In a spy novel I read in the 80’s, it said that part of the hand-to-hand combat training given to Russian special operatives was a drill which consisted of eighty punches a minute. The idea was, when training special ops or other military people you don’t have years to dedicate to fight training. You can’t […]
Shihan Mike told us to put a pad into our belt, which would partially soften the blows to the abdomen. When he said “start” my partner started punching me in the stomach with his bare hands. He didn’t stop until the signal was given, two minutes later. My partner, a huge Cantonese guy, about 22 […]
I came back to my apartment in Malaysia, bleeding, exhausted and disheartened. During a long hot shower, I blew the blood clots of my nose and stuffed my nostrils with toilet paper so the bleeding wouldn’t start again. Laying on the bed, I guzzled several liters of water, trying to rehydrate, while holding an ice […]
The first time I trained in Malaysia was in August of 2009. At that time my Chinese-Malaysian friend, Sheung Di, arrange for me to train and film at several locations and in several arts in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. On that first trip, we hit: Boxx Warrior, Kru Jak Othman Muay Thai, Silat Guru Azlan […]
Part 1 Paddy’s fight Club Cambodia, Antonio Graceffo began his Khmer boxing training with Paddy Carson, at the old Paddy’s Gym, in 2004. Now Paddy Carson has a new gym, dedicated to the training of professional fighters, doing both western boxing and Khmer boxing (Bradal Serey). For Antonio it is an exciting opportunity to work […]
For my web TV Show, “Martial Arts Odyssey,” I try to show little known, and culturally interesting martial arts, in unusual locations, which few people are familiar with. We have all heard of China and Japan, and everyone has seen or studied some Kung Fu, Karate, Judo or Jiu Jitsu at some time in their […]
I recently discovered Muay Thai Chaiya, which I train with Kru Lek. It is an ancient form of Muay Thai, a codified martial arts fighting system, which students learn step-by-step from the ground up. NOT ANOTHER SHADE OF MUAY THAI Muay Thai Chaiya has almost no similarity to modern, sport Muay Thai. In fact, it […]
One of the most important episodes of "Martial Arts odyssey": Antonio spent 18 months in Cambodia trying to find even one surviving master of the Cambodian martial art of Bokator. Watch Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gobc3zSjXZU Watch part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBwvwThib5s His search eventually lead him to Grand Master San Kim Saen whose story of courage […]
Old School Taiwan – Part 1 In a small gym, in Tainan, Taiwan, Host Antonio Graceffo meets 62 year-old Chen Ging Hway a former champion of boxing and San Da (Chinese kickboxing). He teaches Antonio some old-school professional fighting and tells stories about the early days of Syo Bodji, free fighting, in Taiwan. Still active, […]
Using martial arts to educate the world about the plight of the Shan people of Burma. A lot of fight fans don’t get very involved with international politics. Hopefully featuring the Kung Fu of the Shan people will help call attention to the genocide in Burma. Inside the war zone of Burma, under protection of […]