Archive for October, 2008

Steve Dubin asked:


With three local fighters winning their bouts in the first round, their trainers at USMMA based in Bellingham truly had something to be proud of.  Mike Campbell, Devin Wessinger and Kevin Corrigan each won their weight class recently at the World Championship Fighting (WCF) Fight Night competition at the Shriner’s Auditorium in Wilmington, MA.

Corrigan, fighting at 155 pounds and standing 5’11”, started off the night for USMMA in his first professional fight against Ruben Gonzalez. The bell sounded and both fighters came out strong.  After circling briefly, Corrigan closed the distance with punches drawing a lead leg kick from Gonzalez.  Corrigan caught the kick and closed on his opponent’s hip, lifting and slamming Gonzalez. The crowd reacted with a roar, Gonzalez tried for a guillotine but Corrigan mounted. From there, it only took :48 seconds for Corrigan to win with a KO in the first round.

Corrigan, a 35-year-old native of Bellingham, now lives in Franklin, MA.  He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1991 and he played baseball and hockey there.  He attended the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth and Framingham State College. When asked about his first win, his first thought was, “Unbelievable!!” he said.  “It was the best thing that has ever happened to me.  It was a feeling that was completely different for me because I am so used to team sports.  This was something I did completely by myself,” he said.

“I have never worked so hard for anything in my life and the pay-off was worth it for me in the end,” said Corrigan. “Matt Phinney at USMMA put together a game plan for me and it worked perfectly … absolutely perfectly!  It was almost easy to win because I was so prepared.  I practiced so hard and was just ready for every move,” he added.   Corrigan said that he trained hard for 10 to 12 weeks to prepare for the fight.  He would grapple with the other fighters at USMMA one after another, so facing just one opponent in his first fight was not as nerve-wracking as he thought it would be.  “I was very calm.  I felt very prepared and at ease and I knew I had my support system there,” he said.

“USMMA is the best gym around.  Tom Hafers, Matt Phinney and Jorge Rivera, prepare fighters better than anyone.  All of the fighters know we are trained better than anyone every time we step into the ring.  They really take care of me and they have all become like a second family to me,” said Corrigan.  “We have such a team spirit at USMMA.  If I win, they win and vice versa.  You don’t want to let them down,” he said.  His next fight is September 13, 2008 in Wilmington, MA.

Wessinger, fighting at 155 pounds, and returning to fighting after a year off, was next up on the card for USMMA in a fight against Jose Lopez. The bell sounded and both circled. Lopez threw a leg kick and Wessinger pressured in with punches, backing Lopez into the ropes. Lopez clinched with Wessinger and drove forward getting the takedown into Wessinger’s guard. Wessinger started working for a triangle then transitioned into and Omaplata, a submission move. It was shortly after that Lopez tapped earning Wessinger the victory at 1:19 seconds into the first round.   His record is now 4-1.

Wessinger, a native of Whitinsville, MA, graduated from Blackstone Valley Regional Technical High School in 2003.  While there, the well-rounded athlete played football, lacrosse, basketball and some baseball and hockey.   After graduating, Wessinger began working as a machinist and truly missed the competition of sports.  He tried Mixed Martial Arts and truly enjoyed it. 

“I really missed playing sports after high school and working out at USMMA gave me a great outlet,” said Wessinger.  “The trainers there, Tom Hafers and Matt Phinney, are the best in New England.  They always have a game plan for me.  They know what will happen and what the other guys is planning to do.  It makes me a calmer and more focused fighter because they are there for me,” he said.  “In and out of the ring, I am a happier person because of my training.  I don’t feel frustrated or aggravated because I leave all of that in the ring,” he added.

Wessinger trains about 12 hours a week at USMMA.  He incorporates Brazilian Jiu-Jutsu Mai Tai and sparring.  His next fight is scheduled for September 13, 2008 at the Shriner’s Auditorium in Wilmington, MA.

The most anticipated fight of the night proved it’s worth with headliner and professional fighter Campbell vs. Rich Moskowitz and the crowd was ready for it.  The bell sounded and the fighters began to circle.  Moskowitz looked to close the distance on Campbell with kicks and punches but Campbell proved that he is too elusive.  Using superior footwork and timing, Campbell set up his openings.  Just one minute into the first round, Campbell countered with a cross that sent Moskowitz to the mat.  He rushed in to finish the fight and the referee stopped the fight at 1:28.  Campbell’s victory leaves him with a 5-0 record.

Campbell, a 25-year-old from Franklin, MA, fights in the welterweight division at 5’9”, 170 lbs.  He graduated from Coventry High School in Rhode Island.  While in high school, his dream was to play college football.  It was dream he shared with his father.  After his father passed away from a heroin overdose in 2001, Campbell put aside his football plans, as it was a passion they had always shared together. “My dad and I both loved football and we shared the passion for the game and for me playing.  When he passed away, I didn’t want to play anymore.”

Being no stranger to competition, and missing playing sports, Campbell was inspired to try power lifting.  He represented the US as a power lifter at the Power Lifting World

Championships when he was 22-years-old.  From there, Campbell found Mixed Martial Arts training at USMMA.  As a professional MMA fighter, he has built a solid career path for himself with a 5-0 record that includes 3 KO’s.  He holds a local title belt for the 170 lb. welterweight division. 

He is just getting started.  Campbell was chosen as the feature fighter on the reality show “Tap Out” on the Versus Network.  The “Tap Out” crew has been following Campbell and watching his training and fights that will be featured on an upcoming episode that documents their quest for the best up and coming Mixed Martial Arts fighters in the United States.  “It has been kind of weird having them follow me around, but I know that this will help take me to the next level in my career as a fighter,” said Campbell.  The episode will air in September. 

Campbell also trains with Hafers and Phinney at the USMMA facility in Bellingham, MA.  “They always come up with a great game plan and it always works!” he said.  “Tom and Matt are there for me 100 percent.  They have helped me to develop, not only as a fighter, but as and individual, as well,” he added. 

The United States Mixed Martial Arts Training Center, located on Hartford Avenue in Bellingham, focuses on elevating the physical and spiritual well being of students through Mixed Martial Arts and Yoga. This is accomplished through a four-pronged approach to reality self-defense training centered in total body wellness. 

The state of the art, 4,000-square foot training facility is complete with a 2,000-square foot padded MMA training floor equipped with heavy bags and conditioning equipment, a 15 hundred-square foot yoga studio, locker rooms, showers, a retail store and a juice bar.  USMMA also conducts kid’s programs including birthday parties, hip-hop classes and summer camps.  To contact USMMA, call 508-966-5006 or visit their website at www.usmma.org.



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John Murray asked:


There’s no better way to stick your neck out that coming up with a top 10 “anything” list. It just gets worse when you talk about combat sports like boxing, kickboxing or mixed martial arts. However, here it is, my top 10 list of heavyweight MMA fighters on the planet.

I need to tell you that when I decided to write down my top 10 list, I didn’t think it would take too long. I believed that I could easily pick 10 fighters that were heads and shoulders above the pack. It wasn’t that easy. I’m sure that there will be a lot of people who disagree with my picks, but isn’t that the point, to start a discussion of who’s the best and who is just there for a paycheck?

The 10th best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world.

This was the toughest position to choose, really there could be 4 or 5 guys tied for this position, but I needed to choose one and it was Mark “The Hammer” Coleman. Mark Coleman was one of MMA’s pioneers, he established ground and pound as a valid MMA skill. In fact, Mark is still one of the most intense fighters in the game. Unfortunately his submission skills (both offensive and defensive) have not improved enough to be competitive with the top fighters in the world.

The 9th best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world

Rashad Evans is my pick for fighter number 9. Rashad is still relatively new to the fight game and his natural athletic ability is as good as it gets. With time Rashad will move much closer to the head of the pack, but for now, congratulations Rashad on your success and making it to the list!

The 8th best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world

Brandon “The Truth” Vera is certainly one of the most exciting heavyweight fighters in the UFC right now and I was tempted to put him in the top 5. However, he needs to beat a more substantial fighter than Frank Mir. While I have the utmost respect for Frank Mir, it’s apparent to me that he’s not the same fighter that he was before his accident. I believe that Brandon will be top 5 on next years list. He’s one quality win away from that (in my eyes).

The 7th best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world

Tim Silvia is the UFC’s heavyweight champion. Why is he only ranked #7, the only explanation I have is that I’ve never personally met anyone who likes to watch Tim Silvia fight. He keeps on winning, but I’m never impressed with his performances. Sorry Tim, that’s the way it is, you sit at number seven and if you don’t start winning fights in a more crowd pleasing manner, I’m afraid you’ll drop off the top 10 entirely.

The 6th best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world

It might surprise you that I put former K-1 fighter Mark Hunt in the top 10. It should surprise you that I put him above Tim Silvia, but I have my reasons. Last year Mark Hunt beat Mirko Cro Cop (by a very close decision) and he also held strong with Fedor Emelianenko, even on the ground, in the most recent Pride event.

The 5th best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world

Josh Barnett is my pick for the 5th best MMA heavyweight fighter in the world. Josh says his style is “pro wrestling”, but don’t mistake his performances as fake. Barnett combines general toughness and strength with much improved stand up and a stellar ground game. His fights are always exciting and often bloody. Josh is a former UFC heavyweight champion with victories over the likes of Randy Couture.

The 4th best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world

A year ago I would have put Andrei Arlovski in the top 3, maybe even top 2, but his losses to Tim Silvia have me wondering. I don’t question Andrei’s skills, he’s an excellent stand up fighter with a strong ground game, I do question whether he is afraid of getting hit after loosing to Tim Silvia’s by knockout. By the way, that is a fight he should have won, in my opinion Silvia got lucky (but he seems to do that a lot). I’m looking forward to seeing what 2007 has in store for Andrei.

The 3rd best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world

Who in their right mind would argue that Mirko Cro Cop belongs in the top 3 heavyweight fighters in the world? Now that Mirko has joined the UFC it’s clear that Tim Silvia’s days as champion are numbered. Mirko will hold the UFC heavyweight title in 2007, I’d put money on that one. Mirko’s strength is most certainly his striking, including the best high kicks in the business. Victim’s of Cro Cop’s left high kick is a list of MMA royalty…I wonder if he can get that kick 6 foot 7 (Tim Silvia’s height).



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Alan Largo asked:


If you have ever watched a martial arts competition or especially if you watch them regularly you may notice that some competitors make it seem effortless. Their form is seemingly perfect but does not look rehearsed. They seem to flow from move to another and even in the middle of a fierce battle it seems as if they are dancing.

Then there are others that seem stiff, the movements have an awkward rehearsed feeling to them and even though they are proficient and experienced it seem as if they are having to put a huge amount of effort into their exhibition or match.

The difference is Chi. The competitor in the first example, knows how to use it, flows with it and as a result their performance is smooth, flawless, they are responding instantly. The second competitor only knows the physical aspect of martial arts. They have not learned the Chi aspect. This does not mean they are any less skilled by the standards used, they are however missing out on half the potential that martial arts has.

Chi is the energy of life; you could even say it is the spiritual aspect that goes with the practice of martial arts. Martial arts are more than training your body it is also about training your spirit. Learning how Chi can be manipulated is what trains the spirit. It is when both these aspects work together that martial artists reach the true potential of the art.

The best way to accomplish this is to learn both the physical and spirit aspects of martial arts at the same time. This creates a balance between the two and allows to both grow together and work together. While the best way to do this is to find a dojo that actually teaches both in some places it may be difficult to find this.

Most western Dojos do not teach this spiritual aspect through they may touch on it. There are some however or you can work on it on your own through meditation and through martial arts practices that are designed to assist in the development of the chi energy.

Chi energy must be developed slowly; the manipulation of energy also requires physical strength. The movement of energy within the body causes heat, your body must be able to take the physical manifestations of energy movement in order to use it effectively and ensure that no physical damage comes from working the energy and channeling it through the body.

The best time to start learning this is during childhood when spiritual awareness has not been dulled and tarnished by society. It already exists in all of us from birth. Of course, this is not always possible for everyone.

While it is possible it is harder to develop the process after adulthood because you must first remove expectations and the philosophy and beliefs of society in order to obtain spiritual awareness to the level of being able to manipulate chi energy into a useful form. It is however possible and something that everyone who wants to take martial arts to the next level should consider.



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EZ asked:


Does Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) work like regular martial arts with belts ? And what does a program typically cost?

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orsondixon asked:


In today’s world, learning martial art is your first and most important step towards effective self defense against any hostilities you may encounter. But to learn martial arts properly, proper training with good quality equipment is necessary. If you have just set foot in the world of martial arts and wish to know what equipments you might need, read on.

Makiwara – It is a padded striking post used as for training in various styles of traditional karate. It is padded with foam rubber with a strong canvas cover to minimize actual damage to the hand or elbows during training. Getting a high quality makiwara with sufficient foam padding is advisable for continued training sessions. This will help to avoid developing an injury during rigorous training.

Training bags – These are not just for boxers. Martial arts trainees often use sand-filled bags to practice punches and harden their hands at the same time. These bags should be made of strong canvas, and should be filled up to 9/10 with clean sand before hanging them up. The bags should be double-stitched to lower the chances of splitting at the seams. The springs for hanging the bags should be made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel to make them long lasting.

Training shields – When training in a “dojo”, you may often be at the receiving end of the strikes. In these cases, you will be required to use a training shield to defend yourself against the kicks and punches dished out by your opponent. The best training shields are made of reinforced vinyl with tri-layer foam cover to minimize the force of the impact on your hands and wrists.

Hand grips – These are essential for any newcomer to the world of martial arts. Gripping this equipment tightly helps in strengthening fingers and palms. The body of the equipment should be made of heavy duty stainless steel while the hand-grip should be made of reinforced plastic or vinyl.

Ripcord – These are tough elastic cords that can be used to add resistance to your movement. You can use these to exert more pressure on your arms when punching, or on your legs when walking or running. These cords help strengthen limbs and improve muscle tone.

These basic gears, along with the requisite clothing, should give you a good start to your martial arts training. Train well and with proper equipment to prepare yourself for any hostile situation you might encounter.



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James Liu asked:


Today, martial arts have become very much popular among young kids and adults alike. Different types of martial arts are being learnt by people for many reasons like self-protection, weight loss and for physical fitness. Some of the most popular martial arts are judo, karate and jujitsu. Mixed martial arts are also becoming more and more popular these days. Mixed martial arts involve the use of a combination of martial arts techniques to overpower the attacker. Mixed martial arts (MMA) championships like the Ultimate Fighting Championships and PRIDE Fighting Championships have added to the gaining popularity of this art.

Mixed martial arts and the new age boxing have their origins in martial arts like judo, karate and jujitsu. They began as experiments in which one martial arts combat technique was used against another in an attempt to find out which technique was most suitable against real life attackers. Modern martial competitions are based on these events but stricter rules have been implemented. These rules were implemented so that mixed martial arts would gain more popularity. However, there are no universal rules and rules vary from place to pace. Also there is no central organization that governs modern martial arts rules.

The most common techniques used in mixed martial arts are striking and grappling. A variety of techniques like kicking, kneeing and punching are used to strike the opponent. Grappling techniques involve throwing, sweeping and holds. As rules vary among organizations some moves may or may not be considered legal. For example, head butting and spinal locks are legally valid in some championships and illegal in others. Techniques like eye-gouging and spinal locks are not considered legal.

Participation in modern martial arts championships requires a lot of hard work and training. Training makes perfect in overpowering any sort of attack. Training also helps one to stay fit and gain confidence. It also improves one’s power of character. A variety of techniques are taught during training. Boxing and kick-boxing are taught to make the standup techniques effective while jujitsu is used to dominate the ground attacks. Many styles have to be adapted to achieve success in modern martial arts. Sticking to a single technique may prove itself to be ineffective. Further, these styles have to be changed and adapted to the situation. Most of the MMA competitors learn all the styles together and independently under many coaches. Flexibility and adaptive nature play an important role in being successful. Being competent is the only key to success in modern martial arts.



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Jason Oconnor asked:


Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combination of karate, grappling, wrestling, Tang Soo Do, boxing, jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do and more all combined in one. Mixed martial arts, in its modern form, emerged in 1993 through the Ultimate Fighting Championships and was based on pitting different fighting styles against each other with minimal rules to determine which system would be better in a real, unregulated combat situation.

During the late 1990s, the governing bodies imposed extra rules for the safety of the athletes and to try to promote the sport and gain wider acceptance, but still maintaining the no holds barred idea. MMA has grown rapidly in the last few years with many people both young and old realizing the many benefits of mixed martial arts both physical and mental and this has seen enrollments in classes increasing worldwide.

MMA is classed as a combat sport, but it’s a sport that stresses the ideals of fair play and respect for your opponent still. However, MMA are still quite often wrongly known as vicious and brutal.

Regardless of MMA’s reputation, the competition is relatively safe. Due to the rules and regulations imposed and strictly enforced and the tough mental and physical conditioning of the opponents there has never been a death or indeed a critical injury report by the MMA as directly linked to any tournament.

Martial arts are great for the body. Regular training strengthens and tones the muscles and adds flexibility. Training in martial arts gives you a full cardio work out. You can expect to greatly increase your strength and stamina and improve your hand eye coordination. Martial arts is a good weight loss program as well because it becomes a complete system in which a healthy diet is part and when combined with the extreme physical activity proper weight loss is assured.

Classes are run at schools, dojos, youth groups organizations, church groups, and other, less formal settings. MMA is also being incorporated into many gyms as mixed martial arts become more popular.

A typical class will have you start with a warm up consisting of various stretching exercises, trunk rotations, jumps, squats and abs tightening exercises. Then there will be a series of movements taught and explained in full. Sparring is controlled and protective gear is worn, such as helmets, gloves and guards.

At other times a bag will be used for practicing kicks, jabs and punches. Although you may feel awkward and unfit at first, it will not take long before your fitness and skill level improves, along with your frame of mind.

People who practice MMA feel and look healthier, but there are far more benefits than the physical side. While many think of martial arts as violent, in the mainstream it is used as self defense. It does not encourage violence but teaches the student how to control anger and how to use self control and restraint.

Students are taught self discipline and the rigors of training builds character and self-confidence, which ultimately reduces temper induced rages that can often be the cause of many street fights. This confidence carries over into everyday life and as a result mixed martial arts students tend to be become better people than they were.

Mixed martial arts training teaches you that you must control the powers that you have had the privilege of learning and never use it recklessly or without thought. Students are also taught that before any success is achieved they will fail many times and that practiced and perseverance is the key. This is a valuable lesson to learn and will often carry over into other endeavors the student undertakes.

Furthermore, the training teaches you that every person is responsible for his own actions and must understand and abide by the given rules. This kind of training improves one’s actions in life as well as in martial arts training and tournaments. Many of these arts build a spiritual life into the training, with courtesy, self-control, perseverance and integrity emphasized in the classes. So much so that many Christian Church groups are running mixed martial arts classes for their youth organizations due to the character building characteristics in martial arts training that are also much a part of Christian beliefs.

Given all this, it is no wonder that so many parents are enrolling their children in mixed martial arts classes today. They see their children’s health and fitness improve, something their child’s peers often lack. And they also witness their children’s mindset, attitudes to life and self-improvement, respect and courage all improve as well.

Anyone who trains in karate, jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do or any of the arts will gain these benefits. If you have any desire to improve your body and mind at the same time with only one activity, then martial arts is something you ought to seriously consider. You don’t just get in shape physically, but also mentally and spiritually. No gym workout can compare. All across the world, adults are joining dojos and thoroughly enjoying the many benefits of mixed martial arts.



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Adrian Adams asked:


Martial arts are a sport that combines a variety of different methods of combat. In some cases, martial arts are used only for use, in other cases, they are used in head-to-head combat, in generally controlled situations, such as matches or shows. Because martial arts includes a variety of different styles, it is normal when a person thinks of them, that they think of one specific types, for example, karate.

However, there is more to martial arts than just karate. For instance, Karate is a stand up style of the art, in which Kung Fu, San Shou, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Kray Maga, Kickboxing, and Boxing also belong. When focusing on styles such as these, also known as stand u styles, blocking, kicking, and punching are the foremost focus when it comes to these forms of arts.

Another style of the arts is called grappling or ground fighting. These are forms of wrestling, that includes the martial art practices of Greco-Roman wrestling, Sambo, Shoot fighting, Shooto, and Brazilian Jujitsu.

Yet another style is what is called throwing styles, in which an opponent attempts to unbalance the other by using means of locks, trips, or throws. Within this style, arts such as Hapkido, Shuai Jiao, Aikido, and Judo reside.

For weapons based martial arts, these are arts performed using weapons, and for the most part are only used during cultural and traditional displays, though Kali is still used as an effort of self-defense and combat. Arts within this category include Kendo, Lado, and Kali.

Not all martial art styles are used for combative purposes today, even if they were originally designed for that purpose. Now, many are instead used for exercise, relief of stress, internal energy, and breathing. Some of these meditative or low impact styles include the arts of Chi Gong, Ba Gua, and Tai Chi.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

What happens when you combine techniques from the different forms of martial arts? You get what is called Mixed Martial Arts, which is also commonly known as MMA. Mixed Martial Arts is a combination of a variety of styles of the art, in which opponents attempt to overpower the other using a variety of techniques.

While it is a combination of a variety of techniques, the most popular techniques are those in stand up styles, clinch styles, and ground styles. Most fighters focus on a particular skill, but must have training in all skills to be successful. It is more common for fighters to have a variety of coaches that train for the various phases of combat, it is not common place nowadays for a fighter to specialize in one specific area of combat.

Because mixed martial arts is a recognized sport, with two specific organizations, the PRIDE Fighting Championships and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, there are rules and regulations.

For example, weight classes are a requirement in these rules, they pair like weights with other like weights to make fights more fair. In these rules there are a variety of fouls and penalties as well. These rules were designed to eliminate the picture of barbaric fighting, in which two people fight to the death, as many people once believe mixed martial arts to be. These fouls were designed to protect the fighters. Penalties are awarded to the fighter for fish hooking, biting, pulling hair, gouging eyes, and head butting.

Attacks to the groin is illegal in mixed martial arts, as well as strikes to the kidneys, spinal area, and the back of an opponents head. The trachea is off limits as well, a fighter may not grab or strike the trachea of the opponent. Joint manipulation, such as toes and fingers, is allowed. There are many rules, this area has only touched the surface, but you can basically get the idea that mixed martial arts is a controlled and very regulated sport, designed for the physical fitness and enjoyment of the sport, with the health of the fighter in mind.



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Paul A. Walker asked:


I’m often asked the question “Which is better, Karate or Taekwondo?”; “Which is stronger, Judo or Kung Fu?”; or more direct questions such as “Could you beat a Mixed Martial artist in a fight?”

Thanks to the current popularity of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) we are seeing a showcase of different styles being pitted against one another. However my answer to all of these questions has to do with the many different paths that are available in the martial arts, and the one common destination.

Before I elaborate on what that actually means let me first give you a situation. You are standing outside your local shopping mall and you want to get home. How many ways could you do it? Well you would normally drive, either in your car or someone else’s but you could also take the bus, ride a bike, walk or even hitchhike. Which way is best?

Of course most of you will tell me to drive. It’s quicker, you don’t have to pay for a bus, you have control of your trip and you don’t have to use much energy. But are any of the other methods any less valid? You still reach your objective, and that is to get home. Granted it takes longer but maybe you learn something along the way that could be valuable for the rest of your life; or maybe you just have a miserable journey and wish you had driven!

Different martial arts are very similar to that. Some of them are like riding your bike. You get some exercise without straining yourself too much, but it takes a little bit longer than you wanted to get to your destination, others are like walking the whole way – it takes hours to get there but you see all kinds of sights on the way and learn a lot. However, you have to decide whether the time it took was worth the effort. Then finally you have the quick option to get in your car and drive in order to get there quickly. Some martial arts offer you this too but you have to ask yourself if you were even looking at and enjoying the sights along the way, much less learning something.

So which is better, Karate or Taekwondo? Which is stronger, Judo or Kung Fu? I have an answer and here it is!

No one martial art is better than another, yet at the same time all martial arts have something that is better than the others, and ultimately the choice one makes as to which martial art to study comes down to personal preference.

Let me give you some concrete examples of what I mean by this answer. Firstly consider a 250-pound muscular, well proportioned man being pitted against a 150-pound toned guy of equal technical ability in a wrestling match. There is no doubt in my mind that the bigger guy will win 9 times out of 10 because of his sheer size and strength. There is a lot of skill involved in wrestling and that is why I said they have the same technical ability. But wrestling generally favors the bigger fighter.

So let’s put these same fighters in a Karate tournament where the goal is not to pin your opponent into submission but to score points through quick, powerful and focused techniques. The small guy now doesn’t have to worry about being smothered, he just has to worry about whether he is fast enough to get in and out of the big man’s guard and score the point. The chances for each fighter winning are a little more even in this match.

Now let’s make the small guy a ju-jitsu expert who understands wrist locks, arm locks and pressure points and let’s make the big guy a lumbering yet strong oaf. I would almost guarantee that the ju-jitsu guy would win this fight in spite of the seeming size disadvantage.

I hope that you’ve understood what I’m trying to say in this brief article. The point I’m making is that the question of whether one art is better than another does not depend on the art itself, but rather on the person who is studying that art. If the art is suited to the practitioner, then the martial artist will ultimately become very skillful and very accomplished. On the other hand, if the martial artist can’t kick, yet chooses Taekwondo as his style he will have a very hard time!

So which martial art is the best? In the end it simply depends on you and what your specific skills and talents are! It would probably be better to ask which martial art would suit you best, and how can you find this information? I can help you here by offering to help you by offering the additional information in my FREE Report “Beginners Guide to Karate”. You will find out how to download it at http://www.freekarateinformation.com

Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate.

I hope you take me up on this offer and save yourself a lot of wasted time and effort in choosing the right martial art.



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JohnMathew asked:


Boxing has many forms like one among its forms is the mixed martial arts. Mixed martial arts is an exciting sport which is also known as no holds barred fighting is an exciting sport that uses its techniques from different martial arts, Greco Roman wrestling, boxing and Brazilian Jiu – Jitsu. The history of martial arts dates back to the late 1800s, the person who made the movements of mixed martial arts popular was Bruce Lee; he was the one who made the movements popular by properly developing a unique and innovative fighting style that constituted all the movements taken from western boxing to karate to fencing. However the sport did not become an official sport and did not gain much popularity until the very famous Ultimate Fighting Championship took place in the United States of America in the year 1992. Another interesting fact is that Pankration which is a form of martial arts had its origination in Greece. It has been practiced in Greece as far as 648 B.C is now under the consideration that it is going to be an Olympic sport.

In mixed martial arts there are very few rules which have been established over the last ten years. Initially martial arts were a brutal sport in which there was always a continuous risk of the health of fighters. The new rules have made the risk factor of the health of the fighters has declined, many rules like the head butts, biting, eye gauging, attacks in the groin area, kidneys and the trachea have all been prohibited to ensure the safety of the workers. Since there is no worldwide association existing for formulating a generalized rules for the mixed martial arts, the rules for playing the mixed martial arts varies from country to country. In concern to ensure the safety of the health of the workers, amateur fights have stricter rules which are to be adhered to. There are typically three stages in a mixed martial arts fight. The stages are as follows stand up fighting,clinch fighting and the last stage is that of the ground fighting. Stand upfighting includes the different techniques like kicking, punching, kneeing and elbowing the opponent , on the other hand the ground fighting involves acts which make the opponents go down on the  ground through the usage of various grappling holds.On the other hand clinch fighting is aprocess of holding the opponent either to prevent him from getting a dominant position on the ground or to prevent him from getting the different strikes.

Many of the mixed martial arts fight players use smaller gloves in course of their fights. The choice of open fingered gloves orthe closed finger gloves depends on the type of fight, the country, the weight range of the fighters. The different ways to victory in the mixed martial arts are the knock out, technicaql knock out and submission. Any illegal fight can result in the disqualification of the fighters.



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