Martial Arts News 5.24.09

In honor of someone with a karate background doing well in MMA I’m foregoing my normal news photo and replacing it with Mr. Machida.

• Lyoto Machida wins big at UFC 98.

The final blow was a devastating left hook that flattened Evans.

• And here’s a pre-fight article that’s worth a look.

That success, martial arts experts said, is refurbishing karate’s long-tarnished reputation among U.F.C. fans and reinventing American notions of what it means to be a mixed martial artist.“

A green belt in Europe is the same as a fourth-degree black belt here,” said Bas Rutten, a Dutch-born black belt and a former U.F.C. heavyweight champion.

Still, many fight analysts and martial artists stress that it is Machida’s unorthodox punches, kicks and footwork that make it so difficult for today’s mixed martial artists to figure him out.

• Youths learn boxing for various reasons.

To hit. To be hit. To learn the sport. To be more athletic. For camaradarie.

• Local students do well in taekwondo tournament.

Taekwondo students from Northland Karate in Albert Lea competed at a tournament in Dodge Center.

• One executive says that most of the dangerous moves have been removed from karate.

Barden… insists most of the dangerous moves have been taken out of modern karate, but only the foolhardy would test his willingness to walk away a second time.

• Students in California do well at jujitsu tournament.

Students from the Tsunami Martial Arts Center in Crescent City traveled to Eureka on May 9 for the Jobu Shin Kan Kata second annual Jujitsu Tournament.

• Marine Corp marital arts is spreading.

Officials at Navy Personnel Command said there are no plans underway to formally adopt MCMAP, but some sailors, including corpsmen and security force sailors serving with Marine units, have started training.

• May must be tournament time?

Four members of Andalusia Isshinryu Karate competed in the 2009 Gator Nationals held in Daytona Beach, Fla., on May 15 and 16.

• Former professional wrestler wins his latest MMA bout.

Former World Wrestling Entertainment star Bobby Lashley won his third MMA match in 24 seconds Friday night in Alberta, Canada.

• Karate instructor goes to jail over ponzi scheme.

A former Indianola karate instructor with purported ties to organized crime was sentenced today to 5 years and 5 months in federal prison for an investment scheme that targeted 25 Iowans for more than $800,000.

• One sifu praises Tai Chi.

Tai Chi is growing in popularity in the United States, says Carlos Suarez, instructor of the ancient internal Chinese martial art that is often practiced for health reasons.

• Man claims self-defense in bird beating death! Only in America…

A Kansas man accused of beating a gull that tried to eat his wife’s ice cream is appealing a $275 fine stemming from the incident in California.

• Samurai Theater is making a  comeback of  sorts…

Grindhouse can be hard for some, they’re called exploitation films for a reason, and so a sense of humor is essential.

• Anyone ever hear of the Don Jitsu Ryu System?

Modern in concept, yet ancient in origin, Don Jitsu Ryu blends well with many of the traditional martial arts styles such as Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Weaponry and Kick fit Boxing.

• You can read more about Purple Dragon International here and here.

If you are the taller person you should not allow your opponent to get into your safety zone, by keeping a safe distance between you and the shorter opponent ,use full range or extension techniques to your advantage. The Tall Man Style works even better for those with much flexibility.

From the blogs:

• AKF has a photo up from their recent belt tests. Even more photos at this link!

Congratulations to everyone who tested on May 9 – you all did a wonderful job.

• Fist in the Frost ponders a question that all martial artists will face.

The newest theme that has been cropping up is one of aging.  When does a striking/kicking based martial art become no longer appropriate due to the age of the practitioner?

• Dave Chesser has a new blog up.

Finally, the new blog will have a new identity and reflect the direction of my business: martial fitness.

• John Zimmer has an interesting post about how other activities can help your martial arts.

I have found some activities that are not necessarily thought of as having anything to do with the martial arts but can be used to improve ones own strength, coordination and timing thereby improving your own martial art.

The videos:

- Qinna’s version of this video is called Turning Around Heaven and Earth AKA “Reverse Wrist Press” (at 4:03). In our version your grabbed wrist never completely stops touching theirs.

- This second video I found over at John Zimmer’s blog. There’s a rumor on the internet that this footage was filmed at Dojo Rat’s Shack of Love. Rest assured I have my staff hard at work trying to verify this.

~BCP

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