Punch Kick Choke - BJJ and MMA Blog

Why The PKC MMA Sponsorship Plan is Good for Business

2012-02-24T19:37:00.008-08:00

If you haven't already, please read what I am planning to do here:
http://www.punchkickchoke.com/2012/02/punchkickchokecom-redesign-plan-im.html

So, it's a very ambitious plan, but the question is, how does adding a layer of transparency and democracy to the world of martial arts sponsorships help the businesses?

It's simple- the point of a sponsorship is to invest an appropriate amount of money and/or equipment to a person or persons to get your brand a proper level of exposure. You can wait for winners and try and snag them, but everyone is gunning for the next BJ Penn or Marcelo Garcia, so the inter-business competition brings up the cost of sponsoring such people. Associating with winners is just fine, and a time honored integral part of sports sponsorships, but the people who are buying your products in the modern age are looking for more than that- a human face, a brand that really knows its consumers is the future, and if there is any doubt of that, look at the amount of money large household name corporations are currently spending on trying to humanize their brand, desperately grasping to take advantage of social media but failing because unfortunately, money can't buy you a soul. Just ask Mitt Romney.

So, the inherent advantage to this plan are that it's a cheap, cost-efficient PR blitz that you can target to different parts of the target demographic depending on the sponsorship package you put together, and an effective avenue to find up and comers who already have fans/people who will know their names, because the community will pick them.

Now, the terms and conditions- the old way of doing it is to get a lawyer to put up a indecipherable wall of text to sign- but this is the wrong way to do it in this situation. Simple, clear rules combined with the proper incentives needed to follow through with them are the most effective, also with the added fear of potential public shaming from the community with loss of reputation. Add a promise of subsidizing any event they enter if they post video or pictures of themselves using your equipment, and you'll find fighters going out of their way to put your brand out there. Fear should never be front and foremost- it's a shit incentive, so think more carrot, less stick.

If you think I'm wrong, watch this recent clip from the Colbert Report:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/332893/the-colbert-report-wheat-thins-sponsortunity#s-p1-sr-i1

Now, considering how things in the sports industry work, it would still make sense to have a contract ready for a fighter once they get to a certain level, but everything should still be as clear and simple as possible to everyone involved. I think one of the big future goals of PKC will be to have a fully functional fight team and training site with proper team managers, so if any of our members want to go pro, the transition will be as simple and hassle free as possible, and they know they will be treated as fairly, and not be taken advantage of.

I feel like I've made my point. I will be posting the link to the fundraiser soon, so check back soon- and, if you work at or own a MA company or site and want to work with me and Punch Kick Choke, let me know!

The PunchKickChoke.com Redesign Plan (I'm putting together a Kickstarter Project/Shut Up and Give Me Money)

2012-02-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

I got some big news for you, so take a seat, because this is one long-ass article.

Pictured: You, shortly

After much deliberation, I have decided on the future of www.punchkickchoke.com - This blog has been up since 2006, and has been on my side through the ups and downs of my life since then, so there is no way I am going to abandon it like some prom night baby. Rather, it's time to take this site to 11, ala Spinal Tap, and turn Punch Kick Choke into the proper site it was meant to be.

Since the beginning, I wanted this blog to be something different, something not for the average meathead. Let me explain- as a former engineering student and a full time nerd, I grew tired of angry, misguided, and physics-challenged MMA fanboys, so if you read through this blog's 600+ post history, you'll notice the majority of the posts are full of one or more of the following: technical details, bandwagon hating, and irreverent humor. I feel like I have hit the limitations of the blog format, so think of what I want to do to be the transition from Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum to Arkham City. Frankly, I'm tired of reading my own opinions, and I want to create a platform for others who share my love of Martial Arts and my hate of bruteheaded ignorance to let their opinion to be heard. So, don't worry, the centerpiece of the site to be will still be the writing, both from a set of dedicated writers as well as respected community members, but now, PKC will be expanding from MMA and BJJ to more content about Judo, Muay Thai, Sambo, Wrestling, and other styles we consider "live." Also, more of an emphasis on the competitions of those arts, for good reason. Read on.

I promise not to fill a kiddy pool with your money and swim around in it.

HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART:

I'm going to Uchi-Mata and dump the world of Martial Arts sponsorships on its head. I thought about what I could do to really give back to the community that has given me so much, and it dawned upon me that I could bring the people who make the equipment and those who use it closer together. So, I am going to build a community alongside the content creation with the focus being around connecting competitive fighters and Martial Arts lifers with companies who are willing to sponsor them in their respective journeys. Monthly and weekly, the future Punch Kick Choke will feature Sponsorship Packages, and everyone will have a say- members can enter themselves or another member they think deserves it, and the companies who are generous enough to put these packages together will work together with the staff to pick out the person or persons most deserving to represent both company and PKC. And the people involved won't be just large manufacturers (ie like Aididas or such), but small companies. Likewise, the range of packages offered won't be just for beastly BJJ champions and Pro-Am MMA guys, but also for newbies and small ragtag garage warriors who need the material assistance... a true community.

Of course, this demands a fully functional forum full of Martial Arts enthusiasts, and of course, there must be the proper incentive to participate. All members will have the potential to bag a package, but being known among other members will obviously help in getting the attention of the decision makers, possibly by some sort of rep/karma system in place. Of course, people willing to put time and money in will be given more powers- I'm no communist, so think more credit union than soup kitchen. Gold members will be given the ability to leave comments and up/downvote both member entries as well as the sponsor packages and the sponsors themselves, given access to member-only subforums, create groups, and other potentially wizard-like powers (no promises on that last bit).

More importantly, however, Gold members can put together packages by themselves or with the help of others and decide who gets them- this means that if you love say, Sambo or Kali, but don't see any companies offering the appropriate packages, you can assemble a group that gives Sambo Gis or escrima sticks to the appropriate parties or organize group buys to subsidize the equipment. Think of this as my way or giving the power back to the people. Tell me that doesn't sound cool. Also, the money that you put in to PKC to be a Gold member will be put to good use- member fees will be used to subsidize competition entry costs for sponsored fighters, and members can take it a step further and contribute directly to any fighter of their choosing- there does need to be reason to put the equipment to good use for this to work, so in exchange for putting up pictures and video on the site of you using your new Gi in say, a Grapplers Quest comp, PKC will try to give you back some cash for your entry, F*CK YEAH!

Of course, there will be all the usual niceties that comes with being a forum member- site sponsored group meets, seminars, and the general fun of having civilized, moderated discussion with your fellow man (once again, no promises on that last bit).

Pictured: Your fellow man

This does mean that I will need to put down a big chunk of cash to lay down the infrastructure to make all this work, as well as the people to maintain this, so I will be putting together a Kickstarter Project (if you don't know what that is, click the link). Here's what I've come up with so far in terms of rewards. Of course, I am also taking non-Kickstarter funds, so if you're interested, contact me at punchkickchoke@live.com.

KickStarter Rewards

$3.50 or More
I will tell you I saw the Loch Ness monster when/if I see him. I heard he needs about tree-fiddy.

$10 or More
Put your name/handle on the Donor Page

$25 or More
Everything above plus early access to the forum (Yes, you're technically paying to beta test.)

$50 or More
Everything above plus 3 free months of Gold Membership (No immunity from being banned, though)

$100 or More
Everything above plus you can draw anything you want on a 468x80 pixel space and it'll go on the donor page. I will pixel-censor images as needed, so try to be tasteful.

$250 or More
Everything above plus a stylin' PKC T-shirt

$500 or More
Everything above plus Lifetime Gold Membership

$1,000 or More
Everything above plus you get to lord over your own invite-only subforum that you can't get banned from. (Tempting, huh?)

$5,000 or More
Everything above plus a personal day-long lesson from a respected Martial Arts expert that we'll fly in for you + rented mat space.

$10,000 or More
Everything above plus PKC will organize a member meetup in your area + rent mat space for a day/or UFC viewing party + pay for half the bar tab post-meet (Convincing at least 5 people to meet is on you, SAP. US members only.)

$50,000 or More
Everything above plus the first person to back at this level gets my treasured copy of the extremely rare Jiu Jitsu book from Spalding's Athletic Library series (Printed in 1934!!!). Everyone else, I'll think of something really nice.

$1,000,000 or More
Everything above plus the warm fuzzy feeling one gets from making a man piss his pants from joy/shock. I will also break out of my general reclusiveness and go to the soonest Vegas UFC fight that we can both make. I might also name the future puppy I promised my wife after you or whatever name you choose.

I still have tweaking to do, so expect the kickstarter link to be posted shortly. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the project/rewards, or if you're a PR guy for a equipment maker, what you can contribute. I'm excited about this... are you? Spread the word!

Can't wait for the Kickstarter page to be up & don't give a crap about the rewards? Donate now:

Also, thank all of you for your kind words during my recovery. I didn't know you guys cared *sniff*

Punchkickchoke.com is on a brief hiatus. Read me.

2012-01-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I've been recovering well, thanks for the kind words.
I have decided to take an indefinite break to reassess my situation, as I am on a new job search now that I can see again. Don't worry, I'm not just abandoning the site like last time. Once settled, I am considering giving the site a true makeover with much more functionality, complete with forum, store, and many more writers now that I have my own domain. So, if you or anyone you know are interested in the following, please send an email to the site's new email address: punchkickchoke@live.com Also, I would like to thank my sponsors for their support, and enjoy the free ad space in the downtime.

Looking for:
- Article/Copy-writers
- Investors/Sponsors
- Anyone with a good idea

Thanks, guys.

PS - In the meantime, if any of you play Battlefield 3 for Xbox, let me know. I don't have a mic, but I'm a half decent player, and it's good training for my eyes.

A Word of Warning About Steroid Creams, Eczema, and Cataracts

2011-12-19T11:15:00.000-08:00

My eye is recovering nicely, and the doctor says it will be 2 weeks befor I have full functionality in my eye, but in the meantie, I have an important message to anyone who reads my site and has skin issues, whether eczema and psoriasis, and is taking steroid creams to control it.

Do not use steroid creams on your face, no matter ho bad it is. It turns out that as they absorb into your skin and possibly get into your eyes, cataracts can form in your lens. I wish someone had told me beforehand, but now I'm here to serve as a warning. Thankfully cataract surgery is a simple one, but man, being one of the youngest cataract surgery patients ever is not a good feeling. So, if you are practicing BJJ or MMA and are using steroid creams/cortisol to control your flare ups, take heed and don't put those creams on your face, or you'll end up sidetracked from being able to do the things you love for a while.

So, I will see you guys in 2 weeks, and a happy holidays til then!

I Survived My Eye Surgery

2011-12-10T08:26:00.000-08:00

Were any of you concerned for my safety? Of course you were. Well, my left eye is now in recovery, but I will be back to writing shortly.

In the meantime, Panda Judo Throw!

Hakai "Vengence" Kimono Rip Stop Blue

2011-12-04T21:02:00.000-08:00

Great deal, just $100 on BJJ HQ today.

I'm undergoing eye surgery soon, so send me money.

2011-12-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

I'm getting my eyes fixed shortly via surgery, so posts this week might by sparse. If you've noticed a few more grammar mistakes in my usually *ahem* perfect writing recently, it's because I've basically been writing my posts blind and without proofreading. I'm just that skilled/dedicated. That being said, this costs money and whatnot, so anyone with a heart of gold or just enjoys my writing should email me here and paypal me some cash or send your firstborn child via Fedex.

To make this post worth reading, here is a picture of a kitten trying to climb up a slide and failing.

Anderson Silva's Man of the Year Photo for GQ Brazil

2011-11-30T14:03:00.000-08:00

Anderson Silva showing off some of the moves shown to him by Steven Seagal for his photoshoot. I believe this particular kick is called "Aging Fatass Ex-Movie Star Trying to Lift Leg."

Get This Canadian Guy on TUF 15

2011-11-30T13:33:00.000-08:00

Well, considering that TUF 14 is the first season of The Ultimate Fighter that has piqued my interest in a long time (Dear Mayhem Miller, please break Micheal Bisping's face.), I would like to make a suggestion for the next season- this Canadian fellow, Shane "Shaolin" Campbell, video below:

http://youtu.be/WCWi1TRvUuY

I can't say much for his grappling, but he definitely has striking skills.

Somersault Kick KO - Marius Zaromskis Vs Bruno Carvalho

2011-11-29T11:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a ridiculous Somersault Kick from Marius Zaromskis Vs Bruno Carvalho, Rumble of the Kings 2011.

http://youtu.be/tYNzb2ZikBc

So the title is slightly misleading- the somersault kick knocks him down, then paves the way for the TKO finish. Very slick move straight out of Tekken or some other fighting game.

Nate Quarry gives a TED talk about Courage and Resilience

2011-11-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

Nate "The Rock" Quarry gives a TED talk about Courage and Resiliance - very inspiring.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjYX4iKgT7E

Fuji Jiu Jitsu Gi Free Belt Promotion

2011-11-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

MAS is running a great sale. Order any Fuji Gi and get a free Fuji Jiu Jitsu belt in any size and color either adult or childrens.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

Seriously, that's it. Happy Thanksgiving, you cauliflower-eared bastards!

While you're here, read about the health benefits of Turkey: http://www.punchkickchoke.com/2008/11/health-benefits-of-turkey.html

Dan Henderson Post-Fight Interview After Shogun Fight at UFC 139

2011-11-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

Here's Dan Henderson post fight about Shogun Rua: "I hit him as hard as I've ever hit anybody."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3wNtYI4zB4A

Sweet Spinning Backfist- Showtime Fights

2011-11-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

Skip Ahead to 6:58

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=icwXzCIZay0#t=418s

UFC 139 GIFs - Shogun Rua vs. Dan Henderson

2011-11-19T23:52:00.000-08:00

Rua vs Henderson has my vote for fight of the year, hands down. The main cards being 5 rounds really paid off tonight!

UFC 139 GIFs - Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le

2011-11-19T23:47:00.000-08:00

Impressive showing by Wanderlei Silva against Cung Le - that training with Anderson Silva really paid off!

UFC 139 GIFs - Martin Kampmann vs Rick Story

2011-11-19T23:42:00.000-08:00

Great job by Kampmann against the dangerous Story.

UFC 139 GIFs - Faber vs. Bowles

2011-11-19T22:19:00.000-08:00

Sick Rolling Guillotine by Faber on Bowles

UFC 139 GIFs - Bonnar vs Kingsbury

2011-11-19T22:11:00.000-08:00

Excellent showing by Stephan Bonnar, and it's a damn shame he didn't finish Kingsbury.

Tom Lawlor Poking Fun at Steven Seagal at UFC 139 Weigh-ins (GIF)

2011-11-19T15:42:00.000-08:00

I fully support Tom Lawlor's decision to come to the UFC 139 weigh ins dressed as fat douchebag Steven Seagal, complete with front kick.

UFC 139: Shogun vs Henderson Picks and Predictions (Main Card)

2011-11-18T20:04:00.000-08:00

Light Heavyweight bout: Stephan Bonnar vs. Kyle Kingsbury

I feel that the American Psycho, Stephan Bonnar, just isn't the same brawling hardass he once was, especially after watching him against Mark Coleman. However, Bonnar does still have an experience advantage plus a victory over Soszynski, who beat Kingsbury during TUF. While I would love to see a brawl between Bonnar and Kingsbury, I think Kingsbury will likely take Bonnar down and wear him down for 3 rounds to win by UD.

Welterweight bout: Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story

Although Kampmann is coming off of two losses, but they were very close decisions to Diego Sanchez and Jake Shields, so that's not as much of an issue as is his relatively recent knee injury. However, I still think that Kampmann is the better rounded fighter against Story, as well as better striking, so I give this fight to Kampmann, likely by decision, possibly submission.

Bantamweight bout: Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles

A great matchup against the current #3 and #4 bantamweights in the world right now, I am very excited for this fight. I think that as long as Faber doesn't get wild post-takedowns/attempts on Bowles and get caught with one of his submissions, I think Faber will take this one via TKO stoppage in the 3nd round.

Middleweight bout: Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le

With the Axe Murderer coming in as a replacement for Vitor Belfort against Cung Le, I just don't see much hope for Silva, who has obviously been on the down end of his long illustrious career, against the faster and unpredictable Le. I call TKO in the 1st or 2nd round. If Silva has any real hope for this fight, it'll be from Anderson Silva's help in dealing with Sanshou-type kicks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rDS1_k0LrvI

Light Heavyweight bout: Maurício Rua vs. Dan Henderson

Very difficult fight for me to call, as Dan Henderson makes his return to the UFC to face off against Shogun, both PRIDE veterans. These two are incredibly dangerous strikers and possess great grappling skills, with Hendo's wrestling and Shogun's Jiu Jitsu. I really think this comes down to who has the better gameplan and contingencies this fight, because Henderson will want to keep close and keep pulling Shogun to the mat and force him to play a defensive game, while Shogun will want to keep his distance and use his Muay Thai. In the end, I think Hendo will get sucked into standing up with Rua, looking for the big KO shot, and get knocked out himself for the first time. I know that's bordering on heresy, as Dangerous Dan has always had an iron chin, but looking at Shogun's more recent training and striking footage, I just get the feeling something explosive is going to happen, and I'm betting on Shogun.

Excellent Grip Like a World Champion DVD

2011-11-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

On BJJHQ today is an excellent DVD on grip fighting. If you're interested in improving your takedowns with gi and breaking grips, check it out.

Grip Like a World Champion DVD

It's normally $55. $30 today on BJJHQ

Omoplata from Side Control (No Gi Technique)

2011-11-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

http://youtu.be/2CI7vYsXir0

Start in Side Control, and you have a hook under the near arm, and you have tight control on it.
Swim your other arm to the far side, and control the hip of your opponent.
Turn your upper body and hips to start pulling the near side arm up. In one motion with this, you're going to move over to the other side of the body, arm still tight against your chest.
As soon as you're on the other side, you're going to pivot on the knee by the head and throw your other leg over the body, and under the arm that you are controlling.
You're going to end up in a solid omoplata position as you continue to roll your opponent belly down, and you have it with the added control of your arm, essentially making it a stronger figure 4. Finish the submission from here.

Very sneaky submission from side control, with the added advantage of getting the omoplata from a position where it's very difficult for your opponent to roll out of it.

Anderson Silva's Ford Commercial (Brazil)

2011-11-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

So... tell me about the leather seats in that Fiesta.

http://youtu.be/4cVEWVNqcf8

Brazil's going to be the hotbed for MMA again, and looks like Ford's investing into it. Anderson Silva's hilarious as usual... pucker up, sweet cheeks. This should be the training for all car salesmen from now on.