Fan of Baseball

One of the stranger sports stories of the past is that of Rick Ankiel. Ankiel became a vital cog in the starting rotation of the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals and as a lefthanded pitcher possessing both velocity (his fastball was in the 95-97 MPH range) and wicked breaking stuff his upside was unlimited. During the Cards run to the 2000 division title Ankiel allowed only 7.05 hits and struck out 9.98 strikeouts per nine innings. As the playoffs began, injuries had decimated the Cards starting rotation forcing Tony LaRussa to use Ankiel as the game 1 starter against the Atlanta Braves and their ace, Greg Maddux. Despite Ankiels youth, however, his stellar regular season performance gave the team cause for optimism. In the course of an inning, it all fell apart for Rick Ankiel’s career as a starting pitcher. In the third inning of game one, working with a 6-0 lead, Ankiel allowed 2 hits, 4 walks and 5 wild pitches before being pulled with two outs. Initially, he wrote it off as a bad outing until history quickly repeated itself in game 2 of the NLCS against the NY Mets. He threw only 20 pitches in that game, 5 of which went past catcher Eli Marrero. For the next several years he tried to fix the control problems that suddenly manifest themselves on baseballs biggest stage but was unable to do so. Compounding the frustration of Ankiel and his team was the fact that his control problems werent physical or mechanical, but strictly psychological.

Andrei Arlovski has experienced the opposite problem”after starting his career as the Belarusian wildman who devastated opponents with his aggressive, free swinging style and KO power he suddenly gained too *much* control. After trading victories with Tim Sylvia and two short, explosive and exciting bouts, a rubber match was scheduled for UFC 61 and during the fight disaster struck: Arlovski all of a sudden became a tentative and boring fighter. The five rounds looked like a boxing match, only without all of the punching as Sylvia and Arlovski tentatively exchanged jabs. This inevitably benefited Syliva with his freakish reach, and he won the bout by unanimous decision. The real losers were the fans, and Sylvia/Arlovski 3 is quick to be mentioned when talk turns toward the worst championship bouts in the history of MMA.

Initially, Arlovskis listless performance was blamed on a leg injury suffered during the 2nd round which left him unable to kick or shoot for takedowns. After a layoff of nearly 6th months, Arlovski returned to the octagon and scored a first round KO of overmatched Marcio Cruz. Even with this early stoppage, Arlovski continued to look extremely tentative and nothing like the vampire fang wearing beast that burst onto the MMA scene in the early part of the decade. Another snoozefest ensued at UFC 70, where he decisioned Fabrico Werdum. Arlovskis contract with the UFC was up about this time and Zuffa management quickly made clear that they had no interest in resigning him. Ironically, his last UFC bout”held on the untelevised preliminary portion of UFC 82″may have been his best post Sylvia performance.

During the past few years many questions have been raised about Arlovskis desire to continue his fighting career and several retirement rumors have made the rounds. The premise underpinning this talk goes like this: Arlovski is more interested in enjoying his newfound fame and wealth after his difficult youth and adolescence in Eastern Europe. Hes got more money than hes ever dreamed of and a nice life in his adopted hometown of Chicago. While it would be difficult to blame Arlovski for enjoying the life hes made for himself, this lack of hunger isnt a good mindset for a professional prizefighter.

Arlovski insists that hes anxious to continue his MMA career and has enlisted the services of one of boxings best trainers, Freddy Roach. Roach has been charged with trying to find a middle ground with Arlovski, somewhere between the wildly reckless style of his early career and the tentative, plodding style of his recent fights. Furthermore, Arlovski has also appeared to have trouble letting his hands go of late and if Roach cant fix these problems no one can.

Baseball fans know that the Rick Ankiel saga has taken a positive turn of late. After giving up his pitching career in 2005, Ankiel transitioned to the outfield and has reached the major leagues *again* at his new position. Maybe this is the type of change that Arlovski needs and one that boxing would afford him. Unlike some of the other fighters that the rapidly changing sport has left behind, Arlovski has the youth and the skill set to transition into boxing where his standup skills would serve him well. It could be that Arlovski still has the heart and desire to fight, but needs to change sports to get back to a championship level of competition.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Portland, Oregon has long been considered a hotbed of mixed martial arts. The area is home to numerous MMA gyms, the most famous being Gresham’s Team Quest. Regional MMA promotions like Matt Lindland’s SportFight and amateur MMA draws good crowds, and there’s few markets in the country that have such a strong mainstream acceptance and understanding of mixed martial arts.

The UFC originally planned to hold an event in Portland last year, but when Randy Couture resigned with the promotion and agreed to fight Brock Lesnar UFC 91 was moved to Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena. The UFC rescheduled their Rose City debut for August 29th, headlined by a matchup between local hero Couture and tough PRIDE vet Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. They anticipated a fever pitch for Coutures homecoming and the UFCs first ever trip to the Pacific Northwest.

What they received instead was an outpouring of apathy from the community. As of early this week, there had been as few as 8,500 tickets sold in the 21,000 seat Rose Garden Arena. Even media sources like Yahoo Sports, who invariably put a positive spin on everything the UFC, does are reporting just over 10,000 tickets sold.

Earlier in the week Zuffa announced the postponement of a WEC event scheduled for Youngstown, Ohio. The official reason given was an injury to main event fighter Ben Henderson, and while thats not been confirmed several sources have indicated that he did suffer a minor setback during training. Some suggest that the real reason was poor ticket sales.

While Youngstown could have been a bad choice for a MMA event all along, the UFC will probably blame the economy for the poor showing of live ticket sales in Portland. While the high unemployment rate nationally and regionally doesnt help things, it doesnt appear to be a major factor in the UFCs struggles to sell tickets in the Rose City. Many people who self identify as casual or serious fans of the UFC had no idea that an event was being held in Portland at all. The local media hasnt helped either, with Portlands largest newspaper providing little print coverage of UFC 102 claiming that its not a major sport.

Even among fans who *did* know that UFC 102 was coming to Portland, theres no buzz whatsoever. Theres a variety of reasons for this”many fans have suggested that the high ticket prices werent justified by a relatively weak card. Others have suggested that they would be interested in attending the event, but theres a whole slew of competing events this weekend including the Oregon State Fair.

The UFC has a misguided notion that they can simply put their name on an arena marquee and local fans will pay top dollar for tickets regardless of who is fighting on the card or what else is going on that night. The reality has demonstrated otherwise with poor ticket sales in Portland and other markets.

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and noted authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

You cannot just head into the ring during an Mixed martial arts title fight appearing like a hobo who just came in off the street. Despite the fact that they do not wear much clothing throughout a fight, mma competitors take pride in themselves, and in turn want to wear something that is comfy yet stylish at the same time. Mixed martial arts shorts and grappling shorts are a part of that uniform, and a number of vendors are proud of the things they create for this special class of sports athletes.

The reasons for selecting a high quality pair of men’s MMA shorts over just any old pair of shorts are many. To begin with, brands like Dethrone, Manto, Hayabusa Fightwear, Tapout, Jaco, among others spend considerable money and time developing materials that breathe well, are comfortable and flexible during competition, and endure the deterioration of frequent use. The colors and specific designs used to attract the fans in the stands enjoying the action, along with a well-chosen set of MMA shorts can promote professionalism and reliability for the fighters themselves.

To illustrate a few of the features of the finest grappling shorts and MMA shorts available on the market, let’s examine several specific types. There are the Venum Red Hurricane FX Fight Shorts, for instance, which have impressive design details in a bold white and red pair of shorts. They are constructed of an exceptionally lightweight Microfiber material that’s durable and tear resistant. They’ve got split outer leg seams to permit freedom of movement, and a special Flex Lycra panel on the inside for comfort.

One more high quality pair of MMA shorts that are both practical and appealing would be the ADX Black Dragon Fight Shorts. The business approaches a fighter’s movements in a different way, using state-of-the-art neoprene material in several areas that stretches effortlessly and performs effectively. The poly directional flex fabric in the body of the garment wicks moisture from your body, keeping you dry even during the heat of battle. Best of all, they look good without having to be too flashy to be taken seriously.

On the reverse side of the coin is one thing like Tapout’s World Order Board Shorts, which are a part of The ultimate fighter series of Official Team apparel. These are much more about style and showmanship than other models, having the World Order graphic on one of the legs and also the familiar Tapout logo on the backside. They attract those trying to find lengthier shorts that are less concerned with ultimate ease and comfort or functionality.

Regardless of the style and brand you choose, its smart to consider the design elements that fit your distinctive fighting style. Men’s MMA shorts are (or should be) more than just a fashion statement – they’re a part of a serious fighter’s training gear and equipment, and should be closely considered to obtain the best value for your investment as time passes. Knowing your body and its limitations can help determine the right pair of shorts for your training and professional development.

If you’re looking into buying MMA shorts then you have to check out MMA Fighting Shorts They have some of the best shorts available! Or try out the MMA Gloves which are also made extremely well. Unique version for reprint here: Choose The Right Mixed Martial Arts Shorts.

Not too long ago, Mark Coleman headlined UFC 109 facing Randy Couture. Several days later, he’s apparently no longer good enough to remain in the UFC at all. On Wednesday, following a lopsided loss to Couture the UFC released Coleman from his contract and cut the veteran heavyweight. Coleman is now free to sign with any other promotion, but at 46 years of age his most likely-and most advisable-course of action is retirement. Retirement is a tough thing for any pro athlete to swallow, however, and fighters in particular have had difficulty in ending their career gracefully.

Coleman became the first UFC fighter to be cut immediately after headlining a PPV event. Others have left due to drug test failures or for other opportunities, but none have ever been cut from their contract. Sources close to the UFC suggest that it was a decision no one wanted to make, but that all felt was unavoidable due to Coleman’s age and deteriorating skills.

While the fact that Coleman is a shell of the fighter he was at his prime, the UFC’s suggestion that they have his best interest at heart is somewhat duplicitous. He was kept around and booked into last Saturday’s fight–a fight that no one particularly had any interest in seeing in the first place–simply because he was a fighter that Randy Couture could beat. Were the UFC interested in the well being of their aging fighters there’s several others on the roster that should also be cut for the same justification as Coleman. Couture, Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell are all well past their prime but they’re still under contract and will all likely fight again. No one wants to *see* an endless parade of old timers into the octagon, but the UFC seems determined to shove their version of the ’senior’s tour’ down the throats of the MMA fanbase.

Coleman’s age has never been a secret and his diminished skill level was evident to anyone who has watched his recent fights. If the UFC was really interested in his physical well being, the main event against Couture should have never taken place. The fight itself wasn’t exactly one that UFC fans had been clamoring for and one that met with derision from the MMA media from the time it was announced. The fact that the PPV buyrate for the event will end up as one of the lowest in recent history pretty much sums up the story.

While retirement would be in Coleman’s best interest, he may attempt to fight in a smaller US promotion or in Japan where he’s well known from his time in PRIDE. He’s already a member of the UFC Hall of Fame with a 26-10 career record and has fought the best in the world including Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Cro Cop.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Tired of the monotony with the gym? Not enthusiastic about running while it’s raining? Then you definitely may well want to consider trying mixed martial arts , which is a full workout that also supplies mental health benefits too. To start, here’s a few workout tips to ensure you get the entire benefits and doing so safely.

Workout tip #1: Always Warm-up

Because you will be focusing on all major muscle groups, it is essential to warm up in order to avoid injury or muscle strain. Stretches, yoga poses, and jump rope are all methods of warming up your muscles. Particularly with jumping rope, since you do a aerobic exercise and working on coordination. This coordination is important when focusing on strikes like punches or kicks and improving balance. You can also try some push-ups, sit-ups, and deep squats to work on each of your major muscles.

Workout tip#2: Possess a Specific Program

Regardless if you are training on your own or using a professional, you’ll be wanting to have a specific program in place to further improve your skills. If you’re looking to compete, you ought to be preparing at least eight weeks before the scheduled fight. If you’re working on fitness, you should still have goals in mind and methods to achieve those goals. Are you currently hoping to enhance your footwork? Are you interested in protecting your self from ground attacks? Do you need to increase your upper body strength? Outline your objectives and then determine what workouts will help you reach them.

Workout tip#3: Work on Strength

It’s sometimes easy to forget to work on weight training while doing an MMA workout. Balance, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness are very easily integrated, but if you are not naturally thinking about weight lifting, you have got to be creative in making sure you aren’t ignoring this important aspect of your overall exercise program. Try setting aside two days each week to focus on strength or resistance training. On each day do different full body movement patterns; as an example, using reverse lunges on day and squats the other. You may also want to use hydraulic equipment which allows for going at your own pace.

Workout tip#4: Use Props

A medicine ball workout is definitely an very efficient way of giving you better core strength. This, in turn, will enhance your striking and take-down ability. You are able to include a medicine ball into your abdominal work, use it for strength training or as an added weight during your cardiovascular warm-up.

Workout tip#5: Always Cool Down

In the same way that you should ready your muscles for a workout, it’s also vital that you cool them back down with simple stretches and never subjecting yourself to extreme temperatures right way unless recommended by a physician.

With these workout tips and dedication towards your mma practice, you should see improved strength, balance and overall fitness very quickly!

If you plan on mma training be sure to pick up some MMA Fight Shorts and Clinch Gear This article, 5 Tips To Better MMA Fitness is released under a creative commons attribution licence.

Whenever a person begins to look into the training necessary to be involved in Mixed Martial Arts competitions, they will quickly find that diversity, flexibility, adaptability, and skill are the key to competing and winning these kinds of matches. To discuss the very best martial arts styles suitable for MMA, it is necessary that you get a summary of what will be required when you compete.

Mixed martial arts demands the use of a mixture of combative disciplines. A person is needed to have extremely fast footwork and the ability to fight using all their limbs. When training for this sort of competition, an individual must practice various kinds of martial arts they can easily use interchangeably within the ring.

An essential style that you will use is Muay Thai. This kind of martial arts teaches the art of using all your limbs to kick and use your hands, shins, elbows, and knees in striking. Nowadays, the person with the ability to effectively strike competing is usually at an advantage.

Nevertheless, the sub-sets of the competitions require different martial arts styles. For example, in addition to Muay Thai, a person will need to master Sambo, and Judo to fight effectively in Clinch fighting. For sprawl and brawl fighting, you will need to grasp full contact Karate and Thai boxing. Submission grappling will require you also include Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in your repertoire.

Many Mixed martial arts competitors have started their careers knowing 1 or 2 styles intimately. Therefore, the person that has a well-rounded training that encompasses Muay Thai, full contact Karate, Thai Boxing, Judo, Sambo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can have the edge in these competitions.

Training and competition require discipline and the ability to adapt styles to satisfy the demands of the competition taking place. You have to have the ability to adapt and overcome the style that’s getting used and successfully take the other guy down with the least effort. Locating the school that will provide the kind of dynamic training environment you need under the tutelage of a skilled competitor can be really helpful when you’re first entering this kind of training.

Since the 90s’ the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts has grown and there are now many schools that teach the multiple styles that are required for any person to compete successfully. By concentrating on the styles and learning how to use them properly as a combatant, you are able to successfully win when competing against a competitor who doesn’t have complete control over all of the fighting techinques styles required.

By contacting a expert who has knowledge and expertise within the styles that are required, and the benefits and advantages of every style you’ll need, it will be possible to develop the Mixed martial arts style that will be best when you begin to enter competitions. In most cases, an individual who is entering Mixed martial arts training will spend many years in school learning each of the arts before they begin mixing them for competition. There isn’t any quick method to learn mma, you will have to be persistent, disciplined and committed to be able to achieve your goal.

If you plan on mma training be sure to pick up some Mixed Martial Arts Shorts and MMA Fighting Shorts This article, Best Fighting Styles For MMA has free reprint rights.

categories: ufc,mma,mixed martial arts,martial arts,sports,sport

Royce Gracie broke down limitations when he won UFC 1. While opening everyone’s eyes to grappling, he additionally did something that would change martial arts forever. He was beating martial arts black belts and proving to them that they were lacking a significant aspect of their fighting arts, the ground game.

Quick ahead to a few short years later, everyone is being informed by martial arts enterprise gurus that they have to show combined martial arts (or MMA) to their college students to get a few of the money that is floating around. Overlook that they haven’t skilled in it earlier than; neglect they do not know the style. They’ve by no means competed, by no means had anybody compete earlier than, and probably have never thought of preventing in a cage (even saying in the past, that it was barbaric and they want nothing to do with it, however they nonetheless discovered the gall to hold up a shingle and say, hey I educate MMA.

So the problem turns into obvious right here, many colleges are blatantly ripping off the unsuspecting as a result of they’ve a belt and the speak with authority about a topic they know virtually nothing about. They’ve never competed or studied grappling close enough to show it, and its all second hand information that’s propagated and unfold throughout communities, all while defrauding the masses. To offer you a better concept, let me inform you a story.

Little Jimmy comes dwelling from college with a black eye, and dad being the UFC fan he’s tells mother to seek out him a college to be taught combined martial arts. So that they seek for a school together, and discover McDojo (converted of course to teach MMA). The varsity proprietor assures them that they’ve the perfect program that will enhance the child’s grades, self esteem, and provides them the identical training as a UFC champion. They do enroll with Mr. McDojo and little Jimmy earns his brown belt in MMA (did I mention that belts do not exist?). Huge bully learns of the belt, and decides it could be good for him to beat up little Jimmy to improve his credibility. So the struggle happens, and guess who wins, big bully. Little Jimmy’s sweeps, submission holds, and attacks are primarily based upon techniques that the school owner actually doesn’t know and don’t apply in combat. The parents blame themselves for not enrolling little Jimmy in additional courses, Jimmy blames himself for not working towards his varieties and katas more typically, and the college proprietor blames The dad and mom for not enrolling him in additional courses too, and in addition demotes Jimmy’s belt status as a result of its embarrassing that he lost and that he even fought in the first place Nobody questions that treasured fake black belt around the waist of Mr. McDojo. They only blame themselves (the parents and Jimmy).

So what should you do? It’s best to always check the credentials of the varsity you are trying to enter. They should have somebody respected backing the varsity, someone who has competed and used the strategies in actual life. In over half of the martial arts faculties I’m nearby, nobody has ever fought and even competed in a grappling tournament. It’s the blind leading the blind, and the owner isn’t rushed to compete either so as to save face. A superb college should have rivals and they need to again those rivals, they need to actively be there for group (there are lots of house owners who don’t even present up to the competitors although the opponents represent their health club), it’s best to ask if anyone competes and the way involved the varsity is during competition. You also needs to ask if the owner has ever competed, if the answer isn’t any, then be suspicious. If you can do all this, you are positive to find a school you can trust.

Scott Buendia is an skilled Jeet Kune Do and Mixed Martial Arts instructor situated in Hillsboro, Oregon.

TapouT gear is a high profile clothing line created by the now deceased Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr., who died in a car crash last year. Despite the sad circumstances of his death, Lewis’ businesses continues to be a major part on the MMA circuit, providing a established line of clothing and accessories, including TapouT Shorts, for a select group of fighters and fans . The TapouT name is synonymous with high quality gear , and the business now produces everything from TapouT shorts to shoes to mouth guards.

The respect that the “Mask” got in the UFC and MMA communities is shown by the fact that he was posthumously inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, the only non-fighter ever to be allowed the privilege . His legacy as a proven leader carries over into the business he helped make notorious , and each TapouT Shorts or piece of equipment is designed with the same dedication and spirit he often showed since the beginning of the company in 1997.

TapouT clothing line includes woman’s fashion as well as men’s, since the woman who support their favorite fighters are an important part of the company’s youthful image and fashion sense. They even make some sexy bikinis and casual dresses for the ladies to wear on the beach or close to the octagon where all the action takes place. They also carry flannels, tube tops, shorts, and of course, TapouT shirts for ladies, becoming one of the most complete vendors for mixed martial arts products that includes both male and female and all sizes.

Even kids are not left out by the wide line of TapouT apparel. The company makes specific clothing in youth sizes, like the Youth Savage Intentions Tee and the attractive Youth Chain Link Zip Up Hoodie. The detail of the Hoodie is particularly interesting, covering the entire garment in a chain link fence them with embroidered details around the logo. The business also markets TapouT shirts, rash guards, hats, belts, and sweatshirts for the younger generation of mixed martial arts fans around the world .

No matter who you are or where you’re off to , there’s a large selection of clothing choices that suit your needs as a t fan of the TapouT brand. You can expect the same level of quality construction that goes into their line of MMA training gear and accessories to appear in the wide variety of apparel TapouT offers, making them one of the most popular brands in the industry.

TapouT Shorts, MMA Fight Shorts And Tapout Shirts all from mmashortsandgloves.com. Check out our great prices today! This article, TapouT Apparel is released under a creative commons attribution licence.

The founding father of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and patriarch of the Gracie family, Helio Gracie, died in early 2009 at the age of 95. His influence in martial arts as well as the sport of mixed martial arts is mind boggling. The Gracie family name will forever be synonymous with Brazilian sports, jiu-jitsu, MMA and the UFC–not only due to Helios own accomplishments but the legacy he created both by training others and through his family.

Helio Gracie began his training in mixed martial arts early, and by his teenage years was already teaching judo. While he had no problem mastering the theoretical aspects of judo, he found that many of its techniques were less effective for a practitioner with a smaller build. Along with his brother Carlos, Gracie began to work out his own fighting system by adapting many of judo’s techniques and making them more a product of leverage rather than brute strength. This led to the creation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), frequently called Gracie Jiu Jitsu in his honor.

Gracie also had a professional fighting career, taking on champions from other disciplines in a forerunner to modern mixed martial arts. These bouts were grueling, unregulated affairs with rules that were often made up as they went along and time limits that seem barbaric by todays standards. By his own recollection, he had 15 fights against the top fighters of his day. He began his career in’32 by submitting professional boxer Antonio Portugal (whod likely never even heard of a submission at that point, let alone experienced one) in just 32 seconds. Later that year, he fought American catch wrestler Frank Ebert to a draw after the ringside doctor ordered the bout stopped after an ungodly fourteen ten minute rounds.

Gracie’s most famous opponent was against legendary Japanese judoka Masahiko Kimura. Gracie fought bravely in a losing cause, and ironically may have enhanced his reputation in defeat. He refused to submit to a reverse arm bar (the move that is now known as a ‘kimura’ in honor of its inventor), and the fight ended after his brother Carlos threw in the towel after Helio’s arm had been broken.

Gracie’s greatest impact, however, may have been through his progeny which is an important part of Brazilian sports and mixed martial arts even today. Royce Gracie is well known as the first UFC superstar, while sons Rickson Royler, Renzo have also achieved considerable fame in professional MMA. At the time of his death, Helio Gracie was a 6th Dan Judo black belt and the only living 10th degree master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The cause of Gracies death was officially given as natural causes. His last words will go down as a fitting envoi to a man who gave so much of himself to fighting:

Gracie’s last words are as follows:”I created a flag from the sports dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

I know, kickboxing karate isn’t an art, but it is a translation. When you translate from karate to kickboxing, or from kickboxing to karate, you can win every single fight you are in by knowing the three things I am going to tell you here. We are dealing only with the hands, mind you, so you have to control your distance to make sure that you stay at punching distance True Mass.

If you are going to try to use this information with the feet we would have to set up an art called karate tae kwon do…grin. Or, if you were going to use it with fancy trapping manuevers we might call it shaolin kickboxing. Call it anything you want, the techniques will work, but you might have to make some changes.

Before we get into the techniques I should tell you how to set them up. You want to stand with the hands extended, elbows about 135 degrees, palms facing outward, so that the hands are in front of the shoulders. This, incidentally, is an ‘I don’t want to fight’ sign, which is a good thing because it is better to avoid a fight.

The basic principle here is that two objects can’t occupy the same place in space. Go on, shove one chair through another chair. You’ll just end up with kindling.

First Technique, he is going to have to go around your mitts, and you can execute a hard block and punch. This isn’t even a counter, this is done simultaneous with a slight body shift/sidestep movement. You will have taken the initiative and can follow up with an attack on the inside.

Second technique, he is going to try shifting to the front and jabbing, and you can just pass him and pound on his body. With these two techniques he is trying to go around you, and this will set him up by shutting his weapons down, or opening his targets up. A little practice and you will be able to tell which way he is going.

Third technique, and this is the one we want to really go for, is when he tries to go between your hands. He can be stopped easily, and, the potential for trapping him, simply by bringing your hands together, is large. You push his elbow and his wrist and develop an arm bar, and when he tries to back out, or otherwise escape, you elbow roll him, and you can work elbow spikes and secondary punches, all while keeping him trapped and unable to fight back.

This freestyle technique can further be enhanced by shifting the body or changing the distance between the hands, thus encouraging your attacker to do exactly what you want. In other words, you will make him totally predictable, and nobody is easier to beat than a fighter who is totally and utterly predictable. So, there you go, that is how you actually matrix the initial entry into a fight, and when you win that fight just tell everybody you were doing kickboxing karate…heh.

You can get more combat concepts that work, and find out about Matrix Martial Arts at Monster Martial Arts. Pick up a free ebook about Matrixing while you’re there. 2