Judokickbox (JKB) is the first Cuban Mixed Martial Art developed by Cuban-Americans martial artist Carlos Finales and Eric “El Tigre” Castanos a former world kickboxing and Muay Thai Champion. They mixed the best of Cuban Judo with Cuban style kickboxing.
While visiting Cuba friends and trainers in the martial arts they would ask them questions about fastest growing sport MMA and the UFC. Finales and Castanos explained that it was the fusion of standup fighting and grappling. They started training Cuban fighters and coaches in Judokickbox. It has grown incredibly with a Judokickbox MMA national championship held each year in Cuba. Today there are 100’s of gyms in Cuba training in this Cuban style of MMA. There are also affiliates throughout the world.
Let me tell you how I got started with JKB. My first martial arts in my early teens was Judo. It was also in a Judo tournament where I won my first trophy. My first black belt was in a street fighting style of kung fu, Hung Gar. Which I hold the rank of master. Being a student for life I’ve trained in and became an instructor in Muay Thai Kickboxing, Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do and Haganah. I also train in Gracie Jiu Jitsu. For years I wanted to learn judo since I felt that it would be a great link from my striking to throws or sweeps to ending the fight in a submission hold.
In the last few years my interest in judo got even stronger watching Ronda Rousey outclass her opponents with those vicious judo throws and submitting them within seconds with her signature arm bar. A few months ago my friend, martial arts instructor and training partner Alfred Magnan called me and we spoke about both of us starting judo again. Alfred started doing research and he called me back telling me that he found a Judokickbox instructor Fraibel Hernandez and he sent me videos of Judokickbox. What I saw them doing in those videos blew my mind and sold me. I told him that I had met Carlos and El Tigre the founders a few years ago. I told Alfred that this is what we needed to complete our martial arts training since we were both Muay Thai Kru’s (full instructors), Jeet Kune Do (Bruce Lee’s Mixed Martial Arts) Instructors, Krav Maga full instructors, with black belts in traditional martial arts and Gracie Jiu Jitsu practitioners. Our missing link was going from striking to the ground and submission. Judokickbox trademark was making contact with strikes or blocks followed by judo throws to submissions.
As a Cuban-American I am a fan and proud of UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir and and coming UFC fighter and Christian Yoel Romero who are Cuban. Yet, I found it fascinating that there was a Cuban Mixed Martial Art that was growing like wild fire. I had to be involved in this art not just because of judo that I been wanting to learn and the functional techniques that work in a cage and on the streets but also because of my Cuban heritage. As I started learning judo techniques and tactics from my Judokickbox instructor Fraibel. I learned of the growth and history of Judokickbox. In May of this year 2015, Judokickbox founders Finales and Castanos went to Cuba with 2 times UFC Heavyweight champion Frank Mir a Cuban-American for the Cuban JKB/MMA Championships. Mir became a spokesman for Judokickboxing and is supporting the movement.
On Friday, September 11, 2015 for the first time Judokickbox champions from the island of Cuba will be fighting in a professional MMA card, ULTIMATE COMBAT CHALLENGE 25 at the
Hard Rock Hotel Panama Megapolis. This will air on Panama’s NEXtv Channel 21. My school Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense, my brother Peter Anta’s company American Construction Engineering Co and my martial arts student and close friend Pedro Martinez company Martinez and Martinez Inc are sponsoring the Judokickbox fighters in Panama. We are proud to have our logo on their fight banner.
Even though there is no relationship or affiliation with the best way to describe Judokickbox MMA style is by watching UFC champion Ronda Rousey, pound for pound the best UFC Fighter. The only relationship between the two is that Ronda mixes Judo with kickboxing to devastate her opponents. Watching Ronda fight you can understand what Judokickbox calls the chain reaction. In the chain reaction you might attack with hands or feet to make a connection with your opponent, from there you can throw them or sweep them and go straight into an arm bar for a submission.
Cuban’s are known for being world class and Olympic champions in boxing, judo and wrestling. There is no doubt in my mind that in the near future there will be numerous Cuban MMA and UFC champions coming from the ranks of Judokickboxing. Judokickbox motto is “No One Can Stop Us.” I was blessed to have discovered this amazing Cuban Martial Art. It is making me a better martial artist and instructor. I am proud and honored to be a part of this amazing organization.
I am now teaching Judokickbox at my martial arts training center Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense, 10721 NW 58 St. in Doral. For more information call us at 305 599-3649
"