Sekkotsu (or Seikotsu)

Hanamaru Seikotsuin

Massage and manipulative therapy have their own demands in MMA which aren't often discussed. Professional athletes use these treatments to take care of their bodies, but which styles are popular among fighters? I'm not sure.

In Japan, however, one skill is famous: Sekkotsu (or Seikotsu).

There are several Sekkotsu doctors around the MMA world who have gained reputations as specialists in relieving lumbago.

How do they treat it? Basically, if you had a backache, the doctor wouldn't even touch the affected area, and would instead massage your leg or shoulder muscle to relax the lumbar pain.

How can they do such a thing? Because the balance of the rest of the body affects the waist. Before writing this article, I went to a Sekkotsu hospital for myself and I was convinced that it was worth writing about. I can say from my experience that it was worth a try for someone like myself who needs treatment on the waist. Of course, the skill level and results can vary from doctor to doctor, depending on your ailment. When it comes to medicine, I'm not a professional and I can't be held responsible for your result.

Hanamaru Seikotsu In (In = Clinic in Japan)
Run by Ken Yamamoto
Hiroto Dojo
Run by Soihci Hiroto, a former MMA referee. He has experience treating players on the Atlanta Braves
All Elbows
MMA photo and video website All Elbows has a video with Ken Yamamoto as staff for Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal


Fight Journal: King Mo Sengoku 7: Fight Night from All Elbows on Vimeo.


Big thanks to Chris Nelson (from Bloody Elbow) for English and editing.

Foreign fighter who fight for Japanese local MMA twitter list

MMA is international sports.Fighter or trainer or supporter around the globe across border make this fight game richer.I introduce foreign fighter (include former) who fight in Japanese local MMA to commemorate them.People not knowing local MMA's international relationship compare to major MMA.But that's most certain power for help MMA to broad globe.

I introduce fighter who fight at Japanese local MMA more than 5 times who also have twitter account.

Erik Paulson
First American Shooto title holder.Defend belt for 5 years long.His gym "CSW" have Shooto style element and many fighter come to know what he learn and experience at Japan.

CSW Training Center

Joachim Hansen
He had Shooto's best divisions title "welter weight" with victory over Takanori Gomi.Beat Shinya Aoki make him first Dream light weight champ.His next bout for Dream feather weight title against Bibiano Fernandes.His appearance appear MMA exist in north Europe.

Team Joachim Hansen (support team in Japan)'s blog

Frank Shamrock
He had Pancrase title,Participate Vale Tudo Japan,Participate UFC Japan.clearly have long history with Japan.Won UFC championship.Still fight for Strikeforce.

Official Frank Shamrock web

Shonie Carter
Have a fight with Shooto and Pancrase.UFC veteran.Learn Shidokan Karate,Judo and Jiujitsu.

Official Shonie Carter web

Ryan Bow
Move to Japan for fighting joining PUREBRED Omiya.Long time Shooto ranker.Challenge DEEP light weight title.Back to the states.Currently run gym at Kentwood, Michigan and Kamata, Tokyo

Kaminari Dojo (His gym)

Antonio Carvalho
Move to Japan for fighting.Join AACC (Abe Ani Combat Club) Challenge Shooto lightweight title.Fought in Cage Force too.His interest not only MMA fought grappling (DEEP X) or Kick Boxing (Shooto Boxing) too.

Jake Shields
Former Shooto Middile weight title holder.Rumble On The Rock Welter Weight tournament winner.Elite XC Welter Weight title holder.Current Strikeforce Middle weight champ.

Jake Shields Official Web

Roxanne Modafferi
Choice Japanese language for University studies.Not only doing MMA but also doing English teacher.Debut at Japanese promotion Smack Girl.Winner of K-GRACE tournament winner.



Roxanne Modafferi Official Web

Guy Mezger
Former Pancrase title holder. UFC light weight tournament winner.HDnet commentator.

Guy Mezger's combat sports club

Ricardo Almeida
Former Pancrase title holder.UFC fighter.

Enson Inoue
Beat Randy Couture make first time people's eye to Shooto.Basically one of source people bring Brazilian Jiujitsu skill to Japan.Making PUREBRED branches gym at Japan,Saipan,Guam and contribute produce local fighter.

Enson Inoue Official blog (English)
Enson Inoue Official blog (Japanese)
His gym Purebred Omiya

Nathan Marquardt
Former Pancrase title holder.(with youngest record).UFC title challenger.Make famous Pancrase's brand in UFC.

Nathan Marquardt Official Web

Bas Rutten
Former Pancrase title holder.Move to UFC and Take UFC title.Doing coach at IFL.Famous at PRIDE commentator.

Bas Rutten Official Web

SKILL MMA's twitter list "Foreign fighter who fight for Japanese local MMA"

This young sport will get old

I've already wrote about this sport's cross-cultural charm, audience viewpoints and the business outlook. If you're reading this site, you understand that MMA's own culture has been developed by different things: reality television, internet forums, pro-wrestling, and so on. When I talk about "sport", I don't deny all those things have their effect.

MMA often shows the same cultural values as pro-wrestling such as nationalism and the admiration of bigger physical powers, ignoring smaller men and women in favor of heavyweights. These ideas are simple, and easy to understand. It's easier to excite people with them.

However, pro-wrestling isn't a sport, and MMA is. In a real sport, aggressive, abrasive promoters, big-money mismatches show how young the sport is. Normally the "youth" of MMA is celebrated, but it also means the sport is fairly immature. After a certain time, MMA won't be "young" any more, but it still might be immature.

Still, this game is new. That is a fact. But even if MMA sells itself on athletic merit, but it can't be sold that way forever.

In the sport now, people talk continuously about matchmaking, and what fighters are underrated and overrated. It's all about fighting, so I would never say tell anyone not to talk about those thing, but there is a lack of diversity in discussion topics. For now, those topics will provide enthusiastic debate, but at some people, people will find its limitations.

Why did I make a venue list for MMA events? Because it's interesting. There is a difference in quality as a fan in the audience. A good seat at a good venue allows you to see a fighter's footwork, down to his knee and ankle movement or submission transitions. If you have a ringside seat, you can see how a corner advises their fighter, and how they change their attack after that. I never found reviews of venues, or audience experiences based on seat price.

Sometime's MMA fans attack other martial arts people, who are part of MMA's grassroots. MMA can still learn from traditional martial arts: cultivating manners and discipline is a big part of martial arts. That doesn't mean MMA needs to get conservative; chaos is one of the sport's charms. But, MMA isn't only growing because of American culture -- television, media, and money -- other nations' cultures impact MMA, too. For instance, the different martial arts skills from different countries add new skills to regional fighters. This makes fights themselves more diverse, and a joy to watch.

"This is fastest growing sport in the world."

We need to show maturity as this sports grows. We need to talk about all aspects of the sport to do that.

SKILL MMA's Japanese MMA Scene venue list

Big thanks to Jordan Breen for English and editing.