THIS MONTH IN FIGHTERS
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IMPROVE YOUR GAME - By James Watling |
 What do we mean when we say the word power? Well, in regards to martial arts, I would say power is basically the amount of force you can generate with a strike, throw or even a takedown.
The word power translates as 'physical strength' or more specifically as a 'mathematical 'equation, (speed x strength) = POWER!!!
I would also add technique into this 'equation' as without the proper execution of technique, all the speed and power in the world will not assist you and could actually work against you! So, what am now going to do, is break it down into 3 specific sections.
The first of which we will look at in this month's column is technique!
TECHNIQUE
Of the three sections that we are going to look at, technique is the one you could write several books on! I'm going to give you some tips on how you can improve your technique as well as a guide as to what YOU can do for yourself!..
Read more in Fighters magazine available from WH Smith, Borders and all good newsagents and don't forget to look out for the Digital Edition
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WILL MMA EVER BE A MAINSTREAM SPORT? - By Liam Bennion |
 You don't need us to tell you that MMA has come in leaps and bounds over the past few years and you may even argue that it is now a mainstream sport - so why base an article on such a question? But if you think about it we have all had that conversation with someone telling them that you are into Mixed Martial Arts and they reply "What's that exactly?"
Once you have enlightened them as to what it involves (and that they should follow it more because it is the best sport ever) then they will probably realise that they have seen it in some shape or form and might actually be quite interested in the concept. That isn't really enough for it to be seen as a mainstream sport though, I mean when was the last time you heard someone ask "What's boxing?" or "What's football?" There is no doubt that MMA is a rapidly growing sport but will it ever be considered truly mainstream?
One of the major factors is television coverage, if more networks begin to show MMA events on a regular basis and the number of people tuning in increases then of course it is going to continue to grow - perhaps even more rapidly than before. And the cogs are already in motion for more coverage of the sport. Bravo continue to show the main UFC events, Fight Night presentations, UFC Unleashed/Highlights, the reality TV series TUF and even some All Access behind the scenes shows - basically it is the main reason for Bravo to exist quite frankly. Now we also have Setanta Sports covering major UK UFC events live and it is increasing its coverage of US events over the course of this year. Even better still it is bringing out a new show dedicated to the UFC called 'Wired' that is going to be shown on Thursday nights so more and more people are going to be exposed to Ultimate Fighting...
Read more in Fighters magazine available from WH Smith, Borders and all good newsagents and don't forget to look out for the Digital Edition
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MAKE HAYE CHAMPION - While the sun still shines on British boxing! |
 I hate to say I told you so... but David Haye certainly silenced a few critics at the 02 centre last month. Despatching rival cruiserweight champion Enzo 'Big Mac' Maccarinelli to unify three of the major belts in the division, Haye now has his heart set on the big boys: "I'm 100% certain that I'll achieve more things at heavyweight than I have done at cruiserweight. I'm not looking at boxing into my 31st year, so I've got two and a half years to get the job done. If the titles get unified, hopefully I'll just have to fight one guy."
It's the same balls-to-the-wall confidence that saw him pick himself off the mat to take Mormeck's cruiserweight title earlier in the year. It's also proving to be a popular media ploy: 'Hayefever' - as Boxing Monthly dubbed it - is gripping the nation. Having told me that he's been an MMA enthusiast since the very first UFC events, perhaps Haye has seen something in the 'fight all comers' attitude of the MMA elite; as opposed to the stage-managing and record-padding of professional boxing?
So what has he been lacking until now? Why the sudden frenzy of Hayefever, when some industry voices have been trumpeting his potential for years? In a word: Warren. Kingpin of British boxing promoting Frank Warren is our countries answer to Don King (minus the silly haircut and record of criminal violence; Warren has only been shot at to my knowledge!) To put it frankly, it's a lot easier to get the title shots as a Warren fighter. This might explains why Heavyweight Champ Wladimir Klitschko only heard of Haye further to his demolition of Warren's Maccarinelli. Klitschko's certainly heard of him now though, and is apparently looking forward to the prospect of fighting the South Londoner...
Read more in Fighters magazine available from WH Smith, Borders and all good newsagents and don't forget to look out for the Digital Edition
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ROB STOREY - I'd love a fight against Liam Harrison but it's not a fight he's going to want |
 Rob 'The Keddle' Storey is a very familiar face throughout the circuit in the South. Having originally started fighting at light welterweight he has actually come down in fight weight over the years since learning more about nutrition and now holds the British number one spot at 59 kilos. Geordie in origin, he has been fighting now for nearly 10 years and has a reputation outside the ring as a bit of a practical joker and someone you can always have a drink (or two) with. He started his training with Keddles Gym in Orpington under Alan Keddle who he has been with ever since and Fighters Magazine took the opportunity to catch up with him and talk about some of his experiences in the sport.
"I started training at Keddles after playing football with Kieran Keddle and he got me to come down along with Shaun and Alan. That was 9 years ago when I was 28 years old. Yes you wouldn't believe it but I am 36 later this year." Storey was serving in the army when he initially started thaiboxing. "I had finished my tour but then 8 months after I started training I got called back to go to Kosovo for nearly 9 months. I found normal Thai training okay, because I was obviously in okay shape when I tipped up - it's getting harder though as I get older. I'm fitter now than I was when I was in the army. But in the army as well as a lot of training you do do a lot of drinking as well! I had my first fight 2 to 3 months after returning from Kosovo. It was against Gary Manders from K-Star - I won on points."
It wasn't long until Storey had his first title fight which was against Robert Rukwira from Nemesis for a Southern Area title at Amadeus nightclub in Rochester...
Read more in Fighters magazine available from WH Smith, Borders and all good newsagents and don't forget to look out for the Digital Edition
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DEWSBURY'S DALE WHITE - The most stylish pure muaythai fighter England's ever produced |
 Dale White, fighting out of his father's gym Dean Whites Gym in Dewsbury, has been a well established name for many years and his great style has him regarded as one of England's most stylish pure muaythai fighters ever. Despite this accolade he is a quiet, unassuming fighter who tends to keep himself to himself, never throwing himself into the limelight. A very crisp, slick fighter and tall for his weight he has a very traditional style wasting minimal energy and making every technique thrown useful. He started training at a young age and still now at only 25 years old is one Britain's most experienced Thai boxers having fought all over the world. He is currently a full time trainer at the gym in Dewsbury taking care of the young upcoming fighters, having produced several champions throughout 2007.
White started training at 9 years old, his father having loved the sport and his mother being a former fighter. "I started training at the age of 9 at a gym in Leeds. The trainer, was a guy called Nigel Roberts from Master Skens and I also went to Sandy Holts Bolton gym a few times before I went to Master Toddys in Manchester. I trained at the first two approximately 20 times but was then at Master Toddys for 3 years solid." White admits that initially he only began training because his parents wanted him to but as soon as he entered the gym he was hooked. "At first my Father made me go, as he didn't want me hanging around the streets and wanted me to be able to defend myself. There wasn't any ambition beyond that to begin with. However, after training with and watching the likes of Ronnie Green, Pele Nathan, Lisa Howart, Ann Quinlinn, Dawson Burgandy, I decided I wanted to compete."
Dale had his first fight after just 1 year, aged 10 in Master Toddy's Gym and unusually, (he fought without head contact) later, his first four fights were head contact...
Read more in Fighters magazine available from WH Smith, Borders and all good newsagents and don't forget to look out for the Digital Edition
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FIGHTERS 5 MOST TECHNICAL... By Dan Green |
 This is Fighters Magazine's choice for the 5 most technical male muaythai fighters. Many qualities make a great fighter - heart, strength, power, durability, fitness, speed, intelligence, style etc and the best British fighters have all of these. This week we've picked the 5 who we think are the most technical and next time we'll be looking at the 5 hardest hitters pound for pound.
Muaythai is famed for it's power but is "under the cover" a highly technical martial art. In fact the power of it's weapons would not be possible without the correct technique that goes into each shot. With so many weapons and the intricacies of the clinch it is actually an incredible difficult art to master at the highest levels. It is a highly stylised way of fighting and a fighter must have the right footwork and balance to pull off each technique effectively.
TOP 5
1. Dale White
2. Dean James
3. James France
4. Steven Wakeling
5. Kieran Keddle
Read more in Fighters magazine available from WH Smith, Borders and all good newsagents and don't forget to look out for the Digital Edition
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JOHN SHIELS - Is this man set to revolutionise the fight industry? |
 John Shiels, is certainly no stranger to the fight game having represented Gt Britain in both karate and kickboxing. A 6th dan and Chief Instructor of Bujinkai karate, John has been studying martial arts since he was five years old and was Irish School Boys boxing champion. Having also studied judo and jujitsu, he went on to represent his country in the British karate team for 8 years. In recent years John's attention has turned to his business and he now runs the very successful Fighting Fit dojo in Banbury.
It is however John's latest venture, which he believes, is set to revolutionise the fight industry. The Free2fight website, which will get its major launch at Seni 2008 aims to give fighters the chance to showcase themselves and put themselves forward for fights. So was it John's own experiences as a fighter that provided the inspiration for the site?
"Well, it really came about as a culmination of many things, but ultimately it was my own experiences, when early on in my career, as a full-contact fighter that gave me the idea. All too often at the end of the night, tired and weary and wanting to get home you were chasing the promoter round just to get your petrol money. That cannot be right, if someone is willing to work hard, get into shape and step into the ring, or on to the mat, to help make an event then they should be given what they deserve. After all if you think they are good enough to appear on your show then they are good enough to be paid!
At the moment whilst there is a supply of fighters willing to fight just for the experience, promoters will always exploit the situation..."
Read more in Fighters magazine available from WH Smith, Borders and all good newsagents and don't forget to look out for the Digital Edition
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