Wayne L. Brannon's Posts - HurtsBad.com

Coach's Corner - Commitment: Have It and Keep it!

2010-11-05T04:56:40.000Z

COMMITMENT, Do you know what it means? Do you have it? When you make a commitment, do you keep it? Can you set a goal and keep it with no excuses? This post is aimed at everyone. Fighters, Coaches, Trainers, Managers, and Promoters. EVERYONE.

When you commit yourself to being a fighter, know going in what that means. It means you will push yourself beyond your limitations. It means buckets of pain, discomfort, and sweat. It means always pushing yourself to the next level in your conditioning and training. It means not eating the things you want, and eating the things you might not like. It means killing yourself doing your cardio and watching your weight. It means doing what your coaches and trainers tell you to do. And when you commit to a fight, don't come up with lame excuses at the last minute. If you don't want to be a fighter, don't waste your time and your coach's time.

If you commit yourself to being a Coach or Trainer, you make a commitment to help someone exceed their limitations to become the best he or she has ever been. That means you will do the same. You will pass on the lessons you have learned in your training. You will continue studying and researching techniques, fitness, and nutrition to help your athletes reach their full potential. The health and safety of your fighters should be first and foremost in your mind. When I tell my guys that they're going to hate me, they know that I am going to push them beyond what they think they can do, and I will not let them quit. They might resent me for the session, but they thank me later, especially after a tournament or a fight.

If you commit to acting as a Manager, realize what that means. It means taking the time to know the people you represent. Knowing their records and weight classes. Knowing their level of training and commitment. Contacting promoters and finding fights for them. Scouting their opponents. Knowing their records, skill levels, and strengths. Making sure the promoter is not trying to use your fighters to pad someone's record by mismatching your fighter against someone with far more experience.

Lastly, if you commit to being a Promoter, be ethical and professional. When you contact a manager or coach and ask if he has fighters for an event, know that you are setting a lot of wheels in motion. When you get names, weights, and records, set up fair fights with fighters of the same records and skill sets. Be honest and be expediant. Remember, from the first second contact is made, the fighter's life goes into overdrive. It's called Training Camp. Training intensity levels escalate. The battle to get to fighting weight begins. Keep in close contact with managers and coaches. Don't call them 5 days before a fight and tell them that they don't have an opponent and won't be fighting. By this time they've been going through hell for 6 to 8 weeks. Let them know within 10 days of initial contact whether they will be fighting or not. The quickest way to get me to not return your calls is to pull that stunt a couple of times.

So there it is. My definition of commitment in a nutshell. Remember, no matter what level you are on, Fighter, Coach/Trainer, Manager, or Promoter, there's always more than just your personal reputation on the line. It's the reputations of everyone involved. The Fighters reputations reflect on coaches and gyms. The Coaches reputations reflect on their gyms and fighters. The Managers reputations reflect on their agencies and the people they represent. And the Promoters reputations reflect on the quality of the events they hold and the businesses they run. Consider that when you are ready to make your COMMITMENT.

All Hail The Champs!

2010-08-05T04:00:00.000Z

THIS IS AN UPDATE FOR ALL HURTSBAD MEMBERS!

In my last Blog I introduced all of you to my friends, Dean Batara (now a member of Hurtsbad) and his amazing kids, Kyra and Dominic Batara. I was in the middle of a training session when the news came in and it was FANTASTIC!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF HURTSBAD! LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE 2010 BJJ WORLD CHAMPIONS! TAKING 1st IN BOTH GI AND NO-GI DIVISIONS, KYRA and DOMINIC BATARA!!

Congratulations to both of these great competitors for reaching such a pinnicle of success! Their hard work and dedication has taken them to the top. Congratulations to the proud parents and kudos to them for the love and support it takes to help and nuture these great kids! And last but not least, Congratulations and Well Done to the Coaches of these two Champions!

For more on these two incredible young athletes, visit the links below.

http://silverstarnow.com/blog/post/2010/08/15/NEWEST-SS-TEAM-MEMBER-KYRA-BATARA.aspx

http://silverstarnow.com/blog/post/2010/06/15/Why-Dom-The-Bomb-Batara-is-the-Future-of-MMA.aspx

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/aug/24/local-brother-sister-claim-jiu-jitsu-world-titles/

Coach's Corner - The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades!

2010-07-26T06:00:00.000Z

Hello Hurtsbad Members. A wise philosopher once stated: "I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow." He was, of course, speaking of the generations that follow us. In the case of MMA, BJJ, and Submission Grappling, I have had a rare glimpse of the future, and it's very bright indeed.

In November of 2008 I took a student of mine, Devin Abdon (then 17 years old), to a tournament called The Revolution. It was his first competition, and he took 3rd place. While we were waiting for his matches to start, I started taking notice of a couple of the other competitors. In particular, there was a (then) 5 year old boy and his 13 year old sister, who were blowing away their competition with absolutely amazing skill and technique. As we watched them win match after match, I struck up a conversation with their father, and a good friendship with the family developed. As he just joined up with Hurtsbad, I would like to introduce everyone to my friend, Dean Batara, and his wonderkids, Dominic and Kyra.

Kyra Batara is your normal teenage girl-next-door. One with a great personality and a good head on her shoulders. The kind you'd call to babysit your kids and not worry while you were out. But, get her on a mat in a Jiu Jitsu or Submission Grappling match, and the transformation is amazing! A fierce competitor and tactician with some slick skills, Kyra makes short work of her opponents, who are mostly male, by the way. She recently took 2nd in both Gi and No-Gi competition at The Revolution on July 17th, 2010. An amazing feat, in as much as it was her first competition in almost a year and a half, due to a SEVERE shoulder injury that required surgery, and, in the midst of her physical therapy, she reinjured it in an auto accident. Watching her compete, she showed zero ring rust, and her smile after every match showed her spirit and sportsmanship.

Dominic Batara is simply amazing! He is a prime example of the old adage, "Never judge a book by it's cover". A small, quiet kid who barely weighs more than 50lbs., his youth and size hide an incredibly polished competitor with astoundingly mature skills. He has more submissions in less than 60 seconds than most adults I know, and, at age 7, he is sponsored by RevGear, Sinister, and Silver Star. Dom took 1st in both Gi and No-Gi at The Revolution. Both Kyra and Dominic are trained at Pedro Sauer's Purebred Fisticuffs in Vancouver, Washington.

I saw on Dean's FaceBook page that they are heading for the Kids BJJ World Championships in California. I hope all of HurtsBad will join me in wishing them a safe trip and the best of luck!

To see Kyra and Dominic in action at the July 17th, 2010 Revolution tournament, check out the videos I posted.

For more info on Dominic Batara, follow these links:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsilverstarnow.com%2Fblog%2Fpost%2F2010%2F06%2F15%2FWhy-Dom-The-Bomb-Batara-is-the-Future-of-MMA.aspx&h=30282

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Frevgearmma.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F19%2Frevgear-fighter-dominic-batara%2F&h=30282

The Revolution BJJ and Submission Grappling Tournament

2010-07-23T05:00:00.000Z

The Pacific Northwest has had a long history of laying the foundations of Martial Arts in America. From the 1800's when Seattle was one of the two main ports of entry into the U.S from Asia (the other being San Fransisco), to being one of the centers in the development of modern MMA, this area continues to be a hotspot for Martial Arts training and competition. And at the forefront of Northwest competition is a test of endurance and skill known as "The Revolution".

Promoted by Liberty Events and Promotions, LLC, The Revolution Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling Tournament is the creation of the husband and wife team of Jeff and Gina Bourgeois. From it's beginning in November 2006, this tournament is held three times a year and showcases the best jiu jitsu practitioners and grapplers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Canada. The latest tournament featured 460+ competitors of all weight classes and skill levels, from age 5 to adult, competing in Gi and No-Gi matches. Starting in 2011, The Revolution will expand to 4 tournaments a year. Liberty Events and Promotions, LLC and Jeff and Gina are to be congratulated and commended for their efforts in putting on a world class event.

For more info go to http://www.leapllc.com or visit Liberty Events and Promotions,LLC on FaceBook.

Coach's Corner - ARE YOU SERIOUS? (or How Bad Do You Want It?)

2010-06-06T23:12:59.000Z

"I want to compete." - "I want to be a fighter." - " I want to fight in the UFC." - "Can you get me a fight?"

This is a mantra I've heard many times over the last 3 decades as an instructor and trainer, and even more often in the last 15 years. To which, my standard replies have become, "Are you serious?" or "How bad do you want it?" Let's face reality and facts. While most guys like to believe they're tough and that they truly are the "Alpha Male" (scientifically speaking, it probably has something to do with the whole testosterone level thing), the cold hard fact is 90% will never compete at any level in combat sports (wrestling, boxing, martial arts, etc.). Of the 10% that are left, 80% of them will not progress beyond amateur competition, and of what remains (2% of the original number), only half will approach or attain professional championship level status.

Now I want to state an absolute truth. I am a Martial Arts Instructor/Trainer and a former professional fighter. I will teach you fighting skills and train you to use them efficiently. That being said, I CAN'T MAKE YOU A FIGHTER! That part is completely up to you. This is where "Are you serious?" and "How bad do you want it?" come in to play. If you want me to commit my time into not only training you, but promoting you and getting you fights, there are things I look for that help me decide whether or not you're worth the effort.

ATTITUDE - Please realize I'm not looking for the mouthy, trash talking type of attitude. If that's what you've got, go somewhere else. I'm talking about the "I want to learn", "I'm going to push myself and push myself to be the best", and the "I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT QUIT" type of attitude. At my place, we're like a family. We work hard together to help everyone improve. And I mean together. Everyone trains with everyone. You'll see a 135 lb. fighter standing and rolling with a 270 lb. fighter. We're serious, but we like to have fun too. Don't be so serious that you take things personally. Loosen up and enjoy yourself. Don't get frustrated when you get tapped or when you have difficulties dealing with someone who's quicker, or stronger, or has a reach advantage. Adjust and adapt your game to compensate. Above all, don't let that frustration show in your face. The same goes for if you're feeling hurt or tired. Like any game of skill with an element of chance, a good "poker face" is essential.

EFFORT and COMMITMENT - You tell me you want to fight for a living. That you've got the skills to fight in the UFC one day and you're going to work hard to get there. Then you better show me exactly that. If my gym is open 4 days a week (which it is), then you better be there 4 days a week and working hard. If illness, an injury, or a personal problem (like a death in the family, childbirth, etc.) causes you to occasionally miss a day, I can understand that. But if you are only showing up half the time, just how serious are you? If I see you going half-assed through your warmups and workouts and not pushing yourself to your limits and beyond, just how serious are you? If I can look at you and I know that you are not working your cardio and managing your weight and diet daily, just how serious are you? How bad do you want it? I'm your trainer, not your mommy or your daddy. You're an adult, and you know what you've got to do to succeed. I started wrestling at age 8 and competed until I was 16. The reason I stopped wrestling was because by that time I was competing in Martial Arts Tournaments every 2-3 weeks and I just didn't have the time for school sports anymore. Three months after graduation, I decided to go pro as a kickboxer. I was training 3-4 hours a day, 5 days a week in the dojo. I was running 7 miles a day, every day, rain, snow, or sun. I knew what I wanted to do and what I had to do to achieve my goals. That's the commitment and effort I'm looking for.

SPORTSMANSHIP and RESPECT - Whenever I fought, I treated my opponent with respect. The fact that he trained hard and was stepping into a ring to fight me earned him that respect. Afterwards, win or lose, I always thanked my opponent for a good fight. Truth be told, the only person I was ever competing against was myself. Winning was great, but losing was an education. When I lost, it was an opportunity to go back and see what I had neglected in my training. To find the holes in my strategy and in my game and fix them. I never trash talked an opponent in my life. When someone talked about me, my response was not to say a word, but let the fight do the talking. I just watched Paul "Semtex" Daley literally shoot his career in the head by sucker punching Josh Koscheck after the fight was over. They had been trash talking each other for months, and continued during the fight. Even with a loss, Daley still would have had a great career ahead of him. All gone now because of an admittedly stupid move. One guy I'm going to miss when he finally hangs it up will be Randy Couture. I don't think he ever trash talked anyone in his life. Before and after a fight, win or lose, he showed respect and a lot of class.

So, are you serious? How bad do you want it? I've given you my take. Now prove it. Show me.

In Memorium - Yoshito "Vince" Tamura - 07/25/1929 to 4/20/2010 - A Judo Life

2010-04-26T05:00:00.000Z

On Tuesday, April 20th, I recieved an email from my Aikido Instructor, Sensei Fujiko Tamura Gardner, informing me of the passing of her brother Yoshito "Vince" Tamura (9th Dan - Judo). In honor of his memory and legacy, I write this Memorial.

Yoshito Tamura was born on July 25th,1929, in Fife,Washington, which at that time was a small farm community. He was the 9th of 11 children and the youngest son. He first stepped on the Judo tatami at age 5, and started down the path he would follow for the rest of his life. The classes at the Fife Dojo were taught by Sensei Ryoichi Iwakiri and Yoshito's eldest brother, Masato Tamura. In 1942, Yoshito, his parents, and several of his siblings, were caught up in the Japanese internment and placed in the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho.

In June of 1945, he moved to Chicago to finish High School, continuing his Judo training at the Jiu-Jitsu Institute of America, which was owned and operated by his brother, Masato. It was around this time he adopted the name "Vince". After graduation, he enlisted in the Army, serving with the 1st Cavalry Division Combat Engineers. During the Korean War, he saw frontline duty as a rifleman, earning a Bronze Star, among other citations and awards. When his Division was relieved, he was rotated to Japan and spent the next 6 months studying at the Kodokan. When he was discharged from the Army, he returned to Chicago and began teaching Judo once again at his brother's Dojo, as well as attending Business College.

At his brother's insistance, he began competing in major Judo tournaments. From 1951 to 1959, competing at 180lbs., he never placed lower than 3rd, winning the U.S. National Championships in 1954, 1956, and 1959. In 1956, he represented the U.S. at the World Judo Championships in Tokyo, reaching the quarterfinals and competing against such legends as Anton Geesink of Holland. In 1964, he would return to Tokyo to serve as a referee and judge at the official debut of Judo as an Olympic sport.

In 1960, Vince moved to Dallas, Texas and opened the Tamura Judo Institute, where he continued to teach Judo, as well as Heike Ryu Jiu Jitsu, for the next 40 years. In 1974, along with Gene Shelton, he co-authored the martial arts classic "Common Sense Self Defense" which was published by Ohara Books. Shortly after his retirement from active teaching, the U.S. Judo Association awarded Vince the rank of Kudan (9th Dan) in recognition of his immense contribution to Judo in America.

To many of us in the Martial Arts community, the Tamura family is considered to be the "First Family" of Martial Arts in America. According to historian Joe Svinth, from the 1920's forward, six men (Masato, Hikaru, Hiroshi, Masaru, Mitsuru, and Yoshito) and one woman (Fujiko) have achieved the rank of 2nd Dan or higher in Judo and Aikido. Of the brothers, the most famous (other than Vince) was Masato Tamura. At the time of his death in 1982, he was ranked 8th Dan and had once been president of the U.S. Judo Federation. Fujiko Tamura Gardner founded the Tacoma AikiDojo in 1973, and was the first female Aikido instructor in the Pacific Northwest. The connection, contribution, and legacy of the Tamura family to the formation, foundation, and establishment of Martial Arts in America cannot be ignored or denied. We have lost another valuable connection to our past, and our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to the entire family

Coach's Corner

2010-02-05T05:30:00.000Z

I'M BAAACK!!! Hi again HurtsBad Members! Sorry it took so long to get back to you but my family and I moved to a new house. As I promised, this blog is for coaches, trainers, fighters, and anyone who wants to learn how to kick more efficiently and effectively. As always, the opinions and observations I express have evolved from 40 years of martial arts training, practice, and observation, and are my own.

To achieve maximum results in kicking (as well as striking and throwing, which we'll discuss in the future), certain biomechanical principles and physics must be followed. Foremost among these are the principles of Base and Balance, Without them, your kicks (and strikes and throws) will be inefficient and lack power. To understand how to achieve both, you need to understand how the body is put together and how it works. Not easy to explain in simple terms, but I'm going to try.

First of all, you must understand that your body is not supported by the skeletal system (the bones), but by the muscular system. The skeleton gives you shape, but it is the muscles that provide support and movement. If you want proof, I'll give you two examples that may seem strange: a soldier in the army and someone in a wedding. For punishment in the military, they will stand you at Attention in full pack at a flagpole, and after a while you'll pass out. The same thing happens at weddings. You will occassionally see a bridesmaid or one of the groomsmen pass out. Why? What do these two scenarios have in common? The answer is Posture. In both cases each individual was standing still and stiff with their knees locked. This forces the skeleton to support the body which it is not meant to do. Now, unlock the knees, let the muscles support the body, and you can stand there until you fall asleep.

Now, look down at your feet. Notice that your lower leg (tibia, fibia, calf muscle, achilles tendon, etc.) go down to your heel, right? That means all your body mass and weight is joined to the ground at your heels, right? So why am I pointing out something so obvious? Because the two most common mistakes I see people making while throwing kicks are that they are up on the toes and ball of the foot of the supporting leg with the knee locked straight. In this position, they have neither Base nor Balance, and so their technique lacks Power. Keep the knee of your support leg unlocked and slightly flexed. This lets your muscles support you, and you don't feel like you're balancing on a stick. Keep the heel of your support leg on the floor. If you're up on the ball of your foot and toes, you're trying to support your mass and weight in mid-air, and you have no base to throw from. When throwing roundhouse kicks, pivot from the heel. Also, keep your guard up when throwing kicks. I see people throw kicks and their arms are going every which way and leaving their head exposed. Your arms have weight and mass and if they are flopping around while you kick they are pulling you off balance. Stand in a left lead fighting posture. Now, quickly switch feet to a right lead fighting posture. I'd be willing to bet your arms stayed tight and kept you covered, right? That's how it should be when you throw a kick. When you are standing in left lead and throw a right leg roundhouse kick, you are going from left lead to right lead and your hands should stay tight and keep you protected.

That's enough for now. Give it a try. If you follow these rules, you'll notice an improvement in the power and delivery of your kicks. In the next blog I'll discuss some of my favorite kicks and start talking about footwork. See ya soon!

Coach's Corner

2009-11-18T03:30:00.000Z

Hello again HurtsBad members. Pay attention to this Blog! Insist all members of HurtsBad read this one. Copy it and give it to your Coaches, Instructors, and Fellow Fighters because this is important to everyone.As I told you in my first Blog the other day, I just underwent recertification for my First Aid, CPR, AED, and Blood Borne Pathogen Card. A subject came up during discussion of Blood Borne Pathogens that should be of great interest to everybody.
Blood Borne Pathogens are just what the name implies: diseases passed on through contact with blood: HIV and Hepatitis being the most prevalent. These can be passed on by getting a person's blood in your mouth, eyes, or through a break in the skin such as a cut or scrape. And those of us teaching or training in MMA, as well as everyday living get plenty of those, don"t we? As the gentleman from the Fire Department said, "If it's not my immediate family, if someone's bleeding, I'm taking common sense precautions." How well do you know your students and fellow athletes? Coaches and Instructors, do you inquire about past injuries and general medical histories of the people you train? Athletes, do you inform your coaches of any ailments you have had or get? This should be very important to everyone whether you intend to make a career of Martial Arts (be it Classical or Mixed Martial Arts) or not, staying healthy should be important issue #1 in your life.
How many of you remember the last couple of seasons of The Ultimate Fighter when at the very beginning of each season someone was found with an outbreak of the Herpes Virus and sent home? One guy had it on his neck and the other had it on his forehead. I wonder if anyone at the gyms they trained at were aware of their conditions. If you have a case of Athletes Foot, the last place I want you to be is barefoot on my mat training. We all roll on that mat and matburns and scrapes are the norm. I shave my head so I have a lot of skin contacting that mat. I'd have you skipping rope or working your standup hand techniques on the heavy bag and practicing your footwork WEARING SHOES, until you got your condition under control. I'm sure if you get a cold or the flu, you have the courtesy to stay away from others as much as possible until you're not contagious. Be just as courteous if the problem is more serious. BE HONEST! More than your pride and dignity is at stake here.
Coaches, Instructors, and Gym Owners: You should keep a supply of Nitrile gloves around to use when treating cuts, bloody noses, and scrapes. Nitrile, not Latex, as some people can have extreme allergic reactions to Latex and not be aware of it. Keep a couple of bottles of Purell Hand Sanitizer in conspicuous locations around the gym. Athletes: Keep a small bottle in your bags. I don't know what you do for a living or where your hands have been. I'd be upset if I'm grappling with you and found out later your day job is scrubbing out Honey Buckets.
For blood spill and general cleanup, the recommended cleanser is a 10 to 1 mixture of water and Bleach. Keep a couple of gallon bottles of Bleach in your gym. DO NOT PRE-MIX. Mix your cleaner fresh, use it, and dispose of any you don"t use. Even in water, the sanitizing component of Bleach breaks down after 12 to 24 hours. Also, never mix Bleach with HOT water. This breaks it down immediately. Use cold to lukewarm water, cold being best. Clean and sanitize your mats, floors, and equipment as often as you can. Every person who has ever wrestled knows about the kind of diseases you can pick up from a dirty mat. Staph Infections, Ringworm, Rhino Virus, and the bad boy on the block, MRSA. If you've never seen the scarring a MRSA outbreak causes, it looks like you tried to exfolliate with an industrial cheese grater. And MRSA is one bad mother. It will eat penicillin for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, and then ask for seconds. The antibiotic cocktail recipe that beats it is nasty and painful. Last year a High School in my area had such a severe and fast spreading outbreak of MRSA that they ended up closing it for 3 weeks while they went in and scrubbed the entire place, top to bottom, every surface, with Bleach to kill it.
Treat and dress all cuts immediately. Use hydrogen peroxide and antibacterial soap to clean matburns and scrapes as soon as they happen and dress them afterwards. Did you know if you use hydrogen peroxide straight out of the bottle it actually damages tissue and slows healing? Cut it 50/50 with water and you'll clean the wound and heal better.
So there it is, like it or not, in a nutshell. Communicate, Be Honest, and Keep It Clean. After all, if your chance comes, I'd hate to see any of you sent home before the show starts.

Coach's Corner

2009-11-15T03:00:00.000Z

Hello HurtsBad Members! Having just joined your group, I've decided to try to post a Blog on a (hopefully) regular basis to help anyone interested train and perform better, and if you decide to one day open a gym (or Dojo if you are a Traditional Martial Artist), some tips to get you going. Just remember that the opinions are my own, take it or leave it. Or as my Grandfather used to say, " Try to remember, opinions are like body orifices. Everyones got them and most of the time they stink."
So for my first few Posts, let me start by talking to anyone interested in starting a gym or dojo. Before you find a suitable location for your gym, whether it's renting a building of your own, training at a health club, a community center, or your garage, GET SOME INSURANCE!! In fact, you can't rent or lease a space anywhere without it. And it has to cover both you and whoever you're renting from. And if you consider what you are doing, it would be pretty dumb not to have it. I carry a $2,000,000 General Aggregate Limit Policy on my school ($1.000,000 Personal Injury - $1,000,000 Each Occurance Limit including Fire Protection). This may sound a bit overwhelming to most people, but bear with me. You are going to be engaging in extremely rigorous physical exercise, as well as hard contact training. Building core strength and cardio endurance, sparring, matwork, and submission training, injuries can and probably will occur. After all, this is not a dance class or learning needlepoint (come to think of it, you can get hurt doing those activities, too). So having insurance coverage is a necessary evil.
Now for the advice. SHOP AROUND! Most people get the first policy they can find, usually in an ad in one of the many Martial Arts magazines out there. There are a few insurance companies that specialize in Martial Arts that have been around for Decades and offer good policies. Rhulen Insurance, for example, has advertised Martial Arts policies in Black Belt Magazine since the 1960's. The problem is some of these policies, while having great coverage, are damned expensive. Go to several insurance agents in your area and inquire about coverage and rates. Don't just take the first policy that you're told about. I shopped around to about 15 or 20 insurance agents asking questions until one of them told me about Francis L. Dean, a company he used for Summer Sports Camps he was involved in. They have policies for all sports including Martial Arts Tournaments and Schools. I have been with them now for 15 years and my yearly coverage costs about $400. Not Bad. They will even provide you with student release forms. So shop smart, you may find a bargain.
One last thing. Be certified in First Aid/CPR. The Insurance Companies love it when they know someone onsite is certified to handle emergencies and may give you a small break on your insurance costs. I am certified in First Aid, CPR, AED (automatic emergency defibulator), and Blood Borne Pathogens. I go through recertification and training with the Fire Department every 2 years. Check with them or the local Red Cross for training and certification.