Spike TV’s Deadliest Warrior: Your Thoughts?

By guest author Thomas Tan

Deadliest Warrior

Spike TV, the unabashed cable channel dedicated to all things manly, has created a new show in the same vein as the moderately popular “Fight Science” and “Human Weapon” series. Like those other shows, it uses modern scientific equipment to gather data from historical weaponry and techniques. Unlike those shows, however, “Deadliest Warrior” makes no effort to be a cultured or sophisticated study of the martial arts.

Tiny Tales of Modern Samurai

More offbeat news from the world of martial arts…

“Manga Bible” Casts Jesus Christ as Samurai Warrior

Christian thinkers have tried to make the Bible accessible for centuries, scholars said. Stained glass windows related Bible stories when Europe was largely illiterate. New printing technology in the 19th century made it possible to mass-produce Bibles, including illustrated versions…

The goal of the Bibles is not just to win people to Christ, but to particular ways of thinking, said Jason BeDuhn, associate professor of religious studies at Northern Arizona University. Manga Bible author Mr. Akinsiku said the biblical message he wanted to underscore was justice, especially for the poor…
[Continued in The New York Times]

Attention Anchormen: Not Every Swordsman is a Samurai
Recently confronted by a sword-wielding maniac, German police lower their guns, in favor of the trusty battle broom.

Boxing Champ Vitali Klitschko Says: “Put a Little Stank on It”

Recent news from the world of martial arts…

Klitschko’s Nappy Secret

Vitali Klitschko
Vitali Klitschko

Source: Ananova
After winning the WBC heavyweight title, how did champion boxer Vitali Klitschko recover? He used an old family remedy: wet diapers.

“Baby wee is good because it’s pure, doesn’t contain toxins and doesn’t smell,” the 37-year old boxer said…

Israeli Police Innovate with Stink Technology

Chess Boxing, Horse Wrestling and Umbrella Combat

Recent diversions and entertainments from the world of martial arts

Chess boxing
Chess boxing
Credit: Sascha Pohflepp

Nikolay Sazhin new world champion in chess boxing’s light heavyweight division

The 19 year old challenger, Siberia’s Nikolay “The Chairman” Sazhin, was able to execute his strategic chess concept against the more experienced world champion, Frank “Anti-Terror” Stoldt. Sazhin then used his superior boxing skills to ram home the advantage.

After carefully approaching his opponent in the first round with a Slav defense, Frank Stoldt took a heavy right hand to the chin in the following round which led to a standing eight count. Stoldt then demonstrated the experience gained from 3 title bouts, recovering to endure three more rounds without slipping further behind.

At the beginning of the 5th round, however, the contest culminated at the chessboard. The wily youngster Sazhin lured Stoldt into a false sense of security. With his bishop in severe danger near the center of the board, Stoldt made a horrible blunder, overlooking a concealed threat to his queen…
[continued at the World Chessboxing Organization website]

Real-Life “Fight Club” Ends in Tragedy

Fight Club

Months before Noel Lopez was found dead in the rubble of a construction site, he challenged co-workers at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront hotel to fight him in the garage where they parked cars as valets. His co-workers chalked up the strange request to Lopez’s increasingly erratic behavior and his fascination with the movie “Fight Club.”

Last weekend, Lopez, 25, was involved in a real fight that ended his life. At least 20 people surrounded Lopez on April 13, after drinking alcohol together, and watched him fight another man in Freeway Park, according to court records released Saturday. Construction workers found his body the next day. The man who police say fought Lopez, a 22-year-old from Federal Way, was ordered held without bail Saturday on investigation of murder.

Police are still looking for a second suspect in the slaying, a 20-year-old man.

The 22-year-old, who had not yet been charged, told police he had been contacted by friends to “straighten out” Lopez because he “was treating people wrong,” according to court documents. The man told police he wrestled Lopez for the title of “King of Freeway Park,” court records said.

But he claimed it was the second man who broke boards over Lopez’s head and body and stomped on his stomach and chest. He said the second man fought Lopez after the three walked together to a nearby construction site.

(Continued in the Seattle Times.)

Word to the wise: assume every gun is loaded, and there is always a second man.