Foreword

Martial arts generally thought of in terms of style or system, which is loyally supported with the same fervor given to a fraternal organization. Full-contact karate does not claim any one style. Rather it gives credit to all of the fighting arts for its application. Through this sport, new techniques in training and competition have surfaced by modifying many of our traditional methods.
Being the pioneer in any sport always means traveling a path full of pitfalls. The men to meet this challenge were few in number. They came primarily from the ranks of traditional karate, trying to fill the void of competitors. Some succeeded. Most didn’t.
When the history books were written about these early men and women of full-contact karate, there will be a special place of honor given to Benny Urquidez. He has bridged that chasm between amateur and professional and by doing so blazed a trail for others to follow.
Nicknamed “The Jet” because of his quick effective style, this versatile, champion has traveled the world competing with the best that a country had to offer. He has bested the best in their own hometowns, playing their own rules. But perhaps just as important, he has not only made new friends during his new travels, but many new converts to the sport as well.
Benny “The Jet” Urquidez fights like a champion, but just as notable, he also has the attitude of a champion. The Champ looks upon the entire matter of competition as exciting, enlightening, and an exercise in mental strategy as well as physical strategy.
After numerous requests by his legion of fans to write a book on his training and competing techniques, he has finally agreed. But where do you begin?
Over the many years that Benny Urquidez has taught the martial arts and the thousands of students that have learned from him, he has noted a similarity in the questions that were asked. They seem to be universal, with each step of training bringing forth new problems to solve in the mind of the student.
He has taken the most frequent asked questions and answered them for all to understand. The new questions have been separated into the chapter headings that divide the book. It is hoped that this method will enhance your learning method.
Benny Urquidez was a champion competitor in the traditional arts for over 14 years. All of the techniques he uses in the ring are credited to their origin in the martial arts. For that reason this book is perfect not only for the karate practitioner and the tournament fighter, but also for the full-contact competitor. Everything you see in this book has been tried and proven in actual competition. It works for him and it works for his students. With practice and desire to be the best it will work for you as well.

Preface

To my knowledge, this is the first book on professional full-contact karate. The overwhelming number of requests for me to put my thoughts and techniques down on paper prompted me to pass on to you the knowledge and methods which have made me the competitor I am today.
When full contact karate began as a sport in the United States in the early seventies, few saw any future in it. Many saw it as detrimental to traditional karate. I felt just the opposite. Here was a sport that could open up new vistas, allow martial artist freedom to explore new methods and combine them with already established techniques for a better, more practical form of combat. I also realized that unlike boxing, traditional karate had no mass audience appeal because it was all based on techniques pulled short of target. It was extremely difficult to follow, except for the trained eye. I felt that with full contact, a whole new world would open up which would benefit the traditionalist as well as the experimentalist.
As the sport grew and became recognized, one drawback became apparent. Few fighters were ready to step into the professional ring. Those who tried soon discovered that full-contact karate was unlike its non-professional counterpart. An even larger problem was that few trainers were available to teach the upcoming fighters the proper methods of full-contact fighting.
That is the major reason for this book. I have been fortunate in having the best coach from the very beginning, my brother Arnold Urquidez, and in being given the freedom to experiment my own ideas. Through dedication and hard work, I reached the top in the sport. Now I want to take this knowledge and pass it on to you.
My major objective is not to discard the traditional arts. They are my foundation. I want to expand the minds of all of you who are ready to learn. I want to show you that there are modified methods that can and do work. The key is to learn to adapt yourself to your situation and flow with it. Don’t restrict yourself. If I can accomplish this for you, then I have done my share in the growth if the sport. I sincerely hope, as you read though these pages, that you will go with what I am saying and take it as far as you can.

SPEED

Is speed the most important overall development for karate competition?
Yes. For both offensive and defensive techniques, you must have speed. Your reaction time must be quick to get in and out. Speed requires quick reaction time and strength to push and pull your body and weapons.

Is it easier to develop speed in your hands or your feet?
It is easier to develop speed in your hands because you don’t carry as much weight.

How do you work on developing your reflexes?
There is only one way to develop your reflexes and that is through repetition. Initially, you have to mentally train an action until it becomes just that, a reflex. You develop it through repetition.

Can you train to make distancing a weapon itself?
Distancing can be a weapon, but not by itself of course. You would first test your opponent with, let’s say, a feint. You see if your opponent moves back or stays put. If he moves back more than once in reaction to your feint, then you can be pretty certain that he always will because that is how he has trained. I always say that the way you train is the way you act. Knowing this bit of information, you can create distance between you and him with a feint, thereby setting him up for a jump kick or other long range technique.

Is speed related to size?
Usually the smaller person has the advantage because he is closer to the ground and can maneuver more quickly. The taller person, because of his farther distance to the ground and his physical weight, would be slower than his smaller counterpart.

Where does power come from?
Power starts from the center of the gut. You can develop power with equipment, such as weight and bags, but the most important kind of power is mental discipline. You’ve heard, I’m sure, of some people who are actually incredibly strong when they were in some kind of panic situation. It’s not that they’ve trained for it, it is just that their mental powers took over and they were able to do things that they never considered doing before.

Do you think power is necessary for fighting?
You definitely have got to have power in your hands, legs, gut, and mind to be and effective fighter.

What is the difference between power and strength?
People who have power are not necessarily strong. Strength comes internally. Power comes more from the outside of the body.

What is the difference between nautilus and barbell workouts?
Nautilus equipment works against your own power and strength. Barbells are dead weights that work against gravity. Nautilus builds inner strength. Barbells build outer strength and bulk, which could have a tendency to shorten your reach.

How can a person strengthen their wrists?
There are many good exercises that are available. Some of the more popular ones are squeezing a ball or squeezing vise grips which use a spring for tension. One of the times you can use a barbell or dumbbells. Hold them at 90 degree angle and move your wrists up and down.

Will dynamic tension exercises increase strength?
I believe that dynamic tension is the best kind of strengthening exercise that a person can do. The reason for this is because you are not pushing with more than your strength nor less than your strength. You are pushing against your own limitations. So as you become stronger, the tension increases.

Is hip rotation important in giving you power?
Yes, hip rotation is very important. However, it is best utilized if, rather than going into a locked position, it goes past that position of locking. Hip rotation is important for combinations.

What is more powerful, hands or feet?
Naturally the feet are more powerful because they are heavier. The muscles are bigger and the femur bone in the thigh is the largest bone in the body.

Can a smaller guy be as powerful and a bigger guy?
Yes, definitely. It is not so much the outer bulk, but the inner strength that is important. Then we’re talking about leverage.

TIMING

What is your definition on timing?
Timing means meeting your object with a certain technique that will reach maximum speed at the moment of impact.

Is there equipment, which can be used to learn timing?
The timing bag and speed bag are used to learn timing? You can learn timing through pacing yourself when you skip rope and when you run.

How important is timing in karate?
Timing is very important. If you get a big person who isn’t very quick, he depends on timing. A smaller person who is very quick doesn’t rely on timing as much. He relies more on speed. It is actually very important for any fighter, but a bigger person is more dependent on it.

What is rhythm?
Rhythm works on a beat and motion. It is a continuing steady pace, a measured motion.

What is eye gap?
Using your eye and your opponent to judge the distance in which you use your weapons.

Will constant repetition improve timing?
Yes. Any time you use a technique in a repetitive manner, timing will automatically come. It will happen naturally.

What is the difference between reflex and timing?
Reflex is a spontaneous reaction process, not thinking one. It happens automatically. You have to work on timing to perfect it. Timing you have to see.

Are blocking and timing interrelates?
Definitely. You have to learn your timing down either to avoid or redirect your opponent’s weapons.

Do you think using music during workouts is beneficial?
Not only is it beneficial, it is also more enjoyable. It can give you that rhythm and beat that you need.

Why is sparring the best way to develop good timing?
Sparring is the best way because you’re doing it for real. You have an object kick and striking back at you. So you are under pressure to pay attention and not let your mind wander.

TARGET_AREAS

What are the main targets in professional karate?
In competition, the target areas above the waist run in a vertical line known as the main line. Starting with the top of the head, the nose, the jar, the throat, the collarbone, solar plexus, the gut and the bladder. Off to the side parallel to the main line there is a target area just underneath the heart, Going horizontally across the mid-section there are the bladder, liver, and kidneys. Below the waist are the thighs and calves. No joint, groin, or spine techniques allowed.

What about the target areas in a real fight?
In a real fight the main target areas are the weakest points such as the bridge of the nose, the temple, behind the ear, the throat, the groin, the spine, and any strike against the joints. Of course, you can also include the main target areas you would use in the ring.

Are there any target areas that are off-limits in American full contact.
Yes,. You are not allowed to strike to the groin, the throat, the spine, against the joints and to use any techniques which include down blows.

Is it necessary to always attack a specific target?
Yes. The best target to hit constantly is the body, because the body continually weakens. There is an old saying that if you hit the body the head will follow. If you continue hitting the same area over and over you will eventually weaken it and do damage just as well.

What does sharp shooting mean?
Sharp shooting is used in training. Do not use your techniques with full power. Instead, concentrate on focusing your opponent to make an opening so you can aim a technique to whatever area you want. It is strictly a training device. You do this without getting hit. This way you can work on your speed, timing and repetition.

What is the mot fragile part of the body?
In my opinion, it is the throat.

STRATEGY

What do you do the first time you meet your opponent in the ring?
In the ring, I really get to know my opponent. During the first round, I test his weapons, determining his strongest and weakest points. In the second round, I test his body. I see if he can take the punishment, see if he has a good jaw and if his legs are in good condition. It’s in the third round that I start going for his weakest points.

Why do you wait until the third round before going after your opponents weak points? Isn’t it almost too late if he is aggressive?
Usually it is the way of testing your opponent’s skills. A professional, however, never waits for the third round. He can generally tell what his opponent is like after the first round. Speaking strictly for myself, this is the way I start off. The three rounds are a warm-up for me, but I wouldn’t advise waiting that long for anybody else. Since an amateur only has three rounds, he had better figure out his opponent’s tactics in the first round.

How do you decide what lead move to use when you close the gap?
Generally you would use your front hand because it’s closer to your opponent and it gets in quicker. With your front hand you cover hid eyes with a jab and then follow up with a kick, punch, throw, or clinch.

How do you deal with an opponent who is an in-fighter?
Learn to use your front hands as a jab to cover his eyes and use your legs a jab as well to make him keep his distance. If he comes in on you too fast, learn to tie up his hands in a clinch.

How do you deal with an opponent who is always dancing away?
You learn to cut the corners. An example would be if he is at 12:00 and he dances clockwise, you meet him by going in a straight line to 3:00. If he dances counterclockwise you meet him by going in a straight line to 9:00.

How do you determine your opponent’s weakest points?
First, you have to test his weapons. You see how fast they are, how accurate they are and how much power they have behind them. If he has good hands you try to pick away at his weaker points, such as the kidneys, the liver, etc., by using your legs. If he has good legs you have the smother them by getting in close and then working on hid body. You test his weapons when they hit your block so you never have to take the full impact to know what your opponent has to dish out.

How do you get your opponent to make a mistake?
You test him. Test his reaction. Anybody that trains has a habit of doing certain things during his training. The way you train is the way you react. You test with him a fake or feint and see if he moves back. If he reacts that way more than once then you know that is the way he has trained and he will react that way again. If he opens up a gap for you in a reaction to your move, then you can place him where you want him.

Do you change your strategy for opponents who are much larger, smaller or the same size as you are?
The strategy is always mental. Physically, I fight them all the same. If you fight a big guy, you fight him hard and to the inside. If you fight a smaller guy, you fight him hard on the outside. When I say you fight them all the same I mean you hit them all hard and you hit the same spots, i.e., liver, kidneys, etc. Somebody big should be fought to his inside because he has the advantage of distance over you and can hit you. You have to be on his inside to smother his weapons so he can’t use that reach against you. A smaller guy moves just as quickly as you, theoretically, so you want to stay away from his weapons by keeping to his outside.

How important is it to “Psych Out” your opponent?
Very important. You begin by psyching your opponent out mentally. You do this by the way you look at him, you expressions, your attitude, your self-assurance, your enthusiasm, and your charisma. They are all very important. Then you work on him verbally. You can tell him, “We’re going to give the audience a good show. We’re going to let them know we came here to fight.” There are ways of making him doubt his own ability.
To physically intimidate your opponent, you might hit his glove in the beginning of each round with a strong solid tap, showing him the strength in your hands. You might also stomp the ground hard for the noise effect. You can tighten up your muscles and look him straight in the eyes. Try poking him with your thumb in the solar plexus and say with a light smile or wink “Good luck” after the referee’s instructions. Or give him a pat on the shoulder with a sturdy closed fit and then say to him “We’re going to have a good fight.” I’ve seen men melt before the first round with techniques like these.

Do you believe in scouting your opponent, such as finding out where he trains, viewing his other fights, or finding out any other information on him?
No. There is no need for that. He’ll never fight the same way in the ring, because he’ll react differently to the way you react. It is good to know if he has good legs or hands because it make s you aware of them. If you study a film he could fool you by reversing his tactics and then you can be all messed up. You see, if you have to think about what you’re doing, it’s too late. You don’t have time to think. So what you do is react to his motion, not to what you think he’s going to do.

Do you choose a sparring partner for a specific bout?
Usually I get three or four different sparring partners with different weights and speeds. Some of them are about my size and are very quick. They will keep me quick. Then I will get some a little heavier and slower, but who hit a lot harder. That way I get to feel different power levels and strength and as well as speed.

Does your corner man give you strategy during the fight?
No. If my corner man has to tell me how to fight my opponent, I don’t belong in the ring. The thing my corner man does is to make me aware of what my opponent is doing to me. He’ll say, for example, “This guy is catching you with a round kick to the head on your right side.” That could only mean that my right hand is low. If he tells me, “This guy is catching you with a jab,” that could possibly mean that mean that my left hand must be low and that I’m not moving my head. He makes me aware for two reasons. One is to help me make a better defense and the other is to make me aware of an opening that I might not have seen.

NUTRITION

What are the best foods to eat?
Seafood, poultry, and liver. Turkey is also very good since it is easy to digest and terrific if you want to lose weight.

Is it necessary to eat three times a day?
In my opinion, no. Twice a day is sufficient. Usually a good breakfast between seven and eight in the morning and a good dinner no later than six in the evening is the ideal schedule.

How much should you eat?
You should eat only as much as your stomach with hold. Most of us keep eating even though we are satisfied. Learn to push the plate away if you are full. Your appetite will decrease and you’ll feel better and be able to have better workout.

Should you rest after eating?
If that means going to sleep or just sitting down the answer is no. You should take a walk after every meal. It will help your body digest the food and will prevent the meal from turning into fat.

Do you recommend vitamins?
Vitamins are necessary supplements your body’s needs, especially since you expend more energy in a short amount of time than the average individual. To allow your body to perform well under this extra effort you must replace the vitamins, which burn up quickly during workouts.

What type of vitamins do you recommend?
A basic vitamin program should include B complex, C, and E. The B complex helps when you are sweating and your pores are open. B15 is another good vitamin to take. It supplies more oxygen to the blood stream, thus giving you more endurance. Cayenne (red pepper) in capsule form will also speed up your blood circulation.

Is it detrimental to eat and work out?
I think so. After eating you should walk to burn off some calories and to help your body digest the food. You must give your body plenty of time to digest the food in your stomach. Don’t do any hard exercise for at least two hours after eating.

Is junk food really unhealthy?
There are some people who live on junk food and do just fine. But I think for most people junk food all the time is not good. I know sometimes my body yearns for things like sugar and salt. What I do is treat myself on Sunday and call it my “junk food day.” I treat myself to any type of food I want, but the rest of the week, I stay away from these foods.

When you are thirsty, should you drink warm or cold liquids?
Believe it or not, warm liquids quench thirst better than cold liquids. With warm liquids, a little will do the job. It’s not good to drink a lot when you are thirsty. Cold liquids will fill you, but won’t quench the thirst as quickly.

CONDITIONING

How do you run?
There are different patterns in running. When you first begin to run the mile you will run a half a mile, walk a quarter mile, and sprint a quarter mile. Do this for two weeks. For running the second mile, run the first mile, then walk a quarter mile, sprint a quarter mile, walk a quarter mile, and sprint a quarter mile. The maximum you need to run is six miles. When you work up to that you will run for five miles, then walk a quarter mile, sprint a quarter mile, walk a quarter mile, and sprint the final quarter mile. Walk at a fast pace.

Is there any special equipment you need to run?
In addition to good running shoes, you will need a mouthpiece to train to breath through your nose.

Why should you breath through your nose?
Breathing through your nose controls your heartbeat. That is what gives you endurance. You take so much oxygen into the lungs and the lungs control the heartbeat. Also, in the ring you have to wear a mouthpiece and then you can only breath through your nose.

What are the best breathing patterns?
Your breathing pattern is the manner in which you take in and release oxygen. It is always done through the nose. The basic breathing pattern is a double short breath in and one breath out. Each individual will develop his own breathing patter from the basic one. For example, my breathing patter is one breath in and a double short breath out, just the opposite from the basic.

What are the best hours to run?
The best hour to run is between 5:00 and 6:00 am. In the morning your stomach is empty, you think your sharpest, and you will be able to run your hardest. Also, the air is the cleanest it will be all day.
The next best time to run is between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm. In the evening you may not be able to push your hardest because you still have food in your stomach, but at least the air will be clean.

What is a good rule of thumb on the distance to run?
It all depends. I say for each round a person fights, he should run a mile. Six miles should be the limit whether the person is an amateur (three rounds) or a professional (four rounds and up). That is a good rule of thumb. It’s not how far you run, it’s how your run that makes a difference.

Why is sprinting important?
Sprinting is important for tearing tissues in the lungs so they can expand. You learn to take sprints at a time and control your heartbeat. Your breathing patter in running is the same as fighting in the ring. Your sprints are the same as your actual fighting or attacking. Your walking is your footwork after you’ve attacked.

What is the benefit of hill running or bleacher running?
In hill running you stride forward. It is more for building up the legs than for real endurance. In bleacher running you always stay on the balls of your feet. This too is more for building the legs than for the kind of endurance a distance run can give you.

What is the best surface to run on?
It is best to run on either grass or dirt. You don’t want to run on pavement if you can help it. The impact on the pavement is too hard for ankles and knees and you might develop shin splints.

How do you prevent foot injuries while running?
You have to wear good running shoes and find a good surface to run on. Know your limit in running. If you have weak ankles or knees make certain that they are properly supported.

Are there ways of preventing side aches while running?
Yes, there are. First, make certain your stomach is empty. Next, be conscious of how you run. Make certain that you run with your spine straight and in an upright position, and don’t shift your body from side to side.

Is running with ankle weights beneficial?
The only place you should have weight when you run is around your waist. This way it keeps the weight centered. If you keep weights on your legs, they will tire out too quickly. When your legs get tired with weights there is more of a chance of injury.

Which is best to build endurance, climbing or running?
There is no activity mentioned that is better than running to build endurance. I am not talking about muscle endurance, I am talking about the endurance that controls the heartbeat. We work on muscle endurance in another section of this book.

Is speed bag good for conditioning?
Yes, but for conditioning your eyes and hands only. It’s used more for coordination.

What is a timing bag?
It is a bag, which develops your eye gap and hands. Since the bag moves in so many different directions, you need to develop good eye distance in order to get the timing to hit.

How good is a medicine ball in training?
It’s very good. You have to practice throwing a medicine ball with your wrists and arms. It is good for learning how to take impact at the time it hits. You have to be able to tighten your gut at the moment of impact and give a kiai.

In getting into shape should you begin with stretching or endurance exercises?
You’ve got to stretch. You have to be limber in order to develop endurance.

Should you exercise after running or before?
Both. You exercise before so that you don’t pull any muscles. When your muscles are hot after running, you will be able to stretch a little further than when you first began running. It will also cool down your muscles without cramping.

What is the quickest way to warm up?
It all depends on the type of workout you will be doing after the warm-up. We cover different types in the book, but for a general quick warm-up, jumping jacks and/or skipping rope are good.

What is the advantage of exercising with a partner?
Mentally, a partner gives you competition. He will give you the incentive to push a little harder. You can do more advanced exercises if you have a partner. Also, it is more fun if you have someone there going through the grind with you.

Are boxers in better condition than karate fighters?
Yes they are, because they are always getting hit, and they have to be in very good condition. They are always working on power speed and impact. Their bodies are conditioned to take that impact. In martial arts, most competitors don’t get hit with that kind of impact often enough to be conditioned for it.
In traditional tournaments, a person, might get hit during thirty seconds out of a three-minute time period, and even then the hits are controlled. In boxing, the fighter gets hit constantly during the round, so he has to be in better shape.

What is the proper amount of time one should work out every day?
Ideally, for professionals, one should work out a good four hours, but not all at once. It should be spread out. You run for an hour in the morning. In the afternoons, have a two-hour work out which is more physical. In the evening, do an hour or so of exercise workout. The way working out becomes natural because it is being done all the time throughout the day. The nonprofessional might want to work out from two to three hours per day as his schedule permits.

How good are dynamic tension or isometric exercises?
These exercises are a way of giving you inner strength. They are very good. I believe in inner strength.

Are there ways of strengthening the organs so they can take impact?
No, but there are certain muscles around the organs you can strengthen. Joints can never be strengthened to take impact.
Important notice: Before you try any new exercises or nutritional diet programs, be sure to consult your physician. Remember, common sense is your best defense again injury.

IMPACT

Out of all the questions regarding competition, no area has more of an air of mystery surrounding it than the issue of impact-how to take it, more than how to give it. There are many ways of handling out punishment to your opponent and only two ways of taking it, badly or like a pro.
Let’s face it, nobody likes to get hit, so most of us avoid it. I try to avoid it like anybody else, but I can’t ignore the inevitable, especially in my line of work.
The only true way of knowing if your technique creates pain is to have it performed in yourself. I don’t mean absorbing the full impact, but rather taking a portion of that impact so you can imagine what a full force technique would feel like to your opponent. Obviously, you don’t have to get kicked in the groin or thumbed in the eye (if they were legal techniques) to know what the pain would feel like.
In learning to accept impact, note that there are three types that can occur in a fight. A stinging or slapping impact occurs when a technique is snapped or controlled. You experience this type of impact in traditional tournaments where a move is pulled short of maximum effect.
The other types of impact that you will experience in the ring are a shattering impact and a breaking impact. A shattering impact shocks the body, but is doesn’t move the body from its planted position. The technique is snapped similar to the way a stinging impact is snapped. A breaking impact utilizes a follow-through technique. That kind of impact will move the body either backwards or to the side, depending on what you want. You might, for example, deliver a combination of a shattering impact technique and a breaking impact technique. One is to shock your opponent’s body without moving him and the other is to finish him off with a breaking impact.
To get into a fight and to receive an impact that your body has never felt before sends a shock throughout your system and the body tells the brain to give up, to stop this punishment. If, on the other hand, the body is used to taking impacts, then it is really no big deal to get hit. Your body is accustomed to it. You know what it feels like so you know it’s no surprise. You know the pain your opponent is experiencing, so you know what damage your technique can do.
There are certain parts of the body that cannot be conditioned to take impact. These are the joints, the groin, the face (which includes the nose), and the organs, so don’t even try to get them used to taking impact. The muscles around your organs, and the muscle that covers your body, legs, and arms are what we will be working on.
When people see me fight, they don’t think I feel any pain. That is not so. I feel pain just like anybody else. The only difference is that I have conditioned my body to the pain so it is not a shock to my system when I get hit. I do feel the pain, but you will never see it register on my face or in my moves. The whole idea is to never let your opponent know that you do hurt.
The way you train is the way you react. I never wear any kind of shin pads, arm pads, or protective equipment of any kind, save a cup and a mouthpiece, when I train. I want to experience as much as possible while training so there will be no surprises waiting for me in the ring.
The following is a series of impact training techniques that can be done alone or with a partner.
It is very important for you to start off these exercises gently and work your way up with intensity. In a short amount of time your body will accept this pain and it will be no big deal for you either.
None of these practices are aimed at a joint, groin, throat, spine, instep, or neck. Be certain, as a partner, you watch very closely the areas with which you work. They are clearly shown in the following photographs.
Remember, whether you are a tournament competitor or a professional fighter, the reality of a fight in the street never ends when one person hits the ground. It ends when one person can’t continue. So these exercises are good for everyone to experience. Knowledge is power and once you know and understand these concepts there is never a need to fear again.

BALANCE

Can one learn to develop good balance?
Yes, through practice. First, you learn to walk properly. Then you learn to balance yourself on one foot. Then you learn to balance yourself while in the air.

What is the proper method of balancing yourself?
Keep you feet shoulder width apart so that your body is centered in itself. This holds true if you are walking forward or backward. Your weight should always be centered in yourself. In a fighting position, your feet should be a little wider than shoulder width apart.

Why is Balance Important?
In order to use weapons in an effective manner you have to have good balance. If you’re striking an opponent and your balance is off, half of your power is gone and you’re prevented from using a follow-through. When you strike, providing you are well balanced, all of your power is equalized.

Can you maintain as much balance in the air as you can on the ground?
Yes, although it requires more skill. Most people are afraid of using weapons in the air, but done properly you can balance as good in the air as you can on the ground. A technique done in the air has more impact because all of your weight as well your power is coming into your opponent.

Should one fight from a wide or a narrow stance?
Always fight from a narrow stance. If you are too wide you have to make two steps in your move. You have to throw your weight up in order to move your leg. The result is a slow technique, which is telegraphed to your opponent.

Does an ability to balance on one leg give you overall better balance?
Not really. Balancing on one leg is good for kicks, but there is a different type of balance for two feet.

Is practicing balance blindfolded a good method?
Yes, it is. Now you are using both feet to balance instead of your eyes.

Are there any martial arts which emphasize balance more than others?
Korean styles use many kicking techniques and that require good balance for many of their moves. The soft style of kung-fu also requires a lot of balance.

What does “Learning how to walk” mean?
That exercise shows you how to keep your weight centered in yourself in a forward motion. It means always being balanced.

Evading_and_Blocking

What does evading entail?
Evading means redirecting your opponent’s weapons without having to make contact. This is done by moving out of the way without getting hit.

What is bobbing and weaving?
Bobbing is dodging with your head as your opponent’s weapon comes toward you. Weaving is done with the upper part of your body.

What is a parry?
A parry is a defense in which you direct your opponent past his target area.

What is the difference between feinting and faking?
A feint is a hesitation movement you do with your head. You test your opponent by getting his reaction to your movement. Faking means you appear to use one weapon but then stop that action to use another. You feint with the head and fake with the body.

What is redirecting?
Redirecting is moving at an angle away from your opponent’s weapons, but toward his body. You’re the target area he is aiming for, but is no longer there. You have made him aim for a different area. For example, your opponent is punching you at 12:00. You move in a “v” position to either 11:00 or 1:00. You have now redirected his weapon.

What is the best way to develop the speed needed in bobbing and weaving?
You learn to move on reflex by practicing repetition through sight and sound. You move on count. Don’t take anything for granted. You practice by moving on command, not before and not after.

Do you have to be evasive before delivering a technique?
Some styles believe blocking and striking at the same time. I personally believe in striking without getting hit. The less you get hit, the longer you will last. But you don’t necessarily have to do that. You can just block and counter.

In your opinion, can a good evasive fighter defeat a good offensive fighter?
Not really because one of his offensive techniques will sooner or later get you. You can’t just be evasive without ever getting hit. A good offensive player knows that too. For that reason, I advocate offensive over defensive.

Isn’t evading more widely used in boxing than in karate?
Yes, it is. The reason for that is because boxers only have two weapons they have to worry about, their fists. They can get in there and strike. But because of the legs, contact karate fighting requires more distance.

Why would you jam an opponent?
The object is to stop your opponent’s weapons before he builds up momentum with an already executed technique.

Is jamming a good device to use?
For some people it is. If you are a good close-in defensive fighter then it would be good to use. But if you are a better kicker and you don’t know what to do with your opponent once you’ve jammed him, you might find yourself in trouble. If you are good at going in and out, then it is good to jam. Jamming and hand techniques go together, because you have nothing except your hands when you get in that close, unless you throw him.

Is it true that there is not much blocking in full-contact competition?
A lot of people don’t know how to block correctly. They would rather take a blow than to block. There are many techniques in blocking. From your waist up you block with your arms, from your waist down you block with your legs. Never reach for your opponent’s weapon to block.

What are some blocking areas?
You can block with your shoulders, knees, thighs, arms, head, etc. There are many areas.

FOOT_TECHNIQUES

How do you develop power in your legs?
You can develop power by running and by using weights. The main thing to do is to build up the endurance of your muscles. You gain endurance by running up bleachers and hills. The bigger your legs, the more power you will have behind them. In other words, the more weight you will have to throw. There are also power bags you can work out with. Any type of sport which involves short sprints where you have to move around quickly will also help you develop power. Anything which has to do with a squat or low position where your thighs are constantly being pushed can build power. Dynamic tension with a partner can also help you to develop power.

What do you think is the most powerful kick in karate?
A spinning back kick is the most powerful, because you are spinning into your opponent in a locking thrust position and you are using bone to go straight through instead of a round type of a kick. I feel that the spinning back kick is one of the most powerful and dangerous kicks in the martial arts.

Is it dangerous to use jump kicks?
If you don’t now how to use a jumping a kick properly, it can be dangerous. The dangerous part is coming down into your opponent’s weapon if you’ve missed your target.

What Muscles do you have to stretch to get your kicks high?
Mainly you work your groin, lower back, side of your hip, and inner thigh muscles.

Are legs often used for blocking?
Yes. As a matter of fact, in Japan and Thailand, they block with their legs from the waist down. From waist up they block with their hands. Remember, when you block, you never want to reach for your opponent’s weapons whether you’re using your hands or your legs.

How do you develop your legs so they don’t feel the pain from impact?
You have to train your legs to take the blow and accept the pain without sending them into shock. The way fighters practice in Thailand is by kicking a banana tree with their shins. A banana tree is hard on the inside, but soft of the outside. The way we simulate practice is by wrapping a carpet or rug around a pole. This will also prevent your skin from splitting.
The problem is that your legs are not ready to take the impact because they have never felt that kind of pain. When you shock your body by giving it an impact it has never felt, it retaliates right away. It wants to give up. You have to get used to it in practice by doing it constantly, slowly at first and then building up in intensity so it becomes something you can adjust to.

Do you practice shadow boxing with your legs?
Yes. I practice the same way that I shadow box with my hands, but I do it together in combinations.

Is it good to use herbs for toughening your shin?
I don’t feel that using herbs to numb the leg is good practice. You may hurt yourself or even break a leg and not even know it. By not knowing you have this injury you can further damage yourself, perhaps even for life, by continuously using your legs after they’ve been hurt. The only time I believe in using herbs is to heal an injury.

Are ankle weights good for practice?
No, ankle weights are bad. They throw your timing off, they throw your accuracy off and they get you tired quickly. When you take the weights off your speed will be quicker, but your accuracy will still be off because that is the way you have trained. If you want to use weights, put them around your waist so your weight is centered in yourself.

What is the fastest way to build leg muscles?
Leg muscles can be built the fastest through running and dynamic tension.

How can I build up speed?
Build your speed by shadow boxing and kicking in the air. Kicking at some object in the air, such as a piece of paper, is excellent. Repetition builds up speed.

Is there any way a person can protect their toes while kicking?
Yes, by training your toes to go back. Always kick on the ball of your foot.

How do you train to do jump kicks?
You have to learn to go for height. Once you get height, you learn to jump forward at a 45 degree angle. When you get height, you learn how to spin. Then all of your kicks come into play.

What is the difference between the kicks in traditional karate and full-contact karate?
In traditional karate, there is no follow through. You are trained to control your kicks. The kicks are always snapped. The way you train is the way you react. If you’re always training to snap or control your technique that will also be your reaction when you compete professionally or fight for real. In full contact, the technique is not controlled; it is followed through.

What different types of kicks are there in full contact?
In full contact there are really just two types of kicks. There are power kicks and whip kicks. There are no snap kicks. Power kicks are driven through your opponent at a 45 degree angle. Whip kicks are whipped around in a circular motion.

In a real fight is it better to kick high or kick low?
Actually, it is better to kick low because you will have maximum speed and power. Also, the lower you are to the ground the better balance you have.

How do you develop coordination in your legs?
You can develop coordination by skipping rope, running, going through and obstacle course, by practicing katas and wazas, as well as by sparring.

Should I wear shin guard or pads while training?
No. If you’re going to train your body to accept the shock of impact you have to do it while you’re training. You don’t wear shin guards or pads in the ring, so you shouldn’t wear them while you train.

Are knees allowed in full-contact karate?
Kicks either with the knee or to the knee are not allowed in the United States rules for full contact. They are allowed, however, in Thailand and Japan.

TECHNIQUES_IN_MOTION

How do you use techniques in motion?
You must have a set pattern that you go through. An example might be front ball kick/roundhouse kick/sidekick/punch-punch. That can be your first set routine. Then work out several other routines and practice with a part with a partner while he’s holding a bag or sparring. You practice with him while always going in forward motion. You can’t use this pattern going backwards unless it is defensive motion.

Is it better to rush with your hands or feet first?
If your opponent is close to you, it is better to use your hands first and then follow with your feet. If he is at a distance, then it is better to use your feet to close the gap, then use your hands.

Is jamming dangerous?
Jamming isn’t dangerous if your opponent is about to throw a technique and you jam his weapons because this will throw his timing off. If he isn’t throwing a technique, then it is a dangerous move.

What is the best technique to use after jamming your opponent?
If all your weapons are smothered because of jamming, it is better to throw your opponent. A throw can also be a sweep.

How do you go about tying an opponent?
First you have to be in close contact with your opponent to tie up his hands. You accomplish this by rushing your opponent and then pressing your forearms against his hands and body. You don’t have to worry about his feet because if you have his hands tied, your body is too close for him to kick.

Is it better to move away from an attacking opponent or stand and fight?
It is always better to move because if you remain stationary you become a sitting duck. The way you move is in a clockwise or a counterclockwise motion, never in a straight line.

What do you feel is the most effective block in karate?
To block without blocking is most effective. To redirect. If you have no choice and he kicks low, block with your legs. If he kicks or hits high, tuck your head into your arms. Never reach for his weapons. The idea is to take the impact against your body. If you attempt to block in the traditional manner by raising your arm up, or lowering it down to block a kick, you just leave an opening for your opponent. Any time you use a weapon for a defense, you leave a hole for him to attack.

Should every block be followed by a counter kick?
Yes. You should never block-block-block. If you do, your opponent will ultimately wear you down and hurt you. The more you block, the more he takes out of you. The idea is to strike without getting hit. But if you take a blow, then make sure you give one.

Is it helpful to study judo in conjunction with karate?
Knowledge is power. The more you know, the better you can become. Judo teaches you how to fall, and it gives you that inner strength you need. It also makes you very aware of keeping your opponent off balance and how to use his weight against.

How effective are techniques that are done from the ground?
In competition, the fight ends on the ground. In the street, the fight seldom ends on the ground; the fight ends when one of you can’t continue. Martial arts such as aikido and judo have many techniques for the ground, which compress pressure locks, joint locks, and chokes.

Are spinning crescent kicks and sweep kicks done from the ground effective in competition?
Yes, they are. You can use them in two ways. You can knock your opponent off balance or you can use them to do damage.

What do you think are the most important things to know about techniques in motion?
There are three important things to know: your eye gap, your distancing, and your timing.

Are sweeps really effective?
Sweeps are very effective. They not only knock your opponent off balance, but they can also do damage.

How do you develop techniques for closing the gap?
To close the gap, you either have to fake or feint. You fake with your body and feint with your head. You fake to make him begin a motion, and you feint to keep him on his toes. Once you get him to commit to a motion, there is no turning back. When he begins his technique, you can then smother him.
There is also another technique, which is quite effective. You use a slight bounce while you slowly advance in a forward shuffling motion. His eyes will follow your up and down motion and he won’t notice that you are closing the distance of the gap. 162-164

Philosophy Of A Champion

-Never change what works
-Grasps whatever you can
-Learn what you want to learn, but never close your mind to something different.
-Knowing yourself helps others.
-Never stop learning, never limit yourself to what you think you may attain.
-To be in 100 percent physical shape you must first in 100 percent mental shape.
-Respect your judgment. Remember, you cannot fool yourself.
-Take defeat as a process of learning
-Never degrade yourself by thinking negatively.
-If you lose, figure out why you lost and find the defenses, which will help you the next time.
-In and out of the ring the secret of a martial artist is to control his anger.
-There is no time for being old-fashioned. One must progress.
-Learn to train your mind to be ahead of your body.
-Beat the pain mentally and you can go on forever.
-Don’t try to be as good as somebody else; strive to be better.
-The way you train is the way you react.

Emil Farkas

Emil Farkas was born in Hungary. Before reaching the age of twenty, he earned his Black Belt in both judo and karate. He is the owner of Beverly Hills Karate Academy. Today he’s known and respected internationally as a coach and teacher to major movie and television actors, actresses, and stunt men. In addition, Emil has appeared in over ten features and dozens of television shows as an actor, stunt man, and fight choreographer. His previous books include The Complete Martial Arts Catalogue, Fight Back- A Women’s Guide To Self Defense, The Martial Arts Dictionary; and The World Martial Arts Encyclopedia. As a screenwriter, Emil has written the original screenplay for Force: Five, starring world champions Joe Lewis, Benny Urquidez, and Bong Soo Han. He is also a regular columnist for Inside Kung-Fu, Kick Illustrated, and Official Karate magazines. He is the founder of Creative Action, Inc., a multifaceted company dealing with management, promotion, and motion picture production. 212

Stuart Sobel

Stuart Sobel was born in North Carolina and moved to California as a youngster. He graduated from college with a degree in business. In 1970, he began his study of karate under Emil Farkas. Since then, Stuart has continued to pursue the martial arts, not just in the dojo, but in the realm of the business world as well. In 1975, he became executive vice president of Creative Action, Inc. Among his many endeavors, he manages the career of World Karate Champion Benny Urquidez. In addition, he is a top freelance writer and photographer. His articles have been featured in every major martial arts publication in the United States. Currently living in Beverly Hills with his lovely wife Eleanor, he continues of Oriental Martial Arts. 213

Born in 1952 in the heart of the barrios of Los Angeles, Benny Urquidez was the second youngest in a family of nine. His father was a professional boxer and his mother was a professional wrestler, so his fighting blood came naturally.
After competing in boxing as a child, he began his life-long study of martial arts at the age of eight. Arnold Urquidez, the eldest brother, was his first and most influential instructor. However, he also studied under such masters as Ed Parker, Tak Kubota, Bill Ryusaki, and Clarence Akuda. By age 14. The young karateka received his Black Belt. He began to formulate his own style which he terms “free form.” This fierce competitor was a consultant winner in tournament competition.
An extremely colorful fighter, he captivated audiences in England and Belgium as a member of Ed Parker’s 1974 United States team. When professional karate emerged during the same year, Urquidez retired from traditional competition. He became part of the National Karate League (N.K.L.) and fought on their Southern California-based team, the L.A. Stars. Eventually he quit fighting for that team and began fighting for himself. Having fought under the sanctioning bodies of the N.K.L., the World Karate Association (W.K.A.), the professional Karate Association (P.K.A.); for Aaron Banks and Tommy Lee, he always emerged with their respective world titles. He was given the nickname “The Jet” during a bout in New York by some enthusiastic fans early in his career. The name stuck.
He continued to fight as well as spearhead full-contact karate in the United States. In 1977, he traveled to Japan where he defeated the best kick boxers that country had to offer. He currently holds the lightweight and super lightweight world titles. He has a record of over fifty undefeated title bouts to date.
Benny has been featured in two films, both documentaries on the martial arts. Produces by the late Elvis Presley and still unreleased, The New Gladiators deals with tournament competition. The second documentary was produced and released in Japan, where it was a box-office smash. This film shows the professional side of the fighting arts. Titled Kings of the Square Ring, it also features Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki.
The Jet’s fights have been televised on all of the major networked in the United States and Japan as well as worldwide through distribution to our military bases via American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. He has also appeared on numerous talk shows, among them the Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas programs.
Inside Kung-Fu magazine says, “Benny Urquidez emerges as the brightest star on karate’s pro circuit.” Official Karate magazine states, “He is a technician in the science of fighting. The king of the hill.” In 1978, Black Belt magazine voted him “Fighter of the Year” and placed him in Black Belt’s Hall of Fame.
Living in Tarzana, California with his wife Sara and daughter Monique, he is constantly traveling the globe either fighting or instructing, The champ will soon be opening the ultimate martial arts center in Los Angeles.  Benny Urquidez in certainly jet-propelled inside and out of the ring.

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Nineteen eighty-five has not been a good year for jets, which have accounted for more deaths than in any other year in aviation history.

There is on e Jet, however, that is still mechanically sound, still flying high, and still soaring after more than ten years of professional operation. And Benny “ The Jet” Urquidez isn’t about to come down. He’s having to much fun, even at age 33, when most full-contact fighters have already hung up their gloves, their battered faces candidates for the plastic surgeon.

“I’m like wine,” the relatively unmarked Urquidez says. “The older I get, the better I get.”

One of Urquidez’ most memorable fights took place in 1977 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, where he met Thailand’s Narong Noi. The bout was declared “no contest” after a riot erupted in the ninth round. Said Benny at the time: “This is D-Day. This is country against country.”

This Jet hasn’t accounted for any deaths during a professional ring career that began in 1974, just a lot of bumps, bruises and bloody noses. And perhaps a broken jaw or two. But that’s to be expected when one steps in the ring with the World Karate Association (WKA) super-lightweight champion from Tarzana, California.

Urquidez, who was scheduled to fight number-one contender Tom LaRoche for the WKA welterweight title in October in Los Angeles, has, according to the Standardized Tournaments and Ratings System (STAR), compiled a record of 56-1-1 during his pro career. The Jet, however, vehemently maintains that he has never lost a fight. “To this day, I say I haven’t lost nothing,” the five-foot-six, 151-pound Urquidez asserts.

His one so-called defeat came on August 9,1980, in West Palm Beach, Florida. The opponent was the now-retired Billye Jackson. The outcome is still debated to this day.

Urquidez had originally agreed to fight what he thought was a five-round exhibition against Glen Mehiman. But Mehiman backed out at the last minute, claiming an injury, and the littleknown Jackson replaced him.

“It was a set-up,” said Paul Maslak, head of the STAR system and a ringside viewer that night. “At the last minute, they had Glen fake an injury, then they stuck Billye in there. Nobody really knew who he was, but he was a very good fighter.”

“I didn’t care (who I fought),” says Urquidez in his typical devil-may-care fashion. “It was an exhibition. There were no weigh-ins, no doctor, nothing.”

Urquidez’ best-known fight in America was against Howard Jackson in Las Vegas in 1977. For three rounds, The Jet was on the receiving end of Jackson’s blows, then he put Jackson away in the fourth with a sharp left hook.

According to WKA President Howard Hanson, Urquidez knew it was an official, sanctioned bout. “I don’t know where the term ‘exhibition’ came from,” Hanson says. “That surfaced afterward.

“They wanted to have (the loss) removed from his record, but I wouldn’t do it,” Hanson adds. “There was no grounds for it. If you take a fight, you take a fight, and that’s it. Benny had a choice of either fighting, or backing away from it once they made the change.”

Another last-minute change was a decision on the part of the promoter, Richard Stacey, to disallow leg kicks, one of Urquidez’ strengths. Jackson wouldn’t fight unless leg kicks were ruled out, Stacey said.

Urquidez, who says he’ll fight by any rules or no rules at all, agreed to the rule change as well as the new opponent. “The smart thing would’ve been for Benny to pick up and walk,” Hanson notes. “The promoter would’ve been beaten to death on the spot.”

More surprises awaited The Jet once he stepped into the ring, where, he claims, the referee informed him that sweeps, throws and thigh kicks would also be disallowed. Moreover, Urquidez discovered that Jackson was equipped with Casanova gloves (“notoriously good knockout gloves,” according to Maslak), while Benny was using the lighter Reyes gloves, which are not considered as powerful. “If Benny had had the same gloves, he would’ve torn the kid’s head off,” Hanson claims.

But The Jet, whose money was already guaranteed, still didn’t back out. “I just shined it on,” he says. “It was an exhibition.”

Or so he thought. Once the opening bell rang, Jackson, who weighed nearly ten pounds more than Benny, came at Urquidez “like a bat out of hell. This guy was like a madman,” Benny recalls. “I told (my brother and trainer) Arnold, ‘For an exhibition, this is a little weird.’ ”

Several years ago, Jackson and Urquidez got together at BLACK BELT’s offices (right) and discussed the possibility of a rematch. Money was the major hang-up: They both wanted more than promoters were willing to offer.

“The first three rounds probably were won 10-9 by Billye Jackson, not that he did anything spectacular,” Hanson says. “Jackson would bang on him a little bit, and Benny would smile at him. The fourth and fifth rounds were a draw. Then, once Benny figured out what he could do without the leg kicks, he went after the guy and beat the crap out of him. If it had been a nine-round fight, he would’ve knocked him out.”

Urquidez, however, initially thought it was a five-round exhibition. After the fifth round, he claims, it was announc- ed the bout would go six rounds. After the sixth, they added a seventh round, according to Urquidez. “We were already cutting my gloves off (after the sixth round),” he says. But the gloves were taped up, and Urquidez went out for one more rou-and not exactly in the best of moods. “I went after this guy,” Benny says. “This guy was in la la land somewhere. The bell saved him.”

“I still thought it was an exhibition. Then, afterward, they said ‘We’ve got a split decision here. ‘I said ‘What?’ Billye Jackson won because I fouled-I swept him. I lost by a point. I looked at him and I said ‘I don’t know who you are, but you’ve got a real fight coming now!’ ”

But it never came. Urquidez claims he tried for three years to get a rematch to avenge the seven-round decision, but Jackson “kept ignoring me. I even did a seminar in his own (town) and invited his students,” Urquidez says. “He was the only one who didn’t show up. That’s how bad I wanted him.”

There have been other opponents on Urquidez’ most-wanted list, though none who get his dander up quite like Billye Jackson. The draw on Urquidez’ record came more than four years earlier, on February 14,1976. Instead of a valentine, The Jet sent his opponent, Earnest Hart Jr., a cut lip, airmail, in the first round. The fight was stopped because of the bleeding, and the California State Athletic Commission declared it a technical draw. In an August rematch televised by CBS, Urquidez won a nine-round decision from Hart to earn the Professional Karate Association (PKA) lightweight title.

Urquidez’ first fight in Japan was against Katsayuki Suzuki (1-3) in August, 1977. Benny KOed him in the sixth round (bottom). Says The Jet: “It was spooky. He did not feel anything I did to him. Every time I got him down, they shook him by his hair and threw cold water on him. “

There have obviously been many more positive moments in The Jet’s career than negative. His first five pro victories came at the World Series of Martial Arts in December, 1974, a two-day affair held in Honolulu. “It was like a toughman contest,” he recalls, “with streetfighters, wrestlers, boxers, martial artists. There were no rules, and no weight divisions.”

The winner-take-all prize was $5,000. On the first day, Urquidez knocked out 32-year-old Marine Tom Mossman with a kick in the third round. Later that day, he KOed heavyweight Futi Semanu in the second. “After the first day, everybody was in slings and casts,” Urquidez says. “Only 15 showed up the next day.”

The Jet was one of them. He notched a third-round TKO over Bill Rosehill in his first fight on day two, then deci- sioned Burnis White in the semifinals. That set up a meeting in the finals with six-foot-one, 225-pound Hawaiian champ Dana Goodson, who had defeated Blinky Rodriguez, Benny’s brother-in-law, in the other semifinal.

“When I got in the ring, I was facing (Goodson’s) belly button,” Urquidez recalls. “He thought I was going to run from him because everybody else did. But I ran at him, and stuck to him like a leech sucking his blood. I was so close he couldn’t hit me. All I kept thinking was $5,000.”

In the third round, Urquidez pinned his larger opponent to earn a three-round decision and the five grand. “They call me the giant killer down there now,” he says proudly.

In 1975, Urquidez captured the now defunct National Karate League (NKL) lightweight title, and the PKA champi- onship followed in 1976. The years 1975 and ‘77 provided perhaps The Jet’s fondest moments in kickboxing.

In February of 1975, Urquidez fought an NKL bout against Butch Bell in Savannah, Georgia. Although The Jet was thrown to the mat in the early going, it was Bell whose head was ringing from a KO in the second round. “The reason Benny remembers him as one of his toughest opponents is because when Butch hit you, you knew you’d been hit,” the STAR’s Maslak says.

A fight with Puerto Rican champion Marcelino Torres followed in August in Puerto Rico. Recalls Urquidez: “I got in the ring and people were whistling and stomping their feet. I thought they liked me, but actually, they were booing me all the time. Then this guy came out with an entire entourage. He was their big hero. He started flexing his muscles and he looked real good, all carved and shiny. But I said ‘Hey, that’s not going to help him.’ The bell rang and he came at me. Bing-he went down. He got up and-left, right-Bing! He went down again. It’s my fastest knockout -30 seconds. And it got real quiet. People started throwing coins at me, and this guy’s father came out and challenged me. They had to hide me in the back dressing room until it calmed down. They didn’t like that at all-me knocking out their champion.”

Urquidez found himself in the midst of another riot a year and a half later at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Ange- les. The opponent this time was Thai boxer Narong Noi, and he brought a large contingent of his countrymen with him for this first-ever WKA-sanctioned bout. “People were shouting ‘Jet, Jet’ and ‘Thailand, Thailand.’ I said ‘This is D-Day. This is country against country,’” Urquidez notes. “He came out like a bat out of hell and he took everything I had. We were going at it.” Urquidez picked up the momentum as the fight progressed, and by the ninth round, it became apparent he was dominating the fight.” The (Thai) audience knew I was beating him, and they were betting big money-$500, $1,000 bets. They couldn’t believe an American was beating a Thai.”

And they couldn’t stand it, either. A riot broke out between the Thai partisans and the Urquidez fans.

“The reason the riot started is the Thai kept fouling Benny by using muay Thai techniques, and the referee kept taking points away from him,” Maslak says.

“The Thais were betting thousands of dollars, and when they saw their guy losing, they went ape,” notes Stuart Sobel, Urquidez’ manager.

The bout, stopped because of the melee, was officially ruled “no contest” by the state athletic commission and didn’t go down as one of Urquidez’ victories. But a month later, he registered perhaps his most well-known victory in America. The date was April 23, 1977. The opponent was Howard Jackson.

Urquidez’ most memorable fight in Japan was against Kunimatsu Okao, who came out of retirement in the hopes of stopping The Jet. Okao knocked Urquidez down in the second round-the first time Benny had been to the mat Urquidez recovered in round three, then battered Okao into submission in the fourth. After Okao was counted out, Benny performed his victory backflip. Says STAR ratings head Paul Maslak: When Benny turned mean. Okeo went down.

This Jackson nearly handed The Jet a legitimate defeat. Most experts at ringside that night gave Jackson the first three rounds handily. Cecil Peoples, a former world-ranked full-contact fighter who had trained with both Jackson and Urquidez, recalls the bout: “Man, Howard was on Benny so bad! I thought for sure Benny was goin’ down. Then the same thing happened in the second- all Howard. Third, still cleaning up on Benny. Then Howard made one mistake in the fourth and Benny made him pay.”

It cost Jackson the fight-and a goodly hunk of his pride. Following a quick hand combination, Jackson lost his balance for a split second. It was all the time Urquidez needed.

If Jackson saw the left hook coming, there was little he could do about it, and The Jet followed the telling blow with a series of punches that sent his opponent sprawling against the ropes, where he would not recover.

“Howard may have shot his wad trying to knock Benny out,” says Greg Wilkenson, a light-heavyweight who fought on the same card that day. “It looked like Howard didn’t just want to win a decision; he wanted to destroy Benny. He almost did. (But) when Benny landed that punch, Howard was in never-never land.”

Jackson is one of 47 Urquidez opponents to succumb to the knockout. Although he didn’t win the fight, he won The Jet’s respect.

“I give him all the credit in the world,” Urquidez says. “He’s an excellent fighter. I was just more experienced at the time. I respect any fighter who gets in the ring.”

Less than four months later, Urquidez was back in the ring, making his debut in Japan against Japanese lightweight champion Katsuyuki Suzuki. “It was spooky,” The Jet recalls. “There were 22,000 people at the Budokan. It started with this weird music. It was hypnotizing. I looked at my brothers and said ‘What the hell is going on?’”

“The first three rounds, this guy was unbelievable,” Benny continues. “He did not feel anything I did to him. In the fourth round, I got him down. Every time I got him down, they shook him by his hair and threw cold water on him. This guy took everything I could give. In the sixth, he went face down from a standing position. The referee was pleading with him to get up as he counted him out. They had to carry him out.”

The one-sided victory so shocked the Japanese that they later convinced themselves Urquidez was half Japanese, which of course, he’s not. How else could he have destroyed one of their top fighters?

“They’re a very honorable people,” Urquidez says. “They couldn’t fix it in their heads that an American could come over and beat them in their own sport and teach them something. They’re convinced that’s the way I beat them, because I’ve got Oriental blood in me.”

They weren’t convinced, however, that The Jet was unbeatable. After Urquidez KOed Suzuki, Kunimatsu Okao, Suzuki’s predecessor to the lightweight championship, came out of retirement to fight The Jet. The bout was held in November, 1977, and it was one of Urquidez’ toughest fights.

The Jet was knocked down by an overhand right in the second round- the first time he had been knocked down in his professional career. “I was shocked,” Urquidez says. “He had a cocky look like ‘You’re fighting against the best.’ It was a matter of honor.”

Urquidez recovered in the third round, then in the fourth, he unloaded on Okao. “Benny hit him nonstop from the opening bell,” says Maslak, who has seen a videotape of the bout. “Kick, punch, kick, punch-the guy was almost helpless. It’s the most amazing round I’ve ever seen. When Benny turned mean, Okao went down. That’s actually what made Benny a big star in Japan. It was like knocking out Muhammad Ali in this country.”

Indeed, Urquidez is highly revered in Japan. He even has his own comic book. And because he can earn higher purses, he does most of his fighting abroad now.

The fight Urquidez remembers most-that still sends shivers up his spine-doesn’t even show up on his record. It wasn’t a title bout; the stakes were higher than that. He was fighting for his life-literally.

It took place in November, 1980, while Urquidez was in Hong Kong to promote a movie he was making. He was being interviewed on a talk show when someone in the audience started yelling at him. Urquidez recalls the mo- ment: “The show’s host told me ‘He says you’re an actor and not a true fighter, and if you were a true fighter, you would fight him to the death. He’s challenged you to a fight to the death. Do you accept?’ I said, ‘For money, I’ll fight anybody.’”

“After the show, a promoter asked how much I wanted to fight this guy,” Benny adds. Urquidez, thinking he could call the man’s bluff, asked for $20,000 and a mink coat for his wife. The money and mink jacket arrived at his hotel the next morning, much to The Jet’s surprise. The fight was scheduled for the following day.

“I went to this place on the Hong Kong side,” Urquidez remembers, “a dark, funky-looking place. It was a lot like a damn cockfight. There was a square box in the middle, old wooden benches going up the sides, and smoke all the way around. All these Chinese were sitting in there talking whispering, and money was flying all over the place. I found out later the guy I was fighting was a Chinese champion.

“The bell went off and the guy shouted ‘To the Death!’ and raised his arms into the air. Man, I almost urinated right in my gi (uniform). And he came at me. He had a kickboxer style. I went crazy on him, kicked him in the jaw, and the cheek puffed up. We had to go until one guy couldn’t go no more. ‘To the death!’ he said before every round, raising his arms. Every time he said it, it was like a cold shower-my adrenaline started flowing. I went like a madman on this guy. I did everything-just drilling on his ribs. By the third round, he looked like the Elephant Man.

“In the fourth round, he went down and the people gave the thumbs down sign. They expected me to kill this guy. It was to the point where he was down and barely breathing, and blood everywhere, and they wanted me to kill him. They told me later they had to fuse his nose, jaw and cheekbone. So I did a backflip in the middle of the ring (an Ur- quidez trademark after a victory) and ran out. The security people locked me in the locker room for four hours be- cause they were rioting outside. I’ve had a lot of experience with a lot of different things, but this was one… I don’t like to talk about. It bothered me for the longest time.”

Urquidez’ last fight overseas took place in Holland against Iwan “The Tank” Sprang in 1984. Benny recorded a fifth-round TKO over the European muay Thai champ. Says Urquidez: “It was just a rock-em, sock-em-type fight The Tank ended up hitting mines-in the fifth round”

Another thing that bothers Urquidez is that he never got a chance to fight Bruce Lee. It’s probably the greatest fight that never was: The Dragon versus The Jet. Many martial arts experts have speculated about how such a bout would have turned out. Kali/ jeet kune do expert Dan Inosanto, Lee’s former training partner and best friend, paid Urquidez perhaps the highest compliment when he said that The Jet is the only martial artist who could have given Bruce a run for his money. “I don’t know how that fight would’ve turned out,” Inosanto told BLACK BELT recently. Urquidez, too, wonders. “I have no disrespect, but Bruce Lee never fought for real. He never had to prove himself,” The Jet says. “He did it for acting, I do it for a living. But because he’s not here to defend himself, I have to say he’s number one.

“There will never be another Bruce Lee, but there will never be another Benny The Jet either,” Urquidez adds. “I know in my heart (I could take him). I respect everybody, but I know what I can do, my desire to be the best. If Bruce Lee were here, he’d say, yes, he could beat The Jet, because he had hunger and desire, just like I do.”

Because he is 33, Urquidez is constantly asked about retirement. The subject annoys him.

Urquidez is so popular in Japan that he even has his own comic book (above) there. Urquidez is on the right, knocking out another opponent, as usual. He has 47 KOs in 56 victories.

“They’ve been asking me for the last four years ‘When are you going to retire? You’ve proven everything you have to prove.’ I tell them I’m not here to prove anything. I’m here because I’m good for the sport, because I’m the people’s favorite, and because I like it. Where else can you travel all over the world, fight the best, beat the best, and bring home money?

“I’m stronger now than I ever was. When I start getting hit a lot, then I’ll start thinking about retirement.” Until then, it’s business as usual for The Jet. Fighters will continue to take their best shot at knocking him out of the sky. But he’ll still be flying high when the smoke clears. cap4- Urquidez’ most memorable fight in Japan was against Kunimatsu Okao, who came out of retirement in the hopes of stopping The Jet. Okao knocked Urquidez down in the second round-the first time Benny had been to the mat Urquidez recovered in round three (1), then battered Okao into submission in the fourth (2-5). After Okao was counted out, Benny performed his victory backflip (6). Says STAR ratings head Paul Maslak: “When Benny turned mean. Okeo went down .”

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