Friday, September 28, 2012

Traditional Martial Arts Are Here To Stay

In todays times MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is very popular. On TV you can find MMA and Boxing fights all the time. You don't see Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Judo, BJJ, etc. In the U.S., the main combat sports shown on Pay-Per-View and cable are Boxing and MMA. Every once in a while you can find some kickboxing bouts. Now every time I drive around town though, I see Tae Kwon Do and Karate schools every couple of miles. There are abundance of them. In looking for MMA, Boxing, Kickboxing schools, you will have to look harder. Most MMA gyms will have Grappling, Boxing, and Kickboxing on their schedule. MMA appeals to young athletic guys (and a few gals). Even at MMA gyms, most of the members come for fitness classes. A lot young guys will do the grappling and striking classes, but few will become fighters. For the TMA (Traditional Martial Arts) schools, most of the members will be kids and they will also get adults (parents of the kids they teach). TMA will have more people because everybody can participate. MMA is primarily for fighting. Don't get me wrong. There are fitness and stress release benefits, but it is about fighting.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Low Kick

The low kick is a very powerful and painful technique that works in most situations. The shin is thrown with the body weight dropping into the kick. This cause bruising in the opponents leg and that affects mobility. When it hits a nerve, one blow can sit a man down for the count. Here's a clip of the deadly low kick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OxMzpkVCnw

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Why I do Shidokan Karate

I have been a martial artist since age 8. I've studied Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Boxing, Judo, Muay Thai and Kendo. I've worked out with almost every type of combat athlete from the arts mentioned and from boxing, BJJ, wrestling, and many others. In looking at the changes or evolution of martial arts in America, one will see the traditional era, the full contact era, and the MMA era. The reason I choose to embrace the art of Shidokan Karate is because of the Triahlon Concept (Karate, Kickboxing, and Grappling). These concepts make one keep an open mind to everything that is practical. I enjoy elements of the traditional martial arts and I enjoy the practical application of martial arts that can be seen through combat sports. Shidokan embraces both of these and that's why I've dedicated my career to it. It allows be to be a student of all martial arts.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Lumpinee Documentary Promo

This clip is for a documentary (not available worldwide yet). I wanted to share this because of the intensity shown with the young Thai boxers. Look what kids are doing at a young age. The training and intensity is unreal. You will see why they dominate Lumpinee Stadium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QKmFfvf5M4&feature=related

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Liver Shot

My favorite place to punch a guy is in the liver. A liver shot sends a shock through the body like no other. The crazy thing about it is that it can have a delayed effect. You can get hit there and try and take it and it will drop you to your knees. Here's two of boxing's greats, Bernard Hopkins hiting Oscar DeLohoya with the liver shot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjX-_JtV5Ss

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Muay Thai In A Cage

Austrailia's Muay Thai Legend, John Wayne Parr is spear heading Muay Thai fights in a cage with MMA gloves. The fighters still fight 3x5 minute rounds of stand up fighting (punches, kicks, knees and elbows). It's a little different but still exciting. Check out JWP in his latest fight in the cage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpjONWX-Tx8

Sunday, September 16, 2012

In Memory Mike Bernardo

For those of you familiar with K-1, you will remember a hard hitting brawler from South Africa, Mike Bernardo. Even though he never won the grand prix, he defeated all of the top guys at some point and time, showing that he was as capable. Here is a couple videos in memory of Mike. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw5UtD4kTn8&feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59CfJOuZ8Sc&feature=related

Friday, September 14, 2012

Judo Slams

Here's some cool slams and throws from Judo. Known as the gentle art, this ain't so gentle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCo-VymBfkk&feature=related

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Training Tips

In getting ready for a tournament or match, there are no shortcuts. You have to train. You have to get your cardio (run, bike, rope, bag, etc.). You have to do your conditioning exercises (resistance, stretching, etc.). You have to eat and sleep well. On top of all of this, you have to study what you do and do it consistently. You have to focus your mind on success. So many fighters look to training methods outside of what they are actually doing. It's OK to experiment with different approaches, but remember that the training you do must be focused on what you are going to do. When I was training for a fight, I got in the gym, did my floor work (bags, rope, shadow boxing, conditioning exercises, cardio, etc.) I did my sparring and pad work. After these things, I added whatever supplement work I had time for. The key thing was keeping the training specific to what I was going to do. I've coached myself to winning 3 world titles. I'm not saying that I didn't have instructors and training partners. But I will tell you that I used self motivation and my own strategy to accomplish things. I remember years ago while in Chicago for a Shidokan tournament, someone asked me if I train with some top martial artists in my home town of Atlanta. I said no, I just workout with my students at the gym. I'm a strong believer you can accomplish a lot without a lot of resources. Sure, you may have to travel somewhere to expose yourself to things. But the key to winning is to stay focused and disciplined and believe in yourself.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Kickboxing In U.S.

Kickboxing was the biggest combat sport for martial arts back in the 80s and 90s. Full Contact Karate became American Kickboxing, add in International Rules (low kicks), Oriental Rules, K-1, San Shou, and Muay Thai. Kickboxing's popularity has declined as it used to be televised on ESPN (and it did appear on Showtime), but the sport still lives. All MMA fighters train in kickboxing and you will see a lot of matches in the sport decided by hands and feet, especially when you have to good grapplers. As far as pure kickboxing goes, I don't see that the skill level has greatly improved. The reason I say that is there are a lot of coaches with little to no real experience teaching. Now this goes for martial arts in general, not just kickboxing. Look at most guys who box or wrestle. They usually have coaches with experience. As I've mentioned in previous threads, today you got all of these stand up coaches who happen to be a little older than their fighters, if not the same age. It's like white belts teaching white belts. The good thing about my ancient years in kickboxing is that you had to go to a boxing gym to learn the hands and most of us got very experience trainers to coach us. Because of those experiences I was able to transfer that background to kickboxing, muay thai, shidokan, etc. and I felt that my kickboxing skills could compete with any other form of kickboxing (I started out as an American above the waist kickboxer). K-1 is starting up again and I'm waiting to see some American kickboxing stars develop. We haven't had any in long time. So, you young guys get to work and represent.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Russian President Putin and Judo

Besides being the President of Russia, Vladamir Putin as also a life long martial artists. For those of you who watched Judo in the London Games, you saw Putin there cheering on and gradulating the Russian Judoka. Here's a clip of him training. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=DSIkIvK6qCU

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Real Hand To Hand Combat Experience

Here's a clip of a WWII veteran talking about hand to hand combat in war. Even as an older man, you can see how strong this image of his youth has stayed with him. Imagine his story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV2udWIlqWg

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Winner Takes All

I posting this clip because it is a Muay Thai match where the winner takes all! Can you dig it. This is a fight where fighters come out for the sake of fighting, not money. They fight because they enjoy their sport. This is a great lesson for a lot of guys out there who call themselves fighters. Schilling Vs Marcus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiwvzaVmoBo&feature=related