Category: Uncategorized Page 71 of 76

Salinas native Samson Castillo kicks a heavy bag during a training session Wednesday at the Fighterz Corner gym in Salinas. Castillo will make his debut at Central Coast Throwdown's Super Brawl cage fights July 9 at Sherwood Hall. Conner Jay

When martial arts trainer Henry Cortez sees anyone enter his gym, he makes sure they stay.

The energy of the man who runs Fighterz Corner, 473 Front St., is contagious and entertaining. It also serves a purpose.

“Most gyms are run like a business. I understand that and I’m not talking bad about them,” Cortez said, “but I wanted this to just be a club. This is a passion of mine and I want to open it up to everyone that walks through the door.

“I want to help them. This is a family environment and it’s not one of those places that look differently at new people.”

Cortez, a Salinas native, used martial arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to help get himself on the right track.

“I remember watching a VHS tape of a UFC fight and saying, ‘I could do that,’ ” Cortez said.

Like the motto of his club, which says “Don’t talk about it, be about it,” Cortez sought out martial arts. He began training and sparring at Warren’s Family Martial Arts in Salinas. After that he turned to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and taking part in competitions.

Two years after opening up Fighterz Corner, he continues to give people from his community that same outlet he found.

He recalls a number of firsthand examples of young children who were struggling with school and hanging out with disreputable crowds transform into better students and more confident individuals through training.

“It’s great to see these young kids change,” Cortez said. “That’s why I do this. That’s the pay off for me.”

Cortez said between 50 and 60 people regularly train at the gym, which also includes cardio kickboxing. Eight months ago, Cortez moved the gym to its larger, current location.

On July 9, three MMA amateur fighters from Fighterz Corner are scheduled to compete on the Central Coast Throwdown’s SuperBrawl card at Sherwood Hall. It’s the first time the gym has had fighters compete in the local event. The card, which is scheduled to have 15 bouts, will also include fighters from Kugtar Mixed Martial Arts Academy — also located in Salinas.

Central Coast Throwdown, operated by Salinas promoter Michael MacNeill, returns to Salinas after four sold-out amateur mixed martial arts shows in 2010. This is the first time one of his events has been held at Sherwood Hall.

Those scheduled to compete from Fighterz Corner include Salinas natives Lee Roy Castro, Samson Castillo and Oscar Loya.

“I’ve always really been into sports and once I found this I fell in love with it,” Castillo said. “It’s kept me out of a lot of trouble — I don’t have time for trouble. I’m in the gym every day keeping my head focused. I know I can’t get in trouble out there otherwise it will affect me in here. It’s been a good outlet.”

ª Staff reporter Conner Jay contributed to this report.

Martial arts fans get their kicks at new history museum in Burbank

By TSMA

On June 27, 2011

In Uncategorized

Jose Gil takes a photo of a Samurai armour. The worldâ s first Martial Arts History Museum opened its doors at2319 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank. The Museum is an Asian cultural museum focusing on history, tradition and how it connects with Asian forms of martial arts. Exhibits include martial arts items from the countries of China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Hawaii and Thailand. (John McCoy / Staff Photographer)

BURBANK – Billed as the first of its kind in the world, the Martial Arts History Museum reopened in its permanent home in Burbank on Saturday amid a flurry of martial arts celebrities and fans itching to get a glimpse of more than 300 artifacts.

The grand opening boasted 12th century Samurai armor replicas donated from Japan, colorful magazine covers, a variety of weapons, movie props and a time line of martial arts films dating back to the 1920s.

It’s not just all about Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Jet Li or Jackie Chan, according to Michael Matsuda, owner and founder of the museum, which left Santa Clarita in 2008.

“It’s not a who’s who, even though there are obviously key figures that you need to put up to represent

the history of martial arts,” said Matsuda, a 10th-degree black belt in Monkey Kung Fu. “These people are a part of Asian culture and show how it connects and is a part of American history as well. It’s a blending of the two.”

Asian martial arts first appeared on film in the 1921 movie “The Outside Woman,” and continued with Japan’s “The Seven Samurai,” and the original “Green Hornet” TV show, according to the time line, one of the more popular exhibits at the 3,500-square-foot museum.

Later came 1971’s “Billy Jack,” which kicked off the Kung Fu craze of that decade, including the rise of David Carradine in his “Kung Fu” television series and Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris in “Way of the Dragon.”

Those movies paved the way for “The Karate Kid,” “Big Trouble in Little China,” “Xena,” and more recently, the “Kill Bill” movies and “Kung Fu Panda.”

Displayed below the time line were props used in several popular movies, including the Karate Kid’s Japanese sun-emblazoned headband, the medallion worn by Jackie Chan in “The Medallion” and the costume worn by Cynthia Rothrock – the female equivalent of Chuck Norris in the martial arts world – in “Sci-Fighter.”

The idea behind the fighting icons, costumes and weapons is to give people a chance to learn about Asian cultures and the hundreds of fighting styles that have sprung from it, such as Japan’s Judo, Korea’s Hapkido, and Thailand’s Muay Thai.

“This will give a glimpse into how deep the history is and how deep the influences are in today’s movies,” said Douglas Wong, a Northridge-based martial arts instructor who trained Lucy Lawless for “Xena,” Kevin Sorbo for “Hercules,” and Carradine. “It’s part of Chinese history. You can’t talk about Chinese history without martial arts.”

And it’s a chance for people to learn about the martial arts greats, said Rothrock, a five-time World Karate Champion who holds six black belts in various fighting styles.

“This will keep their memory forever,” said Rothrock, who posed for pictures with fans beside her costume. “I think the history gets a little bit lost in martial arts. People don’t really know the ancestors. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. They taught all of us. They were our inspiration.”

Prince Albert Jackson, a martial arts fan from Sherman Oaks, was beside himself. He recalled watching many of the movies listed on the time line growing up in Bermuda.

“It’s fantastic,” said Jackson, who said he would return as the museum displays new artifacts. “I’m glad something like this exists.”

For more information, visit http://mamuseum.com or call 818-478-1722.