Gracie Jiu Jitsu
Judo: No Kicking And Punching, But It Can Still Hurt Like Hell!
The Japanese martial art of Judo, means ‘the gentle way’ in English. I still haven’t figured out the gentleness of it all.
I took some Judo classes way back when and I gotta tell ya that some of those techniques sure can hurt like hell.
Those guys would grab you and throw you around like a rag-doll.
Slam you down on the mat and then apply a lock or a bar or something else that created the feeling of “OUCH! *#%!* YOU WIN! CAN I PLEASE GO HOME NOW?”.
There was a lot of tapping going on. Not the Sammy Davis Jr. or Geogory Hines-kind of tapping.
More slapping the mat like a fish caught on board a trawler gasping and knowing that it’s going to end up in a grocery shopping aisle real soon.
I think you get my drift by now.
Judo doesn’t offer or better doesn’t allow flashy kicks that would make it so much more appealing to the masses.
But let’s face it:
Judo in all its subtle and gentle way is still an extremely effective martial art that was the base for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu developed by the Gracie family. That’s gotta tell ya somethin’!
I thought you might enjoy a video with two guys who are constantly getting out of their comfort zone by trying a different martial art on a regular base in a foreign country.
Today, they dive right into Judo in Tokyo, Japan, the birthplace of this Olympic martial art introduced by Jigoro Kano over a hundred years ago.
Very cool!
The Week In Review At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your keen interest in martial arts and related topics.
Another week has flown by and it’s time for The Week In Review.
Enjoy!
Learn The Muay Thai Clinch From Walter “Sleeper” Michalowksi Also Known As Neck Wrestling Demonstrated By A True Professional
FREE: 5 Unique Pushups To Elevate Your Training Program Just About Anywhere, Anytime And Without Any Equipment
“Karate, The Art Of Empty Hand Fighting” By Hidetaka Nishiyama The Best-Selling Karate Book Turns 50 This Year!
Another Glimpse Of Astonishing Filipino Martial Arts This FMA Master Uses Not A Stick, Not A Knife, But A Horse Whip!!
Wing Chun: Chi Sao, Also Known As Sticky Hands A highly important exercise for anybody serious about Wing Chun Kung Fu.
The Talented Mr. BJ Penn, aka ‘The Prodigy’ Learn More About The UFC-Lightweight Champion From Hilo, Hawaii And Most Probably One Of The Best Fighters Of All Time.
Enjoy your Sunday!
The Talented Mr. BJ Penn aka ‘The Prodigy’
If you look up the definition of the word ‘prodigy’ you will in most cases find:
“A person so extraordinary as to inspire wonder; specifically, a child of highly unusual talent or genius.”
BJ Penn, the current UFC-Lightweight Champion, from Hilo, Hawaii, has often been referred to as ‘The Prodigy’. And rightfully so, may I say.
In today’s post, I will refrain from listing all his impressive wins on the mat, in the ring and inside ‘The Octagon’. And they are many, even against a number of highly recognizable names on the MMA circuit such as Matt Hughes, Renzo Gracie, Jens Pulver, Kenny Florian.
I am more interested in sharing with you his predisposition in becoming a UFC Champion and one of the most well-known and respected figures in professional Mixed Martial Arts.
And how did that nickname ‘The Prodigy’ establish itself anyway?
When BJ was 17 years old, he started his BJJ training together with his brother after an introduction by his neighbor, Tom Callos, who must be mighty proud today.
It must have been around two years later in 1997 that BJ received instruction under the legendary Ralph Gracie, from whom he received purple belt.
By 2000, just 3 years later, he was awarded the coveted black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Andre Pederneiras.
This in itself is quite a feat, because reportedly it is not unusual for BJJ students to have to put in 10 years to reach that level of skill and dedication.
Shortly thereafter BJ Penn went on to become the first non-Brazilian to win the black-belt division of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which, as you might know, is considered the birthplace of BJJ.
While most people need a decade or more to become a black belt, BJ Penn had, with only three years of training, not only received a black belt but defeated people who had been training their entire lives on his way to winning the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Talent can certainly get you places, but it usually in addition takes consistent hard work and commitment to maintain and even propel you to higher elevations, in just about any profession.
Years ago UFC-President, Dana White, expressed his impression that BJ had coasted through his fighting career on natural talent alone.
That has definitely changed after BJ Penn has shown his willingness to take his professional MMA career more seriously in his training and he has obviously renewed his commitment to excel at the highest level to remain the UFC-Lightweight Champion.
His immense talent, combined with his experience and renewed commitment, make UFC-Lightweight Champion, BJ Penn ‘The Prodigy’ a force to reckon with. And most probably one of the best fighters of all time.
Check out this video in its entirety. You will not be disappointed!
The First Week In Review In 2010 At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
Again, I would like to wish you guys a very healthy, wealthy and Happy New Year 2010!
Just in case you want to catch up with what happened this past week, here’s the review:
Shotokan Karate De Ashi Barai And Takedown Incorporate a Judo leg sweep and see what happens.
Happy New Year 2010! Wishing you health, wealth and happiness!
MVP (Most Valuable Posts) 2009 At TheMartialArtsReporter.com This has to be one of my personal favorite posts so far!
How Can Anybody Become 2-Time World Champion In Racquetball AND Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Find out more about this allround athlete from Hawaii.
Learn An Effective, Yet Underestimated Self-Defense Technique From Sifu Paul Vunak, The Former Hand-To-Hand Combat Instructor To U.S. Navy SEALS.
Inspirational Quotes To End The Year (And Start The Year) These quotes will get you and keep you going.
And as you might already know, it is becoming a tradition around here to end the Week In Review with at least two quotes.
Here is what I have for you today and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do:
“It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war.” JFK
“Facts are stubborn things.” John Adams
Stay in touch.
Happy New Year 2010!
TheMartialArtsReporter.com wishes you and yours a very Happy New Year 2010, accompanied by health, wealth and happiness!
Let’s make this a great New Year!
I have said this before and I cannot say it often enough:
Thank you so very much for your continued support and interest.
I would like to start the year with you by sharing some great quotes that I find very fitting on this very special day.
“In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want.” Irish Toast
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man.” Benjamin Franklin
“What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.” Vern McLellan
It’s New Year’s Day!
And that calls for one of the world’s best bands ever, U2!
I will be with you again.
Let’s say tomorrow.
MVP (Most Valuable Posts) 2009 At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
Where did this year go?
2009 just started and now it’s already over!
I don’t know about you, but I am truly looking forward to another great, make that even greater, year 2010.
Thank you so much for your continuing support and interest.
For me personally, there were numerous moments that stand out at TheMartialArtsReporter.com in 2009.
Here is my MVP (Most Valuable Posts) 2009 selection and if you have any favorites not listed here, why not just let me know:
“Gracie Jiu-Jitsu - Behind The Scenes In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil”
“Peaceful Warrior Wisdom For Martial Artists And Others, Too.”
“My Interview With Jackie Chan” Is Becoming An Internet Favorite.
“Unfair Karate Fight, Let’s All Lighten Up, Shall We?”
“20 Seconds With Bruce Lee Could Change Your Life Forever”.
“Fighting Legend Benny ”The Jet” Urquidez Offers Great Advice”
“Pankration, One Of The World’s Oldest Martial Arts”.
“Switzerland Is The Place For Cheese, Chocolate, Skiing, Watches And Wrestling”.
“You Want This Former UFC Champ In Your Corner During A Bar Fight”.
There you have it:
The Most Valuable Posts 2009 At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
I’ll talk to you next year. That’s just in a couple of hours.
How Can Anybody Become 2-Time World Champion In Racquetball AND Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Egan Inoue from Hawaii is quite versatile, to say the least.
He’s a very skillful surfer, free diver, actor and an allround athete. And yes, he’s a really nice guy, too.
After winning two world championship titles in the sport of racquetball (1986 and 1990), Egan went on to attain such a high level of proficiency at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that he became the first U.S. American to win a BJJ world title in Brazil in 1996, in the blue belt division.
And as you know, besides soccer football the Brazilians take Jiu-Jitsu in their home country very seriously.
So, you probably think that’s pretty cool, right?!
Think again, because Egan Inoue went back to Brazil to repeat that same accomplishment one year later in the purple belt division!
After professionally competing in MMA (mixed martial arts) for Pride, Shooto, Superbrawl and Luminex Cup for several years, 2nd degree BlackBelt Egan Inoue proceeded to teaching his profound fighting skills not only in his 3 martial arts schools, but also to law enforcement agencies and branches of the U.S. military.
Egan Inoue And The Art Of Enjoying The Journey.
Abu Dhabi Now Means UFC Mixed Martial Arts
In a recent post “Abu Dhabi And Martial Arts?” I introduced this vibrant Emirate on the Arabian peninsula as a true epicenter of top-level international submission wrestling.
The driving force behind all this is Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Center).
Dana White and the Sheik have worked out a deal to host UFC 112 on April 10, 2010 in Abu Dhabi.
One of the exciting fights of this event has been confirmed.
It will be between two true mixed martial arts legends: Matt Hughes vs. Renzo Gracie.
Both are accomplished submission grapplers in their own right and that is an understatement, if there ever was one.
Will this be ‘Wrestling vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”?
I leave you today with two short videos that will give you an idea of these fighters’ personalities. Enjoy!
Matt Hughes
Renzo Gracie 
“The Best Of The Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor”
And he isn’t even a Gracie or a Machado!
His name is Pedro Sauer, 7th dan BJJ.
In a worldwide poll in 2005 organized by the ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Center) he received this coveted recognition.
But let’s first have a look at Professor Pedro Sauer’s climb to the top:
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at age five he started boxing and thereafter judo and taekwondo.
As a teenager and after training for about 10 years one of his buddies invited him over to check out a youngster training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. After this experience Professor Pedro started training in BJJ the very next day.
Get this: His buddy was Rickson Gracie and the younger brother was Royler Gracie, who at the time was only 9 years old and 6 years younger than Professor Pedro.
After majoring in economics and business Pedro worked as a stockbroker for about eleven years.
During this time Pedro earned his Black Belt from Helio and Rickson in 1985, after years of training at Gracie Humaita which can be considered something like the equivalent of BJJ’S Kodokan.
In 1986 he started teaching and training under Alvaro Barreto, who is a 9th degree (red belt) master under Helio Gracie.
Several years later he made the decision to emigrate and start teaching Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the U.S.
Understand that 1990 was when the original wave of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors moved to California and the martial arts world would never be the same.
Pedro Sauer immersed even deeper in BJJ in California while living and training daily with Helio, Rickson, Rorion, Relson, Renzo and Royce Gracie as well as the Machado Brothers, who are the famous cousins of the Gracies.
By the end of that same year Pedro set up camp in Utah where he lived to train and teach for sixteen years as one of only two non-Gracie instructors.
By 2006 Pedro Sauer and his family decided to relocate to Leesburg, Virginia.
It is here that Profesor Pedro instructs at One Spirit Martial Arts in Herndon, Virginia, and Jeff Gordon’s Mixed-Martial Arts Academy in Germantown, Maryland, as well as 80 affiliate schools worldwide.
His expertise has been highly sought after by a number of law enforcement, military and federal agencies such as FBI, CIA and Naval Special Warfare Group.
In 2005, Professor Pedro Sauer was named “Best of the Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor” in a worldwide internet poll conducted by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC).
The following video clips feature Professor Pedro Sauer with an arm bar technique and his words of wisdom that can help any martial art of any style progress a lot quicker.
Girl Power Expressed Through Karate Kata Perfection
If you have been following this blog lately you probably have noticed that I like to mix things up between different martial arts styles such as Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu aka BJJ aka Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Western Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun Kung Fu, just to name a few.
Today, I’m in the mood for some really impressive Karate moves. The kind of moves you see when true artists are at work or better performing a kata.
For those of you not familiar with kata, here a short description:
Kata is a Japanese word for choreographed patterns of movements that can be performed either solo or in pairs or even groups.
Kata is commonly known in the Japanese martial arts such as Aikido, Judo, Karate, Iaido and others.
You come across patterns of movements in other non-Japanese martial arts such as Tai Chi Chuan and Taekwondo. They just use Chinese and Korean words instead.
To get a better idea of what karate kata perfection looks like, have a look at this video clip of the Japanese Female Kata Team competing in 2008.
Amazing! But I will let you be the judge.
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