A kickboxer, she is - News Article

[PizDoff]

A kickboxer, she is
A world champion shows us the ropes of this full-contact sport

Do not let the sweet voice, short stature or polite manners of 34-year-old Lori Burney fool you: She packs the power of a world-class kickboxer into a tiny frame. The Simpsonville resident and mother of two has been at her sport for six years, and she trains four days a week, anywhere from an hour to two-and-a-half.

"I love just the physical aspect of it," she says. "It's just very intense."

In July, she was crowned world champion of the International Kickboxing Federation in a middleweight division, and that comes after being the 2000 North American classic champion. The self-employed fighter has been in nine bouts and is looking forward to a September match in Virginia. One of her goals, she says, is to fight overseas somewhere.

She'll freely admit the sport's dangers. She's never been knocked out, but she has knocked another out before. Plus, there's been a broken wrist, cracked foot bone and other small fractures. "To have a black eye is not uncommon for me." But much of that, she says, is lessened with experience.

She's part of a team of six kickboxers at Upstate Karate in Simpsonville. Another fighter, Constance Thomason, 38, of Greenville, who's a world champion in another weight category, says the sport has a strong mental component.

"After you get done with the training, you can go home and tackle issues with a level head," Thomason says.

Oh, and by "training," as Burney points out, they mean 140 pull-ups, hundreds of push-ups and enough body exercises to make you sore for days.

Their instructor, Ray Thompson, says anyone with discipline, balance and core strength (a strong mid-section), can grow into a solid fighter like these. But, as their passion illustrates, when you're hooked, you're hooked.

"I'm probably staying in the martial arts," Burney says, "pretty much forever."

Sidekick

1. Take the fighting stance, hands up and feet spread apart.
2. Turn back foot away from body. Keep hands up. Raise leg to a level 90-degree angle. This stores energy.
3. Extend your leg forcefully into target (ideally, the opponent's chest). Make sure your heel, not your toes, is the point of contact.

Jab and head punch

1. Take the fighting stance, hands up and feet spread apart.
2. Extend right hand, punching with the pointer and middle knuckles. Lean into the punch.
3. Use twisting momentum to power the left hand drive, punching, again, with the pointer and middle knuckles. Bend your back left leg, and put your weight into it.

Bob and weave

1. Take the fighting stance, hands up and feet spread apart.
2. Begin to rotate body in a clockwise motion, always keeping hands near the face, ready to strike or block.
3. Continue the motion low and around. It should be fast and fluid. The goal is to dodge a punch and then duck under it.

http://www.upstatelink.com/apps/pbcs...609120306/1126

I thought it was a decent run-of-the-mill article until the disasterous attempt at describing several techniques.

[Anna Kovacs]

Another fighter, Constance Thomason, 38, of Greenville, who's a world champion in another weight category...

*coughs* http://download.yousendit.com/1A71D2F36D0D80AA

[PizDoff]

I'm sure SOMEONE in ATL would be interested in doing an article about women in sports. Go contact their offices!

[JennaD]

And the fact that Lori Burney didn't win the 2000 IKF event. She won the 2004 event. And, she's no where near middleweight. She weighed in at 115 last weekend. Don't reporters EVER check their facts???