Martial Arts Nomad

I attended a special evening at Champions Academy of Martial Arts. Seven students tested to get their black belt. For were testing for low black, and three were testing to earn their black belt first degree.

Black Belt Night At Champions Martial Arts Academy

What does it take to get a Black Belt? A lot of kicks, pushups, shadow boxing, katas, no-fear drops, rolls, flying kicks, breaking boards, more flying kicks, sparring, takedowns, and lots of sweat. Have a look at the photos of the event, and videos I posted to YouTube.

Black Belt Students

Impress these people and you might get a black belt

Student Kata Movement

Kata Movement

Student slowly raises leg and extends with complete control

Kata

Do a little shadow boxing

No martial arts program is complete without the splits.

200 high kicks

You want to be here? You are going to have to do lots of pushups.

Board breaking demonstrations

Demonstration of takedowns

Yes, he did, that is exactly what he did, and he was so incredibly skilled and talented, and he makes it look easy, almost nonchalant. Then he beats 2 guys at once. Just insane. Man, did this guy ever have good Kung-Fu.

Boxing Ring in Puerto Vallarta

I was in Puerto Vallarta in May with a friend. I heard about a boxing match and we went to it. There were 14 fights, culminating with the challenge to the Super Welterweight division for the World Hispanic Title – Villanueva vs Ortega, the challenger. The ring was in a patio setting. Boxing is deep in Mexican culture and the first few fights were between toddlers. Fortunately, the kids wear headgear and know how to box. The night moved on to better and better fights, and eventually to a few pro fights at the end, culminating with the title challenge. But the last fight wasn’t until 1:30 AM! Ortega went down early in the second round  with a combination and right punch on the jaw.

Ortega

A New York Times report on stretching suggests that its counter productive to stretch and hold as we do traditionally. Thats called a static stretch. Athletes who perform after having statically stretched actually have lower performace levels than athletes who stretch dynamically. If your sport is dynamic and explosive, consider adding in stretching exercises that involve a measure of moving.

Link to full article.

kung fu girl and a duck

The Martial Arts Nomad just had to try a bottle of Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2007 at a recent stop at the local wine boutique. Its a wine made for Charles Smith Wines’ ‘Modernist Project’. Columbia Valley is already well known for making fine wines, and I was sure it was going to be worth trying out, despite the fact that Kung Fu Girl is sold with a simple and wrinkled paper label and twist top cap.

A visit to the Charles Smith website leaves no doubt that he is a maverick among winemakers. But the break from tradition is in truth a return to its roots. Drop the pretence. Everything in the wine is in the bottle. Never mind about silly labels and corks, show your spirit and enjoy the wine. Wine, as it should be made. Open it and drink it.

kung fu girl back label, beside a plate of scrambled eggs with onions and fried dace paste

This Reisling already has some very favourable reviews on the web as well as tasting notes from wine black belts.

While we’ll agree with Ku Fu Girl winemaker Charles Smith that both riesling and girls kick ass, the reason we love this wine actually has much more to do with another aspect of Kung Fu: balance. This comes from a single vineyard comprised of fragmented basalt and caliche soils. Great acidity, minerality and girl-next-door kiss of sweetness. Plus, at this price, you won’t feel like you’re being thrown to the mat. Source: http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1040843

kung fu girl with roast duck stuffed with rice and fruits, and a side dish of sauteed portobello mushrooms

So why the Kung Fu Girl, Charles? “Single vineyard, fragmented basalt, and caliche…classic Riesling, sublime minerality. WHY? BECAUSE, RIESLING AND GIRLS KICK ASS!”

We washed down our Kung Fu Girl with roast duck stuffed with brown rice, plums, figs, raisins, cranberries, and walnuts, and a side dish of Portobello mushrooms sautéed in duck broth.

Tasting notes and links
http://charlessmithwines.com/tasting_notes/07_Kung_Fu_Girl.pdf

http://charlessmithwines.com

wine reviews (links)
2006
http://corkd.com/wine/view/37822-Charles_Smith_Kung_Fu_Girl_Riesling_2006

2007
http://corkd.com/wine/view/58442-Kung_Fu_Girl
http://manoavino.typepad.com/mano_a_vino_montclair/2008/10/kung-fu-girl-riesling.html
http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1040843