I have lots of new photos to share with you on my martial arts blog. This weekend I was at Tiger Balm 2010. Below are some of the photos from day one of the tournament. The Tiger Balm tournament is a big two day event with competitors from martial arts schools from across Western Canada, Washington State, and perhaps elsewhere.

The day for me started early. I woke up at 7AM and weighed myself to discover that my weight had finally dropped that last pound to 200.2, as a result of a big effort dieting and fasting on the last day, munching on ice cubes overnight. Hungry and parched I made it to the weigh-in at 8:00 at the tournament location at Capilano University, already stirring with people when I arrived. With the official weight ticket in hand, some paperwork completed, I started re-hydrating and putting a few calories back into my system for my Sunday fight.

I came back a little later for photography and to cheer on the competitors from Versus21 where I train. Day one of Tiger Balm was a full day of Kung Fu demonstration forms, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sanshou, Submission Grappling, and Pankration matches. The stands were packed with fans, coaches, and competitors. Its like a school of fish that meet and come together to form a giant swarm. In the gym, the intensity is palpable and action runs all day long on all the mats. I have posted 321 photos to the flickr photo pool for day one. Here are a few I like more than the others from the pool.

Want to see more? Link to 321 photos in this set on flickr.com:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superwebdeveloper/sets/72157623600791109/

Tiger Balm 2010 view from the stands

Flying Kung Fu Girl

Drunken Swordsman

Power and Grace

Warming Up to Fight

submission grappling

The View from the floor

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

submission grappling

submission grappling

Want to see more? Link to 321 photos set on flickr.com:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superwebdeveloper/sets/72157623600791109/

I like to cover tournaments in my fight blog. Tiger Balm 2010 has been very well attended. I have lots of tournament fight photos to go through which I will be posting to Flickr soon enough. In the mean time, here is a shot from the stands to show you how big an event it is.

Tiger Balm 2010

Fight Cancelled

An hour ago I just got an email with a message that just floored me. Gionco International has announced at the last minute that the ISKA BC championship and 5 MMA bouts scheduled for tonight, Friday January 29, 2010, has been cancelled, a decision made by Mr. Gionco. It seems that there was a question related to the pro or amateur status of Victor Wang of Posener’s Pankration & Kickboxing. As such, there is an issue of contention from the City of Vancouver which cannot allow this fight, the main event. Cancel the main event, cancel the night. Gionco regrets having to take this action, and refunds are in the works for all ticket holders.

Update

The fight did go on after all. I hear that the hot fight of the night was Josh Jauncey, with a 1st round TKO.

Today, from out of nowhere came a fight scene in the middle of down town Vancouver in front of the Art Gallery steps. Its a location popular for people selling art, petitioning, playing chess, rapping and breakdancing, or just to sit and eat a snack. But today, the street crowd was treated to a MMA fight. It was all organised to appear out of nowhere, complete with a boxing ring, MC, referee, lovely ladies, and Sensei Blake Lirette and Kirash Moghaddam, two super tough MMA fighters ready to fight to submission.

Here are some pics as the event went down:

The point of all this, if you are wondering, is to show people what MMA is about. Misconceptions abound about this new sport, and the local Martial Arts community is pushing to bring big ticket MMA events to Vancouver. The City of Vancouver was poised to sanction these kind of events, but sidestepped it by deferring to a provincial level authority. Everyone here is hoping the provincial authority will make the right move to officially sanction Mixed Martial Arts events.

So from the grassroots up, people are working to raise awareness about MMA to counteract the conjecture that keeps it from being sanctioned. We have to really show it to people so they can begin to understand better what it is – the future of martial arts. With Georges St. Pierre named Canada’s athlete of the year, we hope that he will be able to practice his sport in his home country.

MMA fans in New York State assembled a webiste for information about this sport, and the information there is just as applicable here as it is there. Hit the site and get the facts about MMA.

Ill be posting the video for this event as soon as it comes available.

—–

Update:

We got some media lovins from Fight Magazine and the Vancouver Sun:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Mixed+martial+arts+fight+breaks+Robson+Street+cause/2025348/story.html

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Mixed+martial+arts+fight+breaks+Robson+Street+cause/2025348/story.html

Now the word is really going to get out there!

TOP RANK MARTIAL ARTS is bringing back the NORTH AMERICAN Challenge # 24

WHEN: Saturday April 4th, 2009
WHERE: Mickey McDougall Gymnasium in North Vancouver, BC
WHAT: LIVE Kickboxing, MMA and Muay Thai!
TIME: Doors open at 7:00PM fights start at 7:30PM
TICKETS: Available now by calling 604-318-1902 OR Reply to this email.

For seating chart, go to ringfight.com

North American Challenge is BACK in North Vancouver following the smashing success of the 23 previous installments. This show has reliably sold out well before the doors even open, so get your tickets soon! NAC 24 will feature an action-packed evening of exciting fights in a venue that offers incredible views from every seat in the house, and this event is supporting the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life!

This is your chance to cheer on some of the most explosive Canadian fighters as they do battle with notoriously talented Brazilians in North Vancouver, BC.

With a collaboration of top-level amateur MMA, Kickboxing and Muay Thai, there is something for every fight fan to enjoy.

The Brazilian team is coached by Morganti Jiu Jitsu expert Cesar Narita and includes:
Heavyweight Adam Godoy (Brazil) VS. Mike Gill (Canada)
Light Heavyweight Kyle Thorpe (Brazil) VS. Kyle Wisniewski (Canada)
Middleweight Lelo Aurelio (Brazil) VS. K the Marshall (Canada)

Local MMA fighters doing battle include:
Part Jenson VS. Matt Dwyer
Emilio Ditrocchio VS. Nael Anderson
Ramy Kadi VS. Alan Day
More local Kickboxing bouts include:
Nigel Miller VS. Adam Blanchette
Marc Bandeursen VS. Nicolas Migrane
Dustin Dickson VS. Logan Marten

**** Plus more exiting bouts **** ( Fight Subject To Change )
Tickets are on Sale Now!
For tickets or info, contact Mike at 604-318-1902 or fightspromoter@gmail.com

Directions to Mickey McDougall Gym:

Heading East or West on Highway #1, take Exit #18 (Lonsdale Exit). Turn down Lonsdale to 23rd St. and take a left at the lights (Centennial Theatre will be on your left). Continue to the 2nd block. Mickey McDougall Gymnasium will be on your left-hand side next to the Court House.

Kai Sinthong Muay Thai in VANCOUVER, BC. Kai Singthong will be hosting a Muay Thai Fight event showcasing Vancouver’s talented local fighters at the Maritime Labour Centre – 1880 Triumph Street.

Doors open at 6 and fights start at 8. Tickets are $30-$40 (save $5 by purchasing in advance). For tickets please contact Master Song at 778.896.1539

Proudly fighting out of Kai Singthong are Sean Kearney, Stanley Lam, Michael Khademi, Osmond Cheung, Cathay Cheng, Jessica Becher, Maylyn Silab, Walter Buse and Tai Lam.

Other fights include:
Scott Shaffer from Maurice Smith Seattle, Victor Wang and Alexandru Aparaschivei from Kel Lees Martial Arts, and John Edward and Colin Silver from KB One Kickboxing

This will be an action packed event with tons of Kicks, Knees, Elbows, Fists of Fury and Stand Up Grappling! This event is sanctioned by the Canadian Muay Thai Association and follows International Muay Thai Kickboxing rules and features some of the finest fighters from the Kai Singthong gym as well as other skilled fighters from Canada and USA. There will also be a special guest appearance by former UFC champion Maurice Smith.