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The French Foreign Legion: Ultimate Modern-Day Warriors And Their Rendezvous With Danger
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!
Memorial Day In The U.S. And Just Another Monday In Most Other Countries
Today, May 31, 2010, we celebrate Memorial Day in the United States.
Memorial Day was originally called ‘Decoration Day’ and was created in remembrance for those who have died in the service of the United States of America.
First observed in 1868, the idea was to further reconcile after the Civil War that ended in 1865 and was expressed by laying flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.
After World War I the holiday became the day of remembering all who made the ultimate sacrifice in any war.
Today, there are more than 260,000 graves at Arlington.
The National Moment of Remembrance is at 3 p.m. local time. Simply pause for a moment of silence or listen to ‘Taps’ right here:
Shotokan Karate De Ashi Barai And Takedown
I promised you that I would be with you again, today.
In general, most people know the martial art Shotokan Karate for its explosive kicks and punches.
Additionally, a very important technique that will throw an opponent off balance is one that I would like share with you today.
This technique is used in Judo, too. It’s known as “de ashi barai” or foot/leg sweep.
The following video I found is in German, so I will give you the brief description:
Initiate your attack with kizami tzuki, follow through with gyaku tzuki, apply de ashi barai with your rear leg by sweeping your opponent’s back leg while pulling his upper body in the other direction.
Control your opponent’s upper body during his fall to finalize wth a gyaku tzuki gedan.
But as we know, talk is cheap. So here we go with Samad Azadi, 5th Dan, from Hamburg, Germany:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOszVS-Taqw[/youtube]
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!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0IRY_eWuIw[/youtube]
I will be with you again.
Let’s say tomorrow.
Learn An Effective, Yet Underestimated Self-Defense Technique From Sifu Paul Vunak
Hey guys!
Did you miss me? Because I missed you guys, but I am back at it with a great contribution by the great Paul Vunak.
I found a self-defense technique, that in my humble opinion is both effective and yet underestimated by many people.
Maybe even ridiculed by some martial artists, who haven’t been on the receiving end of this one.
This technique is especially helpful to all of you following this blog, who might not be practicing self-defense on a regular base.
Take it from Sifu Paul Vunak, who knows his stuff.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR97yKSiUSg[/youtube]
“Gone Fishing! – Part 2
Hey there,
yeah, I am still hard at work not working.
Just needed some rest which I know you can relate to.
But I will be baaack!
Promise.
Have you checked out some of my previous posts from last month?
Take it easy and stay tuned.
Talk very soon.
Another Week In Review At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
Here’s your week in review at TheMartialArtsReporter.com and two great quotes, just because it’s that season again!
Gegard Mousasi, MMA Fighter With A 27-2-1 Record And Only 24 Years Old
From Leiden,The Netherlands, referred to by many as “Europe’s Best-Kept Secret”.
Is Yildiz Aras The World’s Best Female Karate Kumite Competitor?
From Istanbul, Turkey, meet the “Strong Girl”.
New Zealand’s Maori Haka Get Warriors For Battle
From ‘Lord of the Rings’ country comes a ritual that will get any opponent’s attention.
Bruce Lee And Albrecht Pflueger. Albrecht Who?
Find out who this karate pioneer is and what role he played in my life.
Yoga And Martial Artists
If it helps Rickson Gracie in his workout regimen, could you possibly benefit from yoga?
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu – Behind The Scenes In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Rio is more than just the ‘Girl from Ipanema’.
And here are the two quotes as promised. I hope you like them.
“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”
Lord Byron
But wait, there’s more!
“Nurture your mind with great thought, for you will never go any higher than you think.” Benjamin Disraeli
Thanks again for following me at TheMartialArtsReporter.com
Unfair Karate Fight – Let’s All Lighten Up, Shall We?!
I have no idea where you are and what you’re up to today, but I am taking a day off.
That’s why I thought it might be a good idea to chill and just look at martial arts from a not so serious perspective.
Are you with me? What say you?
Hope you enjoy this clip. I sure do every time I watch it.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChZfWk7zCiQ[/youtube]
The Greatly Feared And Highly Effective “Rear Naked Choke”
Greatly feared and highly effective, the “Rear Naked Choke” is the chokehold you do not want to be in.
Your opponent’s got you from behind and that is just not a good thing.
It’s never a good thing not being able to see what’s going on, right?!
The term “Rear Naked Choke” most likely originated from Jujutsu and Judo, in which it is also better known as the “Hadaka Jime”, or “Naked Strangle.”
Why “naked”? Well, first of all it has nothing to do with “clothing optional”. Just kidding.
Rather, unlike with some other Jujustu and Judo choking techniques, you do not have to employ a “gi” or training uniform.
When it comes to the “Rear Naked Choke”, the attacker’s arm encircles the opponent’s neck and then grabs his own biceps of the other arm and the hand of said arm presses against the back of the opponent’s head.
There you have it: The “Rear Naked Choke (Sleeper Hold)”.
To make it all more comprehensible I have added the following visuals.
Warning: Kids, do not try this at home or anywhere else without professional supervision!
Here is 2-time World Submission Grappling Champion, Dean Lister:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovb6ZAOJ8mg[/youtube]
And, 9-time UFC Champion, Matt “Country Boy” Hughes:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPPRz0NLVkM[/youtube]
Low Muay Thai Kick Can End A Fight Within Seconds
Muay Thai, which was developed on the battlefields during the 15th century, is known for using punches, elbow strikes, clinches, knee thrusts and of course devastating kicks.
Now, even if one cannot kick above the waistline there is a kick at your disposal that can end a fight real fast and I am thinking of the one you could employ in a self-defense situation.
It is the Low Muay Thai kick aimed at the thigh of your opponent.
Yours truly was once at the receiving end of one of these powerful kicks and let me tell you that I couldn’t use the hit leg for about an hour. Seriously!
Coming from a totally different martial art I wasn’t accustomed to pulling up my knee to avoid described predicament. Sometimes you learn the hard way.
As always, to learn a specific technique correctly, please seek advice from trusted and knowledgable instructors.
The following video shows you legendary Dutchman Rob Kaman, who years ago was an incredible fighter and feared even by his Thai opponents.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCTwgziWuTc[/youtube]
And another short clip shows you the kick applied in a real MMA/UFC fight:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZoIBNB3SOw[/youtube]
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