by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
WHAT: Shin Do Kumaté Event
WHEN: May 12th @ 7 pm
WHERE: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
If you like watching your friends play Street Fighter, or if you like playing the game yourself, it might be time to check out the real life equivalent: Shin Do Kumaté. The far Eastern discipline’s name, roughly translated, means “the way of the fighting spirit.” The fighters in the ring are invited to use different styles of martial arts.
In the five years since the discipline was formed by Master Mehrdad Moayedi, there have been 11 competitions. The latest competition will be at the Veterans Arena on May 12th and will be broadcast live on pay-per-view.
I got the chance to speak with Master Mehrdad Moayedi about Shin Do Kumaté. He believes that there’s a fighting spirit in everyone. “You can either fight in the ring or fight in life.” he said, and then went on to explain the school of martial arts that he founded.
“Overall… [Shin Do Kumaté] shows different athletes of different disciplines. It could be Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Thai Boxing, boxing…It’s where all of the martial arts of honorable background and great skills come together and find the best…”
It seems logical that a fighter like Master Moayedi would found the Shin Do Kumaté style, because he has studied so many different types of martial arts. He’s practiced as a black belt in Karate, trained in Persian Wrestling, Thai Kickboxing, Dutch Kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do, among others.
“This is also a system that I teach and a style that I teach. It’s pretty unique and devastating when it comes to combat sport, and it’s a combination of styles—not of commercial martial arts, but of traditional martial arts.”
Simple rules and fierce competition define these pro bouts of four three-minute rounds. Men and women use 10 oz. gloves, professional Kumaté fighters wear no pads – just gloves. There are no knockdown rules in effect. It’s a hardcore, action-packed full contact martial arts fight with potent hand techniques, shin-breaking kicks, knees to the head and body, front kicks, ax kicks, spinning heel kicks, and many more devastating moves that make for an exhilarating event.
Master Mehrdad Moayedi, nicknamed “The Persian Warrior,” is also seeking to educate the public about Persia and its rich history.
“Along with bringing great athletes into the area, I’m also trying to educate the world and America the principle behind what Persia is---the True Persia…So, I’ve brought the perspective of Persian warriors. Persia used to be the biggest empire in the beginning of humankind…Just the way Ali used the ring and his name to preach what he believed…I like to use the ring and the entertainment resources that I have to preach and educate the world about the True Persia.”
The fighters aren’t the only entertainment. They’ve also got the requisite ring card girls that you usually find in boxing or wrestling. I asked Master Moayedi about the ringside models who’ll be strutting their stuff in bikinis, and he replied with an immediate “Yeah, they’re hot.”
“Two of them have been with us for quite a while—Tiffany…and Lauren...[both] extremely beautiful. They have made a tremendous name in the business with us…and when they walk the runway, everybody turn[s] their heads. They’re also very nice, and very successful in their regular life. Both are college girls, [they] have scholarships. Tiffany is also an amateur fighter herself.”
To get tickets to the event at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, call 630-3900 or go online to jaxevents.com. Tickets go for $20 and up and will increase by $5 on the day of the event. The box office opens at 5 pm for the event, with the doors opening at 5:30 pm. The event kicks off at 7 pm.
|
