Martial Arts News 9.7.08

The News:

• Evans knocks out Liddell at UFC 88!

Evans knocked out Liddell with a thunderous overhand right to the jaw 1:51 into the second round Saturday night at UFC 88…

• MMA apparel brands show goods at trade show.

…many of them among the couple of dozen brands that descended on San Diego last week for a new trade show.

• Diaz takes IBO’s lightweight belt.

Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz went for 12 rounds against Michael “The Great” Katsidis of Australia and was crowned new International Boxing Organization lightweight champion…

Why is it that boxers and MMA fighters have to have these goofy nicknames? Mine could be Bob “Popcorn Knees” Patterson…

• In my opinion part of MMA’s success and appeal is good marketing of their product.

Between public appearances, media interviews and running their own gyms, UFC fighters such as Florian and Joe Lauzon have been forced to strike a balance between their main focus — training and fighting — and everything else that goes along with it.

• I guess there is something to be said for striking a classical pose if you’re being attacked.

I stepped out of the car and the guy was immediately thrown into total panic, striking some kind of kung-fu pose, pulling out his iPod earplugs and shouting: “F*** off! Leave me alone!”

I still think it tips your hand and gives you away but I guess it might scare some people.

• National Judo Championship opens in Dong Thap.

As many as 220 athletes, including 90 women, from 19 provinces and cities are taking part in the National Judo Championship which began in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on September 5.

• Florida dojang sponsors self-defense seminar for  the average person.

He has an impressive resume, having taught DPS troopers, several foreign police forces and American combat units.  His techniques in stick fighting help the average person fight back with whatever weapon is available.

• Shaolin Temple to become less secretive.

China’s Shaolin Temple, famous as the birthplace of kung fu, is planning to roll out classes across the country to teach martial arts once reserved for just a few, state media said Friday.

• 14-year-old earns a room full of trophies and his black belt in “American Karate“.

Spartanburg Martial Arts teaches a very modern and diverse style known as American “Free Style” Karate. During your training at Spartanburg Martial Arts you will learn the hard style techniques of Japanese Karate, the explosive kicking dynamics of Taekwondo, the powerful punching skills of Boxing, and grappling techniques of Jui Jitsu.

From the Blogs:

• According to Bale the simplest form of defense is to attack.

Practice targeting and striking Techniques often enough and you can make these simple reactions as part of your muscle memory, this way you can react automatically without having to think about what your next move will be.

Pre-taekwondo and pre-chin na this is something that was taught to me when I cross trained with someone who was versed in Wing Chun and a so-called “reality” system. It may sound boring but it’s also something that you can do at home on a bag or even in the air. Pick a few “go-to” techniques and run through them weekly.

• Formosa Neijia found a cool video on Russian Sambo.

Every time I look at sambo, I see judo that has been “smartened up” a bit.

• Martial Development has a thoughtful post on martial arts inventors vs. Kung Fu crackpots.

Rather than building on the experiential framework provided by a living martial arts expert, these innovators attempt to create a superior new system from first principles.

Finally I’ll close with a video of Taekwondo’s cousin, Taekkyun. I’m guessing this was staged so there is that. Regardless, those of you who’ve studied taekwondo will no doubt see similarities and differences. The thing that jumped out to me is how different their footwork and rocking posture is than what I’ve learned in taekwondo.

Taekkyun is a gentle art, sort of akin to Chinese Tai’chi.  In Taekkyun one focuses on pushing the opponent, knocking them to the ground.  Injuries are seen as unnecessary and definitely in bad form.   In a Taekkyun fight a striking (as opposed to pushing) kick is an illegal move.  If an opponent so much as brushes anything but their feet on the ground, a point is made.  So there are a lot of tripping moves, sweeping action with the feet often combined with pressure from a hand or arm.

~BCP

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