes. It's an interesting experience having to stay perfectly still for long periods of time. It's somewhat taxing, but mainly it's very meditative. As for being nude in a room full of people, it just doesn't bother me. Only the first time I did this was I even a little nervous and that flew out the window when I dropped my robe.
Our 10th Year Wedding Anniversary
We decided to explore the local area while Freja attended her 3rd Grade class, so we couldn't go very far. I'd heard about Ferry Bluff State Natural Area but hadn't explored it yet. Since it was only 45 minutes away from home it seemed perfect. Indeed it was. We took a nice long hike down along the Wisconsin River, and then up a valley, eventually making our way along the ridge to the west of where this photo was taken. Our cross country hike made for a special adventure, and one neither of us will soon forget. I believe the most amazing aspect of being married to Teri these past 10 years is that we're just as passionate about each other as we were when we dated. I am the luckiest man in the world!
Another day of PT for my shoulder. About six weeks ago I "frayed" one of my deep muscles. Specifically my Supraspinatus. I did it training on how to execute a move called an "omoplata" where your arm is basically pulled away from the socket, bent and twisted behind you. I usually tap out as soon as I feel pressure but I guess I resisted a tad too long. It's been THREE weeks now of not lifting weights and hardly training at all.
