kickboxing
Michael Kuhr, Former Kickboxing Champion, Now Security Professional High In Demand In Berlin
Michael Kuhr from Germany gained fame through his numerous amateur kickboxing championship titles.
He then went pro and became Germany’s first World Champion in Kickboxing.
Years have passed since his bouts in the ring.
Michael Kuhr now runs a successful security company in the German capital of Berlin.
This is a tough business that calls for discipline, integrity and a cool head when things around you heat up.
In certain circles he is simply known as ‘Der Pate’, which translates into English as ‘The Godfather’.
Michael Kuhr has become a celebrity on German TV because of his professionalism and the success he enjoys in Berlin.
To get you acquainted with Michael Kuhr, here are two video clips you found.
The first one shows him as a kickboxing champion and the second one displays his de-escalation skills as a bouncer in his current line of business.
Warning: There is some profanity in the seond video.
Gegard Mousasi, MMA-Fighter With A 27-2-1 Record And Only 24 Years Old
Today I would to introduce to you a mixed martial artist who has been consistently climbing in the MMA rankings in an almost stealth-like manner.
Not too long he was referred to as “Europe’s Best-Kept Secret”. It’s time to reveal the secret.
Born in Iran to Armenian parents, Gegard Mousasi and his family moved to the Netherlands when he was only 4 years.
The university town of Leiden, also birthplace of the Dutch Constitution, has become home to this exceptional mixed martial artist.
The very talented Gegard Mousasi started with Judo as a kid and then by age 15 he immersed himself into Western boxing.
Astonishingly enough, it has been reported that after training for only about a year, he became Dutch amateur boxing champion.
The next stepping stone was kickboxing which has a long tradition in The Netherlands and that has brought out many amazing fighters. (I look forward to talking about them in the very near future.)
Equipped with profound skills in Judo, Western boxing and kickboxing as well as the desire to take on new challenges, Mousasi entered the arena of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
He currently fights on Team Jurojin and is also a member of Red Devil Sport Club.
His first official MMA fight on record was in April 2003, when he was still 17 years old! Mousasi was declared the winner after 3:40 minutes of the first round by TKO.
He had a 5-0-1 record until Mousasi had to swallow his first loss in February 2005, which led him to make numerous changes in his approach to MMA.
The only other loss he had to suffer was in August 2006.
It has been now over 3 years and a rather successful undertaking for Gegard Mousasi who has a stunning fight record of 27 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw (early on in his career).
He was good for a surprise by signing up for a K-1 fight in 2008 against Musashi which he quickly won in the first round through referee stoppage.
After competing as a Middleweight, Gegard Mousasi has moved up to Strikeforce’s Light Heavyweight division.
I admit that I am very impressed with his overall fighting skills, demeanor and professional approach to his career.
And at the relatively young age of only 24 and if he stays injury-free, there’s no telling how far and how long Gegard Mousasi can go.
Do I hear the UFC and Dana White calling?
Joe Lewis, The World’s Greatest Karate Fighter Of All Time
Whenever I ask people, who aren’t involved in martial arts and karate in specific, about the greatest karate fighter they will in most cases name Bruce Lee and/or Chuck Norris.
Joe Lewis? Not really.
That got me thinking.
Without a doubt, Bruce Lee was and Chuck Norris still is a formidable martial artist and fighter.
The exposure both of them received through television and movies made them household names, worldwide.
Again, Joe Lewis? Nope.
What amazes me about Joe Lewis is that as a U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa in 1965 he started studying Shorin-Ryu Karate at the youthful age of 18 and reportedly attained his black belt in only 7 (seven!) months.
After his military service Joe Lewis returned to the United States and in 1966 he began his unmatched tournament karate career.
At times, he trained with martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who by the way did not compete in any tournaments.
During 1966 to 1974 Joe Lewis competed on the tournament circuit as well as a professional kick-boxer winning national and world titles as a heavyweight fighter. He is considered the “Founding Father of Kickboxing in the Western Hemisphere”.
Throughout his career he fought famous fighters such as Allen Steen, Thomas LaPuppet, Louis Delgado, Skipper Mullins, Victor Moore, Joe Hayes, Benny “The Jet” Urquidez and yes, Chuck Norris.
Joe Lewis was an original member of the U.S. World Karate Team that also consisted of Mike Stone, Skipper Mullins, Chuck Norris and his friend and student, Bob Wall.
Joe Lewis starred in a number of action-adventure movies such as “Jaguar Lives” and “Force Five” and has received numerous awards for his achievements in and out of the ring.
In 1983, karate living legend Joe Lewis was chosen by his peers and fellow fighters as “The World’s Greatest Karate Fighter Of All Time”.
In Memoriam, Andy Hug, K-1 Fighter Extraordinaire From Switzerland
Did you read my post of October 7 with the title “Switzerland Is The Place For Cheese, Chocolate, Skiing, Watches And ….Wrestling?” You can read it here again.
Well, then you already know that there really is a lot more to this picturesque European country than most people know.
But then again, because you visit TheMartialArtsReporter.com on a daily base you are not like most people anyway!
Considering the size of the country and its relatively small population, it’s amazing how many great athletes Switzerland has produced.
Skiing and tennis immediately pop into my mind.
I wouldn’t necessarily think of karate and kickboxing. Would you?
One Swiss karateka, who absolutely deserves to be mentioned and remembered, is Andy Hug.
He left us way too early. In 2000, that is.
Andy Hug started with karate at the age of eleven.
By the time he was only 15, Andy was already a Swiss Oyama Cup winner.
And only two years later, he was on the national Kyokushinkai karate team!
During the early 80s Andy Hug was winning tournaments throughout Europe.
In 1987, he was even the first non-Japanese ever to reach the finals of Kyokushinkai world championship and only lost due to a controversial point decision.
Andy Hug continued to fight in Japan, where the fans certainly appreciated his diverse fighting style.
Thereafter he switched to Seidokai and the launch to his professional K-1 fighting career was set.
During the mid 90s, Andy Hug fought against some of the greatest K-1 fighters such Ernesto Hoost, Sam Greco, Peter Aerts, Mike Bernardo, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović, Maurice Smith, Bart Vale, just to name a few.
He was known for his devastating axe kick and his low heel spin kick which left numerous more than just stunned.
His kickboxing record was an astonishing 37 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw.
Andy Hug left such an impression that he was only K-1 fighter ever to be rewarded an honorary samurai title by its founder, Kazuyoshi Ishii.
Sadly, Andy Hug died of leukemia shortly before reaching the age of 36.
After his cremation, Andy Hug’s ashes were deposited in the cemetery of the Hoshuin temple in former Japanese capital city of Kyoto.
Andy Hug, K-1 Fighter Extraordinaire From Switzerland, May He Rest In Peace.
Savate Or How The French Really Can Fight
Well, alright, so ‘La Grande Nation’ is known for fashion, wine, cheese, croissants, the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysses etc.
We have also been led to believe that the French are masters in retreat and surrender.
So how did they then ever become a Colonial Power?
Are you telling me they acquired all those colonies and had all this influence on several continents by simply sweet talking over a glass of Beaujolais?
I beg to differ.
And whoever said the French run away from every fight?
Without the Marquis de Lafayette and his fellow Frenchmen, the thirteen colonies wouldn’t have attained independence from King George to be come the United States of America, at least not that fast!
And let’s not forget the venerable French Foreign Legion:
Whenever these guys are deployed to clean up some corrupt thug-infested Third World country you know who’s gonna be on the receiving end of a serious beating.
And yes, I am aware that the French Foreign Legion is made up of a lot of ….. foreigners, alas non-French.
Nevertheless, French make up the majority and run the show. And what a show it is.
Years ago, I met a former Legionaire who was originally from Madagascar (the actual island off the coast of East Africa, not the animated movie!).
This was one very soft-spoken dude who told me a little about of his former military service, only after I noticed his French paratrooper “diploma” on his office wall.
He talked about his deployments in the 80’s as the opportunity given to him to do some “travelling”.
The destinations always turned out to be some places that were really wild in the 80’s like Lebanon and Chad. Heck, they probably still are, right?
But I digress….
Anyway, I came across a French fighting style that is extremely effective not only in the street where it was created in Paris and Northern France.
Mon dieu, this one will keep you on your toes and bobbing and weaving.
Savate contains elements of Western boxing and a number of kicking techniques, some of which remind me of Muay Thai and Wing Chun.
Savate translates in English to old shoe or boot. So, it’s no surprise that practitioners actually wear shoes while they’re at it.
Believe me when I tell you that Savate is a very effective fighting style to be reckoned with. O la la!
Check out the video clip below and let me know what you think!
Au revoir, mon ami!
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