Maavideo.com with the Last Round Book Tour with Randy Couture.

The world of MMA and how it has grown. Yes, it's all about the Modern Day Warrior of martial arts and it's mixed. Throws, take downs, sweeps, locks and holds. In my day I had Kick Boxing and Thai Boxing... 'The Rules' dictated the sport. I got a glimpse into the real world of MMA and UFC from the perspective of a Legend. A Modern Day Hero that can fight, yet he took up a sport and now we can read about how he got there. Surely this must be helping others.

Randy Couture has truly diversified from soldier to athlete and World Champion UFC Legend. Heres a few photos of our day in Manchester and then a quick drive over to Liverpool to show Randy the North.

The Last Round Tour -                   To buy the book Click Here !!!

Reading Randy's last book 'Becoming the Natrual' I was impressed, I wanted to meet another champion in the world of martial arts. I learnt Judo for a bit but as Thai rules go there are no hips throws, it's against the rules and could have got me disqualified, times have changed and we must all still learn to explore our chosen sport. My Judo instructor John Best said 'A man that can not stand on his feet, can not throw a punch or a kick'. Well I am still learning and Randy would be the perfect sportsman to talk to champion to champion.

I never wanted to just hang up my gloves, here's something that Randy Couture, Big Joe Egan (formerly Mike Tyson's sparring partner and in the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes films as Big Joe) and myself all have in common. Manchester and Liverpool is were we started the conversion, boxing! That what's in common, boxing. We all appreciated the fact that western boxing is an art and hasn't had it's rightful place in MMA, yet, due to the rules of the sport. Joe explained that if boxers wanted to do MMA they would be doing it right know and they are not, why because they don't have any throwing or ground work skills.

Randy agreed and explain that boxing is so beautiful that all MMA practitioners should learn boxing and understand it's dangers and use's, he explained that he isn't a knockout specialist and he would rather compete using his skills as a wrestler as a posed to his punching power, MMA should embrace western boxing and both parties join in the fun. Randy looked at his career and the fight as a fun place. It's a sport that is going to grow.

Randy invited Joe along on the tour so that Joe could explain this to the audience.

Well after all this, it surley was more that just a book tour.

Champion to champion. Both of us around 50. I got in early, about 30 years ago and I wasn't supposed to win either.

Yorksire Evening Post news story Randy visit Leeds.

Unfortunately I didn't get to the Leeds book signing, but I had arranged a nice treat for two of my student from our after school project. I was so pleased, Randy is a gentleman, after thousands of photo's around the UK the Legend still took time out with the students, he signed there book and a large photo for them to be framed. 

I would like to thank Randy, the kids and S Miller, contributing to the world of modern martial arts. The after school project has been going strong for over 6 years now. Finally with have a chance to promote fun and self defence into modern day teaching.

And Randy I thank you again.

...Ronnie Green