Bas is exceptionally exuberant, quirky, and joyful in his pursuit of fighting and self defense effectiveness. He has made some popular videos which portray his take on street self defense. As a real life bouncer he's had his share of encounters.

Now Bas is taking his efforts mainstream with a new show entitled "Punk Payback".

Bas's energy and enthusiasm make him "a little much" for some viewers, especially those who enjoy the discipline and structure of formal traditional arts. I personally enjoy his approach because he basses a lot of his technique and theory off of his karate background while adding his MMA experience and stripping down concepts into their most street-ready form.

He mixes humor and levity with serious skill, enough to leave little doubt about his authority on the subject matters covered.

This new show will examine real life surveillance and amateur video of street encounters, breaking down the results and having Bas recreate the situation while offering his advice on successful resolution.

Here's the trailer:

The show is slated to air Wednesday November 2nd at 9:30(est) on Feul TV.

"Steven Seagal is accused of hiring young women as personal attendants whose real job was to serve his strange and sometimes violent sexual desires, according to a civil lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles by a 23-year-old former model who describes her experience in harrowing detail.

The plaintiff, Kayden Nguyen, said she met the action star in February through an ad on Craigslist seeking an executive assistant and, after three interviews, was told to pack for a trip to New Orleans, where the A&E show "Steven Seagal Lawman" was taping. When she arrived, the lawsuit says, she discovered that Seagal had been keeping two young female Russian "attendants" who were essentially on-call for sex -- 24-seven."

According to reporting sources, Nguyen had been hired by Seagal under the pretenses of a normal assistant job, but found the reality of the situation to be quite different almost at the onset of the meeting.

"The lawsuit says Nguyen accepted the job on Feb. 22, a Monday, and was sped in a limo to a waiting private jet. Her first indication that something was awry was when Seagal told her, as the plane was taking off, that his wife “wouldn’t mind if we had a sexual relationship. Once in New Orleans, she was taken to Seagal’s house in a remote area of Jefferson Parish. The two Russian “attendants,” Sasha and Natasha (pseudonyms) shared a bedroom upstairs, where Seagal’s wife and baby also stayed.

The first assault took place on the first night, when Seagal showed up in Nguyen’s bedroom with one of the girls and said he wanted 'a massage.'" - The Blemish

The situation is said to have gotten steadily worse, as Mr. Seagal's actions became more brazen and more sexually charged. After protests at his initial advances, it is reported by Ms. Nguyen that Seagal used "illegal pills" and more forceable coersion to get her to comply to his desires.

After a few attempted confrontations to both fellow employees and Mr. Seagal himself, Nguyen attempted to extract herself from the situation.

"The ordeal carried on for several days, and it wasn't until Feb. 28 -- the following Sunday -- that she was able to escape the situation.

The lawsuit says Nguyen told Seagal that she had to leave to meet with family members who would be suspicious if she didn't show up. Nonetheless, he told her not to leave the house and followed her with a gun equipped with a flashlight as she went out to a waiting cab, which sped away as she jumped in the front seat." - MSN.com

Furthermore:

"Nguyen's lawsuit claims that even after she got away, Seagal and his employees tried desperately to persuade her to return. When she escaped, she left behind "everything of value she owned," including car keys, her laptop, clothes, and "hundreds of dollars worth of makeup." She was told she would not get the items back until she signed an agreement stating she would not report the sexual attacks.

The lawsuit alleges sexual harassment in violation of federal labor laws; illegal sex trafficking; retaliation; wrongful termination; and false representations about employment. Each of the six counts seeks in excess of $1 million in damages." - TheWrap.com

Seagal's lawyer, Marty Singer, has responded to TMZ that: "Kayden's lawsuit is an absurd pack of lies and she was fired for using illegal narcotics".

For those of you not paying constant attention to the activities of Steven Seagal, shame on you. You SHOULD know that he has been working on a new series called Lawman, aired on A&E. In the series Seagal reveals that he has been an official deputy for Jefferson Perish Louisiana for the past 20 years. In between making martial arts movies he serves as a real life cop hitting the streets.

The series is set to focus on Seagal and the Jefferson Perish crew taking on bad guys ala COPS. When they aren't on patrol Seagal takes the time to help fellow officers in learning shooting, combat, tactics, etc.

Is Your Interest Piqued?

I know what you're thinking. Isn't Seagal a bit on the old and fluffy side for this kind of work? He doesn't think so, and it seems like his police brethren are willing to hang on for the ride. If you'd like to see the first two episodes for yourself, the magic of the internet will provide:

A&E did the smart thing and posted the episodes online. They must have realized that the viral value of a show like this is going to be significant, and online chatter is what makes shows like this and Deadliest Warrior a success.

The first episode, The Way of the Gun, focuses on Seagal's shooting capabilities and (of course) some street busts. The second episode, The Deadly Hand, shows Seagal running the officers through some basic Aikido and then (you guessed it) some street busts.

Impressions

It's a surreal experience watching this show. Anybody who follows Seagal knows he has a bit of an ego trip going on, and while he is indeed skilled at aikido, he excessively takes on the 'master' role. As I was watching I could tell the other cops humored him for the sake of the show.

That being said, Seagal does show off real skill from time to time. His shooting is undeniably good and his aikido is still effective. One thing I noticed, and was disappointed by, was that he never seems to run during chases. Seagal-Running is a classic part of his movies, but his larger self doesn't seem too up for it anymore. Through clever camera work it seems like he is in the thick of every arrest though.

When I first started watching Lawman, it felt weird. I wasn't used to what I was seeing. By the end of the second episode however I actually started getting into the groove of it...a little. I think I could stay tuned for a few more episodes to see where they go with this. I would like it if they deemphasized the "busts" because that is where things seemed most forced. Forced drama, forced Seagal-activity, forced Seagal-advice, etc. His cutaways in helping the officers I thought were more genuine and interesting.

Bonus! Games!

A&E gets another high five from me. They included a game on their website called 'Firearms Qualification' that puts you in the hot seat (watch the first episode and it'll make sense). Hold on to your hats because it's actually kinda fun.

You go through three rounds of slick shooting and try to accrue a high score. Each round relates to events in the first Lawman episode.

I tried it out three times and got a high score of 108 (which makes me a Zen Master under Seagal Ryu shooting). Think you can top me? OHH we shall see.

My inspiration, oddly enough, came from a random viewing of Kill Bill Vol. II on TV. When I tuned in it was at the part where Beatrix Kiddo was getting dropped off to study with the notorious Pei Mei. For those who might not be familiar the movies, Pei Mei is one of Bill's primary martial arts instructors, and is renowned for being both cruel and unusual in his training methods. Despite the virtually guaranteed unpleasantness, Kiddo decides to train under him anyway in hopes of achieving some of the same skills Bill possesses.

I've always loved this part of the movie, and was inspired to do my best to dress up as Pei Mei this year!

Do I strike fear in your heart? Does your blood run cold at the thought of crossing me? There's no shame in it.

Also, yes - that IS the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique I am about to perform. shortly after this photo was taken I laid waste to all in attendance.

Getting the wig and facial hair on was pretty annoying...but well worth it. This costume also gave me a great excuse to buy kung fu shoes; something I've always wanted to do but couldn't find a proper excuse. They are terribly comfortable!

For your continued amusement (and mine), here is a clip of the real Pei Mei being awesome:

Happy Halloween and feel free to include links to your costume in the comments below!

This week a different video was sent to me, and I think you are going to enjoy it.

This clip comes from a TV Show somewhere in Belgium. It is a candid camera program that annoys people in obnoxious ways (standard affair really). One fateful evening the show decided to visit a mall and harass local shoppers. The 'host' proceeded to throw a net on a man, taunt him, and then run away. Unfortunately, to bystanders, it looked as if he was either robbing or accosting the local shopper. One bystander in particular didn't take kindly to that kind of criminal activity.

Check it out -

That kick was huge. I don't like to glorify violence, but I do appreciate good technique.

From a martial arts perspective, it is clear that the individual in the striped shirt studies a form of Savate, Tae Kwon Do, or other such style. Clearly his training has not been for waste because he hit a moving target right on the money. Of course...that target didn't see it coming...which brings us to the moral catch-22 of this video.

The Civil Assistance Conundrum

The big, $50 question to come out of this video is: Was that man right in using violence to defuse the situation?

Let's look at it first from the kicker's perspective. Somewhere behind him he hears a tussle. When he glances back he sees a shady looking individual sprinting away and another man chasing him angrily. From the context clues he assesses that the man trying to escape is some sort of robber (a scene all too familiar with many people that live in cities) or vandal.  With a grand total of 2-3 seconds to consider his actions, he decides not to let the criminal get away with it. He then proceeds to utilize a non-lethal yet damaging technique to floor the 'bad guy'.

Part of me applauds him for his quick thinking and desire to help make the world a little more scum-free. It takes courage and conviction to step in and aid your fellow man. Furthermore, his technique selection was probably a good one - if he tried to tackle the guy, he ran the risk of getting stabbed or shot while tussling. If he tried to stand in the bad guy's way non-violently he would have gotten bowled over or pushed aside.

Unfortunately, as we see in this video, quick acts of effective violence are sometimes misplaced. As it turns out, there was no theft occurring, and the man in the leather jacket was angry and loud because he was annoyed at the childish prank pulled on him. The striped-shirt-kicker made a big leap in judgment assuming that the man trying to escape was both a.) a perpetrator of crime, and b.) the actual bad guy in the situation (he might have been trying to escape a bad situation himself).

Furthermore, the kicker took the law into his own hands and introduced violence into a non-violent situation. In a crowded mall like that, it is very possible to grab the attention of nearby security and alert the authorities to a crime in progress. In most large shopping centers there is both mall security and real law enforcement officials nearby.

Conclusions

It's amazing how one well-placed kick to the face can really put a modern day issue into perspective. In times past the kicker's actions would have been unquestionably justified and celebrated, as law enforcement could not possibly have arrived in time. However we live in a legislative, hands-off world where we have to weigh our role as citizens with that of the moral obligation to help others.

Where do you stand on this situation? Would have stepped in to help (and do you think you would have had the quick-response-instinct to do so?)

A couple of months ago I wrote a post about Lyoto Machida, wherein I explained my fanhood for him, and how it wasn't just me - Machida's popularity has been consistently growing over the past 8-9 months. One of the main reasons why is Machida's karate-inspired fighting style. His traditional background (along with a black belt in BJJ) is making big waves throughout the MMA community. How could it not - the guy has yet to lose a round.

These days it seems that karate is branching out, and the latest person to do the branching is Vitor Belfort. Belfort is a recently returned UFC fighter who has been studying karate for years. Many analysts are remarking at Belfort's excellent control of distance and timing, and how he seems to have a natural sense of space. People are also commenting on the speed and directness of his counterattacks after making other fighters waffle and miss.

This may all sound familiar to UFC fans because those are the exact qualities that are granting Machida so much success.

To watch the Belfort fight (it only lasts one round), click here or below:

Due to his impressive win, Belfort is slated to fight Anderson Silva, aka, the guy so good that he makes champions look like raw beginners. Although UFC fans are pining for a Machida-v-Silva matchup, it looks like Belfort is going to have to do instead (both Machida and Silva have declared friendship with one another and a strong desire not to fight).

The most interesting thing to come out of these recent events is a raised eyebrow about karate from MMA fans and fighters. We've all been so overexposed by crappy, watered-down karate that seeing good karate in action is both intriguing and confusing. Fighters like Machida and Belfort are also doing karateka a service because they are showing the value of arts like BJJ, and how it isn't a sin to be well-rounded and open to outside concepts.

Very interesting developments! Pay attention everyone because these are the things that slowly shape the martial arts realm right underneath our noses.

If you'd like to check out the fight for yourself, click the picture above or this link.  Also check out Noah's page for more fights and options.

For those long time readers out there, you'll know that I am a big fanboy for two UFC fighters - Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. This last fight, which took place at UFC 101 in Philadelphia, was another stunner that left me wondering how Anderson Silva performs at such a high level.

Silva's last two victories over Patrick Cote and Thales Leites were widely regarded as underwhelming. There was a lot of controversy as to whether or not Silva was losing his touch, or if he was just getting bored. It turns out he wasn't losing his touch.

Forrest Griffin, a UFC pro and highly regarded competitor, tried to stand up with Silva but had no success. In fact, Silva made Griffin look like a tentative rookie (which he is far from being). After a minute or so of gauging each other, Griffin tried to establish a rhythm on Silva by throwing out half-paced punches and kicks. Silva calmly slid away from those attacks, and carefully picked his opportunities to explode into Griffin.

Everytime Griffin attempted to push the pace, Silva slipped the attack and punished Griffin in return. The result was a fight so lopsided that some people are wondering if Griffin threw the fight, or if he was sick/drugged during the match.

One thing I can guarantee is that there was no throwing of the fight - Griffin is renounded for his big heart and taking a dive would never enter into is realm of possibility. Furthermore, there are no reports (as of yet) confirming illness or injury on the part of Griffin. What we are left to conclude is that Silva was simply operating at a level that nullified Griffin in every way.

Silva is a little guilty of antics during the fight - dropping his hands and urging Griffin to come and fight. That stemmed from the stream of bad press he had been getting from his last two fights, and the accusations that he was not putting out any energy or effort. It is also important to note that both fighters showed each other full respect throughout the match, which is a big differentiating factor when observing antics vs mockery.

I'd also like to point out that when Silva dropped his hands it was because he was in such dominant control of distancing and timing that that was the only way to get Griffin to come and fight. Silva saw the opportunity to use such a tactic to win, so he took it. He further demonstrated his command by knocking out Griffin in an almost casual fashion.

Call this match what you will - weird, unusual, astounding, intriguing...for me, I can confidently say that it was definitely worth watching.

Or so we're told on occasion.

A lot of people are surprised at the level of flimflam that is around today, and are shocked that people buy into such "astounding" feats (like this one and this one). But if you think martial arts chicanery is new, think again. Consider the 70's and 80's when martial arts were just starting to reach levels of high national exposure. Bruce Lee had come and gone and left a tumultuous blend of eclectic "masters" in his wake.

One of those wannabe's was a man named James Hydrick, or "Sum Chai" as he liked to be called.

Hydrick began his rise to fame in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he started his first martial arts studio. Therein he taught students how to control and enhance their mental abilities. Through a series of impressive physical stunts (like jump kicking a basketball net) and mental demonstrations (like making heavy bags sway without touching them), Hydrick became a local phenomenon.

In 1981 Hydrick's true star was born when he appeared on a show called "That's Incredible". On the show he demonstrated his best techniques and astonished audiences worldwide:

Hydrick's combination of physical fitness, Bruce Lee persona, and mental abilities caused him to become a sensation. It didn't stop there though:

"The tabloid newspaper The Star quickly ran an article on Hydrick labeling him "The World's Top Psychic." The glowing account labeled Hydrick's powers as "incredible and staggering." Other newspapers revealed that Hydrick could cure headaches and colds with a touch and answer questions before they were asked. A scientist and electrical engineer from the University of Utah after much testing also concluded that Hydrick's psychic powers were indeed authentic." - Unexplainable.net

Here was a man that seemed to bridge the gap between the real and unreal. University-proven and publicly displayed, what was there to doubt about Sum Chai's powers?

Unfortunately there was one man floating around who kept a close watch on claims of this nature. His name was (and still is) James Randi. Aka the Amazing Randi. A professional magician turned seeker-of-facts, Randi routinely busted metaphysical hustlers, faith healers, and mentalists. He went so far as to create a $10,000 dollar prize for anyone who could demonstrate supernatural powers under controlled circumstances. (Later Randi would up the ante to 1 million dollars and establish his own educational foundation).

Taking note of Hydrick's dramatic rise in popularity, Randi requested a demonstration on the "That's My Line" television program wherein Hydrick could first demonstrate his abilities, and then try to recreate those results once Randi put down some simple scientific parameters. Watch what happens, and do take note of the host whom you might recognize:

Unseen in this clip are a few more details. First, Randi offered an alternative solution to the packing peanuts, in case they were indeed somehow ruining the psychic connection; he asked Hydrick to where an ordinary medical mask over his mouth and nose. Hydrick flat out refused. Furthermore, Randi had in place a sensitive microphone that was aimed at Hydrick's mouth during a rehearsal the day before. During the test, Randi was able to detect strong gusts of air coming from Hydrick, even though they were visually undetectable.

Certainly Randi was no fool and had no concern about losing his money that day. He also went on to explain his theory as to how Hydrick operated: "Hydrick was simply blowing the page over, and he spun the pencil around by the same means. Not immediately evident are these facts, however: First, the blast of air from a half-open mouth takes time to get to the props, and Hydrick made sure he turned his head away from the pencil and the page after giving a sharp puff of air, so that he was facing away when the action occurred. Second, one blows not directly at the prop but at the table surface" - James Randi

The rolling dowel trick as seen in the "That's Incredible" clip was also easily explained. The wood on which the dowel moved was slightly concave. As the dowel would reach the far end from the initial roll, it would slow down, allowing Hydrick to mentally "stop" it. Then he could draw it back since the dowel was naturally inclined to roll backward. The concavity was so slight however that the friction of the wood would allow it to stop at the close end without settling back into the middle.

Seemingly foiled, Hydrick began to realize his time was limited and that he had to make one last effort to regain his fame. A few month's after "That's My Line" he agreed to another test, this time with magician and investigator Danny Korem. It was during this interview that footage of Hydrick's martial arts operation and personal physical prowess became available. It was also the last straw for his credibility:

In a move that is actually quite surprising for con-men, Hydrick fessed up to the ruse. He explained his system and his personal background.

As many manipulators and con-artists do, Hydrick came from an imperfect childhood wherein he was starved for attention. he also fell into crime and used his abilities to preserve his own safety in jail. It was this combination of want and reward that led him to create Sum Chai.

Currently Hydrick is serving jail time as a registered sex offender in possible connection with his kung fu students.

Certainly James Hydrick can serve as an excellent study in the mystery of the unknown and the willingness of people to believe. Furthermore, we should take this incident as a stern warning when studying the arts to question what we see and attempt to understand why we do what we do (and how we do it). Lastly, we should be very careful as to what claims we make, as James Randi is still alive and ready to make us prove it.