Less Is Better

How many techniques should you learn how to execute for your style? If you do a grappling art, do you need to know 100s of take downs and submissions? If you compete in a stand up art, do you need to know a lot of different punches and kicks or memorize a bunch of combinations? The answer to both of these is no. If you look at the top athletes in combat sports, you see that they develop 3 to 5 things and to those things exceptionally well. It's fine to learn and be exposed to all that you can, but don't overwhelm yourself with learning and utilizing everything you see. Combat, doesn't work that way. In the time of stress, you will pull off the moves that you've given the most repetitions.

Judo With Champ Jimmy Pedro

Here's a clip of Judo Champ Jimmy Pedro demonstration some throwing techniques to be applied with our without a Gi. Some good stuff here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o0nNLEmnu8

Throwing Highlight

Here's a nice clip of throwing techniques in combat sports (judo, wrestling, etc). The control of another opponent's balance is an art in of itself. A buddy of mine makes awesome highlight videos on Youtube. Be sure to subscribe to his channel (Girth Monkey). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgiUNoY_92s&feature=g-all-u

Knife Defense

There are a lot of arts out there claiming to be effective knife fighting systems. There are special training programs where participants train with chalked or electric knives, etc. The reality of knife fighting is that if you and your opponent both have blades, expect to get cut. Everyone I know who's been in a knife fight got cut or did the cutting. Those cut usually don't see the knife until they've been cut (that's how experience cutters work). The fight sequences in the movies where two guys move around and block knife to knife is not real. It would be like two boxers fighting and no one got hit. Those of you who've boxed know that you will get hit. Being that a knife is an extension of the hand, most likely you will be hit. I'm not saying don't practice your self defense techniques against the blade. Just keep in mind that the experts don't always give practical advice for practical situations.

The Kimura Arm Lock

The Kimura (named after the famous judoka) is called the Ude Garami (entangled arm lock) in Japanese. It is an effective lock where both hands attack the opponent's arm. When caught in this position, the opponent is on the defensive and this technique gives the attacker opportunities to improve position or defend from a bad position. Here's an example of this technique breaking an arm. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=WMPllsGLisI

Old Dog Learning New Tricks

I had a great weekend. Not only was it Father's Day weekend, but me and some of the guys from the gym fought in the Georgia State Games Judo tournament. At 45 years of age, I still compete with the young guys on the local levels. I managed to win my division. It is truly a challenge and I still get a big adrenaline rush competing. It allows me to stay young, humble and to continue to learn. Very few instructors are done with competing by the time they get my age (a lot much earlier). There is nothing wrong with that, but I see a lot of instructors (the competed) let themselves get out of shape. Whether we compete or not, we must train and keep learning. Old dogs do learn new tricks.

Old School American Full Contact Karate

Here's a clip of Bill "Superfoot" Wallace against Jem Echollas from 1976. This is old school stuff here. "Full Contact" Karate (American version) that would eventually be called American Kickboxing. This is before the sport was done in a ring with boxing gloves (you will see the old style safety gloves being used in the clip). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJVUGSb8i6Y

Shindokai Poland

Shindokai is an offshoot of Shidokan Karate. I came accross some good matches from Poland to share. Check this out. You will see grappling, bare-knuckle karate and kickboxing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYdXabZKYG0&feature=g-all-u

Pacquaio WON!!

Manny Pacquaio won the fight against Timothy Bradley! The judges were just horrible. Looking into Bradley's eyes after the fight, I can see that deep down he knows he lost too. I am proud at the way Manny handled this terrible decision. He smiled and congratulated Bradley. He didn't freak out and storm out of the ring in anger (like Hopkins did in his last fight). Manny you are a true champion. Great job!

Practical Experience Vs. Just Practice

Let's say you been training a martial art for 10 years. You go to class, do the workouts, drill and practice. You spar, hit the pads, etc. Now let's say, a guy comes in to the class and you spar with him and you see he has ability and can do things to you and you have a hard time pulling off your best moves on him (if at all). After the workout, you ask him how long he's been training and he tells you 3 years. You say to yourself, "Wow, I've been doing it for 10. How can he be so good?" You have no competitive experience and most of his time in the discipline he has competed. What I'm saying is that through competition you learn at a much faster rate than those who don't compete. Combat sport athletes have a shorter learning curve and the better their opposition, the better they become as martial artists. You can learn new techniques and drill them for an eternity, but if you never have to do them under pressure, you won't have the confidence of the guy who has. If you don't fight, you better learn from those who have. Go into a boxing gym or a wrestling gym and see how these guys train. Most of their training is doing what they are going to do when they fight. Football and soccer teams scrimmage to prepare. They simulate what is going to happen in a game. Make sure you do the same (if you can't really get out there and play).

Effective Kicking

In looking at kicking techniques, there is a big debate on what is the most effective martial art for kicks. There's the powerfully swinging action of Muay Thai, the snapping speed of Tae Kwon Do and the thrusting power of Karate (i.e. Shotokan). For me it is a blend of all of the above. As a fighter I felt that the most challenging kickers were the Tae Kwon Do fighters. The main reason is that Tae Kwon Do is a kicking sport. The athletes wear chest protectors which minimizes scores with punches. The emphasis is on kicks, so these athletes devote more time in developing timing, speed and distancing for kicks than a lot of other martial arts. The Thai fighters emphasize conditioning and full body commitment to their kicks. The shin is the primary striking weapon for round kicks (the most commonly used kick in martial arts). The idea is to cause damage to whatever it hits. Karate styles use the thrust of the hips to generate power. My kicking styles draws from these 3 different schools of kicking. Speed and snap kicks require less energy, so they are hard to read for my opponents. I mainly use the Muay Thai low kick to kick through an opponents leg. And, I like the side thrust kick to get opponents away from me. Here's a clip of me utilizing these kick principles. Finals of Shidokan Team USA 2002 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiKwilIjbCw

Best Hand Techniques in Martial Arts

I was talking to a friend recently about the differences in hand strikes in martial arts. She has studied different arts and different instructors have their own theories and philosophies as to which is the most effective. Well, they all are. Problems arise when martial artists try to compare the hand techniques of 1 art to another. The all have something to offer, but one needs to understand that most martial arts techniques were designed to work against untrained (non-martial arts) attacks. In this regard, they are all good. In my opinion, boxing has the best hand techniques. My reasons: 1) It is a full contact sport that can be practiced and provide immediate feedback, 2) All combat sports athletes train in boxing, 3) More statistics exist on boxing than any other martial art (Knock outs). Having spent over a decade training with some of the best in boxing, I will honestly say, I've never met and I've never seen a martial artist who could do the damage of a boxer. A lot of folks will say, that it is a sport with gloves and without gloves it's different. Yes and no. First of all you can hurt your hands (with and without gloves), But to receive a bare fisted punch from a decent boxer will end it. The reflexes, pain tolerance, conditioning, and reflexes of the boxer is better. From experience I will say, you can box with any glove (boxing or fingerless) or not (bare knuckle).

Korean Zombie Highlight

"The Korean Zombie" is one of the most exciting fighters to watch in MMA. He is good on his feet, good on the ground and can take it as well as dish it out. He is know for his stoic posture and constant attack (like a zombie). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkff3VRSjmg&feature=related