Catch Wrestling

Catch Wrestling isn’t a sport. Its combat up close and personal.100′s of techniques make up catch -wrestling arsenal: hand strikes, kicks, take downs, sweeps, gouges, arm locks, leg locks, torso cranks, chokes, rips and so on. It started back in the 1800′s. It wasn’t an entertainment spectacle like the WWE: it was legitimate wrestling with submissions. The immigrants who came to USA brought their techniques which were integrated into Catch Wrestling. The Europeans brought their wrestling; the Japanese brought their Jiu-Jitsu, etc. A lot of the Catch Wrestlers of the USA defeated a bunch of the top Judo Jiu-Jitsu guys in the early 1900′s.

At present, Catch Wrestling promoters try to sell Catch as “America’s martial art tradition.” That’s a stupid reason for learning a martial art as it places culture above science. Eventually that leads to bullshido. 

Catch Wrestling has a very aggressive manner of causing constant pain and pressure on your opponent. Catch Wrestlers tend to look to cause constant pain and pressure regardless of the position. Pain and pressure is your tool for setting up submissions. Catch wrestling always looks to have the top position and that shows in the training. Catch wrestling also emphasizes physical conditioning and strength. Much of catch’s bread and butter-leg locks, compression holds and neck-cranks are more suited to an MMA fight than a no-gi grappling tournament where many of those holds are heavily regulated if not banned.

                                                  Comparison with Judo, BJJ and Sambo

In simple terms,

Catch puts submissions before positioning

Judo focuses on takedowns with the gi

BJJ focuses on positioning before submissions

Sambo prefers leg locks when on the ground

Jiu-Jitsu (specifically BJJ that is) is a much more technical sport than Catch whereas it relies on technique to setup the escapes and submissions, etc. rather than bullying so to speak. Meaning JJ is a more relaxed style of grappling and focuses on conserving energy while using your opponent’s energy against him/him. This is common to most styles as well but JJ takes it to another level. When it comes to submissions, Catch has a wider appreciation of body mechanics and of thinking innovatively. BJJ and some forms of submissions styles have a particular set of techniques. The best example of this is probably the open guard. BJJ tries to pass. Catch tries to sub – with foot locks, diving foot locks, calf compressions, etc. While the bottom guard game is studied, it is not near the amount of technical proficiency as it is with BJJ. Kazushi Sakuraba was trained in Catch as Catch Can Wrestling. Probably that was his secret to his successful domination over the Gracies.But BJJ guys like Schembri and Nogueira have also beaten Sakuraba, which shows that it’s not always BJJ > Catch or Catch > BJJ.

Judo is also highly technical and has a strong emphasis on the standing game. Judo is an amazing standing art for throwing, takedowns, etc. I feel on the ground there is too much focus on stalling to get the standup back. Judo practitioners also are very aggressive.

Sambo covers the entire range of skills needed whether it is sport or self-defense.  Sambo takes what is useful from any source available and discards what is not. Sambo has equal emphasis on standing throws and takedowns, striking, self-defense, ground positions, etc. Catch is behind Sambo in terms of standing work. Specifically in throwing and striking. Catch technically doesn’t incorporate any striking material although modern day practitioners have added striking.

Every style and every technique are more alike than not. What separates them is the broad philosophy and tactics of the arts.

In the end, we have to realize that everyone has their own style and type of ground fighting. Strictly segregating techniques and philosophies into any one style limits you too much. You have to learn or experience as many as you can, then pick what works for you. Grappling is grappling. You have to involve aspects of all styles period- or you’ll get owned by someone practicing something you’ve never seen period. There are different avenues, but submission grappling, submission wrestling….its just terminology- all referring to the same thing.

It’s a rambling post but hopefully you got my drift.

Wandeco

Wanderlei showed lotsa heart in his fight with Cung Le at UFC 139.Those kicks hurt.The knockdown was solid too. But I never believed in the 'glass jaw' theory .He just got caught with a good shot on his ear and was dazed.Leben clobbered him with brutal uppercuts and he went down.

The thing about him is that he fights for the fans,i.e to put up a good show.He has a big heart, I don't think you can ever hate a fighter like that .I really liked the fact that he didn't go all caveman but went in with controlled aggression and had a solid defense game. He is kinda young too.So if he may add more tools like Anderson did and constantly improve ,he can survive long.He is a  BJJ black belt and a muay thai expert.The combo at the end reminded me of the Rampage fight in pride. I wanna see this man fight live before he retires :) . He always speaks very humbly and thanks god and stands up when needed ( citing  car ride Sonnen as a eg: .."In Brazil we having a saying that you talk too much and you lose your teeth."  ..teeheehee )

                                                 Check out his solid defence to Cung's kick

Kyokushin Karate

Kyokushin Karate

Kyokushin Karate is a full (but regulated) contact karate founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama. Oyama was born in Korea and immigrated to Japan .He studied under the greatest teachers of the day (including Giko Funakoshi, son of Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate). Kyokushin is known as one of the strongest forms of karate.

The Knockdown karate competition system pioneered by Kyokushin has been adopted by many different karate styles and organizations.
I think there are a lot of benefits to Kyokushin training. Kyokushin practitioner’s conditioning is second to none & they are awesome with body shots. Punches and kicking techniques are very similar to other Karate styles, but Kyokushin places a lot of emphasis on low leg kicks. Kyokushin is full contact and toughens you up. But because of no hitting to the face I would not rely on it exclusively. Cross training is the key.

Idea behind Kyokushin

The Japanese refer to Oyama’s Kyokushin Karate as Kenta Karate, meaning, ‘brawling’ or ‘brutal’ karate.
But Oyama tells his students- “Baka! Knenta karate ja-nai! Budo karate da! “ which translates to -“Fool? This is not brawling karate!  It’s budo karate!”
Why does the general public seem to misunderstand Oyam’s message? One look at a Kyokushin karate tournament reveals the answer. Kyokushin karate fighters are among the fiercest in the world, and they stop at nothing in the pursuit of victory.Kyokushin tournament  sparring features full contact without protective padding, there are no weight classes; a fight ends only when 1 fighter proves beyond doubt his  superiority
Perhaps because Kyokushin fighters personify the budo (warrior) concept better than any karate stylists. Through his budo karate, Oyama is attempting to revive in the Japan’s spirit the positive characteristics of bushido,’the way of the warrier’,which was so much a part of the culture of Japan .In a modern world of peace and unification, many have forgotten this ancient code and see no need for the old warrior ethic. But in a time when it is no longer necessary to carry a sword for personal protection, the discipline of budo recreates in the hearts of its followers the do-or-die attitude of living life by the unspoken law of the sword and that law is: be prepared to make the greatest sacrifice (the sacrifice of one’s own life) in the execution of one’s endeavors, so that the resulting desire to overcome will be unequalled and the outcome will be the best possible.
This is not to say Oyama encourages his followers to take their own lives if their endeavors are unsuccessfull, as was required of the warriors of Japan’s middle ages. Instead, he emphasizes a way of thought that directly represents this ideal. The degree of personal sacrifice, in this case self denial through self-disicipline, is directly proportional to the degree of success in one’s endeavors.
Not only has he adopted this, the strongest ideal of bushido, but Oyama‘s has gone a step further adopting the strongest attitude by another period in the development of Japan’s martial spirit. Not only does the followers of Oyama’s teachings find strength from personal sacrifice, but also learns that great personal spiritual advancements can be gained as a result of sacrifice.
The 3rd, and possibly the greatest addition by Oyama in his synthesis of Kyokushin karate is the concept of Zen. In a Zen state of mind, one thinks nothing. The mind simply relaxes; it does not focus precisely on any particular detail. The mind focuses on nothing, yet perceives everything .Can this concept not be put to greater use in karate?
Thus, Oyama has not only  integrated Zen with bushido and the ‘martial art ‘ ideal of self-perfection from skill perfection, but has also added perhaps the most important qualities of all into his kyokushin system: courtesy,respect,wisdom and humility. These concepts are needed to discipline a fighter, for a fighter who does not know how to control his strength, or does not know when it is appropriate to use his skill, is nothing more than a brute. According to Oyama, karate begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy.
Masahiko Kimura, arguably the most famous judoka in the history of the sport, was a close friend of Master Oyama. Oyama said of him that Kimura was the only person he knew who trained as hard or harder than Oyama did himself!

Techniques and Training 

Kyokushin training consists of three main elements: (1) technique, (2) forms, and (3) sparring. These are sometimes referred to as the three "K's" after the Japanese words for them: kihon(technique), kata(forms), and kumite (sparring).


Some of the most famous present day practitioners of Kyokushin are :-

Georges St Pierre

Georges  St.Pierre - GSP is currently the Welterweight   Champ of the UFC , and is ranked as one of the top  "Pound for Pound " fighters in the world
Bas Rutten: He was a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, a three time King of Pancrase, and finished his career on a 22 fight unbeaten streak (21 wins, 1 draw). Rutten is known for his charisma and has capitalized on his celebrity status since retiring from fighting in 1999.
Andy Hug: Andy Hug was a professional Swiss Kyokushin karateka and kick boxer from Wohlen, Switzerland. Hug was the K-1 World Grand Prix 1996 champion and runner up in 1997 and 1998.

Tournaments

Tournament competition is an important part of Kyokushin, and most Kyokushin organizations sponsor local, national, and international competitions .Most Kyokushin tournaments follow "knockdown karate" rules in which points are awarded for knocking one's opponent to the floor with kicks, punches, or sweeps.

100 Man Kumite

The hundred-man kumite might well be seen as the ultimate test of physical and mental perseverance in Martial Arts, or for that matter, many other sports today. In essence, the exercise consists of 2-minute rounds of kumite with 100 opponents, preferably a different one for each round. Masutatsu Oyama is reported to have completed a 300-man fight over 3 days.

But then again, what is the point in kumite championships? Are you doing it for the potential medal and certificate? Or are you doing it for yourself, and for the honor and respect. Does it make you any better? It all comes down to what your personal goals are, and how success is measured.

In the words of Mr. Miyagi (from the movie-‘THE KARATE KID’) - “If karate used defend honor, defend life, karate mean something. If karate used defend plastic metal trophy, karate no mean nothing.”     :P

Hélio Gracie -The Legend

Hélio Gracie -The  Legend

                                                                  

                                                                              

It’s very difficult to pinpoint one guy as the most important figure in the history of mixed martial arts. But Hélio Gracie’s name will always be seen up there somewhere.He was one of the founders of Brazilian Jiujitsu.Born on October 1st, 1913 in Belém do Pará, Brazil as the youngest of eight children,he learned traditional jiu-jitsu by watching his brother, Carlos. But his small frame made it difficult for him to execute the moves. As a result, he adapted techniques to fit his limited physical ability and gave rise to modern-day Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Using these new techniques, smaller and weaker practitioners gained the capability to defend themselves and even defeat much larger opponents. His teachings not only included martial arts, but healthy living and eating. He possessed none of the attributes one would expect from a great fighter. He was not strong, not quick, and not explosive, which were the foundations of what the jiu-jitsu taught by his older brother were about. He developed a defensive style, refining the guard, where the goal against a bigger and more athletic person was to neutralize their strength while exerting as little energy as possible, force them to get frustrated, tired, to make a mistake, and then capitalize.


Until his death, Hélio was the only living 10th degree master of the discipline and is widely considered as one of the first sports heroes in Brazilian history. His impact on the sport of mixed martial arts was profound. His son, Rorion, was credited with developing the concept that became the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and another of his sons, Royce, won the first two UFC tournaments in 1993 and 1994. Two other sons, Rickson and Royler, also competed in MMA.

                                                                      Hélio & Royce 

KIMURA


In 1955, he battled Masahiko Kimura, who by legend in Japan was the greatest judo player of all time, in a submission judo/jiujitsu match  at Maracana Stadium in Rio. The fight drew 20,000 fans, including the president of Brazil. There was a huge size difference with Kimura overweighing Gracie by 20 kgs.During the fight, Kimura threw Gracie around and eventually clamped on a shoulder-lock(Reverse Ude Garami) that is now called a Kimura, and broke Hélio’s arm. Gracie didn’t tap, even hearing his bone breaking. Kimura couldn’t think of anything to do but continue the move, and heard the bone break  again.At this point, Carlos Gracie, Gracie's older brother, threw in the towel because he knew that his brother would not submit. In 1994, Gracie admitted in an interview that he had in fact been choked unconscious  earlier in the match, but had regained consciousness when Kimura released the choke.As a tribute to Kimura's victory, the Reverse Ude Garami technique was named as the Kimura lock, or simply the Kimura, in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

                                                                    Gracie Vs Kimura

Hélio had a mission in life and influenced so many people. He developed a way that a small guy can beat a big guy, or at least, defend himself against a bigger guy.

He  died on January 29, 2009  at the age of 95 .Gracie passed away in his sleep. He died the way he always wanted to – quick and fast.Thanks to this man, there are thousands of people around the world making a living from jiu-jitsu and thousands of fighters making a living from MMA.Without him MMA would not exist, giving jobs to many fighters, promoters and managers and fun to millions of fans around the world.
He taught a way of life, a life of perfection and efficiency -- and not just in jiu-jitsu but everyday life.
On his funeral, one of his son’s asked for a round of applause for his father and placed a black belt over his coffin.

I was watching a You tube video tribute for Hélio when a comment from a fan caught my eye.
“RIP Master Hélio! He is in Valhalla , where warriors go when they die.”

Fedor!

                                                                

Fedor Emelianenko  has always been an enigma.Having 32–2-1(w-l-nc)record  speaks volumes about what he is all about! He has never lost a fight (you can't call accidental headbutts and cuts  "real" losses) until now.

The most striking fact about him is that ...win/lose he does not show any emotion.He is always soft spoken and respectful to everyone.

He still trains in his hometown of Stary Oskol, closer to nature.Which makes him even more special .

Even though he lost yesterday, he still is the pound for pound best fighter in the world ! The rest of the competitors are not even close.GSP won't strike.Takes down people and grinds a decision.Ballerina Anderson does not like being taken down and dances a lot.Make no mistake, I am a big fan of these two.


Now consider Fedor's case.He could be GSP and play it safe fearing getting ko'd . He could be anderson silva doing everything in his power to not get taken down. But he isn't all that. You stand up and trade with him- He'll knock you out.You take hime down-He will ambar you no matter who you are.. He fights with no fear at all and that  is why he is the best .And  that is fucking gangster! And ya if you are even  thinking about Brock Lesnar ...mwahahhahahaha....wat a joke(with a 4-1 record i.e)He could be the P4P Champion for  Inring theatrics  :D 

Coming back to Fedor, maybe he lost ...so what ? Eveyone loses..


In Fedor's own words..."The one who doesn't fall is the one who doesn't stand up" . 

Machida Vs Shogun(UFC 104 )

Sherdog pro's pick again!
21-2 in favor of Machida!
Never ...Everr.......bet against Shogun!!!
We'll see... ;)

Post fight notes(LIDDELL Vs Shogun)

I was going through the Pro's pick for the fight on Sherdog on the night before the LIDDEL-SHOGUN Fight. I think the odds were 18-2 favoring Liddell. I always favor the underdog. Also Shogun is one of the most exciting and dynamic fighters around. Great win for him. Hope he ups the ante in his next fights.

PS: RIP Chuck (Would love to see you fight again, but don't think Mr. D will let you)