The Bolelli Shrine to MMA & All Things Martial Arts

# 21 Apr, 2013 07:38
Troyh	My favourite Kurt Osiander clip =D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l9tP2gRuOo quote

# 21 Apr, 2013 07:39
Troyh	Oh Daniele I know a nice DVD that Meisha Tate should watch quote

# 21 Apr, 2013 15:10
Daniele	Troyh Oh Daniele I know a nice DVD that Meisha Tate should watch Seriously! quote

# 23 Apr, 2013 14:28
monkeychoke	Does anyone have an opinion on training with the Gi? My gym is an MMA gym and although my coach trained in Brazil is a legit Gi blackbelt, we only train no-gi because he's there to prepare fighters. I was considering training a day or two a week Gi and the rest no-gi but I want to make sure it's worth my time as a Gi and the extra lessons won't be cheap. For a while I just followed the line of thought of ‘why use a Gi if you don’t use one in real life' - but someone suggested it hones your technique to a whole new level. Then you have high level guys like Eddie Bravo who is exclusively no-gi or Marcelo Garcia who is 50% no-gi but both have go-blackbelts; who teach no-gi but are founded in gi. Where do people stand on no-gi Vs gi? quote

# 23 Apr, 2013 14:28

monkeychoke

Does anyone have an opinion on training with the Gi? My gym is an MMA gym and although my coach trained in Brazil is a legit Gi blackbelt, we only train no-gi because he's there to prepare fighters.

I was considering training a day or two a week Gi and the rest no-gi but I want to make sure it's worth my time as a Gi and the extra lessons won't be cheap.

For a while I just followed the line of thought of ‘why use a Gi if you don’t use one in real life' - but someone suggested it hones your technique to a whole new level. Then you have high level guys like Eddie Bravo who is exclusively no-gi or Marcelo Garcia who is 50% no-gi but both have go-blackbelts; who teach no-gi but are founded in gi.

Where do people stand on no-gi Vs gi?

# 23 Apr, 2013 14:38
Daniele	Personally, I hate the Gi. It's cool to learn a few tricks with it but not if you have to spend a ton of $ and time for it. About the “honing technique” argument, I agree with Eddie Bravo: Greco-Roman wrestlers don't have to “hone” their takedown technique by wearing a Gi. Same with the ground game. You can still apply no-gi techniques on a guy wearing a Gi, but you can't apply Gi techniques on anyone not wearing one. quote

# 23 Apr, 2013 14:38

Daniele

Personally, I hate the Gi. It's cool to learn a few tricks with it but not if you have to spend a ton of $ and time for it. About the “honing technique” argument, I agree with Eddie Bravo: Greco-Roman wrestlers don't have to “hone” their takedown technique by wearing a Gi. Same with the ground game. You can still apply no-gi techniques on a guy wearing a Gi, but you can't apply Gi techniques on anyone not wearing one.

# 24 Apr, 2013 09:58
Troyh	For what it's worth I agree with Daniele %100. I have studied Judo & Gi Jiu-Jitsu & I have to say I find No-gi much more useful & enjoyable. It is much faster in my opinion. I am sure there is benefit from many many things you can do, but do they suit your needs? Could you get more benefit from focusing on something else?? These are the things you will need to ask yourself. Good luck mate! quote

# 24 Apr, 2013 10:28
monkeychoke	Troyh For what it's worth I agree with Daniele %100. I have studied Judo & Gi Jiu-Jitsu & I have to say I find No-gi much more useful & enjoyable. It is much faster in my opinion. I am sure there is benefit from many many things you can do, but do they suit your needs? Could you get more benefit from focusing on something else?? These are the things you will need to ask yourself. Good luck mate! Thanks Daniele and Troyh - sounds like I'm better off sticking with no-gi for now, I might give it a try some time - maybe when I'm a higher level I'll do a training holiday around Europe or something. Did anyone catch the GSP interview with Rogan? Fascinating guy - apparently he suffers from what is generally called ‘missing time’ or ‘time slips’ He has a new book out focussing on his philosophy of life and how he approaches setting goals (rather than an MMA fanboy magnet) - sounds quite interesting, might add it to the list. quote

# 24 Apr, 2013 10:28

monkeychoke

Troyh
For what it's worth I agree with Daniele %100. I have studied Judo & Gi Jiu-Jitsu & I have to say I find No-gi much more useful & enjoyable. It is much faster in my opinion. I am sure there is benefit from many many things you can do, but do they suit your needs? Could you get more benefit from focusing on something else??

These are the things you will need to ask yourself.
Good luck mate!

Thanks Daniele and Troyh - sounds like I'm better off sticking with no-gi for now, I might give it a try some time - maybe when I'm a higher level I'll do a training holiday around Europe or something.

Did anyone catch the GSP interview with Rogan? Fascinating guy - apparently he suffers from what is generally called ‘missing time’ or ‘time slips’

He has a new book out focussing on his philosophy of life and how he approaches setting goals (rather than an MMA fanboy magnet) - sounds quite interesting, might add it to the list.

# 03 May, 2013 12:50
monkeychoke	http://espn.go.com/blog/mma/post/_/id/17458/tyson-on-the-ufc-the-gracies-and-charity Tyson on the UFC, the Gracies and charity Seven years ago, Mike Tyson did what prizefighters are rarely willing or able to do: recognize when their time is up. A mercurial figure of the ‘80s and ‘90s who often courted as much trouble outside the ring as he did inside of it, Tyson walked away from boxing after consecutive losses, telling spectators he refused to disgrace the sport with subpar performances. Based on his past indiscretions, many expected him to implode. Retirement, however, had a strange effect on Tyson: Instead of feeling cast adrift, he appeared ecstatic at the prospect of leaving the fight business behind. Cameos in “The Hangover” films and viral videos turned public perception around; removed from the mindset of having to try to tear a man down with his fists, there was little trace of the savage behavior that made him famous. The story of that transformation is part of “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,” a one-man stage show Tyson is currently touring. As he prepares for his final dates in Atlanta, Newark, New York and Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Tyson – an unabashed fight fan who recently appeared on “The Ultimate Fighter” – spoke with ESPN.com about the past, present and future of mixed martial arts. Jake Rossen: You’ve been touring the show for a few months now. When you started, was the idea of public speaking more nerve-wracking than fighting? Tyson: Absolutely. I’m not the most didactic guy when it comes to my linguistics skills. Spike hired a voice coach, a speech teacher, so I could pronounce the words in a proper fashion. I still sometimes garble my G's and R's, though. They’re ready to film this for television, it’s gotten so good. Spike has hinted at it. Though I might talk too much and then he’ll say, “Hell, no, we’re not going to do it now.” Rossen: You were one of the first boxers to acknowledge mixed martial arts as a legitimate combat sport. Do you remember when you first watched the UFC? Tyson: My friends were all at my house one day, and we see these guys promoting these cage fights, right? When everybody was over, people were normally inebriated, so we said, “We’re putting this on. We’re gonna watch this!” Next thing you know, we’re watching Ken Shamrock and someone fight. Bang! I’m saying, “This is real, man. This is on!” We started watching it every time we got the chance. We’ve been following the guys since Gracie, Shamrock, Severn. It just kept evolving and evolving. Rossen: At those early shows, sometimes people in the crowd would hold up signs saying, “Tyson vs. Gracie.” What would you think when you saw that? Tyson: Yeah! That was so awesome. I love all kinds of fighting. To say I only love two guys putting on gloves and only punching, I would be a moron to say that. Rossen: Did you ever seriously consider an offer to fight MMA when you were active as an athlete? Tyson: Not really, because by the time it took off, I was already doing boxing. This is something you have to start when you’re 12 or 13. It has to be a passion. That’s the problem with boxing: There’s no passion. People want to be record producers, rappers. In MMA, you see that passion. Georges St-Pierre, this is all he wants to do. That’s why he’s so successful. Rossen: But back in those days, it wasn’t so refined. I know it’s a hypothetical, but what do you think would’ve happened if someone had put up enough money for you to fight Royce Gracie? He was a much smaller man. Tyson: It doesn’t matter. If I hit him with a good punch, OK, but if he gets hold of me and in a position I’m not familiar with, I’m not going to win the fight. I would have to be equipped with grappling skills as well. Gracie changed the whole game around. To be involved in this kind of fight, you have to know that style right off the bat. Everyone learned his style of fighting. Everything we have now is because of the Gracies taking it to the next level. Their name isn’t on it, but that’s what it is. It’s Gracie Fighting. Rossen: Have you ever grappled? Tyson: Never in my life, no. Unless I had a street fight where I had to grab someone and slam them. Rossen: There’s always talk MMA is set to “replace” boxing. Do you think the two will continue to coexist? Tyson: I think there’s room for both and boxing, but boxing just has too many black eyes. It doesn’t have a good image. In MMA, even though people are fighting, they have a good image. Very few of them get into tragic troubles where they’re beating people up and stuff. Rossen: Do you see Jon Jones versus Anderson Silva as MMA’s version of Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Tyson: That’d be an awesome fight from the fans’ standpoint. All the fans want to see two invincible fighters from two different weight divisions. It would be very interesting. Rossen: As a fighter, though, when you have a lucrative win streak going, do you think it makes either of those guys reluctant to do it? Tyson: The essence of fighting is this: to push yourself to the limit. Say you get defeated. Do you push yourself to another limit to overcome that defeat? This is what fighting is about. That’s why it’s such a metaphor for life. Even though you’re going to lose and you know you’re going to lose, you still have to fight and fight to win. Rossen: Are you more of a boxing or MMA fan now? Tyson: I love MMA and love boxing, but I’m always watching the MMA stuff. With boxing, you don’t know if the guy’s going to get a decision, you know? In UFC, there’s the Ultimate Fighter house – you cultivate the fighters spiritually, work with them, it’s a team effort. In boxing, it’s like, “The hell with you.” The fighters dislike everybody. The MMA fighters are killing each other and they’re friends! Rossen: You seem to have a good relationship with the UFC. Would you ever consider doing commentary for them if asked? Tyson: Absolutely. I would also work in boxing if I could get a chance to clean it up, get it organized and government-operated. It has to be. Look at all the atrocities that have happened in the history of boxing. Rossen: You’ve spoken before about being a huge fan of Fedor Emelianenko. Is there one fighter in the UFC you love to watch compete? Tyson: It has to be Jon Jones. But I like Anderson Silva, too. And Cain Velasquez! He showed what a champion is. He took a humiliating defeat, came back focused and beat Junior dos Santos . I look at MMA totally differently from how the fans look at it. I look at people overcoming adversities. Most guys being knocked out the way Cain was would’ve lost all of their spirit. He could’ve come back for a payday and gotten knocked out in one round. Instead, he examined his loss and changed the outcome. Rossen: There are some parallels there to your own life. You have a charity now, Mike Tyson Cares. What gave you that initiative? Tyson: My wife and I were piggybacking on other established charities. We were so happy we were able to put smiles on so many faces, get medication into hospitals, get people educated. We’ve gotten 7,000 homeless kids medical supplies, school supplies, by piggybacking with these other organizations. It gave us great satisfaction. I just want to continue to be of service, continue to help people, and do good things in life. I want to have moral achievements more than tangible, physical ones. quote

# 03 May, 2013 12:50

monkeychoke

http://espn.go.com/blog/mma/post/_/id/17458/tyson-on-the-ufc-the-gracies-and-charity

Tyson on the UFC, the Gracies and charity

Seven years ago, Mike Tyson did what prizefighters are rarely willing or able to do: recognize when their time is up.

A mercurial figure of the ‘80s and ‘90s who often courted as much trouble outside the ring as he did inside of it, Tyson walked away from boxing after consecutive losses, telling spectators he refused to disgrace the sport with subpar performances.

Based on his past indiscretions, many expected him to implode. Retirement, however, had a strange effect on Tyson: Instead of feeling cast adrift, he appeared ecstatic at the prospect of leaving the fight business behind. Cameos in “The Hangover” films and viral videos turned public perception around; removed from the mindset of having to try to tear a man down with his fists, there was little trace of the savage behavior that made him famous.

The story of that transformation is part of “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,” a one-man stage show Tyson is currently touring. As he prepares for his final dates in Atlanta, Newark, New York and Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Tyson – an unabashed fight fan who recently appeared on “The Ultimate Fighter” – spoke with ESPN.com about the past, present and future of mixed martial arts.

Jake Rossen: You’ve been touring the show for a few months now. When you started, was the idea of public speaking more nerve-wracking than fighting?

Tyson: Absolutely. I’m not the most didactic guy when it comes to my linguistics skills. Spike hired a voice coach, a speech teacher, so I could pronounce the words in a proper fashion. I still sometimes garble my G's and R's, though.

They’re ready to film this for television, it’s gotten so good. Spike has hinted at it. Though I might talk too much and then he’ll say, “Hell, no, we’re not going to do it now.”

Rossen: You were one of the first boxers to acknowledge mixed martial arts as a legitimate combat sport. Do you remember when you first watched the UFC?

Tyson: My friends were all at my house one day, and we see these guys promoting these cage fights, right? When everybody was over, people were normally inebriated, so we said, “We’re putting this on. We’re gonna watch this!” Next thing you know, we’re watching Ken Shamrock and someone fight. Bang! I’m saying, “This is real, man. This is on!”

We started watching it every time we got the chance. We’ve been following the guys since Gracie, Shamrock, Severn. It just kept evolving and evolving.

Rossen: At those early shows, sometimes people in the crowd would hold up signs saying, “Tyson vs. Gracie.” What would you think when you saw that?

Tyson: Yeah! That was so awesome. I love all kinds of fighting. To say I only love two guys putting on gloves and only punching, I would be a moron to say that.

Rossen: Did you ever seriously consider an offer to fight MMA when you were active as an athlete?

Tyson: Not really, because by the time it took off, I was already doing boxing. This is something you have to start when you’re 12 or 13. It has to be a passion. That’s the problem with boxing: There’s no passion. People want to be record producers, rappers. In MMA, you see that passion. Georges St-Pierre, this is all he wants to do. That’s why he’s so successful.
Rossen: But back in those days, it wasn’t so refined. I know it’s a hypothetical, but what do you think would’ve happened if someone had put up enough money for you to fight Royce Gracie? He was a much smaller man.

Tyson: It doesn’t matter. If I hit him with a good punch, OK, but if he gets hold of me and in a position I’m not familiar with, I’m not going to win the fight. I would have to be equipped with grappling skills as well. Gracie changed the whole game around. To be involved in this kind of fight, you have to know that style right off the bat.

Everyone learned his style of fighting. Everything we have now is because of the Gracies taking it to the next level. Their name isn’t on it, but that’s what it is. It’s Gracie Fighting.

Rossen: Have you ever grappled?

Tyson: Never in my life, no. Unless I had a street fight where I had to grab someone and slam them.

Rossen: There’s always talk MMA is set to “replace” boxing. Do you think the two will continue to coexist?

Tyson: I think there’s room for both and boxing, but boxing just has too many black eyes. It doesn’t have a good image. In MMA, even though people are fighting, they have a good image. Very few of them get into tragic troubles where they’re beating people up and stuff.

Rossen: Do you see Jon Jones versus Anderson Silva as MMA’s version of Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

Tyson: That’d be an awesome fight from the fans’ standpoint. All the fans want to see two invincible fighters from two different weight divisions. It would be very interesting.

Rossen: As a fighter, though, when you have a lucrative win streak going, do you think it makes either of those guys reluctant to do it?

Tyson: The essence of fighting is this: to push yourself to the limit. Say you get defeated. Do you push yourself to another limit to overcome that defeat? This is what fighting is about. That’s why it’s such a metaphor for life. Even though you’re going to lose and you know you’re going to lose, you still have to fight and fight to win.

Rossen: Are you more of a boxing or MMA fan now?

Tyson: I love MMA and love boxing, but I’m always watching the MMA stuff. With boxing, you don’t know if the guy’s going to get a decision, you know? In UFC, there’s the Ultimate Fighter house – you cultivate the fighters spiritually, work with them, it’s a team effort. In boxing, it’s like, “The hell with you.” The fighters dislike everybody. The MMA fighters are killing each other and they’re friends!

Rossen: You seem to have a good relationship with the UFC. Would you ever consider doing commentary for them if asked?

Tyson: Absolutely. I would also work in boxing if I could get a chance to clean it up, get it organized and government-operated. It has to be. Look at all the atrocities that have happened in the history of boxing.

Rossen: You’ve spoken before about being a huge fan of Fedor Emelianenko. Is there one fighter in the UFC you love to watch compete?

Tyson: It has to be Jon Jones. But I like Anderson Silva, too. And Cain Velasquez! He showed what a champion is. He took a humiliating defeat, came back focused and beat Junior dos Santos .

I look at MMA totally differently from how the fans look at it. I look at people overcoming adversities. Most guys being knocked out the way Cain was would’ve lost all of their spirit. He could’ve come back for a payday and gotten knocked out in one round. Instead, he examined his loss and changed the outcome.

Rossen: There are some parallels there to your own life. You have a charity now, Mike Tyson Cares. What gave you that initiative?

Tyson: My wife and I were piggybacking on other established charities. We were so happy we were able to put smiles on so many faces, get medication into hospitals, get people educated. We’ve gotten 7,000 homeless kids medical supplies, school supplies, by piggybacking with these other organizations. It gave us great satisfaction.

I just want to continue to be of service, continue to help people, and do good things in life. I want to have moral achievements more than tangible, physical ones.

# 03 May, 2013 23:47
monkeychoke	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW–agw_gmM Minotauro Nogueira vs Bob Sapp - Amazing fight, comic characters and brilliant textbook jiujitsu from Nogueira. quote

# 04 May, 2013 00:01
Daniele	monkeychoke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW–agw_gmM Minotauro Nogueira vs Bob Sapp - Amazing fight, comic characters and brilliant textbook jiujitsu from Nogueira. That fight was unreal–truly heroic. ANd speaking of Nog's fights, his matches with Crocop, Sylvia and even Fedor are insane quote