Getting Into Fighting Shape

To get ready for competition you have to be in shape before you begin fight training. A lot of athletes are lazy and try to get in shape while training for a fight. You should already of a good base condition to begin with. If you have 6 to 8 weeks to get ready for a match and you start at the beginning of that 6 or 8 week cycle, you are behind. A competitor should be training and learning all the time. When getting ready for a fight, you should run. Running should be outside if possible and you mix distance and sprints. You need to alternate hard, moderate, and mild workouts. Don't kill yourself everyday. You need to spar, do your bag, mitt, shadow boxing, rope, drills, etc. In the gym you need intensity of 60 to 90 minutes. For you guys that say you train 4 plus hours a day, you ain't gettin' in with real intensity. Train the way your are going to fight. Boxers glove and spar with the same intensity they will have in a fight. The only difference is that the gloves are bigger and they wear headgear. When training, simulate the fight environment. As mentioned earlier, allow recovering after the hard sessions. Be sure to train like you compete and push yourself. Many of us need outside motivating from a trainer or coach. That's great, but remember you have to reach down inside of yourself and bring out your best.

Just Do It!

There is so much talk about what is best. This style does this and that style does that. Which has the better hands, the best grappling, the more powerful kicks, etc.? If you don't spar and or compete against as many people as you can, it means nothing. You have to train or compete against fighters who specialize to see how your techniques work in different situations. Do speculate. Get out there and do it. Just like the shopping networks, martial artists get into novelty techniques. The latest, greatest new thing. While there are innovations in everything, it still boils down to hard work. You, experimenting and experience the world of martial arts. Get out there and train!

Shotokan's Aidan Timble

Shihan Aidan Timble is a key figure in Shotokan Karate. A successful competitor and instructor in the UK. Check him out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJWfCSbP9l0

Shidokan "Triathlon of Martial Arts"

I came across a cool slide show of Shidokan Karate at the Honbu (U.S. headquarters) in Chicago. The clips feature some key people in Shidokan. Black belts who have been part of the organization for many years. Individuals who have fought in and helped put on tournaments. They teach classes and give back to the art. Check out my Shidokan family. OSU.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikG8XSlDF88

Pad Work

I watch a lot of coaches feed targets to students and fighters, giving them preset combinations to execute or drills. All of the above is great. But, how do you prepare for a fight? I see experienced professionals having combinations called out and set combinations being the norm in pad work. Some of the pad work has to be "alive". What I mean by that is that you have to be throw your own combinations and work without patterns. Opponents are predictable in that everybody gives something away. If you watch them for a while you will pick up on patterns and certain things that telegraph what's coming. I study body language  and the rhythm of technique delivery. When I hit pads, I get with a regular training partner who is used to holding the pads for free style pad work. If I do something really weird, I give him a heads up as a I do it. I don't want to create habits that can be picked up on by an opponent. Like Bruce Lee said, "You must be formless".

Mike Tyson Knockout Highlight

No matter what martial art you study, we all appreciate a good knock out. One of the best KO artists in boxing was Iron Mike. Appreciate this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNvpOEDoUok&feature=related

The "Detroit Destroyer" Takes On 3!

This past weekend, Shidokan Atlanta's own, Eric "The Detroit Destroyer" Heegaard, came up against 3 opponents. This was for real folks. After leaving the Jay Z concert, Eric had to catch a cab due to missing the last MARTA train. While waiting 3 guys decided to rob what they thought would be an intoxicated, unclear victim. For those of us who have had a drink or two with Eric, he can drink most under the table. Well, even though he was drunk, he fought all three. The grabbed him, kicked him, and punched at him, and even though he was tipsy, he laid into them using punches, elbows and knees and throws. He chased the one with the wallet 6 or 7 blocks, letting the guy think he'd gotten away (he may have been intoxicated, but he does workout). He surprises the wallet snatcher with a knee to the head as he leans over catching his breath from running, takes the guy down and locks him into a triangle choke and punches him and chokes him until the guy gives him his money. Feeling sorry for the guy, Eric throws him $20 bucks and goes on his way.