So, What’s In Your …. Rice?
August 29th, 2010
Several years ago I started making it a habit to read the labels of the packaged food I was buying at the grocery store.
I will also admit that I have been making it a real effort to buying more higher quality foods such as fruits, vegetables and in general organic food.
It may immediately cost me more at the cash register, but I believe the benefits do pay off and do make my life a lot more enjoyable in so many ways that I might write about it at a later date.
But today, I would like to share an interesting experience I made just the other day.
I felt like having some rice along with some veggies.
So I pulled out of our pantry a box of rice (purchased long before I started reading the labels as described above) entitled:
“New Orleans Style Long Grain & Wild Rice”. Sounds pretty good and looks even better in the picture on the box.
Then I had a look at the ingredients and you had better brace yourself:
Enriched Long Grain Parboiled Rice (Iron Phosphate, Niacin, Thiamine and Folic Acid), Wild Rice, Onion, Tumeric, Garlic, Parsley, Spices, Cayenne Pepper.
So far, so good, right?!
Wait until you read the rest of the list:
Salt (1000 mg sodium in one serving!), Chicken flavor (MSG aka monosodium glutamate, salt, sugar, yeast extract, onion, corn oil, hydrolyzed corn gluten, dextrose, modified corn starch, garlic, corn syrup solids, natural flavor, maltodextrin, soy sauce, hydrolyzed soy protein, soybean oil, molasses extract, caramel color, propylene glycol, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, citric acid, L-cystein hydrochloride, thiamin hydrochloride, silicon dioxide, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn syrup solids, sodium caseinate, dipotassium phosphate, mono + diglycerides, sodium hexametaphosphate.
Do we all need a university degree in chemistry to understand this stuff?
Needless to say that I am not going to eat the so-called rice in this box. Would you?
So, what’s your … rice?
Don’t be a stranger!
Can Wushu Kung Fu Become An Olympic Discipline?
August 25th, 2010
We all know that boxing, wrestling, judo and even Taekwondo have been celebrated Olympic sports.
I have been asking myself for many years when karate would get a shot at being part of the Olympic family.
But it looks like with all the different organizations out there with their own agenda it will probably continue to stand in its own way.
Along with the fact that they would need one clear direction and mission statement presented to the IOC by spokespersons with clout.
Clout? Well, would you agree that somebody like Jackie Chan has clout to get people’s attention that would help Wushu become an Olympic discipline?
Wushu organizers were able to put on an international tournament during the Beijing Games in 2008 and showcase what Wushu competition is all about.
There seem to be competing Wushu organizations who might just drop their own personal agenda for the big goal and that would be the Olympic Games in the foreseeable future.
Your thoughts and comments are always welcome here (but you knew that already).
Martial Arts Stunt Performer Extraordinaire From Down Under
August 13th, 2010
What usually comes to mind when somebody mentions Australia?
How about, Down Under, Outback, Sydney, kangaroos, koala bears, Great Barrier Reef, Olivia Newton-John (if you’re over the age of 30, ha!), Nicole Kidman, Melbourne and the Australian Open (if you’re at all interested in tennis)?
But how about Bradley James Allan?
Anybody?
If not, well, that’s about to change (I think).
You might have even seen him and/or his work on the Big Screen without even knowing who he was.
Brad Allan was born in Melbourne and at the age of 14 he started studying Wushu under two of Jet Li’s compatriots.
Besides being an outstanding gymnast, Brad is also trained in aikido, boxing, karate and kickboxing and it really shows in his breathtaking on-screen performances.
After brief appearances in the Jackie Chan movies, “Mr. Nice Guy” and “Who Am I?”, Brad was invited to join Jackie Chan’s prestigious stunt team and thus becoming the first non-Asian to do so and subsequently taking on the role of team leader. Now, that’s impressive to me.
Brad Allan has appeared in numerous films such as Avatar, Ninja Assassin, Shanghai Knights, Shanghai Noon, Rush Hour 2, just to name a few. But he has also been able to show his talent as a stunt choreographer and coordinator in movies such as Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, The Chronicles of Riddick, and even Rush Hour 3.
Enough said about this bundle of creative energy.
Let’s have look at a Brad Allan Action Reel, which of course includes at least one fight scene with the one and only, Jackie Chan:
Should Ken Shamrock Retire From Professional Fighting?
August 1st, 2010
Just recently living MMA legend Ken Shamrock lost another fight in the cage. This time against veteran cage fighter and extremely effective kicker, Pedro Rizzo from Brazil, who himself is not even close to current World Championship status, but who can still cause some serious damage.
46-year old Ken Shamrock, who at the peak of his professional fighting career was also known as “The World’s Most Dangerous Man”, is still in incredible shape, but unfortunately he doesn’t implement the way he was known for or better feared of.
Together with legendary Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock was the first MMA fighter to be inducted into UFC’s Hall of Fame just 5 years ago.
The vast majority of his recent fights, Ken Shamrock has lost during the first round, which just has to be to frustrating to say the least.
With his name recognition he still can get crowds excited to show up in throes to watch him step into the cage.
With his vast experience and extraordinary fighting skills that encompass some of the best submission grappling prowess the world has ever witnessed, I firmly believe that Ken Shamrock could easily become a highly sought champion trainer/instructor, fight commentator/analyst and so much more that would even pay some serious dinero.
So, again I ask you “Should MMA Legend Ken Shamrock retire from professional fighting?’
While you contemplate, enter “The Lion’s Den” and meet one of the best MMA fighters ever, Ken Shamrock:
Bruce Lee Lives On, Even After His Untimely Death In 1973
July 20th, 2010
Man, on this day exactly 37 years ago in Hong Kong, the most influential martial artist and martial arts movie star died at the young age of only 32.
The world knew him as Bruce Lee, aka Little Dragon. He was born in San Francisco in 1940, but he and his family moved (back) to Hong Kong while he was still very young.
And even though it’s been almost four decades since he passed on, Bruce Lee still lives on in so many ways, because he has been able to touch millions of people through his acting and teachings.
I for myself can honestly say that it was Bruce Lee on the big screen that got me hooked on martial arts (in my case Shotokan karate for starters).
This post is not intended to be about me or even to re-hash Bruce Lee’s biography, but what I would love to hear your stories and experience about getting started in martial arts, self-defense training and how Bruce Lee affected your life.
I will leave you with this video clip as a tribute to honor Bruce Lee’s life and accomplishments:
Billy Blanks, Martial Artist And Creator of TaeBo
July 3rd, 2010
I always like trying out different workout programs. So a couple of years I borrowed a DVD from a friend.
And I gotta tell ya that I got a really good sweat from what I was following on the screen.
The program is better known as TaeBo and it simply combines numerous training elements from Taekwondo/Karate and Western boxing while creating a high-octane environment in the privacy of your own home.
TaeBo has helped and continues to help millions get and stay in shape.
It is not a self-defense program, even though the man behind TaeBo certainly can defend himself.
He is a 7th degree Taekwondo Black Belt and his name is Billy Blanks.
Before introducing his immensely successful brainchild, Karate Hall of Famer Billy Blanks was actually a very accomplished martial artist and boxing champion (Massachusetts Golden Gloves Champion) which he explains in the following video clip I found for you.
Hope you enjoy it!
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David vs. Goliath In A K-1 Ring
June 30th, 2010
I don’t know about you, but sometimes find it quite intriguing to watch a perceived David vs. Goliath matchup.
Maybe it’s because many of us instinctively tend to root for the underdog.
Is it because we want to see the “little guy” win?
Well, whatever it is, we all have our own opinion and thoughts about it.
In this context, I thought it might be interesting to watch a modern-day David vs. Goliath encounter in a K-1 ring.
Here we have a prime example with two former champions:
Royce Gracie (3-time UFC Champion, UFC Hall of Famer and member of the most influential Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu dynasty) vs. Yokozuno Akebono (Hawaiian sumo grand champion and first non-Japanese to attain superstar status).
The BJJ master (179 lbs.) vs. the Sumo master (484 lbs.) and free fight rules.
Watch very carefully how Royce Gracie implements his game plan of getting Akebono on the ground. The rest is BJJ as usual.
The Man Who Dethroned MMA Legend, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko
June 28th, 2010
Considered by many to be the best MMA fighter of all times, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko was undefeated in 28 straight fights for just about 10 years and that’s truly impressive in my book.
Even though, some critics would say that he hasn’t fought for UFC and thus hasn’t competed against the truly best Heavyweights in the world and that would currently include somebody like Brock Lesnar.
Nevertheless, last Saturday Strikeforce sent Fedor into the cage to fight two-time BJJ World Champion, Fabricio “Go Horse” Werdum, from Porto Alegre, Brazil, who had a record of 13-4-1.
Sherdog ranks heavyweight Fabricio Werdum #9 in the world.
Already 2 1/2 years ago he defeated Fedor’s brother, Aleksander via arm triangle choke in the first round.
Last Saturday, Fabricio made history by dethroning “The Last Emperor” after just around 1 minute into the first round!
Check out how he made Fedor tap:
Fabricio Werdum will now get a title fight against Dutchman Alistair Overeem, who he beat 3 years ago via Kimura, and so he continues to manifest his reputation as a formidable submission fighter.
The French Foreign Legion: Ultimate Modern-Day Warriors And Their Rendezvous With Danger
June 21st, 2010
Also known as an Army within an Army, the French Foreign Legion was established in 1831 as an effort to enable foreign nationals to serve in the French Armed Forces under French officers.
In the early years of its establishment, more often than not criminals were admitted. That has certainly changed, because for some time now convicted felons will not be granted the opportunity to serve and to wear the coveted ‘Kapi Blanc’ that is only achieved by 1 out of every 12 applicants!
This elite military unit of close to 8,000 volunteers, considered by many as mercenaries with a 5-year contract that can be renewed, during which foreign volunteers get a new identity. After completing their tour, they can keep their new identity along with French citizenship or they can simply go back to their former life.
Roughly 75% of all Legionnaires are non-French and come from more than 100 countries.
The French Foreign Legion has been deployed to the most dangerous hot spots during its long history such as Rwanda, Chad, Lebanon, Congo, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and many more. 1 out of 10 Legionnaires will not make it back home alive from depolyment.
Many more of their deployments will never be known to the public.
But whenever the French government issues the order, the mission becomes sacred for the Legion.
To learn more about these modern-day warriors, pull up your chair and check out this amazing 50-minute documentary I found for you.
You will be impressed!
World Cup 2010 Soccer Football And Martial Arts
June 19th, 2010
It’s Saturday afternoon and I’m chillin’ with some World Cup 2010 Soccer Football coverage.
In the process, I tried to make a connection between soccer football and martial arts.
Eureka! I found it!
I didn’t want to share any clips displaying players and/or spectators behaving badly.
So, that’s why I think you’re really going enjoy this one which shows some guys with some amazing skills:
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