2009 Arnold Blog

Professional mixed martial artist and television star Shonie "Mr. International" Carter will present a special seminar at the 2009 Arnold Sports Festival.

Carter’s lecture will feature Thai-style kickboxing, throws, Judo and catch-style wrestling. It will be held Friday, March 6 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

"I have been to the Arnold Sports Festival many times and am honored to be invited to teach a seminar during this year’s event," said Carter, of Chicago. "Hopefully this is something we will be able to do every year."

Former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was at his devastating best last December as he settled his score with Wanderlei Silva via a chilling first round knockout.

On Saturday, March 7, Jackson will look to move one step closer to regaining his title when he takes on the man who beat both Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin, Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine.

For the third year in a row, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® is heading back to Columbus, Ohio for UFC 96: JACKSON vs. JARDINE, live from the Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2009. More information go to UFC.com

UFC fans will have something to cheer about at the Arnold Sports Festival, Friday, March 6, 2009 when UFC World Champion Randy Couture takes center stage at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival.

Couture’s historic background as a Greco-Roman wrestler, UFC Hall of Famer, and the only fighter to ever attain championship titles in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions of the UFC, has well prepared him for the success he has earned as an athlete, actor, apparel leader, and author.

Couture is starring in the soon to be released highly anticipated Stallone film “The Expendables” with other notable action star including Jet Li (Fearless), Jason Statham (Transporter/The Bank Job), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Forrest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland). Couture also starred in the award winning David Mamet film, Red Belt.

Couture will present a live training demonstration from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. with his friend and Arnold Sports Festival MC Fairfax Hackley.

UFC and martial arts aficionados will enjoy the rare opportunity to learn first hand about Couture’s training secrets. Couture will also be on hand to sign copies of his latest book, “Becoming The Natural”.

UFC President Dana White will take the mike at 1:30 p.m. for a thrilling Q & A with the Arnold Martial Art’s Festival audience. Questions will be submitted to event MC Hackley and White will answer live to the full house crowd. UFC 96 Jackson vs. Jardine will take center stage Saturday night at Columbus’s Nationwide Arena.

More Information click here

Another Arnold Sports Festival and another weekend of awesome martial arts workshops and seminars. This year at The Arnold Martial Arts Festival there was no holding back. There are going to be some of the greatest martial arts athletes, teachers and trainers from around the world at the festival this year and a line up of workshops and seminars to keep you busy all weekend, so get out to the Arnold and check it out.

Here are some of the workshops and seminars tha are already lined up to be there:

Joe Lewis *7:00 - 8:00 pm*

The Arnold Martial Arts Festival (especially Tokey Hill) welcomes a LIVING LEGEND… 10th DAN Grandmaster and Former WORLD Karate/Kickboxing Champion, Joe Lewis!

UFC’s Shonie Carter *7:00 - 8:00 pm*

SC’s MMA knowledge and techniques at a SUPER low Arnold price… the man has SERIOUS info to share, you may want to listen… Marine’s usually don’t mess around.

A seminar by none other than Shonie Carter featured on the Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter season 4 ” The Comeback” and BET’s “the Iron Ring”. Shonie has accomplished many World titles in MMA and National Titles in Kickboxing and Olympic Pankration and former All-American Wrestler.

Kevin Kearns *5:00 - 6:00 pm*

MMA fitness, $270.00 worth of DVD’s and Elite training for the FIRE-SALE price of $99.00

Kevin is offering a SPECIAL Arnold package that is too good to pass up… Two hours of elite MMA training (a $150.00 value) , ALL 4 of the Burn with Kearns conditioning DVD’s (a $120.00 value)… Its PRACTICALLY FREE!!!

Kru Jason David Frank *6:00 - 7:00 pm*

Workshop: Muay Thai Kickboxing

Jason David Frank is a world renowned actor, martial artist, and philanthropist. As a martial strict he began his training at the young age of 4 and hasn’t stopped yet. Currently he holds a 6th degree black belt and owns/operates 4 successful martial arts schools that specialize in changing and influencing the lives of kids and adults, in a positive manner, through the martial arts. As a teenager he was given the opportunity to pursue a dream of becoming an actor.

Soke Kevin Cullen – Sharing 36 years of Goju *5:00 - 6:00 pm*

Workshop: SOFT DEFEATS STRONG SEMINAR

Grandmaster Kevin Cullen has always been into old school traditional full contact bare knuckle karate. No pads of any kind were ever worn. His work ethic was simple, take every new technique learn and later that day perform it at least 500 times. So, 6 new waza meant 3,000 techniques before he would retire that evening. As a result of this type of dedication on separate occasions Mr. Cullen was invited by Kyoshi Yamazaki and the recently departed Hidetaka Nishiyama to move into their respective dojos to become their dojo deshi private student. In the case of Nishiyama, he had plans for Cullen to become his next Chuck Norris world champion.

Master Chen Youze – Chinese Weapons *6:00 - 7:00 pm*

Workshop: Chinese Weapons

Evening at the Holiday Inn Downtown Capital Square, Master Chen will be sharing his knowledge in a workshop. This intermediate/elite workshop would normally cost HUNDREDS but for the 2009 Arnold, Master Chen is offering the workshop for $50.00. This 1 hr workshop will show the student some of the skills that the Chen Family has learned and passed on for 20 generations AND that Master Chen Youze’s 3000 students are already learning.

Hill Brothers *9:00 - 10:00 pm*

Workshop: Pankration Revolution

Masters Ron and James Hill, better known as the Hill Brothers, will share over 50 combined years of martial arts experience. The Hill Brothers wear many hats in the martial arts industry as gym owners, instructors, coaches, organization heads, promoters, combat sports managers (Professional and Amateur), and ISCF/IKF Representatives/Judges. The Hill Brothers are the Team USA National Pankration Coaches for the USAFPA, under President Dave Sixel, and FILA Wrestling organizations.

Ron Chapél - Kenpo *8:00 - 9:00 pm*

SubLevel Kenpo Concepts explores the side of Kenpo that few have ever seen. Taught from an anatomical based perspective, it includes Anatomical Structure Theory, Control Manipulation Theory, Cavity Presses, Destructive Sequencing, cultivation of internal energy, among others. In particular, it relies on an in-depth understanding and knowledge of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation relative to the dynamics of human combat interaction.

Dr. Shie-Ming Hwang - Taiji Push Hands *8:00 - 9:00 pm*

Dr. Shie-Ming Hwang is a Grandmaster of Taiji and Kungfu including Shaolin, Praying Mantis, Baji, Baqua, and Piqua.  Dr. Hwang has practiced the Chinese Martial Arts for over 50 years and taught the arts for 40 years, including the last 36 years in the United States.

For more information and registration go to arnoldmartialarts.com

All Workshops and Seminars at the Arnold Martial Arts Festival headquarters hotel - Holiday Inn Downtown Capital Square
Friday, March 6, 2009

Martial Arts Registration Simplified

Martial Artists ready to compete in the Arnold Martial Arts Festival will find it easier to find the registration forms, rules and divisions for each discipline and for the workshops and seminars scheduled for the AMAF hotel at our revised Web site, arnoldmartialarts.com.

Dayana Cadeau - Gymnast to Bodybuilder Champion

Ever since Dayana Cadeau set her sights on winning bodybuilder contests, her two role models have been the most successful female bodybuilders of all time, Cory Everson, six-time Ms Olympia (1984-89) and Lenda Murray, eight-time Ms. Olympia (1990-1995 and 2002-03.)

Since entering her first competition 15 years ago, Cadeau has been among the best 27 times. She has won four first place weight division titles (Ms Olympia, the Ms International and Jan Tana). Since 2006, she has four second place finishes in the Ms International and Ms Olympia contests, missing the big prize by as little as one point!

This year she is focused on winning, and promises her fans she will walk onto the stage at Veterans Memorial in her best shape ever!

[More Info]

Party With The Pros

The Arnold Party With The Pros will erupt Saturday evening, March 7, 2009, at the LC Pavilion, 405 Neil Avenue, across from Nationwide Arena in the Arena District. “Fire & Ice” is the central theme of the evening featuring fire eating performers, live music & entertainment, and an awesome array of athletes from 17 sports permeating every room at LC Pavilion and the adjoining House of Crave. In-house screens will rebroadcast the 2009 Arnold Classic, highlight show-stopping star arrivals and live entertainers including the Terminator, Conan, the amazing Bubble Man, High-Jinks Stilt Walkers, Frank Zane & the Dave Bott Band, and Divide.

[More Info]

MMAmania reports there is one more reason to head to Columbus the first weekend of March. The UFC will be returning once again to the Arnold Classic weekend…

Happy holidays, Ohio-area fight fans.

UFC 96 tickets for the annual pay-per-view (PPV) event that coincides with the Arnold EXPO — the largest health and fitness expo in the nation — will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, December 27.

UFC Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets for the show at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus prior to them being available for public consumption.

It will be the fourth major UFC event to be held in the “Buckeye State” since the promotion invaded Ohio for the first time ever in March 2007.

While no bouts have been announced to date, heavyweights Shane Carwin and Gabriel Gonzaga are expected to collide and light heavyweight Brandon Vera will look to get back on the winning track against area native Mike Patt.

– Read the Full Story Here.

We went to the Arnold Classic and stayed at the Sheraton on Hutchenson St. in Columbus.  We got free passes to the Metro Fitness Gym which was one of the best gyms I have ever worked out at.

My husband and I ride skateboards and I got hurt about 5 years ago and I got lazy after that.  Once the cardio went, the diet did also.  I tried a few things to loose weight but not a lot worked.  Going to the Arnold Expo really got me fired up to do something about it.

On Friday we got up late and got there about 2.  It wasn’t very crowded and we got to meet a few UFC celebrities. We had to park about a 15 minute walk away.  We got there a little earlier on Saturday and I was surprised how many people were there.  There were a lot of booths we really liked.

This is me and Jay Cutler!

Every day we started out at the Dymatize booth to get some Froot Loops protein cereal (tastes just like the real thing!) The EAS booth was big and we got several Myoplex Lite and Delux bars there.  They made shakes with the recipies in the packages that were really good.  The best was the chocolate chip.  The best bars there were the Supreme Protein Carb Conscious Peanut Butter Crunch bars.  They were giving a lot of the snack size bars on the last day.  They were by far the best bars I’ve ever had and I’m going to get some now.

Look at all our free samples!

We also went to a booth where they were selling a machine that has electrodes that attach to your body (like your foot) that helps relieve pain.  We bought one and I really think it helps.  We had about 6 bags full between the two of us of samples.  The best day for supplement handouts was on Sunday.  We got a lot of stuff from the Muscle Milk booth and many of the booths were selling supplements at a huge discount.

We bought some Body Well Tight Curves protein for me which I really like and my husband bought some Pride protein he really likes.  All in all this was one of the best trips I have ever taken.  I think we are going to the Olympia next.  We got a lot of cool samples and I’m excited to see how much weight I loose now.

This is me and Wes Sims!

The highlight of my trip though was meeting my favorite UFC fighter Wes Sims!  That was awesome!

Check out the full UFC report from UFC 68. I give you my vantage point and what it was like attending the UFC event for the first time, at:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/isaac115.htm

We’ve posted over 200 photos from the UFC fight for you’re viewing pleasure. This was the first time I’d shot the UFC events. I have photographed smaller MMA fights but not the big daddy UFC. We’ll have my full report up later but in the mean time check out the photos here on bodybuilding.com

A few of the better shots:

In the last pic you can see how far away I was and yet able to zoom that far in. I was like a sniper in the dark. HAHA!

Fortunately for all of you, Ron Avidan has the connections to get this interview with John Cena. His line (John’s not Ron’s) for photos and autographs was several hundred deep. The signing booth was close to getting shut down because of fire code and so many people around Cena’s station. John is part of the ABB team and shares a bit about that and what his favorite ABB drink is. It’s short but trust us it was not easy to get this interview.

The John Cena Intervew:

http://webcast.bodybuilding.com/fitshow/2007arnold/LIFT_GETBIG/videos/johncena.mov

Matt Hughes defeats Chris Lytle via Decision.

Matt Hamill defeats Rex Holman via TKO.

Rich Franklin defeats Jason McDonald Via TKO.

Randy Couture defeats Heavyweight champ Tim Silvia.  This makes Randy the first ever 5-time world champion.  Randy (43 years old) just came out of retirement to prove who is the better fighter.

I just received word that I have press credentials for the UFC fight on Saturday night. It should be interesting trying to be in two places at once. I will hit the men’s finals and then haul butt to get to the UFC fight and cover that. I’ve covered a couple MMA fights before but never a UFC fight. It should be an interesting time photographing this event.

From the Arnold Classic website…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship© is coming to Columbus the same weekend as the Arnold Sports Festival. What luck.

“The Arnold Sports Festival is pleased to welcome 18,000 devoted UFC fans to Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 3 to coincide with our annual Weekend. The incredible momentum of the UFC will add tremendous energy and excitement to the city of Columbus and the Arnold Sports Festival. - Jim Lorimer