What I Learned from Guro Dan

Guro Dan and Coach Roderick

I look forward to training with Dan Inosanto when he conducts his seminars in Atlanta every year. I always learn something new from him, because he is always learning something new. One of the qualities I admire about Guro Dan, as he is affectionately called, is his personal commitment to life-long learning. Even at the age of 83, Guro Dan continues to explore, research, and learn new ways of expressing himself in the martial arts. He does not rest on his many laurels. His thirst for knowledge is the reason he has had so many different martial arts instructors over the years. From Ed Parker to Bruce Lee to John Lacoste. Guro Dan knows that no one person has a monopoly on martial arts knowledge. I have been greatly influenced by Guro Dan's example. I find myself searching out the best instructors I can find and learning what they have to teach me. I adhere to what Guro Dan's most famous instructor once said, "Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless, and add what is specifically your own." Thank you Guro Dan for being such a great role model to me and many other martial artists around the world.

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The Physics of Power for Combat Sports Participants

Introduction A basic understanding of physics can lead to an improvement in athletic performance. One concept from physics that is especially relevant to boxers and other combat sports participants is "power." The colloquial term for power in the context of sports is "explosiveness." Power is defined as the rate at which work is done. For example, if you watch Mike Tyson's boxing matches from early in his career you will see explosiveness or power in action. The ability to quickly apply enough force to knock someone out before they knew what hit them is "power." In physics, power is expressed in watts. For example, the power used for walking is about 280 watts. The power used for playing basketball is about 800 watts. The power used for sprinting is about 2,415 watts. The power used for boxing or MMA would probably rank somewhere between 800 and 2,415 watts. The Work Component of Power In physics, work is define...

How to Make Boxing a Safer Sport

Oleksandr Gvozdyk knocking out Adonis Stevenson I enjoyed watching the boxing match this past weekend between Adonis Stevenson and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Unfortunately, my enjoyment quickly turned to sadness when I found out that Stevenson suffered severe brain trauma from the fight and is now is now lying in a hospital bed in critical condition. Stevenson's nickname in the ring is "Superman." But even Superman had his kryptonite. The one thing that could take away his superpowers. For boxers, brain damage is kryptonite. I received my first pair of boxing gloves when I was about 12 years old. My stepfather actually bought me two pairs. I could not wait to put them on and convince one of my cousins to box with me. We went all out. No headgear, no mouthpiece, and no cup. If I knew then what I know now, I would have been much more careful. Now I am a boxing trainer and I never let my boxers go all out in sparring...

Hammer Time!

Back in the old days, many boxers used to chop wood with an axe as a regular part of their conditioning routine. Former heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman, one of the sports most devastating punchers, used to regularly chop wood. He credited it with giving him almost superhuman punching power. More recently, Floyd Mayweather Jr has been seen chopping wood. Many of the same benefits from chopping wood can be gained by slamming a sledgehammer into a tractor tire. It is one of my favorite conditioning exercises. I also have my boxing trainees do it. Hammering a tire works your shoulders, arms and upper-back muscles. It also improves endurance and grip strength. Not too many exercises can both shed fat, build muscle, and give you a powerful right cross at the same time. It's also a great way to relieve stress! I suggest you use a staggered stance the same as you would when fighting. I have my boxers hammer the tire in both...

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