A good day just became a great day

It’s not every day an interviewee compliments you on the interview you just did.  That put a big smile on my face!

Vid: Behind the scenes with Rampage Jackson

Up close and person with Rampage

It’s been go go go for all of us at the magazine these last few weeks. Producing the magazine is always a challenge, and one that I relish, but there was one particular item in last month’s production that I particularly enjoyed.

The secret to great writing

If anyone happens to know what it is, or even better can actually produce it, please let me know – fomeditor@gmail.com.

MMA photography: Aleksander Emelianenko

Aleksander Emelianenko, ‘big’ little brother to the demi-god heavyweight fighter Fedor.  Aleks, aka Sascha, will be fighting in January in the USA – for the full exclusive story, go to our website.

www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk

Vid: The Octagon exhibition

In January of this year I briefly met Kevin Lynch, the photographer who produced the high-end photography tome Octagon. About a week later I travelled down to London to check out an exhibition of some of the work from within said book, as well as peruse the mighty album itself (unfortunately I lack the two and a half grand required to obtain a copy).

Lynch hosted another exhibition of his work in Manhattan, but instead of the 15 images he displayed in London, it looks like they’ve reproduced half the book and put it on the walls. I have enough factors motivating me to go to New York as it is, Lynch and co just added another one, damn them.

Check out a vid of the opening below.

more about ““, posted with vodpod

MMA Photography: M-1 Challenge

Back from a very enjoyable weekend in Nottingham where John (our website editor) and I went to the first M-1 Challenge to be held in the UK. He’ll be doing a full report on the site, but my thoughts of the evening are as follows:

• The first half was flat as Jeff Monson’s feet, and it took UK fighters Christian Smith and Cliff Hall to wake the crowd up (and they also put on the fight of the night, so bravo chaps, bravo)
• If you’re fighting a Russian on M-1, don’t expect to win a decision.
• Aleks Emelianenko is a very big dude and yawns a lot, but does occasionally smile.
• Do not ask dodgy Russians dressed head-to-toe in Armani what line of work they are in.  If you are lucky, they will answer “I don’t work”.
• The ring’s position in the eternal argument of ring versus cage was not helped by a poorly padded ring with a giant gap between the canvas and the bottom rope.
• Shooting photos at ringside when sat next to two excellent American commentators is like having a TV plugged into your eyes and ears, but you’re actually there – I wish everyone could experience it.

MMA Photography: Paul Kelly

Eight out of ten fighters prefer Fighters Only.  Undefeated Wolfslair product Paul Kelly, who fights on October 18th against Marcus Davis, agrees.

Faixa Azul

Second in the ranks of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Faixa Azul, or blue belt.  For a full list of BJJ lingo, go to the excellent Fightworks Podcast.

Back under the bar

My training has been all over the place these last few months.  In an attempt to introduce some kind of order to a very chaotic and inconsistent activity, I’ve gone back under the bar and started lifting again.  Mehdi over at www.Stronglifts.com has a pretty cool excel spreadsheet available for free which he has called the 5 x 5 program.

I’m still using his older spreadsheet with the fewer exercises on.  After only a few weeks I’ve noticed the benefits, and I find it a really useful way to add structure to something I’ve only ever done inconsistently and with no real forethought.  Squat, bench, overhead press, deadlift and chins – all the exercises I need, and I can be in and out of the gym in 20 mins.

The only problem I have right now is that our gym has had a bit of a setback and our weights room is out of order, so I’ve had to go to a commercial gym.  It’s a leisure centre on a university campus so not quite a Globo Gym, but it still sucks.  Douchebags walking around talking on their mobiles, guys using squat racks to do their bicep curls…  If you can come up with a weights room stereotype, I’ve seen it in the short time I’ve been there.

My plan for now is to do my strength training at least twice a week (hopefully three) and mix that up with rolling, Muay Thai and the odd swim or yoga session.  Usually I say to myself I’ll do this but know deep down I’ll bail after a few weeks, but I’m keen to stick this out for the duration – positive thoughts!

Training for sprogs

“Don’t worry son, your time will come”

The frankly awesome Steve Maxwell put a brilliant post up on his blog a few weeks ago. Last month we were privileged enough to have Steve write a guest article for the mag, and the reason I contacted him to do so is because he has the kind of insight that can only come when you’ve spent as long as he has in the world of physical training.

His post on training for kids hit home with me, which is kind of odd considering I don’t actually have any kids of my own (yet) and don’t work with kids. The reason it resonated with me was because even though I wouldn’t have ever considered myself as an athletic child, I was pretty active as I grew up in a great place where all the best fun was to be had outdoors.