The MMA Professor - Charlie Ward

I'd like to meet:

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS, or MMA, is a term used to refer to a combat sport that combines elements of many martial arts and fighting styles into one all-inclusive sport. MMA has been gaining increased popularity in the U.S., and around the world, and is often refered to as the "fastest growing sport in the world today." The MMA program I teach consists of the following components: Muay Thai Kickboxing, Western Boxing, Submission Grappling, and Close Quarter Combat. The true origin of MMA can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, and the early Olympic sport of Pankration. In Pankration, combatants faced each other with almost no rules, and utlized a variety of fighting tactics and methods. Pankration is often credited with being the first truly complete and organized system of martial arts.MUAY THAI KICKBOXING: Muay Thai is a 2000 year old fighting style developed in Thailand. It is the most popular sport in Thailand, and continues to gain popularity world-wide. Unlike regular boxing, the use of knees, elbows, and the clinch are allowed, making Muay Thai the most ring-proven combat style, as well as one of the most effective self-defense systems. Muay Thai fighters are feared for their devastating kicks, punishing knees, and crushing elbow techniques. Muay Thai uses the boxing techniques of Western Boxing, as well as working from the standing clinch. These elements combine to form an extremely effective, yet easy to learn, practical self-defense system. The close range elbow and knee techniques of Muay Thai have been incorporated into the fighting systems of law enforcement and military special forces units around the world. The training is extremely vigorous, using special pads, hanging bags, and partner drills to develop proper body mechanics, timing, and control of distance. Conditioning rounds build your cardiovascular endurance, as well as your ability to deliver powerful strikes and kicks. Muay Thai fighters are considered to be some of the most highly conditioned athletes in the world.WESTERN BOXING: Also known as “The Sweet Science”, traditional Western Boxing provides you with the same level of conditioning found in our Muay Thai class, only without the use of kicks, knees, or elbows. Students are taught the rules and techniques of Western Boxing, and will learn punching combinations, slipping and footwork techniques, distance control, timing, and the proper body mechanics with the help of pad and bag work, partner drills, conditioning rounds, and a rigorous fitness regimen.SUBMISSION GRAPPLING: Submission Grappling is a combination of standing and ground-based martial art forms designed both as a sport, and as a self-defense system. Submission Grappling allows students from various art forms such as Ju-Jutsu, Pankration, Greco-Roman Wrestling, etc. to all practice and compete in a unified forum. The training program that we offer utilizes elements drawn from the strong grappling background of Tai’kor to produce a well-rounded submission fighter. Students learn takedowns, throws, locks, and submissions against all parts of an opponent’s body. The skills learned in this class will help you survive and thrive in a ground encounter, whether it is for sport competition or street survival. The training program starts by teaching the basic standing and ground positions, both offensively and defensively. The student learns to move comfortably on the ground, and develops better control of his/her body and weight distribution. Progressive drills teach the student to move from one position to another without losing control of the opponent. The student learns to escape from vulnerable positions and how to counter the locks applied by his/her opponent. Submission grappling develops great aerobic conditioning, physical strength, flexibility, and the ability to stay relaxed during combat. Each class begins with a warm-up period using exercises and ground drills to loosen up and condition the body. We then move on to specific techniques of movement and submission. Each class ends with a chance to free-grapple and learn how to apply the techniques learned against resistant partners.TAI'KOR CQC: Tai’kor (a system of Close Quarter Combat) is an educational and complete martial art style. It is complete in that Tai’kor covers all the fighting distances: Stand-Up Fighting, Grappling and Ground-Fighting, and Weapons Training. Techniques such as punching, kicking, blocking, throwing, pressure points, joint locks, submission tactics, weapon disarming, etc. are all studied by a practitioner of Tai’kor. It is also complete in that Tai’kor can be taught to anyone, despite age, sex, disabilities, etc. The very backbone of Tai’kor is the principle of adaptability. Hence, the system of Tai’kor itself can be adapted to anyone. With its wide variety of techniques and tactics, it is a combat art form that can easily be customized to suit any person of any size and strength. Thus, the student receives a totally adaptable martial arts education that prepares him/her for real-life combat in the best possible way. This martial art; based on methods of angles, distance, timing, and rhythm, is like inserting a key into a lock. Every attack or counter defense of this art flows with absolute authority into the next. The transition time between any change in technique should be continuously minimized in order to have economy of motion. The art of Tai’kor, like other effective combat martial arts, all have this type of efficiency and fluidity. Furthermore, what makes Tai’kor so effective in combat is its ability to fight with or without a weapon, without a change in cadence or rhythm. If you should lose your weapon or become disarmed; your hands, feet, elbows, knees, forehead, etc. will automatically take their place without a pause. This dynamic flow allows one to attack an opponent from limb to limb if necessary, offering severe destruction of the opponent and ensuring your survival. Fancy and flashy techniques are not used or practiced. Straight-forward, practical techniques are mastered; techniques that anyone can use in real-life situations where they must work. Tai’kor is a devastatingly effective martial art, meant for No Holds Barred combat. The word “Tai’kor” means “The Complete Way.”WEAPONS TRAINING: The Stick and Knife Fighting Arts that we teach are weapons-based arts from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries and cultures. Known under the various names of Kali, Escrimia, and Arnis, these arts have been battle-tested for centuries, and are considered the best stick and knife fighting techniques in the world. This training teaches the student how to effectively deal with attacks from impact and edged weapons, as well as single or multiple attackers. This system will teach the student how to defend and attack against a variety of weapons, both impact-based and edged. Regardless of whether or not you carry a weapon, you should understand the physical and psychological aspects of weapons combat. This is one of the best classes you can ever take for practical self-defense training. Students begin with basic double stick coordination drills and basic footwork. Students then progress to single stick, single knife, stick and knife, and any combination of weapons - including empty hand - and learn to apply these weapons against any other weapon. Advanced students move into traditional training drills like kicking, striking, and grappling with weapons use, as well as sparring with armor to develop the proper timing, distance, and control.

Music:

FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING: Also known as Sport Performance Training, Functional Strength Training involves various methods of strength and conditioning which maximize an athlete's performance. Traditional weight lifting, "Old School" exercises such as kettlebell lifting, bodyweight exercises, Olympic and Strongman lifting, Outer, Inner, and Neuro-Muscular training methods, balance and off-center exercises, reflex re-conditioning drills, and so on are all included in good functional training. Functional training goes way beyond the one-dimensional exercises familiar to most poeple. True athletic performance requires multiple planes of movement, while simultaneously engaging compound muscle groups. These multi-planar, compound movements are at the core of solid functional training. Our Functional Strength and Performance Training is integrated into every class and practice session. This is an integral component in building a well-rounded combat athlete that is often overlooked by most schools and trainers.

Movies:

You scored as Tyr, You are Tyr! You are the God of bravery, honor, justice and battle! You lost your hand to a wolf so that you could keep the world safe. You are a great fighter and are very strong.

Tyr

Thor

Odin

Freyja

Baldr

Loki

Television:

Okay, for the record I'm not 100% Irish. I'm Scots-Irish and Scandinavian - all rolled up into 275 lbs. of Super-Heavyweight, Celtic-Viking Fury!

Books:

Favorites Include: Living the Martial Way, The Art of War, The Book of Five Rings, Warriors of the Way, On Killing, On Combat, American Gods, Sensei, Deshi, Light of the Kensei, God Is Not Great - How Religion Poisons Everything, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul, Racing the Sunset, The 33 Strategies of War, and The 43 Laws of Power.

Heroes:

The men and women of the Armed Forces. Anyone who has given their life in the sevice of this great country. My Parents, My Brother, My Friends, My Students, and My Instructors. All of them have taught me so much, given me inspiration, and have been there when I needed them - whether they knew it or not.