The Fireman's Carry

I came across a really cool video on Kata Guruma (fireman's carry) from Judo. Grabbing the legs is currently prohibited in Olympic Judo. Competitors have modified the throw to fit current rules. This is some old school footage showing this dynamic technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqwaibq5u4M

Most Import Weapon

What is a fighter's most important weapon? I would say his conditioning. In a match where you have 2 trained athletes, who both have a foundation of techniques, usually the victory is determined by who is in better shape. Once a fighter is tired, nothing works like it should. Defense is difficult, reaction is slow, and power is depleted. Being able to apply techniques under stress takes conditioning and experience. The first thing to go in fight is usually the legs. They get heavy and movement becomes difficult. The will usually get tired before the lungs. There are many theories on the best way to get in shape. I am of the believe that you must do your particular activity as the primary form of conditioning. Everything is is supplementary. If given a chance to spar extra rounds or do more reps on the bench press, I recommend the extra rounds. Sticking with the theory of specificity, one must practice what one is going to do. Everything is should be worked around the activity you are going to do.

Fighting A Giant

How would you fight an opponent who is 100 plus pounds heavier than you? Do you go toe to toe? Well here is an MMA fight of Shidokan Atlanta's Vinny Balsamello fighting a man that weighs over 340 lbs. This fight took place June 10, 2017 in Metzingen Germany on the Shooto IV MMA fight show which aired on fite.TV. Vinny weighed in under 230 lbs for this bout. He gives up several inches in height too. You will see how to use low kicks, movement and the clinch to keep his larger opponent from being on top of him should the fight go to the ground. Watch and learn.

Vinny Balsamello MMA Fight

Gloved Karate

Gloved Karate is a style of kickboxing that features your standard kickboxing techniques (punches, kicks, knees, clinch, and throws). This is a clip with up and coming Karate and Kickboxing fighter Adrian Weathersby. You will a blend of several martial martial arts displayed in this video.








Shidokan Gloved Karate

Shidokan Is The Strongest Karate

I personally feel that Shidokan Karate is the strongest style of Karate. Now, I enjoy and appreciate all styles of martial arts. Shidokan adopts the concept of being a well rounded fighter. Outside of fighting it provides a traditional, cultural experience. It encompasses all of the elements to help one become a complete fighter and a better person. My student and good friend, Jaral Bowman demonstrates in this clip what I call, Karate Complete. I say complete in the sense that punches, kicks, knees, grabbling, clothing (Gi), etc. are involved. The concept of Karate is one blow kill. So imagine developing the ability to take an opponent out quickly and efficiently. This can be done by concussive force or submission. These fighters have the ability to do both. This style of karate answers questions that theorists cannot because you can see it.
Shidokan's Jaral Bowman

U.S. Shidokan Fighters 1st Class

Here's a clip that features some of the 1st generation Shidokan fighters. These guys come of the U.S. Shidokan Hombu Dojo. I've met all of these guys and they are talented life long martial artists who have contributed greatly to Shidokan and martial arts in general. This clip will show them competing in the Sabaki Challenge and the Shidokan Open. They paved the way for the sport that would become the "Triathlon of Martial Artists". There are a few other key individuals that I did not have clips for, but will get show them in the future. I will be in Germany this weekend for the European Shidokan Open. Team USA consist of 5 fighters from the Atlanta Dojo. I call them the 3rd Class. Look for the write up next week. OSU!

Shidokan Fighters 1st Class

20 Points on Kickboxing From 80s to Present

Times have changed a lot since I started training in the sport of Kickboxing. I would like to share some of the changes I have seen and/or experienced.

1. There were no official kickboxing gyms. You learned at a boxing gym or a Karate school. 
2. There were no kickboxing or boxing classes. You went to a gym and a coach would show you the basics and you would watch the veterans train and figure it out yourself, using the "School of Hard Knocks". 
3. Hand wraps did not have velcro. They were laced at the ends. You either had to have someone tie them for you or using one hand and your mouth. 
4. Sparring gloves did not have velcro. You hand to have someone tie them for you and you used sweat wrist bands to keep the bows. 
5. Nobody stood over you and told you what you were supposed to do. You were accountable for yourself. You studied the pro fighters and figured out what you were supposed to do by watching them and through trial and error.
6. Kickboxers came from a traditional martial arts background. Most fighters had black belts or experience in Karate, Taekwondo, or Kung Fu. It was rare that one had no martial arts background to start with. 
7. One went to a Boxing gym to learn how to punch not martial arts Dojos. 
8. Amateur Kickboxers did not wear headgear in the 80s. 
9. Americans were dominating the sport of Kickboxing. 
10. American Full Contact Karate, aka above the waist kickboxing was the most popular style of kickboxing. 
11. PKA Kick of the 80s (aired on ESPN weekly).
12. We bowed to the Ref and to our opponents before fighting. 
13. We had to wear pants and black belts.  
14. Low Kick or International rules was mostly done by WKA. 
15. By the 90s Muay Thai and K1 became popular. 
16. Kickboxing Gyms started popping up. Cardio Kickboxing came about too. 
17. Kickboxing as a martial art was established (meaning students did not necessarily come from a traditional martial arts background). 
18. Fighters started wearing shorts of trousers. 
19. The Europeans were dominating the sport of Kickboxing. 
20. Kickboxing (K1 or Glory) rules is the most popular style of Kickboxing.