Sneak Peek into the Reversal Gym Yokohama Ground Slam with Shuichiro Katsumura and Seiichiro Ito

What best reminds you of Shuichiro Katsumura? His work at Tohoku for earthquake charities, or perhaps his Ninja Choke against Masakatsu Ueda?

I will discuss another side of Katsumura today. He is also known for owning his gym, Ground Slam, where he has taught Michinori Tanaka. His teaching and cornering was highly valued by many fighters. Hideo Tokoro has had him in his corner and Michihiro Omigawa had Katsumura corner him for his UFC fight.


Katsumura did Shinici Kojima's corner

I brought my anonymous customer to receive teaching from Katsumura. I had only offered Katsumura for teaching, but surprisingly there was another fighter at the gym who provided additional assistance. Katsumura's student, ZST flyweight Seiichiro Ito, arrived for personal training.


Shuichiro Katsumura

Katsumura said that he needed an assistant in order to demonstrate grappling, but he has many students, so my customer was very lucky to get to work with both a Shooto champ and ZST champ at the same time.

Katsumura taught his Ninja Choke, which is hard to set up, and he showed my customer variations of how he sets up Ninja Chokes depending on the situation. He also demonstrated how to escape from mount as well.


Katsumura and Ito

Katsumura's personal training costs 7000 yen per hour. He requires a translator for teaching people who do not speak Japanese.



Big thanks to Shuichiro Katsumura, Seiichiro Ito and my anonymous customer. Also big thanks to Robert Sargent  (MMA Rising) for English editing.

Sneak Peek into the Alliance Square with Katsunori Kikuno

Here is the continuation of my annual "Gym Sneak Peek" series. This time, the personal trainer is Katsunori Kikuno, an Okinawan Kenpo Karate fighter who currently competes for the UFC.



Of course, some of his fans might ask, "Isn't he a Kyokushin Karate fighter?" Kikuno tries to maximize his striking damage like the "Ichigeki" philosophy does now, which involves new karate, but Okinawa is where karate evolved and he learned from the oldest karate style.


Yamashiro teaching his karate with Kikuno

Kikuno was taught new tsuki (strikes) by Yoshitomo Yamashiro, who is an Okinawan Kenpo Karate master. Kikuno's KO victories against Luiz Andrade I and Takafumi Ito were both created by his new tsuki.



Kikuno taught my customer in a very friendly manner and he explained the details of his strikes. He demonstrated what he has done recently, but also taught his trademark crescent kick as well.



If you're a traditional martial arts fan, nothing is more fun than learning from Kikuno, who tries to adapt ancient skills to modern combat sports. He has not shown his tsuki KOs in the UFC yet, but I am one who enjoys something different in MMA and I'm waiting for that moment.



Learning from Kikuno costs 10,000 yen per hour. He requires a translator for teaching since explaining karate techniques in English can be quite difficult.



Big thanks to Katsunori Kikuno and my anonymous customer. Also big thanks to Robert Sargent  (MMA Rising) for English editing.

Sneak Peek into the Alliance Square with Tsuyoshi Kohsaka

What are you reminded of when you hear the name Tsuyoshi Kohsaka? The win over Fedor by cut stoppage? His fight against Bas Rutten with a prejudicial referee during the SEG era?



I must point out that with "The Alliance," Kohsaka made up the very first MMA team that was comprised of fighters from different backgrounds, like Maurice Smith and Frank Shamrock. They taught each other how to be complete MMA fighters.



I was asked about personal grappling training in Japan, and my customer was interested in catch wrestling grappling when I suggested a Japan-esque training opportunity. So I recommended the "Alliance-Square Gym," which is run by Tsuyoshi Kohsaka.



Kohsaka offers quite a few services in personal training. He teaches details of leg locks, as well as his created and trademarked move, the "TK scissors," which he used to escape from mount position against Kimo.



Kohsaka is also known for his technical commentary during Japanese UFC broadcasts, where he can teach details of both catch wrestling and cage fighting at the same time.



Big Thanks to my anonymous customer, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka for cooperate.Robert Sargent (MMA Rising) for English editing.

Sneak Peek into the P's Lab with Yuki Kondo

I received mail again from a customer who was wanting to do some personal training with fighters. Last time, it was regarding a kickboxing gym, but this time it was for MMA.

I brought my customer to P's Lab, which is the gym for the Pancrase organization, and arranged for the customer to train with Yuki Kondo.


P's Lab

JMMA fans commonly associate Rumina Sato as a symbol for Shooto, and Yuki Kondo is that symbolic person for Pancrase. Early Pancrase did not have weight classes and Kondo took many fights against opponents who were much bigger than him.
These days, Kondo's performances look poor because of the damage that he has incurred over time, but he remains an active fighter for the Pancrase organization. Even in the worst of times, he continued to compete for Pancrase and won championships in multiple divisions.


P's  Lab

When I asked Kondo why he didn't make his own gym, he humbly said, "I'm not good at teaching." However, I heard my customer say that he had never been instructed with so much detail before. I was also impressed by Kondo's spirit of service and humbleness while I translated between him and my customer. My customer paid 10,000 yen ($100 USD) for two hours of personal training. $60 USD plus expenses ($40 USD this time) for my guidance and coordination fee. I don't believe that you can get a deal like that in the United States. Kondo teaches striking combinations, takedowns, sprawling, positioning, submissions and a special grappling session.


Yuki Kondo

 I recently talked about Japanese MMA's prospects and future because I felt that it was not discussed enough in the Japanese scene, but I also respect historical fighters like Kondo. Not only for his legacy but also for his personality. I hope that people don't forget that fighters who fall out of major promotions still have a life after that, and many of them still contribute to MMA and local MMA businesses.


Submission Wrestling Greats

Pancrase has struggled financially for long time, but now, finally, Pancrase's new leader Masakazu Sakai has decided to offer Pancrase events on international online PPV at Ustream. This also provides opportunities for foreign fighters to make a name in the Japanese scene like they could in the old Pancrase. Since Sakai is now more inclined to sign foreign fighters with this decision to use online PPV, I hope that international Japanese MMA fans will support it. While I don't think that this first PPV card is the best that Pancrase can offer, international Japanese MMA fans have waited a long time for this opportunity. The PPV (Live May 19. Can watch recorded video until June 18) link is here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pancrase-mma

Big Thanks to my anonymous customer, Yuki Kondo for cooperate.Robert Sargent (MMA Rising) for English editing.

Sneak Peek into the Kick Boxing gym with Mr Luis Giraldo

I got many mail for my SKILL MMA's mail address.I basically return mail if it's decent mail and not advertise.

I got mail from Mr Luis Giraldo who is Colombian American.He said he want train at Japanese Kick Boxing gym and want help to book it.

I book gym for him and guide him.(Of course I get paid from him for works)

He really get treat well at Silver Wolf and Shooto Boxing headquarter, Caesar Gym.

Let's watch interior of those gym and how he get teach personal from professional fighter.


Silver Wolf


Silver Wolf


K-1 fighter Yasuhito Shirasu and Luis Giraldo


Shooto Boxing Head Quarter "Caesar Gym"


Shooto Boxing Head Quarter "Caesar Gym"


Shooto Boxing Head Quarter "Caesar Gym"


Shooto Boxer Hiroki Shishido and Luis Giraldo


Shooto Boxer Hiroki Shishido and Luis Giraldo


Shooto Boxer Hiroki Shishido and Luis Giraldo


Shooto Boxer Hiroki Shishido and Luis Giraldo

For reference.

Luis paid 6000 yen for 1 hour personal training at Silver Wolf also he paid 2000 yen for 1day train at Shooto Boxing headquarter.Also he bought some merchandise.

Japan had hard time now.But I think it will be safer and foreign people will come back as sightseeing in near future.If you really interest at train at Japan.You can mail me.I can't guide by free but I research all kind of gyms and event at Japan.So I think I'm best person for it.

Big Thanks to Luis Giraldo, his Diana, Hiroki Shishido and Yasuhito Shirasu for cooperate.