The Lord of Marketing:
- Most of us can smell what Seagal is cookin’.
The approach between the two was actually a marketing maneuver planned by the agent of Anderson, Jorge Joinha, to give more visibility to it’s champion in the American media.
Martial Arts News:
- One guy opens a boxing gym because he loves it.
“I think the big misconception with my gym right now is — people think you have to fight,” Tillery said. “I just use boxing as an engine to get people back in physical shape.”
- The MMA debate continues.
While not every MMA fighter is squeaky clean, their number include an ex-teacher in Rich Franklin, a fireman in Chris Lytle, a decorated army hero in Brian Stann, a law enforcement officer in Forrest Griffin and an engineer in Shane Carwin to name but a few. The vast majority are regular joes with a love of combat sports.
- It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Cane-do news story!
She found Cane-Do, a self-defense and exercise class that incorporates the use of a cane into a martial arts and exercise program. It is a variation of hapkido, a Korean martial art .
He showed how focus and concentration are essential elements and showed the Iron Palm and the Poison Finger techniques on a full unopened can of soda.
- Just when I thought I had heard of just about every martial art out there…
This winter, self-defense was the program of choice. In that time, students were taught basic self-defense moves from Kajukenbo, a style of mixed martial arts.
- From Mr. Wikipedia.
Kajukenbo is a hybrid martial art that combines Western Boxing, Judo, Jujutsu, Kenpo Karate, Eskrima, Tang Soo Do, and Kung Fu. It was founded in 1947 in Oahu, Hawaii, at the Palama Settlement.
- Another boxing meets high school story.
Of course, the idea behind the club isn’t intended to teach fighting, insists its coach, Garret Talarczyk, who also coaches the high school volleyball team. In fact, students learn on the first day that an actual fight will get them kicked off the team.
- Here’s one for the Shotokan crowd.
Karatekas of House of Shotokan Karate of Belize City enjoyed a 73-58 points victory when they hosted black belt martial arts enthusiasts of the Eagle Park Tae-kwon-do Martial Arts Academy of Mexico…
- The Taekwondo pimp gets fined.
HE BECAME a hero after winning a SEA Games taekwondo gold medal for Singapore in 1993, at the age of 22.
On Friday, Patrick Champion Wong’s reputation lay in tatters after he was fined a total of $29,000 for pimping and bribery.
- One woman achieves her fourth dan.
Last week, Susy Evans was awarded her fourth black belt in higashi karate.
- Grandmaster Kim receives an honor.
Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido-USA, know for its traditional realistic methods, is a very close-knit organization. The Founder of the Art, Grandmaster Kim, brought this art to life in 1967 after training directly under Ji Han Jae in the 50s and 60s. He also received his ninth-degree directly from the Korea Hapkido Federation in 1993.
- Rather fitting since I again have aikido on the brain.
Do not be afraid to try it, whatever your age, gender or fitness level. As long as you can fall down and get back up on your own, you can do this martial art.
The Blogs:
- Rory has us beg the question.
In “Meditations on Violence” I mentioned instructors who extolled the ‘eyes of the tiger’ basically saying that you would do very well in a fight if you could get into the predator mindset. That’s a perfect example of begging the question.
- Rick has a link to a National Geographic article on Shaolin Kung Fu.
This month’s National Geographic Magazine has an article about the current state of the Shaolin Temple and it’s place in contemporary China.
- Gajin just gave me one more for my list.
Basically, for anyone interested in the question of transcendence over brute technique in the martial arts, or anyone interested in peace or aikido philosophy, I would highly recommend this short but incredibly dense and enlightening read.
- Both Lori and Patrick tackle the same question.
After thinking about the mechanics of takedowns and throws, I considered the fact that when people engage their hand strength into their grip, they have a greater tendency to use their arm strength to make a technique happen. – Jiu-Jitsu Sensei
Instead, build your throws from the ground upward. Build the skill that you need in order to get your feet in a powerful position. – Mokuren Dojo
- Apparently bricks have nothing to worry about from the Spetsnaz. 
Boards may not hit back, but that doesn’t mean they always cooperate.
- Just in time for Oscar, Chris lists the best martial arts flicks of 2010! Seagal on the bad list? I’m shocked!
Last year was a good year for martial arts movies. With more than two dozen releases to theater and DVD…
- Munhwa links out to a cool Taiji video.
Found this on Youtube -similar to the Tai Ji I used to study when I was in Taiwan.
- TDA Training shows us how to explode. (He missed one: Attend a faculty meeting with me. If that doesn’t make you explode then I don’t know what will!)
I’d leave something open (a draw), then stop-hit or counter after making my opponent miss. What I had was EXPLOSIVENESS!
- Hiding is not always okay.
It makes no sense at all. So if we take this real-world example to the world of kata it makes no sense to hide, obfuscate, or try to bury a technique to be found out after years of hard study.
The Videos:
I came *this close* to buying Dynamic Aikido. There is a copy in Half Priced Books and it is quite excellent. I thumbed through the book and much of what I see looks practical and effective. I guess it must be if they teach Yoshinkan style to the Tokyo police. I’ve sat in on a few aikido classes but they were not Yoshinkan so I guess I need to add that to my to-do list!
One technique that caught my eye was a side entry throw. I learned a version of this in both kung fu and chin na and it’s still one of my favorite techniques. At 1:46 you can see what I think was being depicted in the book. (I’m not even going to try and figure out what the correct Japanese terms are so my apologies to the aikido crowd!)
Related: I was looking for a video about Kajukenbo (see above article) when I found what appears to be a Kajukenbo and aikido person sharing from their arts. Cool stuff!
-BCP
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