The toughest test in MMA continues tomorrow from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. Here are the full weigh-in results for 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight & Lightweight PlayOffs Headlining the talent-stacked Playoff card is a rematch between South Florida natives, 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight World Champion Impa Kasanganay (17-4) and 2023 PFL Global Season finalist Josh Silveira (13-3). The co-main event will see 2022 PFL Light Heavyweight World Champion Rob Wilkinson (19-2, 1 NC) and Turkmenistan’s Dovlet Yagshimuradov (23-7-1) fight for a spot in the finals. In the Lightweight division, Russia’s Gadzhi Rabadanov (22-4-2) takes on fan-favorite Michael Dufort (13-5). No. 1 seed Brent Primus (14-3, 1 NC) looks to continue his impressive winning streak as he is met by the always-exciting Clay Collard (25-13, 1 NC). Kicking off the main card, Lightweight prospect Biaggio Ali Walsh (1-0) will make his sophomore professional appearance against Florida’s Brian Stapleton (Pro Debut). The main card will air live in the U.S. on ESPN and ESPN+ at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT. The card can be seen live in Europe and Canada on DAZN. The early card will begin at 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT and will air on ESPN+, as well as DAZN. Full weigh-in results are below. PFL 2024 Playoffs Main Card Friday, August 16 – Live on ESPN / ESPN+ / DAZN Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT Light Heavyweight Playoff Main Event: Impa Kasanganay (203.8 lbs) vs. Josh Silveira (205.2 lbs) Light Heavyweight Playoff Co-Main Event: Rob Wilkinson (206.0 lbs) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov (205.6 lbs) Lightweight Playoff Bout: Gadzhi Rabadanov (155.8 lbs) vs. Michael Dufort (155.8 lbs) Lightweight Playoff Bout: Brent Primus (155.2 lbs) vs. Clay Collard (155.6 lbs) Catchweight Main Card Bout: Biaggio Ali Walsh (155.4 lbs) vs. Brian Stapleton (160.6 lbs)* PFL 2024 Playoffs Early Card Friday, August 16 – Live on ESPN / ESPN+ / DAZN 6:30 pm ET/ 3:30 pm PT Bantamweight Showcase Bout: Danny Sabatello (135.6 lbs) vs. Lazard Dayron (135.8 lbs) Alternate Lightweight Bout: Elvin Espinoza (156.0 lbs) vs. Mads Burnell (155.0 lbs) Welterweight Showcase Bout: Thad Jean (170.8 lbs) vs. Chris Brown (170.4 lbs) Featherweight Showcase Bout: Jordan Oliver (145.8 lbs) vs. Brandon Aked (146.0 lbs) Women’s Featherweight Showcase Bout: Michelle Montague (145.0 lbs) vs. Marilia Morais (145.8 lbs) *Brian Stapleton missed the Lightweight limit. This bout will move forward at a Catchweight of 161 pounds.

The brackets for Cage Warriors’ upcoming welterweight PrizeFighter tournament are now complete. Six athletes will take to the cage in pursuit of the $50,000 cash prize, with an additional $10,000 ‘Bounty Hunter Bonus’ on the line for the first tournament fighter who correctly predicts the round and method of their finish. In addition, the tournament winner will receive a shot at the Cage Warriors welterweight title at a future event. On Wednesday, August 14th, Sky Sports’ Matt Kabir Floyd and Cage Warriors’ Play-by-Play Commentator Brad Wharton held the live draw, which can be watched in full below. In the first semi-final, UK-based Jamaican  Omiel Brown  will put his vaunted KO power to the test against Finnish Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt  Henri Lintula . In the second semi-final, 6’4 French striker  Bourama Camara  will test his mettle against Austrian veteran  Marko Kisic . Finally, in the tournament’s reserve bout, Scotland’s rising star  Sean Clancy Jr  will face his toughest test to date, as he meets NCAA wrestling standout  Jakob Scheffel  in a battle of undefeated welterweights. The semi-finals and reserve bout will be fought over two, five-minute rounds, with a third overtime round should the judges scorecards be tied. Elbows will not be permitted in an effort to reduce the chances of fighters not being able to continue due to a cut. The tournament final will be fought over three, five-minute rounds, with elbows permitted. Should a fighter not be medically cleared to compete, the winner of the reserve bout will advance. Should a fighter not make weight or withdraw from the tournament prior to the event, the first reserve fighter drawn (Clancy) will take their place. The welterweight PrizeFighter takes place as part of Cage Warriors 176 at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

Jake Peacock will be back in action when ONE Championship arrives in Georgia this fall at ONE 169. At ONE 169: Atlanta , the limb-different athlete will take on Shinji Suzuki in a bantamweight Muay Thai contest as part of a stacked lineup inside the State Farm Arena on Friday, Nov. 8. Peacock made his ONE debut at ONE Friday Fights 58 in April. The Canadian striker inspired the world with a unanimous decision victory against Kohei Shinjo. Peacock confirmed his skills in the bout, showing he was certainly worthy of stepping onto the global stage. The Road to ONE winner will now have another chance to impress against a craft veteran. The 31-year-old has no plans to slow down when he makes his walk down the aisle in Atlanta. But Suzuki is not coming to the U.S. to lay down for anybody. He has his eyes set on the division’s upper echelon. The Japanese athlete is coming off an impressive victory of his own. At ONE 166: Qatar, Suzuki defeated Han Zi Hao to pick up his first win in the promotion. A win over Peacock would push him another step forward in the division. The bantamweight bout will propel the victory closer to contention. The massive event gives each athlete a platform to showcase their skills and deliver an unforgettable performance. The Muay Thai collision joins an absolutely loaded card for ONE’s Atlanta debut. ONE 169: Atlanta airs live on Prime Video on Friday, Nov. 8. Tickets for the event are on-sale now via Ticketmaster .

Asa Ten Pow will get a chance to shine when ONE Championship returns to the United States on Friday, September 6 for ONE 168. "The American Ninja" will welcome longtime fan-favorite John Lineker to the world of Muay Thai when they collide in a bantamweight showdown at ONE 168: Denver . Ahead of the exciting clash, Ten Pow reflected on his journey to the global stage, from a rambunctious childhood to martial arts greatness. "I was on my own. I was outside all the time. I had to be back in before the sun was down. So, all the time I was outside playing," Ten Pow told ONE . "I was really into sports. Whatever we could play. If there was a ball, we were playing something. So yeah, I had a lot of free time to be outside and run around." Unsurprisingly, when he was watching a television show or movie, it was martial arts that drew his attention. "Power Rangers. Ninja Turtles. There was so much of that in my household. Bruce Lee on VHS. It was just always about some martial art," Ten Pow remembered. Having a father who was a martial artist led to his start in the sport. However, it was a more important lesson of not giving up that set Ten Pow on a course to grow into the star he is today. "My dad put me in martial arts at a very early age, actually with my mother. We were in a traditional karate hybrid style. I was like 5 years old when I started," the American striker remarked. "The most important thing that my dad said was, 'He has to stay in it. Whatever we start, he has to learn consistency.' So, he was the one who kept me in it." "When my parents split and we moved down to South Florida, he knew of a teacher. It was a family teacher who actually taught my grandmother in traditional kung fu. His name was Sifu Andy Chung. He was my first real experience with martial arts." After finding success in traditional martial arts, Ten Pow began to lose interest. He still loved what he was doing but wanted more out of it. The forms were growing tired, according to "The American Ninja," and he wanted to compete in contact martial arts. Seeing that his son wanted more, Ten Pow's father looked toward the direction of "the art of eight limbs." "I think I was 16 or 17 at the time when my dad signed me up for a new Muay Thai gym. He didn't want me to fight. And I was like, 'I need to fight.' So, he said, 'Alright, figure it out. Here you go. I'll pay for the first month, and then you gotta do the rest," Ten Pow stated. As Ten Pow entered adulthood, he realized that continuing with his education may not be the right move for him. He always enjoyed life outside of the classroom. That is when the Floridian's coach told him he could see him having a future in Muay Thai. Getting that support allowed Ten Pow to see a bright future in martial arts as a professional. "Unfortunately, my grades weren't that great, and I couldn't continue to do scholastic stuff. Being an outdoors kid, school really sucked. I needed something to do because kung fu was not it," the Floridian admitted. "My Muay Thai teacher was telling me I could do it. Not to gas me up or anything, but it was like he could see the potential in me. So, I could feel that. I knew that I had a look and a fighting ability that was entertaining." "I thought, 'I'm gonna do this, there's really nothing else.' I kept on the path with the kickboxing and Muay Thai. And that's the path I'm on right now." Ten Pow lost his father in 2022. The heartbreak continues for "The American Ninja," but it has now become a driving force for the talented striker. The 34-year-old wants to honor his father with his chase for gold. "My dad really set the way for me. He showed me how to work and support myself. And the way he was with me and with other people, he was charming, and he could light the room up. So, he was that guy [who inspired me]," the Muay Thai specialist detailed. "Not having my father, who was obviously a big proponent in all of this, is hard. Although he probably wouldn't want to see me fight anymore anyway, I just want to get that championship belt for all that work we've done and seal that off." Defeating Lineker will give Ten Pow a major boost in his efforts of chasing gold. With a long career reaching a fever pitch, "The American Ninja" feels the 26 pounds of gold holds more meaning than being the world's best. "I've got to a point where I can make some money and be comfortable. That's the hard part. It's like you almost break yourself before you make the money," Ten Pow said. "[Winning the ONE World Title] would be a legacy of dedication, consistency, discipline, respect, and perseverance, and [it's important to] seal this drive that has gotten everything for me." "I have a gym now, I have a successful business. The people in my life all come from the journey of getting to this place, and it's just minting all of that. [It's about] showing that I backed up what I said, and that's all there is to it." ONE 168: Denver airs live on Friday, September 6, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Prime Video .

Bharat Khandare is someone that has his own place in the history books of Indian MMA and now, he is looking to stage the biggest comeback that the sport has seen in India as he fights at BRAVE CF 85. Bharat will return to MMA after a seven-year hiatus, facing Zia Mashwani at BRAVE CF 85 in Pakistan on August 18. Before stepping away from the sport due to various challenges, including financial difficulties, Bharat was one of the most prominent figures in Indian MMA, achieving milestones that no other fighter had reached at that time. Bharat began his MMA career in 2009 and quickly rose to fame, becoming a regional MMA champion. Between 2012 and 2016, he built an impressive six-fight winning streak, with all victories coming by way of finishes. During this period, he captured the regional MMA title and gained international attention with a knockout win in Japan. He was seen as a true trailblazer.  This success led to opportunities with international MMA organizations, and Bharat made his BRAVE CF debut at BRAVE CF 5 when the organization held an event in India. However, he fought only once more before deciding to take a break from the sport to care for his ailing mother and address the financial burdens he had accumulated to support his MMA career. Now, seven years later, Bharat is set to relaunch his career at BRAVE CF, and he has an ideal opportunity to do so as part of the biggest MMA fight card in South Asia. Although facing a tough opponent in Zia Mashwani, Bharat is determined to prove himself and showcase his skills to a new generation of Indian MMA fans who have yet to see him in action. For Khandare, this is also a chance to earn himself the biggest comeback in Indian MMA history - should he go into enemy territory, facing a Pakistani fighter away from home, and come out with a win, then there's no doubt that he will have achieved something special for himself and for the sport and nation he loves. BRAVE CF 85 will take place in Lahore on August 18 and marks the fifth event of the year for BRAVE Combat Federation. In addition to the bout between Bharat Khandare and Zia Mashwani, the India-Pakistan rivalry will also be highlighted in the co-main event, featuring a clash between Srikant Sekhar and Rizwan Ali.

Byong Yu on the cover the Black Belt Magazine's 12th Annual Yearbook. Byong Yu, taekwondo master, arrived in the United States of 1968 and took our breath away with his masterful kicking technique. He was one of the few Korean-born masters that was successful on the open circuit. Yu created a legacy of taekwondo, students, masters and champions across the San Francisco Bay area and in Los Angeles, California. His cover photo signature move still holds up decades later.  Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

For today’s exercise in Historical Combat 101, we will follow a path that weaves from the American Frontier Rough and Tumble strategy of “attacking the buckler” to Viking archeology and even some chicken-or-the-egg bragging rights over which came first, a French martial art or one from the Emerald Isle. We’ll end with my thoughts on what all this hindsight has to do with modern-day approaches to self-protection.  LET’S START THE JOURNEY on the American frontier, a rough-and-tumble land that spawned a fighting style of the same name. The style was all- encompassing and vicious in war but a bit more restrained (but still mighty vicious) in “friendly” competition. THE EARLY DAYS of frontier survival called for ready skills with the musket, the tomahawk and whatever else was nearby. When nothing was close at hand, the violence fell to the hands themselves plus other natural weapons of the human body. The Rough and Tumble style began as a hybrid of boxing and wrestling systems that originated in far-off lands but ended up in the melting pot of America. It became a bit more than that because necessity and exposure to different ways always spark innovation. One such spark was the concept of “attacking the buckler.”  A buckler is a small shield worn over the forearm of the non-weapon-bearing limb — perhaps by a warrior wielding a sword, pike or ax. The warrior’s lead hand took care of the offense while his buckler-protected arm took care of the defense (although offense with the buckler was not off the table). The buckler was held by sliding the forearm through a rope loop or leather thong in the center of the unit and then gripping a second hold toward the inside edge. If you were to forgo the buckler and adopt a mock “holding a buckler” stance with both arms, you’d be in a good approximation of a boxer’s stance.  When a weapon was used against a buckler-bolstered brawler, the buckler was not always ignored. That’s because striking it with force could occupy the bearer and upset his balance, opening the door for a follow-up strike aimed elsewhere.  When things went empty handed, this same idea of attacking the buckler was often used. That is, rather than treat the empty-hand encounter as we do in modern sportive applications in which one regards the defending arms (twin bucklers) as obstacles to be surmounted or worked around, the Rough and Tumble style saw the buckler as a viable target.  As such, attacking the buckler is a strategy well worth reviving — as is the opposite strategy of “ignoring the buckler.” LET’S TALK VIKINGS for a moment. The sagas of these legendary Norsemen are filled with battles and gore, and the ardent reader will come across more than a few descriptions of amputations that occurred in battle. A fair number of those amputations involved the legs or feet. But the sagas are stories, not histories. Just how accurately do they relate to what occurred in Viking battle?  In 1905 on the island of Gotland near a town called Visby, Oscar Wilhelm Wennersten and Nils Pettersson began an archaeological dig to uncover the aftermath of the Battle of Visby, which was fought in 1361. Approximately 2,000 bodies were subsequently exhumed, and the examination of the wounds suffered by the combatants was illuminating, to say the least.  Wounds incurred by cutting weapons (swords and battle axes) were found on 456 skeletons. Of those, only 15 percent involved wounds to the arms. One would presume that the use of shields and bucklers kept this number low.  OK, with that 15 percent in mind, does it mean head wounds took the lead? Not by a long shot. Wounds to the lower extremities made up 65 percent of the total.  Although the aforementioned accounts are rife with words pertaining to the tactics of chopping shields and bucklers to bits, it seems that an effective and perhaps the preferred method of attack was to ignore the buckler.  THE STRATEGY of ignoring the buckler can be taken into the unarmed realm — or used as an adjunct in the armed realm — if we look at low-line kicking in combat, which in essence uses the same approach. One’s reason for choosing to use a low-line kick might be that it’s better for maintaining balance, it’s more appropriate for the terrain or it’s sometimes better to avoid an opponent’s defenses.  There are many references to low- line kicking in Frontier Rough and Tumble, but let’s keep this on the other side of the pond for now as we continue to follow the Vikings. As the Norsemen raided — and, in many cases, built allies, intermarried and settled down — along the coasts of Ireland and Scotland, an ignoring- the-buckler strategy developed among the various Celtic tribes. It involved both weapons play and the use of low kicks.  The Gaelic word speachoireacht (pronounce it “spacker-okt” and you’ll come close) refers to a method of low-line kicking that targets the shin as seen in the purring kick of Welsh and Cornish traditions, the oblique kick of Filipino pananjakman and the coup de pied bas of savate. The methodology involves using the shin as the striking surface.  Here’s the chicken-or-the-egg portion of the show: The mentions of speachoireacht stretch back to the Norse invasions, whereas savate literature had its heyday in the 18th century. Who borrowed from whom matters to many — but not to us. In the martial arts, the logic of a wise borrow outweighs the dubious brag- ging rights of “I was here first!”  It’s revealing that while there was a form of speachoireacht practiced by two participants who only kicked, it was primarily used in conjunction with boxing and wrestling. However, one can easily imagine it coming into play in times of sword, ax and shield battle.  IT’S CLEAR that our bellicose ancestors on both sides of the Atlantic didn’t see bucklers or defending arms as puzzles to be cracked, obstacles to be avoided or impediments to intended attacks. They wisely chose to make a target of what was supposed to be a defense — and sometimes to go beneath that defense altogether.  So whether our influence is American Rough and Tumble, the Viking way of combat, French savate, muay Thai or any other source, the historical lesson is not how a particular technique was used; it’s that the strategies of attacking the buckler and avoiding the buckler both can bring about victory in combat.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik might have been hesitant about the long flight from Miami to Perth, but he's ready to make waves at UFC 305 this weekend. The heavyweight contender, known for his knockout power, is set to face local favorite Tai Tuivasa on Saturday’s main card. While the chilly Australian winter took him by surprise, Rozenstruik quickly acclimated and even connected with a small group of Surinamese locals, boosting his spirits before the big fight. Rozenstruik, who is coming off a crucial win, is determined to start his first winning streak in years. His last fight saw him dismantle the previously undefeated Shamil Gaziev, showing the world that "Bigi Boy" still has what it takes to be a top contender. Now, with his confidence soaring, he’s laser-focused on adding another victory to his record. Mentally rejuvenated, Rozenstruik opens up about the importance of confidence in the fight game, especially after experiencing a rollercoaster of wins and losses. He knows the psychological toll that inconsistency can bring, but he’s using his latest victory as fuel to keep pushing forward. As for Tuivasa, he’s entering the Octagon on a four-fight losing streak, and Rozenstruik plans to exploit that vulnerability right from the start. He’s fully aware of the pressure Tuivasa will face fighting on home soil and intends to capitalize on any doubts that may creep into his opponent's mind. With the stakes high and both fighters eager to prove themselves, Rozenstruik promises an explosive showdown. If all goes according to plan, he’ll be celebrating with his new friends from Suriname and enjoying a rare winning streak. Catch all the action at UFC 305: Du Plessis vs Adesanya, live from RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia on August 17, 2024. Don’t miss the prelims starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT, with the main card live on PPV at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

After UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs Spivac 2, five divisions – men’s pound-for-pound, bantamweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight, and women’s bantamweight – experienced dramatic changes. Here’s a Updated UFC Rankings breakdown: Men’s Pound-For-Pound Charles Oliveira, the former lightweight champion, climbed to No. 14, while Sean Strickland took a hit, dropping to No. 15. Bantamweight Mario Bautista slipped to No. 12 in the rankings after the latest updates. Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir dropped to No. 7. Meanwhile, Dominick Reyes made a move up to No. 13, pushing Bogdan Guskov down to No. 14. Heavyweight Jailton Almeida advanced to No. 6. After his impressive first-round submission on Saturday, Serghei Spivac jumped two spots to No. 7, causing Stipe Miocic to slide to No. 8, and Marcin Tybura dropped to No. 9 after his loss. Women’s Bantamweight Macy Chiasson moved up to No. 4, pushing Irene Aldana down to No. 5. Yana Santos’ unanimous decision victory catapulted her to No. 10, while Miesha Tate tumbled to No. 13. Pannie Kianzad fell to No. 12, with Germaine de Randamie at No. 14 and Chelsea Chandler closing out the rankings at No. 15. Anticipation Builds for UFC 305 All eyes are on Perth as middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis defends his title against former champion Israel Adesanya. Can Du Plessis secure his first successful defense, or will Adesanya reclaim his throne after nearly a year out of the Octagon? In the co-main event, flyweight contenders Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg go head-to-head in a battle that promises fireworks. Kara-France is looking to bounce back after a tough decision loss, while Erceg aims to recover from his title bout defeat. The lightweight division heats up with Mateusz Gamrot taking on Dan Hooker in what’s sure to be a fan-favorite matchup. And don’t miss the heavyweight clash between Tai Tuivasa and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, as well as Casey O’Neill’s fight to hold her No. 15 flyweight ranking against Luana Santos in the prelims. Get ready for an explosive week in the UFC – and keep an eye on these fighters as they jostle for position in their respective divisions!

A champion versus champion superfight will take centre stage at GLORY 96 as GLORY welterweight world champion Chico Kwasi (43-5, 23 KO) puts his title on the line against GLORY lightweight world champion Tyjani Beztati (27-4, 9 KO) . GLORY 96 will take place October 12  live from the RTM Stage in  Rotterdam , the Netherlands. Kwasi will be making the first defense of his welterweight championship following his emphatic stoppage victory over former longtime champion Endy Semeleer at GLORY 91. The 26-year-old burst into GLORY in 2023 and has gone undefeated, winning all four of his GLORY bouts en route to capturing the title and claiming his spot as number one in the world. While Kwasi has enjoyed a meteoric rise, Tyjani Beztati has been firmly establishing himself as one of the greatest champions in GLORY history. Also only 26-years-old, Beztati made his promotional debut back at GLORY 36 in 2016. As a teenager stepping into the world’s largest kickboxing promotion, he earned himself the nickname as ‘The Wonderboy’ soon finding himself in title fights against greats like Sitthichai and Grigorian. However, he realised his dream of becoming GLORY champion after winning the title at GLORY 78 in 2021 and has since cleared out the division with five title defenses. He recently switched his attention towards the welterweight division and defeated former champ Endy Semeleer at GLORY 93. This victory set him up for an incredible dream match-up with Chico Kwasi. It’s all on the line for both fighters. Chico Kwasi can firmly establish himself as world champion and put his name in for contention for P4P best on the planet while Tyjani Beztati has a chance to put his name in the history books and become only the third man, after Alex Pereira & Robin van Roosmalen, to win GLORY titles in two weight classes. GLORY 96 will be available to watch live exclusively on Videoland in the Netherlands, DAZN in France & Belgium, and Bally Live & Stadium across the United States & Canada. Please check GLORYKickboxing.com  for full global broadcast information.

“What should we focus on this evening?” the sensei asks. In a good mood, he solicits some input from his students. “More kata,” a junior member of the dojo replies.  BY DAVE LOWRY  AT THIS POINT, three responses are possible. One, the sensei can agree with the junior and, hearing no other requests, proceed with kata practice. This tends to indicate that the dojo is a club, with members participating in a democracy. That might be nice, but it’s not the hallmark of a place devoted to serious budo training.  Two, the teacher or senior students can tear into the junior: “You don’t ever give your opinion before the seniors!” In this case, the junior is humiliated, and he and others get the idea that the dojo is some kind of para- military organization where there’s an obvious pecking order and any deviation will result in chastisement.  Three, a senior or the sensei will very quietly, perhaps with a smile, say, “Don’t speak out of turn,” and then look at the seniors to get their comments on the plan for the day. The junior is corrected, but gently because he probably knew what he did was wrong as soon as he did it yet spoke without thinking. Chance are he will be grateful — for the correction and at the understated way it was administered. He learns a lesson without being embarrassed unduly, and the seniors see how a junior is properly set straight, steering his attitude without crushing his spirit.  THERE’S ANOTHER LESSON to be learned by the junior and the senior. It is this: Much of the training and learning in a dojo is indirect and subtle, and it must be grasped by those who wish to benefit from it.   The junior must, as soon as he enters the dojo, activate his senses. He must turn on his observation and analysis skills. Learning karate-do doesn’t begin after the warm-ups. It’s ongoing whenever a teacher or senior is present. In the dressing room, the senior keeps his clothes in a neat pile, taking up as little space as possible. That’s a lesson for the junior. He sees the senior being mindful, aware of the space around him. He intuits there’s more here than just a fellow karateka being courteous.  The seniors set the attitude in the dojo and must constantly be aware of it. The juniors must constantly watch, trying to get the messages that are being broadcast. Both must be aware that little of what’s most important will be obvious or blatant.  This is where the fiction of martial arts training conflicts with reality. In fictional depictions, the dojo is a place where “wisdom” is distributed with fortune-cookie aphorisms. Indeed, some places try to jam character lessons into their practice. Such establishments will sit down their young students and lecture them about how it’s cool to be honest or brave or loyal.  I’ve spent time in many dojo. If any of the sensei there had given one of these “Little Samurai” lessons, I’d have probably laughed or wondered if the teacher was having some sort of mental break- down. You don’t affect a student’s character in such a way. You do it through a slow process, guiding instead of forcing, demonstrating correct behavior instead of demanding it. The junior should expect to expend a lot of energy trying to read between the lines of what he experiences in the dojo and in the behavior of his seniors and his sensei. The teacher isn’t going to say, “Heads up, here. I’m going to teach you a lesson.” The lessons are part of the teacher’s daily life; he’s showing you all the time. As a student, your job is to see that.  “EVER NOTICE how your sensei is never more than an arm’s length from a weapon?” I was asked, not long after I’d begun training, by a professor of Japanese history who knew my teacher and was a frequent guest in his house. In fact, I had thought just the opposite. Swords, real and wooden, were never on display in my teacher’s house.  The professor, though, told me to look more closely. The sensei kept a strong steel pen in his pocket always. When he was sitting at the dinner table, there would be an iron tea kettle nearby. Letter openers, pocket knives, screwdrivers — as I began to watch him, I noticed that there was always something sturdy within reach. That one conversation with the professor taught me a lot, not just about seeing that my teacher was mindful but that the real lessons were to be had when one knew how to look.  Is Japanese budo unique in this oblique way of sending and receiving messages? Certainly not. It’s probably true, though, that this kind of teaching and learning is more developed and common in traditional Japanese culture. That’s probably because pre-modern Japan was a place where everyone shared a similar perspective on the world. In your dojo, there are people from many ethnic and religious back- grounds, hailing from diverse places. In old Japan, everyone was pretty much the same. Just as you don’t need to verbally or openly express certain ideas within your family, in the dojo of old, the shared understanding of things was taken for granted.  Your job as a student of the martial arts is to me de menai, to “see the things that cannot be seen.” How’s that for some fortune-cookie wisdom?  Dave Lowry has written Karate Way since 1986. For more information about his articles and books, visit blackbeltmag.com and type his name into the search box.

Twelve exciting matchups will go down inside Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, August 16, at ONE Friday Fights 75. After last week’s eight-finish start to the event, a new set of ONE Championship athletes try to follow up with more excitement. At the top of the card, Kompet Fairtex and Omar El Halabi meet in a 127-pound Muay Thai matchup. Kompet has been rolling with four consecutive victories, and is hoping to send a message to Prajanchai PK Saenchai with another stellar performance. El Halabi got back in the win column in his last outing, and brings in an all-out pressure style that will test the Thai for however long the main event should last. Fireworks are expected when the bell rings. Buakhiao Por Paoin and Petgarfield Jitmuangnon will test each other’s skills in the co-main event of the evening. Both men have tasted success on ONE Friday Fights and are looking to keep that going in this 141-pound collision. Khunsuek Superbon Training Camp throws down with Mamuka Usubyan in one of the night’s featured contests. Khunsuek is a former Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion and hoping to rattle the walls of Lumpinee Stadium with a huge win against an elite Russian striker. Usubyan will try to hold serve and prevent the home crowd from roaring with an upset. Two strawweight MMA bouts open the night as Robson de Oliveira meets Rahil Baghirov and Torepchi Dongak collides with Ryosuke Honda. ONE Friday Fights 75 airs live and free at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT on ONE’s official YouTube channel on Friday, August 16. ONE Friday Fights 75 Full Card Kompet Fairtex vs. Omar El Halabi Buakhiao Por Paoin vs. Petgarfield Jitmuangnon Petphupa Aekpujean vs. Nuapet Tded99 Petnakian Phuyaiyunan vs. Magnum Sor Sommai Pansak Wor Wantawee vs. Dieselnoi Liamthanawat Promrob Looksuan vs. Payakmekin Sit LuangpeeNamfon Khunsuek Superbon Training Camp vs. Mamuka Usubyan Chanajon PK Saenchai vs. Denis Burmatov Brazil M Eakchat vs. Takuma Ota Shir Cohen vs. Francisca Vera Robson de Oliveira vs. Rahil Baghirov Torepchi Dongak vs. Ryosuke Honda