Boxing

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8
Oct 11

History of the UFC

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) started the mixed martial arts (MMA) mania that swept the world of fighting sports when it held its very first tournament 18 years ago. To date, a number of other promoters hold their own MMA events around the world to cater to the growing fan base of supporters and enthusiasts. However, only a few do know and appreciate how UFC popularized MMA. Most of the younger generation of fans may not even know who the original fighters were and how matches were made at that time.

The first UFC event was held on November 12, 1993 at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado through the collaboration of Art Davie and Rorion Gracie. Davie was an advertising executive who was inspired with the Gracies in Action video series which featured the Gracie jiu-jitsu practitioners defeating masters of various martial arts disciplines. He wanted to capture the same excitement by holding a tournament that pitted fighters with various martial arts backgrounds to see which one is the most effective fighting style in a real no holds barred fight. Through the help of investors and by partnering with SEG, Davie’s WOW Entertainment was able to organize the event. It was hosted by Bill Wallace and NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown. Five-time kickboxing champion Kathy Long and Rod Machado provided ringside commentaries as well.

At this time, viewers and even the referees were not very clear with the rules and how the fights went as this was the first time such an event was ever organized. Although it was advertised that it was “No Holds Barred” and that there were no rules, no judges, nor time limits, eye gouging and groin shots were specifically mentioned during the event as prohibited. Eventually, rules were drafted and effected as they are today due to legislative requirements. But at that time, it did not matter and this lack of rules intrigued fans and contributed to the notoriety of the sport as violent.

In hind sight, the event was organized to showcase the dominance of Gracie jiu-jitsu over other martial arts. The producers originally wanted to have Rickson Gracie to represent the jiu-jitsu but Rorion picked their smaller brother Royce to fight in the event. It was said that Royce was chosen because he looked unimpressive and having him win using jiu-jitsu will serve to highlight its superiority.

The first match was between Teila Tuli and Gerard Goudreau. Tuli was a 6′2″ 420lbs former professional Sumo wrestler while Goudreau was a 6′5″ Savate heavyweight champion. After bull-rushing Goudreau, Tuli received some vicious hits which ended the fight in around 30 seconds only and losing several of his teeth. The second fight was between Zane Frazier and Kevin Rosier. Frazier was a 6′6″ 230lbs WKF super heavyweight Kenpo Karate champion while Rozier was a 6′4″ 265lbs ISKA and WKA super heavyweight kickboxing champion. Frazier and Rosier took turns having the upper hand with the latter finally winning after 5 minutes. The third fight was between Royce Gracie and Art Jimmerson who were the most diminutive among the fighters weighing 178lbs and 196 lbs only. Jimmerson was the IBF North American cruiserweight or light heavyweight champion and was best remembered for wearing a 12oz boxing glove on his left hand only. Royce made short work of Jimmerson by making him lose his balance and mounting him to force him to tap out. In this fight, Royce already showed the importance of executing ground maneuvers. The last elimination fight was between Ken Shamrock and Patrick Smith. Shamrock was the #1 Shoot fighter in the world while Smith was the 1993 Savate heavyweight champion and was both a Tae Kwan Do black belter and a skilled boxer. Still, Shamrock proved his superiority as an all-around fighter and placed Smith into submission in less than 2 minutes.

The first semifinal fight was between Goudreau and Rosier. Both have already suffered some injuries from their fights earlier with Goudreau having a broken hand and Rosier having a heavily swollen left eye. Goudreau dominated the fight by throwing a barrage of punches and a heavy stomp to Rosier’s ribs which ended the match in less than a minute. The second semifinal match was between Gracie and Shamrock. As expected, Gracie also made short work of Shamrock as the former secured a choke and forced the latter into submission. The final match was between Gracie and Goudreau. Gracie found it difficult to take Goudreau down as he was using the cage for his balance. Eventually, Gracie took him to the ground and took control of the fight. However, Gracie also suffered from a bite from Goudreau which left his ear bleeding. In less than 2 minutes, Gracie became the first UFC champion. He did prove the superiority of jiu-jitsu over other martial arts in spite of his size.

The UFC and its fighters would go on to evolve as it is today. Despite some snags along the road, UFC prevailed and the loyalty of its fans never wavered. Although the UFC1 barely resembled the UFC of today, it will always be remembered as a momentous event that placed MMA into the consciousness of many.

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19
Sep 11

The different types of punch bag

A quality punch bag is essential if you want to start a boxing workout from home. However there are quite a few different types of bag to choose from and not all are suitable for beginners. To help I decided to create a quick guide for anyone new to the sport, hopefully it will help you to get the right equipment for your needs.

The uppercut punch bag is a strange shape because there is a ledge in the middle that allows you to punch up instead of just straight. This allows you to practice punches from all different angels, so technically you’re going to get a better workout from this bag.

Any time you watch a boxer training on TV they seem to be on the speed bag as it is quite impressive to watch. The bag is very small and mounted on a spring which is built to bounce it off the back-board. It can take a lot of practice to learn how to hit it properly.

If you have some money to spend then you may want to invest in a full leather bag. Full leather is much nicer to hit than vinyl in my opinion but it’s going to cost you maybe twice as much. However since it won’t damage your hands it could be worth it overall.

It’s not always possible to mount a ceiling punch bag, maybe it’s not your house and you’re not allowed to start drilling holes. If so a free standing punch bag could be the answer as it comes with its own frame for support, although you are going to pay more for this type of bag.

The wall mount bag just looks like a big block of foam stuck to the wall, however it provides a really intense workout if you use it right. The key is that the wall mount bag doesn’t move so you can really let loose with everything you have. Only downside is you need a strong brick wall and you have to drill quite a few holes!

So those are the main types of punch-bags available in the shops. If you’re a beginner you really want a bag which is versatile and allows you to try as many things as possible.

For more advice on how to choose the perfect free standing punch bag check out my new blog.

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18
Sep 11

The Early Years Of MMA: Ali Vs. Inoki

Decades before mixed martial arts became popular in the United States, events matching fighters of different fighting disciplines were very common in Japan. They weren’t called “mixed martial arts” at the time, but that’s essentially what they were.There’s an entire history of pro wrestlers fighting specialists from other martial arts (particularly judo) that were leaving out, but during the’70’s Antonio Inoki began to put the concept of “mixed martial arts” on the map with his matches against fighters from other disciplines.

Inoki billed himself as ‘World Martial Arts Champion’ and would frequently face other high profile fighters in contests that are generally believed to have had a pre-determined outcome similar to professional wrestling. Inoki faced a ‘who’s who’ of the martial arts world, but none were more famous than heavyweight boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

There’s a great deal of uncertainty about many of the stories surrounding how the event came together and transpired, but a few facts are now known. Ali took the fight as it was a large and presumptively easy paycheck. The big money he was earning is what kept him from walking out when his camp started to disagree with Inoki’s handlers over the rules and ‘finish’ fo the fight. Some suggest that it was supposed to be a fair fight going in, but Ali at the last minute insisted on rules more favorable to him. The more likely version of events is that Ali’s handlers agreed to a predetermined finish, only to have Ali balk at the last moment.

Many conspiracy theorists have noted that these rules were never announced to the crowd on fight night, leaving many with the impression that they were being made up as they went along. Action in the fight would further validate this view, but there actually were rules that both camps agreed to heading into the fight. Not surprisingly, most of these were designed to protect Ali. In fact, they were so one-sided that if Inoki hadn’t been so concerned about preserving his big payday he would have been justified in not fighting. Inoki was prohibited from punching with a closed fist or striking Ali in the head (ostensibly since he wasn’t wearing gloves). Inoki was prohibited from using any sort of submission maneuver. The most absurd limitation was that Inoki was prohibited from “grappling or trying to take Ali to the ground”. A few observers noted that this was like not letting Ali throw a jab.

The result was an absolutely horrible fight. Neither man showed much interest in engaging the other, with Inoki spending most of the time on the ground doing what he could under the one sided rules. Inoki threw kicks at Ali’s legs, Ali threw an occasional jab and tried to protect himself from his opponent’s leg strikes. The fight ended a 74-74 draw, with the real losers being the fans.

The fight was officiated by former pro wrestler “Judo” Gene Labell, a legendary tough guy considered at the time to be the ‘baddest man on the planet’. He could have easily beaten up both men, possibly at the same time. That might have provided some much needed entertainment to liven up the tedious charade masquerading as a fight.

After the fight, Inoki’s popularity in Japan was greater than ever. He became something of a hero for trying to fight despite having the rules so decidedly in his opponent’s favor. He’d continue his fights against other martial artists and remain one of the country’s most popular sports figures for years to come. His ‘worked’ martial arts matches can be credited with sparking later hybrid promotions showcasing pro wrestling and martial arts that evolved into PRIDE, RINGS and the major Japanese fight promotions of today.

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and noted authority on price per head. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and offshore bookmaking sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

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13
Sep 11

Would You Rather View Kung Fu at the Movies or Attend a Mixed Martial Arts Fight?

What a terrible question to put forth, eh? On one hand you have unbelievable athletic performances, put together with plotline and acting and dazzling kung fu masters. On the other fist you have the ultimate contest, gladiator vs gladiator, steroid using, trash talking tattoo heads putting it on the line in a mixed martial arts fight!

Well, perhaps I have gone a bit too far in my description, but that is okay. There is enough truth in my adjectives. And, the question, to be honest, is a good one.

Mixed martial arts, or MMA, as it is referred to, is the fastest growing sport in the world. While I love the spectacle, I have to be truthful, it is difficult to learn the fines points of fighting. Yes, there will be amazing examples of pugilism, and a distinct style of ring wrestling, or jujitsu, but there won’t be the fine study of classical martial arts technique.

A study of Kung Fu, or any classical martial art such as kenpo or taekwondo or karate or whatever, is a journey through endless fine points of technique. It is an education in physics unparalleled. It does not, however, except in specific instances, present a totally street combat science.

Look a little deeper, and we can define the difference between art and sport. An art is a demonstration of the spirit, a seeking within, a distillation of the human being into finer and nobler purpose. A sport, on the other hand, is the throwing of one human being against the other, and often to the point of badly bent ears, broken noses, and consciousness battered to the point of impairment.

Thus, there are good and bad points coming forth from this comparison of the two fighting disciplines. MMA results in vicious and effective street fighting abilities, though there is a cost. Kung Fu results in astounding knowledge, but is not always street effective.

These strengths and weaknesses do, of course, depend on the quality of the sensei one has. In the hands of a good teacher MMA will not just be awe and popcorn, but will adhere to time honored concepts of fair play, strength of personality, and the enhancement of the human being. And, a good Kung Fu instructor will understand the aspects of real life fighting that are a must if one is to survive on the street.

Of course, the original question was more than a mere comparison of art, it is a question of which you would rather do, watch a mixed martial arts fight, or watch a kung fu extravaganza. With the above in mind, this writer has a preference for watching the kung fu, simply for reasons of education. However, I believe the audience will be split down the middle, and that is perhaps as it should be.

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4
Sep 11

Why boxing training is great for weight loss

I’m a big fan of using sport to help facilitate the weight loss process. The main problem I see with many modern gyms is that they are so boring, to me running on a static treadmill for an hour inst too interesting. Instead why not invest in some boxing equipment and get yourself an exciting workout?

I’m really like the idea of working out at home as you don’t have to motivate yourself to travel to some far off gym. To start with you want to get yourself a free standing punch bag. This is the type that doesn’t require you to start drilling holes in the wall as it has a bracket to hold it up. Try and get a heavier bag too as its going to work you much harder.

You also need bag gloves for hitting the bag as you don’t want to damage your hands. You also want hand wraps too which will support your wrists as you punch, these are essential for beginners as they help to correct bad technique and save you from injury.

Next you want to get yourself a good speed skipping rope. This is different than the normal skipping rope you played with as a kid because it is made from nylon which allows you to go really fast! Skipping is great for building balance and also overall leg-arm co-ordination.

All boxing workouts are based on intervals just like in a real boxing match. The idea is to tire out your lungs before your muscles and this is a great way to burn fat. So you need to do around 3 minutes on the bag then break for 1 minute before skipping for another 3 min. Do this circuit a few times and you should be exhausted.

The key to losing weight with boxing is in my opinion consistency because you really have to work hard to get your heart into that fat burning zone with any workout. Don’t worry too much about technique when you’re just starting, as long as you keep moving and punching you’ll get a great fat reducing workout.

For reviews of free standing punch bags check out my new blog for lots of free advice.

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