UK -- An inquest heard how a 23-year-old British judo star hanged himself on New Year's Day with his own black belt after struggling to get over splitting from his girlfriend, according to dailymail.co.uk.
The judo fighter was reportedly listed as one of the amateur sportsmen expected to shine during the 2012 London Olympics.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Judo Coach Resigned
Singapore -- A school's judo coach has resigned following some rather dramatic scenes that unfolded at the Schools National Judo Championships recently, according to news.asiaone.com.
The 57-year-old man had to be restrained by onlookers when he confronted the convener of the tournament, to protest the disqualification of one of his young fighters.
The coach had also reportedly ordered his five-man team to stage a sit-down protest on the competition mat.
Indeed, another shining role model - a great example of control, discipline, budo spirit and sportsmanship :-)
The 57-year-old man had to be restrained by onlookers when he confronted the convener of the tournament, to protest the disqualification of one of his young fighters.
The coach had also reportedly ordered his five-man team to stage a sit-down protest on the competition mat.
Indeed, another shining role model - a great example of control, discipline, budo spirit and sportsmanship :-)
Embarrassing
"Is MMA becoming Professional Wrestling?", bleacherreport.com asks, calling the latest brawl after Strikeforce Nashville "embarrassing". Couldn't agree more - I'm beginning to wonder what this has to do with martial arts.
Here's what Bleacherreport.com says:
Jake Shields defeated Dan Henderson in a successful title defense of the Strikeforce middleweight belt. After the victory, Jason "Mayhem" Miller came out to greet Shields in what seemed like a gentleman-like request to have a rematch with the champ Shields.
What happened from there onward was simply embarrassing.
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Shields decided to shove Miller, which progressed to an all-out brawl that included Shields’s training partners Nate and Nick Diaz, as well as everyone else in the cage. Even though Shields "didn’t think it was that big a deal," the post-fight conversations in MMA have been increasing in cheesy antics reminiscent of WWE.
Here's what Bleacherreport.com says:
Jake Shields defeated Dan Henderson in a successful title defense of the Strikeforce middleweight belt. After the victory, Jason "Mayhem" Miller came out to greet Shields in what seemed like a gentleman-like request to have a rematch with the champ Shields.
What happened from there onward was simply embarrassing.
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Shields decided to shove Miller, which progressed to an all-out brawl that included Shields’s training partners Nate and Nick Diaz, as well as everyone else in the cage. Even though Shields "didn’t think it was that big a deal," the post-fight conversations in MMA have been increasing in cheesy antics reminiscent of WWE.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Former UFC Fighter Jailed
Canada -- A former MMA fighter has pleaded guilty to charges which are stemming from an incident where he crashed his pickup truck into a casino, according to niagarafallsreview.ca.
He was sentenced to nearly five years in prison after pleading guilty to a variety of charges - including attacking family members with a hammer and crashing his pickup truck through the front doors of Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort on December 22, 2009.
Birthday "Party"
Minnesota -- A 28-year-old Rochester man celebrating his birthday was jailed, following a shooting spree that ended when he accidentally shot himself while allegedly trying to shoot his dog Wednesday morning.
The trigger happy "birthday boy", described by the prosecutor as a professional MMA fighter, also runs a martial arts clothing business out of his home.
The prosecutor said the man also had a history of violence, with convictions for robbery, breaking and entering and car theft in North Carolina, Florida and Iowa. In addition, he has three open felony files in Winona County for theft and driving while impaired, according to postbulletin.com.
The trigger happy "birthday boy", described by the prosecutor as a professional MMA fighter, also runs a martial arts clothing business out of his home.
The prosecutor said the man also had a history of violence, with convictions for robbery, breaking and entering and car theft in North Carolina, Florida and Iowa. In addition, he has three open felony files in Winona County for theft and driving while impaired, according to postbulletin.com.
Ninja at 90
Australia -- News-mail.com.au reports about 87-year-old Joseph Smith who currently is a second dan black belt in traditional shotokan karate.
The Childers karateka says he is determined to become a 90-year-old ninja and that he wants to keep doing martial arts until he dies.
In one word: Impressive!
The Childers karateka says he is determined to become a 90-year-old ninja and that he wants to keep doing martial arts until he dies.
In one word: Impressive!
Former Coach Guilty
California -- A 57-year-old former high school wrestling, karate and coached karate youth football league team coach, of El Cerrito, has been convicted of three felony sex charges for molesting teenage boys.
The man is facing a term of 15 years to life in state prison according to ktvu.com.
The County Deputy District Attorney said authorities received reports of molestation from as far back as 1975, and that the man has engaged in "predatory sexual behavior going back 30 years."
The man is facing a term of 15 years to life in state prison according to ktvu.com.
The County Deputy District Attorney said authorities received reports of molestation from as far back as 1975, and that the man has engaged in "predatory sexual behavior going back 30 years."
Friday, April 16, 2010
Karate Coach Accused
Florida -- A St. Cloud taekwondo instructor will be facing a judge, being accused of molesting two of his juvenile students.
He has been charged with several counts of lewd and lascivious battery and molestation on two girls (15 years old), according to wesh.com.
He has been charged with several counts of lewd and lascivious battery and molestation on two girls (15 years old), according to wesh.com.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
An Inspiration to Many
Arizona -- 43-year-old, former US Army paratrooper and military police officer Tom Hicks is also a third-degree black belt in karate. He's also legally blind and teaches classes in Gilbert.
You can read more of his inspirational story in kswt.com.
You can read more of his inspirational story in kswt.com.
A Karate 'Rip-Off'
New York -- A 36-year-old employee at a politically connected Brooklyn nonprofit has been arrested on charges of submitting phony receipts for karate instruction, attempting to swindle the city out of $4,080, according to nypost.com.
The man allegedly submitted expense reports showing that a senior citizens center - on 59 dates in 2007 - provided classes in karate to 20 young people. This allowed the center to access an $80,000 anti-gang-violence grant from the City Council.
However, 50 sign-in sheets that were part of the expense report were altered photocopies, authorities said.
The man allegedly submitted expense reports showing that a senior citizens center - on 59 dates in 2007 - provided classes in karate to 20 young people. This allowed the center to access an $80,000 anti-gang-violence grant from the City Council.
However, 50 sign-in sheets that were part of the expense report were altered photocopies, authorities said.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Fighting Disability With Taekwondo
Here's an inspirational story from etruth.com about dedication and overcoming obstacles - in effect what martial arts is all about.
I sure need these kind of reminders when I might be tempted to feel sorry for myself or come up with excuses. What about you?
----
Indiana -- 53-year-old Linda Koeppel might not move as quickly or kick as high as others in her taekwondo class. However, the Elkhart woman is using her slower speed to move past a disability that limits her ability to move her legs.
Koeppel battles a condition which causes loss of muscle tone and unpredictable burning, stabbing or dull pain in most of her right leg and some of her left. The condition, called 'reflex symptomatic dystrophy' does that she experiences pain in each step, and some days she doesn't make it out of the house.
She has to sit down and stop exercising every 10 to 15 minutes. "As you can see, my training takes longer than someone who can just come in here and train hard," she said.
Just getting to the gym can be a struggle. She wants other people fighting disabilities to know she feels their pain -- literally -- but that they can still enjoy exercise. "If it takes 20 minutes to put one sock on, that's OK," she said.
Training has helped her ward off the depression that set in shortly after she couldn't move around and drive normally.
I sure need these kind of reminders when I might be tempted to feel sorry for myself or come up with excuses. What about you?
----
Indiana -- 53-year-old Linda Koeppel might not move as quickly or kick as high as others in her taekwondo class. However, the Elkhart woman is using her slower speed to move past a disability that limits her ability to move her legs.
Koeppel battles a condition which causes loss of muscle tone and unpredictable burning, stabbing or dull pain in most of her right leg and some of her left. The condition, called 'reflex symptomatic dystrophy' does that she experiences pain in each step, and some days she doesn't make it out of the house.
She has to sit down and stop exercising every 10 to 15 minutes. "As you can see, my training takes longer than someone who can just come in here and train hard," she said.
Just getting to the gym can be a struggle. She wants other people fighting disabilities to know she feels their pain -- literally -- but that they can still enjoy exercise. "If it takes 20 minutes to put one sock on, that's OK," she said.
Training has helped her ward off the depression that set in shortly after she couldn't move around and drive normally.
Scam Artist Jailed
UK -- After a laborious and complex four-year investigation, a scam-artist has been handed down a three-year jail sentence, according to thisisderbyshire.co.uk.
The man reportedly fleeced a martial arts organisation of more than £180,000, something which in effect left 60,000 amateur fighters uninsured against injuries.
The Chaddesden-based group provided instructors and students in judo, karate and several other martial arts across the country with insurance cover, competitions and grading exams.
The man reportedly fleeced a martial arts organisation of more than £180,000, something which in effect left 60,000 amateur fighters uninsured against injuries.
The Chaddesden-based group provided instructors and students in judo, karate and several other martial arts across the country with insurance cover, competitions and grading exams.
Robbery Gang Busted
India -- Following the arrest of five men, Delhi Police have allegedly solved a large number of cases of robbery, snatching and car theft , according to sify.com.
The gang leader is reportedly a 35-year-old former karate national champion. The gang also includes a 27-years-old MBA graduate from a reputed university in Pune.
The gang leader is reportedly a 35-year-old former karate national champion. The gang also includes a 27-years-old MBA graduate from a reputed university in Pune.
The "Love Master"
Argentina -- A kung fu "master" who was accused of abusing minors was arrested on 15 September, 2009 in La Rioja, according to momento24.com.
A judge has now confirmed his release and acquittal because "after 12 years from the date of the criminal acts, the case prescribed."
One of the man's alleged victim, now 25, denounced him for sexually abusing him and other minors, when he lived in La Rioja and taught kung fu in the boy's house.
The man, nicknamed "Love Master", reportedly told his students that he was God and that they should let him penetrate them with his "divine light".
He allegedly told his young students: "I am the teacher, trust me", and that they shouldn't say anything to their parents, since adult sexuality "was something perverse".
The children eventually stopped attending his classes, but the man reportedly continued living in the house that the young victim shared with his parents.
A judge has now confirmed his release and acquittal because "after 12 years from the date of the criminal acts, the case prescribed."
One of the man's alleged victim, now 25, denounced him for sexually abusing him and other minors, when he lived in La Rioja and taught kung fu in the boy's house.
The man, nicknamed "Love Master", reportedly told his students that he was God and that they should let him penetrate them with his "divine light".
He allegedly told his young students: "I am the teacher, trust me", and that they shouldn't say anything to their parents, since adult sexuality "was something perverse".
The children eventually stopped attending his classes, but the man reportedly continued living in the house that the young victim shared with his parents.
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