Sengoku II

First a shout out to Melody from the Handler. Today was fight day. We were loaded on buses at 1130 hours headed for Ariake Stadium. When we got there we were ushered in to the blue locker room which was a series of small, black curtain partitioned cubicles with tatami mats, water, sandwiches, and a live feed from the ring. This was followed by lots of waiting momentarily disrupted by pre-fight events such as a brief medical check, getting used to the ring, and an equipment check. I also wrapped Dan's hands with a new variation of my MMA wrap. Essentially a 20 layer knuckle pad and a 10 wrap wrist support on which a single legal layer of tape was applied across the knuckles and then reinforced with strips applied lo longitudinally and then laterally. IMHO this resulted in not only a fist like tempered steel but an adequate grip surfac.
	At approximately 15:30 I started to warm-up Dan up with short (1 minute) rounds focusing on different reactive or power elements of the game. Reactions included covering or evasive defense, sprawling, and following a stunned opponent for the finish. Power rotations included kicks, knees, ground and pound from mount, knee on stomach, and guard, as well as knees from the side mount. At the time I did not quite realize I was demonstrating all my JokerjitsuTM training secrets in front of Renzo Gracie and Team Roger Gracie. I'm expecting a coaching job offer any day now (that or a dollar bill in my Sprawl shorts) After we warmed up the fighter introduction was to start so we waited at the runway to the arena. Sengoku put on an awesome light show with flames and in-door fireworks so loud we were warned to shield our ears. After that we sat waiting in the bullpen, the second fight of the evening. You can see from the video that is a good fight. They traded some blows before Dan was taken down, he escaped from the Pyle's jiu-jitsu attack and place his wily opponent on the defense. Dan remained in good control for the rest of the round, until the end where he was caught in a triangle. It is heart wrenching to see such hard preparation end in defeat and as a corner and training partner I can only feel that in some way I failed my team mate. My favorite bout of the evening was the Barnett v. Monson fight. These two look like characters from 300 but sweating and bleeding right in front us. They are also friends but that didn't slow them in trying to dispatch each other. The blows that these two traded would have felled oxen and yet they absorbed them repeatedly in their battle. They were more like big cats from the same pride, playing ferociously for blows and submissions.

Kawamura and Randleman prepare to engage


Roger Gracie and the Handler share a smile.

Barnett vows to win by break dancing, Jeff "Teddy Bear" Monson to counter with karatay

Proud For a Chance to be at the Sengoku 2 Press Conference

Today was a jam packed day of sight seeing both as tourists and as mixed-martial arts enthusiasts. As we left the hotel we thought we had found the Sengoku equivalent of the UFC Hummer...a lambroghini. Only later did we learn that Dan's contract only had provisions for a palanquin, which he took for a test drive.

Team Handler started the day by going to Asakusa and visiting the Sensoji Temple on what was apparently a festival day. The temple grounds and surrounding market streets were jam packed with teams carrying portable shrines and playing drums. It was a neat sight to behold as fantastic, gold plated shrines were hoisted or pushed through the streets while supporters chanted and strained to move their sacred items. We toured the Sensoji Temple, cleansing our hands at the spring of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. We placed an offering of incense, too. We then wandered the small shops surrounding the temple. I picked myself up some super comfortable tabi. At about 1100 we headed back toward the hotel so Dan could finish dropping weight.

	Despite the hotel not allowing people with tattoos in their sauna, Dan prevailed through a combination of a sweat suit, jump rope, and hot water. Weigh-ins were interesting, the super heavies strolled onto the scale, while the the lighter fighters were stripped to their skivvies and less (I saw a whole lot more Kevin Randleman than I wanted to see). Dan made the 76 kg weight class at 75 kg and change. His opponent, Mike Pyle, did not weighing 76.25 kg even after stripping to his birthday suit. Pyle was the only fighter not to make weight. He goes into tomorrow's fight with a 1 point deduction and a pay cut on his purse. Immediately after weigh-ins the Handler did his thing on a peanut butter and jelly bagel and we then trooped out to Queen Isetan for more binging...er...strategic refueling. Despite not cutting weight I participated in this exercise as only a good team mate should. At 1400 the Sengoku press conference was held to present the fighters. I had flashback to Bloodsport as a disturbing techno mix was used to introduce the fighters. This was followed by the most idiotic reporter Q & A ever. Reporters from various hardcopy and virtualcopy sports publications asked a series of the most ill-prepared, poorly researched, and just plain stupid questions ever: "Kevin Randleman in an interview you said you were afraid to fight" "Afraid to fight, I love to fight, did you write that about me?" The reporter nearly fainted. "[Fighter X] what is your game plan?" To which Josh Barnett eloquently ripped said reporter a figuratively new excretory orifice. "[Fighter X] what have you been training" The results of which became paraphrased in the title after Monson and Barnett were asked this question Mssrs. Barnett, Monson, and Randleman are gentlemen with keen wits, much to the detriment of the media present.
I have no idea why all of the largest fighters are looking at me like I said I had carnal knowledge of their mothers (which I absolutely, positively have never done). These guys are intimidating enough individually let alone when measured in tonnage.
I got a chance to get a picture with two of my combat sports heros, Stitch (on the left), and Erik Paulson (on the right). Stitch is the best cut man and corner in the business period. Erik Paulson in hands down one of the icons of MMA not only as a fighter but a coach. Maybe some of their knowledge and experience will diffuse...

After the press conference we toured the Edo-Tokyo museum. This museum documents the engineering and cultural history of the grand city that would become Tokyo, we came across this plaque describing the tea ceremony. The city of Edo was filled with high-ranking warriors, then, just as the city of Tokyo is filled with high-ranking warriors, now.

The Handler trains to pick-up an old school fight purse	Joker uses the implements of an Edo era corner man

Public Relations

The great thing about having Dirk and I as cornermen (at least in our opinion) is that not only do we help Dan train and do a bang up job in the corner, we also do hair, find groceries, act as translators, and do some tour guiding. Remember us the next time your fighting in an exotic locale.

	After trimming up the Danhandler's WarhawkTM and WarchopsTM it was time for the photo and video session followed by the prefight interview. It was neat to see the mean mugging of the fighters and the differences between a great fighter pose and greater fighter technique. After getting Dan in all sorts of intimidating postures they did a brief video session of Dan throwing some looping punches (so that they could still film his face) as well as something where he basically made a wanking motion in front of his face (we were all a little unclear of the cinematographic value of these maneuvers). Dirk even got in on the action as Dan's simulated opponent. During this it became clear that "the Handler" had not translated well into Japanese. Sengoku had apparently renamed him the "Human Wrecking Claw Machine" or something like that. As with stereo instructions translating nicknames too many times between languages does little to improve them. After that Dan gave a terrific interview. He talked about his training graciously mentioning not only his BJJ coach Jackson McVicker but also tossing a shout out to myself and Goshin Jitsu. Dan was asked about his fighting style, his goals for this fight, and the future. He was asked about one of his wins by "verbal submission", a fight in which Dan broke his opponent's jaw and had to tell the referee that his opponent had quit because the other fighter was unable to relay this message adequately. He was asked about the WarhawkTM and his family, too. He also talked about what a great city Tokyo was. All in all he did a great job supporting feminism, proclaiming his humanitarian status, and vowing to pulverize his opponents.

We had a hiatus after the morning's media blitz so we decided to get some pictures from the top floor of our hotel. I lost a camera shoot out with Dirk and then after grabbing a sushi lunch (well I did, Dan's eating micromeals to make weight and Dirk did not agree with sushi) at an awesome nearby supermarket Queen Isetan we made a brief foray into the city. Dan and I found a sweet little park with huge koi and multitudinous turtles. We also cut through some more of the shopping districts and alleys before heading back to the hotel for the fighter's meeting.

I've been to a lot of fighter's meetings for MMA, muay thai, and sport jiu-jitsu. This was my first real fighter's meeting with introductory comments from the World Victory Road CEO and a detailed, translated, summation of the rules by the Sengoku staff. We finally clarified the weight class and the rules (news for us: stomp OK, soccer kick bad, no elbows 'tall to the head). The taping of hands is militantly observed, there is absolutely no lubrication of the body (including no petroleum based jelly to the face), and urine drug screening occurs not once but twice after the fight. In addition I'm sitting in the same room as Roger Gracie, Jeff Monson, Josh Barnett, Yuki Kondo, and Kevin Randleman. Not to mention fighting legends like Erik Paulson and Stitch (the cut man you always seen on the UFC. Monson's neck is ripping out of a black T-shirt that says "George Bush and Sons, Family Butchers Since 1991". Josh Barnett looks like he is descended from the Greek Titans after they moved to California and started surfing. The Monster Kevin Randleman is the nicest guy, always saying hello to us as we see him about the hotel, he's also a lot shorter in person than I expected. Yuki Kondo looks like he's in the wrong weight class.

For our training session today we decided to head down to a local park, Kiba Park, to sweat and hit some pads. I held a series of rounds for both Dan and Dirk. We worked on basic MMA boxing skills, clinch striking, and level change reactions. Dan and Dirk both worked real hard, impressing a few late afternoon Tokyo denizens and children playing ball.

After training in the hot Japanese sun we headed back the hotel for a shower, grabbed quick spot of sumo on TV, and then took the Tokyo metro down to Ginza. We walked through the area marveling at the huge, high class, high price stores for jewelry, leather wear, and perfume. We eventually ended up at my favorite building, the Sony Building which showcases new and emerging technologies from Sony. Dan caught me cheating on my laptop with a Vaio UX and although tempted by the duty free offers I could just imagine the trouble one would have returning product a Pacific Ocean away. We continued down to the outer wall of the Imperial Palace and wander in the area between in the Inner and Outer walls. We saw the Sakuradamon gate and witnessed the beautiful Tokyo skyline at dusk. As night fall gloomed and belly's rumbled we headed back to our hotel for chow.

Stage I: Get to Japan

I am here in Japan with Dan "the Handler" Hornbuckle and my co-corner Dirk Anderson for Dan's debut in Sengoku vs. Mike Pyle. We left 5/14 from Champaign, IL and after a 13 hour flight arrived the evening of 5/15 in Japan. Tokyo is an amazing city from what little we saw taking the car from the airport and wandering around briefly this evening to find dinner. As soon as we got checked in we did some training to get the kinks out, looking to work each range in an MMA fight. Dan looks phenomenal and has brought his A game. His combination of athleticism and technical skill will be a lot for any opponent to deal with.

GJ: Stop Looking Constipated

There are very few true bad @$$ess out there. I mean seriously few. When I observe anyone that I consider significantly less than dangerous attempt by facial contortions to increase their tough guy aura I usually worry that they are severely constipated and may be about to $h!t themselves. Don't get me wrong I've had some awful looking grimaces on my face when I've fought, sparred, or wrestled the guy that is weight-wise approximately two of me. However I don't have a facial seizure then I'm hitting pads, shadowbox, or drilling a technique with a cooperative partner. Think about it, if the muscles of the face which are entirely not involved with executing the action are tense, how spastic is the rest of you. Besides which I don't to be the guy training with someone who pooped himself.

So do what you have to do to chillax: meditate, pray, listen to music, do some yoga, have sex (by yourself or with a consenting partner of legal age), or huff the boo (please note Jokerjitsu does not condone illicit drug use). Your cardiovascular reserve will "increase" exponentially because you won't be wasting valuable ATP, oxygen, and thermal capacity in muscles you don't need or that may be working against you. This is supposed to be fun, the last time I checked having a tonic seizure was not part of that definition.

In order to expedite a little of the Dude in all of us we started with playing the "Prison Shiv" game. In it you play tag except everyone is it and you have to tag between the shoulder blades. You try to tag as many and be tagged as little as you can. In between we did the Spider-man drill and shadowboxing.

Rounds:

1. Striking extension

   We lined up at a fixed interval in order to force full extension on strikes. Remember that stepping, body rotation, complete (non-locked) extension and rotation of the upper extremity deliver the maximal distance and hence kinetic energy (longer distance over shorter time equals higher velocity).

   
   

2. Mobility pads

   Holding for a regular striking round but forcing maximal movement. That is, the holder advances, retreats, and circles the fighter more than they hold strikes.

   
   

3. High/low cover

   Simply defense from the powershot, the high cover being the head shot and the low cover being the body shot. Remember that the shield is the same, the forearm and upper arm guards the ribs and the glove the head. Keep it close and gently lean into the shot. And always, always react.

   
   

4. Pitterpat Pyramid

   30 second intervals initiated with increasing number of push-ups and followed by pitterpat drill, reseting each 30 seconds. Thus 1-2-4-8-16-32-16-8-4-2-1 push-ups, each set followed by pitterpat. Nobody looked too tough after this drill.

   
   

With the advanced guys we partnered off and traded 4-count kick combinations, defending body and head shots, taking lower extremity kicks. Subsequently we caught the last kick and delivered a return 4 count. Thus catch, deliver first kick to the anterior or posterior side of the base leg, anteriorly just above the knee or directly to the medial or lateral surface, posteriorly directly to knee or more inferiorly to the calf. One can retain the caught leg and deliver the first punch or dump the leg and deliver the punch. Subsequently finish with another punch and kick.

Next we took the kick punch entry to clinch. Either a front or rear kick to initiate, one punch to close and then throw a hard underhook as if it was a third strike. Finish with an appropriate takedown, such as an same-side outside leg reap.

We worked some G & P skills after that. Two separate rounds were used. The first placed one partner inside of the guard of the other, the top partner threw a few punches to the gloves of the other. The bottom partner then clinched and swept, going to mount. The newly mounted partner escaped the guard and the round reset, with the players in opposite positions. The other round used the throw dummies. One partner coached while the other worked the bag from the sidemount, knee on stomach, and mount positions. In addition, they took the bottom position, benching the angled bag and scooting their lower half from one side to the other of the bag.

Also I suggest everyone reread my notes on Black Holes.

BJJ: The Arm Drag

1. The Arm Drag From Hooks Inside Guard
   

   Your opponent is attempting control both pant legs. Set-up a same side pistol grip of one sleeve. Free your hook and kick past your partner as you reach across with your free hand to cup the triceps and arm drag. As you do scoot your body to this side. Immediately try to place the center of your chest between the shoulder blades of your partner while locking the seatbelt grip. The hand that goes to the far side will reach under the far arm grabbing the opposite hand that comes in over the shoulder. Insert your other hook and attack the neck.
   

2. Pulling to the Rear Mount
   

   You attempted to take the back but your opponent grabs your leg preventing you from being able to get to the rear mount. Scoot away and grab the iliac crest (the hip) on the far side and drag them to their side. Cross your ankles to lock one leg in place. Pull with your seatbelt grip or attack the neck to straighten them out. Place your second hook and re-attack the neck
   

3. Calf Slicer
   

   You have performed the arm drag but cannot obtain rear mount control, turn towards your opponents legs, inserting your one hook between the calf and thigh of your opponent. Grab both feet and pull towards you, flattening or forcing your opponent to their back. Put your free foot on the medial side of your ankle and pull on the distal part of their leg (not the foot).
   

I am by no means a wrestler or judoka but I can on a good day make people fall down, here are some brief notes on low-line shots:

Set-up

Shots work best when the other guy is thinking about something else, like punches or a different take down.

Penetrate

Aim to place your penetration step on the toe line of your opponent's lead foot.

Lower your level

In order move someone, you must in some fashion load their center of mass. By lowering your level you are able to deliver more of your kinetic energy below their center of mass, forcing them to move. Thus a low-line shot needs a drop in your center of mass without losing the solid posture required for a combat chassis.

Turn the Corner

Explosive shooting delivers a large amount of kinetic energy, in order to prevent a take down your opponent must expend a force opposite your own. So as soon as you are inside, turn the corner driving the force in a perpendicular angle against their weakest muscle groups.