MMA Madness, TV Style

TV - illustration from Wikipedia.org

Here comes some instant MMA madness, TV style for you.

And we apparently won't need the real life - and out there - nutty mixed martial arts fighters when we have the couch potato variety to carry the flag of splendid madness for all the world to see.

Enter this 19-year-old TV inspired MMA crazed nitwit from Phoenix, Arizona.

When he found that his girlfriend "didn't respect him" (I do wonder why...), he allegedly incorporated some MMA moves he had learned on TV to beat her up in front of her three children, before he choked her to unconsciousness.

When Snyder was interviewed by officers, he had the woman's cell phone and admitted to choking and hitting her because she was "disrespecting him," a police report said.
Snyder told officers he only meant to cause his girlfriend to lose consciousness for a "couple of seconds" and said he tried to mimic what he learned from a mixed martial arts television program, a police report said.

 No respect? That's bad ... that's really bad.

Magnificent Karate Example

I would like to encourage you all to take a few moments to read this moving and inspirational article from thenational.ae.

The article is about the magnificent work done by Mr Hosam Ayyad. Ayyad sensei is the head of the Japan Karate Association in Jordan and a much respected teacher of martial arts.

You can not be anything but deeply impressed with and inspired by the work Mr Ayyad puts forward for helping children with disabilities.

Mr Ayyad has dedicated 18 years of his working life to teaching children karate, those suffering physical and mental disabilities in particular.

Over a period of 18, years, Mr Ayyad has taught more than 1,000 physically and mentally challenged kids, many of whom come from underprivileged families.

I have said it before and I'll gladly say it again: This, to me, is what martial arts really is all about. I respectfully salute you Ayyad sensei.

Finding Focus With Karate

Canada -- Eighteen-year-old Duncan Wessels from Metchosin, BC was diagnosed with autism and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) as a child and he took up karate in the fourth grade after sitting in on a class, according to bclocalnews.com.

Through studying karate he has learned to use the sport as an outlet. "When things are stressful, it relaxes me," he said.

"Moralistically karate has helped me out a lot," he said. "It has given me self-confidence, discipline and respect."

Another Low Blow

Cases like this is probably amongst the last of things the martial arts need. Even if this is one local school, it affects us all.

One parent in this story from Bakersfield, California, expressed her disappointment like this: "It's frustrating because this art is supposed to teach respect and discipline and obviously they have no respect for other people."

Sad, but true.

The kenpo karate school allegedly closed it's doors with nothing more than a two days written notice. Not only that, they were reportedly collecting tuition just days before they cleared out.

"They didn't give us any indication that there was a problem whatsoever," another parent said.

Bamboodo

Missouri -- A Warrensburg martial arts instructor is accused of hitting a 7-year-old boy with a bamboo stick, according to thekansascitychannel.com.

According to a police report, the mother of the boy said her son had problems respecting his parents, so she asked the instructor to help her son learn to respect his elders.

But when the boy finished martial arts class on August 27 and had bruises and red marks on his shins, his right thigh and right wrist, the mother contacted authorities.

The police report said the man hit the boy with a bamboo stick if he failed to do squats and push-ups the correct way.

Karate fight

Great going folks - really nice way of teaching kids respect and control! And "disgruntled" ... How about plain stupid?

Story:
A disgruntled father punched a teenage girl after she knocked his son to the ground in a karate match Wednesday, city police said.

Officers went to the Annapolis Karate and Learning Center in Annapolis for a report of an assault that occurred at 6:30 p.m.

A woman told police her 13-year-old daughter had a sparring session with a 12-year-old boy when she knocked him to the ground.

The boy's father yelled at the girl and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground. The woman went to the commissioner's office and a summons for second-degree assault was issued.

Source

Learning about respect

Fed up with police gang reports and inspired by community meetings calling for action, Nguyen began an after-school martial arts program for Gaithersburg students in December to help build students' self confidence and respect.

"The correlation between this class and better behavior among some of these kids is astounding," said Brenda Wilks, assistant principal at Gaithersburg High.

Those with poor attendance began going to class, she said. Some feeling the pressure to fit in with gangs refrained, students testified. And others, like Moya, saw their grades improve as they looked forward to attending school.

Source

Boosting business

Morgan Freeman, 25, of Birches Road, Horsham, is one of the UK's leading practitioners of ancient Korean art Kuk Sool Won.

He was hired by HITEK Calibration, of Foundry Lane, Horsham, last month to introduce employees to qualities taken from martial arts.

Morgan has been tasked with bringing elements of eastern philosophy such as respect, hard work and confidence, to the company, which specialises in testing and repairing electrical measuring instruments.

Source

A mother's view

My 14-year-old son, William, a mass of nervous energy desperately seeking direction, has thrived in the environment Sifu Belfiore has created.

Wanting to be the supportive and understanding mother, I also attend classes, very sporadically, when my schedule permits.

After executing our maneuvers on each other for the umpteenth time, I sneak looks at my son practicing his fukien routine. I watch him execute the exaggerated arm and leg movements, which reflect kung fu fighting techniques, and I can't help but glow with pride. OK, so some of the glowing is intense perspiration, but still: He is a sight to behold.

He glides from the elbow strike to the kick punch with such assurance and precision that I marvel that this poised young man is really my son. I am inspired by his enthusiasm for this regimen and respect for its history and tradition.

My squirrelly son is growing up to be a strong, confident, respectful young man. Me, I'm just thrilled to be standing after completing another class.

Source

Manners matters

Does martial arts have something vital to teach young people today?
You bet - probably more than ever!
But the most important lessons are still the ones taught at home - a martial arts school can only add so much. We can not - and neither shall we - raise a child (unless of course it's our own)!

Story:
Part of the problem is society, said David Bunnell, the owner of Valley Martial Arts in Appleton's Artistic and Wellness Center, who adds that rudeness is part of our culture. "They play video games where they blow things up," he said. "The culture all around them says, 'Don't respect anybody. Threatening people is OK, and police are evil.' And this is directed toward kids."

All too often, he said, today's children are simply not taught good manners by example. "They don't see it happening. They don't see the benefit," Bunnell said.

Source

Fatherly love

Allegedly Ted Gambordella (famous American martial artist) is a major Republican supporter. So much so that his son, Teddy states:

"My father is quite possibly the biggest republican/Bush supporter I have yet to meet. He listens to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity six hours a day, and has made me listen to it whenever possible since the day I was born."

It would come as no surprise then that the father didn't quite fancy the idea of his son voting for the Democrats. In fact he disapproved so much that he refused to pay for Teddy's college education unless he changed his mind (!).

His son refuses, and has started a web site www.onemillionreasonswhy.com to pay for his education without the "loving" father's help. The name of the site reflects on the 'one million reason' Gambordella junior hates President Bush.

Could someone who knows this stubborn, old man possibly remind him about one of the corner stones of martial arts - this thing called respect? I am positive he has heard about it...
Or maybe he's one of these people who believe that respect should be a one-way street where all the traffic is heading in their direction?

What’s ‘Christian’ got to do with it?

Quite frankly, I've asked myself that question too. Not that there's anything wrong with Christian, or Muslim, or Hindi, or Catholic, or any other "form" of martial arts.

Story:
You know what I find sad? My son's tae kwon do team has been doing amazing things for about eight years and we have literally begged and pleaded for some coverage but never get it. Then I go online and there is a picture from the "Christian" tae kwon do making The Forum. What, since they put the word "Christian" in front of TKD, is it that makes them so much better?

Being in tae kwon do has taught my son respect, perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit, courtesy and integrity.

Source

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This is genuine respect - not the kind that some people demand to have: "I Want you to respect me!" Respect is never the same as fear!

And yes, we can respect a person and still disagree with their thoughts, words and actions.

Story:
He's been called the most dangerous man on the planet. In the world of no-holds-barred Extreme Fighting, his nickname is the "The Pitbull."

But Ralph Gracie, a Brazilian jujitsu master and Extreme Fighting champion, has made it his mission to promote an alternative to violence for young people.

"I don't want to make them feel different than the others," he said. "I don't want to point out that the kid was a drug kid. We try to get them to blend in."

He offers them one very important thing, he said. "I show them that I respect them," Gracie said. "When you respect somebody, they respect you back."

Source

MMA Fighter in Pro Boxing Debut

Mike Varner is a recognized figure in mixed martial arts and ultimate fighting, but at 38, the veteran pugilist is going mainstream with his formidable fistic skills.

Varner (185 pounds) will make his pro boxing debut in the cruiserweight division against Providence’s Kjel Franchi.

I have said it before that even though MMA is not always my cup uf tea, you have to give these fighters respect!

Source

A Blind Fighter

Here's a remarkable and inspirational story about a blind, female teenager from USA, Sara Parson, who competes in jujitsu.
Mind you, she competes - and wins - against seeing opponents! I can only say that I'm totally impressed and full of respect. You go girl!

Source

Read the story here:
http://www.your-martial-arts-resources.com/inspirational-martial-arts-stories.html