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AFJ
Newsletter
October 25, 2007
Now you can get the latest
gear from the American Federation of Jujitsu!
Link:
http://www.cafepress.com/shopafj/
Have a really great tee
idea?Here's your chance to let us know. Log on to American
Federation ofJujitsu website CONTACT page and submit your tee
ideas.
Link:
http://www.amfedjujitsu.com/contact.html
10.21.06 The AFJ is
proud to present the new look of the AFJ Website!
1.04.06
Shihan Vanessa Bush has written an article published in
Black Belt Magazine entitled "Dojo High School". All AFJ
members are encouraged to read the article that appears
on page 68 of the February 2007 Issue. Congratulations
Shihan Bush!
3.3.07
Randy Couture: The Comeback
By Vanessa Bush
One year ago, a legend stood in the middle of the
octagon, drenched with
sweat and fatigue. Surrounded by a sea of fans, he was
met with an
overwhelming response to his defeat. All eyes and ears
were suddenly on him
when he took the microphone and held up his gloves. A
phrase came out of
his mouth. "Never see these gloves again" is all one can
seem to remember as
Randy Couture, at the age of 42, announced his
retirement.
The image is still engraved after one year, but then
something happens to
shake things up. It is announced that the former UFC
Champion, who was
known for his wrestling skill, submits to his devotion
for MMA, as he comes
out of retirement to fight the UFC Heavyweight Champion
Tim Sylvia.
At 43 years of age, Randy Couture stands 6'2" and weighs
in at 222lbs. But
despite his commanding presence, his undeniable skill
and his overwhelming
desire for the championship belt, the question stands;
"Is he ready to beat
Tim Sylvia?"
Sylvia has proven time and time again, that his ability
to adapt to his
opponent's style is second to none. In UFC 65, he faced
off with Jeff
Monson, an MMA fighter known for his astonishing power
and great wrestling
ability. Surprisingly, Sylvia played the ground game
with Monson and was
able to divert his takedowns, proving that Sylvia could
defend with the best
of them. Sylvia, however, did not cause much damage
throughout the fight.
He seemed to keep Monson at bay and even had some close
calls when Monson
applied a choke, but in the end he retained his title
after a unanimous
decision granted Sylvia the victor. Unknown to anyone
at the time, these
events caused Couture to re-evaluate his retirement.
Couture had apparently been watching the same fight we
all were and noticed
several holes in Sylvia's game and in Sylvia's
attitude. So when Couture
was approached with the chance to regain his former
title, he jumped at the
opportunity. Ever since, he's been training non stop
and studying both
Sylvia's defense and Monson's approach. Not taking
anything for granted, he
seeks to learn from every opportunity.
But even with all this training and all this studying,
the question still
remains, "Is he ready to beat Tim Sylvia?" We'll find
out tonight!
UFC 68: The Uprising
By Vanessa Bush
Sunday, March 4 - Last night was a night for comebacks
as three former
champions regained victory in the octagon with Randy
Couture leading the
pack. First, Matt Hughes entered the octagon against
Ultimate Fighter
contestant Chris Lytle. Although, obviously determined
to emerge
victorious, Hughes kept it simple and straightforward.
It was apparent that Hughes had gone back to basics and
evaluated the holes
in his game and his attitude. He entered the octagon in
classic Hughes
fashion; brother in toe, donning his "Army of One" tee,
relaxed and ready to
go. Right off the fence, Lytle tries for a guillotine
choke but Hughes
stays patient. Since, Lytle didn't lock the guillotine
in, Hughes escaped
after a minute and stayed in the guard. Lytle attempted
an ineffective
guillotine yet again, but again Hughes escaped. Lytle
figured that three
times would be a charm and tried for a choke. Being the
great grappler that
he is, Hughes defended and attempted to turn it into an
armbar, however
Lytle escaped right as the horn sounded.
The other two rounds, were mainly a Hughes domination.
Filled with top
mounts and flurries of punches and elbows, it eventually
left Chris Lytle
with a cut above his right eye. Lytle managed to give a
good showing
towards the end with an armbar attempt, but it was much
too late in the
round and in the fight. In the end, Lytle knew he had
been defeated. Matt
Hughes was victorious and remained the most dominate
Welterweight in the
UFC.
The second comeback fight featured Rich Franklin against
Jason MacDonald.
This fight seemed much like the Hughes fight.
MacDonald tried to shoot
early for a single leg takedown which Franklin diverted
and the fight
remained standing. Franklin landed many shots and
didn't seem to rock
MacDonald until Franklin took it to the ground where he
dominated. He
landed some great power punches which also left
MacDonald with a cut above
his right eye.
In the second, Franklin was obviously pumped and
determined to finish the
fight. He played MacDonald's game, that is, any game
MacDonald wanted to
play. If he stayed standing, Franklin boxed and was a
flurry of fists. If
he tried to take it to the ground, Franklin grappled and
was a flurry of
fists. Eventually, at the end of the second,
MacDonald's corner called the
fight and Franklin won due to corner stoppage.
Nineteen-thousand spectators packed an arena,
surrounding an octagon, to
witness the greatest comeback of the night. The
underdog, the former
champion, Randy Couture is greeted by a sea of fans as
he enters the octagon
first. Then, the Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia makes
his way with his
posse. Couture stood 6'2" at 222.5 lbs. Sylvia stood
6'8" at 265 lbs.
Doubt started to creep into the minds of many but was
soon put to rest.
As soon as the bell sounded, Couture throws a fake
roundhouse to the inner
thigh of Sylvia, in order to land a punch to Sylvia's
jaw. It was a punch
that was heard around the world. It rocked Sylvia so
hard, that the Champ
defined the phrase, "the bigger they are, the harder
they fall." Couture
did not take this opportunity for granted, so he
immediately attacked
Sylvia, who was flush with the fence. Couture, had
Sylvia's back and tried
to apply a rear naked choke, but was obviously having
trouble with Sylvia's
size.
In round two, Couture proves that the first punch wasn't
fluke and lands a
punch yet again. Couture seems to overpower Sylvia and
takes the giant
down. Couture starts with the "ground and pound"
approach but Sylvia
manages to keep Couture at bay and keeps him in the
guard. From this
position, Couture lands several elbows and punches and
dominates the second
round.
The third, forth and fifth rounds were mostly all the
same. Most thought
Randy Couture could never stand up with the Tim "the
Maine-iac" Sylvia.
They were wrong. The remainder of the bout was mostly a
stand up fight.
Both men on their feet, Sylvia thought he would have the
advantage. But
even with a much longer reach, Couture fought like a
true boxer. He weaved
left, bobbed right. He bobbed right, and hit him with a
left. He had fully
conquered all five rounds.
Needless to say, Randy "the Natural" Couture, Captain
America, had won. At
43 years old, he won. And when Joe Rogan entered the
octagon for Couture's
post-fight interview, Randy took the mic and said
exactly what we were all
thinking; "Not bad for an old man!"
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