it's kinda depressing when I see the results of grappling competitions because it shows that world class grappling is not nearly as dominating as world class striking, against lesser opponents. I'd like to believe in my head that there are these awesome Damien Maia esque grapplers that will just go and destroy everybody in MMA, submit them with some unstoppable grappling offense, but the fact is that in grappling competitions you'll have some international superstar go up against some nobody who trained for 3 years, and they won't be able to submit that nobody in the 10 minute time limit (and even lamer, 20 minutes for ADCC).

Kinda lame, because if in the kickboxing/muay thai/boxing world, such a thing would NOT happen. Put a superstar against some random dude who trained all day for a few years, and that dude will likely die a flaming death and have no chance in hell of NOT getting KO'd.

 

A VERY astute observation. But I guess it's just the nature of grappling: it's much easier to stall a match by tying up an opponent, and the punishment for turtling is often less severe than if strikes are involved. In other words, even if I suck at grappling but I'm a big galoot and can use my fat *** to get good side control on an opponent and decide to rest a bit, there's a real possibility of a fair amount of time going by without much of anything happening, whereas if I try to cover up or hold a clinch in a match that involves striking, I guarantee you that I will get my *** beat

 

More videos!
Buakaw Por. Pramuk and kick training in preparation for the K-1 World Max 2009 championships (gives me fond memories of Bunkerd's "Fifty-Fifty" hehe):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buvcd...layer_embedded

And in an interview outlining his thoughts and plans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo6wZ...layer_embedded

 

Apparently Georges St. Pierre wasn't impressed by Taylor Swift at the VMA's either
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozYTY...layer_embedded

 

Passed the Level II Test at My Gym This Month
I have been training at my gym (CCK in San Jose) for the last year. CCK is run by Ed Carpio, and is one of Cung Le's old school partners from back in the day. CCK specializes in San Shou, but also offers Jui Jitsu classes as well.

I started in September of 09' and dropped 33 lbs. in 3 months of training. The last 6 months I have been going to the conditioning classes, as well as the circuit training class. 4 or 5 days out of the week. To gain Level II certification, a student needs to take a test which is offered 2 times a year. Those that are familiar with San Shou know how brutal this test is.

Anyways, I started training for the Level II test 5 weeks out, and stopped drinking completely. The day before the test I hydrated properly and carb loaded. The day of the test came and I was super ready.

There are three parts of the test. The first part of the test is based on your form. Students get instruction from the coach and they have to throw punches and kicks in certain combo's according to what the coach says.

The second part of the test consisits of absolute torture. There are 6 stations each student has to go through. Students are NOT allowed to drink any water for the entirety of the test. If you drink water during the test you will be disqualified.

The first is hop squats. Students have to hop squat about 25ft up and back which is considered a lap. 9 laps are required to complete this test. Anytime a student stops or gets out of the squat position, the student gets a point deducted. There is no time limit. Just a minimum of 9 laps of hop squats. I had to start with this test and my legs felt like rubber after this.

Second station is pushups. Students are given 2 min to do as many pushups as they can. Each pushup is considered a positive point and help you throughout the rest of the test. I didn't count how many I did, but by the end of this test I couldn't do another pushup. My arms and chest were done.

Third station is standing in a squat position with a 12 lbs. medicine ball extended above the students head. The student needs to stand in this position for 3 minutes straight. Anytime the student gets out of the squat or drops the ball out of the extended position, a point is deducted. After the hop squats my legs were already ****ing damaged. This is a mental test to see how much pain you can endure. You have to go to your happy place and think about getting a BJ or something.

Fourth station is dog crawls. Each student has to dog crawl (move forward in a pushup position while moving forward with their butt as low as possible.) for 3 minutes. Anytime a student puts their knees on the ground or gets up points are deducted every 2 seconds. After all of the pushups, this was more pain that had to be endured. I started strong but by the end my arms were jello.

Fifth station is neck side to sides and up and downs. The student lays on their back with their shoulders off the mat. Their neck needs to turn side to side for 30 seconds without hitting the mat. Right away the students neck has to move up and down and the chin needs to touch their chest for 30 seconds without hitting the mat. Anytime the back of the head hits the mat or the student stops moving, a point is deducted. All this needs to go on for 3 minutes. I have never thought I could have my neck muscles stop working. By the end of this test, my neck did not want listen to my brain and I couldn't touch my chin to my chest. More pain.

Sixth station is holding your shoulders off the mat and holding a focus mitt between your feet for 3 minutes. Anytime a student puts their head on the mat or their feet or drops the focus mitt, a point is deducted. Well my neck was already in pain at this point and time, but you just had to breathe and concentrate on your abs doing the work.

So after these tortuous stations, students had to get their boxing gloves and line up. The final step for the Level II test was the Gauntlet. Each student will have to go through 11 stations, 2 minutes each station. No rest. Each station is manned by a Level II student. That student gets to make you do whatever they want.

Highlights of each station were, fireman carries with a 110lb woman on your back.Tons of sprints back and forth. Sprawls. Burpees. Combos with several kicks. More dog crawls. More push ups. Level II students leans against your and makes your push them away with no more legs or arm strength. All this with absolutely NO rest. 22 minutes of pain and torture. The object of the Gauntlet is to make you quit. Many times I thought about quitting. I had no more gas in the tank. But I focused, blocked everything else out and just powered through it.

After all the pain, the students had to wait around for everyone to finish before they could drink water. Of course my bad luck, I had to go very last through the Gauntlet. So my legs got cold and didn't want to work throughout the entire 22 minutes. I have never been in that position of making my muscles doing what they didn't want to do. But I made it through the entire test and surprised the hell out myself.

After the test I drank a half gallon of water. And then headed straight to the best pizza place I know of in San Jose and finished a pitcher of Fat Tire to my head And then the waiting of the results for a week took place. Yesterday I was nervous all day long. I didn't think I would pass. I got points deducted here and there, but I wasn't sure. I walked into the gym, saw my score and broke the biggest smile ever!!!!

At the end of our conditioning class yesterday, he handed out the awards, and gave me my certificate for completion of the Level II test in front of the whole class. I was very proud.

Now that I am Level II, I can now learn a lot more technique associated with San Shou. Take downs, more technique associated with kick and punch combos. And the most important skill, sparring. My first Level II class is next Monday. Wish me luck.

 

Good ****, man. I took this test at Cung's a few years ago. Thought crossfit was intense stuff until THAT. You're right, after the test it really feels like you've accomplished something. After all it's meant to kickstart you into competition training. Though for me I got my *** kicked in a couple of matches and decided I wasn't a fighter haha. Still meaning to get back in the gym and win at least once so I can tell my grandkids I'm not a quitter

 

Congrats man!
I'm just shocked that a martial arts would have zero sparring involved!

 

Update for me:
Still training judo at CCSF for my takedowns and grappling.
Also training at Enshin Kaikan now for striking and clinch work.
Wearing a 'gi 4-5 days a week now haha!

 

For my fellow Suby/martial arts practitioners, a small open sparring event:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...44841732231180

 

Dude, Justin, I see you invited one of my senpai to the event.

 

Ah, yes, John? Seems like a good guy. Im hoping more people will show up. Unfortunately I have 3 people from our school who would normally attend...not attending as they will be working or out of town. Regardless, you should come out! It'll be chill and fun =)

 

I'll definitely try. It's a hectic time of year right now.

 

that was slick. did you compete at this event?

 

UPDATE - still training in Jiu Jitsu and Judo. Got invited to Copa Pitbull BJJ Cup on 11/19 so in training diet mode now.He hasn't fought for Pride FC that I know of

 

Hell yeah I fought in Pride; I went 7-4. This is me, I'm the blond guy.




P.S. How you liking the Mizuno gi?