MMA
I loved this video.
I have known about Kyoji Horiguchi for a while, he’s been on a tear in Japan for quite a while and is at the beginning of his UFC campaign.
Watch this video for insight into his training, life, and the Krazy Bee gym in Japan, home of Yamamoto Kid, Kotetsu Boku, and more.
Shit, I can’t wait to go to Japan in August.
BJJ
Check this out! Spotted on the news feed of our friends at Carpe Diem BJJ in Tokyo.
Sakuraba’s recent pro-wrestling storylines involve him fighting in a gi. So he wore the custom Scramble gi we made him at the gym for a photoshoot for a magazine.
How exciting! Such wow! Many fight!
MMA
I stumbled on this old video from our good friend Dan Herbertson, who helped us to film most of the “Grappling Dummies” series.
It has some pretty good footage of Shinya Aoki training grappling with Masakazu Imanari, followed by Katsunori Kikuno showing off his karate style and destroying a training partner with strict karate punches.
The end has some amusing shenanigans from a couple of TV comedians.
Check it out and share it if you enjoy.
MMA
This video caught my attention like no other has recently. And yes, I’m not afraid to admit it, it brought a tear to my eye.
It’s probably because of my emotional investment in Sakuraba and also the connection to Japan, where I used to live.
I miss Sakuraba’s glory days. I miss Japan. I miss Pride.
I have a Sakuraba “Water” T-shirt that I bought at Pride Middleweight GP Opening Round 2005, where I saw Sakuraba fight. It’s the most memorable fighting-related memory I have. When Sakuraba entered the arena, we all stood as if our seats were electrified and cheered and shouted under the strobes and the smoke and the fireworks,
This video makes me think of the Japanese concept of 物の哀れ – Mono no aware. The Sadness of Things. That everything is transient and fleeting and that any strong emotional feeling or attachment will ultimately end in sadness when it passes.
Enjoy!