MMA Weekly Wrap-Up for the Week of 3/31/08

Hello again, and welcome to another edition of the MMA Weekly Wrap-Up. All apologies for the delay in running this issue. My entire family came down with the flu this week, so I'm running a little late while trying to take care of them and myself at the same time.

My doctor has me taking an antibiotic and some really strong cough medicine with Codeine in it. It's good stuff but the Codeine is making meeeee a biT Looopy, so pleaze iGnore any miztakes in this post!

CUNG LE, LEGEND - OR A LEGEND IN THE MAKING?

They say that "styles make fights," well if that's true then nobody has more style then the new Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, Cung Le.

Le won the title Saturday in a very anticipated bout with Mixed Martial Art legend, Frank Shamrock. Prior to the match, many fight fans predicted that Shamrock would take Le to the ground and grapple/ground-n-pound for an easy victory.

But, unfortunately for Shamrock, Le isn't so easy to take down. Cung punished Shamrock for three rounds with vicious kicks coming in at all angles. His roundhouse and side kicks landed repeatedly landed to the legs, body, and face of Shamrock.

Shamrock attempted a couple of half-hearted takedowns, but was unable to penetrate beyond the leg attacks and was forced to spend the night trading blows. To his credit, Shamrock stunned Le several times; with a knee kick in the first round and several good punch/hook combinations.

However, it was those blistering, fast kicks that kept Shamrock on the defensive and helped Le win each of the first three rounds of the fight. Le's speed and outstanding conditioning continued to press Shamrock throughout the brutal fight.

Near the end of the third round, Frank again rocked Cung with a hard punch combination that sent him into the fence, but Le was able to recover and strike back with a couple of roundhouses... the last one partially blocked, but still finding it's mark on Shamrock's head.

As round three ended, it was clear that Shamrock was injured. His corner called for the fight Doctor, who determined that his arm was broken and his wrist displaced. (The arm was already noticeably red and swollen from punishment suffered in the earlier rounds.) Shamrock was unable to continue the fight and Le became the new Strikeforce Middleweight Champ.

None of this has silenced Le critics who still complain that he "can't" grapple.

My answer is 'how do we know?'

Le hasn't really been forced to yet, and so far nobody has been able to get past those incredibly fast legs to find out.

I was following the fight over at the MMAOverdrive message boards where some of the fans took exception to Cung Le being called a "Legend" since he doesn't have much MMA experience.

While I do see they're point, it's still no longer possible to simply dismiss Le as just a 'kickboxer'.

The man has wrestling experience and, knowing his devotion to competition and martial arts, I find it had to imagine that he would enter the MMA cage without complete confidence in his ground game. As time goes by, I'm sure we'll see plenty of Cung Le the "Grappler."

THE EARLY SHOW COVERS CHILDREN'S MMA COMPETITION

This week, The Early Show on CBS covered a story about children training for MMA competition. They did a pretty fair job of covering both sides of the controversy.

As an avid fan of combat sports , a martial artist, and a father, I have conflicting views on children competing in this sport. While I have no problem with kids training and practicing MMA techniques, I do have serious reservations about actual competition.

Although it isn't mentioned in this clip, I really worry about the psychological harm that could come to youngsters who feel pressure to fight and win in a combat sport environment. It's one thing for overzealous parents to push their kids to excel at little league or soccer, but MMA takes the over-competition thing to a whole new level.

I used to often go to Muay Thai fights up in Milwaukee where they would occasionally feature kids as young as 10 or 12 years old fighting. I always found it very hard to watch.

I understand that most competitive boxers begin about this age (as well as gymnastics, Pop Warner Football, and other dangerous sports) but I still tend to think that this sort of competition is a bit too much exposure for a youngster.

What do you think?



IRON RING A HIT FOR BET

MMAPayout.com reports that BET's new MMA reality series, Iron Ring has the fourth highest rating in the channel's history. Although it was initially placed in a post-prime time slot, the show gained a 20% increase over it's lead in.

BET has now moved the show to Friday's at 10:30 (ET) and follows it's highest rated series, College Hill.

Although, I was too ill to watch the second show, I was able to catch the debut episodes.

The show definitely caught my attention, but I was very disappointed by it's focus on the celebrity team owners. I couldn't care less what Nelly has to say about MMA training... if he has some advice about making it big in the recording industry or fashion, then I might pay listen, but he has absolutely no credentials in the fight world.

The show's coaches didn't really impress me much either. Most of them seem to talk a good game, but I didn't really see any fight strategy or technique in the first couple of episodes.

Mostly everyone just tells the fighters to "man up" (whatever that means) and show "heart." IMO you can have all the heart in the world, but if you don't know how to get out of a triangle choke, your still going to get beat.

Still, if the series ever gets around to focusing on it's real stars, the fighters, it could really be interesting. The second episode shows one fighter throwing a fit when he isn't picked for a team and challenges the coaches by claiming he'll beat anyone they choose. They take him up on his offer and a fight is set. (Apparently, he wins in the fight in the episode that I missed.) In my world, that's good television.

I hope the series lays off the celebrity thing a bit and focuses more on the fighters and fighting. Right now however, it's just 'Amature Hour.'




TUF RETURNS TO SPIKE TV APRIL 2ND

Spike TV's hit MMA series The Ultimate fighter returns this week for it's 7th season. Lead by coaches Quinton Jackson and Forrest Griffin, a group of middleweight fighters will once again match against one another in pursuit of a UFC contract.

Unlike past seasons that started out a bit slow for the first week, this season promises to immediately pit the contestants against one another for the chance to continue onto the show. It should be exciting.

And just before the debut episode at 10:00pm (ET), Spike is presenting a new Fight Night special at 7:00pm (ET), with fights that include: Kenny Florian vs Joe Lauzon, Tim Boetsch vs Matt Hamill, Kurt Pellegrino vs Nate Diaz, and (the one I'm waiting for) Thiago Alves vs Karo Parisyan.

To get you in the mood, I was able to find an interview with Q. Jackson that's appropriate for this PG-13 site. (He usually lets the "F" bomb slip in most of his interviews, but in this case he was on a morning news show for New York's WPIX Television, so he was a bit more gentleman-like.)

Anyway, I hope you enjoy. As usual, Jackson's pretty funny.

Well, that does it for another episode of the MMA Weekly Wrap-Up. Check back next week as week keep you up to date on all the latest MMA happenings and events.

Respectfully,

Rick

Guest post: The Importance of Training Logs

Ed. This month's guest post is by one of my favorite bloggers, and a Convocation member, Steve of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Steve's BJJ Log. His blog is a great diary of his training and study of BJJ, a breakdown of techniques in that art, and more. Check it out, and then subscribe to his feed for more!
_________________________________________________________________________________

I want to thank Nathan for giving me the opportunity to post as a guest on TDA Training. My name is Steve and I've been training in martial arts for about 4 years, and in BJJ since November of 2006 and keep track of this training over on my blog.

I came into blogging in a sort of backwards way, and lack the many years of experience that many of my online friends have put into perfecting their respective arts. What I do have, however, is a lifetime of experience doing things the hard way before discovering the "easy way." Until I launched my blog, I had never kept a log, diary or anything of the sort.

And that brings me to the point of this post, which is about training logs, blogs and the online Martial Arts community. There are many great reasons to keep a training log in some form or another. There are also many terrific reasons to blog and participate in the online community. They can help you document your training, remember the details and organize your thoughts. They can also help you meet other Martial Artists and gain insight into diverse training methods and styles.

My training log began online really only as a matter of convenience. Shortly after I began training at Foster BJJ, Coach Foster encouraged everyone to keep a training log so that we could track our progress and help reinforce the techniques covered in class. If I gained nothing else, this alone would be reason enough for me. Anyone who reads my blog regularly knows that the vast majority of my content is related to my training. What is working for me and what isn't. Which techniques we learned on a given day. How well I was able to apply these techniques in sparring.

I am also now beginning to benefit from my early technical descriptions as I begin to go back and re-read them. I'm not overly introspective, but I am fascinated to read my early descriptions, remembering the classes and gaining insight not only into the techniques themselves, but also into what I noticed that first time around as opposed to what I can see and understand now. The first time I went back and read an early post on my training blog, I remember wondering why Coach Foster didn't show us many details. It was a few weeks later when I realized that he did, I just didn't see them. Very much like Homer Simpson, my brain was full.

Even if you never go back and read your training log again, simply the act of organizing your thoughts and mentally reviewing the lesson so that you can write it down will help you retain key details that you would otherwise forget.

Being asked to guest blog also got me thinking about our online community of martial artists... and bloggers. I was talking to a friend, a guy who began training in BJJ at the same time as I. He lives and trains in England, and I would never have met him had he not kept an online training log. One thing about the BJJ community is that it is still relatively small. The online community is much, much smaller. So, in the sense of reaching out to the global community of training partners, blogging is a fantastic habit to get into. Through my blog, I've had the pleasure of getting to know fellow jiu-jitsu students from literally all over the globe.

It's also a pleasure to be able to communicate with martial artists from every conceivable discipline, and to begin to understand how they train and why. From blogs like Martialviews, where John writes in broad terms about issues that affect all martial arts and artists, to Black Belt Mama's blog about her own personal trials and tribulations in life and martial arts. Mine is more of a technical blog, and fits my own personality. Yours will be something different and unique to you.

So, keep a training log. Whether it's online or on paper, your training will benefit. Start small and don't worry about whether or not you're doing something interesting to anyone else. Your log is for you, and if you enjoy it, you'll keep it up. One of the assistant instructors at my school said about BJJ specifically, but I think applicable to all disciplines, "When you start training you can't help but get better. You suck so bad that if you just show up, you'll improve. After a while, though, your improvement is up to you, and you have to start thinking about your training to get better." And if we accept this as true, then keeping a training log is a terrific way to organize our thoughts.

Technorati Tags: BJJ,training log

Is Aikido Effective for Self-Defense

In a word, yes. As always, it depends on the type of training provided, and the attitude, determination, and aptitude of the student, but Aikido addresses many aspects of "street" self-defense, while neglecting some others. Pat at Mokuren Dojo posts A helpful handful – Aikido for self-defense:

Over the past 23 or so years I have studied taekwando, karate, judo, aikido, hapkido, and jujitsu and I can honestly say that of the martial arts I have experienced, aikido appears to me to be the best self defense there is [Emphasis mine- Nathan]. The following are a handful of aspects of aikido that I think make it particularly suitable for self-protection purposes.

• Ukemi – the art of falling safely – particularly the simple side fall and the forward roll. Proper reflexive falling skills will likely save you from many more hazards during your lifetime than any other martial arts technique or skill. Check here for a collection of good articles on proper falling.

• Evasion and the aiki brush-off – the ability to efficiently get out of the way of an incoming force and push the opponent off of you or push yourself off of the opponent. This is the fundamental skill in aikido, practiced in every class as the foundation of every technique. To read more about the aiki brush-off, check out this article.

There's more, much more to this post than meets the eye. In his usual understated way, Pat gives hints and glimpses of what may take you decades to learn in a manner that suggests it's obvious - and to him it may, indeed, be. The post also covers striking, groundwork, and something he calls calibrating the "hyperactive reflexes."

To elaborate on what I said above about Aikido neglecting other aspects of self defense, read my post Its not what's there, it's what's missing for my thoughts - Aikido, like many other systems can form the foundation of an effective style, but has weaknesses in it's strengths.

Please click over to Mokuren for more. I will ask Pat in the comments why he'd characterize it as the "best there is" for him.

Aftermath of Cung Le victory over Shamrock

Some of you saw this weekend's fight featuring Cung Le and Frank Shamrock. Several questions for those who are partisans of either fighter, and/or MMA fans:

1. Was it a good fight? General opinions of the fight? I thought the matchup was interesting - Cung Le is known for his amazing takedowns and standup (a combination I love, as my personal philosophy is to stay up if I can, but the takedowns or throws that put an opponent down are the most effective way to quickly end a fight), and Shamrock for his dominating all-around MMA game.
2. Shamrock, by what I've read, was doing very well and rocked Le, but was forced to throw in the towel due to a broken arm. No shame in that. What was the technique which broke the arm?
3. Will this change anyone's training focus? More focus on kicking? Kicking defense?

That's it. I'd love the $0.02 of anyone who saw it...

Technorati Tags: Cung Le,Frank Shamrock,MMA

Takayuki Kubota in control

Discovery of Tak Kubota's lost film career! From the introduction on YouTube: "Fight scene for Michael Winner's movie The Mechanic with Charles Bronson. Soke Takayuki Kubota fights with shihan Hank Hamilton."

 

More on Kubota

Impressive!

Technorati Tags: Karate,Tak Kubota,martial arts,sparring

Karate College

Come out and work out with me at the Karate College 2008. I'll let you know when I've sent in my deposit.

Rick, are you interested? Mike may be up for it, too. For those of you who've followed my group for a while, Daniel has been activated and will be deploying to Iraq shortly. Prayers to him, his fellow Marines, and all of our deployed armed forces and their families.

Technorati Tags: Karate College 2008,Joe Lewis,Michael DePasquale,Kanarek,Bill Superfoot Wallace,Jerry Beasley,Renzo Gracie,Matt Serra

Trying this circuit tonight

Because I obviously need to get into better shape (let's not even talk about fighting shape!), I'm going to try this circuit in a few minutes.

Start with [Nathan: what does he mean START!!!]

• 5-10 burpees (you can do more or less depending on your fitness level)
• 25 Pushups
• 50 Bodyweight Squats
• 25 Leg Lifts or roman twist
• 5-10 Pullups (you can do more or less depending on your fitness level)

Rest for one minute and repeat for 3 more sets. A total of 4 sets
NOTE: If you don’t have a pullup bar, then shadow box by doing 1-2 combos for 50 reps

I'll tell you how it goes within about an hour. I will update this post with the results... 

RESULTS (10 minutes later):
OK, Mike, I promised I'd post this, and here it is. Doh!

5 Burpees

25 Pushup [this is made difficult by my wrist issues - I'll be doing them on my fists from now on]

34 Bodyweight Squats [this was the hardest part - embarrassing!]

25 Leg Lifts or roman twist [I don't know what a Roman Twist is yet, so I did the leg lifts]

50 1-2s [I used good form, punching through my imaginary target, a good lead, and retract to good guard position]

Source: Straight to the Bar

For more information:
Burpee video
Straight to the Bar
RossTraining.com

Technorati Tags: circuit training

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THE MMA WEEKLY WRAP-UP for 3/24/08

Hi and welcome back to another edition of the MMA Weekly Wrap-UP where we bring you all the best Internet news, information, and video clips from the world of Combat Sports.

TUF RETURNS APRIL 2ND

The 7th season of the Ultimate Fighter; Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest returns to Spike TV on April 2nd at 10:00pm (ET). If the following trailer is any indication, this season appears to be more exciting than those of the past.

Rather than have the fighters compete in some lame, fitness competition or focus only on training for the first show, these competitors will have to fight for their place on the show.

And, while we're on the subject, TUF is already looking for fighters from the Lightweight and Light Heavyweight Divisions for Season 8. If you think your ready to make the move to Vegas and remain locked in a house with a bunch of other MMA meatheads then this is your dream come true!

Just head over to the UFC.com website and fill out the Application. But you better hurry... the deadline is APRIL 5th!

You will have to provide videos of your fights, but luckily you won't have to turn in anything like this...



Shamrock/Le Fight Just Days Away

With the Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le fight to take place this Saturday for the Strikeforce World Middleweight Championship all eyes are on these two fighters this week. The fight will be televised on Showtime at 9:00pm (ET).

The message boards are filled with comments cheering one fighter or the other. Will Cung Le's incredible kicks and athletic ability be a match for the sheer ferocity of Frank Shamrock's attack?

One thing is certain, Frank certainly appears confident...

GSP vs. Serra Also Just Around the Corner
The Georges St-Pierre and Matt Serra fight is set to take place on April 19th, at UFC 83 in GSP's hometown of Montreal. Combat Sport fans are greatly divided on calling this match (Unless, of course, you happen to live in Canada - Then you have to root for St-Pierre, or be beaten by Mounties.)

As for myself, I really, really like St-Pierre. He's an incredible fighter and a truly a class act.

Still, my vote goes for Serra (even if he is a New Yorker). I hope two things happen in their match...

First, I hope it goes to the ground. Both of these guys are amazing grapplers and I'd like to see who has the best ju jitsu skills.

Second, if Serra wins (if), then I hope the MMA community finally gives him the respect he deserves. This should be a fantastic fight.

In the following clip, both fighters discuss their first fight back on April 7th of 2007.





Well, that will do it for this week's Weekly Wrap-Up. Check back again for more of 'The Best of the Web' in the world of Combat Sports.

Respectfully,

Rick

Today's Quote: Chiron

"Good martial arts (and real fighting} is in the transition. Victory happens less in the technique than in the spaces between the techniques. At the point of impact boxers, muay thai guys and karateka aren't that different, but what they do with their hips, their legs and their shoulders before and after are very, very different." - Chiron

Technorati Tags: martial arts,fighting,karate,boxing,muay Thai

Is There Value in Traditional Training?

Our post, Is your traditional training going to get you killed? seems to have elicited some interesting responses here, and at the Convocation. For a refresher on my heretical thoughts:

I think that I'm qualified to state that most traditional training in the US consists of:

• Kicks and punches only - some have traditional weapons forms, and have added grappling or MMA as a sideline to increase their relevance and revenue
• Classes of 45 minutes to 90 minutes long, two to three times a week
• Techniques performed in the air (no contact) or on pads
• Most schools have students remove their shoes and practice in loose-fitting, comfortable uniforms
• Forms (poomse or kata) being a large part of the focus and time spent
• Sparring with light to medium contact, and with restrictive rules for safety

I believe that most modern traditional schools (an intentionally paradoxical statement) do not prepare students for real self-defense, but to get hurt.

The issue, I think, is that the art itself isn't being taught in a "traditional" way - I'm defining the tradition of all of these arts as being a means to self-improvement, (sometimes) self-discovery, but most importantly, defending against aggression. Indeed, these arts wouldn't have any credibility were it not for the baser, effective aspects of their roots and founders.

In summary, I think that most schools are non-traditional, if not McDojos.

The goals which a mom and dad with a seven and nine year-old pair of kids is not to teach them to survive a knife-wielding maniac, but to get better grades and learn discipline. Are those school accomplishing that? Probably. The issue, to me, is that those same schools try to teach that same curriculum to adults, and award black belts in... what?

What I think is being missed here is that there is a difference between the style itself, and the training methods that the style uses, or (especially) the training method and curriculum a particular school uses. I know many traditional stylists who are tougher than nails. It depends on the focus of the training, akin to a "Karate-jutsu" versus "Karate-do" approach to training.

In defense of true traditional training:

Rick Fryer:

I’d like to describe some of the advantages to traditional training.

- Emphasize proper body mechanics
- Drill muscle memory through consistent repetition
- Build speed, power, and accuracy into the practice of techniques
- Improve the coordination and balance needed for self-defense
- Utilize underlying combat principles and strategies (two-way action, complex torque, variable pressure, redundancy, etc.)
- Instruct in the proper use of vital and/or pressure points
- Develop the muscle structure and flexibility needed for effective self-defense
- Allow students to practice dangerous techniques in a reasonably safe manner.

John Zimmer

Formal karate in its day may have been used on the streets, but now a day (just as boxers of old had to learn) fighting has changed.

I think there is value in learning the low-horse stances, punching and kicking drills, katas as well as the stylized rules in each sporting event. But I would argue that has and has always had little to do with fighting.

In my hey-day I was a point tournament fighter that had modest success in So-Cal. The fact that my punches and kicks striking points and force were limited did not impair my ability to fight in a bar as a bouncer for a couple of years at a bar. The two types of fighting actually complemented each other (I also have not been hit in a real fight because of my understanding of critical distance) because in the real fights I could do what I wanted to in the sport matches (and I did not get disqualified for excessive contact). :)

Anyway I would also like to say that real fights happen when you are sick, injured, drunk or otherwise at a disadvantage... the fact that you don't often train that way should not preclude you from surmounting any obstacles during the real deal.

Agreed. Rick's points of the positive advantages of truly traditional training are spot-on. John Zimmer's experiences show that the techniques themselves are effective - it's how they're taught. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and Krav Maga are both based on traditional styles like Karate, Juijitsu (and it's Brazilian variant), Arnis, and other traditional arts, and have both been proven extremely effective and have been taught in a short amount of time. With years of experience in the right type of training, some traditional martial artists may be the deadliest yet gentlest you may hope to meet.

Technorati Tags: karate,traditional karate,sparring,sport karate,martial arts,pressure points,self-defense,combatives,Krav Maga,MCMAP,Marine Corps Martial Arts Program

MMA WEEKLY WRAP-UP for the Week of 3/17/08

Welcome to another edition of The MMA Weekly Wrap-UP, where we bring you the latest Internet news, events, and video clips from the world of Combat Sports.

'IRON RING' BEGINS THIS WEEK ON BET

The newest of the reality/MMA competition shows starts tomorrow on BET with a two episode debut at 11:00 (ET). Called Iron Ring, the show is roughly a cross between the IFL team competition concept with a dose The Ultimate Fighter's 'behind the scenes' drama.

There are six, three man, teams representing the Light, Middleweight, and Heavyweight Divisions. Each team is managed by a different celebrity owner, including: Ludacris (Team Luda), Floyd Mayweather (Money Mayweather Boys), T.I. (Team Grand Hustle), Nelly (Team Nelly), Juelz Santana (Team Dipset), and Lil' Jon (Team Headbusters).

In addition, the teams are coached by well known MMA fighters such as Chuck "Krazy Horse" Bennett and TUF competitor, Shonie Carter.

Already, Blogs such as CagePotato.com and MMAPayout.com are wondering if this series will promote MMA as a legitimate sport competition or fall victim to spectacle promotion, overly focusing on violence for the sake of ratings exploitation.

While this series could help to attract a large Black audience to Combat Sports, the focus on celebrity owners and hip hop culture could could make this series just another unneeded MMA side-show. Let's hope the producers take the high road here.

CUNG LE VS FRANK SHAMROCK COUNTDOWN

The Strikeforce 'Shamrock vs Cung Le' fight is set to go down March 29th at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Both fighters are 35 years old, both grew up in California, and both have impressive fight records. Le is 5-0 (all by knockout) in Mixed Martial Art competition since transitioning to the sport in 2006. Before that, he was undefeated career in san shou and K-1 Competition.

Frank Shamrock, the current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, is 22-8-1 (with 2 wins by knockout) in Mixed Martial Arts competition. He has also competed in catch wrestling, kickboxing, and pancrase style fights.

This match has gotten a great deal of attention as many fight fans wonder how Le's flashy take-downs and spin kicks will fare against Shamrock's no-nonsense, streetbrawl style of fighting.

The following clip from Showtime Sports demonstrates their training and fighting differences. If "styles make fights" then this should be a good one.




NEVER BACK DOWN - THE 'KARATE KID' OF 2008?



Just out this week is the new martial arts flick Never Back Down, which mixes typical teenage angst with mixed martial arts.



Now, tell me if you've heard this synopsis somewhere before... After moving with his family to Orlando, Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) has a tough time fitting in. When he meets a very hot looking girl at school (Amber Heard) and is invited to a big party, he finds himself challenged to a fight and suffers a humiliating beating by the local rich-boy bully (Cam Gigandet).



In order to redeem his self respect and win the heart of the hot chick, Jake takes up Mixed Marital Arts at a local hole-in-the-wall gym. Instructed by a mysterious teacher (Djimon Hounsou), Jake learns to train his mind as well as his body in order to face the bully at a local tournament.



The only thing that could make this movie more "Karate Kid" would be mid-movie training montage with Peter Cetera singing "Glory of Love."

BLACK BELT MAGAZINE HAS GREAT TONY JAA ARTICLE... ONLY THERE'S NO TONY JAA

This month's Black Belt Magazine (May 2008) has a great article called "Searching for Tony Jaa" where the author Antonio Graceffo travels to Thailand to "trace the roots of the Hottest Martial Arts Superstar since Jackie Chan and Jet Li."

The article gives a nice history of Jaa Pnom (as he's known in Thailand) and describes his early training as a child as well as a bit of his family history. (Like the character in 'The Protector', Jaa's family really are elephant handlers.) The article also features an interview with Jaa's first martial arts instructor, adjan Sak Chai.

Sak goes on to describe the differences between the muay Thai used in the ring and the muay Thai boran that he teaches, saying that his style emphasizes more wrestling movements.

The only problem with the article is that it doesn't feature an interview with Tony Jaa himself (Maybe in Part II, due out in June 2008). So to keep us all satisfied until then, here's a quick clip of Jaa Pnom in action.



Hope you've enjoyed this weeks Wrap-Up. Check us out again next week when we bring you the MMA's 'Best of the Net'.

Respectfully,

Rick

The MMA Girls: Role Models for a New Generation of Martial Artists

Warning: The videos presented in this post have been “flagged” as inappropriate by YouTube.com. In order to view these videos on their website, you must first select a button that confirms you are over 18 years of age. (I guess YouTube.com doesn’t think any minors would ever lie about their age.)

Now don’t get too excited here. TDA Training isn’t going to show anything too scandalous. Whoever flagged these videos did so because the girls presented in these videos are performing grappling movements that could be misinterpreted as sexually suggestive. - We’ll let you be the judge of that.

But first, let me tell you how I came across these instructional video clips in the first place.
I have a beautiful three year old daughter who loves all sorts of girly-girl stuff;

• She has every Disney Princess doll and all of their movies. (Also Tinkerbell)
• She refuses to leave the house unless she’s wearing a dress.
• All of her toys, clothes, accessories, and furniture are either pink or purple.
• She loves ballet class.
• She’s a big fan of everything Barbie.
• She often spends entire afternoons dancing and singing around the house.

This, of course is in stark contrast to her Father, who has all kinds of martial arts training gear laying around the basement, a full collection of MMA fights on video, and a closet full of “karate” weapons.

I don’t mind her more feminine fascinations, but as her Father, I’d also like her to eventually learn to protect herself. I think learning the martial arts would really help her to grow to be secure, confident, and courageous.

I don’t want my little princess to have to depend on some “prince” in order to get out of a tough situation.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many martial role-models for young girls. My daughter wants to look up to a woman who inspires the same values and attitudes that she appreciates.

She wants to look up to someone who is pretty and feminine. She hopes to become like someone interested in fashion; someone who likes stuffed animals, the color pink and pretty dresses. (You don’t find many role models like that in the martial arts world.)

Meanwhile, I want her to admire someone strong, tough, independent, and smart; someone who’s able to kick butt when they have to.

But what heroes are really available for my daughter? Quinton Jacson, Bas Rutten, Kimbo Slice, Chuck Liddell? None of them share my daughter’s feminine values. (Although Liddell could give her some advice on painting her toe-nails.)

However, while writing the MMA Weekly Wrap-Up, I came across a couple of women who share their interest for Mixed Martial Arts over the Internet. They call themselves The MMA Girls and they just succeed in attracting a whole new type of fan to the Combat Sports.

From their MySpace.com page, these girls, Joanne and Lauren, pod cast video clips about the Mixed Martial Arts, providing video tutorials of ju jitsu techniques and also giving predictions for upcoming UFC Events.

The video tutorials are very well done. They provide excellent demonstrations for anyone interested in learning basic ju jitsu techniques or for any MMA fan who just wants to know more about the fundamentals and terminology of grappling.

Joanne admits that she is still a beginner with a white belt in ju jitsu, but her demonstrations are still clear, easy to understand, and performed correctly. Her fight predictions are also well thought out and sometimes fairly accurate. (She picked four of the UFC 81 winners, but didn’t do as well for UFC 82; picking only 1 winner out of 5.)

How does she gain such insight into the world of Combat Sport? Well, according to an interview with CagePotato.com, she claims that her “Teddy Bear” whispers the winner’s names to her. (Yeah, I know… she’s such a girl!)

So if the videos are so useful and informative, why have they been flagged as inappropriate by YouTube.com?

Well, the problem is that, as the title MMA Girls implies, both Joanne and Lauren happen to be women. And not just regular, everyday women mind you, but also stunningly attractive women. In the world of Combat Sports, that is a problem.

On YouTube.com, you can see hundreds of clips of big, ugly, sweaty men wrestling and beating each other all day long and never have to confirm your age. However, if you want to see Joanne or Lauren demonstrate the exact same technique, then you’d better be eighteen or older!
Now, my gripe here is not specifically with YouTube.com, but rather with our society in general. I understand that there are individuals (mostly men) who are aroused by the sight of women wrestling and fighting. (Think “Jello”)

If you type the words “Cat Fighting” into a YouTube.com search, you’ll find plenty of examples of this kind of exploitation. The MMA Girls, however, do not pander to this sort of enticement.

There’s no doubt that these girls are attractive. They’re both blessed with good looks and appear to be in amazing shape (a credit to ju jitsu conditioning drills.) Most people would probably expect to see them in an aerobics or yoga class rather than mixing it up in a ju jitsu gym. But should our expectations dictate the status of their videos or what they’re trying to accomplish?

The MMA Girls wear common workout attire; t-shirts and shorts. They do not dress in bikinis, lingerie, or “cheer leader” outfits. They only demonstrate legitimate ju jitsu techniques and do not engage in any suggestive or inappropriate dialog.

They talk about the Mixed Martial Arts, and that’s all. There is nothing improper in the content of their video clips.

Like many of the Bloggers on the Internet, (including myself) they wish to share their own understanding and enjoyment of the Combat Sports.

It’s really a shame that they have to undergo such scrutiny. Do we really have to assume that the only people that would be interested in their video clips are sexual deviants? Can woman participate in grappling arts without somehow being “suggestive?”

For my daughter’s sake I have to believe that they can.

Women can be smart, beautiful, feminine, and sexy, while also being able to fight. They shouldn’t have to carry some false “tough-chick” persona into the gym just to train or put on a gi.

The “girly-girls” have just as much of a right to protect themselves as anyone else.

It’s okay if my daughter wants to grow up to be like a princess. She can love ballet and Barbie; wear all the pink dresses she wants. But, if a grade-school bully tries to pick on her, somebody’s gonna end up in an arm-bar.

The MMA Girls (and female martial artists like them) are the role-models for little girls like my daughter. They are part of a new generation of martial artists who understand that the old stereotypes of what it takes to be a fighter no longer hold true.

Male or female, we are all free to pursue individual tastes and interests while also continuing to be an essential part of the martial arts community. We don’t have to meet anyone else’s expectations, but instead can follow our own ambitions with courage and confidence.

This is the type of person I hope my daughter will grow to become. I’m glad that there are women like the MMA girls to help lead her way.

Respectfully,

Rick

 

Technorati Tags: MMA,MMA Girls,martial arts,BJJ,UFC

Survival and faith in the Pacific

A fascinating and inspiring AP story, "'Preddi' fell from sky into island's heart" via USA Today tells the story of an American pilot, on a photo-reconnaissance mission, who is shot down by the enemy over New Guinea.

Swinging beneath his opened parachute, he plunged toward a Pacific island jungle of thick, towering eucalyptus trees, of crocodile rivers and headhunters, into enemy territory, and into an unimagined future as a hero, "Suara Auru," Chief Warrior, to generations of islanders yet unborn.

Fred Hargesheimer survives on snails, luck, and prayers, then the help of new friends while making his way through the jungle to a new life.

His daily existence in the jungle was miserable. Leeches clung to his skin. Flying insects sought out his  eyes and nose. Losing weight and strength, out of matches and desperately keeping his fire going, he suffered through nightmares of dying alone in the jungle. From his youthful days as an Episcopalian lay reader, the lost pilot summoned words of hope.

"The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want," he told himself, over and over. From memory each day, he'd recite that 23rd Psalm to its comforting final verse, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."

And on the 31st day, he heard voices on the river. When they came to him, he cried.

Hiding from patrols

Villagers here on the north coast had seen the distant plane go down. Now, in an outrigger canoe on an upriver hunting trip, they had their eyes out for a pilot.

Finding Hargesheimer by the riverside, Lauo, their "luluai," or chief, showed the bearded, haggard white man a note written by an Australian officer saying these villagers had saved other pilots and could be trusted.

That night by the river, Lauo's party exploded with wild singing and feasting, unnerving the young American, who had been warned by intelligence officers of headhunters in these highlands. Then, as they sang in an island tongue, he picked out the melody: "Onward, Christian Soldiers." He felt reassured.

The implications of his capture could've been deadly to his new friends.

Villagers protected "Mastah Preddi" — Master Freddie — apparently because they hated the Japanese for their cruel treatment of natives. Time and again, the low echo of a conch shell blown by a villager would warn of Japanese. If Mastah Preddi wore his boots as he rushed to hide, children would follow with makeshift brooms, sweeping away his prints from the sand.

The village took a great risk by protecting him from the Japanese, he says.

"If they'd seen my boot prints, I think they would have tortured everyone in the village until they produced me."

This makes me recall some of the brief anecdotes of Japanese brutality related by my father, a young boy during the occupation of his homeland, brought to life for me by the fine feature film, "The Great Raid" (2005), which takes place in my dad's hometown of Cabanatuan.

As the USA Today article mentions, Hargeshiemer is now 91. We've all heard and read about how many old veterans of that great generation we're losing daily. Take a moment to speak with one today and get his story. The odds of survival and the resources that it took to not only stay alive, but complete their missions took many more skills than we have today, not to mention little things like GPS, "black boxes," translators, and Google! My understanding is that they didn't even have warning labels on things!!!!

To me, the story has numerous points: faith in God, resourcefulness, will to survive, friendship and loyalty, gratitude, and how interdependent we can be. All of those attributes crossed the barriers of language and culture. Lt. Hargeshiemer felt he owed something...

But "a simple thank you didn't seem enough," he recalls. Back home, he consulted with a missionary, who told him what the people needed: a school.

A fascinating look at a real man, one to emulate and admire. Read it all!

Video interview:

For more information:

Pacificwrecks.com
The School That Fell From The Sky via Amazon

Technorati Tags: Survival,WW2,WWII,New Guineau,Christian,Psalm,fred hargesheimer,Mastah Preddi,missionary

The MMA Weekly Wrap Up for the Week of 3/10/08

Welcome back to another edition of The MMA Weekly Wrap Up where we bring you all of the Internet news and highlights from the world of Combat Sports.

New Website Hopes to Legalize MMA in New York State
After being banned in the state of New York, The UFC holding company, Zuffa, hopes to lure legislatures into legalizing Combat Sport competition through the use of campain donations, lobbyists, media relations and a new website.

As CagePotato.com reports, Zuffa has "hired a political consulting firm used by current New York governor, Eliot Spitzer for media relations." In their campaign for legitimacy, the UFC has started a new website called MMAFacts.com.

The site is actually well done and attempts to dispel myths such as: "MMA is a steel cage death match," "Mixed martial artists are nothing more than street fighters," and "MMA has only one rule, prohibiting eye gouging." The site also goes on to show the changing demographic of it's fans (nearly 30% women and a variety of social classes), discuss MMA history, and provide mainstream news articles that promote the sport.

I'm glad to see the UFC taking steps to promote MMA as a legitimate sport. It seems that the idea is catching that you can make a lot of money by promoting a spectacle... but you can make even more by promoting a real sport.

Unfortunately, not all organizations have caught on to this concept yet. Check out the website for YAMMA's Upcoming April 11th event at the Trump Taj Mahal at YAMMAPitFighting.com. (Is their slogan really "On the Streets, It's Against the Law - In the Pit It IS the Law?!?" C'mon!

The only way for MMA to survive, the only way fighters will be paid for their true worth, the only way to guarantee top quality competition, is for everyone involved with Combat Sport to begin treating it like a real sport and not some back-room street brawl.

I'm glad the UFC is making the effort. Unfortunately, it seems Eliot Spitzer is going to be tied up with his own legal problems for awhile... I wouldn't be looking to him for help anymore as his days in office seem a bit numbered. Whoops.

Kim Couture Makes Her First Entrance into the Ring
The wife of UFC HeavyWeight Champion Randy Couture, Kim Couture, made her first fight debut at Xtreme Couture. The "Smoker" fight against a Canadian fighter Allison Clarkson, was televised on HDNet fight.

Usually fighters start out by participating in a couple of "smoker" exhibition fights to get used to the adrenaline and the stress of an actual fight before they begin their career. It's usually a very low key kind of thing.

But when you happen to be married to a MMA Legend, nothing done in the ring is low key anymore. It wasn't the greatest first fight, but I think Kim handled herself very well. I look forward to seeing her fight again.

Here's the http://www.rawvegas.tv/ take on the exhibition match.




Ken Shamrock, The End of an Era

Finally, this last Saturday at Cage Rage 25 in London, England, Ken Shamrock took on a very tough, and much younger, Robert “Buzz” Berry, only to be knocked out 3 minutes and 26 seconds into the first round.

I'd love to say Shamrock put up a good fight or that it was a lucky punch, but sadly no.

There comes a time when every fighter must learn that it's time to hang up the gloves. For Ken Shamrock, this was about 5 fights ago. Ken was a pioneer and a legend from the very beginning of the UFC. He will always be fondly remembered for his aggressive and powerful style.

Now it's time to give the fighting a rest. A match against his adoptive brother Frank Shamrock would certainly have lots of interest and bring in lots of money, but is it really worth it.

Do we want to see Ken get seriously hurt inside the ring by someone who was so close to him?

Here's a highlight video of "The World's Most Dangerous Man."

Well, that's going to do it for this week, check in again next week when we again bring you the "Best of the Web" in Combat Sports

Respectfully,

Rick

Property crime turns into murder

I just read this USA Today news article, Man fatally hurt trying to stop Starbucks thieves, and reflected on the tragedy that it became.

CRESTWOOD, Mo. — Surveillance video from a Starbucks in a St. Louis suburb captures the moments before Roger Kreutz went from hero to tragic victim.

He stands in line behind a young man and woman at the coffee shop, where he's a regular customer. The young man fiddles with items on the counter while she orders a coffee, pays and heads out the door. The young man swipes the tip jar, and Kreutz, in the spur of the moment, gives chase.

ON THE WEB: KSDK-TV shows shop's surveillance video

What happened next is not caught on tape. Police say the two suspects, with the young man behind the wheel of a 1990s white Ford Taurus, ran over the Good Samaritan in the parking lot.

Kreutz, 54, died Wednesday at a hospital, two days after he was struck.

"I don't claim to understand it," police Chief Mike Paillou said at a news conference. He said detectives are following up on leads but asked for the public's help in identifying the suspects. He did not know what provoked them — "fear, confusion, being young?"

It's believed there was about $5 in the tip jar.

First of all, pray for the family of the victim. The lesson here, to me, is that crimes against property are not worth your life. If someone's committing a crime, and it isn't against a person, call the cops. Unless you're an officer, you shouldn't put your life at risk for anything short of protecting the safety of yourself or others. From read the rest of the article to learn about what a good guy this fellow was, making his death for a tip jar all the more tragic.

The first step in avoiding crime is to prepare for it, and protect against it, but I've often mentally rehearsed advised handing over a wallet rather than attempting to destroy a would-be mugger. If someone has "the drop" on you, there's no telling what they'll do, or how desperate they are. Make the decision now to fight for your life, but nothing short of that.

Technorati Tags: Murder,Starbucks,Surveillance video,property crime

Today's Quote: Defend University on the Unexpected

 

"Remember that the professional may be predictable, but the world is full of amateurs." - Defend University

A great quote, and short post which reinforces what I've been saying for a long time, along with such luminaries as Hock Hochheim - train to deal with the untrained! Money quote:

I once saw Royce Gracie almost get KO'ed in a seminar (this was during the height of his UFC fighting days) when a raw beginner did a completely unexpected move and kneed Royce right in the face. The kid was not being malicious, it's just that he had no idea of what to do next so he did something completely unpredictable.

Expect the unexpected.

Well said, and you hear about this over and over, the cliche of black belts getting pounded by street fighters with no formal training. Is it the fact that the untrained fighter is dangerous, or that the black belt's training is too specific?

I'd say that it's a little of both. My recent, controversial post, Is your traditional training going to get you killed?, deals with the issue of martial artists being trained to deal with a certain mindset on the part of their training partners, and learn to look for (and react to) certain techniques at a certain range. In other words, my boxing training may teach me that clinching is to be discouraged, holding and hitting illegal, and there's certainly no need to look for head butts or kicks. My TKD training might mean that I try to stay at kicking range and neglect any takedowns or throws. I may not be used to the intensity of an attacker that actually wants to do me harm.

Another way of looking at this comes from a great Black Belt article by Hock Hochheim (you can download the PDF here) listing what he calls "12 Combat Commandments from the School of Hard Knocks." In it, he lists tips that he's gleaned from the fabled school of experience, plus study and teaching, including this nugget:

TRAIN ACCORDING TO THE STATS

A major problem in martial arts classes is lopsided priorities. Too much training is devoted to events that are unlikely to occur. Knife fighters duel too much, karateka exchange kicks and punches too much, and grapplers wrestle too much. Few students of self-defense spend enough time shooting firearms. Even fewer spend enough time studying the psychology of violence.

Endeavor to learn what's most likely to happen and train for that first. Then work backward along the continuum of probability. [Emphasis mine - Nathan]

What's more likely to happen, an axe kick attack, or a tackle? An overhand right or a left jab? Train accordingly!

For more information:

Defend University
Hock's Blog
Today's TDA Tip: Train versus the Untrained
TDA: UNCONDITIONAL SURVIVAL
TDA: Sucker Punch Saturday
TDA: THE VIOLENCE PROJECT
TDA: How to Win a Fight: Self-Defense Strategies for the Untrained Fighter
TDA: STREET SMARTS
TDA: Training diary Sat., 7/31/04 (Self-def)

Technorati Tags: Royce Gracie,untrained fighters,tae kwon do,karate,boxing,clinch,takedown,tackle,kick

Submission mastery - Genki Sudo

Watch!

 

Technorati Tags: genki sudo,bjj,submission fighting,triangle choke

Passion, insanity, murder, tragedy

I guess I'm kind of glad that I still have the capacity to be shocked.

Sheriff: Teens planned attack for month - USATODAY.com

EMORY, Texas (AP) — A high school couple forced to break up spent a month plotting to kill the girl's parents before her mother and two younger brothers were fatally shot and stabbed in a weekend ambush, according to records released Monday.

Charlie James Wilkinson, who had been dating Penny and Terry Caffey's 16-year-old daughter, told police his girlfriend wanted her parents dead because they forbade their relationship, according to Rains County Sheriff Department investigators.

"Wilkinson stated that he and (the girl) were in love and the only way they could be together is to kill the parents," the arrest affidavit stated.

The daughter, Wilkinson and two others are charged with three counts of capital murder each in the massacre before dawn Saturday at the Caffeys' secluded home. The girl has not been identified because of her age.

The statements depict a bloody spree that began just around 4 a.m., when Wilkinson and a friend broke into the house and are accused of firing shots at the parents while they slept. Wilkinson and Charles Allen Waid are then accused of going upstairs and fatally shooting 13-year-old Mathew Caffey before stabbing 8-year-old Tyler Caffey with a sword.

It seems like every day we hear of something being done to children by their parents, or parents by their children. Just sad.

Technorati Tags: Murder,Caffey,massacre

MMA Weekly Wrap-Up for the week of 3/3/08

ANDERSON SILVA: A BIG FISH SWALLOWS THE UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT POND!

With Anderson Silva's crushing defeat of the only person anywhere near his ability, Pride Champion - Dan Henderson, the burning question around MMA water coolers this week is "Who will Silva fight next?"

There just isn't anyone left in the 185lb division who can pose a challenge to this man. Even against a real pro like Henderson, Silva opened the fight with a load of powerful head kicks (something not seen often in MMA events.) Even while caught in a side mount and taking hammerfists and elbows during the first round, Silva looked calm, relaxed, and composed.

The second round opened with more head and leg kicks from Silva, who quickly regained momentum. After a clinch along the side of the cage, Silva was able to land a knee kick to Henderson's head and drop him to the mat.

After a bit of ground and pound, Silva took Henderson's back and methodically stretched him into a rear naked choke. The fight was ended by submission with seconds left on the clock. Henderson put up a fantastic fight, but right now Anderson Silva's on the top of his game.

With no one on the radar for possible competition, many of us are hoping that Silva will pack on some serious weight and jump up to the Light Heavyweight Division.

There we could see him go up against the likes of Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, or Quinton Jackson. How cool would that be?!

So just how does someone like Anderson Silva get to be so good? Well, we've uncovered top-secret video of Anderson's training routine, and well he seems to look a lot like someone familiar... we just can't place it... but that "Yeeaaaaaaw" does bring back some memories...



(Remind me to never to snap a wet towel at that guy!)

Other results from UFC 82 include:

Heath Herring defeated Cheick Kongo by a split decision (Close fight!)

Chris Leben defeating Alessio Sakara by TKO in the first round (Leben got in a lucky punch... okay about 50 lucky punches!)

Yushin Okami knocked out Evan Tanner with a knee strike in the second round.

Jon Fitch beat Chris Wilson by a unanimous decision

Andre Arlovski defeated Jake O’Brien by TKO in the second round.

Luigi Fiorvanti defeated (make that destroyed) Luke Cummo by unanimous decision (I love "The Assassin, but he really looked awful - Things could have been much worse.)

Josh Koscheck defeated Dustin Hazelett by TKO in the second round.

Diego Sanchez defeated David Bielkheden (who actually quit due to punches!) in the first round.

And finally, Jorge Gurgel defeated John Halverson by a unanimous decision.


IFL OPENER IN LAS VEGAS THIS WEEK

The IFL opened it's season on HDNet this week, with three title fights. (I don't have HDnet, so I can only give you the results.)

For the Lightweight Championship, Ryan Schultz defeated John Gunderson to retain his title

In the Middleweight Division, Ryan McGivern defeated Matt Horwich in a unamimous decision to take the title.

And for the Heavyweights, Roy "Big Country" Nelson TKO'd Fabiano Scherner to retain his title.

There were also several 'Camp' matches. For more information, check out the IFL Website.

BROCK LESNAR VS MARK COLEMAN

Also announced at UFC 82, Brock Lesnar will fight MMA legend and just inducted Hall of Fame member, Mark Coleman on August 9th in Minneapolis.

As CagePotato.com points out; What's in it for Brock?

Coleman may be a bit old, and Lesnar is a bit big, but after that rather humiliating loss to Frank Mir, you'd think the UFC would put him up against a little less experienced. Like Lesnar, Coleman has a wrestling background, he's fought the best, and even as an old guy - he can punch like nobody's business!

I realize that the UFC doesn't want to put a big name like Lesner up against just anybody, but Coleman doesn't seem to be a good choice if your trying to 'groom' him for bigger fights. (Just a thought, but who's Kimbo Slice lookin' at these days?)

SHAMROCK TAKES THE LOW ROAD TO PROMOTE UPCOMING MATCH AGAINST CUNG LE

Strikeforce USA is gearing up for the next big MMA fight to take place in San Jose on March 29th with MMA legend Frank Shamrock taking on the kickboxing sensation, Cung Le in a mixed martial arts event. The event will be televised on Showtime.

There's a lot of debate over who will win this match. (I'm a big Cung Le fan and stickin with him.)

Most Shamrock supporters argue that Frank has the grappling advantage as well as ring experience. I disagree.

First of all, Shamrock was always better known for his ground and pound than for any actual grappling ability. He can hit hard... real hard; but that's about it.

Second, Cung Le is one of the hardest working and smartest fighters around. He wouldn't get in the ring unless he'd been seriously training his ground game. Not only that, but don't forget Le's awesome takedown ability. Shamrock better be ready for a battle because Le is no joke.

With that in mind, here's a 'mockumentory' put out by Shamrock on YouTube.com:



All I have to say about that is "Whatever."

(Oh yeah, and Shonie Carter is getting fat.)

Anyway, with that note of wisdom, I'll leave you for another week.

Check us out next week when we return to bring you the "Best of the Web" in MMA.

Respectfully,

Rick

 

Technorati Tags: Anderson Silva,Dan Henderson,UFC,Pride,Middleweight,Heath Herring,Kongo,IFL,Brock Lesnar,Mark Coleman,Frank Shamrock,Cung Le

BBM's Most Admired

You may have wondered about the link and banner on the sidebar - it's promoting Black Belt Mama's Admired Martial Artists Month series. Well, that month is March, 2008, so head over there this month for more about:

Hanshi Heilman on March 3

Mr. Heilman has been a student of the arts since 1961. He holds ranks of 9th Dan in Karate, 9th Dan in Kobudo and 3rd Dan in Ju-Jitsu. He has been awarded his Hanshi (Grand Master Teacher) License in Karate & Kobudo and his Renshi (Teachers) License in Ju-Jitsu. He is Founder and President of the International Karate Kobudo Federation, President and Director of the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Union, Founding Member and Vice President of the Union of Martial Arts Federations, and a past Board Member of Master Odo's Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Federation, and serves as a Board Member of four other traditional martial arts organizations.

Sandan Apsokardu-March 10th

Matthew Apsokardu has been a student of the martial arts for 12 years and has acquired the rank of 3rd Dan Okinawa Kenpo Karate, 3rd Dan Okinawa Kenpo Kobudo.  He has also studied Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Kenjutsu for 3 years.  Matthew has participated in various martial art/self-defense demonstrations and has taught for 7 years.

Kyoshi Heilman-March 17th

Mrs. Heilman is co-founder of the HKA, has been a student since 1968 and holds ranks of 8th Dan in Karate and 8th Dan in Kobudo. She has also been awarded her Kyoshi License making her one of the highest ranked women in the world and the highest in the Okinawa Kenpo system.

Kyoshi Hayes-March 24th

Major Hayes' teaching credentials as well as his red and white obi were personally awarded to him by his instructor, Grandmaster Eizo Shimabukuro of Okinawa. Bill Hayes is one of the most senior and well-known of the Grandmaster’s students and has dedicated much of his life to the study, preservation, and development of Okinawan martial arts. Major Hayes has appeared on the cover of OFFICIAL KARATE magazine and is listed in the Encyclopedia of Martial Arts (Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People). He has also appeared in England’s FIGHTING ARTS INTERNATIONAL and Norway’s SVARTE BELTE (BLACK BELT). He has demonstrated Okinawan Karate and weaponry on several television programs and is featured in the 1994 video GREAT KARATE INSPIRATIONS.

Bill Hayes has been inducted into both the Karate Masters' Hall of Fame and the American-Okinawan Karate Association Hall of Fame.  He is a charter member of the Marine Martial Arts Federation and is the recipient of both the NAACP's Roy Wilkins' Meritorious Service Award and the Marine Corps League's Distinguished Service Award, which were bestowed upon him as a result of his martial arts expertise.

Major Hayes is currently the Director of the Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-do Research Society and is one of the United States Marine Corps' three Subject Matter Experts on Close Combat, having been instrumental in the development of the Corps' new and highly touted Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.  He is an International Executive Distributor with the Pharmanex nutrition product company and strives to improve the connection between good health and good martial skills.  He lives, trains, and teaches in Stafford County, VA.

There will be more. I will try to link to, and give my impressions of the interviews and articles as time permits. Meanwhile, head over to Black Belt Mama for more.

Kicksboxes Technique Critiques

If you haven't seen them already, head over to kicksboxes for Rick Fryer's new series, The Technique Critique. Rick is my TDA co-blogger, and, if you didn't know it already, author of kicksboxes, focusing there on the traditional to the esoteric in martial arts.

So far, he's done:

The Technique Critique: The Frontkick

THE TECHNIQUE CRITIQUE: THE TRINITY PUNCH

The Technique Critique: The Reverse Strike

Check 'em out!