Martial Arts

Telemundo’s Anchorman Edgardo Del Villar Martial Artist and Athlete

 When you hear the name Edgardo Del Villar you associate it with Telemundo’s national and international news anchorman. He is also a regular on Telemundo’s international morning show Levantate and on El Rojo Vivo. But, let me tell you another side of Edgardo Del Villar. Edgardo is a black belt in Hapkido. He earned his black belt in Monterrey, Mexico. I am Edgardo’s trainer yet, consider him a close friend. He is a Muay Thai Kickboxing student at my martial arts, fitness center Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense.

 

Edgardo is a true martial artist not just a TV celebrity. He lives the martial arts lifestyle, training and staying fit for life. He exemplifies humility; he’s an excellent athlete and an extraordinary martial artist. Not many martial artist after achieving a black belt decide to take a new journey and study another style. Edgardo is doing an amazing job training at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense in Muay Thai. 

 

Del Villar has enjoyed a successful career in his native Mexico, before he came to Doral to work for Telemundo. He spent 12 years as anchor of “Las Noticias,” Televisa’s primetime newscast in Monterrey. He was a news director and anchor for various radio stations including MVS, Radio Fórmula and Núcleo Radio Monterrey for over 10 years. He also served as an advisor to the Editorial Board of “Grupo Reforma,” Mexico’s largest newspaper group.

Del Villar’s job is very demanding. Within hours notice Telemundo has send him to different parts of the world to cover breaking news. He releases his stress in the Muay Thai class. It is hard to believe that such a hard working man would participate in so many of our school activities as Edgardo has.  

Edgardo is part of our Muay Thai Demonstration Team and participates in most of our events when he is not on assignment around the world. Edgardo’s dedication to our martial arts fitness center is remarkable at our 16th annual Christmas party last year which we held at John I. Smith Elementary he showed up in a suit straight from filming the news after a full day of filming that started at 5am. He had a smile on his face and took photos with everyone. I have trained numerous celebrities. Edgardo is extraordinary he trains like an athlete and champion not a celebrity. 

 antamartialarts.com

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Krav Maga History and Mindset

Krav Maga translates to Combat – Contact, or Close Quarter Combat. It is a highly effective modern Israeli self-defense system. Krav Maga has a rich history that begins on the streets of pre-war Europe. 

 Krav Maga is the military self defense system of the  IDF (Israeli Defense Force) it was developed in the battlefields of the Middle East in 1948  when the state of Israel was born. It is battle tested and continuously enhanced. 

 To understand the fighting principles, spirt and mindset of Krav Maga you have to first know some Israeli history and know what Jews have been through. Israelis have a history of survival being enslaved, conquered and violently attacked throughout centuries. Throughout history Israel has been conquered by the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Muslim Arabs, Turks and many other nations. Jews had been living in Israel continuously since the loss of independence in the year 135. Yet, in the 1880's Jews from around the world began to return in great numbers to Israel. The returning Jews were regarded as weak by Arabs and other Muslims living there and were attacked violently. Who can forget the evil horrors of the Holocaust, the genocide of approximately six million Jews durning World War II by Nazi Germany led by Adolf Hitler. The survivors of the Holocaust camps have a motto and its "Never Again." When the Nation of Israel was founded they need to have a system that would protect their land and citizens. 

Krav Maga was founded and created by Imi Lichtenfeld, born in 1910 in Budapest, Hungary, and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia until the age of 30. Imi grew up in a tough area that was dealing with fascist, gangs and anti Semites. While fighting in the street he learned that sporting techniques did not work and began developing real life self defense. He began to incorporate techniques from different martial art and self defense styles to form an effective approach of Krav Maga to enable the Jewish community to defend itself against the growing number of Jew haters.

 He later was faced with the task of preparing both male and female, fit and out-of-shape soldiers. Imi developed Krav Maga a comprehensive system of hand to hand combat for the military that relied on simple, instinctive moves rather than rigid techniques requiring years of training. Krav Maga is the fastest and easiest way to learn reality based street self defense. 

 Imi was the son of a chief police inspector, gymnasium owner, and former circus acrobat, Imi quickly excelled in sports, and showed strengths in wrestling and boxing. As a teenager, Imi competed at the international level in wrestling, and was a champion member of the Slovakian national wrestling team. As an 18-year old, Imi was crowned champion at the Slovakian Youth Wrestling Championship, and at the age of 19, Imi won the championship in the adult lightweight and middleweight wrestling divisions, he was also competed in the Slovakian national boxing championships and international gymnastics tournaments. 

in 1948, Imi became the Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and Krav Maga for the IDF School of Combat Fitness. He continued to develop and enhance Krav Maga for regular and special military applications until 1964, when he retired from the IDF. After retiring from the IDF he spent the remaining years of his life refining and modifying Krav Maga to fit the needs of civilians and police forces.

Krav Maga was initially a military training program. Today, Krav Maga has evolved and expanded to provide training for the general public and law abiding citizens  who seek peace of mind in this dangerous world we live in, while still maintaining it’s prominence as the top training program for special military forces and commando units, advanced law enforcement teams, including SWAT, and private security personnel.

Krav Maga was founded on real world experience and demands, and based on practical concepts and principles, Krav Maga is primarily focused on the use of natural movements and reactions for defense. 

Krav Maga is more than a physical self defense it is a mindset. Israel is a small country surrounded by enemies sworn to destroying Israel. Yet, they reveal in victory and are still standing strong. Krav Maga will teach you to defend yourself in the streets using the same mind set that the Israeli military uses to defeat violence and the cowardly act of terrorism. Who better to teach you to survive and defeat violence in the street than an Israeli warrior. Israeli’s live and face danger daily. They are surrounded by violent hateful countries that want to annihilate the nation of Israel. Krav Maga teaches you to protect yourself from violence by using the same warlike concepts and mind set that the nation of Israel uses to protect against and defeat their enemies and terrorism. 

At Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense Krav Maga classes will learn the Israeli mind set and physical self defense techniques of Krav Maga to walk in peace. Call us today at 305 599-3649 or e-mail us at [email protected] for a FREE introductory class that will change your life. Krav Maga website DoralKravMaga.com

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The Catala’s a Martial Arts Family

The family that kicks togethers sticks together. The Catala family kicks together at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense. They have become a truly fit and fearless martial arts family. Today Mike Catala the father at 46 year old is part of Anta’s Warrior Training. Warrior Training is a special program that includes classes in Muay Thai, Krav Maga, Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do and functional fitness classes. Warriors Training is for the highly motivated student who want to earn black belts in all the martial arts I’m certified to teach. His wife Jenny takes Piloxing classes. His son Gabriel is a Muay Thai student and his brother Matt is a kung fu student at Anta’s. 

 I believe that a virtuous man provides, leads and is an example to his family.  Your children will not listen to what you tell them. They will do what they see you doing and follow your lead. I am super proud of Mike for leading his family into a martial arts fitness lifestyle. Mike started taking Muay Thai to get in shape and lose weight. Through his positive example he lead wife Jenny and sons Gabriel and Matt to follow his lead. Mike is a truly the head of his family, leading his family through example in the  martial arts way. Below Mike explains his transformation and journey. 

 NEVER TOO LATE….AT THE AGE OF 45 I DECIDED TO ONE DAY WALK INTO ANTA'S FITNESS AND SELF DEFENSE, NOT KNOWING THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY CREATE A PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION OF MY MIND/BODY AND SPIRIT BUT ALSO A JOURNEY FULL OF FULFILLMENT AND CHALLENGE.

MY NAME IS MIKE CATALA, AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST OFFER YOU A GLIMPSE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAD BEFORE JOINING ANTA’S MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL WHICH ULTIMATELY MADE ME DECIDE TO ACT QUICKLY:

I WAS OVERWEIGHT PEAKING AT 249 LBS (5'11). MY PHYSICIAN DIAGNOSED ME WITH SLEEP APNEA, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS WELL AS HIGH CHOLESTEROL. I WAS LETHARGIC AND HAD NO ENERGY DO PLAY WITH MY KIDS OR FOR THAT MATTER DESIRE TO EXERCISE. 

MR. ANTA AND I SAT DOWN AND DECIDED TO GIVE MUAY THAI KICKBOXING A TRY, KNOWING FROM A CARDIOVASCULAR PERSPECTIVE IT WAS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING. I CAN TELL YOU THE FIRST 2-4 WEEKS WAS DIFFICULT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME EACH OF MY CLASS MATES WOULD CHEER ME ON AND INSPIRE ME (THIS IS THE CULTURE MR. ANTA HAS FOSTERED AT THIS SCHOOL). WITH EVERY CLASS I ATTENDED MY BODY STARTED TO ASK ME FOR MORE AND THUS I BEGAN MY TRANSFORMATION.  I NOW WEIGH 207 LBS, 42 LBS LESS.

I DECIDED AFTER BEING IN SCHOOL 9 MONTHS  IT WAS TIME TO SEE HOW FAST I CAN RUN A 5K, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT I HAD SHAVED OFF 5 MIN AND 20 SEC FROM MY PREVIOUS TIMES. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT NOW I WAS RUNNING IT INSTEAD OF JOGGING. THE POINT IS THAT MUAY THAI HAS ALLOWED ME TRULY "LIVE FIT / LIVE FEARLESS".

ON ANOTHER PERSONAL NOTE, I BELIEVE IN THIS SO MUCH THAT I NOW HAVE MY 10 YEAR OLD GABRIEL, MATHEW AND WIFE JENNY ALSO IN ANTA'S MARTIAL ARTS/FITNESS CENTER, WHICH AGAIN GIVES US MORE FAMILY TIME TOGETHER IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.  

MARTIAL ARTS TO ME IS MORE ABOUT A COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM NOT ONLY YOUR BODY, BUT YOUR MIND AND YOUR SPIRIT AS WELL. IT STARTS WITH THE FIRST STEP. SO I WILL END EXACTLY HOW I STARTED "IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION"

SINCERELY, MIKE CATALA.

Mike is proof that age is just a number and it is never to late to change your life and your families life. Eventhough he already lost 42 pounds Mike is competing in our Doral 90 Day Fitness Challenge. I am looking forward to the day that I promote Mike to the covet black belt.

For more information on our life changing martial arts and fitness programs you can contact us at 305 599-3649 or via the Internet at AntaMartialArts.com.

 

 

 

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The Damini Project Doral, The Beginning of the End of the Rape Culture

 On Saturday, March 2, at 1:30PM, Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense will be hosting The Damini Project. A Free Women’s Self Defense, Rape Prevention, Situational Workshop.

 The Damini Project has launched its global anti-rape, anti-assault initiative, providing free self-defense classes to women, men, children, and families. Currently, these classes are being offered in cities throughout the United States, India, Canada, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand and Great Britain, additional classes are being scheduled in new countries every day.

 Bearing the name given by the media to the 23-year old victim of a brutal rape in Dehli, India, The Damini Project focuses on helping Participants define their Personal Boundaries, discover their Self-Worth, and explore their Inner and Physical Strengths, while instructing them in simple, effective defensive de-escalation and tactics that are easily applicable in dangerous situations.

 Our Mission is to strive to change the current climate and culture of rape and violent sexual crimes that plagues the global community. Our game plan is three-fold:

 

1. Help Women discover their inner strength and teach them to express it verbally, mentally, emotionally and physically.

 

1. Help individuals discover, define, and clearly understand their personal boundaries so that they are able to adjust them or defend them as they need.

 

1. Help victims of previous abuse break the cycle of abuse by instilling genuine self-confidence and teaching them the difference between the false bravado gained from subjugating another individual and the true inner strength gained from self-love and self-worth.

 In doing so, we hope to help our brothers and sisters, worldwide, to change attitudes about oppression, objectification, and subjugation of their fellow man, and therefore shift the perception, making rape culture a thing of the past. 

 I have been conducting free women self defense for the last 15 years throughout the USA. I have a background as a law enforcement officer and Marine Corps Sergeant. I’m certified as a Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai kickboxing and kung fu instructor. I would like to personally invite the women readers of my blog to The Damini Project. We want to empower you to discover your inner strength. The workshop will be held at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense, 10721 NW 58 St. To register for this free workshop call us at 305 599-3649. 

 

 

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Krav Maga to Fear No Evil for the Holidays

What better time to learn to defend yourself and learn to be aware of your surrounding then now for the holiday’s when criminals are out to ruin your holiday season. Yet, most martial arts and self defense don’t work in the real world. Krav Maga is the ultimate in self defense used daily by men and women in combat in Israel. Now you can learn Krav Maga in Doral and learn to survive an attack and defy the odds like the Israeli military.

Just this week as I write my column I read on the internet of an Israeli women and her son being attacked by a terrorist. A Palestinian terrorist breaks into her house with a knife and a pipe. He attacked the woman stabs her in the face and shoulder. The woman is able to control him and locked him in the bathroom. She calls the police. He is able to escape from the room and runs away. This woman had studied Krav Maga. Krav Maga saved her son’s and her life from a terrorist.

Krav Maga is a noncompetitive, non traditional martial art and  reality based military self defense system, known for its focus on real-world situations.  It was developed in Israel and involves striking techniques, grappling, gun, blunt and edge weapon defense. It is the most effective and fastest growing self defense system available today. It is combat proven, battle tested and continually enhanced. 

By statistics the average martial artist will loss a street confrontation. In today’s society the martial arts have evolved to a sport or a kid’s activity. Sport martial artist are at a disadvantage when encountering an attack by a street thug. Tournaments are a sporting event in a controlled environment with rules for safety. MMA or UFC is the closest thing to a street fight yet it is a sporting event and has rules to keep the fighters safe. A street encounter is unscheduled, unpredictable and without any rules. The only trophy that you’ll will in a street encounter is your life! There are no forms like in karate, kung fu and tae kwon do, rules, or set combinations as reactions to attacks. Instead, Krav Maga training focuses on teaching simple self protection techniques which are specifically catered to reality based attack situations. Don’t be a statistic, defy the odds. Be on top of the food chain, so that you can be the last one standing when reality strikes!       

When you want to be able to defend yourself and your loved ones - you don't want it to take years to learn. Traditional martial arts take years to perfect, introducing material in stages that delay becoming at all effective in defending yourself. Reality based self-defense systems typically teach material that is either too little to be effective, or requires too much skill and time to become proficient. Krav Maga practitioners are taught to finish a fight as quickly as possible and therefore all attacks are aimed towards the most vulnerable parts of the body such as neck, groin, knees, eyes, and joints.

 

I’m fully certified in the Israeli martial arts of C.O.R.E Krav Maga, KMMA (Krav Maga Martial Arts) Association and Haganah F.I.G.H.T (Fierce Israeli Guerrilla Hand to hand Combat). I’m retired Corrections Officer and honorably discharged U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant. I’m also certified in Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai Kickboxing and a Hung Gar Kung Fu Master.   

Our philosophy is that no one has the right to touch you with malicious intent and anyone who does should be dealt with immediately and aggressively to enable you to be safe and secure at the end of the day. All Krav Maga tactics are hardcore. Whether you are a housewife, law abiding citizen, college student, military or law enforcement officer Krav Maga is the answer to today’s violent crimes! 

For more information call us at 305 599-3649 or via the Internet at DoralKravMaga.com

 

 

 

We Got our MACTV

As martial artist we finally got our own Martial Arts Channel MAC TV. Starting on Feb. 2, 2006 the martial artist dream channel MAC will air. Can you imagine 24 hours of Kung Fu movies, tournaments, mix martial arts, kickboxing and martial arts documentaries. It will air on satellite and on numerous cable channels. Call your cable channel to find out if you got MAC TV. We would like to thank our students for filing out those petitions for the Martial Arts Channel. It will become a reality and you were a part of it.