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What I am trying to show you how I use photoshop to enhance the image. I think the image that comes out from the camera is already okay to use but if i can make it look even better, why not. Lightroom can be use to enhance up to a point but to complete the transformation, photoshop is needed. When view the image below, please look at them slowly, think to yourself it was you, will u be happy with the image and leave it as that.

La delegación de aletas de kick boxing de Los Salias se adjudicaron los primeros lugares en la categoría individual adultos y el segundo lugar en la categoría team vs. team del sistema libre en la cuarta Válida Nacional celebrada en San Juan de Los Morros la pasada semana.

Diez atletas salienses, entrenadores y personal técnico de la escuela ELAM se dieron cita en la justa deportiva que congregó a los mejores a nivel nacional.

El entrenador saliense, Juan Carlos Hermida destacó la participación de los atletas en el evento previo a esta válida nacional, como fue el I Campeonato de Kick Boxing Vale Todo, organizado por la alcaldía del municipio Los Salias donde, una vez más, los jóvenes demostraron su alto nivel y desempeño deportivo.

Los representantes de la nueva asociación deportiva de kick boxing aprovecharon la oportunidad para hacerle un llamado a todos los clubes que deseen formalizar su inscripción en la organización, envíen la información correspondiente a la dirección de e-mail: sifujuan@hotmail.com.

Bienvenidos al blog de ochoa martial arts, aquí podrás encontrar información sobre nuestro club, y todo lo relacionado al Muay Thai, Kick Boxing y K1

Como su nombre indica, es una asociación sin límites, abierta a todas las artes marciales; a toda enseñanza y trabajo; cualquiera cuál sera su estilo; siempre que éste se realice con espíritu de superación. Por ello, lo único e imprescindible que se requiere para pertenecer a ella, es tener ganas de evolucionar, paralelamente, tanto como artista marcial y como persona.
Partiendo desde este punto, se buscó un símbolo que puediera englobar la filosofía de trabajo en la que nos basamos para crear dicha asociación.
Un símbolo que describiera un pensamiento, una forma de hacer, un sentimiento que generalizara los estilos que forman parte de ella, y los cuáles se sintieran identificados, siendo todos ellos diferentes entre sí, pero con un nexo común: “El Kokoro”.

Os preguntaréis qué es el Kokoro, y tras convertilo en nuestra simbología, se trata de una caligrafía japonesa con un significado muy especial: “corazón”. Trazado en blanco; color de la pureza y la verdad; el Kokoro es el corazón, simbolizando el espíritu, el alma de una persona o de una cosa.
Kokoro representa, por tanto, la esencia del hombre [o de una cosa], su realidad absoluta
En un arte, marcial o de otro tipo, un discípulo no podrá triunfar si no está habitado por el Kokoro; dicho de otra forma, si no tiene el fuego sagrado y no trabaja con ganas.

El kokoro es por tanto la pasión desapasionada, es decir, la acción sin deseo de BENEFICIO.
Un budoka que tras un bello combate ha sufrido una derrota, no debe entristecerse sino más bien alegrarse, porque esta derrota, bien comprendida, no puede más que aportarle una enseñanza. Él ha combatido, no para ganar a toda costa, sino para vencerse a si mismo: se dice entonces que ha conseguido llegar a conocer el Kokoro, que es la esencia del amor puro.

Por ello, 100% MARTIAL ARTS NO LIMIT, está simbolizada por el Kokoro, por esas ganas de hacer bien las cosas, por imponer la superación y la constancia como método de trabajo, sin olvidar que su objetivo es conseguir una enseñanza de verdad, pura, plena, de corazón y no con ansias de beneficio, sino por el contrario, buscando el enriquecimiento del alma, del espíritu, del amor por un arte que une a personas de una misma asociación.

I am watching the Tennessee Titans, who have been terrible this season but seem to be playing great tonight. In this 4th quarter they just pulled off two quick interceptions and really pulled ahead of the San Francisco 49ers. When you think about martial arts as self-defense, would you consider yourself on offense or defense in the beginning of a situation? Defense. One of the most exciting moves in football is an interception. Why is this so exciting and important? This gives the team a chance to switch from offense to defense in an instance and possibly really turn the game around. Remember this is very true in martial arts as well.

Take a second and visualize an attacker closing the distance on you. They are almost in the “red zone.” What tools do you have in your toolbox to pull of an interception? Or in other words, what can you do on defense that will stop your attacker and give you the chance to quickly execute a swift attack and possibly finish the fight? Leg Kicks, Eye Jabs, what moves in your playbook give you the best shot at an interception because that is your quickest way to safety, or should I say “TOUCHDOWN!”

See you on the mat,

Sempai David

                                                               HISTORIA DEL KICK BOXING

El Kick-Boxing, quizás, no es un estilo ni un arte marcial, se trata más bien de una interpretación deportiva de distintas artes marciales orientales.

El kick-Boxing a evolucionado sobre dos bases principales hasta llegar a lo que es hoy.Una proveniente del Muay Thai,que evoluciono en Japón y la denominamos Kick-Boxing Japonés u Oriental.Otra proviene de diferentes artes marciales orientales instaurada sobre la técnica del boxeo ingles.Evoluciono en Estados Unidos y lo denominaremos Kick-Boxing Americano o Full-Contact.

Surgió en los años 60 y lo hizo a caballo entre Tailandia y Japón.Por otro lado si hiciéramos un cóctel de disciplinas tendríamos que mezclar el Muay-Thai, el karate Kyokushinkai y el Boxeo inglés. Un joven japonés practicante de Kyokushinkai, fue el que inició los orígenes del Kick Boxing, al sentir atracción por el Muay Thai. El joven en cuestión responde al nombre de Kenji Kurosaki. El karate Kyokushinkai (Sensei Mas Oyama), permite el contacto pleno, con excepción de los puños en la cara. Después de su viaje a Tailandia, Kenji mezcla el Kyokushinkai con el Muay-thai, rompiendo mas tarde con su maestro e iniciando un nuevo camino al que llamó Shin Kakuto Jitsu, fundando el legendario Mejiro Gym. 

Para contrarrestar la imbatibilidad de los luchadores Tailandeses, eliminan los golpes de codo y rodilla, respetando los Low-kick.Los combates empiezan a desarrollarse como teloneros de los combates de Catch (lucha libre) que por aquel entonces estaban de moda en Japon.Se realizan en un ring de boxeo, vistiendo pantalón corto como los Tailandeses y guantes de boxeo.En amateur se utiliza además, protectores de piernas y casco.Los combates son a pleno contacto buscando el ko.Los asaltos son de 3 a 5,de 2 o 3 minutos, aunque se pueden aumentar según el organizador.No existen graduaciones y los entrenamientos solo se enfocan a la competición.El bagaje técnico es inferior al Kick-Boxing Americano, por la utilización de los low-kick, pero es mas especializado.

Mas tarde, Kurosaki empieza la enseñanza del Kick a otros karatekas como Patrick Brizon (karate Sankukay, sensei Nambu) y Jan Plas (karate Kyokushinkai), quienes fueron los pioneros del Kick en Europa. Plas funda el Mejiro Gym en Amsterdam del cual surgen muchos campeones: Lucien Carbin, Fred Rogers y Van Os entre otros, y Brizon por su parte funda el Brizon Gym en Francia. Este país da luchadores de la talla de Sylla, Panza o el mismo Roger Paschy.

[originally published in KCN, October 2000]

The flame may be out in Sydney, but our society’s fire for sports will never be doused.  There’s nothing like the Olympics, however, to bring out our patriotic competitiveness.  It’s great to watch our dedicated athletes who have invested their lives in perfecting their sport obtain Olympic status.  It’s inspiring to see them push the human-envelope of performance and break records.  It gives us a sense of pride.  And because they reside in the same country as us, there is a certain part of us that shares in their glory.  This feeling goes deeper for us chiropractors, however, because we know that numerous Olympic athletes owe much of their successes, and sometimes continued ability to compete, to chiropractic care.

Remember the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, when we saw diving competitor Greg Louganis strike his head on the diving platform?  With a chiropractic adjustment delivered behind the scenes immediately after the incident by Jan Corwin, D.C., he was able to return to the board to win the United States another gold medal.

Or how about when star basketball forward Charles Barkley, of our 1992 Olympic “Dream Team”, was brought to the medical crew during the Barcelona Games unable to turn his head? While the traditional model would have put an orthopedist in charge, the 9 medical doctors and 25 athletic trainers comprising the U.S. Olympic Committee medical team “analyzed the situation, put all egos aside and decided that in this case, the chiropractor should provide the primary care with other specialties providing support.”

A crowd of fellow Olympic athletes watched Philip Santiago, D.C., lone chiropractor of the U.S. Olympic Committee medical team, deliver a successful chiropractic adjustment to our “Dream Team” forward.  Trainers then completed the job with soft tissue work while the MD’s prescribed anti-inflammatories.  An excellent example of how “flexibility and camaraderie can result in ultimate dynamic care.”  Dr. Santiago remarked, “I had the unusual feeling that, for a moment, doctoring had become a spectator sport and we had won a team victory.” The next day, Dr. Santiago gave Mr. Barkley a pregame adjustment and sent him on his way to another basketball triumph.

And it’s not just Olympians that are taking advantage of what chiropractic has to offer, but  professional, collegiate, youth, and even the esteemed “weekend warrior” athletes are finding that  no other form of health care lends itself to sports quite the way chiropractic does.  With its emphasis on optimum nervous system function and joint mechanics, these athletes are drawn to chiropractic’s hands-on, non-pharmacological approach.  Not only are they able to call on chiropractic to effectively treat injuries, as in the above examples, but, more importantly, to help prevent them in the first place.  Savvy athletic teams are beginning to realize this, and thus we’re seeing more team chiropractors than ever before.  With numerous D.C.’s having obtained advanced postgraduate training in sports injuries and extremity adjusting, the chiropractic profession stands ready to accept this new wave of demand.

And perhaps a coveted pearl among athletes, is that chiropractic has been shown to improve one’s athletic performance — as much as 16.7% according to one study in the Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation.  This is particularly noteworthy as athletes continue to make the push to be drug-free.  Symbolically this was seen during the opening ceremony  in Sydney, in which Olympic history was made with the addition of a sentence to the Olympic Oath denouncing the use of drugs for performance enhancement.  Chiropractic can give athletes the “enhancement” they’re looking for — naturally — by simply unleashing the potential that is already within them.

Athletes are finding that when their spines are adjusted their bodies work better — and they see the results — which is crucial when your livelihood depends upon it.  Ralph  Filson, D.C., chiropractor for the St. Louis Rams and Cardinals told Dynamic Chiropractic recently in an interview that professional athletes are more in “tune” with their bodies than his average patients.  “They know their living is made by their bodies, and that everything has to function 100%.  They spare no moment in getting treatment….they know they’re at risk with their careers if they don’t keep their bodies perfectly in sync or aligned.”

“Next to talent, “ remarked Alan Palmer, D.C. in an article on the subject a few years ago, “keeping the body in balance is the edge athletes need to take them to the next level.” To borrow from one of our profession’s publications on sports chiropractic, “Chiropractic’s popularity among competitive athletes is probably attributable to the tangible and immediate differences one can feel following an adjustment.  In few other situations are subtle articular and muscular functional differences so overtly magnified as they are when they knock a few milliseconds off someone’s time or represent the ‘edge’ that enhances the accuracy of a pitch, a free throw, or a few millimeters of altitude in a high-jump.”

The year that Mark McGwire slammed 70 homers, many of his  teammates told his chiropractor, Dr. Filson, “Do you realize how important you were to him this year?”  And 1996 swimming gold medalist Sheila Taormina dropped this note off on chiropractor Steven Horwitz’ adjusting table towards the end of the Games in Atlanta:  “Dr. Steve — Thank you so much for helping me get ready for my race.  You are the reason why I’m going home with a gold medal and American record.  I seriously don’t think I could have performed to my best without your help.”

So just which one of your athletic heroes has come forward as an advocate of chiropractic?  Well the list is long and is increasing in number everyday.  But chances are that whatever sport you enjoy watching, or attempting, on your day off, you’ll find someone you admire that is being treated by a chiropractor.  So here’s my attempt to “scratch the surface”:

Aerobics: Mindy Mylrea (World Champion), Bernard Horn (Men’s Champion).  Archery: Larry and Todd Wise (World Champions), Mike Kerr (Champion).  Auto Racing: Bill “Doc:” Ingram (Champion).  Baseball: Jose Canseco (Boston Red Soxes), Wade Boggs (Tampa Bay Devil Rays), Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants), Greg Mathews (Philadelphia Phillies), Ryne Sandberg (Chicago Cubs), Mark McGwire (St. Louis Cardinals), John Smoltz (Atlanta Braves), Chris Sabo (Cincinnati Reds), Robby Thompson (San Francisco Giants), Mark Portugal (San Francisco Giants), Scott Butler (Atlanta Braves), Brett Butler (San Francisco Giants), Jeff Reardon (Minnesota Twins), Wes Parker (Los Angeles Dodgers), Don Sutton (Los Angeles Dodgers), Steve Garvey (Los Angeles Dodgers), Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates), Babe Ruth (New York Yankees), Rick Monday (Chicago Cubs), Jeff Reardon (New York Mets), St. Louis Cardinals Team, San Francisco Giants Team, Arizona Diamondbacks Team, Cincinnati Reds Team.  Basketball: Dan Schayes (Phoenix Suns), Gerald Wilkins (NY Knicks), Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls), Charles Barkley (Houston Rockets), Robert Parish (Boston Celtics), Jack Sikma (Milwaukee Bucks), Scottie Pippin (Chicago Bulls), John Stockton (Utah Jazz), Gerald Wilkins (Cleveland Cavaliers).  Biathalon: Kenny Sousa, Joel Thompson, Brent Steiner, Fred Klaven.  Bodybuilding: Arnold Schwarzenegger (Actor/Bodybuilder),

Frank Columbo (Actor of “Conan the Barbarian” movies/ Champion Bodybuilder/ and chiropractor), Lee Haney (Mr. Olympia 84-91), Clifta Coulter (Miss USA), John Defendis (Mr. USA), Grace Lewis (World Champion Powerlifter), Kevin Levrone (Reigning National Champion), Rick Valente (Host of ESPN’s “Body Shaping”).  Boxing: Evander Holyfield (Heavyweight Champion of the World), Rocky Marciano (Heavyweight Champion 1956), Jack Dempsy, Tony Lopez, Tim Witherspoon, Michael Carbajol, Muhammad Ali.  Cycling: Adam Payne (Champion).  Dancing: Shirley MacLaine, Liza Minnelli, Marcello Angelini, Daniella Buson.  Football: Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers), Irving Fryar (Miami Dolphins), Emmett Smith (Dallas Cowboys), Crawford Kerr (Dallas Cowboys), Atlanta Falcons Team, San Francisco 49ers Team, Detroit Lions Team, Denver Broncos Team, Dallas Cowboys Team, Tennessee Titans Team, St. Louis Rams Team, Ed “Too Tall” Jones (Dallas Cowboys), Charles Haley (Dallas Cowboys), Roger Craig (San Francisco 49ers), Bob Hayes (Dallas Cowboys), Sean Landeta (NY Giants), Paul Fraze (NY Jets), Ricky Bell, Dammone Johnson, Alex Karras (Detroit Lions), Mark May (Washington Redskins), Gary Clark (Miami Dolphins), Terry Kirby (Miami Dolphins), Keith Jackson (Green Bay Packers), Mike Renfro (Dallas Cowboys), Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers), Mike Ingram (Green Bay Packers), Mike Timson (Chicago Bears), Bill Fralic (Atlanta Falcons), Warren Moon (Houston Oilers), Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins), Brian Hansen (New York Jets), Terance Mathis (Atlanta Falcons), Gary Downs (Atlanta Falcons), Byron Hanspard (Atlanta Falcons), Ruffin Hamilton (Atlanta Falcons), Craig Sauer (Atlanta Falcons), Lester Archambeau (Atlanta Falcons), Ronnie Bradford (Atlanta Falcons), Tim Dwight (Atlanta Falcons), Bob Christian (Atlanta Falcons), Joe Profit (Atlanta Falcons), Lenny McGill (Carolina Panthers), Keith Crawford (Kansas City Chiefs), Corey Louchiey (free agent).

Golf: Fred Funk (PGA Tour Professional), Barbara Bunkowsky (LPGA Tour Professional), Tiger Woods (PGA Tour Professional), Chi Chi Rodriguez, Patti Rizzo, Sandra Palmer, Lynn Connelly, Beth Daniel, Jan Stephenson, Donna White, Kim Bauer, Patty Sheehan, Lynn Adams, Sally Little, Amy Alcott.  Gymnastics: Mary Lou Retton, Olga Korbut. Hockey: Detroit Red Wings Team, Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings),

Brett Hall (Dallas Stars).  Kick-Boxing: Jorge Angat, Jr. (US Lightweight Champion), Dennis Alexio (World Champion).  Horse Racing: Gary Stevens (Winning Jockey of Kentucky Derby), Olympic Events: Dan O’Brien (Decathlon), Joe Greene (Long Jump), Donovan Bailey (100 Meter), Alberto Juantorena (400 & 800 Meter), Bruce Jenner  (Decathlon), Mac Wilkins (Discus), Dwight Stones (Hi-Jump), Edwin Moses (Hurdles), Greg Louganis (Diving), Maria Maricich (Skiing), Suzy Chaffee (Skiing), Tim McCrossen (Bobsled), Cathy Turner (Speedskating), Mary Decker (Track), Willie Banks (Triple Jump), Joseph Arvay (Wrestling), Nancy Ditz (Marathon), Patrick Jeffrey (Diving), Craig Virgin (olympian), Karch Kiraly (Beach Volleyball), Kent Steffes (Beach Volleyball),

Sheila Taormina (Swimming), Marisa Pedulla (Judo), other events chiropractors treated athletes:  boxing, softball, women’s basketball, cycling, hockey, weight lifting, fencing, speed walking, kayaking, table tennis, sharp-shooting, soccer, water polo, synchronized swimming, rowing.   Rodeo: numerous cowboys across the country.  Running: Henry Rono, Franci Larrieu, Patti Van Wolvelaere.

Soccer: Gregg Blasingame (Atlanta Attack Professional Soccer Team), Brian Haynes (Atlanta Attack Professional Soccer Team), US World Cup Soccer Team.  Surfing: Ritchie Rudolph (Professional), Mark Kechele (Professional), Jeff Booth (Professional).  Tennis: Jim Connors, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendi, Billy Jean King, Tracy Austin.  Triathalon: Mark Allen, Craig Reynolds, Larry Rhoads.  Volleyball: Sinjin Smith, Randy Stoklos, Kent Steffes, Tim Hovland, Craig Moothart, Mary Jo Peppler.  And, we’ve even had a fair number of chiropractors who have “moonlighted” as prominent sports celebrities either during or before they began practicing:  Dr. Franco Columbo (Bodybuilder), Dr. Jack Dolbin (Football – Denver Broncos), Dr. Chris Goetz (Baseball – New York Giants), Dr. Fred Cox (Football – Minnesota Vikings), Dr. Terry Schroeder (Olympian), Dr. Doug Price (Olympian), Dr. Dennis Koslowski (Olympian), Dr. Gary Sato (Olympian), and Dr. Terry Schroeder (Olympian).

Phew!  While not a complete list by any means, it certainly should give you an appreciation for the fact that athletes from virtually every sport are enjoying the benefits that chiropractic has to offer — treatment that gets results:  relief from injuries, prevention of injuries, and improved performance.  Now if I could just figure out why our Seahawks, Mariners, SuperSonics, and Thunderbirds aren’t on that list.

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Addendum notes:

1) In June of 2004 I reran this article as the world embarked upon the Summer Olympic Games in Athens.  The following preface lead the article:  As we gear up for the Summer Olympic Games in Greece this year, I thought it appropriate that I break out this interesting article on sports and chiropractic.  Most people associate chiropractic with the treatment of pain — but some people, athletes in particular, know that chiropractic can enhance their ability to perform at their peak.  Chiropractic for many of these elite performers is there secret weapon.  The great thing is, it can be your’s too. — Dr. Lamar  (June 2004)

2) 2009 update:  As I stated in the article, our  list  of athletes who utilize chiropractic is far from complete and is increasing in number everyday.  I will attempt to add names in this addendum field as I find them.  Three notable athletic figures that come to mind that have found their way to the Sports Chiropractic List three-time Super Bowl winner Jerry Rice, multiple Gold Medal Swimming Olympian Michael Phelps, and Tour de France champion cyclist Lance Armstrong.

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Sources used for this article:

Chiropractic in the Sports World. Dymamic Chiropractic.  (www.chiroweb.com/archives/10/22/17.html) downloaded 09/17/00.

Cowboys and Chiropractic. Dymamic Chiropractic.  (www.chiroweb.com/archives/13/08/06.html) downloaded 09/12/00.

Cowboys and Chiropractic —A Rodeo Duet. Dymamic Chiropractic.  (www.chiroweb.com/archives/14/10/35.html) downloaded 09/12/00.

Devitt.  Chiropractic Keeps Cardinals and Rams on Top.  Dynamic Chiropractic. 18(19) pp1, 14-16.  2000.

Feuling.  Chiropractic Works!  Wellness Solutions.  Carlsbad, CA  1999.

In the World Spotlight:  Chiropractic Rose Parade Float Boasts Celebrity Patients. Dymamic Chiropractic.  (www.chiroweb.com/archives/13/02/11.html) downloaded 09/17/00.

Koren.  Sports, Athletics, and Chiropractic. (brochure). Koren Publications.  Philadelphia  1990.

Lauro and Mouch.  Athletic Performance Improvement.  Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. January 1991.

Listing of Celebrity Chiropractic Advocates.  David Singer Enterprises. 1995.

Mootz and McCarthy.  Sports Chiropractic.  Topics in Clinical Chiropractic Series.  Aspen Publishers, Inc. Gaithersburg, Maryland 1999.

Norris.  The Role of Chiropractic Doctors in Athletics.  Athletic Therapy Today.  Nov. pp19-21.  1996.

Olympic Athletes Give Thanks for Chiropractic. Dymamic Chiropractic.  (www.chiroweb.com/archives/14/21/32.html) downloaded 09/17/00.

Olympic Games Inspire Optimal Athletic Care. Dymamic Chiropractic.  (www.chiroweb.com/archives/10/25/22.html) downloaded 09/12/00.

Olympians Get Chiropractic Care:  DCs Work as Members of National Health Care Teams. Dymamic Chiropractic. (www.chiroweb.com/archives/14/19/23.html) downloaded 09/17/00.

Professional Athletics and Chiropractic:  a winning combination. Dymamic Chiropractic.  (www.chiroweb.com/archives/15_temp/12/02.html) downloaded 09/17/00.

Schwartzbauer et. al.  Athletic Performance and Physiological Measures in Baseball Players Following Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care:  A Pilot Study.  Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.  1: 33-39.  1997.

Ziegler et al.  Is there a trend toward chiropractic in sports care.  Dynamic Chiropractic. (www.chiroweb.com/archives/09/13/11.html) downloaded 09/12/00.

Aos 33 anos de idade, a sérvia Duda Yankovich já viveu quatro guerras, é faixa preta em karatê e kick boxing, quatro vezes campeã de Kickboxing na Sérvia, três vezes campeã brasileira, formada pela escola de segurança internacional 007, fez filmes e comerciais de TV e já foi guarda-costas e segurança de boates em Belgrado. Há dez anos no Brasil, é campeã mundial de boxe profissional e sempre levanta a bandeira verde e amarela em suas vitórias. Figura polêmica por falar o que pensa e nocautear as adversárias de unhas pintadas e saia no ringue, Duda só vê uma explicação para tudo isso: “Nunca lidei bem com o ‘você não pode fazer isso”.

1. Você era uma criança invocada?
Eu sempre fui muito moleca. Mas não era encrenqueira. Sempre me envolvi com várias lutas – karatê, Kickboxing, Boxe. Mas na verdade eu sempre busquei esportes diferentes. Eu nunca pude ouvir “você não pode fazer isso”. No meu país, se você é mulher, nasce para procriar, cuidar da casa, do marido. Mas quando eu tinha 10 anos de idade eu já sabia que não iria viver aquela vida. Comecei a treinar karatê e com 15 eu fui para a capital treinar pela seleção.

2. E como se sustentou?
Fui contratada pela seleção de karatê, mas não me bancavam. Eu trabalhei em banca de jornal até que entrei em uma escola de segurança, onde tinha treinamento de tiro, judô, mas a aula mais importante era a de comportamento. Lutar boxe é muito difícil. Não é briga de rua. Briga de rua é instinto. Se o carro passa por cima do filho da mulher, com a descarga de adrenalina ela levanta o carro e mata três caras de uma vez. Isso é instinto. Luta de boxe é uma coisa totalmente diferente.

3. Como você veio parar aqui?
Eu já tinha deixado o karatê, em que era faixa preta, por uma decepção com o esporte e fui para o Kickboxing. Em 1999 começou a guerra da Organização tratado do Atlântico Norte (OTAN, que invadiu a antiga Iugoslávia sob pretexto humanitário) uma das quatro que eu vivi. Essa foi bem prejudicial porque a gente não treinava mais, as academias viraram esconderijos. Eu sempre me perguntei como os iraquianos nasciam e viviam a vida toda no meio de uma guerra, mas eles não conhecem outra vida. Você se acostuma. Tem filas para comer, para comprar, não sabe se vai para o esconderijo, não se sabe quando tudo aquilo vai terminar.

4. E nessa época você morava sozinha?
Sim, desde os 15 anos. Quando a guerra acabou, durante um ano não aconteceu nada na minha vida. Porque o país estava em recuperação, não tinha dinheiro para nada, esportes e artes foram apagados. Para mim restaram duas opções: ou casar, ter filhos e continuar lá ou arrumar as malas e vir embora. Eu já tinha vindo para o Brasil competir e conheci umas pessoas. Aí vim fazer alguns contatos, não pretendia ficar. Estou aqui há 10 anos.

5. Você fala muito bem o português.
Isso porque eu sou loira, hein? Eu aprendi sozinha, logo nos primeiros meses. Aí comecei a treinar e dar aulas de Kickboxing. Resolvi competir e fui bicampeã brasileira, campeã Panamericana e Sulamericana. Mas faltavam mulheres. Aí fui chamada para lutar boxe em um programa de televisão. Quando eu cheguei lá, não acreditei no tanto de mulheres que existiam no boxe. Eu ganhei, mas foi na raça. Aí eu pedi para ser treinada pela seleção masculina de boxe e me profissionalizei, disputei os mundiais e ganhei, sempre pelo Brasil.

6. E é difícil esse caminho?
Para a mulher é mais fácil do que para o homem. Até pela quantidade de boxeadores. Mas você tem que fazer as coisas certas, ir aos poucos, se fazer conhecido.

7. Mas você é a primeira boxeadora a ser reconhecida pelo o público leigo no Brasil…
Sim. E algumas pessoas dizem que eu ganho lutas porque visto uma saia. Aí eu digo “é isso aí, eu pinto as unhas, entro no ringue e a outra pessoa cai”.

8. As meninas que estão começando são muito enganadas por empresários?
Sim, é só o que acontece. Por isso que não tem lutas, por isso o esporte não tem divulgação. Já vi uma ótima boxeadora, porém inexperiente, quase aceitar lutar por R$ 500, correndo o risco de ser nocauteada. Eu a convenci a não assinar e pagaram mais. Já vi um colega desenhar o nome no contrato por que não sabia ler ou escrever. É difícil para mim inclusive. Me criticaram quando eu coloquei a bandeira da  Sérvia depois de uma luta, mas nesse dia meu avô havia falecido e eu fiz uma homenagem. Desde o primeiro dia que eu pisei nesse País eu defendo a bandeira do Brasil. Eu não sou naturalizada ainda, depois de dez anos, mas eu defendo a bandeira brasileira. Eu tinha plano de saúde, tinha patrocínio e nesse momento não tenho nada disso. Mas vou ganhar tudo de novo.

9. Mas o teu ex-empresário te tirou tudo?
As besteiras que ele fez trouxeram consequências. Sabe por que as pessoas morrem no boxe aqui na América Latina? Porque quando um boxeador é nocauteado, é proibido de lutar por seis meses a um ano. Só que o atleta ganha R$ 300, com filho, família. Ele falsifica o atestado médico para fazer outra luta e ganhar mais R$ 400. Aí vai lutando, uma atrás da outra, e morre no ringue.

10. A inclusão do boxe feminino na Olimpíada deve mudar alguma coisa?
Demorou, né? Já tinha feminino de karatê, judô. Acho que melhora, mas vai demorar. Eu aposto em algumas meninas, se alguém investir nelas. Se pagar supletivo, mandar para lutar lá fora, para intercâmbios. Eu dou meu braço pela qualidade, pelo trabalho, pela técnica. Mas, se não houver investimento, nem adianta cobrar.

I know that there are many women out there who have been infuriated by the blatant disrespect women have towards women.

Personally, I love to support women. I love to help them be all they can be.

We do a lot as women. In our lives we seem to have many directions leading us every which way.

I have been very blessed with a great family who all love each other very much. I enjoy sharing my great attitude, blessed life, training tips and positive inspiration to anyone I am able to build up. Isn’t that how life should be? Shouldn’t we build people up and see them greater than they see themselves?

That’s what I love doing. So…

When I found out that the women I was training were sleeping with my boyfriend (a male whore who doesn’t get paid although he definitely got something) I was very hurt. I understood what was happening since I fell into his seduction as well. I took my hurt and anger and turned it around so that I could forgive them all.

I didn’t want to be another woman hating other women because I feel we as women need to take care of each other.

Now, I’m not friends with any of them that were involved although I pray for them all and hope that they are at peace with themselves and the events that took place.

A learning curve, I can honestly say that I am grateful for. All these event that happen to me are making me become the humble great person I am and I am still becoming. I know what I DO NOT want. I know how I won’t behave and I know where I’m headed. My integrity is in tact and I’m proud of that. It’s been a long road.

I think about the legacy I want to leave behind for my children. What will they remember and say about me when I’m gone.

Unbelievable. We talk about “posturing” all of the time in fights. The Ultimate Fighter is a great opportunity to get your weekly dose of reality, and I am not talking about the ten minutes of MMA at the end of the show. I am talking about the 50 minutes of posturing and tough guy attitudes that goes around between the “fighters” and coaches on the show.

In the classic “I’m tougher than you are” fight there is anywhere between 10 seconds to multiple episodes of a reality show for you to size up your opponent and prepare your response. This is lightyears of time in fight time and the second they decide to close the distance on you or “walk up you” as Coach Rampage would say – flip the switch.

Tune in Wednesday nights at 10 PM on SpikeTV for to get your weekly dose of testosterone and study up on fight scenarios. Be sure to follow me @d_corrigan and PMA @PMAOakRidge on twitter to get updates on blogs, photos, videos, and news.

See you on the mat!

As a core part of the Cho’s Academy curriculum, we will continually offer workshops focusing on Tae Kwon Do, Yoga and many other disciplines. The workshop schedule is designed to support a well-rounded curriculum, build a stronger community of members, teach a wide variety of self-defense techniques and to promote overall practices of good health and wellness.

We are proud to offer Muay Thai Kickboxing Workshops on a monthly basis (usually the last Saturday of each month–check the Cho’s Academy Website to confirm actual dates).

Muay Thai is a martial art from Thailand. It complements Tae Kwon Do, focusing on low leg kicks, knee strikes, elbow strikes, work from the clinch and takedowns (offensive & defensive).

Muay Thai is one of the more popular stand up styles preferred by modern day MMA practitioners.

Grant Pierce is a Muay Thai instructor under Prida “Kak” Koonala, and has over a decade of Muay Thai training, competition and teaching experience. He is also a 2nd Degree Tae Kwon Do Black Belt and a former apprentice instructor in Jeet Kune Do Concepts and Filipino Martial Arts under Burton Richardson.

Workshop Highlights:

• Basic and Advanced Thai Pad Drills
• Partner Drills to Develop Timing, Distance, Attack and Defense Skills
• Muay Thai Clinching and Throwing Techniques
• Functional Leg Kicking, Knee and Elbow Techniques
• Conditioning Drills
• Optional Sparring

This workshop is for adults all ages, skill levels and athletic ability.  It is great for those looking to learn self-defense and/or simply get a great workout.

Advance sign-up is required by email or phone.  Visit the Cho’s Academy Website for more info.

~Jacob Cho

Some might wonder why I tag and category in the martial arts, personal training, training etc…I haven’t gotten that far in my story yet although I tag and category because of my training in Kenpo Karate.

I also taught kick boxing and helped train up and coming martial artists, the majority of whom were female, and in the particular dojo where I taught and trained, these same women that I put my heart and soul into, were the very ones who went behind my back stabbing me with their ultimate weapon and using me to further their own so called personal gain.

In the end, they fell to the ground in many different ways and I was the one left standing.

I was out walking last night with my son and I began to think about how serious my writing has been. I would have to say that it hasn’t been that exciting to write about and it hasn’t been funny although it is a release for me.

I am a semi serious type person and on the other hand can be and am pretty funny. A song came on my ipod by Nickleback called “Follow you home” I’m not a stalker type person which I think the song kind of implies. What I relate to it in the song is the fact that you can do anything to attempt to stop me from getting back up and brushing myself off and it’s not going to work.

I’m too determined to be successful and along my way to be the best I can be I want to take care of those I care about by take them with me.

I got lost wanting to “help” who I thought was less fortunate and along the way I lost myself although not my determination and my drive to keep moving forward.

Really, there is so much to laugh about! I do laugh a lot. Thank God for my children. We do laugh a lot and even though my 14 year old doesn’t want to think that I’m funny she can not help but laugh no matter how hard she attempts to hold it in. The 12 year old on the other hand, is the comedian. We all laugh at him and with him.

Laughing really is the best remedy for most upsets. I am finally on my way back to having complete joy back in my life.

I was told that it would take at least two years to recover from this mess I created. I didn’t want to believe that. Through the recovery process I had a boyfriend who wasn’t for me and I attempted to reconcile with my ex husband. So far we have stayed separate although I have released  a huge burden on my heart and a heaviness has lifted from facing my ex husband with my confession to him and my apologies. We are good friends again and we are parenting our children on the same page, for the most part. For him to really know how he played a part in our divorce and understanding my part too. He isn’t going to be different. My behavior was unacceptable. He was willing to take me back and we went through counseling. What I have discovered so far is that I don’t think that I can handle all the golf. He isn’t the spiritual leader I am looking for for my family and he isn’t the leader of the household I am looking for.

I had threatened to leave my ex-husband when our son was just a few months old.

I was already very dismayed by the game of golf. The infatuation was growing and the game was taking on a new role in his life. Everything he did, he did so that he would have more time to play golf and then he would always say that it was never interfering with family time.

He owned and operated an auto detailing business and he eventually found employees to work the business for him. He would leave for the day and play golf while his workers stayed and worked.

I threatened to leave and take our children with me because of this event I am writing of next.

He had planned a golf overnighter with a buddy of his that took him three hours away from home.

First understand that golf is always a preplanned event and usually is not something that is ever cancelled. Second, and this became a joke that wasn’t so funny after a while, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

So he has a golf trip planned that is in fact a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” In the morning, before he leaves, our daughter wakes up not feeling well and has a fever so I can not take her to day care.

Because I am so easy going I say that I will cancel all my appointments at the salon and see if they want to come to the house.

This, mind you, I have wanted to stop working and my husband keeps telling me no, that it isn’t time yet for me to quit.

So I Have clients come to the house that day.

After the day is done and my children are in bed sleeping I became extremely mad and angry. I couldn’t believe what I had allowed to happen. I began to write a letter to my husband. I wrote down many things and then I pieced it all together.

When my husband returned from his “once in a lifetime opportunity” I was waiting for him with the letter. I handed it to him as he walked in the door and I asked him to read it and when he was done he had some thinking to do because I was very serious. I told him things had to change.

Honestly, I’m really not sure how things really changed or if they did.

I had told him in the letter that I could not believe how completely convenient I had made his life for him.

I was never the wife who told him he could or could not do something. I let him go, do and be. He was very blessed because all I ever heard from his friends was “I wish my wife was like you.”

Four years later we moved to Arizona. To a golf resort. We built custom spec home for a living and we were very successful. We had purchased two lots sight unseen in Arizona and we finally sold out of Colorado and made the move. I was excited because I wanted warm weather.

Things went pretty good although before our first year was up I flipped a gasket one night. I actually threw something at him. I do not recall what I threw. I had never done anything like that before. I was enraged. Definitely something I don’t enjoy remembering. There I am completely enraged and he LAUGHS at me.

That hurt. As I look back on it and writing about it now. He just didn’t care. He was going to do whatever he wanted anyway. The pattern was already set in place. He could go, do and be.

I obviously just lived with it. I just played along like I had the perfect husband and the perfect marriage. And to tell you the truth, I don’t think I played as in pretended, it’s just the way it was.

He still to this day says “you shouldn’t have let us move to a golf community resort then.” “You knew where we were going.”

Yes, that’s all fine and true. We were moving here to make a living building custom spec homes. So once again while he was out playing golf. “I’m doing business.” “Tell people when they call that I’m in my office.”  And, I did. And when my husband called so I could send faxes, look up papers etc… I was the mom, the wife, the business worker and then I was expected to go “out” and I did all those things. We had babysitters constantly. I played along. This isn’t the family life I wanted. This was so out of control.

We had it made. We had a great marriage, two beautiful children, a great place to live, and money. We didn’t have to worry about anything.

I find it so hard to believe that I would be in a relationship that was so degrading. It was humiliating. He attempted to tear me down bit by bit. I was so strong through it all. I became involved with him because he portrayed a man of faith. He portrayed a single, church going, man who displayed all the family man traits that I was after and looking for.

However, what I found out about him later was so far from what I thought he was. By now I felt trapped. I felt that I could help him. I felt obligated. I could help him see life in the great way I saw life. He could change and I could help him change for the better. I was sorely mistaken.

I was becoming everything that I didn’t want to be and more.

Ecco alcune foto durante durante l’allenamento!!

There are parts of the last post that are very painful to write about and yet I am being led to write about this.

When I am working out or if I am out for a walk I think about what I have posted for the world to read. I am ashamed of myself and at the same time I want no guilt about my past. Guilt will get me no where and it is the Devils tool to keep down and stop me from moving forward.

I have so much ahead of me in this beautiful life I have been given. I have so many gifts to share. I am a loving, kind, happy, beautiful woman who’s integrity was completely lost in the thrill of a moment. I was involved in a relationship that I never in a million years would have imagined I would be living in. I kept asking God to show me a way out. He did. He is faithful. I am so blessed!

Through my divorce I have become aware of many talents I really had no idea I had inside of me. I was so paralyzed by what was happening to me, between my husband at the time, and the anger I had towards him with his selfishness and taking advantage of me I couldn’t see.

My joy was gone.

Okay. So what else do I want to say about just because I’m a mom doesn’t mean I have to look like one.

Why is it a story that has more to say?

I think what makes it a story is the person I have grown into.

I was a child with a lot of attitude. I was unhappy and I did a lot of things that were not in line with the morals and family values that I was taught.

I was a rebel and I wanted to do things my way. I was a wild child who craved the “if I get caught” and at the same time I was too sly to allow myself to get caught. It was the thrill of getting caught…I never did.

I would have to say that my conscience caught up with me eventually. That aching pit of a gut I had left. I wanted to be good and it was slowly rising up through my ugly insides to be regurgitated so that I could finally once and for all be as beautiful on the inside as I was on the outside. I hated the ugliness that lived on the inside of me. I wanted out! I hated the facade I was in. It was almost surreal this life I was in.

Hate is such a strong word and I usually don’t use it although here it just fits. I really didn’t hate me. I hated who I had become. I felt like a fake. My life was very real. I wanted to change the person living inside of me.

I already had the values I wanted. I needed to take action and put them into play in my life. I already had God on my side. I just needed to take action and tap into His grateness so that I could be everything He intended me to be.

At seventeen I got pregnant and had an abortion. I never thought much about it. It was just something that happened. I finished out high school as a cheerleader and I was on the swim team as a diver. I also ran track and taught swim lessons to Down syndrome children at the YMCA. I was a lifeguard in the summer at the local Country Club and I have always been a workout freak who is constantly moving.

I have credited my Mother and my Aunt Jean for never giving up their faith in the Lord and pumping His words into my heart. I have told them both that I will forever be grateful for that.

I had the Cleaver’s family. That is my view of my life growing up. My parents were middle class with great core family values that they were consistent with and never wavered from their beliefs. We spent a lot of time together and we had great family friends from church that we were doing things with on most holidays. I see my Father as a man of integrity. He is a man who gets things done and he is a hard worker. He taught all of his girls how to clean, fix things, operate machinery, ride horses, haul logs out of the wilderness and cut wood.  I did a lot as I was growing up. My Mother also taught all of us girls the basics of cooking, cleaning a home, sewing, and etiquette on manners in pretty much every form and if she wasn’t teaching us then my Grandmother was.

So I wonder and ask myself still to this day. Why was I so bad? Why did I want to be the rebel? Why did I want to walk on the wild side? I do have an answer to it. I also want to stress that while in high school I never did any drugs or anything illegal other than drinking alcohol and getting pulled over for it while a passenger in a car. I was on probation three times in high school, twice for alcohol, not involving me behind the wheel, and once for a reckless driving that did not include alcohol involvement at all. It wasn’t until leaving home after graduating high school that I was introduced to other things. The answer is plain and simple…it was a thrill and an adrenaline rush of sorts.

There are a few things that turned my life around. I did fall a couple more times before becoming who I love to know as me now. I am so excited about living in the light. Truth is glorious!

Even though I had an upbringing of a religious back ground, I was introduced to a seminar that would change me forever. It was a personal success seminar. The seminar took place over an extended weekend. It began on a Thursday night and again we met on Friday night. It was all day Saturday and Sunday. I was so apprehensive because I truly did not know how to really open up to people and communicate what I was thinking or feeling. I had a really difficult time with many, if not all, of the exercises that weekend. At the end of the weekend I was refreshed and I felt like a new person. And at the same time I was still choosing to do things my way. Change does take time and great things can happen over time with a lot of refinement.

The bible says many of the same things that were being said in that seminar. The seminar just said it in a different way. I didn’t realize this at the time because I had never really read the bible until now. I ended up attending all of the seminar company’s advanced seminars. Three of the next seminars were out of state and extended in length from one week to 10 days. With each seminar I attended I wanted more. I was learning to be real and it was painful. Kind of like a great workout. Painful while doing it and feeling great afterward. I was learning how to communicate in a way I had never been able to before. I loved it. I was becoming positive in everything I did. My attitude was getting better and better and I was able to inspire all sorts of people. People would tell me I was an inspiration.

I was married and the Mother of two beautiful baby’s during this time. I had not yet awakened to “Just because I’m a mom doesn’t mean I have to look like one.” The time arrived soon after my return from my attendance of the last seminar.

After returning home from the last seminar I began to fall from my life’s positive happy stature without realizing it and I continued to fall over the course of the next decade.

I know that my husband and I became more focused on ourselves as separate. What would make us happy within our self’s. We displayed a self centered all about me and what makes me happy life style within our household. We stopped focusing on wanting the best for each other and it became a very selfish lifestyle. That is not what the bible teaches us. Details could be gone into at a later date.

This is a purging for me. I have a sick feeling in my stomach. It’s painful to speak the truth of a life that was so completely out of sync with what I was projecting. I risk losing the respect of those who looked up to me as someone they would like to personify. I feel like one of those preachers who fell from glory. Some of those preacher’s came forward with the truth and went on to gain respect for having the courage to speak out. The pain of the truth coming from within me is healing my soul so that I can become a whole person again. A whole woman. A whole human being. A whole parent and Mother.

I figure my life story isn’t all that exciting or out of the ordinary although I feel that if my life has taken this course and I can help someone else to love them selves again as well as to gain a fresh start then that is what I am so hopeful in creating. My whole entire goal is to help others who are trapped. The truth is so beautiful and it has released me from torment within my own mind and heart.

My conscience that was in the dark is now filled with light. That light for me is Jesus Christ. I have become friends with Him once again. He carries me through and sustains my strength just like it says in Isaiah. If you’re not religious or you are Jewish and don’t believe that the Christ is our savior or you say you don’t care about religion, I would like to say you are sorely mistaken. What I really can say however is that your relationship with Christ is a personal one. The Trinity cannot exist without Jesus Christ. It takes all three. God the Father, Jesus Christ His son and the Holy Spirit.

So I’m falling. I fell slowly at first and it went unnoticed for the most part.

As much as I would like to say money did not change me. It did. Many events took place in between the lines of what I am writing here. I guess they will make more good stories unless of course you’re falling…ASLEEP.

What happened to me is that I was “full of myself” once again. Man is this ever hard to write what I’m going to next. It hurts the core pit of my stomach. I let another man into my life. It was exciting and he paid attention to me. He was a man of faith and integrity. I wanted a man like that so desperately. A man who would take the faith leadership roll in the family. I am so sick to my stomach right now I can feel it coming up through my throat. My chest is tight and I want to stop writing.

In the end, this man was from the dark side. He’s the devil in disguise. Truly. No one, no matter how I could tell the story or describe this person could understand what he is. You’ve seen and heard the stories on TV about manipulating men who have several women at the same time. I am flabbergasted at myself for allowing this to be a part of my life story. And, as I write I am also astonished that this was already written on the tablets of my life story before I was born.

I pray for the man from the dark side and his acceptance of Jesus Christ in his life. I pray that he would be healed from his pain that causes him to live a life that has caused so much pain.

That relationship lasted for four years. I divorce my husband. I would have to say that the reasons why I grew away from my husband were very real. The things that were happening in our married life were very real.  It doesn’t make any part of what I did right and my behavior was completely unacceptable. We could have worked through it. I believe we truly loved and were in love with each other. I believe that we still love each other.