A Brutal Crime

Update, October 12:
After just a few weeks behind bars, the 40-year-old inmate reportedly killed his cell mate by beating the other man to death, according to latimesblogs.latimes.com.

The 50-year-old victim - a parole violator who had been sentenced to two years in prison for failing to register as a sex offender - was found dead Monday afternoon at a state prison reception center.

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California -- An MMA fighter and actor who played a smaller role in the first film about 'Austin Powers' is said to be facing a life sentence in prison, according to dailymail.co.uk.

The 40-year-old man has reportedly been convicted of taking part in a brutal rape and torture of a 20-year-old woman who was abducted in Huntington Beach, near her home.

The crime took place on Christmas Eve in 1990, and the man was arrested in 2008 after DNA tied him to the scene. The DNA sample was taken when the man was arrested on an unrelated vandalism charge, according to reports.

Major Kung Fu Fail

...Or why it is always a good idea to do some basic research prior to taking up a martial art, rather than after the fact.

The site avvo.com has a question from someone who apparently has had a run-in with an apparent "kung fuka".

First off - the individual claimed to have paid in the excess of 10 grand (holly smoke!) to be taught by a fake 10th degree kung fu black belt - only to find that the master was an obvious fake and that there's no Chinese governmental kung fu organization that awards black belts.

The person managed to get a third of the truly insane tuition fee back from filing a lawsuit through a small claims court.

A few minutes of research could have saved the individual of being royally taken for a ride ... kung fu style.

Judo Worries Parents

Japan -- From 2012, martial arts such as judo will be compulsory in schools across the country, according to english.aljazeera.net.

The program will help preserve the country's national sport of judo according to Japanese government officials, and for people who love all martial arts like we do, it comes as an apparently great decision.

However, many Japanese parents and also experts are voicing their concern - something which is understandable from the following numbers.

It is shown that 114 students have died (it is even said at least that number) and another 261 have been seriously injured while practicing the sport in school over the last 30 years, a number which is claimed to be five times higher than those shown in other large sports.

Is judo a dangerous sport? Of course not. Under safe guidance and qualified instruction it is way less dangerous than most other sports. If you take a country like France, where judo is a huge sport, there has been no reported deaths among children practicing the sport.

The point here is rather that you have no safety instructions in the Japanese school judo as well as non qualified, highly inexperienced teachers/instructors. Some of them apparently have been given just a basic three days of training before being set to teach children judo.

Combine that with a (Japanese judo) sports culture that is said to celebrate toughness, and you may have yourself an unfortunate road to more serious incidents.

Security Guard: 1 - Thug: 0

The best part is the idiot thug who seriously believed he won the "match"...

Charged, Karate Coach

Massachusetts -- A 52-year-old karate coach from Arlington has been arraigned on charges he indecently assaulted a 7-year-old student, according to thebostonchannel.com.

Police allege the defendant taught karate to the child at the time. They said the defendant asked the victim on several occasions to stay after class to help him remove a leg brace in the teacher's office and that he sexually assaulted the victim there.

Martial Arts Teacher Arrested

Update, October 2:
The taekwondo instructor has been arrested again after being accused of sexually assaulting another former student of his, according to examiner.com.

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New Hampshire -- A 48-year-old Manchester taekwondo instructor is being accused of sexually assaulting one of his students, according to wmur.com.

The student was under the age of 13 when the alleged assaults occurred over a period of about three years, from 2001.

Sambo Champ Killed Student

Russia -- A 25-year-old sambo World Champion and MMA fighter - originally from Dagestan - is accused of killing a 19-year-old student with a single blow following a quarrel.

The fighter turned himself in six days after hitting the younger student one time near the entrance of a Moscow nightclub, according to themoscowtimes.com.

The student had allegedly flirted with fighter's girlfriend. When he arrived a little later, the fighter spoke to the victim for several seconds before hitting him in the face and calmly walking away.

A No Contest Plea

Nevada -- A 30-year-old heavyweight MMA fighter, who became known when he was featured in the second season of "The Ultimate Fighter" on Spike TV, have reached an agreement with prosecutors to make a no-contest plea for allegedly attempting to sexually assault a woman in his Las Vegas home April 10, 2010.

The alleged incident unfolded when a woman filed a police report that the MMA fighter had sexually assaulted her, according to lasvegassun.com.

Fake Charity Fraud

UK -- A 61-year-old hooligan and martial arts "legend" from the Burnley area has been sentenced to jail after falsely claiming he collected money for a kick-boxing club.

The man told people in Blackburn, that - while using a charity collection tin - he was part of a group collecting for the club, according to pendletoday.co.uk.

He was allegedly arrested when an off-duty police officer recognized him from Burnley.

Looting Star

Update, September 8:
And just when you thought this case couldn't get any more bizarre, along comes one of these "but wait - there's more" moments...

Turns out this nitwit teenager judoka wasn't a British national team member at all. A member of a judo club yes, but allegedly miles away from any Olympics any day.

How in the name of Jigoro Kano could this idiot think he could get away with such an obvious lie in the long run? Dang, there are some really strange martial arts people out there!

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Update, September 7:
The judo teenager has been sentenced to 8 month in a juvenile detention facility. Talk about stupid...

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UK -- A 17-year-old member of the British judo team could possibly be facing a jail sentence after he has admitted to burglary and handling stolen goods during the recent riots in Manchester.

The teenager, who was described by a court judge as "(...) a bright boy with a bright future ahead of you." was reportedly found by police with his pockets full of cigarettes and stolen jewelry on August 9.

One really has to wonder how "bright" this lad is (even for a teenager) if he chooses to jeopardize his whole future like this...

The 'Shadow'

OK, so I admit it... I'm as boyish and childish as they come. I have even made it my mission not to become too grown up ... ever - that concept is so plain boring!

That said, even I find it very weird - troubling even - to read about a grown man, aged 33, dressed up as ninja, trawling the streets at night to "to protect the public" in jolly old England.

- Ninja costume? Check.
- Carrying weapon? Check (wooden pole).
- Wearing hearing aid to be able to hear better? Check.
- Stalking in the shadows? Check.
- Adult? Check (sort of).
- Devised his own interpretation of the martial art? Check.
- Street name 'Shadow'? Check.
- "Patrolling" the streets? Check.
- Sometimes spending all night out on the streets? Check.
- Has developed a special roaring war cry? Check.
- Will use force if required? Check.
- Proudly posing for pictures in the papers? Check.
- Police not happy about it? Check.
- Honorary Martial Arts Maniac? Double check.

MMA Fighter Assaulted Police

Ohio -- After an early morning incident with an experienced MMA fighter and former wrestler, three Dayton Police officers had to be treated at an area hospital. One officer reportedly suffered a concussion, according to wdtn.com.

When an officer confronted the 27-year-old MMA fighter urinating on the sidewalk outside a Dayton bar at 2 a.m. Friday, the man allegedly assaulted the officer.

Two responding back-up officers who soon arrived were also injured while struggling to get the fighter under control.

The 27-year-old man has reportedly fought 22 MMA fights in his career, many of them as a professional. It is also said he has been in trouble with the law prior to this latest incident.

Forms on the Platform?

I suppose that letting some aggression out on the platform can be a good idea after all - in any case I am quite certain it is far better to do it there - on something solid - than on people inside a crowded subway carriage.

Perhaps that was the idea behind a well known sports brand being given the go ahead to install padded punching bags at the Xujiahui subway station in Shanghai?

The idea behind it is allegedly to allow stressed out commuters punch and kick the bags to let off some steam.

And who knows, perhaps you could even do your next workout while waiting for your train to arrive? Just don't start doing form though ... that would look totally uncool :-)

Fukuda Sensei, 10th Dan

California -- Please forget the absurd nonsense of 9-, 15- or 20-year-old "experts" or "masters". Yes, the kids are great and cute and all that, but lets get real. Being a true master or expert takes a life of dedication to an art.

It definitely involves more than being able to perform intricate patterns, kick high, win medals or being handed belts like candy.

One such true master, expert and legend is Keiko Fukuda sensei from San Francisco, who recently received the highest honor of judo. At the age of 98, she has been awarded the ultimate rank of 10th dan. Bravo and congratulations Fukuda sensei!

She is the first woman ever to be promoted to this rank. Not only that, there are just three people before her, all Japanese men, who have reached that level.

Fukuda sensei still teaches at the women's dojo in Noe Valley, and she was reportedly in tears when she was brought the news.

"All my life," Fukuda sensei said, "this has been my dream."

Nun-Fu?

Singapore -- It could perhaps have been nun-fu ... she could even have been a nunchaku fan.

However, 55-year-old Sister Linda Sim is not into kung-fu or weapon arts, she is an avid taekwondo practitioner, according to koreaherald.com.

While visiting Korea recently with some of her students to participate in a taekwondo youth camp, the Singaporean nun told reporters she is finding strength and also peace in taekwondo.

Sister Linda reportedly took up the martial art in her church when she was 17-years-old.

Instructor Gets 30 Years

Georgia -- We have previously mentioned a former martial arts instructor and chiropractor who was arrested back in 2006 for coercing underage boys to send him pornographic pictures of themselves.

After being convicted by a federal jury, the 39-year-old man has now been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, according to journalinquirer.com.

MMA Backflip Fail

Time for another video... This time a total self-inflicted MMA-fail. Hold on to your seat as this guy does an awesome (at least to the spectators) back-flip flop.

Why let your opponent have the pleasure of injuring you when you can fix it all by yourself? Makes perfect sense, right?

Too Much Ninja Turtles

UK -- (Northern Ireland) A judge has allegedly lamented that too many young men today are "fascinated by martial arts and Ninja Turtles".

This rather strange conclusion came after a 22-year-old man was found guilty of assault and various other offences.

The defendant was reportedly arrested after being seen staggering along the streets of Londonderry carrying a circular saw and later holding a police officer in a headlock.

So there you have it ... those green fellows may land you in a heap of trouble. I better cut out this martial art thingy all together.

I suppose alcohol is still OK since the judge didn't make a note about that.