It Takes a Muscle

Do you take note of what kind of shape a fighter has? I don’t mean whether they are ripped or soft, but rather how big their individual muscles are. Let me explain. Satoru Kitaoka and Rin Nakai have common features for me. Both have small frames. They have a disadvantage in striking reach due to being smaller than the division's average size, but they develop huge muscles in their shorter arms in order to grapple and submit opponents. Kitaoka is best known for his guillotine and Nakai often attempts kimuras. Both do so because of their strong arms.


Satoru Kitaoka

Of course, having a longer reach and bigger frame generally benefits a fighter, but when you watch fighters and guess how they build up their muscles, it makes MMA more interesting. Check out each fighter’s muscles because there is purpose and benefit to building up specific muscles in order to fit a fighter’s particular skill set. Also, while Joe Stevenson is very similar to Satoru Kitaoka in facial resemblance, I would also point out that their muscular builds are very similar as well since each one’s top move is the guillotine.

Big thanks to Robert Sargent  (MMA Rising) for English editing.

Japanese MMA scene Fighter to watch out 2011

I do same thing as 2010.Who going to get attention? I don't make major list cause it's almost same as last year.You need attention Omigawa,Hioki,Sandro,Kanehara,Kikuno,Parky,Jung,Maxi as last year.(Kanehara and Jung's career in tough situation though)

If SRC do Bantam weight world grand prix.I think it will be interesting. It depend on what talent they bring,but think about how there Feather weight grand prix turn out and they seems to have at least one top ten Bantam weight. (Masakatsu Ueda　(Paraestra Tokyo))

Who is up and comer at local level.

Let's make a list.

from local

Yuta "Uruka" Sasaki (Wajyutsu Keisyukai Suruga Dojo).
Trained by Kenichi Serizawa who is referee.Have great sense of grapple at young age.Won Shooto rookie tourny and will participate March's Shooto.Of course need time for major even he grow fast.

Battle for flyweight.

Pancrase have Kiyotaka Shimizu 　(SK Absolute) as a champ.
ZST clowned Ryosuke Tanuma　(Reversal Gym Yokohama Groundslam) as a champ.

DEEP recently started division.Guy like Hirotaka Miyakawa (Alliance Square) fought at that weight.But I want give attention Yusaku Nakamura (Style) who fought at Bantam weight expected to drop.Who looking good at three fight fighter.

Of course Shooto have longest history at that division.But recently match making are limited for them.So I want cross over match ups for Shooto's that division.

I can see fight for top of division get tougher.Jussier, Urushitani and Mamoru rank is still higher, but may they will get challenged.

Rambaa "M16" Somdet (M16 Muay Thai Style) vs Junji "Sarumaru" Ito (Shooting Gym Yokohama)
First most significant fight for minimum weight.After flyweight developed.Minimum weight (or Straw weight) is the last place for new weight division for Men's MMA.


Junji "Sarumaru" Ito

Female prospect improvement.

Last year have many prospect for Japanese female MMA.Crops are become more significant when they got title.(Ayaka Hamasaki (AACC),Rin Nakai (Shooto Dojo Shikoku))

SKILL MMA : Japanese MMA scene Fighter to watch out