Experience Is The Best Teacher

How do you do if what you learn really works? How do you know that what is done in practice is effective? Well, the only way for you to know is to go and do it. Theory is good for learning principles, but to apply them you have to do it. Whether a job or a sport, you learn theory and then you do the practical. In fighting you learn your basics, then you do drills. Next comes sparring. You feel good about all that, but you won't really know if it works until you use it in an all out match. You have to get that real life experience to know that it works.

DC Highlight

This is a great highlight video of Daniel Cormier. I think he he will be UFC Light Heavyweight Champion soon Check him out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLjdu9QFJ4

Always A Student And Never A Master

When will you master something? Never. Sure you will get the basics down and understand what you are doing. You will have mixed theory with practical experience. But, it is still not perfect. I have had the opportunity to see the best of the best train in multiple disciplines (World Champions, Olympians, contenders, etc.). The thing they had in common was that they worked the basics. No special, secret training method. Just good old hard work. The hard work you always learn something new. Through working with students and training partners you will learn something new. Trying other martial arts you will learn something new and gain another perspective of what you already know. When you stop training and start talking more that walking, you get the master/expert syndrome. Always be the student.

Will Weight Training Help Your Fighting?

Weight training is used by most athletes. There are many methods of training and various goals. From toning the body to adding weight, there are countless schools of thought. Will weight training help your fighting? Not really. Weight training will help you develop a strong body armour for absorbing punishment. It will help in areas of imbalance (i.e. strong quads and weak hamstring). It will help in providing a baseline fitness regiment. Will help you knock someone out? Not really. The ability to knock someone out comes from good technique, timing, and placement. Some guys can do it off of raw power (like George Foreman). But, those guys are naturally strong and would be weather they touched a weight or not. Look at 4x World Heavyweight Champ, Evander Hollyfield. He was a Cruiserweight Champ, who bulked up and became a heavyweight. He was successful as a heavyweight, but he was more devasting at a lighter weight and his ability to finish (by KO) was greater. As a heavyweight, he had to rely more on skills and heart. The knockouts were not going to come as easily. So, if you are a welterweight and gain muscle to fight as a middleweight, you are not going to be as efficient as a natural middleweight. Keep hitting the iron, but make sure you keep hitting that bag (it's more important in the fight game).

Prove It Works

I get asked a lot about what I think about this style or that style. Students of martial arts love to tell you what they think works or have been told that works. They haven't had the opportunity to test it themselves or they've learned from instructors who were told but didn't get the opportunity to test it either. If you are that student, find an instructor who knows first hand if you haven't experience it yourself. That way, everytime a new system pops up, you won't have to waste your time and money to go learn it.

The Clinch Is Inevitable

One thing that is going to happen in any style of fighting is the clinch. Whether it be Karate, TKD, Boxing, Kickboxing, etc., after an exchange, fighters will clinch. Grappling arts like Judo, Wrestling, BJJ, etc. work off clinching. But, as I stated earlier, the striking arts will utitlize clinching. Either to protect yourself or neutralize your opponent's attack, these styles have a modified clinch tactic for that sport. If a knockout blow isn't delivered, clinching will happen. So, this means that all martial artists need to learn to use this skill and defend against it.

Don't Talk About It. Do It.

In the fight game and in sports in general, there are those who talk a lot but never back it up. I am talking about the want to be champion. The individuals who say that want to be a champion but are afraid to get out there and go for it. They talk about what they can do and never do it. They are champions at home, but won't come out of the house to test themselves. They are those who are afraid to lose. They want to name drop and tell you every instructor/coach they've trained with. None of that matters. Get out there and test yourself.

Kudo Daido Juku MMA

Here's a really cool video of Kudo martial art. This is a mixed martial art style that is an offshoot of Kyokushin. Check out the kids in this clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz794K4u_Pw

Kerry Roop Vs. Russ Wilson

Here's an old school American Kickboxing bout with Kerry Roop fighting Russ Wilson. This is when the sport was known as Full Contact Karate back when there was the PKA (Professional Karate Association) ESPN Kick of the 80s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3AyC3oNtG8

Heart Is Important In Winning

Skill and technique is important in winning. But, sometimes heart will get the victory. I've seen fighters who appeared to be outgunned in technique win with heart and desire. Heart is the will to win and never give up. This can be cultivated only through hard training and pushing yourself beyond your perceived limitations. Remember you can always go a little further than you think you can. Once you realize that, you will be able to push forward when your opponent has had enough.

2013 101 Ippons Promo

Here's an awesome clip of world class Judo on the 2013 101 Ippons DVD. Check out this clip and listen to impact of bodies crashing onto the mats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcQousHsnwI

Shidokan France May 31, 2014 Gala

I had the opportunity to coach U.S. fighters this past weekend in Nice, France. Shidokan France hosted their 4th Annual Shidokan Gala. The night featured international fights in Shidokan Karate (full contact with Grappling), MMA, and Thai Kickboxing. Here are a couple of the fights below. Will get more to you later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNBXBE6MwTA //www.youtube.com/watch?v=yByDUlVBma4