One Year Of SKILL MMA

This site has finally reached its one-year anniversary. It surprises me. It's a hell of a lot of work me, and requires a lot of time, especially since English isn't my primary language. I wasn't sure I'd make it this long.

After one year of SKILL MMA, I want to give some credit to those who helped me make it one year.

First is none other than Jordan Breen. I met him just a bit before he started writing for Sherdog. I never thought he'd become famous. I talk a lot with him, and really enjoy improving one another's knowledge about this sport. I must admit, I always want to tell him my viewpoints, because I love this man's passion for the sport. He does a nice job translating my writing. I don't think it's easy: it includes sports, culture, and having to know my thoughts and meanings. He's a professional, so he adds so nice editing to my writing. I couldn't imagine the site's quality without him.

I also want to thank Tony Loiseleur of Sherdog and Daniel Herbertson of Fanhouse. They are both great professionals with great minds. Tony is the heart and soul of Sherdog in Japan, and he's helped advertise my site, too. Daniel is an awesome photographer. Both are helpful when I'm around MMA venues, and I must say they an important part of this site, too.

I want to thank everyone who links to thie site. Bloody Elbow is first major MMA website to link to SKILL MMA. I've always appreciated the quality of the site. Head Kick Legend focuses on the Japanese MMA and kickboxing. They followed me at twitter, and I asked about bout mutual linking. I thank them for the opportunity. MMA For Real is a North Carolina MMA website. I realized they mention my twitter, so I asked them about a mutual link exchange. Tokyo and North Carolina get linked via MMA. How great is that?

I don't think I' the most knowledgeable MMA writer, but I think I can still contribute unique pieces. Generally, English language MMA writers haven't impressed me. That doesn't mean they aren't good writers per se, or not knowledgeable. However, there is a large focus on pro- or anti- opinion and editorial writing in the MMA media. Writing opinions about organization's business or what martial arts are "best" aren't interesting writing.

With this site, I've used my words to examine traditional martial arts in MMA, pro-wrestling's effect on MMA, the history of Machida karate and so on. I choose topics like this because I want there to be a diversity in MMA discussion, a uniqueness that fits the most chaotic and culturally hybrid sport in the world. MMA is a combat sport where often power appears to trump skill. However, power exists only in the framework of skill, and the differentiation in these skills is what makes MMA so exciting. That is why this is is called "SKILL MMA".

Expanding that idea, I do feel maybe contemporary MMA is not enough to show all MMA's charms. The Best of Pride is doing good ratings on Spike. Why? Well, you could say that casual fans don't realize that quality fights ever happened outside the UFC, but I don't think that's it. Pride allowed knees to the head on the ground, soccer kicks, and stomps. These rules allowed more freedom, and made different fight structures and strategy. These fights had their own charm, just as fights under the Unified Rules.

Many say that MMA's rise in Japan owes a lot to Kazushi Sakuraba, but I would also add that it's not just about Sakuraba himself. Sakuraba showed MMA could be innovative, while being easy to understand for a casual audience. I love to see those sorts of moves I think just short video clips from that early era created many now-lifelong MMA fans, before "The Ultimate Fighter" ever started.

Pride's rules were unordinary, and might offer ammunition for an opponent of the sport. But MMA, or fightsport in general, are not made with social justice in mind. That is part of the reason why the sport has become cool for young people. The MMA community is filled with individuals behaving anti-socially, and many become more popular for that reason. Consciously or unconsciously, that behavior gets supported. I'm never surprised that the MMA media makes a big deal out of Nick Diaz or War Machine, even if it's immature.

This is all why I try to introduce unordinary subjects about MMA. I don't always give my opinion, but often want to give information, viewpoints and stories from others. Putting those stories together is my work, I leave it up to others to create their own views and opinions.

I'm not sure how often I'll write in this second year, but if you want to help this site continue, please sponsor, donate, or link to the site.

Lastly, I need to thank the biggest part of this site: you. I thank everyone for reading this site, and motivating me to continue.

Big thanks to Jordan Breen for English and editing.

Japanese Boxing gym relate to World champ list

Japanese boxing scene struggle by luck of talent at rate 80s.Japanese failed to get world boxing title 21 times continuously at 88 to 90.So it's amazing to see 6 world boxing champ in Japan now.I list up gym which produce Japanese boxing champ or gym currently run by former Japanese boxing world champ.

Watanabe Boxing Gym


Takashi Uchiyama official blog (Watanabe Gym)

Kohei Kono official blog (Watanabe Gym)

Ryoichi Taguchi official blog (Watanabe Gym)

Ioka Boxing Gym


Kazuto Ioka official blog (Ioka Gym)

Ohashi Boxing Gym


Naoya Inoue official blog (Ohashi Gym)

Katsunari Takayama official blog (Nakazato Boxing Gym)


Former champ

Kadoebi Boxing Gym


Yusuke Kobori official blog (Kadoebi Boxing Gym)

Teiken Boxing Gym


Takafumi Aoh official blog (Teiken Boxing Gym)

Toshiaki Nishioka official blog (Teiken Boxing Gym)

Yota Sato official blog (Teiken Boxing Gym)

Kyoei Boxing Gym


Takefumi Sakata official blog (Kyoei Boxing Gym)

Kohei Kono official blog (Watanabe Gym)

Nobuhiro Ishida official blog (Kanazawa Gym)

Shinsei Boxing Gym


Hozumi Hasegawa official blog (Shinsei Boxing Gym)

Nobuo Nashiro official blog (Muto Boxing Gym)

Daiki Kameda official blog (Kameda Gym)

Koki Kameda official blog (Kameda Gym)

Hideki Todaka official blog (Studio Bee)

Todaka Hideki Boxing Gym


Katsuo Tokashiki Boxing Gym


Katsuo Tokashiki official blog (Tokashiki Boxing Gym)

Kawashima Boxing Gym


Box Fai


Satoshi Iida official blog (Box Fai)

Celes Boxing Sports Gym


Celes Kobayashi official blog (Celes Boxing Sports Gym)

Kaneko Boxing Gym


Tomonobu Shimizu official blog (Kaneko Boxing Gym)

Hideyuki Ohashi official blog (Ohashi Boxing Gym)

Akira Yaegashi official blog (Ohashi Boxing Gym)

Katsushige Kawashima official blog (Ohashi Boxing Gym)

Ryo Miyazaki official blog (Ioka Gym)


SKILL MMA's article about Hozumi Hasegawa

Japanese Kick Boxing / Muay Thai event list

This time I introduce Japanese Kick Boxing / Muay Thai event list.This web is about MMA so bit go away from the point.But you guys know Japanese kick boxing scene effect J-MMA both good and bad.I know it's not perfect list but I spend lot time.So I just open this and going next thing.

Krush
Krush official
Krush official youtube channel

NJKF
NJKF (New Japan Kick-Boxing Federation) official
NJKF official youtube channel

R.I.S.E.
R.I.S.E. official
RISE official youtube channel
R.I.S.E. official blog

Shooto Boxing
Shooto Boxing official
Shooto Boxing's official youtube channel




J-Network
J-Network official
J-Network's official youtube channel
J-girls (Female)
J-girls official
J-girls official youtube channel



M-1
M-1 Muay Thai challenge official

REBELS
REBELS official
REBELS official youtube channel
Rebels official blog

MA Kick
MAKF official(Martial Arts Japan Kickboxing Federation)


Japan Kick Boxing Innovation
Japan Kick Boxing Innovation official

SKB
SKB official(Shin Nihon Kickboxing Association)

NKB
K-U official gym Hachioji Fighting Sports Gym
JKF


Survivor
Survivor official
Survivor official youtube channel
Survivor official blog

Big Bang
Big Bang official
Big Bang official youtube channel

DEEP Kick
DEEP Kick (Japanese local MMA org DEEP's kick box event web is integrate with MMA web)

HEAT
HEAT official(Japanese region MMA and Kick box org web is integrate with MMA web)

Nagoya Kick
Nagoya Kick
Nagoya Kick official youtube channel
Nagoya Kick Flickr

Kakimidashi
Kakimidashi official

Tenkaichi Fight
Tenkaichi Fight official
Tenkaichi Fight official blog

Sekkotsu (or Seikotsu)

Hanamaru Seikotsuin

Massage and manipulative therapy have their own demands in MMA which aren't often discussed. Professional athletes use these treatments to take care of their bodies, but which styles are popular among fighters? I'm not sure.

In Japan, however, one skill is famous: Sekkotsu (or Seikotsu).

There are several Sekkotsu doctors around the MMA world who have gained reputations as specialists in relieving lumbago.

How do they treat it? Basically, if you had a backache, the doctor wouldn't even touch the affected area, and would instead massage your leg or shoulder muscle to relax the lumbar pain.

How can they do such a thing? Because the balance of the rest of the body affects the waist. Before writing this article, I went to a Sekkotsu hospital for myself and I was convinced that it was worth writing about. I can say from my experience that it was worth a try for someone like myself who needs treatment on the waist. Of course, the skill level and results can vary from doctor to doctor, depending on your ailment. When it comes to medicine, I'm not a professional and I can't be held responsible for your result.

Hanamaru Seikotsu In (In = Clinic in Japan)
Run by Ken Yamamoto
Hiroto Dojo
Run by Soihci Hiroto, a former MMA referee. He has experience treating players on the Atlanta Braves
All Elbows
MMA photo and video website All Elbows has a video with Ken Yamamoto as staff for Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal


Fight Journal: King Mo Sengoku 7: Fight Night from All Elbows on Vimeo.


Big thanks to Chris Nelson (from Bloody Elbow) for English and editing.

Foreign fighter who fight for Japanese local MMA twitter list

MMA is international sports.Fighter or trainer or supporter around the globe across border make this fight game richer.I introduce foreign fighter (include former) who fight in Japanese local MMA to commemorate them.People not knowing local MMA's international relationship compare to major MMA.But that's most certain power for help MMA to broad globe.

I introduce fighter who fight at Japanese local MMA more than 5 times who also have twitter account.

Erik Paulson
First American Shooto title holder.Defend belt for 5 years long.His gym "CSW" have Shooto style element and many fighter come to know what he learn and experience at Japan.

CSW Training Center

Joachim Hansen
He had Shooto's best divisions title "welter weight" with victory over Takanori Gomi.Beat Shinya Aoki make him first Dream light weight champ.His next bout for Dream feather weight title against Bibiano Fernandes.His appearance appear MMA exist in north Europe.

Team Joachim Hansen (support team in Japan)'s blog

Frank Shamrock
He had Pancrase title,Participate Vale Tudo Japan,Participate UFC Japan.clearly have long history with Japan.Won UFC championship.Still fight for Strikeforce.

Official Frank Shamrock web

Shonie Carter
Have a fight with Shooto and Pancrase.UFC veteran.Learn Shidokan Karate,Judo and Jiujitsu.

Official Shonie Carter web

Ryan Bow
Move to Japan for fighting joining PUREBRED Omiya.Long time Shooto ranker.Challenge DEEP light weight title.Back to the states.Currently run gym at Kentwood, Michigan and Kamata, Tokyo

Kaminari Dojo (His gym)

Antonio Carvalho
Move to Japan for fighting.Join AACC (Abe Ani Combat Club) Challenge Shooto lightweight title.Fought in Cage Force too.His interest not only MMA fought grappling (DEEP X) or Kick Boxing (Shooto Boxing) too.

Jake Shields
Former Shooto Middile weight title holder.Rumble On The Rock Welter Weight tournament winner.Elite XC Welter Weight title holder.Current Strikeforce Middle weight champ.

Jake Shields Official Web

Roxanne Modafferi
Choice Japanese language for University studies.Not only doing MMA but also doing English teacher.Debut at Japanese promotion Smack Girl.Winner of K-GRACE tournament winner.



Roxanne Modafferi Official Web

Guy Mezger
Former Pancrase title holder. UFC light weight tournament winner.HDnet commentator.

Guy Mezger's combat sports club

Ricardo Almeida
Former Pancrase title holder.UFC fighter.

Enson Inoue
Beat Randy Couture make first time people's eye to Shooto.Basically one of source people bring Brazilian Jiujitsu skill to Japan.Making PUREBRED branches gym at Japan,Saipan,Guam and contribute produce local fighter.

Enson Inoue Official blog (English)
Enson Inoue Official blog (Japanese)
His gym Purebred Omiya

Nathan Marquardt
Former Pancrase title holder.(with youngest record).UFC title challenger.Make famous Pancrase's brand in UFC.

Nathan Marquardt Official Web

Bas Rutten
Former Pancrase title holder.Move to UFC and Take UFC title.Doing coach at IFL.Famous at PRIDE commentator.

Bas Rutten Official Web

SKILL MMA's twitter list "Foreign fighter who fight for Japanese local MMA"

This young sport will get old

I've already wrote about this sport's cross-cultural charm, audience viewpoints and the business outlook. If you're reading this site, you understand that MMA's own culture has been developed by different things: reality television, internet forums, pro-wrestling, and so on. When I talk about "sport", I don't deny all those things have their effect.

MMA often shows the same cultural values as pro-wrestling such as nationalism and the admiration of bigger physical powers, ignoring smaller men and women in favor of heavyweights. These ideas are simple, and easy to understand. It's easier to excite people with them.

However, pro-wrestling isn't a sport, and MMA is. In a real sport, aggressive, abrasive promoters, big-money mismatches show how young the sport is. Normally the "youth" of MMA is celebrated, but it also means the sport is fairly immature. After a certain time, MMA won't be "young" any more, but it still might be immature.

Still, this game is new. That is a fact. But even if MMA sells itself on athletic merit, but it can't be sold that way forever.

In the sport now, people talk continuously about matchmaking, and what fighters are underrated and overrated. It's all about fighting, so I would never say tell anyone not to talk about those thing, but there is a lack of diversity in discussion topics. For now, those topics will provide enthusiastic debate, but at some people, people will find its limitations.

Why did I make a venue list for MMA events? Because it's interesting. There is a difference in quality as a fan in the audience. A good seat at a good venue allows you to see a fighter's footwork, down to his knee and ankle movement or submission transitions. If you have a ringside seat, you can see how a corner advises their fighter, and how they change their attack after that. I never found reviews of venues, or audience experiences based on seat price.

Sometime's MMA fans attack other martial arts people, who are part of MMA's grassroots. MMA can still learn from traditional martial arts: cultivating manners and discipline is a big part of martial arts. That doesn't mean MMA needs to get conservative; chaos is one of the sport's charms. But, MMA isn't only growing because of American culture -- television, media, and money -- other nations' cultures impact MMA, too. For instance, the different martial arts skills from different countries add new skills to regional fighters. This makes fights themselves more diverse, and a joy to watch.

"This is fastest growing sport in the world."

We need to show maturity as this sports grows. We need to talk about all aspects of the sport to do that.

SKILL MMA's Japanese MMA Scene venue list

Big thanks to Jordan Breen for English and editing.

How to buy MMA ticket in Japan? (DEEP and Jewels)

How to buy MMA ticket in Japan? (DEEP and Jewels)
Note : I can't grantee this information's correctness.Ticket system or organization policy will change when they need.

How to buy MMA ticket in Japan? At first you need go Japanese MMA's organization web to find out ticket code.If you know those code,you can buy it at convenience store. I write about DEEP and Jewels at this article.I will write about other organization soon.I want respond if you use this article.I write this kind of thing and use diigo first time,so I don't know it works well.

At first you need install diigo to watch my web sticky note.

diigo

Did you install it? Then let's find out ticket code.

How to buy DEEP's ticket

DEEP official web

This is DEEP's official web.Click biggest jpg to watch event page.

event page

event page

You need watch sticky note and confirm card,date,venue,venue open time,event start time,ticket fee,when ticket start selling and most importantly p-code or l-code.

You need memo those code and bring them to convenience store.You need ask clerk how to buy ticket with code.You need show your p-code or l-code to clerk.

You need find out event's own p-code or l-code.every event have differ code.

How to buy Jewels's ticket

Jewels home page

This is Jewels's official web.You can find newest event details.I add sticky notes but it's just for next 19 March event.It will change when event is done but I do think they will appear next event with same style.

extra

Japanese MMA event venue list with Google maps
If event is near hold date.There is possibility to finish ticket selling at ticket service.Still you can go to event and buy ticket at venue.(You need pay extra fee 500yen though.)