Boot to the Head

Ong Bak 2 Promises More Bone Snapping Fun

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:00:19 -0700

Tony Jaa makes his directorial debut in Ong Bak 2. This looks to be a historical not-quite epic tale of man raised by elephants employing various martial arts styles to rid a peaceful village from the scourge of evil pan-asiatic jungle pirates. Don’t believe me? Check out the trailer. (Thanks to John Meadows for the link)

US Savate Nationals Held July 25-27 at OCK

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:52:52 -0700

We’ve gotten word from Todd Rork, President of the United States Savate Federation that the national championship will be held July 25-27 at Orange County Kickboxing in Irvine, CA. Interested in participating? The details for the event follow and if you want a registration packet, contact USSF VP Jeff Conley:

United States Savate Federation
39 Shady Spring Place
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
www.ussavate.org

The USSF is organizing the National Championship, which will be held in Orange County,
CA on July 25th through the 27th. The event will consist of championship fights in each weight
category, exhibition fights, and seminars. The champion in each weight category will be the
representative on the US team that participates in the World Cup Assault Championship in Paris,
France, September 18th-21st.

In order to compete in the National Championship for a spot on the US team, you must do the
following by July 5th
1. Become a 2008 USSF Member (see membership form below)
2. Have an up-to-date physical by a Doctor *(use the physical form attached to this letter)
3. Sign and return the liability waiver with this letter to the USSF
4. Send a $50 check to the USSF for the entry fee along with a note stating which weight class
you will compete in
5. Received, at a minimum, the rank of Red Glove from a USSF-recognized instructor
*The USSF will allow you to hand in your physical paperwork until July 21st.

YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE IF THE USSF DOES NOT RECEIVE
YOUR PAPERWORK BY THE SPECIFIED DATE. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.

Event Fees (Please send checks to 39 Shady Spring Place, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Championship Fights
$50 Members only, must be received by July 5th along with your weight class

Exhibition Fights
$25.00 Members and $40 Non Members by July 5th
$45.00 Members and $60 Non Members after July 5th

Sunday Morning Seminar
$20.00 Members and $35 Non Members by July 5th
$40.00 Members and $55 Non Members after July 5th

Sunday Afternoon Seminar
$20.00 Members and $35 Non Members by July 5th
$40.00 Members and $55 Non Members after July 5th

Event Information & Location

http://ockickboxing.com/index.asp

Orange County
Kickboxing &
Martial Arts, Inc.
18241 McDurmott
West, Suite B
Irvine, CA 92614
949-833-8338!

Please contact Jeff Conley at 310-430-8876 or through e-mail at JConley@wwfi.com
Jeff Conley is the USSF VP and host of the event. Questions regarding the local area
are best addressed by Jeff.

WEIGHT CATEGORIES AND GLOVES (FIS code) :

Men KG lb Gloves
Plumes moins de 56kg below 123lb 10oz
Légers 56-60kg inclus 123-132lb 10oz
Super-légers 60-65kg inclus 132-143lb 12oz
Mi-moyens 65-70kg inclus 143-154lb 12oz
Super-mi-moyens 70-75kg inclus 154-165lb 12oz
Moyens 75-80kg inclus 165-176lb 14oz
Mi-lourds 80-85kg inclus 176-187lb 14oz
Lourds Plus de 85kg over 187lb 14oz

Women Kg Lb Gloves
Mouches moins de 48Kg below 106lb 10oz
Coqs 48-52kg inclus 106-115lb 10oz
Plumes 52-56kg inclus 115-123lb 10oz
Légères 56-60kg inclus 123-132lb 10oz
Super-légères 60-65kg inclus 132-143lb 12oz
Mi-moyens 65-70kg inclus 143-154lb 12oz
Super-mi-moyens 70-75kg inclus 154-165lb 12oz
Moyens plus de 75Kg over 165lb 14oz

EQUIPMENT (conforming to FIS texts):

Athlete’s must provide their own gear. It must be in good state of repair.
1 : Gloves (with or without laces)
2 : Savate Intégrale (or available substitute)
3 : Savate shoes (or available substitute)
4 : Mouth-guard
5 : Shinpads (to go under the Intégrale)
6 : Approved headguard (cask) (optional)
7 : Groin protection (compulsory for Men and optional for Women)
8 : Chest protection for female competitors

Photos and Video of Nicholas’ Seminar

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:37:39 -0700

A great group of savateurs got together today to train at Impact Gym with former French champion Nicolas Saignac. Several students were trying savate for the first time, but were clearly having a ball. The video below is an interview with some sweaty, happy savateurs. More photos from the event can be found here.

LA Cup To Be Held June 8, 2008

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:16:51 -0700

Just got word from United States Savate Federation Vice-President, Jeff Conley, that the LA Cup will be taking place on June 8, 2008 and will be held at OC Kickboxing at 12 Noon:

Greetings one and all,
California's savate qualifying tournament for Nationals will be held SUNDAY JUNE 8TH at ORANGE COUNTY KICKBOXING. You can find directions and contact information for OCK at http://www.ockickbox.com Weigh- ins for fighters will be from 10am - 11:30am. Bouts will start at 12pm. If you are a judge or a referee, please arrive by 11:30am.

In order to compete in this tournament, you must hold the savate ranking of at least red glove.

REGISTRATION
You must register in order to fight in this competition. Registration deadline is MAY 31st. There are eight possible weight categories for men and eight possible weight categories for women.
Please email me (Jeff) to register for the weight category you are fighting in.
The categories are:

> Weight Categories
>
> MEN (8 categories)
>
> Kilograms (kg) Pounds (lbs) Gloves (oz)
>
> Under 56 under 123.2 10
>
> 56 to 60 123.2 to 132 10
>
> 60 to 65 132 to 143 12
>
> 65 to 70 143 to 154 12
>
> 70 to 76 154 to 167.2 12
>
> 76 to 82 167.2 to 180.4 14
>
> 82 to 89 180.4 to 195.8 14
>
> Over 89 Over 195.8 14
>
> WOMEN (8 categories)
>
> Under 48 under 105.6 10
>
> 48 to 52 105.6 to 114.4 10
>
> 52 to 56 114.4 to 123.2 10
>
> 56 to 60 123.2 to 132 10
>
> 60 to 65 132 to 143 12
>
> 65 to 70 143 to 154 12
>
> 70 to 76 154 to 167.2 12
>
> Over 76 Over 167.2 14
>
You may also find this information on the calsavate website (thank you George!)
> http://web.mac.com/georgehruiz/CalSavate.com/Tournament_Info.html

DRESS CODE AND GEAR;
may also be found at;
> http://web.mac.com/georgehruiz/CalSavate.com/Tournament_Info.html

FEES;
Fighters must be members of the California Savate Association as well as the United States Savate Association. This membership must be renewed each year. Renewal for CSA is $25. The USSF fee is $20-30, dependent on whether your club is a member. Because this is a new procedure, You do not have to pay both dues at once. However, to participate in Nationals, you must be a member of the USSF. Both forms for CSA and USSF will be provided for you to look at.
Spectators are asked to pay $7.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1) What happens if I do not make weight?
- You simply fight in whatever weight category you weigh-in at.
HOWEVER, TRY TO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. One of the fastest ways to disorganize the fight day is to reorganize all the fights at the
(literally) last minute. If there is a good possibility this might happen, please let me know when registering.
2) Can I change weight categories for Nationals?
- If you do not win your weight category, you may slide into another weight category ONLY IF there were no other competitors in the other weight category. Example, from weight category 143-154 lbs; fighter A wins all fights, fighter B wins one fight, fighter C, wins no fights.
If there were no fighters in the 167-154. Fighter B may be able to slide into the 154-167. This may be problematic, depending on the situation of the higher weight classes 167-180- because they may want to slide too. The point is, we want as many slots as possible filled for Nationals.
3) What if I arrive late?
- Have a cell phone with you and text or phone me at; if you are running late. Do not text me once you are already late :-) If you come late there is the EXTREME POSSIBILITY YOU MAY NOT FIGHT. So, notify me as quickly as possible.
Any other questions you might think of, please do not hesitate to email me.
IMPORTANT DATES and TIMES;
registration deadline; SATURDAY MAY 31st
tournament; SUNDAY JUNE 8th
venue; ORANGE COUNTY KICKBOXING
weigh-ins; 10-11:30am
bouts begin; 12pm
Once again, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me. I look forward to seeing you all in three weeks!

The LA Cup is simply awesome. If you never have seen Savate in action then it’s a must attend event for you. If you plan on fighting, then I salute you from NYC (where sadly I will be on business). In any case, go and fight or go and watch. Guaranteed good times.

MMA and the Military

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:05:21 -0700

The New York Times reports on the growing adoption of mixed martial arts techniques into American military training and the rise of MMA competitions among servicemen:

Military officials have sought practical applications. In 2002, the Army published a new field manual section on mixed martial arts techniques. Its author, Matthew C. Larsen, the director of the Modern Army Combatives Program, considered competition a powerful motivator. “As long as we’re all about our values and upfront about what the Army stands for, and that’s being warriors, the question is, what kind of warriors?” said Mr. Larsen, who served as a young Marine in Tokyo and earned several black belts. “The game of mixed martial arts is just that, it’s a game. But the game can be training for the real thing.”

When I attended EliteXC’s first show last year, I spent most of the night talking to Navy Seal officers who were there to evaluate MMA as a potential recruiting and training tool for special forces. The officers in attendance were curious but skeptical that MMA was a legitimate sport. Looks like the military has decided to go with the flow and embrace mixed martial arts as a training tool and as a way to entice more young men into service. Link

Pro Sumo Tournament Coming to LA

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:31:59 -0700

Professional sumo returns to Los Angeles for the first time in 27 years on June 7 and 8, 2008:

All top 40 Makunouchi ranked wrestlers are expected to participate in the Los Angeles tournament including Yokozuna (Grand Champions) Asashoryu and Hakuho.

Big guy belly bumping? This sounds awesome, but that’s my anniversary weekend, so I’m probably not entering the tournament. But if I did, I’d totally win. Link

Greatest MMA KO Ever

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:48:12 -0700

This video is too awesome for words. I love YouTube. Link

French Boxer-Savateur Charles Ledoux

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:21:59 -0700

The Library of Congress’ Flickr stream today produced some turn of the century boxing photos, including a few rare ones of French boxing and savate champ Charles Ledoux. He’s pictured above demonstrating a coup de pied bas to American boxer Frank Fleming. According to Cambridge Academy’s Savate History page, Ledoux won the English Bantamweight boxing title against British fighter Jim Driscoll:

In 1919, [Driscoll] came out of retirement to fight ex-Savateur Charles Ledoux (b.1892) for the European Bantamweight 'English' boxing title. Despite being ill with TB, and 11 years older, 'Peerless Jim' outboxed Ledoux for the best part of 16 rounds before a solid punch to the stomach forced his seconds to throw in the towel, for only his second ever loss.

Another account of this fight provides a few more details:

The swan song of Jem Driscoll occurred at the National Sporting Club in London on October 20, 1919,...with Charles Ledoux. He was a wrinkled, sallow and seamed old man with a collapsed chest and tired eyes. Those who had not seen him since his glory days were shocked. Yet, when the gong sounded...the mantle of fatigue was left in Jem's corner: the tired eyes became again the mocking eyes of the mongoose; and for a while he was once more the gaunt ghost, supreme, untouchable.
For fifteen rounds he made Ledoux look like a novice... He could go no further than the sixteenth. As it started, Jem, almost unmarked , looked down at his shriveled legs in disgust...his seconds, literally raised their man tohis feet. The fighters closed and Ledoux hit him over the heart, Jem staggered to the ropes. He was helpless. Surprised at the sight, young Ledoux could only stand and stare...before he could move in for the kill, a towel came floating out from Jem's corner.

Go check out the Charles Ledoux and other amazing photos that your government is Flickr-ing. Link

Gina Carano Will Fight on CBS

Tue, 13 May 2008 01:03:22 -0700

The genuinely skilled and ever so easy-on-the-eyes Gina Carano will be fighting in her first MMA network broadcast match against Kaitlin Young on May 31, 2008. It’s part of the kickoff for CBS’ Saturday Night Fights and the line-up will also feature “internet sensation” Kimbo Slice. You’ve probably heard of him too. Anyway, back to Gina - she’s “Crush” on American Gladiators. Did you not know that? What kind of MMA fan are you? Wait before you answer that, watch this interview with Gina: Link

Savate Nationals on July 26-27, 2008

Sat, 10 May 2008 14:51:17 -0700

We just got word from the United States Savate Federation that the 2008 Savate Assaut Nationals will be taking place on the West Coast this year. VP Jeff Conley writes:

Greetings one and all,

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
JULY 26th & 27th

After discussions and schedule contemplation - the USSF plans on hosting our National's Competition at the West Coast local on JULY 26 & 27, 2008. This competition allows men and women to qualify to represent the USSF in participating this September in France for the International Assault Championships.

Note specific detail will be forthcoming shortly in order to assist you in your travel planning.
Please feel free to contact me anytime this weekend or next week.

Questions or comments, please contact me. I've certainly missed some people, forgive me - please help me pass this news.

Really looking forward seeing everyone in JULY. Train hard, be safe!

*LA CUP/Regional competition is slated for June 7th/8th. (further detail for locals forthcoming)

This is pretty exciting as its been many years since the Nationals have taken place on the West Coast. Stay tuned to The Boot for updates on times and location(s).