Your Mission: Fight 100 Opponents Consecutively And Win At Least 50%
January 14th, 2012
The stand-up full contact karate style founded in 1964 by Mas Oyama is known as Kyokushin karate and practicioners are motivated to self-improvement, discipline and hard training.
In most Kyokushin organizations, hand and elbow strikes to the head or neck are prohibited. However, kicks to the head, knee strikes, punches to the upper body, and kicks to the inner and outer leg are permitted.
And this is what championship kumite Kyokushin-style looks like:
And if that weren’t tough enough Mas Oyama came up with the idea of the 100 man kumite for black belts. It really is what it claims to be.
You face 100 opponents (brown belts and up) consecutively in one 1.5 or 2 minute round each under normal Kyokushin rules and with 30 seconds rest between fights, and you are required to clearly “win”, meaning not getting knocked down in at least 50% of the fights, and never get knocked down for longer than 5 seconds.
Legendary Hajime Kazumi completed his 100 man kumite in 1999:
Time per Kumite 1 minute 30 seconds
Time Started 11:38
Time Finished 15:42
Total Fighting Time 3 hours 20 minutes 40 seconds
Total Spending Time 4 hours 4 minutes
Results 58 wins, 42 draws, no losses
The 100 man kumite was introduced in the early 60s. Naomi Woods became the first female to complete it in 2004. Originally, Mas Oyama wanted the challenge to be a requirement for black belts. Only very few have been able to complete this mission of fighting 100 opponents consecutively and winning at least 50%.
I leave you today with some wisdom from the legendary founder of Kyoshinkai karate, Masutatsu Oyama.
“If you learn a technique and repeat it 1,000 times, you are still learning. If you repeat it 10,000 times, then you know it. But if you want to own it, you need to repeat it 100,000 times.”
Merry Christmas Y’All
December 24th, 2011
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year!
And just because I feel like it, here are a couple of pretty funny clips that I hope you enjoy, too:
Glima – The Icelandic Art Of Wrestling Is Still Hot
December 22nd, 2011
I have been wanting to post something about Iceland for some time now. As I have written before, the Swiss, the Turks and many others have their own styles of wrestling.
So, why not the descendants of the Vikings?!
Known as a style of folk wrestling, Glima is considered a national sport.
Glima consists of several elements that make it different from other styles of wrestling.
Opponents have to stand upright at all times.
It might look like they’re dancing, but opponents actually have to step clockwise around each other. That’s how they create openings for attack and counter-attack and it simply keeps things moving.
It’s frowned upon to fall down on your opponent or to even to shove him with force.
When wrestling, you’re supposed to look across your opponent’s shoulder, as the goal it to wrestle by touch and feel instead of by visuals.
Eight core techniques represent the basics for the approximately fifty ways to throw your opponent.
Fairness and respect for your training partner are considered a code of honor in Glima.
The Icelandic term Glima basically menas wrestling and in a broader sense means struggle.
Historically, Glima called for a fighting style that favored technique over brute force.
Both wrestlers wear a special belt around their waist. Further, belts are worn on the lower thighs of each leg, which connect to the main belt with vertical straps.
Further, a fixed grip is then taken with one hand in the belt and the other in the trousers at thigh height. From this position the Glima wrestler attempts to trip and throw his opponent.
A thrown wrestler may attempt to land on his feet and hands and if he succeeds in doing so he has not lost the fall. The goal is to make the opponent touch the ground with an area of the body between the elbow and the knee.
Eric Oram – The Sifu Behind Robert Downey Jr.’s Return To The Top
December 3rd, 2011
The sequel to Sherlock Holmes of 2009 and called ‘A Game of Shadows’ is scheduled to hit movie theaters this December 16 and from what I have seen in the trailer, it should be another good one for us martial arts enthusiasts to watch and enjoy.
Like I said, I have only seen the trailer and of course the fight scenes got my attention.
And as we all know, these and other high-quality fight scenes take a lot of hard work, great choreography, stuntpeople etc.
I counted over 50 (fifty) stunt performers plus stunt coordinators, choreographers and consultants who contributed to Sherlock Holmes 2009 and around 40 (forty) in the sequel scheduled in 2 weeks.
Not surprisingly, I am always trying to find out who are the real movers and shakers behind the scenes.
And my search results in reference to Sherlock Holmes will hopefully find your stamp of approval in exclamations such as “I had no idea!” or “Now, that’s really interesting!” or even “That explains it all!”.
First off, the director getting a lot of highly-served credit is Guy Ritchie, who just so happens to be a martial artist himself. He is trained in Shotokan karate, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. So, the director, meaning the guy with an eye for the big picture and a clear vision of the final product, has a knack for some high-quality fight scenes. Even though, Sherlock Holmes isn’t really considered an actual action/martial arts movie.
And then there’s the lead actor, Robert Downey Jr. and I think we can all agree he is and has been back on top of his game the last couple of years.
It’s no secret that he was pretty much washed up and his film career was going down the drain …. fast.
He had numerous run-ins with the law and his drug problems were out of control.
And if there was any hope to his personal and professional life, he needed to get cleaned up …. fast.
Many posts ago, I wrote about Robert Downey Jr. and the fact that he has been training in Wing Chun kung fu which has obviously been helping him in so many extraordinary ways, both personally and professionally.
But the connection that I didn’t make was who was behind it all and this is where it get’s really interesting. At least for me, maybe even for you, too.
An absolute world authority on Wing Chun kung fu with roots in Las Vegas and owner of a very impressive academy in West Los Angeles, Sifu Eric Oram originally even trained under Grandmaster William Cheung, who way back in the day actually taught Bruce Lee a thing or two about Wing Chun in his very early years.
Sifu Eric is in high demand for top-quality teaching with law enforcement and military units such as Delta Force, Navy Seals, Marines, FBU Hostage Rescue Units, just to name a few.
And then there’s Robert Downey Jr. who supposedly now ensures that there’s a stipulation in every film contract that he signs guaranteeing that Sifu Eric Oram, with whom he of course he really close friends, is on set as his consultant and trainer.
Here are several clips you might enjoy:
And last, not not least:
Should Martial Artists Still Train When They Have A Cold?
November 28th, 2011
First things first:
TheMartialArtsReporter.com provides very general medical information and does not replace the advice of a medical professional such as a qualified doctor or physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist,etc. TheMartialArtsReporter.com is not a doctor.
It’s late November and that usually means cold season for many parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
The typical symptoms are sneezing, running nose,sore throat, cough, head and body aches and overall you just don’t feel like your goodself.
So, what is a martial artist to do?
Well, there is no one size fits all.
I think I should listen to my body and if that means that I have to take a break for a couple of days, then I just do it.
Yeah, we have all heard those sayings such as “If it doesn’t kill me, it will only make me stronger.” There’s a time and place for everything.
Now would be a good time for my body to rest and get healthy again. And again, I am talking about getting rid of a cold.
Besides loading up on Vitamin C and healthy fluids like chicken soup, TomYum soup, tea and water, and generally speaking a lighter diet lower on calories compared to my normal intake when healthy applies, because I will be burning off a lot less,while moving around a lot less.
What definitely always works with a cold is going for a walk.
TheMartialArtsReporter.com Pays A Somewhat Different Tribute To Thanksgiving 2011
November 24th, 2011
I can’t speak for you guys out there, but I certainly have a lot to be thankful for this year.
And as I am in somewhat silly mood today, I thought it would be fitting to pay a somewhat different tribute to Thanksgiving this year.
I actually enjoy watching Jay Leno’s “Jaywalking” segment of his popular Late Night Show.
However, I will admit that I do not necessarily watch the show when it airs at 11:30 p.m., but I do check it out infrequently online.
Here’s the one segment that I found on Thanksgiving and I am sure you’re going to enjoy it. It will make you laugh, chuckle and/or cry for all the right and wrong reasons.
Anyway, thank you so much for stopping by today. I really appreciate it.
Col. William E. Fairbairn, The Father Of Modern Hand-To-Hand Combat
November 12th, 2011
The more I have been reading about Col. Fairbairn and the fighting system of Defendu or gutter fighting, the more intrigued I have become.
Defendu incorporates movements and techniques from Tenshin Jiu Jitsu, but what makes it unique, is that with the assistance of Eric A. Sykes, he actually made techniques easy to learn and to remember, especially when under stress.
As this system does not call for any complicated moves and physical fitness, just about anybody can achieve proficiency in a fairly short period of time.
Originally, Fairbairn developed and taught Defendu to the 9,000 Shanghai police officers and even to the famed 4th Marine Regiment known as the China Marines.
Get this: Fairbairn founded, developed, trained, and headed the Shanghai Riot Squad. It was the first ever Special Weapons & Tactics Unit, and even today it serves as the prototype for S.W.A.T. teams as we know them.
Did I mention that this all occurred between 1907 and 1940 in Shanghai which was considered one the most dangerous cities in the world at the time?
First an international settlement and later under Japanese occupation, Shanghai dealt with a tremendous amount of gang wars, drug trafficking, murder, political assassination, prostitution and kidnapping, just to name a few.
Defendu is considered as the first police defensive tactics system. Defendu includes striking, kicking, biting, gouging, trapping, holds and joint locks, throwing etc. in close quarters.
What appeals to everyone serious about self-defense is that it gets right to the point and avoids high kicks and jumping techniques which can look great on the Big Screen, but shouldn’t necessarily be used when you just want to get home safely.
Fairnburn was an accomplished Kodokan judoka (certified by Jigoro Kano!) who also incorporated some basic ground fighting techniques along with chokes and take downs as the basic grappling defenses.
After retiring from his police work in Shanghai in 1940, Fairbairn returned to war-time Great Britain where he received the assignment to train British and Allied commandos at a top-secret location. The special operators were then responsible for training the US Army, Marines, Rangers and OSS (later CIA) operatives.
Col. William Ewart Fairbairn was born in 1885 and died in 1960. He was a British soldier, police officer and while training WWII Allied forces and later Western intelligence services, he was considered the most knowledgeable expert of hand to hand combat at the time.
Here you can see Fairbairn demonstrating elements of his system together with another close combat legend, Rex Applegate.
And here is what Bill Wolfe has to say about Col. Fairbairn:
Veterans Day 2011 – Tribute To Past, Present And Future U.S. Military Personnel And Their Families
November 11th, 2011
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11.
This short post is a tribute to all who have served, are serving and will serve in the U.S. Armed Forces as well as their families.
Thank you for your service!
P.S.: Stay tuned for hand-to-hand combat training straight from …….
Filipino-American Boxing Sensation Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton
October 30th, 2011
Our unofficial series on female boxers and other martial artists who inspire girls and women to get going continues right here, right now.
I always enjoying getting my hair cut by my favorite Filipino-American barber who never fails to let me know what’s going on with Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao.
But this time I wanted to know if he could share anything else exciting Filipino, besides “The Pacman”.
I didn’t have to wait very long for his input, while he was skillfully trimming my sideburns.
Yeah, there’s this young lady who happens to be a very attractive Filipina boxer and who can fight like a female version of Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao and she is the reigning Super Bantamweight world champion.
Her full name is Luciana Bonifacio Julaton. She was born on July 5, 1980 in San Francisco, California. She is the daughter of Filipino immigrants Cesario Julaton II and Ahmelia Bonifacio.
For Danny, my barber, that’s Filipino!
For everybody else, that’s Filipino-American.
When she was little, her father made her train in martial arts whereas she admits that she had no interest in boxing at the time.
Only years later as a karate black belt teaching at WestWinds Martial Arts and Boxing School in the S.F. Bay area she got involved in boxing and trained by Angelo Reyes.
At age 24, Ana made her amateur boxing debut and only 3 years later in 2007, she was ranked #2 among all female amateur boxers in the United States.
At this point of turning pro, she approached veteran trainer Freddie Roach and eventually became part of Roach’s large stable of boxers, alongside Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and former world champion Gerry Penalosa.
After her first professional fight in October 2007 which she won and which was followed by several other successful fights, Ana fought against Kelsey “The Road Warrior” Jeffries in September 2009 for the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) super bantamweight title in women’s boxing and won again.
She then went on to defeat Donna Biggers and became the first female World Boxing Organization (WBO) Super Bantamweight champion on 4 December 2009.
After defending her title against Mexican Jessica Villafranca earlier this month in Mexico, Ana Julaton’s record is now 10 wins (1 KO), 2 losses and one draw.
Considered one of the quickest boxers around, Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton is a great ambassador of female boxing in my book.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Pete Pukish and Satori
October 5th, 2011
I came across some really cool information about a movie scheduled to be released next September.
The movie is based on the novel “Satori” by Don Winslow.
Warner Brothers acquired the rights to film this best-selling novel and will feature Leonardo DiCaprio. Leo plays a gaijin, raised in Japan who has been taught an assassin’s skills. His character gets caught up in the chaos of post-WWII as the U.S., Soviet Union, France and China vying for power in Southeast Asia in the early 1950s.
DiCaprio will be playing Nicholai Hel, the guy, I mean gaijin, raised in Japan by a martial arts expert and genius at Go. You know the complex chess-like Japanese game. The master, a former Japanese general, passes on all his secrets to his student who repays him by murdering his mentor as an act of devotion to prevent the military leader from being disgraced and executed for war crimes.
Subsequenly, Hel is thrown in solitary confinement in a Tokyo jail and tortured for three years. He is finally freed by the CIA after conceding to travel to Beijing and assassinate the Soviet commissioner to China. And then Hel is trained for the assignment by a beautiful French woman whom he falls in love with. He is then betrayed by his backers. Besides being fluent in seven languages, Hel makes his way through Vietnam hunted by American, Chinese, Russian and French intelligence agencies as well as a Corsican mob and Vietnamese criminal syndicate.
I haven’t read the novel but to me it sounds like a thriller with loads of twists and turns. And I will be honest with you: I wouldn’t mind some really good fight choreography. Let’s see if this is Jason Bourne material.
And then there’s the Japanese term, satori.
Alright, I looked it up and I guess you can say it basically means the possibility of enlightenment, true understanding and harmony with the world.
And this is exactly what Shihan Pete Pukish of Satori International aspires to: “By serving the practitioner with the health and energetic benefits of training while also satisfying the need for combat effectiveness. Combat effectiveness means that the art thrives at every range and distance of combat, with or with out any type of weapon(s). The art and the training must be backed and supported by the founding principles found in all legitimate arts.”
And because a picture (or better a video clip) says more than 10,000 words, see for yourself:
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