Archive for January, 2009

23 Jan 2009

Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • UFC 93: MMA in Review

    This Article is comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    Saturday night we all gathered round, and watch yet another round of sweating, panting, punching fun from the UFC.

    I am pleased wit the level of fighting that the UFC has these days, the professionalism of the events, and the knowledge of Joe Rogan (Not to mention the fact that the other announcer seems to have stopped being quite such an idiot.)

    But I have to say that running PPV events every couple of weeks is getting to be a bit much.  Not only are the cost of events expensive, but my nacho and general entertaining budget is going out of whack as well.

    But, enough of my junk food woes… on to the card:

    • Rich Franklin against Dan Henderson

    I hate to say it, because I like Franklin so much… but I think that Anderson Silva has broken Franklin’s spirit.  The initial fight between Franklin and Silva was like watching someone try to french kiss a freight train.  Poor rich has not been the same fighter since.  Don’t get em wrong, Hendo is one tough SOB, but I think that Franklin in his prime could have won that fight.  As it was, he was too timid to really lay down the assault that he needed to.

    • Coleman vs Shogun

    Sad, sad, sad.  I have great respect for Coleman, who he is, and what he has done.  But I felt like that fight was like a circus side-show where we can all watch the two dancing bears stumble around and paw at each other.  This fight never should have happened.  It really broke my heart to see these two men degraded.

    • Belcher vs Kang

    Holy crap.  Who knew Belcher was that good?  Nice job.  Belcher’s ground game was really great.  Where everyone had counted him out, he came out swinging, and eventually won with an arm-in guillotine.

    • Horn vs Palhares

    I really love Horn.  As a local to Utah, I can’t help but cheer for him (BTW Jeremy, I’d LOVE to catch lunch some time and do a pod-cast if you’re up for it!)  But I have also been stunned watching Palhares in his previous fights.  His strength is amazing, and he throws together some Jiu Jitsu moves that seem out of fiction.  Palhares should definitely be in the next X-men movie.

    As such, I had counted Horn out on this on.  But Jeremy was amazing.  He did end up losing in the end, but the fight was a tactical chess-match that was edge-of-your-seat to watch.  Horn has definitely still got it.  Way to go Jeremy!

    • Lytle vs. Davis

    I always like to watch Lytle fight.  He always brings a good game, and has so much heart.  But Davis is a boxer, and was just too tactical for Lytle on the feet.  I heard that they had agreed to not take ti to the ground (where I think Lytle would have dominated.)  I think it’s silly when a fighter wants to prove a point so badly that they will forgo their real strengths to disprove their weaknesses.  That was really when Hughes started to fail (when he decided he needed to try to be a striker.)

    All in all, I think the card was so-so.  I can’t wait to see Penn and GSP later this month though.  Penn, GSP and Anderson Silva are simply not mortal!

    To comment on this post, please visit the original article click here

    23 Jan 2009

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Gator Rolling

    This Article is comes from Utah Judo
    To see the full original article click here

    One of my favorite submissions before I got into Judo, and actually learned much about submissions was just a simple, standing Guillotine. This move however, is not a legal Judo move, as Judo is careful about what are called “cervicals”, or moves that put too much pressure on the spine/neck. This is to help prevent permanent injury in competition. Additionally, it is sometimes difficult to submit people with this move.

    But I still often found myself in a position that tempted me to grab for the move, so I started looking for something similar that might work better.

    A move that I found and fell in love with, and have used very effectively is often called the D’arce choke, or the Anaconda choke with a Gator Roll (when you get looking at Anaconda’s versus D’arce you’ll see several variations.) Two variations of that move can be seen here. You will note, that in the first case the attacker steps toward the legs, moving almost into a chest-to-chest position, where in the second it’s a head-to-head position with both people on their backs:

    I played around a bit with both of these positions. The one I have used, and really like a lot is the first… When you put your feet over it nearly pops a person’s head off.. They are quick to tap. But the problem is that it is even more cervical pressure than the Guillotine, and I got called out for using it. The second position is okay… but I have not been able to submit as easily with it.

    But I really like the grip applies in the anaconda, and I love the Gator roll move. What I have started playing with recently, and still need to refine, but have been impressed so far is a slight change to the anaconda style. In the video below you will see how, rather than staying head to head, or going chest to chest, the attacker turns sideways and lays their stomach across the top of the head. This seems to put on good pressure, without cranking on the neck too much.

    Will it get called as a cervical? Dunno. I think not, but I’ll keep you posted.

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    23 Jan 2009

    Grappling, Martial Arts, MMA

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Escape From The Sprawl Position

    This Article is comes from SLC MMA
    To see the full original article click here

    Don’t you just hate it when you shoot in for a take down and your opponent sprawls nicely, flattening you out on to all fours with him on top of your back? Me too. From this sprawl position, the top grappler has plenty of options – anaconda, guillotine, taking the back, you name it. But what does the bottom grappler have? Not much. I think the best option is to try to escape into a better position. Here’s one idea:

    It’s basically the high school wrestling “sit out”, and I think it works pretty well. I’ve been experimenting with a couple of other ideas for this situation, and when I refine them I’ll post. If you have any techniques you like from this position, let us in on them!

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    23 Jan 2009

    Grappling, Martial Arts, MMA

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Guest Post: Basic Combinations

    This Article is comes from SLC MMA
    To see the full original article click here


    Note: This post was submitted by a friend and fellow student at the University of Utah. If you want to submit an article to be considered for publication, drop me line.

    Putting Basic Combinations together

    One of the most elementary skills all strikers must learn is often one taken too lightly or quickly forgotten in practice; combinations. Most just associate the act of throwing combination punches more as routine to practice the individual punches themselves or simply as a violent aerobic exercise – but in reality, these punch sets are mainly designed to teach fighters how to roll their bodies with punches to increase the power and speed of each action.

    One very basic combo that most people will associate is the basic jab, cross, hook combo. But why in that order? Why not just throw 3 cross punches? The reason is balance and the removal of the next punch’s windup.

    Imagine you have just thrown a powerful cross, what does it take to throw that same cross again immediately afterward? It sounds fairly easy but in reality so much force is lost in the recovery. Assuming you threw the first cross correctly, your crossing shoulder would be in front of your body to lead your weight into the punch. In order to re-throw that punch you would need to recoil your arm and twist your shoulder back in your stance to its starting position.

    It sounds like a simple motion but in the midst of a fight it is laughably slow especially if your intention is to throw another long cross once the starting position is regained. Instead you want to use your twisting torso to your advantage and allow each to punch to wind up the following action.

    So in the cross scenario, the full extension of the punch in your leading shoulder (the one that throws the jab) has been rocked backward just as it would be if you were winding up a hard jab. As you throw your right, you simultaneously wind up your left; and as your throw your left you wind up your right and so on. This allows your punches to fly in at the maximum speed and power possible all while keeping your body balanced and well defended – should your opponent try to sneak through a well-timed counter punch.

    From a birds-eye view, your shoulders should look like a teeter-totter with your head as the fulcrum. This same concept doesn’t just apply to basic striking – it applies in a to kicks, knees, elbows and even take-downs. A 1-2-3 combo doesn’t necessarily have to be a jab, cross, hook if you don’t want it to be. Try throwing a left jab, right elbow, left knee or a left jab, right cross, left kick or whatever other combination you feel like suits your skills and situation but remember to stay in balance with your moves.

    - Zackery Goodnight

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