Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Sept. 22, 2010, edition 1 / Page 20
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PAGE 20 11 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 SPORTS THE PENDULUinf Elon students go to Burlington gym for MMA training, instruction Conor O’Neill Assistant Sports Editor The sensation that is mixed martial arts training does not fall short of having an impact on Elon University students. Several students participate in MMA training at the Alamance Black Belt Academy in Burlington, and the program is drawing new members every week. Jason Thomas is the owner of the gym and an instructor of not only MMA students, but also of taekwondo students in Burlington. Junior Elon student Connor Locklin, who regularly trains at the gym, said he noticed three new participants from Elon a few weeks ago. “Students come in and either like it and stick with it, or it’s Just not their thing and they leave pretty quick,” Locklin said. The sport is defined as being a full contact sport in which a variety of fighting techniques are used to pin an opponent. Part of the reason for the gain in popularity is the fact that martial artists of different backgrounds are able to compete. The draw of the sport attracts college students who have had prior experience with contact sports or martial arts. “I would say anyone who may have wrestled in high school has gone in there at some point to try their hand and see how it fits," Locklin said. “My background was karate. I did that for 11 years before coming here and wanted to stay active in martial arts." But even beyond those with previous wrestling and martial arts backgrounds, there is another group of students drawn to the gym, as well, Thomas said. “A couple guys coming in here now are rugby guys, and they just like contact," Thomas said. While the Academy also attracts youth members who are interested in karate, most of the college-aged members are interested in the MMA aspect of the training. “For families and kids, mostly they want to do the traditional martial arts and get their black belt,” Thomas said. “Guys who are 18, 20 years old and up are doing mixed martial arts.” The difference in interests between age groups is because of the target audience for MMA. “It’s just the demographic,” Thomas said. “A lot of guys who are doing mixed martial arts now have done karate or '“'mZ raSestants must go through and weight lifting training in order to compete, and there ar many ways for athletes to train for competitions. "The Lw rage in MMA is CrossFit, which is primarily exercises with minimal equipment to cover the same areas ot strength training,” Locklin said, ,.hiPtPc Thomas said that CrossFit is the new way for MMA athletes to train and the benefits of the workout are evident. “It’s more applicable to real world strength, and you’re doing a lot of timed stuff,” Thomas said. “A typical workout might be run 400 meters and do so many number of pull-ups and so many numbers of medicine ball throws or something like that. And do five rounds of that for time,” As one can imagine, a workout of that magnitude can wear on athletes who are not in the best shape. “The workouts are usually pretty intense,” Locklin said. “I do what 1 can, but I’m not in the greatest shape right now.” With a little less than two years remaining until his graduation, Locklin plans to head to Las Vegas, an area he describes as a ‘hotbed’ for MMA training schools. “I’ve been to Las Vegas for a few days randomly and gone by to see some of the gyms, and they are pretty impressive, Locklin said. “If you imagine a Gold’s Gym, a boxing school and a college wrestling room with really high tech equipment." While the Alamance Black Belt Academy may not be as elaborate as the gyms in Las Vegas, it still provides Elon students place to train and hone their skills. “I WOULD SAY ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE WRESTLED IN HIGH SCHOOL HAS GONE IN THERE AT SOME POINT TO TRY THEIR HAND AND SEE HOW IT FITS.” -CONOR LOCKLIN ELON UNIVERSITY JUNIOR ELON ATHLETICS THIS WEEK SEPT 24 - 28 Friday 9/24 Men’s tennis (Georgia Intercollegiates) - All Day Men's golf (Sea Trails Intercollegiate) - All Day Women's golf (Sea Trails Intercollegiate) — All Day Women's soccer @ Samford — 8 p.m. Saturday 9/25 Men's tennis (Georgia Intercollegiates) — All Day Men's golf (Sea Trails Intercollegiate) — All Day Women's golf (Sea Trails Intercollegiate) — All Day Football @ Georgia Southern — 6 p.m. Men's soccer @ Davidson — 7 p.m. Volleyball vs. Samford — 7 p.m. Sunday 9/26 Men’s tennis (Georgia Intercollegiates) — All Day Men's golf (Sea Trails Intercollegiate) — All Day Women’s golf (Sea Trails Intercollegiate) — All Day Volleyball vs. Chattanooga — 2 p.m. Women’s soccer at Chattanooga — 2 p.m. Tuesday 9/28 Men’s soccer vs. Duke — 7 p.m ATHLETIC RESULTS SEPT 17 - SEPT 19 The Alamance Black Belt Academy The facility is located atjout four miles off Eton's campus and offers instruction In: • Tae Kwon Do • Mixed Martial Arts • Braziilan Jiu Jitsu • Muay Thai • Judo • Kickboxing • Wrestling Football Sept. 18 Elon 21 Richmond 27 Men’s Soccer Sept. 17 Richmond 0 Elon 4 Sept. 19 Jacksonville 1 Elon 1 Women’s Soccer Sept. 17 Elon 0 Longwood 6 Sept. 19 Eton 1 Virginia Commonwealth 1 Volleyt>all Sept. 17 Eton 1 Camptjell 3 Sept. 18 Eton 2 UNCW3 EtonO North Carolina State 3 ONE ON ONE Tom Waterman and Josh Norris ^xxts Commentators College football standouts Now that we are a few weeks into college football season, which teams have really stood out and impressed so far, and who are the early Heisman Trophy Favorites? TOM WATERMAN A few of the teams that have really impressed me so tar would have to be ttie University of Nebraska and the University of Arkansas. These two teams with highly contrasting styles of play both entered this year with very high expectations and have not disappointed. Nebraska has been dominating op>ponents and made potential first round pick Jake Locker look terrible last weekend as he completed only four of 20 passes en route to a 56-21 Nebraska victory. /\nd /Arkansas has tseen just as strong as they head into their weekend showdown against No. 1 University of /Mabama. JOSH NORRIS I agree with you on Nebraska. Head coach Bo Pelini finally has a few recruiting classes under his belt, giving him the type of players he needs to succeed. Regarding Arkansas, I think ttiey are irrelevant. As you mentioned, the Razortjacks play Alatiama next w/eek, which is just the beginning of the rugged SEC schedule. /Arkansas will t>e just another team in a few w«eks. I am going with the University of /Vrizona. Head coach Mike Stoops relishes In ttie underdog role, and this team is toaded with hard-working talent and play In a wide-open Pac-10 conference. Nick Fotes, ttie Wildcats quartertsack, is forgotten in ttie discusston of ttie quartert>ack-tieavy Pac-10, txjt ttiat vwll soon change. /Vxjttier good sign is ttiey have passed ttieir tougtiest defensive challerige, which was stopping ttie top defensive talent In ttie country, ttie University of Iowa's /\drian Claybom. /Vrtzxxia’s final four weeks of ttie season have ttiem facing diffkxilt opponents, txjt took for ttiem to tDe in ttie picture wtien crowning the Pac-10 champton. TOM 1 like Arizona a lot too, but that brutal three- game stretch against Stanford University, an undenated University of Southern California team and the University of Oregon is going to ultimately tie /Arizona’s undoing in the Pac-10 race. Now as we look towards ttie early Heisman favorites, there are a few notatile names ttiat really stick out to me — tfiey are Oregon’s LaMichael James, University of Michigan’s Denard Robinson, Boise State University’s Kellen Moore and University of Alatama’s Mark Ingram. All four of ttiese players are going to put up monster numt)ers for their respective teams, and you can never overlook the t)est player on the t)est teams in the country in the case of both Moore and Ingram. JOSH How about two more names, Andy Dalton of Texas Christian University and Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State University? Dalton has a very strong chance, especially if the teams ranked above Texas Christian falter. A longtime starter for the Horned Frogs, Dalton understands the offense and is a great decision maker. He is the typical college quartertack that lacks the skills to make it in the NFL, but we have seen many of those types of players win the Heisman Trophy before, one being Ty Detmer, who vras the last vwnner from a non-BCS conference. If Dalton wins, he becomes ttie tiotder of that title. It is easy to love Jacquizz Rodgers' game. He is a very undersized and shifty running back that consistently makes ptay«. In a conference with no dear frontrunner. Rodgers could become a highly discussed player if Oregon State can assert themselves as a contender in ttie Pac-10. Men’s soccer overcomes early deficit, plays to tie MOUY CAREY | Staff Ptratographer midfielder Gabe Latigue had four shots and one shot F men’s soccer game Sept. 19 at home Carolina University. He was one of 10 players with Aftl with shots on goal, by senior battled back with a goal forward Chris Th Miller in the first half and one by sophomore wS ' ma"chVsalu”dwag™""lL
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