Nothing is more important than the breath. And while it is an involuntary function, it is also one that can be manipulated and used to enhance meditation, martial arts, and more. Whether using the breath for additional power when striking, for a more centered relaxed state when meditating, or even to project your voice to the back of the auditorium, breath is important. The Breath Breathing exercises and techniques can be used to develop better use of the breath, but I think it is crucial not to make things complicated. I’ve been teaching a class on this subject for years now, and I am always amazed at how technical such a primal and fundamental function can become. People often come to the class having had some prior experience working with their breath and usually ask about “the right way” to breathe, such as, “Should I do alternate nostril breathing?” While I understand the different methods have their various purposes, I think a basic practice that unites your body, breath, and mind has the most beneficial outcome. I don’t believe that there is any need for any legalistic adherence to particular dogmas either. Do what works, and I’ve found that the simplest is best. Anxiety and Stress Relief Almost none of the people that come to my breath class are martial artists looking for more power, or musicians looking to set their inner muse free. Most of my students come looking for solutions or methods to alleviate the effects of anxiety and stress. In the past, it was a small percentage of the students, and now it is fast becoming the majority. If I was a betting man, I would bet that many people are reading this piece right now for that very reason. If so, give the following exercise a try. Abdominal breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, is a technique I teach, and it is easy to learn. How do you do it? Here are the steps. Lay down on the floor, and place a book, or similar object, on your abdomen. If you don’t have a book, you can use your hands (one on top of the other). Inhale and push your stomach up. Exhale and let your stomach fall. The object (or hands) will “ride” your abdomen as it rises and falls with your breath. Count from 1 to 5 for your inhale and 1 to 5 for your exhale. Strive to keep both the inhale and exhale the same duration. After you do the exercise for a five-count, you can add more numbers. In my class, I like to take the count up to 7 and then 9, which almost always elicits an audible gasp from the students. Take it slow, and do several repetitions. You should feel that you’re breathing deeper and feel your abdomen expand, rather than your chest, as you breathe. Once learned, you don’t need to repeat the process above unless you think you need to reinforce the method. It should be like riding a bike. Another version of the same exercise can be done standing. Do everything the same as above, but instead of laying down, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and place your hands just below your navel. The process is pretty easy, and one just has to remember that whether you do either of the techniques above, the goal is to focus on your breath and to breathe slowly and deeply. After doing a repetition of about ten breaths, one will usually experience a calmer state. While an exercise can’t eliminate anxiety or stress, it may help in coping with their effects. Over time, and with the incorporation of other strategies, it may be possible to lessen their impact both in terms of severity and duration. Give it a try. Martial Arts Breath control and abdominal breathing have always been stressed in all of my martial arts studies. The kiai is probably the most well-known technique for using the breath in martial arts, but it is not the only method. In the Chinese martial arts that I have studied, an exhale at the moment of striking was taught. In judo, deep breathing, whether standing searching for a throw, or on the ground grappling, was stressed to keep from gassing out. While I was always told to “Breathe from my diaphragm,” I was never instructed how to do it. Teaching the method was never part of the curriculum. The technique that I provided above was one I learned when I studied voice. It’s not an issue now, since I know how to do it, but it was always incredibly frustrating in my lessons to be admonished to breathe through my diaphragm, and not shown how. It was like being told to punch, but not instructed how to make a fist. The best time to teach breathing is in the beginning when students are learning stances, falls (Ukemi), proper bone alignment, etc. Proper breathing will improve a student’s technique, and help them with other related practices such as meditation. Calm Focus The breath, when incorporated with a simple and deliberate task, such as counting, can be very calming and centering. When I am searching for a state of calm focus, I sit and breathe, as described previously, often for a count of ten breaths, thinking only of the number and the act of breathing. I have found that it helps me to feel present, in the moment, and in a better state of mind to deal with whatever the day is throwing at me. If you want to start a daily practice but think that you don’t have the time, note, it is not a half-hour or an hour, it is ten breaths. You can always do more, but I would start with ten. As with everything I have ever learned, how often you do something is more important than how long. A short, but consistent, practice each day is a good start. Breathing is something we are all doing all the time, and yet using it for the improvement and enhancement of our lives often seems elusive. It doesn’t need to be. Start now. Review the exercise above, and breathe in, breathe out. Repeat.

Black Belt Magazine has released their final rankings update before the U.S. Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships, just over one week away at the time of this article. As noted in the introductory header at the top of the rankings, the committee aims to use results as an objective measure but there will always be some subjectivity as they use the “eye test” to make difficult decisions between athletes. This article is to summarize some of the key updates and provide transparency about some of those tough decisions. Let’s begin with point fighting, as the recent Battle of Atlanta has proven that they are one of the top sparring tournaments in North America. Bailey Murphy took home lightweight grand champion honors at both the Quebec Open and the Battle of Atlanta since the last rankings update, and he sits firmly at number one. His challenger in both of those lightweight finals? Tyson Wray, who has cemented himself at number two. As for the heavyweights, Avery Plowden clings to the number one spot despite not competing at either of these events following an injury at the Ocean State Grand Nationals. Devon Hopper soared his way into the two-spot with an impressive march to the heavyweight grand championship in Atlanta. Closely behind him is Kevin Walker, the heavyweight grands winner from the Quebec Open. In men’s open weight, Bailey Murphy holds the top spot for his win in Quebec and his collection of accomplishments in that division this year. However, a serious threat to his #1 position is sitting at number two as Tyreeke Saint defeated Murphy in the open weight finals at the Battle of Atlanta. Another open weight win for Saint could catapult him to the top. Coming in at 3 is a semifinalist in open weight at the Battle of Atlanta and the WAKO open weight winner from the Quebec Open, Devon Hopper. The lady warriors deserve some major respect because their division made for one of the toughest decisions in the entire sport. Katarina Herman remains in the leading position as the defending Warrior Cup champion with additional big wins at the Compete Internationals and Ocean State Grand Nationals. Right behind her are three women that head have a head-to-head win against Herman in the last two events. Jimena Janeiro defeated Herman in the open weight division at the Battle of Atlanta, which combined with the rest of her résumé earns the second spot. Corina Balan won the overall grand championship in Atlanta to earn the third spot, and the fourth spot belongs to Elyse Gorrell who also defeated Herman for the overall grand championship in Quebec. It is certain that the results at the U.S. Open will have a significant impact on how the women’s point sparring rankings evolve. Shifting to adult forms and weapons, we’ll keep talking about the phenomenal females dominating the sport right now. Haley Glass made her return to the sport with a divisional win in traditional bladed weapons and overall grand championships with CMX forms and weapons routines that helped her retain the number one ranking for all three of those disciplines. Gabrielle Rudolph remains the top-ranked women’s traditional forms competitor as the winner of Korean Forms, Japanese/Okinawan forms, and Traditional Challenge at the Battle of Atlanta. Melissa Baillargeon, who used her traditional kata to claim an overall in Quebec, jumps to the number two spot after previously being unranked due to inactivity. In the men’s divisions, Esteban Tremblay won overall grand championships in CMX forms and weapons at the Battle of Atlanta to confirm his first-place ranking in both divisions. A new face appears in the #5 spot for CMX weapons in Brennan Green, who has a couple of finals appearances under his belt including the recent Quebec Open. In traditional weapons, the juggernaut Jake Presley is out with a broken fibula and will be unranked until he is healed and back in action. Esteban Tremblay has the most overall grands in this category aside from Presley and is the new #1. He is followed by Battle of Atlanta overall grand champ Alec Jahanvash. Dominic Lancaster used his eku kata to leap into the rankings by defeated a couple of highly-ranked opponents, now sitting at number four. Traditional forms saw Mason Stowell win grands at both the Quebec Open and Battle of Atlanta, placing him ahead of Caio DaSilva who has been inactive since the Ocean State Grand Nationals. The continued dominance of Jeff Doss in Korean forms has helped him climb the rankings a bit to the number three spot. The rest of the adult divisions are maintained by the stellar seniors that continue to impress the sport karate world. Back-to-back weapons grand by Eric Tremblay have earned him the number one spot in that division, while Kevin Kowalczik’s forms grand at the Battle of Atlanta earns him top honors for that category. He is trailed by Andrew Cabilan who won the forms title at the Quebec Open, and number three is occupied by Samuel Diaz III for his prior accomplishments this season. Santiago Aversso secured another senior sparring win at the Battle of Atlanta and is ranked as the top dog, trailed by Quebec Open grand champion Jonathan Doucet. As for the women, Casey Marks-Nash was back in action at the Quebec Open and confirmed her top rank with fantastic performances. Morgan Plowden clings to the one spot in sparring much like her younger brother, with Mouse Millner coming in hot at number two after winning the grand championship at the Battle of Atlanta. Quebec Open champ Michelle Jones sits at number three. Moving down the age bracket to the 14-17 junior categories, the CMX weapons division saw the return of Mason Bumba as he won a couple of divisions in Atlanta to return to the rankings in the 2 slot. Phillip Brumme was victorious in Atlanta as the overall grand champion as reigns at number one. His accomplishments in forms for the season helped him retain the top spot in CMX forms as well, but Atlanta’s divisional grand champ Colin OBrien and multi-division winner Joe Troia are in pursuit at two and three. Matthew Gruitia soars to the top spot in traditional forms and the overall grand champion in Atlanta. Sterling Keefe has been the most consistent in traditional weapons for the season, but he is trailed closely by Nolan Grunwald who took his talents to the stage in Atlanta. Notably, Shane Billow used to be present in all of these divisions but has been removed from the rankings for the time being since he has aged out of the division. The teenage ladies are headlined by Sofia Rodriguez Florez staying on top of both traditional categories. Warrior Cup Champion Averi Presley took the divisional grand in Atlanta to remain atop CMX forms. New faces in that division include Jessica Albu, the divisional grand champion from the Quebec Open, and Neve Harvey who was brought to the committee’s attention as the WAKO national champion and Dutch Open Champion in 2023 for this division. The girls’ CMX weapons division is still very closely contested with multiple athletes having one divisional grand championship on the season. Samantha Mitling taking her CMX bo form to the overall grand in Quebec is the leader, with Averi Presley winning the divisional grand but coming up short of the overall in Atlanta to be placed at number two. Also of note, the junior fighters for both boys and girls are still featured in the rankings by highlighting the grand champions and open weight winners from the most recent event, in this case the Battle of Atlanta. On to the 13 & under youth divisions, Judah Sagawa maintains his top ranks in CMX forms and weapons for his accomplishments this season including double overall grands in Quebec and a forms overall grand at the Battle of Atlanta. Michael Molina won the divisional grand championships for traditional and CMX weapons in Atlanta, close behind Sagawa in CMX and now holding the top honors in traditional. Henry Hawkinson was the traditional kata competitor in the finals at the Battle of Atlanta, continuing his strong season and moving up to number one. As for the girls, Olivia Cano returned to the top spot in CMX weapons for winning the divisional grand at Battle of Atlanta, while Adelynn Lau won the overall at that event with her traditional double sword form and remains the number won traditional weapons competitor. Savannah Agosto and Amanda Duarte met in the finals for forms at both the Quebec Open and Battle of Atlanta, and they hold the top spots in CMX and traditional forms respectively. Closing these highlights out with the team events, team demonstration saw the return of Team Competitive Edge at the Battle of Atlanta as they took home the title. Team Freestyle has been the consistent team all year and holds the number one spot, with Competitive Edge now sliding into number two. Team Infinity is just behind them after being the runner-up in Atlanta. The synchronized forms category has a new number one as Colin OBrien and Joe Troia of Team AKA secured a big win at the Battle of Atlanta. U.S. Open will present an opportunity for DG & Pia of Team Infinity or Ben Jones and Dawson Holt of Team Paul Mitchell to claim the number one spot again (as they have each held it in the past), or for Team AKA to prove they can repeat their success from Atlanta. Synchronized weapons has no surprise at number one as Ben Jones and Esteban Tremblay of JPM have been taking that division home all year. Team Leclerc had a good showing in Atlanta to earn the second position, and the “eye test” grants the newly-formed duo of Haley Glass and Alex Mancillas for JPM the third place despite a drop in Atlanta. Last, but certainly not least, is the wildness that exists in men’s team sparring. Team Straight Up won the Quebec Open then the Battle of Atlanta in a thriller over Top Ten Team USA, so Joe Greenhalgh’s squad sits atop the list with Bob Leiker’s team threatening at number two. Team DMND G3 was the runner-up in Canada and sits at three, with strong teams like Team Dojo Elite and Team Legend rounding out the top five.

This August marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Bruce Lee's final, completed film, "Enter the Dragon," and the internationally renowned Tribeca Film Festival is acknowledging the occasion with a special Saturday night screening. The festival, which has already premiered the documentary film, "Enter the Clones of Bruce," about Lee's many cinematic imitators, will feature a panel discussion following the showing of "Enter the Dragon." On hand to talk about Lee and his cinematic masterpiece will be martial arts movie legend Angela Mao, who appeared in the film as Lee's sister, and Enter the Dragon producer Andre Morgan. There will also be a choreography demonstration by Anderson's Martial Arts Stunt Team. The event is set for 8:30 pm on Saturday at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan.

Saturday, June 17, will see a seminar held in the memory of the late karate legend and Black Belt hall of famer Fumio Demura at the headquarters dojo of his Genbu-Kai organization in Santa Ana, Calif. Demura, who passed away in April at the age of 84, will be honored with classes held by a group of renowned karateka. Tomohiro Arashiro, the senior representative of the Okinawan ryuei-ryu style in the Americas, will give a class on the anan dai kata. Takafumi Hamabata, who founded the Japanese Karate Masters Association of North America or Hokubei Karate-do Shihan-kai with Demura and a host of other well known masters, will present a class in goju karate fundamentals and the kururunfa kata. And Brian Hilliard, a student of Demura's who was a member of the U.S. national karate team and three-time national champion, will offer a class in kumite. For those who can't attend in person, the seminar will be available online via Zoom for $25.

Sankara Narayana Menon Chundayil, better known as Unni Gurukkal, one of the oldest living teachers of the traditional Indian martial art of kalaripayattu, died in Chavakkad, India Tuesday at the age of 94. Kalaripayattu, which features empty hand techniques and traditional Indian weapons, is sometimes referred to as one of the world's most ancient martial arts. It's believed to have originated in the Kerala state in Southern India where it is still practiced. Unni Gurukkal, Kalaripayattu master, descended from a family of kalaripayattu practitioners said to have lead the armies of a local principality during the middle ages. He started training with his father in the family art at the age of six. Instrumental in helping popularize the art at home and abroad, he had students teaching his version of kalaripayattu in France, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honor, in 2022.

Jigoro Kano, who was he really. By Nicolas Messner My Blog this week is another fantastic article on Kano written by Judo Historian Nicolas Messner, enjoy! Jigoro Kano was a bright young man, with excellent school and university results. He shone with his intelligence and his capacity for analysis and synthesis. Resolutely turned towards the future and relying on the present, he remained fundamentally interested in the past, in the history of his country and of the world. His life was gradually orientated towards the best way to build bridges between generations and different visions of the world. His discovery of martial arts and particularly jūjutsu, if at the beginning was intimately linked to his need for self-defense and affirmation, very quickly became another means of achieving his goals. He saw more and more in the practice of the martial arts a means of educating himself and the youth. To perfect his knowledge of jūjutsu, Kano therefore attended a first school, the Tenjin Shinyo-ryu School (天神真楊流). Tenjin Shinyo-ryu meaning 'Divine True Willow School,’ was a so-called traditional school of jūjutsu (koryū). Founded by Iso Mataemon Ryūkansai Minamoto no Masatari (磯又右衛門柳関斎源正足) around 1830, it specialized in atemi-waza (hitting techniques), nage-waza (throwing techniques), osae-waza (immobilization methods) and shime-waza (choking techniques). In fact, Tenjin Shinyo-ryu is the combination of two jūjutsu systems, on the one hand Yōshin-ryū and on the other hand Shin no Shinto-ryu. The specificity of the school is the use of striking (atemi) with the objective to disturb the balance of the opponent. The training methods were based on fluid and flexible movements of the body, in opposition to what was then practiced in other older schools of jūjutsu. Those older schools tended to use larger and slower movements to simulate combat with the use of armor on the battlefield. However, with the ancestral combat outfits no longer being used, the Tenjin Shinyo-ryu school concentrated on a practice without armor. The movements were faster and the strikes were mainly aimed at the vital points, these being exposed in the absence of protection. The teaching methodology was mostly based on pre-arranged kata or forms of combat that the students had to repeat over and over again. There are thus more than 130 kata of this form of jujutsu, considered classic. Some of these kata were kept secret due to their lethal nature. They included bare-handed combat techniques from seated and standing positions and defense against armed attacks. Jigoro Kano therefore studied Tenjin Shinyo jūjutsu carefully for several years with his first master, Fukuda Hachinosuke and then at his death with Iso Mataemon Masatomo. The learning of all these techniques played a major role in the development of future judo. We know, for example, that Kano simplified certain practices and eliminated anything that could prove dangerous for the physical integrity of practitioners. Nevertheless, it seems that we can affirm that certain techniques that we find today in the panoply of any judoka have their roots in the Tenjin Shinyo jūjutsu learned by Kano: seoi-nage (shoulder throw), harai-goshi (sweeping hip throw) or even o-soto-gari (outer reap), for example. The itsutsu-no-kata, or the kata of the five forms, is another example of the heritage of Tenjin Shinyo jūjutsu, which Kano has integrated into the development of judo. The founder of Tenjin Shinyo-ryu, Iso Mataemon Ryūkansai Minamoto no Masatari, said, "The way of this technique is not to fight with force, it lies deep within one's nature. The way is to be master of victory based on the behavior of the opponent,” undoubtedly a precept that Kano subsequently understood (source: Jigoro Kano, Father of Judo - Michel Mazac - Budo Editions, 2014) first of all under the direction of Fukuda Hachinosuke then Iso Mataemon Masatomo. Jigoro Kano, while pursuing his university studies, quickly became an assiduous member of jūjutsu sessions. He trained daily with four or five other students. In the absence of the master, he practiced alone and back at home, he repeated the movements with his friend Tomita Tsunejirō (富田 常次郎), who later became his very first judo student (Tsunejirō's name appears in the first line of the enrolment book of the Kōdōkan). Among the students of the Tenjin Shinyo-ryu school, there was a certain Fukushima Kenkichi, a sailor by trade, reputed to be strong, whom Kano couldn't beat. He tried many solutions, studied books on the art of fighting and even learned from sumo wrestlers but nothing helped. Kenkichi remained intractable, until Kano discovered a move that perhaps could help him. This movement was a form of what is known today as kata-guruma and it worked wonders. Kano explained, "There was really nothing to say! It was fun to project Fukushima but mostly I was happy to see the result of long-term efforts come to fruition." Kano progressed and in 1879, he found himself among the students of Fukuda who made a demonstration in front of Ulysses S. Grant, the President of the United States, visiting Japan. When master Fukuda died, Jigoro Kano succeeded him as the head of his dojo but he continued to learn by getting closer to Mataemon Masatomo, until the latter's death in 1881. With everything he had already learned from the Tenjin Shinyo-ryu school, Kano retained a thirst for learning that nothing could quench. Through a college friend, whose father had also taught jūjutsu , he was introduced to the Kitō-ryu school whose philosophy was based on rise and fall. Although the very origin of the Kitō-ryu school was rather vague, appealing to the collective imagination and legends deeply rooted in local beliefs, its existence dates back to the 17th century, when it was founded by Fukuno Shichiroemon Masakatsu. Masakatsu-San would have received teaching from Chen Yuan Pin, a Chinese monk teaching calligraphy and philosophy at the Kokushoji temple in the Edo region. Chen Yuan Pin was also a master of Chinese martial arts, among others from the Shaolin school, still famous today. In this whirlwind of schools and currents relating to both sports practice and philosophical development, Fukuno Shichiroemon Masakatsu later created his own school named Fukuno-Ryu, while one of his students launched Teishin-Ryu, where the notion of 'Wa,’ harmony, was put forward. Later still, Kito Ryu focused on bare-hand combat techniques as well as on the aesthetic and internal research at the origin of ‘Do’ (the way). It is not easy to go back in time to the end of the 19th century when Kano was evolving. The schools of jūjutsu were numerous and each of them corresponded to a technical specialty as well as a philosophical current. What is beyond doubt is that the two greatest Kitō-ryu experts of the time were Iikubo Tsunetoshi, who taught Kano, and Tozawa Rokusaburo, who taught Ueshiba, the founder of aikido. Kano learned more about the techniques of the Kitō-ryu school. The latter generally executed in armor or in hakama revolved around the projection of the opponent on the ground. Considered difficult, they are found today in koshiki-no-kata (form of the ancient things), formerly called Kito-ryu-no-kata. Kano revised the form and the execution to incorporate them in this kata with the objective being to preserve the historical sources of judo, but let's not go too fast. As we have seen, Jigoro Kano immersed himself in multiple teachings and many masters who gave him their knowledge. Being put in contact with jūjutsu to learn how to defend himself, he now realized that learning martial arts was deeper and more philosophical than it seemed. Kano was ready to synthesize all his learning and found his own way of practice and thought. (Link to article; Perfecting the Practice Calendar: June - 2023 16th Friday to 18th Sunday - USA Judo Junior Olympics , Shreveport, LA 25th Sunday - U.S. Adaptive Judo Championships , Riverside, CA July - 2023 16th Sunday - CA State Games , San Diego, CA August - 2023 6th Sunday - Nikkei Games Budo Tournament , Cypress, CA September - 2023 17th Sunday - Nevada State Judo Championship , Las Vegas, NV 24th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2023 1st Sunday - Capitol Open Judo Championships , Sacramento, CA 22nd Sunday - Fresno Invitational Tournament , Fresno, CA 29th Sunday - Fight for a Cure Women's Tournament & Clinic , Riverside, CA 29th Sunday - Hanabi Halloween Classic , Albany, CA November - 2023 1st Wednesday to 3rd Friday - IJF World Veterans Championships , Abu Dhabi, UAE 5th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA 19th Sunday - Presidents Cup National Championships , Irving, TX December - 2023 8th Friday to 10th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA April - 2024 7th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA May - 2024 5th Sunday - Nanka West Coast Invitational , Westminster, CA June - 2024 28th Friday to 30th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , Tacoma. WA September - 2024 29th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2024 20th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA December - 2024 6th Friday to 8th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA I’m always looking for new subjects to write about regarding judo as well as contributions from my readers. Please send them to gary@garygoltz.com , thanks.

As a martial artist, you understand the importance of having the best equipment and training to improve your skills, just like Bruce Lee. Bruce had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, pushing the limits and boundaries of his training. He always sought the latest and greatest equipment to enhance his strength and speed. He even had some custom-made equipment he used in his garage. But many times, this type of equipment is expensive to make and difficult to transport. That's where the Exer-Genie comes in, making both these wishes come true and more ! The Exer-Genie: Ahead of Its Time Interestingly, Bruce Lee never had the chance to use Exer-Genie. Exer-Genie was created in California in 1961 and was available for 12 years before his unfortunate death in 1973 . One can only imagine the kind of workouts he could have come up with using it, especially with his unique isometric and interval training routines. But like Bruce, Exer-Genie was ahead of its time, as the concepts of training and philosophy were not yet fully understood. However, a few famous sports teams in the past used Exer-genie, including Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys. Since then, it has become a popular training tool for other professional sports teams such as MLB, NHL, NFL, and college teams. Even the Philadelphia Flyers used it in 1974 and 1975 and won the Stanley Cup in both years. So, the Exer-Genie has a proven track record of success in the world of athletics. Easy to Use and Portable The Exer-Genie is a highly versatile piece of exercise equipment that can adjust resistance levels from as low as 1 ounce to as high as 600 pounds. It is compact and lightweight, weighing only 5 pounds, making it incredibly portable and easy to carry. In addition, the Exer-Genie comes with a carrying sack, so you can easily transport and use it wherever you go. No place is exempt! You can use it at home, in the dojo, at the park, on the court, or in any field. You can even take it on vacation. You literally have a fully functional gym in a bag! Interestingly, NASA used an Exer-Genie 10-foot line for its Apollo missions in 1968 because of its lightweight durability and portability. It was perfect for astronauts to maintain strength in zero gravity. The Exer-Genie comes in three different cord lengths, 36m , and 60m , and a 10ft short cord. These cord options provide customization for your sport or training routine. Quick and Convenient Setup- More Time for Training and Recovery The Exer-Genie system can be set up quickly and easily in under a minute. Simply attach it to any anchor point at any desired level, whether above your head, waist level or on the ground. Once the anchor point is connected, secure the bar or handles to the short line and the waist or shoulder harness to the long line. After securing the harness, if you have a long 36 or 60-meter line, you need to walk it out. Adjust your desired tension with a twist and click. You can adjust from 10 to 100 pounds in seconds, eliminating the need for weights or plates. Lastly, with a long line, put the harness on your hips, shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, or ankles. If you have a short line, grasp the bar or handles, and begin your workout. Exer-Genie Tutorial- How to use and setup Exer-Genie. This video is a tutorial about how to use Exer-Genie and how to set it up. You can set the resistance from 0 to 600 pounds. All you need to do is turn and cl... Versatility at Its Finest speed work, explosive training, agility, sports-specific motions, strongman exercises, functional movements, flexibility rehabilitation, etc. Exer-Genie’s remarkable versatility makes it suitable for martial arts and many other sports. It allows users to train their kicks, punches, agility, or any specific martial arts movements from any angle. The Exer-Genie was designed with multiple training methods in mind, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking to enhance, cross-train, and diversify their workout routine. You can do techniques like complex and contrast training, isotonic, isometric, and isokinetic exercises, and more! Furthermore, Exer-Genie teaches you how to feel your muscle and body stabilizing, stretching, and contracting through the whole range of motion. It is a perfect teaching tool to help develop timing and power through any exercise or technique to fix any energy leaks slowing you down. Bruce famously said you never know how you will move in a fight, so you must train everything. And that's precisely what Exer-Genie provides creativity and versatility to train it all. Proven Results As an exercise physiologist, I implement the Exer-Genie to augment my sprinting, hopping, skipping, lunging, and jumping capabilities. This device augments the utilization of ground forces from your feet, resulting in increased strength, speed, power, and explosiveness from the body rather than just muscles. It develops that push-off from the ground. My favorite workout involves combining the Exer-Genie with additional equipment such as a sandbag, med ball, or kettlebells. This type of training allows me to simultaneously engage two different lines of force: a horizontal force from the Exer-Genie and a vertical force from the kettlebells. It engages all the muscles from the ground up through the core to the top of my head and is nearly impossible to do in the gym. Another technique I enjoy using is complex training. I increase the resistance to around 90% of my maximum weight for one repetition. The first exercise is performed for 5-10 seconds, followed by the dynamic movement exercise. This approach effectively stimulates the nervous system during the initial exercise, resulting in enhanced explosiveness for the subsequent exercise. For example, I perform Exer-Genie hops, skips, or jumps on double or single leg. Thereafter, I perform the bodyweight dynamic version, which is more explosive because of the Exer-Genie resistance. And to top it off, Exer-Genie is an excellent tool for strength and conditioning, aerobics, and HIIT sessions. Its unique design allows for seamless transitions between exercises. When one side is pulled, the other moves closer and is immediately ready to use. This allows you to work to train different muscle groups with minimal downtime. For instance, the first exercise can target the anterior muscles. Then you can quickly switch to the other side to train the posterior muscles. Power Endurance Training- with Exer-Genie #hiit #training #fitness #shortsyoutube Exer-Genie is great to do HIIT and aerobic power endurance training.LINKS TO MY BOOKSINSTANT STRENGTH BOOK- AMAZONhttps://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_... Designed for Multiple Training Methods Exer-Genie does everything from strength, speed, power, endurance, and isometric training. Best of all, it is conveniently controlled in the palm of your hand. Bruce Lee's Isometric Routine with Exer-Genie! #strength #brucelee #exergenie Bruce Lee's isometric routine. He did it 3 times a week. Isometrics are excellent to develop strength speed and power.Here are links to get an Exer-Genie.You... 2) The Exer-Genie 10/12 Isometric Training The Exer-Genie 10/12 Isometric Training Method is an advanced technique that enhances isometric training and takes Bruce Lee’s workout to a higher level. The Exer-Genie 10/12 method holds the isometric resistance for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, you release the tension and pull for an additional 12 seconds through the full range of motion. This approach provides superior results for those seeking to maximize their isometric training efforts. To perform this, set the Exer-Genie to about 70-80% of your 1RM and get into your isometric position. Next, simply belay the line by gripping it with your index finger. This renders the line and resistance immovable. Then, exert maximal force for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, loosen your finger grip on the line. This will release the isometric tension. And allow you to pull the line. After pulling the isometric tension, continue pulling the 70—80% resistance through a 12-second full range of motion to finish with a powerful concentric contraction. The 10/12 Method is a technique that focuses on fatiguing the Type I fast twitch muscle fibers first for 10 seconds. The additional pull for 12 seconds activates the Type II intermediate fibers. This method is exclusive to Exer-Genie and is not easily replicable with weights in a gym setting. Isometric Training, Bruce Lee and Exer-Genie 10/12 Method- A New and Greater Level of Isometrics! Exer-Genie is by far one of the best pieces of equipment to do isometric training. Also great to boost sprint and speed velocity and total body power and exp... 3) Train the Horizontal Plane It is vital to focus on developing your body's ability to move rather than targeting specific muscles. One of the primary advantages of the Exer-Genie is the ability to target different planes of motion, particularly those involving horizontal movement . This type of movement is challenging to load with resistance and is crucial for developing powerful techniques, strong kicks, and fast punches. The Exer-Genie's unique design requires you to generate power and speed in your punches and kicks by utilizing ground force with your feet. This level of functionality cannot be replicated with traditional dumbbells or other types of weighted equipment. The Exer-Genie is a highly effective alternative to sled drags, eliminating the need for additional equipment such as weight, plates, or sleds. Sled Drags- NO SLED, NO WEIGHTS, NO PLATES! Sled drags are great for improving strength, speed, explosiveness, and power. They develop sport-specific movements and boost your running and sprinting abil... 4) Great for Resistance Training The Exer-Genie is an excellent tool for resistance training . You can alternate between back rows, chest presses, lat pull-downs, and shoulder presses. This alternating motion helps to train the natural movement flow of your body. Additionally, you can use it for aerobic resistance training, like Bruce Lee used to do, called PHA. You can perform resistance training with a full range of motion at any position. The Choice is Yours Exer-Genie holds extensive value for a martial artist. You can develop strength and train from any angle. Look at videos on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. See other people using it and their successful training stories to see how it fits all your training needs. I guarantee it will enhance your martial arts performance, fitness, strength, stamina, and speed. You can order your Exer-Genie using the links below . Exer-Genie, 1 shoulder harness, and 60m (200 foot) line. https://jasonbb--shop.thrivecart.com/truck-in-a-box-60m-200-one-x-harness/ Exer-Genie, 1 shoulder harness, and 36m (120 foot) line. https://jasonbb--shop.thrivecart.com/truck-in-a-box-x-harness-system-120/ Exer-Genie, 2 handles, and a 10-foot training line. https://jasonbb--shop.thrivecart.com/exer-genie-pro-resistance-trainer/ Check out my book Instant Strength , for strength, speed and explosive training!

The World Taekwondo Championships concluded Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan featuring the participation of competitors from a record 144 nations. After a disappointing world championships last year in Mexico, that saw them fall from the top of the medal standings for the first time in history, taekwondo powerhouse South Korea brought back some glory leading the way with 3 golds this year. Lightning fast Park Tae-joon took the men's 54 kg class for Korea and was joined by men's 58 kg champion Bae Jun-seo, who captured his second world championship, and men's 87 kg titlist Kang Sang-hyun. Turkey also took home three golds including men's 63 kg champion Hakan Recber, women's 49 kg champ Merve Dincel and women's 73+ kg winner Nafia Kus. The lone bright spot for the United States was Carl Nickolas, whose silver medal at 80 kg was the first men's medal at a world championship for the U.S. since 2009.

When a fighter is known as ‘Mr Low Kick’ and was able to beat famed low kick specialist Ernesto Hoost at his own game, it’s safe to say you have an expert leg kicker. Rob Kaman is one of the greatest kickboxers ever to fight, but also exists in an awkward place in kickboxing history. Rob Kaman was past his prime by the time the great K-1 Grand Prix was in full swing, and as a result we never saw him take part in one. Instead, he fought in a strange no man’s land era, where a kickboxer would have to take fights under any ruleset they could. This meant that Rob Kaman fought under what would now be called K-1 rules (then known as Oriental rules), full Muay Thai rules and the amusingly named ‘Full Contact’ rules kickboxing, a ruleset that ironically prohibited low kicks. Today we will look at Rob Kaman and how he adjusted from ruleset to ruleset. Former Cracked.com writer SeanBaby once described Oriental Rules as ‘a vaguely racist way of saying you can kick someone in the leg’. Today this ruleset is synonymous with K-1, the largest kickboxing promotion in the world. While K-1 would further adjust the rules, it’s more or less the same. The ruleset originates from Muay Thai, but prohibiting elbows and unlimited clinching. While Muay Thai fighters do have a disproportionate amount of success in this sport, generally speaking, this ruleset is associated with Japanese and Dutch fighters. Rob Kaman was an early example of ‘The Mejiro Style’. Coming from Amsterdam’s Mejiro Gym, Rob Kaman’s style was heavily based upon Japanese Kyokushin based kickboxers from the original Mejiro Gym in Tokyo. While most kickboxers are primarily low kickers, due being high reward, low risk, Rob Kaman is different from a lot of his peers in that he had an entire system and gameplan built around low kicks. Low kicks weren’t just a tool in the box, they were the toolbox. Rob Kaman would build his low kicks off three major principles; distance management (which we will get to later), hiding behind punches, and on the counters. Hiding behind punches is the easiest way to land a low kick. By setting up with punches, you draw your opponent’s focus away from the oncoming leg kick which is about to follow. The most common way of doing this is to throw a jab, straight, hook, and follow it with a leg kick. Amusingly though, this wasn’t Rob Kaman’s specific go to set up for leg kicks. Rob Kaman would instead use a light, almost throw away lead hook and immediately follow into the leg kick. On paper this would be less set up; the hook is so light that it’s really meant more as a distraction. The second way Kaman would land his low kicks would be to throw a low kick either as the opponent throws a strike, or after successfully stopping their strike. Rob Kaman’s instructional tape series puts a lot of emphasis on parrying front and middle kicks, scooping them out of the way to land a follow up counter low kick. Unlike a lot of instructional tapes, this one would show examples of him actually doing it during fights. But what about when Rob Kaman fought under full contact rules, which prohibit low kicks? What made Rob Kaman effective under these rules? Rob Kaman was uncharacteristically mobile for a kickboxer. While a lot is made of kickers being ‘flat footed’, this is usually less being slow and more being methodical to avoid damage from leg kicks. Kaman was a surprisingly bouncy kickboxer, with movement that you would expect to see from a boxer, or indeed a full contact stylist. His style of low kicks was less about walking forward, getting in close and chopping the legs, in the way most low kicks do today. Under Oriental rules he could use these techniques as his third method to setting up low kicks, but this bouncy, movement-based style meant that he had to make relatively few adjustments when it came to moving into full contact rules. Kaman would make use of what Filipino martial arts call the ‘triangle’ step, where you have an orthodox stance, a southpaw stance, and shift between them by using a neutral stance with feet shoulder width apart. From that neutral stance it’s hard to read whether the opponent is going to attack from a southpaw or orthodox position. Kaman would bounce out of range and into a neutral stance before re-entering the fight, with his opponent unclear on his next move. The other way Kaman would make distance would be through simply pushing the opponent. Pushing is actually legal in kickboxing, something which confuses boxers frequently. Kaman would throw a low kick in close range, before making a jab like push with the lead hand, creating distance to open up another low kick or high kick. These kicks were always there, regardless of the ruleset. This focus on creating distance between the opponent, especially in a sport known for forward moving aggression, entices the opponent to step forward and pursue. By creating distance, you force your opponent to move forward to meet you, and thus you can create collisions by striking them as they enter. This was how Kaman got the majority of his knockouts. While he was certainly powerful, it wasn’t any athletic attribute that carried him to success. Rob Kaman was a champion under both rulesets, with Kaman beating full contact legend Jean Yves Therriault for the title. In truth his adaptability came less from being able to drastically change from sport to sport, but instead having a very mouldable style built on principles which could work in any sport.

Here are 21 Rules of Life The Greatest Japanese Samurai Wrote Over 400 Years Ago That May Change Your Life. I share these as my JudoBlog for this week. Miyamoto Musashi is remembered as one of the greatest samurai who ever lived. A Japanese Buddhist born in 1584, he taught that there are twenty rules one should follow in order to lead a happy and fulfilled life. He was a famous warrior and expert swordsman, and his wise teachings are still studied today. These are according to his famous texts Musashi’s Dokkōdō and The Complete Book of Five Rings , as well as a Musashi Video . 1. Accept Life, As It Is People tend to often create stress for themselves by wishing that things and circumstances were different than they are. Rather than obsessing on why life should be different, accept it for what it is, accept things as they are. Stress, worries and anxieties are a natural part of life, and rather than attacking your natural feelings, accept them and you will become stronger. 2. Abandon Obsessions To Seek Pleasure Humans tend to spend a large amount of their time on Earth chasing fleeting pleasures, becoming slaves to their inner desires. Instead, live in the moment, do not chase pleasure but rather appreciate it when it comes naturally. 3. Do Not Act On Impulsive Emotions Musashi believed that sudden strong feelings should be regulated by reason, before turning into action. When powerful feelings seek to sway decisions, first engage in reason and have your decisions be well thought out, not controlled by random impulses. 4. Don’t Self Obsess Too much of a focus on how we appear and on our ego causes us to lose sight of what’s truly important in life. Realize that you are deeper than yourself, and do not obsess over superficial things. 5. Jealousy Should Not Be Part Of You Jealousy is a powerful form of hatred, and Miyamoto Musashi taught that if we get stuck in a world of jealousy, we can easily destroy ourselves. Instead, be grateful for what you already have, and you will be blessed with true abundance. 6. Let Go Of Your Desires By desiring for things which we do not have, we create suffering in ourselves as we begin to feel that we lack something. The great samurai taught you to not live wanting more than you have, but rather let go of desire and all good things will come to you. 7. Never Live In Regret Musashi believed that everything happens for a reason, that everything has a purpose and is part of our life path. The past served a purpose and cannot be changed, so rather than stress over or regret it, learn from it and let it prepare you for your future. 8. Do Not Dwell On Sad Separations Choosing to constantly think of or dwell on the sad departing of friends and loved ones prevents us from moving forward with our lives. Musashi believed that since there was no way to bring back the dead, stay in the moment and choose to move on. 9. Avoid Complaining People often end to complain when problems arise, but Musashi’s teaching was that this can damage our mental strength and keep us stuck in the past. Rather than complain, let your troubles pass you by as your mind keeps calm in the moment. 10. Don’t Let Lust Control Your Life Humans are sexual by nature, but many people spend their lives in a state of constant desire. Musashi believed we should not seek for lust, but rather seek for love and long lasting relationships, as in the long run they are much more beneficial to one’s life. 11. Keep Your Options Open Do not become narrow minded, and do not become stuck in only one possible future. Stay open minded and allow for life’s possibilities. 12. Don’t Be A Slave To The Material World While society throughout the ages always teaches that material possessions are the most important things in life, the reality is that we cannot take any of these luxuries with us after our lives have ended. Instead, build up things that truly matter in life; your character, love, and an inner state of tranquility and calm. Miyamoto Musashi believed that food was fuel for the body, not an object of unnatural cravings or desires. A warrior knows that food is a tool to be utilized, not a pleasure to be abused. 14. Abandon Possessions And Practice Minimalism We do not need many things to be happy, in fact having less can often make us the happiest as a simple life is stress-free. If you have things you don’t need, get rid of them and travel light. 15. Do Not Believe In Something Just Because You Are Told To Never believe anything unless it agrees with your own reason and inner knowing. We must learn to form our own opinions and own beliefs. Do not just follow the crowd. 16. Respect The Gods, But Do Not Rely Solely On Their Guidance Musashi believed that Gods should be praised, but never let that be a cause for your own inaction. A person must forge their own path. 17. Have No Fear Of Dying If we fear death, we cannot live fully. Live one day at a time, and do not fear the outcome of each action you take. Be free from fear. 18. Only Use Your Weapon When Absolutely Necessary Miyamoto Musashi was an undefeated samurai who had over 60 duels on record, yet he believed that attacking another for no reason was a sin. Self-defense should be the only reason to use your sword, and it should never be taken lightly. 19. Do Not Focus On Riches Musashi believed those who live simple lives are to be more admired than those who amass large quantities of wealth for themselves. Living in the moment is the sign of a wise person, and hoarding riches is the sign of someone whose own priorities are not of the heart. Possessions distract from life’s true meaning, so let them go and live simply. 20. Protect Your Honor Musashi said we must stay true to ourselves and follow our own beliefs. Live with integrity and honor, and do what you believe to be morally right. 21. Never stray from the way. This last rule of Musashi definitely applies to the study of judo! Update - Treasure Found: RIP Gene LeBell – Part I RIP Gene LeBell – Part II RIP Gene LeBell – Part III Gene LeBell’s & Bruce Lee's Infamous Brawl Calendar : June - 2023 4th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA 16th Friday to 18th Sunday - USA Judo Junior Olympics , Shreveport, LA 25th Sunday - U.S. Adaptive Judo Championships , Riverside, CA July - 2023 16th Sunday - CA State Games , San Diego, CA August - 2023 6th Sunday - Nikkei Games Budo Tournament , Cypress, CA September - 2023 17th Sunday - Nevada State Judo Championship , Las Vegas, NV 24th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2023 1st Sunday - Capitol Open Judo Championships , Sacramento, CA 22nd Sunday - Fresno Invitational Tournament , Fresno, CA 29th Sunday - Fight for a Cure Women's Tournament & Clinic , Riverside, CA November - 2023 1st Wednesday to 3rd Friday - IJF World Veterans Championships , Abu Dhabi, UAE 5th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA 19th Sunday - Presidents Cup National Championships , Irving, TX December - 2023 8th Friday to 10th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA April - 2024 7th Sunday - Nanka Spring Tournament , Westminster, CA May - 2024 5th Sunday - Nanka West Coast Invitational , Westminster, CA June - 2024 28th Friday to 30th Sunday - USJF & USJA Summer Nationals , Tacoma. WA September - 2024 29th Sunday - Nanka Fall Tournament , Westminster, CA October - 2024 20th Sunday - Nanka Team Tournament , Westminster, CA December - 2024 6th Friday to 8th Sunday - Nanka Winter Nationals & Clinics , Azusa, CA I’m always looking for new subjects to write about regarding judo as well as contributions from my readers. Please send them to gary@garygoltz.com , thanks.

After battling ninja mercenaries in The Octagon, for Norris’ next film, An Eye for An Eye, he is fighting an enemy cloaked in respectability and camouflaged in business attire. An Eye for An Eye stands out as being a darker movie and also sporting an impressive supporting cast that includes Christopher Lee ( Lord of the Rings, Dracula: Prince of Darkness ), Richard Roundtree of Shaft fame, Mako ( Conan the Barbarian, The Killer Elite ), and the first movie credit for the physically impressive Professor Toru Tanaka. Other recognizable supporting actors fill out the rest of the cast and help make An Eye for An Eye a cut above the rest in the martial arts film genre. An Eye for An Eye (1981) Norris plays Sean Kane, an undercover narcotics officer in San Francisco, who is looking for the killers of his partner and the daughter of his master, James Chan (played by Mako). All leads point to the drug trafficking triads, so Kane, relieved from duty from his police gig for taking things too far, decides to uncover the truth and deliver some payback on his own. Of all the Chuck Norris films up to this point, An Eye for An Eye feels much more like an 80s action film than a traditional martial arts movie, with more gunfights and some set pieces that would feel at home in a Stallone or Schwarzenegger movie. While vehicles haven’t really been a fixture in most of Norris’ films, the red Pontiac Trans Am features prominently throughout. On the technical side, Aaron Norris returns as the stunt coordinator, and An Eye for An Eye is directed by Steve Carver, who would later work with Norris on the film Lone Wolf McQuade (1983). Christopher Lee is a great villain in his portrayal of aloof TV station owner Morgan Canfield. Perfectly cast, Lee’s villainous chops had been honed superbly after portraying so many Hammer Horror creatures over the years, including Dracula multiple times, and the Bond nemesis, Saramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). Lee’s presence adds a touch of class and elevates the film. Fights There is no shortage of action in this outing from Norris. Early on, Kane has to use some knife defense skills in a skid row hotel room against brother and Stunt Coordinator Aaron Norris, in an uncredited role, and shows how defenestration can be an effective ending to a kick, punch combo. Looking for how drugs are being smuggled into San Francisco, Kane infiltrates a freighter used by the triads, which provides a great opportunity for Kane to demonstrate some stealth ala The Octagon before dealing out kicks, punches, and chops to the unsuspecting henchmen. The fight on the ship is an interesting sequence that has Norris, as Kane, mixing up his prodigious kicking and punching with some more conventional pugilistic techniques. It works well and showcases simplicity in action without sacrificing the great on-screen work audiences had come to expect from a Chuck Norris movie. There are plenty of great techniques utilized during the fight on the freighter, such as the re-using of the double-rolling kick/sweep from The Octagon to flatten his opponent on the deck of the ship. Overall, the fight has a similar rhythm to The Octagon’s last battle with the ninjas, with Norris dealing with multiple opponents, weapons, and escaping holds before ultimately diving from the bow of the ship into the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay. An inspired exchange is Norris showcasing his kicking prowess by defeating one of Lee’s henchmen with his hands, literally, tied behind his back. If it was Stallone, I wouldn’t believe it, but with Norris, it seems totally legit. When Chan and Kane descend on Canfield’s (Lee) lair, to rescue Kane’s love interest, Heather (Maggie Cooper), the epic showdown begins. The last battle has an almost Bond flavor to it. Explosions, machine guns, and battling armies of police and triad soldiers face off, while a helicopter strafes the compound. There are some classic Norris techniques mixed in with some 80s-style comedy and ultimately a showdown with the mammoth Professor Tanaka. The confrontation with Professor Tanaka is the first time we see Kane in real trouble as the formidable Tanaka seems at first impervious to the power and skills of Kane’s attacks. For example, a devastating spinning sidekick to the gut has scarily little impact on the Professor, and after taking a couple more blows from Kane, responds with a wicked swat. Similar to the battle with Kyo in The Octagon , there is some great give and take in the fight. Kane gets thrown around Canfield’s chic abode a few times, before coming up with a kicking combination that ends with a callback to the signature kick from Good Guys Wear Black . The 80s would end up being a prolific decade for Chuck Norris, with Code of Silence , Delta Force, and the Missing in Action trilogy to name just some of the films still in the offing. The decade of decadence would see Norris further solidify himself as more than a great martial artist but as an action-film star. He was able to expand his reach from the narrow niche of martial arts aficionados to the wider film audience that was going to see the action vehicles of Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and newcomer Van Damme. Norris had progressed a long way from Breaker! Breaker! and he still had a whole decade left to make more great films, but more about those next time.

Sunday, May 28, marked the 50th anniversary of World Taekwondo, the worldwide governing body of Olympic-style taekwondo. Originally called "The World Taekwondo Federation," the organization was founded at a 1973 meeting in South Korea, in part as a counter to The International Taekwon-Do Federation, whose leader, General Choi Hong Hi, had lost favor among the Korean political establishment. The founding of World Taekwondo coincided with the first world championship tournament, which saw fighters from South Korea win the two men's sparring divisions contested. Four fighters from the United States placed, lead by heavyweight silver medalist Mike Warren and Black Belt hall of famer Joe Hayes, who took bronze at lightweight. World Taekwondo would go on to garner recognition from the International Olympic Committee in 1980 and become a demonstration sport at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. It became an official Olympic sport in 2000. Though it was originally founded with just 17 member nations, World Taekwondo's governing council, meeting in Azerbaijan ahead of the upcoming world championships, moved to admit Namibia as what will now be their 213th member nation. The world championships are slated to run from May 29-June 6 featuring eight men's and eight women's sparring divisions.