The Last Masters

conor mcgregor
Posts

• It’s Spring Again

  

  I have been busy, forgive me for once again wandering from this blog. I recently moved back to the US and although I have found that being away from China has definitely impacted my ability to write about certain aspects of martial arts – personalities and real time events and trends for example – being away allows me to explore other parts.

  I am still writing for Fightland, and I recently “completed” a series on kung fu history and culture. BY completed I mean to say I have reached a climax and can now move on to other elements within the same thread, with perhaps a bit more nuance. That’s how it feels with writing sometimes, you put together a string of essays and suddenly a long form opus pops out and it suddenly gives you a chance to breathe and re-group. Here are those essays, from most recent to the first one:

  To Topple a Dynasty: Kung Fu Rebels and the Cycle of History

  Razing the Temple: Shaolin Versus the State

  Shuai Jiao: China’s Indigenous Wrestling Style

  Shaolin Warrior Monks and the Japanese “Wokou” Pirates

  “The Practical Isn’t Pretty”: General Qi Jiguang on Martial Arts for Soldiers

  Flying Kicks: The Roots of Taekwondo and the Future of Martial Arts

  Meridians, Death Strikes, and Secrets of the Shaolin Fist

  Karate’s Sacred Tome: The Bubishi and the Evolution of Martial Arts

  The New Masters Documentary is trucking along as well. I am in the US, so I am a bit removed from the day to day operations. But the crew is digging deeper into the MMA scene and establishing a strong relationship to the fighters and the community. It’s a long road, and 2015 is a grinding year.

  I am very interested in the UFC’s upcoming Aldo vs. McGregor fight … I have been watching the embedded series they have going on, and it is really hard to maintain respect for Conor’s skill set as a martial artist when he so routinely disrespects both his opponent and the sport on a constant basis. I truly hope Also destroys him. In my experience the team I root for usually goes down, but I did have the satisfaction of watching the Mavs beat the Heat back in 2010 … so perhaps the Lord will smile down upon me and grant the better man (in my opinion) the victory. It’s worth a look if you are into the showmanship and the brash personalities behind some of the fights.

  I for one dislike Conor more and more with each episode. And I think that’s the point right?

  March 28, 2015 • Kung Fu History, Kung Fu Lore • Views: 5630

  Read More

• Martial Artist and Prize Fighter

  

  Conor McGregor is the new hot thing in the MMA world, an incredibly confident Irishman who swallowed the Blarney Stone and has so far made all of his opponents in the ring look terribly over-matched. He’s so much fun to listen too, and fun to watch in the ring as well. There are a host of videos about him out there, and here are a few that will give you an idea of what he is like:

  The Notorious Documentary

  A Day in Dublin

  UFC on the Fly

  Portraits: Conor McGregor

  I wasn’t sure what to think of Conor, as he was talking his way into his most recent victory over #5 ranked Dustin Poirier, but in his post fight interview he said something that I found to be very insightful. It’s a comment that I think goes to the heart of what martial arts and fighting are all about, and also the core of who Conor is as a person:

  “Prize fighting is short. Get in, get rich, get out. But martial arts is a way of life.”

  Continue Reading

  September 30, 2014 • MMA • Views: 18286

  Read More