The best pro boxing show ever presented at the HP Pavilion was produced last night in San Jose. Look for some 4 round action elsewhere on this video blog, but the show belonged to the women who went 10 spirited rounds. Kelsey “The Road Warrior” Jeffries used all her experience to make the fight into a street fight, but underdog Ana Julaton landed more punches and would not be intimidated by the tactics executed by the veteran of 51 pro bouts with 7 world titles on her resume. At 4-1-1 the Daly City, 122 pound IBA champion Ana Julaton pulled the upset. She had Nonito Donaire Sr. in her corner, while Kelsey worked with James “Buddy” McGirt. Neither fighter is a big puncher so it figured to go rounds, but Jeffries seemed unable to impose her will, despite referee Marty Sammon allowing many a foul without deducting a point. Enjoy the interview with Ana and Adonal Foyle’s contribution to this most historic night for Women’s Professional Boxing. Arnold Berber made some great matches in the 4 round red vs. blue team concept of promoter Roy Engelbrecht, but the female match was a no-brainer if approved by the California State Athletic Commission. So Ana Julaton joins Carina Moreno of Watsonville as World Champion boxers from our local area.
Posts Tagged ‘Martial’
Ana julaton wins IBA Superbantam world title upsetting multi-time champion Kelsey Jeffries
August 18th, 2010
Benefits of a Keeping a Workout Schedule
August 15th, 2010One of the most important factors to losing weight is physical activity, particularly building muscle or mass. For most folks (myself included) this reads as a chore; cut the grass, take garbage out, strength training workout routine. Ugh.
Several years back, however, I dropped roughly 25 pounds and shaved some serious body fat. The process didn’t happen overnight (it took me a little more than 12 weeks, to be exact), but I see now just how important the strength training workout routine really was in terms of dropping the weight and in keeping it off. For me, the longer-term success of my weight loss involved several factors. The one that helped the most with my work out was keeping a training schedule. Or a diary, if you prefer that term.
Don’t misunderstand. My strength training routine never became enjoyable (it still isn’t) nor did I go to bed at night excitedly anticipating the dumbbells and benches I would face the following morning (I work out first thing in the morning and urge others to get into the same routine, but more on this later). By diarizing my strength training workout routine, I was able to trend my progress in black and white. This was especially true with my weight work out routines. I probably started day 1 with a chest work out on the incline bench with a max of 50 lbs dumbbells. Over time, I graduated to 55 lbs, 60 lbs, 65 lbs, and so on. Watching your strength level increase over a period of two to three months becomes intoxicating.
Even though I find this most helpful for my strength training workouts, the principle applies to a cardio workout routine. When I first started, I tracked my calories burned, my difficulty level, and total miles. Of course, my overall cardio workout routine remains the same, but those calorie numbers have increased, my difficulty levels have increased, and the total miles have edge upward too. (This applies even as my weight has dropped). And in both cases, I can go back to my diary entries today, and pinpoint where and when I have “fallen off the wagon” — those cardio workouts show less burned calories and fewer miles, and for the strength training workout routines, I show less repetitions and, in some cases, lighter weights.
Overall, keeping a schedule has helped to keep me involved with the work out, particularly with strength training. At first, it not only helped me to keep tabs on my progress, but after a bit of time, I actually started to look forward to adding to my trendlines. Even with a 6-day work out routine (three days spent on strength training, three on my cardio routine), missing one day impacts that trendline and, especially now, it drives me nuts to miss a day.
Another nice benefit to having a work out schedule is it helps to keep me on track. Working out in the morning has a couple of great benefits. One is getting those long, 45-minute strength training workouts out of the way. The other is that I am barely awake to complain about it. Being barely awake also means that my mental alertness isn’t always 100%, so the last thing I want is to have to “think” about my work out and how I will structure it. The schedule helps with just that. Knowing what I did the last time, or two times prior, or whatever, allows me to step it up a notch or at least maintain the same difficulty levels.
But most of all, the diary pages add up. This shows progress, especially with respect to my strength training workout routine, where the gradual results aren’t easily visible.
–> Looking for a Memory Foam Mattress?
Chris has more than 16 years of experience in the financial services industry, having helped thousands of clients fix their personal finances. He maintains a debt-free blog that aims to help people Repay Debt at How to Repay Debt dot com.
Self Defense Has No "Ranges of Combat!"
August 11th, 2010
Image : http://www.flickr.com
I often get angry at the majority of self-proclaimed “master close-combat instructors” trying to make a quick buck by selling impractical and dangerously ineffective “self defense training programs” to the uninitiated. Although there certainly is some good material out there, it seems to me that almost every time that you see a self defense instructor trying to look like a scientist and act like he really knows what he is talking about, he ends up just proving that he has no idea whatsoever about what he’s trying to talk about!
For instance, there’s a lot of talk these days about “ranges of combat.” You often see an instructor lecturing to his video audience about kicking range, punching range, trapping range, grappling range and ground fighting. Then he goes on to tell you what techniques you are allowed to use in each range.
What’s wrong with that? Well, let me tell you as someone who has not only a lot of experience teaching self defense, but also much experience dealing with street violence myself that the last thing you want to do is limit your students in their way of thinking!
When I teach someone to fight, I show him where to hit to get immediate effects and I explain a few ways to effectively strike or crush those areas. Of course, there’s a lot of mental training and tactics that are also covered, but one thing that you will never see me doing is telling someone that he should not use a certain technique from a certain distance!
Listen, there are no “ranges of combat” on the streets or in self defense. There’s damaging an aggressor or aggressors and there’s limiting yourself as to how to damage an aggressor, which results in giving him the opportunity to damage you first, resulting in him winning and you being raped, injured or killed. How you injure an aggressor doesn’t matter to me and it shouldn’t matter to you, either, as long as you survive the attack!
For instance, kicking range is supposed to be the range where you are close enough to use an ineffective long-range kick, but are out of boxing range, or too far away to reach your opponent with your arms. In boxing range, you are “allowed” by your instructor to hit your opponent with arm techniques, but not allowed to kick, because you’re supposedly too close to kick effectively. In the clinch, or grappling range, you should only use throwing and locking techniques.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m in so-called “grappling range,” where I’m only “supposed” to use wrestling techniques and I see the opportunity to stomp on some degenerate’s knee joint and tear various ligaments and tendons, I’ll certainly do so and be happy to have survived the attack! Even if that means having used what another instructor would have called “the wrong technique.”
If an aggressor goes to the ground, whether I tripped him or he simply fell, I won’t hesitate to kick him while he’s trying to get up and attack me again. Ask me if I care about having kicked someone in so-called “groundfighting range,” where I should have gone to the ground with him and try for some submission hold. Why go to the ground if he’s laying and you’re standing anyway? To give him the opportunity to stab me with a knife that I wouldn’t have seen coming from so close or to give his friends, who weren’t aware of the fact that kicks aren’t allowed in “groundfighting range” the chance to kick me into a bloody heap?
The bottom line is this-if someone attacks you, your only job is to injure him as soon as possible, without being injured in the process. And I don’t care how you do it, as long as you get the job done!
Christopher “Bob” Roberts is an ex-soldier who relocated to Europe and now earns his living as a tactics and close-combat instructor for military, police and private security companies.
For more information about armed and unarmed self-protection, subscribe to his free newsletters at www.extreme-measures-institute.com and receive access to an exclusive video interview series, where he explains the fundamentals of truly effective self defense.
Combat Sports – Cambodian Pradal Serey Freestyle Kickboxing
August 9th, 2010
Image : http://www.flickr.com
Sometimes you will hear Pradal Serey being called Bradahl Serei. This style of Kickboxing comes out of Cambodia. This Combat Sport style was originally used in Battle, but now Cambodia considers it one of their National Sports. Modern Rules have caused some of the moves they used to have changed a little bit. The main focus of this sport is to win a competition as it is a rule based sport. Similar to Muay Thai Boxing, this sport focuses in 4 major strikes which originate from the knees, elbows, fists and feet.
The clinch is also used as a way or tiring and fatiguing their opponent. Pradal Serey uses more stealth and and shifty fighting stances which differentiates them from most other forms of Southeast Asian Style Kickboxing forms. Elbows are also used more often than in a lot of other styles. The elbow has been responsible for more wins than any other strike used. Fighting has been going on within the Southeast Asia Region since ancient times. Eventually Combat Sports developed as a result of this.
The Khmers in the Angkor Era developed and used armed and unarmed martial arts styles. In fact there was a style that closely resembled Pradal Serey around the 10th Century. People think this could be the reason that the Khmers had such great success in Southeast Asia during that time period. Angkor also used an ancient form of this Combat Sport with other weapons as well as War Elephants to go to war against Champa from Cambodia and Siam from Thailand. Around the 10th century, they controlled most of Cambodia, as well as Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
Because of this, Cambodia has had a huge impact on Lao as well as Thai Culture. The Khmer have a belief that Kickboxing in Southeast Asia started with the Mon Khmer. Many Europeans around the Colonial Period were not in favor of Pradal Serey because they considered it too brutal.
The French adopted the idea of this sport but made some enhancements to it, which included timed rounds and the use of boxing gloves to prevent excessive injury. In the old days matches used to take place in dirt pits with rope wrapped hands and very few rules. Seashells were even wrapped around the knuckles of some boxers to make the fights more brutal.
Let Brian Garvin & Jeff West teach you more about Katana Swords at http://www.colinzi.com.
Andre Ward – On the Path to Gold Once Again
August 3rd, 2010Andre Ward is a religious man. His nickname, S.O.G., which stands for Son of God, leaves little doubt. And appropriately so, considering how little doubt has played a role in Andre’s life. Doubt does not win 90 amateur fights and two US National Amateur Championships. Doubt does not become the only US Olympic boxer to win a gold medal in nearly two decades. And doubt does not compile a professional record of 18-0 with 12 knockouts without even being seriously challenged. Replacing this doubt is faith. Faith in Andre’s religion, his ability and in his mission, to become a world champion again, and the new face of American boxing.
Andre’s faith will be tested May 16th, when he returns to his hometown of Oakland, California, to fight for the first time as a professional, against dangerous former middleweight title contender Edison Miranda.
Born across the bay in San Francisco, Ward lives and trains in Oakland. He has amassed a significant local and national fan following, a fan following Ward hopes will help propel him to the biggest victory of his career.
“I am excited to fight in my backyard,” Ward says. “Miranda is a solid fighter. It’s going to be a competitive fight, but I will be prepared.”
Despite an 18-0 professional record, the knock on Ward is that he has yet to be tested. 12 of his victories have come by knockout and all have been fairly dominant. His last fight, against fellow American Super Middleweight contender Henry Buchanan, was a rare shutout, with all three judges scoring the fight 120-108 for Ward. At age 25, Ward’s camp feels he is being brought along the right way. There is no reason to rush the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, in a sport where one fight or one punch can instantly derail a blossoming career. Miranda, however, presents a new and unusual challenge, unusual because of his fight changing power. 28 of Miranda’s 32 professional victories have ended in knockouts, a knockout percentage that is unrivaled in the Super Middleweight division.
How powerful is Miranda? Ask David Banks. Banks was circling the ring in the 3rd round of his January 2008 fight against Miranda, televised on ESPN, when a single right hand sent him through the ropes, and abruptly ended his night. It would go on to be named one of the top candidates for Ring Magazine’s 2008 Knockout of the Year. Ward vows not to meet a similar fate.
Outside of the ring, Andre is one of the most down to earth guys you could ever meet. A devoted husband and loving father of three, he takes every opportunity to meet with fans or sign an autograph. A trip to one of his son’s baseball games can turn into a media event, complete with countless photographs and conversations about the sport he loves. Andre understands that the fans are what make the sport of boxing as great as it is.
Many boxing observers, and fans alike, feel Ward has all the necessary tools to become a world champion. They feel that Andre not only has the physical attributes to keep that perfect record, but the mental makeup as well. Inside the ring there is no questioning his ability. Andre possesses exceptional footwork, superior speed and power in both hands. Although his chin has yet to be tested, he has taken some good shots and kept coming forward. Add in the desire to be world champion, and you have one of the best young fighters in the world.
Andre’s golden past has certainly raised his profile with the American public. The majority of his professional fights have been broadcast by HBO, Showtime or Fox, and he recently agreed to boxing t-shirt, clothing and apparel deal with a Cleveland, Ohio based company.
On May 16th, expect Miranda to stay close and try to bully the younger Ward. A fight like this is one where Ward’s patience and ring savvy will pay off. In order to stay perfect, Andre Ward will need to avoid Miranda’s power in the early rounds, pick his shots and look to counterpunch the aggressive Columbian. It will be an exciting evening at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, where a capacity crown of mostly Ward supporters is expected.
At the end of the night, look for Andre Ward to have his hand raised once again, proving that of all the skills and abilities he possesses, that his faith may indeed be the most difficult to overcome.
For more information on Andre Ward’s complete line of t-shirts and related apparel, please visit http://www.pound4poundapparel.com or email Jason Green at jason@pound4poundapparel.com
Your Boxing Questions Answered
July 20th, 2010
Image : http://www.flickr.com
Boxing is a sport that some argue vehemently over. It may be considered a violent outlet of aggression that is rigged and the winner is known before the bout begins.
But for other individuals, it is a sport that involves true skills and a testament to the fighting spirit of the human soul. Humanity has been fighting since our first steps began on the evolutionary ladder and will likely to continue.
The sport has fully integrated itself into the world of sports and even has its own celebrities that titillate our urge to gossip and watch their lives like a hawk.
Hopefully the information in this article will address some of the basics of this great sport and will help you make up your mind about the sport.
When did boxing begin?
Boxing dates back to the Ancient Greeks but was initially called Pugilism. There were many forms of the fighting style, some of which were deadly and many of which has made its way into Greek literature. It was the Greeks that first introduced the sport into the Olympic Games but later also removed them.
Other cultures, such as the Chinese and the Europeans, took up the sport as a way to entertain the masses. It has also been used in pubs and bars throughout the world as a means to settle disagreements though that type of bare-knuckle fighting is more akin to street fighting than it is to the sport of boxing.
In 1908 amateur and collegiate boxing was once gain admitted entry as an official event in the Olympic Games.
What are the rules in boxing?
The rules of this sport can be pretty complex and differ according to which organization the boxer is a member of. Some of the standard rules are no hitting below the belt, no biting, no kicking and not using gloves that contain metal or weight.
How long does a boxing round go?
A typical round lasts for three minutes at the professional level. Amateurs fight in two minute rounds.
Can anyone learn how to box?
Anyone can learn to box provided they have some mobility. Boxing is a very rigorous sport and there is a lot of stress put onto the joints and bones in the arms and legs. Many people have turned to this sport as a way to exercise since it works all parts of the body.
Before beginning boxing it is important to consult your physician to make sure there is nothing that would hinder your decision to learn how to box. The next step is finding a good gym or trainer and beginning your program.
Is boxing considered self-defense?
Yes, in some ways it could be considered self-defense but would not be advisable since it is a hand-to-hand combat that is of no use to someone who is armed.
It has been used many times in school yard brawls and bar fights but would not typically be used as a primary self-defense.
What are the dangers of boxing?
Boxing can result in brain damage and fatalities. It is common for life-long fighters to develop brain damage after a long period of competing.
Why? Because you are taking repeated hits to the face and even with gloves, the impact is severe. There is also damage taken to the stomach and the ribs as well.
Visit us for free tips and training to help you make quick easy money and have the financial freedom you deserve.
The Secret of Matrixing Technology in the Martial Arts
April 7th, 2010There is a tremendous amount of interest in Matrixing Technology. It is pretty obvious that Matrixing is going to be the next big thing in the martial arts. It is pretty obvious that Matrixing is going to sweep the world and transform the fighting arts.
To explain why this is going to happen, let me say a couple of things. The first is that Matrixing does not make any fighting system wrong, it makes every single art it touches better. The second is that the purpose of matrixing is to align the information of the eastern combative arts, to make them logical and easier to learn.
Now the stated purpose of matrixing is to analyze and handle force and direction. To understand this is to understand that every object in the universe has a direction in which it is traveling. And, collision is the point at which trajectories intersect.
Thus, the point of matrixing technology is to control the paths of objects so that collision is avoided, or at least for one instead of against one. In arts like karate or kung fu this becomes the singe most important thing to be considered. In fact, a little matrixing and you understand it is the core concept of all arts, and life itself.
Joe Blow throws a fist at you, or a spear or a foot or an elbow or a body or whatever. You analyze the route that the weapon is following, and you can handle it. If you do not accurately analyze the path of the weapon, poor you.
How do you ascertain that you have the correct trajectory analyzed? By knowing what all the potential trajectories are. Only if you have assessed the trajectory by all the potential trajectories can you determine that you have selected the correct trajectory to handle.
So matrixing is analyzing all potentials of motion, and thus selecting the correct potential to handle. And, by matrixing, you can be sure of all of your potential responses, everything you could possibly do and be assured that the one you select to use is the best one. And, here is the real key, matrixing enables to discover all the potential motions that you did not even know were there!
That’s right, to discover the things that you don’t know, and this makes you the ultimate explorer, the ultimate pioneer of the martial arts. With matrixing you have the key to discover all the hidden mysteries, no matter if you are studying shorin ryu or Tatum kenpo or that esoteric form of krav maga. Beginners in isshin ryu will learn faster, wudan hsing i students will uncover the ancient mysteries, and even the bash and trash experts of the ground and pound arts in ultimate fighting championships and mixed martial arts will find themselves uplifted and enlightened.
Al Case has analyzed martial arts 4O years, including several systems of Kenpo, Karate, Kung Fu, Pa Kua, Tai Chi, and more. He is a writer for the magazines with hundreds of articles and a column, and he is the originator of Matrixing and Neutonics. You can sample Matrixing Technology by getting his free ebook at Monster Martial Arts.
Shadow Fighting The Martial Artists Way
March 16th, 2010There are many ways to practice your shadow work. When i refer to shadow work i don’t mean just shadow boxing. There are many phases of shadow work that i practice.
These are,
Punching – Where just individual punches are used on there own and in combinations
Defense – Where just blocks, slipping, bobbing and weaving is used.
Boxing – Punching and defense combined.
Kicking – Where just kicks are used, including low kicks to thigh area and sweeps.
Kickboxing – All of the above.
Thai boxing – All of the above plus knees, elbows and stop hits.
Close quarter combat – Staying within one meter of a wall and using whatever strikes are possible without moving away from the wall (mainly just knees and elbows, although hooks, uppercuts and close strikes are possible, depending on distance). Shadow defense must not be forgotten here.
MMA – All of the above, plus sprawls, simulated throws and take downs (also rolls and ground fighting drills can be incorporated here)
Karate – Where street orientated strikes and defense are used. Elbows, knees, low blows, low kicks.
As you can see i practice a wide variety of shadow training, which are specific to martial artists. There are probably more and I welcome your comments. Its best to do about 60-80% of your shadow work at a speed which is not your fastest so as it does not become sloppy. When practising, always keep an eye on your guard, correct body movement (turning hips on punches etc) and pace yourself. It is also recommended that occasionally you work at your highest speed. For a good workout do each type of shadow fighting for 2-3 minutes taking a 30 second break between each one, and try and work each phase at least twice!
Markos
markschat.blogspot.com
FIGHTING AND TRAINING METHODS FOR THE REALISTIC MARTIAL ARTIST
Martial Arts Training Equipment
February 22nd, 2010Their are numerous forms of martial arts that are trained to learn techniques for combat. One must decide which art is right for them as well as their purpose for the training. Training in the arts combines learning self-defense techniques, fitness training, or training for combat sports. No matter which style of martial arts you train in there is equipment that will assist you in becoming the best martial artist you can be. Here we list of a few of those items and explain why they are important in the martial art of your choice, whether it be Tae kwon do, Judo, Karate, or numerous others.
Building your leg muscles along with Stretching is very important in your martial arts training, and one way to quickly help with getting high kicks is a split leg machine. These split machines have seats that are padded, with spreader arms that you legs sit on. When the lever is cranked the spreader arms move apart. This is to be done until the tension is low to moderate tension in the inner thigh muscles. Hold this position for a count of 30. After this try to turn the lever a little more extending the spreader arms further apart. This is the position you will hold for a full minute. This is the main stretch that will get you those high kicks. The split leg machine should be done daily to increase flexibility.
Another core piece to your martial arts training is the punching bags also going by the name heavy bag. Either the bags can be hung from a wall/ceiling or the base can be filled with sand/water to give it weight so it won’t fall over after being kicked or punched. Bags that hang should have strong, heavy chains and a weighted, stable stand.
Kicking bags are another important martial arts equipment that should be used in training. Most of these are made with high impact foam that covers reinforced vinyl. These kicking bags are made to so they cover the arms and abdomen of the person holding the bag. There are handle that the holder can grasp on the back side of the kicking bags, thus giving the holder a strong hold to take on the most powerful of kicks.
The last critical piece of martial arts equipment is the martial arts shoes. These shoes should have non-slip soles which increases balance. If you notice the traction of the shoe has a circular look towards the ball of the foot to allow for the foot to spin on the mats. This is very important to lessen the likely hood of a knee injury from the torque place on the knee when doing round or side kicks. Martial arts shoes provide better hygiene, since the bare skin of the foot doesn’t come into contact with the mats/floor.
thacker
The Mixed Martial Arts Zone
Martial Arts Training Equipment
Jack Dempsey, Boxing Legend, Hero – Martial Arts Instructor?
February 3rd, 2010
Image : http://www.flickr.com
In 1917 nobody thought that Jack Dempsey would win the title, but with a 77 inch reach and his unorthodox stance he would destroy heavy weight champion Jess Willard. In the first round alone he would knock Willard down seven times, and by the third Willard was too badly hurt to continue. Over his professional career he would amass some 60 wins (51 by knockout) and of those 51 knock outs, 26 happened in the first round He only had 7 losses, 8 draws and 5 no decisions over his career. While that was impressive, Dempsey understood that boxing was only a combat sport and real fighting required you to abandon any sense of fair play. He proved time and time again in the ring that he was a great athlete, but in World War II he would show the Navy what real fighting was all about.
Jack Dempsey was born William Harrison Dempsey on June 24th 1895 in Manassa, Colorado the 9th of 11 children. By the age of 16 he was fighting for drinks in local saloons. Before settling down in New York City, he bounced around the country doing everything from digging ditches to cutting timber. He even worked as circus roustabout (workman or laborer). During this time, he still managed to refine his art. In addition to a powerful punch, Dempsey could also move fast enough to dodge an opponent’s blows.
Dempsey treated every fight like a street fighter not a boxer. He didn’t fight dirty, but he knew he had to end things quickly or he would only increase his chances of getting hurt. Dempsey had an outstanding career and would even do a number of exhibition bouts after his retirement, but finest moments would not come in the ring, but wearing a United States military uniform.
In 1917 when Americans were going off to fight World War I Dempsey kept boxing and working in a shipyard. After the war people accused him unfairly of draft dodging despite several attempts to enlist in the army and being told to keep fighting. Even though he was vindicated, it still bothered Dempsey personally. So when World War II rolled around he jumped at the chance to serve. He was first commissioned as a Lieutenant in the New York State Army National Guard, but he resigned and took a commission United States Coast Guard and would advance to the rank of Commander. He was made Director of Physical Education at The Coast Guard’s Manhattan Beach training facility in Brooklyn New York.
Instead of just teaching physical fitness Dempsey taught the new recruits how to fight. He worked with B.J. Cosneck, who was the Coast Guard’s hand-to-hand combat expert and a college wrestling champion. Dempsey and Cosneck would prepare the recruits to fight it out on the battlefield or in a barroom brawl. They would teach recruits self defense techniques from come-alongs to strangles.
During his time with Cosneck, Dempsey would write his first book titled appropriately How to Fight Tough. The book was easy to follow guide that told soldiers and sailors how to fight. It included boxing, wrestling, and jujutsu techniques. B.J. Cosneck would write his own book called American Combat Judo after the war which is also another less known but no less important work in the field of martial arts and close combat.
Training countless sailors would have been enough for Dempsey to silence most critics, but while serving as a morale officer in the Pacific he would achieve heroic status. During the invasion of Okinawa the last Japanese strong hold before Japan Dempsey was serving on the attack transport USS Arthur Middleton as the morale officer which was a non-combat assignment. When Dempsey then age 49 saw men he trained going into combat he insisted he go along and join the fight. For that act he would make himself a Coast Guard hero. After the war he would continue to serve with Coast Guard Reserve until 1952. As a solider and a world class competitor, Dempsey understood the difference between sport combat and real combat, and made sure every man he trained knew it.
In 1917 nobody thought that Jack Dempsey would win the title, but with a 77 inch reach and his unorthodox stance he would destroy heavy weight champion Jess Willard. In the first round alone he would knock Willard down seven times, and by the third Willard was too badly hurt to continue. Over his professional career he would amass some 60 wins (51 by knockout) and of those 51 knock outs, 26 happened in the first round He only had 7 losses, 8 draws and 5 no decisions over his career. While that was impressive, Dempsey understood that boxing was only a combat sport and real fighting required you to abandon any sense of fair play. He proved time and time again in the ring that he was a great athlete, but in World War II he would show the Navy what real fighting was all about.
Jack Dempsey was born William Harrison Dempsey on June 24th 1895 in Manassa, Colorado the 9th of 11 children. By the age of 16 he was fighting for drinks in local saloons. Before settling down in New York City, he bounced around the country doing everything from digging ditches to cutting timber. He even worked as circus roustabout (workman or laborer). During this time, he still managed to refine his art. In addition to a powerful punch, Dempsey could also move fast enough to dodge an opponent’s blows.
Dempsey treated every fight like a street fighter not a boxer. He didn’t fight dirty, but he knew he had to end things quickly or he would only increase his chances of getting hurt. Dempsey had an outstanding career and would even do a number of exhibition bouts after his retirement, but finest moments would not come in the ring, but wearing a United States military uniform.
In 1917 when Americans were going off to fight World War I Dempsey kept boxing and working in a shipyard. After the war people accused him unfairly of draft dodging despite several attempts to enlist in the army and being told to keep fighting. Even though he was vindicated, it still bothered Dempsey personally. So when World War II rolled around he jumped at the chance to serve. He was first commissioned as a Lieutenant in the New York State Army National Guard, but he resigned and took a commission United States Coast Guard and would advance to the rank of Commander. He was made Director of Physical Education at The Coast Guard’s Manhattan Beach training facility in Brooklyn New York.
Instead of just teaching physical fitness Dempsey taught the new recruits how to fight. He worked with B.J. Cosneck, who was the Coast Guard’s hand-to-hand combat expert and a college wrestling champion. Dempsey and Cosneck would prepare the recruits to fight it out on the battlefield or in a barroom brawl. They would teach recruits self defense techniques from come-alongs to strangles.
During his time with Cosneck, Dempsey would write his first book titled appropriately How to Fight Tough. The book was easy to follow guide that told soldiers and sailors how to fight. It included boxing, wrestling, and jujutsu techniques. B.J. Cosneck would write his own book called American Combat Judo after the war which is also another less known but no less important work in the field of martial arts and close combat.
Training countless sailors would have been enough for Dempsey to silence most critics, but while serving as a morale officer in the Pacific he would achieve heroic status. During the invasion of Okinawa the last Japanese strong hold before Japan Dempsey was serving on the attack transport USS Arthur Middleton as the morale officer which was a non-combat assignment. When Dempsey then age 49 saw men he trained going into combat he insisted he go along and join the fight. For that act he would make himself a Coast Guard hero. After the war he would continue to serve with Coast Guard Reserve until 1952. As a solider and a world class competitor, Dempsey understood the difference between sport combat and real combat, and made sure every man he trained knew it.
MartialArts | Martial arts instruction | Self Defense
