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Surviving a Fight - Gracie Combatives

I don't usually recommend products to other people, but here's one that I think will not only meet your expectations but will also give you a great workout at the same time.

Whenever I teach a class about unarmed combatives, someone invariably asks me which martial art is best, which is easiest to learn, which will make you a competent fighter fastest. Obviously, there is no simple answer to that question. I've studied, to various degrees, Judo and Kenpo Karate. Aikido, JuJutsu and Jiu-Jitsu. Even Krav Maga. Each has aspects that I enjoyed and trained in endlessly. Some of them had real world issues that I thought made them less than ideal in a fight, but each style has left me with something useful.

Hats off to the UFC for their Support of our Troops

The guys at Ranger Up have the behind-the-scenes story of the recent UFC tournament, called “Fight For The Troops," at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Tickets for the event were available only to Fort Bragg soldiers and all 12,000 apparently went quickly.

UFC President Dana White and Spike TV were kind enough to host the event to help raise money for the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, a planned $70 million research facility in Bethesda, Maryland, which will treat veterans with severe brain trauma. Also involved in the event was the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which helps veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries and PTSD, and the Fisher House, which provides homes near veterans hospitals where families can stay for free. Amazing groups, both.

The event raised over $4 million (with donations still coming in), had some 2 million viewers and a good time was had by all.

CTT renders a formal hand salute to Dana White, the UFC, Spike TV, all of the the involved fighters, Fisher House and the IFHF for their wonderful support of our seriously injured troops.

Marine War Hero is MMA Champion

Brian "All American" Stann was a Linebacker for the Navy Midshipmen, served as an officer of Marines, and was awarded the Silver Star for a six-day battle over a bridge in Karabilah, Iraq, in 2005.

When the Mids returned to that very same spot a year later, Stann was just a couple of months into his first tour of Iraq. And only weeks away from his own remarkable display of courage and composure, enough to earn one of the nation's highest honors from the nation's highest office.

For six days that May, Stann and the Marines he commanded came under relentless enemy fire trying to seize a bridge near Karabilah, Iraq. Ambushed and engaged in what was reported as "a 360-degree fight," they were attacked with rocket-propelled grenades, machine gun fire and improvised explosive devices.

Last Friday night, Stann went on to earn the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) Light Heavyweight mixed-martial arts title in a 95-second win over former champion Doug Marshall in the featured bout in Las Vegas.

After the fight, in tears, the new champion shared his thoughts:

"I owe a lot to my training partners," he said. "This belt represents all my Marines and my friends who couldn't be here right now who died in combat with me. I have to live my life to the fullest for them."

You can expect to see a lot more of this talented young fighter in the months and years ahead. Way to go, Marine!

Enough About Politics...

...for the time being. How about a story to calm you and improve your chi, or natural energy, instead?

A McDonald's "restaurant" in Hacienda Heights, California, has adopted a Feng-Shui theme.

The makeover elements are meant to help diners achieve happiness and fortune -- whether they realize it or not.

That's because the restaurant was redesigned using the principles of feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects and numbers to promote health, harmony and prosperity.

The concept is an unlikely fit with fast food. But the restaurant's owners say the designs are aimed at creating a soothing setting that will encourage diners to linger over their burgers and fries, and come back again.

The next time you are in the mood for laughter, harmony and - ahem - health, stop in for a Big Mac and fries.

All-Army Combatives Tournament 2007

Fort Bragg soldiers lead the way again. And it's nice to see female soldiers - and the Navy - involved again this year.

Here's the Army Times coverage with some video and final standings.

It looks like a good time was had by all. It looks like Jiu-Jitsu is thriving in the military.

Related posts:

• Army Combatives Competition (2006 results)

Chuck Norris is Back in Iraq

Chuck Norris, a true American hero, is back in Iraq visiting our troops. Norris, who writes a weekly column for World Net Daily, is back in Iraq for the second time in two years, this time in the area of Anbar province. It seems that the action hero and world martial arts champion likes to hang with sheepdogs.

From Stars and Stripes:

“I came over to let the troops know that the folks back home appreciate and love them and pray for them every day to come home safe,” Norris said.

During the afternoon, he smiled for pictures and autographed countless items, including photographs, books, a government voucher and even boxing gloves.

At least one man in Hollywood is doing the right thing for our country.

Related posts:

• Chuck Norris Talks Illegal Immigration
• If Chuck Norris Were President...
• The greatest martial artist of all time
• Chuck Norris talks Bruce Lee
• Chuck Norris on the Troops

Photo courtesy of Stars and Stripes magazine.

Chuck Norris Talks Illegal Immigration

Chuck Norris rocks!

Every Monday, as you know, he publishes a column at World Net Daily. And today, he wasn't pulling punches. Here's his latest: No place like home – for illegals & terrorists.

Many of his ideas echo the plan of his (and my) 2008 candidate of choice for POTUS, Newt Gingrich:

• If arrested, law enforcement needs to check the immigrant status of criminals. If they're illegal, deport them. Far cheaper is their deportation than the lifelong leeching from genuine taxpaying citizens.
• And for the remaining illegal immigrants already in this country, I agree again with Newt: "Workers who came here illegally, but have a good work relationship and community ties (including family), should have first opportunity to get the new temporary worker visas, but instead of paying penalties, they should be required to go home and get the visa at home."
• First and foremost, control the borders and enforce the laws we have. Immigration laws aren't effective if we dodge or ignore them. And amnesty is not the answer.
• We need to quit condoning illegal immigration through couching language and compromising justifications. Using terms like "undocumented immigration" only complicates the issue. Illegal is illegal. To justify or exempt one illegality will only open the floodgates for others. Haven't we condoned enough already?
• We need to immediately quit subsidizing the costs for illegal immigrants' residency in America. How long will we allow them to siphon millions upon millions from honest, taxpaying Americans by supporting their health care, welfare, education and criminal expenses?

Having had the honor of both meeting and training (albeit briefly) with Mr. Norris, I can assure you that he is the real deal. He is a true American patriot and a proud supporter on both the military and law enforcement. And Lord knows, we need more Americans like that!

Hey, Chuck, run for Governor, already!

Marcus Luttrell's 'Lone Survivor': the Movie

Variety reports that Universal has purchased the rights to Lone Survivor and that the project will be directed by Peter Berg.

Several producers were vying for the tome, published by Little, Brown in June after Luttrell exited the service. Attorney Alan U. Schwartz of Greenberg Traurig, who helped Luttrell find a publisher for his account, arranged for the former soldier to meet with potential writers and producers for the film version of his story.

Luttrell bonded with Berg, who had used Navy Seals in the making of upcoming Universal release "The Kingdom," paving the way for U to buy the tome and underlying life rights for Berg's Film 44 shingle, Akiva Goldsman's Weed Road Prods. and Barry Spikings' Spikings Entertainment.

Let's hope that Berg does this project right and not as some lame-assed Hollywood all-war-is-wrong-and-let's-blame-Bush-and-use-less-tiolet-paper-to-combat-global-warming vehicle. I trust that Luttrell demanded creative input so that Tom Cruise and Tim Robbins don't end up playing heroes like Danny Dietz and Matthew Axelson.

No word on when to expect the film.

On a related note, it seems that martial arts fans will soon to get to see a remake of Bruce Lee's 'Enter the Dragon'. Maybe Chuck Norris can be talked into making an appearance.

And on the topic of movies, Steven Seagal recently said that he blames the FBI for ruining his careeer. Um, did he not see his last four or five movies? Yikes.

Related posts:

• Marcus Luttrell in the News
• Ceremony Honors Navy SEAL Danny Dietz UPDATED
• SEAL Marcus Luttrell: 'Lone Survivor'
• The greatest martial artist of all time
• Chuck Norris talks Bruce Lee

If Chuck Norris Were President...

Chuck Norris rocks!

In a recent World Net Daily article, he shared with his readers the things he would do if he became president. Here's a sampling:

• Personally smoke out bin Laden by myself and round-house kick him all the way back to America, where my United Fighting Arts Federation will handle the justice issues.
• Ask Al Gore to provide me with a special governmental study on the connection between spotted owl extinction and global warming. (I'm pretty sure Michael Moore will film the docudrama).
• Complete the plan to bring Tony Blair to the U.S. as my vice president.
• Ask producer Mark Barnett to film "Survivor – Camp David," where world leaders will meet annually, for an all-out cage-fighting championship. The winner will take home $1,000,000 in Disney Dollars, good in Europe or America.
• Resolve the Iraq war by bringing all of our military personnel home immediately, then going over there by myself for "martial arts negotiations."
• Resurrect Bruce Lee and appoint him head of homeland security (OK, the CIA and FBI too).

Here's the piece that started it all: Chuck Norris for president!

The greatest martial artist of all time

Chuck Norris recently offered his expert opinion on who is the greatest martial arts champion of all time. A great read, even though he chooses to offer no opinion.

The greatest martial arts champion ever is Chuck Norris, although anyone who ever saw Bill Wallace, Joe Louis or Matt Hughes fight might disagree. Times were different when Norris, Wallace, Louis, Gene LeBell and Benny Urquidez fought professionally, in their respective styles. The fights were more brutal and bloody and were more about survivability than showmanship. Norris' ten year fight career ended in 1974 when he retired as an undefeated Professional Full-Contact Middleweight Champion with a overall record of 65-5.

It's also hard to deny the skill and sheer balls of modern warriors like Hughes, Rich Franklin, Chuck Liddell and others. Some of the upstarts also show great promise: Michael Bisping, Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, etc.

But I think that Chuck Norris, in his 10-year reign, could stand with any of them (he also has a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, remember). Norris is also an American hero and one of martial arts' true ambassadors: an exceptional teacher, spokesman, and all-around good guy who supports the NRA, the military, cops and prayer. You gotta love that.