Martial Arts Today has the sole objective of scouring the web, using our network of industry insiders, to deliver you the most interesting, useful, funny, shocking or generally bizarre Martial Arts stories, videos or news we can find out there!
Want to share a Martial Arts story with the world? No problem! Feel free to contact andrewheron@kicksport.com or joanne@kicksport.com with your story and we'll try and get it posted for everyone to see.
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Martial Arts Video Pick: July 29th 2010 - Japanese Judo champion Kosei Inoue gives his impressions of the UK
With the London 2012 Olympics now under two years away, the foreign office has began a series of interviews with those Olympians who have come from abroad to work in the UK.
Kosei Inoue is a Japanese Judo champion and we have found his video interview where he provides an insight into the origins of Judo...
Martial Arts Video Pick: July 28th 2010 - Collection of Taekwondo Kicks
Today we've found a collection of some Taekwondo kicks... which one is your favourite?
Martial Arts News: July 27th 2010 - London 2012 Taekwondo Guide
Today marks the two-year countdown to the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. Following on from yesterday, we are today discussing Taekwondo's role in the Games and GB medal chances.
Big names to watch out for include Aaron Cook, Bianca Walkden, and Jade Jones. Team GB Taekwondo has been given the target of two medals at the Games with chances coming from Sarah Stevenson, who secured a bronze medal in Beijing and rising star Aaron Cook, one of the ‘Telegraph Ten’. Though this will not be an easy task as several challenges stand in the way of the GB Martial Artists:
Aaron Cook's biggest challenge is USA's Steven Lopez.
Sarah Stevenson's biggest challengers come from Korea and Mexico.
All the hope rests on Cook and Stevenson, lets hope the pressure doesn't get to them too much.
A new electronic scoring system has been introduced to aid with controversial decisions at the Games.
Gary Hall, Performance Director, commented "in the next two years we will target a strong performance at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea and the next 10 months will have a major bearing on the team who will feature there and the Olympics. The British International Championships take place in Manchester in September so that will be an early gauge of our progress against world-class opposition."
Martial Arts News: July 26th 2010 - London 2012 Judo Guide
Tomorrow marks the two-year countdown to the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. Today we are discussing Judo's role in the Games and GB medal chances.
Big names to watch out for include Euan Burton, Gemma Howell, and Sarah Adlington. Team GB Judo has been given the target of two medals at the Games with chances coming from the entire elite judo group as long as resources are maintained. Though this will not be an easy task as several challenges stand in the way of the GB Martial Artists:
Japan, France and Russia are strong competitors for Team GB internationally.
The level and quality of training needs to be improved.
The number of qualifying events to gain ranking points to seed at the Games has increased.
There are now more countries producing top competitors than ever before.
British Judo Cheif Executive, Scott McCarthy, said "I have no doubt that the facilities, organisation and home support for the Games will be unparalleled. The final piece of that puzzle is the success of the GB team and we are quietly confident that British Judo will deliver the success on the mat."
Martial Arts Video Pick: July 23rd 2010 - How to do a Butterfly Twist
The KickSport team stumbled across this Martial Arts video yesterday... that's right, we've been attempting butterfly twists in the office all morning!
Martial Arts Movie News: July 22nd 2010 - The Expendables
We won't have to wait long for the next big summer blockbuster, August will see the film 'The Expendables' getting released into UK cinemas. Without giving too much away it falls into the action/thriller genre with a gang of mercenaries employed to infiltrate a country whilst overthrowing it's dictator. The cast features a whole host of big Hollywood names, KickSport are especially interested in Randy Couture (MMA legend), Jet Li (international martial arts legend) and Jason Statham (in recent years has featured in martial arts/action thrillers such as the Transporter).
It’s release date in UK cinemas is 16th August, but if you can’t wait till then, KickSport have found you an ESPN clip of Randy Couture and Terry Crews discussing the film.
Martial Arts News: July 21st 2010 - 2010 World Cup Taekwondo Team Championship Results
Urumqi, China provided us with the 2010 WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships which was an intensive 4-day competition beginning 17th July. Technology such as the electronic body protectors and an instant video replay system were used at this Martial Art event and worked exceedingly well.
Iran beat Spain 3-1 to win gold in the men’s final Taekwondo team competition, with Martial Artists from Turkey and Korea sharing the bronze medal. In the women’s competition, Wang Hae-ree rose up to the Chinese challenge of Lei Jie to win Korea the gold medal, with the bronze going to Thailand and Turkey. Unable to qualify for the quarter-finals, Great Britain were one of only three countries to win a Good Fighting Spirit Award.
The World Taekwondo Foundation held it’s council meeting where it gave the Aruba Taekwondo Association the right to host the 2012 WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships
Martial Arts News: July 20th 2010 - No Arms or Kneecaps... but a Black Belt!
Sheila Radziewicz has achieved what many would have said was impossible, from a young age she wasn't expected to live more than a few days, let alone learn to walk, and talk... but defying the odds has recently achieved black belt in Taekwondo! Born without arms or kneecaps and TAR syndrome, she's become a miracle, in her recent black belt grading it took her only one attempt to break four one-inch boards using a combination of roundhouse kicks and a punch.
She was always told by her mother 'Nothing is impossible. Impossible just takes a little longer’.
Introduced to Martal Arts by a cousin when a child, she's remained intrigued ever since. With an accepting Martial Arts school, repecting both her and her disability, she has a charming smile which she uses as a way of putting others at ease with her disability. “The instructor was just really nice, the atmosphere was low-key and no judgements.” she says, “When there were things that seemed impossible for me to do, they'd figure out a way. My instructor was always on the ground with his hands behind his back trying to figure out how to do it without hands.”
Three and a half years ago she moved and joined a different Martial Arts club where she wasn’t treated any different to other Taekwondo students. Sandra LaRosa, a co-owner. "She does not let her disability get in the way of anything.... the thing that stands out about Sheila is her personality, her positive attitude. The moment she came through the door, her confidence was obvious. She came in like nothing was wrong." Not all of it has been easy for Radzciewiz. "Weapons are a little bit of challenge. I was excited to work with nunchucks and I wore a helmet for awhile because I kept beating myself on the head," says Radzciewicz, chuckling."It's not just punches and kicking. It's mind, body and spirit and it's about respect, discipline and self esteem and being there for others. It's a way of life."
Martial Arts Movie News: July 19th 2010 - Karate Kid London Premiere success!
The Karate Kid premiere took place last Thursday adn big movie names in attendance included Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith and the rest of the Smith clan who were there in support.
Jaden Smith, who plays the main role in this Martial Arts film, was asked about his Martial Arts training regime in preparations to filming, to which he commented "I was so tired. I was doing push ups, pull ups, sit ups and chin ups five hours a day." Co-star Jackie Chan praised the young actors dedication and mentioned that Jaden is still training in the Martial Arts. "He is so dedicated, training all the time. He is still training now, I sent over my best boy from my academy and he is working with Jaden."
Performing at the event were Martial Artists including; Chloe Bruce, Grace Bruce, 3RUN, Synergy Stunts and Methods of Movement, who all collaborated to put a battle together! Watch it here...
Martial Arts News: July 16th 2010 - Martial Art expert lollipop lady is prepared to mete out tough justice
Armed to deal with inconsiderate drivers with her Martial Arts skills is grandmother, lollipop lady and Karate expert Ena Mallett. She is the first ever woman to reach 7th dan black belt in Spirit Combat International Jiu-Jitsu and what makes it even more of an achievement is that she’s 77 years old!
Mrs Mallett, from South Walsham, Norfolk, began to learn Karate in 1979 to keep fit, becoming a Martial Arts instructor in 1987. Whilst helping children cross the road outside the village school, she holds the Martial Arts techniques to throw around much larger opponents, despite only being 5ft 4ins tall. She teaches weekly Martial Art classes for children and adults, 'I might be getting on a bit - but I still get stuck in myself during lessons. I don't just teach from the sidelines” she says. 'I can still deal with any big bloke who comes along. I am not treated any different to anyone else. The children at the school all know about my Jiu-Jitsu skills and they think it is brilliant. A lot of them come to my classes.'
Once in real life has she had to use her Martial Arts skills. Seven years ago she was working part-time in a local shop and when faced with a teenager stealing she reacted quickly and put him in a wrist lock. “It gave him the shock of his life and he quickly dropped the mints. I let him go and he ran away” she commented, “spirit combat is all about using self control - but you have to be prepared for violence to defend yourself. I love teaching it and I certainly have no plans to give it up. I don't see why I should put my feet up.”
Martial Arts News: July 15th 2010 - Twilight Series actor holds impressive Martial Arts Skills
Taylor Lautner is recognised worldwide for playing Jacob Black in the Hollywood Blockbuster Twilight Series but KickSport is uncovering his passion for the Martial Arts. At a young age Taylor’s parents exposed him to different sports but it was Karate that had caught his interest.
Beginning his Martial Arts Training, aged 6 years old, Taylor quickly advanced and began competing in local and regional tournaments. His ambition and talent eventually led him to train with Mike Chat, a seven time world karate champion. When Taylor was eight years old, he won three gold medals for the United States at the World Karate Association and became the Junior World Forms and Weapons champion in the twelve and under division. He continued to win more championships that including three Junior World Championships by the age of twelve.
Aged 9, his Karate instructor pathed his way into Hollywood. “I was doing martial arts and my karate instructor was involved in the business and he's the one who got me started," commented Taylor, “He was actually the Blue Power Ranger for a year.”
Taylor’s training in Karate and the Martial Arts has helped with his Hollywood auditioning, building his confidence and able to look adults in the eye when talking to them.
Check this video out of Taylor aged 11...
Martial Arts News: July 14th 2010 - Photo Competition
Around a month ago we brought you news of a Taekwondo Photo Competition. Just wanted to remind all of you still interested, that the closing date is nearly upon us - 16th July 2010. Here are all the details if you still haven't entered:
The Taekwondo Promotion Foundation have launched an international competition to find the best photos of Taekwondo. Also not is all lost if you dont win the grand prize as you still may get 15 minutes of fame as the TPF plan to showcase the best entries in an upcoming cultural tour.
Martial Arts News: July 14th 2010 - Excitement Mounts for National Judo Team Championships
This year’s Judo National Team Championships is taking place this Saturday 17th July bringing Martial Artists from across the country together at the Walsall Campus Sports Centre, University of Wolverhampton. This Judo competition will see eight Areas, one Affiliate and one Home Country compete against each other for National Team titles. It works by the Judo teams battling against one another to gain the most wins in their pool. In the finals, the competition really starts to heat up if two teams have the same amount of wins and it comes down to just one fight to decide the winner.
Manager of the Judo Combined Services Judo Team Sami Smithson said, “We have to work around who is available and who is not on operations overseas, but this year we probably have the strongest team we have ever had.” These Martial Artists are the one’s to beat with most of them being medallists from the Judo Inter-Services Championships last November. “It’s a really enjoyable event with a good buzz around it, plus it is great to be given the opportunity for us to compete against the Areas, which you don’t in all sports,” Smithson further said.
Last year’s winners in the Women’s competition was the Southern Area and they are back to defend their title with Team Manager Simone Callender commenting, “We have a good chance again this year as half the women’s team were winners from last year. We have good rivalry with the Northern Home Counties and are looking forward to fighting their teams again this year. Team events are the best to watch and the cadet, juniors and seniors all support each other so it is a brilliant atmosphere.”
Integral to the development of this event is BJA Director Mac Abbotts who describes the competition as: “an event that has always been close to my heart. There is something special about the National Team Championships, it brings the Areas together and the support is brilliant. We are really proud to bring it in house and it is good to hear so many Areas will be represented. It has always been a premier event and we look forward to taking it forward.”
Tickets will be sold on the door at £5 for adults and £3 for children/senior citizens and the BJA merchandise stand will be selling personalised hoodies and t-shirts.
Martial Arts Video Pick - July 13th 2010 - Extreme Judo
Hi there! Today we've got another Martial Arts video for you, an ippon collection from the sport of Judo! Featuring many great Martial Arts fighters from the Judo Olympic Games and World Championships.
Martial Arts Video Pick - July 12th 2010 - Fight Between Martial Arts
Hello, hope you enjoyed the weekend and the lovely weather! Today we've got a Martial Arts video for you, a fight between Karate and WTF Taekwondo. And the winner is...
Martial Arts News: July 9th 2010 - UK Sport continues backing of British Taekwondo
Tickets for the third BTCB British International Taekwondo Championships went on sale yesterday. Prospects of watching the world’s best Martial Artists in Taekwondo action from 25–26 September at the Manchester Regional Arena is sure to excite taekwondo and sports fans alike. There has never been a better opportunity to support Britain’s top Martial Artists whilst experiencing the thrilling taekwondo action up close. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket line on 0843 208 0500.
With British Taekwondo doing extremely well at the moment, they managed their best medal haul at a major international taekwondo event ever in the recent Taekwondo Europeon Championships. Rising star Aaron Cook achieved a gold medal along with Sarah Srevenson (Beijing Olympic bronze medallist). These two plus other top British Taekwondo athletes train in Manchester at the High Performance Centre and are looking forward to competing at the British International Championships against world class taekwondo talent. Each GB Martial Artist will be looking for a strong performance to stake their claim to represent Team GB in London 2012.
“We are looking forward to another strong international field featuring the world’s top taekwondo athletes following our recently earned prestigious WTF World Class status” comments Gary Hall, Performance Director of BTCB – Sport Taekwondo UK Ltd. “This is a rare opportunity to see Britian’s best athletes competing in the UK and this year we’ve placed a variety of great value ticket options on advance sale to ensure that there is something for everyone.” UK Sport, the nation’s elite sports agency, will once again be backing the event via their National Lottery funded World Class Events Programme.
Rebecca Edser, Events Consultant at UK Sport, said: “UK Sport is delighted to be supporting the British International Taekwondo Championships for the third year in a row, as the event continues to go from strength to strength in terms of its status on the international competition schedule. The event will bring some of the world’s best taekwondo players to the UK, ensuring a fantastic spectacle as well as a valuable experience for our home grown top athletes and emerging talent alike.”
Martial Arts Video Pick - July 8th 2010 - Amazing Martial Arts Fight
Hi everyone, today we've picked out this Martial Arts video. Have a look and enjoy some amazing taekwondo fights!
Martial Arts Movie News: July 7th 2010 - Hollywood star Dev Patel is an enthusiastic Martial Artist
Dev Patel is more commonly recognised as the star of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ but he has now been cast in ‘The Last Airbender’ in which his Martial Art skills were required. The British actor is a first dan black belt in the Martial Art of Taekwondo and his physical skills were put to use as he plays Zuko in his latest film.
M. Night Shyamalan's ‘The Last Airbender’ features a wide range of Martial Arts styles, including the unfamiliar fire bending. Patel only had one month to train and commented that “it's impossible to learn a proper martial art in a month... but it came a lot easier than dancing in 'Slumdog,' that's for sure.” Patel was encouraged into Martial Arts as a child by his mother to channel his energy and he has experienced both karate and taekwondo. Continuing with taekwondo, Patel has had the opportunity to represent his country competing both nationally and internationally. 'The Last Airbender' will be hitting UK cinemas from 13 August 2010, so make sure you don't miss out!
Martial Arts News: July 6th 2010 - Taekwondo and Judo promoted by Olympic medalist Sir Chris Hoy
Young people are being encouraged to try alternative sports to football by Olympic cycling medalist Sir Chris Hoy. Instead of mainstream activities, Martial Arts like Taekwondo and Judo were focused on and taster sessions were provided to many children in primary and secodary schools. Following research carried out by the London 2012 sponsor Lloyds TSB; it was found that many children had not tried 40% of the 26 Olympic Sports; including Taekwondo and Judo.
“It wouldn’t do any harm for kids to have a bigger choice” says Sir Chris Hoy, “if I'd only ever tried football at school I might have given up sport. As somebody who has benefited from sport so much I cannot encourage people enough to get involved.” Judo features in the Olympic Games with seven male and seven female weight categories under the control of the International Judo Federation. The World Taekwondo Federation allows men and women to compete in four weight categories each and also features in the Games.
Martial Arts News: July 5th 2010 - GB Judo team Moscow Grand Slam Results
Over the weekend of 3rd - 4th July, British Judo had nineteen Martial Artist's compete in Moscow, Russia in one of the four International Judo grand slams. British Judo improved on their performance at the Paris stage of the Grand slam and achieved five fifth places over the weekend. With the pressure of the Olympic phase starting early 2011 and the World Championships later this year, Judo fighters needed to put in top performances to prove their presence on these elite teams.
Congratulations to Euan Burton (-81kg) and Colin Oates (-66kg) for achieving fifth places in their respective male categories. Well done also to the fifth places achieved by British women Sarah Adlington (+78g), Karina Bryant (+78kg) and Sally Conway (-70kg). Head Coach of British Judo Patrick Roux was “generally pleased” with the performances across the team at this event and felt that “finishing with 5x5th places at this level is a good indicator of improvement ahead of this year's World Championships in two months time. This last two to three weeks training block, mostly in Russia, has allowed us to intensify the training and exposure to some competitions including the Moscow Grand Slam.”
The rest of the 19-strong Judo team failed to progress past the preliminaries, but saw some notable wins by Sarah Clark (-63kg) against European silver medallist Edwige Gwend (ITA), Faith Pitman (-63kg) who beat European Champion Elisabeth Willeboordse (NED) and James Austin who beat the European bronze medallist in the -100kg weight category, Ariel Zeevi, in his first bout.
Martial Arts News: July 1st 2010 - GB Judo team selected to compete in Moscow
(Taken from British Judo)
A nineteen-strong British Judo team are competing in the Moscow Grand Slam, Russia from 3rd-4th July 2010.
Competing in the Russian capital, in one of only four Grand Slams on the International Judo Federation’s calendar, Martial Art fighters from across the World are competing for valuable Olympic qualification points. GB Martial Artists made a tentative start to the season with two 5th places at the Paris Judo Grand Slam. At the time, British Judo's Performance Director Margaret Hicks said, “Our players are just at the start of the transitional period and we recognise we still have a lot more work to do with the players to make the necessary improvements for medals at this level.”
After picking up two medals at the Judo European Championships in April, GB Judo looks to be in a much better position going into their second Grand Slam of the year, but Hicks says the key focus is the World Championships later this year. “We are still in the process of confirming which players are likely to be in the frame for selection and a place in the 2010 World Championship team. With the IJF now permitting two players per weight at the Worlds, this presents an excellent chance for us to assess players over the next three weeks."
“We are still trying to identify and confirm our core players ahead of the Olympic phase, which will start early next year. As we know, the nature of our sport is that some players may only start performing and connecting at the elite level later on in the Olympic cycle, but we can use this event to make some more evaluations. “The quality of training our players will get in Russia will help towards preparing players for our major objective this year – the World Championships in September. As we are still in the transitional phase of the Olympic cycle, we will be looking for improved performances in order to establish a sound platform ahead of the Worlds,” Hicks added.
Britain's two European medallists at the 2010 Judo Championships Euan Burton (-81kg) and Karina Bryant (+78kg) have been selected to compete in their respective weight categories. Burton excelled during a Japan tour at the end of 2009, winning a gold medal in the Tokyo Grand Slam and also won a silver medal at the Dusseldorf Grand Prix at the start of this year, making him a prominent 4 th in the World according to the IJF Ranking List. Bryant earned a 5th place at the 2010 Paris Grand Slam, alongside Matthew Purssey who has also been selected to compete in the -90kg competition. Making their British debut at a Grand Slam will be Kelly Edwards (-48kg), Gemma Howell (-57kg), Daniel Williams (-73kg), James Austin (-100kg) and Chris Sherrington (+100kg). British Judo's Head Coach, Patrick Roux will decide on the second player to compete in the -60kg and -90kg weight categories closer to the event.
