The Judo Podcast-Episode 19 “The Heat Is On”
Sep 16, 2007
3 Comments
This episode features Karo “The Heat” Parisyan, one of today’s top UFC fighters. In this interview, Karo talked about his history in judo, and what made him make the transition to MMA from being a ranked elite US Judoka. We also asked some questions from Chris Lott in Oklahoma City, and “Judo Tom” from the judo forum about how he compares top level judo with top level MMA, and if he has any plans to come back to judo. The first 22 minutes of this episode is the interview of Karo, followed by a short discussion between Mike and Gene. Total runtime 33:30. Episode19.mp3
Update: Karo’s book is now available! Click here to buy it!
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This was an interesting interview. For years I was as dismayed with mma as Gene sounded, for some of the same reasons, and because I just didn’t see much in the way of technique or control. It just seemed like a brawl, like pro wrestling come to life.
In the last year or so, largely on the strength of mma fighters who have strong backgrounds in amature combat sports like judo and wrestling, it seems like a certain kind of technique is developing in mma, and those who are able to control their opponent/mat space/themselves are proving to be the most successful. And it’s more interesting from an audience standpoint, if you know the difference between a single leg, a stand-up switch, and a kimura.
The advertising is a problem. The only thing to really say about that is hopefully, as more competitors who demonstrate control become more successful, their presence will overshadow the bloodsport advertising, and maybe shift it somewhat. I’m not counting on that, but every now and then strong personalities with strong abilities in a sport change the way the sport presents itself, for better or worse (Ali, Jordan, Shaq, Lombardi, McEnroe, Gretsky, Retton).
But if boxing hadn’t lost its shine, for all kinds of complicated reasons that Teddy Atlas likes to complain about, mma may never have reached the point it has. Maybe the bloodsport advertising is just some growing pains as mma begins to replace boxing in the public limelight.
Hello…Man i love reading your blog, interesting posts !
man that was great listening to an mma fighter explain the usefullness of judo. great interview