Vitor Belfort Earns Blue Belt In Karate

by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 5, 2009 10:28 AM EDT in News Comment 5 comments

"It’s a very important acquisition to me. We need to have a base in everything we do in life, so I’m creating my base and I’m having a lot of fun. I’m very happy to learn a new martial art and I’m very satisfied to meet Master Tanaka, a legend in this sport"

Belfort's trainer comments on his progress:

The idea with this blue belt is bring Vitor to the martial art context, where he’ll have to grow. Besides the status he has in MMA, he’s just a beginner here, but he’s virtuous and learns very easily, develops what he learns very fast and has a lot of fights, what will make his way to the black belt shorter"

So it appears that Lyoto Machida has renewed some fighters interest in regards to training in Karate. I still have my doubts on the discipline, although I'm sure there are some techniques that can be effective in MMA as Lyoto has proven. The thing is, Machida has been training in Karate almost his ENTIRE life. Karate is just like any other discipline if you are not familiar with it. You can't just go in and pick it up in 3 months, not enough to be effective at the highest level of MMA. It takes years to learn proper distance, angles, and the footwork need to accomplish the facets. I guess we'll get to see just how much Belfort has progressed if he does take on Anderson Silva at UFC 108.

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always interesting to a see an elite level fighter stop to get a fresh perspective/different ideas. keep learning and all that sage old school advice.

Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei.
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by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 5, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

True

I just wonder how much he’s going to try an implement in actual fights though.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 5, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my take

Vitor has boxing, Muay Thai, etc… He’s got the black belt in BJJ but hardly uses it, because he loves to trade.

For a guy who already has decent striking, I don’t think it’s that much of a stretch for him to implement some Lyoto-esque techniques. It would be harder, I’d say, if he didn’t already have martial arts experience, but because he has been a fighter for most of his life, he’d have a much easier time adapting than a novice would. More power to Vitor, still trying to evolve as a Veteran.

by LeonDaLion on Oct 5, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well

I’m sure he can learn the techniques….it’s the distance/angles stuff that I don’t think he can pick up so quickly…no doubt being as experienced as he is helps things though…I don’t think any of it will matter against Anderson though.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Oct 5, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs