Sports And Fitness

D Southard asked:


Every sport has its own demand from a human body. Whether it is the hands that are involved or the feet, it is a requirement that one should use the right kind of accessories while practicing their favorite sport. Thus shoes to play soccer or basketball are different from shoes for martial arts. Since the sports are starkly different, the demands on limbs are also different. Therefore, it is not only recommended but compulsory that proper shoes for martial arts should be used while practicing the same.

The main feature of using shoes for martial arts is that they come without laces and so do not impair movement and thus are prone to fewer accidents caused by entanglement. Also, shoes specially created for martial arts are padded at the right places so that you can use the optimum force in your kicks and thus enhance your art rather than impair it. The soles are also specially designed so that you get a good grip on your feet and enable you to spin on your feet efficiently. Spinning is a part and parcel of martial arts unlike any other sport and thus using shoes for martial arts is an advantage to martial art enthusiasts. Let us check the kinds of shoes available for such enthusiasts:

The Ninjitsu Tabi Boot: This is a very special boot made for the art of practicing the Ninjitsu Tabi and does not even look like footwear. It looks more like a bedroom slipper and is a deceit in itself. It comes with tow-grips inside the boot. This boot is also used to practice Ninjitsu and its allied martial arts. This boot is improvised to enable better and efficient kicking and will give you an edge over other martial art sportsmen.

The Martial Arts KungFu Slipper: Another fine example of shoes for martial arts is the KungFu Slipper. This is a very special form of footwear and helps the practitioner to maintain body temperature during KungFu practice. These shoes also help one to remove excess calories, very useful when one is using martial arts as a fitness regimen. The KungFu Slippers are easy to clean – you could wash them with hand or just toss them into the washer. Made with simple yet strong fabric, these shoes are very comfortable and you could find many people using them as casual wear without understanding their functionality entirely, especially in Asian countries.

Shoes for martial arts are specially designed so that they take the shape of your foot during practice. Many martial arts enthusiasts are also seen practicing bare foot, but this practice could be dangerous and may result in injuries. While bare foot practice benefits better due to strength training and the natural feel, it is only advised after you reach a particular skill level. Shoes for martial arts are highly recommended for beginners and are designed to give better ergonomic comfort and safety to the ones wearing them. Wearing shoes for martial arts is highly recommended for the new and budding martial arts enthusiasts.



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Troy Macraft asked:


Introduction to Martial Arts, Part 1

The term martial arts can be defined as an art of combat that combines codified fighting techniques with philosophy, strategy, and cultural traditions. A martial art may be an offensive art for combat or a defensive art for self-defense. It may also be practiced to promote health and fitness, as a means of personal and spiritual development, and as a form of sport or entertainment. Martial arts can be performed both with and without weapons.

Styles of martial art

There are many different styles of martial art practiced throughout the world. Generally, however, they can be categorized into three broad types: traditional martial arts, sport-based martial arts, and weapons-based martial arts.

The traditional martial arts-such as jujutsu, which was used by Japan’s samurai warriors, or La Scuola della Spada Italiana (the Italian School of Swordsmanship)-evolved from battlefield training syllabuses. Employed in combat situations, these arts had the sole goal of equipping a practitioner with the skills and techniques necessary to kill or incapacitate the enemy. Sport-based martial arts, on the other hand, incorporate training regimes that prepare a practitioner for sporting competitions rather than solely life-threatening situations. Muay Thai, Western boxing, judo, mixed martial arts, and tae kwon do are prime examples. Weapons-based arts concentrate specifically on the use of weapons. The techniques learned here can then be applied in either traditional battlefield arts or in sporting competitions. Kendo, bataireacht, and escrima are all examples of weapons-based arts. Depending on the style of martial art, the school, and the individual teacher, varying amounts of emphasis will be placed on each of these aspects, with some martial arts combining elements of all three.

Ancient arts, modern myths

Fighting and humankind’s need to dominate and defend is as old as life itself. Our ancestors’ survival instincts undoubtedly sowed the seeds for the development of martial arts. Primarily methods of cultivating effective battlefield techniques, and first codified to ensure high-quality and consistent teaching across the troops, many of the martial arts practiced today have a surprisingly long history, which is believed to span approximately 5,000 years. Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, they are not solely defined by the traditions of the East. While extensive archeological evidence points to the millennia-old practice of martial arts in China and India, many other nations and cultures can make similar claims. In Egypt, for example, tombs dating from approximately 2000 BCE show that stick-fighting arts were highly evolved, and the ancient full-contact art of pankration is thought to have already been considered an ancient sport at the time of its first appearance at the ancient Olympics in 648 BC.

A global phenomenon

In more recent times, the Olympic movement has further championed both Eastern and Western martial arts. Greco-Roman wrestling and fencing, for example, featured at the first modern Games in 1896, while Western archery, boxing, judo, and tae kwon do made their inaugural appearances in 1900, 1904, 1964, and 2000 respectively. The Asian Games can add karate and wushu to the list of martial arts practiced at the highest level.



Boxing Gloves

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).



Memorial Rubber Bracelets

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.



Balloon Gizmos

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.



Balloon Gizmos

Phoenix Delray asked:


Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, combines many different fighting techniques, including grappling and striking, and high performance standards, particularly in the often intense, and very popular MMA tournaments. The first tournaments came about as a result of the 1993 Ultimate Fighting Championship, which matched different fighting styles in a competition where the rules were minimal and the goal was to find the best fighters in the world.

The success of this mixed martial arts combat style led to the development and implementation of rules designed to keep athletes safe and deflect early criticism of the sport while still holding on to the original concept of the UFC as much as possible. The modern MMA tournaments have their roots in the Vale tudo martial arts tournaments held in Brazil by the Gracie family beginning in the 1920s, and the preliminary martial arts tournaments hosted in Japan by Antonio Inoki in the early 1970s.

There are several different competition techniques, including striking techniques, like kicks, punches, and knees, and grappling techniques, like pinning holds, submission holds, clinch holds, takedowns, throws and sweeps.

The permissibility and legality of certain other techniques like head butts, spinal locks, and elbows vary according to the specific organization and sponsored competition. Although many critics have attempted to portray the MMA fighting style as violent and brutal, there has never been a death or crippling injury in any sanctioned MMA event in North America.

The U.S. state athletic and boxing committee regulates the MMA, requiring participants and sponsors to adhere to a set of officially sanctioned rules and regulations, which include rules for knockout, submission, technical knockout, the ten point system, disqualification, and no contest.

Common fouls include: clawing, twisting and pinching flesh; small joint manipulation; attacking an opponent from or on the break in the care of an official, attacking the groin or trachea, fish-hooking, biting, and hair pulling, spitting, use of abusive language, and other similar acts.

The MMA continues to grow in popularity and reputation, as athletes associated with the sport have also gained reputation and renown, as well as successful careers and endorsement deals.

With mainstream acceptance, worldwide acclaim, and an every growing fan base, what started as an abstract concept has become an established sport and a successful platform from which many athletic careers have been launched. The future of the MMA appears to be bright, and the popularity of the sport even more so.



MMA Shorts

Amedeo Lanasa asked:


December 17, 2006

Press Release – Toronto Ontario – Mixed Martial Arts clothing company Submit Gear Inc is proud to announce their sponsorship of Canadian mixed martial arts fighter Liz Posener.

Liz is a 31 year old mother of two, who studies Pankration and Muay Thai kickboxing at the Kel Lee’s Academy of Martial Arts in Vancouver, BC, owned by her husband Simon. She entered the mixed martial arts scene five years ago, but her love for the sport began at a young age.

Her first exposure to contact fighting was watching boxing with her father. From there, her interests expanded onto grappling and other contact sports.

In the Posener household, martial arts is truly a way of life. Liz is married to a former PNW Pro Pankration Champion, and North American Pro Muay Thai Champion. Their 10 year-old daughter Lydia is not only her biggest fan, but she also trains and competes in kick boxing herself.

Like other practitioners of the sport, Elizabeth had to deal with stereotypes and misconceptions from day one.

“When I talk to other parents they’re usually surprised that a mother of two does this kind of thing, but that comes from people not knowing enough about what mixed martial artists do”, Posener said. “ It’s not just two people beating each other in a cage.”

Today, Elizabeth is one of the few female MMA fighters in Canada and has achieved several sponsors in her support. “She is without a doubt making her mark in the MMA world” says urban fight apparel company (http://www.SubmitGear.com) owner Mark Chiappino.

She was the first female fighter to compete in both the “Elite Fighting Championships” and the “Real Fighting Championships”. Her current MMA record is 3-1-0, all wins by TKO.

Elizabeth will be fighting in Florida’s first women’s MMA title fight on December 22, 2006 for the UFC (Unified Cage Fights) bantamweight mma title. Following that event, will be another title fight in the “Gladiators Challenge” on January 26th, 2007.

Who says women can’t fight?

About Submit Gear

Submit Gear is a Toronto-based on-line company specializing in Urban Mixed Martial Arts fight apparel. Through our products and sponsorship programs, we are proud to support the best sport in the world, and more importantly, the martial artists who make it all happen.

Submit Gear Inc.

PO Box 80023

Toronto, Ontario

M8V 4A1

CANADA

http://www.SubmitGear.com



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Phoenix Delray asked:


Urijah Faber was born in his parents home on May 14th, 1979, in the small college town of Isla Vista. His parents holistic practices would come to influence all aspects of his life, including his successful MMA career and UFC affiliation. Fabers healthy diet and exercise helped gain him early success as a star athlete in the small town where he grew up, excelling in football, wrestling, and other sports. During his college career, he was the starting 133lb wrestler for UC Davis, and became the all time Davis win leader and a two time NCAA D-1 qualifier, finishing in the top twelve in 2002 and going on to the freestyle University Nationals to become a National runner up. After earning his Bachelors of Science in Human Development, Faber remained at UC Davis as the staff wrestling coach and launched his career in the MMA.

After just one month of jiu-jitsu training, Urijah Faber entered his first fight in November 2003 and won, going on to attend the Gladiator Challenge Belt in June of 2004. In September of 2005, Faber experienced his first career defeat, offset by his subsequent six-win streak and a third World Championship Belt for the WEC in March 2006. Fabers ongoing jiu-jitsu training has furthered his success, particularly since the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, practiced most famously in the United States by UFC founder Robert Gracie, emphasizes both grappling and ground fighting techniques.

This martial art and combat sport also promotes the idea that a smaller person can apply the proper leverage and technique to successfully defend themselves against larger opponents. Many MMA fighters have received extensive training in this area because of this. Uriah Fabers training is similar to that of the early Jiu-Jitsu fighters, who saw it as not only a martial art, but also as a sport and a way to build character and promote physical fitness. Fabers healthy lifestyle and intense daily workout regimen and self discipline are a good match for the disciplined principles of this century old martial art,

Since these initial victories, Faber has continued to dominate the 145lb weight class and the MMA, due to his personality, unique fighting style, and marketability. Urijah has earned the nickname The California Kid, as well as a popular official online fan club, endorsements, and more. On December 21, 2006, Faber was featured in MSNBCs four-part documentary, Warrior Nation, and currently has his own line of apparel and merchandise, including limited edition shirts and other clothing items.



Balloon Gizmos

Adrian Adams asked:


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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