The Ninja Slap

Ah, these sneaky ninja fellows... Trying to keep all the good martial arts stuff, like throwing totally awesome and deadly punches, to themselves.

Well, the cat's out of the ninja bag of tricks and now you too can slap like a champ. You show that punching bag who's the real boss!

Fighter Arrested for DUI

"Bones" Jones - From Wikipedia.org

A well-known MMA fighter arrested for DUI (drunk driving)? Apparently so, according to torontosun.com.

It appears that non other than Jon (Bones) Jones, reigning UFC light-heavyweight champion, is in trouble with authorities after crashing his car and being arrested by police.

If this turns out to be true, then it is indeed bad news for someone who was considered somewhat of a role model.

Jones' management confirmed in a release that the 24-year-old mixed martial arts champion was arrested early Saturday in Binghamton, N.Y., at around 5 a.m.
Jones manager Malki Kawa issued this release: "I can confirm that Jon Jones was arrested early this morning on suspicion of DUI. While the facts of this situation are still being gathered and situated, First Round Management fully supports Jon, and we are asking for fans and media to respect the privacy of Jon and his family during this time."

Former Karate World Champ Jailed

Karate - Illustration by Flickr.com

There's quite a bit of an uproar - and quite understandably so if I might add - when a British former karate world champion recently received a lean 30-month jail sentence after he was found guilty of sexual related crimes towards children.

You should definitely click over to Bournemouth Echo and read the whole story for yourself ... if you have the stomach for it.

Former karate world champ jailed

A former world karate champion from Poole who committed a string of sexual offences has been jailed for 30 months.
Triple world number one Tim Stephens, 50, will be released in less than half that time after pleading guilty to a total of 43 charges, in which he assaulted a woman in her sleep, groomed a teenage girl online and hoarded vast numbers of indecent photos, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.
But his former partner told the Daily Echo: "I'm disgusted with the sentence. I thought he should get at least five years."

It appears that the judge has paid more attention to the defendant than the victims in this case.

And by all means, feel free to chime in below. What's your opinion on the issue?

Judo Serial Killer

Judo throw - Illustration from Flickr.com

Before anything else, remember to visit our newest martial arts news related site Best Martial Arts News.

You will find more news on that new site, while we'll of course also continue to maintain this blog here ... albeit somewhat less regularly.

The case about the judo serial killer is from latino.foxnews.com and it's about a judo champion who's being accused of strangling 5 people to death in Honduras.

A judo serial killer

A martial arts expert who has been a fugitive from justice since May 2010 and is accused of strangling five people was arrested by Honduran police, authorities said Tuesday.
The spokesman for the prosecutor's office, Melvin Duarte, told Efe that Gandhi Espinal Raudales was arrested several days ago.

Don't know about you, but a judo champ who allegedly strangle people to death is a chilling thought indeed. What's your thoughts in this matter? Remember to comment below!

Judoka Disqualified

Judo randori - Illustration, Wikipedia

A Georgian judoka and Olympic champion have reportedly been disqualified after positive doping tests.

This is according to news.az.

Georgian wrestler, Olympic Champion Irakli Tsirekidze will face a three-month disqualification due to the results of the special analysis, which revealed stimulant drugs in his blood.
To avoid any inaccuracy in the tests, it was repeated with a few months interval and in both cases the analysis confirmed that Tsirekidze had a prohibited substance in his blood.

Son of Rebel Leader in Trouble

U.S. Army in Liberia - Illustration photo

It appears both father and son have some issues that needs to be taken care of.

The father is a former rebel leader who is awaiting for deportation from USA to Liberia where the 62-year-old man will answer for alleged war crime charges there.

Buffalonews.com reports from Niagara Falls in New York.

The son of a former Liberian rebel leader refused a plea offer to two felonies in a domestic violence case Friday in Niagara County Court.
Mahnseah T. Boley, 32, of Hilton, decided not to plead guilty to sexual abuse and assault charges, Assistant District Attorney Lisa M. Baehre said.
Boley, a former college wrestling champion and professional mixed martial arts fighter, is the son of George E.S. Boley, who earlier this month was ordered sent back to Liberia to stand trial on war crimes charges.

Like father, like son? It may appear to be that way.

Taekwondo Champ Guilty

Canada -- A former taekwondo champ and father of one from Ottawa pleaded guilty recently to two counts of manslaughter, according to ottawacitizen.com.

The man admitted that his foolish drunken decision sparked a deadly 2009 Christmas Eve blaze that killed two female neighbors, aged 57and 79.

The defendant had reportedly been celebrating his 23rd birthday and was leaving a friend's second-floor apartment in a 15-storey apartment block when he stopped outside the door to an apartment at about 4:18 a.m. and held his lit lighter to a Christmas wreath hanging on the door.

Karate Ace Denies Sex Acts

Update, Januar 20 2012:
The karate fighter, who has won gold medals at world and European championship level, was sentenced to five years for the sex offences against his victim.

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Update, December 23:
The karate champion has been convicted by a jury of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.

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UK -- Yorkpress.co.uk reports that a 30-year-old international karate champ allegedly was planning to leave his wife for a 13-year-old girl with whom he allegedly was having an underage sexual relationship.

The prosecutor leading a case against the man, claimed the couple kissed and carried out other sexual acts together in the defendant's house, in a Clifton Moor car park as well as a men's toilet.

Drunken Attack

New Zealand -- A fighter who won a world title in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2006,was reportedly not proud of the fact that he hit a man twice his age and breaking his teeth in the process, according to stuff.co.nz.

A court was told how the 23-year-old defendant was drunk in a New Plymouth bar, about 1:20 a.m. on October 2 when he punched a nearby man (aged 49) and chipping his teeth in an unprovoked attack.

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.

UFC Champ Punched Cab Driver

Arizona -- A former UFC heavyweight champion has been arrested after getting into a fight with a cab driver as well as police officers in Phoenix, according to myfoxphoenix.com.

The 6'2" and 235 lbs MMA fighter, who has had a brief stint on the 'Celebrity Rehab' TV reality show, allegedly refused to pay a taxi fare in full and later punched the driver when police officers arrived.

Police reported it took two three officers, one of them off-duty, to get the 33-year-old man under control. The fighter is now facing charges of assault and resisting arrest.

Karate Champ, Sex Charges

UK -- An England international karate instructor and champion, 29, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl, according to yorkpress.co.uk.

The York resident is released on bail and will appear in court, facing four charges of sexual assault against the girl. The charges is reported to include rape and sexual grooming.

It is alleged that the girl was abused between October of last year and April this year.

'The Blind Fury'

UK -- Young judo prodigy Kieran Clarke, who became blind at the age of 5 after an allergic reaction to penicillin, has been brushing sighted opposition aside in national competitions, according to prfire.co.uk.

The 10-year-old champ, who's been nicknamed 'the blind fury', says the key to his success is his concentration.

I think I'm so good at judo because I take my time and wait to make my move, the young judo fighter says.

Judo Benefit Cheat

UK -- A visually impaired, female judo champion was hoping to represent her country in the 2012 Olympics as a member of the Paralympics squad. The woman has now been exposed as a benefit cheat, according to thevisitor.co.uk.

The 37-year-old woman allegedly told authorities that she could barely crawl across the floor or make a meal on one of her bad days.

However, video footage have revealed the judoka throwing her opponent to the floor during a bout of judo.

She has also been seen shopping, walking and running for a bus without any difficulty - all filmed in secret by benefit fraud investigators.

"No Longer My Son"

UK -- A former judo champion has disowned her son after he left her with career-wrecking injuries by deliberately dragging her along the road with his car in Newton-le-Willows, according to sthelensreporter.co.uk.

The woman emotionally told the courts they could "throw away the key" after her 24-year-old son Robert had admitted to dangerous driving and wounding.

The 42-year-old former national and European judo gold medalist - having temporary custody of her two grandchildren at the time - suffered serious head injuries while trying to get the two children out of her son's vehicle as he drove off telling her mother he would never bring them back.

Former TKD Champ Fined

Singapore -- Along with his young wife, a 40-year-old former South-East Asia Games winner has been fined for corruption and vice-related offences.

The man was 22 when he won his weight division at the 1993 taekwondo competition, according to straitstimes.com.

During his sentencing, he admitted to eight charges, according to reports. Three of them were for living on earnings of a prostitute from Uzbekistan, receiving the 21-year-old woman at the airport, and managing a place for her to sell her services at a hotel in 2010.

Death Penalty

Florida -- Former karate instructor and junior champion, Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, was handed down a pair of death sentences in the murders of Melanie and Byrd Billings, according to pnj.com.

The murders, described as "execution-style" was proven to be done by Gonzales July 9, 2009 inside the couple's home in Beulah.

Gonzalez reportedly led a gang of five men and one teenager to the spacious home early in the morning. The gang were after a "fortune" that Gonzales believed were kept there.

While handing down the sentence, the judge told the court that Gonzales clearly was the ringleader - directing the other participants.

The other defendants, cooperating with the state, testified that Gonzalez was the one who shot and killed the couple in the master bedroom.

Blind Champ

Colorado -- 59-year-old Army Vet Jim Stevens wanted to give up many times, but his daughters wouldn't let him, according to aolnews.com.

And it is a good thing he listened his girls because Mr Stevens is the oldest man to ever win the men's fighting competition at the nation wide martial arts Tournament of Champions.

Oh, and he is also legally blind.

On top of that he's a world-renowned scrimshaw artist - tiny etches in ivory, filled in with pigment to make glorious designs.

Break-in Murder Bid Charge

UK -- (Scotland) Two teenagers (17 and 18) will stand trial accused of trying to kill a martial arts expert after allegedly breaking into his home, according to bbc.co.uk.

The two teenagers are accused of attempted murder the sombo (sambo) fighter at his home in Paisley on July 23, 2010.

They are also alleged to have assaulted the wife of the five-time sombo wrestling champion during the break-in. Both accused deny the charges.

Former TKD Champ Faces Charges

Singapore -- In 1993, at the age of 22, he won the country's first taekwondo SEA Games gold medal.

The former champion, now 39 years old, has been hit with 7 charges for vice-related offences and 18 charges related to corruption, according to straitstimes.com.