10 Feb 2010

Grappling, Judo, Karate, MMA, Martial Arts, Muay Thai, jujitsu

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • Judo in MMA Thought of the day: The Cage

    Judo ThrowAs many of you probably already know, I train in, and really enjoy Judo.  I am also a true lover of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA.)

    When it comes to MMA, it really is all about “what works.”  To hell wit the right way, or what a style is based on.  You gotta do what it takes to walk out of that cage the winner.  This is why we have seen so many styles start to really “blend” into a style that is MMA, all its own.

    Today, I would say that a good MMA fighter is either a good boxer and/or a good Muay Thai fighter (some might point to Lyoto Machida and throw Karate in here, but I think that one example does not make a pattern.)  Additionally, they have to be good at Jiu Jitsu or eventually they will be tapping.

    Now, we have seen a lot of MMA fighters then add wrestling to the mix.  I think that’s a good idea.  Wrestling is explosive and powerful.  It’s a great way to get someone to the ground.

    But Judo has had a bit more of a challenge in the sport.  Don’t get me wrong, there are great examples of strong Judo players in the game, including Karo, and even Fedor.  But take a look at Karo’s last several fights.  You really don’t see any Judo throws in there… just a lot of double-leg shots, just like everybody else.

    I had to do some soul searching on this one… Is Judo really just not up to it?  That led me to a couple of thoughts:

    1- The Cage.

    I think that the cage itself is a real inhibitor to the ability for Judo to function well.  If someone can just lean back against the cage, and spread their legs, then many of the throws that make Judo so strong are artificially crippled by the stability that the cage gives a person.  “So what?” you might say.  Well, this may be less relevant if you only intend to fight in a cage, but it does make me feel a bit better as far as Judo’s ability to be useful outside the cage in a self defense situation.

    2- One trick Pony.

    Even if the double leg is more effective in a cage 9 times out of 10, if it’s all you’ve got you better either be Olympic caliber, and have cardio that never stops, or you are going to get shut down.  I can’t believe how many MMA fights I watch where a guy shoots for a double leg… then again, and again, and again.  Not only is it ineffective, but you’re setting yourself up for a D’Arce, Gator roll into an Anaconda, a Guillotine, or any number of other nasty submissions.

    Work your wrestling.  Nail that double leg… get awesome at it.  But dangit, get some other arrows in your quiver.  There are few this as satisfying as sprawling when someone shoots, then grabbing the guy and suplexing him.  Ashi waza, or foot technique is when you see two guys locked up, and one of them seemingly just taps the other guy’s foot… but it’s enough.  Down they go.  It’s this ability to take the game where you want it in a variety of ways, to always keep the person guessing, and to play your own game your own way that Judo can help fill in.

    Anyway… my two cents worth for today :)


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    9 Feb 2010

    MMA, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • UFC 109, and Opinions in General

    Okay, so you’ll forgive me for just spouting for a moment about the UFC in general, and UFC 109 in specific.

    Let’s start wit UFC 109:

    First off, I gotta tell ya, that I really like Randy Couture, and that (unlike some folks) I actually like Joe Rogan’s commentary.  But this weekend I felt like I was being sold a bill of goods.  Coleman and Couture throw down.  I think it probably went about how most of us thought it would: Randy and Coleman, still really tough guys, but no longer in their prime.  Randy pounded on Colemen for a while, leaned him into the fence, and ended up beating him until they had to stop the fight.

    I could have told you it would go that way.

    So what bothered me is this: Joe Rogan is trying to tell us during the fight that he has never seen Couture’s striking so good.  WTF?!  Sure, couture is a star.  But we all get old.  Couture is no where near where he was when he beat Liddell, our Tim Sylvia.  I don’t blame him.  Hell, he’s a rockstar.  But please, don’t assume we’re all so stupid that we don’t see that he is past his prime.

    Couture has two more fights on his contract.  Good for him, I’m sure he’ll do well.  But this bullshit commentary about how amazing the fight was, just to make sure we all tune in to watch really bothered me.

    So now on the the UFC in general:

    Okay, so we have the UFC, and we have the WEC.  The same folks own them bot, and thus far it’s been sorta like the minors and the majors (or whatever similar comparison you want to draw.)  But the last several UFC cards have been pretty weak.  Sure they have amazing talent like Brock, Anderson, Lyoto, Penn, GSP, etc.  But they don’t have many guys to put against them that are good enough.  The result is some shameful cards.

    And this is happening while we are seeing some really impressive talent develop down in the WEC.  So why keep them separate?  Many of these guys are good enough for the UFC.  Case in point: Chael Sonnen from UFC 109.  He beat the hell out of Marquardt.

    Additionally, some of these guys have some real charisma and draw (e.g. Urijah Faber.)

    Basically, I’m tired of paying fifty bucks for weak PPV cards, and having WEC reruns of the fight with Faber’s hands broken run every week.  Let’s give these guys some exposure, and turn out a stronger PPV card.

    Thoughts?  Is it just me?


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    8 Feb 2010

    Grappling, MMA, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • The D’Arce choke: Brought to you by Paulo Thiago and UFC 109

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

    I know it sounds like Sesame Street when I say it, but I do think Paulo looks a little bit like Oscar the grouch mixed with Bert – its probably his thick eyebrows and huge ears. See evidence about that below.

    Back to the point, Paulo’s head and arm choke put Mike Swick to sleep in seconds. We practiced this choke in class today and Thiago shows us a textbook example. He gets the deep underhook on the top arm, passes his wrist on the far side of the neck, shoves the head down, locks the hand in the elbow crease and finishes Mikes’s trip to dream land with a twist of his forearm into the jugular.  All of this and he doesn’t even have to leave the opponents half guard.  Made me a Paulo fan.

    Since I’m a light hearted mood, I’ve chosen an instructional to match. Here’s a link to MMA prankster Mayhem Miller teaching the Darce choke.

    ***

    This post brought to you by the letter P and the number 109.

    oscar vs paulo thiago

    paulo thiago vs bert

    oscar vs paulo thiago 2

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


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    1 Feb 2010

    Grappling, MMA, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Quick Reveiw: Armbar From Guard

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

    We’ve recently been working on some armbars in class and I wanted to build on that.
    Here are three videos that I like showing the nitty gritty of the technique, one with the gi, the other two without. I think they cover most of the pointers we talked about in class:

    • Head control -> controlling opponents posture.
    • Grip the triceps -> attempt to get opponents arm into dangerous territory (the wrong “body-hemisphere”)
    • Angle hips so you are attacking from the side (3 o’clock positioning)
    • Keep knees tight (thighmaster squeeze) and ankles seperated.
    • Pull arm towards their hip, bridge up elevating yours.

    .

    Each video shows a different take on the armbar, but notice what they do that is the same.  As a professor might say, compare and contrast them. Anyway, enjoy.

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


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    26 Jan 2010

    MMA, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • Lion’s Den: Reno Martial Arts

    My work has had me traveling an awful lot lately.  One of the places I find myself finding a lot of time is over in Reno, Nevada.  When I’m out of town for a week, I start itching to get some mat time.  You know the feeling.

    Well, this last trip I decided to do something about it.  In Reno you’ll find well set up, clean gym with a true legend running it and passing along his knowledge: The Reno Lions Den, run by no other than Ken Shamrock himself.

    I showed up a little early for class, to kinda get a feel for the place.  Very clean, several large wrestling mats, a ring, bags, you name it.  Everything you need.

    But what really struck me was watching the kids work.  In particular, there was a girl, maybe 12 years old, that clearly knew what she was doing.  I saw her working in patiently with some of the other kids, but her moves were really slick.  Very skilled.

    That’s when you really know.  When you see some of the kids moving with such confidence and ability, you really know that this isn’t just a business or a Karate themed day-care.  This is some one’s passion.  This is the home of a master, who is passing his skills on to the next generation.  This is the kind of place to learn to really be your best.

    Unfortunately, I didn’t get to actually work with Ken on this visit due to the death of his father.  My heart goes out to the gym, and to the family.

    I do plan on training there again, the next time I’m in Reno though.  I will update you on how it goes.


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    21 Jan 2010

    Grappling, MMA, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Advice for Beginning Students

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

    Training

    I have been thinking about what would help novice student become well-rooted in martial arts.  My students up at the U of U have taught me a great deal, and I have a few things that could be of use to them and all beginning students.

    Relax

    Relax, relax, relax.  There is a tendency to substitute strength for technique – especially since at the beginning of your training career you have very little of it. When sparring, the lack of experience and control tenses up your body and often makes guys go ape crazy.  Breathe, have positive self talk, use mantra’s ,do visualizations before class. Whatever it takes.

    A tight fist can hold nothing; a relaxed hand can accept.

    Safety

    Safety is a no brainer – if you plan to train in martial arts for any significant length of time, you are at continual risk of injury and disease. The healthier and safer you remain, the more fruitful and long lived your training.

    Take your personal safety, and that of your training partners dead serious. When you get injured, you stop training. You get sick? Training stops. You hurt your team members? People will shy away from practicing with you.

    So how do you stay safe? For starters, see above. Relax. Second, take care of yourself. Get to bed on time, eat your veggies, don’t push yourself beyond your limits. Third? Pay attention to the safety pointers your Sensei brings up.

    Ask Questions

    Instructors love it when you ask questions, even more so when they are thoughtful questions.  Don’t just ask to see a technique again – go deeper. Ask about the fundamental principles at work. Ask why the move works.

    Also, the instructor cannot read your mind – if you have difficulty with something, bring it up.  At the same time, be respectfully curious – think about your questions before hand.  When you are practicing at home, ponder what would be a good question.  People say that there are no dumb questions, but this is because “they” are idiots. Of course there are dumb questions – questions that are usually blurted out with no thought.  Don’t let this discourage you though – “they” and “we” were all idiots at one time. Nice people will forgive you and help you in spite of it. Still, use your brain; craft good questions and imagine someone else asking you the same thing. What would you say to them?

    Record

    Invest in a notebook dedicated to your martial art study. Write down what you learn, draw stick figures and diagrams. Write down questions about techniques and make a list of the top three things you are developing.

    You can re-live the class with good notes.  Your memory will become sharper. You will be cultivating martial intelligence. In an interview, my jujitsu instructor, Sensei Edmunds, has talked about a notebook as one of the most important training tools in your arsenal. It’s one of the best kept secrets in martial arts today, hidden in the place people will look last – right out in the open. I’m sure you’ve heard it before and disregarded it … but I can tell you from personal experience that it is worth.

    K.I.S.S.

    At the beginning, you are a kid at a candy store. So many awesome, sweet things to learn and do.  Knife-fighting defense, rubber guard, advanced sweeps, five point palm exploding heart technique. So much!

    The aphorism, “Keep it simple stupid” is a great frame of mind. A master of the basic, fundamental moves and ideas of his or her martial art is a true master. When ever you can, focus on the core concepts and basics.

    The most common question I have heard while training is, “Well, what if the guy does this?”  “Or this?”  Such queries are well-intentioned, but often take an instructor so off topic that it becomes difficult to remember the move you were once learning and the new move that answers the question.  There are thousands of things an opponent might do, and there are thousands of techniques to deal with each of them.

    I know its tough, but be satisfied in learning one move and learning it well.  Save variations on a theme for later. As I have been told numerous times, better to have five techniques you can really fight with than to have five hundred techniques that fight you. Don’t be a collector of techniques. Become a student of the essence of a move.

    Practice the basics, over and over again. Advanced stuff is typically just an expression of a well-honed fundamental.

    Keep it simple, and keep going.

    Share

    I love martial arts. I love love it. Chances are, you’re getting pretty fond of it too. Talk about it with your friends, practice with them. Invite your friends to class (if its okay with your instructor). A large part of the pleasure of training will come from the relationships you develop in the gym and the relationships you bring into the gym. If you train with a buddy, you can motivate each other and build each other up.  When you are tired or lazy, your true friends will coax you into training anyway.

    No need to force it on anyone, of course, but if you like it why wouldn’t you want to experience it with the people you love?

    “Hey, I just learned an awesome move. Can I practice it with you for two minutes? I’m just a novice at it, so I need to go really slow.”

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


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    20 Jan 2010

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Knowing what actually Works

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

    UtahJudoJuJitsuClassI have to tell you, the last few classes over at Hidden Vally Judo / Jiu Jitsu have been some of the best I’ve had.

    I took some time over the weekend to really reflect on why that is.  The answer that came to me is this: To really know, and be good at a martial arts is actually different than being a true, experienced and seasoned competitor who knows what actually works.

    A person can know all of the correct ways to do throws, and be absolutely text-book in their execution.  But that will only take you so far.  It’s the experience of how to set up a throw, and some subtle nuances and variations of the throws that the instructor has had good success with that become the real gold.

    Just this last week Dr. Chen showed us how to turn a cross-collar Osoto Gari into a Swain-like arm attack that puts amazing pressing on the arm, and really breaks the Kazishi of the defender much easier.  Mike showed me a beautiful setup for what is essentially a wrestling-like “duck under” into a Tani Otoshi, as well as how to leverage a leg grab to setup up an Osoto Gari or Makikomi.  All of these came from “What has worked really well for me,” rather then “The way this move should be done is.”

    Whatever your martial art, don’t just find someone who is a certified instructor, or who just happens to be a black belt.  Ask some questions about their experience.  What have they really done with the art they are teaching?

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


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    14 Jan 2010

    Uncategorized

  • Posted by Steve Spencer

    • The death of an Icon: Bob Shamrock passes away at 68

    I spent this week in Reno on business.  Since I was going to be here anyway, I wanted to take the opportunity to visit the Lion’s Den, the training center that UFC and MMA legend Ken Shamrock has established here.  Earlier this evening I headed over to the 5:30 grappling class, to be taught by Ken.

    When I arrived I learned some truly sad news: Bob Shamrock, adopted father of both Ken and Frank Shamrock, passed away earlier this afternoon here in Reno.

    I had heard a lot about Bob, and the significant factor that he had been in the boys lives, and in the early shaping of the UFC  and MMA.  But not until this evening, when I sat down to do some reading on Bob Shamrock, did I really understand the caliber of man that the world has lost today.

    In a heart touching article published by the Knuckle Pit, we begin to see the picture of Bob Shamrock, who helped people from very early on in his life.  After school each day Bob would go down and volunteer his time at a mission in Los Angeles, where he would serve meals to the homeless, and entertain them by playing the piano.

    By the time Ken, a foster Child of 15 years old, showed up at bob and Dee Dee’s doorstep in 1979, the Shamrocks had already been taking in foster children for 9 years.  First one, then four, and then as many as 18 at a time would be welcomed into the Shamrock home.  Here they had access to a full gym, basketball courts, a swimming pool, and tennis courts.

    The Shamrocks learned early on, that sports was a great way to really get kids interested in something.  But if sports didn’t fit, they would send them to art classes at the community college, buy them guitar lessons, piano, or whatever it took.  They were always giving.  Always working to find outlets for these children.

    Our hearts go out to the Shamrocks, and to the many people who must be grieving today… The many children, now adults, whose lives Bob touched.  I know he is receiving one of the fatherly hugs tonight, than I’m sure he gave so many times.


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    13 Jan 2010

    Krav Maga, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Paul Evans

    • John Whitman Krav Maga Gun Seminar

    Krav Maga SLC will be hosting a Gun Seminar Taught by Krav Maga Expert and 4th degree black belt, John Whitman on Saturday Feburary 6th 2010.johnkrav

    Because of the amount of people attending, the seminar has been moved to a larger location. the address is 3855 South 500 West Suite E – slc, utah

    For more information please contact Paul Evans at kravmagaslc.com


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    8 Jan 2010

    Grappling, Judo, Martial Arts

  • Posted by Utah Martial Arts Feeds

    • Rigidity is Not Strength

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

    MattressLast night in class we had a few students who are either brand new, or haven’t been with us long.  I love working wit new students… It’s amazing how much more it sometimes makes you think when you teach something, rather than just do something.

    I have found a fairly consistent patten wit new students, and concepts they struggle with.  These are: energy conservation (or “bursting”), and rigidity vs. fluid.

    I recently posted another article on Energy conservation and cardio in grappling (Judo, Jujitsu, etc) and MMA, so I won’t be covering that topic again here.  What I do want to discuss however, is the concept of fluidity vs. rigidity.

    You can tell a new Judo student right away.  When the lock up on the feet they are so stiff and tense.  They all seem to have an inherent logic in their brain that tells them that if they are more tense, they are more prepared, and as a result better defended and more ready to attack.  They often carry this same tension when they are on the ground as well, but I think the aspects relating to the ground game are better covered int he “bursting” article, so I’ll just focus on the feet here.

    One of the analogies that I often use to help students understand the difference of rigid and stiff compared to fluid is the one of the mattress.  Most of us have, at one time or another, had to move a mattress set up stairs.  When doing so, It is far easier to move a box-spring than it is a big, floppy mattress.  Why is this?

    Well primarily it is because the box spring is rigid.  When you push it, you are pretty sure exactly where it is going to go, and how far.  You know exactly how much force it will take to tip it one way or the other.  This is because the box spring is consistent.  It does not flex or remain fluid in order to absorb and of your force or pressure.

    A big mattress on the other hand is a pain in the butt.  It never seems to do what you think it will.  You push, expecting a specific result, and it bends and sways under the pressure, absorbing some of it, and not being tipped and moved as easily as you would hope.

    By having a good solid grip, but remaining loose and fluid, able to react to an opponents pressures, and “give” when needed as well as being able to surprise an opponent with a sudden burst of offense, rather than telegraphing our every intention through or rigidness we can be better Judokas.

    Next time you randori, or work you Uchikmois, relax your body.  Be ready, be strong, have a good grip, but don’t be rigid.  Be fluid.  Be a mattress.

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


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