Announcements:
Before we start the news I thought I’d highlight some end-of-year housekeeping that I hope to have done by January.
- Finalize a different blog theme and header
- Police sidebar links and delete the dead ones
- Police the Martial Arts Toplist for link spammers and delete accordingly
Regarding point 1 – it sucks getting old! I changed the theme (again) mostly because I was having trouble reading the darn text.
Now, on to the usual!
Steven Seagal:
- Steven Seagal joins the “immigration posse“.
Ridiculous.
Prime Chuck:
- Sean Michaels may be shilling for Chuck’s Total Gym.
“Everybody is ‘afraid’ of Chuck Norris, but I’m not afraid of anyone. I’ve been beat up by better man than you. Chuck. Total Gym. You want it? You got it.”
The News:
- Jackson beats Machida (barely)!
The judges agree and “Rampage” earns the impressive split decision win. After the fight, Jackson respectfully congratulated Machida for a spirited performance and promised him a future rematch.
- Korea’s Taekwondo reign may be slipping.
Chinese women grabbed two more gold medals Saturday to dent South Korea’s taekwondo supremacy at the Asian Games…
- A respected Aikido master passes on.
Aoyagi, chief instructor of the Kaimuki dojo, died Nov. 16 at Straub Clinic and Hospital. He was 90. Aoyagi helped establish the dojo, the first of its kind to be built outside Japan.
- I suppose this skill could come in handy if her car breaks down.
A female monk over the age of 50 pulled six cars weighing 9 tons connected by a rope for 15 meters with her bare hands…
- Nick Diaz had some Aikido experience.
My first experience of doing martial arts was weird, real traditional, strange smell with incense burning.
- Krav Maga visits Virginia Tech.
It is an effective close combat fighting technique which, unlike most eastern martial arts, focuses on function over form with staggering results.
The Blogs:
- Bunkai reviews offerings from Taekwondo and Karate.
I’ve recently had a look at 2 videos from 9th Dan.com. The first is a fusion of self defense skills from two masters one Tae Kwon Do and the other Hapkido, called “Mixed TaeKwon”.
- Speaking of 9th dan.com…
9thDan.com is a collaboration between martial artists.
You can access their Facebook page here and their list of guest bloggers here.
- Cook Ding shares some vintage Aikido videos.
I stumbled on these vintage videos of Yoshinkan Aikido. Shioda Sensei is a young man.
- Ronin ponders time spent with knives.
Guys just don’t understand like Stabman mentions - they’re going to get cut unless something extraordinary comes into play – like shooting you dead or something lucky like that.
- Mr. Law talks about the Thai stance.
It’s no use to bounce any which way, the bounce segment of the action has to be directed toward the target. In Karate and Tae Kwondo Do competition fighters tend to bounce up and down. This vertical bounce requires a horizontal element to propel the strike toward the target, while it is also a very predictable movement which can be countered.
- Kettle bells for BJJ. Interesting…
The clips above and below show some of the newer ways that people are using these innovative tools.
- Sensei Strange ponders the knife and finds some great videos in the process.
I have been deep in meditation on the problems that knife work. I have been sorely disappointed with the kata work of judo and aikido.
- Sue offers us the ultimate guide to passing your black belt test!
I have been overwhelmed by the response to my last post calling for advice and tips on how to prepare for a black belt grading. I received over 20 responses from a range of experienced martial artists from around the globe.
- Wim just finished a great series on shadowboxing.
In Part 1 of “How to Shadowbox“, I covered the basic reasons for this type of training. Part Two gave you some examples of how to apply them. But that still doesn’t tell you how to begin shadowboxing.
The Videos:
Both come from Sensei Strange’s post on knives. I like the first one but am not too crazy about what is shown in the second video. Regardless of what I think both are worth considering!
-BCP
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Bob, I’m impressed. I’d only written my review a few hours before you issued this new round up. You certainly get it hot of the press
Well done. I enjoyed the videos and share your thoughts on the 2nd one. The first was very hardcore. I wish the “ukis” were allowed to struggle and add more realism. You run a great blog! Cheers
Charlie,
I got two words for you: Google Reader! (well, that and not much of a social life)
Ronin,
The short version: Not crazy about playing “stick and flow” with a blade. I think all that would do is get someone cut and probably bad. What I saw of TCS seems more workable than what’s in the other video.
Bob, great find with the kettleball video. My Sensei is a certified kettleball instructor, and has suggested I train with them on a regular basis. I’ve only been to one class, and we didnt use anything over 9 kgs, but I was so sore afterwards I never want to go back. I think the potential with these things has yet to be realized in North America.
RE Jackson fight: MMA really needs to get rid of the 10 point “must” system. It doesn’t work for MMA. It’s not that the decision was a robbery, it wasn’t. It’s just what happens when judges are forced to pick a winner in two rounds which were not only ricockulously close, but filled with periods of inactivity. One could say that Jackson won that fight with aggression or “octagon control.” I call B.S. You can control the cage all you want, doesn’t mean a thing if you’re taking damage in the process. Fight Metric has Machida winning the fight, landing the more significant strikes/takedowns, but not really winning the rounds. Personally, I had it a draw.
Stefan,
Just search my blog for “kettle bells”. You’ll find the brand I recommend. I have a 40 lb bell and do a routine once a week. You can get really good DVDs and do this at home with a portable DVD player and garage.
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