The Foot-load Series

How to Combine Elite Striking with Wrestling for MMA Mechanics and alignment part 1.

Mechanics and alignment, the foundation of the foot load. One of the major problems that I see boxers and mixed martial arts fighters alike suffer from today is a foundation of sound body mechanics. While minimal motion without foot rotation may seem to conserve energy and increase speed in the short term it is largely problematic when trying to teach the same individuals a good power base and also how to hit with power while staying on the balls of the feet as movements are predominately shoulder and arm only. Take the same individuals now attempting to cross train in Muay Thai for instance, and it is readily apparent that this lack of pivoting fundamentals is insufficient to turn the hip over and rotate the ball of the supporting leg. This has bred a nation of flashy arm punching point fighters who rely on the shoulders to bear the load that a simple foot turn could alleviate. They throw short almost choppy punches because the tend to stay flat and lack spring, and as it applies to this writing will always have a hard time erasing the lines that separate both ranges and styles. The foot-load series as we will call it is based around the principle that there is a common movement that binds each range together and for our purpose here it is the pivot motion of coil and recoil that can be used to do so. Is it not a rear foot pivot that makes a right cross and right round kick work? A torqued left hook and penetration step with the left foot pivoted work harmoniously to set the other up.

This is the foundation of what we are trying to achieve with this method. Patience, repetition in developing these attributes and sound fundamentals from the beginning will result in a better understanding of how the body works, where its pivot points and angles are, and overall make you well rounded polished fighter. In forthcoming issues, techniques, training and development will be discussed.

FURY ON THE FRONT LINES

Mumme and Grado Wage War for the Fight Brigade Strap Pueblo Colorado, August 15, 2012- To say Troy Mumme is an unassuming master of mayhem would be the understatement of the year. The bespectacled and lanky comic book fan looks to be as much a mathlete as mma fighter, but fight he can.

Riding high on a string of success on the mat and in the cage last year Mumme entered the Contender Series main event against Simon Gonzales a consummate underdog. His quiet demeanor and soft spoken approach had him on the losing end of any odds bracket and coupled with the fact that he came up 15 pounds in weight for the challenge any betting man would have grabbed his wallet and ran. But the strangest thing happened once the bell sounded, Mumme not only felt compelled to stand and trade hard shots with the longtime favorite but matched his well known submission attempts to demonstrate a well rounded game and even tougher chin. When the final buzzer sounded the cards were read and a loudly contested split decision victory was afforded to the latter. While the decision may have gone to Gonzales, what did go to Troy was a newfound respect in the local mma fans that had not yet had the chance to see Mumme in action. He will fight to keep that respect, and to earn the welterweight title at Fight Brigade August 24th at the Colorado State Fair when he takes on rising star Nick Grado. Grado, a product of the popular PWIA/Rough House contingent will have his hands full when he takes on the taller Mumme. His debut on Steel City Rumble in April had him victorious against notable striker Joey Gutierrez and an encore co-main event performance in Alamosa showed a similar result shortly after. Crediting the caliber of training partners and coaching staff he maintains for his success, Nick is quick to add: “I didn’t want to be that guy who asks every day when can I fight?” I didn’t even think about fighting for a long time because I wanted to ensure that my coaches felt I was ready.” Dividing his time equally between Colorado Springs and weekly commutes to the Pueblo branch for the last 8 months Grado clearly has success on his mind. As a longtime sparring and training partner for Colorado standout Donnie Liles Nick knows what it takes to give and take punishment. He will count on the best and worst of those lessons, his tireless desire to win and the love and support of his kids and wife Felicia to give him that edge... The one separating winners from losers and contenders from champions. Don’t miss the exciting conclusion of this welterweight title saga when the two meet at Fight Brigade MMA August 24th at the 140th Colorado State Fair. For more info log onto www.fightbrigademma.com tickets available at all ticketmaster outlets or the state fair box office

Colorado Pro All Stars Set For War!

The minds behind SCR bring Fight Brigade full circle Pueblo, Colorado August 9th 2012-The Final Pro roster for Fight Brigade’s anticipated Colorado vs. New Mexico II at the 140th Colorado State Fair was unveiled Wednesday. The event, slated as one of the hottest mixed martial arts tickets in Southern Colorado memory will take place during the Fair August 24th and features a slew of pro veterans and exciting newcomers.” stated matchmaker Gabe Charboneau. This is the quality of card one could only expect to find at such a historic event for Pueblo. Below is released Pro lineup. The General leads the way Ramico Blackmon vs Martin Sano In the exciting 170 lbs main event former Olympic wrestler standout turned fighter Ramico “The General” Blackmon of Colorado Springs will meet the talented Martino Sano of Team New Mexico.

“I’m so stoked for this bout” stated Charboneau. “It is very timely with the recent Olympic coverage and especially now with Blackmon’s team mate Clarissa Chun bringing home bronze in England.” “Having had the opportunity to cross train with Ramicos camp many times over the last year I can say that he is far beyond the one dimensional image that his wrestling stature might have you believe, his game is very tight.”

And tight it will have to be to beat Sano. The 915 MMA champion currently maintains a 90% TKO average and will seek to nullify the relentless takedown attacks and pace of The General to launch some vicious strikes of his own. The Captain and Aide de camp Jeremy Kimball vs. Richard Villa

In the exciting co-main event, SCR veteran and knockout artist Jeremy “the Grizzly Kimball will match hands with veteran Richard Villa of New Mexico. In his last Steel City Rumble outing, Kimball bested Shark-fights and Strike-force veteran Artenas “Chico” Young for a decision victory that left the fans clamoring for more. Villa, a very talented striker in his own right is not to be judged by appearance. At 5 foot 8 and 185 lbs he looks a far cry from his normal 55 lbs weight class, tell that however to middleweight Rocky Ramirez of Jacksons MMA who suffered defeat at the hands of Villa on the Jacksons series 8 show June 2nd.

“I became an instant fan of Richard the moment I saw him fight Diego Brando, stated Gabe Charboneau,” This is the guy who won the last TUF series and this little cholo looking kid was giving him all that he could handle!” “Once I began looking further I saw that he had a good record of 12-5, was a King of the Cage feature fighter and had competed against a lot of talent holding wins over Drew Fickett and Danny Davis.” One punch can end it all in this fast paced co-main event. Man at Arms Prentice Ingram vs Russell Wilson Once an overlooked local talent relegated to fighting outside his hometown, “The Menace” as he is known has come full circle. A three year veteran of the Steel City Rumble series, Prentice Ingram returns to the platform that launched him to steel city household status for an encore performance of Pueblo Ass-kickery.

The 2009 KO of the year award recipient continues his path to greatness and has shown a dynamic mix of takedown defense, strategic striking and 5 round cardio over his last few fights. He will undoubtedly need it when he faces Russell Wilson of Albuquerque New Mexico. Let’s take a closer look at Wilson.

A 4-0 pro veteran Russell Wilson hails from the grail of New Mexico wrestling “Lovato Total Fitness.” Head coach Lenny Lovato is one of the top wrestlers to ever come out of the land of enchantment and he breeds that champion drive into his fighters. His pro roster of “cut from the same cloth” athletes includes sons Mikey and Lenny who Wilson is proud to call teammates. Russell, not one to be complacent with having a single skill set also trained for some time under the tutelage of renowned striking coach Ray Yee and considers himself as comfortable standing as on the ground. Prentice “The Menace” Ingram will be holding down the hometown fort for the Steel City as the two collide at the gates of the pro card. Welcome To The Hurt Locker Marcus Edwards vs. Dustin Center

Set as the staging point for the main card of the evening, one of the hottest products in Colorado MMA Marcus Edwards of Denver will take on Jacksons protégée Dustin Center. In an era of super athletes like Jon Jones, GSP and Silva, Marcus Edwards epitomizes that continual gravitation toward an evolutionary milestone in the sport. He pushes a breakneck pace and possesses a spring-like agility that allows for unorthodox attacks from traditionally awkward angles. He can wrestle and strike on the run and blends the two effortlessly in a package that belies his recent transition to pro.

Enter the Center, Dustin Center that is. The former wrestling standout from Ohio trained in Muay Thai in its homeland and was heralded as one of the top prospects of 2010 before 2 losses forced him to refocus and head to another mecca, that of Jacksons mma in New Mexico. Oddly enough the beginning of the evenings pro entertainment could as equally be the main event and the minds that brought you Steel City Rumble and the first mixed martial arts event in history to the 140th Colorado State Fair are proud to see this dream come to fruition for Southern Colorado. For more information log on to fightbrigade.com Tickets available at Ticketmaster outlets or at the Colorado State Fair Box Office For additional information call the info line at 719-214-4049