Mixed Martial Arts

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS UUntitled-2ntitled-2 1 99/30/08/30/08 11:40:59:40:59 PPMM THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MMIXEDIXED MARTIALMARTIAL ARTSARTS THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS Compiled by Jon Sattler Edited by Raymond Horwitz, Jeannine Santiago, Jon Sattler and Jon Thibault Graphic Design by John Bodine Front Cover Photos: Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and Bas Rutten by Rick Hustead B.J. Penn by Sara Fogan Matt Hughes by Fernando Escovar Rickson Gracie and Tito Ortiz from the Black Belt Archives Back Cover Photo: Dan Henderson by Greg Wetzel ©2007 Black Belt Communications LLC All Rights Reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Control Number: 2007928718 ISBN-13: 978-0-89750-290-0 Electronic Edition Published 2012 WARNING This book is presented only as a means of preserving a unique aspect of the heritage of the martial arts. Neither Ohara Publications nor the author make any representation, warranty or guarantee that the techniques described or illustrated in this book will be safe or effective in any self-defense situation or otherwise. You may be injured if you apply or train in the techniques illustrated in this book and neither Ohara Publications nor the author is responsible for any such injury that may result. It is essential that you consult a physician regarding whether or not to attempt any technique described in this book. Specific self-defense responses illustrated in this book may not be justified in any particular situation in view of all of the circumstances or under applicable federal, state or local law. Neither Ohara Publications nor the author make any representation or warranty regarding the legality or appropriateness of any technique mentioned in this book. FOREWORD You can’t teach someone to want to fi ght. He has to like fi ghting. —Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell If you’re reading this book, chances are you like fi ghting. Perhaps you live for the intoxicating rush of combat and revel in modern-day gladiator games. Or you derive countless hours of pleasure from con- templating the more esoteric aspects of the sport: the beauty of a well- executed armbar from the guard, the serene, glazed-over expression of a fi ghter slipping into unconsciousness as his neck and carotid arteries are squeezed like a wet ham. Or maybe you just like punching people in the face. Which, one sup- poses, has its own innate beauty. The mixed martial arts aren’t for everyone. The sight of trained com- batants striving for supremacy in a bloodstained octagon often causes lesser men to look away in shame and self-loathing. But you’re different. You understand both the elegance and horror of the cage. You’re the reason we made The Ultimate Guide to Mixed Martial Arts. —Jon Sattler CONTENTS FOREWORD ..........................................................................................................5 WHO IS RICKSON GRACIE, AND WHY DO PEOPLE THINK HE’S THE BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD? An Interview With Royce Gracie’s Big Brother ................................................10 HOW TO APPLY AND ESCAPE FROM THE GUILLOTINE CHOKE Don’t Lose Your Head When Your Neck Is on the Line ....................................16 MODIFYING BRAZILIAN JUJUTSU FOR THE NO-HOLDS-BARRED WORLD OF VALE TUDO ...................................................21 WHICH STYLE WORKS BEST IN MIXED-MARTIAL ARTS COMPETITION? The Stats Are In! It’s Wrestling, America’s Martial Art .....................................28 NO-HOLDS-BARRED CHAMP BAS RUTTEN: The Dutch Star of Japan’s Pancrase Circuit Is Making His American Debut in the UFC ............................................................................36 RISE AND FALL OF WRESTLING Three Methods for Resurrecting the Winning Ways of the Grappling Art ........47 RICKSON The Legend of No-Holds-Barred Fighting Speaks Out on the State of the Grappling Arts Part 1.......................................53 RICKSON The Legend of No-Holds-Barred Fighting Speaks Out on the State of the Grappling Arts Part 2 ......................................60 VITOR BELFORT ‘The Phenom’ of No-Holds-Barred Fighting Speaks Out! .................................67 FIRE AND ICE Four Surefi re Grappling Techniques, Courtesy of Chuck ‘The Ice Man’ Liddell .........................................................75 ULTIMATE BATTLE PLAN Four Tremendous Takedowns From UFC Bad-Boy Tito Ortiz ............................81 WILL THE REAL BAS RUTTEN PLEASE STAND?.................................................87 FRANK SHAMROCK SHINES IN THE RING AND ON CAMERA .........................90 LEADER OF THE PACK In the UFC’s Lightweight Division, Pat Miletich Rules! ....................................92 CHUCK LIDDELL WRESTLES HIS WAY TO THE TOP ..........................................99 MARCO RUAS The King of the Streets Is on the Road Back ..................................................101 MARIO SPERRY ON THE STREET EFFECTIVENESS OF JUJUTSU .......................110 RICKSON GRACIE’S FIGHTING PHILOSOPHIES.............................................113 KAZUSHI SAKURABA IS THE KING OF THE WORLD! ......................................115 THE ULTIMATE GRAPPLER AND THE ULTIMATE STRIKER Gene LeBell and Benny Urquidez Reveal How They Became Martial Arts Legends .......................................................118 TAO OF FRANK SHAMROCK The Evolution of a No-Holds-Barred Champion Continues ...........................127 THE NATURAL Favorite Fighting and Training Strategies of UFC Legend Randy Couture.......133 THE DEMANDS OF COMBAT...........................................................................139 THE JUJUTSU EFFECT The Grappling Art Catapults B.J. Penn to the Top of the UFC Welterweight Division ................................................141 CHUCK LIDDELL The UFC’s Heavy Hitter Weighs in on His Favorite Ranges, Techniques and Strategies for Winning ..........................................................146 WARRIOR YOGA Frank Shamrock Harnesses the Power of the Ancient Art for Modern No-Holds-Barred Competition ...................................................154 WANNA BE THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER? Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell Will Take You to the Top Just Like They’re Doing on Their New Reality-TV Show! ................................160 MEET THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER! Diego Sanchez, Poster Boy of the Mixed Martial Arts ...................................176 THE TWISTER Eddie Bravo Speaks Out on His Signature Technique, Grappling With and Without a Gi, and His Victory Over Royler Gracie .................................187 ARMLESS ARM LOCKS On the Mat With Gokor Chivichyan..............................................................194 SHOOTFIGHTING VS. MIXED MARTIAL ARTS MMA Fans Should Know the Difference!......................................................198 NO BARRIERS Randy Couture’s Prescription for Peak Performance for Middle-Aged Martial Artists .....................................................................204 THE PRIDE OF PRIDE The Techniques, Tactics and Training of Welterweight Champion Dan Henderson..................................................208 BLACK BELT WHO IS RICKSON GRACIE, AND WHY DO PEOPLE THINK HE’S THE BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD? An Interview With Royce Gracie’s Big Brother Interview by Dr. Stephen V. Hoyt and Jim Coleman • September 1995 artial artists have heard plenty in recent months about Brazilian- Mjujutsu stylist Royce Gracie, who has won three Ultimate Fighting Championship titles and was named Black Belt’s 1994 Competitor of the Year. But the name Rickson Gracie is also popping up with increasing regularity—and for good reason. Rickson Gracie, Royce’s older brother, is considered by many martial arts pundits to be the best fi ghter in the Gracie family, if not the world. The stocky 34-year-old has collected $110,000 in prize money by winning the fi rst two Vale Tudo Fighting Championship tournaments in Tokyo, and he has been approached by promoters of American no-holds-barred events. But, for reasons he explains in this interview, the 5-foot-9-inch, 185-pounder has yet to compete in the United States. Black Belt: Last April, you won your second consecutive Vale Tudo Fight- ing Championship title, which is a virtually no-holds-barred event in Tokyo, similar to the UFC in the United States. What does vale tudo mean? Rickson Gracie: “Vale tudo” is a Portuguese and Brazilian word mean- ing “everything goes.” The tournament brings back the spirit of doing everything you want. BB: What are the rule differences between the UFC and the Vale Tudo event? Gracie: The UFC fi ghts have time limits. In the Vale Tudo, there are eight-minute rounds. You go for eight minutes, then you go another eight minutes until one fi ghter taps or passes out. And we wear gloves, more to protect the fi ghter who wears the glove than the guy who receives the punch, because you can get infected or break your hand. The glove is not that thick; it weighs maybe 8 ounces. And with this glove, you can hold, grab or punch. BB: Are you allowed to bite at the Vale Tudo? Gracie: No. BB: Can you gouge the opponent’s eyes? Gracie: No. BB: Head-butt? 10 THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS Gracie: You can use head butts on the fl oor. You can basically do what- ever you want. You can choke, punch, elbow, or use your knees. BB: How did you defeat Japanese wrestler Yoshihisa Yamamoto, the fi rst of your three opponents at the Vale Tudo tournament? Gracie: The match went for about 20 minutes because he held the ropes for the fi rst two rounds. Then, in the third round, I moved

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