Working on Her Green Belt

UK -- A 10-year-old, blind martial arts enthusiast is hoping to be awarded her green belt next week.

Young Jessica Marshall from Bushey has been climbing the ranks of Ju-Jitsu since she was six, despite being completely blind, according to watfordobserver.co.uk.

TKD Instructor Charged

Texas -- A 42-year-old Waco-area taekwondo instructor has been arrested in connection with two sexual assaults involving a middle school girl in 2005 according to kwtx.com.

The man was also charged in connection with threats set forth during a phone call made before his arrest. The girl's mother was allegedly told her daughter's head "would be blown off", according to an affidavit.

Right Wing Karate Expert

UK -- A 39-year-old teacher, former soldier and karate expert, accused of racial and religious intolerance was among bodyguards protecting (right wing) British National Party leader Nick Griffin recently, according to sunderlandecho.com.

The man reportedly resigned from a sports college in 2008 after an investigation into alleged misuse of a school computer. It is claimed he used the computer to post critical comments about asylum seekers, Islam, immigrants and homosexuality on an Internet chat forum during lessons.

Not Your Typical Granny

California -- 69-year-old Marlene Williams is not your typical granny. She has attained what few people half her age have: a black belt in taekwondo.

The Old Agoura resident, mother of three and grandmother of two tied on her black belt in September after undergoing a rigorous testing process that was in no way modified due to her age, according to theacorn.com.

Although it was a proud moment, it was one she'd never really planned on. If, as a spectator at her grandson's tournament a few years ago, she were asked if she'd ever be the one donning a white uniform out on the mat, she'd have said no.

Judo, Cocaine Criminal

UK -- A court was told how a 47-year-old, 6.dan Olympic judo competitor, was the enforcer behind a £50million-a-year drugs gang. The man allegedly carried out brutal torture of people who owed them debts.

The former teacher and martial arts expert was arrested after police attending a routine burglary call stumbled upon a massive cocaine factory at a flat he owned, according to telegraph.co.uk.

Black Belt Great Grandma

Oklahoma -- 74-year-old Jeannie O'Connor form Owasso is know to everyone as "Mamaw". She has seven great grandchildren, holds a third-degree black belt in taekwondo and teaches a beginners taekwondo class in Claremore.

"I saw a picture of Bruce Lee," she said, "and I thought maybe that could help my grandson," according to newsok.com.

"I like the discipline," she says. "And attaining something."

Dangerous Fighting Activity

Canada -- Chilliwack police recently broke up a "MMA" fight that was apparently organised by two 17-year-old boys looking to show off their so-called mixed martial arts skills.

When police arrived at the park near an elementary school, where the "consensual" fight took place, a crowd of about 50 other teen aged onlookers scattered. One of the teenagers had a black eye and bloody nose, but no other serious injury.

Anyone caught slugging it out in public, UFC-style, will be seriously dealt with, Chilliwack police stated.

Cage Fighter Jailed

UK -- A 6'4", 27-year-old amateur MMA fighter assaulted another man in Burnley, at around 4 a.m. on July 26 after a row over a girl.

The 27-year-old victim was knocked unconscious with one punch. The cage fighter then launched a relentless attack of punches and kicks on the victims's lifeless body.

A Burnley Court heard that the victim was left permanently disabled after having every bone in his face broken. He has brain damage, suffered a fractured skull and lost all of his teeth.

Karate Grandads

UK -- Hard-hitting grandfathers Ernest Tuff (71) and Robert McCracken (74) train at a karate club in Ballymoney.

Sprightly Ernest trains every day and more often than not gets the better of men more than half his age, according to ballymoneytimes.co.uk.

Coleraine man Robert started training from scratch in 2001 after watching a TV interview with former Conservative leader William Hague.

"(...) He revealed he was a purple belt in judo," said Robert."I thought, if he can do that, why can't I?"

Judoka Assaulted Woman?

Korea -- Judo teaches respect and athletes usually carry themselves accordingly. However, a Korean high-profile judoka's run-in with the law has raised some questions, according to joongangdaily.joins.com.

Wang Ki-chun, an Olympic silver medalist and two-time world champion in the 73 kilogram division has recently and surprisingly announced his retirement from the sport through an online fan site.

The announcement came one day after he was questioned by the police for reportedly assaulting a woman at a night club in Yongin, Gyeonggi.

Finger Fu

China -- Fu Bingli – who has been studying martial arts for 32 years – recently took the Guinness world record for completing 12 press ups on just one finger of his right hand.

Bingli can reportedly perform the feat of standing upside down supporting himself on just one index finger.

Bingli Fu, of Lianyungang, eastern China, said he's been training since he was seven years old. "My index finger has as much strength in it as most people's entire body," he said.

Injuries, Waivers and Negligence

If you operate a martial arts school or club, and thinks a waiver will automatically protect you against a potential lawsuit if a student is injured, think again.

In B.C., Canada, a case is going to court November 23. It involves a student who was injured during in class when he was 16. Three years later, he reportedly continues to suffer from a permanent disability.

The owner of the martial arts school had sought to have the case thrown out because of a waiver that the student's mother signed when her son enrolled at the center.

However, according to a B.C. Supreme Court Justice ruling, the martial arts school was negligent by "failing to take preventative measures to ensure that injuries did not occur in the course of sparring matches by taking such measures as screening participants, instructing participants, requiring suitable protective gear or carefully supervising matches," according to bclocalnews.com

Carried Away

UK -- A man in a wheelchair had to be helped down Snowdon (the tallest mountain in Wales) by rescuers after a group of martial arts enthusiasts who had carried him there left him on his own during the ascent.

The group of six black belts were reportedly taking part in a fundraising record attempt and had carried the man up the mountain path, according to news.bbc.co.uk.

They abandoned the man - deciding to leave him before they reached the peak. Furthermore, they were too tired when they returned to carry him down.

They had to call out mountain rescuers, who criticised the group's actions. Criticised them? Nah... Really?

Judo and Skin Fungus

An alarm has been raised by the All Japan Judo Federation regarding an epidemic of a skin- and hair-affecting fungus, known as trichophyton tonsurans. They claim it may eventually ruin traditional Japanese (contact) martial arts, such as of sumo and judo.

Dermatology researcher Seitaro Hiruma of Juntendo University in Tokyo said: "The federation has become worried about the situation. Now they are saying that if they leave this infection unchecked it will ruin Japanese judo," according to naturalnews.com.

A survey commissioned by the judo federation has found that nearly one-third of judo clubs and half of high-school judo teams in Japan have experienced this fungus infections.

Black Belts, Watch (Out)!

Here's an article about a new, special type of 'Black Belt Watch' manufactured in Switzerland.

Allegedly, this watch is reserved for black belt holders only, regardless of the individual style of martial art.

It is stated that each practitioner has to provide an official rank certificate, even though I have a hard time seeing how anyone can weed out all the fake "organisations" and "legitimate masters" out there, handing out ranks and diplomas like candy to anyone who can pay a fee.

And don't even get me started about 10 year old "black belt" holders...

Anyhow, it looks like a real nice martial arts watch - black belt or no black belt.

Another nice thing about it, is that Black Belt Watch supports a foundation called "Little Dreams". They reportedly donates a percentage of each sale to the "No Difference" cause - a program which aims to grant young people with a handicap, the chance to realize their passion for a martial art. Very cool indeed!

Serious Sword Skills

Some unbelievable iai-jutsu (sword drawing and cutting) skills. The young master here is named Isao Machii:

Founder Charged

Tennessee -- A legendary preacher and karate expert has been ordered to stay away from the Christian camp he founded on Dayton mountain.

The man -- who perhaps is best-known for slicing a watermelon on the stomach of a young Michael Jordan -- was recently arrested of three counts of sexual battery.

Two former employees at his Christian camp, one a juvenile girl, accused the man of sexual assault in May and in August, according to wdef.com.

Punch Drunk?

Here's a boxer who may have taken a few hits too many ... or he's a full-blown comedian :-)

Arrested: Karate Instructor

California -- Being charged with with sexual battery and molestation of one of his girlfriend's underage relatives, a 41-year-old Desert Hot Springs karate instructor was arrested October 6.

Side note: The man is actually a taekwondo teacher.

The man allegedly touched the girl inappropriately at his home, according to myfoxla.com and mydesert.com. The incidents reportedly occurred over a period of several days in August this year.

Because the man has a "second-degree black belt in martial arts", the girl was afraid at first to report the incidents to police.

Pride of Britain

UK -- Eight-year-old Levana Hanson lost both legs to meningitis and endured 40 operations before having prosthetic legs fitted, according to mirror.co.uk .

Recently, the young karate student proudly walked onto the stage to collect her Child of Courage award from three (British pop group) Girls Aloud stars.

After recovering, the young girl bravely beat bullies near her home in Tewkesbury, by taking up karate.

Appropriate Name...

Nevada -- A 24-year-old MMA fighter with the (very appropriate) nickname "Lunatik", has reportedly been dropped from the UFC after having been accused of threatening and attacking nurses at a Henderson hospital.

The fighter was arrested Tuesday night after he was rushed to hospital following what police said was a suicide attempt involving pills of the anti-anxiety drug Klonopin.

An arrest report said the man tried to fight off nurses, pushing a female nurse and punching a male nurse who tried to subdue him.

A Clean Record

UK -- Terry 'Turbo' Burrows, from Essex, is a window cleaner with 30 years experience. He is also a black belt in karate.

Recently he broke his own 'Worlds Fastest Window Cleaner' record - cleaning (professionally) three 120 centimeters tall windows in just over 9 seconds, during the '2009 window cleaning competition', held in Blackpool.

The 54-year-old said his success was due "to moving the body in sequence" - drawing upon his karate training to do so.

Terry explained how he's cleaning the windows in just 16 moves, calling it "pretty intense". You can watch the "wash on - wash off" video here.

Lewd Conduct

California -- A 25-year-old Lake Forest man was arrested for indecent exposure, according to abclocal.go.com.

Orange County Sheriff's investigators said the man exposed himself to a woman carrying a baby near an elementary school in September 2009.

Authorities said the suspect admitted to having done it before -- he was arrested for similar crimes in 2004 -- and that he is a karate instructor in Aliso Viejo.

Another Priceless Video

UK -- Here's another instance where to idiots got a well deserved real-life lesson from a couple of skilled martial arts fighters in Swansea.

The two drunken morons tried to pick on a two party-goers dressed in drags ... not realizing the "drag queens" in fact were two cage fighters.

And oh, do the two goons get a thorough reality adjustment :-)

Not only do they get a physical reminder of how not to play tough when you are not. They also got themselves arrested and jailed. Sweet!

The two morons later plead guilty in courts to "using abusive words and behavior" and they were sentenced to four months community order and a 7 p.m. curfew.

Let's hope someone is kind enough to remind the two idiots about their ass-whuppin' every now and then (like constantly).

Cage Fighter Jailed

UK -- MMA fighter Paul Allen -- described as an aggressive and powerfully-built, steroid-pumping fitness fanatic -- has been jailed for 18 years today after admitting his role in Britain's largest ever cash robbery (£53 million).

Allen was the trusted partner of Lee "Lightning" Murray (a fellow cage fighter), who allegedly masterminded the heist at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent, according to timesonline.co.uk.

The two men fled to Morocco after the hold-up in February 2006, where the pair took up a cocaine-fuelled party lifestyle, purchasing sumptuously-furnished villas and expensive
cars.

The robbers may have thought they were living out their dreams. However, after four months they were arrested by Moroccan authorities and locked up in Rabat prison -- a rat-infested "hell hole".

Punk Learning a Lesson

UK -- Here's a sweet video showing a British punk (hopefully) learning a lesson - skillfully handed him by a St Helens Gulf war veteran.

Just watch the total control the 35-year-old veteran shows when the idiot street punk tries to pick a fight. And oh, do he ever get his cowardly bottom spanked when the "victim" -- skilled in karate and jiu-jitsu -- unleashes one swift technique.

It is indeed utterly satisfying to see this sorry excuse of human waste crawl away. Mr Smith - you have my utmost respect.

Brothely Love (Not)

New Zealand -- The 23-year-old taekwondo athlete who was planning to finance his 2012 London Olympics bid with the proceeds from a brothel, has been threatened with legal actions by the New Zealand Olympic Committee, according to reuters.com.

The young athlete reportedly opened a brothel with a friend in Auckland earlier this year - going public with the scheme in July.

The national Olympic Committee of New Zealand had now stated in writing that they demand he cease linking the Olympics to his business or face a lawsuit.

A Murder Charge

Alabama -- A 51-year-old Lauderdale County man has been indicted by a grand jury for murder, according to timesdaily.com.

An autopsy has revealed that the man's wife died from a broken neck and not from natural causes or an accidental overdose, officials said.

The man, who reportedly is "skilled in karate and martial arts", claimed he found his 55-year-old wife dead on September 7, 2008.

Investigators said the wife had a few bruises on her neck and several bruises across her body and that she looked like she had been physically abused. Consequently, the body was to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

The autopsy showed the woman had a broken neck and the husband was not able to explain how it happened.

School District Sued

Missouri -- A high school student in Blue Springs is alleging that school staff allowed MMA-type fighting after a workout with his wrestling team. The student's family is now suing the school district over alleged injuries suffered in a match, according to examiner.net.

"If kids are not trained in this kind of fighting and participate with no head gear or other equipment, serious injuries can happen," said the attorney in the case. "That is what happened here."

Ping-Fu

Here's a way cool video of "Bruce Lee" use "numb-nuts" in a ping-pong match. It's an ad for a Nokia phone - very well done :-)

From Instructor to Thief

India -- A 51-year-old black belt with the nickname 'Judo Karate', is known for his martial arts skills in Nagpur. However, the martial arts expert is unfortunately also well known for his vehicle theft skills.

The man is now reportedly behind bars with more than 20 offences against his name, according to timesofindia.indiatimes.com.

The former instructor claimed he began his criminal career after meeting some unscrupulous students in his martial arts classes.

Judo "Play"

California -- A renowned judoka and his friend, 22 and 25, reportedly assaulted two men returning from a baseball game September 29 on the Menlo Park Caltrain station.

One of the victim's, who also has a martial arts background, noticed the judoka's jacket and eventually the four men began talking at the station, according to smdailyjournal.com.

The two martial arts guys began "playing around," but the 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds judoka refused to stop once it grew more rough, according to a Chief Deputy District Attorney.

Prosecutors said the incident ended with a broken leg, both victim's seriously beaten, in addition to a robbery charge over a cell phone.