I'm reading through the fight-sports section in the back of Black Belt magazine, and noticing a common thread through the three events that are described (K1, UFC, and Pride Fighting). That is, spinning kicks. Which completely boggles my mind. I mean, in the events in question (kickboxing, MMA and MMA), for someone to deviate from the standard of boxing strikes, muay thai kicks, and BJJ on the ground is a rare thing, if ever - which makes sense, usually, as the standard mix of techniques is simple, practical, and well-proven many times over. But, to throw in spinning back kicks and hook kicks? Those are more technically difficult than the norm, and while powerful also vulnerable to countering, and thus have been shunned in the past as just flash, ineffective, or vulnerable. And yet, here I read about knockdowns and even a knockout by a back kick to the torso, and - get this - "Rua's attack had a capoeira-influenced flair as he leapt, stompt, and swept his helpless foe," and all that after beginning the match with a "spectacular series of spinning kicks." The word capoeira has officially been used seriously in a fight sports column. And - check this out - he ended the match by leaving the mount and then "dive-bombed [his opponent] with a hammerfist." Who, in the normal state of things, would ever leave the mount willingly? Much less to drop a crazy big hammerfist? Boggling, I tell you.
      But, also, awesome. There's room for bringing in some out-there or traditional techniques, and kicking butt doing it! In the same Pride tournament, an Olympic judo gold medalist dominated his match, for example, and I definitely remember seeing some traditional JJ throws and hammerfists in the last Pride tournament I watched. I can't wait till they get a kali fighter in the ring, like the Dog Brothers have been talking about. Once again, awesome.