The crowd is on their feet chanting loudly as music blares. They encircling the two performers who are striking back and forth with kicks and they swirl around and jump before the crowd who dance along with the music. The two dancers are performing Capoeira the Afro-Brazilian dance-martial art created in Brazil by African slaves […]
Many martial artists strive to achieve recognition for their work in their lifetime and a handful that stand above all others are recognized as legends. Samurai Miyamoto Musashi who lived in Japan from 1584 to 1645, would be acknowledged as a great swordsmen and warrior early on in life, and would become the stuff of […]
“The martial art is a cultural asset. I look at myself as a martial arts anthropologist, and if we lose it, we’re losing one more aspect of the culture,” declares New York-born author and creator of the web TV show Martial Arts Odyssey, Antonio Graceffo. Graceffo looks confident when appearing on camera packs a punch […]
One of the fundamentals of Tekkenryu Jujutsu is to always keep advancing on an attacker. Every technique is meant to take ground and keep the attacker off balance. Because once you make the decision to fight, retreat only means pain and loss and if you want to survive you cannot relent in your attacks. History […]
Martial arts enthusiasts of all levels can now learn from the best trainers and fighters in the industry by watching Martial Arts Odyssey on the internet. Hosted and produced by Asian-based New Yorker, Antonio Graceffo, Martial Arts Odyssey has gained popularity by taking viewers into the heart of Asia, providing details of fighting techniques across […]
Leading Olympic Wrestling athletes from throughout the North Island converged in Henderson for a weekend of nearly non-stop grappling. The tough training camp was held over two days for the sportsmen to battle it out for a place representing New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games. The coaches present were watching carefully for sportsmanship, athleticism, winning […]
The Auckland Boxing Association staged the last promotion of the year at their headquarters at 1 Ngahura Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland on December 8th. In the main event Daniella Smith (65.8kg) retained her New Zealand welterweight title with a unanimous point’s decision over former kick boxer Lisa Mauala (66.3kg) over six rounds. Although there was […]
When one thinks of self defense, images of pepper spray and tasers appear. You may then think of the bad guy in a red man suit ready to take your wallet, with the shouts of NO!, and with a few swift kicks to the groin the bad man falls in pain, and the day is […]
FILA, the governing body of Olympic Wrestling, is also the authority for submission grappling, international competition beach wrestling, and Sambo. In 2008, The New Zealand Wrestling Union, a FILA member, began the establishment of submission grappling in New Zealand. I was tasked by the President of the New Zealand Wrestling Union, Mr Brian Stannett, to […]
“You simply can’t go around telling people what they have been doing for years is completely wrong and has no value, no matter how ‘progressive’ you think that you might be, you’d be very wrong!” These are the unlikely words of long-time personal security consultant, ex-military specialist and seasoned doorman, twenty-five year martial arts veteran […]