4
P R IN T : Sports
Wednesday, March 6,2013
Tipping
the scales
in the N it
“Always give one-hundred per
cent, and you'll never have to
second guess yourself." j
- Tommy John
The evolution o f sport has
often meant bigger, faster,
and stronger. While this is
great when watching athletic
freaks like LeBron James,
Calvin Johnson or Usain Bolt
dominate their opponents, it
becomes an issue when con
cussion and injury problems
rise to the forefront.
Currently, more than 1,500
players are teaming up to sue
the NFL for allegedly hiding
the dangers o f concussions
from them. But the brain dam
age caused by repeated blows
to the head is going to be
a minor problem compared
to the sleeping giant that lies
beneath the sheets in the NFL.
The real problem that is
ready to explode onto the
scene is the exponential rise in
300 plus pound athletes play
ing ih the NFL over the past 30
years and the health issues that
arise for those carrying that
extra weight. The statistics are
startling and downright scary.
According to information
provided by Stats LLC, there
was one 300-pound player in
the league in 1970, three in
1980, 94 in 1990, 301 in 2000
and 394 at the start o f the 2010
season.
When the Green Bay
Packers won the first Super
..ftis htayiafili ■
player on their roster was 265
Student Josh Manfredi watches as instructor KC Thompson demonstrates a triangle choke at Impact BJJ in Gladstone. Wrapping his left leg around Zack
Force’s neck, he brings the right leg over left ankle and squeezes the head and arm to finish the choke.
David Beasley
Associate Sports Editor
Among the plethora of popu
lar martial arts available to prac
titioners in various locations
around the Portland Metro area
is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The art is
defined by leverage and tech
nique; it is the chess of grap
pling combat. Closer than any
other prominent Jiu Jitsu school
in Clackamas County is Impact
BJJ of Gladstone.
Regularly roaming the mats
at Gladstone is purple belt KC
Thompson. He knew BJJ was
—.the, s p o r t- fo r . hinq q ft.er.w in n in g
his first competitive match by
pound Hall o f Fame guard .
Kimura arm lock submission.
Jerry Kramer. The famed Steel
“I’ve been training almost
Curtain defense that; led the
five and a half years now,” said
Pittsburgh Steelers Ho four -
Thompson.
Super Bowl titles in six sea
He has recent first place finish
sons in the ‘70s! was led by
“Mean Joe” Greene at a rela
es in BJJ competitions at the 2012
tively slim 275 pounds.
U.S. Open, 2012 Las Vegas Open
The list o f tnedicafcondi- g
and 2012 Pan-Ams. Thompson is
tions related to carrying an
also a self proclaimed adrenaline
extra 50-100 pounds o f weight
is long and deadly. High blood | ’ junkie.
“I was skydiving before I start
pressure, obesity, sleep apnea,
ed [Jiu Jitsu] and I still skydive
arthritic joints, diabetes and
elevated blood pressure and I now,” said Thompson.
cholesterollevelsha^MBTbe^'.-.'
Originally called Straight Blast
linked to past and current NFL.
Gym in 1998, Impact BJJ offers
players. Over the next 516-20 I '
classes in numerous locations,
years, a lot of these 306 plus
including Portland Community
pound players wtfrbl y a chmg'"
College. The Gladstone school
the end of their ro a d iS
is conveniently located at 17763
When M i n n e s o g B a H H
Southeast 82nd Dr. This new
Korey Stringer, a ’335 poia
addition to the local combat com
offensive lineman, died from
munity brings high quality Jiu
complications of heat stroke s
at training camp in 2001, the I
Jitsu instruction closer than ever
NFL revised its workflt|Qstf|B
before.
cies and began to test q
Impact took over 10th Planet
effectively for heart issues^ «'
Jiu Jitsu which was located
Although, the NFL has ft,
just down the road on Jennifer
had another heat related death
Street. Shortly after that, Impact
since, early
BJJ moved to 82nd Drive. Josh
mon for former
Manfredi is a student who has
In 2002, lbrmBr,.
made the transition as well.
Orleans Saints linemen Frank
“I trained at this place before it
Warren died at age.43
a heart attack.. In 2004, Halfrl;
of Fame defensive linemen '
Reggie White also passed ?
away at 43 due to a cardiac
arrhythmia that w a i| related :
to sleep apnea. T h^follow -
ing year, San Francisco 49ers
offensive lineman Thomas •'
Herrion collapsed and died
after a pre-season game due to
heart disease from a blocked
coronary arteiy. All three play
ers were well over 300 pounds
in their playing d a y s .S
All o f these guys were big, *
strong men in what should
have been the prime o f their
life. All were very good at
pushing other, smaller men
around and they paid the ulti
mate price for being too big,
too strong and too good at
what they did. ! ■agg I
Was it all really worth it?
B JJ blue belt Zack Force practices a basic arm lock with Josh Manfredi; grabbing the collar and controlling thè
arm, he will kick o ff o f Manfredi’s left hip with his right fo o t and swing-his left leg over the right shoulder to lock
the arm.
./ Z
was Impact. It started out as 10th provide quality training at their
Planet Jiu Jitsu,” said Manfredi. | numerous schools. One of the tal
“It’s not really a martial arts class. ented staff members at Gladstone
It’s like a community which is | is Thompson. As a purple belt,
really cool.”
Thompson brings his experience
The school-has a strong lineage of competing in BJJ tournaments
linking them to the most famous • to his coachmg Style. He also has
BJJ family, the Grades. Impact I an uplifting sense of humor and
BJJ owner Michael Chapman I lightens the mood With tension
received his black belt in 2004 breaking jokes or funny explana
from Chris Haueter, one of the tions of techniques.
first Americans ever to earn a BJJ
Steven Chang, a student at
black belt. Haueter studied under | Impact, has been training in BJJ
Rigan Machado, a Brazilian who for about, 15 months. He likes
in turn received his black belt the community feeling offered at
under Carlos Grade. Brothers Impact.
Carlos and Helio Grade ate the
“We’ve got a pretty tight group
founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
' of people framing every day,” said ‘
Chapman has assembled a * Chang. “Training with people you
competent team of instructors to „ don’t trust, or don’t know what to
Grabbing Zack Force’s right sleeve, KC Thompson begins to demonstrate a sweep t
Force’s right pant leg and swings Force over with leverage rather than pure strength.
do, you can get injured.”
Impact BJJ of Gladstone ii
the perfect meeting place for sea
soned grapplers and novices alike
It is a great environment to refini
basic techniques and learn new
strategies.
Offering different levels; o]
membership land a punch earc
type payment system, students
cap plan their workouts arounc
busy schedules. Chapman him
self leads some- of the sessions
at Gladstone, along with othei
high ranked instructors. Classes
are offered in the afternoon and
evening Monday through Friday.
Full Schedule and more details
are available at www.impactjj.
com.
.