Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda continued fighting World War II for years after the war ended. He persevered through some of the most difficult situations and was able to thwart innumerable attempts by Filipino soldiers to capture, kill, or even locate him in the jungles of the Philippines for over a quarter of a century. (more…)
Dedication Personified
The Way of the Dragon
It used to be enough to be a great grappler or a great striker to be successful in MMA. You could reach the top levels in Pride, early UFC, or any of the other great promotions with specialties in either/or. There weren’t a whole lot of well-rounded fighters. That’s when the term “styles make fights” used to be true. (more…)
Can You Sell Nick Diaz?
So, Nick Diaz decided not to show up, again. It was to be a super fight in BJJ- Nick Diaz vs Braulio Estima, and it was for charity. And Nicky was a no show again. Where does that leave him? His fans say it’s because Braulio didn’t make weight – which he didn’t – but it was decided by all involved to fight at 185 instead of 180. His text implied that the Renzo Gracie, the promoter, was not really running the show and was difficult to get a hold of. Who Knows? Promoters are very difficult to get a hold of the night before a huge event. (more…)
MMA + Military = Peanut butter + Jelly
Combat sports go together with combat troops better than my favorite sandwich when I was a kid. The reason we have combat sports is because before all these high-tech guns and missiles and such there was hand-to-hand combat. Or sword to sword. You get the drift. Samurai, Ninjas, Boxing, Wrestling, and the other martial arts come from a need to be able to defeat an enemy. Everything we do today owes a debt to the soldiers that have come before. From enjoying freedoms for which our immediate forefathers fought or learning traditional Kata, they paved the way. (more…)
Getting Sick?
There are going to be times that your body won’t cooperate with your mind. Getting the flu, catching cold, or even just a plain ole’ stomach bug can and will happen. Sure, healthy living, working out, and avoiding toxins will help keep you from getting as sick as much as the masses- but even the healthiest get sick occasionally. (more…)
The Third Time WAS the Charm
UFC on Fox 3- did you catch it? If not, you missed some pretty darn exciting fights. Of course, the card was engineered that way- but that’s what matchmakers get paid to do – and this time UFC got it right for the mainstream masses. From the prelims to the main event, the fights were evenly matched with a strong lean towards the stand-up. While a BJJ practitioner can appreciate the sheer technicality and athleticism that Diaz and Belcher displayed and wrestlers will certainly appreciate Koschek’s ability to avoid the takedown the rest of America seems to want some “stand and bang” action. And, for the most part, they got it. (more…)
May the Fourth Be With You
The Force – the Spice – Creator – God – energy – whatever you decide you want to call it, it’s undeniable. There is something, an instinct, a power, a catalyst that makes life possible and that separates us from the chairs we sit on.
And some people seem to have it in spades whereas some people seem to have lost theirs. What is the difference? (more…)
Invicta Fighting Championship, run by Janet Martin and Shannon Knapp (former UFC), had their first fightcard in Kansas City, MO this weekend. Attendance numbers for the event haven’t been released yet, but I would guess that the number of viewers on the free livestream may have pleasantly surprised, judging from the small hiccups when trying to watch the fights.
There were amazing fights: Kaitlyn Young and Leslie Smith put on a tutorial in striking. The fight ended in a draw and there is rumor that there may be a rematch in Invicta 2. These two strikers showed heart, skill, and unusual strikes and showed that women’s fights can be just as exciting and technical as the men’s fights. Jessica Penne and Lisa Ellis were involved in the goriest fight of the night – early on Ellis was bloodied under the eye and then in the 3rd her nose was gushing blood. She showed lots of heart even though she lost the fight while Penne demonstrated some incredible flexibility and creative technique – her back crucifix double armbar could have finished the fight if time had not run out in round 1. (more…)
Combat Zone
One of the most awesome things about being in this industry is getting to be involved with some righteous organizations, fighters, teams, etc. We are proud to be sponsoring Combat Zone 41 Cage Rage at the Rock in Salem NH. They have fighters from all over New England squaring off in what is primarily an amateur contest. The main event features 2 pro fighters who are both debuting: Anthony Loycano of Warriors Pride MMA (North Andover, MA) vs Devin Powell of Triumph MMA (South Berwick, ME).
Combat Zone has been putting on MMA fights for years now- and they have really found a great home at Rockingham Park in Salem. If you are in New England tonight come on out to the show. And when you do, swing by our booth and say Hi. (more…)
This is a Blog for the Broken-Hearted
Ok, this blog is inspired by music. Watching “The Voice” last night made me think of the martial arts. Getting voted off that show is a lot like losing a fight due to judges’ scores. Just like on “The Voice” an amazing and more talented person can lose to an opponent who is not as skilled or “polished” or athletic or aggressive.
What do you do after? Do you blame the voters? Do you blame the judges? Do you blame your opponent or trainers? Or do you look inwards? Do you find the strength to pick your performance apart? Can you objectively look at yourself and find ways to improve? (more…)
Say Your Piece