submission fighting
Erin Go Bragh! And Don’t Forget The Shamrocks!
Hey guys,
Got back from the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festivities in the United States.
After New York City, Savannah is a close second when it comes to the best that St. Patty’s has to offer.
On a quick side note, St. Patrick’s Day is an official holiday in Ireland, but not necessarily the official drinking day it is here in the U.S. of A.
But back to Savannah, Georgia: This city of somewhere around 200,000 population has a long tradition celebrating everything Irish.
This year’s parade was its 187th and there are quite a number of citizens of Irish heritage.
On the Eve of St. Patrick’s Day I was able to witness several bands of bag-pipers face off. It was absolutely mesmerizing.
These guys come from as far away as NYC, Boston and even the Emerald Isle, aka Ireland!
We didn’t celebrate into the wee hours, because we had to be at Calhoun Square by 5:30 a.m. and that meant getting up at 4:15 a.m.!
Why so early if the parade doesn’t start until 10 in the morning?
Traditions are strong here, which means securing your curbside spot at 6 a.m. to set up your chairs, gazebos and all your goodies. And that means a lot of food and drinks with friends and family.
The parade was amazing and went for around 4 1/2 hours. What a great experience thanks to our newly found friends and life-long Savannahians.
I guess everybody makes the connection between Irish and their national symbol, the three-leaf clover or shamrock.
The shamrocks I want to remember today are former UFC fighters and brothers, Ken and Frank, who are legendary in their own right.
Let’s start with Ken Shamrock (UFC Hall of Famer), who was the first Superfight Ultimate Champion before the title was renamed to Heavyweight Champion.
During his reign this one-time professional wrestler was considered the world’s best mixed martial artist and even today he is still considered one of the best fighters of all time.
Ken Shamrock is the older adopted brother of former UFC champion, Frank Shamrock.
At one time known as “The World’s Most Dangerous Man”, Ken Shamrock is also the founder of one of the most successful MMA camps, “The Lion’s Den”.
And then there was his younger adopted brother and fellow UFC champion, Frank Shamrock.
Nicknamed “The Legend”, Frank has also been called the best competitor in UFC history.
He held the UFC Middleweight title, before it was renamed Light Heavyweight.
Like his brother, Ken, he is also an expert at submission fighting.
Nowadays, Frank is in great demand as a fight commentator and coach.
Here some great tips from the author of “Mixed Martial Arts For Dummies”:
Valentine’s Day And The Week In Review At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all!
I don’t understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine’s Day.
When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.
Anyway …
Let’s get back to what really makes the world turn and that would be martial arts, right?! Just kidding around here.
Check out The Week In Review that took us from Russia (with love) to Japan to Brooklyn, New York to Hong Kong to Houston, Texas.
Russian Systema Or Just When You Think You’ve Seen It All
Masahiko Kimura, The Best Judoka Ever?
Martial Artist Wesley Snipes Co-Starring In “Brooklyn’s Finest”
Teenager Tried To Kick Bruce Lee In The Face
Linda Denley, Karate Superwoman From Houston, Texas
Have a great Valentine’s Day wherever you are!
I will talk to you tomorrow.
Masahiko Kimura, The Best Judoka Ever?
Can you believe this?
Even though I trained in judo for a brief period quite a long time ago, it wasn’t until I started doing research on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and even rolling around on the mat for a short while that I became familiar with the term ‘Kimura’. And even then I thought it was just some technique that could really hurt you or your opponent, depending on who’s on the receiving end of it.
Well, after digging a bit deeper, I too finally saw the light! Man, I must have been living under a rock or something.
Masahiko Kimura (1917-1993) is considered by many the greatest Judoka to ever live. He stood 5’6″ (170 cm) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84kg).
Kimura became the youngest ever 5th-degree black belt when he was just 18 and by the time he reached the age of 29 he was a 7th dan.
In 1937, Kimura did something very remarkable: He won the All-Japan Championship and remained undefeated for the next 13 years in matches held throughout Japan.
But what he accomplished later in life on the international stage really cemented the legend of Kimura.
In 1951, he defeated Brazil’s Helio Gracie, a legend in his own right, who publicly said that he thought nobody in the world could defeat Kimura.
At age 42, Kimura faced a much bigger and younger opponent by the name of Waldemar Santana, who he even battled to a draw.
Kimura’s prime came before judo was an Olympic event, but in his senior years he trained a number of notable Olympian judokas, including Canada’s Doug Rogers, who won silver in the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games.
As far as I could find out, Kimura was never awarded beyond 7th dan and based on so many reports I am left to believe that Japanese judo officials were not quite amused with Kimura’s career moves from judo into professional wrestling.
What I find intriguing is how a guy like him standing at 5’6″ (170 cm) and weighing 185 pounds (84kg) could beat countless taller, heavier and at times way younger and faster opponents.
Kimura’s success is based on San Bai Ro Rioku. On this premise, Kimura did 300 pushups everyday in High School. While attending university he increased that number to 500.
After his first victory, Kimura decided to start doing 1,000 non-stop pushups to ensure future victories. As you can assume, doing pushups was just a small part of Kimura’s regimen. During his prime, he practiced 4 times a day, at least 6 hours every day. He trained at Taku-Shoku University, Local Clubs, Kodokan, and Police Academies.
Quite often he would practice against a tree, always at midnight. During one instance, Wushi-Zima, a two time champion, heard a commotion in the nearby woods. When he checked out the noise it turned out to be Kimura doing uchikomi against a tree. For better understanding of uchikomi: You actually practice a throw, where you take your opponent to the point just before he is thrown.
And coming full circle: So, what actually is a ‘Kimura’?
The Kimura lock is one of the most important submission holds in Jiu-Jitsu and other grappling styles. At times it referred to as hammerlock, chicken wing or ude-garami. Whatever you prefer, it is a very powerful and versatile attack. And wherever you see grapplers competing, you can be sure to see the Kimura lock used to submit opponents and win fights.
Le me know if you think that Masahiko Kimura is the best judoka ever.
The Week In Review At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
The Week In Review At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
“Time keeps on moving into the future.”
But that shouldn’t stop us from having a look at this past Week In Review. Enjoy!
This has to be my personal favorite technique ever. Don’t miss “Back To Basics: Karate Middle Punch (Chudan Zuki)“
“Chewing on” an injury myself, I thought you might benefit from “Should Injured Martial Artists Still Work Out?”
At times underrated and underestimated “Judo: No Kicking And Punching, But It Can Still Hurt Like Hell!“
Do you know who ‘The Greatest Sports Figure Of The State of Iowa’ Is? Dan Gable, Olympic Wrestling Icon From The U.S. American Heartland
Yeah, it’s that time of the year again: “Jack Bauer/Kiefer Sutherland Of “24″ And The Art Of Fighting“
Congratulations To Fellow Martial Artist, Robert Downey Jr.! Wing Chun Practitioner Wins A Golden Globe Award for Sherlock Holmes!
Take it from the Little Dragon, Bruce Lee And The Power Of Goal Setting
Enjoy your Sunday!
I’ll be back here tomorrow. You, too?
Dan Gable, Olympic Wrestling Icon From The U.S. American Heartland
Unanimously, “The Greatest Sports Figure In The History Of The State Of Iowa”, Dan Gable has set the bar in high school, collegiate and Olympic freestyle wrestling soooo high, I wonder if anybody can come even close to matching or surpassing his accomplishments ever.
The reason I need to elaborate on wrestling today (again) is because it cannot be over-emphasized that the vast majority of physical encounters end up on the ground/floor and that’s where your grappling, wrestling, submission skills will be put to the test.
It was also the reason why yours truly as a tradtional Shotokan karateka saw the necessity and took he initiative to at least experiment in Judo years ago.
And honestly, every serious martial artist and every person serious about self-defense should have a very close look at their grappling skills.
Before I really get off track today, let’s get back to Iowa’s favorite amateur wrestling star, Dan Gable, who should serve as inspiration and motivation to you.
His achievements on the wrestling mat are legendary.
As a high school student Dan Gable was undefeated state champ during his sophomore through senior years. But wait, there’s more, a lot more!
While attending Iowa State University, Gable wrestled for three years and won 2 NCAA titles!
His only loss during his collegiate wrestling career was in his final match which brought his overall mark to an mind-boggling record of 181 victories and only 1 loss.
Dan Gable went on to wrestle internationally between 1971 and 1973 where he set his record at 29 wins and only 1 loss. Overall, his national and international freestyle wrestling record was 97-5.
One of his many highlights was the win of an Olympic Gold Medal as a Lightweight during the 1972 Munich Games where he did not give up a single point in all of his matches.
Following his extraordinary amateur wrestling career at the age of 28, Dan Gable became the wrestling coach at the University of Iowa in 1976.
In the nine years, from 1978 to 1986, under Gable’s leadership the Hawkeyes won the NCAA title each year, a record nine in succession.
He continued to coach the team until a sabbaticall after the 1997 season.
Gable’s coaching record in dual meets was 355-21-5 and that includes 15 NCAA titles and 21 straight Big Ten titles. Amazing!
He has also been called upon to coach the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team in 1980, 1984 and in 2000 in Sydney, Australia.
Dan Gable stays involved at the University of Iowa and not surprisingly he has also become a highly sought after motivational speaker.
In Waterloo, Iowa, they now even have a Dan Gable Museum that I am definitely going to check out when I head out there.
Now, let’s hit the mat!
Canadian UFC Welterweight Superstar Georges St. Pierre And “Operation Olympic Wrestling 2012″?
One of the absolute superstars of mixed martial arts, Georges St. Pierre from Montreal, is seriously considering to take a hiatus from his extraordinarily successful UFC career to “empty his cup”.
What that means is that GSP has been thinking out loud about trying for the Canadian Olympic Wrestling Team to compete at the London Olympics in the summer of 2012.
Well, you already know that I admire the fact that he is willing to get out of his comfort zone.
Just think of it:
He is currently at the top of his game, fighting for Dana White’s UFC and is one of the top 3 or 4 Pound-For-Pound Fighters in the world.
Some would even say he is THE invincible UFC-welterweight with a work ethic and athleticism second to none.
Now, stepping onto Olympic wrestling mat is quite a different story, even though GSP is considered one of the best wrestlers on the professional MMA circuit.
Believe it or not, Georges St. Pierre didn’t wrestle on a high school or college level!
In his 20′s, he finally added wrestling to complement his fighting arsenal and thus became a force to reckon with.
As he says himself, it won’t be easy once he has made that final decision and commitment to go Olympic.
GSP will have to adjust his training and will have to prevail numerous qualifiers to even become a member of the Canadian Olympic Wrestling Team.
I am not going to speculate on the money he will be leaving on the table while he pursues his Olympic dream, should he actually go for it.
What do you think: Will GSP go for it or not???
First U.S. American Judo Brown Belt And 26th U.S. President
As I write this post, I make myself aware of the fact that even though the Japanese martial art of Judo translates into ‘the gentle way’ that it is not felt that way when you are on the receiving end of some of these highly effective submission techniques.
But let’s get back to today’s Mystery Man.
If you are a U.S. history buff, you already know whom I am referring to as the 26th U.S. President.
If not, here’s another hint: This gentleman’s face can be seen on famous Mount Rushmore.
But wait a second:
He’s not the only one honored there, because he is in the company of three other U.S. Presidents who left a lasting impression on history.
Well, who is it then?
Along with Thomas Jefferson, he is considered the most well read politician to have ever served.
He was also a fervent supporter of Abraham Lincoln’s civil war policies.
No, of course we aren’t talking about George Washington.
We are talking about no other than Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt!
He was a very active outdoorsman, avid practictioner of physical activities such as wrestling, boxing and yes, Judo.
Teddy Roosevelt was a 3rd degree Judo brown belt in his living years, taught by Master Yamashita, who introduced Judo to The United States in the late 1800s.
There you have it:
The First U.S. American Judo Brown Belt And 26th U.S. President, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.
Talk soon.
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 
Ready For Tonight’s UFC 107 BJ Penn Vs. Diego Sanchez?
Are you ready for tonight’s main event BJ “The Prodigy” Penn vs. Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez?
If not, just sit back and enjoy this short clip to get you in the mindset.
Talk to you later!
Legendary Renzo Gracie Gets Multi-Fight Deal With The UFC
Things are getting really exciting again.
If you admire true martial artists in the ring and/or The Octagon like I do, we are in for a treat.
Just several minutes ago, I heard that the one and only Renzo Gracie has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.
Renzo Gracie, one of the most successful Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family members, will certainly contribute to get even more people excited about mixed martial arts in general and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in specific.
Now, this guy knows a thing or two about submission fighting.
Enjoy the visual appetizer!
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