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The Sweet Science and related sports (muay thai, MMA, etc.)I've been boxing for less than two months now, but I love it. Apparently, my coach loves what I've been doing in the ring, too, because he wants me to join other boxers he is training at a demonstration when the Toughman competition comes to town in January. I'm quite flattered to be considered, since I am so inexperienced. It's a great sport, though, and it has done wonders for my mental and physical well-being. If I never stepped inside a real ring, and never did more than train, I would still be happy participate. Anyone else involved in one or more of these sports? I'd love to hear your stories. Submitted by ysubassoon (271 posts) on December 11, 2007 - 8:32pm. |
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No opportunities
I got my start in martial arts with Shaolin Kung Fu. I love the traditional format, but broke out into grappling, BJJ, etc. in my teens. I got into Tae Kwon Do for international sparring. Overall, I have about seventeen years of experience. Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to compete MMA format because the popularity of the sport here is very limited. The most I do now is coach men's MMA classes.
I feel that it's a load of bull that martial arts is so heavily dominated by men.
Re: No opportunities
I completely agree. I have never been able to understand why men make it so difficult for women to participate in the martial arts, let alone compete with them side by side. I have been fortunate to have had a wonderful, very understanding taekwondo instructor and a great boxing coach, and both have been delighted to have women participating and leading their classes.
We shouldn't have to be fortunate to be able to participate in these sports. It should be no easier or harder for women to participate than it is for men. Our coaches and instructors thus far have been the exceptions to the rule, and they should not have to be. The discipline, fitness, focus, and mental toughness developed in the martial arts are of universal benefit, and I find it discouraging that my presence, participation, and/or competition in a martial arts event is not taken seriously or judged on its merits. It shouldn't be shocking, and I hope someday it won't be.
"Brains grow love."--H. H. the Dalai Lama
Blog update! http://blog.myspace.com/ysubassoon
MMA
I've taken classes in the Israeli "Krav Maga", the fighting system of the Israeli Defense Forces. It's strictly self-defense, so there isn't any sport application.
That said though, a lot of the 'combatives' are similar to MMA and what we see in the UFC/Pride/IFL etc. So elbows, knees, hammerfists, and kicks are a regular part of the class.
My studio also has a ground fighting class, which is similar to BJJ, and incorporates a lot of different fighting styles. In ground though, we are taught what is legal in competition (as opposed to strictly self-defense).
It's awesome. It's really taught me a lot about awareness of surroundings and given me confidence to really blast into someone if I feel physically threated that I am in danger.
As they say, "I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six".
Seriously?
Love mma
did martial arts for a while looking to get back into it. Is anyone watching the UFC fight for the troops tonight? It should be good. I liked all of Gina's fights so far, and the Cyborg fights that I saw as well. Or Ali fights, she will be missed in the sport of boxing...oh well maybe she will help train Gina and help improve her striking. The show Fight Girls that show was amazing...it had better fights then some fights on the TUF show.
As for Krav Maga here in America we have the watered down version of Krav Maga. Has anyone seen how they train in Israel, now thats hardcore and the real Krav Maga.
"Come On Then Get These Good Done Debbies"
Fight for the Troops
Good showing of fights overall
I did feel as though the fights started to end rather quickly, after the first couple of fights that seemed to never end. The best TKO goes to Mike Swick b/c after the ref stepped in the guys head was still going back and forth. Best KO goes to Josh Kos...that was just brutal and ever more brutal when they showed it in slow motion.
I feel as though Gina doesn't become really agressive until after she gets hit in the face....then she goes crazy. I think if Gina could work more with Pro boxers like Ali and her people or Mayweather and his people, or Manny P. and his people......she would be pure destruction standing up. She already has a nice kick, and uses her front kick very well. If she plans on beating Cyborg then just like you said she needs to work on her striking.
I hope all the Elite XC fighters who are still in their contracts can get out of it and very soon. Will you be watching the big UFC fight this month, Forest...Rampage, Mir?
Do yall ever do knife games where everyone has a piece of chalk to represent the knife so when you get stabbed or cut it shows up on your shirt? I found that to be a great way to demonstrate what would and would not work in that kind of situation.
"Come On Then Get These Good Done Debbies"
Paint Knives!
We use paint knives! Styrofoam knives with a spongy edge to dip in red paint. It's so much fun, but pretty messy. We all wear white t-shirts and do mini-tournaments. I won the last tournament we had. Me & our top guy were last to go - he sliced open my forehead as I came in low, but I stabbed him straight in the trachea. We judge based upon the actual severity of the cut, not who gets the first or gets to 3 cuts first, etc.
Ya I'll probably watch the fight. I'm torn about Forrest & Rampage. I like Rampage as a fighter, but that whole temporary insanity & loss of judgement in that hit & run lessened my respect for him. I know I should just get over it, but I have such a strong sense of justice.
If Gina were to work on staying in her opponents center-line with her punches, she'd do better. That's a problem I see with more and more fighters these days - guys and girls. Look what happened to the Japanese guy!!! Koshchek caught him with a STRAIGHT right cross! Another thing is keeping the pressure on. That's why I like training JKD concepts- so much focus on center-line and constant forward pressure.
How often do you train?
Ohhhh that sounds like fun
paint knives. At least with paint knives it should hurt less to get hit in the end vs with a huge piece of chalk to the forehead. Yeah I think a stab to the trachea def. beats a slashed forehead...that can heal. That sounds like my kind of tournament.
Oh yeah that whole hit and run thing did make me think less of him, and I was a huge Rampage fan, and a Chuck fan. The TUF finale comes on tom. night on Spike....and i'm looking forward to that one. I'm rooting for Vinny the Brazilian, the Nurse, and Junie (even though I think he has some issues). I hope Rampage does win this fight, b/c his last fight was sorry imo. I think if Rashad knocked Chuck the hell out.....Forrest is in some trouble.
Good point about the straight right cross. That was a brutal KO. Did you see where Corey Hill broke his leg after having his kick blocked. JKD concepts in theory sounds like it would work b/c it takes Bruce Lee's idea of taking what works from other styles and using them. Last time I checked there is not a place that teaches JDK around my neck of the woods.
Before my surgery I would go to class three times a week. I'm hoping to get back into jui-jitsu next month, now that there is no fear of getting injured cause i'm fully healed. How often do you train?
"Come On Then Get These Good Done Debbies"
Been away from the computer
Philipe was a disapointment
props to Efrain for the win though. Wathcing that fight after seeing Junie's fight got me thinking about how he basically gave Efrain the win on the show..made me think that Junie could take Efrain and Philipe now after trainning at Extreme Couture. The MacDonald vs Wilson fight a shocker to me. That knockout by Anthony Johnson was just brutal but just what the guy needed after having his eye almost poked out. Vinny should have taken it to the ground.
With your back being injured before, does it have an impact on your ground game at all?
"Come On Then Get These Good Done Debbies"
2 weeks of crazy are done...
I love UFC,
and I think one of the greatest knockouts, certainly one of the grossest [the grossest being Bas Rutten breaking someone's shin (TKO)] was the Gonzaga/Crocop fight, when Gonzaga kicks Crocop's head, knocking him out, and his leg bends backwards underneath him when he falls.
What to say about a 'watered down' Krav? If I break your face, I break your face.
But yes, I have seen footage of Israeli's using Krav, and it's not something I want to be on the receiving end of.