mma

Kim Dong Hyun at 2013 ADCC Korea Qualifiers

Sat, 01/26/2013 - 23:42 - tgates209

Vacation is so great! Better yet, vacation in Korea as an English teacher is REALLY great! Several weeks of down time twice a year. Looking for ways to spend some of it, I finally decided to take a trip up to Seoul. It was my first time there and I took the KTX high-speed rail to get there. That's definitely the way to go. I made a video of what it's like to travel on the KTX.

Korean College Judo Development Program

Thu, 01/17/2013 - 22:48 - tgates209

A fellow judoka and friend here in Korea introduced me to one of the large college judo development programs in Busan - Dong-eui University (dong oo-ee). It's a prep for high schoolers and part of the curriculum for college students studying Physical Education. It also showcases some top tier talent in the city. I had a chance to work out with them and see what it was all about. Let's just say I'm in pain!!

My Top 5 Judokas in MMA

Wed, 12/26/2012 - 21:14 - tgates209

Let’s face it, judo is huge and so is MMA. Judo is a high-intensity, epic sport that requires a full-life sacrifice to become the best. For this reason judokas are becoming more and more prominent in the MMA scene.

I follow judo and MMA as much as any avid fan. Like anyone else, I have a soft spot for those competitors whose original style was my own – judo. So without further ado, here is MY list of 5 top judokas in MMA.

The English Teaching (slash) MMA Girl...

Tue, 12/18/2012 - 21:07 - tgates209

I spent a brief time over at Busan Team MAD MMA training facility where Kim Dong Hyun from the UFC trains. It's arguably the premier MMA team in South Korea and I plan on going back in the new year. While there I met an EPIK English teacher also from the states. A fantastic girl named Jade Marie Anderson (her Sherdog profile).

2nd Dan Judo Certification in Korea

Sun, 11/25/2012 - 22:39 - tgates209

I've been training at a local judo school since I arrived in Busan in August of 2011. I really wanted to receive a certification from the Korea Judo Association, more for nostalgia's sake than anything. The difficult part was verifying my rank in the United States. Promotional guidelines are universal in the sport of judo. That is one of the great things about the sport. It's an Olympic sport and therefore there needs to be a standard for promotions regardless of the country you're from.

Inspirational Blind Olympic Judo Girl (Slow Motion Video)

Tue, 11/20/2012 - 13:18 - tgates209

Jordan Mouton

This is a bit of inspiration for anybody, no matter what you do or what level you're at. I recently came across this slow-motion training video of USA Judo Paralympic Athlete, Jordan Mouton. Many people in America don't really know about judo - hence the coined phrase "judo chop"! Even more don't realize that judo is an Olympic sport and also has a blind o

Finding a BJJ or MMA School in Korea

Fri, 11/16/2012 - 21:54 - tgates209

Six Pack for Success - USA Judo Coach, Jimmy Pedro

Fri, 11/02/2012 - 20:20 - tgates209

World Champion and USA Coach

BJJ in Korea: Barbosa Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Tue, 10/30/2012 - 22:35 - tgates209

Martial arts is everywhere in Korea. There is no style that you can't find. Though I've been training mostly at my local judo school, I've had many opportunities to venture out to visit the premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA academies in Busan. Namely, Barbosa Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Kyungsung University area, and Team MAD MMA in Daesindong, respectively. Make no mistake about it, these places are top notch with some of the best talent you'll find anywhere. With numerous professional MMA fighters competing in all organizations including the UFC, Team MAD is where you want to go if you want to learn to fight like a pro. They offer no-gi grappling, muay thai kickboxing, and MMA competition preparation with the pro team.

Korean Judo Master Interview

Fri, 09/21/2012 - 01:41 - tgates209

I simply cannot believe the response to the video I posted of my judo instructor. Off a whim I asked him to show some of his physical abilities through the exercises he uses in his own personal training regimen. So he did and I filmed. I left the videos on my camera for over a month before I got around to putting a video together. I figured it would be just another judo workout video to most. Let's just say I was wrong.

With the likes of WWE superstar/pro MMA fighter, Bobby Lashley, and fitness guru Ross Enamait tweeting the video, it just went crazy. See it for yourself here.