Written By Last Ronin

So you want to get a mixed martial arts book, but aren’t really sure which one would be the best.  That’s totally understandable with the hundreds of books sitting on the shelves at your local bookstore, meaning that picking one is going to be a bit overwhelming.  The good thing about buying a book though is getting to look at the reviews and hear what others have got to say about it.  Now I have read a lot of books in my time and my martial arts library is pretty fat, but out of all of the ones I own I would definitely say that my BJ Penn book is one that everyone needs in their library.

Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge by BJ Penn is a wonderful book for both beginners as well as advanced students.  BJ Penn is a true champion and ambassador of the sport, so why wouldn’t you want to know what he has to say?  This book is pretty comprehensive in what it covers and gives you just enough to get a little taste of what MMA is about.  Now don’t expect to be the future champion just from reading this book.  BJ’s book is a tool to be used alongside your training, and not the end all resource that is going to make you a black belt.

Written by: Erin Littlefield

Developing a New Scene To Enable Social Change.

In honor of the UFC’s imminent return to Brazil, the birthplace of vale tudo and modern MMA, it’s time to take a look at the emerging MMA scene in neighboring Colombia. Colombia has been torn apart by civil conflict for the past forty years, breaking records for murder and kidnapping rates as well as suffering widespread poverty and cultural violence. However, in the past few years, Colombia has undergone a cultural revival, and the new influx of foreign business and tourism has brought with it new ideas. One of these foreign imports is MMA, and after its incredible bounds in popularity, the sport has become something of an instrument for social change.

Due to strained relations with Brazil, Jiu Jitsu only appeared on the scene seven years ago, but it was shortly followed by Kickboxing and the UFC on Colombian televisions. However, the rise in popularity and spread of the sport has been incredible, and in the past two years have sprouted an administrative body, several high quality event organizers and more than ten professional level clubs, in a country slightly larger than Texas that’s still in the throes of development. Events are not as common as in countries with more established scenes, but are every bit as popular and professional, taking root in all the urban centers.

Due to the incredible success Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has had in the ring and octagon in big MMA and UFC events it popularity has just sky rocketed. However, many people don’t understand that although MMA is real fighting there are a lot of moves and types of techniques that are banned or illegal which can’t be brought into the ring or octagon and even though these moves can’t be used in a sanctioned MMA even they are still worth practicing and working on as a self defense.

One such instance is actually the use of the Jiu Jitsu Gi in general, along with BJJ Gi chokes in particular. A lot of people believe the fact that no-gi grappling is just “even more effective” simply because folks don’t wear gi’s in everyday life, and MMA fighters don’t wear them in the octagon. So, they believe since the real world doesn’t have gi’s then no-gi grappling must be more effective and this can’t be further from the truth. Although we don’t wear a gi in normal everyday situations people do were lose shirts, jackets, vests, etc.

Should Georges St-Pierre defeat Jake Shields, he will set up the mega fight that fans all across the world have been hoping for.  He would battle Anderson “The Spider” Silva for the UFC Middleweight Title.  Jake Shields is standing in the way of every MMA fan’s dream fight, but does he pose any real risk to St-Pierre?

While it’s hard to automatically assume that a fighter is guaranteed to win his next fight, St-Pierre will do just that. St-Pierre has gone 14 – 1 since January 2005, with the only hiccup coming at the hands of Matt Serra at UFC 69, in April 2007. That loss can be attributed to St-Pierre overlooking the “less” talented fighter. It is possible that St-Pierre could suffer the same fate this April with what could be the most anticipated fight in the history of MMA.

If there was ever any doubt going into Saturday night’s UFC Middleweight title fight that Anderson Silva was the best pound for pound fighter in the world, those discussions were abruptly halted.  Silva, the reigning champion took his time in the first 2 minutes of the fight with Vitor Belfort, as is typical of the Spider, before landing an exceptional front kick to the chin  to knock down Belfort and landed another 2 punches before referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the fight.   

Belfort, who falls to 19 – 9, has never been afraid of going right at a fighter and possesses his own knockout power, but Silva isn’t a normal fighter.  You rush in against him, and get knocked out.  Just ask Forrest Griffin & James Irvin.  In the early going, Belfort was patient, almost too patient.  It just goes to show how much respect elite fighters have for Silva and his ability.    

Nick Diaz, Top Ten Welterweight?

In a recent article on MMAfighting.com, they announced their latest welterweight division rankings.  In those rankings, they named Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz as the seventh best welterweight in the world.  What I don’t understand is how can he be ranked so high?  I do not doubt his talent and ability because 10 times out of 10, I’d end up on my back looking at the ceiling if we ever fought.  I’m not even saying this because I don’t like him, because I am a huge Diaz fan.  I’m saying this because, since he is fighting for Strikeforce, the minor leagues of MMA in America, he isn’t getting challenged. 

UFC President Dana White hopes to put on great show for troops.

UFC Fight Night 23, otherwise known as Fight for the Troops 2, will take place Saturday, January 22, from Fort Hood, in Killeen, Texas.  The show is headlined by Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard & Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague.

The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) was created to instill into troops the warrior ethos, and to teach them close-quarter combat techniques. It also serves as a way of building team cohesion and morale. MCMAP replaced former programs such as the LINE system and may be referred to as a synergy of mental character and physical disciplines, with applications across the full spectrum of violence.

Peace-keeping techniques