New Combat Central MMA Blog

Hey fellow bloggers,

I have started an MMA blog called Combat Central that will contain the best articles and news and pictures and videos and….. well you get the picture! So guys check it out and leave me a comment to anything to you disagree with or agree with.

COMBATCENTRAL BLOG 

Yours truly

Damien Hayes

Comabat Central

Sparring

 

Sparring is a an essential part of any martial art training. There are different types of sparring most namely semi and full contact sparring. Sparring aids and puts to practise the techniques and moves a martial artist has acquired while training. While sparring a MA can learn about distance, footwork co-ordination, speed, timing, counter attacking and what moves are there forte and where they have weaknesses.

I personally think once you reach a high level of skill and are in the brown belt or black belt category that sparring should not be weaker students but be with tougher and tougher opponents. Personally I found when I sparred my sensai several times over the period of a few months that I would easily handle any student in my gym and would often have to refrain punches and kicks. I would be on a complete different wavelength. Because I was fighting someone far stronger and faster than me I started to get fast, move better and make my moves count. I was no longer sparring lightly I was sparring hard and I was hitting with everything I had. I did get black eyes, a broken nose, sprained toes, heavy bruises and been knocked out about 10 times as well as seeing stars after a uraken chudan (backfist) to the head but I do 10 times over if it lifts my game and gives me that extra edge on the street.

A big thing in sparring is when you strike that you dont strike air or make a half hearted attempt. When you strike it’s strong, fast and hits like a whip and pulls back. Basically saying yo bro if you are trying to hit me your goin take some led doin it and it’s goin hurt. “Explosiveness blinds“- It was Bruce Lee who said this and it’s very true if your opponent is throwing lazy kicks evade one and land three to four rapid hard blows and yell doing them. Not only will you frighten the life out of him but he will seriously be considering what to next as you mean business. Breathing is essential when fighting, you could be the best fighter in the gym but if you get over excited or expend to much in the first couple of minutes sparring you will gas out and you will not be able to do anything worthy of note to your opponent who will pick you apart and knock your ass out.

Relaxation is also key, If yor all tight and rigid and you are trying to land bombs you will feel like you are trying to punch through water! A fighter should be lose and relaxed when not in engaged and when he attacks he attacks full heartedly with power and eyes open and retreats from the offensive manoeuvre with his hands up defending himself.

I think to be the best fighter you can be, it takes hard training, fitness, cardio, honesty, soul, proper breathing techniques, strength, bravery, intelligence and power.

Stephan Bonnar- Drugs Ban

I think Bonnar is a good-fighter, tough, hard and has lots of heart but he has not taken to the UFC like some of his counterparts. His war with Forrest was inspiring and one of the-most entertaining stand up battles I have seen in the Octagon but he seems to be missing something. Alot of people put his performances in the Octagon down to the fact he never changed fighting camps after the series of the Ultimate Fighter. Griffin did and look how he has improved into a more professional and finely tuned athlete. So therefore I am not all that surprised to see him go down for nine months on drug charges for illegally taking Boldione. Bonnar says on his site:

“I would like to apologize, and ask the forgiveness, of all my fans…including any MMA fans that may dislike me. About 3/12 weeks out from my Aug 26 fight with Forrest, I took a supplement called Boldione which I purchased legally on the internet in 2004. The supplement I-force Bold (which is exactly the same product) is still widely and legally available on the internet, and in health food stores. However, this supplement is not approved for use by the NSAC, and is therefore prohibited for use by MMA fighters. Unfortunately, the supplement produces the same result in a steroid test as the illegal injectable steroid Boldenone. “

The reason Bonnar took the supplement is because of an elbow injury he had which was getting worse and worse. He did not want to pull out of the fight. He was receiving frequent treatments from a chiropractor, a therapist, as well as performing nightly electro stimulation treatments (on a machine he purchased himself). He quotes “To be honest with you, it really didnt do shit.”I feel some compassion for Stephan but it was still stupid if he was not fit to fight he simply should not of taken the fight. Yes the fans would be disappointed but he would of made it up on his return to the cage where he would of been fit and drug free. Silly Stephan very very silly.

What works in a street fight.

Reading some fight and MMA blogs on the wordpress there seems to be a division to which Martial art is the most effective. In any given confrontational situation there are a thousand different ways to act and a million different possible outcomes. Which style, method or practise is the most suitable lets say for a street encounter? The answer no style is solely the most effective martial art in a street encounter. After your first punch all of your training goes out the window and your running on something you have never had before pure adrenaline and instinct, the biology and chemistry of this fight or flight response is our most basic human yearning for survival and to feel it is an amazing experience. Time and movement all become blurred you have never been so in tune and alert and ready for something. In this situation you hope that you can keep it together and remember your training and that you come through the other side the better.

I believe combination of each style is necessary. The first step to self defence and street fights is awareness. If one is not there to be hit, he/she wont be hit. The next line of defence is intelligence and how you apply it to an escalating situation in a nightclub or outside the local kebab dinner house at three in the morning when you supposedly look at some scumbag with a crook look! We all know these muppet’s. My town is covered with these vermon on Saturday nights. Intelligence is not noticing the danger and scurrying away before trouble starts but observing the number of assailants, your positioning, are they armed?, are there many people around, where is the nearest exit, Can you arm yourself with something, Can you play this situation down by pretending to be scared while strategically planning what action to take, How tough are your opponents, are you boxing above your weight? who can you take out first, who is the biggest guy? Can you catch someones attention? Are you wearing a heavy jacket, You might have to take it off quick as you will need to move fast.

This kind of analysis is necessary, You might have to make a play if it all goes pear shaped. Any street episode is ugly, often messy and sometimes just damn right pathetic but the more prepared you are the better. Regarding martial arts a solid stand up is a strong base with heavy focus on boxing skills and all that’s included in it. Combinations, ducking weaving, footwork,speed, accuracy and confidence. I think a ground game is essential also as 90 % of fights end on the ground and this is an ugly place to be as you could be set upon by cowards throwing cheap kicks. But if its one and one and you have a mean rear naked choke dont be afraid to put him to sleep.