ONE Friday Fights 46 was delivered as one of the year’s most exciting martial arts events from start to finish. The Lumpinee Boxing Stadium crowd in Bangkok, Thailand, was loud and into every single bout on the card. A triple-header of title tilts headlined the card, and each bout was better than the last. In the first title match, Phetjeeja bested Anissa Meksen in a five-round battle. Meksen found success throughout, but the Thai’s power shots visibly rocked the head of the French-Algerian on multiple occasions. “The Queen” got her first crown as the ONE Interim Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion and set up a unification bout with Janet Todd for 2024. In the following contest, Prajanchai PK Saenchai got his revenge on Joseph Lasiri to unify the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Title. Lasiri was dancing and smiling but quickly found himself face down on the canvas in under 90 seconds after a crushing elbow collided with his face. Tawanchai PK Saenchai and Superbon Singha Mawynn put on a striking masterclass for five rounds in the main event. The bout could have gone either way when it reached the end of the fifth round, but Tawanchai got the nod in the eyes of the judges. But there was so much more on the card. Just before the three title matches, Nico Carrillo overcame early adversity with a battered leg to knockout Nong-O Hama. He positioned himself as one of the top contenders for Jonathan Haggerty’s bantamweight gold. The night began with three consecutive knockout performances to get the evening rolling on the right note. Suablack Tor Pran49, Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi, and Suriyanlek Por Yenying grabbed wins and performance bonuses for their work. Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai also picked up a huge knockout win with a first-round finish over Fariyar Aminipour. In the following bout, Nabil Anane used his length to stifle Muangthai PK Saenchai for the biggest win of his career. When the main card got underway, Seksan Or Kwanmuang found himself in a firefight with River Daz. Although the Aussie performed well, “The Man Who Yields To No One” edged past him by a split decision. ONE Friday Fights 46 was pure adrenaline every step of the way. The event can be relived on-demand at watch.onefc.com for $39.99. ONE Friday Fights 46 Full Results Tawanchai PK Saenchai def. Superbon Singha Mawynn by majority decision Prajanchai PK Saenchai def. Joseph Lasiri by KO at 1:28 of the first round Phetjeeja def Anissa Meksen by unanimous decision Nico Carrillo def. Nong-O Hama by KO at 1:28 of the second round Seksan Or Kwanmuang def. River Daz by split decision Nabil Anane def. Muangthai PK Saenchai by unanimous decision Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai def. Fariyar Aminipour by KO at 2:51 of the first round Jaosuayai Sor Dechapan def. Petsukumvit Boi Bangna by majority decision Suablack Tor Pran49 def. Craig Coakley by KO at 2:15 of the first round Chorfah Tor Sangtiennoi def. Eisaku Ogasawara by KO at 0:57 of the second round Suriyanlek Por Yenying def. Yodkritsada Sor Sommai by KO at 0:15 of the second round

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion , partnering with Teresa Tapia’s LIGA MVL, presents the BKFC Prospect Series on Friday, January 27, 2024  at The Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tickets for the BKFC Prospect Series are Now On-Sale  at BKFC.com . The Revel is located at 4720 Alexander Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107. The BKFC Prospect Series will also be broadcast internationally as part of the BKFC+ Subscription for $7.99 per month on the BKFC App – The Best Value in Combat Sports  and is sponsored by Bucked Up, Grunt Style, Fubo Sports, MIT 45, Only Fans and Crescent Tools. Additionally, the event will be broadcast on Fubo Sports free of charge.   “We’re always excited to return to Albuquerque, New Mexico, home to some of the toughest and most talented bare-knuckle fighters in the world along with the amazing fans who have been so incredibly supportive of our three past local events,” said David Feldman, President and Founder of BKFC. “The BKFC Prospect Series is a special, unique event showcasing some of the best young talent in Albuquerque which promises fireworks throughout the evening.”   In the main event on January 27, popular local favorite Donald Sanchez, (1-1), clashes with battle tested veteran Noah Cutter, (3-6) of Defuniak Springs, FL in a middleweight bout. Sanchez impressed in his last fight in the squared circle, a dominant unanimous decision over Blake LaCaze at BKFC-48 on August 11, 2023 at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cutter looks to bounce back into the win column after his matchup with Dakota Cochrane at BKFC-43 on May 19, 2023.   Co-featured at the BKFC Prospect Series event, Albuquerque native Eric ‘Thuggy Bear’ Dodson, (2-1), brother of BKFC Flyweight World Champion John Dodson, knuckles up against Dakota Highpine, (1-2), of Great Falls, Montana. Dodson seeks a return to the winner’s circle following a hotly contested fight with Roberto Armas at BKFC-48. Highpine also looks towards victory following a loss to Bryan Duran at BKFC-49 on August 25, 2023.   Additional fights for the BKFC Prospect Series will be announced shortly.

As the year 2023 comes to a close, it's time to take a look at the warriors who have claimed the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) titles across various weight classes. These fighters have shown exceptional skill, determination, and resilience in the octagon, earning them the prestigious status of UFC champions. Here are the 2023 UFC Title Holders: Flyweight 125 Lbs - Male Alexandre Pantoja Record:  27-5-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval Notable Achievement:  Pantoja has demonstrated remarkable agility and precision in the Flyweight division, establishing himself as a formidable champion with his technical prowess and strategic fighting style. Bantamweight 135 Lbs - Male Sean O'Malley Record:  17-1-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Aljamain Sterling vs Sean O'Malley Notable Achievement:  Known for his charismatic presence and dynamic fighting technique, O'Malley has captivated fans and secured his place at the top with his impressive win-loss record. Featherweight 174 Lbs - Male Alexander Volkanovski Record:  26-3-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski Notable Achievement:  Volkanovski's dominance in the Featherweight division is marked by his exceptional strength and tactical intelligence, making him one of the most respected fighters in the UFC. Lightweight 171 Lbs - Male Islam Makhachev Record:  25-1-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski Notable Achievement:  Makhachev has risen through the ranks with his grappling skills and endurance, proving to be a relentless force in the Lightweight category. Welterweight 170 Lbs - Male Leon Edwards Record:  22-3-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington Notable Achievement:  Edwards' journey to the top is a testament to his hard work and versatility in the octagon, making him a standout champion in the Welterweight division. Middleweight 185 Lbs Sean Strickland Record:  28-5-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland Notable Achievement:  Strickland's robust fighting style and resilience have earned him the Middleweight title, showcasing his ability to outperform some of the toughest competitors. Light Heavyweight 204 Lbs Alex Pereira Record:  9-2-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Jiří Procházka vs Alex Pereira Notable Achievement:  Despite a relatively shorter record, Pereira's explosive power and knockout ability have quickly propelled him to the forefront of the Light Heavyweight division. Heavyweight 248 Lbs Jon Jones Record:  27-1-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane Notable Achievement:  Jones, a legend in the UFC, continues to assert his dominance in the Heavyweight class with his unparalleled skill set and strategic mastery inside the octagon. Women's Straw Weight 115 Lbs Zhang Weili Record:  24-3-0 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Zhang Weili vs Amanda Lemos Notable Achievement:  Weili's tenacity and striking ability have kept her at the pinnacle of the Women's Strawweight division, making her a fearsome and respected champion. Women's Flyweight 134 Lbs Alexa Grasso Record:  16-3-1 (W-L-D) Last Fight:  Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko Notable Achievement:  Grasso has risen to prominence with her quick movement and striking accuracy, marking her as a formidable titleholder in the Women's Flyweight category. These champions represent the pinnacle of mixed martial arts in their respective divisions. Their journey to the top of UFC in 2023 has been a testament to their skill, hard work, and dedication to the sport. As we look forward to another exciting year in UFC, these fighters will undoubtedly continue to inspire and amaze fans around the world.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has unveiled an exciting slate of bouts for its landmark UFC 300 event, alongside several other high-profile fight cards. These announcements from UFC President Dana White have generated considerable buzz in the MMA community. Here's a breakdown of the key matchups across these events: UFC 300 – April 13, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Light Heavyweight Bout: Jiří Procházka vs. Aleksandar Rakić. Procházka, known for his dynamic striking and knockout power, faces Rakić, a well-rounded fighter with a solid ground game. This clash promises a high-octane battle between two top contenders in the light heavyweight division. Featherweight Bout: Aljamain Sterling vs. Calvin Kattar . Sterling, a master of grappling and submissions, meets Kattar, a striker with excellent boxing skills. This fight offers a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, showcasing diverse fighting styles. Middleweight Bout: Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage . Rising stars Nickal and Brundage will face off in a contest that could propel the winner to new heights in the middleweight ranks. Both fighters bring a mix of wrestling and striking, promising a well-rounded and competitive match. UFC 298 – February 17, Anaheim, California Middleweight Bout: Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa Former champion Whittaker takes on powerhouse Costa in a highly anticipated middleweight showdown. This bout pits Whittaker's technical striking and agility against Costa's brute strength and aggression. Welterweight Bout: Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal Originally slated for another event, this welterweight clash features the up-and-coming Garry against the experienced striker Neal. It's a pivotal fight for both athletes' career trajectories. UFC Fight Night – February 24, Mexico City Featherweight Co-Main Event: Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega This five-round bout showcases Rodriguez's dynamic striking against Ortega's renowned grappling and submission skills. It's a fight that could determine the next title challenger in the featherweight division. Flyweight Main Event: Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi Moreno, a former champion with an all-around skill set, faces Albazi, a rising star with a strong grappling background. This fight is critical for the flyweight division's landscape. UFC Fight Night – March 30, Atlantic City, New Jersey Women's Flyweight Main Event: Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot . Blanchfield, a New Jersey native, takes on France's Fiorot in what is likely a title eliminator bout. Both fighters have shown impressive skills in their recent outings, making this matchup a potential fight-of-the-night contender. These upcoming UFC events are set to deliver thrilling action and potential career-defining moments for the fighters involved. Fans worldwide eagerly await these matchups as the UFC continues to showcase the best in mixed martial arts.

This production is getting a lot of hype, and for good reason. Here are three: 1. Zack Snyder wanted it to be like Star Wars. Netflix has collaborated with acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder following the remarkable success of his film Army of the Dead . After an extensive tenure with Warner Bros and DC, Snyder has found a new creative haven with the streaming giant, promising a diverse range of exciting upcoming projects. Among these endeavors is his ambitious two-part project, Rebel Moon , which has generated buzz for the potential development of spin-off properties. As an avid Star Wars enthusiast, Snyder initially conceived Rebel Moon as a contribution to the Star Wars franchise, intending to offer a more mature perspective on the universe originally crafted by George Lucas. However, this vision faced a setback when Walt Disney Co. acquired LucasFilm in 2012. Undeterred, Snyder struck a deal with Deborah Snyder’s production company, Stone Quarry, and Netflix, leading to the transformation of Rebel Moon into an entirely new and captivating universe. Out on Netflix December 22 2. The cast is led by big names in action. Headlining the star-studded ensemble is Sofia Boutella , renowned for her role in Star Trek Beyond , accompanied by the talents of Ed Skrein from Deadpool, the iconic Djimon Hounsou from films like Gladiator and Guardians of the Galaxy , and Charlie Hunnam , known for Sons of Anarchy . Adding to the cinematic allure, Sir Anthony Hopkins lends his distinctive voice to a robot character. Netflix's ambitious plans for Rebel Moon are evident with the production of two upcoming films, signaling the streaming platform's anticipation for the establishment of a significant sci-fi franchise. 3. The Origin Story Rebel Moon harks back to a bygone era of Star Wars. Set in the interim between Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens , Zack Snyder presents Rebel Moon as a potential expansion to Lucas's expansive galaxy. Snyder described it as his plea to "take it for a spin," envisioning the project as an imaginative journey within the Star Wars universe. Although discussions with Lucas never materialized, Snyder has since developed Rebel Moon independently as a sci-fi venture, still rooted in the genre but distinctly separate from Star Wars. The film serves as Snyder's amalgamation of his passion for Star Wars and admiration for Akira Kurosawa films, particularly Seven Samurai. While not the first sci-fi movie to explore the theme of villagers enlisting elite warriors for protection, Rebel Moon, backed by the resources of Netflix, promises a level of spectacle that sets it apart from predecessors like the Roger Corman-produced Battle Beyond the Stars —an adaptation of the classic Western The Magnificent Seven .

by Billy L Greer Bruce Lee is known not just for his martial prowess but also for his ideas and philosophies. He’s credited with popularizing kung fu in the Western world and is often said to be the father of the mixed martial arts. It’s hard to find a martial artist today who isn’t familiar with at least a few quotes attributed to Lee. Perhaps the best-known quotes are “Be like water” and “Absorb what is useful.” Did these words of wisdom originate with Lee, or do they have a deeper history? Do they mean what most people take them to mean? Let’s explore. Part 2 focuses on the phrase “Absorb What is Useful” Absorb What Is Useful This is a shortened version of Bruce Lee’s full statement: “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own.” Again, these words come from Lee, but the concept is a common one in Chinese writing. We can find an almost identical quote in Mao Zedong’s Problems of Strategy in China’s Revolutionary War: “We should put these conclusions to the test of our own experience, assimilating what is useful, rejecting what is useless and adding what is specifically our own.” This is often compared to another quote from Lee: “Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.”  People who use either quote often point out that Lee studied many martial arts and freely borrowed effective techniques to incorporate in his own system. Because of this approach, he’s often credited with being the father of MMA. The idea is that by picking the most useful techniques from different arts while discarding the useless ones, you can build a system that includes only the best techniques. The Chinese martial arts recognize four primary elements that are essential for a complete art: da (hitting), ti (kicking), shuai (takedowns/throws) and na (grabs/locks/submissions). It seems logical that if we find arts that specialize in these areas and combine their best techniques, we will create the ultimate fighting system. In MMA, this is generally taken to mean boxing for punching, muay Thai for kicking and striking, wrestling for takedowns and throws, and BJJ for locks and submissions. This idea of picking and choosing techniques from different styles has led many people to cross-train in a variety of arts instead of specializing in one. They hope to gain skill more quickly by absorbing the good stuff and then moving on to something else. Does mixing the best of different things lead to something superior? Not always, as I learned at an early age. When I was a child, my two favorite sandwiches were fried baloney and cheese, and strawberry jam with chunky peanut butter. Each seemed so good that I was struck with the idea of how great they would be if I mixed them together — double the deliciousness! Unfortunately, when I combined them to make my ultimate sandwich, let’s just say it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Here’s another illustration: If you have a recent injury, you might be advised to soak it in ice water. If you have an old chronic injury, you might be advised to soak it in hot water. It’s unlikely anyone will advise you to combine ice water and hot water and use the resulting lukewarm water to treat the injury. When we mix things, they can dilute each other rather than strengthening each other. Another problem with the approach of collecting great individual techniques is that we believe as we collect the “bricks” of great applications, we will end up with a beautiful structure. Unfortunately, the reality is we often end up with just a pile of bricks. This is what happens if we collect techniques rather than absorb them. If we combine oil and water, no matter how much we shake them, they eventually will separate. To absorb something, we must have a place to fit it into an existing structure. A sponge absorbs water because it has a compatible nature and spaces in its structure for the water to fit. To absorb what is useful, we must be like water, having a defined structure. The structure determines whether we have the spaces for something to fit and be absorbed. But remember that we’re not supposed to absorb anything that happens to fit, only what is useful. How do we determine what is useful? It’s important to understand the difference between useful and useable. By useful, we mean useful for our intended purpose. Rollerblades can be useful for traveling on the boardwalk at the beach, but if you’re planning on walking in the sand along the water’s edge, they’re not so useful. If you give a short stick to a person who has no weapons experience, almost immediately the person will grasp the basics of using it to swing and thrust at an attacker. Human beings are familiar with making those motions to hit things with their hands, so the stick almost instantly becomes an extension of the hands and gives the user the advantage of greater reach. Here is a tool that’s useful, enabling us to reach an attacker before the attacker can reach us, and that’s useable with natural motions. On the other hand, if you give the same person a bullwhip, he will struggle to use it. If he swings it like a stick, he will have greater reach, but it will be slow moving and lack power at the end. If he tries to use it to thrust at an attacker, the whip will seem useless. Given the choice between a short stick and a whip, the unskilled person is likely to choose the stick, believing the whip to be ineffective and useless as a weapon. But if a person is skilled with the bullwhip, it’s easy to see the advantages it has over the short stick. It allows you to strike an attacker from a greater distance. The tip can move fast enough to break the sound barrier and create a force that can rip flesh and even break bones. It also can entangle and trip attackers, or trap and tie them up at close quarters. The whip can be more useful as a weapon than a short stick. However, it’s less useable. It requires practice to develop the proper motion to access the true power of the weapon — and even more practice to develop the accuracy needed to deliver that power to the intended target. This is the problem faced by the technique collector who experiments with applications from different martial arts. Without a strong foundation to provide structure, the collector doesn’t know if there is a proper place for a technique. Without that structure, he might be mixing techniques rather than absorbing them. Also, without dedicated practice, he might attempt a technique but be unable to make it work. He discards the technique because he thinks it doesn’t work when the reality is he didn’t practice enough to learn how to make it work. Some of the most useful skills have a steep learning curve and are not very useable until you’ve invested the time and effort to make them work. Action Items So how does one learn to be like water and to absorb what is useful? Old-school training follows the philosophy of imitate and assimilate, then innovate. New students are expected to do their best to imitate their teacher. Through correction and repetition, they strive to move just like their teacher. As they progress, the corrections and the practice are assimilated by the mind and body. The body may be physically changed through correct practice, and the mind absorbs the movements so thoroughly that they can be performed without conscious effort. This creates the foundation of the martial art. Once the training has been assimilated, it’s time for innovation. This is the stage at which kung fu is personalized for the practitioner, and there is freedom of action and reaction that’s infinitely adaptable rather than relying on fixed responses. Paradoxically, it’s the initial rigid and precise training with strict form that ultimately creates the foundation for “formless” movement. This is the path of skill development followed in many disciplines. Traditional training in painting had apprentices begin with the “boring” basics of grinding pigments, preparing canvases and mixing paints. Then they would learn by copying the art of their master or other famous artists. Through this imitation, they would assimilate the knowledge of their teacher. With the knowledge they absorbed, they were able to innovate and develop their own recognizable style. All too often, people think the advice to be like water means to skip right to the “innovate” part and develop their own style. They put the emphasis on creativity and doing things naturally, but the first two steps — imitate and assimilate — are essential for true skill to develop. Without those steps, budding artists might not understand the usefulness of techniques such as underpainting and wonder why they should waste time doing something that will just be painted over. They might jump to the conclusion that they can improve on what the old masters did by skipping what seems to be useless. The poet E.E. Cummings studied Latin and Greek in high school, explored many traditional forms of poetry and wrote a poem a day from age 8 to 22. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Harvard University. Without the imitation and assimilation of tradition, he would not have had the grasp of language required to become an innovator. He might just have been an uneducated writer with no understanding of grammar. If you want to be like water, there are no shortcuts. First, you must develop the form and structure that will allow you to be formless and flowing. You must spend countless hours imitating and assimilating the basic principles of movement before you can express them without limit. This is the foundation and where you should invest the most time and care. The old masters will tell you that you can build the most beautiful structure, but if you build it on sand, it will eventually collapse. If you prepare the foundation properly, it may take longer to construct, but what you build will endure. You not only must select good construction materials, but you also must ensure that they work well together. If you start by randomly collecting materials and then try to build something with what you have, you’ll quickly discover limitations caused by materials that are incompatible. Water is simple. There are only two elements and three atoms. But as my teacher Willy Lin likes to say, “Simple is not easy.” Simple requires exacting discipline. Be like water, perfectly aligned and precisely structured. Only then can you absorb what is useful, transition from hard to soft, change from going around to going through, and thus adapt fluidly to changing situations. Billy L. Greer and his wife Nancy own the Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1973 he began studying folkstyle wrestling, and in 1987 he transitioned to traditional Chinese martial arts. A disciple of Willy Lin, Greer is a third-generation inheritor of tian shan pai kung fu. He’s also a disciple of Chen Zhenglei and a 12th-generation inheritor of Chen-family tai chi chuan.

Ed Parker, the "Father of American Kenpo Karate," featured on the February 1975 issue of Black Belt Magazine . Parker's cover story features his journey, detailing his experiences, philosophy, and the evolution of American Kenpo. The story also dives into his innovative approach to promoting martial arts including his masterpiece the “Internationals” in Long Beach, CA where Bruce Lee was first discovered. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format. For access to all issues of   Black Belt Magazine , go here!

Most modern martial artists know Dan Inosanto as a first-generation student of Bruce Lee and one of the world's premier jeet kune do instructors. What many don't know is that Inosanto has been an integral part of other corners of the martial arts community and a key player in martial arts history for more than four decades. Presented below are 11 little-known facts about the master's involvement in our universe. 1. Dan Inosanto has a famous daughter. Her name is Diana Lee Inosanto, and in addition to being a skilled martial artist (and a member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame), she's an accomplished filmmaker. Among her movies is The Sensei (2008). 2. Dan Inosanto's youngest black belt is Khayman Amir McDaniels, who's now 18. “I never would have thought I would be awarding a black belt to anyone under 21," Inosanto said. “But Khayman earned it, deserved it and continued his training." 3. When Bruce Lee died in 1973, Dan Inosanto — along with Bruce Lee's brother Robert Lee and close friends James Coburn and Steve McQueen — served as a pallbearer. 4. Dan Inosanto has an authorized biography. Titled Dan Inosanto: The Man, the Teacher, the Artist, it's written by Perry William Kelly, who also contributes to Black Belt. 5. In 1975 Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo and Jerry Poteet collaborated to create a jeet kune do technique poster. The same year, Inosanto released a Super 8 film that covered angles of attack, trapping and use of the short staff. 6. In 1986 Dan Inosanto identified the Degerberg Academy, operated in Illinois by Fred Degerberg, as "probably one of the best schools in the U.S." 7. Dan Inosanto has acted in numerous films in addition to Game of Death (1978) and has done stunts and choreography for many more. As recently as 2008, he played the jiu-jitsu master of one of the main characters in David Mamet's Redbelt. 8. Dan Inosanto is regarded as one of the United States' foremost krabi krabong experts. He studied under, among others, Col. Nattapong Buayam, a former Thai special-forces instructor. 9. Dan Inosanto's interpretation of kali made the list of the top-10 self-defense arts. According to Black Belt contributing editor Dr. Mark Cheng: “The Filipino system taught by Dan Inosanto is far more than just the sticks and knives that the casual observer sees. Including every possible weapon and range of combat, Inosanto's system is one of the most sought-after and imitated arts in the world when it comes to practical self-defense." 10. Dan Inosanto is a four-time Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee: 1977 — Special Recognition Award 1983 — Instructor of the Year 1988 — Weapons Instructor of the Year 1996 — Man of the Year That puts him in the same category as Chuck Norris, the only other martial artist who's been inducted four times 11. Dan Inosanto has been a fixture in Black Belt since 1975. His most recent cover appearance was on the Dec 2016 issue.

Tony "The Conqueror" Cortez of Combate Global (2-0-0) is a Pro MMA Mens Featherweight Fighter out of Temecula, California. What is your approach to food after the weigh in?  My approach to food after a weigh in is I slowly start to drink water because waters the most important after cutting weight, then I like to eat pancakes French toast with an omelette for breakfast.  Describe your pre-fight playlist? My prefight playlist mostly consist of rap and trap music, I listen to a lot of Anuel AA.  Who is the last person you call pre-fight?  The last person I call prefight is my mom, I always like to get my moms blessing to go in there and try to really hurt someone before doing it.  What’s going through your mind as you make the ring-walk? As I make the ring walk what’s going through my mind is all the struggles myself and my family have gone through together and thinking about how I can change everything for our bloodline one fight at a time.  Once you see your opponent in the ring for the first time, is there anything that you're looking for? Once I see my opponent in the ring I’m looking for any signs of doubt coming from them and any fear of death.  How difficult is it to control your anger during a fight? It isn’t very difficult to control my anger in the fight because I know if I let my anger control me I can possibly get tired and have a tougher fight.  How often do you hear the crowd? I don’t hear the crowd very often because I’m mostly listening for my coaches voices.  What goes through your mind the first time you get hit? What goes through my mind the first time I get hit is how can I avoid getting hit again.  Who is the first person you call post-fight? The first person I call after my fight is either my mom or my sister.  What’s your favorite post-fight meal?  (or What’s the first thing you think about eating after a fight?) My favorite post fight meal is pizza.  Thanks for speaking with us, Tony Cortez!

WHAT:  CLARESSA SHIELDS’ ANNUAL TOYS, FOOD, & WINTER GEAR GIVEAWAY WHEN:  Saturday, December 23rd, 12 p.m. –  4 p.m. ET WHERE:  AT Fitness: 2189 Coldwater Rd, Mt Morris, MI 48458 The 4th Annual Claressa Shields Winter Giveaway : Toy Drive is a pillar within the Shields Community Outreach Program that extends its impact beyond the boxing ring. Recognizing that the holiday season can be particularly challenging for families in need, Claressa Shields, with the support of the program and sponsors, organizes a heartwarming initiative to provide joy and comfort to underserved youth. The toy drive brings a festive spirit to those facing economic hardships in a community-fueled environment.  The Shields Community Outreach Corporation (SCOC), founded by Boxing & MMA star and 2x gold medalist Claressa Shields, stands as a beam of hope for the Michigan youth community, dedicated to fostering resilience and empowerment through its annual programming. By leveraging the discipline and skill development inherent in boxing, the program, spearheaded by Shields, seeks to provide a transformative outlet for young individuals grappling with the challenges of depression, trauma, and anger. Recognizing the therapeutic benefits of the sport, the initiative aims to instill not only physical strength but also mental fortitude, encouraging participants to channel their emotions into positive avenues. Through an authentic approach Shields has personally benefited from that integrates boxing training with mentorship and psychological support, the program endeavors to equip young minds with the tools needed to confront life's adversities, fostering a sense of self-worth and resilience that extends beyond the confines of the ring. In doing so, the Shields Community Outreach program, under the guidance of its illustrious founder, strives to empower the youth, drive awareness to the program, and raise funds throughout the year to expand its programming and reach. Looking ahead, SCOC continues to raise funds throughout the year to help strengthen its event programming and continue hosting annual Back 2 School Giveaways, Easter Holiday Initiatives, Winter Giveaway, and Holiday Toy Drives.

by Antonio Terrone Last week we published part one. Part two offers final suggestions for keeping traditional martial arts alive.  There has been much clamor in the aikido world about a recent study suggesting that practice of the traditional martial art is shrinking in the modern world. Based on Google Trend data, the Aikido Journal published a special report on the art’s demographics, and it too indicated a dramatic decline in aikido in America. The take-aways are several. One is that aikido in the United States is not popular among the younger generations, especially in comparison with Europe. A mere 4.8 percent of aikidoka in the United States are in their 30s, while more than 80 percent are age 40 or older. Evidence of gender and ethnic asymmetries are also cause for concern. As in many other fields of human endeavor, while there are some conservative views on how to cultivate aikido, others push for a more progressive approach that is based on adaptation to a changing world. Conversations on this issue are not new, but they tend to raise questions rather than suggest solutions, and consequently there is little consensus on how to move forward. Suggestion 3: Maximize Exposure to the Public Given the prime-time attention the aforementioned new martial arts and combat sports are enjoying in the United States, there is little hope for budo-based martial arts to attract similarly large audiences. Even though tournaments, full-contact fighting and media adoration are unlikely to proliferate in the aikido universe, there are alternative ways for dojo to stimulate and energize membership. Aikido instructors should be encouraged to visit other dojo when possible to expand their experience and familiarize themselves with different teaching styles and practice methods. They should urge their students to attend local, national and international seminars to improve their technical skills and network with their peers. Further, students and teachers should find ways to participate in local or national demonstrations, fairs and summer camps because they offer excellent opportunities for good publicity. Public relations, advertising and demonstrations can be game changers for aikido dojo. Open-house events and public tryouts, general advertising campaigns, and outreaches in schools, community centers and colleges also can raise awareness at the local level. Other possibilities include offering more demonstrations in K-12 schools and summer camps, creating after-school programs that combine aikido practice with homework and study sessions, and offering sliding fee scales in an effort to surmount financial barriers faced by locals who are interested in learning. Suggestion 4: Emphasize the Intangible Benefits of Training The final point pertains to the psycho-spiritual component of aikido specifically and budo in general. Some budo-based arts are popular in Japan because many parents include martials arts in their children’s education to expose them to traditional Japanese culture. Modern budo are considered ningen keisei no michi, “ways to human development,” which is a concept that does not have much meaning in the United States. In Japan, many high schools and colleges have martial arts clubs that teach judo, kendo, karate and aikido. This is, obviously, not the case in American educational institutions. One of the major drivers for the development and success of budo in Japan was and, in a way, still is shugyo, “self-development” or “selfcultivation,” a concept that has been refined in modern Japan. Aikido fits into this category based on founder Morihei Ueshiba’s philosophies. Reading the works of Ueshiba and other great masters of the past will help anyone understand how aikido can function as a “technology of the self.” In other words, it fosters the quest for well-being and the development of one’s physical, spiritual and ethical awareness. Aikido is a method for controlling power and gaining agency over one’s own transformation into a state of perfection through working on body, mind and conduct. While in Japanese culture, most of the spiritual elements associated with aikido are embedded in social norms and etiquette, the same cannot be said for the outside world. Many concepts pertaining to aikido practice constitute the essence of Japanese ethics, customs and culture. They include ki, kokyu (breathing), mokuso (meditation), rei (bowing), zanshin (awareness), shinshin toitsu (mind-body unity), gaman (perseverance) and seiza (proper sitting). Western dojo have assimilated some of these norms, but there is no consensus when it comes to others that are more internal and psychologically charged. There is even less agreement on how to convey them to the next generation. Instead of avoiding or neglecting to address psycho-spiritual elements, Western aikido instructors should consider introducing the relevant cultural, literary and ethical content in their classes to help students understand and contextualize aikido in the broader world of budo. This, in essence, will help students appreciate the true value of the art. --- Antonio Terrone began aikido in Italy in the late 1980s under Tada Hiroshi. He continued training in France and the Netherlands with Christian Tissier and Wilko Vriesman, and on several occasions, he trained at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo under Ueshiba Moriteru, Endo Seishiro, Yokota Yoshiaki, Yasuno Masatoshi and Miyamoto Tsuruzo, among others. Currently an Aikikai yondan, he teaches at the Evanston Aikido Center in Evanston, Illinois. He also teaches in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at Northwestern University. His first book was The Moon in the River: The Budo Path to the Empty Mind (2020). To read his blog, visit antonioterrone.com . This article was originally published in a 2022 edition of Black Belt Magazine.

ONE Championship has revealed three exciting matchups for its debut in Qatar on Friday, March 1. The first of several expected title tilts at ONE 166 Qatar will be a rematch for the ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship: Brooks vs Pacio. Jarred Brooks will defend the gold against former kingpin Joshua Pacio to rekindle their rivalry. Brooks dominated the strawweight division en route to his shot at the title. Although Pacio showed himself well, Brooks’ wrestling was enough to secure a unanimous decision victory to claim the title. After nearly a year away, Pacio returned in October to secure a decision win of his own against rising star Mansur Malaciev. Now, he gets the chance to reclaim his gold and turn away the American star. Heavyweight action was also announced for the event. Former ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion Arjan Bhullar returns against Iran’s Amir Aliakbari. The two wrestlers will try to impress and get a future date against heavyweight king Anatoly Malykhin. The heavyweight tussle will mark Bhullar’s return after losing the gold, but toppling Aliakbari may prove a tough test. The Iranian has been surging with a three-bout winning streak, and all bouts have been finished by TKO. The third bout announced will put submission grappling back under the spotlight. Osamah Almarwai and Cleber Sousa in a flyweight contest. With ONE Flyweight Submission Grappling World Champion Mikey Musumeci waiting for his next challenger, it is a prime opportunity for both men to make their claim for a second attempt at the flyweight titleholder. ONE 166 airs live on Friday, March 1, from Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar at 7:30 a.m. EST/4:30 a.m. PST.