Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Judo Ippon Highlight

Came across this cool video of some throws by some of the best Judo players in the game. If you've never tried Judo Randori (sparring), you need to. The challenge of controlling another person balance while keeping yours is hard enough. To pull off techniques like these in the video is on the highest level. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BFsWIYSYco

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Rousey Top Grappler In MMA

I think Ronda Rousey is one of the best grapplers in MMA. I'm not saying that because she has dominated all of her competition. Some have questioned how she would do against other top grapplers. I say she would probably dominate them. The main reason is her experience as a competitor. By the age of 21 she won a Bronze in the Olympics, a Silver in the World Championships, a Gold in the Pan Am, multiple National Championships, and more. These are serious accomplishments that put her above other grapplers in MMA (men or women). She has too much experience for those who stand before her. She started her MMA career at 22 and is in her prime (where as a lot of other atheletes are past theirs when transitioning to MMA).

Monday, February 24, 2014

The Problem With Martial Arts

What is the best? THe most effective? Blah Blash. I will tell this. In order for you martial art to be effective, it has to be validated. Many traditional martial arts styles teach in theory and students may never get to apply what they learn against a resisting opponent. Some may train in a reality based style, but never spar. If you don't spar (with contact) it won't work. If you don't grapple (with resistance), it won't work. Combat sports like boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, etc. are effective because participants learn what works and doesn't. Make sure what you learn is battle tested and validated.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Kickboxing Classic Piotrowski Vs Thurman

Here's a great fight for you to watch. Marek Piotrowski and Bob "Thunder" Thurman. This is an old school full contact (above the waist) kickboxing bout featuring to of the sport's top fighters during this time. Great hands and powerful kicks. The ability to take and dish it out. Despite losing, Thurman shows that heart and spirit of a warrior. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCg2gE9oDc

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Knockout Points Part II

In the last post, I talked about KO points. Today I wanted to show examples from a few clips. Example I: Here's a couple of rounds from an old kickboxing (American Style) from the 90s. There is a kick to the head and left hook to the liver. My opponent was still able to get up and continue fighting (Larry was a tough! May he RIP). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxcYF_w1GdQ Example II: 2002 TEAM USA, This Triathlon fight will demonstrate my favorite techniques and my method of picking the spots of pain we've been discussing. You will see the low kick, Attacks to the liver with kicks, knees and punches. Attacks to the head/jaw with kicks and punches. Strikes are placed to the targets and not randomly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiKwilIjbCw

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Knockout Spots

In knocking out, TKOing, stopping and an opponent, I will share my favorite spots on the body to finish an opponent. We'll start from head to toe. 1) Top of the head and temple area (shin/instep, hook punch, knee). 2) The chin/jaw area (cross, hook, uppercut, knee, shin, foot). 3) Nose (if broken can get the TKO). 4) Solar Plexus/belly (knee, liner kicks, punch, elbow) wind taker. 5) Liver (anything that hits it hard) will drop a man like a sack of bricks. 6) Femoral Nerve (low kicks), takes away the leg.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Weight Training For Knockout Power?

Will weight training help you develop KO power? Not really. After working out with some of the top amateur and pro boxers around, I watched and studied their training methods. How much weight one lifted had no bearing on their ability to knock another fighter out. I'm not saying that weight training is not effective. But it won't make you a knockout artist. One of the hardest I remember being hit was by a guy who weighed 125lbs. The reason hit so hard was because he put all of his 125lbs into his punch. Now, a knockout can be caused many ways, and sometimes strength has nothing to do with it. Timing and placement of a shot or catching a guy moving in might do the trick. Or, a guy like "Big" George Foreman might punch through some guys guard and put him to sleep. The brute strength knockout is innate. The technical knockout is learned.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Marek Piotrowski

Here's an old school kickboxing (above the waist style) of Marek Piotrowski fighting. He was the first fighter to beat Rick Roufus back in the day. He also beat Don Wilson. He had great hands and feet and was always on the attack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1JEhLZ2E44

Thursday, February 6, 2014

My Favorite Kicker

I watched this fight and remembered why Jerry Trimble is my favorite kicker of all time. I had the pleasure of training with him when I started kickboxing back in the 80s. I held mits for his kicks, watched him kick a lot of people and had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of those kicks. I have competed in kickboxing, muay thai, and tae kwon do and I have never meet a kicker of his ability. This is a good fight between Jerry "Golden Boy" Trimble and JB Lavota from the 80s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlmITeU5thk

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Cut Weight Or Improve You Skills?

Weight cutting is still such a big issue in combat sports. Getting to the top of weight class where one thinks he will have a strength advantage is the philosophy. From high school athletes to professional fighters, this is common. Some say they have it down to a science. I still say that if you lose more than 10 lbs for a fight, your are do your body a disservice. It is bad on your organs, you risk going flat during the event, and it just plain sucks. Improve your skills instead of starving yourself. When I competed, I didn't care if you cut weight and came down to my division. It wouldn't help.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Jerry Rhome PKA Fight

Had to share another American Kickboxing great, Jerry "The Flash" Rhome. I had the fortune of training with this 2x World Champion in the late 80s and early 90s. This was a time when PKA Kickboxing was televised weekly on ESPN. Jerry was good with his hands and feet. He sparred a lot with Evander Hollyfield back during these times. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud7AT2V5tSw&list=UUk8nVUXU_J-USqy1oeIvgdw&feature=c4-overview