Archives for February 2013
Team Academy rolls over the competition at K.O.T.C
Jason Huntley slams his opponent early in 1st round
This past saturday night in Morton,MN the Jackpot Junction casino saw many greats fights. Among those fights the four fighters from the Academy put on a great showing for a packed house. Ben Smith, Jason Huntley, and Carl Deaton finished their Opponents while Mikey Zimmer won a decision in the nights main event.
(Fight summaries by Jeremy Bjornberg/mnmmanews.com)
Jason Huntley vs Bounoun Tonsay 135 LBS
Both guys came out wild but it led to a few very exciting scrambles. Bonoun had a guillotine in for over a minute and it was very deep, but Huntley showed fantastic self control and stayed calm until he slipped out and took Tonsay’s back. The Academy product then picked him up violently and slammed him down so hard he immediately tapped. Huntley moves to 2-0 via verbal submission in Round 1. Very puzzling tap but Huntley definitely was in control. Huntley looks like the real deal and is looking to move to 125 pounds…very impressive.
Ben Smith vs Reilly Griffin 195 LBS
Ben Smith led off the action with a spinning back kick, which caused Griffin to attempt a takedown. Smith stuffed it and then picked him up and 360 slammed him on his head. He then landed a series of knees to the body and hammer fists. He pounded away until Griffin was completely out, giving Smith the KO win at 1:11 of round 1.
Carl Deaton vs Josh Wiseman 135 LBS
Early fight of the night as Deaton and Wiseman put on a show for the screaming fans. Both men landed bombs in Round 1, but Wiseman landed a stiff left that bloodied Deaton’s nose and probably gave Wiseman the standup edge. Toward the middle of the round, however, Deaton took down the highly decorated wrestler Wiseman with a double leg and then spent the rest of the round on his back. He tried finishing with ground-and-pound and a rear-naked choke attempt, but Wiseman was having none of it and the round came to an end. Wiseman came out looking to finish in Round 2 and landed a stiff jab that seemed to bother Deaton, but he was then able to get Wiseman against the cage and take him down again, thoigh it didn’t last long as Wiseman popped up quickly. Deaton however was relentless and got in deep on a double leg and slammed Wiseman, and he eventually took his back. From there, he landed some nasty ground and pound before he finished at 3:21 of Round 2 via RNC over a very game Wiseman.
Starr Roberts vs Michael Zimmer 155 LBS
Zimmer came out landing powerful strikes until he was accidentally poked in the eye which led to a 3-4 minute break while he got his vision backed. He came out with urgency and took down Starr and started teeing off with elbows and punches. Roberts threw up a few arm bar attempts but was unable to close as Zimmer powered through them. The first round ended with Zimmer on top and Starr was tired from all the pressure and ground and pound and took a while to get up.
Starr came out in Round 2 and just missed a head kick and then forced a clinch, which the popular local hero Zimmer used to force a takedown and take top position and once again he started landing powerful shots. Starr as always refused to bend and showed his heart as he kept struggling and eventually forced a stand up. From there, Zimmer landed a nasty knee to the body, which dropped Roberts and once again put Zimmer in top control, but he was unable to finish.
Zimmer rushed across the cage and once again put him in the clinch, where he did very impressive work. Starr however took advantage of a totally gassed Zimmer to take his back and also mount him in the last few minutes of the fight. He almost got the finish.
But it wasn’t enough. Zimmer claimed a 29-28 unanimous decision. The crowd went absolutely nuts in appreciation of both mens’ brave performances.
Team Academy sends four to fight for K.O.T.C
This saturday, February 16th, Four academy team members will go to battle in Morton,MN for King of the cage promotions in what sounds to be a sell out casino crowd.
Victorious in his Amateur debut january 26th, Jason Huntley will lock horns with Bounoun Tonsay at 135 pounds. Huntley was asked to be on this show just a day after his debut win. He gladly accepted for chance to stay busy and gain more experience. Not much is known about his opponent but it will be a crowd pleasing affair as lighter weight fights normally are.
Ben Smith, who also fought january 26th, will be in action against local journeyman Reilly griffin. this fight will be held at a catchweight of 195 pounds. Both fighters will weigh in the day of the fight, hours ahead of the fight. Smith who fights at 170 lbs took this fight on short notice to stay active and attempt to build up his resume.
In what many think will be a fight of the night contender, Carl Deaton will take on Wrestling stud Josh Wiseman. Deaton a good strong wrestler in his own right will drop back down to 135 pounds for this fight. Wiseman, a former state champion and cadet national champion, went 4-1 in his Amateur bouts fighting at both 145 and 135, and this being his pro debut. He is not taking an easy fight for a pro debut as Deaton (3-0) is a bigger wrestler with good striking.
In the nights Main Event Mikey Zimmer will face Journeyman Starr Roberts at 155 pounds. Zimmer is a Morten,MN local. Therefore the crowd will be anticipating this fight all night. Starr Roberts record leaves much to be desired, but he always comes to fight with his athleticism and fundamental striking. Roberts always fights tough competition. Zimmer is coming off the first loss of his career dropping him to 4-1 as a professional and will be looking to get back to his winning ways.
Coaches Corner: Seven Qualities of a Champion
The following 7 qualities we can improve to become Martial Arts champions. These same qualities can be related to our everyday pursuits. We all should keep this concept in mind when we are going about our everyday lives. Once we develop these 7 physical/human qualities we can improve the overall quality of our lives.
1. Quickness
As martial Artists we must be quick in kicking, punching, kneeing and elbowing, and in all of our defensive counters; this is essential for effective self-defense. In our lives we must be quick in thinking and making decisions, which means being alert so nothing passes you by. More over, in action, we need to get things done as soon as possible. It is important that we do not procrastinate by putting off til later what you should do today!
…be quick in thinking and
making decisions…being
alert…get things done…
2. Endurance
We must all be physically patient to continue our practice in the Martial Arts. The more we train the more our endurance and overall conditioning will climb. In life we, must be just as patient in pursuing our goals. We must develop a sense of perseverance and consistency in our pursuit of our martial art excellence and in every aspect of our lives. It is only with such discipline that we will succeed.
3. Timing
Good timing is crucial in executing our techniques and tools; it is necessary for all sports. In life, this translates into being punctual. Consistently being late is a bad habit that gets in the way of our true potential.
4. Power
Physical power and strength is a necessity in excelling as a Martial Artist. Understanding of power and how to apply it is the backbone of good self defense. In life, true power is found in knowledge and information. We have all heard that “Knowledge is power,” and this is for the most part true. However, just like power, understanding is not enough, you must be able to apply what you know. Without knowledge we are lost, with knowledge but no means to apply it we are still in a weak position. Only when we find out how to apply our knowledge do we have real power.
5. Balance
When we perform any movement we must be in good balance. This allows us to properly distribute our weight to ensure proper form and execution. In our everyday lives we must balance the wisdom and knowledge in our minds with the honesty in our hearts and the strength in our bodies. We must also balance our families, work, training, school,and personal lives. Power is found in knowledge and information.
6. Flexibility
We need to be flexible in order to perform more efficiently. We must also have flexibility of character. This means having tolerance for other’s opinions, being compassionate and humble.
7. Form
A technique with good form is a thing of beauty. In life, this is equal to having a good attitude and an upright and good heart. Strong in every area of life.
“A good man who is in the right and a keeps on a coming is a hard man to bring down”
Unknown Texas Ranger
Teamwork Makes a Difference
MN MMA Team
Hey Team!
We’re already one month into the new year! This month’s topic is on teamwork. Here at The Academy, we know better than anyone, how important teamwork is to the success of our students, our fighters and to the legacy of this school.
Without a solid team to train with, it is very difficult to learn and progress to your full potential. It’s because of supportive teammates that we learn about our areas of weakness, we learn how to perfect our strengths, and we’re consistently held accountable for our progress.
After 20 years of business, we know that another key ingredient to a great team is quality students. Students that are dedicated, mentally strong, and have a genuine passion for the martial arts and fitness. We understand that not every that walks through our doors possess these qualities at first, but through their training here, it is our priority and hope that people gain these characteristics because of the teamwork they participate in every week.
So how does one become a good teammate?
This may seem like an easy question, but sometimes we can get so focused on our progress that we forget to help and contribute to the progress of our teammates at the same time. Sometimes it’s the other way around – we invest a lot in the progress of our teammates but don’t get constructive feedback in return. Other times we feel insecure about our skills, so we draw inward and feel apprehensive about training, and then we quit.
As coaches, we are here to tell you that being a part of a team starts with being a good team member yourself. Here are some words of wisdom to think about:
By pushing your teammates, you push yourself!
Whether you are holding pads, you’re sparring, or your doing a hard circuit in bootcamp, pushing your fellow teammates when they’re struggling is a great way to boost motivation and to help them get the most out of their class. It’s as simple as saying, “C’mon Jon, 2 more kicks!” Or “Let’s go Amy, you can do this!” These are simple words of encouragement, but when you feel like can’t muster the strength to do one more push up – and someone is there to encourage you, you usually push through and do it.
Accountability.
One of the major benefits of training with a team is that you consistently have people around you that can and will hold you accountable for your progress. One thing you can do to increase accountability is to make plans to train with fellow teammates outside of class. This not only increases morale and cohesion, but it betters your training and theirs.
Diverse training partners.
While it’s great to have people that you train with on a regular basis, it is also helpful to make an effort to introduce yourself and train with classmates that you haven’t met before, or with classmates that are newer to the program. Training with a diverse group of people allows you to receive feedback and suggestions from people who difference experience levels and different perspectives on training.
Regardless of where you’re at in your training, making it a priority to be a good team member as well as a good student is critical to not only your progress but to the progress of others. As you move forward in your training, keep this in mind at all times. You only have great things to gain from it.
Team Academy Profile: Ben Smith
Ben smith Def. Rico Washington by Unanimous dec. 1/26/13
Calm, cool, and collected but ever the competitior is Ben smith.
Moving from Las Vegas to Minnesota months ago with his Family, Smith has been a great addition to The Academy MMA team as both a practice partner for everybody big to small, but also an overall great pressence to have in the room everyday.
What is your martial arts background & how did you get started in MMA?
Ben:” I started training in MMA around 3 years ago in an effort to connect with my roots as a wrestler. I started wrestling when I was 5 years old, and after having been disconnected from the sport for almost 10 years, I felt there was a major piece of my foundation as a person that was missing, or at least lacking the appropriate nurture. MMA has filled those gaps for me.”
What motivates you day in day out?
Ben:” I’m motivated to wake up and face the grind every day by an uncompromising need to seek out personal actualization. The sense of merit and accomplishment, which my involvement in MMA supplies, allows for me to be a better, happier, and more adjusted man for my family.”
How did you end up at the academy?
Ben:” I spent the last couple years training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Although I was happy to move back to Minneapolis in order to be closer to family, I was nervous about finding a gym that would suit my needs as well Xtreme. Everyone I asked told me that The Academy was where it’s at. They were completely right, and I’m incredibly honored to be a part of the gym.”
What are your goals as a competitor?
Ben: “My only concrete goal in MMA since I started was to get myself to the UFC. I figure that when that happens, I will reassess and come up with some new ones.”
What do you enjoy most about the sport/ training at the academy?
Ben:” I love competing in MMA because its a tangible attack against immobility, doubt, and fear. Every person, in one fashion or another, has to face those things in life. Competing in one on one combat just happens to be the medium that best suits me.”
“What I love most about The Academy is the motto it operates under (Opera non Verba…Deeds not Words). I wish all factions of the world would operate under this very simple, and very noble principle.”
