Best Women’s MMA Rivalries: Shinashi vs. Watanbe

Here is a treat for all of you. What was the best rivalry in women’s MMA? For me, any discussion on that topic has to mention the following two fighters: submission expert Satoko Shinashi and kickboxer Hisae Watanabe. Their rivalry consisted of two epic fights that both ended violently.

In two earlier events, held a month apart, both fighters finished each of their respective opponents, Shinashi with submissions and Watanabe by strikes. The interesting aspect about these finishes is that they were accomplished under the horribly limited rule-set of Smackgirl. Not only did they have to wear larger gloves, they were also given 10 count knockdowns, were not allowed to ground and pound, and were only given 30 seconds for any grappling on the ground! Read more »

Herman Cain Is A Jerk

This post is short. It is short because not that much can be said about the recent comments of Herman Cain on Fox News Sunday. First, let me say that in my humble opinion, the Republican Party’s Presidential candidates all present rhetoric and policies that either intentionally or unintentionally hurt the poor, the middle class, and marginalizes the least powerful in favor of the powerful in this country. That being said, let me say this, with his most recent statements Herman Cain is in the running for the most scary candidate vying for the GOP nomination. Read more »

A book review of Decision Points by George W. Bush

Finding ourselves several years beyond the tenure of a two-term president, we continue to feel the effects of the decisions made by that president, for better or worse.  Now left to history, what many a historian seeks when bio graphing a president is documents and relevant information that helps shape an understanding of his presidency.  In the case of 43, that hunt has been made easier, for the former president has released a memoir covering the most important decisions of his presidency.

Decision Points is written in an easy-to-read format that causes the reader to almost hear Mr. Bush’s voice narrating as one reads.  To that effect, Mr. Bush adds personal information and insights that help one understand why he made certain decisions.  Additionally, he discusses the facts that came to his desk that led him to make those decisions.  Overall, the book leaves one feeling conclusively decided about certain decisions, whether in the pro or con to what Bush says.

Emotions run deep with many of the issues that are tackled in the book, but this is a must-read for the amateur historian interested in establishing a well-rounded knowledge of the first decade of the new millennium.  On a downside, the book does not include citations for much of the information presented, so readers must relegate themselves to accepting sometimes debatable facts.  As a result, citing the book in academic writing should be restricted to quotations and personal opinions, rather than presenting facts.

In conclusion, I enjoyed reading the book.  There were heartwarming moments shared by the former president that add a level of humanism to the executive office.  In some cases, it highlighted the need for a president to rise above the emotionally charged commentary of the media.  As time rolls on, emotions will die down and facts will become clear.  As this occurs, I am convinced that this book will be an important source for any Bush biography and will help shape the long-term opinion of his presidency.

How NOT To Learn Martial Arts Online

YouTube is actually a great source of knowledge when it comes to martial arts, especially grappling.  The best examples are legit instructional videos posted by legit schools or fighters featuring certain techniques. Nevertheless, for every gem there are a handful of horrible videos, and what results is quite comical.

Some of our favorite videos of the latter flavor come from Phoenix Sensei Grand Master John Legrand of Lost Legacy Systems University of Mixed Martial Arts. Phew! That’s a mouthful! Couldn’t he just be called Coach at Legrand MMA? Something simple? In any case, it appears Legrand may be able to teach you how to do some katas or point sparring, but don’t ask him how to grapple. Watch after the jump and you’ll see why. Read more »

Afterthoughts On Casey Anthony Sideshow

Now this blog normally doesn’t care about the horribly fickle trend of sensational criminal trials that take over news cycles for weeks, months, and even years. Case in point: the recently concluded Casey Anthony trial, which involves a sad but rare crime (allegedly), another state, and no official misconduct or systematic problem that effects the life of anyone not involved. Thus, this case is completely none of my business, and I don’t know if the jury made the right decision or not.

The issue that affects me is that this is just another case that took up space on the headlines, endless hours of news coverage, and conversation. This is part of the dumbing down of America and of our national conversations. One must just ask if there was more coverage by the media of this case than coverage of union rights, poverty, or the many violent conflicts around the world. More people know the specifics about this case than they do about the specifics of healthcare reform or the growing gap between the rich and poor.

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