American Point Karate Legends Interview

Here's an interesting interview with some of tournament karate's greatest fighters. During the late 70s through the 80s, they were the best tournament fight team. A lot of interesting comments about tournament karate of today. They see the skills of today's point fighters and kata competitors lacking and the commercialism of karate affecting their sport. It's a little long but it's good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6HGOwsrcrc

Christian Buffaloe II

Here's a recent interview of N.C. Christian Buffaloe, a truly Karate kid getting ready for the Championship in Japan later this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERmeqrrfwiI

101 Ippons

You got to look at this promo for 101 Ippons (2010). It shows some incredible throws and submissions from some of the best judoka in the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzfSzU8QIbY

Resistance Training

There's tons of information out there on resistance training. There many schools of thought preaching different philosophies. Weight training, bodyweight training, isolate (one muscle group), complex (multiple muscle groups, how many sets, reps, etc. Now a days there's a lot of stuff on explosive training and plyometrics. My take on this subject is find a mix of things that work for you. Understand that olympic lifts and plyometrics should be done with care. Most people are not going to tryout for the Falcons. People who compete do them in cycles. Professional athletes do them during certain planned out periods of training. Now fitness gyms have people doing them regularly as part of a fitness fad. On isolation training. There is always an imbalance in folks bodies. This comes from injuries or lack of use (i.e. if you are right handed, then your left is going to be weaker), so, we isolated to rehabilitate or develop weaknesses. Most of us need moderate resistance work. Athletes develop strength during their off season. And don't believe weights will make you a better fighter. Resistance work supports skills. Skill development is different and should be emphasized first. If I have spar 10 rounds with me, what and how you lifted ain't gonna matter. In the off season, experiment with different training methods and find what works for you. During event preparation, focus on skill development. For the general public, do believe all the crap you hear at the gym.

Mark Huizinga

3X Olympian and Olympic Gold Medalist, Mark Huizinga is truly one of Judo's best. Came across this cool highlight and wanted to share. What his commitment to his throws and watch is roll over follow up to a defended triangle choke. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JodzWEIvOZ8

Train Like You're Going To Do It

When training for an event, you have to prepare by doing that event and exercises that directly translate to what you are going to do. For example if you are getting ready to fight a 3 round fight (of 3 minutes), it wouldn't help you to train by jogging 5 miles slow. You'd be better off running 2 to 3 miles at a fast past. If you are hitting the heavy bag and at the end of the work round you aren't winded, the next round you need to work harder. Don't just go through the motions. Move like you would in a match. Create the intensity of competition in your mind. Visualize the fight. If you are talking to your buddies and jiving around talking during the workout, time is wasted. Focus on the task at hand and rap to your buddies after you train. Fighting is not a game and those who get their hands raised at the end of the match are usually the ones training smarter.

Join The Bandwagon

As a fighter, you have to watch out for those who leech on to you. Everybody wants to be around the fighter (when you win primarily). Everybody who's been in the gym when you worked out is a training partner. Coaches who've never held pads for you, say they helped train you. When you lose, everybody has an opinion of why, how and what. When you win, they crowd around you and take credit for your victory. Remember your true friends are their when it's not convenient for them. The guy who sweats with you in the gym, wraps your hands, tends to your cuts, and sits with you when you've lost. The guy who isn't running around running his mouth when you win. For the rest of them, kick 'em off the wagon.