Wing Chun Kung Fu

Wing Chun has become one of the single most famous styles of Chinese kung fu thanks to the patronage of a certain Bruce Lee. Lee studied this art as his principal style and it formed the nucleus of what would later become Jun Fan Gung Fu. Lee never disavowed his original art, though clearly he went far beyond it, and described it as ‘a great style’. It was in his formative years while studying under Yip Man in Hong Kong that he came to the conclusion that a master must 'become like water'. In combat the art is characterized by short, successive, linear thrusts to weak points together with low kicks. It is an upright, direct style.

Origins of Wing Chun Kung Fu

The style traces its routes back to the 17th century when it was first synthesized by a Shaolin nun called Ng Mui. From Ng Mui the art was passed onto Yim Wing Chun, from whom the style either gets its name, or the girl was renamed by Ng Mui in emulation of the name of the art. The name of the art means ‘beautiful springtime’ or ‘radiant springtime’. From Yim Wing Chun, the art was passed down privately to very few students until finally Yip Man, the teacher of Bruce Lee, opened a public kwoon (training hall) in Hong Kong. Since the mid twentieth century the art has spread around the world, partly thanks to Bruce Lee and partly due to the fact that, being based in Hong Kong, it was more accessible to would-be non-Asian students than the arts propagated on mainland China.

Training involves body conditioning and the practice of three solo forms (Sil Lum Tao, Chum Kil and Bil Jee), the totality of which includes all the movements found within the corpus of the art. Advanced students practice on a ‘wooden dummy’ (mook jong). This is a thick central pillar of wood with shorter, thinner bars jutting out to simulate an opponent’s arms and legs. Techniques are performed as the practitioner moves around the dummy. Trainees concentrate on effecting speed in technique, but pounding sandbags to develop power is also a tried and trusted method. Finally, this kung fu style utilizes its own form of pushing hands, referred to as sticking hands. This is a strenuous exercise whereby two students touch their forearms together and attempt, from this position, to strike the other. The aim is to detect shifts in an opponent’s tension and react immediately while minimizing your own energy changes in order to strike effectively.

In combat, a master of the art is most comfortable at close quarters. He relies on a series of blinding fast strikes to overwhelm an opponent (the ‘straight blast’). Attacks are directed to weak points of the human body, though actual pressure point attacks are less common than in other arts, with reliance placed on overwhelming a foe. Defensively attacks are made ineffective with subtle footwork that shifts the body combined with parries (as opposed to the harder blocks of other martial arts that meet force head on). Alternatively the limbs of the opponent are trapped (that is, pinned) down, which is something of a specialty.

Variations include Wing Shun and Wing Tsun.

Why I Fight

BJ Penn, author of Why I Fight, is most famous through fighting in the UFC and he is only the second person, following Randy Couture, to have been a UFC World Champion in two different weight classes. At the time of writing his career has been in decline. He lost his lightweight belt to Frankie Edgar and failed to avenge his defeat in a rematch at UFC 118. After beating Matt Hughes he drew with Jon Fitch then lost to Nick Diaz and seriously contemplated retirement before announcing that he would return to the Octagon to face Rory McDonald for a fight which Penn subsequently lost badly. He finally faced Frankie Edgar for the third time at the conclusion of the The Ultimate Fighter season 19 and lost. His career in the UFC has been the subject of much discussion and it is widely known that he doesn't enjoy a good business relationship with UFC President Dana White, a relationship that Why I Fight examines closely.

Why I Fight: The Early Years

Before entering the world of MMA BJ was a world class competitor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a career that was also full of conflict. He gained his black belt in BJJ in less than four years (itself a Herculean effort) but also won the Gold medal in the most widely respected BJJ World Championship as a black belt.

Before all of this though BJ Penn was born on December 13, 1978 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Named Jay Dee Penn, he is better known as BJ Penn, or 'Baby Jay'. At the age of four he and his family moved to Hilo, Hawaii, where he fights out of to this day. In his early years Penn notes that his parents didn't have a lot of money but they did possess a strong drive and healthy work ethic to gain financial success as young entrepreneurs, something they appear to have succeeded in achieving and a factor that I feel is crucial in explaining Penn's success in martial arts. More on this point later.

BJ Penn enjoyed a stable upbringing and was close to his family, and his younger brother Reagan in particular. He played soccer until he was kicked off the team for fighting an older member. Penn appears to have had an above-average propensity for getting into fights in his youth, something he admits to in Why I Fight. With no soccer practice he chanced upon boxing. Buying a pair of boxing gloves he was soon sparring, albeit in a disorganized way, on the front porch of his family home with anyone and everyone that fancied turning up on a daily basis. Penn's informal fight club was a success with local boys and BJ learned not only how to deliver a punch but, arguably more importantly, how to take one. This was a major turning point in his mentality towards fighting as he realized that he could take punishment and continue to dish it out.

Why I Fight next discusses how the young Penn continued to get into trouble though and the next major event in his life was leaving school at the age of 16 after being caught smoking marijuana. It isn't clear if he was forcibly expelled from school or if his father quietly agreed to remove him, but whatever the reason BJ Penn began homeschooling. Remarkably though his father primarily encouraged BJ to workout and continue boxing. His father wanted him to become disciplined and also to ensure BJ was healthy after smoking. Peculiarly though, this meant that at the age of 16 Penn was effectively training as a professional fighter would: his days was mostly spent working out and boxing.

The pace of Why I Fight changes in the next chapter and becomes of much more direct interest to martial artists. Over the summer of 1996 a major change took place in Penn's life. Tom Callos, a skilled exponent in various grappling and striking arts, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, entered the scene. After some initial hesitancy about attending classes, Penn was hooked once he got started. It was at this point in his life that Penn really seems to have become interested in the art of fighting and not just about being a tough guy who could hold his own in a street fight. Penn describes his life in Why I Fight at this point thus: 'All I had to do was wake up, do whatever household things were needed of me (there was always something), drive over to the gym, practice, and then chill out. It was a stress free life.'

Penn made great progress and at the end of the year Tom Callos began talking about taking the teenager back to California with him for more advanced training. Penn arrived in San Jose in February 1997 and trained with Ralph Gracie a few times. Penn impressed Ralph and the latter encouraged him to return in the future for a longer stay and to train more.

Again Penn's very easy going father played a crucial role in molding his son by encouraging him to return to California for an extended period and learn more about BJJ. At the beginning of summer 1997 Penn was flying back to California.

Penn's father played a crucial role throughout the former's career as a martial artist and it is a point that I feel Why I Fight underplays to be honest. Penn went to Ralph Gracie to train full time. He had no job and as far as I can tell from reading Why I Fight BJ has never actually had a job. Certainly there is no mention of any work outside of training or fighting, not even of part time work.

Almost immediately upon arriving in California Penn began his competitive career. He won his first competition, taking first place in his own weight class and the Open division. This would mark the beginning of Penn's dominance on the West Coast. After winning his second tournament Penn moved up to blue belt, stating that 'This was when I put the thought of fighting for its own sake behind me and focused more on competitive BJJ.'

Through Ralph Penn also gained his first exposure to the world of MMA, his first contact being a sparring session with Frank Shamrock, a man that BJ would get to know much better later on and enjoy working out with.

This early contact with the world of competitive MMA later became much more pronounced when Penn had his first fight after being encouraged by Ralph Gracie. BJ won his first MMA fight and picked up $400...but didn't give Ralph - his cornerman - a cut, something that he regrets to this day. The details of the fight, as with every fight in Why I Fight, are well written and well described while also giving us the perspective of one of the competitors, a definite strong point of the book.

Over the summer on 1998 Penn and some of his brothers traveled down to Brazil to compete in the Mundials, the world championship of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Although BJ didn't win, his younger brother Reagan did, becoming a world champion white belt. BJ performed well though and upon his return to California he was awarded his purple belt.

Why I Fight moves forward to several months later when Penn's training and life took another major turn. Through his elder brother Jay Dee BJ came into contact with John Lewis and the Nova Uniao team, which was created in part by legendary BJJ expert Andre Pederneiras. Training at this new location and with new people was the beginning of the end of Penn's relationship with Ralph. The split was cemented in late 1999 when Penn competed in the Copa Pacifica, one of the biggest BJJ competitions in the US. Penn won his division but had done so representing Team Nova Uniao, who he had been training with extensively. When Ralph found out he was less than happy and BJ and his brothers were asked to leave his gym.

I think this is an interesting event - and Why I Fight is full of situations to ponder - and causes one to consider traditional approaches to training and teaching compared to modern, more commercial approaches. From Ralph's point of view he had invested his time and trust in BJ and clearly wanted his school well represented to gain the respect he felt he deserved as a teacher. Penn on the other hand notes in Why I Fight that he saw the relationship as being more of that between a paid coach and a trainee. Afterall, Penn was paying for the tuition and Ralph was providing a service, so what else was there to the matter?

In any case, Penn was now a full member with Nova Uniao and continued his training. It was while training with Nova Uniao that a man called Steve DaSilva christened BJ with the nickname 'The Prodigy'. It was also shortly after shifting to his new team that BJ gained his brown belt. Later Penn traveled with his new team to the Mundials in Brazil, where he lost a controversial decision to Fernando Augusto, or 'Terere' as he was known.

BJ Penn in BJJ action!

Upon his return to San Jose BJ continued to train hard and began spending more time at the American Kickboxing Academy. Here he came into contact with a lot of different people, some of whom would be pioneers in the world of competitive MMA. At the time however Penn didn't see the financial return from MMA and the UFC as being worth it. He was more set on becoming a champion in BJJ and setting himself up as a teacher. Penn though was being exposed to some of the then top people in MMA as well as being around when the American Kickboxing Academy was establishing itself as an MMA powerhouse and not just a place for kickboxing. It would have been nice to read in Why I Fight more about this very interesting period for fight fans.

Just before the New Year came Penn experienced another turn in his fate. John Lewis introduced him to two men for a relaxed training session who were at the time just starting to mess around, apparently in a casual manner, with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. One was a very rich businessman with his own private gym. The other was a heavier guy with a passion for boxing. The first was Lorenzo Fertitta and the second was Dana White. As they chatted Penn again stated his lack of interest in MMA. I think Penn's observations on the UFC and Dana White in particular will be of the most significant interest to readers and Why I Fight doesn't disappoint. There is much more to come later...

The following summer the Mundials rolled around. Penn had to fight for his spot on the Nova Uniao team and did so successfully. So successfully in fact that after winning his matches for selection he had his brown belt taken from him and was awarded his black belt. A truly remarkable feat, meaning that Penn went from white to black belt in less than four years. More was to come though...

At the Mundials Penn fought through to the final where he faced Edson Diniz from Team InFight. Penn was able to dominate the match and so became the first American to win the gold medal at the Brazilian Mundials as a black belt.

After the fight BJ fully intended to return to defend his title and continue fighting for Nova Uniao in the future, but it was a future that was not to be.

At this point Why I Fight I would guess becomes very interesting for the majority of Penn's MMA fans.

After some rest and some time thinking about what he wanted to do next Penn turned to Javier Mendez at the American Kickboxing Academy and announced that he was interested in pursuing MMA. Soon his first fight came up. His opponent would be Caol Uno in a King of the Cage promotion, scheduled for February 2001. Penn was let down though when Caol Uno pulled out...to fight against Jens Pulver in the emerging Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) now owned by a company named Zuffa, which was in turn owned by Lorenzo Fertitta, the super rich businessman Penn had trained with briefly months before.

Penn's turn came next and he was signed to fight Joey Gilbert at UFC 31 and this is where the story of Why I Fight really begins for fans of the UFC and Penn's career in it.

Penn tells us in Why I Fight that he was immediately impressed with the professionalism of the UFC compared to organizations like King of the Cage. His training on the other hand - like every other fighter at the time - was makeshift and exploratory. No one fighting at that time had enough experience to really say what worked and what didn't work plus MMA was illegal at that time in California where the American Kickboxing Academy is located. One thing that made a difference though was the presence of Frank Shamrock who was able to guide Penn and others getting into MMA.

What Penn has to say here is very interesting as he is able to make well-informed comparisons between what we see nowadays with the UFC and MMA and how it was when it was first getting off the ground. There simply were no stars at that time and the promotions were small scale.

Penn of course won his first fight against Joey Gilbert in the first round.

Following his first fight the reader is introduced to what Penn would presumably describe as being the lighter side of Dana White. At the time Penn tells us that White, along with Fertitta, was keen to get the UFC fighters more money for their fights. Penn was obviously encouraged by this but was disappointed later in his career when, as will be revealed, he came to the conclusion that he wasn't getting the kind of money he deserved, thereby souring his relationship with the UFC. Penn concludes that '...in the long run it turned out to be just business for these guys. To them, every fighter is expendable'. There is a lot more that Why I Fight has to offer on this subject in later chapters.

Penn won his second fight against Din Thomas and, following his win, had his first experience of a fan asking him for his autograph, an event that clearly touched the young BJ.

Penn won his third fight against Caol Uno in convincing fashion, taking only 11 seconds to destroy his opponent. Following this came a call from Dana White offering Penn a title fight. Penn was a little hesitant to fight again so soon but accepted. He entered his training camp and again Why I Fight offers tremendous insight into this period that you just can't get anywhere else.

Penn was to fight Jens Pulver and began training...hard. Too hard. He simply added more and more of what he was learning from other fighters rather than replacing less effective training methods with ones that were known to be more effective. Penn became slow, his strength began to desert him and he was feeling the effects of injuries more than he had done in the past.

The fight with Pulver came around and Penn notes that at the beginning of the third round he was done physically. He went on to lose by majority decision at the end of five rounds, thereby suffering his first defeat in the UFC. This was also the first indication of a problem that has haunted Penn to this day: getting his training camp just right so he is ready and fit to fight over all three or five rounds. This becomes a common theme throughout Why I Fight.

Following the loss Penn returned to Hawaii to relax and think about what he wanted to do next.

After some reflection Penn returned to training for this his third fight of his three fight contract with the UFC. He made some changes in his preparation, cutting back on the hours he was doing while also finding a local expert boxing coach. BJ's match would be against UFC-newcomer Paul Creighton and Penn won with no real problems.

Re-negotiations for a contract with the UFC began and this is where Penn's relationship with Dana White began to sour, a fact that is hinted at at this point of Why I Fight. Pulver had already left the UFC to fight in Japan as he didn't feel he had enough money and Penn was already thinking that is was actually costing him money to fly his team from Hawaii to an event on mainland USA for a fight. Penn finally signed another three fight contract paying him $15,000, $20,000 and finally $25,000 for the third fight with the same bonus thrown in if he won. It is these little facts and insights that make Why I Fight such a compelling read. It is not just a collection of training and fighting descriptions.

Penn's first fight would be against Matt Serra and he began preparation which was, by his own admittance, 'dumb'. He simply wasn't working hard enough and his ideas on how to peak for a fight were amateurish. Plus Penn's diet wasn't healthy and he was regularly eating the wrong foods. Why I Fight paints a very vivid picture of a confused Penn trying to bring together his training but just never quite getting there. That said, Penn says he was well-prepared mentally if nothing else and it is a credit to his skill as a fighter that he had gone as far as he has with what is probably poor preparation compared to other fighters.

Penn and Serra were well matched but by the end of the second round Penn was done in but he did enough in the closing round to take a unanimous decision.

The next match would be a re-match with Caol Uno for the championship owing to Pulver now being absent, and Penn again made changes in his camp, taking a kickboxing coach over his boxing coach. Despite the preparation Penn again felt tired going into the third round but held on until the end of round five after which the fight was announced a draw through a split decision.

An announcement for Penn's next fight was slow in coming but one fighter BJ was after was Takanori Gomi. Jay Dee, Penn's older brother, decided to bring the Japanese fighter to Hawaii in a new promotion he had started: Rumble on the Rock. At this stage the UFC contracts were far less limiting than they are today, and Dana White gave his full support to BJ. In Penn's mind this fight would decide who the best lightweight fighter in the world was, something that many people would probably not know without reading Why I Fight.

Penn won the match which made him, as far as he was concerned, the top lightweight fighter in the world. Returning to the UFC Penn's next match would be against Matt Hughes for the welterweight title.

Penn took the title and was dismayed to see that, in his eyes, Dana White was not happy about it that Matt had lost. Again, Why I Fight provides this kind of insight you can't get anywhere else. Nothing could stop Penn going home with the belt though.

Immediately following his victory (literally!) Penn was approached, via his brother, by a representative from the Japanese K-1 fight promotion. K-1 is huge in Japan and specializes in its version of kickboxing. They were planning to expand on this into something called K-1 Romenex, which was their move into the world of MMA. Penn was interested for the simple reason that they were prepared to pay him $187,500 for a single fight. A lot of the UFC's top fighters that are household names nowadays fought in Japan, though usually for the now defunct Pride organization. People like Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida and Rampage Jackson all fought over there. Why I Fight makes it clear why: the money and the career opportunities were just a lot better. K-1 fighters enjoy a certain popular celebrity that UFC fighters have only begun to realize over the last few years.

BJ told Joe Rogan about his plans who he met at the airport the day after the Hughes fight. Penn believed the conversation to have been innocent enough but Dana White found out and went ballistic. The root of the problem was the cash Penn wasn't receiving for his fights. Hughes was making more and even after attempts at renegotiation White wasn't prepared to match what Hughes was making. From the perspective of the UFC they believed the exposure they were giving Penn was itself a business opportunity that BJ could capitalize on. Free advertising for himself as a brand. Penn comments on White in Why I Fight that 'Things between us would never be the same.'

Eventually Penn heard that if he fought for another organization the UFC would strip him of his title. He wasn't impressed. To make matters worse Penn was notified that White demanded a public apology at the next UFC event. Neither side would back down and finally Penn was stripped of his title and decided to fight in Japan. White went berserk and you can read his 'colorful' language in the book.

Penn fought Genki Sudo in Saitama and won in the first round. He next fought Rodrigo Gracie in a Rumble on the Rock event and won a unanimous decision while Hughes fought the emerging Georges Saint Pierre and won making him the champion again. Going back to Japan Penn next faced Lyoto Machida and lost a unanimous decision, though Lyoto was something in the region of 40-50 pound heavier.

Penn's third - and final - fight with K-1 Romanex would be against Renzo Gracie, though the match would be held in Honolulu. Penn took his second victory against the Gracie family with a unanimous decision. Penn closes this chapter with some respectful words to the Gracie's, remembering his earlier experiences when he went to Nova Uniao.

Penn was still caught up in legal issues with the UFC but in the meantime the company had launched The Ultimate Fighter, a reality TV show...and Penn wanted in on the action.

Mediation followed and Penn and White thrashed out an agreement in a one-on-one meeting. BJ would return to the UFC in a quest to get his title back. It is this latter period, detailed well in Why I Fight, that really established Penn as a firm fan favorite alongside other notable names that have enjoyed consistent success.

Penn announced his return at UFC 56 before settling back to watch Sean Sherk and Georges St-Pierre go at it. St-Pierre won the match in convincing fashion but Penn overhead the defeated Muscle Shark comment that the Canadian fighter had been greased up and that he couldn't hold him. Penn dismissed this at the time but the memory would come back to him later. In Penn's next match he would face St-Pierre with the winner getting a shot at Hughes.

The fight came quickly and Penn lost by split decision after dominating St-Pierre in the first round.

Months passed with no opponent available for Penn until St-Pierre injured himself in training for his match with Hughes. Penn became the replacement and had to hurry through a training camp. Penn was badly beaten up and suffered two cracked ribs and other problems. Hughes remained the champion. The book gives a very good description of the match from BJ's point of view.

The next big event in Penn's life was him being selected as a coach on Season Five of The Ultimate Fighter. His opposing coach was none other than Jens Pulver. For those that don't know, part of the allure of The Ultimate Fighter is that the coaches face off in a UFC event after the season has finished. Penn wanted the match to avenge what he saw as being the biggest loss of his life.

Penn won the match and also struck a blow for his independence. In the habitual post-fight walk through with Joe Rogan Penn told people to simply check his own website for news about him. He was snubbing the UFC and Dana White wasn't happy. Penn concludes this chapter with some personal observations on how he believes the lack of an independent fighter ranking system is problematic.

Before the Pulver fight Sean Sherk had become champion and was the person Penn next wanted to fight. Before that could happen though Sean had to defend his title against Hermes Franca, which he did successfully. Unfortunately drug tests for both fighters revealed that they had used anabolic steroids. Sherk denied the willful use of banned substances but it meant Penn would fight Joe Stevenson for an interim title. Penn won the fight and when Sherk was found guilty of using drugs the 'interim' was removed from the title and Penn became the lightweight champion.

Sherk made a comeback to face Penn for the title. Penn is scathing in his treatment of Sherk here and has little sympathy for a man he brands a 'cheat'. Whatever the case with the drug use, Sherk lost and BJ defended his title, finally, he writes, proving himself.

Next Penn set himself an even greater challenge: he would move up in weight to face Georges St-Pierre once again and for the first time in UFC history two current champions would fight.

Penn was keen for the fight but far less enthusiastic about the media that went with it. To make the situation worse he had his first child - a daughter named Aeva Lili'u - and BJ's life became hectic. He had another run in with Dana White over the Countdown show but otherwise he came to the fight well prepared.

The tone of Why I Fight makes a major change at this point and it is difficult to know what to make of it. Penn introduces the reader to the idea of 'greasing', or 'painting' the body with some chemical that makes it difficult to hold onto. You will remember that Penn noted about how he heard Sean Sherk saying after his loss to St-Pierre that he couldn't get a grip...well, the same challenges to St-Pierre's honesty arise here. The problem I have with this is that Penn offers no evidence against St-Pierre despite these very serious allegations. It is difficult to know therefore whether he is telling the truth or if he is just trying to make excuses. Whatever the real reason, it is the closing pages of the book that are the most shocking.

Penn first recites a pre-fight conversation between his co-author David Weintraub and the UFC fighter Kenny Florian. According to Penn Florian later sent a text to Weintraub saying that St-Pierre was a 'greaser'. He returns to the topic following his match.

BJ Penn vs GSP

The fight itself belonged to St-Pierre all the way. It is one for the connoisseur as St-Pierre used his weight and wrestling skills to force Penn to carry his weight around for the first couple of rounds before switching to stand up...with Penn's arms now too tired to box effectively. Penn was exhausted at the close of the fourth and was facing a severe beating in the fifth so one of his corner called the match and the victory went to St-Pierre. Penn's perspective in Why I Fight is very interesting and could be a testament to the effectiveness of St-Pierre's game plan or an explanation for it GSP's dominance.

Returning to the subject of greasing, back in the locker room commissioners were claiming that they had caught St-Pierre in the act of cheating and one of his team wanted BJ's shorts to conduct a chemical analysis to determine if a foreign (and banned) substance could be traced on them. What happened to the chemical test is not disclosed.

Penn was definitely hurt after the fight and needed to go to hospital and he suffered from his injuries in the weeks after. Legal action against St-Pierre began and included a hearing before the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The media cast Penn as the villain in the piece though, something he was not happy about and he seems to blame the MMA media for this. Personally, with the lack of evidence, I don't see how Penn could expect the public to react any other way. Unfortunately this isn't discussed in Why I Fight. There is only time for Penn's personal views.

Penn wasn't happy but he moved on.

He tells that he became happier when he learned his next match would be with Kenny Florian for the lightweight title. In the press coverage of the St-Pierre greasing incident Florian, despite Penn's claims that he had first tipped them off about the Canadian fighter's tactic of 'greasing', denied all knowledge of it. Penn felt that Florian was trying to make him '...look like an idiot' and he lost all respect for the guy.

Penn began working with Marv Marinovich, a professional trainer and famous for his work with NFL superstar Troy Polamalu (and someone whose work I strongly suggest you look at if you are a practicing martial artist). Penn was fascinated by the blend of different exercises using different machines and water-based workouts designed to improve the responsiveness of the nervous system. Penn was over the moon with the results and came into UFC 101 in tip-top condition. Penn wanted little else than to beat up Florian, something he did until Florian tapped out in round four, meaning Penn had successfully defended his lightweight title.

Thus Why I Fight comes to a close. Penn's career declined in the following years but his place among the legends of MMA was already sealed.

Why I Fight is a great read, most notably of course for fans of BJ Penn but also for anyone with an interest in the UFC and BJJ. Anyone aspiring to become a professional fighter would also do well to take a look to get an insight into the business side of the fight game. There is so much more that I would have liked to have read, such as more descriptions of Penn's training, his mental preparation and the role his parents played in shaping him and helping him, but the word count would have risen and perhaps much of what else I would have liked to have seen belongs best in a 'How to train like BJ Penn' type of book. Overall, Why I Fight is very highly recommended.

Why am I Fat?

Why am I fat? It's a depressing question for someone to have to ask themselves but one that is better confronted early rather than later when a myriad of health-related issues can arise (beyond just egocentric image issues).

I am just going to look here at the very basics of this issue. Different people react in different ways to different stimuli and what makes one person fat may not have the same degree of effect on someone else. Stress, for example, can cause weight gain by slowing our metabolism, altering our blood sugar level and / or increasing our cortisol level which affects our ability to lose weight. But what creates stress for one person may not be the same for another.

So yes, the issue can become a complex one and I am sure an informed reader can raise various points to further complicate the matter.

Why am I Fat?

The most basic consideration is calories in vs calories out. How many calories do you consume on a daily basis compared to how many calories you use in the same period of time?

A calorie is a scientifically created term that allows us to measure how much energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celcius. In more simple terms, calories in indicates how much energy we draw into our body by eating and drinking while calories out gives us a figure of how much energy we use in our day to day life.

We all use calories to do things as simple as breathe and digest food. Running uses more calories than walking. Athletes use more calories than average as they use more energy. Depending on one’s age, sex, height, weight, level of activity and other factors, we all need a certain number of calories to either gain weight, maintain our weight or lose weight.

So, in theory if a person needs to consume 2000 calories a day (the average for an adult male) and he meets this caloric target, he should neither lose or gain weight if all other factors remain the same. If he raised his caloric consumption to 2500 a day then over a period of time the excess food (represented by excess calories) would be converted into fat and stored as such, causing weight gain and a loss of muscle definition.

On the other hand, if the same man reduces his caloric intake from 2000 to 1500 then in this case he would begin to lose weight as his body begins to burn stored fat (and possibly muscle as well, depending on the actual food consumed).

Here’s the thing though. While you can start with a daily maintenance level of 2000 calories, if you consistently consume say 2500 or 1500 calories a day then given enough time these new levels will become your maintenance levels. Therefore in order to gain or lose weight you will have to make your calculations from your new maintenance level.

This is a basic answer to the question Why Am I Fat?, but also very important to understand. In many cases losing weight (or bulking up to build muscle) may not be any harder than varying your caloric intake. Note though that different foods provide different nutritional values. There may be little to no difference calorie wise between a glass of whole fat milk and a glass of coke but the nutrition provided by both beverages is vastly different.

Thang Ta

Found in Manipur, in northeast India, Thang Ta has managed to remain intact as a complete and discernible fighting style unlike other Indian arts. The techniques are largely unknown outside of its home region. Legend holds that the people of Manipur are descended from the serpent god Pakhangba, who also gifted to the inhabitants the art of Thang Ta. Following unification of the area in the fifteenth century a corpus of techniques was organized and recognized and the modern day art traces its roots to this time. Like other regions affected by the colonial aggression of European and American powers the art was forced into secrecy under British rule.

Thang Ta - Sword and Spear

The name literally means Sword - Spear and it is first and foremost a weapon art. The unarmed style imitates the movements of animals in forms, which are made up of punches, kicks and other simulated fighting techniques. The influence of animals on the art is further demonstrated when some masters instruct their students on how to combat wild beasts. More advanced practice reveals the battlefield origins of the art as the student becomes familiar with the dagger, spear, broadsword, bow and dart. Centuries ago weapons would have been studied as a priority, including usage from horseback. It was this latter area of study that led to the invention of the game polo by the warriors of Manipur. This game is played on horseback and was subsequently adopted by the occupying British forces before finding a competitive home in most of the world’s leading military nations. The proper name however is Huyen Lallong, or ‘Method of Safeguarding’, implying a less aggressive and warlike approach and message.

Training is not merely physical and offensive-minded. Internal and spiritual development are also stressed, with a leaning towards Tantric Buddhism (which holds that all of creation is a joyous expression of Divine Consciousness). Basic and advanced techniques are practiced through rituals that are handed down from master to student. Internally, the practitioner uses breathing exercises to control and manipulate his vital energy in a similar manner to yoga. As with yoga, the lower abdomen is recognized as being the seat of power. Spiritual awareness (here meaning an awareness that reality is an expression of Divine Consciousness) is achieved through prayer, meditation and rituals dedicated to different deities.

In combat the unarmed Thang Ta expert will seek to avoid strikes directed against him, allowing the momentum of his opponent to create an opening for a quick counter attack. This counter may take the form of a strike, but the practitioner may also choose to throw his enemy to the ground. Bear in mind that unlike other fighting arts where battlefield grappling was mostly necessary owing to the often-heavy armor worn by combatants, Indian fighting men did not possess the same level of technology and as such punches and kicks could be delivered even in the heat of battle (though we can assume that the distance between two combatants would have been closed very quickly, inevitably leading to the use of grappling movements).

Spartan Martial Arts

Spartan martial arts came from the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta (or Lacedaemon). The area of Sparta was located to the south of Arcadie and surrounded the Eurotas river. The Spartan warriors led the Greek forces in the Greco-Persian wars, during which the famous Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) was fought in which approximately 300 Spartan warriors (and support troops) led by King Leonidas used their superior weaponry, armor, phalanx tactics and martial skills to hold off a massive Persian force and inflict huge losses before finally being encircled and slain to a man. One year later the Spartans led a city-state coalition force to rout the Persians at the battle of Plataea.

Enmity with Athens followed and Sparta suffered defeat by Thebes in the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC. The city-state retained its political independence until 146 BC when Rome conquered Greece.

Sparta was famous among the Greeks - and indeed it remains famous today - for being a militaristic state. The city-state was so pre-occupied with forging first class warriors that it practiced an early form of eugenics through which only the strongest were allowed to survive and continue to breed. The result was impeccably skilled warriors, trained for years in Spartan martial arts and able to fight as a group in the phalanx.

Eugenics

Shortly after birth a male Spartan child was bathed in wine by its mother to see if it could survive. Later the child's father would bring it before elders who would decide whether the child should live or be cast into a chasm on Mount Taygetos.

Spartan Martial Arts Military Training

Military training for a boy began at the age of seven when he would enter the Agoge system to learn Spartan martial arts. Although the primary focus of this was to prepare the boy to serve in the Spartan phalanx, it was extensive enough to cover other aspects of child rearing such as reading, writing, music and dancing. Training was divided into three segments: from 7-17, 18-19 and 20-29. The Spartan warrior became a 'reserve' soldier at the age of 18 and a full member of the army at age 20 before he retired at 30 after which he would remain on the 'active reserve' list until 60.

Twelve was also an important age for the Spartan youth. First he would be given a red cloak, which would serve as a badge of honor. It was also at this age that he would be given over to an older, unmarried Spartan mentor who would pass on his knowledge and give advice on training. It continues to be debated as to whether or not this relationship was also homosexual.

Training continued until the age of 18 when a ritual coming-of-age task was performed. If the warrior survived he would join the reserves then, at 20, he would join his squad of around fifteen others. This squad would bond and learn to rely on one another, a factor vital to the success of the phalanx.

The sanctity of the phalanx is testified by the parting words of a warrior's wife (or some other significant female figure) when her man marched to war. She would present his shield to him and say 'With this, or upon this', indicating that he should return from battle either with his shield or carried slain upon it. The shield carried such significance because in the press of the phalanx it protected both the wearer and the man to his left. Without the shield a comrade was in danger and with him the protection of the phalanx. Losing one's shield was punishable by death though the same law did not apply to personal pieces of armor. A principal teaching therefore of Spartan martial arts - and a factor that influenced weaponry and tactics - was the subjugation of the self for the protection of the phalanx. The martial skills of the Spartan warrior then were different to what we would perceive today as a martial art. Most of us would first of all think of a martial art as being intended for individual, most likely one-on-one combat, but not so for the Spartans. They anticipated fighting in a group in massive battles and training in Spartan martial arts reflected this.

In the videos below you can take a closer look at Spartan martial arts, tactics and the training methods of the Agoge.

The Spartan shield was large and heavy and not intended for defensive purposes only. Used correctly from a stable, strong stance, the shield was also used to attack an opponent and drive him to the ground.

Spartan martial arts included weapons practice and pankration which, as you can see from the video, had much in common with modern MMA fighting except that for the Spartan warrior on the battlefield there were no rules whatsoever. Finishing techniques included eye gouges and neck cranks.

Savate

Savate is one of Europe’s most famous unarmed martial arts. It developed on the streets of French cities but rose to fame and prominence in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when members of the upper classes adopted it as a method of training the body and mind in preparation for a fight. Ironically, this patronage came about due to the Japanese policy of sending representatives abroad to both learn from foreign cultures and transmit their own teachings. Ju jutsu was the first Japanese martial system seen in the West and its techniques and the skills of those early cultural ambassadors generated interest both in that art itself, but also in the traditional indigenous fighting styles of Europe which could now be contrasted with something new and fresh.

Continual analysis and development, most particularly in relation to East Asian punching and kicking arts from the mid-twentieth century onward and cross training in boxing, have led to changes in the original techniques. The modern day art bears close resemblance to kick boxing though the inclusion of certain movements such as eye gouges, the targeting of the groin and the use of the toe tips to deliver pin point pain to weak areas of the body betray the art’s street fighting origins. The original style, like many methods that have a basis in reality, was geared towards close-quarters combat, and was less than graceful in how it achieved victory. As such, though the legs were used to effect devastating kicks, they were also, being the bodies most powerful natural weapon, used to block incoming kicks and trip opponents. The feet were also used strategically at weak points of the body to lock and dislocate bones, collapse stances and even choke a fallen opponent. All of these techniques were supported by the use of the hands to control and grab, rather than using these limbs strictly to deliver boxing style attacks (such as a hook or uppercut).

Savate and Le Boxe Francaise

Training in the original form includes the repetitive practice of basic techniques, moving on into a form of free sparring. One notable difference is that unlike other martial arts, the practitioner is taught to look at the feet of his opponent.

In combat, the master strives to stay on his feet, forcing his opponent to the ground where a coup de grace can be delivered, usually using the foot as the primary weapon.

An offshoot that has developed recently is the sport Le Boxe Francaise. This is based on the modern style that developed under the influence of Asian striking arts rather than the original street fighting style, and is geared towards sport and competition, and is essentially a form of kick boxing.

Sean Sherk Workout

The Sean Sherk workout details part of the training camp used by the Muscle Shark in preparation for his fight with Tyson Griffin (later cancelled due to an injury to Griffin). Sherk is a former UFC Lightweight Champion. He continued to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship until UFC 119 when he beat Evan Dunham via split decision. Numerous injuries and surgeries followed and Sherk finally announced his retirement in 2013.

Sean Sherk is particularly famous for his workouts and, in his prime, was considered by many to be the best conditioned fighter within his weight division and perhaps of all pro-MMA/UFC fighters. For example, regular UFC fights are 3x5 mins and championship fights are 5x5 mins so many fighters train to a maximum of five rounds. The typical Sean Sherk workout saw him do as many as 9x5 mins rounds.

While searching through YouTube the other day I came across a famous Sean Sherk workout: his Caveman Training(TM). Caveman Training(TM) is more an approach to training than a specific set of exercises. Basically, it takes what works from various areas of fitness and strength training and then overloads the participant with reps and intensity designed to produce an athlete more than ready to face the challenges of his sport. One of the advantages of blending different exercises is that a huge number of programs can be developed which can mean that an athlete (as the Sean Sherk workout video below mentions) never need repeat the same workout twice. In other words, the workouts are not sport specific. My impression is that Caveman Training(TM) is an excellent method to build a well-rounded athlete capable of performing to a high level in any sport that requires strength and endurance.

Let's take a look first at the Muscle Shark training and then examine how we can adapt the Sean Sherk workout to include it in our home or dojo exercise program.

The Sean Sherk Workout

Take a look at the Sean Sherk workout below.

The Sean Sherk Workout at Home

I was very impressed with this workout and had a go at replicating it at home using simple equipment that is readily available.

Warm Up

- Jump rope
- Jogging on the spot
- Shadow boxing
- Light bag work
- Jumping Jacks

Battling Ropes

This is the hardest exercise to replicate. Obviously the ropes are heavy, long, and thick and in all likelihood you don't have access to anything similar (I certainly don't...I don't even know a gym that has this kind of equipment set up).

If you want to work on the snap of the exercise then you can use a couple of colored belts and repeat the arm movements Sean Sherk performs.

Somewhere between working the snap and replicating the weight of the ropes is to use a couple of poles (I used thicker escrima sticks). This doesn't quite replicate the snap you will get from the belts, nor are the sticks so heavy, but you will feel it in your wrists as the round continues.

If you want to go for weight then just use a couple of lighter dumbbells held in each hand. Use lighter weights to develop speed and endurance but be careful in trying to 'snap' the weights. When I tried this using dumb bells I visualized using the weights to play drums, that is, using the dumbbells as if they were drum sticks. Another option is kettle bells which of course have a handle to grip and really work your wrists.

Variations:

Squat and hold that position so your thighs are in a constant state of tension. Alternatively, you can take a traditional martial arts stance and hold that for the duration of the exercise.

For greater balance and to stretch your calves, complete the exercise on tip toes.

Complete the exercise while standing on one leg (Daniel san's Crane). For extra pain attach an ankle weight to the raised leg.

Protein for Building Muscle and Burning Fat

Using protein for building muscle and burning fat is an important consideration for an athlete . A training program is necessary to build muscle and, to a lesser extent, to burn fat. However, any training program used in conjunction with poor daily nutrition is not going to give you the results you are looking for. You cannot out train a poor diet.　You need to be eating the right food at the right time to optimize your results.

There are three macronutrients necessary to base a healthy diet on: carbohydrates, fats and protein. In this article I will look at protein for building muscle and burning fat.　Protein is found throughout the body: in muscles, skin, bones. It was recognized by ancient Greeks as being the primary building block of the body and it is necessary for, among other things, muscle growth and repair. More fundamentally protein is created from twenty-two standard amino acids (there are in total more amino acids than this, but these are the ones that constitute protein). Of the twenty-two standard amino acids, nine are known as essential amino acids while the remainder are non-essential amino acids. An essential amino acid cannot be synthesized by the human body and they must therefore be ingested as part of one’s daily diet. Protein itself cannot therefore be created by the human body and must be taken in as part of a regular diet.

Protein for Building Muscle and Burning Fat

A fundamental point then is to recognize that in order to build muscle you need to be taking in protein regularly (a portion with each meal preferably). Losing weight is possible, easier even, without protein but it must be remembered that your weight loss in that case will include a loss of muscle mass (losing weight and losing fat are not the same thing). You should also consider that if you are successful in building muscle your overall weight may well increase (depending on where you are starting from and even if you are also burning fat). Your aim is to build muscle AND burn fat. For this result then using protein for building muscle and burning fat is necessary.

An interesting and relevant point is that of the three macronutrients, protein requires the most energy to digest. Known as the thermic effect, digesting protein raises your metabolism higher than either carbs or fats during the digestive process. (This should not be confused with burning fats, carbs or protein once they are digested). Raising your metabolism and keeping it raised it considered a primary method of burning fat. Eating smaller meals more often is also a good way of ensuring your metabolism remains strong while others advocate consuming protein before sleeping to ensure that your metabolism keeps ticking over.

The best sources of protein include fish, turkey, chicken, lean beef, eggs (preferably egg whites. Eggs are something you may wish to experiment with. The egg yolk is a good source of protein and various nutrients but also containｓ cholesterol), Greek yogurt and whey protein (found in protein shakes). The actual amount you take in is also something you are going to have to figure out by yourself. The commonly accepted amount is 1.0 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of total body weight for people who are seriously exercising on a regular (5-6 days a week) basis. So if you weigh 200 pounds you want to be consuming 200-300 grams of protein a day. Hard gainers though may struggle here just to consume that quantity and it should be remembered that excess protein will either be turned to waste or stored as fat. Everyone’s digestive system is different and one’s kidneys and liver (used to process protein) will function at different levels for different people. This is why drinking plenty of water is important: protein is difficult to fully digest and makes the digestive system work hard. Water smooths this process. These figures are guidelines only and are for athletes engaged in vigorous activity intending to build muscle. At the other end of the scale an adult should be looking at around 0.8 grams of protein per pound of weight for maintenance.

One of the best times to take protein is following a work out. Again, there is all kinds of science suggesting different windows of opportunity for optimal muscle growth but aiming to eat a source of protein within an hour of a workout is a good place to start. As with all other areas, experiment for yourself and find out what works best for you.

In summary using protein for building muscle and burning fat can be an effective approach to take towards building lean muscle and getting ripped. Protein is a primary component of our body (as are therefore the standard amino acids) and we need to replace it on a meal to meal basis. This will promote muscle growth which in turn will lead us to burning more fat. By making the body work to digest protein we will also burn fat. Protein keeps our metabolism high and allows us to reap the full benefits of training for muscle growth.

Muay Thai Elbow

Muay Thai elbow strikes are among some of the simplest and most powerful weapons around in martial arts. They feature in the repertoire of all MMA fighters and can be used effectively when dirty fighting (close combat) and in ground and pound. With a little footwork to close the distance these elbow strikes are excellent follow ups to a lead jab and, with a little more athleticism, they can be employed with a jump from kicking range effectively too. Given that the elbow is much closer to the body than the fist the torque you generate with correct body mechanics is much more successfully transferred into an elbow strike. The elbow itself is also less prone to injury than the fist and the 'sharpness' of the elbow also means that it is much easier to cut an opponent.

In the following video Rob McCullough demonstrates a variety of devastating Muay Thai elbow strikes.

Muay Thai Elbow Notes

* Keep the non-striking hand / forearm up for protection.

* keep the shoulder tight, the palm open and drop the elbow into the target.

* Use your hip to allow you to extend the elbow strike into the target. Using your hip in this way will also generate more power.

* Ensure that you are using the elbow bone to strike the target.

* The hook elbow is a variation that follows the same trajectory as the hook punch; that is, it hooks in from the side to connect with the target.

* When performing the hook elbow, make sure your non-striking arm continues to protect your head.

* Apply pressure to the balls of your feet to further aid you in torquing your body to release the technique and make it more powerful.

* With the uppercut elbow use your hips to drive the point of your elbow upwards and forwards into the target.

* Once you are comfortable with delivering a single elbow technique effectively, begin to throw combinations of different elbow techniques while protecting your head at all times.

* The spinning elbow technique requires you to turn your body. Pivot on your lead foot after moving it across your body. Turn you head quickly and focus on the target as the rest of your body catches up. Your hips still play a crucial role in generating power.

* After completing the turn you can deliver a hooking elbow or an uppercut elbow, or you can drive your elbow down onto your target.

* You can practice your strikes on the heavy bag or on the Thai pads.

* Work the elbow strikes with punch combinations. Use the punches to confuse and opponent while you close the distance on him to be able to deliver an elbow strike.

Lethwei

The sport of Lethwei (Burmese boxing) is perhaps the one style of fighting that is more brutal than even the Thai form of boxing, and it is still ‘played’ today. Popular in poorer farming areas, Burmese boxing is a very loosely regulated sport that is poorly administered. There are no weight categories and contestants are divided only according to age and experience (youth, novice, intermediate and professional). When a Burmese boxer has accumulated enough wins he advances to the next category. A win is determined at the end of a fourth, untimed round. If one contestant is cut about the face or head, gives up or is knocked out then he loses. The prior three rounds are similarly untimed and continue until one or the other is struck so hard as to be visibly shocked, or else an effective grappling technique is applied. Kicks to the groin, the area just below the navel, hair pulling and scratching, are all banned. Headbutting on the other hand is perfectly acceptable (the fight above ends with a TKO by headbutt) and, despite being described as a type of boxing, it is permissible to use throws, the successful execution of which is enhanced by the contestants not wearing gloves but simply having their hands wrapped.

Burmese martial arts were originally influenced by Indian arts, transposed by Buddhist monks in the main, then by travelers from China. Early styles were affected further, first through occupation by the Mongols and then by almost three hundred years of intermittent warfare with Thailand up until the British takeover in 1885. A popular style called Bando has perhaps remained closest to early exposure to Indian and Chinese arts, stressing a softer, non-confrontational approach where defensive techniques and tactics are taught first. Lethwei on the other hand is geared to taking the offense and defeating an opponent before any attack can be launched.

Training in Lethwei

Training includes solo shadow boxing and conditioning supplemented with sparring practice to develop skills in distancing and timing. Equipment associated with both Western boxing and Thai boxing, such as punch bags and focus mitts are not used by Burmese boxers. Practice is geared towards effectiveness in a fight against a similarly trained opponent and any mental or spiritual concerns are extraneous to this goal. The art is not pursued as a way of self-cultivation.

An expert Burmese boxer uses an array of powerful hand, foot and elbow techniques to secure victory by knocking an opponent unconscious. When the distance is closed he possesses a range of grappling and throwing skills but does not excel in groundwork. In a match a thrown opponent may not be kicked while on the ground, but in life-or-death combat a Burmese boxer would not hesitate to do so. This form of boxing lacks the subtlety of pressure point strikes or spectacular flying kicks but is devastatingly effective.

Kung Fu

The popular term Kung Fu (Gung Fu / Gong Fu) is a generic term used to identify Chinese martial arts, and then is it usually associated with harder, external styles. Properly speaking the term refers to ones skill in any activity that has been developed through consistent practice. That skill may or may not be martial. For example, someone could have good kung fu in speaking a second language, implying that they had good skill acquired after dedicated practice (as opposed to natural ability). A more correct term for Chinese fighting arts then is Wushu, which in the sense used here is still equally generic as it describes all arts rather than one in particular. However, to confuse the issue further, there is a modern sport / martial art which also calls itself Wushu and was developed recently in Communist China. This approach is particularly famous for its gymnastic like movements at the expense of combat efficacy, though its syllabus is more extensive than forms practice.

Undoubtedly martial arts existed in China for centuries but it wasn't until the 16th century that reference is made to the kind of organized schools and systems that we think of today as being normal. The earliest known mention of fighting is from the 5th century BCE where an unarmed combat theory is mentioned in the Spring and Autumn Annals. A complete system, called Jueli, existed in the 1st century BCE and this incorporated strikes, throws, locks and pressure point attacks. Over the centuries this art developed into a wrestling sport which was distinct from battlefield and no-holds barred fighting.

Kung Fu and the Shaolin Temple

China is of course most famous for the Shaolin Temple, from which various styles seek to claim their ancestry and therefore greater legitimacy. Legend tells that Bodhidharma, the founder of Ch'an / Zen Buddhism, taught a series of calisthenics to the monks at the temple which had a fighting application. There is no current evidence to support this, though it is recorded that the Shaolin monks twice participated in small skirmishes: in 610 CE to defend against bandits and in 621 CE at the Battle of Hulao. For the next several centuries the monks appear to have lived in peace but from the 16th to 17th centuries numerous records indicate that they were once again engaged in the practice of fighting arts. It is from this period that the legend concerning Bodhidharma was created and the text attributed to him - the Muscle Change Classic - was written (1624).

The greatest period in the expansion and popular participation in Kung Fu came in the first half of the twentieth century. Arts such as Bagua, Eagle Claw,Xing I, Praying Mantis, Tai Chi, White Crane and Wing Chun rose to prominence and were supported by a wealth of training manuals. This growth, at least in China, was short lived and came to be stifled under Communist rule through concern the schools may encourage subversive behavior. It was the masters who escaped the mainland and began a new life in places like Taiwan and Hong Kong who would bring the arts to a Western student body.

Training in Kung Fu tends to be less regimented that in Japanese and Korean arts with classes being more informal. Basic techniques and stances are practiced repetitively and a fundamental aspect is the focus on developing chi / qi, whether the school is internal or external. Chinese martial arts are also heavy on weapons practice and a diverse range of sometimes odd-looking weapons may be studied.

Brock Lesnar - The Making of a Hardcore Legend

Brock Lesnar - The Making of a Hardcore Legend by Joel Rippel.

For those of you who are looking for a quick, easy-to-read review, I will simply say that this book is terrible.

For those of you still reading, Brock Lesnar - The Making of a Hardcore Legend was written by Joel Rippel, a man who has apparently spent the last thirty years working for newspapers. I can only assume his father is the owner of the said newspapers...

The author shows no particular insight into amateur or professional wrestling or MMA in general or the UFC in particular. He never manages to capture any of the excitement and has confined his sources to a very short list. While there are some interviews, these are presented for the most part as complete blocks of text at the end of a chapter. The quotes and the story they tell are not interwoven with the main text.

The book is 181 pages long and covers Brock Lesnar`s life up until his victory over Shane Carwin to defend the UFC Heavyweight champion belt. Unfortunately we never really get to know Brock Lesnar and the whole project reeks of having been put together to cash in on his popularity before Brock`s own autobiography was published.

Brock Lesnar - The Making of a Hardcore Legend

Chapter One: Introduction

The introduction gives a good overview of Brock Lesnar`s life. One thing that stands out here is just how rare an athlete like Brock is; and his value to wrestling and MMA is further enhanced when considering that many men of his size and ability would have gone into the NFL where the money is.

The turning point in his life seems to have been during a two-year spell at the University of Minnesota when Brock turned from being a talented junior college heavyweight to becoming an NCAA champion. Brock established a rigorous and effective training program that catapulted him to success, breeding one of my favorite quotes in the book: `Everybody had the same chance to go to the weight room as I did, they just chose not to`.

Owing to his success at the college level Lesnar signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) months after graduation. His main reason for doing this appears to have been simple economics; they were offering him a job and he needed the money. Once he began making professional appearances his popularity skyrocketed and he became the youngest WWF heavyweight champion ever (at age 25).

Less than two years later Lesnar turned his back on his lucrative deal, exhausted by the travel and seemingly disenchanted with the fixed nature of the `fights`. The matches were not about beating an opponent but, to Brock, about outperforming the people around him.

A series of adventures followed; a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings, some wrestling matches in Japan and a legal battle with the WWE (formerly the WWF). Then he turned to MMA, beginning training in 2006 and fighting in 2007. A contract with the UFC followed and though Brock lost to Frank Mir in his first fight, he claimed the heavyweight belt soon after, later defeating Mir in a revenge match. Then, at the height of his career, disaster struck. Lesnar came down with a severe illness and it was touch or go as to whether or not he would compete again.

Chapter Two: Growing Up in Webster, South Dakota

Brock Lesnar grew up working hard on a dairy farm in Webster, South Dakota. By the age of 5 he had already suffered two hernias. By that age he had also started wrestling, influenced by his older brothers. Although he didn`t have anything like the kind of physique he would later acquire, he nevertheless began to workout by himself and developed his strength through the virtues of hard work, habit and patience.

Lesnar`s earliest formal mentor was John Schiley, the Webster High School wrestling coach. Lesnar joined the team while he was in seventh grade.

Lesnar knew from the beginning that he was aggressive and knew people feared him, not because of his technical skill but because he was so physical. Even when he lost, his opponent knew he had been in a fight. Lesnar saw wrestling as a legalized street fight...and he loved it.

Soon after setting the scene for his amateur wrestling career Brock Lesnar - The Making of a Hardcore Legend takes a turn for the worse. What follows is almost fifty pages (of a 181 page book) that simply details the wrestling schedule he had and the results of each bout. There are a few things to learn, but basically near to one third of the book is as boring a read as you can imagine. My impression is that the author spent a day in the local library checking old copies of local newspapers and did the equivalent of a cut-and-paste job on Word. The results are presented in a very dry manner; none of the excitement of the matches is captured and based on the information available, I think Lesnar`s entire career up to his NCAA victory could have been neatly summarized in two or three pages. This may sound harsh, but the first third of the book is a chore to read, much less enjoy.

There are though a few insights. One of the apparent turning points in Brock Lesnar`s career was when he and a wrestling / football rival, Jason Nolte, collided making a football tackle. Nolte was left with a broken vertebrae. The accident brought the two rivals together and they began working out and supporting one another. This marked the time when Lesnar began to lift everyday.

The fifty pages of wrestling results spill over into Chapter Three: Becoming a College Wrestler, except that now it is his college results that are regurgitated.

We do learn though that Lesnar impressed his college teammates and his work ethic was something to marvel at. Even on days when extra conditioning was done after regular practice, Brock would still head into the gym to continue lifting. Working out at this extreme level had by now become a way of life.

Chapter Four - NCAA Champion

Brock Lesnar met University of Minnesota wrestling coach J Robinson in 1997 at the Bison Open, hosted in Fargo, North Dakota. The Gophers - the University of Minnesota wrestling team - competed there. So did Junior College sophomore Brock Lesnar. Brock took first place at the tourney which prompted Robinson to approach him after his match. Lesnar was quickly taken by the impromptu offer to wrestle at Minnesota and signed almost immediately. What follows in the book are more match-by-match details of Lesnar's Minnesota wrestling career. As before, the reading here is slow and boring and very little is added to the story that couldn't have been neatly summarized in a page.

What does emerge is that Lesnar was intimidating and that many of his opponent's were beaten even before the match had started. By now Lesnar had developed a top-heavy physique (while maintaining a high level of overall athleticism) that gave his opponents something to see and worry about from the moment they stepped on the mat.

It was also during this period that Brock Lesnar the public figure began to take shape. His rising profile saw him become a regular on a local radio station's wrestling program and special posters were made titled 'Breakfast of Champions'. As a result of this along with the die-hard wrestling fans more and more average sports fans from the street were turning up to watch matches. Lesnar himself was fully committed and mentioned that the only thing he ever thought about was wrestling.

Victory followed victory throughout his Minnesota career until Lesnar took the heavyweight NCAA title in a 3-2 victory over Wes Hand. Brock was the first Gopher to win any NCAA title in 51 years. Lesnar, if anything, was relieved with his win. He stated that he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he had achieved what he had wanted. He was elated.

The next morning though wasn't so bright. Suddenly he had an empty feeling inside with nothing to do. The Olympic trials were one option; football was another. A third was taking a deal to wrestle professionally and it was this option he took, signing a contract with the World Wrestling Federation on June 9, 2000. His main motivation was simply money. His actual WWF training commenced on August 1.

Chapter Five - The Next Big Thing

Brock Lesnar made his WWF debut in mid-March, 2002. Lesnar was impressive from the off. At this time - and this is a good example of how bad this book is - the reader is nonchalantly informed that Brock had his first child!!!

Here is the sentence to give you an idea of what I am talking about: `April was a hectic month for Lesnar. It included his first "feud" and the birth of his first child`. And that is it. There is no background as to who he had the baby with or the state of their relationship, no name given, basically nothing. The news comes completely out of the blue. (For those who want to know, Brock Lesnar`s first child is named Mya Lynn and she was born to his ex-fiancee, Nicole, on April 10, 2002. Brock later broke off the engagement to date Rena Mero, better known as Sable from the WWF and the woman he is married to to this day).

Paragraph after meaningless, boring paragraph follow as one fight result after another are shared with the reader until on August 25, 2002 Lesnar defeated The Rock to become the youngest WWE Undisputed Champion at the age of 25. More mind numbing fight details finish, broken up a little by a (very) short insight into Brock`s training regime which featured the use of ice baths. Details are severely lacking here. We learn that Lesnar did push ups while balancing on chairs to lower his body further and he comments that he did a specific abdominal routine, but this routine is not described. By this stage the reader is half way through the book and the majority of the word count has been short descriptions of each and every fight he had with no detail and no excitement added. More or less the only information given is the name of his opponent, the date, the venue and if he won or lost. A quote may be given once in a while, but nothing that makes most of the first ninety pages an interesting read.

It isn't until Brock Lesnar's career in the WWE (formerly the WWF) begins to draw to a close that things start and get interesting.

In December 2003, in response to a question put to him while being interviewed in Singapore, Lesnar declared that if he wasn't wrestling he would either be playing [NFL] football or 'fighting in an organization like the Ultimate Fighting Championship'. Early the next year he bought a private jet in order to ease the hectic travel schedule he was forced to follow and which was by now becoming more and more of a burden. In the same month he lost his WWE title to Eddie Guerrero. The month after, in March, he is reported to have told WWE TV crew members that he would be leaving the company to find a career in football. It further emerged that Brock Lesnar would suffer further (planned) defeats and it must have appeared that his career had peaked, at least for the time being. And so, later in March 2004, came the announcement that Lesnar would be leaving the WWE. Determining factors seem to have been the arduous travel, the plan that he would not be regaining his title anytime soon, and a year of wrestling through pain while on the road (he never took time off to allow injuries to heal and was using alcohol on a daily basis to allay the pain). He turned his back on a contract worth at least $10 million and which could have been as high as $45 million. Brock Lesnar had no regrets; he was, he said, tired of living a double life.

Chapter Six - Moving On

Brock Lesnar was exhausted. He wasn't ready - by his own admission - for anything that life had brought him in the last couple of years. He stated at the time 'I wasn't ready to be traveling 300 days a year. I wasn't ready to be a husband. I wasn't ready for a lot of things. I had a lot of growing up to do. I was forced to grow up'.

His mind turned to football and his training pattern shifted to accommodate his new goal of playing professionally as he started working out in April, 2004. His plan was to host an observed workout for five NFL teams on May 18. This was delayed though as on April 17 he suffered various injuries in a motorcycle accident that left him unable to train for three weeks. The open workout was rescheduled for June 2 but an aggravated groin injury prevented this from going ahead and eventually the whole thing was canceled.

Lesnar was up against it and most people wrote him off. He hadn't played the game since high school and despite his obvious athleticism and work ethic, he was now trying to compete at a level where everyone was gifted and everyone was motivated and everyone was giving 100%. Everyone else had the experience to go with the ability.

Lesnar himself declared in an ESPN interview that he now regretted going straight into the WWF / WWE and did so for financial reasons only; he now wished he had gone into football instead.

His lack of experience showed throughout training camp and in pre-season games. No one doubted his heart but it wasn't enough to compensate for the time spent away from the game. Following a game against the 49ers Brock Lesnar was cut. He was advised to take his game to NFL Europe the following spring but it didn't interest Lesnar. It was the NFL or nothing. Lesnar himself wasn't too downhearted and he praised himself for at least making the effort to try; he still achieved something most people never get close to.

Chapter Seven - Transitions

Lesnar kicked his heels for the rest of 2004 until December when he announced he would be making a comeback to the fighting world. No one knew when or how, but speculation was rife that he would New Wrestling Japan, K-1 or Pride as a fighter and fight out of Japan. He was seen in attendance at a wrestling show in Tokyo Dome. In the same month he announced his engagement to Rena Mero aka Sable.

There was a problem though before Brock could return to the fight game. He had signed a no-compete clause when he left the WWE in March 2004 (when he intended to go into football). He now wanted it overturned. The WWE for their part were keen to have Lesnar return to their stable and negotiations did begin, only to be quashed in early August, 2005. Brock had no interest in returning to the company. More legal disputes followed and it wasn't until April, 2006 that the WWE announced that it would allow Lesnar to 'pursue new ventures while he is still in his athletic prime'.

Shortly before the agreement Brock Lesnar had stated in a radio interview that, if the money was right, he would be tempted to join the UFC. Once released from his no-compete clause though Lesnar attended a K-1 HEROES MMA event in Las Vegas and after the final match addressed the crowd, telling them that he would be joining the K-1 organization. It seemed he was serious as Pat Miletich, a famed MMA trainer, later informed the press that Lesnar had begun training with him; he even went so far as to predict the Brock Lesnar would be 'untouchable' within a year.

Serious, full-time training in MMA started in July, 2006 under Greg Nelson, an MMA coach in Minnesota, and Marty Morgan, a wrestling coach from the University of Minnesota. A contract with K-1 followed in August with the promise that Brock Lesnar would debut before the end of the year. This promise was later reviewed with an announcement that Brock would first fight in February, 2007 but by March he hadn't fought and he was rescheduled to appear in June against Hong-Man Choi. A week before the match Choi failed the pre-fight medical and a substitute was found in Min-Soo Kim. Lesnar won the match in a mere 69 seconds, forced Kim to tap out. In an immediate post-fight interview Brock announced he was committed to MMA and would consider all offers.

The ever-growing UFC stepped up now and on October 20, 2007 at UFC 77 it was announced that Brock Lesnar has signed a two-year contract with the organization. His first opponent would be the heavyweight champion Frank Mir the following year.

Chapter Eight - The UFC

The UFC had started in 1993, essentially to showcase Gracie jiu jitsu in no holds barred fighting. It was as close to a fight as you could get without breaking the law. Many people saw it as being more than a little too close though and it was banned in States throughout the USA and to an extent was driven underground. In 2001 though, as its fortunes sank, casino executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, along with boxing promoter Dana White, purchased the organization for $2 million. The new company was called Zuffa, which is Italian for 'no rules fighting'. Dana White set about revamping the sport, introducing more rules and weight classes. Though the sport received wider acceptance and began to grow, the company continued to lose money. Then, in 2005, a reality show - The Ultimate Fighter - made its debut and suddenly everyone wanted to be an ultimate fighter.

Growth now came quickly and MMA, through the UFC, moved into the mainstream. Dana White wasn't surprised; he believed it was human nature to fight and that we were all interested in watching a fight. Brock Lesnar himself was interested from the off, but the gloomy financial outlook in the early days discouraged him from pursuing a career as an MMA warrior.

Brock Lesnar's first fight in the now-successful UFC was looming. Many had already written him off, or at the least felt he was undeserving of a title shot and an appearance in the main event. Frank Mir though wasn't writing him off and saw Lesnar as an accomplished athlete and a very real threat. Mir acknowledged Lesnar's superior strength and expert wrestling skills, but had confidence in his excellent Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ability to win the fight off his back if it went to the ground.

The fight itself was a whirlwind of brutal activity with Brock Lesnar immediately gaining the advantage over Frank Mir by taking him to the ground and beginning the punishment. A strike to the back of Mir's head saw the referee step in, stand the fighters back up and deduct a point from Lesnar. It was the break Mir needed. When the match restarted Mir was able to submit Lesnar with a kneebar. Total fighting time was 80 seconds and it was all over.

Dana White was nevertheless happy with Brock Lesnar's performance, seeing him as a for-certain legitimate fighter. White was also more than happy with Lesnar's star power, which was great for business, and brought the highest number of pay-per-views in 2008.

There was controversy over whether or not referee Steve Mazzagatti had issued a warning to Lesnar before stopping the fight. Mazzagatti said he had but that Brock hadn't heard it; Lesnar said Mir had received an early Christmas present. Brock Lesnar believed he had won the fight.

Brock Lesnar's next fight would be against Heath Herring at UFC 87. Lesnar had stated that he had learned the importance of being patient from his match with Mir. Whatever he had learned very nearly wasn't tested as Lesnar almost finished the fight in the first round and went on to win in the third. Herring was outclassed and there were promising signs from Lesnar. Dana White noted at the post-fight press conference that he was 'blown away'.

White was so impressed in fact that Lesnar's third fight was scheduled against Randy Couture for the Heavyweight Championship at UFC 91. Lesnar was happy about this, but he and White faced some ire from those more established in the UFC who felt that it was unfair for Brock Lesnar to be given a title shot after only two fights with the organization. Lesnar didn't see it that way and, perhaps a reflection of his business savvy picked up in the WWF/WWE publicly declared that anyone who had a problem with the situation should 'get over it' as the UFC '[was] a business' and the fans knew who he was and wanted to see (and, importantly pay to see) him fight. The Brock Lesnar vs Randy Couture fight became one of the most anticipated matches in the history of the UFC.

Couture was confident he could deal with Lesnar's strength, size and athleticism, but it wasn't to be. His confidence was misplaced and Lesnar finished him in the second round to become a world champion once again; this time in the ultra-competitive world of MMA. This victory really was staggering; with such little direct experience in MMA Lesnar had fought and convincingly beaten one of the best known champions in the game. Couture would later write in his autobiography that he couldn't escape from Lesnar; he was overwhelmed.

It was then announced that Brock Lesnar's next fight would be against the winner of the Frank Mir vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira match. At UFC 92 Mir won the match meaning that the two rivals would have a rematch.

Lesnar was going all-out in his training, going for 4-6 hours a day and learning new things all the time while developing his strength. It was difficult for him to find people to face in sparring practice but he endeavored to become a well-rounded fighter, more prone now to listening to his body as he aged and the recovery time increased.

Despite taking the win in the first fight, Mir came into the rematch as the underdog. The bookies were right. Lesnar was dominant and bloodied Mir in a dominant first round before pounding him into the ground in the second.

After such a dramatic and overwhelming victory Lesnar let himself down by going over to Mir and taunting him. This didn't go across well with the crowd and Lesnar responded by making obscene hand gestures to the paying customers. White wasn't happy about it but tried to brush it off, pointing out that the UFC wasnt like the WWE and there was no need for fighters to take on a false persona. Privately Brock Lesnar was put in his place; he apologized and things moved on.

The next plan was to get Fedor Emelianenko, arguably the greatest pound for pound and overall MMA fighter in the world, certainly then and perhaps still now, into the UFC to face Lesnar. Emelianenko though had a poor view of White and his organization, feeling that the UFC 'don't treat [the fighters] like human beings'. After negotiations broke down it was announced that Brock Lesnar would next face undefeated Shane Carwin on November 21, 2009 at UFC 106.

Chapter Nine - Uncertainty

Less than a month after the plan for the Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin fight was made public the date was pushed back to January, 2010 owing to an undisclosed illness that Lesnar was suffering from. In fact, he wasn't just sick, he was sicker than he had even been in his whole life. For three weeks he had skipped training after feeling out of sorts and losing too much weight from the workouts and he hoped to recover and get back in shape for the re-scheduled match.

As part of his recovery, Lesnar decided to get away from it all and enjoy a hunting trip in Canada. While in the wildlands he collapsed and had to be rushed (a long way) to hospital. Lesnar was less than impressed with the treatment he was receiving and things were touch and go as to his health as no-one seemed to know what the problem actually was. He was initially diagnosed with mononucleosis, or glandular fever, a symptom of which is fatigue, which can become acute.

After returning to Minnesota and undergoing minor surgery doctors discovered that Brock Lesnar had a hole in his stomach and poison had been leaking out for about a year. Throughout that time his immune system had been fighting it until it was overwhelmed. Such a condition could have potentially been life threatening or it could have ended his athletic career. Needless to say, his fight was canceled and in its place Shane Carwin would fight Frank Mir for the interim title.

Things worked out for Lesnar and in mid-January, 2010, it was announced that he would be able to fight again at some future time. Towards the end of the month the giant declared that he had resumed training and was working on building his base up again. He made changes to his diet and began to regain all the weight he had lost.

Frank Mir clearly had issues with the return of the rightful champion; in a radio interview he said that he hated Brock Lesnar, that he wanted to break his neck in the Octagon and that he wanted him to be 'the first person that dies due to Octagon-related injuries'. In response, Dana White called Frank Mir an idiot and the former champion issued an apology.

March rolled around and at UFC 111 Shane Carwin defeated Frank Mir to become the challenger for the heavyweight championship belt. The title match was announced for July 3, 2010 at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Both fighters were keen for the match and both felt confident of victory.

Chapter Ten - Born to Fight

Brock Lesnar seems to have undergone a radical change in his outlook on his life following his win to take the heavyweight title. He indicated in interviews that being an MMA fighter was who he was. He was, he declared, a fighter at heart. His journey back to his roots continued with a move to Minnesota and an isolated 40-acre farm near Alexandria, north west of Minneapolis. Lesnar had always been 'small town'. This also brought him closer to his daughter. Lesnar had married Rena Mero on May 6, 2006 and they had a son together in June, 2009. Lesnar enjoyed being in control of his environment. He welcomed the success but not necessarily the fame that went with it. He was content with his family and his career and after having money was aware that it wasn't ultimately satisfying in perhaps the way he thought it would be when he was broke and first signed with the WWF. His simpler lifestyle extended to fishing and hunting in his free time, training in his nice-but-less-than-state-of-art-gym, driving used trucks and watching the occasional hunting show on TV.

Chapter Eleven - Return to the Octagon

After his illness Brock Lesnar returned to training wiser and with a renewed sense of vigor and purpose. His workouts, along with his diet, were reviewed and revised. The changes had a positive effect and Lesnar was looking forward to his fight with Carwin.

UFC 116 rolled around and Lesnar found himself staring across the cage floor from the undefeated, heavy-handed Shane Carwin. Carwin seized the advantage early, leaving Lesnar dazed by an uppercut. Going to the floor Carwin proceeded to pound on the former WWE wrestler. The smaller man was dominant and it was all Lesnar could do to prevent the match being stopped. But Brock held on and by the end of the round Carwin had all but punched himself out. Lesnar took Carwin to the ground in round two and used his ground game to outclass the former Division II wrestler. Lesnar took the win, forcing Carwin to tap.

Brock Lesnar was ecstatic. After everything he had been through, and after a very demanding first round, to come back and finish the fight in the way he did was a victory to be proud of.

The book closes with the announcement that Lesnar's next match would be against Cain Velasquez, a fight the champion lost.

Conclusion

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, this book really isn't all that great. The first half is nothing much more than a collection of wrestling match reports that are boring to read and fail to inspire interest in either Brock Lesnar the wrestler or Brock Lesnar the person. There is next to nothing about his personal life, as indicated by the sudden announcement that he had a baby girl. The book improves in the second half and will be of much more interest to martial arts and MMA / UFC fans, but again, there is just a general lack of real insight and in reading the bibliography it seems that much of the information was pulled off the internet. The writing style is fine, it's just that the content is lacking and I can't really recommend this to anyone except the most die-hard fan. There are a lot of better and more interesting books out there to buy and read.