Boztepe goes MMA

[bncwd]

Hi it's been a long time since I posted here last time, so I want to start again with a "nice" news: in a stage we did last saturday (I live in Italy), Emin Boztepe said he's going to stop doing WT, and dedicate himself to MMA, and that he wants to enter the fighting sport "business" (I think not directly himself but as a school).

The reason behind this is that in US the WT business is too small and he wants to expand in new "markets".

Personally the news do not affect me as I will still be doing WT here (I forecast a break with EBMAS from my association of instructors); I have been doing MMA in the past in fact and I changed because I wanted to do something different, so I think I will stick with them.

I am just curious as what kind of approach he will be taking in training, maybe more emphasis in physical training (which at the moment is zero in classes, you've got to do it by yourself), and at the end he will intorduce some kind of wrestling (turkish?)

Your thoughts?

Ciao

[Dr. No]

"will intorduce some kind of wrestling (turkish?)"

How cool that would be!

ahh the sight of glistening oily men fighting each other like .. STALLIONS!

[Fantasy Warrior]

If he really makes a genuine switch... great. But personally I smell bullshit -commercialisation and excuses for his past history with MMA.

[SamHarber]

It can only be a good thing.

By good, I mean make me laugh like a hyena.

[MrMcFu]

Well, he is supossed to be the leading tough guy in WT. I have myself trained with him a bit and he can kick my ass quite easily (not saying much though).

Maybe he can get in Pride or UFC on his name alone.

Maybe a match with a gracie would take place, or how about Nog or Silva?

[Fantasy Warrior]

I'd love to see him use the WT Ani-grappling...

What this really means is that his WT blackbelts will suddenly call themselves MMA blackbelts.

[slideyfoot]

at the end he will intorduce some kind of wrestling (turkish?)

I'm guessing thats an assumption, as to my (limited) knowledge, Boztepe has no knowledge of yagli gures? I could be wrong. However, I would have thought it unlikely as I think training in yagli gures tends to be professional (i.e., specifically geared towards the annual tournament) rather than an amateur interest, with schools dotting Kirkpinar (near Edirne), where the annual tournament is held. Although I don't know that for certain - just going by what my father said when I mentioned I'd be interested in trying a Turkish martial art.

More info (http://www.pilot.co.uk/festivals/kirkpinar.html) (interesting despite rather silly claim that "The Turk's are the world's toughest wrestlers", and I say that as a Turk myself :icon_smil )

Yagli gures event in Japan (http://www.ne.jp/asahi/bayside/yokohama/En/doc/ktvevent.html)

[MrMcFu]

Emin can wrestle. So can his student that I trained under, Sifu Ashkan Sarabi. In fact we would do some wrestling as part of the ciriculum. Don't think Emin is a big pussy or pushover just because he does WT. He is strong, in good shape (when I saw him), and very aggressive. He is also a very hard puncher and I feel he could KO most people with his chain punching.

I don't like WT because most of its application doesn't work and I got tired of the endless forms. I happen to think there are better ways to train. However, the gym which Ashkan Sarabi runs is quite good in terms of teaching someone how to fight.

They are pictured together here.

http://www.jinai.de/home_de/Galerie/Wing%20Tzun/wt_1.html

[Dr. No]

Love the link Slideyfoot. too bad the NHB dudes aren't wearing a kispet.

There's something about yagli gures, that makes me always want to contribute to a thread even remotely covering it

[MrMcFu]

He should do OK. I don't see him winning Pride or anything, but surely he won't be stuck at the low levels. I see him making it as one of those second string guys that you see occassionaly.

Good prediction. Age is against him.

[WingChun Lawyer]

I don't like WT because most of its application doesn't work and I got tired of the endless forms. I happen to think there are better ways to train.

My position exactly. Still, it will be nice to see a skilled guy or three trying to chain punch their way through the UFC or Pride.

[wingchunnewbie]

Good prediction. Age is against him.


I just read his bio and it says he started studying MA in 1976 at the age of 14, so he's 42/43. Let's hope he has Coture-like anti-aging genes.

[wingchunnewbie]

My position exactly. Still, it will be nice to see a skilled guy or three trying to chain punch their way through the UFC or Pride.

I doubt he'll be doing too much chain punching.

[Stold3]

Should be interesting to see WC techs thrown in with the rest of the MMA techs.

[Fantasy Warrior]

But WT is complete! ...according to the websites...

[SLJ]

"or how about Nog or Silva?"

Maybe if you wanted him dead.

Fair play to him though if he's prepared to get in there.