Kenpo4Life

" That technique doesnt work"

2012-01-08T23:09:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I remember when MMA was just catching on with the mainstream. Classes teaching "NHB" techniques were popping up all over. Their "instructors" were telling people with their chests all puffed out that traditonal styles were BS, and that they fought "the stuff that really works'" Traditional martial artists felt a bit of a sting, and some of them abandoned their traditional art to learn what "really worked." People with no martial arts training were pleased that they had not "wasted" all of their time of flowery stuff that had no real use "in the cage."

Jump to about 2006-ish and a funny thing started happening. That crap that didnt work started producing some stunning knockouts in MMA cages around the world. For those of you who did not start watching MMA until 2006 or so, watch David " The Crow" finish someone with a spinning back kick to the liver. What he said in his post fight interview gave traditional artists all kinds of internal happy. In the interview, Dave, who had been lauded for his Muay Thai gave a ringing traditional art endorsement. When asked about the spinning kick he said." I am a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do." The rumbling that you felt at that time was likely the collective hearts of us TMA guys thumping in unison.

Now these days, we have seen all of the crap that "doesnt work" used in MMA. Nevermind that MMA is NOT the ultimate proving ground for usefel technique. But we have seen Shonie Carter seperate Matt Serra from his senses. We have seen Mirko Cro-Cop land a vicious ax kick on Mark Hunt. We have seen Mauricio Rua separate Ricardo Arona and Forrest Griffin from their consciousness with hammer fists. We have seen Anderson Silva use a reverse elbow to poster-ize Tony Fryklund. We have seen a capoeirist land a tornado kick for a spectacular finish. And of course my personal favorite, Lyoto Machida sent Randy Cotoure to hang with the sandman by way of jumping switch front kick.

Now as 2012 slowly unravels, ask yourself, do you really believe that stuff doesnt work? As my fellow Kenpoist Ras Fletcher, head of the ATACX GYM says, " It is NOT what you know, but how you train." Wise words, and with that I bid you a fair adieu. My dog is giving me major sad eyes, and I have to go pet him.

Happy New Year, and all of that jazz.

2012-01-06T22:50:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I am not big on resolutions. I feel that you should begin something once you feel that it will benefit you. Nobody would hesitate to cash a winning lottery ticket, so putting off something positive doesnt make much sense to me. So as someone who loves all of youse, keep an open mind, and train your mind body and spirit like never before in 2012.

Be well!

I know, just bear with me

2011-06-11T00:09:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I know that I talk about kata a lot, and I apologize....Wait no I dont. Kata is important, and it needs to be spoken of. There are still a lot of people who claim that kata is useless. Well, you may not beat someone up with a kata, but that is not what they are for. Kata build explosive movement, flexibility and focus. Does that sound like something that you might use in a fight? Iin my mind, kata helps fighters in the same way that yoga does.

Sure, there are some nay-sayers who say that yoga is "New-Age crap." But most folks realize that flexibility and the ability to flow from one position to another is good thing. Lets take Rickson Gracie as an example. At 52 or 53 years old, he has not been tapped since he was 18. Since he learned the same Gracie Jiu-jitsu as everyone else, is it so unreasonable that his yoga is part of the difference between his success in GJJ and theirs? His videos on youtube of him practicing yoga are practically legendary in and of themselves. He has made yoga an integral part of his training. Do you think that it does not benefit him?

Yoga and kata build attributes, and fighters with excellent atributes win fights. Or maybe Brock Lesnar is just a fluke. Maybe GSP is also? I wouldnt count on it. Kata and yoga build attributes and body awareness. So how in the world can you say that kata doesnt work? Well, keep thinking it. Maybe I will keep all of the benefits for myself.

What is kata if not an alternate between flowing and powerful movements? I would love to preach more, but it is passed midnight and I am pooped. I have yoga class tomorrow.

So what exactly is Kenpo?

2011-06-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

In my mind, Kenpo is easy to explain. It is the softest Karate, and the hardest Kung fu. That may sound a little vague but it isnt. Karate is known as a "hard" style. It has powerful linear striking, and short explosive movements. Kung Fu is known as a "soft" style. It has a lot of circular striking and evasive movement. Kenpo is a blend of both. I can use the Karate aspects on those who I can overpower, and I can use the Kung Fu aspects to flow around those who I cannot. It is the martial arts embodiment of the willow tree and the oak tree. I know, vague, go look it up :)

Bikram part trois

2011-06-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

I have something to report: I still suck at yoga. BUT, I suck less than when I began. I have noticed 3 noticeable changes since I have began almost a month ago. If I may qoute Johnny Drama from Entourage "Victory!"

Results are the lubricant for motivation

2011-05-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

Folks,

As you know I have been experimenting with Bikram Yoga. I stopped doing any form of exercises for the week that I started yoga. Result? 5 pounds lost with a smile. HAHA! I cant wait to see what happens when I combine it with my usual training. Onward to VICTORY!

AARRGHHH

2011-05-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

Parents,

Hardship is NOT a bad thing for your children. Unnecesssary hardship is. Stop preventing your kids from falling down. They need a chance to stand up again. Dont rob them of the opportunity. Getting punched in the grill is not as bad as being fired from a job because you have no discipline. Let your son learn to be a man, and your daughter a woman. That is it for today. I have to go to yoga and hope for some calm..............*Storms of in a huff*

Sometimes it is good to suck

2011-05-14T23:55:00.001-07:00

Folks,

I am glad to say that I suck. Not at everything. But regarding certain things. I recently began to take a Bikram yoga class. And ummm, I sucked at it. Maybe not as much as some beginners. but I sucked. It is a good experience to suck sometimes. It reminds us that we dont know everything. I can play footbal, basketball, tennis, baseball, and even water polo. But the fact remains that I suck at yoga. Not forever, just for now. I wont quit until I can do the splits again. And I will likely continue after that. Man, I have been humbled in a hot room of sweaty women who couldnt punch to save their lives. I think that I am hooked :) Phase one complete.

Take it slow

2011-05-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I know that this may sound a little odd, but today I urge you to slow down. Not in your amibitions, but in your training. I know it may seem counter-intuitive, but many of the fastest, most agile practitioners in the world take it easy in training. Dont believe me? Well, lets investigate shall we?

In Thailand, Muay Thai boxers are lauded for their toughness and powerful striking techniques. And they should be. They pound bags, trees, and tires relentlessly, making their bodies into lethal instruments. Oddly enough, when they spar, they dont beat each other half to death like you might imagine that they would. They take it rather easy on each other. They know that their living is made in the ring, and they try not to damage each other too badly before then.

Now, in Kenpo, or any other art for that matter, slow sometimes works better. Whether doing kata, kumite or self-defense techniques, I ALWAYS recommend that you start slowly. A lot of people think that true value is found in cranking out endless repetitions in class. After all, practice makes perfect right? WRONG!!! PERFECT practice makes perfect. Imperfect practice merely ingrains bad habits. I would always recommend that the first 100 techniques be done slowly and smoothly. Let your body get the feel of the movements, so that you can understand them and develop muscle memory.

Trust me on this, it works. Next class, when you are working a new technique, take it easy. Focus on your breathing and I guarantee that your training will progress more smoothly. That is it folks, I have a Subway sandwich (sammich to some of you guys) that requires my attention. Peace folks, and be good to each other.

Belt chasers

2011-04-28T14:37:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I just wanted to touch on this for one moment. As you all know, I am a "Kenpo Guy" through and through. I have a lot of other skills that have come from cross-training in other arts. I have named them before, so I dont need to again. The thing is that I studied those arts because I enjoyed them, not because I was searching for rank, titles, or acknowledgment. I just love this stuff.

I come across a LOT of people who have an obsession with the Black Belt. Now dont get me wrong, I would consider achieving my Black Belt one of the top 3 most important things that I have ever done. But I jumped on a path to see where it would take me. 33 years later I realize that I am still just beginning, and the Black Belt that sis fraying around my waist is just an accesory. I LOVE my journey. I cannot wait to tie on that belt and work up the exhaustion that comes with a workout. I love the stinging of sweat in my eyes, the labored breathing. If you dont know what I mean folks, go get some. If you "kinda" know, train harder and get some.

My Black Belt came from NOT trying to get one. I wanted to get good at Kenpo, and I have. I want to get better at Kenpo, and my degrees of belt wont be the measuring stick. I will do this until my body gives out. And when I cant do it anymore, I will be thinking about training. Folks, forget the belt. It means you dont need a rope to hold up your gi pants. Matter of fact, take the next week and train in your white belt. It goes well with the mentality of" we are all just beginners." Be well, and train hard!

Kenpo Karate: My confession

2011-04-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, my name is Anthony Thomas. I am a Kenpoholic. I think about it at at home, on the way to work, at work, and immediately after I have trained. I can never have enough money to indulge in it to my satisfaction. I never have the muscle capacity or endurance to do it as often as I would like.

It has affected my relationships. I have trained on holidays. It has kept me from family functions. I have been beaten, battered and bruised for Kenpo. I have put Kenpo above academics, above my job. It seems that just when I have had enough, more desire fills me. I am unsatiable. I thirst for Kenpo more than riches or power. I search for the Kenpo truth dogmatically. I know no shame in my quest for Kenpo's ultimate truth.

I am sorry folks, I am addicted. To Kenpo 4 LIFE.

The sitation will dictate what you do

2011-04-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Read that carefully. My father has been telling me that since I was five years old. I understood it then. I REALLY understand it now. For the folks who dont get it yet, dont worry, Anthony is going to take care of you. Letting the situation dictate your actions means that you spend more time doing, rather than thinking. Doing SOMETHING is more important than trying to figure out if their actions require technique A,B,C, or D. It was my dad's way of teaching me about conceptual training. YES, you should learn technique the classical way. Myself, and another Kenpo instructor from the ATACX gym call it "the ideal phase" As in "ideally, it would work like this." Then we address the reality of the day, and make the technical more functional and realistic. Now keep in mind, a LOTof knuckle-heads claim to teach the most realistic stuff. For an idea about what I'm talking about, go to youtube, type in ATACX GYM, Captured Twig, and you will see what I am talking about. At the time, I didnt realize what a gift I have received. From day uno, Pops was teaching me about how to think outside of a box that likely never should have existed to start with. As far as we know, the old techniques addressed a situation that not longer exists. For all we know, those techniques were the PERFECT answer for a situation that the old school guys found themselves facing. But things have changed. We have to work out techniques in such a way that addresses that fact that even un-skilled combatants have a concept of BOXING. The old school guys didnt have to address attacks coming from the same angle, or trajectory. If we want to go home with your teeth in your mouth, you better adjust. Let me give an example: If someone grabs you by the throat with both hands, Kimono Grab A works. The concept behind it is " GET THEIR#$%*HAND OF OFF YOUR THROAT!" Sorry, didnt mean to swear. I am a firm believer in quickly applied, so while Kimono Grab A is kinda groovy, a tiger rake to the eyes is groovier. While a simultaneously applied strike to the groin and head will free you from a headlock, so will a bite in the ribcage. Yes..... a bite in the ribcage, it works. Yes, I have done it. Anyhow folks, outside the box is where it's at. It keeps the training fertile, and progress continuous. Once again for a look at Kenpo on the East Side of Long Beach, check out the ATACX gym. They are good people. Now, I am outta here, I have some delicious chicken to devour for lunch.

Yes, katas again

2011-04-12T13:35:00.001-07:00

Folks, I feel a need to speak on this, because folks seem not to get it. YES, we need katas. Katas are a library for all of the techniques of our system. I hear a lot of MMA guys down-talking kata. I even hear about how some people claim to have tossed out the katas in their system for the sake of realism. I mean, wow folks, are you really that far gone? That was sarcasm, the answer is "most people are." For all of the MMA guys who call each other "bro" all the time, here is a hint. If you can fluidly perform the often acrobatic moves in a kata, you probably have pretty good balace. Do we need balance? Ask anyone who in the UFC light heavyweight division how hard it is to take down BJ Penn. Or how about the agility that it takes to launch a double flying knee Jose Aldo style? Katas build better balance. So there, now you know How about repetition? Well since most katas provide numerous strikes, repetitions are executed in ideal conditiions. We should all know by now that repetition is the mother of mastery. Do you know why Marcelo has a better arm drag than you do? He practices it. A LOT. Do you know why picking up a stick to spar with Ernesto Presas is a horrible idea? Because his name is in the dictionary next to rattan stick. Do you know why Joon Rhee can still have my lunch money? Because he has done more roundhouse kick reps than I have. Hundreds of thousands more. Kata is way to perform your techniques without distractions, so that you can perform them correctly. If there were no kata, how would you know the difference between an MMA competitor, and all of those jokers who have no idea how important katas are? You wouldnt most likely. If there were katas, what would you teach folks who have limited mobility or maybe even mental capacity? I have taught a girl with Down Syndrome kata, but never an armbar from the guard. Katas count, dont sleep on them. I was going to go all loco about this, but I lost my train of thought. Breakout Kings are on, and that show is like catnip to me :) I love cheesy action shows.

The value of the unorthodox

2011-03-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Folks,

This is a fun one for me. A few days ago, a humble, young mixed martial artist names John Jones defeated a legend in the sport named Mauricio Rua. That he won was not so huge a suprise, he was the odds on favorite. But HOW he did it is what matters to me.

Throughout his young career, Rua was known for using techniques in unorthodox ways. It made him hard to prepare for. Sound familiar? Havent I been preaching that sermon for years now? Yes I know that I have been. So in honor of keeping it unusual try this combination: Lead arm ridgehand, rear leg reverse crescent kick,spinning bac kick.

What does discipline look like?

2011-03-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

One of the biggest sellling point of martial arts for children is the idea that it will improve their discipline. A good martial arts program for kids should do just that. As for those who need a working definition of discipline, here it goes: "It is doing something that you hate as though you love it." Thank Mike Tyson for the quote. But in the day to day, I was thinking about what that looks like in terms of your martial arts path.

Here it is plain and simple: How good is your spinning hook kick with your left leg? Now, 10% of us will say something like, " not bad, why?" The other ninety percent of us born right handed will look away kind of embarassed. Actually, 20% of us righties will say the same thing, because we have taken the time to practice our techniques with the off side of our bodies. The rest of you dont, because you arent good at it, or you dont like to practice it.

That is what discipline is folks. Wo/man up and do what you know you should. In six months you should be able to land jump spinning back kick with your off side. Now, go do it!!

How often do you practice what you hate?

2011-03-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I am back again. Oh wait......this is my blog. Anyhow, I want to know how often people make a concerted effort to practice the stuff that they do not enjoy doing. That means intentionally denying yourself your favorite techniques, and focus on your skills that are rusty, or just flat out suck. Examples? Sure, why not?

For 90% of everyone reading this, how often do you turn southpaw and do your techniques like that? I am proud to say that I do. I have better hand techniques with my strong side forward. Plus, it gives me a versatility that I can use to my advantage. People dont like fighing lefties, boxers call it the "South Paw Jinx." Marvin Hagler was a natural right hander who fought lefty. The amazing Judo Machine, Rhadi Ferguson is a lefty who grips right. Versatility is good folks!

Let me make it plain: For all you righties out there, can you throw a spinning hook kick with your left leg and land it? Can you throw a low-high roundhouse kick without your feet touching the ground? No? Why not? Where is your discipline in training? We preach it, we need to be able to do it.

Now lefties, there are almost not enough of you to talk about, but you know what I mean :)

Knowing when your time is up

2011-02-16T14:27:00.000-08:00

Folks,

It is with a semi sad heart that I say that one of my fighting idols has passed his prime. The incomparable Fedor Emelianenko is officially passed his prime. He has lost for a second time in a row. Now, he did not lose to a scrub fighter. The fact is that he lost to a good one. But the IDEA of Fedor losing or even being in distress during a fight is mentionable.

There is no shame in losing. But will he walk away now? We dont know yet. I hope so. Out of all of the dozens of greats who have inspired us, only one two have walked away in their prime. The first is Marvin Hagler, the second is Barry Sanders. Marvin lost a HIGHLY controversial fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. After Leonard would not grant him a rematch, he left the sport for good. Barry Sanders was one season away from breaking the all-time rushing record. But he chose not to. His passion for the game had waned, so he walked away with his body and mind in tact. Good for them.

I hope that Fedor retires and lets us remember him as the greatest mixed martial artist of our era. So here is to you Fedor........

Even a layman can see it

2011-02-10T12:11:00.001-08:00

Folks,

I had the most interesting conversation with my mother. Yes, I still speak to my mother. If YOU dont, shame on you. I was telling her about how someone I knew was still winning tournaments at a relatively advanced age. While most would be impressed by this, my mom gave me a very impressive answer.

Without hesitation she said to me, " That is because the skill level of martial arts is so low these days." My mom watched my father lay waste to many top level competitors back in the day. And while my mom has in no way kept up with the "scene", she has seen enough to know that it is not what it used to be. My mind was blown. She was correct and even she absolutely knew it.

This is what our beloved martial arts is becoming folks. It is like that commercial where it is no easy even a caveman can do it. But the martial arts level of skill is so low, even a layman notices. Shame on us. Now go get our respect back!

Gloating on the inside

2011-02-10T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

Just a quick one today. Anderson Silva knocked out the most credible threat to his title with a front thrust kick to the chin.......Yeah, I know, I feel the same way. Later gators!

A quick thought on flexibility

2011-01-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

Folks,

This idea crossed my mind as I was walking during my lunchbreak and thinking about roundhouse kicks.....Yeah, even at lunch, even at work. Anyhow, I was thinking about peoples attitudes about stretching. It usually went something like, " I am going to work out, and then do some stretching I guess." Stretching is not the unpleasant after action for a workout. Every training session should be including a stretching component. EVERY ONE folks. The great Thomas Kurz, ex coach for the Polish and Russian gymnastics teams is sure that almost ANYONE can learn to do the splits in six months of his stretching regimen. Flexibility makes you better and less prone to injury. I will say no more about it...Oh wait, yes I will........ Fellas, think about how much mileage Jean Claude Van Damme has gotten out of being able to do the splits :)

My last post of the year Dec.31 2010

2010-12-31T11:24:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I just wanted to say, that there should be no such thing as a resolution for the New Year. Whatever dream that you have, pursue it from the moment that you conceive it. Success can only be had with hard work. Being especially successful means that you have to be willing to work harder than anyone else.

Punch, Kick, Throw, Knee,Elbow,Choke and Headbutt harder in training than you ever have before! Success is your reward :) Have an enjoyeable, safe, New Year's Eve

What it takes to be the best

2010-12-28T15:44:00.001-08:00

Folks,

What do you think it means to be the best? In the book the outliers the author said that it takes at least 10,000 repetitions or 10 years to get good at something. Is that enough? Heck no! Lyoto Machida said in an interview that he did 500 strikes every day since he was like 11 years old. That is about 1500 reps in one month. Multiply 1500 by 20 years and that will tell you what it takes to be a champion. That is how much he put into his passion and his dreams. Count your reps folks. Then keep counting because the road to success is a long one. Peace!

Why do we use the horse stance still?

2010-11-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

Folks,

This is kind of short but good one. Now the question that I often hear is something like" Since you are so big on practicality, why do you still do traditional training from a horse stance sometimes?" Well folks.....Can I get a drumroll pleas?......... There we are. It is to make sure that folks get equal repetitions on both sides of their body. Simple huh? Well, for the most part, lefties do lefty repetitions, righties do righty reps. In a horse stance, there is no favoritism. Now think on that.........*Anthony makes peace sign and strolls out confidently*

Tinkering with traditional technique.

2010-11-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

Folks,

Do you remember when I talked about working on traditional techniques? Well, let me give you an example. Well I have been working out the technique Alternating Maces with another Kenpo Black Belt. In essence we are just doing what I have been preaching for a long time now: Making the classical techniques fit modern fighting reality. It is not as hard as you would think. It is actually a lot of fun. He and I have different body types, so we approach the moves differently.

I think that as true students of the martial arts we owe it to ourselves and students to do this kind of research. Not only does it give you the repetitions that you need to improve your technique, it helps you to be able to explain the movements better. Sometimes we do things by rote because we know them so well. Taking a fresh approach allows you to think differently so that you can remember how to explain them to beginners.

So your homework for today kiddos is to take your favorite classical technique, and make it as practical as possible. Adios!

My cup runneth over

2010-11-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

Folks,

Here I am to make a quick post. Sorry for the time off. In the past month I have read" How to Think and Grow Rich", and watched the movies "WallStreet" and "Social Network". My ideas are coming at light speed, and my cup runneth over. Ciao

I think that I have a new favorite saying

2010-08-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

You guys are going to LOVE this. It is: Discipline means doing something that you hate, like you LOVE it." Do you know who said that? Not Aristotle, Socrates or Plato. It was Mike Tyson. So much for only gurus saying important and insightful things.

TMA versus MMA part deux

2010-07-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Folks,

You know I love a good rant, you KNOW that I do. But I would like to approach this from a business arena. With all of the recent popularity of MMA, a lot of TMA guys are calling foul. In their mind, TMA has spawned MMA ( and it has ) and that TMA still deserves the same respect. In my opinion TMA guys are correct on the matter. MMA COULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT TMA.

Anywho, this is what it is all about. TMA and MMA guys need each other. Because everyone will have their seperate likes and dislikes. Some people need the structure of the traditional martial arts. Some like the pure physicality and rugged nature of MMA. That is neither here nor there. But both of them seem to be warring with each other in terms of people attending their schools. I understand that there is a business involved with improving your enrollment. But the way that people are going about getting that business is all wrong. People have not come to the realization that EVERY business needs a good competitor.

Don't believe me? Let me help you out. First of all read the book " The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing." It is an eye opener. Coke and Pepsi acknowledge that they need each other. Microsoft has actually bought stock in Macintosh computers. Every good businessman knows the value of competition. MMA and TMA schools should learn from this. If they could arrange it, they should open schools right next door to each other. Between a good TMA school and a good MMA school, EVERY base should be covered in terms of the martial arts. What one school doesnt offer, the other will. And vice versa.

For those of you who are afraid of competition, dont be. There is something to be learned from Coke and Pepsi, Macintosh and Microsoft. Be well, and prosper daily.

Just to see if I still have it

2010-07-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I am writing to talk about something personal. Not anything like" how much money I make" or "how my relationships are going." Nothing like that. I am talking about a personal test of my fortitude. Now, since my age is undisclosed, this may not seem like such a big deal to some of you. But after a lifetime of bumps, bruises, lacerations, fractures, breaks and a concussion or two, this is a little more difficult.

In essence, I am going to get myself into TRUE fighting shape once again. With a whole host of injuries and an entirely different lifestyle, I am all the way up to 220 #. Now, at 6 feet tall, and at my age, that is not that big of a deal to most people. But I am NOT most people. I used to tell my students daily that one should NEVER judge themselves by what the masses do. NEVER! In my previous fighting weight incarnation I was 195# with 8 percent body fat. Not too shabby. But I can do more, and I will.

So what does that mean exactly? It means that one more time. I am going to get into, and stay in, shape. One cannot maintaing optimum fitness all of the time. But they can stay in a good 75% of their fighting shape year round. Dont think so? Ask Floyd Mayweather jr. Or ask Marvin Hagler, They did it, so can I. It means that I am going back to two a day trainings 5 days a week. It means no pizza, burgers, white pasta, doughnuts or anything like that. I means that I am lifting weights, hitting the heavy bag, wrestling, doing kata and streching, every day.

I am serious about this folks. 195# is my goal. I WILL do it. Even with the broken wrists, ankles, fingers, shoulder and ribs that will make my job much more difficult, I WILL do it. My word is my bond. I will do it in 40 days. I will bet you. Mark it on your calendar. I will be writing victoriously soon. If I can do it....so can you. God bless!

Never enough time

2010-07-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I love this one. Regardless of where you are in your martial arts journey, be sure of the fact that there is a lot more to learn. I have been in this business at this point for 32 years. And one thing that I can tell you for sure, is that I have only scratched the metaphorical tip of the knowledge iceberg. For example, for years I thought that Muay Thai was the premier type of kickboxing in South East Asia, and that it originated in Thailand. Turns out, there is a great deal of evidence that Pradel Sarey and Lethwei are even older. I guess an old dog (me) can learn new tricks.

Anywho, my point is that there is a LOT more knowledge out there than you think. Now any serious martial arts fanatic can tell you that the Yakuza ( minus two point if you dont know who they are) sliced off a portion of their pinkies. Now, most people think that it was as an act of devotion and obedience. And it was. But do you know why the pinkie? I do. And if you want to know, you will have to put comments on this post. HA-HA! Neener-neener! I am not telling.

Now, I have done a lot of arts. My base art is old school Kenpo ( recognize) but I have serious experience in Muay Thai, Jiu-jitsu, Sambo, Kali, Judo, Boxing and Wrestling. But in the near future, I am going to look for more. I am thinking of Kung-Fu, Capoeira, and perhaps Kendo. Whatever it is, it is going to keep me busy, for a while anyway. The point is, when out caskets drop, hopefully we will have had a full, full-filling life. But when that day comes, one thing is for sure, we wont have learned everything.

Assumptions about a criminal's attentions

2010-07-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

Okay folks, I have a good one for you. It is about the nature of a street confrontation. I dont mean the physical nature of one, that has been studied exhaustively. What I am asking about is the thing that goes through your mind, the second a physical confrontation becomes a possibility. I was taught one thing very simply by my father: Be prepared to kill your opponent. That may sound a little harsh, but in fact it is not.

See, here is how it works. When you get to the point that you may not be able to avoid a fight, know one thing for sure: Your job is to survive with as little damage as possible. The best way to do that is to be prepared to go all the way. I feel obligated to say this first though: If a person pulls a gun on you and wants your wallet, GIVE IT TO THEM. I have been there, it is NOT a good time. But there was nothing in my wallet worth getting shot for. He got my money, I got to continue living. I got the better deal on that one. Anyhow, back to what I was saying. You never know what a person really wants from you. You must be prepared at all times to take a life in a physical confrontation if need be. That goes DOUBLE for you ladies out there. Just because a person pulls a knife and demands your wallet/purse, that is no assurance that they will stop once they have your money. Don't make that assumption.

Here are the simple facts, if someone larger, and stronger than yourself, you have no time to hesitate. You must be prepared to defend your life at all costs. I hear a lot of martial artists talk about "not wanting to hurt their opponent." Or sometimes they try to "do just enough to stop them." That is fine and dandy in a sportive situation. It can be fatal in the streets. If a person larger, smaller or the same size as me forces me into a confrontation, it is serious business. My first strike planned for a fight is always to the throat. ALWAYS. I practice my jab as much as anyone. But I only do that because that means in a non-sportive situation my half fist (panther fist) will land better.

I do NOT let size determine how hard I fight. The late great heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson once said that the hardest he had EVER been hit was by Sam Langford. Sam was 160#. I am fond of telling folks that the hardest I have ever been hit in my life was by 110 pound world champ Michael Carbajal. I was 6 inches taller and 70 pounds heavier. Do NOT judge a book by its cover.

But I digress. Here it is in black and white folks. When you are assaulted, go for the kill. Especially you ladies. If during the course of the you-to-them hind-kicking you learn that the person is NOT a lethal threat, THEN you can tone it down. Not one moment before. The reason unskilled criminals, thugs and street-fighters can defeat trained fighters sometimes is simple. They are totally willing to do grievous harm to you. As civilized folks, we often lose a bit of the killer instinct that criminal have spent so much time honing. As a result, they often have a mental advantage over "regular folks."

See, with the kill mentality you are already commited to doing everything and anything that you need to do to end a fight. End it quickly, and end it as violently as you need to. I once saw a fight go on for a considerable amount of time only to see the "loser" pull out a gun and shoot the other. You never know what the other person is going to do. Once the person wilts and folds under your vicious assault, THEN you can stop attacking and get the heck out of dodge. Not before. See, the civilized part of our brain says" Okay, this guy/girl is done. Now I can stop whooping hiney and the person will not be able to hurt me any more."

It is a lot easier to make that distinction while you are winning a fight, as opposed to losing one. The reason that comeback stories in sports are so popular, is because they are highly unlikely. If you go into a fight with the mindset of " I am just going to control them", or " I will just hurt him enough to stop", you could be in for a rude suprise. If the person is more ferocious than you planned, it is not easier to go UP a level in violence. Ask any policeman or law enforcement that you know. Trying to fight back while on the defensive is usually a recipe for disaster. Statistically, the person throwing the punches will win the fight. That is because the other person is on the defensive most of the time. So dont think that you will be the magical exception if that time comes.

If you have no idea what viciousness feels like, practice. I am not talking about that crap that sells questionable martial arts skills to the public. If you want to see what down and dirty can look like, check out the movie "Taken." The premise is simple, an ex govt. agent's daughter is kidnapped while in Europe. He then goes about doing whatever is needed to find her and bring her back safely. Needless to say, I was impressed with the man's resolve.

Let me paint a scenario for you. Have your partner put on a motorcycle helmet, cup, body protection, and gloves. When you square of with him/her, throw a front kick square to the groin. Follow with a elbow to the face. Try an osoto gari takedown and then practice kicking that person in the face and body. No, not kicking, stomping. After 20-25 good stomps mount your opponent and throw 15-20 full power elbows to the face, whether vertically or horizontally........ That is what fighting for your life looks like. For you grapplers out there, feel free to include arm locks and chokes. Choke as hard as you can with the idea of rendering your opponent unconscious as quickly as possible. Respect the tap out, but keep the proper mindset.

Get it? Your life is no joke. Neither is the health of your loved ones. If you have to fight, be prepared to take a life, so that you can go home to your family. Like Alan Goes from Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu fame says," Better his mother cry than yours." Well spoken sir!

Having a few tricks up your sleeve

2010-05-07T12:46:00.001-07:00

Folks,

This may seem a little odd, but I am going to go for it anyway. See folks, it is time we checked out our tool box. I have been harping about practicality for 5 years now, and it may be getting a little thin. TOUGH CRAP!!! I am going to keep harping, but not today.

Today I am going to speak to the folks who believe in the true value of traditional martial arts. For a long time now MMA guys are preaching that Boxing, Kickboxing,Wrestling and BJJ are the only thing that matter. They claim that in terms of actual ability to defend yourself, the core skills of MMA training are enough.

I have and always will call balderdash on that, but I am not going to go too far on that today. It has been claimed by MMA pundits that the MMA children of the future will be far superior to the children of the traditional martial arts. The claim is that while TMA kids are learning katas, forms and weapons, that MMA kids will be learning core skills from the start that will help keep them safe. Now, I have already talked about how MMA training does not, and has not addressed the idea of weapons and gang attacks, so I wont go C-walking on that dead horse.

My main contention is that MMA training makes its fighter incomplete and predictable. While MMA can instill some practical skills, it is from a very limited tool-box. Those SELF-IMPOSED limits, can make an MMA practitioner easier to beat.

The one reason that I began to learn other martial arts skill sets is to be able to keep my opponent off balance. In the old days, the BKF was very good and making, and then breaking rhythms to make their attacks faster, and more effective. I am a good striker, better than most in fact. But against another skilled striker, that fight is going to a clinch and possiblly the ground. There is no wisdom in doing what you do best, IF it is also what your opponent does best. Have the skill sets to be able to do what they do WORST. Sometimes that is hard to discern, but it can be done with training.

Example, I once sparred against a skilled Muay Thai boxer. As a Kenpo guy, I had better footwork. While he was tough, determined and in shape, he was like a turtle on his back. I landed a lot of chasse styled kicks to keep him off balance ( Thanks Savate.) I was also able to land ax kicks and spinning back kicks pretty easily. They dont train them at all, so they dont have an effective defense against them. Back fists were working well, and even the ability to get in and out tournament style was working well. I was using a modified downward block to break up his plum clinch, and an upward block to keep him from clasping his hands together.

Long story short, keep practicing your hook kicks, inverted punches and side thrust kicks. While it may be all in a day's work to us, to some it is like trying to understand Sanskrit, they just dont get it :)

Footwork versus head movement.

2010-04-26T10:21:00.001-07:00

Folks,

Now I am going to admit, I have harped loud and long about people and their lack of movement. Especially in the martial arts. But I would like to make what I think is an important point about the kind of movement that can be made. In sportive aspects, most martial artists have attrocious foot work. Think of a cinder block with a gi on :) But in a self-defense setting, space may be at a premium, and it may hinder a person from using effective defensive footwork.

Having acknowledged this, I would like to speak a piece about the value of good head movement. While not as flashy as the Alis and Sugar Rays of the world, slight head movement is VERY valuable. The key is not to make the the opponent miss by miles neccesarily. If you can do that, more power to you. But making your opponent miss by inches may be more beneficial. For the first point, you can save a lot of energy by making slight movements, or by rolling your shoulders. While it does not look very cool, it is very effective, and it makes you hard to hit. James Toney in his prime, Roy Jones jr, and Floyd Mayweather jr. have perfected this concept.

Secondly, head movement can make your opponent spend a lot of energy trying to knock you out. When you can make your opponent BARELY miss, they think that they just need to put a little more energy. So your opponent will try to punch harder, to do damage, but they will not get better results.

In my dojo, there is a game I call phone booth. I basically outline a small area of the mat with belts. For 2 minutes straight, for multiple rounds, the students have to spar without leaving the confines of the "phone booth." Space is at a premium, and it also makes it clear how footwork is NOT always practical. Head movement becomes a lot more important. Give it a try, it can only help you.

Feeling too good about yourself

2010-04-05T11:55:00.001-07:00

Folks,

I just wanted to speak on this for a moment. I have been in the martial arts for a long time. 31 years as of this writing. But I honestly have to say, that I feel clueless when it comes to the totality of martial arts training. I feel like I am still a rank begininner, and that the true understanding will come when I am too old to be able to perform it :)

That said, I just wanted to speak a little on the ego of some martial arts teachers. As far as I know, the 10th degree is reserved for the founders of an art. OR at least someone who's change or modifications were considered truly revolutionary. Notable mentions would be : Jigoro Kano, Helio Gracie, Remy Presas, and Masutatsu Oyama. There are more, but I am too lazy to mention them. But basically, the point is that the 10th degree should be so rare, that people thinking that they would ever be promoted to one are deluding themselves.

Now, that said, I would like to speak about rank in general. Like I said, I have been in this business for over 30 years, and I am an absolute beginner. My black belt says third degree, but really, what does that mean? I have not created anything revolutionary (yet, finders crossed). I have not been in the business long enough to be any higher in my opinion. I dont even care if I ever get to fourth degree. My father will give me one, or he wont. I am not going to waste one moment worrying about rank.

I have come across a lot of folks who has self-promoted. Doesnt that sound stupid? These folks are those who have usually received a legit black belt. Once they break away from their instructor, they may or may not tinker with what they were taught to create something "new". Then, as a creator of a style, they feel free to add rank as they see fit. Isnt that pathetic? I know some folks who dont even know all of the katas from their old system, promote themselves to a higher rank. I say to these folks, " Calm down!" Remember that the martial arts are not about rank. Fact is, that belts are not even that old of an invention. Kano only used the belt system because he wanted to include Judo into the public school system.

So basically, I am saying this: STOP WORRYING ABOUT RANK! The people who dont have high rank seem to pursue rank, rather than knowledge or skill. THAT is what is messing up the martial arts almost as fast as capitalism. Still waters run deep, and they always have. Spend less time thinking about stripes on your black belt, and spend more time perfecting your basic techniques and teaching methods. I am outta here like the smart kid in a horror movie!

Tweaking your martial art

2010-03-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I am kind of in a renaissance period of sorts with my martial arts training. As a member of my family, our Kenpo is a very unique expression of who we are as people. Now of course, there are a ton of folks who claim that they are in possession of unique knowledge and skill sets. I don't know if I would go that far, but I do think that I have come upon some interesting insights recently. It happened nigh epiphany style while I was watching YouTube. Yes I was watching YouTube, but it was not Epic Beard Man, The Star Wars Kid, or the Urban Ninja :) In the future, kids wont know what I am talking about, so I thought I would put it out there for posterity. Thank me later.

Anyhow, I was actually watching a Daido-Juku tournament. I love this stuff. For those of you who don't know. Daido-Juku is kind of like an MMA style, but they wear gis and this special kind of helmet. They wear these helmets because head-butts are as legal as a right cross. Like I said...LOVE IT!! Anyhow, they do a lot of kicks, throws, arm locks, the whole shebang. I know that their focus is practical training, but I noticed something. Their skills began to look a lot like the Shidokan (which I also love) and all of the other folks out there who claim to be seeking "realistic training."

Then it made me a little sad. As you know, one of my biggest beefs with mixed martial arts competition is that they draw mainly from 4 arts while neglecting a ton of other things from other arts. As a martial artist, I would like for people to still be able to express themselves according to their art. It made me sad to think that people felt that they must abandon skills that they have spent years learning in search of a VERY limited type of sport training.

What I resolved to do from that point is to make sure that I take the skills I learned, and make sure that almost all of the self-defense techniques are applicable for today's combat reality. I began with an idea. I was watching Roger Mayweather use the focus mitts to help his nephew develop and maintain a tremendous defensive ability. ( See post above this one) I began to think about how to incorporate all of these drills along with kicks and weapons and stuff.

I began with the Kenpo technique called Five Swords. It is a technique that is a defense for a right cross. It is a very limited technique when done in the traditional way. You can see it on Casa de Kenpo on YouTube.It still has its uses, but they are limited. I was working with another Kenpo Black Belt, and we worked on the technique in a new and dynamic way. See, the first thing that I thought was that it should not take 5 swords. It should only take about 3 swords. But the way that it is committed to muscle memory is very useful when using proper drills. Starting out with elusive footwork, let the person use the focus mitts to throw the realistic right cross. The block is NOT done in a static manner. It is like a soft inside block or parry. The back fist does not need any tweaking. Instead of a palm strike, I recommend a cross instead of a palm strike for extended reach for shorter defendants or women. Instead of an inverted punch, I would think of a hook to the face, or a roundhouse kick to the body if he backs up far enough.

That was just the beginning. It is MUCH easier than you think to make a self-defense technique applicable for sparrring. The fact is that most people that speak out against the traditional arts cite its lack of applicability in a sportive or sparring environment. The first thing that I do is say "duh". Fighting for your life and sparring for points or money are not remotely the same thing. One does not neccesarily translate well to the other. They can, if properly tweaked however. As a matter of fact, I was thinking that I will be able to tweak almost all of the classical Kenpo techniques. Circle of Destruction, Kimona Grab A&B, Thundering Hammering, they all have something to offer. Later folks, I have to get to tweaking :)

The defensive fighter

2010-03-15T13:57:00.001-07:00

Folks,

It has been a long time. I feel like I have abandoned you. I am sooo sorry. Anyway, anybody who has been in the fight business, or a fight fan long enough has heard something like this," He doesnt fight. He just runs away. He is scared of (insert fighter here). He only won because the other guy got tired of chasing him" Sound familiar? Well right now, I am going to speak about the "defensive fighter."

The defensive fighter is the fighter that is not aggresive just for the sake of aggresion. The defensive fighter is usually, but not always a counter striker. They lure their opponent in by giving brief openings in their defense, only to close them and strike when the opponent advances.

In combat sports, like boxing, kickboxing, and mma, people often frown on the defensive fighter's tactics. Fans love to see a good old blood and guts brawl. Just think of how popular the Hagler/Hearns fight was. Or the Ward/Gatti trilogy. In the mixed martial arts world, the UFC was essentially saved by the back and forth onslaught of Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar. Not very technical, but tons of heart and offense. Not very often, is the defensive fighter given credit for having any heart, or even possesing the skill to NOT get hit.

But let's look at this closely. What is the point of a match or fight? Isnt it to do damage while not taking any in turn?I know that people equate a back and forth battle with having a big heart. But I am here to tell you, that since we cannot regenerate brain cells, "stick and move" is an excellent plan. Let's look at this historically. The point of evasive footwork was NOT to avoid a punch or kick primarily. It was to avoid a weapon: a sword, a staff, a spear or nunchucku. It behooved the individual to be able to strike and not be struck. A blow from a samurai with a katana was all it took to end the fight, and your life. Lyoto Machida, the shotokan expert said that he always looked as punches and kicks as swords, you dont want to be near them. With that philosoply, Lyoto has taken less punches than anyone in UFC history. His ability to dash in and dash out after inflicting damage is, wait for it, wait for it........LEGENDARY! ( Thank you Barney Stinson)

But back to it, people are not really keen on defense. As a matter of fact, it is a lot harder to have impeccable defense than it is to have a ferocious offense. As a matter of fact, most of the legendary fighters become legends on the strength of their scary offensive skills: Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Roberto Duran, Ernesto Hoost, Miguel Cotto, Felix Trinidad, Mike Tyson, Ernie Shavers,Thiago Silva, Thiago Alves, Wanderlei Silva, Terry Norris, the list goes on and on.

The list of defensive legends is much shorter: Roy Jones jr., Willie Pep, Muhammed Ali, Lyoto Machida, Floyd Mayweather jr. and Pernell Whitaker. There are more, but these are a sampling of folks who made a living NOT getting hit.

Ask yourself, how many times have we seen someone get tagged after their offensive onslaught has failed? We saw Ali rope a dope Foreman, we have seen Willie Pep win a round without throwing a single punch. We saw Anderson Silva embarass Forrest Griffin with a scary display of defense before he dropped a much larger Griffin. And in the early days we saw a 176 pound Royce Gracie out-savvy and submit a 250 plus pound Dan Severn.

Face it folks, defense is extremely important. It is often over-looked due to a lack of discipline. The drills are not as fun, and not nearly as satisfying in the gym. Folks respect the sluggers, not the dodgers :)

That said, buck up folks, move your feet, move your head, and just stay the heck out of the way in general.

Telegraphing the round house kick

2009-12-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

Guys,

I kind of like this topic. Why? Because even though this has been readily apparent in both traditional and mixed martial arts, people still argue it. That is about how blatantly the so called "skilled" martial artists telegraph their roundhouse kicks. While it happens in the traditional martial arts world, it seems to be most obvious among Thai Boxers and mixed martial artists. I am not going to go too deep into it, but I am going to make it plain.

First off, I would like to say that I am a fan of Thai Boxing. I enjoy their mental fortitude and relentless approach to dismantling their opponents. I love the Wai Kru, and the respect that the Thai-born practitioners pay to their elders. I love their full commitment to their strikes, and the power of their strikes. That said, I do have issues with their application of their bread and butter technique. That of course in the roundhouse kick, also called the turn kick, wheel kick, or chop kick. They throw it with a lot of power, coming from the hip as opposed to chambering from the leg. But all of the power notwithstanding, I believe that their execution is flawed.

When skilled Thai Boxers throw their roundhouse kicks, it is often after throwing an unbalancing front kick. Instead of pivoting on the supporting leg, Thai Boxers take a short step with their lead foot, so that the toes are at a ninety degree angle from the target. They use the power of the hip to cut through their opponent. A powerful kick to be sure, but one that is telegraphed by that ever so quick turn of the foot. As we all know, that among highly skilled combatants, mere micro-seconds make the difference between an effective strike, counter, or complete miss. So the difference between a knock-out strike, and being knocked out by a counter is only in the hundtreths of seconds.

And that is among skilled Thai Boxers. Think about all of those barely adequate Muay Thai skills displayed in mixed martial arts.....................

The distance of the shin kick

2009-07-18T00:17:00.000-07:00

Guys,

I have been thinking a lot about the shin kick. For the traditional martial artists out there, who may not use it much, it is just a roundhouse kick using the shin, rather than the ball of the foot or the instep. Anyhow, I hear from Muay Thai boxers and Mixed Martial Artists about the "superiority" of the shin kick in fights. And as usual, I disagree :)

The general consensus is that it is superior in terms of generating power, and doing damage. The shin is much harder than the small bones in the foot, and the power comes from torque in the hip rather than the chambering of the leg. On a scientific level, a lot of the argument makes sense, but as we know, there is always more to it than facts and figures. So, while I am all lathered up, let's dive in.

In Thailand, France and Holland, where Muay Thai is immensely popular, they often start at a young age, and are VERY proficient in the use of the shin kick. They kick hard pads, steel belted radial tires, and often times even banana trees. They are also versed in the timing, distance, and angle that allows the kicks to do maximum damage. Like I have posted previously, it takes thousands of repetitions to become good at this against a skilled opponent.

In the MMA realm, the shin kick is preferred to the traditonal roundhouse kick, allegedly due to the ease in learning it, and the power that can be generated. Planting a hard shin kick to someone standing still does hurt like a mofackle, no doubt about it. But like I have also said previously, dont sacrifice power for speed and accuracy. Let's break this down shall we?

In MMA for example, the shin kick is a liquid in the Holy Grail of MMA. I mean, it may actually and literally be sworn by. But let's have a look at why people like it so much, as opposed to why maybe they should look into other options. One: Power is cool. People LOVE the sound of a shin thudding into the target or opponent. BTW, if your kick "smacks" you did it wrong. Two: With correct distance, it is a high percentage strike. Lastly, it does NOT require a whole lot of flexibility. I think that the flexibility issue may be the most important thing. When Rashad Evans booted Sean Salmon out of consciousness with a shin kick, it was not very technically sound. Effective yes, technical? Nope!

On the other hand, let's take a look at why maybe you should consider the "chamber" style of roundhouse kick. For starters, let's consider MMA. It is REALLY easy to take someone down after a shin kick to the leg. They are close and off balance. Also, landing a straight cross is the best available counter to a leg kick as well. Look into the Anderson Silva versus James Irvin fight for illustration. Or perhaps the Nate Marquart/Damien Maia fight. The closer that the shin kicker is to the opponent, the easier it is to land the crushing cross. When I hear MMA fans talk about how a good MMA guy would just kick the legs of a pro boxer, I often chuckle. In 4 or 5 ounce gloves, a ranked pro boxer's hands are like lightning.

Also chambered roundhouse kicks offer more control and precision. It is easier to land a strike in between the hands of your opponent with a chambered kick. Once a kick from the shin has been unleashed, it is kind of like swinging a club. A lot of power, not a lot of control. Like I have said a zillion and four times, I would NEVER sacrifice speed for power. Fact of the matter is, with technically sound movement, speed pretty much equals power. When has Mike Tyson ever thrown a hard punch that was not fast? When has Lyoto Machida or Anderson Silva ever thrown a fast strike that did not land with serious impact? The answer: never.

Next as far as MMA goes, we need to talk about takedowns. One of the things that makes MMA such a different animal from Boxing, Kickboxing, or any other striking venues, is the ability to for for the takedown. Now with a shin kick, the proximity to the striker makes it relatively easy to affect an effective takedown. But chambered kicks involve greater distance, and give more time to repel a takedown. Look at the Lyoto Machida versus Tito Ortiz fight. Tito has made a name as a powerful wrestler who often man-handled his opponents who tried to strike him. Lyoto's distance with his kicks made it relatively easy to repel a MUCH bigger and stronger Tito. I cant remember off the top of my head if Tito was able to complete any effective takedowns at all in that fight. I will have to check into that..... Oh darn! :)

At any rate, keep your options open people. I have never kicked someone in the face who said" I am glad that he didnt use his shin." Hurt is hurt. Be well, and tell your parents that you love them.

FMA-From full hands to empty ones

2009-07-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Folks

I find myself really liking the philosphy of many Filipino Martial Arts. That idea is to learn how to use a weapon from the onset. Why do I like it? Well, for a host of reasons. The first is that it helps to take away the "freeze up" factor in real situations. I know that most empty hand combatants "progress" to knife and weapon defense after a certain amount of training. But to start from the beginning with weapons is a completely different mindset. I like the idea that the most difficult part of the training is done from the outset.

In the Philippines, roughly 80% of the murders are committed with kniver or stabbing weapons. It is not only practical but neccesary. If you consider yourself a teacher of realistic self-defense, you HAVE to include weapons training. Given the culture of the Phillipines, by which I mean that knives are used for everyday activities beyond fighting, such as cutting rope and chopping fruit, having a knife is common. It makes sense to have training with a weapon that you are likely to have available.
They dont employ empty hand techniques until they are well-versed with weaponry. I have been told that a lot of the techniques are the same, just with a different range. I am going to hop back in to the weapon arts for sure. And as soon as I know, you will know. Why? Because I just cant keep my mouth shut about this stuff :)

Is your art traditional?

2009-07-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I just feel that I need to ask. The reason is that I think some folks are confused about what that means exactly. While I could go into a long drawn out explanation, I dont wanna :) Let me keep it real folks. A traditional art is a fighting system that has a do component. Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and Judo are good examples. Boxing, Muay Thai, Shootfighting, and Krav Maga are not. While these classes can teach a number of virtues, it is not a set part of the curiculuum. That is all for me folks. Later gator!

Dont be afraid of lateral movement

2009-06-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Folks,

Despite zillions of examples of "why we dont", I still see a LOT of people retreating in a straight line. As we should all know by now, doing so will open you up to a whole variety of strikes and takedowns. I dont know about how much you guys are into boxing, but one of the things that they do best, is to move from side to side as opposed to in a straight line.

Maybe lateral movement is so difficult because it seems unnatural at first. One would think initially that moving your face straight back makes it more difficult to hit. NOT SO! It makes it much EASIER to hit. If you dont believe me, try this exercise. Start with yourself and your friend in a fighting position within kicking range of each other. I want you to back-peddle as fast as you can while your friend runs toward you throwing punches..........Didnt take long for you to get run down did it?

Lateral movement provides important angle and distance that allows you to effectively counterstrike. I COULD give you a million examples, but I dont want to. Just check out the matches of Floyd Mayweather jr or Lyoto Machida. Ta-Da!!! Move side to side.

Take a step back

2009-06-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

and look at why you do what you do. I am a Kenpo Specialist, an expert if you will :) But the more I look into other styles and systems, the more I appreciate what I have learned, and from whom. To me ( Insert Sly Stone song )Kenpo is a family affair. My father and uncle taught me from when I was a pup. I dont care what people say that Kenpo" should be." In my family it boils down to rapid fire striking from any angle. I know that what my Kenpo lacks in flash, it more than makes up for in substance. I have defended myself and my loved ones with Kenpo, and that is all that matters.

I love to compete, but my Kenpo is not about competition. Competing is fun, but it can lack in some subtle ways. Most people cannot get into the next level of their training, because to them, martial arts is synonymous with competing. Now, I also know how to FIGHT. Not just self-defense, but FIGHT. If as a grown man, I am drawn into a physical altercation I cannot get out of, I am okay with that. I know that I am prepared to go mentally to places that are normally only associated with sadists and psychopaths. I can kill you. I am not proud or ashamed to say it. If you physically threaten my mother, and I have a knife, I will kill you. If I had a child and his life was in danger, I will lose no sleep if I have to stab you in the heart with my knife. I know it sounds gruesome, but...it is what it is.

Anyhow, I am glad to be a part of my Kenpo family. I mean my real family. Not Ed Parker, Tatum, Spry, or any of those other "masters." In my family, it is always Kenpo For Life.

TMA > MMA

2009-05-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

Nah folks, I am just joking. But I am gloating because of Lyoto Machida. Yes, I have told you about him before. He is the the Shotokan Karateka who has just won the Light HeavyWeight title in the Ultiimate Fighting Championship. He has been an absolutely dominating combatant in the Mixed Martial Arts world. He is undefeated, and has NEVER LOST A SINGLE ROUND in his professional career.

Now a lot of people in the MMA world are going to scream that his success comes from crosstraining. I submit that BJJ, Judo, and wrestling have NOTHING to do with the fact that he has been knocking out his opponents as of late. For those who claim that his striking prowess comes from boxing and Muay Thai, all they have to do is ask him. He has said numerous times that Machida Family Karate is his the source of his striking skill set. Training with other stylists was only to learn their habits in order to defeat them more easily. Nuff said right? :)

Anyhow, Kara-tay is back in a big way folks! Bask in his amazing skills, ridiculous reflexes, and his practical sense of Bushido. Bask in it folks, I know I am :) Peace out, and be good to each other.

Victory in a loss

2009-04-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

"Winning isn't everthing! It isn't whether you win or lose, it is how you play the game." Do you know who says that? People that lose! I understand the point of people telling their children that, it is to teach them that they cannot always win. But if we are competing, in a game or in an interview, we should play to win. Otherwise, what is the point of playing?

Anyhow, I was just thinking about how on the rare occasion a loss can be a victory. Now, admit it or not, we have all lost, or failed at something. And rather than give the old cliche about "moral victories" I am going to put something else out there. I am, after all, trying to keep it original around here.

So when does a victory come from a loss? I will tell you, Im good like that. A victory comes from a TRULY spirited effort when the odds are against you. Winning the fight is NOT the most important thing. The most important thing is the spirit in which you engage. Evander Holyfield got more respect from LOSING to Riddick Bowe, than he did in the rematch which he won. Evander was battered by the much larger and stronger Bowe, but fought back with such aggression and tenacity that he won the hearts of the audience. That match showed a lot of people that even in the world of prize fighting, the "W" column is not always the most important thing. Evander won the respect of the entire fighting world with a loss on his resume.

For the MMA fans out there, I have a GREAT example for you. If you have not seen it, you HAVE to see the Georges St. Pierre versus John Fitch match. It was 5 rounds of one-sided savagery from GSP. So why watch it? Because Jon Fitch showed the heart of a lion in that match. In a way that nobody foresaw, GSP unleashed his full arsenal on the brave but clearly out-matched Fitch. One punch LITERALLY knocked the snot out of Jon Fitch. But for all of the one sided beating that he took, Jon Fitch pressed the fight and fought on unfazed for 5 grueling rounds. At one point, GSP looked at the clock because he hit Fitch with his best shot but could not finish him. While visibly battered at the end of the contest, Fitch was NOT a broken man.

In Japan for example, winning and losing is NOT the most important thing. The win-loss record is inconsequential to the Japanese. In the days of Pride, some fighters were allowed to continue fighting even though they had losing records. Why? Because they ALWAYS gave all that they had. They entertained the fans more witht their hearts than with their skills. And so it should be. If a person can truly say tha they did their best, then winning or losing is arbitrary.

I think that somewhere in that reality lies the concept of honor. To do your best regardless of the outcome or the perceived outcome. I am all for winning, I prefer it in fact. But as a man, I can live with the fact that on a certain day I will not always be the superior artist. Fight your heart out, do your best, and you will find victory defeat.

Dont forget to use what you have!

2009-04-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

Folks,

Here is one that I feel strongly about, so bear with me. Now, as most of you know, we are in a weird transitional period in the martial arts world. Which is a good thing. When people challenge old ideas, a lot of good things can happen. Either we can invalidate out-dated practices and evolve, or we can strengthen our convictions and move on. Either way, I have noticed a disturbing trend in the martial arts world. Under the guise of evolution, a LOT of traditional martial artists are selling out. Yes, selling out. If you dont know why I say that, I will fill you in.

Now, a LOT of traditional schools are coming under fire, and even losing business due to the new popularity in the mixed martial arts. So rather than sticking to their guns and knowing that there is room for everyone, they sell out. All of a sudden they are schools that focus on "realistic" self defense that will address today's reality First of all, what were you doing before? Traditional martial arts schools should have been covering realistic self defense from day one. If they were not, then shame on them big time.

Let me get to my real beef here. In order to attract the curious, a lot of traditional school owners will abandon their own curriculum in order to fit a more public-pleasing format. That means that regardless of the martial art being studied, it just ends up looking like kickboxing. Not that there is anything wrong with kickboxing. But kickboxing is just ONE sport application of the various arts. Case and point, I checked out a Kajukenbo at a local school. With the popularity of the mixed martial arts, they were marketing themselves as America's first mixed martial art. In a way, they are. But instead of trying to maintain an important historical legacy, their training looked just like what you can find at any garden variety martial arts school. They stuck only with strikes and techniques that you can find at any Muay Thai or Boxing gym. Not that it isnt effective. Fact of the matter is, it is VERY effective. That is why they are used. But these techniques in no way shape or form reflect the diversity of the martial arts toolbox.

I am not saying that you should be throwing tornado kicks or spinning hook kicks all of the time. But what I do know is that palm strikes, ridge hands, hammer strikes and the like also have a VERY real place in self defense. Instead of relying on push kicks and roundhouse kicks solely, there are foot stomps, side kicks, sweeps, crescent kicks and a whole cornucopia of available attacks. Actually, I have figured that people who train that way are doing me a favor. I train and use all of the techniques that I can during sparring. I have found that mixed martial artists have NO answer for a lot of the traditional techniques, because they are not used to having to defend them. Especially from a skilled person like myself. Pardon my modesty :)

Anyhow, mixed martial artists, do what you do. Traditional martial artists, do what you do. But for the sake of all things holy and traditional, keep it real. IF you train correctly, you can develop high efficiency in all of your skill sets without selling out. Now get out there and train!!!!!!!!!!

How MMA can kill quality

2009-03-24T10:35:00.001-07:00

Now why would I say that? Because it is true. I know that I am hard on MMA folks, but I definitely feel justified on this one. I have just heard some logic that most MMA guys are taking as "truth." Fact of the matter is that their truth contains some logistical flaws. Let me start with the statement. The statements more or less were the following," Mixed Martial Arts are the future. In the MMA schools, a mixture of arts will be taught at the same time. The students of MMA schools will be of higher skill, and be all around better than specialists of only one art."

Now, on the surface that may seem like it makes sense. After all, teaching multiple arts at once can help a person become more well rounded as an athlete and a martial artist. But I feel obligated to point out some things to the well meaning makers of the statement.

First of all, MMA schools are VERY limited. While they are popular now, a VAST majority of martial artists do not have a lot of interest in mixed martial arts competitions. The reputation/image of MMA practitioners is not very good at this moment. And the unfortunate exploitation of their athletes on "reality television is not helping.At any rate, MMA is only a small part of the martial arts puzzle. MMA schools address a small portion of the population who are interested in a newly popular combative sport. It has come about as a mixture of recent popularity and the decline of quality traditional martial arts schools. The concept that MMA will produce better martial artists is still flawed however. Let me show you how.

Let us talk about expertise. To see a top flight boxer, kick-boxer,martial artist, or wrestler do their thing is a thing of beauty. What people dont see are the tens of thousands of repetitions involved to create it. It has been said that a person can not be considered and expert in a technique until they have done it at least 10,000 times. I personally agree with that opinion. In a boxing gym, you will throw HUNDREDS of thousands of punches. In kickboxing you will throw tens of thousands of punch and kick combinations. In wrestling, grapplers attempt and defend thousands of takedowns. Judoka, Jujitsuka and Somboists, attempt and defend against thousands of submission holds. THAT is why they are so good. There is NO shortcut. I will agree with the fact that there are advanced new methods, and training practices, but there are NO shortcuts. Expertise is only gained after grueling repetitious practice.

So my point is this" Mixed Martial Arts schools will lower the level of skill rather than improve it." Do you know why? Because the individual skill sets will be practiced less. Specialists in the martial arts world have high levels of skills in particular skill sets. Boxers with punches, Martial Artists with total body striking, Grapplers with the clinch, and Weapons practictioners with weapons. Mixed Martial Artists will be dividing their time into at least 4 categories. So what does that mean? It means that each part of the MMA puzzle will be only practiced roughly 25% of the time. In an attempt to integrate these skill sets, they are actually taking time away from achieving expertise. If it takes 10,000 jabs to be good at it, how will MMA guys achieve that in a reasonable amount of time? After all, they have to practice takedowns, throws, kicks, elbows, knees and submissions. How will a person achieve high skill in wrestling if he has to master the footwork, angle and headmovement of strikers?

The answer? They wont. That is why MMA strikers are good compared to MMA practictioners, but not so good compared to high level boxers and kickboxers. If anyone would like an example, let me help you out. Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre are two of the best strikers in MMA. In pure boxing they would both be hopelessly outclassed by anyone in the top 20 in their weight class. They would both be hurt badly in K-1 as well. That is NO disrespect. They are my 2 favorite mixed martial artists, and among my favorite martial artists. But the facts remain. Now I could go on and no with this, but I won't. It is dinner time, and I love Japanese food :)

The ridgehand

2009-02-10T12:37:00.001-08:00

Folks,

Now I feel the need to speak on a certain technique. Wait for it...........Yup the ridgehand. It is a technique that does NOT get the respect that it deserves at all. Mainly because a lot of folks suck at using it. They usually suck at using it because they dont practice it. Or maybe they just suck at practicing it. Either way, it is VASTLY under-rated and under-used.

In the good old days of karate, the ridgehand was used to deliver some serious mid and long ranged bombs. I cannot lie, I often wondered where the bell noise was coming from after receiving a good old ridgehand from my pops. The horrible thing was that he thought it was funny so he felt free and clear just to clobber me with it as the mood arose. Thanks dad!!

But in all of the ridgehand style seperations from my senses, I learned something important. Two things really. The first was" Dang that hurts!" The second was that most people are WIDE open to being ridgehanded. To avoid a good ridgehand usually requires to things. The first is good footwork, which is practically non-existent in today's martial arts. The second is head movment which also is going the way of the dodo. I was watching some karate matches from Japan recently, and was suprised to see someone speaking to the sandman after receiving ridgehand. It just made me all soft inside. I might even have gotten misty.

Even in mixed martial arts the opportunity abounds for ridgehands. Fedor just put Andrei Arlovski to sleep with a overhand right. Had Fedor trained in Traditional striking arts, he could have landed the same blow from farther out and clearly out of the way of the knee that Andrei was attemping to throw. So long story longer, when you are doing your bagwork and sparring, dont forget the old ridgehand.

The most dangerous lion doesnt always roar

2008-12-30T11:00:00.001-08:00

Folks,

I had a thought. And you know I hate that :) Anyhow, I just thought of something that I find rather refreshing. The source of said refreshed-ness is a man named Lyoto Machida. He is a shotokan expert who competes in mixed martial arts. Now we all know that the name of traditional martial arts has been sullied rather badly in the last 15 years or so. Some of it rightly so. Some of it is indicative of the " have it right now" attitude of Americans when it comes to achievement.

Anyhow, Lyoto is a breath of fresh air in mixed martial arts. He is humble, highly skilled, respectful, and soft spoken. But he is undefeated and has some wins over very quality opposition. MMA stylists have no answer for his elusive footwork, pinpoint accuracy and excellent defense.

Now in the spirit of true narrow-mindedness, MMA guys are looking to find something wrong that his opponents have done. They are making excuses, but Machida is logging in quality wins. And he does it without bragging. Major props Machida!! Keep winning silently, they cant duck you forever!

Get tough!!

2008-12-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

As I write this, I am wearing a Van Damme t-shirt, I am chewing Copenhagen Tabacco ( or tabacky) I have a brand new barb-wire tatoo, and a Tapout beanie!! Yeah, right, I really have on a tank top and some Homer Simpson pajamas. Yes sir, pajamas. That is how I roll. Shamelessly! Anyhow, I am going to put this blog out based on something I saw recently. Whether you are a hulking brute or a tender flower, toughness should be a part of every martial artist's life. I dont mean like those idiots who do back-yard wrestling and beat each othe with barb-wire covered bats. They are not tough. They are just so devoid of skill that they will do anything to get attention. They are just reckless.

When I say tough, I am speaking of mental toughness. Toughness is often enough to get you through an obstacle, even if you feel like you are fighting an uphill battle. Toughness is what almost every single successful person has relied on at some point in their life. Whether it be in the dojo, the classroom, or in the board-room, mental toughness should be a key component to your success and achievement in life. Bill Gates is mentally tough, as is Donald Trump, Michael Dell, Steve Bell, and a whole host of other super successful people, in and out of the spotlight.

What got me thinking of mental toughness was the dedication of two people in particular: Ryoko Tani and Shizuka Murakami. For those of you do Judo, you should know who Ryoko is. For the uninformed, Ryoko is one of THE best female judoka in history. She is a multiple World and Olympic Champion. If you get a chance to check her out on youtube, you should do so.

Shizuka is less well known, but still someone spectacular. She is a FIERCE kyokushin competitor who has laid waste to the women who have competed against her. She definetly shows that you cannot judge a book by their cover.

At a staggering 5 feet, Shizuka is the TALLER of the two. But their spirit and mental toughness make them giants in the world of martial arts. I mean ALL martial arts, not just the women. Time and time again, they have shown what toughness is all about. I have seen them injured, fatigued and hurt, all the while pressing ahead into the fray. Many people would dismiss them as two cute little ladies who play martial arts. That is a BAD underestimation. As a World Champion and Olympic Champion judoka, Ryoko is one of THE most highly skilled people walking this Earth. And while Shizuka does not have the official credentials on her resume that Ryoko does, she is also one of the most skilled competitors in the world.

When I see them train, that something inside of me starts to throb. That thing makes me want to kick harder, do 25 more crunches, or get deeper into my kata. It makes me want to sweat until my gi is drenched, and train until I am seeing stars. I recommend that all of you re-examine why you do what you do. As a martial artist you should do this a lot. If not, look deep inside yourself. Commit yourself just one more time to training harder and faster than you ever have. Get tough folks! And thank those two ladies for the inspiration.

Being technical versus being rugged.

2008-10-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

I am back and in good spirits! Not only is it Friday, but I have been watching the classic kid's show "Electric Company." If you havent seen it, check it out. I mean seeing Morgan Freeman with the mother of all afros is worth the time, trust me. Anyhow, this is about martial arts, and I am going to keep it that way.

What came to me recently was a contrast in combat ideology. The idea of being highly technical as opposed to being rugged. Technical proficiency is something that is necessary for any serious martial arts practitioner. I really believe that. We have heard our entire lives that "size doesnt matter in a fight." I dont personally believe that to be true. But what I do believe is that technical proficiency should be the foundation of all martial arts training. After all, frightening physicality is useless if you cannot strike or seize your opponent. Bob Sapp, Vladomir Klitchko, and Brock Lesnar are just a few examples of frightening physical specimens who could put a real whoopin on you, even if their technical game needs a little polish.

Being rugged is something a little different. I am NOT implying that rugged individuals cannot be technically proficient. More often than not, being rugged is more of a mindset than an actual, tangible quality. A rugged person is a person does not seem to rely solely on their technical proficiency so much as wearing you down with persistence and physicality. Anyone who has seen Takanori Gomi or Rich Franklin or Wanderlei Silva in action knows what rugged looks like.

Now here is the rub, we have to choose what our natural tendencies lean toward. I mean, we would love to have the boxing skills of Sugar Ray Robinson, and the wrestling skills of Alexander Karelin. It would be nice if we could flavor all of that with Antonio Nogueira's transitions and Kosei Inoue's Judo.

Oddly enough, nobody has all of those qualities. I know, I cant figure out why not either :) But honestly, I think that it would behoove all of us in the combative arts to decide what fits out natural tendencies. I am not saying that one is better than the other. Both kinds of combatants have proven themselves time and time again. I mean in boxing you can name as many Joe Fraziers as Robinsons. In MMA you can name as many Jon Fitches as Lyoto Machidas.

While it would be nice to be able to seamlessly go back and forth between the two, the fact is that 95% of us cannot. So here is what I propose: Tape your training and sparring sessions. It is often hard to be objective about your skills and tendencies without live footage to support your claims. You may find that you are doing something totally different from what you thought your were doing. Once you find what your tendencies are, you can feel free to develop the things that will help improve your style of fighting.

If it turns out that you are a slugger who like to punch, you might want to look into some footage of Joe Frazier, or Mike Tyson, Marvin Hagler or Roberto Duran. If you like to pick apart your opponents with your hands you can research Pernell Whitaker, or Floyd Mayweather jr. or Sugar Ray Leonard. If you like to stand and bang mostly with punches kicks knees and elbows, you may want to check out some K-1 competitions or some Muay Thai smokers. If you fancy yourself more a well-rounded technician, you can look into some Sabaki Challenges or maybe the Shidokan.

For you grapplers out there, I have some advice for you as well. If you find yourself wanting to improve your double leg takedown, or single legs, you can check out Mark Schultz or Dan Gable footage. If you like to impose yourself physically on someone, there is a lot of video on Alexander Karelin or Rulon Gardner.

If you are a fan of explosive throws and leg sweeps you may want to look into Judo and Sambo. While not extremely versed in the big names of Sambo, Judo has tons of people that you can research. Try Kosei Inoue, or Ryoko Tani. You can research Rhadi Ferguson or just about any world champion from the Eastern European countries.

If you like weapons training, there are not a lot of folks more technical than the Cepeda brothers. They have given out more whoopins than that one mean auntie that we have all had :) If rough and tumble is your thing, The Dog Brothers are the ticket. They have long been pioneering the American push toward realistic weapons training. There is also Paul Vunak. Between those two, I think that your weapons needs will be rather full.

If the mixed martial arts are your thing, there are PLENTY of rugged combatants. You can WOW yourself at any time by watching the gutsy performances by Jon Fitch. He is tougher than a 3 dollar steak ( Thanks Mr. Ross for the example) He has put on some performances that epitomize toughness. I could also put some guys like Daijiro Matsui and Akira Shoji in that department. You could spice it up with Takanori Gomi, Sean Sherk,Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine. For you technicians out there, you have a lot to look forward to also. You can study the grace and skill of Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, Georges St. Pierre,Urijah Faber, BJ Penn and Fedor Emelianenko. Mirko Crop Cop, though on a bit of a slide recently, has shown us what upper level striking can do for you. He has brought the phrase" left high kick" into popular MMA lexicon.

At any rate, whatever it is that you do, do it to your best. Make a plan, and work it. We are looking to be the best martial artists we can be. Get out there, put in the time, and make it happen!!!!

Leave nothing to chance!

2008-10-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

I will keep it short. Remember folks, a fight is about your life. Not a trophy, a medal or an accolade. The Martial Arts are about protecting your life, your family, your friends and your principles. Keep it in mind at all times.

Amateur Martial Arts

2008-08-29T14:21:00.001-07:00

Folks,

I had a conversation recently with some colleagues. Yep, I have like ummmmm 4 colleagues. Anyhoo, I was discussing how in the martial arts, how unpolished some martial artists still are even when at an advanced rank. For example, we hear a lot of comments like, " He or She has good hands for a karate guy." Now, some people see it as a compliment. I have always thought of it as s back-handed compliment. Kind of like" She's tough for a girl." Not cool at all right? But back to what I was saying, I think that martial arts are in need of a real over-haul.

When you look at a professional boxer, or an Olympic level wrestler, they have literally had hundreds of matches in which to hone their skills, and learn to conquer their fears. These days in the martial arts, no such thing exists. I rememeber in the 70's and 80's martial artists were ranked, and the top fighters had a chance to really hone their craft. I remember my father had literally hundreds of matches. He never wanted to go pro or anything, but he was certainly experienced.

Unfortunately that is no longer the case. There are not as many regional tournies with which to perfect your skills. Dont get me wrong. There are a tourneys, but not in the same number as before. And the fighters are not followed as carefully as before. Now, every winner of a tournament that their school hosts thinks that they are a regional champ.

I think that long before a martial artist turns professional, they should have a number of obstacles to hurdle. I think that there should be a local,regional, and state ranking like there are in boxing and wrestling. Something like a Golden Gloves tournament. I think that tournies like that would go a long way to improve the quality of martial arts as well as legitimize it to the public. Anyhow, Im gonna go. I am going to go watch Iron Man on DVD. Yep, I keep it real like that :)

Taking what is given

2008-08-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Folks,

On the surface this may seem like the lecture your mom gave you about food. Do you remember that? " You will eat what I cook!! There are starving kids in ( insert country) that would love to have this." Good thing my mom is a great cook. Anyhow, I am talking about something different. Royce Gracie once told me that he never beat anyone. He said that they beat themselves. Rickson Gracie kind of said that same thing with his famous "Go with the flow." interview.

What I am talking about goes along those lines, but with a twist. Now in a fight, you are obviously looking to land a definitive blow to the face or body of your opponent to end the confrontation. This is the ideal situation if you have to resort to violence. Or, if you are the student of the grappling arts, you are looking to secure a solid clinch, perhaps a takedown, and a hold that will render your opponent powerless.

What I am talking about is the microseconds in between the openings that will allow you to finish the fight. As a born striker, I am usually looking to knock my opponent down or out to finish a confrontation. But if you opportunity to land a telling blow to the face or body is not evident, I always have a plan "B" It is unlikely, but entirely possible, that you are facing another skilled combatant. I know it sounds weird, but it is possible. Dont think that just because a person does not have formal martial arts training, that they are without skills. In my lifetime, I have come across many a streetfighter with whom I was NOT inclined to tangle with. But I digress. If a man is covering their face and body well, I will look to strike their defenses. What do I mean? I mean that if a man is covering his face with his arms, I will punch his arms as hard as I can.

In the old days, toughening the bones and knuckes was a part of every class. From folks with bones hard enough to smash ice and bricks, a punch to the body was devastating. Even punching your opponent is the arms is enough to end a confrontation. I say, you hit what you can. I have spent a lot of years toughening my knuckles for just such an impact. When you can punch into ( and sometimes through) the defense of your opponent, you find your self with a lot more options.

If your opponent squares off in a standard boxing stance, punch him in the forearms. After a few hard shots into his not conditoned forearm bones, you will notice him lower his hands just a taste. That makes the punch to the chin, jaw or temple a lot easier to land. Believe me, it works, I have done it. If you have never seen it done, watch boxing on the classic channels. George Foreman would punch people in the arms until they would lower them. Then he would hit them with one of his haymaker right hands, and that was all she wrote. And that was WITH boxing gloves mind you.

Former boxing kingpin Julio Cesar Chavez was a master at body punching. He would lower your guard by way of body punching until he found your jaw. Considering how many people Chavez has kayoed, the jaw discovery was not a nice one.

Now believe me when I tell you, this concept is NOT a new one. In the Pilipino martial arts they have a concept in their weapons training called "Defanging the Snake." It means that intead of aiming their knives, swords. canes and sticks at their opponent, they would aim for the hands, arms and fingers. The idea being, if an opponent cannot wield their weapon, they are as harmless as a snake with not fangs. It is a lot easier( and likely, less legally problematic) to strike the hands of an opponent, than to bash them in the head with a weapon.

But the concept does not stop there. For all of you kickers out there, the concept of a perfect side kick to the rib-cage or roundhouse kick to the temple probably makes you tingle with anticipation. But the Muay Thai stylists,Pradal Serey ( Look it up) stylists and others have made habits out of kicking the legs. I like it. As I have said a zillion times, you are likely not going to be able to throw any kicks above your waist with jeans on anyhow. But aside from kicking the thighs, there are other delicious options. How about a roundhouse kick to the opponents calf? Or maybe kicking them in the hands? Not only does it do significant damage, it strikes people in areas that they are not used to protecting. It keeps you off balance big time, if you literally dont know what your opponent is going to try to hit.

I have something for your grapplers as well. As a born striker who learned to grapple, I have seen a number of ways that the non traditional application of techniques can lead to positional control and/or a submission hold. But before I get into how, let me give a little background on why I think the way I do.......................Because Im crazy. There I'm done with that :)

But seriously, let us have a quick look at the major grappling disciplines. There is Judo, Jujitsu, Wrestling, Sambo, Mongolian Wrestling, Kalarippayatu, Catch as Catch Can, Aikido, and likely as not about a zillion other styles I dont even know about. If I am not mistaken, the majority of these styles stress controlling the body of your opponent until a finishing hold can be applied.

But since I cant speak for all of them, I am going to start on some basic things that I have seen in the grappling world. BJJ guys have spoken out long and hard about how their style is all about technique and not strength. They look to Helio, Royler and Royce Gracie as examples of physically non threatening people as an example as to the effectiveness of their style. The fact of the matter is, that their success speaks for itself.

I have also studied and trained with some Catch Wrestlers who talk about how technical THEY are. The difference as I see it is that they are a LOT more likely to be physically fit, and to possess that intangible trait of "toughness." I would go as far as to say that they are just as technical as their BJJ counterparts. But their approach to grappling is very different.

Let me give you an illustration. BJJ is all about positional dominance before the submission. They stress that a person should not attempt a submission unless they have control of the limb that they are attacking. Their assault is often patient, methodical and often times, lethal.

Catch Wrestlers often stress the idea that the entire body is a submission hold just waiting to happen. They will often attempt a submission hold from any position that they happen to be in. If you need an illustration, check out Kazushi Sakuraba, Josh Barnett, or either Ken or Frank Shamrock. Less known but equally valuable as examples are Minoru Suzuki, Bas Rutten and Masutatsu Funaki.

Anyhow, BJJ guys dont often train using face locks, neck cranks or spinal manipulation. In the words of a BJJ stylist I know, those holds are just "glorified noogies." But as I said before, a lot of people say that when something that they arent prepared for forces them to submit. I think that it might be a little bit of hater-ism spreading around. I remember that pre 2001 or so, BJJ guys said that leg locks were cheap submission holds. Was it because leg locks require all strength and no finesse? NOPE! It is because BJJ guys were having their guard passed and they were being submitted with moves that they dont practice. So let us get beyond that "Mine is better than yours crap" and make with the examples.

When a BJJ stylist is in the kesa gatame or side mount postion, there are a LOT of possibilities. Most often, they will attack the arm in a Kimura, or Americana ( also called the Chicken Wing and Double Wrist lock) type of attack. To expedite the process, they will use leverage to hold you still while you can secure the successful hold. It is a good plan, as far as plans go.

Now a Catch Wrestler or Samboist may use the same position to hunt for a similar type submission. I think that the difference is that a Catch Wrestler will not spend undo energy trying to immobilize their opponent. Often times they will use a pain compliance type situation in order to facilitate movement. That "movement" usually ends up with the opponent "moving" right INTO the submission hold.

In this case, while the opponent is immobilized, the Catch Wrestler will often grind his forearm into the face of his opponent. Or maybe stick the point of the elbow into the eye socket. I have had both done to me, and oddly enough, I moved right into the submission :) I contend that the submission way is a lot more rough and tumble. I think that it is almost like they forced the issue. BJJ guys will say that in a "REAL" fight that they would use those techniques. I contend that they wont even remember to use them, because they dont practice them. They love to poop on traditional artists for not practicing realistically, then in the same breath talk about what they wont do in practice. HYPOCRISY FOLKS!!

In Judo, I see a LOT of opportunitues that people dont take. If you are a judoka in a combative situation, you know that a solid grip on your opponents shirt or jacket can limit their mobility big time. So rather than grabbing your opponent in the fight, PUNCH into your grip. By that I mean, punch your opponent in the chest, stomach or rib cage before securing an effective grip. It is bad enough to be thrown in such a way as to have the wind ( and maybe your consciousness) knocked out of you with a throw. It is an entire different thing, when a punch takes the wind out of your BEFORE you are launched into the stratosphere ogoshi style.

I could go on, but I am kinda tired. Remember the best way is your way. Do what works. Dont be afraid to punch, kick, give noogies, wedgies and anything that works.......Be good to each other people!!

Falling back in love

2008-08-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I am back in love..............COME ON NOW!!!! I am not mushy like that. I dont mean with a person. I mean with a technique. With all of the "practical" sparring that I do with gloves, both boxing and fingerless, I sometimes forget some very simple facts. The martial arts have a LOT of open hand techniques at their disposal. While I am all about sparring full contact, I also notice that people forget about their other hand techniques, and the ones that dont work with gloves on.

What am I speaking of? Well, I have just returned to my love affair with the back-fist aka the back-knuckle. For those of you who dont know, a back-fist is when you strike someone along the butt of their jaw or temple with the back of your vertical fist. It is a devastating shot when you don't have gloves on. It is quick, easy to use, and has amazing effects on larger opponents.

Now, there are a lot of people who will say smart things like" Well, why dont they use them in MMA, if they are so effective?" The first thing I will say is "Dont Taze Me Bro!!" That doesnt really have anything to do with my argument, I just like to say it. The second thing that I will say is that a lot of things change when you are fighting bare-knuckle. It opens a lot of techniques that people dont commonly use. My favorite is the back-fist.

Along those lines and infinitely cooler is the spinning back fist. It looks flashy, but it is really not that difficult to pull off. It hits with the same part of the hand, but the centrifugal force ( power of the spin) adds a LOT of heat to the blow. For all the traditional guys out there, we know that it works. For all you MMA guys check out Shonie Carter versus Matt Serra or Dan Henderson versus Wanderlei Silva. Shonie actually knocked out Serra, and he had gloves on at the time.

So while glove sparring is good, dont forget to take them off and work your back-knuckle on the bag, you will be glad you did.

Do you know what is sweet?

2008-08-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

Months after I spoke on the "world class ability" post, a MMA magazine has commented on the same issue. Sorry guys, I said it first, HAHA! I dont normally vindicate my feelings by counting on anyone else's opinion, but this feels good. Later homies!

Why we should learn to block

2008-07-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I know that the traditionalists are going to wig out, but bare with me. I know that they could list a whole host of why they need to learn them. But for the folks for whom the answers may not come so quickly, I am here to help you out.

I am not going to go into how the blocking system should be a part of every traditional martial art. I am not even going to go into how there are attacks evey day that involve weapons, whether they be sharp or blunt.

I am however, going to get my rant on (again)about a little creativity goes a long way in the self defense business. Now, the beauty of internet is that I can tell you where you can SEE the things that I am talking about. Just the thought makes me shiver in my under-roos!! Well, I dont really wear under-roos. Dont get it twisted, it is NOT because I would be ashamed. They just don't make them in adult sizes. ( Hey underwear people, make it happen.)

Anyhow, the beauty of a block is that it can be used in oh so many ways. For you boxing fans, check out on youtube the Floyd Mayweather jr. versus Ricky Hatton fight. To make distance to land short but jarring body shots, Floyd was using an extended outward block to stop Ricky's momentum so that he could land the shot. I am not making this up. You can check it out by yourself.

If you are of relatively short stature and you find yourself in a confronation with a large individual, you should thank God that you learned the upward block. As that person advances on you, or as you advance on that person, throw a powerful upward block into their throat and chin area. Not only is the look on their face priceless, but it will drive their head back in such a way as to make their forward momentum stop immediately.

Downward block? No problem!! If you are a woman, and someone grabs at your purse, downward block their arm away. Believe me when I tell you, that downard blocks are a lot more practical against a grab than trying to wrestle around with a person who is most likely much stronger than you are. Dont get mad at me, just do the math.

Lastly, the inward block. This is a controversial one, but I am ALL about controversy. Let's say that you were sitting in your car in a parking lot or something. While you are singing loud and off key along with "Its Raining Men" you feel someone walk up to your door. You figure that they are going to comment on the off-key warbling that you were just displaying, and so you smile and turn to them. Now, instead of a slightly annoyed person, you find your self making eyes with the business end of a pistol.

"Get out of the car NOW" this lowlife is snarling in a loud voice. For the sake of illustration, you can add in some expletives if you like. Now 9 times out of 10 I say, give up your car and realize that insurance is a wonderful thing. But this time, your child, who can obviously sleep through anything ( your singing, not the gun slinging thug) is napping blissfully in the backseat. Given that fact, you inward block the person's hand toward the windshield, lean back and mash the gas.

It may or may not wake your child, but it will allow you to keep your face out of the line of fire. Thankfully, most car-jackers dont shoot at cars they are trying to steal, and so you escape after having flirted with the grim reaper. Voila! Inward blocks are cool like that.

Dont be afraid to think of as many uses for the 8 point blocking system as you can, you might even suprise yourself..... P.S. If you are a guy reading this, change" Its Raining Men" to Bad to the Bone. I mean you do have your pride right? :)

Another observation

2008-06-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Folks,

You guys know that I am hard on the skill level in MMA. I happened to be watching an MMA match on my computer. Someone who knows nothing about MMA began to watch it as well. I didnt say anything but neither did he. At the end, he said" you know, those guys are really tough, but they are like brawlers. No real skill." I felt no need to agree with him. He had made my point already.

A little creative mixing in the martial arts

2008-06-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

Folks,

You may be looking at this and asking," is Anthony crazy?" "Yes", but I have real point this time. Kinda. Anyhow, all I hear is about how "this doesn't work anymore" or " that is out-dated." Well, there is some truth to some of it, but then a lot of that is just nonsense coming from the unenlightened. And who am I to say that? Why I am a legend in my own mind. DUH!

Anyhow, let me school you. I have seen some traditional Kung Fu schools, gwoon practice chi sao. For those of you who dont know, it means "sticky hands" and is a popular exercise in a lot of Kung Fu schools, particularly Wing Chun. It helps you to redirect people's hands from your center-line, as well as develop sensitivity. It has been pooped on by a lot of people outside of the Kung fu community and even by *gasp* mixed martial arts competitors.

Now, I am a huge fan of booing a lot of the crappola that goes on in my beloved martial arts universe. Likely as not, I will continue to boo it until I lose my voice forever. But folks are way off the mark on this one. There are a lot of uses that folks are over-looking entirely. Since I am all about helping, I am going to lay it out for you.

In grappling with a gi, a LOT of effort is put into securing a good grip. Believe me when I tell you, a good grip can really ruin your day. It limits your movement, and generally makes for an unpleasant grappling experience. Now here is where it gets good with Chi Sao. A person who is either in the mount position, or using their guard can do serious work with Chi Sao. First of all, from the mount, a person may try to push you off of them. If an armlock is not the best idea at the time, you can simply move their hands in such a way so that they cannot buck you off. If they cannot reach your center line, their chances of moving you are not real good. They are pretty bad actually.

From your guard, you can do all sorts of cool things. You can redirect their hands so that you can get the kind of grips that YOU want. Once you can achieve a proper grip, submission holds and sweeps are a lot easier to score. And with a higher percentage of success as well.

There are also wristlocks to consider. Now, I have heard a LOT of Bjj guys and MMA guys talk big crap about wristlocks. About how they don't work against a resisting opponent, and how they are next to useless in a real encounter. Now before I get all into their collective Kool-Aid about it, I have a suggestion. Go check out a man named Fredson Paixao, a bjj expert. He is FAMOUS for tapping out bjj black belts with wristlocks from all positions. I dont know how he manages to do it to everyone, but it is worth a looking at. I also dont know how Marcelo Garcia arm-drags people who are expecting him to do it, but he does.

Point is that people get struck rather easily in their ways, and are REALLY resistant and reluctant to change. I always say if you are hunting an arm, and that doesnt work, hunt the wrist instead. Seems simple enough to me, but I am constantly amazed by people who have never tried it, even when they were in a position to do so. It is all about creativity people.

Now I could go on and on about this, but I seem to have lost my steam for it. Instead I am going to figure out how I am going to creatively pretend I am working out while wolfing down a hoagie and cold Gatorade. AHH creativity is good!!

When you say that you are good

2008-05-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

I ask "compared to whom?" I have recently been watching a lot of combat sports. Suprised? Me too! :) Anyhow, I keep hearing the commentators talk about how this person or that person has world classed skills in one thing or the other. Myself, being of the outspoken variety have called out" rubbish" on many occasions.

Now, I am not a hater. I just can't stand when people make weak points, and then defend them as if they were gospel. Let me help you out with an example or so. I was watching some mixed martial arts matches recently. You guys know by now that it is my guilty pleasure and fodder for many of my blogs. I heard Joe Rogan say that Karo Parysian has world class judo. Now, I LOVE Karo. I love his never say die attitude, and his explosive judo throws. He has single handedly shown the American audience that judo does work without a gi. If you don't believe me, watch his fights. After Diego Sanchez claimed that he would not fall for" that judo sh$#&*", he proceeded to spend more time flying the friendly skies, than any airline that I have ever seen. Karo has excellent judo, no doubt about it. But world class? Ummmm no.

Judo is the second most popular sport in the world in terms of number of countries that practice it. About 150 if I am not mistaken. That said, in order to be a world class judoka, you must be a TREMENDOUS practictioner. In the US, judo has not produced a large number of world class judoka. While Jimmy Pedro, Mike Swain and Rhadi Ferguson are glaring exceptions, plainly stated, most American judoka are second rate. In order to say that you have world class judo skills, you must have judo skills that are top rate in an enormous field. I think that sometimes people get a little carried away with hyperbole these days. Karo does not have world class judo. If he did, he would make far more money in terms of seminars and endorsements than he currently makes in mixed martial arts.

But that mini-rant aside, I ask you, whom do you compare yourself to? As a martial artist, we have a repoertoire of techniques that are un-matched by other empty hand combat sports like boxing, or wrestling. Not to say anything bad about the other disciplines, as I enjoy them as well. But because the martial artists have many more techniques that they are attempted to master, some of their skills go a little unpolished. Let me tell you what I mean.

Now, boxing is a highly refined sport/combat skill that deals specifically with above the waist striking with the hands only. Now granted, that is rather limiting, but their skill is undeniable. It is widely accepted that boxers have the most refined use of hand striking skills in the world. Notice that I did not say the most complete, just the most refined. When you only are allowed to use two weapons, the use of those weapons becomes more refined than those whom have a larger box of tools to work with.

Now here is where it gets a little interesting. When commentation MMA matches, I will often hear Joe Rogan and other say things like, he is an "excellent striker." As a striker myself from day one, I often disagree with those assessments. VERY few people in MMA have excellent striking. Like most MMA practitioners, they use more aggression and endurance to win matches than refined technical skills and techniques. The way I see it is, to be world class as a mixed martial artist, you have to match up favorably to a specialist in that field.

Now, I think that the best puncher in the UFC is Chuck Liddell. I dont think that because of his skills, but by the large percentage of people that he has put away with punches. Fights with Quinton"Rampage" Jackson notwithstanding, he has a large percentage of KO and TKO wins with his fists. Now, would you have any confidence at all in his ability if he were to face a boxing champion at 225 pounds? Yes,225. Liddell cuts weight to 205 from about 225. Anyhow, outside of the MMA cubbyhole, Chuck Liddell's skills leave a lot to be desired. He would not crack the top 50 boxers in the HW division, even as anemic as it is nowadays. I am not saying that he would have to win against these guys to be world class. I am saying that while he may lose, he would have to be able to hold his own against these boxers. Rest assured he would not. The difference in fistic skill level would be glaring and likely embarassing to Chuck and MMA fans.

In the kicking department, there is also a huge gap in the skills of truly skilled kickers, and those who are merely touted as such. the K-1 and K-1 Max has good kickers. The guys in MMA do not. How many rounds would your average MMA fighter last in a K-1 ring? Or even K-1 Max where the fighers are smaller? I would guess not long. Guys like Ernesto Hoost and Peter Aerts and Francisco Filho would do horrible damage to MMA fighters in a kickboxing match. Case and point, Mirko Cro-Cop. He was only a B level K-1 fighter, but his knockout reel of head kicks is still likely the most impressive in MMA. And while a lot of guys in the MMA world love to poop on the skills of TKD stylists, they are being a little myopic I think. Fact of that matter is that many TKD practitioners have phenomenal kicking skill. While there may not be a lot of use for some of the flashier techniques, their basics are often quite sound. Remember folks, mastery is not the cool looking stuff you see in the movies. It is the ability to use the most simple basics against skilled opponents.

Let me go a little further, using the the roundhouse kick as an example. In MMA the roundhouse kick thrown Thai style is the most popular kick by far. Now, in Thailand and also in Holland were Muay Thai is very popular, the kicks are snappy, powerful and technically sound. The body is in correct alignment, and the results are obvious and devastating. In MMA, VERY few of the competitors have even competent skill in kicking. Oddly enough, for the ones that do, almost all of them have background in a traditional art like TKD or Karate. What you usually see is off balance kicks thrown that smack and dont thud. We see people falling down when they miss kicks. And we also see kicks telegraphed so badly that the cross counter is easy to use.

Once again, I am not saying that MMA guys should have to able to beat a Muay Thai stylist into submission with leg kicks. Nor am I saying that an MMA guy should be able to compete at an Olympic level with a TKD black belt. I am saying that there skills should be enough to garner the respect of whichever opponent they are facing. I alwasy thought that a highly level of mastery in several martial arts disciplins is what MMA was supposed to be all about. I thought that the supposed "advantages" of training MMA was the diversity of technique, and the ability to flow from one level to another seamlessly. Alas folks, that is usually not the case. Notice that I said usually. Oddly enough there is an exception in MMA.

Those exceptions come in the realm of wrestling. Olympic gold medallists have competed in MMA. World champions, NCAA champions and state champions have all competed in MMA. Why? Oh yeah, because the MMA world as we know it was started by grapplers. Now granted there are miles of difference between jujitsu and wrestling in terms of intent, but in a larger, perhaps more vague look at things, grappling is grappling. Right around UFC 10, wrestlers learned that they were making a huge mistake in strategy. They were tackling jujitsuka who didnt mind being on their back. It is not like it was going to be the other way around. We all saw Dan Severn get triangle choked by Royce Gracie. Does anyone sober think that Royce could have taken down Dan?....... I didnt think so. Anyhow, not long after that (UFC IV to be specific) wrestlers learned that they have an inherent advantage in MMA. They, more than anyone else can control WHERE the fight takes place.

Let me give an example. Mark Schultz was NOT going to trade punches with Gary Goodridge. I wouldn't either. So he took him to the mat quickly to avoid a horrendous pounding. Chuck Liddell on the other hand knows that he is almost impossible to take and/or hold down in MMA. So he can throw his punches with impunity. We have seen the results. Anywho, the point is that once wrestlers who were making zero money in the amateurs realized that they could make money in MMA, they came in flocks. When they learned to avoid submissions, they became champions in a hurry, Mark Kerr, Coleman,Schultz and a lot of others were able to breeze through competitions with minimal change to their strengths, which is good old wrestling. So wrestling is my one exception to my rant up above.

Now, back to my main question if I may. When you say that you are a good puncher, what do you mean? Do you mean in comparison to fistic specialists like boxers? When you say that you can kick, do you mean in comparison to Muay Thai boxers, TKD medallists or bare-knuckle champions? If not, why not? If you are looking to be the best, you should be able to make a spirited showing even against those is specialize in certain areas. Now, I gotta do. I have to practice my whizzer, single leg, and standing switch. Why? Because my wrestling sucks big time, and I need to work on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One love folks!!!

For Pete's sake, learn how to punch!!

2008-05-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

This is me coming live and direct. Well, as much as one can from behind a screen :) Anyhow, after watching another display of flailing in a MMA match, I have to make this suggestion: LEARN HOW TO PUNCH! I hear a lot of mma guys talking about how mma is so much more complete than any other form of combat sport. On a technical level, I must agree. However, the level of proficiency, and the perfomance wave-length are NOWHERE close. Think of it this way, the most "exciting" matches in UFC are just really awkward kickboxing bouts.

While I commend the courage that it takes, and the dedication required to do mma, I am UNDER-whelmed by the skill of those who call themselves strikers. The match that brought MMA into the collective main stream was Forrest Griffin versus Stephan Bonner. While I appreciate the fact that they showed a lot of guts and determination, their technical skills left something to be desired.

I think that for those who train in mma, they need to learn to improve their technical proficiency by leaps and bounds. Chuck Liddell, the most " lethal striker in the UFC" throws the most attrocious over-hand right, I have ever seen by a professional. I mean for goodness sakes, he looks to land it on the forehead. Try that without gloves Mr. Liddell, and I assure you that your hands would only be good for thumbing through your significantly loaded bank statements :) What I mean is that damage to your hand would finish your career. The first time that Chuck faced a competent striker, Quinton Jackson, he was embarassed in both of their meetings. QJ is NOT a great striker at all, he just knows how to deliever crisp, straight punches. You would think more folks would see that.

Anyhow, I think that most martial artists should seriously consider taking some boxing lessons. I can already hear the excuses though. "I dont want my face to get messed up. I dont want brain damage." Blah! Blah! Blah! There is padding out there to protect your gray matter, and sparring in boxing doesnt require hard punches to the head. You can learn a lot by actually striking lightly with your sparring partners. If you dont believe me, look at the way the Thai boxers train in Thailand. They go NUTS on the bag, and easy on each other.

Anyhow, I think it would behoove you to learn boxing if you havent. Learn to box for boxing's sake, not for any other reason. It will help you to learn the nuances of striking with the fist that you may not know about because you focus on the entire body. After that, you can learn to apply the same principles of boxing while adding all of the other handstrikes that make martial arts so different from the western fighing systems. That is my rant for the day, and now I am going to watch an mma class for the laughs.

Dropping your hands during a roundhouse kick.

2008-05-04T22:30:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I have pondered this for a long time, and I cannot come up with any reasonable answers. My question is: "Why in tarnation do Thai boxers think that it is okay to drop your hands during a rear leg roundhouse?" I cannot figure it. I have heard the excuses and "logic" plenty of times. I know, I know, it helps generate power. But as you have likely seen countless times in in a dojo, match or in MMA, it can lead to disaster. By know, most of you know that the cross is the perfect counter to the rear leg roundhouse. If you dont know, keep watching folks, you will see it soon enough.

It is bad enough that Thai-Boxers are content with their horrible footwork. To be stationary and then to expose your chin during a kick is suicidal to me. I think that folks need to think a little more about how dangerous this practice is. It is one thing to do a sport when EVERYONE is playing by your rules. It is a very dangerous practice in a situation for self defense. This is especially true when you consider how much your mobility is compromised when you wear street clothes. You cannot kick as high, and it is even easier to counter a low kick than it is a high kick. If you need an example look at the Lyoto Machida versus Thierry Sokoudju match or when Renato "Babalu" Sobral lost to Jason Lambert. They were absolutely crushed while attempting "text-book" roundhouse kicks inthe Thai-style. If a picture says a thousand words, two crushing knock outs speak voumes. Keep your hands up!!

Kicking with the shin versus the foot

2008-04-10T20:39:00.001-07:00

Folks,

I may have touched on this before, but I would like to revisit this topic again. I have heard a lot of people talking about the power of

What kills me is that there are a LOT of people who are willing to sacrifice speed and mobility for power. That is a dangerous concession in my opinion. I thave kicked a lot of people, sometimes with my foot, sometimes with my shin. Never had I kicked someone with my foot and heard" that would have hurt a lot more if you had used your shin." Plus, I just enjoy the ability to place a kick in a certain spot. Maybe it is just me. Anyhow, carry on folks.

Viva la Sidekick!!

2008-04-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

All I have to do is say: Cung Le versus Frank Shamrock. I dont have to say anymore, but I am going to :) Somebody please tell me about how the sidekick doesnt work in MMA please? I am waiting patiently. If you havent seen it, check it out. I will be right here, looking smug :)

Commit! Commit! Commit! part deux

2008-03-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

"If I do "x" they can do "y" "If I do this, they can do that!" I hear that a lot in my travels as a martial artist. My experience has led me to know that these types of statements are usually made by people who are afraid of contact. I dont mean a healthy fear either. Healthy fear is good, and usually the sign of at least average intelligence. I mean crippling fear. I dont mean physically crippling, but mentally. There are some people, whose martial arts travels will be cut short by the fact that they are afraid to be hit. As a matter of fact, I read an article about "The fear of contact" decades ago in Black Belt magazine. That is what is prompting me to write this blog.

Now, for just about everything that I can think of, there is a counter. Not just a counter, but an effective one. Let me give you some popular examples. If someone throws a lead hand hook, they are open to a cross. If someone throws a leg kick, you can step in and throw a cross again. if someone leads with a cross, a lead hook to the body is calling out to you. Now I could do this all day, but there is no need.

My point of this is to say that you HAVE to commit to your techniques. If you are hesitating with your techniques, the counters become EASIER. If you think about what they can do to you if you attack, you are in a world of trouble. Like I said, it can make you hesitate, which is extremely dangerous. You have to practice to the point that you have FAITH in your techniques. Against a skilled opponent in the ring or outside it, you may have to attack with all that you have. The "One strike, one kill" philosophy came from this mentality. Hard training is what will give you the faith that you need in your technique. That is just anothe reason that I cannot over-stress the concept of hard training. If you HAVE to fight, make sure that the person pays for making you stoop to that level.

Learn to commit in training folks. Not only will it help you with self defense, it will help you in all of your life endeavors. Remember, life can be a beautiful thing. Commit to all that you do. That is all for today kids, I have some serious taco making to do.

The side kick.

2008-03-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

Guys,

I am gonna have a little fun with this one. When I mention sidekick, I dont mean that electronic thingamagig that everyone has these days. I dont mean that little jeep that Suzuki used to make. I am talking about the real side kick, also known as the side thrust kick. I have been a fan of this kick for a long time, as I know many of you are. I also have heard some of the most ridiculous things of all time regarding said kick. So without any futher delay.................... Here I go!!

I recently spoke with some Muay Thai and MMA enthusiasts, and they were talking about how the side kick was not very useful. After I rolled my eyes, I asked them to explain. The Muay Thai guys told me that in Muay Thai matches, a side kick would expose their hamstrings to leg kicks. I said, you are correct, they CAN expose your hamstrings. The funny thing is, that in almost every instance, they were talking about the use of side kicks by point karate fighters. They mentioned how they could just walk through those side kicks and then maul a point fighter. I mentioned things off the top of my head. I asked them, did the side kicks land? They usually said "yes." So I mentioned that the strike did land. Then I mentioned that the focus on point karate and the like was not to knock the opponent out, just to land cleanly. Now I personally have a grievance with that mindset, because I think that it can be dangerous in a self defense situation.

I also threw in that if the side kick was thrown with the real intent to hurt or injure someone, it is likely that "walking through" side kicks was not a good option. I personally have used side kicks against Muay Thai boxers with success on a number of occasions. How? By throwing them at unusual targets. I used the superior reach of the side kicks to strike the shoulder and the arms. I know that it sounds kind of funny, but that really hurts. In a self defense situation, kick someone in the fingers, or in the hand. Dollars to doughnuts (mmm doughnuts) says that they wont be making a fist anytime soon :) But maybe that is just me.

Now for the mixed martial arts fellows, I hear the same crappola. It usually sounds like this "If you do a side kick, you are vulnerable to a takedown." I immediately crack a smile. I remind them that one of the better wrestlers in the UFC has taken a couple of side kicks on more than one occasion. If you dont know what I mean, check out the matches between Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre. Or check out Anderson Silva versus Rich Franklin. Or if you want to go vintage, you can check out WRESTLER Mike Van Arsdale side kick Jujitsu brown belt Joe Pardoe off his feet in an early event. You can always make the argument of " That doesnst happen very often." I will agree and then say," That is because there are not a lot of skilled kickers in MMA."

I am tired and kinda sleepy, so I am going to leave it at this: Viva la Side Kick!!!!!

Commit! Commit! Commit!

2008-03-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

Guys,

I bet you wont be able to figure what this is about LOL. Yes, committing is important. One of the most important aspects of self-defense is knowing why you fight. If you are fighting for a trophy, or even prize money, your motivation need only reach a certain level. If some punk pulls a knife on you while you are walking with your grand-mother, the motivational level will be off the charts. With that said, I would like to talk a little about committment.

Now, in competition, I full understand the idea of checking a strike, or not looking to injure someone. After all, this person is not your enemy, merely your competition. So if you throw a strike that catches them by suprise, you will be a better person if you remember this is just a game. So "strike hard but dont remove teeth" is a good rule to remember.

That said, remember why you train. You should be training to save your life, not win points. You train for the worst, and hope it never comes. So follow through. What do I mean by that? Let me illustrate. In Thai Boxing, they throw hard leg kicks with the intention of wearing down an opponent. That is a good plan, because it is unlikely that another trained fighter will go down from one strike. But we are not fighting Thai Boxers. Throw that strike like you will never get another. Dont leg kick at your opponent, throw it through them. When your throw a punch, pierce your opponent with it. When you execute a throw, put them through the concrete, not into it. I dont know how many times I have seen boxers box in a real fight. They shouldnt have been boxing, they should have been fighting. I have seen wrestlers wrestle on concrete. They should have been looking to finish an opponent, not wrestle him.

Once the need to fight has arisen, make sure you are the one that walks away. Parents, you getting hurt means that you cannot tuck in your children. Married folks, it means you cannot have a laugh on the sofa with your spouse. Single folks, it means your parents may outlive their children. That is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Like someone told me once: Violence is RARELY the answer. But when it is, it is the ONLY answer. Im out like a New York governor after a scandal :) If you dont know what I am talking about, watch the news tonight.

My 20 second rant

2008-03-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

I was recently told that my bare-knuckle roots in karate lack realism because we dont strike the face with a closed fist. Then he told me about how realistic his mixed martial arts training was. I was going to go into a whole TIRADE ABOUT why he was incorrect in both cases, but I will keep it short. One, In my school we strike the face with open palms. It still hurts like you wouldnt believe. And second and most important to me is: YOUR TRAINING REQUIRES YOU TO USE GLOVES!!!! I HAVE NEVER WORN THEM IN A FIGHT, HAVE YOU?

Forget about wearing someone down

2008-02-24T21:16:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I think that there is an attitude out there that could very well cost someone their life. People who are well trained in combat sports are often the victim of this kind of thinking," I have been boxing for years and I KNOW my hands are better than his." I have seen some excellent sport combatants apply the rules of their sport to a real fight. Sometimes the results were good. Other times they were disastrous.

I just recently watched a show about Krav Maga on the Discovery Channel. Now I rather enjoyed the fact that they were training a certain kind of mindset as well as fight skills. I asked for the opinions of some folks on nhbgear.com and got some interesting opinions. All I got was a lot of links to mcdojo krav maga schools and even more sarcasm. I think that some people missed the point of the show. I thought that it made a clear distinction between the comprehensive combat arts, and prize fighters. I was told that the Americans were being hazed and that there was no realism.

Now as far as I remember, the Israelis have been a battle hardened people. I cannot imagine that they would train in a system that is ineffective in war times. They do not have the luxury of training for sport in the military. They train to kill. The difference in mindset is amazing. If you are assured that your opponent will not try to kill you, you can make certain concessions during your match. Combat has no guarantess.

But what I liked was that these guys never retreated. Not to say that in certain instances, retreating is not necessary. But the idea of moving forward to destroy your opponent is one that many martial artists are missing. From a mental standpoint, the person who can sustain their attack will win/survive the altercation. Dont take my word folks, look it up.

Anyhow, what I am saying is: Dont focus too much on strategy. Learn to overwhelm your opponent with your technical skill and your ferocity. Your training should hone your instincts to react to whatever is going on in front of you. Remember, our goal is survival, not glory.

Mixed martial artists missing the obvious

2008-02-13T20:46:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I am amazed that I even have to make this post. I mean it should be so obvious it isnt even funny. But for the slow folks out there, here I go. For the past 14 years or so, the mixed martial artists have been having a good time talking down to the traditoinal martial artists. They have been using mixed martial arts competitions as proof positive that traditional martial arts dont work. According to them, Karate, TKD, Tang Soo Do and Kung-Fu are falling by the wayside. "They dont work." Anyone in ultimate fighting can beat up these so called black belts." Blah Blah Blah.

Let me help ya out folks. Long before any of you had ever heard of mixed martial arts, the traditional martial arts have been saving peoples butts every day. One good punch, one good kick, one good throw are all you need to end most altercations. Most folks in the world are not that skilled. Fact of the matter is, the traditional martial arts are still responsible for most of the life saving techniques that are happening today. Training in any art will up your survival chances big time, and if the mixed martial arts competitions ever do die out, the old school stuff will still be saving heinies world-wide.

Now, for the slow and stubborn out there, this is for you. The mixed martial arts world techniques are composed of 4 main arts: Boxing, Thai-Boxing, Wrestling and Jujitsu. Most folks figure that these are the core of mixed martial arts neccesities. In their mind, in order to succeed, all you need is the Big 4 mentioned above. These tournaments prove that the "traditional arts" are dying out.

News flash for your Einsteins out there. Jujitsu as we know it has roots several centuries long. Thai boxing has been saving hind parts in Thailand back when it was still known as Siam. Wrestling is perhaps the oldest of all martial systems. It dates and likely predates The Sumerians and Mesopatamians. Boxing was popularized by the Greek Olympics, but likely it has been around for much longer than that. So I may be wrong folks, but that just mean that MMA guys are practicing *gasp* traditional arts.

So what is the difference? Purpose. MMA guys fight for money and glory. Traditional artists should be training to save their lives in a real life and death encounter. Rules and purpose make all of the difference guys. Usually MMA guys are better athletes, having come from an athletic background. Are they better? Nope. Are they usually better conditoned? Yup!!!

Hate to tell you folks, MMA guys practice traditional martial arts. They just do it in a prize-fighting context. Hate to burst some bubbles but.........* POP*

Are you a machine gunner or a sniper?

2008-02-12T19:43:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

When I bring up machine guns and snipers I am not talking about gun skills. I am talking about fighting styles. When I say that, I dont mean TKD versus escrima versus jiujitsu. I mean, in what style do you implement your attacks?

A sniper is usually more of a tactician. He usually looks for the right spot, looking to cause maximal damage with every blow. Snipers often come from sport fighting backgrounds. They are highly skilled in striking precise targets with great accuracy. Then, lithe as a matador, can bounce out of danger with nary on scratch on their person. Now granted sport fighters do not often strike with full power, but one cannot deny the skill that it takes to land their strikes with such consistency. If you would like to check out some skilled snipers, you dont have to look far. In the good old days, Thomas LaPuppet could hit you and be out of dodge like nobody's business. Bill Wallace was also a guy that could lay a mean kick on you without taking one in return. Ray Wizard and "Ridge" are just a couple of guys who could cover space like lightning and lower one mean coup de grace. If mixed martial arts are your thing, check out Takanori Gomi. What he lacks in numbers of punches, he makes up for in power. Watch his match against Jens Pulver. He crushed Jens, a man with pro boxing experience, with a measured body attacks. Then while he had Jens thinking about those rib shots, one uppercut sent Jens crashing to the mat seperated from his senses. Mirko Cro-Cop, the head-kicking nightmare is another example. He has been a consistent highlight real producer, with a pile-driver left hand, and a movie-perfect head kick.

Now, on the other hand, there are machine gunners. Machine gunners are guys who often overwhelm their opponent, as much with their ferocity as skill level. While they may not throw every punch with knockout conviction they will throw punches, kicks and everything else until you fall down. In boxing, Sugar Ray Leonard was a good example of a man who could dissect you with bunches of punches. Duane "The Bang" is a Thai Boxer turned mixed martial artists who is famous for throwing salvos of techniques from every direction. Watch his matches from King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge. Also Vitor Belfort is an example of a machine gunner. Early in his career, he blazed his way through opponents in sub minute time frames. Machine gunner are firm believers in " If at first you dont succeed."

Now personally, I am a born sniper. I have had a lot of success striking what I want,when I want. It has worked for me. But I also want to develop as a martial artist, so I am trying to become more of machine gunner. I want to throw a lot of strikes that all do damage. And what will that make me? Better I suppose :)

Forgiveness!

2008-01-31T21:23:00.000-08:00

I know guys, I know. This is going to be a little different than most posts. I just heard a quote from Mark Twain that got me all introspective and stuff. This may not be verbatim, but here we go" Forgiveness is the fragrance that a violet yields to the heel that has crushed it." Kinda deep isnt it? I don't know why this struck such a chord with me. Actually I do. It is because that is something that I struggle with on a DAILY basis. Does this mean I walk around angry all of the time? Nope. Not at all. It just means that while some things have happened some time ago, they still stir strong emotion inside of me. I would be lying if I said that the emotion was NOT anger. It is. Bearing a grudge can be a horrible thing. Like someone wiser than myself said that "Bearing a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee." Later on, someone wiser than that said that bearing a grudge is like" drinking poison, and expecting the other person to die."

That said, I would hate for you guys to get caught up in all of that. If someone has wronged you, try to work it out. Even if it was a long time ago, try to work it out. It may not be easy. Personal growth rarely is. But for the good of your heart, spirit and soul, you have to give it a try it out. On your deathbed, it is unlikely that those issues will even matter. But until then, it can be like unloading a bag full of bricks. And isnt that so much better?

FightScience: MMA

2008-01-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

Guys,

Have you seen this show? It was recently debuted on the National Geographic channel. Basically they took a modified crash test dummy and subjected it to the techniques of a mixed martial artist. Funny thing is,that they compared the techniques of mixed martial arts to the techniques of traditional arts. It was interesting to match the science behind the bio-mechanics, but to me it was a little lacking.

Granted, for the MMA newbie, it did a really good job of explaining what a mixed martial arts competition involves. It explained how mixed martial arts competitions differed from traditional martial arts tournaments. The show included Bas Rutten, Tito Ortiz, Dean Lister and Randy Cotoure. They were allowed to Right Cross, Roundhouse Kick, Elbow Strike, Ground and Pound, and Double leg takedown this modified dummy.

Now, Bas Rutten delivered a powerful right hand to the dummy. He generated about 900 pounds of force. Comparable to the punch of a heavyweight boxer. One main problem: Bas was wearing MMA gloves. They are only 4 ounces, 6-12 ounces smaller than those used by a boxer. So is this a fair competition? I dont really think so.

Next up,Bas compared his roundhouse kick to the kick of a Taekwondo stylist. Bas's kick registered with much more force. But the problem is, Bas was at LEAST 20 pounds heavier than the Taekwondo stylist. You think that weight issue might be a factor? I would say so.

After that, Tito Ortiz landed a solid elbow to the head of the dummy. As expected, he generated a lot more force than the blow of a Muay Thai champion. Better technique? Not by a long shot. Tito walks around at about 230 pounds. The Thai champ was at least 60 pounds lighter.

Up to bat was the Double Leg takedown. Now, this was a little unfair as the octagon fence was adding momentum to the power of the slam. No to mention that the Octagon floor is much harder than a wrestling mat. Notch one up to doctored stats.

Now, the only technique unique to mixed martial arts was the Ground and Pound. You cant do it in striking tourneys or wrestling matches. That basically means that a fighter is straddling his opponent an delivering blows downward. It was interesting to see how much force was added by gravity bodyweight. This part I actually kind of dug. But other than that I found that show a little lacking. It sorta implied that MMA had a skill set that other martial arts did not. It may allow a mixture of technique, but not the exclusive use of anything other than Ground and Pound. Oh well, watch it anyhow. I bet you will enjoy it.

Martial Arts versus Prize Fighters

2008-01-23T21:48:00.000-08:00

Folks,

Now I hate to lay this on you so late. After all, I am writing this post with my Homer Simpson pajamas on. But what can I tell you, I keep it old school!! I will give you ten points if you can tell me what Homer Simpson's middle name is.......Okay that is off topic. I am here to speak on this whole traditional martial arts versus boxing and mixed martial arts debate. Now, to me this is kind of a no-brainer. But to the newbies out there, or mixed martial artist wanna-bes, I got something for you. Just for you actually. Aww heck, why dont I throw in something for the close minded traditionalist as well :)

The fact is, this a ludicrous debate. While some people are in love with the sweet science, others are just as passionate about the traditional martial arts. Some martial artists say that boxing is nothing more than a fighting style, while boxers can tell you that boxing made them better people outside of the ring. So who is right? They both are.

While the mixed martial arts competitions are gaining popularity, it is still a niche sport. It is still seen by most of the American public in the same light as the X-games, or other types of extreme sports. That is just fine with me. The fact is that the term mixed martial arts can be misleading. Martial artists are often seen as people who are looking to improve their life using the benefits of the traditional martial arts. While that does fit SOME of the mixed martial artists in competition, it is the exception to the rule, and not the rule itself. Most people who get into mixed martial arts are sports competitors. With the aggressive marketing by mixed martial arts companies, their is the allure of money,fame, and (dare I say) ample attention from the opposite sex. In short, these folks are prize fighters. Those who exhibit the traits of traditional martial artists are far and few in between. Some examples would be: Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin, Frank Shamrock, Kazushi Sakuraba and Randy Cotoure. Now I realized that there are others, my bad if I didnt mention your name. I said that to say that most people who get into mixed martial arts now where former competitors in other sports. A huge number of mixed martial artists are ex wrestlers, rugby players etc.

Now, boxing on the other hand is a different animal. While the politics of boxing have turned many people off, it is still a THRIVING business. Let me explain. In 2007, boxing had a RECORD year in terms of revenue, and salaries paid. While admittedly, it lacks big names like Tyson,Holyfield,Leonard or Hearns, boxing is here to stay. With names like Mayweather, Jones, Trinidad, Hatton, Cotto, Calzaghe and others, boxing is still chugging along. And more importantly, boxing has history. Most people still feel that boxing champions are the baddest men in the world at their weight. While mixed martial artists scoff at the idea, the public's perception is the public's reality.

Let me show you how it all gets messy. Mixed martial artists often claim that traditional martial arts are being rendered obsolete. They claim that since no traditional martial artists are winning mixed martial arts titles, that the traditional arts dont work. Traditional artists say that there is a WORLD of difference between fighting to see who gets the belt, and who is fighting to go home to their loved ones. Traditional artists then mention that EVERY SINGLE technique that is being used in mixed martial arts comes from a traditional system. More importantly, the main 4 arts used in mixed martial arts are at LEAST 100 years old. The mixed martial artists are not superior, they are just devoting all of their time to win using certain rules.

Mixed martial artist get a little huffy and say, " Oh yeah? You can look on the internet and watch as mixed martial artists MOP THE FLOOR with your traditional guys. If the techniques are the same, why are the matches so one-sided?" Martial artists counter with"Well, once again, these are matches and not fights. Those internet matches are where two guys agree to meet at a certain place and time to fight each other. In that context the advantage lies with the mixed martial artists. Because they usually are more athletic than your average martial artist with a 9-5 job. If your entire livelihood is in fighting, you practice more than I do."

That is about the time that traditionalists jump back with this: Yeah well Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre and Lyoto Machida all give credit to their traditional arts backgrounds. And last time I checked, all of them are either a champion, an ex champion,and an up and comer in the ranks. So this is just another rung in the tall ladder of "mine is better than yours."

Come on folks, knock it off. If you have an athletic background, and fame, glory and notoriety havent been knocking on your door, you still have hope. If you KNOW that hitting and being hit doesnt bother you, sign on up. If you have the discipline to learn more than what you currently do, give it a try. If you can take everything that you think you know, and start over, MMA may be for you. If the roar of the crowd and the admiration of thousands make you quiver, this might be your gig. Good luck. Fame and fortune may await you!!!! You can be an MMA prizefighter.

If you are looking for something to change in your life, it is your turn. If you are looking for a path that will work your muscle and your mind, you may know just the thing. If you want to involve yourself in a fraternity/sorority that has included poor men and presidents, slackers and samurai, check out the traditional martial arts. You may not win fame and glory, but the gains can be life lasting. I have nothing but respect for anyone who partakes in a legal, sanctioned competition. Combat sports can be grueling to say the least. But they are just that, competition. While the skills learned there CAN be applicable to real self-defense, you should know the difference between real fighting and prize fighting. Prize fighting involves a referee and time limits. Real fights can involve tire irons and knives. A prize fighter knows that someone in the ring with him will not allow him to take undo punishment. A real fight can involve you and the emergency room, or worse yet, the morgue. Know the difference folks. Take your sport life seriously. Take your self defense skills even more so. One love folks!!!

Feeling comfortable in guard

2008-01-20T08:45:00.001-08:00

Guys,

This is for all of my grapplers out there, especially sport ones. A lot of you guys cite that the main difference between the striking arts and some of the grappling arts is that you can defend yourself from your back. Now for the most part, that is a decent point. But the sport grappling technique will get you elbowed, forearmed or just generally pounded on until you go to sleep. I contend that fighting from your back is that last thing that should be on your mind.

I know that it is okay to be proficient when fighting from your back. It really is a good thing. But the idea of being comfortable I think leads to a destructive mindset. Even Helio Gracie admitted that he never CHOSE to develop his guard game, he HAD to. I think that the guard jumping and all of that stuff cause real problems. If you would like a demonstration, or an articulation of said point, here I go:

I have heard people say that you fight the way you practice. I am in pretty much in agreement with that saying. If you practice in a cooperative environment, you will do pretty well against those who cooperate. Case in point, boxers do well against other boxers. Taekwondo guys do well against other kickers and so forth. Anyone will do rather well against those who "agree" to fight in the way that they are fighting.

Now, stay with me, MOST martial artists do NOT train realistically. Since today's rant is particularly against sport jujitsu grapplers, I will focus on them. My first point is that most grappling schools do NOT practice their takedowns. I am granting an exception for jukoka, wrestlers and samboists. From what I have seen, most jujitsu schools start their randori from the knees, completely eliminating the need for takedowns, and takedown defense. Now, I understand the rationale behind this. The explanation goes something like this. " We can't have everyone at once practicing takedowns. It is too easy for people to crash into each other and get hurt." BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!. I think that this is a cop-out. Any jujitsuka out there will not be able to use their skills if they are not able to achieve an effective clinch. Practice your darn takedowns.

Wait a minute........Yup, I just got off track. I came here to hate on the guard game of most sport grapplers. Now dont get me wrong. I have watched the Mundial competition, ADCC and a whole host of other sport grappling tourneys. And I like them. But when people go to their sport classes and think that all of their skills transfer to real self-defense, they are mistaken. I find a lot of sport grapplers using a lot of sophisticated guard techniques that require the use of the gi. That is okay for sport. Problem is that most of them leave your face WIDE open. The spider guard and the X guard will get you hurt. I mean, wake in up in the ICU asking"Where am I?" kind of hurt.

I think that a lot of guys forget that the guard is a last resort position. Your main goal as a grappler should be to achieve the mount position or to take the back of your opponent. In a real fight, concrete, hardwood, a bar or club floor is the wrong place to be if you can help it. And if you have to be there, the mount position, or the knee on stomach position are usually the best. We all know that the guard can get you punted by your opponents friends, or stepped on in a melee. My solution is simple. Do NOT plan on using your guard! EVER!!

You may be tackled by a larger stronger opponent. If that is the case, the guard should be used to hunt for the quick submission hold. If you cannot do that, then the guard should be used to sweep your opponent and get into a better position, hopefully the mount or knee on stomach position. The last thing on your mind should be trying to finesse your opponent into a cool submission like the ones you see in class.

More importantly, without the proper takedown practice, I see a lot of guys who are willing to concede a takedown. Bad idea!! Fight for the top position!!! If you fight the way that you practice, then you need to practice harder. Dont ever feel that the guard is an okay place to be. If you feel comfortable in the guard in class, you may feel comfortable there in a fight. If you have a great spider guard in class, you may find that out of instinct, you may try it in a fight. That instinct could lead you into some unplanned face punchery. Or some elbow smashery. After all, your face is WIDE open. So for goodness sakes, learn to get on top. The guard should only account for about 30% of your practice. Spend your time learning to get mounted or side-mounted. Guaranteed, that when you need it, that is where you will end up to. Now, I gotta go. The Boondocks is about to come on, and I never miss it.

For you strikers out there

2008-01-20T08:44:00.001-08:00

I have watched tens of thousands of rounds of sparring in western boxing, Kickboxing and Muay Thai. One thing that I have noticed is for the large part, Thai fighters dont get cut. I have seen elbows blast them in the face tons of times, and they dont bleed at all. What is the deal? Do you think that it has anything to do with that liniment that they put on their faces? If anyone has any insight, help me out please.

How far removed?

2007-12-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I have a simple question: How far removed from a real street scenario is your training? Now, before we get started I am not the Jim Wagner (Black Belt magazine columnist) type who think that most of what we learn in traditional martial arts is nonsense. But like I always tell you, I like to keep it real.

This particular rant is most directed at sports bjj enthusiasts. I hear them all of the time talking about how they train realistically and with a resisting opponent. But, 80% of the bjj clubs I have seen do not include strikes,throws or practices with just the street basics. Now I know that folks can dispute what I am saying right away. But out of the rest of those schools, most also teach MMA classes to round out the curriculum. I would like to make an honorable mention to the 2 schools that I KNOW are exceptions to the rule. The Gracie Academy in Torrance is still real big on the self-defense aspects of BJJ. I personally have several issues with how the academy is run, but I can acknowledge that they keep it real. The second mention goes to the Relson Gracie Academy in Hawaii. Without fail, everyone what I know who trains there speaks on how street-oriented his jiu-jiutsu is. Big love to them.

Now, for the rest of them, here comes the rant. I personally feel, that there is WAY too much nonsense in the training these days. I hear more about the X- guard and Spider Guard sweeps than I do about solid basics, and submission hunting. Apparently Helio Gracie feels the same way. Much like Jigoro Kano said before he died," This is not the art that I created." Now, I can agree that most grappling arts do a lot more" live training" than do most modern traditonal martial arts schools. But that does not make up for the fact that the basics are being largely ignored. I have found that there is a LOT more ego in bjj schools than in most. Getting tapped out in training does NOT mean much at all. According to most good instructors, that is how you learn best. But some folks act like they just lost the deed to their house if they cannot pull off that cool new sweep or whatever.

I think that people have taken their eyes off of the prize in bjj schools. Do you remember the Gracie is Action videos? Most of fights ended with the Gracie fighter mounted. That seems to somehow have been lost on most people. They seem to be content with the guard techniques that largely involve gripping the sleeves and exposing the face. If I am wrong, somebody school me. I am all ears.

A sense of urgency

2007-11-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

Folks,

Just a quick one today. Remember that fights and matches are VERY different. When you throw your strikes, or employ your skills, do it with bad intentions. In the streets, there is no referee. Get your strikes in with full force, and remember, this is life, not a contest.

Thinking outside of the box.

2007-10-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I have touched on this before, but I would like to add a twist. There are so many ways to address a combat situation. What do I mean by that? Well I mean that there are hundreds of martial arts styles in the world. But now I am going to talk about conditioning. A lot of personal trainers will tell you that cardio will help you lose weight. I personally do NOT agree with a lot of what is commonly told to those looking to get into shape. I believe that too much treadmills and stuff damage your joints. I HATE step aerobics classes. I have seen too many step teachers with wrecked knees after 15 years or so. Isnt the point of exercise to preserve your body? I have heard people talk about how lifting weights and sculpting classes will help you get the amazing "SIX PACK." Not true. A six pack comes for eating the correct foods more than lifting weights. But I may be digressing a little :)

A lot of people have access to every tool in the world needed to achieve good health. But rather than do the usual stuff, have you tried to mix up your exercise? Have you tried doing your grappling grills with a weight vest on? How about practicing your forms with ankle weights and wrist weights? Dont be afraid to experimen folks. For example, check out some of Frank Shamrock's workouts. They include tons of kettlebell, bodyweight stuff and a good old Swiss ball. It made me tired looking at it. Have fun folks. when you are so sore that you hate me, I will be here smiling :)

Using a jab in a fight

2007-09-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I would like to jump on this one kind of quickly, because there is a serious miconception about jab usage these days. The jab is NOT used in a fight like it is used in a boxing or kickboxing MATCH. Note the difference. While jabs can be effective in real combat, the urgency factor is a little higher. Jabs are good measuring tools to help you gauge the best time to lower the coup de grace. Just do me a favor, remember that in a fight the point is to hurt with EVERY strike. Use what they call a shotgun jab. That is a jab used to stun a person, not just strike them. Your life is on the line in the streets. Like a friend of mine told me: Better his mother cry than yours!!!

Putting a little tradition in MMA

2007-07-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

Folks,

This may be a misnomer. It should likely be called "acknowledging the traditional in MMA." I know people in MMA hate to admit it, but all of their techniques are derived from traditional arts. Find this a little hard to believe? Well. let's play a game and make a little list shall we?

(1) Roundhouse Kicks: Sounds familiar dont they? Well stop me if I am wrong, but the workhorse of MMA beneath the waist is no doubt the roundhouse kick. From the pulverizing leg kicks of Anderson Silva to the killer head-kicks of Mirco Cro-Cop, roundhouse kicks are a mainstay of MMA. Call me silly, but they are no doubt traditional techniques. Umm karate,kung-fu,Muay Thai, Tang Soo Do, umm, yep those are traditional all right.

(2) Front Kicks: While grossly under-used, the front kick is a live and (forgive me) kicking in today's MMA. While used more to un-balance than to damage, the front kicks still provide some needed ( forgive me again) kick into the modern MMA scene. Whether used from the front leg or back leg, it is still a versatile kick that is traditional. Unless I am out of my mind. Which is a possibility.

(3) Reverse Punches: I know, I can hear it now," We dont use reverse punches, we use the right cross." I have 2 words for you: Chuck Liddell. Check out his fight with Guy Metzger, and his third fight with Randy Cotoure. If those are not reverse punches that Chuck is throwing and snapping back, I dont know what is.

(4) Spinning Back Kicks" I have 2 words for the mixed martial artist: Sakuraba versus Vitor Belfort. I know that I used more than 2 words, but this is my blog dangit, and I can do what I want!! Sakuraba dropped Vitor to his knees with a couple of well placed spinning back kicks. See folks, all of Vitor's skill in Jujitsu and Boxing did not give him a useful defense for said technique. Vitor had no idea on what to do, or how to counter. Fact is that by the time he developed a clue, he was already observing ceiling lights. Score one more for the traditional crowd.

(5) Hammer Fists: I am so high on my horse right now, you guys wouldnt believe it. Have you seen how many times folks used hammerfists in MMA? No? Let me refresh you. Inside someone's guard when they try to tie up your wrists? Hammerfist em! Trying to lock up an armbar when their hands are locked? How do you get them to let go? HAMMERFIST! If you would love to see the best example of such, check out the match with Mauricio Rua against Ricardo Arona. Hammerfists until he slept. Man, I think I almost pooped when I saw it. Hammerfists for a title.

Ya know what? I had several more but I am still to happy about my last one. Later folks!!!

Who will save our beloved martial arts?

2007-06-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I have just returned after attending a mixed martial arts event, headlined by Frank Shamrock and Phil Baroni. Now for my money, I did get about 13 fights, and that is a good thing. Overall, I would say that I enjoyed the event. One of my favorite fighters finally won a belt ( Murilo Rua) and he even impressed the crowd with his newly acquired English skills.

But, as I have noted in other posts, the event had its down-side. There were more tough-guy poseurs, tatooed knuckleheads, Ring Girl wanna-bes, and all around riff-raff than you could shake a stick at. Milling around the HP Pavillion in San Jose, were a bunch of people "representing" their schools like a bunch of adolescent gang-bangers in hostile territory. Nobody really smiled at anyone other than those who they knew, or students from the same school. While there were no fights that I know of, the attitude of many of the people were similar to those were just aching to show their fighting skills if the opportunity came about.

I have spoken at length to a lot of people about the history of martial arts, and its future. Do not get me wrong. I believe that in some capacity, the authentic martial arts will continue to thrive. I just believe that with the way martial arts are being marketed( and NOT marketed as the case may be) they will only occupy a cult following if something is not done quickly to revive its image.

Right now, with the loss of interest in boxing, and the steady rise of mixed martial arts, traditonal martial arts need to step up BIG time. Right now, a paradigm shift if occuring, and if we do not do something QUICLY, we will regret that fact that we did not. Mixed martial arts is now on cable, the athletes are being covered in the mainstream media, and what are we seeing? Oh yes, tattoed tough-guys with no respect for tradition and ( more often than not it seems) foul mouths. Not all mind you, but the tough guy "image" is in full effect.

We traditonalists can take advantage of what is going on in the martial arts world. Not in attempts to exploit anything, but to make the world sit up and realize why the world needs us. Now that Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine, and a host of other mainstream media outlets are taking notice, we traditionalists need to" step our game up." The mantra of mixed martial ats is " we use what works in a real fight." The mantra of traditional martial arts has always been about "developing yourself as a complete person." To be scholars as well as warriors should be the goal of any traditionalist martial artist worth their salt. While that can manifest itself in a number of ways, the goal is always the same. To show respect, honor, integrity and compassion for humankind.

So as I was sitting there at the event I said to myself," Self, what things can we do to improve our IDENTITY in the modern world." Notice that I said identity and not image. Identity is what you TRULY are. Image is what you want people to THINK that you are. Chuck Norris and his World Combat League is a step in the right direction. But for me, I think that there is already an event, while no longer televised will represent modern budo perfectly. The event is one you already know. In one word: Shidokan.

For those who do not know, the Shidokan has been called the "triathalon of martial arts." The event has changed a little bit, but the original rules would be perfect. 3 rounds of bare-knuckle striking. The participants wear a gi in the traditional fashion. It includes no clenched fists to the face, but leg kicks, and knee strikes are a staple. 3 rounds of total body kickboxing. For most that means Thai style kickboxing, where elbows are allowed as well as strikes to the face with 10 ounce gloves. Knee strikes are also allowed, and the gi is not worn. The last 3 rounds include an MMA segment. That means the rules of MMA apply: Total body submission throws, full body striking, and a vast array of throws. Between the 3 sets of rules, almost all of the traditional techniques are represented for the masses to see and appreciate.
I think that a massive surge in traditional martial arts would occur if people had a chance to see and appreciate the skill level of the competitors.

I can hear it now," but what about weapons?" Come on folks, I have you covered. I am not going to suggest the often hokey, unrealistic routines that are so common in local tournaments. I am talking about the traditional kata performed with authentically weighted weapons. Not that day-glow graphite stuff that has infested modern tourneys. I mean wood, steel and rattan folks. Nothing that glows in the dark, sparkles when you swing, or clacks loudly because it is hollow. No way! I dont want gymnastics, I want precision. I dont want to see anyone twirling a sword, I want technique. Nothing impresses the layman/person more than an authentic display of expertise.

And as a pinch of reality, perhaps a real live exhibiton by the Dog Brothers. For those who dont know who they are, they are a group of stick fighting specialists who encourage live training, with weapons while wearing minimal protective equipment. Feel free to Google them.

Lastly, I want you to remember, the battle for acceptance is on. Mixed Martial Arts is the new kid on the block. The tradtional martial arts have existed for almost the entire span of humankind. We are here to stay folks, now lets go get our respect!!!

The tiny details that you love about martial arts

2007-06-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

Folks,

We all love martial arts for a bunch of different reasons. But what are the things that make you love it, day by day? I mean we all like the discipline, the honor, the strength, the confidence...blah blah. But what the little things that make the difference for you? I would like to share a couple of the things for you that make me just love it more every day.

1) The Smell. We all know that a good dojo is not the most aromatic of all places. The thousands of hours and the millions upon millions of sweat droplets that become a part of the decor, just remind me of why I am there. As soon as I bow in, the smell greets me. Maybe I am sick, but I look forward to it.

2) Tying the belt. I imagine that it is kind of like the Native American warriors when they put on their war paint. Something serious is going to happen. Somethings sacred. Nothing centers me more in this world, than hearing the sound of my knot becoming hard at my waist.

3) The fatigue. I dont mean" whew I am tired" I mean "HOLY CRAP, I cant move!" Nothing is more gratifying than that feeling where you are sure that you cannot throw one more punch, one more kick, one more knee, or one more throw. The gasping, labored breaths are a reminder that this is serious business.

4) The sting. You know what I mean. When you punched until your hands are throbbing. When you have kicked that unforgiving pad until the tops of your feet or shins feel raw. Or let's not forget that special feeling of the hot shower afterward, when the hot shower and soap make it feel THAT much better. LOL!

5) The aliveness. That feeling that despite the pain, the discomfort, the fatigue, when you KNOW you will be back tomorrow.

The legacy of your training

2007-06-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I just have a short one for you today. That question is," when it is all over, what will your martial arts training leave behind?" Will your spouse, children, or grandchildren practice? If so, why? If not, why not?

Man, I am going to have to gloat a little

2007-02-05T23:27:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I just watched UFC 67. I really think that I should sell my services as a smarty pants know-it-all. Travis Lutter was scheduled to fight Anderson Silva for the MiddleWeight title. Even 171-185 pounds if I am not mistaken. But Lutter cuts down from over 200 pounds to "make weight." What happens? Travis could not make it down to 185. That means that by Athletic Comission rules, it could not be a title fight. HAHAHAHAHA! This man blew the opportunity of a lifetime, merely because he could not cheat correctly.

Forget the damage that weight cutting can do to your kidneys and brain. Forget that it can quickly sabatoge all of the cardio training that you put in. Fact is that he didnt make weight. I know a lot of folks could make dehydration as an excuse as to why he got beat up by Anderson Silva, but here are the facts. He cheated to make weight. He couldnt do it. And then a regular sized Silva beat Lutter up like spit on Silva's mother. Heart and skill wins the big one over the bigger, highly hyped cheater. Man, I am going to love this. I almost hate to do it but..... I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The dishonor of cutting weight.

2007-01-25T13:34:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I am going to jump ALL over a subject that most fight fans see as " just the way things are." That thing is cutting weight. It is most common in boxing, kickboxing, judo and wrestling. For those who don't know cutting weight is NOT trimming down so that you can fight at an optimal level and have improved cardio-vascular conditioning. Cutting weight is the practice ( usually unhealthy I might add) of dehydrating oneself in order to make a weight class AT LEAST one beneath theirs.

Here is an example: In the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Chuck Liddell is the light heavyweight champion. That is a weight class that goes up to 205 pounds. Chuck Liddell is not only 205 pounds. He is usually about 230. But with all of his years is wrestling, he is quite skilled in dehydrating himself down to 205 pounds for a fight. For those unfamiliar with the practice, you may very well wonder why the heck one would do such a thing. And the answer is simple.

For an unfair advantage. In the world of highly competitive combat sports, the skill level is mostly even. There are not a whole lot of mismatches when talking about the elite levels of a combat sport. The difference lies mainly in strategy, and conditioning. So, any advantage that one can gain makes a huge potential difference in a fight. Strength is one of those advantages.

Let's think about it. Oscar De La Hoya is a GREAT boxer. One of the best in the world at his weight. But does anyone think that he would have a chance in a million of knocking out a similarly skilled boxer 2 weight classes higher? Me neither. When a person cuts weight, they are only at that lower weight for the weigh in period. Then, they rehydrate back to their normal size. Unfair huh? Anyone who says that size does not matter has never fought someone at their own skill level who was 20 pounds heavier. When 2 people are skilled, size DOES matter.

Maybe I am from the old school, but I thought that combat sports were supposed to be a fair, honorable contest. "Let the best person win" kind of stuff. I thought that weight classes existed so that an audience could see 2 mostly equal combatants test their skills against each other. But with cutting weight that is not the case. If a person is in a weight class from lets say, 191-203 pounds, there is already a possibility of a 12 pound differencial. Quite substantial in the fight game. Let's also say for the sake of argument that the next weight class is from 204-216. It is not inconceivable that a person who is in the comfortable middle of weight class category 1 at 196 pounds to face a weight cutter who walks around at 216 or heavier. Sure as shootin', the second fighter will be stronger, and more important have more impact protection due to their superior mass.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall." Americans love to use that phrase. It was actually coined before a fight involving ( in my opinion) the greatest boxer of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson. Now if I may take a moment away from the topic to address the Ali fans out there. Ali was no doubt the greatest heavyweight of all time. But even HE said that Robinson was the best boxer of all time, so there :) Anyhow, back on topic. The gist of the saying is that even a big man can be defeated by a smaller more determined fighter. It was actually Sugar Ray's opponent that made the above statement, and you know what? Robinson beat that guy like he stole his lunch money. Size matters.

The idea of a combat sport is NOT to see the bigger man win. One of the most endearing traits about martial arts is that a smaller person with skill can defeat a larger but less skilled one. Nobody wants to see a big skilled guy pound a small skilled guy. Would you even GO to a demolition derby that involved a tractor and a ford Focus? Not likely. Fight people your own size. I think that weight cutters are manipulating the system, pure and simple. CHEATERS, I AM TALKING TO YOU!!!!!!!! If you lose at least you lost honorably. That is about it for today. I am going to have a cold cranberry juice, and enjoy the cool red color that they make my teeth. Peace folks!

The predictability of MMA

2006-12-11T21:37:00.000-08:00

They are known as the Big Four: Boxing, Kickboxing, Wrestling, and Brazilian Jujitsu. There are ,amu mixed martial arts fans would love for us to believe that all you need is the Big Four, and you will have all of the techniques that you need for MMA or self-defense. Nopw you know that I am over this like a cheap suit on a skinny man :) I am actually enjoying this as I type. After all, if may quote Popeye " I am what I am and thats all that I am."

OOOOOkay. First of all, MMA pundits tell us that MMA( or NHB as it was known in its infancy) was the ultimate expression of real street effectiveness in martial arts. It was style versus style. The undeniable truth in their eyes. First, jujitsu wizard Royce Gracie laid waste to a host of skilled(and not so skilled) fighters. So jujitsu, Brazillian Jujitsu is in. Then, some high level wrestlers( Dan Severn, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, and a host of others) learned that if they could stuff a jujitsu man's takedowns, they would not fall prey to submission attempts. Wrestling is definitely in.

BBBBBUTTT, what to do now that you are both standing and staring at each other. Oh yeah, you punch and maybe even kick them. Boxing is a popular sport in America, and certainly proven for its effectiveness in an above the waist, fistic encounter. Plus Mike Tyson, Roy Jones jr. and Oscar De La Hoya were providing some serious evidence of the finesse involved in the "sweet science." Boxing was sooo in.

To handle the devastating effectiveness of the true heavy hitters out there, someone remembered that often times a good kick will end the fight, or at least keep a skilled puncher so off balance that they cannot land their haymakers. Less getting punched in the head? They loved it, so kickboxing was now in as well. Thai boxing seemed to be among the most effective and simple of the kickboxing systems, so throw it in the mix, because MMA was all about the speed of the learning curve.

Whew!! We have everything covered. MMA gyms are popping up all over the country. They teach the Big Four (BF from now on) and off into the MMA mix they go. We know their names: Militech, Chute Box, Lion's Den, Dragon's Lair, the Top Teams (American and Brazillian) and a variety of others.

Many school and many fighters produced some highly skilled fighters. They had refined and evolved in the MMA sense of the word. An interesting gumbo of results began to surface. You had world champion Bjj players being stalemated and arm-locked by bjj purple belts. Check out the Roberto Traven and Frank Mir fight. You had highly skilled wrestlers being outscrambled in the submission game. Check out Frank Shamrock versus Olympic Gold medallist Kevin Jackson. You had pro boxers being knocked out by grapplers. Check out Jens Pulver versus Takanori Gomi. MMA practitoners were gloating and grinning like the Cheshire cat in the face of any traditional martial artist they could find. After all, this was all the proof they needed. The traditional martial arts were on their way out we were told. Man, would it ever end? YUP. Something started happening along the way. People started to win with techniques that were NOT a part of the BF. Check out the way Shonie Carter sent Matt Serra to the land of "who and where am I" by way spinning back fist. Look at Kazushi Sakuraba's humbling of Vitor Belfort with not one but two spinning back kicks to the body. And lastly, look at the way the hammerfist is being used to break the grip of a person resisting an armlock. OR look specifically at the Ricardo Arona versus Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Rua send Arona to talk to the Sandman( in Portuguese I would presume) by way of a mounted hammerfist.

"Anthony, where are you going with all of this?" you may ask. Anthony is all about telling you. See, the only real difference in the efficacy of traditonal martial arts, and the BF is the intensity and focus with which you train. Now that traditional martial artists are taking advantage of the amazing leaps in athletic science, the only differences between the combative skills of MMA guys and traditional artists is the philosophical component. Shall I toss in a few more examples? Okay, you win. How about David Louiseau's fight-ending spinning back kicks? How about Patrick Smith punting Rudgard Moncayo into the next time zone by way of front kick. How about when Karo Parisian puts on his in fight judo clinics against some of the UFC's best, notably, welterweight standout Diego Sanchez? Okay, I am done gloating I think :)

What I am saying is simple folks.If all you have is a limited toolbox of fighting techniques, sooner rather than later, the counters for the techniques, and your personal preferences, will be discovered, and exploited. That is why one can often see a much less skilled but noticeably more athletic fighter win out over technicain with limited tools. For all of you traditional guys turned MMA, look back into your traditonal roots. You may find more answers there than you think. And thinking one step ahead of your opponent will only help you. That is is folks, I am gonna head out of here. I am suffering from a serious apple juice jones these days. Gotta feed the monster :)

The standing clinch, and why you need it

2006-12-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

My beloved readers. Both of you :)

Ya know what? I made a really interesting observation the other day. In most traditional martial arts, there seems to be a still-standing divide between the standup artists, and the grappling artists. I am not going to go down the road of which is better, we have beaten that to death. But I am going to to make a suggestion that I think we should all heed. Myself included. I have begun my way down the path that I am suggesting. I don't want you to think I am a hypocrite.

The tried and true method of takedown in freestyle wrestling and in mixed martial arts is the double leg takedown. It is so popular because it is in fact so effective. It takes the least amount of energy and is very difficult to defend when the opponent is unsuspecting. It can also lead to very punishing impact that can knock the wind out of your opponent. See Tito Ortiz versus Evan Tanner for illustration.

Now, that works very well in MMA, Judo and in wrestling matches. The mats are soft enough so that you can change levels very easily with minimal risk. Plus, you are loose, limber and ready to rumble in those situations. But let us look at the flip side shall we? You know that I am ALL about realistic self-defense, so here I am trying to help you out.

The old double leg, as stated is very effective in taking someone to the ground. Ideal maybe in a one on one situation. But most of us know that the days of mano a mano, one on one fighting has gone by the wayside. And the problem with the double leg is that it can leave you very vulnerable. You will be on the ground with little ability to see the world around you.

What then, would keep a friend of the person that you are fighting from booting you into outer space? Or worse yet, pulling a tire iron, bat, or knife? While statistically this represents a smaller percentage of fight situations, it is not so small that we should not consider the possibility. I contend that the greatest grappler that I have ever seen, Rickson Gracie could in fact be waylayed by two average fighters in the streets. Now before you start burning my effigy in public places, hear me out. Without a doubt, Rickson would take one of the knuckleheads to the ground with little effort, and be well on his way to mounting and pounding, or securing a fight-ending choke. While this would take him only a few seconds to secure, it would be more than enough time for someone to come and land a crushing blow with a foot or other weapon. End of fight, off to night night time.

But I dare say that I have a more favorable option. Instead of opting for the simpler and decidedly cooler looking double leg takedown, I would recommend a standing clinch tie-up. Now the beauty of the standing clinch, made ever so obvious by Greco-Roman wrestlers, Judoka and Thai-Boxers, is that you can remain standing and still be able to easily avoid being punched or kicked by your opponent. Woo-Hoo! That means that you do not have to go to the ground. Not to mention that standing clinches can be effectively initiated in any clothing. Double leg take-downs are not so easy with jeans, wallets, keys and cell phones thrown into the mix.

The beauty of the standing clinch also is that if a friend of your opponent decides to join the fray, you have not committed your entire body to the clinch. You can still move your feet quite well, and if you have to, keep your clinched opponent in between yourself and the person wanting to join the fight. This tactic works especially well for bouncers and security. They are not looking to subdue someone as much as control them. So that is ideal.

The standing clinch may seem easy to deal with, and it really does look simple. I hear people say all of the time, "why don't they just step back and punch the guy clinching them?" The answer is rather simple, because you can't. An effective clinch prevents you from both freeing your hands, AND finding the distance and angle to do so. Wait a minute, it seems I am forgetting something.

OH YES, I remember!! For you fans of "well what if I want to throw them?" Check out a Greco-Roman wrestling match. Maybe Sambo or Judo. There are a WHOLE lot of effective throws that happen above the waist. Hip throws work particularly well for Judoka, Sambo Players, and Greco-Roman wrestlers. For the Judo fans out there, there are also a whole host of leg trips and reaps that you can use to take the fight out of an opponent. There is not shortage of ways to get down and dirty without literally getting down.

I feel like I have to mention something for the strikers out there who are screaming" What about us!" Come on now, you know I love you guys too! From the standing clinch there is ample room to unload some NASTY knees and elbows from the standing clinch. And while their hands are too tied up to block them, the KO factor increases big time. Anyone doubting the efficacy of the standing clinch for stikers should maybe check out the Shidokan, or some Thai-Boxing matches. My point will be made nicely.

Anyhow folks, I am outta here faster than a turkey on Thanksgiving. Until next time..............

Defending the takedown

2006-12-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I was just having some discussions with a couple of grappling fanatics. They were telling me how once and for all, a person would have to know how to grapple, in order to defeat a grappler. I think that the logic is attrocious, but I wanted to have a productive conversation, and I held my tongue.

Now the number one goal of a grappler is to bring the fight into a clinch, and then work their magic once a strikers punches and kicks are no longer effective at such a close range. In the early days, the world was smitten with how a smaller grappler would be able to effectively clinch with a larger striker, and subdue him or her, once they were in the desired clinch. Grapplers boasted about how 9 times out of 10, they would be able to do this without taking significant damage. " The takedown is inevitable" they would say, chests all puffed out with pride. And for the most part, the world believed it, because after all, if it was something we could see, then it must be true.

Then, strikers learned something. All they had to do was defend the takedown, and then, "KAPOW!!" sandman time baby. Eureka!! they had found it. And then the paradigm shifted. Strikers neandered on down to the local college and learned a little something wrestlers already knew. It was called sprawling. Basically, when a grappler attempted a double leg, or single leg takedown, strikers would sprawl (check into any book on wrestling for illustrations) and the stand back up and make with the haymakers. More and more, we saw skilled grapplers getting pounded after attempting takedowns. "BUT" grapplers would cry out in loud voices. "Strikers had to learn grappling moves, in order to deal with a grappler." Man, the grapplers were correct, and geez were strikers angry. So the game of "my art is better than your art" continued.

But, for the striking purists out there, I have something for you. I have told you before, but some of you didnt listen. Circular motion, it works folks. If a grappler goes for the takedown, DO NOT move back in a straight line. It allows the grappler to use momentum and body weight to aid them in the takedown attempt. Move in cirles. It will allow you to strike with force without being taken down. Make your punches count folks, glancing punches do NOT do the job. Sit on your punches and punish a grappler for EVERY attempt. Commit to your strikes. Use your knees and elbows with bad intention. If you arent sure what it looks like, watch Marco Ruas use masterful footwork against Paul Varelans (who was one foot taller and 100 pounds heavier). OR watch Anderson Silva's knockout of superb grappler Carlos Newton. It will kind of give you an idea of what I am talking about.

Lastly, I would like to talk a moment about the strikes that you should use to defend yourself against a grappler. Now I love my jab/ right cross like anyone else, but it is NOT the best combo in this situation. The old 1-2 can ground you, making you a little less mobile, and a lot easier to takedown. I would recommend leading with the right cross. It allows you to keep your hips away from a grappler while striking effectively. Also, circular motions followed by lead hand hooks and elbows have an amazing effect on the intentions of would be takedown artists. Practice it folks. SLOWLY with your sparring partners please. I get enough angry blogs as it is :)

The (D) evolution of the martial arts?

2006-09-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

Folks,

I may not be able to tackle all of this in one sitting, but here is start. Where is the evolution of the martial arts these days? Many will say that the MMA revolution popularized by the Gracie family is proof of the evolution of martial arts today. To an extent I agree, but is that revolutionary spirit still fueling the minds of martial artists today?Is it pushing them toward the next big change that will occur? I dont see it happening.

See, MMA was supposed to be an end all be all expression for truth in martial arts. But is there really such a thing? I am not so sure. I recently spoke with a very high ranking official in a stick-fighting system. I mean like high as in, a master instructor under Ernesto Presas Jr. For those who dont know, Ernesto is the son of the late genius Escrimador Remy Presas. Anyhow, we were discussing how even within the systems most noted for their improvisation, there seems to be a "settling of the dust if you will." In the beginning of the system, there was VERY little in terms of drillilng. There were some very fundamental concepts, and a whole lot of sparring. That made for the discovery of practicality and improvisation. The truth if you will.

Now, as with most things the varnish has worn off, and things seem not to be as they once were. Some instructors think that they have discovered a proven "method" of teaching certain functional skills more quickly. Then those ways became gospel and of course one can never change the gospel. But where does it lead? And where does it end? Be back later folks, I have some stir fry just screaming my name. Ja mata!!

Making friends in the martial arts world.

2006-07-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

Ya know, with all of my reluctance to be a part of martial arts associations, this may seem like somewhat of a retraction. It is not really, but it has that kind of feel. So with that in mind, let me go on.

Recently, I was heading home from the beach. Now, you can imagine how suprised I was to find a dojo that was open on a Sunday. Now these days, that is a VERY rare thing. So I felt nigh obligated to go have a peek in. Now, as is my custom, when people from new dojos ask about my background, I keep my resume short. Something like" I have done some boxing." Not that I am ashamed of my Martial Arts roots. FAR from it. But I dont like anyone to feel like I am trying to impose my resume on them. Or that I really just dony want to come in with a confrontational vibe.

So anyhow, I was warmly greeted by the instructor. She was very nice, and gave me a brief but thorough tour of their beautiful dojo. After a while, after a little bit of martial arts based dialogue, I told the sensei that I was an instructor as well. Well, her million watt smile kicked up to 2 million watts, and the conversation grew even better. She welcomed me to come to a couple of the classes free of charge, and to feel free to share a little knowledge. I told her that I would and headed out the door.

So my message for today is this kiddos, every now and then feel free to make friends in this quirky world of ours. It could pay off.

The use of space

2006-05-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

I dont mean space the final frontier kind of thing. I mean the kind of space you need to employ your techniques. My dad used to always tell me that if you cannot fight in phone booth you cannot fight. I dont know if life is quite that drastic, but you get the idea. For example, there are a lot of martial artists out there who are excellent kickers. Primarily they are from Tae Kwon Do, Kuk Sul Won and a lot of the Korean systems. I do not doubt the skill that those crescent kicks and stuff require. But what happens if you dont have the space to kick? As sad as it seems, the majority of these systems have totally neglected their hand techniques. So the question is, how much space is enough?

As a old school kenpo stylist primarily, I am a huge proponent of hand strikes. I also have extensive experience in a boxing ring, so I may be a bit biased. But biased or not, I do know that most altercations do not involve as much space as our dojo floors. So I like the idea of the long range hand , off-angle strikes of martial arts, as well as the linear, more conventional strikes from boxing. What I like most is the fact that almost never are your arms so encumbered that you cannot punch or elbow someone.

Dont get me wrong, as a huge fan of the roundhouse kick to the thigh, and side kick to the sternum, I dont have anything but love for kicks. That is what gave most of us our true love of martial arts, the ability to whirl through the air with well placed spinning kicks. But we need to keep it real. Have you ever kicked in jeans? Have you considered how it will affect the height of your kicks? If the answer is no, pleace go put on a pair of jeans right now. Put your wallet and cell phone and keys in your pockets. Now, feel free to let loose with all of your spinning crescent kicks, and spinning hook kicks. Feels a little different doesnt it? Maybe it may even occur to you that kicking is not the most effective thing to do in a real fight or flight situation.

I was going to get all philosophical on you guys, but I am not going to. I just finished watching the Sopranos so I dont have it in me :) Just keep in mind that I love you all, space, or the lack thereof, can help you determine the truth about self-defense.

How to make your training more real.

2006-03-29T14:40:00.000-08:00

Now folks, this may seem like a garden variety rant, created by a self-absorbed zealot. Well, I am certainly a zealot, but not as self-absorbed as I used to be. Listen up, I must apologize. The majority of my posts have been about how the martial arts world is lacking. I have screamed and hollered about how the martial arts worlds needs a shot in the arm called reality. Or you could call it practicality. But I have fallen short after that. I have failed to give some clear concise ways on how to add a little reality to your sports-oriented training.

For the kickers and punchers out there, I want to start with you. Not because I am picking on you, but someone has to go first, correct? So here we are. In a lot of the schools that I have observed(and there have been many) I notice that there is a lot of wasted motion as it pertains to footwork. Oftentimes, two combatants will move around the dojo floor as if space will always be abundant. So my first recommendation is this: Allow yourself only a very limited amount of space. Draw a circle or square on the mat that is rougly the size of a parking space. Then have the rest of the class stand around the sparring area with kicking shields to act as physical barriers.

This drill often does two things immediately. The first is that you realize that there is often a claustrophobic effect the will come over you. You find yourself WANTING more space. You may find yourself panicking, or punching and kicking in a way that is not effective. Kicking in and of itself will become a different thing. You may find that our bread and butter kicks will not get you the results that they used to :)

And for you grapplers, this is where I am all over ya :) How about instead of your comfortable HCK gi pants, you try to grapple in a pair of jeans. Or how about throwing some empty coke bottles and other kinds of light debris on the mat? Put your wallet in your pants, not your cell phone because it will break. How about trying to grapple in your heaviest pair of shoes? You will find in a hurry, like I did, that your sensitivity in your feet is a large part of your grappling skills.

More importantly, try this, practice getting the clinch and takedown in between two cars. Pulling guard is not an option is it? Try establishing a firm mount on concrete. Or how about your training partner? Being mounted on the hard ground is not a whole lot of fun. But hey, this is what real training is about isnt it? Well folks that is it for me. Holler at ya later.

From where do you get your strength?

2006-03-21T11:59:00.000-08:00

I believe that I have touched on this topic briefly before. Martial arts is a mental discipline as much as a physical one. Probably even more. Personally, I am dealing with a number of trying issues, so within my control, and some beyond. I have NO idea how I am going to solve 6 seperate issues in my life. But giving up has never occurred to me. I am not wired that way. And I credit my martial arts training.

Now folks, I dont want to sound like I am some kind of wonderkid, or that I possess something that you dont. Likely, you have the answer somewhere already in your mental rolodex. Sometimes, the problems in our lives involve knowing where to look more than knowing what to do. Look inside of yourselves folks. Your faith, your deepest beliefs, and your martial arts training will get you through.

Just touching on reality for a moment if I may

2006-03-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

Folks,

I just wanted to remind you that sport fighting is not real fighting. In a real fight, strategy must be employed in an instant. You dont have rounds or minutes to "figure out" your opponent. You must size him or her up in second and employ a viable strategy almost immediately.

If you are a striker, you likely have a couple of milliseconds to decide which will be your best option to strike someone. As a grappler, you may have a little more time if you can initiate a clinch and control it without taking any punches. But speed is of the essence.

If you are a striker, jab, cross, and front kick ASAP. If you are a judoka, clinch and throw, if you do jiujitsu, clinch, mount and punch. We need more steak and less sizzle folks. Im outro.

Learn something about yourself. Train harder!!!!

2006-02-28T22:55:00.000-08:00

Guys,

Now the virtues of martial arts have been lauded the world over, and nobody really denies or doubts what the martial arts can do for us. But I think that sometimes, people assume that these virtues will magically manifest themselves, just because they are going consistently to class.

I am here to tell you all that this is not the case. It is not just going to class that makes the martial arts almost mythical. It is the search. The search for the truth inside yourself. Like a wise person once said: Success is a journey not a destination. Anyone can throw 25 roundhouse kicks. But have you ever thrown 25 when you only thought you could throw 12? Have you ever been absolutely leveled by a right cross, and got up with absolutely no breath left in your lungs, to try to fight again? Have you ever heard a bell ringing in your ears after a ridge hand strike knocked you loopy? Did you get up afterwards?

I dont need to know the answer, because you do. What I am getting at is the perseverence. It is the same kind of grit that will help a kid get through an all-night study session. The kind that will get a kid out of bed even though he works two jobs and goes to school full time. Maybe the kind that will help a small woman gut out the rigors of being a fighter pilot, or of becoming a high ranking policewoman in a city full of smirking chauvanists. Whatever goals we have, the rigorous training that we should be getting in martial arts should suffice to prepare us for them.

If you cannot draw a direct line between how hard you push in martial arts, and how hard you push to succeed every day, than I think there is a problem. I have trained until the least skilled person in the room shelacked me royally. I have trained until I could not hold my fists closed anymore. I have trained until I have NEEDED my training partners to help me stand. When I took my black belt test, I could taste my own blood , after someone kicked it into my mouth from my stomach. But since then, everything else in life has been much easier it seems.

They say in the Marines, "Those who sweat in the gym dont bleed in the street." There is a good thought behind all of that. Train as hard as you can in your dojo. You will be amazed how easy the rest of your life will seem.

I feel the need for speed!!!

2006-02-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

NO!! All of you dope dealers, put your stash away. All of you Tom Cruise, "Top Gun" junkies, put your aviator glasses back in the case. I am talking about the kind that made the jab of Larry Holmes so scary. Or the kind that made Ali so hard to hit. Or the kind that keeps a matador from getting a new belly-button.

Speed is essential folks. If you are not looking to cultivate the speed or your techniques, you do NOT get any graham crackers after class. I am a lot more interested in being a mobile adversary than I am being able to clobber an elephant in one punch. Speed makes you hard to hit, enables you to hit more often,and Hallelujah, allows you to run like heck when you have to.

There are no gimmicks to it folks. Good form and a lot of practice will make your movements faster and crisper. NOW HOP TO IT!!

The need for mobility

2006-01-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Folks I am going to pipe in on one of my favorite things. That thing is the expression of "stick and move." For the uninitiated, that means to never stand in the same spot after you strike. If you want to see stick and move in action, please check out any film on Muhammed Ali, Pernell Whitacker, or Sugar Ray Leonard. Not having said that, I would like to dive into my rant now.

Martial artists as a whole, and yes I am generalizing, have terrible footwork. Now I can hear the peanut gallery chiming in now. " We ground ourselves for power. We throw with a knockout intention every time." Blah, blah blah. Boxers stick and move a lot, and last I remember, there are a lot of knockouts in boxing.

Now for my flat-footed brethren out there, I am here to help and not hurt. I just think that it is unrealistic to stand there and bang punches like a real opponent is just going to stand in front of you all day. I think that one of the biggest flaws in many martial artist's training, is that they do not practice moving while delivering their techniques, or practice with a moving opponent. Just like boards dont hit back, opponents dont hold still.

But I will get off my high horse. Not because I have articulated my point so well. I am just hungry and want breakfast. Remember folks, love your family, train hard, and overtip a good waitress every now and then.

The power of the palm!

2005-12-15T21:18:00.000-08:00

Listen up folks,
I am here to talk about something near and dear to my heart. And that something is the use of the palm strike in self-defense. Now somehow, the disrespecting palm strikes has become kind of popular. "It is just slapping. It doesnt hurt" Yadda Yadda Yadda.

Fact is, palm strikes are both powerful and practical. If you want to see some powerful palm strikes, look no further than the old Pancrase events that show-cased Bas Rutten. He has knocked down and out a lot of good fighters with palm strikes. I dare say that the commitment of weight is GREATER with a palm strike, than it is with a closed fist.

Practical? How about a women's self-defense class? Most of these women have never made a real fist in their life, much less hit anyone. So you teach them to palm someone. It doesnt break your nails, so you can do it in practice. It will NOT hurt your hand if you strike someone in the head. Most fighters break their hands on the skull of the person that they are hitting. So it is MUCH more practical to use the palm of the hand.

Recognize you guys! The palm is where it is. Not all of us think that head hunting is the best idea anyhow. So think practical over cool.

Yes, it IS going to hurt!!

2005-12-04T18:47:00.000-08:00

Folks,
I am here because of an interesting discussion that I had with a parent. Now as you guys know, I only teach children that are at least 9 years old. I do not want my school to look like Chuck E Cheese. But I have already ranted about that. No need to repeat that.

I was recently told by a mother that her son used to do Tae Kwon Do. I perked up a little bit and asked her about how long did her son study, and why he doesn't anymore. She told me that she took him out of TKD, and put him in soccer because he got punched in the nose once in class.

As you guys can imagine, I nigh pooped my gi. I thought " gee, you mean that you might get hit in a class where people are trying to hit you?" Perish the thought right? Well, right after I had checked the tsunami of sarcastic remarks that boiled in my brain, I thought again," so you put him in SOCCER?" Folks, let me help you out. Look up the most injurious types of sports in the country. I know that soccer is a LOT more dangerous in the day to day sense, than martial arts are.

Let me break it down for you: Contemporary martial artists wear a lot of protective equipment. Too much for my taste, but look at the world of sue-happy people that we live in. C'est la vie!! That at least makes logical sense to me. But the fact of the matter is, likely as not, you are going to spar in a martial arts class. I mean, it is self-defense right? One of the most important lessons is the martial arts is to persevere in the face of adversity. Life will not stop happening because you get hit in the face. Or laid off from your job. Or because your car broke down. " Taking a hit" is a life lesson that everyone will learn sooner or later. Better to learn it sooner in a controlled environment. At least that is what I think.

Soccer? Think about how many people roll their ankles, break their shins, break their feet, and collide into each other every day of the year. Do parents yank their kids from soccer? NOPE! And why is that? Because martial arts have more of a perceived danger. Never mind that martial arts are actually quite safe.

Face it folks, in soccer, you roll your ankles. In football, you are going to have someone smash into you. In basketball, someone is going to step on your ankles. In wrestling, you are going to get slammed. Heck even lifeguards get water up their nose and choke on it. Every sport has a dangerous aspect. Accept it and move on. That is the life lesson.

Vary your attack!!

2005-11-23T07:35:00.000-08:00

All right folks, I am writing and I am not even mad about something. Shock huh? Anyhow, I would like to speak on the virtue of variety. I recently saw a good boxing match against two skilled fighters. One fighter was excellent in the classical sense of the word, a workman's fighter. He kind of reminded me of Marvin Hagler. The other fighter was equally good, but his attack was very unpredicatable. He threw body shots, head shots, lead hand crosses, the whole nine yards. He won the fight. He did not throw harder punches, he just kept his opponent guessing, and scored more. My advice to you guys, switch it up.

Don't be afraid to specialize.

2005-11-20T17:40:00.000-08:00

Guys,
I am bringing in maybe more than 2 cents today. I just read this really good book. It is called, " The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing." It is a book of business, but is applicable to martial arts, if you think about it. See, we live in a world where the trendy mantra is " learn a little bit from every art. Pick what works, discard what doesnt" seems to be very popular in the martial arts world these days. But I caution you not to get carried away. It is okay to be good in only one thing.

For example, there are a lot of good martial artists out there. They may be good at striking, or good at grappling, or good at weapons. The current trend is that a martial artist must be good at ALL of these. Not so. Maybe if you like to participate in mixed martial arts. But in everyday real life, that may not be a good idea. It is very difficult to be adept at a number of martial arts in a reasonable time. I say, that it is MUCH better to specialize first.

Now as a man with extensive experience in kenpo, Muay Thai, judo, jujitsu, wrestling and boxing, that may seem strange coming from me. But the fact is, most people DON'T want to do all of those things. People tend to want to do just one thing, because it is that one thing that they enjoy. So for the instructors out there, do not be afraid to do just one thing. If you do karate, teach karate to the best of your ability. If you teach judo, practice it to the utmost of your skill.

What I am saying is that, there is still a need for a specialist in the martial arts world. If you want luxury in cars, there is still the Bently. If you want fast and sporty, there is still the Ferrarri. What I am saying is that you should not believe the hype. There is no need to be a jack of all trades, you may find yourself the master of none. Specialize, become and expert, and you will still have an audience.