- Name: Michael Mason
- Birth date: 16 January 1964
- Height: 5’7" (170 cm.)
- Weight: 185 lbs. (84 kg.)
- Website: http://masonsurvival.blogspot.com
Michael has Russian and Dutch bloodlines but grew up and still lives part of the time in the U.K. The other part of the year, he spends in Switzerland where he works as a Ski Instructor. Michael is also a Close Protection Operator and Self-Defense Instructor. He has been studying and training in the martial arts for more than 30 years. He holds a 5th dan in Genbukan Ninpo Taijutsu (- the way of the ninja, for us laymen) and is also a S.P.E.A.R. System Personal Readiness Coach and Krav Maga instructor. He is fluent in English, Yiddish, Rubbish and French.
Michael has been very supportive and encouraging of my efforts at CrossFit and the Paleo diet.
Yes, ladies, he’s straight and he’s single.
Michael at Ecole Suisse De Ski in Switzerland.
Q: Have you always been fit?
A: Yes, I’ve always been fit. I’ve always been active. I was born in the age of no computer games so I wanted to do it all for real. Fighting, training to be strong, going into the forest and making campfires… Just boy stuff. I guess it’s not that way anymore.
Q: I’m reading a book that claims that we aren’t prisoners of our genes and can change the way we look and our general health. An example it cites is Michael Jordan. His father and brother are of average height and he himself was rejected from his high school basketball team for not being tall enough at 5’11". Of course this is pure conjecture, but the author of the book seems to think that it was Jordan’s sheer determination to play basketball that caused him to sprout four more inches the next summer. Are all of you in your family fit or is it just you?
A: I’m the fit one. But it’s not down to genetics. It’s a choice. I choose to be fit. I choose to eat well. I choose to be positive.
Q: You scare me. Not only are you doingCrossFit, you’re also doing CrossFit Strength Bias (a program for intermediate and advanced CrossFitters which pairs regular CrossFit metabolic conditioning with extra-heavy weight training) and did all your WODs with a weighted vest last month! What’s behind this madness? What drives you?
A: I want to be the best that I can be, to always try to improve myself as a human being. I have a physical job so I need to be fit and strong. I may need to run, I may need to fight, I may need to survive in a mountain environment…
But I love being fit.
I’ve been doing CrossFit for about a year and wish I had found it sooner! CrossFit is about me pushing myself, doing something that I haven’t done before. The weighted vest was just an extra challenge for August. It’s been tough but you get used to it so I’m gonna try to carry on till I go back to Switzerland in November for the ski season. Since doing CrossFit, my capacity on the mountains has increased hugely. Coupled with a good Paleo/Primal lifestyle, which I’ve been doing for a over a year, I feel strong and energized all the time.
Q: How else do you keep in shape?
A: I teach martial arts. That builds a different type of fitness and, once a week, we train for real life scenarios in full protective gear and go head to head, trying to simulate real life fight situations.
The Ninja in action!
When I can, I do CrossFit five times a week, teach martial arts/self-defense two times a week. When I am in Switzerland, generally, I am on the slopes everyday.
I do need a certain amount of sleep. Nine hours is good.
I don’t take supplements other than a high does of Vitamin D, a small amount of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil, and a very good whey protein powder.
Q: Do you drink?
A: I’ve been teetotal for the past 25 years. I drink coffee… I love espresso! And I drink a lot of oolong tea.
Q: So I guess you don’t smoke either. You’ve got to have some vice! What is it?
A: Women!
Q: Okay, I’m new to the Paleo diet. Tell me how you’re following it.
A: Meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts. I have coconut oil, butter… Fat is good for us! Well, certain kinds of fat.
Normally, for breakfast, I’ll eat bacon and eggs or, if I’ve cooked something the night before like wild salmon or steak, I’ll have the leftovers. Don’t eat wheat or rice or oats. And I’ve stopped adding milk to my coffee.
Q: Do you cook?
A: I think I’m a good cook and cook for myself all the time. I love eating!
Q: How do you manage at parties?
A: For me, it’s no problem. Drinking doesn’t bother me. I’ll go to clubs and bars, no problem. And I will enjoy myself just as much as the next person but without the negative effects of alcohol.
Q: Do you ever cheat on your diet? What is the one thing that you’d like to be able to eat as much of if only it were healthy?
A: I don’t look at anything as a cheat. How I eat is great! Lots of things that I used to love, I look at now and know that it will just make me ill.
Having said that, I love bread. Especially the bread in France and Switzerland. And if I could eat it and be healthy doing so, I would. But it hurts me. When I am in Switzerland, I’ll have one fondue all season and have the bread with it. But just once. The rest of the time, I’ll just eat the cheese.
If there is a great dessert, I’ll have it. I love ice cream! But I just don’t do it that often. If I fancy ice cream, I will have it and eat the whole tub and enjoy that sensation. That will keep me satisfied for months till I do it again. Having a whole tub of Haagen Dazs guilt-free is wonderful!
Q: Hang on. Bacon and cheese aren’t Paleo. Bacon is loaded with nitrates and cheese contains dairy.Sarah Fragoso, however, in her cookbook, “Everyday Paleo” uses bacon in her recipes, although she does specify to use nitrate-free bacon.
A: So sue me! I like bacon and will have cheese every now and then. But it has to be great bacon and good unpasteurized cheese. And I eat really good Greek yogurt and 90% chocolate when I fancy. If you’re really wrecked, then strict Paleo is the way to go. But if your system can tolerate certain things and your health is good, then you can allow yourself to eat certain things that you fancy.
Mark’s Daily Apple is a great primal site. Not as severe as 100% Paleo and he knows his shit!
Q: Thanks for the chat, Ninja! As a final question, through your journey to get to the level of fitness where you’re at today, is there anything that you’ve learned that you would like to impart to those of us still struggling to get there?
A: Don’t believe what you read in the media. If you’re really into being the best that you can be, go and research for yourself regarding food, fat and sugar.
Don’t look at something as right or wrong. Look at it as desirable or less desirable.