Martial Arts Articles by Antonio Graceffo

Before September 11th, Antonio Graceffo was a successful investment banker working on Wall Street. In 2001 he left behind the world of high finance to pursue a childhood dream - the life of a full-time adventurer and writer.

The best introduction to who Antonio is today is to read an overview of his last few years - complete with pictures, entitled Four Years of Living Dangerously. (Read Biography)

Watching the proof of our 3D martial arts fight on a video monitor was incredible. The spinning, dancing, battling images popped off the screen like holograms in some advanced video game, but it wasn’t a random CGI image, it was me. And it was one of the coolest projects I had ever been involved with. My greatest aspiration is to one day become an action figure. (Read Article)

Guru Mazlan man stood in a neutral stance, hands at his side, feet side by side, a natural and relaxed stance, which is the starting point of all Silat Kalam movements. I threw a punch at his face. He blocked my punching arm, knocking it skyward. Next, he drove his knee into the tendons at the back of my knee joint. He was only going at a quarter speed, but the pain was incredible. After 50 years of martial art practice, the Guru was perfect. In every movement, I could feel his bones cutting through my flesh and digging into my nerves. (Read Article)

“ In ancient times, Muay kickboxing arts migrated from Cambodia, down through Thailand to the Malaysian border where they met Silt. Silat Tomoi is the traditional, and lethal fight style of the Malay warriors. In this never before seen DVD learn how the elbows of Silat Tomoi are used in the same manner as the knives, spear, and small axe of the Silat used by Malay assassins. Coming soon on DVD.
(More Videos)

by David Calleja - Warrior Odyssey is the sixth book written by Antonio Graceffo, the American host of the web TV show Martial Arts Odyssey. Having spent nearly nine years in Asia studying martial arts, Antonio has immersed himself in the languages, cultures and religions of a number of nations in that time, Warrior Odyssey looks at the first six years of his journey. Arriving in Taiwan in 2001, Antonio’s quest to discover Asia’s diverse martial arts has led him to the original Shaolin Temple in China, a Muay Thai monastery in Thailand, as well as learning martial arts from Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea, and the Philippines. His journey ends in Burma, where he highlights the persecution faced by the Shan ethnic minority.
(Read Article)

The first time I trained in Malaysia was in August of 2009. At that time my Chinese-Malaysian friend, Sheung Di, arrange for me to train and film at several locations and in several arts in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. On that first trip, we hit: Boxx Warrior, Kru Jak Othman Muay Thai, Silat Guru Azlan Ghani, and Silat Kalam with Guru Mazlan Man. On my return trip, in March 2010 I revisited each of them and added several new ones. (Read Article)

by David Calleja “The martial art is a cultural asset. I look at myself as a martial arts anthropologist, and if we lose it, we’re losing one more aspect of the culture,” declares New York-born author and creator of the web TV show Martial Arts Odyssey, Antonio Graceffo. Graceffo looks confident when appearing on camera and packs a punch in delivering his message. Graceffo’s achievements include a career in the U.S. Military, investment banking on Wall Street, journalism, linguistics (he is fluent in nine languages) and motivational speaking.
(Read Article)

Since the launch of my web TV show, “Martial Arts Odyssey,” more than 18 months ago, I have received a lot of email asking about Khmer and Thai martial arts, what they are, and which is better. This is just a brief overview to help people understand the martial arts of Cambodia and Thailand.
(Read Article)

Inside Martial Arts TV did a documentary/interview with Antonio Graceffo, tracing his eight year journey through Asia, studying martial arts and languages, moving from country to country and studying with master after master. The Odyssey began in Taiwan, led to the Shaolin Temple, in China, and then on to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao, Burma, Korea, and the Philippines. Along the way, Mr. Graceffo published five books, wrote for major magazines, made several movies, appeared on TV and radio shows, and created youtube videos, documenting his travel. The interview gives some insight into Antonio’s web TV show, “Martial Arts Odyssey,” which now comprises more than 60 episodes, shot in twenty or more locations across Asia. (Watch Video)

Robert M. Clyne, host of “The Art of Fighting,” made this incredible video about his friend and loosing fighter, Hide, who lives in Tokyo. Hearing what Robert has to say about Hide, I came off lucky in my appearances on The Art of Fighting. “Hide is what most people consider a looser. He works as a dishwasher. He is not very handsome. The police don’t like him. He dropped out of school. He has almost never had a girlfriend. He doesn’t have cool clothes or tattoos. He’s not very athletic, and he’s actually a pretty skilless fighter.” “But Hide has heart. That is something you can’t buy and you can’t fake.” Robert Clyne on “The Art of Fighting” Out of all the episodes of “Fight Japan” and “The Art of Fighting” I relate to the Hide character the most. For some reason, certain people are just dealt a lesser hand from the start. Things are always harder on these people. But whether you have innate talent or not, life is all about what you, yourself do with it. (Watch Video)

For my web TV Show, “Martial Arts Odyssey,” I try to show little known, and culturally interesting martial arts, in unusual locations, which few people are familiar with. We have all heard of China and Japan, and everyone has seen or studied some Kung Fu, Karate, Judo or Jiu Jitsu at some time in their lives. But few people know about the martial arts of Vietnam. (Read Article)

I recently discovered Muay Thai Chaiya, which I train with Kru Lek. It is an ancient form of Muay Thai, a codified martial arts fighting system, which students learn step-by-step from the ground up. NOT ANOTHER SHADE OF MUAY THAI Muay Thai Chaiya has almost no similarity to modern, sport Muay Thai. (Read Article) (Watch Videos)

Living in Japan, Filmmaker Robert Clyne produced a show called “Fight Japan” for years. Now, he has moved his show to Thailand, where it is called “The Art of Fighting.” In this extremely well-produced episode, Robert meets up with Antonio Graceffo (the host of the web TV show, “Martial Arts Odyssey” to explore Muay Thai Chaiya, an ancient and extremely effective form of traditional Muay Thai, taught by Kru Lek.
(Watch Video)

In the world of professional sports, politicians have long learned that great athletes make great PR. Basketball player Yao Ming is probably the first Chinese national to become a household name. Paradorn brought a lot of positive media attention to Thailand. And, you would have to go into the deepest regions of a remote jungle to find someone who has not heard of Tiger Woods. (Read Article)

Martial Arts Video Adventure
In 2003, Antonio Graceffo went to Thailand to find a Buddhist monk, named Prah Kruh Ba, a former professional Muay Thai fighter, who lives in a jungle monastery on the Burmese border, where he takes in tribal kids, orphaned by the war in Burma. (More Info)

Antonio Graceffo’s long awaited book about the Kingdom of Cambodia.

“Shortly after the turn of the century, some French guy crawled out of the jungle and announced, ‘I have discovered Angkor Wat.’ The Khmers looked at each other and said, ‘We didn’t know it was missing.’ Just like the famous temple, no outsider can truly discover the Khmers. But if we spend enough time in the country, learn the language, the religion, the martial art, and the culture, maybe we can re-discover them.”
(More Info)

One of Taiwan’s last remaining Monkey Masters wants to fight in the K-1 and UFC to show the world the power of traditional Chinese martial arts!

Master Hisam’s hands are huge and swollen, as hard as rocks. In demonstrations, he uses them to smash granite slabs to dust. One could only imagine what those hands would do to your skull, even through boxing gloves. (Read Article)

They beat the Chinese, the French, the Americans, and even Genghis Khan in war, so I figured the Vietnamese could teach this Brooklyn Monk something about fighting.
(Read Article)

Using the butt of the knife for grabbing and grappling is one of my favorite knife fighting techniques. Unfortunately, the knives used by the rebels in Burma were about twice as long as the Philippine bolo. So, when I was grabbing my opponent with one end of the knife, I had to be careful not to poke out my eye with the other end. (Read Article)

When you train, you battle yourself. You wrestle your internal demons forcing your mind and body to bend. We all know the story of the sculpture who was asked how he carved such a perfect warrior from stone. He answered, “The warrior as already there, I just removed the excess stone.”
This week a very strange source reminded me that we already possess greatness and that our training is a way of releasing it.
“Truth comes from the mouths of babes.”
Any parent or school teacher can tell you how embarrassing it is to have a ten year-old make a simple observation which you overlooked because you are too intelligent and too old.
I am inventing my own old saying, “Truth comes in the form of a Disney cartoon.” (Read Article)

Using the butt of the knife for grabbing and grappling is one of my favorite knife fighting techniques. Unfortunately, the knives used by the rebels in Burma were about twice as long as the Philippine bolo. So, when I was grabbing my opponent with one end of the knife, I had to be careful not to poke out my eye with the other end.
(Read Article)

“Ten in a row on each side.” Said the coach.
If he had been talking about punches I might have been OK. But it was the last few minutes of grueling, two-hour training session, and he was talking about kicks.
I sweat about five liters of water during these workouts, and one reason I circle in the ring is so I can move away from the puddle that dripped down my legs like I had had an accident.
I was panting, heaving, exhausted, and the coach wanted ten more on each side. (Read Article)

Back in the Philippines, I stay with my master, Frank Aycocho, and learn the true essence of the Filipino martial art which combines striking, grappling, stick, and knife fighting.
I love Kuntaw. In fact, I love all of the Philippine martial arts, but I know, and Master Frank knows that my principle martial art influence, the art I have learned my whole life is boxing, and, because I have lived for years in Thailand and Cambodia, my number two influence is Muay Thai (Bradal Serey).
Master Frank also loves all forms of martial arts, but he has some prejudices about the weaknesses of boxing vs. Kuntaw.

"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

The young Shan monk told me that the first time he came to Thailand he came illegally, to study Pali, the ancient Buddhist script. That was when he was a novice of fourteen.
(Read Article)

“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)

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!
(Read Article)

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)

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)

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

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. (Read Article)

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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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"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)

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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“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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