The Flipside: ALar’s Thoughts on The Reem…

Posted on April 16, 2012 by ALar

....You're trying to say I can't have the testosterone of 14 men in my system????

I might be a little more long-winded than our webmaster, but hear me out. I have a legitimate belief that Alistair Overeem will indeed fight as scheduled for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 146. The fact that Overeem recently broke his silence and did NOT mention his failed test, leaves me to believe that the UFC will use a combination of loopholes and influence on the Nevada State Athletic Commission to get Alistair licensed for the bout. Add in the fact that Overeem has one of the most powerful lawyers in Vegas on retainer due to this matter, as well as other legal issues, and we likely end up with Reem in the cage at 146.

Our ENRAGED webmaster already detailed Overeem’s failed drug test and mentioned the fates of other fighters who also flunked the urine exam; I will not regurgitate those details for you. (Though, I will note that according to my sources, Sonnen’s T/E ratio tipped the scales at 16.9:1.)  In my humble opinion, Overeem should be pulled from the fight and given a twelve-month suspension.  The suspension would likely end his UFC run for the time being but will do right by his peers and the fans of the sport.  Overeem will then likely return to compete in the “international waters” of MMA in Europe or Japan where he will be free to eat all the testosterone infused Clydesdale that he can stomach. I can see the cast-off Reem making a return to kickboxing or taking a big pay day at one of the upstart MMA promotions in Asia, and I still WILL watch. Say what you will about his PED use, but the guy is ENTERTAINING. If anyone has thought that allll these years that Overeem has been clean then you are simply kidding yourself. I recently went back and watched a Chuck Liddell/Overeem fight from Pride in 2003. Overeem is a SHRIMP!  The guy has blown up to cartoonish levels in recent years; it is simply not natural. He does not pass the “eye” test in any way, shape, or form.

This circumstances surrounding Overeem and his implied PED use reminds me the 1998 Home Run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. These two captivated a national audience as they launched homer after homer into the bleachers all while chasing Roger Maris’ single season record.  At the time, no one questioned how two aging sluggers managed to pack on muscle towards the end of their so-called “primes” and begin bombing home runs at an otherworldly level.

No Photoshop here...

Observers were simply wowed by the unreal feats of strength and had no desire or care to know the dirty science behind them. The same mental attitude has been applied to Overeem for the last few years.  Largely because he was not a member of the country club of MMA, the UFC. Fans watched from afar as Alistair decimated opponents, laughing and casually shrugging off the fact that he was “on ‘roids” or “the juice.”  As Alistair finally signed on with the UFC, it was really only a matter of time before he got popped for having a hot test.  The guy is a walking science experiment.  He barely got licensed for his Lesnar fight and used various excuses and tactics to assure the NSAC’s testing worked out for positively for him. Due to the failing results, there are hordes of keyboard warriors out there who believe that Overeem has defiled the UFC, the sport, and it’s fans as a whole.  Many are unecessarily villefying Overeem for his actions, when in reality he is one of many, many more athletes in the sport who use PED’s. Sad, but true. (Our webmaster excluded from these keyboard pugilists, he is still bad-ass even though he thinks the Overeem debacle will bring down MMA in a Watergate/Lewinsky-esque manner). In all honesty, others have failed this test, they took their punishment, and came back clean*. Some of them somehow even managed to get a title shot (or even two) in their return from PED exile…  Let The ‘Reem serve his time, come back clean*, and begin entertaining us again.

Unfortunately, I believe my course of action will fall on deaf ears. The UFC, Dana White, and the NSAC will somehow mask the facts and assure that Alistair fights for the title at 146.  This will be a questionable decision in the march toward legitimacy that Dana and Zuffa have worked to attain since the days of Art Jimmerson.  We will all have to bite the pillow on this one and remember that capitalism has us all by the balls.

All About the Benjamins baby....

PED use is rampant in MMA and there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it until blood testing becomes the norm. I simply do not see that happening any time soon due to health concerns that would arise about drawing blood from fighters in a certain period of time before their fights (See Pacquiao, Manny) .  In the time being, we will have to live under the illusion that our heroes are clean*, and keep cheering for those that are brave enough to get into the cage in order to entertain us.

If Reem does get suspended, forget Mark Hunt, give Hendo** the title shot!!! 

*”clean” as defined by the UFC: Able to pee clean a week before the fight… How you test the other 51 weeks of the year is irrelevant.

** TRT, blah, blah, blah. It is “legal”, and the man tests clean. Unfortunately, that is all that matters in today’s fight game.

Posted in Commentary, MMA, Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why I Might Stop Watching MMA

Posted on April 12, 2012 by moaimartialarts

This will be quick.  If Alistair Overeem gets the title fight against Junior Dos Santos, I will boycott the UFC, and most likely MMA in general, for now on.   I’m no fan of Chael Sonnen, but his elevated testosterone levels didn’t come close to Reem’s 14:1 T/E ratio.  He was suspended for a year.  Neither did Nate Marquardt’s, and he was subsequently booted from the UFC for messing up a main event.  By that precedent alone, Overeem has no place in the UFC–no matter what Bas says!

No amount of horsemeat will do this for you. Sorry.

I’ve spoken out against PEDs in MMA a few times before on this blog.  Aside from the risks they place on athletes’ health and the detriments they impose on the sport, they’re simply unfair.  Here’s JDS’s take on this.  Do you agree?

PS – I won’t even mention that a decision in favor of Reem will make the Nevada Athletic Commission and Dana White reek of hypocrisy.  If they let him fight, they should just stop testing altogether.  Let’s get real about PEDs, people!

Posted in Commentary, MMA, Polls | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

How to Be a Half-Assed Vegetarian

Posted on April 7, 2012 by moaimartialarts

Moo

So I’ve been cycling off meat and dairy recently.  As a byproduct of last year’s experiment with the Slow Carb Diet by Timothy Ferriss, I found myself eating A LOT of meat.  I was stuck in a sort of cycle: grill some extra flesh for dinner, eat the leftovers for lunch, supplement with eggs and lentils and fish and beans.

No wonder I felt tired all the time.  That’s a lot to digest!

Since I started The Warrior Diet a few months ago, I’ve been experimenting with ways to keep up with the amino acids I need during the day before my big evening meal.  Ori Hofmekler suggests protein shakes–preferably minimally processed and free of chemicals and hormones.  He prefers whey, but I have some trouble with that due to lactose intolerance. (I know most whey proteins are lactose free, but they still upset my stomach for some reason.)

A Viable Alternative

Barf-o-Rama!

A while back, a reader referred me to the Vega line of supplements.  I planned to try their stuff but never got around to it.  The desire to get away from meat and to shift to more of a plant-based diet was calling though, so I finally ponied up the (considerable) coin for these three products.   The first I tried was the Whole Food Optimizer.  It was okay but really overpowering and grainy.  The chai flavor wasn’t bad, but the berry flavor was borderline undrinkable.  I felt good drinking it, but I had to double the water to mix it well enough to go down.

Much better!

The All-In-One Nutritional Shake is so much better!  It has about as much natural protein but they thankfully cut way back on the fiber.  This shake is vegan, mostly organic, provides optimal nutrition for people who refrain from meat, and it actually tastes good!  I drink the vanilla chai flavor after every morning training session.  I eat enough fiber and still consume meat a few times a week, so I can get away from the “complete meal solution” provided by the Whole Food Optimizer.  A close look at the label shows these two powders are essentially the same blend of pea, hemp, and brown rice protein, along with extra iron and probiotics.  A winner!

Tastes great, less filling!

My new recovery shake is the Vega Sport Performance Protein.  I’ve tried a few different shakes including Trader Joe’s soy and MetRx whey, but they’re very heavy and hard to drink after training.  This formula is comparably light while still tasting like something kind of unhealthy; think of a nutty chocolate milkshake.  Drinking this after my evening training sessions helps tide me over until my big evening meal and keeps me from getting sore.  I’ve noticed a big difference in recovery time since I starting drinking this, plus I have improved energy since it’s nice and clean: it’s free of pesticides and hormones and all the bad stuff you find in most animal proteins.

But Wait!  There’s More

Liquid protein and meal-replacement options are becoming increasingly mainstream right now.  Take a look at this made-up product:

Lol! Like Vitamin Water. Get it?

and now this REAL dietary supplement!

Even if you like steak, you've got to find this a little gross . . .

As usual, the diet industry has found a fad and will ride it as long as you’ll buy it–or until your health gives out.  If you plan to supplement your diet–whether you eat meat or not–consider how the product is sourced.  Most companies cram their products full of crap that will only make you sick.  They might claim to boost your short-term performance, but I doubt their interest in your long-term health.  I like Vega because their stuff is created by pro triathlete and The Thrive Diet author, Brendan Brazier.  He knows a little about elite performance and nutrition, about how to lead a healthy lifestyle, and how to eat in a way that supports the planet too!

The one caveat is that Vega is expensive.  But if you think of how you can skip a few other, less healthy meals, and how you can lower your carbon footprint (if you’re into that sort of thing), then you might find it worth the cost.

I’ve found some good deals through The Vitamin Shoppe.  If you hunt around, you can often get Vega products for up to 50% off.  Take a look, try it out, and let us know what you think.  If you have other meatless meal alternatives, share them here!

Posted in Nutrition, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lord of the Octagons: Return of the King!

Posted on March 31, 2012 by ALar

ALar’s Revised Top 10 MMA Rankings!

I want to apologize to my loyal fellowship of readers (all six of you…) for not providing you with spot-on previews and witty commentary concerning the world of MMA recently. The lovely State of Connecticut has had me chained to a cubicle for the last two and a half months, and any blogging I would have done would not have been up to our high standards at Moai Martial Arts!

I thought my return post should be something that would allow me to provide you with a broad scope on all of the movings and shakings of MMA in the last three months. Therefore I decided to update my Top 10 Rankings that I had originally posted last July. I had been waiting for all of the all of the UFC Champs to defend their belts before I revamped the rankings, but GSP and Silva’s nagging injuries derailed that plan. So without further ado, here are the rankings!

10. TIE! Frankie Edgar and Interim Welterweight Champ Carlos Condit

Rematch? Really??

I feel as though both of these guys earn a default spot on this list. Edgar lost a unanimous decision to new Lightweight Champ Benson Henderson at UFC 144 in Japan, while Condit won a unanimous decision (yawn…) against Nick Diaz at UFC 143 to win the Interim Welterweight title. With both fights being close decision victories, immediate rematches were discussed for both bouts.

Don't get too used to that belt Carlos...

Edgar somehow got his, leapfrogging other young contenders like Anthony Pettis, or the winner of the upcoming Jim Miller/Nate Diaz bout. In the other corner, instead of seeing an anticipated Diaz/Condit II, Diaz promptly “retired” from MMA. Then Mr. Condit decided to wait until current champ GSP came back from his knee injury to enter the Octagon again. These circumstances may not exactly be what fight fans want, but both of these guys being involved in their respective title picture earns them the first spot on our list.

9. Dominick Cruz

Urijah again...?

Cruz is currently the UFC Bantamweight Champ and a coaching against Urijah Faber on the new season of the Ultimate Fighter Live. The 15th season of the reality show has been re-worked and now includes a weekly live fight to conclude the hour-long broadcast. The new format is a fresh take on the aging vehicle for the UFC, and I am thoroughly enjoying this season so far. Cruz most recently defended his belt against Mighty Mouse Johnson in October and has a rubber match against Faber lined up after the TUF season ends.

8. Alistair Overeem

Number 8?!?!?!

The Reem could certainly land much higher on this list after his Heavyweight Title fight with Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146 in May, but for now he lands at numero ocho. Reem ended the career of Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 with a vicious kick to the liver, earning him a title shot against Dos Santos. The 146 event will be the first Pay-Per-View to feature all Heavyweight fights and certainly promises to be a night of crazy action with Mir/Velasquez, Nelson/”Bigfoot”, and Hunt/Struve rounding out the card. The hot button topics of the 146 Main Event will be Overeem’s kickboxing and Dos Santos’ boxing. It is all but certain their bout will be a slugfest and if Reem can bring his dance moves to the Octagon, the scales may tip in his favor!

7. Benson Henderson

The Champ is here!!!

Benson Henderson continued his winning ways and dethroned long-time Lightweight Champ Frankie Edgar at UFC 144. Henderson’s size advantage and versatile attack certainly aided him on his way to UFC gold. I believe Henderson being champ is a step in the right direction for the 155 lb division. Though, I do not agree with the decision to give Edgar a rematch for the strap. I think Henderson won the fight outright and their are some seriously exciting match-ups that Dana White could book for Benson. Edgar was somewhat undersized for the weight class, and I believe a move down to 145 would suit him well; a fight with Jose Aldo would be downright amazing.

6. Junior Dos Santos

Ice Cold!

JDS is one of the best pure boxers in the sport of MMA. His striking skills allowed him to end the undefeated run of Cain Velasquez and rise to the top of the Heavyweight division. Dos Santos is truly a likeable guy and worthy champion. The Brazilian’s heavy hands better be ready for an all-out war against challenger Overeem in May. Look for the winner of that bout to have his hand raised as his opponent is taking a nap on the mat!

5. Dan Henderson

Just chillin', waiting for a title shot...

Shogun/Hendo at UFC 139 is one of the classic bouts in the history of the sport. I cannot stress enough that that fight is required viewing for any MMA fan. Each combatant deservedly earned a spot in history with their gutsy performances that evening. As Hendo emerged the victor, he was assured a title shot by Dana White. The 41-year-old stated that he would be willing to take a shot at either Jon Jones’ or Anderson Silva’s belts. Even though other bookings have been offered to Henderson as he waits in line for a chance at UFC gold; the aging wrestler has stood his ground and assured UFC brass that he only wants to fight for a title. I understand Dan’s stance here; he isn’t getting any younger and if a loss derailed his shot at a UFC championship, he may never get another one. If Jon Jones gets through Rashad Evans as easily as I think he will at UFC 146, I expect Hendo to take on Jones for the title in Late Summer/Early Fall.

4. Georges St. Pierre

GSP seems to be enjoying his time off from the cage...

Number Four?!?!?! Shocking, I know, but GSP simply hasn’t been in the cage enough to keep his common place as the bridesmaid to Anderson Silva on nearly every Pound for Pound list published in the MMA Blogosphere. GSP is one of the great talents that we have ever seen in the sport, but he has been out of competition nearly a year due to nagging knee injuries. I know we all hope that he comes back and is better than ever, but return from injury at 100% is never certain. Rest assured, the Canadian is a physical freak; it is well know that he trains like an absolute nut, so I am certain the true Welterweight Champ will come back full-strength. I will surely be watching as GSP enters the cage to end Carlos Condit’s little run as “Champ”. Hopefully we will see a GSP/Nick Diaz title bout in the near future…

3. Jose Aldo

Goodnight!

Fourteen. That is how many fights Jose Aldo has won in a row. He has defended his Featherweight title, whether in the WEC or UFC, five times now and continues to grow as a fighter. He used an absolute knee from hell to KO Chad Mendes in the waning seconds of the first round at UFC 142 in Brazil. That devastating knee lead to one of the greatest celebrations from a figher that I can remember. Aldo has cleaned out his division and there are very few interesting fights for him at 145 lbs. To me, a lowly MMA blogger, the best option for Aldo is to campaign for Frankie Edgar to drop down and take a shot at the Brazilian. Though that move will have to wait until after Bendo/Edgar II. Aldo may face off against Hatsu Hioki or the winner of Poirer/”Korean Zombie” in the meantime, but many MMA fans are salivating for a possible Aldo/Edgar booking.

2. Jon Jones

Not a good night at ALar's house...

The guy is simply changing the game. He is an absolute athletic beast that has very few weaknesses. If you think you can beat him striking (Rampage, Shogun, and Lyoto), he will use his reach and awkward style to keep you at bay. If you think you can take him on the ground (Bader and Hamill), he will use his wrestling base to stay on top of you and reign elbows down on your unsuspecting face. Jones upcoming matchup with Rashad Evans should prove to very interesting. Both are strong wrestlers with highly evolved striking techniques. Though the interesting part comes from that fact that both have trained at Greg Jackson’s camp in New Mexico and have to credit much of their success to the balding submission wrestling guru. After originally bowing out of any involvement in the grudge match, Jackson decided that he will corner Jones in the fight. I expect this to be a great asset to Jones in Atlanta at 146 and expect him to use a combination of superior athleticism and unpredictable striking to retain his belt. Hendo next!

1. Anderson Silva

ALar said I'm Number One!!!!!!!!

The Spider is simply the Michael Jordan of the sport. He really has no comparison. Nagging injuries have kept Silva out of the ring since decimating Yushin Okami and avenging an earlier loss to the Japanese fighter. Silva recently signed on for a rematch with loudmouth and liar Chael Sonnen to take place in a soccer stadium in Brazil this summer. I really, really despise Sonnen and his antics. I don’t think any of his hysterics or rants have any place in MMA and are detrimental to the sport and the image that Zuffa has worked very hard to build. But do not let that take away from the greatness that Anderson Silva has worked so hard to achieve. Silva is getting up there in age, so every time he enters the cage fight fans should soak in what they are watching. His next few bouts will surely provide a fitting end to the story of one of the greatest martial artists of our era. I believe Silva will absolutely destroy Sonnen in Brazil with another classic performance (I’m thinking a cross between the head movement/feints from the Forrest fight and a vicious knockout akin to the Belfort fight) from the Spider and Anderson will put an end to Chael’s undeserved fifteen minutes of fame.

Feel free to express any opinions in the comment section! Is GSP too low? Did I leave someone off the list? Let us know!

Posted in Commentary, Entertainment, MMA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Book Review: The Gift of Fear

Posted on March 28, 2012 by moaimartialarts

20120328-210754.jpgI’m doing you a bit of a disservice in reviewing this book. I listened to the abridged version on audiobook, but I plan to read the rest ASAP. However, I think very highly of Gavin De Becker’s The Gift of Fear. He’s an expert in predicting violent behavior and profiles violent criminals–like murders, terrorists, and assassins–for a living. He also survived a truly terrible upbringing, so you could say his life-long study of violence and aggressive behavior makes him the perfect consultant on how to stay safe.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is how he lays out the clues that people reveal when they have decided to commit a crime. In a case study, he reveals the ways in which an unfortunate rape victim could have avoided the heinous act. But he goes on to say how, though she was sexually assaulted, she saved her own life by following her instincts and escaping from he attacker at an opportune moment. Throughout the book, De Becker explains that we should ALWAYS follow our intuitions, as they are really comprised of minute observations and responses to subliminal triggers we can’t always understand. In short, if you feel fear, you should do whatever it takes to stay safe!

That’s not to say we should be afraid all the time. Worry and anxiety actually dull our intuition, our fight-or-flight responses. Here are a few of the things that should cause you to be suspicious–not the propaganda you see on the evening news.

PINS (Pre-Incident Indicators)
1. Forced Teaming— This is when a person tries to pretend that he has something in common with a person and that they are in the same predicament when that isn’t really true.

2. Charm and Niceness— This is being polite and friendly to a person in order to manipulate him or her.

3. Too many details— If a person is lying they will add excessive details to make themselves sound more credible.

4. Typecasting— An insult to get a person who would otherwise ignore one to talk to one.

5. Loan Sharking— Giving unsolicited help and expecting favors in return.

6. The Unsolicited Promise— A promise to do (or not do) something when no such promise is asked for; this usually means that such a promise will be broken. For example: an unsolicited, “I promise I’ll leave you alone after this,” usually means you will not be left alone. Similarly, an unsolicited “I promise I won’t hurt you” usually means the person intends to hurt you.

7. Discounting the Word “No”— Refusing to accept rejection.

(material adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gift_of_Fear)

De Becker warns us to watch for these signals, and to avoid people who give them off. But this is just a quick simplification; check out the book–or, better yet, the full book like I soon will–to learn more!

______
Speaking of learning more about how to avoid violent crime, don’t forget our Women’s Self-Defense Seminar at Gracie Farmington Valley this Saturday. It runs from 3:00PM – 5:00PM. Call us today at 855-458-8255 to RSVP. The class is almost full!

Posted in Reviews, Self Defense | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

DIY Sandbag Trap Bar

Posted on March 24, 2012 by moaimartialarts

Here’s a quick twist on working out with an old toy. I repurposed my heavy sandbag into a trap bar for deadlifts and shrugs.

20120324-164729.jpg

First, I used some old ratchet straps from the wing chun dummy I made a few years back. I tied them instead of relying on the ratcheting mechanism to stay locked (it doesn’t). A thick, tough rope would be even better, I think.

Then I added velcro fastener loops. They came with carabiners, but I took them off and just threaded them through the straps. They’re rated to 300 lbs., and, so far, they haven’t broke loose.

20120324-165216.jpg

You can see in the picture I left some space to slide extra weight beneath the grips I fashioned. Be careful not to leave too much room: if there’s too much slack it’s hard to lift the bag. You can also put a big dumbbell on top of the strap and between the handles without much difficulty. The heavy weight won’t fall off even if you jack the straps as hard as you can.

I originally did more traditional deadlifts while pulling just the straps, lifting the bag lengthwise. (See my original post.). But I find I can lift more weight with better technique using the sumo deadlift and this new setup. It puts less stress on my back, the bag doesn’t wack me in the knees, and I can work my traps a little better too. All you have to do is stand over the bag, grab the handles, look up, keep your back straight, and pull!

Unlike a real trap bar, the weight goes up between your legs, but that’s not as bad as it sounds! Plus, this DIY version costs WAY less then a bar and steel plates. If you have question on how to rig this up, or how to use it, let us know. Thanks, and happy pulling!

Posted in Equipment, Fitness | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Circuit Training for Karate Nerds

Posted on March 15, 2012 by moaimartialarts

Here are a few examples of workouts I’ve created that combine MMA-style conditioning drills with karate techniques.  Take a look at each and let us know if they might be helpful to you.  If you have suggestions, please share them with us!

This first workout had three five-minute rounds and lasted about 15 minutes.  There was no rest between circuits; as you can see, the cardio was front-loaded and then followed by exercises that allow for active rest.  (Clearly I need more practice with burpee pull-ups!)

I did the second circuit after a two-mile run.  This is round four of four to show you that if I can do it, anybody can get through my training sessions!

The last example is the first set of four.  It includes my very first attempt at ring dips, so please be gentle.  (I got better at them as the workout progressed.)  This workout was more for strength than for cardio, so I added a five-minute finisher on the heavy bag.

Posted in Fitness, Karate, MMA | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Free Women’s Self-Defense Seminar at Gracie Farmington Valley

Posted on March 10, 2012 by moaimartialarts

This event relates to our most recent guest post pretty nicely.  Take a look at the details below, and consider joining us for what will be a great event!

Call 855-458-8255 to secure your spot today.  Don’t miss this free women’s self-defense seminar.  Gracie Farmington Valley serves Tariffville, Simsbury, Avon, Granby, Bloomfield, and Windsor, CT with the best martial arts instruction in the area! We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, March 31st from 3:00-5:00PM.

Posted in Instruction, Self Defense, Special Offers | Leave a comment

10 Best Mixed Martial Arts Moves Caught on Camera

Posted on March 7, 2012 by moaimartialarts

Here’s a fun and thought-provoking guest post by Clint Henderson of 2MCCTV security solutions.  It’s interesting to see how some of the moves we practice work in real threatening situations.  No one wants to have to use their martial arts training, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.  In dangerous circumstances, it’s good to know how to defend yourself.

Take a few minutes to watch these videos, and let us know what you think!

_____

10 Best Mixed Martial Arts Moves Caught on Camera


When getting into a fight or robbing a store, the last thing you expect is for your victim to know martial arts or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Here are 10 videos of amateurs (and experts) using their moves against an attacker.

This was featured on Asian news.  If you check out the YouTube comments section, a few people think this is a fake.  Hard to tell, but judge for yourself.

A thug and a MATA security guard get into a fight.  As it turns out, the security guard is an MMA fighter.

Here is one caught on a neighborhood surveillance camera.  This woman is lucky she took some self-defense classes.  He probably won’t be attacking any more women.

This is CCTV footage from a parking lot.  Another women using Krav Maga for self-defense…

This carjacker wasn’t expecting to be beaten up like this.  Jump to 0:26 of this surveillance video to see the martial arts expert attacking the perpetrator to prevent him from taking his car.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81504468/

Caught on surveillance, the cashier brings down the robber in less than a minute.  Jump to 1:20 to get to the action.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu street fight

Next time, know who you’re messing with…
PS – This is blurry, but it looks like that guy could almost be Zach Galifianakis

Things get very brutal in this one.  Check out the end too.  They proceed to follow him… to do what exactly… get their asses kicked some more?

One man takes down a whole gang with martial arts moves.

Want to see the real Karate Kid in action?  You’ll want to watch this one 4 or 5 times.  Quite impressive.

Author Bio
This article was written by Clint Henderson of 2MCCTV security solutions.  They distribute and install surveillance cameras, similar to the ones that capture much of the compelling footage that ends up on YouTube!

Posted in Guest Post, MMA, Self Defense | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

One Minute Bunkai

Posted on March 4, 2012 by moaimartialarts

Here are a few neat videos suggested by one of our readers.  They offer grappling-based interpretations of moves from sanseiryu and seichin.  I love the moves in theory, though I may do things a little differently.  What do you think?

Catching a front kick, going for a sort of inverted heel-hook-type thing. Cool!  (Might want to step over the downed opponent’s leg?)

Double wauke block to hip throw?  Double cool!  (Maybe tough to find an opponent who will get that close without trying to throw you himself?)

Here’s a bonus video that’s just plain cool.  GSP’s reminder of karate’s relevance to MMA and value as a life-long pursuit.  (It’s also fun to watch the little samurai beat him up.  And it’s crazy to watch the little Kyokushin kids duke it out!)

Posted in Instruction, Karate, MMA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment