Martial Arts Articles by Antonio Graceffo

From http://shandai.com/

by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) The undocumented hill tribes living inside of Thailand are, by and large, undocumented, stateless people. The Shan living in Burma, on the other hand, are technically legal citizens of Burma and entitled to the full rights of citizenship, including a passport. For most Shan, however, these rights exits only on paper. Inside of Shanland, the SPDC wages a war of terror against the civilian population. (Read Article)

by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) "This isn't Hollywood," said the Shan lieutenant. "When people get blown up here, they die for real."

Getting blown up was a definite possibility. The Burmese Federal Army (SPDC), the Wa State tribal Army, and God knew how many other hostile armed factions were encamped on the hilltops surrounding the Shan State Army headquarters of Doi Tailang, where I had come to teach unarmed combat techniques to the Shan soldiers.(Read Article)
Training with Shan State Army Part 1
Training with Shan State Army Part 2

by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) “You can gain extra power on your kicks by throwing your kicking arm down, but you need to protect your face with a cross arm defense.” Explained Adjarn Ngern, at the national kick boxing stadium in Vientiane, Lao.
In Tae Kwan Do and a lot of other kicking arts, the right hand comes down when you kick. This is the moment when a good boxer should step in and punch the kicker in the face. Adjarn Ngern was the first person ever to show me the cross arm defense, basically wrapping your free arm across your face to cover up when you kick. This gives you safety and power. (Read Article) Return to Top of Page

by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) Back in the 1970s when I began kickboxing, I had to explain to people what that sport was. They couldn't grasp the concept of boxing which included kicks. I remember my father's friend telling me, "You can't kick in a boxing match! They are going to disqualify you."
Chuck Norris was being hailed as an innovator because he combined two, very similar, Korean martial arts, and used some street fighting and weapons in his movies. We have come a long way, baby!
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by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) Flashes of steel the clank of metal, blades blazing like fire: This is a practice session for Kru Pedro Villalobos and his trainer, Adjarn, one of the last living masters of Krabi Krabong, the Thai art of stick and sword fighting. (Read Article)
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by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) Coach Adjan Chakrit moves in circles, holding up the focus mitts, he calls out the commands. “One, one two.” I throw a straight left, right combination. “Four!” That means, left, right, hook, straight. This part is easy for me. I have been boxing since I was twelve years old. But now he calls for two kicks on the right side, followed by two kicks on the left side . . . My balance is off now. My weight is all over the place. More punches, more kiks, a series of elbow strikes. (Read Article) Return to Top of Page

by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) Two drums beat. Wrestlers, dressed in colorful gonsain (loin cloths) dance. As they whirl around the mats, they take the forms of various animals, the monkey, the crocodile, or the dragon. The dancing, which could last several minutes, serves the dual purpose of warming up their muscles, and paying respect to their trainers. When the signal is given, they tear at each other in a frenzy, trying to throw one another. The drum beats faster. The men look like two crocodiles locked up in a battle to the death. (Read Article) Return to Top of Page

by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) An old man slapped me under the chin with the palm of his hand. My head whipped back, and I saw stars.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Asked my Vietnamese friend and guide in Ho Chi Minh City. "I guess I did, but I hadn't counted on it hurting so bad." I answered.
Burmese boxing looked really interesting. It is, to my knowledge, the only place in the world where people are still fighting with absolutely no rules and no gloves. They are even allowed to head-butt . . . The Thieu Lam master is the one who slapped me under the jaw, so I focused most of my energy on Vovinam.
(Read Article)
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by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) The pads POP! As a Khmer fighter nails them with a series of perfect round house kicks. When the Khmers kick, the leg comes around like a baseball bat, and the shin smashes into the target, decimating it. This is not Tae kwan Do or Karate, this is Bradal Serey, Khmer kickboxing. (Read Article)

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by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) "If you want to train for fighting number one, you must be fit." Says Paddy Carson, a professional trainer for Bradal Serey, Khmer Kickboxing, in Phnom Penh. For the last four years I have been living in Phnom Penh, off and on, and Paddy has been my teacher, pushing me beyond the limits time and time again. He drills into all of his students that fitness is the key to winning fights. (Read Article) Return to Top of Page

by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) Almost no one had heard of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu before the first UFC. A leading multi-sport magazine actually ran am article about the Gracie family, back in 1987. It said that they, and millions of Brazilians, engaged in no-holds barred fighting, which allowed you to choke out your opponent, or hyperextend his joints. When I read the article, I remember thinking Wow! That is cool. Then I set the magazine aside and forgot about it, until I saw Hoyce Gracie win the Ultimate Fighting Championship. (Read Article)

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by Antonio Graceffo (View Biography) “We can fight standing up.” Explained San Kim Sean, Grand Master of Khmer Bokator. At more than sixty years old, he looked as if he was in his forties, but moved like a man much younger. He threws a kick at me, similar to the round house, used in Khmer Boxing. The kick missed, and his kicking leg landed to the side of my body. With the ease of forty years of martial arts practice, he shifted all of his weight forward, onto his kicking leg. Not more than a few inches to my side, he hooked his rear foot around, and kicked me square on the jaw.
(Read Article)
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