Archive for July, 2009

16 Jul 2009

Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Just got my Judo Brown Belt

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

    Clothes Too BigA couple of weeks ago I was honored to receive my Brown Belt in Judo.

    I guess everyone has their own outlook on the martial arts, as well as their own perspective on advancement in the arts.  I know we have seen some people come into class and ask, “How long does it take to get a black belt?”

    Well of course, the answer to that is: 10 minutes, a credit card, and an Internet connection.

    We have also seen people who come to class for a few months, and then inform the Sensei that their “Ready for their brown belt.”

    My mindset has always been somewhat different.  When I saw this picture I knew I had to use it.  It really sums up exactly how I feel when I get a belt advancement.  I see an advancement not so much as recognition of what you have done thus far, but more as a new set of expectations.  Hopefully, those are set because your Sensei feels you are now prepared for them.

    When I received my green belt (the first belt above white in Judo), it took me about nine months to feel like I really was “a green belt.”  What does that mean?  Well, for me at least, it meant that once I had the green belt for about nine months, I truly did feel that I had more control, knowledge, and ability than an athletic white belt that came in off the street.

    But now a new bar has been set.  I worry as a brown belt if green belts will judge me, and wonder, “Who is he to be instructing me?  I do [insert name] throw better than him anyway.”

    But this got me thinking as well…

    As some of you may, or may not know, I am also pretty active in business and entrepreneurship (you can see my linked-in profile here.)  In business I hire people, and put them in positions all the time.  When I hire someone into a company, even a person who is fairly junior, I am not surprised if they are better at something than I am.  They probably aren’t better at everything.  But, I would almost expect that they have certain skills or abilities that are good.  Otherwise, why would I be hiring them.

    But that new-hire still has a lot of other things that they can learn from me, and from others in the company.

    I think this is true of the martial arts as well.  I need to be able to accept that I have value to offer, and not feel that I have in some way “tarnished my belt” if a lower ranking person has things they can teach me.  I need to be able to be humble and learn (which I think I do pretty well at in Judo), but along with that humility, I need to make sure that I still recognize my abilities, and am “humble” without being “humbled”, or “broken”.

    I don’t know if anyone else struggles with this.  Is it an inherent issue with a “belt system”?  Is it less likely to happen in a system without rankings, like MMA?

    I don’t know.

    But in the meantime, I want to thank my Sensei for feeling I am ready for this.  I’ve got some big clothes to grow into :)

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

    15 Jul 2009

    Hapkido, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Randy Schawang Personal Protection part 1

    This Article comes from Hapkido TV
    To see the full original article click here

    This is a very special interview with a very experienced personal protection expert. Randy passed away last week just days after his Hapkido TV spotlight.

    The world is a safer place because of Randy
    Thank You
    Allen Hughes
    HTV
    If you cannot view this video click here

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

    15 Jul 2009

    Hapkido, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Randy Schawang Self Defense Personal Protection Part 1

    This Article comes from Hapkido TV
    To see the full original article click here

    Randy was an amazing expert in personal protection. We were fortunate to have him on Hapkido TV for a spotlight before his passing just days after our interview. There is nothing like true “battle field” experience that evaluates techniques and strategies of self defense.

    Randy gave us some great insight talking from his colorful military experience. He is a Utah Conceal and Carry Expert. Randy comes from experience in the Persian Gulf, US Coast Guard working with DEA on search and seizure, and gave tactical rife, pistol, and shot gun courses.

    Randy tells about being part of the extraction team in the Philippines when Ferdanand Marcos left the country. He also tells some amusing stories about drug search and seizure.

    His basis for true self defense is “Environment Awareness.” We call it the “Wal-Mart self defense.” People have a bad habit of wanting the best parking spot and end up blocking themselves in. Randy tells us this can lead to abduction or assault within minutes.

    He also teaches time, distance and escape routes training. Randy’s big thing was not to be paranoid, but be aware of what is happening around you. His advise, know your escape routes, and plan out what to do if something does happen.

    He also had some great advise on focusing on your surroundings, and to NOT become preoccupied with cell phones, purses and small children. Additionally, Know different ways out of buildings you enter. Randy says that if your senses tell you something doesn’t feel right, get out, and to avoid potentially bad situations to begin with.

    Randy also gave us an overview of the Utah Conceal and Carry permit, stating that the permit is good in 33 states and in April alone Utah had 10,000 applications. He is of the opinion that, “An armed society is a polite society.”

    Randy Schawang leaves the world a safer place!

    Allen Hughes
    HTV
    DSC01299

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

    15 Jul 2009

    Uncategorized

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • Randy Schawang passes away at 42

    We recently posted a video by Hapkido TV with Randy Schawang.

    I am sorry to report however, the passing of Randy Schawang at the age of 42.  Randy leaves behind three children, and many family and friends who dearly loved him.

    Just one such example can be seen in this blog post by “Kate.”

    I never knew Randy personally, but obviously he has touched many lives.  At this time however, Randy’s family is in need.  As you can read in this article on KSL,  the family is looking for donations to help wit the funeral.  The details provided are:

    “All donations can be made at any local branch of Wells Fargo asking for the account of Randy Schawang Funeral fund.   All donations big or small will be greatly appreciated by the children and family.

    God bless and thank you all !!”


    14 Jul 2009

    Krav Maga, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Paul Evans

    • krav maga – heavy bag class

    Heavy Bag Class – Solving the Problem of Too Many Students

    Those of you who teach bag classes have probably run into the problem of having too many students show up for class. You end up with two, or even three, members training on one heavy bag. Now, having too many members is a high quality problem, but it is a problem nonetheless. Your lesson plan needs to accommodate these large numbers, or you’ll end up with a) people standing around, waiting their turn to punch; b) banging into each other as they all work together; or c) fragmenting your lesson plan so much that it feels like a shopping list of activity items rather than one homogeneous, well-thought-out lesson.

    There are multiple solutions to this problem. We’ve included a few here:

    1) “Burn Out” Drills – assume you’ve taught a striking combination. Your group of 2 or 3 people on a bag have been taking turns, and up to this point it’s been OK, because the pace has been a slightly slower, learning pace rather than an all-out kick-butt pace. But now you want them to work! Have them take up the speed and power of their combinations, and make it a “burn out” drill – the minute one person is finishing the combination, the next person must start. The two (or three) students on the heavy bag will end up challenging each other, giving each other no rest. What was a difficulty (too many on a bag) now becomes a challenge.
    2) “Station Race” – create two or three stations, one of which is a combination on the heavy bag, the others being any hardcore, functional exercise. Those of you who do CrossFit should consider activities like wall-balls, thrusters, burpees (or just sprawls, if you want to keep it in a fighting context). Here’s the kicker – give each station a set number to reach, such as “Do the combination 5 times” or “10 wall balls” There is NO REST between sations…unless you finish before your partner. Then you get to rest until he finishes. Do you see where this is going? The student will be driven to go hard and fast to get done and rest…but so will his partner! The overall affect will be one of greater output and work.
    3) “Station Bounce” – a variation on “Station Race”; have several stations (one of which is heavy bag, of course), and arrange them so that members in a group of 2 or 3 move in order from one to the next (for example; heavy bag, followed by push ups, followed by squats); each person must continue to do the activity at that station until “bounced” to the next one by the person behind him in order, who has finished.
    4) “Sprawl While Waiting” – a simple way to maintain activity if your students are waiting for their turn on the bag: do sprawls (or, logically, end the combination with a sprawl). If the combination is long, make the waiting student sprawl twice during the partner’s combination,
    5) “TeamWork” – if they are really waiting, make the wait worthwhile by making the 2 or 3 people a team against the other “teams” on other bags. Each person must do the combination 5 times, see which team can finish first. The person waiting his turn on the bag can and will cheer on his partner. It won’t feel like waiting. If you want to make it harder, make each person do 2 sets of 5.

    These are just a few ideas. We hope you find them useful…and feel free to post additional ideas of your own!

    14 Jul 2009

    Grappling, Martial Arts, MMA, Wrestling

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Catch Wrestling Seminar with Billy Robinson @ Altitude Combat

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

    I just heard about this from Noah J – there is going to be a catch as catch can wrestling seminar over at Brandon Ruiz’s Altitude Combat. Wednesday and Thursday night, $20 bucks a night.

    I know it’s short notice, but Billy Robinson is one of those old school powerhouses, like Karl Gotch.  Billy has trained some very tough guys – like Josh Barnett and Sakuraba. Not to mention that Brandon also has a serious grappling resume. I rolled with Brandon once at Fusion – he was messing around, let me take his back and attempt to choke him, which was like trying to submit a mighty oak tree with Olympic greco-roman experience. Epic fail. Anyway…

    You’ll want to RSVP to see if you can still get  in. Check the Altitude Combat page for more details.

    PS – Appearance it’s tough to find the place – it’s in a warehouse like district just off North Temple and 800 West.

    PSS – Did you notice the Brock Lesnar catch wrestling hold from half guard?

    Thanks Noah for the heads up!

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

    13 Jul 2009

    Martial Arts, MMA

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • MMA update: Henderson vs. Bisping… AKA: Shut the hell up

    Bisping is tough.  But he ain’t at the level of Henderson, and he’s got a big mouth.

    That said, hopefully it’s all to sell tickets, and he’s a great guy off-screen.  Still… I was pleased to see him get a beating.

    I think this fight went like most of us would expect:  Bisping thinking he’s the better striker, Hendo lands a few good ones.  Hendo take him down to show how easily he can.  Hendo knocks him out.

    And what a knockout.  This was reminiscent of an old Tank Abbout knockout (the flying, crushing blow to the already unconcious victim.)

    A couple of things that were of note for me in this fight:

    1- Bisping kept circling the wrong way… right into Hendo’s power.  For such a technical, intelligent (seemingly) striker it was surprising to see Bisping doing this.  Perhaps he had too much faith in his own standup?

    2- Hendo came in with a flurry in the first round, and then seemed quickly spent for a while.  He was mouth breathing for a bit after that, and we never saw anything else with that level of energy from him.  Hendo is still of a skill level well beyond what Bisping is, or possibly ever will be.  But I am sad to say that I think that Hendo is starting that slow decline that comes with age.  I hate to watch Hendo slowly decline like Liddell, another real hero of the sport.  I think that’s were it’s headed though.

    But at least he made Bisping shut the hell up first :)

    13 Jul 2009

    Martial Arts, MMA

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • MMA Updates: Georges St. Pierre (GSP) vs. Thiago Alves in Review

    Well, UFC 100 is in the books.  One of the most amazing fights of the night would have to be the GSP/Alves fight.

    Both of the men were really amazing.  By the end of the fight I felt like I had just watch Superman go 5 round with the Hulk.  These guys were just beyond normal.

    So, things that were not really a surprise:

    1- Alves had quick, threatening hands and kicks.  Especially early on.

    2- GSP was still able to effectively take Alves down consistently.

    But there were a lot of things that were a surprise:

    1- Alves’ guard was really, really impressive.  We have seen GSP move past that guard of the likes of BJ Penn with little or not effort.  But Thiago Avles had a great guard and was really able to keep himself from getting damaged much.

    2- Thiago’s ability to get back to his feet.  Wow.  For the first couple of rounds Thiago seemed to be impossible to keep on the ground.  The problem was, that each trip to the mat stole some of his energy, and his spirit.  By the third round he seemed to be protecting from damage a lot more than fighting to get back up.  I think this was a real downfall for him.

    A couple of other notes on this fight:

    GSP is amazing.  But… I think he lacks the finishing power of some of the other champs (Bock, Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machita.)  GSP reminds me of Randy Couture (one of my all time favorites.)  They outclass you, an chip away at you.  But they don’t really seem to have that bone-rattling punching power, nor are they the absolute top-tier in submitting people.  I don’t know for sure how you fix this if you’re GSP.  Maybe you don’t need to… It works well for him (and it worked well for Couture.)

    Another note: Thiago Alves is really, really impressive.  Other than GSP I don’t know who is really a challenge for him.  I’d love to see him move upa  weight class and kick some heads in.

    13 Jul 2009

    Martial Arts, MMA

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • MMA over the weekend: Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar in Review

    I know that a lot of us were pretty stoked to see the Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar rematch over the weekend.

    For anyone who hasn’t heard, Brock won by knockout in the second round.

    Some interesting points on the fight though:

    1- I was surprised at how well Mir was able to keep Lesnar at distance on the feet.  It seemed like he had Brock a bit worried.  I don’t know if Frank could have knocked him out, but I was impressed.

    2- The ability for Lesnar to easily takedown Mir was no real surprise.  Unfortunately, neither wa the fact that once they were on the ground Lesnar was able to use strength and that wrestling balance to keep him there… But Lesnar still hasn’t really learned much on his ground game.  He had strange holds, and passed up several submissions (like the Americana) several times.  Anyone wit a real ground game would have capitalized on it.

    3- Regardless of tactical ground skill, Lesnar balance and his amazing punching power ended the fight.  I think this really was the most likely way for this fight to go.

    4- Lesnar’s WWE style persona sucks.  He needs to just be a real person.

    10 Jul 2009

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Kumikata: Start first with the grip

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

    I was working with one of the classes in our Dojo on teaching the Tai Otoshi.  Things seemed to be going pretty well.  Everyone was getting better and better at the move.

    But then I would ask a couple of students at a time to come forward and do some light Randori, working for their Tai Otoshi.  I was surprised how many of the students would approach each other wit their hands down, and then calmly reach up to grab the Gi.

    At that point we stopped, and I had a someone come forward.  I grabbed him with a very dominant grip, and asked him if he felt it was likely he was going to throw me.  The obvious answer was, “no.”  I then had him grab me with a good grip, and asked again.  The obvious answer being, “yes.”

    We spent the rest of the class working on getting a good grip on our opponent, and breaking dominant grips they might get on us.

    I know that this blog is syndicated in multiple places.  Some of them non-Judo sites, such as Utah Martial Arts.  So some of you might be reading this, and wondering how applicable in it is for non-Gi, non-Judo applications.  The answer is: Very.

    Long before I did Judo I wrestled.  In wrestling it is very common to see the two opponents “lock up.”  I loved the lockup.  Transition into it was a great time to hit a duck-under or a fireman,s carry (Kata Garuma in Judo.)  If you were good at it you could also use the lockup to force your opponent around and create the opening you wanted.

    We see this mirrored as well in the Muay Thai clinch.  A good clinch is the first step to vicious knee attacks.  In MMA we see opponents pushing eachother against the cage and going for their “underhooks.”  This allows for hip-throws, keeps a person from dropping for a double-leg, and many more advantages.

    Back to Judo specifically however:  I cannot stress enough how important it is to protect yourself from being “outgripped” as your approach your oppoenent.  Keep your hands in, protect the collar.  Fight for and gain good Kumikata and you are not only far more likely to hit your throws, but less likely to be thrown.

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

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