The News:
- An Ohio karate pioneer is remembered on Father’s Day.
James, also known as Jimmy, was the first American to receive the rank of black belt in Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu Karate.
He also introduced it to the United States, opening the first Shorin-Ryu Karate dojo in the country in Dayton in 1960.
- Hollywood exaggerating claims about the Shaolin? I’m shocked!
“Hollywood has completely exaggerated the martial arts scene,” added Cindy Truong, 32, a temple volunteer and event coordinator. “It’s not all about Chinese people being thrown over chairs. The martial arts you see in the movies, that’s Americanized. It’s a very small part of Shaolin culture.”
- Will Shane Carwin finally shut Brock up? I’m not certain he can but I’ll be rooting for Shane!
He is one of the most down-to-earth people in the sport. You’ll never hear him flipping off fans or yelling into the camera while foaming at the mouth.
He respects his opponents, doesn’t talk trash, yet has the fundamentals to be able to if he wanted, but his values overpower his mouth.
- Hugh Jackman is slated to play a boxer in a sci-fi movie!
Jackman, widely considered one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, is getting back into the ring right now with “Real Steel,” a sort of mecha-gladiator tale filming in Detroit. Jackman plays a washed-up boxer named Charlie Kenton who with his estranged son Max (played by Dakota Goyo) makes a comeback bid in a new high-tech sport of robot boxing.
- I have no issue with war protests, but I do think that for the most part they need to be directed at the governments, not the soldiers. The troops are just doing what they were trained to do.
Former British boxing champion Anthony Small was among the group of protesters who screamed abuses at troops returning from Afghanistan.
- Malaya takes some gold in a karate tournament.
PROVING they are ready to compete in the Guangzhou Asian Games, the national karate squad bagged three gold medal, two silvers medals and a bronze in the just-concluded 6th Korea Open International Karatedo Championships at the Gudeok Gymnasium in Busan, South Korea.
- According to Stuart Fox, kicks and punches are not as effective as chokes or elbows.
But in actual fighting, kicks and punches rank very low on the damage scale, with choke holds and elbows proving the most dangerous.
- I for one was not happy with the first Ghost Rider so I’m pleased to hear they are working on a sequel. Maybe they’ll get it right this time!
According to reports out of Sony, Crank creative tandem Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor are in talks to direct Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, and Cage is in the early negotiations phase…
- A taekwondo grandmaster recently passed away.
Grand Master Karlo Fujiwara was a man who lived strictly by the five tenets of tae kwon do — respect, etiquette, loyalty, modesty and patience — and instilled them in those he knew.
A fixture in the Billings martial arts community for more than 40 years and a nationally known grand master who taught tae kwon do to hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Montana, Fujiwara passed away Thursday morning at the age of 78.
“Everything was based on respect,” Korine Fujiwara said of her father. “It was respect for others and respect for yourself, and he drilled that into every one he knew.”
- Three things that go together: Japan, business, and aikido!
Mr. Kamei, an Aikido blackbelt, amateur oil painter and avowed “Cool Biz’ dissenter, said he has already shared economic policy views with Democratic Party of Japan ruler Mr. Kan, and their opinions are not that different.
- Some Air Force personnel learn krav maga.
Air Force Base’s Master Sgt. Stephen Adorisio, using proper Karv Maga techniques during a training session with members of the 50th Security Forces Squadron June 8 as part of their quarterly training requirements.
- Here’s one for the Jeet Kune Do crowd!
Second-generation JKD instructor Tim Tackett adds to his in-depth book series on jeet kune do with Chinatown Jeet Kune Do Volume 2: Training Methods of Bruce Lee’s Martial Art. Building on JKD theories and concepts from the first volume, Tackett concentrates on practice and applications in this volume.
The Blogs:
- Dojo Rat, Martial Development, and Wim Demeere all weigh in on that Seattle police officer who punched a teen jaywalker.
Earlier, Kelly had said, “The use of violence in the form of a full-blown fist to the face was wrong,” and leaders of several community groups, while not excusing the suspects, said Walsh clearly overreacted.
Police have said the department’s civilian-led Office of Professional Accountability is investigating Walsh’s actions.
Prosecutor Dan Satterberg says, “The law is clear: You can’t shove a police officer, period.”
- Bunkai has an excellent video that compares a karate kata to some wing chun applications. Consequently this video makes my sidebar video of the week!
On the surface, Wing Chun and Tekki look quite different, but as usual Keith and I look below the surface and find some similarities which can be used by practitioners of either system.
- Jon Law is going to try self-hosting! Stay tuned for an announcement that tells us where his new home is.
This blog is going to move to a new domain, it’s going to be self-hosted so I can do a bit more with it.
- Zacky Chan reviews Autumn Lightening.
After reading “Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword,” and “Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai”, I have started somewhat of a love-hate relationship with the writings of Dave Lowry.
- Sensei Strange has had several good philosophical posts lately.
I believe that you do not read a book, or have long discussions on ethics, Aikido philosophy will transmit simply through the act of practice.
- Nicola tries a little Qigong! I dabbled with Qigong but did not have the patience to keep it up.
As follow up to yesterday – hope to by the end of the weekend to begin some gentle stretches.
- Check out Muhwa’s latest martial arts funny!
How many styles of kungfu do you know?
- Perhaps training to defend against wrist grabs do have their place in self-defense!
Simply put a member of the U.S. Congress assaults a young student aping his best version of gorilla journalism. As a result we get a treat.
The Videos:
The first video is a recent interview of Brock Lesnar. Note that even after having recovered from a major illness, Brock is still one big dick. Then again, so is Mir.
I bet you thought you’d escape this week without me referencing our beloved Lord of Pasta? Well guess again!
That’s right, as if Anderson Silva’s arsenal wasn’t versatile enough, now the UFC middleweight champ is working with action film star and seventh degree Aikido master Steven Seagal.
Some little-known facts about Mr. Seagal:
If a diet was a person, Steven Seagal would kill it.
When someone eats a hamburger, Steven Seagal eats two.
A woman once tried to make fun of Steven Seagal’s weight in bed. She now has 20 children that are fat and know aikido.
And my personal favorite:
“The only thing scarier than Steven Seagal without Botox is Steven Seagal WITH a record deal.”
-BCP
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Hi Bob
Thanks for featuring our video as your video of the week. I’m very grateful.
Charlie
Bob you sum up Lesnar beautifully. The Lord of pasta video is pretty interesting, fancy Anderson trainig with the big guy. Suppose it goes to show that you’re never done learning.
Jon –
I am totally impressed with Lesnar the fighter — there is no doubt! I do, however, think he’s an arrogant ass.
You are welcome Charlie!
Hi Bob, thanks for this – I’ve just tried for third day in a row, still very early but my neck definitely feels a lot lighter, going to try and stick to it for a while and see what happens,
Cheers
Nicola
Nicola,
It really relaxed me and helped with my neck. The problem is after I started feeling better it just seemed too slow for my tastes.
I’ll be eager to see what you make of it or if you stick with it!