Fight Quest - Hapkido

HAPKIDO

Location: Seoul, South Korea
Masters: Kim Nam Je, Bae Sung Book/Ju Soong Weo
Features: Feet, hands, throws

My take on this episode -
Doug injured himself and did not so well in his fight, eeriely as predicted by a "fortune teller" at the start of the episode.

Jimmy did very well, good technique, very smooth and fought well against his opponent. However, Jimmy's fight was very much of "boxing" style and his opponent got injured halfway during the match.

What is Hapkido?
Hapkido (also spelled hap ki do or hapki-do) is a dynamic and eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and other strikes. Hapkido practitioners train to counter the techniques of other martial arts as well as common unskilled attacks. There are also traditional weapons including short stick, cane, rope, nunchucks, sword and staff which vary in emphasis depending on the particular tradition examined. ... more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapkido

Final fight at http://www.vchooz.com/hapkido

Basic Hapkido techniques

Fight Quest - Savate

SAVATE
Location: Marseille, France
Masters: Christian Robert, Frank May/Frederic Baret/Laurent Bois/Patrick Gellat
Features: Hands, feet

My take on this episode -
I think they look "funny" in the suit.

What is Savate?
Savate takes its name from the French for "old boot" (heavy footwear that used to be worn during fights). The modern formalized form is mainly an amalgam of French street fighting techniques from the beginning of the 19th century[1]. Savate was then a type of street fighting common in Paris and northern France. In the south, especially in the port of Marseille, sailors developed a fighting style involving high kicks and open-handed slaps. It is conjectured that this kicking style was developed in this way to allow the fighter to use a hand to hold onto something for balance on a rocking ship's deck, and that the kicks and slaps were used on land to avoid the legal penalties for using a closed fist, which was considered a deadly weapon under the law. It was known as jeu marseillais ("game from Marseille"), and was later renamed chausson ("slipper", after the type of shoes the sailors wore).

More on website (click here)

Knife fight

Krav Maga is a very popular self defence martial arts now. It seems to be the TOP most realistic street fighting technique.

I personally think that you have to really practice what is being taught to you, or else, you are going to be THE SAME as anyone who just acts by instinct!

The following video is a knife defence technique. Pretty cool but try it with a "prepared" attacker, hmmm, the outcome would NOT be so "cool" any more.

Try this at home with a prepared attacker. With a FAKE KNIFE of course!!

www.vchooz.com

Fight Quest - Pencak Silat

PENCAK SILAT
Location: Bandung, Indonesia
Masters: Rita Suwanda/Dadang Gunawan
Features: Hands, feet, throws, weapons

What is Pencak Silat?
There is no overall standard for Pencak Silat. Each style has its own particular movement patterns, specially designed techniques and tactical rationale. The richness of terms reflects a wide diversity in styles and techniques across the regions due to the fact that pencak silat has been developed by different masters who have created their own style according to their preferences and to the physical environment and social-cultural context in which they live.

See website for more information: http://www.vchooz.com/silat.html

Final Fight

Fight Quest - Boxing assignment

BOXING
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Masters: Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain/Tiburcio Garcia
Features: Hands


My take on this episode -
Doug and Jimmy seems to enjoy this assignment very much. Jimmy enjoyed real cammaradarie with his trainers. Watch the youtube posting below.

Doug had a great fight and totally outclassed his opponent.

Full website go to: http://www.vchooz.com/boxing.html

Final Fight video

Tai Chi

Tai Chi conjures up images of old folks in a park slooooowly passing the time away doing moves that doesn't seem at all like martial arts.

Wikipedia for more information.

Summary:

There are quite a few "styles" of tai chi. Some consist of very elaborate steps not so easily duplicated by a novice, while others seems easier to learn.

Although it seems like a very non-physical art to master, a person who tries it will know that it is physically demanding to maintain the posture required of the art.

I DO NOT know how effective it is in combat as I have NEVER seen tai chi sparring before. Yes, there are youtube videos of Tai Chi demos but not all out sparring.

Tai Chi vs Boxing, hmmm, not a very pretty picture....until of course, I learnt of COMBAT TAI CHI!!

More tai chi styles at: http://www.vchooz.com/tai_chi.html

Fight Quest - Kyokushin Karate

KYOKUSHIN KARATE
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Masters: Shihan Yuzo Goda/Shihan Isamu Fukuda
Features: Hands, feet, smashing things


My take on this episode -
It looks like it is the toughest of all their assignment. The Japanese did not give them any chance of "winning".

Jimmy and Doug had a tough time but their spirit must be applauded!

What is Kyokushin Karate?
Kyokushin training consists of three main elements: (1) technique, (2) forms, and (3) sparring. These are sometimes referred to as the three "K's" after the Japanese words for them: kihon (technique), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).

http://www.vchooz.com/kyokushin_karate.html