Olympic Wrestling is Saved!

Image from Wikipedia

      Wrestling is saved!  The IOC voted today to roll the mats out for 2020.  I've said since the idea of cutting wrestling came up that it was a bad idea to give wrestlers a cause to rally behind.  By bad I mean good of course!  Having spent the better part of my life in wrestling it was a shock to even see such a staple sport cut from the Olympics, especially since it was the first combat sports in the Olympics dating all the way back to nearly 600bce.  Needless to say I'm happy to see it back on the list, not that I'll ever make it in myself, but I do know how hard I worked to just get to a state level.  It would be absolutely sickenning to think of people who put so much more into the sport to be stripped of what is probably their lifelong dream.  Today those ridiculously talented men and women can rejoice, which for a wrestler just means extra training.  Yay sprints!

     If this close call shows us anything it's that our sport may be on borrowed time.  In the US high school wrestling has seen a 52% drop in participation over the last 10 years.  These two events show that MMA hasn't done what many of us thought it would in spreading the gospel.  Despite the success of many wrestlers in MMA, such as Chris Weidman and Ben Askren, many wrestling programs are still seeing a decline.  The future of our sport doesn't have to be grim though.  There are so many people who stepped up to save Olympic wrestling, and we have to continue the fight to keep wrestling alive.  The idea of losing Olympic wrestling showed us that we can unite worldwide as a sport.  It's the first thing, maybe ever, that the US, Russia, and Iran have ever agreed on.  It was such a pressing issue in Russia that President Vladimir Putin himself made great strides in organizing support for wrestling.

     In the end it's the responsibility of all wrestlers and former wrestlers to grow the sport.  Get involved in some way, even if its as small as showing your little brother a double leg, or explaining to people what the sport is really about.  It took me a fairly long time to learn this simple fact, nobody is ever done with wrestling.  The spirit of a wrestler is still within us all, and it's our duty to share it with others, so that 2600 years from now wrestling will still be here.

-Snowman

Product Review: Brute Torq Kneepad

Photo courtesy of Brute Wrestling.

     Considered by many to be an essential piece of wrestling equiptment, kneepads for the longest time have been considered annoying, clumsy, and cumbersome even by their most avid users.  I've personally used kneepads ever since I was 8 years old, and up until 2009 I never found one that I actually enjoyed using.  I even went so far as to stop wearing kneepads for a time, just because there wasn't one on the market that I could stand to wear.  However, in 2009 after recovering from a knee injury I decided it would be a good idea for me to start wearing kneepads again.  Luckily the Brute Torq Kneepads had just hit the market, and after trying them on I decided that despite being pricier than your standard kneepads, they were well worth it.  In fact I just recently purchased a 2nd pair after 4 years of use out of my original Torq Kneepads.

     The Brute Torq Kneepad is far lighter than any other kneepad, and offers far better protection than any sleeve without sacraficing speed.  The design works perfectly with the anatomy of the human knee, and offers full range of motion where you need it, and it also offers stability in the knees most vital areas.  To allow full range of motion, while still complying with state and international wrestling regulations regarding kneepads, the Torq has a durable mesh backing allowing full range of motion and ventilation.  Now if you think mesh isn't durable enough to take on the mat let me tell you that in 4 years of using my Torq Kneepads neither of them had one tear in the mesh at all.

     The padding over the knee is also very unique.  It consists of five seperate pads to allow both maximum protection and full range of motion.  Despite what the picures may look like, the central pad actually dissipates impact away from the patella proventing many knee injuries.  It may also look like the Torq has one large pad with intricate designs, but in reality it is 5 seperate pads which gives the wearer the full range of motion all kneepad users have always desired.  Although I don't feel that it's necessary to say this again, these pads will last a long long time.  Mine lasted 4 years, while every other pad I've owned hardly lasted one season.

     Now if you aren't a wrestler these pads are still a great buy.  I currently wear them in SAMBO, and I know people in many other arts that use them.  They'll work great for BJJ, Judo, or even MMA, and deffinitely don't forget wrestling.  If you'd like to try the Torq click on the image below, and I'll be back soon with my review of the Aisics Razor Wrestling Shorts.

Brute Torq Kneepad, from Worldwide Sport Supply

-Snowman

Review: Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves

Photo courtesy of MMA Warehouse.

      Sparring gloves are one of the most important and most expensive pieces of equiptment for any striker, and downgrading the quality of your gloves to save a few extra dollars is always out of the question.  Luckily for all of us Venum has found a way to put a glove comprable with any $100 glove in a $55 package.  I've had several different types of boxing gloves theoughout my life (my first pair at only 6 years old) and the Challenger 2.0 gloves are at the top tier of quality.  They're a Thai style glove with an elatic and velcro enclosure, and printed logos and designs on different parts of the glove to give it the look we've all come to expect from Venum.

     The gloves were made in Thailand, it even says so on the cuff, and they are made with many traditional Thai glove features such as thicker padding on the back of the hands.  The Thai style makes these gloves optimal for any kickboxing or MMA sparring (I've used mine for Combat SAMBO and Jeet Kune Do sparring), but these gloves are also shaped in a way that they can transfer to standard boxing sparring with ease unlike many other gloves.

     The Challenger 2.0 gloves also have their own unique set of features including;

• A mesh palm for better ventilation, also makes breaking the gloves in easier.
• Elastic on the hook and loop enclosure, giving the gloves a more stable fit.
• Padding in parts of the wrist that really helps to keep the gloves from slipping.
• Logos and designs all over the gloves giving them an authentic Venum look.
• Four colors to choose from black/white, red/white, blue/white, or gold/black.

     My Challenger 2.0 gloves have worked great for me and I have even made them my main sparring gloves.  If you're interested in taking a look at them check out the links below, and if you're looking for something else check out our other links on the sidebar and bottom of the page.  Our next review will be a piece of wrestling equiptment, however we aren't sure what it will be yet so stay tuned.

Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves - $54.99 100% high quality PU Triple density foam for a better shock management Top hand protection 100% full attached Thumb Reinforced palm for Muay Thai and Kickboxing Large Velcro enclosure with elastic for a better adjustment

-Snowman

Snowman's Top 10 Martial Artists #8:Ronda Rousey

Photo courtesy of Bleacher Report

      If you had to ask who has the most Tyson esque mystique in combat sports right now you may here names like Silva, Jones, , Burroughs, or Ronda Rousey.  In my opinion I don't understand how there's even an argument as to who has the most Tyson esque ability to obliterate anybody put in front of them, not to menchain she's the only UFC or Strikeforce champion to never leave the 1st round.  Her accomplishments are by no means limited to being the biggest womens MMA star ever, she is also A 6 time senior national champion and an Olympic bronze medalist in Judo.

     Rousey sports one of the deepest resumes in martial arts today, and every time she competes she proves why.  She has won all 7 of her MMA bouts by armbar, and even more impressive she has won the Strikeforce and UFC womens bantamweight title in only these 7 fights.  In fact there probably would still be no women in the UFC if Rousey hadn't skyrocketed to superstardom under the Strikeforce banner.  She also brought Judo to the forefront of the MMA world, and really drives the point home by using almost nothing else except Judo in her fights.  Rousey's MMA fights typically start with her rushing in and securing the clinch, she then tosses her opponent to the ground showing uncanny core strength and flexibility, then holds in either side control or scarfhold before finishing with a brutal Judo style armbar.  The scariest part is that none of her fights have really strayed from this formula, everybody knows what's coming, but nobody has found a way to stop it.

     In Judo Rousey holds a long list of firsts for competitors from the US.  To put it in basic terms, this means she's probably the best Judoka our country has ever seen.  She won the world cup 6 times, won a junior world championship in 2004, and won a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympic Games.  She is such an impressive Judoka that Judo legend Gene LeBell took a personal interest in her, and he now trains and corners Rousey for her MMA bouts.

     Rousey recently announced that she may only fight for 2 more years, but even if that is to be the case she has clearly cemented her legacy as one of the greatest martial artists of all time, one of the greatest Judoka of all time, one of the greatest MMA champions of all time, and the most prominent female figure in modern martial arts.  this winter will see her star on the Ultimate Fighter, work with Hollywood in the Fast and Furious and Expendables movie series, and fight against former Strikeforce champion and longtime rival Miesha Tate in the most anticipated fight in the history of women's MMA.



     For those of you who enjoyed our first product review I will be writing another very soon.  This time it will be for the Venum Challenger 2.0 Boxing Gloves, once I get a chance to test them out I'll post my review.





    

Review: Venum Electron 2.0 Vale Tudo Shorts

     Is it just me or have vale tudo shorts had a resurgence in popularity lately?  It seems as though more fighters are wearing them and more retailers are selling them, and for the past year several premier companies have been working to place their stamp on the market.  Hayabusa made the Haburi compression shorts, Bad Boy recently added 3 color options to their vale tudo shorts, Clinch Gear jumped in the fray, but the ones that caught my attention above all else were the Venum Electron 2.0 vale tudo shorts.

Photo courtesy of MMA Warehouse.

     Having a background in both wrestling and SAMBO I always prefer vale tudo shorts simply because of the similarities they have with the uniforms of both styles, though all of my previous experiences with vale tudo shorts have been met with dissapointment until recently.  The Venum Electron 2.0 vale tudo shorts removed all of the problems I had previously experienced with vale tudo shorts.

The Electron 2.0 shorts are different than any other vale tudo shorts, their unique features include;

• Almost no riding up thanks to elastic bands at the legs of the trunks
• The drawstring holds well thanks to a quality string
• The waistband is tall and sturdy
• Stretch panels placed in several areas for ease of movement
• The same iconic sublimated pattern as the Electron 2.0 boardshorts

     If you've owned vale tudo shorts in the past you're probably going to find yourself suprised at how the Electron shorts fit.  They are only constictive where they need to be, on the waist and the bottom of the trunks,  everywhere else it feels as if there's nothing there.  With other shorts I've had problems with throwing high kicks or shooting certain takedowns, but these held up to the tasks with ease and looked good in the process.

     The only cons that I have encountered with the shorts revolve around the band at the bottom of the trunks.  For those of you with thick thighs or excessive leg hair you will experience some discomfort the first few times you wear them, but for me breaking them in seemed to fix the problem.  Also the stitching at the very bottom of the trunk seems a little weak and can expose the band underneath, the shorts will still hold together however thanks to a double stitching just above this, again you'll probably only run into this issue if you have thicker thighs.  Overall these shorts have less wrong with them than any others I have ever owned, and I would recommend them to anybody looking to buy a pair of vale tudo shorts.

     The shorts come in three color schemes; red/black/white, black/red/white, and the ones I own blue/red/white.  The shorts cost about $50, not bad considering they're made by Venum and Bad Boy vale tudo shorts cost about $20 more.  If you're interested check out the links below. Special thanks to MMA Warehouse for the links.

-Snowman

Venum Electron 2.0 Vale Tudo Shorts - $49.99 100% Spandex Exceptional Elasticity and strong durability Elasticized waistband for maximum comfort Constrictor Inner Grip to prevent shifting Venum Technical Cut: improved flexibility and freedom of movement Reinforced stitching for maximum durability

Rhino's Top 10 Martial Artists #9:Alexander Gustafsson

   

  Photo courtesy of Zuffa LLC. and Bleacher Report

     If anybody in MMA has the potential to dethrone Jon Jones it's probably Alexander Gustafsson.  His potential is what put him in my 9th spot, not to mention his already impressive run over top light heavyweights including: Matt Hamill, James Te-Huna, Thiago Silva, and former UFC and Pride GP Champion Mauricio Rua.  In all of these fights Gustafsson was rarely out of his element, and the only loss on his record is a 2010 submission loss to current light heavyweight contender Phil Davis by submission.  Many people still doubt Gustafsson's abilities as a martial artist stating his height and reach has carried him through much of his career.  Maybe they're right, but on September 21st they might just be proven wrong.  Gustafsson is scheduled to face off against Jon Jones for the UFC strap, and guess what, no height or reach advantage for the Swede.  This fight will be Gustafsson's golden opportunnity to prove himself, and I truly believe that he will pull it off.

     Other than that not much can be said of the Mauler.  His potential heading into the future is what makes him such an interesting fighter, he has the potential to become something of an icon, especially in Europe where MMA is just beginning to hit its stride.  If Gustafsson is to defeat Jones it could make him a very Fedor or Cro Cop esque figure, in fact many fans of both of these former Pride stars are beginning to jump aboard the Gustafsson bandwagon in the hopes that he will be the next champion.  With a record of 15-1 with 12 finishes Gustafsson has already made a mark for himself, and with a championship his resume would be nearly complete.



Bad Boy Alexander Gustafsson Walkout Shirt - $29.99
from: MMAWarehouse.com

Snowman's Top 10 Martial Artists #9:BJ Penn

   Photo courtesy of Zuffa LLC

     Yes, yes, another MMA fighter, but this list wouldn't be complete for me without "the Prodigy".  He is a champion in every sense of the word.  A lightweight who was fearless enough to compete in an openweight bout against a 220 pound future UFC Champion in Lyoto Machida, and a man skilled enough to recieve his BJJ black belt in only 3 years.  Even more astounding is the fact that he didn't start training in martial arts until the age of 17, when most of his opponnents have spent their entire lives training.  Even Anderson Silva regards Penn as the greatest MMA fighter of all time (we're still not sure if he has a rule against choosing himself).  Although he has recently been struggling in the octagon, at a higher weight class again, his legacy can never be besmirched.

     Penn's journey started right next door...  No really his neighbor was the first person to show him Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Not too long after this Penn went to AKA to train, straight from his neighbor's house to one of the worlds premier camps.  It didn't take anybody long to realize the talent that Penn possessed, and in 2000 he became the first American to win gold at the BJJ World Championships.  This accomplishment caught the attention of the UFC brass, and in 2001 he made his MMA debut at UFC 31.  In only his 4th fight Penn challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship against Jens Pulver, and althought he lost a decision he proved that he belonged at the top.  Soon after Penn would draw Caol Uno for the vacant championship, a fight that led to the removal of the lightweight from the UFC. 

     After the Uno fight things started to look up for Penn, in his next 2 fights he defeated Takanori Gomi for the Rumble on the Rock Lightweight Championship and Matt Hughes for the UFC Welterweight Championship.  In Penn's next 4 fights he fought 2 at middleweight and 1 as an openweight bout against Machida.  After this he returned to the UFC at welterweight where he lost to GSP and Hughes before returning to lightweight to rematch Jens Pulver.  After defeating Pulver, Penn went on to win the lightweight strap defending it 3 times before dropping a decision to Frankie Edgar.  During his tenure as the champion he attempted to become the first man in the UFC to hold 2 titles in 2 different weight classes by rematching St. Pierre, this time for the UFC Welterweight Championship.  Unfortunately for Penn St. Pierre controlled the fight, but Penn is still the only man in UFC history to attempt to hold 2 titles simultaneously.  After losing the title Penn has had a run of bad luck at welterweight, the only silver lining being his 21 second KO of his longtime rival and idol Matt Hughes.  After his most recent defeat Penn has expressed his desire to return to lightweight despite many people calling for him to retire, whatever decision he makes Penn will always be respected in the martial arts communnity for his raw talent, fearlessness, and setting the example for what it means to be a champion.

Support "the Prodigy", wear it proudly.

MMA Elite BJ Penn Training Shirt - $24.99