the green issue

MMA ExErcisE

spA EtiquEttE FArMErs MArkEts

“With MMA, the average

athlete will gain better

reaction timing,

coordination and

self-discipline”

FIT ClubMMA training can enhance your fitness routine

By David Yarbrough

Photos by Evin Thayer

The appeal of mixed martial arts strikes the masses

on a number of levels: the desirability of

dominance, the shock and awe of a knockout

blow, the artistry of combining various styles,

and the value of self-discipline.

Not least, the physical benefits of MMA that are

evident among UFC fighters are attainable by the

everyday person seeking to improve conditioning

or just to break the monotony of doing reps on

machines at the local gym.

MMA training – which includes kickboxing,

wrestling and submission grappling – cuts to the

chase by challenging the cardiovascular system.

Plus, a premium is placed on working with

a partner as an opposing force.

Muay Thai, a style of kickboxing that is widely

taught in MMA classes, makes constant use of

the extremities. With wrestling, emphasis is placed

on conditioning and agility. Submission grappling,

a core element of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is most

important for competitors intent on finishing

opponents before expending too much energy

and passing out during matches. A knockout or

TKO certainly heightens the entertainment level

for spectators, but that’s not always synonymous

with the goal of winning the match. For the

average athlete, getting in shape and

improving self-defense are goals that

would take precedence.

P H O T O S I N T H I S A R T I C L E F E AT U R E T H E N O R T H C U T T S I B L I N G S :

Colbey (19), Sage (16), & Shaun (12)

The Northcutt siblings have won more Black Belt World Titles than any other juniors in history.

and Kenpo Forms

Black Belt Magazine

Sam Hoger, a.k.a. “The Alaskan Assassin,” is a successful MMA professional who teaches and trains at his facility, Hoger MMA in the Galleria area, and recently opened a new location in Stafford. Born in Baton Rouge and raised in Alaska, Hoger began studying karate at age 6 and has acquired various styles over the years. Now 31, Hoger speaks with authority about how MMA training has worked for him and his students. For starters,

“the average athlete will gain better reaction timing, coordination and self-discipline,” he said. “Kickboxing and Muay Thai workouts show the greatest improvements to the legs and arms. The abs and lower back are worked intensely by using submission wrestling and grappling workouts due to the use of a person’s entire body weight,” Hoger added. For youngsters, MMA training provides an excellent foundation not only physically, but also in developing self-confidence and respect for others. That’s what the Northcutt siblings of Katy – Colbey, Sage and Shaun – will tell you first. By the way, they’re already accomplished MMA competitors who have tallied many

amateur victories. Colbey Northcutt, 19, began competing in MMA matches four years ago because she wanted to be like her father, Mark, who holds a black belt in aikido. After graduating from high school last year, Colbey trains full time, and recently joined the Phoenix Finishers to fight MMA professionally in the Triad Fight League (modeled after the IFL). Beginning in May, fights will be televised monthly.

“MMA gives you so much confidence in yourself and how to defend yourself,” she said. “That’s the No. 1 priority for a female. You carry yourself better. You walk around with a positive attitude all the time.” Apparently, Colbey set an example that was not lost on her younger brother Sage, 16, who credits her for his start in martial arts at age 4. “I wanted to be like her because she was beating up everyone, all those guys,” he said with a smile. A high school sophomore, Sage said he trains three hours a day after school. So far, he has amassed an impressive 70 career world titles. Because of the variety of styles within MMA, Sage explained that he has little time for other sports. Still, “I like MMA because it’s fun to

do and you get to try new things. You’re always learning new moves,“ he said. The youngest, 12-year-old Shaun, hasn’t missed out on getting his kicks in MMA, either. Since getting started at age 7, Shaun has won seven world titles. While he is as committed to MMA as his siblings, Shaun could add BMX to his resume.

“I like to ride dirt bikes for fun.” The Northcutts clearly have benefited from their MMA training in part because of their commitment to martial arts at an early age. For adults, establishing an MMA-style routine might be more of a challenge, but the investment of time is not unreasonable. “An hour a day, two to three days a week is the best recipe for successful fitness and total conditioning,” Hoger said. “You will see results in the first few weeks.” And Hoger’s students keep coming back. “When their bodies go from clay to statues, while training in mixed martial arts, they love the results they get,” Hoger said. “They stick with it because the commitment to better themselves comes through the fulfillment that they capture after every workout.”

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - The Equalizer for WomenMixed martial arts may be popular among men, but at least one style offers advantages for women. And it’s catching on quickly.At Houston’s Elite MMA, instructors Ashley and Hai Nguyen recognize how Brazilian jiu-jitsu plays to the strengths of women in spite of their being relatively smaller than men. “Jiu-jitsu is beneficial because it doesn’t matter what your size is; you’re still able to compete with somebody who’s bigger than you,” Ashley said. She started a women-only class in 2009 to introduce women to the martial art by making them more comfortable with positions that might be considered awkward when initially working with men. Female enrollment at Elite MMA has increased as women gain

confidence in learning self-defense while getting in shape, and train routinely with men. According to Hai Nguyen, Ashley’s husband and co-owner of Elite MMA, approximately one-third of the academy’s 800 students are women. “Cardio-wise, it’s excellent,” Ashley said of the benefits of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“You’re using your whole body at all times. You increase your flexibility. You’re putting yourself in positions you don’t normally put yourself in. So your body becomes used to being used more.”

MMA gives you so much confidence in yourself and how to defend yourself. That’s the No. 1 priority for a female. You carry yourself better. You walk around with a positive attitude all the time.

KicKboxing is the sport striking form that developed from martial artists in different arts such as karate, kung fu and taekwondo, who were seeking a platform to test which style was best. In the end, it was not as much about the style as the individuals competing. Kickboxing, by most people’s standards, has a few key rules. All kicking must be above the waist; no punches or kicks below the waist; and no reinforced knees or no elbows.

Muay Thai KicKboxing is “the art of eight limbs,” in which a person can work with almost his/her entire body from a striking perspective. Muay Thai has a strong distinction from traditional kickboxing because, when used correctly, a person can use the knees and elbows as well as hands and feet to attack. This means that a fighter has more physical options to defeat an opponent. The other key distinction is that a Muay Thai fighter can kick an opponent’s legs with the shinbone as opposed to the foot, which a regular kickboxer uses. The shinbone is used like a baseball bat and has a crushing effect upon impact unlike the foot, which has a slapping effect upon impact. On a side note, Muay Thai boxing is often considered the most brutal form of stand-up fighting, but people in the know realize it is not.

burMese bando boxing is, in reality the most brutal form of stand-up fighting because it allows head-butting, raking knuckle strikes and takedowns, whereas Muay Thai does not.

brazilian Jiu-JiTsu is the art of the small circle. It’s a martial art that started in Japan, developed in Brazil and has expanded across the world. The art itself is one that is based on using leverage to manipulate the opponent by applying wrestling techniques and submission holds. The wrestling, or Judo in some cases, is used to force the opponent to the ground, and submission holds are applied for greater advantage. With the concept of leverage being central to the application of this art, jiu-jitsu is easier to apply than most other martial arts.

The Martial Arts in the Mix