For The Hardcores

Tag: boxing

  • Time and Atmosphere: Low Kicks

    Time and Atmosphere: Low Kicks

    Legs. When you’re standing in front of somebody having a conversation or in line at your local supermarket, you see a pair of legs. Sometimes this person annoys you, and you’d like to take one of your own legs, and use it to smash one of theirs. Here is what a set of legs look like, in case you need a refresher:

    Locomotive in nature, human legs are also referred to as lower extremities, as they are half of our entire bodies. These limbs allow us to stand, walk, run, swim, jump, skip, and even hang upside down from trees. Given that these lower limbs are pivotal for the support of our upper body and upright movement, damage to legs can make moving around quite troubling. Since the point of combat is to damage your opponent, it’s only natural that human legs would be a huge target of attack for fighters. That’s where low kicks come in. Today, we will be talking specifically about the history of Dutch low kicks.

    It’s incredibly difficult to pin down exactly when the first low kick was introduced, given that the first illustrations depicting martial arts are estimated to go as far back as 3000 BC. However, the first known mention of a low kick that I can find is in the epic story of The Odyssey – written by Homer in the 7th century BC. It is estimated to be authored between 700-750 BC. Page 228 of the English version reads:

    “With that he passed by, and as he did so the fool landed a kick on Odysseus’ hip”[12]

    We obviously don’t know the exact technique Homer is talking about here, and we also don’t know if was just a matter of kicking Odysseus’ hip like you would if you wanted to get your little brother off of you. Whether or not this kick has anything to do with martial arts, this time in Greek history happens to be right around the time of the development of a combat system known as Pankration. This system is thought to have been founded around 700 BC, and it was introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC[20]. This discipline had the hallmarks of modern arts we see today – punches, kicks, grappling and wrestling techniques. It was also used by Greek soldiers when they didn’t have weapons and had to engage in hand to hand combat[20]. These techniques have been described and depicted in art such as literature, illustrations, and statues. One such example proves relevance to this article –  an image of a man shown throwing a “front low kick”, estimated to be from the Archaic Period, which is between 800 BC and 480 BC:

    A Panathenaic amphorae (ceramic vase) depicting a man catching another man’s low kick, circa 500 BC

    This was over 2,000 years ago. The low kick you see being depicted in this statue isn’t one we are used to seeing today, as it aims to strike with the heel of the foot into the area of the quadricep, right below the hip. The purpose of a low kick is to do damage, disrupt rhythm, and limit mobility. What kind of low kicks do we (primarily) see now? Well, that’s what we’re here to discuss. In order to understand how this technique ended up in dojos and on televisions all over the world, we need to explore some of the history surrounding it. 

    Let’s fast forward to 1960s Japan. This was 60 short years ago and the country was a martial arts hub. Karate, Judo, Boxing, Professional Wrestling, and Sumo were all part of Japanese culture at this time, with room to grow. During the late 1960s, there was a Kyokushin Karate black belt named Kenji Kurosaki, who started developing his own style of Kyokushin, combining the techniques of traditional martial arts with the tactics and philosophies of Muay Thai. Here’s a quote from the previous article I wrote, entitled: “Joe Lewis: A Fighter Evolved”:

    “This was happening at a time in Brazil where some Martial Artists like Marco Ruas decided crosstraining was a good idea – parallel thinking by some of the great minds of Martial Arts.”

    In this quote I was referring to a phenomenon occurring throughout the 1960s and 1970s where martial artists were branching out and expanding their ideas on styles, techniques, practices, and philosophies. This shift was challenging the conventional ways of thinking that dominated martial arts for centuries. A lot of these changes were taking place because of individual martial artists and their ideas of what “combat” should look like – shaped by their upbringing, geographic culture, fellow martial artists, their own individuality, and other factors. Kenji Kurosaki was a black belt in Kyokushin Karate. Now reading the words “Kyokushin Karate” may make you visualize two guys in a karate gi breaking boards, making various hand gestures, and yelling “Osu!”. While that may be part of the discipline, Kyokushin actually differs from most other Japanese Karate forms, in that it puts a greater focus on more realistic fighting. It can be characterized by its aggression, hard sparring, and the importance of damaging an opponent. Most Karate styles consisted of light contact, but Kyokushin allowed full contact strikes in sparring. That simply wasn’t enough for Kurosaki, and he began to pull away from his sensei (Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushin Karate) in the late 1960s. So what made Kenji Kurosaki want to develop his own subsect of Kyokushin, instead of continuing to practice what he knew? 

    Into Oblivion

    In 1964, Kenji Kurosaki and two other Karatekas were invited to take part in a fighting challenge against three Thai fighters[6]. This challenge would involve these three martial artists flying to Thailand, and competing against three Nak Muays – all under Thai rules. The other two Karate fighters were Tadashi Nakamura and Akio Fujihira[7]. These two won their fights, respectively, with Kenji being the only loser in the bunch, falling to Rawee Dechachai by an elbow strike[7]. Kenji would see very little success in the fight, only scoring anything significant when Rawee got close enough, and he was able to throw him (which was legal under the ruleset). Rawee’s pressure proved to be too much for Kenji to handle. He landed a lot of low kicks, elbows and middle kicks, until he eventually landed the elbow that finished the job[3]. Disappointed with the loss but determined to learn from it, Kenji Kurosaki was inspired by his own experience in the ring, and vowed to create a style that held up better under pressure, and in different environments. Despite this personal goal, Kurosaki traveled to Hawaii and the Netherlands to help his sensei spread Kyokushin Karate across the world[6]. But, Kurosaki’s loyalty to Masutatsu Oyama would eventually come to an end. Although Kyokushin was closer to real combat than most other Japanese forms, Masutatsu Oyama insisted that practice still be performed bare fist, which meant no punches directly to the head were allowed[6]. Contradictory to Oyama’s own philosophy about Kyokushin being closer to street fighting, Kurosaki saw Oyama’s rule for what it was. Kurosaki subsequently left Oyama dojo in 1969 and started his own academy, eventually named “Mejiro Gym” (Mejiro being the district of Japan it was located in) in the same year[6]. It was here that Kurosaki developed the style that would come to be known as “Japanese Kickboxing”. He trained Toshio Fujiwara (who became the first Japanese “Kickboxer”) and Jan Plas (an important Dutchmen we will talk about soon), and created a lineage of insurmountable significance. 

    Japanese Kickboxing

    Now, what exactly is Japanese Kickboxing, and how did it differ from Kyokushin or Muay Thai? Well, it’s easy to conceptualize. The easiest way to think about it is to describe it as Kyokushin Karate with elements of boxing and Muay Thai, with a greater emphasis on damage and practical fighting application. Imagine a fighter with the technique variety and footwork of a karateka, the hand combinations of a boxer, and the speed, power and fluidity of a Muay thai fighter. Now this is how Japanese kickboxing got started and is the general framework, but it goes without saying that there are different ways to blend arts together. To illustrate this, here’s Toshio Fujiwara, prodigy of Kenji Kurosaki and the Mejiro style:

    Fujiwara’s background in the Chinese martial art Taikiken gave him a unique base, which would be proven by the way he moved inside the ring. Fujiwara started training in 1969 under Kenji Kurosaki and learned the Mejiro style, making his kickboxing debut the same year[22]. Toshio would go on to win the AJKA (All Japan Kickboxing Association) championship in 1971, and become the first non-Thai fighter to win a Rajadamnern Stadium title in 1978[22]. Unlike most Karate fighters, he didn’t bounce on the balls of his feet. Rather, he moved more like an elite boxer, using a lot of lateral footwork. He used this movement to dart in and attack, then retreat quickly either by switching angles or moving straight back, to avoid counters. His left high kick was as fast as any I’ve seen, and he sometimes preceded it with a low kick using the same leg.  Fujiwara had a multitide of weapons with his hands as well, among them his right cross and leaping left (lead) hook. He often lept into his strikes and upon landing, would be in the opposite stance, firing more strikes before his opponent could respond or recover from what he just threw. Although he wasn’t known for combinations in the conventional sense, he mostly threw one strike at a time, targeting different areas of the body and never letting his opponent rest or reset. 

    Although Fujiwara had an incredibly unique style that will likely never be replicated, why are we talking about Japanese kickboxing? All styles of combat started somewhere and were taught to martial artists, who then passed it down through generations – transcending borders, language, and culture. Every student has a teacher, and every teacher has students. Simply put, every martial art has a lineage. Toshio Fujiwara may be a rare specimen when it comes to Japanese kickboxing, but his game still aligned with its principles. Those employing this particular style generally combine traditional martial arts techniques with high volume and speed, with an emphasis on footwork and defensive responsibility. These fighters blend punches and kicks together really well, and display a wide array of weapons, bringing in Karate techniques such as side kicks and spinning attacks. In the above video you’ll see Toshio throwing teeps and even using the Thai plum to slam knees into his opponent’s face, which both came from pure Muay Thai fighters (Nak Muays). Since a lot of Japanese kickboxers have traditional arts expertise, we also see a lot of boxing influence in their footwork and defensive movements. There is a long history of boxing in Japan, and in the 1960s and 1970s, Toshio looked up to guys like Muhammed Ali and Floyd Patterson. It’s easy to see why this style has become such an effective striking art, carving a path for fighters like Masato Kobayashi and Masaaki Satake. 

    Japanese Low Kicks (Mejiro)

    Let’s summarize: So far we’ve discussed a little history on Kyokushin Karate and how Japanese Karateka blended it with Muay Thai and boxing to create the unique stand-up style known as Japanese Kickboxing. We also covered what legs are. There’s one more thing that we haven’t circled back to: low kicks. Low kicks are one of my favorite techniques in all of combat. It is a joy watching a professional fighter limp back to their corner, after getting their legs brutalized. With low kicks having been part of global kickboxing for decades now, they are also ubiquitous inside the combat sport of MMA. Given that we surmise (without certainty) that low kicks originated at least 2,700 years ago, we know it has evolved. That lineage has traveled through time and atmosphere, making it all the way to the Japanese form of Goju-ryu Karate around 1930, which is what influenced Masutatsu Oyama to include low kicks in his Kyokushin curriculum. We are obviously skipping ahead thousands of years in the martial arts timeline. Now if you’re familiar with Kyokushin low kicks, low kicks of the Mejiro style are virtually the same, with small modifications. If you’ve ever watched Kyokushin sparring or fighting, you’ll know that the style is built for close range, pressure-based combat. These guys have some of the most well conditioned shins on planet earth, engineered and calibrated for leg to leg warfare. In terms of range, most of their kicks are exchanged at a distance much shorter than we are used to seeing MMA fighters use today. This allows them to keep the pressure on their opponent, remain inside the pocket, and keep firing away with their hands. When throwing a Mejiro style low kick in kickboxing or MMA, the goal is to land your middle to lower shin on your opponent’s lead leg. The target area is your opponent’s mid to upper thigh, closer to their buttocks. Landing too high would risk injuring your leg on their hip bone, and landing too low would be dangerously close to their kneecap. Throwing the kick at a closer range only requires a turning of your lead foot to get the right angle on the kick, whereas throwing at distance works better with a small step outward with the same foot, at a 45 degree angle, about the same angle you would be operating in with your kicking leg. The further you are from your opponent, the smaller the angle will be. In pure Kyokushin, when two combatants are exchange up close, the kicker takes a bigger step outward with their lead foot, and throws the kick at more of a horizontal angle, parallel to the floor. This is almost like a Thai style kick, but with the lead arm extended backwards, and the kick being straight instead at a downward, chopping angle. Part of the Kyokushin curriculum is being able to throw punches and kicks in combination, and these specialists do that really well. If you’ve ever watched two Kyokushin guys go at it under knockdown rules, you’ll know it’s high intensity. However, one thing we can observe about these fights is that while these guys do throw both punches and kicks in combination, they often do it in one of the following ways: 

    1. Charging forward and throwing hands, throwing a low kick, then resetting and attacking with hands again

    2. Throwing powerful low kicks (or other kicks) that require them to load up

    The observeration here being that although Kyokushin fighters are adept at using both punches and kicks, they are often open for counters by virtue of either requiring a reset before striking again, or being off balance and out of position. Kenji Kurosaki aimed to solve that. Although there was little technical difference between the pure Kyokushin low kick and the Mejiro one, Kurosaki used the technique differently both philosophically and and tactically. Whereas both the Thais and Kyokushin Karate fighters wanted to land low kicks with power and intention, Kurosaki believed they were more effective when one emphasized speed and efficiency. He reinforced this by teaching his students to “slap” these low kicks as opposed to slamming the shin into the thigh, turning the hips over just enough to land at an upward angle, and stepping right back into their natural stance. These modifications are more than likely due to his background in Kyokushin, his experience in Thailand, and personal beliefs about what a real fight would look like. He saw low kicks as one tool out of an entire toolbox, one that didn’t have to be a primary method of attack, and could be used in a variety of ways. Kenji Kurosaki saught to make these low kicks more adaptable to any fighting scenario, coming within the flow of a complete offense. Whether a fighter was using this technique to hurt his opponent or disrupt their rhythm, it would be effective. 

    Dutch Kickboxing

    The genesis of Dutch Kickboxing is a long and storied one but for this article, I will only cover the absolute basics, to provide an understanding of history and frame of reference to operate within. Remember Kenji Kurosaki’s first student and world champion, Toshio Fujiwara? Well by 1975, Fujiwara had transcended Japan’s existing conventions and expectations, having defended the All Japan Kickboxing Association title four times[22]. He had been the reigning champion since 1971, but often fought in Thailand due to limited fighting opportunities in Japan, and every so often travelled back home to defend his belt again[22]. That same year, near an event hall in Tokyo, Toshio would stumble across three important figures in Dutch martial arts: Jan Plas, Peter van den Hemmel, and Jan van Looijen[4]. These three were looking at advertisements for a kickboxing event on the side of a building, and just so happened to peek Fujiwara’s curiosity[4]. He asked where they were from and upon learning they were from Holland, Toshio asked them if they knew Jon Bluming (Plas’ Kyokushin instructor, black belt in Kyokushin, black belt in Judo)[4], to which they affirmed. Toshio invited them to watch a kickboxing event that evening[4] and then introduced the trio to Kenji Kurosaki, who as we know, is the founder of Mejiro style kickboxing. All three of them trained at Mejiro Gym in Tokyo the following morning and started learning from the master himself. Kenji taught the Dutchmen his style of low kick and had them kick truck tires, bats, and bags of sand to condition their shins. They also learned elbows, clinching and throwing (which are all part of Thai boxing). These three men were taught the entire system of Mejiro kickboxing – by the end of 1975, they had returned home to the Netherlands to pass down this knowledge to other martial artists. Jan Plas started teaching this style in an old boxing gym in the same year until opening his own standalone gym called Mejiro Gym Amsterdam, in 1978[8]. Jan Plas would take this time to develop and teach his own system of striking now known as Dutch Kickboxing (and inaccurately referred to as Dutch Muay Thai), and would make Mejiro Gym the launchpad and gold standard in kickboxing for years to come. This team built Dutch kickboxing world champions such as Rob Kaman, Peter Aerts, and the earliest, Lucien Carbin, who was a first generation (Dutch) Mejiro fighter[8]. Lucien was also a coach at Mejiro and trained Kaman himself, along with future kickboxing stars like Alistair Overeem and Tyrone Spong. Lucien Carbin was the first known combat practitioner of the style of Dutch Kickboxing, and was a national champion in the disciplines of Savate, Muay Thai, and Kyokushin Karate. Although there are stylistic differences between Japanese and Dutch kickboxing, we will only cover the essentials. Generally speaking the Dutch have a more pressure based style that aims to put punches and kicks together efficiently, with more of a focus on throwing long boxing combinations, punctuated by low kicks. These guys are aggressive, well-conditioned, and full of elite skills. Here is a world champion putting those combinations together:

    Rob Kaman vs. Lakchart Sor Prasartporn 2, 1985

    Dutch fighters generally use less evasive footwork and rely more on head movement and the Dutch guard, which is essentially a modified boxing guard. Because of their hard sparring and training, Dutch fighters are known for their durability and toughness, with a “take two to give one” attitude, and are always looking for the knockout. Rob Kaman used a lot more footwork and switched stances, whereas Peter Aerts may be the best visualization of the pure Dutch style. A lot of Dutch fighters use a bladed stance with a slight bend in the knees, like Ernesto Hoost. Both Ramon Dekkers and Peter Aerts are examples of guys that had more of an upright stance, like Thai fighters do. Like Kyokushin, Dutch kickboxing puts a heavy emphasis on attacking the body, with both kicks and punches. Remy Bonjasky is another fighter who embodies the pure Dutch style, stalking his opponents, with a high defensive guard, and adding in his array of flying knees and kicks. 

    Dutch Low Kicks

    When it comes to Dutch low kicks, the technique is the same as the Japanese style. The mechanics of the kick come from Kyokushin, and regardless of a fighter’s martial arts background, most Dutch fighters learn it, and use it. I’ll repeat the two primary ways in which this kick is thrown: the first is throwing at an upward angle, turning your lead foot outward. The kick lands at around a 45 degree angle, slapping above the knee. Like Masato:

    Masato Kobayashi vs. Genki Sudo, 2003

    The other way we see is at a near 90 degree angle – not quite a Thai style chopping kick, but more parallel to the ground. Like this:

    Rob Kaman vs. Blinky Rodriguez, 1982

    There are many fighters that employ both styles of low kicks, and some that also incorporate more Thai into it. Both the Dutch and Japanese style aim to keep their head back when they throw these kicks, as to not put a big target in range for an opponent to counter. Dutch low kicks find the perfect blend of Kyokushin and Japanese style – kicking at close range without being vulnerable to counters, and following up kicks with punches instead of retreating or angling out. Some Dutch fighters even use kicks to close distance.

    Here is more of Rob Kaman, as he uses the low kick to get into range, then uses it again to exit.

    Rob Kaman vs. Lakchart Sor Prasartporn 2, 1985

    Here is the Lucien Carbin (one of Kaman’s coaches) throwing a low kick.

    Lucien Carbin vs. Asumu Inaba, 1981

    And of course, the Japanese pioneer Toshio Fujiwara throwing a mixture of horizontal and upward. 

    Toshio Fujiwara lands a whipping low kick circa late 1970s

    Toshio Fujiwara drops two opponents with low kicks
    a history of dominance

    Every fighter in this article has long been retired, and some have even passed away (Rest In Peace to Jan Plas, Ramon Dekkers, and Rob Kaman). But we are not so disconnected from these pioneers and champions. In fact, some of the most dominant fighting forces in the world are still using the Dutch style, and a LOT of combatants fighting in MMA today use the same method of low kicking. Nieky Holzken is a great example of the Dutch style in kickboxing. He’s a former GLORY world champion and tournament winner, and has been one of the wold’s best kickboxers for a long time.

    Nieky Holzken vs. Raymond Daniels at Glory 19 (2015)

    His kickboxing lineage would be Kenji Kurosaki >> Jon Bluming >> Cor Hemmers >> Nieky Holzken[1]

    Alistair Overeem is another Dutch fighter, having fought in both Kickboxing and MMA, and holds world championships in both. He comes from the same lineage, but took a different path.

    Alistair Overeem vs. Badr Hari, K-1 Dynamite (2008)

    His lineage would be Kenji Kurosaki >> Jan Plas >> Lucien Carbin >> Alistair Overeem[1]

    In MMA, we have Michael Chandler.

    Chandler has developed into a strong low kicker over the last several years, and it’s no surprise, based on where he trains. 

    Believe it or not, his lineage checks out:

    Kenji Kurosaki >> Jan Plas >> Henri Hooft (Kill Cliff FC) >> Michael Chandler

    There are more exceptional kickers in MMA like Jose Aldo, Edson Barboza, and many others. Some of them come from the Dutch lineage and some have more of a Thai style, and some use a blend of both. 

    We started here:

    Mejiro, Tokyo, Japan

    Travelled here:

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    And eventually, ended up here:

    Deerfield Beach, Florida

    Here are some other important gyms in the development of Dutch kickboxing:

    Chakuriki Gym (Thom Harinck)
    Vos Gym (Johan Vos)

    In just 60 years, we have seen Dutch low kicks go from complete non-existence, to obscurity, and now to not just universal acceptance, but full assimilation and dominance. That is all thanks to people like Masutatsu Oyama, Kenji Kurosaki, Jon Bluming, Jan Plas, Johan Vos, Peter van den Hemel, Jan van Looijen, Thom Harinck, Bas Boon, Chris Dolman, Cor Hemmers, and many other names I haven’t mentioned, or have been lost to time. Long live the power of low kicks.

    References
    1. Kickboxing Tree (Unknown). “Kickboxing Tree.” KickboxingTree.Com, www.kickboxingtree.com/. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    2. “Osamu Noguchi.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Noguchi. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    3. Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu. “Origins of Japanese Kickboxing – the Karate vs Muay Thai Fight That Started It All.” Muay Thai Blog & Journalism | Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu, 28 Dec. 2015, 8limbsus.com/muay-thai-thailand/the-origins-of-japanese-kickboxing-the-karate-muay-thai-fight-that-started-it-all. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    4. Dutch Kickboxing. “Dutch Kickboxing History.” Dutch Kickboxing, www.dutchkickboxing.com/history/. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    5. “Mas Oyama.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mas_Oyama. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    6. “Kenji Kurosaki.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Kurosaki. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    7. “Osamu Noguchi.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Noguchi. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    8. “Jan Plas.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Sept. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Plas. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    9. “Thom Harinck.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom_Harinck. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
    10. “Chakuriki Gym.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakuriki_Gym.
    11. “Rob Kaman.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Oct. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Kaman.
    12. Homer. The Odyssey, First ed., W. W. Norton & Company, New York City, New York, 2018, p. 228.
    13. Lawrence Kenshin Striking Breakdowns. “Why Dutch Kickboxing Dominates.” YouTube, 24 July 2022, youtu.be/ipqpeOWPy-U?si=vXY3as8e4FDwz6uE. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    14. GLORY. “GLORY 19 Virginia – Nieky Holzken vs. Raymond Daniels (Full Video).” YouTube, 6 Aug. 2015, youtu.be/XfmLLpC1Y9A?si=RTPos6kd0vKtVDva. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    15. MMA Museum. “K-1 Dynamite 2008: Badr Hari vs Alistair Overeem.” YouTube, 28 Aug. 2021, youtu.be/BgmDossYmtc?si=Bxv4RCKCO0qtNd30. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    16. K1. “K-1 MAX – Masato vs. Genki Sudo – Japan Tournament 2003.” YouTube, 23 Mar. 2012, youtu.be/L8X_ZQ-b8zk?si=bOY65DlLB2dBUA95. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    17. Mouseboxer’s Classic Kickboxing. “Lucien Carbin vs. Asumu Inaba (03/05/1981).” YouTube, 25 Oct. 2024, youtu.be/Xs2IfP0Xm7I?si=3PpsrjR-mXKnGpTk. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    18. Mouseboxer’s Classic Kickboxing. “Rob Kaman vs. Blinky Rodriguez (04/04/1982).” YouTube, 2024, youtu.be/u_iac6h5jdU?si=ziM-uOaSUQRRb7VU. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    19. vrx. “Rob Kaman vs Lakchart Sor Prasartporn 2.” YouTube, 10 Aug. 2020, youtu.be/o6y4TuquDFE?si=auMSfB4HF0Bf3Nl5. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    20. “Pankration.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pankration. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    21. Pankration Channel. “PANKRATION KICKS – ΛΑΚΤΙΣΜΑΤΑ ΣΤΟ ΠΑΓΚΡΑΤΙΟ.” YouTube, 13 Mar. 2021, youtu.be/RxOSLVWgN04?si=IKnKmrWf2NkVKybZ. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
    22. “Toshio Fujiwara.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshio_Fujiwara. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

  • A Fighter, Evolved: Joe Lewis

    A Fighter, Evolved: Joe Lewis

     

    As a Martial Artist or Fighter, how do you test the effectiveness of the techniques you learn in training?

    Damage. 

    At least, that’s according to one of the greatest Martial Artists to ever live, Joe Lewis. One night in January of 1970, Joe Lewis’s telephone rang. Hollywood stuntman and student of Lewis, Lee Faulkner was on the other line1.

    Faulkner: I want you to fight in my upcoming event, the United States Karate Championships. 

    Lewis: I’m retired from point fighting, but I will fight if I can wear boxing gloves, and knockouts are allowed.

    Faulkner: If I get you a match, will you do it?

    Lewis: Fine.

    Faulkner: Who do you want to fight?

    Lewis: I want a Shotokan fighter, I don’t like their arrogance. 

    Faulkner: Consider it done.

    Although Lewis didn’t end up fighting a Japanese Shotokan specialist, he did fight, and knockouts were allowed. The contest took place on January 17, 1970 and was called “Pro Team Karate Championships” – the first full contact fight to have a USKA (United States Karate Association) belt on the line. In this context, full contact means punches, kicks, elbows and sweeps are allowed, with only a decision or knockout being ways to end the fight. The event took place in Long Beach, California at the Long Beach Sports Arena. Lewis ended up in the ring with a man named Greg Baines, a Kenpo stylist who was one of the best in the world at that time. Lewis wore boxing gloves and sneakers, while Baines wore gloves but chose to go bare foot6. Joe Lewis adopted a modified Karate stance: bladed with hands down, yet upright and long. Both men showed a great ability to neutralize each other’s kicks so the fight became a boxing match between two karate stylists. They also displayed stance switching, some hip feints, and great defensive movements. After a minute, Lewis established himself as the better of the two. He landed his right hook at will, seemingly baffling the (mostly) linear attacks of Greg Baines. These angles would prove to be trouble for Baines, as Lewis got inside the pocket, and landed yet another huge right hook. Lewis stepped back for a moment while Baines was dazed against the ropes, then went back on the attack, landing a wondrously fluid overhand right. The fight was over in just three minutes.

    A Sense Of Purpose

    When I watched the footage trying to determine where Lewis’s advantages were, it became painstakingly clear: Lewis was the better boxer. He displayed superior hand speed, punching technique, inside fighting, and ring IQ. Additionally, Baines was lacking in the areas where Lewis excelled, widening the gap between them. Had this been a karate match it likely would have been very competitive and yet, Lewis’s commitment to martial arts and willingness to cross train in other arts gave him a massive edge. In that sense, Lewis was ahead of his peers in American Karate – he trained under Bruce Lee and studied several boxers. Along with Bruce’s help, Joe Lewis closely watched Willie Pep for his footwork, Jack Dempsey for his explosiveness, Joe Louis for his inside fighting, and Ali for his tactics and mobility1. He actually trained with Sugar Ray Robinson and another boxer named Joey Orbillo – a less prominent but highly respected professional boxer active during the 1960s1. Lewis told James Lew in a 1981 interview that the double lead hook, which he landed frequently throughout this fight – was shown to him by Bruce Lee himself5. Because of his training with Lee and Lewis’s own personal philosophy, he didn’t believe in limiting himself to one style or specialty. Aside from boxing, Lewis trained in Kenpo, Judo, and even Folkstyle Wrestling7. At the time this contest took place in 1970, zero other promoters were organizing full-contact fights in the United States, and there wasn’t much crosstraining going on in American Karate. In other parts of the world, other forms of “Full-Contact” fighting were flourishing. In Japan, Sumo and Professional Wrestling were (and still are) massively popular, entertaining millions of Japanese fans. An underground movement of Vale Tudo was gaining traction in parts of Brazil throughout the 60s and 70s – culminating into the famous “Desafio” events of the 80s. This was happening at a time in Brazil where some Martial Artists like Marco Ruas decided crosstraining was a good idea – parallel thinking by some of the great minds of Martial Arts. By the time Joe Lewis took part in the first full-contact fight, he was already a decorated Martial Artist, having won both national and world championships as an amateur Karate point fighter. His debut took place in 1966 but by 1969, he was already becoming disillusioned with the rules, and frustrated with the increasing number of fighters winning matches by making little to no impact with their opponent1. Or as Lewis puts it, “a kid waives his foot at your head, and they give him the victory”. When I mentioned Lewis’s advantages against Baines, I was leaving something out. It wasn’t just that his boxing skills were sharper. Joe Lewis was simply a superior fighter – a special kind of athlete, a once in a lifetime talent. He had a unique way of moving and striking, knowing just the right time to launch the right attack. I believe his biggest asset was his mind for fighting. He simply understood positioning, timing, technique, leverage, and body mechanics in a way that few others could. Here is Joe Lewis in the first Professional Karate Championships opposite David Moon. Lewis lands a side kick on Moon, which appears to hurt him. 

    When the fighters reset, Moon switches stances, which was later revealed to be because of broken ribs suffered from the first kick. Lewis gets close and grabs Moon’s lead hand to distract him, then crushes the other side of his abdomen. Moon just couldn’t protect his torso fast enough. 

    One word comes to mind when I watch Lewis throw these kicks.

    DAMAGE.

    Throughout the 1960s, point karate in America was pretty unique. The rule set for the events Lewis were considered “light contact”, and would have been two combatants meeting on a hard floor (often a gymnasium) or large mat, wearing a full Karate uniform, and the parameters would look something like this: no strikes below the waist, full contact with punches and kicks to the body allowed up to the chest, light contact to the head (with “light” being up for interpretation). Fighters would either be bare fisted or with hand wraps, and bare feet. You’ve heard somebody use the term “pulling punches”, and point Karate is partially where that phrase comes from. Fighters would pull back on their punches to avoid making strong contact with the face, and you can see how that way of thinking can quickly lead to either heavier accidental contact, or virtually none. During the 70s and 80s, there were limited rule sets for full contact events:

    Full-Contact: Full contact above the waist, no clinching or throwing, minimum or continual kick requirement (meaning you had to throw a certain number of kicks in the fight, or it would just be boxing). This rule set was considered PKA or American Kickboxing style.

    International: The same as full contact but with low kicks and sweeps added, and no minimum kick requirement. This was considered WKA or freestyle. 

    International rules bouts at that time were closer to K-1 is now, which became so unique and popular throughout the 90s that its rule set became a global standard for kickboxing. In K-1, fighters are allowed to clinch. As of August 2011, S.T.A.R. (Standardized Tournaments and Ratings System) has Joe Lewis’s official full-contact (or kickboxing) record listed as 17-4, with an 80 percent knockout rate. Exhibitions aren’t counted because knockouts aren’t allowed, but I suppose Wally Slocki would have a different opinion on that.

    What Style Really Means

    Joe Lewis was a fighter who could adapt to any opponent or fighting scenario. He fought in small and large rings (or just on hard floor), with or without gloves, in uniform or in trunks. He seemed more likely to fight from an orthodox stance, and at other times (like against Bill Wallace in 1970), he would fight almost entirely from the southpaw position. Like most Karate fighters, he switches stances often and looked for different offensive techniques for each. In Karate it was difficult for anyone to stop his lead leg side kick from orthodox, and in kickboxing, his (double) lead hook from southpaw. He does feint quite a bit but mostly small movements, usually in the hips. Throughout his kickboxing days he regularly used his size and strength. You can see him grab a collar tie on Wally Slocki and use it to land some good inside shots:

    Joe Lewis finishes this fight with a beautiful knee from the clinch. This fight was supposed to be an exhibition but Lewis felt that Wally turned it into a real fight, and responded in kind. Muay Thai hadn’t made it to America yet, making Lewis the first fighter in the country to knock somebody out with a knee.

    In Karate he was an aggressive fighter, and often blitzed with multiple strikes. He did the same in Kickboxing but with few rules limiting the damage he could do, Lewis could pressure fighters with impunity, knowing he was a level above most guys on the scene in those days. He could check kicks really well and due to his dexterity, he could bring his lead leg up incredibly high. Watch him check this middle kick:

    Lewis could fight on the inside, kick from distance, bully guys, or play the matador. In his mind a fighter’s style depends on circumstances such as yours and your opponent’s size, specialty, strengths and weaknesses, and when it comes to environment it depends on factors such as floor type and ring size. He understood that real fighting takes place at any given time, with a variety of different opponents, in vastly different environments. Nobody comprehends that better than a guy that fought in the first full contact match in America with only heavy bag training and roadwork.

    Conclusion

    Joe Lewis had an extraordinary mind for fighting. This was evident in his getting a black belt after only 7 months of training, and competing after only 22 total months of Shorin-ryu Karate to his name. With this knowledge, it’s remarkable what Joe Lewis was able to achieve, and the legacy he left behind. He understood early on that point sparring wasn’t an effective way of measuring skill and ability, and he wanted to progress fighting in America towards something more realistic and practical. Lewis went on to create his own program called the Joe Lewis Fighting System, trained many students, and conducted seminars all over the world. He is consider by many to be the greatest Karate fighter who ever lived. 

    References

    _________________________________________________________

    1. MarktheMartian. “Joe Lewis Talks about Bruce Lee and Kickboxing.” YouTube, 21 Nov. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXdG577px94.
    2. ‌Joe Lewis Lives. “Joe Lewis – What Style Really Means.” YouTube, 7 Jan. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiKqWnXoRP0.
    3. ‌The Martial Arts History Channel. “1980s Full Contact Karate Joe Lewis vs Wally Slocki Ends with Vicious Knee to the Head (with Sound).” YouTube, 22 May 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4F7spuMV4s.
    4. ‌Maslak, Paul. “Standardized Tournaments and Ratings System AUTHENTICATED KICKBOXING RECORD of Joe Lewis.” Backkicks Martial Arts, 23 Nov. 1991.
    5. Maslak, Paul. “Joe Lewis on the Origin of Full-Contact Martial Arts – Martial Arts Encyclopedia.” Backkicks Martial Arts, 3 Nov. 2022, www.backkicks.com/joe-lewis-on-the-origin-of-full-contact-martial-arts.
    6. Joe Lewis (2nd Part) Full-Contact and Kick-Boxing. karate-in-english-lewis-wallace.blogspot.com/2008/09/joe-lewis-2nd-part-full-contact-and.html.
    7. “Joe Lewis (Martial Artist).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Aug. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Lewis_(martial_artist).

     

  • Five MMA Fighters That Fought in Multiple Inaugural Events

    Five MMA Fighters That Fought in Multiple Inaugural Events

    The sport of MMA as we know it was born in 1993, which was only 31 measly years ago. Since it’s so young, there is a short history. This makes it easier to look back, especially with the number of organizations we have seen in a brief period of time. With that being said, the majority of fighters have competed under multiple banners throughout their careers. Here are five MMA fighters that have competed in the inaugural event of more than one promotion.

    1. Ken Shamrock

    Organizations: UFC, Pancrase

    Pioneer and Lion’s Den founder Ken Shamrock actually made his MMA debut on September 21st, 1993 at Pancrase’s debut show Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 1. He faced promotion co-founder and future Japanese star Masakatsu Funaki. Shamrock eventually took him down and mounted him, forcing him to tap to an arm triangle choke. It wasn’t until two months later that he made his now famous debut in the octagon at UFC 1. Since it was a tournament format he fought twice that night, the first was making short work of Pat Smith via heel hook in less than two minutes. The second match-up, which turned into a historic rivalry, was that of Royce Gracie. Although Shamrock couldn’t see himself losing, he tapped due to a gi choke Royce applied. Ken went on become one of the biggest stars in the sport and finished his career with a record of 28-17-2.

    2. Dan Severn

    Organizations: PRIDE, WEC

    In October of 1997, the future UFC Hall of Famer faced UFC veteran and fan favorite Kimo Leopoldo at PRIDE 1. In a largely uneventful 30-minute bout that had even the Japanese crowd uncharacteristically booing, Severn finally secured a takedown in the last minute. That proved to be insufficient, as the fight was ultimately ruled a draw. Fast forward to 2001, The Beast was matched up against Travis Fulton in a rematch at WEC 1: Princes of Pain. Already having beat Fulton once, he was able to take him down early and control top position for majority of the fight. He won the bout via unanimous decision. Dan’s last fight was in 2012, and he finished his long career with a whopping 101 wins. His overall record is 101-19-7.

    3. Eddie Alvarez

    Organizations: Bellator, DREAM

    Before The Underground King ever ventured to the UFC, he was a champion in three organizations. In 2008, DREAM was founded in Japan by former top dogs at PRIDE and K-1. Eddie already had 13 professional fights at this point, having captured the MFC Welterweight Championship earlier in his career. On March 15, 2008, Alvarez competed at DREAM 1, in the opening round of their Lightweight Grand Prix Tournament. He faced notable striker Andre Amade from Chute Boxe Academy. After being dropped by Amade, Eddie recovered. He scored a takedown, then was able to mount Amade and finish him by strikes in the first round. Just a year later, Eddie made a grand entrance at Bellator 1 on April 3, 2009. He faced Greg Loughran, who hurt him early with a left hook. Alvarez came back to submit Loughran with a guillotine choke in the opening minutes of the first round.

    4. Shinya Aoki

    Organizations: DREAM, Rizin

    Although we already have DREAM covered, we’d be remiss to leave out The Grand Master of Flying Submissions. Known as one of the best lightweights outside of the UFC for a very long time, Aoki has competed in many high-level organizations. After 16 professional fights and going undefeated in PRIDE, Aoki also participated in the Lightweight Grand Prix at DREAM’s inaugural event on March 15, 2008. He was matched up against striking veteran Gesias (JZ) Cavalcante. In a bout that largely consisted of Shinya being out struck on the feet, he was frequently on his back, urging Cavalcante to jump into his guard. Later on in the first round, the fight was stopped after Aoki was shooting for a takedown and Gesias landed some controversial elbows. The fight was deemed a no contest. Seven years later, Aoki competed at Rizin Fighting Federation 1 on December 29, 2015. His dance partner was none other than Japanese MMA and Pro Wrestling icon, Kazushi Sakuraba. After a brief exchange, Aoki immediately got a takedown. The entire six-minute fight displayed Aoki landing hard ground and pound from the mount position. Sakuraba’s corner stopped the fight in the first round.

    5. Josh Barnett

    Organizations: Sengoku, Impact FC

    Josh Barnett is a man who has fought all over the world in many premier organizations including the UFC, PRIDE and Strikeforce. He is a former Pancrase and UFC champion. In 2008, the Warmaster himself fought at the inaugural event of Japan’s Sengoku Raiden Championship titled Sengoku First Battle. He faced PRIDE veteran and Judo stylist Hidehiko Yoshida, submitting him with a heel hook in the third round. Barnett later competed at Impact FC 1 on July 10, 2010 against heavyweight KO artist Geronimo Dos Santos. Geronimo had most of his previous fights in Brazil, facing very few quality opponents. Josh got a trip takedown in the opening seconds of the fight, securing mount position almost immediately. He would go on to finish Dos Santos in under three minutes.

  • The Rise of Brazilian Muay Thai Part II | A Hero’s Journey

    The Rise of Brazilian Muay Thai Part II | A Hero’s Journey

    The Torchbearer

    In 1979, a Brazilian martial artist traveled along the coastline of Brazil and beyond, on a quest to spread the art of Muay Thai. That man was Taekwondo black belt and Muay Thai ambassador Flavio Molina. Starting in his hometown of Rio De Janeiro, Flavio spread Muay Thai across cities such as Sao Paolo, Salvador, Fortaleza, and Brasilia. After a few years of spreading Muay Thai across Brazil and competing in Taekwondo, Flavio organized the first Muay Thai competitions in his home country. The first took place in 1982 and pitted Rio De Janeiro vs. Curitiba, which Molina competed in. Another took place in 1983 when Rio fighters took on guys from Sao Paolo.[4] Although it’s unclear how many times Flavio competed under a Muay Thai rule set, it’s clear he was a great teacher. In the early 80s, Flavio started working with Marco Ruas. You may remember Marco from the first part of this series, where we talked about him pulverizing Paul Varelans with leg kicks. In 1984, Molina and his team at Academia Naja were invited to participate in the now-famous event in Rio De Janeiro called “Jiu Jitsu vs. Martial Arts”. He would go on to train Marco along with Eugenio Tadeu, both guys being first-generation Brazilian Muay Thai fighters. All three guys would compete that night in 1984, with Flavio being handed the only loss on the team.[4] Flavio would continue to coach Marco Ruas throughout the 80s. He even started training in Luta Livre, becoming the main training partner of his own students.[4] Being a man of many talents such as lifeguard and air rescue specialist, Flavio Molina sadly passed away in 1998 while participating in a rescue training program, leaving behind a massive legacy.[4] Now that we’ve talked about what Flavio Molina has done for Brazilian Muay Thai, we can safely ask, why did he do it? After learning the art and completely immersing himself in it for two years, he certainly had the desire to teach it to as many people as possible. In addition, there was another force pulling him in that direction. This mysterious force was another Rio martial artist by the name of Nelio “Naja” Borges De Souza.

     Flavio Molina circa 1982. Photo courtesy of BJJ Heroes.

    A Hero’s Journey

    And when I say “mysterious”, it is not a word to be taken lightly, being that Nelio is as enigmatic as any martial arts teacher of the 1970s. Grandmaster Nelio was a man born in Rio De Janeiro, in 1952.[3] Not much is known about his childhood or personal life, and some of the details of the period between 1970 and 1978 are in question, but we do know that Nelio was the first man in Brazil to learn and teach Muay Thai. It is at this point I will concede that deep into my research of Nelio Naja, I discovered that the original timeline of events I constructed was completely wrong. Furthermore, I also learned that the manner by which he learned Muay Thai is uncertain, and dubious at best. In scouring the web for as much information as I could about Nelio, I stumbled upon an article titled “He Himself Told It: Nelio Naja, The Production Of a Myth”, posted by a Brazilian archive website named Scielo Brazil. The article is a study published in 2020 and cites various journals, essays and books to attempt to dissect the stories told by Nelio Naja, specifically regarding the genesis of Brazilian Muay Thai. This topic is significant in itself so we will not dive deeply into it, but if you are interested in learning about the stories surrounding Nelio, this article is fantastic and you can read it here. In short, the study presents three potential narratives for explaining how Nelio learned Muay Thai. Here are all three: 

    Narrative One – This is a commonly repeated story and the one you will see most often when you look up Nelio’s name. The tale is that Nelio served in the Brazilian Air Force as a paratrooper and during his tenure, he traveled to South Asia and became fascinated with Asian culture. This experience inspired him to travel to Bangkok and live there for two years after he was discharged from the military. During his time in Thailand, he learned Muay Thai and fell in love with it. He then came back to Brazil, settled in Curitiba, and taught Muay Thai there. The known (or most universally accepted) timeline would put his military service sometime between 1970 and 1972 – although this conflicts with his Taekwondo Master Woo Jae Lee’s account of training Nelio for the first time in Rio De Janeiro in 1972. On top of that, when Scielo contacted BINFA (Brazilian Air Force Infantry Battalion), they were informed that Nelio did not serve in the Air Force at all and that no international missions took place until the 1990s.[1] 

    Narrative Two: According to Welington Narany, Fabio Noguchi, and Rudimar Fedrigo (all a big part of the Brazilian Muay Thai scene), Nelio’s family met a Thai man in Curitiba who needed a place to live and subsequently stayed in their family house. These events led to the Thai man teaching Nelio the art of Muay Thai. How long this mysterious man lived in their house is unknown, and so is the influence he had on Nelio.[1]

    Narrative Three: Nelio learned Muay Thai techniques through an Anime called Kick No Oni (“Demon Of The Kick”). This particular show followed a Karateka named Tadashi Sawumara who challenged a Thai boxer to a fight, and lost. Upon losing the fight, Sawamura dedicated himself to Muay Thai and became a master of the discipline. Rudimar, Wellington, Sandro Lustosa, and Augusto Cunha specified that Nelio was influenced by this anime, as it was seminal in Brazil during the late 1970s. The proposed theory is that by watching this show over and over again, Nelio learned the techniques, practiced and refined them, until he knew them well enough to teach them.[1]

    Nelio is pictured on the right. Photo Courtesy of Bloody Elbow.

    A Grandmaster Never Reveals His Methods

    There is a lot more to the story that I won’t cover here. The founding of Brazilian Muay Thai involved a very small community specific to Rio De Janeiro and Curitiba from 1976 to 1980. What is not in dispute is that Nelio Naja started training in Taekwondo in 1972 at the Frama Academy located in Aterro do Flemengo (“Flamengo Park”), a neighborhood in the southeast tip of Rio De Janeiro.[1] We also know from Woo Jae Lee that he awarded Nelio his black belt in 1976.[1] This gives Nelio roughly two years or so to have learned Muay Thai techniques well enough to teach them. By 1978 he would have a handful of disciples, which led to Flavio opening the Naja Academy in September of the same year.[2] Nelio has stated that the Brazilian Muay Thai lineage starts with Flavio, and entrusted him to teach the art throughout the country of Brazil. Another anecdote of Nelio came from his own Taekwondo master. Lee described Nelio as “Demonstrating discipline and performing the positions perfectly”, alluding to Nelio’s extraordinary learning ability, and quality of technique.[1] None of the accounts I have read contained a single grain of doubt with regards to Naja’s level of skill, technique, and ability to teach, as it relates to either Taekwondo or Muay Thai. Whatever Nelio did to learn Muay Thai – whether he summoned an ancient spirit, or rewound a VHS tape 500 times to refine his techniques; he is referred to by those of his lineage as “The Father of Brazilian Muay Thai”. Nelio spent the last fifteen years of his life as a recluse and in 2018 he was found dead in his home, an unfinished house in Almirante Tamandare, Curitiba. His cause of death has not been revealed.[6]

    While Flavio, Ruas, and many other fighters were busy cross-training in other disciplines throughout the 80s to grow and improve as martial artists – roughly twelve hours away in Curitiba, an even bigger pot was bubbling. That pot would be Chute Boxe Academy, opened by Nelio’s standout student Rudimar Fedrigo in 1978. In the next part of this series, we will discuss Chute Boxe Academy and the impact it had on fighting in the 90s and 2000s. 

    References

    ________________________________________________________________________________________

    1. Muller, I. L., & Capraro, A. M. (2020). “HE TOLD IT HIMSELF”: NÉLIO NAJA, THE PRODUCTION OF A MYTH. SciELO Brazil, 26. https://doi.org/10.22456/1982-8918.99251
    2. “Entrevista NéLio Naja.” YouTube, uploaded by PrimeiroRound, 6 May 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Gu45WnHA&t=100s.
    3. “Nélio Naja.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 May 2023, pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%A9lio_Naja.
    4. “Flávio Molina.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 May 2023, pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A1vio_Molina.
    5. Alonso, Eduardo. “Interview with Pele Landi.” Full Contact Fighter, 23 Nov. 2001, fcfighter.com/interview-with-pele-landi/.
    6. “NéLio Naja, Introducer of Muay Thai in Brazil, Dies.” Globo Esporte, 12 Jul. 2018, ge.globo.com/pr/noticia/morre-nelio-naja-introdutor-do-muay-thai-no-brasil.ghtml.
  • The Uncrowned King: A Mathematics-Based Approach To Finding The Best Fighters

    The Uncrowned King: A Mathematics-Based Approach To Finding The Best Fighters

    A single fighter who holds the best resume in the MMA history has long been a topic of debate among fans and forums alike. Some believe this is simply a fable – a myth that litters the internet with incessant deliberation and cruel memes. When you consider the evolution of the sport, the number of organizations, and the sheer number of competitors across nearly three decades – it becomes not a matter of if, but how much MMA math is being used as the primary method of analysis. This “Uncrowned King” series does not intend to supply a concrete answer to this eternal question, rather it relies on data obtained using a mathematical-based analysis. Keep in mind we are not discussing who the GOAT(s) is/are – we are simply looking at the guys who consistently fought, were competitive with, and beat the best over a sustained period of time. The goal is to observe just what makes these fighters extraordinary – as well as stimulate the conversation about these athletes in a different way. Like any argument of who is or has “the best of” anything, selecting specific criteria is important in determining the best candidates. The following is the criteria and system I have developed for rating MMA fighters with the best resumé. I will use this framework to rank these fighters based on points awarded. The system I’ve created is based on my own opinion of what it means to carry such a distinction and is subject to change as we go through this process.

    Basic Criteria For Consideration

    1. This fighter must have at least 30 professional fights on their record and have 10+ years of professional competition
    2. This fighter must have competed against other highly ranked (top 15) competitors on a regular basis
    3. This fighter must have won at least 60 percent of their fights (winning is important, but there is wiggle room here)
    4. This fighter must have fought in a major MMA organization – PRIDE, UFC, WEC, or Strikeforce
    5. This fighter can be retired or active
    6. Their opponents will be judged by their ranking AT THE TIME of these specific fights
    7. These fighter selections will be ranked relative to the strength of their own divisions (whether a division is considered “weak” or “strong” is irrelevant)

    Points System

    1. Fight against opponent ranked 11-15 = 1 point
    2. Win against opponent ranked 11-15 = 1.5 points
    3. Finish against opponent ranked 11-15 = 2 points

    4. Fight against opponent ranked 6-10 = 2 points
    5. Win against opponent ranked 6-10 = 3 points
    6. Finish against opponent ranked 6-10 = 4 points

    7. Fight against opponent ranked 1-5 = 3 points
    8. Win against opponent ranked 1-5 = 4.5 points
    9. Finish against opponent ranked 1-5 = 6 points

    10. Challenging for a belt = 4 points
    11. Winning the belt = 6 points
    12. Finishing the champion = 8 points
    13. Fighting up or down a weight class = Bonus of 0.5 points

    Fight Matrix Historical Rankings: https://www.fightmatrix.com/historical-mma-rankings/generated-historical-rankings/?Issue=66&Division=2

    Each win that the particular combatant has against a top 15 opponent is documented and scored based on the opponent, weight class, and fight result. The points are then awarded for each contest. Once I have gone through each relevant fight, I add up all of the points. The fighters are given a final score, which are then ranked amongst the others. Keep in mind that I will NOT be covering losses, only wins against ranked opponents. In theory, the fighter with the highest score would have the best resume in MMA. The rankings of each fighter at the time of each contest will be taken from Fight Matrix Historical Rankings.

  • The Uncrowned Emperor | Fedor Emelianenko | Later Years: 2005 to 2009

    The Uncrowned Emperor | Fedor Emelianenko | Later Years: 2005 to 2009

    The first article I wrote on Fedor reviewed his wins over the likes of Heath Herring, Big Nog twice, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, and Semmy Schilt. Of all his seven ranked wins during that time period, he finished four of those guys. In his early years of capturing a championship and defending it, he had established himself as a dominant force in PRIDE. The wins I will discuss in this article will display just how much of a destroyer he was, and why he sparked so many fiery discussions about potential matchups that never came to fruition. Let’s take a look at the second half of his legendary PRIDE run.

    Fedor’s ranked wins: 2005 to 2009

    Event: PRIDE Final Conflict 2005

    Opponent: Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic

    Opponent Ranking: 4

    Result: Win // Unanimous Decision

    Score: 4.5 points

    Cro Cop was ranked at number four going into this fight, Any fan with a brain knew Cro Cop was the second best guy at heavyweight, and had the biggest chance of dethroning The Last Emperor. He was widely viewed as the best striker in the division. With improving ground skills, Cro Cop put together a 7-fight winning streak over a 13 month period over the likes of Aleks Emelianenko, Barnett, Coleman and Randleman (revenge!). This all culminated into a massive train of excitement that took the MMA world by storm, this fight being billed as the biggest heavyweight fight in MMA. Alas, it was. Although Fedor was only a moderate favorite, the champ was still being hailed as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and most die hard fans expected him to be an utterly dominating force against Mirko. To some extent, they were right. Fedor won decisively – although it wasn’t as definitive as a lot of us expected, Fedor proved he was the better man that night. Fedor’s gameplan was simple: move forward and make Cro Cop uncomfortable, clinch, get a takedown, finish him on the ground. Although Mirko made this a competitive fight, Fedor was largely able to execute what he wanted to. Cro Cop looked good in the opening frame, and was able to land a lot of strikes, forcing Fedor to reach and miss. At the end of the first, Cro Cop already looked tired, and that would prove to be his downfall. Fedor controlled the second and third rounds, Taking Mirko down at will and landing short shots on the ground. There were brief moments for Cro Cop in both rounds but ultimately, once he was taken down, he was unable to get to his feet. Fedor defended his belt, once again.

    Event: PRIDE 32

    Opponent: Mark Coleman

    Opponent Ranking: 4

    Result: Win // Armbar

    Score: 6 points

    At this point, Fedor has fought nearly everyone there is to fight in the PRIDE Heavyweight division. He is 12-0 in PRIDE, coming off the massive win over Cro Cop, and destruction of Zulu. Mark Coleman really showed his age in this fight, fighting the best heavyweight on the planet in a non-title bout. Another thing he showed in this fight was an iron chin, as he absorbed a lot of heavy shots from Fedor in the opening frame, when he failed to take the Russian down. In the second round, Fedor stuffs Coleman’s first shot, but as Mark pressures him, he is able to secure a double leg and get Fedor down. Working in open guard, Fedor transitions to an armbar and submits Coleman just one minute into the second round. Another stoppage win for The Last Emperor.

    Event: PRIDE Shockwave 2006

    Opponent: Mark Hunt

    Opponent Ranking: 7

    Result: Win // Kimura

    Score: 4 points

    In the 2000s, Mark Hunt was known for being a dangerous kickboxer who had power in virtually every strike he threw. As he transitioned to MMA, his ground game improved, but it was always a big hole in his game. However, you wouldn’t have known by watching his showdown with Fedor. In this particular matchup, in which we saw oddsmakers make Fedor a -650 favorite over Hunt, we saw not just one reversal from him on the ground, but two. The second time Hunt reversed Fedor, he passed to mount, and tried for an americana keylock. Fedor escaped and with Hunt exhausted from so much grappling, Hunt is taken down and finished by a Fedor kimura from half guard. The champ was tested, but his winning streak moves to 22 straight overall, and a 23 fight unbeaten streak if you include the no contest against Big Nog.

    Event: Affliction: Banned

    Opponent: Tim Sylvia

    Opponent Ranking: 8

    Result: Win // Rear-Naked Choke

    Score: 4 points

    There were a few guys that we all wanted to see Fedor fight during his historic run. Randy Couture, Frank Mir, and Brock Lesnar come to mind. Tim Sylvia is another guy we all thought could present some stylistic challenges to Fedor, although Tim was never quite the dominant force Fedor was, even in his prime. In fact, Sylvia expressed a desire to fight Fedor while he was in the UFC, and was even granted a release from the UFC in 2008, citing low pay and an inability to fight Fedor. While Sylvia wasn’t really known as a ground fighter, his size and length matched up well against Fedor standing up. Additionally, with his experience as a two-time UFC champion, Sylvia had proven himself with wins over Arlovski (x2), Wes Sims, Gan McGee, Monson, Telligman and Ricco Rodriguez. By the time he fought Fedor he was 32 years old, just one year and three fights removed from being the UFC Heavyweight Champion, and had gone 1-2 in his last four, His losses being to Big Nog and Couture. Fedor and Sylvia met in July of 2008. From the sound of the opening bell, Fedor immediately closed the distance and clinched. He then landed a few punches that stunned Sylvia, followed by a sequence of lead uppercut-right hook combinations that dropped him. Fedor jumped on Sylvia and finished him with a rear-naked choke.

    Event: Affliction: Day Of Reckoning

    Opponent: Andrei Arlovski

    Opponent Ranking: 5

    Result: Win // KO

    Score: 6 points

    Although Arlovski was pretty well removed from his UFC championship run, he was still absolutely at the peak of his abilities, and was coming off a five fight win streak including victories over Werdum, Rothwell and Nelson. Fedor, coming off the demolition of Sylvia, proved to his critics (even Dana White) that not only was he still the dominant force that he was in Pride, but that he was still a world championship level fighter at the top of his game. Arlovski had a skill set that matched up well with The Emperor: a former UFC Heavyweight champion who could knock anyone out, and had the ground skills to counter Fedor or avoid being taken down. Although Fedor came in as a moderate favorite, Arlovski controlled the opening minutes using low kicks and straight punches. Fedor did have trouble closing the distance and whiffed on a good number of hooks, but he was able to land a few decent shots of his own. Arlovski landed a beautiful overhand right that stunned Fedor momentarily, and followed it up with a front kick that pushed Fedor backwards towards the corner of the ring. Andrei smelled blood, and went in for the kill. As he left his feet to throw a flying knee, Fedor crashed into him with a MASSIVE right hand that landed right on the button. Arlovski fell to the canvas, lifeless. Despite being out struck for most of the round, The Emperor found a way to get the job done.

    Event: Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers

    Opponent: Brett Rogers

    Opponent Ranking: 7

    Result: Win // KO

    Score: 4 points

    Brett Rogers was coming off of his own knockout of Andrei Arlovski, which was a HUGE upset at the time. Rogers came into Strikeforce with a few good wins and an undefeated record, and a win over fellow prospect Ron Humphrey catapulted him into a fight with Andrei Arlovski. Rogers was largely untested, and inexperienced. Nonetheless, Brett was able to hurt Andrei in the early moments of the fight, and swarm him with a furious pattern of left and right hooks until Arlovski collapsed. Despite the result of that fight, Rogers was a heavy underdog going into his fight with Fedor, and was understandably not expected to do well at all against the former PRIDE champ. Rogers opens the fight with some solid jabs, one of which seems to have an effect on Fedor’s nose. Fedor again has trouble closing the distance, but he is able to land a few good shots. He takes down Rogers, who pops right back up, as Fedor lands a big shot and gets another takedown. Ultimately Fedor would end the round on top after being reversed. At the start of the second round, looking towards a tiring Rogers, Fedor pushes the pace up against the cage. Once they separate, Fedor lands a heatseeker right hand on the chin as Rogers comes in to throw his own left hook. Within seconds, the fight is stopped.

    That covers all of Fedor’s ranked wins. Unfortunately he never joined the UFC and later in his career, went back to fight in Japan, then made his US return fighting for Bellator. While he did pick up some solid wins there, none of the heavyweights he beat were ranked in the top 15.

    Total Resume Score: 57.5 points

  • The Uncrowned Emperor | Fedor Emelianenko | Early Reign: 2002 to 2004

    The Uncrowned Emperor | Fedor Emelianenko | Early Reign: 2002 to 2004

    The stoic finisher. The Heavyweight King. The stone cold killer. The Last Emperor. Known for his striped sweater and aloof demeanor, Fedor Emelianenko has mystified MMA fans and analysts all over the globe for the better part of 25 years. Like a lot of guys I will cover in this series – Fedor started fighting top guys early in his career. Fedor was accomplished in both Sambo and Judo before transitioning to MMA – which he joined in order to achieve better financial stability. He was a Master of Sport in both arts (as well as a Black Belt in Judo), was an International gold medalist in Sambo, and had won multiple bronze medals in both National and International competitions in Europe and Russia. Fedor Emelianenko is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time – a distinction no other heavyweight can be agreed upon consistently. He is revered for his skills and outward display of budo, possessing a skill set that would rival ANY active Heavyweight today.  His ability to fight through adversity and come back to win is extraordinary, and is one of the reasons he is so widely respected. Matched only by his sheer aggression in pursuit of a finish, all of these attributes encompass an individual as humble as he is terrifying.

    Scoring the Best Resume

    This article is part of my “Uncrowned King” series. In these works, I will use a mathematical approach to analyzing the resume of some of the best fighters in MMA history. I will only be covering wins over ranked opponents during a given fighter’s career, so no losses or unranked wins will be counted. Every ranked win will be given a score that, together, will become a collective sum for that particular fighter. For this series of articles, I will be using a specific set of criteria that you can look at here.

    Organizations: PRIDE, Strikeforce, RINGS

    Weight Class: Heavyweight

    Years Active: 2000-2023

    MMA Record: 40-7-1 (NC)

    Win Percentage: 83%

    Finishing Rate: 78% (16 KOs, 15 submissions)

    Best Wins: Andrei Arlovski, Mirko Cro Cop, Ricardo Arona, Mark Coleman, Mark Hunt, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira x2, Semmy Schilt, Heath Herring, Kevin Randleman, Tim Sylvia, Matt Lindland, Pedro Rizzo, Frank Mir

    The Basics

    Fedor Emelianenko has been criticized over the last two decades (both reasonably and unreasonably) due to some of the names on his resume. He has also been hammered by MMA fans because of the fact that he never fought in the UFC. I can understand these criticisms, however – despite these lingering blemishes, Fedor fought, and beat, some of the very best of his time. His wins in RINGS will be omitted from this article simply because RINGS has not historically been considered a major organization. Although it is worth noting that Fedor had wins over Ricardo Arona and Babalu prior to his run in PRIDE.

    His Wins

    When Fedor made his Japanese MMA debut in 2002, he was a rising talent. He was known as a formidable groundfighter who wasn’t afraid to exchange big shots. He also had the power to hurt, and even stop bigger heavyweights. his fights in RINGS helped him develop his own style leading up to his fight against Semmy Schilt at PRIDE 22. According to historical rankings, Schilt has the number one heavyweight in the world at this time. I personally wouldn’t have had him at number one, nor do I think many others. I’d say that would probably be Igor Vovchanchyn or Mark Coleman. However, I do still believe that Schilt was a top 5 guy when he fought Fedor, so I’d score this one the same way regardless.

    Event: PRIDE 21

    Opponent: Semmy Schilt

    Opponent Ranking: 1

    Result: Win // Unanimous Decision

    Score: 4.5 points

    Being that Semmy had nearly a foot on Fedor in height and around the same in reach, there was no reason for Fedor to stand up with the experienced striker. Seconds into the opening frame, Schilt was taken down by an exploding Fedor. This was the story of the entire fight, with Fedor maintaining top control over the taller man. At multiple points in every round Fedor had an armbar – but never got it fully locked in, as Semmy was able to escape each time. Emelianenko was able to do some solid damage, but Schilt proved himself to be capable defensively on the ground, tying Fedor up. Regardless, Fedor was able to control the entire bout, winning by unanimous decision.

    Event: PRIDE 23

    Opponent: Heath Herring

    Opponent Ranking: 11

    Result: Win // TKO (Doctor Stoppage)

    Score: 2 points

    This fight was a title elimator, with the winner Although Heath was ranked at number 11 coming into this fight, I think he was much better than that ranking would suggest. He had recently lost a title fight to Big Nog, but rattled off two straight wins over Kochkine and Vovchanchyn. Although he was well known for his ground game, he developed improved striking over the years. When he met Fedor at PRIDE 23, none of that mattered. Herring was dominated so thoroughly that within three minutes of the opening bell, the cageside physician was coming in to check the swelling on Heath’s right eye. Heath opened the fight with a teep, which was met by an immediate takedown for Fedor. While Herring briefly attempted a kneebar and eventually reversed position after Fedor lost back control, Fedor spent virtually the entire first round pummeling Heath from top – full guard, half guard, side control. The swelling on Heath’s right eye proved to be too much for the doctor to allow, as the fight was stopped in between the first and second round.

    Event: PRIDE 25

    Opponent: Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira

    Opponent Ranking: 1 (Champion)

    Result: Win // Unanimous Decision

    Score: 6 points

    When Fedor met Antonio Nogueira at PRIDE 25 in March of 2003, Big Nog was already becoming a legendary fighter himself. He was 7-0 in the organization with six stoppages, the PRIDE Heavyweight Champion, the number one heavyweight on the planet, and the number one pound for pound fighter in the world. Nogueira had also won 12 fights in a row, dating back to February of 2000. He was known for his mastery of Jiu Jitsu and array of ground techniques, his durability, and extraordinary ability to come back and win fights he seemingly had no business winning. He was coming off recent wins over Dan Henderson and Semmy Schilt, and looking to defend his heavyweight belt. In walks Fedor Emelianenko. Although Fedor was seen as a legitimate threat by hardcore fans, most people thought he would have to keep the fight standing to have the best shot at taking out Big Nog. Yeah, that didn’t happen. The opening bell saw Fedor gliding across the ring throwing his patented right hand, and shooting his hips straight into a takedown. All of the first round was spent on the ground, with Fedor landing good shots on Nogueira, and avoiding any submission threats. Although Big Nog was the comeback king, the remainder of the fight looked just like the first round, and this was not a contest Nogueira would come back to win. Fedor mystified and shocked the world as he not only defended all of Antonio’s submission attempts effectively – he seemed to intentionally leave his limbs in certain danger, seemingly dismissive and in defiance of the skills Nogueira was bringing to the table. That was the first time we’ve ever saw Nogueira defeated this way – Fedor landed crushing blow after crushing blow time and time again from full guard, half guard and side control. He was awarded a unanimous decision victory and walked away the PRIDE Heavyweight Champion. A new era was upon us.

    Event: PRIDE Total Elimination 2003

    Opponent: Gary Goodridge

    Opponent Ranking: 8

    Result: Win // TKO (soccer kicks and punches)

    Score: 4

    Although Big Daddy had only amassed a 9-8 PRIDE record at the time he fought Fedor, he was a dangerous opponent for any heavyweight to face. Long removed from his days fighting in the UFC and winning a championship in the IVC, Goodridge was a striker who could hurt you on the feet, and a grappler that could finish you on the ground. Between 2001-2007 he went 12-3-1 with his only losses being to Big Nog, Herring, and The Last Emperor himself. Leading up to the Fedor fight he was unbeaten in his last five, with a draw against Ebenezer Fontes Braga in a special rules fight. As soon as the opening bell rang, Fedor charged across the ring and landed a left hook that stunned Gary. As Gary backed up, Fedor unleashed a barrage of left and right hooks that had Goodridge covering up. As he covered up, Fedor landed uppercuts to the body and head that led to a clinch and throw from Fedor. As Gary landed on his back, Fedor pummeled him with shots from open guard and side control, finishing him off with a soccer kick and a few hard punches. The ref stepped in after just 1 minute and 9 seconds of the very first round.

    Event: PRIDE Total Elimination 2004

    Opponent: Mark Coleman

    Opponent Ranking: 9

    Result: Win // Submission (armbar)

    Score: 4 points

    Mark Coleman was an accomplished fighter coming into Pride Total Elimination 2004. He was already a former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, having won both the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournaments, as well as the inaugural UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 12 against Dan Severn. However, Coleman didn’t care about any of that. He just wanted to go in there and show the world he is still a top fighter, and beating Fedor is the way do just that. With Coleman’s losing streak on the way out of the UFC a distant memory, the recent PRIDE Openweight Grand Prix winner is ready to face the The Last Emperor. Fedor himself, coming off the victory over Goodridge (and Japanese Pro Wrestler Yuji Nagata), is looking to claim victory over the legend. Fedor is taken down by Coleman in the opening seconds, and there is a scramble as Mark is able to take Fedor’s back and briefly obtain a semi-rear naked chokehold over Fedor’s chin. After Coleman is able to land some shots from the back position, Fedor reverses him. After another Hammer takedown leads to a high guard transition to armbar for Fedor, forcing Coleman to tap at 2 minutes and 11 seconds of the very first round.

    Event: PRIDE Critical Conflict 2004

    Opponent: Kevin Randleman

    Opponent Ranking: 5

    Result: Win // Submission (kimura)

    Score: 4 points

    We’re going to do things a little differently for this fight. I looked up the ranking for Kevin Randleman coming into the fight against Fedor. The fight was in June of 2004, and the closest ranking to that was updated for April of 2004. Kevin Randleman was noticeably absent from this list, due to his move from heavyweight to middleweight, then back up to heavyweight. Before “The Monster” fought Fedor, he had recent losses to Sakuraba and Rampage Jackson at middleweight. After those losses, Randleman moved up to fight Mirko Cro Cop, who was expected to win the 2004 PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix. In the opening round, Randleman landed the famous left hook heard around the world, and finished Cro Cop on the ground. Cro Cop was ranked as the number 5 heavyweight at the time. He was a wrecking ball bulldozing his way through the PRIDE ranks, knocking out almost everyone in his path. His only loss at the time was against Nogueira, and he was largely seen by fans and critics as a serious threat to Fedor’s throne. When Randleman stopped Mirko in the first round of their matchup, he shocked the world and claimed one of the biggest victories in MMA heavyweight history. For that reason, I am giving Kevin the ranking of number 10 here, as I think it’s only fair. I don’t want to give him a higher ranking than that, because I don’t want to overvalue his skills based on the sole win over Cro Cop. Unfortunately Fedor is a completely different fighter, and the glory Kevin soaked in from that victory didn’t last long. Although Kevin was coming off of a HUGE upset, Fedor was still considered the big favorite in this matchup, and to win the entire PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix. Randleman stunned us all in the opening minute when he got a MASSIVE suplex on Fedor, landing in side control. Fedor would prove to be tough to keep down, as he turned into a brief guillotine attempt, and used it to get on top and submit Randleman with a kimura from north-south position. Fedor needed less than two minutes to dispatch of the guy that just finished Mirko Cro Cop.

    Event: PRIDE Shockwave 2004

    Opponent: Antonio Nogueira

    Opponent Ranking: 2

    Result: Win // Unanimous Decision

    Score: 4.5 points

    It’s PRIDE Shockwave 2004, to decide both the Heavyweight Grand Prix winner, and the unified PRIDE Heavyweight Champion. Four months prior, Big Nog and Fedor met in their second matchup and what was supposed to be the Grand Prix final. However, that fight ended just a few minutes into the opening stanza when an accidental headbutt opened a massive gash on Fedor’s forehead. After 12 minutes of deliberation, the fight was deemed a no contest. In December of the same year, these two fought for the third time. Fedor was coming off wins over Randleman and Ogawa. Big Nog was coming off big wins over Herring and Kharitonov, and hadn’t lost a fight since Fedor took his championship belt in March of 2003. Nogueira, noticeably smaller and leaner in this fight, wanted to be the faster man and have some success on the feet before taking Fedor to the ground. His boxing was certainly improved by this point, and although he was becoming more well rounded, we all knew where he wanted the fight to go. All of these factors proved futile, as the mystery man Fedor came in a much improved version of himself. Although the second fight looked much like the first one (while it lasted), their trilogy matchup played out much differently. Fedor showed us a lot more patience and ring IQ in this fight. There was a lot more action on the feet, with Fedor exhibiting better footwork and landing the more powerful shots. Big Nog had moments in the striking but appeared a bit gunshy, likely from being taken down and damaged in both of their previous fights. When Fedor did take Nogueira down, it was easy, and he would instantly let Big Nog back up. Although Fedor had slowed down considerably in the third round, he was so dominant in the first two rounds that he was awarded the unanimous decision.