Link to UFC 118 Highlights (Edgar vs. Penn)

This post is just some random info regarding bullying.  It’s an issue worth thinking about.

Bullying definition.

Bullying in schools (Australia).

Cyber Bullying definition.

Cyber Bullying website.

Workplace Bullying definition.

Dealing with workplace bullying website.

Bully Beat-Down trailer.

Click here for UFC.COM Link to UFC 117

Interesting to see the flexibility and fitness on Van Damme.  Especially considering he is about 50 years old.

Knife -Crime in Australia is still a very real problem.  If you do not realise and acknowledge this you are a victim waiting to happen.

Demonstrated history tells us that normal citizens of society are essentially unprotected.

This means that the police do not have the capacity to protect you and your family.

This means that the fairies at the end of the garden do not exist.

This means that YOU must take responsibility for yourself and your loved ones, because the government have all care and no responsibility.

If you agree, let us know..  If you disagree, substantiate your opinion with fact and let us know.

The following article has been reproduced from ABC News 20 July 2010 (http://www.abc.net.au/news):

Knife revealed as robbers’ weapon of choice

A new report on armed robberies in Australia shows victims are most commonly held-up at knife-point in an open space.

The National Armed Robbery Monitoring Report shows knives are used in 47 per cent of reported crimes, with 46 per cent of those occurring in open spaces such as footpaths and recreational areas.

The figures, compiled by the Australian Institute of Criminology, combine state crime statistics from 2007.

Research analyst Lance Smith says most armed robberies achieve very little for the offenders.

“The high-gain armed robberies actually constitutes less than 3 per cent of all armed robberies but they do skew the figure quite severely,” he said.

The report shows nearly 30 per cent of armed robbery attempts end with the offender leaving empty handed.

The figures also show two-thirds of armed robberies occur at night.

So, how are you going to defend yourself?

Today for some reason, Sydney hosted a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event called IMPACT FC The Uprising.

It was live from the Sydney Entertainment Centre and televised on Main-Event.

For the first couple of match-ups the biggest hit (pun intended) was the imported referee, Big John McCarthy.  Earlier today, I was happy to order this event but I admit I did not realise this was an Australian event.  Australian events are so often underwhelming.

I might as well jump straight to the third fight..

During the third fight (Murilo Rua from Brazil V Jeremy May from America) we saw a classic example that nick-names or fight-names do not have to necessarily be relevant.  The guy from Brazil (Rua), called himself “The Ninja”.  After seeing him fight it became apparent that he must have received his name based on the tattoo of typical Asian writing across his upper back, certainly not from his stealthy ninja moves.  Having said that, The Ninja did go on to win in the second with a submission.

Next fight:

Denis Kang from America Vs Paulo Filho from Brazil:

Both obviously accomplished ring-fighters, unfortunately most of the bout was spent on the canvas grappling.  Whereas this is a great skill and certainly takes maximum energy, it’s not pleasing to the audience.  It’s nowhere near as dynamic looking, therefore these types of bout are often seen as boring.

Even worse, the judges decision came back as a draw!  Fair enough I suppose, it was however anything but explosive.  And it must be remembered at this level of competition, the crowd must be pleased.  Hopefully not as much as the professional wrestling, but still this must be a consideration.

(As a personal interjection at this time, I wish the Australian commentator would stop saying “down under”).

Next up: Carlos Newton from Canada V Brian Ebersole from America

Apparently Ebersole is now based in Australia; one wonders how he thinks that is going to advance his MMA career..

Notwithstanding that the loud-speaker commentator a couple of times referred to the venue as Brisbane, we are still hopeful of seeing some good action.

(Sorry, but another annoying and very commercial aspect to this event is that excitable man on the loud-speaker periodically telling the audience to “make some noise”.  It’s somewhat reminiscent of the one and only basketball game I went to).

I won’t even bother mentioning who won this bout.

Next:

Super Heavyweights: Brad Morris V Soa Palelei (The Hulk):

(Christ, its becoming more bizarre; the next  bout sees one of the competitors come out to the ring with over-sized green Incredible Hulk hands that he must have received in a show-bag at last years Royal Melbourne Show.  Complete with a strange green pseudo-hulk / Indonesian face mask.  If it wasn’t for the commentator explaining that “with the substance comes the show”, I would have been left confused and dazed and probably thinking I was still at Rob’s engagement party last night).

Not a bad match though.  A lot of power in that ring.  The Hulk comes away the winner with a mighty figure 4 arm-bar on the mat.  Just as well this one ended when it did, I think The Hulk was changing back into Dr Bruce Banner.  And take it from me, Dr Banner can’t fight for shit.

Next:

Welterweights: Paul Daley from the UK (regardless of the USA flag the television people are displaying with his name) Vs Daniel Acacio from Brazil:

Dynamic bout, especially compared to the super-heavyweights.

Verbal tap-out in the third due to a downward elbow strike to the head of Acacio  which opened him up.  Victory to Daley.

Main Event:

Ken Shamrock V Pedro Rizzo (14 year veteran):

Shamrock, at 46 years old is known as a very direct fighter, usually meeting his opponent head-on.  This is his 43^rd professional bout! He has however been out of the cage for 18 months so it will be interesting to see how much ring-rust he has still attached to him.

(The loud man with the loud- speaker needs to work out if he is a professional announcer or a hip-hop DJ).

Shamrock’s fighting style is very tight; elbows in and moving around almost like a boxer.  Even though this is a useful style for a reason, I don’t often see MMA fighters using it.

In the first round Shamrock took a devastating roundhouse kick to the knee which sent him to the canvas in pain.  It’s no wonder, the kick was textbook, chopping down onto the knee.  After Shamrock went down it was apparent to Rizzo that Shamrock didn’t want to continue on, therefore he paused for a couple of seconds but the referee did not stop the fight, so Rizzo was forced to come in for the slaughter.  Soon after the fight was stopped.

In the after fight interviews, Shamrock showed just what a humble gentleman he really is, congratulating his victorious opponent.  In answer to the interviewer’s question about the ongoing career of Shamrock, he showed his great attitude and sense of humour when he answered that as long as the fans want to see him, he is happy to get into the ring and get beaten up.

Hats off to both fighters.

UFC 116 link.

Heavyweight Championship bout:  Brock Lesnar (c) vs  Shane Carwin (ic)

Lesnar makes his long awaited return to the cage to defend his title against Carwin.  The UFC is billing this one as the Clash of the Titans and it’s easy to see why when you look at the size of Lesnar.  The ex WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) pro-wrestler has evolved to the UFC.  Looking at his sporting history and achievements on wikipedia he appears to be one of these people who excels at anything he turns his hand to; damn him

Lesnar is one of the only UFC fighters I have noticed that seems to pay close attention to his stance: always maintaining a Tactical-Stance and crab-walking wherever he needs to go in the cage.  This is something you don’t often see to this extent.  A Tactical-Stance is one of the most important aspects in the Combat System of  Zen Ki Bo, where a great deal of emphasis is put on the basics, based on the tried and tested strategy that when a human needs to defend himself he will revert back to the basics, and the stance is the foundation of everything.

Carwin completely dominates the first round with magnificent striking, knocking Lesner to the canvas and continuing to pound him.  Most fighters would give up or be counted out in this position but Lesnar somehow resisted it.  Wow.  He seems to have sustained lacerations to his right and left eye from this onslaught.  One of the cuts appears to be over the left eye of Lesner, any fighter will tell you that this is bad news for two reasons, first the ref can stop the fight and second the blood will steam down into your eye making you essentially temporarily blind in one eye.

Coming out for the second round Lesner is much more careful and both men are tired.  Lesner does however go in for the take-down and once on the ground rests all of his weight on the slightly smaller man.  There is limited striking going on but do not underestimate how difficult it is to have a heavy opponent on top of you.

Quick as a flash, Lesner tightens up the choke hold on Carwin and forces a tap-out, winning the match and maintaining his Heavyweight Title.  Its called an arm-triangle-choke in the UFC, but of course it’s taken from the Martial Arts; usually executed in a standing position after moving inside of a strike.  It compromises the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain by cutting off one of the ‘blood-highways’ on the neck, or carotid artery.  See diagram:

In his post-fight speech, Lesner attributes his win to god : “I am blessed by god”..  personally I would have thought it was due to the years of dedication and training to his chosen sport.

The loser, Shane Carwin also thanks “god” in his post-fight speech.  I guess that means that the big man upstairs does play favourites?!? Unless he just has a gambling problem..

Undercard: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs.  Chris Leben

Akiyama, apparently the traditional Martial Artist, comes to the cage in his Martial Arts uniform.  Leben just comes out ready to fight.

Leben starts the 1st round with some heavy leg kicks (dropping his hands when he does so), but not making significant contact.  Akiyama is ‘on the ball’ however, easily evading most of them.

Also worth noticing that Leben fights with his elbows out, which is unorthodox.  Part of the 1st round sees Akiyama dominate on the ground.  With 30 seconds left in the first, they stand up and resume striking until Leben is taken down again, but with no time left the round finishes.

I was somewhat dismayed to see Akiyama lean in with a single straight-punch to the body, which of course was answered by Leben with a punch to the face.  Thats the ironic thing about attacking, it leaves you open to counter attack, so you better make sure your attack is strategic and with Intent.

Half way through the second round sees both men exhausted after some hard fighting.  They are still fighting, but with depleted energy.

Hats off to both combatants, they both probably should have been knocked out at different stages but they kept going somehow.  Amazing show of toughness – they are earning their money tonight.

It seems to me that Akiyama is the Martial Artist and Leben is the unorthodox brawler.  I think if the brawler lands something significant he will probably win, however if that doesn’t happen its hard to match the skill of a Martial Artist.  (Ha, just after I wrote that last sentence the “brawler” submits Akiyama with a leg triangle, so there you go!)

Well done to Leben; he did display more “bad intent” and therefore won the day.

Always makes me smile when you have a look at who is in the audience of such events; United States Senator (Nevada) Harry Reid, actor Steve Austin, actor Dwayne Johnson; all people who rely on other men to do their bidding for them and feel tough when they are somehow “associated” with the actual men who are willing to actually fight.  Another case of empowerment by association.  It used to be the boxing that brought together people from all walks of life, and now it’s well and truly the UFC.

Below is a link to an interview of Dr Gabriel Cousens regarding nutrition.

He speaks about a diet consisting essentially of Raw and Whole foods and the associated benefits.

I have reproduced this interview from NaturalNews.com

Gabriel Cousens has his own website, Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center which I think is a very worthwhile starting point if you are interested in your health.  I have personally learnt a lot from Cousens in regards to nutrition and better health.

I highly recommend a couple of his books: There Is A Cure for Diabetes (whilst I have no personal investment in diabetes, I found this book a wonderful source for learning about health from nutrition in general), Depression-Free for Life! (this one talks about the effects that foods, including those diabolical processed foods and chemicals have on the human in a holistic sense).

Click here for the interview..

It’s interesting to see Steven Seagal‘s adaptation of more traditional Martial Arts techniques for use in the ring for his buddy Anderson Silva (UFC).

This is in principle what Zen Ki Bo does, it takes some traditional Martial Arts forms and techniques and improvises and adapts them into street-smart self-defence.