martialartsplymouthnews

Open Day News | 30 Days FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:07:00 +0000

As many of you should know we have just had a large amount of work done on the Academy, including new mats, walls, bags, cages, and painting. Consequently we are having a grand reopening day on Saturday 22nd September from 10.00 - 5.00pm.

The highlight of this will be a BJJ seminar by world champion Braulio Estima. (If haven't signed up for this already why not?). However, throughout the day we will be having a number of other events going on including;

- Nutrition Seminar by Blueberry nutrition
- Free MMA Taster Session
- Free Filipino Eskrima Taster Session

- Free Junior Martial Arts taster session including Nunchaku and self defence skills
- Food by catered by Noodfood

- Junior Dodgeball tournament
- Chance to win a year's free training
- Chance to win 3 month's free training.

If you know anyone that is interested in training martial arts in Plymouth, this will be a get way to show them the academy, and have some fun as well.

More information can be found at http://www.facebook.com/events/410131542384058/ or call the Academy on 01752 262233.

I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Academy Refurbishments Revealed | August 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Barlow) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:43:00 +0000

As many of you may know Master St'James Black Belt Academy will be going through some awesome changes at the end of August. These are all designed to maintain our high quality of service, and provide the best possible training experience for our students.

Part of these changes will be a massive refurbishment to the Academy, including new mats, walls, bags, cages, and a lot more.

Here are some pictures of what the training area's will look like once the renovations have been done.

Overview 1

Overview 2

Front Mat View

Back Mat view

Here is a brief description of what will be changing.

We will be losing the corridor that currently connects the two gyms. This will add an extra 16.5 square meters space training space.
We will be extending the mat front mat by approximately 1 meter, this will add an extra 8 square meters of training space
The dividing wall will be replaced by a cage wall. This will bring the two gyms together more and allow easy access to both, and better ventilation. It will also allow us to do MMA and self defence specific drills against the cage wall.
There will be a heavy bag rack in the back gym, complete with at least 8 heavy bags.
All the mats will be replaced and recovered with the highest quality training surface available.

As I hope you can see these are some amazing changes that will greatly improve you training experience. If you have any more questions please speak to a member of staff.

Academy Bookl Club | Martial Arts Plymouth | 30 Days FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:40:00 +0000

Over the past 11 weeks I have been teaching the instructor training course. Within the training we have been discussing many topics related to teaching, but also to self development.

Books are one of the best way to learn about new topics and be exposed to new ideas. I did not understand the beneift of reading until I was in my early twenties.

Honestly I used to hate reading, and didn't see the point in it. This was mainly due to my dyslexia and finding it incredibly frustrating to read. I would jump between lines, lose my place on the page, and was for ever re-reading the same paragraph.

Two instances changed my opinion on reading. The first was my degree. Some of you may know I studied Chemistry at Plymouth University. A huge part of doing any degree is reasearch, that means a lot of reading.

So, doing my degree forced me to start reading, this helped me improve my reading comprehension, and I started to see the value in reading. (It gave me good grades).

The second thing that changed my opinion on reading was 'The Lord of the Rings' by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Most of my friends had read it and said it was an excellent book. I had only seen the cartoon version, and my Dad had read the book to me as a child, but I had never considered reading it. Quite frankly its a big book, and I thought it would take me a year to read (actually it only took 3 months) .
Thanks to my friends encouragement and the Peter Jackson film being realeased around that time, I deceide to attempt to read it.

It was hard going for me, but I thouroughly enjoyed it, and spent many a late night reading just one more page.

Since then I have read continually and on many different subjects, both for my own education and enjoyment.
Within the instructor training I have been drawing on theme's I have learnt from reading and suggesting books for the instructors to read and their own education. In turn they have been suggesting resources to me to further my knowledge.

Last week we decided to do something about it. We have set up the Academy Lidary so that everyone in the academy can have access to the books.

Here are the first books availible.
The way it will work is; please take a book away with you, take as long as you want to read it, and when you're done please bring it back so others can enjoy the book as well.

If you have any books that you have finished with and would like to share with the Academy, please bring them in to the Academy so others can enjoy and learn from them.

Three Top Tips to Help You Lose Weight | Kickboxing Plymouth | 30 Days Free

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:43:00 +0000

One of the biggest reasons people starting training in Martial Arts, is weight loss or weight control. Martial Arts irrespective of the whether you train Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, MMA or Karate are great for helping you loss a few pounds or keep those pounds off.

Over the last 10 years of teaching martial arts and maintaining or losing weight for competition I have come across three great tips that have helped me no end.

Tip #1 - Keep a Food Diary

This is something I learned recently, and there are a couple of different ways to do it. Firstly you could keep a written diary of everything that you put in your mouth.

People always tend to underestimate the amount they actually eat and drink (more on this later). If you keep an accurate food diary you will be able to see exactly what you are eating, how much, and how often.

The other benefit of actually writing down what you eat is that you will feel pretty silly writing " 1 kilo of chocolate" when you're supposed to be dieting.

An even cooler way to keep a food diary is through pictures. If you want to be really ninja, post up a picture of everything you eat online. This is a way you can be held accountable by your friends and family for what you are eating and drinking.

I have tried both of these and they both work extremely well. You actually start to think about what you are eating.

Tip #2 - Weigh Yourself Regularly

This is one thing I have used a lot in the past, and has worked really well for me. It has been shown that people who weigh themselves regularly, control their weight a lot better than people that don't.

I believe the reason behind that is you are more conscious of what you are doing and what how it will affect your body.

A word of warning on this one though, people can go to far with checking their weight and start to become obsessive about it.

To avoid this I would recommend checking your weight once par day, and in the morning before breakfast. This will give you an accurate weight, as everything you eat and drink has a weight (eg a bag of crisps weigh's 60g) and will therefore add weight to your body, but not necessarily increase your weight.

Phew, I hope that makes sense.

Another thing you may find when you weigh yourself regularly, is that you will plateau. There are several reasons for this, the most common one is that you will put on lean muscle mass. This is particularly if you are exercising at the same time.

The weight of your new muscle will replace the weight of your lost fat. A good diet and exercise are in my opinion the best ways to lose weight.

A way around this is to not only measure your weight but also your body fat percentage and body measurements, aka inches.

Here are a few benefits of gaining lean muscle mass.

1) Increased Metabolic Rate – An increase in Lean Muscle increases the body’s metabolic rate, causing the body to burn more calories throughout the day.

2) Increasing and Restoring Bone Density – Inactivity and aging can lead to a decrease in bone density and brittleness. Studies have clearly proven that consistent strength training can increase bone density and prevent Osteoporosis.

3) Increased Lean Muscle Mass and Muscle Strength, Power, and Endurance – Everyone can benefit from being stronger. We can work harder, we can play more, we can workout longer, and we can be more alive.

4) Injury Prevention – A wide variety of sports-related or life-related injuries can be prevented by strengthening muscles and joints.

5) Improved Balance, Flexibility, Mobility and Stability – Stronger and more resilient muscles improves our balance, which means more comfortable living & fewer falls or accidents.

6) Decreased Risk of Coronary Disease – Participation in a consistent strength-training program has a wide variety of affiliated health benefits including decreasing cholesterol and lowering your blood pressure.

7) Aids Rehabilitation and Recovery – One of the best ways to heal many types of injuries is to strengthen muscles surrounding the injured area. The stronger your muscles, the quicker the healing process.

8) Enhanced Performance in Sports or Exercise – No matter what your favorite sport or physical activity, with the proper strength training program, your performance can unquestionably be improved, and in some cases dramatically so.

9) Aging Gracefully – There is no more important reason to making a strength training a consistent part of your life, than to ensure you age gracefully. Physical activity keeps us alive and vibrant. Strength training ensures we are strong enough to participate in aerobic activities, outdoor recreation, and sports. Strong seniors fall down less. If they do fall down, their stronger bodies are more resilient, are injured less by the fall, and are able to heal more quickly after an injury.

10) Feeling Better and Looking Better – As painful as strength training can sometimes feel, there is nothing more satisfying than the feeling after a good solid work-out. Stronger muscles and joints can have a dramatic impact on posture and leaner toned muscles tend to make everyone feel better about their appearance. This all leads to improved self-esteem and increased self-confidence.

(Taken from http://waterfordpersonaltrainer.ie/benefits-of-gaining-lean-muscle/)

As you can see plateauing in weight loss is not necessarily a bad thing, providing you are gaining muscle mass and losing body fat.

Tip #3 - Drink More Water

This is one thing that everyone knows but no one actually does. Here are a few benefits of drinking water;

1) Lose weight: Drinking water helps you lose weight because it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. Drinking water reduces hunger, it’s an effective appetite suppressant so you’ll eat less. Plus, water has zero calories. Here are the further details on how to achieve fat loss by drinking water.

2) Natural Remedy for Headache: Helps to relieve headache and back pains due to dehydration. Although many reasons contribute to headache, dehydration is the common one.

3) Look Younger with Healthier Skin: You’ll look younger when your skin is properly hydrated. Water helps to replenish skin tissues, moisturizes skin and increases skin elasticity.

4) Better Productivity at Work: Your brain is mostly made up of water, thus drinking water helps you think better, be more alert and more concentrated.

5) Better Exercise: Drinking water regulates your body temperature. That means you’ll feel more energetic when doing exercises. Water also helps to fuel your muscle.

6) Helps in Digestion and Constipation: Drinking water raises your metabolism because it helps in digestion. Fiber and water goes hand in hand so that you can have your daily bowel movement.

7) Less Cramps and Sprains: Proper hydration helps keep your joints and muscles lubricated, so you’ll less likely get cramps and sprains.

8) Less Likely to Get Sick and Feel Healthy: Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu and other ailments like kidney stones and heart attack. Water adds with lemon is used for ailments like respiratory disease, intestinal problems, rheumatism and arthritis etc. In another words one of the benefits of drinking water is that it can improve your immune system. Follow this link for further information on how lemon water can improve your health.

9) Relieves Fatigue: Water is used by the body to help flush out toxins and waste products from the body. If your body lacks water, your heart, for instance, needs to work harder to pump out the oxygenated blood to all cells, so are the rest of the vital organs, your organs will be exhausted and so will you.

10) Good Mood: Your body feels very good and that’s why you feel happy.

11) Reduce the Risk of Cancer: Related to the digestive system, some studies show that drinking a healthy amount of water may reduce the risks of bladder cancer and colon cancer. Water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with bladder

(taken from http://www.mangosteen-natural-remedies.com/benefits-of-drinking-water.html)

OK, that's 11 but you get the idea. Drinking the correct amount of water is essential.

Every month at the academy we do a 30 Day Challenges. A few months the challenge was to drink 1 litre of water per 20 kilo's body weight.

For me that worked out to be about 3 litres. This seemed like a lot at the start of the month, however by the end it was the seemed easy. The simplest way to do this was get a big bottle fill it up in the morning and then drink it slowly through out the day.

This was one of the best challenges I have ever done, and several of my students and friends agreed. The results were crazy. I have never felt so go or looked so ripped. I only wish I had taken a before and after photo so you could see the difference.

There you are, my three top tips to help you lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. As you can see from these tips they are fairly simple to do and can easily be integrated into your life. For me, this is the key to any diet or lifestyle change; simple and easy.

The other thing I hope you have got from this post is the importance of not only diet but also exercise. The combination of these two are what will make a big change in your lifestyle whether it is weight loss, or well-being.

Look out for my next article on simple exercise tips that can have a big impact on your fitness.

If you are interested in learning more about martial arts training in Plymouth then give us a call on 01752 262233 or visit http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/Contact.html and take advantage of our 30 Day FREE Trial.

John Owens Wrestling Sessions | MMA in Plymouth | 30 Days FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Barlow) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:13:00 +0000

Last week John Owens, former Police Forces World Champion, visited Master St'James Black Belt Academy and taught a couple of great wrestling sessions.

John has visited the academy on a few occasions in the past, and has always been willing to share his incredible knowledge of wrestling with us. John taught two session during the Advanced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here is a rough breakdown of the techniques he taught;

Arm drag
The Charlie Chaplin take down
The rear Pick Up
Two turn overs from the turtle position
Double leg takedown
Sweep Single leg take down
Low inside single leg

As well as teaching the us the techniques he also gave us ample chance to practice them during round of wrestling sparring.

Here is a video I made of the two sessions and it includes the techniques John showed, and footage of John sparring with everyone in the class, including me.

I really enjoy wrestling and wish we had access to more wrestling in the UK. I believe it is an essential component in Mixed Martial Arts, Submission Grappling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Self Defence. Wrestling is also something overlooked by many martial artists, particularly in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Hopefully John will be back down soon, to share more of his wrestling knowledge with us.

If you are interested in training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Submission Wrestling, or MMA in Plymouth then call 01752 262233 or visit http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/Contact.html and take advantage of our 30 Day FREE trial

Kickboxing | Plymouth | 30 Day FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Kickboxing at Master St’James Black Belt Academy can help your fitness in so many ways, at Master St’James Black Belt Academy the Kickboxing class is the best in Plymouth for its fitness.

The intensity of the Kickboxing classes works on your fitness if it’s getting into shape or that summer body, The Kickboxing classes at Master St’James Black Belt Academy are designed for fitness and to teach you the art of Kickboxing.

The Kickboxing lessons are as hard as you want to make them, non of the coaches at Master St’James Black Belt Academy make you do something you don’t want to do, the fitness is as hard as you want it to be.

Here is a short video to show you how the fitness side to kickboxing and if you watch how the lessons go together you can see how the fitness fits into the Kickboxing lessons.

Master St’James Black Belt Academy Kickboxing lessons work just like this, you will partner up and then your fitness training begins.

There is a young man who trains at Mater St’James Black Belt Academy who did the Kickboxing fitness and weight loss and in 6 months of his Kickboxing he lost a staggering 6 stone and got into shape with fitness and weight loss doing Kickboxing lessons at Master St’James Black Belt Academy.

If you are interested in joining us or even wanting to know more about us please contact us on 01752 262233 or visit us at http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/KickboxingPlymouth.html

Weight Loss in Kickboxing | Kickboxing Plymouth | 30 Days FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:18:00 +0000

Kickboxing is a fantastic way to lose weight fast, at Master St’James Black Belt Academy in Plymouth have some of the best Kickboxing lessons in Plymouth.

Kickboxing helps you with your weight loss in many ways, it helps you to lose weight while keeping your fitness up. Here are some of the main ways Kickboxing can help with weight loss

Burn over 500 calories an hour
Tone up
Improve flexibilty
Increase Cardio vascular fitness
Improve flexibilty
Learn Self Defence
most of all its a FUN activity to do

The Cardio side to kickboxing helps you get your heart rate going, this is a brilliant way to make you get on top of your weight loss and fitness, Cardio helps you burn off them nasty calories and at Master St’James Black Belt Academy their kickboxing classes do just that.

The Kickboxing classes start off at a steady pace warming you up, they then get fast pace getting your Cardio going. Master St’James Black Belt Academy in Plymouth have a various set of programs to help with your weight loss and all the Kickboxing coaches at master St’James Black Belt Academy know how to help with your weight loss and even your fitness.

This is a Kickboxing class taking place, as you can see it is very fast paced and will get your Cardio going!!

At Master St’James Black Belt Academy our Kickboxing classes are also like this, getting your heart rate going for the perfect weight loss and fitness.

If you are interested in training Kickboxing for Weight Loss then call 01752 262233 or visit http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/KickboxingPlymouth.html and take advantage of our 30 Day FREE trial

UFC 146 Results | MMA in Plymouth | 30 Days FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Here are the UFC 146 results. The MMA event took place on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. This was the first time the UFC had put on an all heavyweight main card. The main event was the Heavyweight title fight between Frank Mir and Junior do Santos. Here are the results and my predictions, lets see how I did.

Main card

Heavyweight Championship bout:

Junior dos Santos (c) vs. Frank Mir

I had Dos Santos winning by KO in round 3. The actual result was Junior dos Santos (c, 239 lb) beat Frank Mir (261 lb) by TKO (punches) in round 2 at 3:04. This was a great fight for Dos Santos he showed great takedown defence, and footwork, and took Mir apart with clinical striking. Dos Santos dropped him at the end of the first and finished the job in the second. (Tom 1-0)

Heavyweight bout:

Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva

I had Velasquez winning by TKO in round 2, the actual result was Cain Velasquez (240 lb) beat Antonio Silva (264 lb) by TKO (punches) in Round1 at 3:36. Velasquez looked great in this fight and showed why he is the top contender. This was also one of the bloodiest fights I’ve seen in a while, Velasquez landed a viscous elbow from half guard to open a cut. (Tom 2-0)

Heavyweight bout:

Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman

Nelson gets the win via stoppage round 3. The result on the night was Roy Nelson (254 lb) defeated Dave Herman (233 lb) via KO (punch) in round 1 at 0:51. Nelson through an massive overhand that connected perfectly with the taller Herman, and crumpled him to the floor. (Tom 3-0)

Heavyweight bout:

Stipe Miocic vs. Shane del Rosario

Miocic gets the decision win. The actual result was Stipe Miočić (245 lb) defeated Shane del Rosario (246lb) by TKO (elbows) in round 2 at 3:14. Miocic looked in trouble in the first as del Rosario landed some great left kicks. Miocic showed what a warrior he was and weather the storm and came back in the second. He landed a slick takedown and proceeded with some vicious ground and pound. (Tom 4-0)

Heavyweight bout:

Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve

I had Johnson winning via a stoppage in the second. The result in Saturday was Stefan Struve (255 lb) beat Lavar Johnson (248 lb) by Arm bar in round 1 at 1:05. Struve wanted no part of the striking game with Johnson, he secured a tight over hook on Johnsons arm in clinch, jumped guard, and completed a slick arm bar from the guard. (Tom 4-1)

Preliminary card (FX)

Featherweight bout:

Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins

Thought Brandao would get a quick knock out. How wrong I was, Darren Elkins (145 lb) defeated Diego Brandao (145 lb) by unanimous Decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

Lightweight bout:

Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner

I had Barboza in the second by KO, the actual result was Jamie Varner (156 lb) defeated Edson Barboza (155 lb) by TKO (punches) round 1 at 3:23. Varner looked great against Barboza, catching a head kick and taking him down, then showed great striking on the feet to stagger Barboza, hit a single leg and pound him out. (Tom 4-2)

Middleweight bout:

Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway

I had Dolloway win via decision win. Guess what happened Dollaway (186 lb) defeated Jason Miller (185 lb) by Unanimous Decision (29–28, 30–26, 29–28) . (Tom 5-2)

Lightweight bout:

Paul Sass vs Jacob Volkmann

I thought Volkmann will grind out a decision win. The actual result was Paul Sass (156 lb) beat Jacob Volkmann (155 lb) by Triangle/ Armbar in round 1 at 1:54 (Tom 5-3)

Preliminary card (Facebook)

Welterweight bout:

Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig

I thought Ludwig would get the decision win. The result on the night was Dan Hardy (170 lb) beat Duane Ludwig (171 lb) by KO (punch and elbows) round 1 at 3:51. Dan Hardy showed improved striking ability against Ludwig (who’s one of my favourite strikers), he caught Ludwig with a nice Left Hook, right straight combination. (Tom 5-4)

Light Heavyweight bout:

Kyle Kingsbury vs. Glover Teixeira

I thought Teixeira’s grappling will prove to strong for Kingsbury and he would get the win by submission. The result Glover Teixeira (204 lb) defeated Kyle Kingsbury (205 lb) Arm triangle in round 1 at 1:53. (Tom 6-4)

Featherweight bout:

Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda

I thought this would go to the score cards with Pineda taking the decision. If fact Mike Brown (145 lb) beat Daniel Pineda (146 lb) Unanimous Decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28). This was a fast paced that could have gone either way. (Tom 6-5)

Overall this was a great card, and as you would expect from the heavyweights lots of knockouts and submissions.

The next event with be the finale of the Ultimate Fighter Season 15 on the Friday 1^st June in Las Vegas.

If you are interested in MMA training or UFC styletraining in Plymouth then call 01752 262233 or visit http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/MMAPlymouth.html and take advantage of our 30 Day Free trial

UFC 146 Predictions | MMA Plymouth | 30 Days FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:18:00 +0000

UFC 146 an MMA event is happening on Saturday 26th May, at MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas. This is the first time the UFC has had a main card that only features Heavyweight fighters. The main event is the UFC Heavyweight title fight between Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir. Below are my predictions for the fights.

Main card

Heavyweight Championship bout:
Junior dos Santos (c) vs. Frank Mir
Dos Santos has excellent boxing skills and is continually working on his ground game with the Nogueira brothers. Mir has an excellent ground game coming off a submission victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, but has questionable chin. Dos Santos by KO round 3

Heavyweight bout:
Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva
Silva’s last loss was to the newly crowned Strikeforce heavy weight champ Daniel Cormier. Cormier is Velasquez teammate and the two possess a similar style. Expect this fight to end in a same fashion. Velasquez TKO round 2

Heavyweight bout:
Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman
Dave Herman will be looking for the win, after his loss to Stefan Struve on UFC on Fuel TV in February. However, he struggled on the bottom against Struve, if he ends up underneath Nelson this will be ten times worse. Nelson gets the win via stoppage round 3.

Heavyweight bout:
Stipe Miocic vs. Shane del Rosario
Both of these fighters are undefeated. However Miocic has looked near perfect in his last two fights. This is a step up in competition for him, del Rosario is 11-0 and has fought in King of the Cage, Strikeforce, and EliteXC. This will be a good test for Miocic but he should continue on his run up the ladder. Miocic gets the decision win.

Heavyweight bout:
Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve
Johnson is replacing the injured Mark Hunt. Johnson just fought Pat Barry, and won by TKO. Struve lives up to is name ‘the skyscraper” and will have a good reach advantage. This will be a striking war and I think Johnson will prove too powerful. Lavar gets the stoppage in the second.

Preliminary card (FX)

Featherweight bout:
Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins
Ekins is a good wrestler and will aggressively look for the takedown. Brandao is an explosive striker, and I think he will get a quick knock out. Brandao KO round 1

Lightweight bout:
Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner
Barboza is one of the hottest prospects in the lightweight division, Varner is a veteran of the sport and is the former WEC champion. Varner seems to always struggle against good strikers, however this is the first good wrestler that Barboza has faced. I’m going for Barboza in the second by KO

Middleweight bout:
Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway
Miller is never as good as he professes himself to be, and Dollaway coming of two losses so really needs the win. Look for Dolloway to use his excellent wrestling, and good ground and pound to get the decision win.


Lightweight bout:
Paul Sass vs Jacob Volkmann
Both of these guys are good on the ground, but I have to give the edge to Volkmann who has the superior wrestling and is tough to get off you once he’s on top. I think Volkmann will grind out a decision win.

Preliminary card (Facebook)

Welterweight bout:
Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig
This should be a great fight. Both are excellent strikers, which means it could go one of two ways, either a great striking battle or turn into a grappling match. In both of these circumstances I think Ludwig stands the better chance of winning. I’ll say it will go to a decision with Ludwig getting the win,

Light Heavyweight bout:
Kyle Kingsbury vs. Glover Teixeira
Glover Teixeira is a great grappler with good striking skills. Kingsbury has shown himself to be an exciting fighter in his last outing against Stephan Bonnar. I think Teixeira’s grappling will prove an asset in this fight and he will win by submission.

Featherweight bout:
Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda
This will be an interesting fight. Brown is the former WEC, but has not looked the same since he lost the title and moved to the UFC. Pineda is a young up and comer that has won his previous two UFC outings in a combined time of under 4 minutes. So it’s the veteran vs the newcomer, I think this will go to the score cards with Pineda taking the decision.

If you are interested in training MMA or UFC style fighting in Plymouth the call 01752 262233 or visit http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/MMAPlymouth.html and take advantage of our 30 Day FREE trial.

ABL: Always Be Learning | 30 Days FREE | MMA in Plymouth

noreply@blogger.com (Barlow) — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

In last weeks instructor training course we talked about the importance of research and development within mixed martial arts coaching. I stressed that a successful instructor should always be learning new techniques, drills, and skills. The consequence of not continually developing is to stagnant as an instructor.

Below is a video is of Billy Robinson teaching a group of mixed martial artists in 2011. Billy Robinson is a legend within the wrestling, catch as catch can and MMA world. He is arguably the most successful wrestler to have ever come out of the UK. He is world renowned for his knowledge on Catch As Catch Can Wrestling.

All though many of you may not be interested wrestling, the reason why this video is important is because of who is attending the class.

Within the group are two highly skilled and decorated instructors and mixed martial arts champions.First is former Shooto World Champion, founder of CSW, and one of the worlds top mixed martial arts coaches, Erik Paulson.

Erik Paulson is considered by many as an encyclopedia of martial arts knowledge. He once told me he has had 48 different instructors. Erik travels the world teaching seminars in MMA and his own system CSW. He also runs the CSW head quarters in California.

Also within the group is Josh Barnett. He is one of the top heavyweight fighters in the world, having fought in Pride, UFC, and fought for the Strikeforce World Heavyweight championship last weekend.

My point is that if these two celebrated mixed martial arts competitors and coaches, are still willing to learn. Shouldn't we all be?

Enjoy the video.

If you are interested in training Mixed Martial Arts in Plymouth call 01752 262233 or visit http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/MMAPlymouth.html and take advantage of our 30 Day FREE trial.

UFC 146 Fight Card | MMA in Plymouth | 30 Days FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:52:00 +0000

UFC 146 is place on 26th May 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This is the first time in UFC history that the five main event bouts will all be fought in the heavyweight division. For more information on MMA in Plymouth visit http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/MMAPlymouth.html of call 01752 262233

Originally Alistair Overeem was due to face Junior dos Santos for the title, having defeated Brock Lesnar at UFC 141. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announce that Overeem had failed a pre-fight drugs test and was subsequently suspended until after December 2012.

Below is the Official Card for UFC 146.

Main card
Heavyweight Championship bout: Junior dos Santos (c) vs. Frank Mir

Heavyweight bout: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva

Heavyweight bout: Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman

Heavyweight bout: Stipe Miocic vs. Shane del Rosario

Heavyweight bout: Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve

Preliminary card (FX)
Featherweight bout: Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins

Lightweight bout: Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner

Middleweight bout: Jason Miller vs. C.B. Dollaway

Lightweight bout: Paul Sass vs Jacob Volkmann

Preliminary card (Facebook)
Welterweight bout: Dan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig

Light Heavyweight bout: Kyle Kingsbury vs. Glover Teixeira

Featherweight bout: Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda

For more information on MMA in Plymouth call 01752 262233 or visit http://www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk/MMAPlymouth.html and take advantage of 30 Day FREE trial.

NEW BLACK BELTS | 30 Days FREE | Kickboxing in Plymouth

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:32:00 +0000

On Saturday 14th April Master St'James Black Belt Academy, the leading martial arts school in Plymouth hosted its quarterly Black Belt Graduation and Promotions event.

Three Plymouth based Kickboxing coaches earned new ranks in the KTX Kickboxing System;

Sharon Valentine was promoted to 3rd Degree Black Belt, Emma Garrod was promoted to 2nd Degree Black Belt and Mark Lock graduated to the rank of Primary Black Belt in the KTX Kickboxing system.

Belt Testing was over a three hour intensive assessment of all technical skills with all three Black Belt Graduates putting up a great performance.

If you would like to learn Kickboxing in Plymouth then take advantage of our 30 Day FREE trial with Master St'James Black Belt Academy Plymouth, home of the 30 day FREE trial.

Call us on 01752 262233 or visit or web site at www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk

Introduction to Sparring Seminar

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:38:00 +0000

On Saturday 3rd March from 12.00pm - 1.30pm we are holding an introduction to sparring seminar.

Sparring is one of the most enjoyable aspects of Kickboxing, Muay Thai and MMA. It is also the only training tool that will develop your understanding of range, and timing.

A good understanding of range and timing are essential to be a complete martial artist.

Like any training tool, students need to be taught how to spar. Most gyms wrongly assume that if you can hit pads then you can hit people, and throw their students to the sharks,hoping they survive.

At Master St'James Black Belt Academy we are different, we will teach you how to spar safely and effectively so that everyone involved has fun, develops appropriate skills, and stays safe.

This is accomplished through our introduction to sparring workshops which are compulsory for any student wishing to take up this aspect of their training.

To spar in any of our classes you must have completed at least one of these workshops. However, many senior students also attend to keep upto date on their skills.

The Seminar is completely FREE, providing you have your own sparring kit. The complete kit includes;

- 16oz Gloves
- Shin / Instep Guards
- Groin Guard
- Gum Shield

If you want to attend the seminar sign up in the academy at reception. Space is limited so please book early to confirm your place.

Gradings: Saturday 25th February 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:24:00 +0000

The monthly academy grading testing will be taking place on Saturday 25th February 2012.

The grading is open to anyone that meets the minimum standard for grading and has the instructors approval. Instructors will be giving out applications in class for those students they feel are ready to grade, grading forms can also be found in reception.

Grading forms need to be handed into reception by Wednesday 22nd February at the latest.

The testing times are as follows;

Little Dragons - 10.00 - 10.30am

Junior Foundation - 10.45 - 11.30am

Junior Advanced / Cadets - 11.45 - 12.30pm

Adult Kickboxing - 1.00 - 2.30pm

Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start time of your grading, and wear your full uniform.

Good luck to everyone grading.

Tom

Spy Cam: Free Muay Thai Seminar | 30 Days FREE | Muay Thai Kick Boxing lessons in Plymouth

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Last night Master St'James Black Belt Academy held a FREE Muay Thai Seminar. The lesson was a great success and is was a preview of our new Thai Boxing class starting in January 2012. Below is a highlight of what was covered during the seminar

Thank you to everyone that attend.

Dogdeball Rapid Fire Highlight

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:48:00 +0000

Here is a highlight video from our recent Dodgeball tournament.

Thank you to everyone that attended, and congratulations to Harry's team ' Anonymous' that became 2011 Plymouth Dodgeball Association of Plymouth Champions.

Dodgeball: Relentless is coming ..... in 2012

MMA and Muay Thai Seminars | 30 Day FREE Trial | Martial Arts Lessons in Plymouth

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0000

Tonight at Master St'James Black Belt Academy we are holding two FREE Seminars.

The first run from 6.00 - 7.30pm and will be a Muay Thai Kickboxing masterclass on the basics of Thai Kickboxing.

From 7.30 - 9.00pm there will be a Mixed Martial Arts Seminar, on how to combine striking, wrestling, and grappling to become an effective MMA fighter.

From January we will be running Muay Thai and MMA Programmes, this is an excellant opportunity to expereince what these classes will be like.

If you are imterested in attending any of our lessons in Muay Thai Kick Boxing, Mix Martial Arts, or Jiu Jitsu in Plymouth then Call 01752 262233 or visit www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk

Time Table Update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:00:00 +0000

The junior advanced classes on a Tuesday and Thursday will run from 5.15 - 6.00pm, not 5.30-6.15pm as stated. Thank You

Grading 17th December | Kickboxing Classes in Plymouth

noreply@blogger.com (Barlow) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:08:00 +0000

Today is the last day to get your applications in for the grading on Saturday (17th December). Please hand your application forms in at reception. Thank you

New Timetable Jan 2012 | 30 Days FREE | Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Plymouth

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

From January 2012 we will be operating an exciting new timetable.

There a few new changes, to be aware of;

Longer KTX Kickboxing Classes
New Muay Thai Classes
Kick / Thai Boxing Sparring class
New MMA Class
Beginners Kickboxing Classes
Beginners BJJ Classes
Longer Junior Weapons Class

Much of the timetable has stayed the same however there are a few time differences to be aware of. Most of these are only by a few minutes, so should have little impact on your current training pattern.

Hard copies of the timetable are available from reception, and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to speak to a member of staff.

MMA & Muay Thai Seminars

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:46:00 +0000

From January we will be adding two exciting new programmes to the academy; Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts Concepts.

To allow everyone to experience these classes before they begin in January, we will be holding two completely FREE taster sessions on Wednesday 21/12/11

From 18:00 - 19:30 Muay Thai 101

We will be holding a Muay Thai 101 taster class this will be run exactly how the new programme will be run so everyone can a sneak peek of this devastating art first hand............ for FREE!!!

From 19:30 - 21:00 MMA Concepts

We will be holding a preview session of our first ever MMA concepts class. Join Tom Barlow as he teaches the concepts of how to adapt your striking, Wrestling and BJJ for Mixed Martial Arts.......... for FREE!!!

This is a great opportunity to try out our new programmes before they begin in January, to attend either or both seminars sign up at reception.

All of the regular adult classes will be cancelled on this day, to allow for the seminars.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Annual Dodgeball Torunament at Master St'James Black Belt Academy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Every year Master St'James Black Belt Academy holds its annual junior Dogdeball tournament in association with Plymouth Dogdeball Association of Plymouth (PDAP)

This years tournament, Dodgeball; RAPID FIRE, is taking place held on Monday 19th December from 5.00 - 7.00pm.

The tournament is open to all junior students of Master St'James Black Belt Academy and their friends, and is completely FREE.

Teams will be made of one academy student and four of their friends, and will compete to become the 2011 Plymouth Dodgeball Association of Plymouth World Champion.

Team sign up sheets are available at the Academy reception.

Goal Setting for Mixed Martial Arts Excellence

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:31:00 +0000

At Master St’James Black Belt Academy we believe in setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. S.M.A.R.T. refers to goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time.

Specific

Your goals need to be specific. For example a statement like “I want to lose weight” is too vague; a specific goal would be “I want to lose 5 lbs”. Now you know when you have reached your goal.

Measurable

Goals should be measurable. For example “I want to be better at press ups” is an ambiguous statement. A clearer goal is “I will increase the number of press ups I do a day by 1 until I can do 100 press ups unbroken.” This is a clear and simple goal.

Achievable

Goals need to be reasonable and achievable. Nearly everyone has tried to drop a few pounds at one time or another. Often their success or failure depends on setting practical goals. Losing 100 pounds in 30 days is unrealistic (unless you're planning a medical procedure). Losing six to eight pounds in 30 days is reasonable. Don't set yourself up for failure by setting goals that are out of reach

Realistic

Goals need to be realistic. It's important to honestly evaluate yourself. Do you have the ability and commitment to make your dream come true? Or does it need a little adjustment? For example, you may love to play tennis, but do you have the time, talent and commitment to become a pro? Be honest.

Time

Goals need to have a time frame. Having a set amount of time will give your goals structure. For example, you want reach your Black Belt. Some people spend a lot of time talking about what they want to do, someday. Without an end date there is no sense of urgency, no reason to take any action today. Having a specific time frame gives you the impetus to get started, and will help you monitor your progress.

Why did you join Master St’James Black Belt Academy?

__________________________________________________________________

We are going to break down your down all the goals necessary to accomplish your biggest goal, that you listed above. You can add goals along the way, you may also change goals to readjust what is realistic for you at the time. We have already provided a common goal that everyone should possess.

Some possible goals could include getting a certain weight or body fat, improving your bench press, competing in a competition, improving your diet, improving your flexibility, etc. If you need more ideas speak to an instructor.

Your goal sheet should be updated constantly to reflect your current position at the time in achieving your goals. Your goals should be challenging, they should push you – but not break you.

Every month a new set of goals should be set. These goal sheets are a guideline to help you realise your goals and accomplish your ultimate mission at Master St’James Black Belt Academy – to reach your black belt.

What are your four year goals?

1. Attain your Black Belt

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

What are your three year goals?

1. Attain your Brown Belt

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

What are your two year goals?

1. Attain your Purple Belt

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

What are your one year goals?

1. Attain your Blue Belt

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

What are your nine month goals?

1. To be competitive with other blue belts

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

What are your six month goals?

1. Drilled my nine favourite combination 400 times

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

What are your three month goals?

1. Drilled my four favourite combination 400 times

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

What are your one month goals?

1. Drilled my four favourite combination 125 times

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

If your interested in learning more about Goal Setting for Mixed Martial Arts or any of our Martial Arts programmes then call 01752 262233 or visit www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk and start your 30 Day FREE Trial today

Diet & Weight Management for Mixed Martial Arts Training in Plymouth

noreply@blogger.com (Barlow) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:40:00 +0000

One of the biggest reasons people start training in mixed martial arts is for weight loss or weight control. MMA is a awesome workout and will help you get in shape, lose a few pounds, or tone up. Equally important for Weight loss as exercise is a healthy diet. Below are some general guidelines that can really help you gain control of your diet and help you reach your weight loss goals.

The following are the authors’ experiences and is provided for educational purpose and general reference only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical or professional use. You should consult a physician regarding individual physical and health needs before undertaking any diet, exercise, or fitness programme

1. Drink at least 2 litres of water a day.

Drinking water will keep you hydrated and remove waste from your body. Drink pure water not designer or enhanced water. These can contain a lot of sugar and aspartame, both not very good for you. If you need to flavour water try adding fresh fruit. Take a bottle of water with you where ever you go and drink it throughout the day, before, during and after you workouts.

2. Eat more often and less food.

Look to eat between 5 – 8 small meals per day, rather than two large meals. After you eat a meal you should not feel sleepy or fatigued, this is a sign of over-eating. Eat just enough so you are not hungry but not so much you feel full. It usually takes 15-20 minutes for the food to hit your stomach and stop bothering you. The reason for eating more is to increase your metabolism.

3. Eat Natural foods, and if possible organic.

Natural foods are things like fish, poultry, meats, vegetables, fruit, and nuts. Natural food is easier on your digestive system. Try to eat vegetables at every meal, and avoid processed foods like fast food, sodas, sweets, chips, etc.

4. Having a good breakfast is pivotal to establishing a good diet and starting the day right.

Breakfast means breaking the fast your body was in during sleep. Your body is starving when you wake up and if you don’t eat your metabolism will slow down and begin to store fat.

5. Eat something before going to bed.

A common misconception is that any meal consumed before sleeping will turn to fat overnight. This is not the case; in fact eating before you sleep will keep your metabolism working while you’re enduring an extended fast. Eat slow digesting proteins such as yoghurt or cottage cheese reap the most rewards.

6. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is probably the single worst “food” you can eat.

It has no nutritional value, will spike your insulin and help you pack on fat. It is found in most processed foods and should be avoided whenever possible.

7. Eating Carbohydrate is not bad.

Whole grains, fruit and vegetables are all carbohydrate rich foods that are very helpful in promoting fat loss. What you want to avoid are refined carbs. Foods like white bread, bagels, refined suger, and almost anything in the snack aisle.

8. Fish Oil is a great supplement to increase fat loss.

The only drawback is the taste. It is available in capsules so you don’t have to taste it going down. Take fish oil with a meal to limit the after taste.

9. Weight training will increase the rate of fat loss.

Just doing cardio will put your body into a catabolic stat, meaning muscle will burn as well as fat. By lifting weights you will increase your muscle density. The more muscle you have the more fat you are capable of burning.

10. Give yourself a break every so often and eat something you enjoy.

If you feel trapped in a diet you will eventually break it. It is ok to give yourself a cheat meal or day. This can actually promote fat loss. A diet should be simple, sustainable, and enjoyable, not a torturous feat requiring all your will power.

If your interested in learning more about Mixed Martial Arts Classes in Plymouthfor weight loss or weight control call 01752 262233 or visit www.martialartsplymouth.co.uk and start your 30 Day FREE Trial today

What you'll learn at Plymouth Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness Cetre

noreply@blogger.com (Barlow) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:12:00 +0000

At Master St’James Black Belt Academy you have the opportunity to learn several different styles martial arts, including Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Submission Wrestling, Filipino Martial Arts, and Mixed Martial Arts.

As a student you will learn how to apply these techniques in real situations, whether it is self defence, or competition. By learning these techniques it will allow anyone of any size, age, gender to effectively defend themselves against any opponent.

Boxing also known as Pugilism, is one of the oldest combat forms known to man. The primary weapons in boxing are fists, and combinations of punches. Boxing will also develop excellent footwork and a great understanding of range. Boxing has become one of the most important areas in modern mixed martial arts, and it is also an effective tool for self defence.

Kickboxing is a stand up style of fighting that utilizes punching techniques from Boxing, and the kicking techniques from Karate, Taekwondo, and Savate. As a student, you will learn how to deliver devastating strikes to different vital areas of the body. At the same time how to defend and counter against different attacks. It is very important to know how to strike because although 95% of fights end up on the ground, 100% of fights start standing!

Muay Thai also known as Thai Boxing is an ancient martial art that originates from Thailand. Thai Boxing is often called the “Science of Eight Limbs” as it utilises Punches, Kicks, Knees, and Elbows. Muay Thai was originally an unarmed combat system for soldiers and gradually became a competitive sport. Thai Boxing is an excellent self defence system, and is considered one of the hardest ring sports. Learning Muay Thai is a great asset to any mixed martial arts fighter or student.

Wrestling is the art of taking an opponent down, which is an important part of fighting. It is the world’s oldest known sport dating back thousands of years. It is estimated 95% of street fights end up on the ground – to get to the ground a takedown must be executed. As a student you will learn effective takedowns, and how to effectively defend your opponents takedown attempts.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that focuses on grappling on the ground. As a student, you will learn how to control an opponent and use many different submissions holds, such as chokes, arm locks, and leg locks. You will also learn how to dominate positions on the ground and escape from bad positions – allowing you to get to a superior position.

Submission Wrestling also known as grappling, is an essential part of mixed martial arts, without a solid understanding of Submission Wrestling a fighter will struggle to win an MMA contest. Submission Wrestling combines techniques from Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Sambo, Catch Wrestling, and Judo. The goal of grappling is to take your opponent down, control them, and then apply a submission hold forcing them to submit or risk injury.

Filipino Martial Arts is a martial arts system the focuses on using weapons. In this programme you will learn how to use a number of different weapons for both offense and defence. Filipino Martial Arts also has a system that does not use weapons and is incredibly effective as a self defence system.

Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is a hybrid of martial arts, including Boxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The sport was originally conceived to test martial arts against each other to find out which style was the most effective. Since MMA’s first introduction to a larger audience, through events like the UFC and Pride, it has developed into its own style. Mixed Martial Arts deals with all ranges of combat from striking to grappling and everything in between, consequently it is an excellent form of self defence and awesome for fitness.

One of the major benefits of training at Master St’James Black Belt Academy is that we break our timetable down into different classes based on style. Consequently you can focus on the style you most want to learn or that you need to develop the most.

If your interested in learning Mixed Martial Arts in Plymouth or any of the other styles of martial arts we teach then call us on 01752 262233 or CLICK HERE and take advantage of our 30 Day FREE Trial