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Monday, 29 December 2008

UFC 92 - Forrest Griffin vs Rashad Evans Video and Analysis

Over the weekend, UFC 92 saw Forrest Griffen Vs Rashad Evans, in which Evans won the championship title, beating Griffen via ground and pound. It was a very steady fight with both fighters landing hits with good striking skills until the third round, in which Evans exploded, taking Griffen to the floor and finishing the fight. So what lessons can be learnt from watching it.

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Pace yourself – When the opening bell rings, instead of rushing in on your opponent looking for a quick knockout or takedown to submission, pace yourself. Throw a few jabs, maybe a couple of combinations to study the reaction of your opponent. By this you will be able to see what kind of fighter you are dealing with and which strategy is best to gain victory.

Kicking – Legs are always going to be more powerful and longer than the arms. Although not as fast and easy to apply than punching, kicks should definitely be trained just as much as punches and used regularly. Many people are not familiar with kicks to the legs and a few of them using the shin bone can be very effective and frustrating for your opponent.

Retracting EACH kick – Once you kick, weather it lands on the target or not, quickly bring your leg back. Many times Griffen let his leg drop or swung his roundhouses to vigorously and let his body turn. Maybe this is the reason that Evans was able to catch Griffins leg kick, take him to the floor and gain the victory. Just as you would snap punches back after they have been thrown, always snap your kicks back. This is the safest way to kick and also it is safer on the knee joint.

Wrist control – On the ground, at times, Griffen controlled Evans’s arm by holding the wrist. Not the elbow, forearm or anywhere else. By holding the wrist you should be able to get a good firm grip, wrapping your hand around nearly the whole wrist (depending on how big your opponent is) which should stop your opponent striking and can provide you with a chance to gain a good position for either a submission or an escape.

Trapping the leg when Ground and Pounding – During the final set of strikes by Evans which won him the fight he had Griffins left leg trapped under his right arm. Weather this was his intention or not, it is definitely a great way to control your opponent, making it harder for him/her to defend strikes. Don’t go looking for the leg trap but if it is possible use it.

Marks

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Tuesday, 23 December 2008

How Would Bruce Lee Fight Today

Bruce Lee is probably the most influential if not the most famous martial artist who ever lived. The charisma and excellence which he portrayed in his films has been an inspiration to many people. A common question which has been asked since he passed however, is how would he fair out against some of today’s MMA fighters.

Well in order to answer this question, you have to do some studying on Lee. If you do this you will come to understand that Lee was not one to stick to what he knew.

His formal training was in Wing Chun from Sifu Yip Man. However, as he continued through his training, he studied many aspects of other arts using what he considered useful and practical for him and disregarding what he thought was not.

If you have read some of his books you will quickly see that the style of martial arts he portrays in them is completely different to what he shows in his movies. Flashy fancy techniques are definitely a hit in Hollywood, but not practical for real life fighting. Bruce Lee knew this and it is evident in his books.

Chances are, if Bruce Lee lived, he would have continued cross training, keeping what was useful and practical and disregarding what was not.

The following is a fight between Toney Valente vs Takayuki Kohiruimaki. Obviously Valente is portraying a fighter based on Bruce Lee’s movie performances.

Would Bruce Lee fight like this if he where alive and competing today. Persoanlly I think it is very doubtful.

Marks

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Thursday, 18 December 2008

Children Black Belts

Years past, the black belt was seen as an honour to achieve, and people who where certified black belts had to go through vigorous testing before. Although just a grade which never guarantees victory in competition or the street, the black belt was only given to people who trained hard and gained a thorough understanding of all basic techniques of there style.

Today however, is a completely different story. It is more and more common to see children who have gained there black belt, some even below the age of 10. Is this right?

As mentioned, black belts where seen as martial artists who had gained a thorough understanding of basic techniques. However, martial arts nowadays prohibit children from learning certain techniques. For instance the Judo syllabus states that a child has to reach a certain age before they can be taught chokes and arm locks. So if a child of 12 years old for example has never been taught or practised such techniques, is it right to grade them to Dan level.

There are still many styles do not just give there black belts away. Hard work and thorough testing is needed in order to achieve Dan grade. This could be winning a certain amount of competitions, performing gradings which go on for hours, sparring hard for a certain amount of time with a certain amount of fighters etc. Whatever the test is in order to achieve Dan grade, a large amount of preparation is needed for this. Either studying theory, sparring hard for weeks before the grading or preparing the body to be physically capable of performing the event, which in turn involves strength and cardiovascular training.

There are not many children that have the physical capabilities to do this. Weights should not be allowed for children as they are still developing. Although cardiovascular and bodyweight exercises may help them to develop good health, the intensity they would need to exert is to demanding for them and should be left for when they get older.

Normally you see children black belts from schools where gradings are very simple tests in which a few basic techniques must be demonstrated. Sometimes you see, 3rd 4th Dan or even higher. Maybe this is acceptable or maybe it is not. It certainly helps the schools in profiting. Normally, achieving Dan grade costs a lot of money and that may be the reason it is happening.

Peoples views on this are varied and it would be great to here them so please leave a comment below.

Marks

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Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Street Fighting Weapons

People familiar with this website will know that all martial arts and self defence articles here do not involve any information regarding weapons, weather it be training with them or weapon attacks which occur during self defence situations. This is not because I believe no thought should be given towards weapons, quite the opposite in fact, but because there are more sites which I link to, that give far better information on weapons than I ever could. However, weapons DEFINITELY have there place in martial arts and street fighting.

Every day when you hear on the news or read in the newspapers of shops getting burgled or people getting robbed on the streets it nearly always involves a weapon of some kind, be it a knife, gun, bat or something else. Occasionally there are still instances where samurai swords are used on the streets.

So how can one prepare for weapon attacks on the streets? Well first of all, its never a wise decision to face someone who is armed. Running away and living to see another day is the most sensible option. Sometimes however, this is not always possible, and if this is the case you have to be prepared which means training with weapons.

If you are involved in a situation where your opponent has a weapon and you don’t, you are at a disadvantage. Unless you are carrying your own weapon, which is highly unlikely, the odds are in favour of your opponent. However, there are a few weapons which most people carry and don’t even know about.

Keys – Although not as sharp as knifes, keys can definitely do some damage. Used to thrust, swing or throw at your opponent, key strikes can hurt, sometimes cut, but above all, can distract your opponent enough to either control the arm which is holding the weapon or preferably, get out there.

Mobile phone – Who does not carry a mobile around with them in today’s day and age. They can be thrown at your opponent to distract them, buying you a second or two if you’re lucky to flee the area, or can be used strike. Because mobile phones are pretty solid, the head would be an ideal target for a hammer fist type strike.

Loose Change – Throwing coins at your opponent will if not do anything else, distract your opponent, providing you a chance you to flee.

Credit Cards – It is common for muggers to mug people as they are withdrawing cash from the wall. Holding a credit card tight in your hand with only two or three centimetres popping at, as if holding a guitar plectrum can turn it into a sharp cutting object which you can use to slice across your opponent, faces or hands.

Car Doors – Imagine you are about to step into your car. You open your door to get in and are approached by someone who demands your keys, money or something else. Your car door can be used to ram into your opponents body or preferably his knees.

Nearly anything can be used as a weapon, or as something which can slightly even the odds against an attacker who is armed. Try and think of other items that are commonly within your reach and practise ways in which they can be used for self defence purposes.

Marks

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Saturday, 13 December 2008

Triangle Choke Variations

The following is a demonstration video on one of my most favourite submissions holds, the triangle choke (Sankaku Jimi).

A common and feared submission due to the fact that when your head and arm is caught in between your opponents legs, it can be very difficult to escape.

If you notice in each variation in the video, the person applying the choke makes sure that the foot that wraps around the opponent is securely tightened in the crook of the other leg, pulling it into place if need be. Many times people don’t do this and obtain a choke by pulling down on there opponents head. Although this is possible and should also be mastered, by performing the submission with the foot in the crook of the knee, then pinching the knees together to gain the submission, you gain better control of your opponent making it harder for them to escape, and can obtain a tighter and more complete choke. Enjoy!

Marks

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Monday, 29 December 2008

UFC 92 - Forrest Griffin vs Rashad Evans Video and Analysis

Tuesday, 23 December 2008

How Would Bruce Lee Fight Today

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Children Black Belts

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Street Fighting Weapons

Saturday, 13 December 2008

Triangle Choke Variations

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