Sources of Insight has done a comprehensive article on the philosophies and achievements of Bruce Lee. Some of the lessons that shine through:

• “Expose yourself to various conditions and learn.”
• “To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”
• “To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.”
• “The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or defeat. Let nature take its course, and your tools will strike at the right moment.”
• “It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”

Stephan Kesting over at Grapplearts.com has released a submission app for the iPhone or iPod touch. The app works in conjunction with the YouTube app to play instructional videos for each move. The videos are very good quality even over-the-air (iPhone) and it’s all shot in HD.

Grapplearts Submissions Interface

Grapplearts Submission App Video

The video without the controls

The launch of the app includes a library of 31 no-gi submissions from the most common positions. 10 of the submissions have supplementary videos explaining the finer points of executing the move properly.

It doesn’t appear that the app’s library is remotely extensible, so there would need to be an application update to get more submissions. The app is $3.99 on the iTunes store.

From time to time, my aging body likes to remind me of what my limits are by breaking. I injured my knee at jiu-jitsu a while ago, and during a session of touch football with some coworkers it popped again. My knee decided to zig when I zagged.

So now I’ve got a cool gangsta lean, but I’m out of training for at least a month. To pass the time, I’ve been watching grappling vids and researching things like stretching. Unfortunately, about the only thing that does for me is make me want to go train.

My wife has noticed that I’ve been fidgeting a lot more when I’m sitting watching TV. I shake my legs when I’m bored. It’s a pet peeve of hers and it drives her nuts. I think it’s a bunch of bottled up energy that I can’t expel by training.

So I’ve decided to start doing pull-ups and push-ups. It helps me get rid of that pent up energy and keeps my upper body in shape while the rest of me heals up. I do them semi-regularly even when I’m not injured, but it seems like there’s a different result when you put in daily diligence. Keeping that upper body mass will hopefully help to allay weight gain. I suppose I should stop eating cake and burritos as well. That could help.

Other things I’ve been doing:

1. Finished reading Watchmen
2. Futzing with my Nintendo DS
3. Working on a new Grapplemonkey design makeover
4. Doing some logo designs

Any other suggestions on passing the time?

The UFC is teaming up with Mark Mastrov (24 Hour Fitness CEO) to launch a bunch of branded UFC gyms. From their interim site:

Announcing UFC GYM!  Take the World’s top MMA icon,  The Ultimate Fighting Championship™, blend it with the Ultimate Fitness Center, and you get the UFC Gym.   It’s a dynamic, high energy, MMA and fitness training center that will redefine the way you get results!  UFC Gyms will feature:

• Premiere fitness & cardio equipment
• Group class programming
• Personal training
• Private MMA training
• Octagon discipline instruction
• Kids ultimate fitness care center
• MMA Cafe
• Full locker rooms

I’m no marketing expert, but It sounds a lot like they’re going for a family atmosphere with a brand name that is primarily targeted toward a male 18-35 demographic. I’m just not sure mainstream society is willing to embrace the brand as families just yet.

Another issue I see is the encroaching of the UFC on the personal legacies of martial artists. Many martial artists who have gained a high level of accomplishment eventually move on to open schools and want to pass on their knowledge to future generations. Would Mr. Miyagi teach at a 24 hour fitness?

So far Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn have been signed to have their names tied to UFC gyms in Montreal and Hawaii. According to the Vancouver Sun, these gyms “will earn them an ongoing royalty payment for use of their names, even if they retire from the sport”.

But what happens to BJ’s own training and fitness center? Wouldn’t the UFC gym cut into his own business? It’ll be interesting to see how this business plays out.