Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The Best Way To Train

What is the best way to train for your specific event? Should you do more weights, cardio, plyomtetics, etc.? All that's is cool, but the best way to prepare for your event is to do your event. If I was getting ready for a 10 round fight (3min rounds), I would spend lots of time sparring 3 minute rounds. Sure, I would do all the exercising, cardio and conditioning, but the main training regimen would be focused on doing 10 rounds. Some guys will say do 4 min rounds because it will help your cardio better. No, not really. It is still exercise but you will pace yourself for 4 minutes instead of 3. You will need to build your conditioning around doing exactly what you are training for.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Patience

When I took Taekwondo, whenever we bowed we would say, "Patience". Patience is required in all aspects of life. On the road to success, we often become impatient. We hit a road block and often give up because it's not easy. As the old saying goes, "If it was easy, everybody would be doing it". So, regardless of the challenges you encounter on your journey to achieve your personal goals, persevere and never give up.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

No Excuses

People tend to find time for the things they want to do and put off those things that don't want to do. It is just that simple. Many will way they don't have time to train. Sure, you may not have the optimal time available to you, but you can create the time. Travel, bad weather, no car, etc. are not excuses. I spent years riding the bus to practice (90 min one way). I've driven 90 min one way to train at different places. I've trained at 6am before work, trained at lunch time and have trained at night after work. On vacation I train first thing in the morning, while everyone else is asleep. The only thing that will prevent me from training is being sick. So, remember that you can always find time to train. Anything that you really want to do, you can do.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Why Bare Knuckle Karate?

There are many combat sports out their for people to participate in. In looking at traditional martial arts, there are many avenues of competitition (point fighting, tae kwon do, bjj, judo, etc.). These type of tournaments tend to have a good number of participants. But in looking at a brutal type of fighting like Knockdown/Bare Knuckle Karate. Knockdown fights fought with no hand techniques to the head, but kicks to upper and lower torso. A match is 3 minutes. In case of a draw there is a 2 minute followed by another 1 minute overtime (in case of another tie). Because you can't punch the face, you will fight at a closer range. You will give and take blows and you will have to be explosive the entire time. If you win, you will have about 10-15 minutes to examine your injuries (sore knuckles, bruised shins, sore ribs, and sore facial areas from the accidental face punches). You will have to defeat several opponents to win your division. Sounds easy? Give it a try.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

How Martial Arts Help One Overcome Obstacles

The most important thing I think that we learn from martial arts is the ability to overcome obstacles. When training, you sometimes get tired or hurt. These can cause doubt and many think about stopping the things that make them uncomfortable. But pushing yourself behind what you think are limitations are the key to teaching that you can always do a little more. By challengining myself through competition, I learned to deal with not only the pain and fatigue, but to handle pressure, pain and discomfort. Through training you better learn what you are made of. You learn weather you will fold under pressure or drive on. Embrace the lessons that you get from your experience in the martial arts.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Cage Muay Thai

Here's a cool clip of Thai Boxing legend John Wayne Parr's promotion, "Caged Muay Thai". Fighters fight full muay thai with 4oz fingerless gloves in a cage. It's intense and exciting and the fans love the action. Here's JWP himself showing how it's done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy6vWNehdEg

Monday, November 10, 2014

If You Call Yourself The Best, Compete Against The Best

This past weekend, boxing legend Bernard Hopkins fought the "Crusher" Sergey Kovalov at age 49. Even though he lost, he showed what a champion is supposed to do, and that is challenge himself against the best competition. Unlike a lot of the other champions out their, who avoid top opposition he has fought top guys most of his career. To be the best you have to fight the best. We here the argument of money being made as the reason we don't see top match ups. But that's B.S. Guys like Mayweather fight for crazy money. He was the highest paid athlete in 2013. With the type of money he makes he could have retired already. With that being said it is not about the money. A champion is supposed to fight whoever the top guys in his division is. Better yet they should put the top 8 guys in a tournament (like they did a couple of years back with the Supermiddleweights where Andre Ward won) and let them fight to a finalist. That way we know who's the best on a given day.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Dealing With Injuries

Injuries are common in martial arts or any physical activity. How do you handle your injuries? I have torn ligaments, popped bones out of place, stiches, deep bruises, etc. Some will say do nothing and rest until your all the healed. I just work around the injury and find what I can and can't do. Out side of being sick, you can always train and work on something.