Reroll MMA

After a ten year break, Dani begins training karate again. He rejoins a group of senior black belts who meet on a weekly basis. Many of these guys have been training consistently since the 70s, when karate was regarded as the combat sport in the US. Dani shares his process of reconnecting to his martial arts roots, and revitalizing this practice. 

The viral video of Joe Schilling knocking out an obnoxious guy at the bar has sparked many conversations. People have debated when it is acceptable to fight in public, and who should engage in fights. Some say, martial artists and trained fighters are supposed to have better self control than the average person. Others say, it's justified depending on the situation. We look into different situations of how martial arts fits into our every day lives. 

This episode was recorded right before I attended my first wrestling class. I pick co-host Dani's brain on his experience training his ground game to mentally prepare myself. We discuss differences between wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and sport Jiu Jitsu compared to non-sport approaches. Also, what's the deal with super expensive compression gear? 

One of the most recent apparent expressions of racism in sports was exhibited surrounding the MMA match between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas. Zhang was booed. Yes, booing is a part of sports. Some argue, "The visiting team is always booed," or "We [the home court] always root for the Americans." But there's always more to talk about. In this episode we look into the multiple layers of racism and prejudice, in relation to other things like nationalism and "trash talk." I'm not saying fighting should be sunshine and lollypops. I think it's hella cheesy if everyone always hugs and smiles after every fight, like in some organizations lol. So what's the deal?

Exercising and training can be a private thing, and can cause us to feel self conscious. A lot of boxing and Muay Thai training are done in public, such as morning runs. And during this pandemic, a lot of us are training at outdoor parks. Is it weird training at a park, with people walking around?

In this episode we also talk about celebrity boxing matches. A lot of people are hating on entertainment boxing, and on certain personalities. However, entertainment boxing is not really new. Why the uproar now? A lot of pro fighters are also getting into the mix. Let's see why

In the martial arts world, everyone approaches training differently during the pandemic. Some people are still regularly training at the gym, while others are adhering to public health concerns. Gyms as businesses cannot survive if they’re closed. How do we maintain a balance of public health and going to the gym? In this episode we talk about how gyms have set different rules (or not) for safer training, and how we’re navigating the situation.

We've heard of the fight or flight response, a reaction during a potentially harmful or life threatening event. But is there also a freeze response, when the person might just not move. In this episode we go through instances of the fight, flight, or freeze. We also discuss how de-escalation can be applied in particular instances. We talk about real life examples and stories. What would you do if a big dude was trying start a fight with you in the middle of the street?

If you were in a questionable public encounter with someone seemingly aggressive, what would you do? Dani was filling up drinking water at night, and a guy approached him. We discuss whether or not this was a justified feeling, or a overreaction. In this episode we also discuss, how old is too young for full contact MMA? 16-year Victoria Lee made her recent debut on ONE Fighting Championship, and many people online have been commenting that she is too young. However, almost all of our favorite Muay Thai fighters have been fighting since they were kids. Lee isn't the first fighter to turn pro at 16, so what's the big deal?

In this episode we talk about the differences between a real fight, and a competition fight. A competition fight takes place in a controlled environment with rules and regulations. In a street fight, anything goes. A gym-trained fighter may or may not be the prevailing party in a street fight. We all want to deescalate a heated situation and avoid physical confrontation at all costs. However, it's important to be realistic and not romanticize a real-life scenario.

When it comes to the sport of MMA and the practice of martial arts, there is a will to fight. However, there is always a limit for each practitioner and how far they will take the fight. Some fighters are willing to take a beating in the ring for the sake of toughness, while others are willing to throw in the towel for the sake of the fighter's career longevity. In this episode we discuss the issues surrounding these issues. When does having "heart" end, and the risk of brain trauma begin?