The Pit (mixed martial arts)

Last updated
The Pit [1] [2]
The Pit (mixed martial arts) logo.jpg
Est.1986
Founded by John Hackleman
Primary ownersJohn Hackleman
Primary trainersJohn Hackleman
Rick Metzler [3]
Chuck Liddell [4]
Luke Riddering
Joe Lynch
Glover Teixeira [5]
Justin Lucas
Eric Umali
Castle Williams
Past titleholders Chuck Liddell Glover Teixeria
Prominent fighters Chuck Liddell (UFC) [6]
Glover Teixeira (UFC)
Court McGee (UFC)
Ramsey Nijem (UFC)
Antonio Banuelos (DREAM) [7]
Scott Lighty (Strikeforce)
Training facilitiesArroyo Grande, California
Henderson, Nevada
Malibu, California
Atascadero, California
Camarillo, California
Website The Pit Headquarters

The Pit is a professional mixed martial arts association and training camp operating in Arroyo Grande, California; with a branch in Henderson, Nevada, and affiliate schools throughout the United States. Founded in 1986 by John Hackleman, The Pit fighters have competed in various promotions such as the UFC, WEC and DREAM. The Pit became world famous when Pit black belt Chuck Liddell became the UFC light-heavyweight champion.

Contents

History

In 1986, The Pit was founded in Woodland Hills, California as a training gym teaching the art of Kajukenbo, which is now known as Hawaiian Kempo. Founder, John Hackleman started the school as a means to teach a more straight forward, no-nonsense approach to martial arts. Initially, The Pit was intended for training serious fighters only and employed a logo depicting a Grim Reaper-like fighter. When The Pit opened to the general public, Hackleman renamed the school "KuZen" in order to attract kids and families. The Pit currently operates out of Arroyo Grande, California. It gained worldwide notoriety when Chuck Liddell became UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion. [2] [8]

The Pit boss

In 1985, Hackleman moved from Hawaii to California and renamed his martial arts style, Hawaiian Kempo. The Pit is the only Hawaiian Kempo school that uses the Ke-m-po spelling, instead of the more commonly used Ke-n-po. Hackleman describes his style as more hardcore than other Hawaiian Kenpo schools. He gave his school the style name "KuZen," a word derived from mix "Ku," the Hawaiian god of war, and "Zen," for Zen Buddhism: this name was intended to attract children and families. [2]

Training style

Hawaiian Kempo (a.k.a. Kajukenbo) blends kenpo, karate, judo, jiu-jitsu, boxing and wrestling. The Pit places a heavy emphasis on "CrossPit": [9] The Pit's specialty strength and conditioning fitness program developed in the vein of CrossFit. [10] In order to add more time for a fitness-oriented curriculum aimed at producing well-conditioned athletes, training katas were eliminated from the original KaJuKenBo formula. Practicality and usability are emphasized in the areas of striking and grappling. Bag training is emphasized both standing and on the ground.

Since the school began accepting non-fighters, they train students from ages three years and up. The school uses three separate belt systems; one for ages three to eight, nine through 13, and adults. [11] [12] [13] [14]

Notable fighters who have trained at The Pit

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenpō</span> Name of several Japanese martial arts

Kenpō is the name of several arts. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel. The word Kenpō translates thus: "Ken" meaning 'Fist' and "Po" meaning 'Method' or 'Law' as in 'Law of gravity', a correct interpretation of the word Kenpō would be 'Fist Method', the same meaning as 'Quanfa'. However, it is often misinterpreted as 'the Law of the Fist'. The generic nature of the term combined with its widespread, cross-cultural adoption in the martial arts community has led to many divergent definitions.

Kajukenbo is a hybrid martial art from Hawaii. It was developed in the late 1940s and founded in 1947 in the Palama Settlement on Oahu, Territory of Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Liddell</span> American mixed martial arts fighter (born 1969)

Charles David Liddell is an American former professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and is widely credited, along with fellow UFC fighter Randy Couture, with helping bring MMA into the mainstream of American sports and entertainment. Known as "The Iceman", Liddell achieved a 16–7 UFC record, and an overall record of 21–9, with 13 of his wins coming by way of knockout. He retired in late 2010, then came out of retirement for one bout in 2018, in a loss to rival Tito Ortiz. On July 10, 2009, Liddell was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Horn</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

Jeremy Graham Horn is an American mixed martial artist. Horn is best known for fighting in smaller American promotions, he has also competed in some of the premiere mixed martial arts organizations around the world, including the UFC, WEC, PRIDE, Bellator, Pancrase, the IFL, King of the Cage, and the International Fighting Championships (IFC). Horn is the former King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion and has also competed in the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Diaz</span> American mixed martial artist

Nickolas Robert Diaz is an American professional boxer and mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight and middleweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Diaz is a former Strikeforce, WEC and IFC welterweight champion and a UFC title challenger. He also notably competed in PRIDE, EliteXC, DREAM, and Shooto. Nick is the older brother of former UFC fighter Nate Diaz, with the pair of brothers being one of the biggest influences in the sport of MMA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Kickboxing Academy</span> Martial arts gym in San Jose, California

The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) is a mixed martial arts gym based in San Jose, California. It is one of the pioneering schools of mixed martial arts (MMA). In 2014, AKA opened the AKA Thailand gym in Phuket, Thailand. Prominent trainers include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Leandro Vieira, Bob Cook, Derek Yuen, Javier Mendez, and Andy Fong. Within the facility, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Boxing classes are taught. Additional programs include conditioning and circuit training with TRX Suspension and Combat Circuit. The AKA is one of the top professional MMA training camps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Kwai-sun Chow</span> American martial artist

William Kwai-sun Chow was instrumental in the development of the martial arts in the United States, specifically the family of styles referred to as kenpo/kempo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Jardine</span> American actor and mixed martial arts fighter

Keith Jardine is an American actor and retired mixed martial artist who most notably competed in the UFC and Strikeforce.

Martin Thomas Buell was an American karateka who founded the Universal Kempo Karate Schools Association in 1981. Headquartered in Aiea, Hawaii, Universal Kempo teaches Chinese Kempo Karate, and has branches throughout the United States. Buell was a commissioner for the Professional Karate Association, and a rating chairman for Karate Illustrated Magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Banuelos</span> American mixed martial arts fighter

Juan Antonio Banuelos is an American former mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division.

Damacio Page is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing for Legacy Fighting Championship in the Bantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2005, Page has also formerly competed for the WEC, the UFC, Pancrase, King of the Cage, and also fought at K-1 Premium Dynamite 2006!!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Kennedy (fighter)</span> American Special Forces soldier and mixed martial arts fighter

Timothy Fred Kennedy is an American soldier and retired mixed martial artist. A professional from 2001 until 2016, he has fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, the WEC, ShoMMA, HDNet Fights, and represented the Chicago Red Bears in the IFL. Kennedy is one of the few fighters to simultaneously serve in the United States Army and fight professionally. He is also a television host, producer, and entrepreneur.

<i>The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz</i> UFC mixed martial arts television series and event in 2010

The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz is the eleventh installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. The show began taping in early 2010 and premiered on Spike on March 31, 2010. The live finale of the show was June 19, 2010.

Lavar F. Johnson is an American bare-knuckle boxer and former Heavyweight mixed martial artist. A professional from 2004 until 2014, he competed for the UFC, the WEC, Strikeforce and Bellator MMA.

Kara-Ho Kempo is a martial art created in the 1930s by the late William Kwai Sun Chow of Hawaii. The system can best be described as a series of rapid strikes to the vital areas of an opponent. The system calls for an equal use of both the hands and feet and, also, teaches self-defense techniques against weapons and multiple attackers.

The Alliance MMA Gym is an American mixed martial arts training facility located in Chula Vista, California and is home to a number of professional mixed martial artists who have found success in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), Strikeforce and Bellator. The Alliance MMA Gym is one of the top professional MMA training camps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaolin Kempo Karate</span>

Shaolin Kenpo Karate is a martial art style that combines the Five Animals of Shaolin Kung Fu (Shaolinquan), the core competency of Kempo, the hard-hitting linear explosiveness of traditional Karate, as well as the power of Western boxing and the felling and grappling arts of Jujutsu, Chin Na, and Mongolian wrestling. This system was founded and developed by Fredrick J. Villari, who devised a hybrid system which integrated the four ways of fighting: striking, kicking, felling, and grappling to eliminate the inherent weakness of martial arts systems that focus on just one or two of fighting techniques.

Luigi Mondelli is a Brazilian-American Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, Combatives Specialist, and MMA Coach based in Danbury, Connecticut. He is the head coach of American Top Team's Connecticut program under the umbrella of Ricardo Libório and the co-founder and head coach of his own program, KORE. Mondelli is a five-time Panamerican champion and a three-time world masters champion.

John Hackleman is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) coach who founded the The Pit and former professional boxer. He is best known for training UFC Light Heavyweight Champions Chuck Liddell and Glover Teixeira.

References

  1. ↑ "Ultimate Regimen: A fighting champion gets intense". Sports Illustrated - SI.com. 2007-04-09. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  2. 1 2 3 "John Hackleman article". Knucklepit.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  3. ↑ "ThePitMalibu - Instructors". ThePitMalibu.com. 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  4. ↑ "ESPN Page 2- This guy scares you?". ESPN.com. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  5. ↑ "The Pit Instructors". ThePitMMA.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  6. ↑ "UFC notebook: Liddell, Ortiz truckin' on 'Route 66'". The Boston Herald. 2007. Archived from the original on 2006-12-06. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  7. ↑ "Antonio Banuelos_WEC_Pit_Tapout reality show". Yahoo! Canada. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-22.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "About The Pit". thePit.TV. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  9. ↑ "Crosspit.tv". Crosspit.tv. 2012-11-30. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  10. ↑ "Crossfit website". Cross-fit. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  11. ↑ "What is Hawaiian Kempo". The Pit. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  12. ↑ "The Pit Hawaiian Kempo". homeofthepit.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  13. ↑ ""Pit Boss" John Hackleman Speaks About Liddell's Loss". Chuck Liddell: Official Site. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  14. ↑ "Hackleman Keeps It Old School for Liddell". UFC.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.