Martial Arts Blog

The days leading to the UFC 110 were filled with UFC news, stories and rumours about how the contenders condition themselves for their fights. Recently, UFC followers have been watching closely how former champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira conditioned himself mentally for the match with unbeaten fighter Cain Velasquez in Sydney, Australia.

The main event was predicted to attract a large crowd of fans and supporters, as the Acer Arena apparently sold out to some 16,500 spectators, making it the second most sold out event in the UFC’s 16 year history.

Nogueira vs. Velasquez

All eyes focus on the main event, not only because its winner gets a shot at a world heavyweight title, but also because fans and UFC enthusiasts are curious about the apparent mismatch between a former champ and UFC coach like Nogueira and the young though inexperienced Velasquez.

While most bets favor Velasquez for his undefeated record, his formidable boxing and wrestling skills and an endless supply of oxygen in his gas tank, Nogueira’s massive experience should not be discounted. Nogueira has fought the A-list of MMA heavyweights and in his latest fight, he came out victorious in a unanimous decision against Couture in August 2009.

Silva vs. Bisping

In addition to the Nogueira-Velasquez match, UFC fans also witnessed the mental game between Silva and Bisping in the co-main event. Silva has dropped from 205 to 185 but this alone doesn’t guarantee a win. After all, he lost 5 out of the last 6 fights he was in and losing 20 pounds does not equate to gaining more power.

Bisping, on the other hand, is a methodical fighter, picking on his opponent until he wears him out. His less than perfect track record is countered by the experience gained by a longer time in the middleweight division than Silva. Still, many MMA followers think he’s no match to Silva’s aggressive prowess in the octagon.

Other fights in the card of UFC 110 are Joe Stevenson versus George Sotiropoulos in the UFC lightweight division and Keith Jardine against Ryan Bader in the light heavyweight division. Heavyweight Mirko Filipovic takes on Anthony Perosh who has replaced Rothwell.

Also in the UFC news are the cancelled rematch between fellow Aussies Elvis Sinosic and Chris Haseman and the bout between Ben Rothwell and Mirko Filipovic. Sinosic has been knocked down by a shoulder injury while Rothwell is ill. Instead Mirko will fight Australian Anthony Perosh.

So it’s all systems go for UFC 110.

Stay up to date with all things MMA with one of the most cutting edge MMA blogs – with a focus on the psychology of this dynamic sport.

The unique Japanese martial art of Aikido was developed by by Morihei Ueshiba almost a

Aikido Origins?

century ago. Aikido is often translated as ‘The way of unifying life energy’. This style is often mistakenly confused with Judo or Kendo Bogu. It’s unique form uses the force and motion of the attacker and re-directs it instead of attacking it head on. These techniques use turning movements, throws and joint locks to manipulate opponents. One of Ueshiba’s most famous sayings is ‘”To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.” which perfectly sums up the philosophy behind Aikido. Some of the other recognizable and different elements that separate Aikido from other forms of martial arts are the wooden sword/ bokkens or sticks used in weapons training as well as the ‘Hakama‘ which is often commented on because it looks like a dress or skirt.

Aikido

Aikido may be most well known to many through actor Steven Seagal who used this style in several movies. Today Aikido is still immensely popular all over the world including many schools throughout the US. However the standard that most people grade martial arts against these days is MMA and the UFC championship fights. And the common consensus is generally that Aikido really wouldn’t stack up at all in MMA. This is both because of the retreating like movements used in Aikido and the over all philosophy of Aikido not to do harm just is totally contrary to the whole idea of MMA fights. This isn’t to say that Aikido is not useful in real life situations and as self-defense in street fights, but you could say it is not the most fashionable art of choice for most people these days.

The MMA Zone

Gracie Jiu-jitsu is known world wide as one of the most effective forms of hand-to-hand

Gracie Jiu Jitsu

combat. The Gracie family took the teachings of a Japanese man and adapted them to make them more effective, especially when dealing with a fight on the ground. Helio Gracie was probably the most instrumental in making this form of jiu jitsu into something unique. Helio’s main contribution was to adapt the martial art techniques so that they would be effective in defeating bigger and stronger opponents.

As he grew more adept, Helio launched the beginnings of Gracie Jiu-jitsu in a series of high profile matches. Despite not always being triumphant in these events, Helio won acclamation for lasting far longer than anyone thought he would be able to against more powerful and more practiced foes. In 1951 he took on Masahiko Kimura, then considered to be the greatest jiu jitsu fighter in the world. Kimura claimed that if the competition continued more than three minutes, then Helio would be proclaimed the champ; Helio lasted for thirteen. In 1955, the longest match in the world occurred when Helio held off a combatant twenty years younger than him and forty pounds heavier for three hours and forty minutes.

When Rorion Gracie, Helio’s son, departed Brazil to bring Gracie Jiu-jitsu to the United States, he planned to continue his father’s legacy. The Gracies wanted to establish jiu-jitsu academies to share the martial art methods that they had modified after many years of intense study with the rest of the population, and America was the perfect place to do so. Though Rorion initially struggled in founding his Brazilian Jiu jitsu institution, he won ever larger numbers of students largely by issuing the Gracie challenge. This was a call to any fighter of any field to meet him in hand-to-hand combat in order to see whose discipline was more powerful.

Gracie Jiu-jitsu truly arrived in the 1990s. Mixed martial arts tournaments were becoming an exciting new event, and in 1993 the Ultimate Fighting Championship was at its beginning. This tournament pitted fighters of different disciplines against each other in order to determine not only which fighter would be the ultimate victor, but which fighting style would prove to be the most effective. Royce Gracie took the Gracie name and made it immortal by winning the first UFC, and a total of three of the first four events. Everyone in the sporting world soon knew the Gracie name, and it became synonymous with victories against larger and stronger opponents.

Of all the martial art disciplines out there, Gracie Jiu-jitsu is probably the most well known. It was a long hard road, going from Japan to Brazil, then to California and finally the rest of America and the world. Jiu-jitsu academies all over the world have students who have signed up based on watching what Royce Gracie did in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, and then from learning about what his ancestors accomplished.

Brazilian jiu jitsu is incredibly fascinating to watch. Jiu jitsu schools and Brazilian jiu jitsu training programs are popping up everywhere because of the popularity of this martial art, which is often seen in Mixed Martial Arts arenas.

So you want to open your own MMA or martial arts school?  It’s a dream or goal that many

Martial Arts Schools

MMA fans have. Especially with the recent and continuing boom of MMA, American Fighter, and the UFC.  It looks more and more like an appetizing opportunity to do, but what is the reality?  Can you really make a lot of money and what do you need to take into consideration before going full steam ahead?

Would You Do It For Free?
Yes, the current MMA craze has created a new demand for classes and new training centers. With crime rising do to the weak economy, the need and desire for using these training centers will probably not fade any time soon. However most people who dream of owning their own MMA or martial arts school are fans and lifelong enthusiasts, but often have no business experience. And this is way most schools fail. You should never start a business unless it is in a field that you would love to continue to work even if you didn’t need the money, otherwise it will just become a chore, that can easily leave you dissapointed and dying to get out of.

Franchise or Not

To Franchise or Not to Franchise is the Question
You could turn to buying into a martial arts franchise, that can help you with the business side of the venture and leave you free to do what you do best.  However, this will dig into your profits and can require more start up capital. You may be the best instructor out there, but if you don’t have the business and marketing knowledge or turn to professionals that do, you are planning to fail. The secret to launching a profitable school is founded in great planning. Consider making the investment in having a professional business plan done, with real market research so you know what are realistic income goals.  Also talk with marketing experts, if you can’t afford to hire one, they can at least give you a few great ideas. Choose your location with extreme caution.  Expect to make less than you hope and your expenses to be higher than you planned, and you won’t be disappointed.

Good Luck!
But yes, if done right starting your own MMA school can be the beginning of a very lucrative and satisfying business venture. Good luck and please let us know if we can help here at The MMA Zone!

Throwdown MMA Gear

The following post was given to us by our friends at MarksTraining.com which is a great site to learn how to defend yourself when you are unarmed.

The video below is about how to get higher side kicks. The side kick is very popular amongst

Side Kick Training

karate and teakwondo practitioners. Muay thai, kickboxers and MMA fighters however tend not to use it as much, simply because they do not practise it as much as other kicks like the roundhouse and front kick.

The side kick requires an extensive amount of training in order to make it effective. It is very hard to get used to kicking in a sideways direction and one must be able to adapt and use it if they wish to become an all round martial artist.

The main reasons why the side kick is hard and why some people have trouble with it is simply because they do not have the required strength and flexibility in there legs. One may be able to do the splits and may be able to squat some very heavy weight, but with the side kick, one must combine flexibility and strength. This is where specific strength and flexibility exercises come into play.

The following video is a really good one which addresses these problem areas and ways in which there can be improved. The person demonstrating is called Paul Zaichik and he teaches the ElasticSteel of Athletic Conditioning method and seems to know what he is talking about.

Please check out the whole video and try and use the teaching methods to help you improve your own strength and flexibility even if you have no wish of using the side kick. The valuable physical advantages this type of training can offer will be good for you in the long run. Enjoy!

Marks

www.markstraining.com

Fighting and Training Methods for Unarmed Martial Artists