TUF 13 (The Ultimate Fighter)

Okay folks.  It's time to get excited.  The thirteenth season of The Ultimate Fighter starts Wednesday, March 30th at 9pm/8pm Central Time on Spike.

The Ultimate Fighter is a Reality TV show on Spike that follows unknown MMA fighters competing for a six figure contract with the UFC.  They live together and train at the Vegas UFC Gym for several weeks.  There are two teams, coached by current, well known UFC fighters.  The teams train and fight against each other in several cage matches in an elimination style contest.  The final two fight in the finale, and the coaches fight soon after.

Sorry for the short notice.  I am hoping that those of you who planned to watch it already knew the date and time of the first episode.  Like me, you probably already have it programmed into your DVR or TIVO.  If not, now is the time.

This should be a great season.  Welterweight fighters are competing in season 13.  The welterweight division (156 to 170lbs) of the UFC is smack dab between lightweights and middleweights.  In this division you get the speed and intensity found in lightweight matches with power that compares with the middleweight division.  This makes for some fantastic fights.

Strangely enough, the welterweights will be coached by Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos, both fighters in the heavyweight division.  While both interesting personalities, which will likely bring a level of drama to season thirteen, Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos both out weigh the contestants by 70 pounds or more.  Sorry, but you just fight differently when you're 240 pounds as opposed to 170.  Junior dos Santos moves pretty well, he is the lighter of the two, and is able to throw decent kicks.  Although he currently holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Junior competed as a kickboxer prior to MMA.  Holding a perfect record of 18 wins and 0 losses in kickboxing, Junior's record in MMA is 12 wins and 1 defeat.  Brock, however, is more well known for his heavy hands and wrestling ability.  In addition, even though he is the former heavyweight champion, Brock has very little overall experience in MMA, with only 7 total MMA fights to his name.  Two of which he lost.  We shall see what they do with their teams.  It will most likely be their choices in assistant coaches that is the biggest factor on how their teams fare.

Speaking of drama, most know that TUF is no stranger to crazy antics, house pranks, fighter rivalries, disagreements and physical exchanges outside of the cage, coaches and contestants alike.  Sometimes amongst team members themselves.  However, I find that the drama often times is childish and becomes a distraction.  I am sure a lot of people watch The Ultimate Fighter specifically to see this type of drama, which inevitably comes with any Reality TV programming.  For me its the training and the fights that brings me back.  I love to see how they train, what coaches they bring to the gym, and how fighters grow as martial artists and competitors over the coarse of several weeks.

ARE YOU READY!  The action starts soon.

What do you like, or dislike about The Ultimate Fighter?

Click the following links to meet the fighters, see a sneak preview of the upcoming season, and find videos introducing the new fighters.
http://www.ultimatefighter.com/fighter
http://www.ultimatefighter.com/seasons/tuf-13/team-lesnar-vs-team-dos-santos

Come back to The Manic Martial Artist, following each episode, to get a breakdown of what's happened.  The drama, the training and the fights.

Review of the film Redbelt

My first blog post will be a review of the movie Redbelt.

This movie was written and directed by David Mamet.  It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as an instructor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu named Mike Terry.  I loved this movie.  It is not well known, and even though I remember seeing the previews, it was the recommendation of a colleague that prompted me to see it on video.

This film is a drama that just happens to be about a martial arts instructor.  The characters drive the story, not the action.  While there are fight scenes, it does not feature a lot of crazy fights with dramatic techniques, and unbelievable stunts; adversaries and protagonists getting back up after receiving punishment that would normally put anyone in the hospital.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is charismatic and powerful as Mike Terry.  He plays the role with a calm confidence that sells the character.  This was the first film I had seen Chiwetel in, and it made the actor a favorite of mine.  Chiwetel seems to have been noticed by more than just myself as he landed parts in the well publicized movies 2012 and Talk to Me, opposite John Cusack and Don Cheedle, respectively.  Chiwetel is also reportedly on the short list to play Marvel super-hero Black Panther (T'Challa), in the proposed movie of the same name.

Chiwetel Ejiofor's character, Mike Terry, is forced to deal with several pivotal moments that shape his future, and change his life forever.  As an instructor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mike Terry teaches that there is always an escape to any situation.  This is in the context of a fight, but this is actually a metaphor for life, and in the movie specifically, Mike Terry's life and the curves that are thrown at him.

The action is believable.  Decent acting by the main characters.  A very well written story.

I recommend this one.  If you've seen it, tell me what you thought of it.  If you haven't seen it, then check it out, and come back to let me know your thoughts.

Check out the trailer on YouTube from Sony Pictures Classics