Ranger Up has uncovered some Top Secret combat techniques that the government doesn’t want you to know about.

After 3 days of MMA training our nation’s Marines at Train the Troops MMA 1, Ranger Up has returned home.

1,500 miles, 3 Marine bases (Pendleton, Miramar and Yuma) and a dozen MMA fighters and trainers sums up our experience training Marines much-needed skills in hand-to-hand combat.

Thanks to everyone who participated! We’ll be rolling out more details and stories next week, but here’s a quick shout out to the fighters and trainers who donated their time, along with a few photos, with more to come:

• Tim Credeur (UFC Fighter, Owner of Gladiator’s Academy in Louisana)
• Tim Kennedy (Strikeforce Fighter, Texas National Guard, RU Blogger)
• Jorge Rivera (UFC Fighter, Owner of Rivera MMA Gym in Providence)
• Matt Lindland (Strikeforce Fighter, Owner of Team Quest Gym in Oregon)
• Damacio Page (WEC Fighter)
• Grey Maynard (UFC Fighter)
• Tim Burrill, aka the Panda (Jiu Jitsu Coach, Owner of Tim Burril Jiu Hitsu Gym in Providence)
• Matt Phinney (Striking Coach, Rivera MMA Gym)
• John Walsh (MMA Fighter, Recon Marine)

Want to know more about Train the Troops MMA, a non-profit effort of Ranger Up to bring H2H skills to our nation’s troops? Visit TraintheTroopsMMa.com to find out more >>

Check out a few pictures of the event. More coming soon!

[View with PicLens]

 

Tim Kennedy’s Workout – 22 October 2009

10 Hang cleans
10 Front squats
10 Push press
10 Overhead squats
3 rounds

With 135 lbs bar bell.

Time to beat 10:02

Middle of the pack 13:45

Last man 17:26

(Just use 95lbs and save yourself the embarrassment. This one will break you off)

See Tim’s other MMA/Crossfit workouts>>

Below is an interview from Tapology.com. Find the original interview here>>

—————

While many casual fans may still be unfamiliar with Tim Kennedy, after two impressive wins this year over Nick Thompson and Zak Cummings, respectively, the active National Guard Special Forces soldier is quickly establishing himself as the number one contender in Strikeforce’s middleweight division. Tapology’s Steven Kelliher recently caught up with Kennedy to discuss his latest performances, his thoughts on avenging a loss to Jason “Mayhem” Miller now that the two of them are fighting under the same banner once again, and how soon we can expect to see him fight for the middleweight belt.

Tapology: How do you balance being active in the military with fighting in MMA professionally?

Kennedy: I’m part of a National Guard unit, and being part of the National Guard they are able to make certain accommodations for my timeline. They have some expectations of me as far as who I teach, when I teach, how often I teach, but on the flip side, they are very understanding of my training schedule when I’m getting ready for a fight.

Tapology: Right now, are you able to train with the camp that you would normally train with for a fight?

Kennedy: Yeah, right now I am teaching and training at Team ROC in North Carolina, where I got ready for my fight against Zak Cummings. I’m going to be in Texas training with Guy Mezger and Travis Lutter in a couple of days.

Tapology: Why did you choose to serve in the military, and are you looking to make a serious run for a world title or is it just about competition at this point?

Kennedy: I was just fighting, felt like a selfish prick, and found out about a program to try out for Special Forces. I tried it and I made Special Forces, so that’s how I came in. I definitely plan on making a serious run for the middleweight title.

Tapology: I saw in an interview prior to your fight with Cummings that you felt you were behind some of the top fighters in your weight division in terms of overall technique? Can you explain that?

Kennedy: I feel like I’m playing catch-up. Since I’ve been out of the game for a while, I need to be the one with the work ethic that nobody can keep up with. I think it has positively affected my performances in the ring, because I’m pushing myself that much harder. In my mind I’m going to keep doing this until I have that belt around my waist, and then I’m just going to train harder so I can keep my belt.

Tapology: How do you feel about your wins over Thompson and Cummings? Thompson especially is a well-respected guy amongst hardcore fans.

Kennedy: Both of those fights I fought very conservatively. I didn’t take many risks, so I was really just looking to wear them down and pound them out. I think both of those wins were really big wins.

Tapology: Whom do you think you had more trouble against?

Kennedy: I kind of fought different fights against both of them. Against Thompson, I was looking to submit him and against Cummings, I was looking to knock him out, so it kind of went the opposite for each guy. I got a TKO over Thompson and I submitted Zak.

Tapology: You have only lost twice thus far in your career, against Scott Smith and Jason Miller. How do you feel about those losses now, and would you like to get those fights back since all three of you are in the Strikeforce promotion together now?

Kennedy: I’m not the kind of person that looks back, so I’m not concerned about avenging losses. I am excited about those two guys being with Strikeforce because I think it would be a good matchup and a good fight with either of them. The cut against Smith was a big cut. It was definitely a good stoppage. The fight against Miller—honestly—that was a terrible fight. I basically destroyed him for a round and a half, got a big cut on my nose, and for the rest of the fight I was scooping blood out of my eyes. That would be a fight I would look forward to getting again.

Tapology: You handled yourself well against Miller and now he is fighting for the middleweight belt in Strikeforce next month. Does it give you confidence on your way to the title knowing that you can hang with guys like him?

Kennedy: I would be very confident fighting him for a title.

Tapology: How do you feel about Jake Shields moving up in weight? How about him as a possible opponent?

Kennedy: I could never believe that he was fighting at 170lbs. He is a big guy. That would be another great fight. I am more excited about Jason because of our history, but I’m going to let the promotion figure out who I’m fighting next and when.

Tapology: About Strikeforce in general—are you happy with the way they are running their promotion and the direction they are headed right now?

Kennedy: I just want to go where the best fighters are, and right now I feel that the 185 pound weight class in Strikeforce has some really talented fighters, from Scott Smith, to Benji Radach, to Cung Le, who has kind of vacated right now. You’ve also got Shields, Nick Diaz, “Cyborg” [Santos], and some others as well. I don’t view the UFC as a step up right now. I’m happy with Strikeforce and I’m looking forward to getting some more fights.

Tapology: Are you excited about the possibility of getting a main card fight on CBS in the near future?

Kennedy: It would be great. Even when I just fought on Showtime, I had a bunch of soldiers email me and tell me that they watched my fight, so I wouldn’t say it is bigger than fighting on CBS, but it’s definitely up there. My priorities are a little bit different than most fighters. I don’t really care, as long as I’m still representing people I care about.

Tapology: How long would you like to fight in MMA? Is the military it for you, or would you really like to go into this full-bore?

Kennedy: I’m going to do it for a few years. I’m sure my wife and my body will put a time cap on it, but I think that my last two fights have shown that I’m here to play seriously. I’m already back to working out two to three times a day, and I can’t wait to get my next opponent so I can start prepping for him. I want to fight the best, so whether I’m in a uniform or not, I don’t think it affects how I perform in the ring.

Tapology: You just fought recently, but do you have any idea about a possible opponent for your next fight?

Kennedy: No, I really don’t. I’m hoping to be on a card in January or February, but I don’t have an opponent yet.

Tapology: My final question: where do you see yourself in relation to the title? How far away are you?

Kennedy: I don’t want to wait for the title. It’s more important for me to be fighting good guys, but I definitely see myself in the mix. I think one or two more good performances and I will definitely be that guy at the top.

Tapology: Thanks for the time, Tim.

Kennedy: Any time.

I’m Tim Kennedy and I can do super human things. Ooooooo. Look at me. I have six pack abs and can cup your ears and suck on your nose until your head collapses. Ooooooo.

Tim Kennedy comes on here every week and posts workouts that leave us mortals quivering like Anne Frank when the goose-stepping Waffen SS comes a knockin.’ Well, fuck Tim Kennedy. You want a real workout? Try this one.

This pleasure cruise needs two acres of mangey lawn so first go buy yourself a tract of land. It’s an absurd price to pay, but for the opportunity to give Kennedy the five-finger salute, it’s priceless. If you can’t afford two acres in this economy, find the nearest bushy soccer field or beg a European chick to expose her armpits. Being a self-proclaimed expert on Germany, RU Nick can probably direct you to the nearest German colony.

Kennedy would mow the land by running laps around the yard at Sonic the Hedgehog speed with his Wolverine claws at full extension. We’re not so lucky, so to match his level of manliness I use an ailing push mower on its last dying legs. If you have one of those Roosevelt-era mowers with the open spinning blades, even better. Refuse the support of your buddies when they offer their riding lawnmowers. That would be unmanly.

Pick the balls-out, hellfire hottest CAT 5 day of the year and wait until the mid afternoon to execute this workout. Triple digit heat will lower both your sperm count and ability to tap out. It’s imperative to show Super Tim we’re not quitters.

Roughly 30 minutes after kickoff (and one RU t-shirt change for us sweaty guys), run over an exposed root hard enough so the bagger unit gets stuck open. This way the grass clippings blow all over you and create a Yeti-like coating. Neighborhood kids will run. Their dads will aim rifles with big scopes at you (if you live in the right neighborhood). Ignore them. They’re bluffing.

At the halfway point, drop your iPod at just the right angle so the back wheels of the mower run over it as you watch helplessly in slow motion. Yell “FUCK!” as loud as possible just as your kids walk around the corner to show their friends the “Really Angry Yeti.”

Periodically you will have to empty the miniscule amount of clippings that miraculously find their way into the bagger. During each trip to the compost pile, slip on the mud just in front of it and fall on your ass so the clippings add to your Yeti suit. Again yell “FUCK!” (it’s therapeutic isn’t it?). In Kennedy’s universe, his Jedi powers would have suspended the clippings in mid air so they wouldn’t touch his Prada sunglasses, linen suit, or eight desinger watches. No matter how many times it happens, don’t learn from this mistake.

When the yard is done, break out the trimmer. Don’t wear safety glasses so you can plausibly say, “Wow that was close,” when the trimmer kicks up yard debris that impacts your orbital bones mere millimeters from causing permanent blindness. Again, yell FUCK! By this time of day, it’s just fun.

Tim Kennedy can’t drink or his sixpackistan turns into fatassistan, so enjoy an ice cold brew of “Fuck you, Timbo Slice” when it’s all done. Chase it with a Metamucil and a nap. The feeling of accomplishment from besting a guy who strikes fear into the Biggest Loser trainers is better than watching suburban dads take baseball bats to the groin on America’s Funniest Home Videos.

People do stupid things…

STRIKEFORCE AND SHOWTIME SPORTS®
TEAM UP TO DELIVER LIVE MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
TO AMERICAN FORCES NETWORK

Deal Offers All Remaining 2009 STRIKEFORCE Events Including CBS Broadcast of “Fedor vs. Rogers” To American Troops Serving Abroad

First Up: American Military Hero Tim Kennedy

Takes On Undefeated Zak Cummings

STRIKEFORCE Challengers, Friday, Sept. 25,

Live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2009)–Premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promoter STRIKEFORCE and SHOWTIME Sports, have teamed up with the American Forces Network to deliver live MMA events to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces serving overseas via AFN, the worldwide television broadcast network. The deal calls for all STRIKEFORCE events for the remainder of 2009 to be distributed on AFN including the Nov. 7 M-1 Global co-promotion of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers, airing live on CBS Television Network.

The debut offering—this Friday’s Strikeforce Challengers event on SHOWTIME—features American military hero Tim Kennedy, the 29-year-old Special Forces soldier who has served tours of duty in Middle East, versus undefeated middleweight Zak Cummings in the main event from Tulsa, Okla.

“We are proud to be able to bring live Strikeforce events to the men and women of The United States Armed Forces,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said. “These are people that have dedicated their lives to protecting our country so it’s great to be able to give something back to them. And the timing couldn’t be better. Having Army Ranger Tim Kennedy headline a terrific Challengers event is the perfect start.”

“Special thanks to Scott Coker for providing the AFN Broadcast Center with the approval,” says AFN’s Executive Director, Jeffrey White. “Without his initiative and clear understanding of our worldwide military broadcasting mission, delivery of Strikeforce to our well-deserving audience overseas would not be possible.”

The U.S. Department of Defense operates the American Forces Network which is carried on bases in 175 countries and aboard 140 U.S. Navy ships at sea around the world reaching nearly one million American service men and women.

“We are delighted to add Strikeforce mixed martial arts programs to our AFN schedule,” said Corey Slutsky, Sports Director at the American Forces Network. “We provide a touch of home to U.S. military service members and their families deployed around the world and we salute the Strikeforce team for their support of the troops.”

An elated Kennedy said: “This is freaking fantastic news. Right now, the Special Forces group that I recently left are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every single friend of mine is over there and I was planning on emailing every one of them the results of my fight right after it finished on Friday, but instead they get to watch it. I’ll be emailing everyone tonight and telling them and letting them know.”

Kennedy spoke to the popularity of MMA amongst his fellow soldiers, “It attracts the same kind of people: Intense, excited, aggressive, athletic type people. Also, the skills that guys use in MMA are skills that guys use to stay alive in combat. Boxing, wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, that’s stuff that soldiers use to survive. Some of the Special Forces guys train in that stuff everyday. And for them to get to watch some of the guys that are the best in the world at it is exciting.”

Kennedy, (10-2) recently accepted an offer to serve in the Texas National Guard after spending six years in The United States Army, the last three as a sniper in the Seventh Special Forces Group.

He feels no pressure whatsoever being the main event Friday. “If I’m not getting blown up or getting shot at then it only means it’s going to be fun for me,” he said. “This is not life threatening. This is me going out and doing something that I enjoy and I enjoy fighting.”

In his last start, on June 19 at ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., on Strikeforce Challengers, Kennedy dominated Nick “The Goat” Thompson, stopping him on the ground with an onslaught of punches in the second round (2:37).

“After 9/11 happened, I wanted to do something for my country,” he explained. Kennedy’s new job will allow him to remain in the armed services while maintaining enough flexibility to take his MMA career to the next level.

“The military is my life,” said Kennedy. “I am going to serve as long as they’ll let me. I’d love to retire in uniform.”

This time last year I was in Afghanistan. Because of my unit I more often than not travel on civilian flights. I was carrying a blue American Tourister bag as my garment bag. I finished my tour in Afghanistan, packed my bags and caught a military flight home. All in all it was a great trip!

14 months later I pull the same blue American Tourister bag out of my closet, and throw in all the stuff I will HAVE to have for the fight. You know the necessities. I brought my fight shorts, mouthpiece, banner, suit, hat, weight cutting gear, and running shoes. Threw it all in my bag and headed off to the airport. Checked in, and checked my “would be nice to have bag” and headed up to security, and here is where the real adventure began. I have been an NCO for 6 years. I think I’m a pretty decent one, but today my brass and ammo check skills were lacking.

I took off my awesome cowboy boots, watch, pull out my laptop, and take off my jacket. I’m such a disciplined traveler. I hate those people that don’t know the routine. As my blue American Tourister carry-on passed through the scanner they stop it, and take a closer look. Then I hear them say to each other “you ain’t going to like this.” They informed me that they have to search my bag, which is fine or course. The TSA rep digs through every one of those little pockets, and pulls out a single 9mm round.

They asked me to step into the search room. After a thorough strip search they decided to “test” my bag for residue. Reminiscing that the last place my bag was used was in Afghanistan didn’t really bode confidence that my bag would come out clean. Needless to say it was not a surprise that it came back with explosive residue on it…

I showed them my military ID, and try to explain that it’s no big deal. Next thing I knew, I was surrounded by 4 TSA reps and a Fayetteville police officer. The police officer who was apparently in “special forces” looked at my ID and asked why I had a goatee in the photo, and then asked if the ID was real….. siiiggghhhh….

I’m now sitting at my gate B3 waiting for my flight.

Tim Kennedy’s Workout – 14 September 2009

1. 50 Meter bear crawl
2. 10 Man makers (35 dumb bell)
3. 50 Meter bear crawl
4. 10 (each leg) Sprawl burpee to a fying knee
5. 50 Meter bear crawl
6. 10 Pull-ups
7. 50 Meter bear crawl
8. 10 Box jumps
9. 50 Meter bear crawl
10. 10 Wall ball

Repeat two more times.

Time to beat: 26:04

Middle of the pack: 33:19

Last man:  42:57

Man maker: Start in the push-up position. Have a dumb bell in each hand. Do a push-up, then row each arm, stand up and military press them=1 man maker

See Tim’s other MMA/Crossfit workouts>>

Tim Kennedy’s Workout – 19 August 2009

1. 5 Tire flips
2. 10 hand stand push-ups
3. 15 Bar dips
4. 200 meter sprint

This is one set. Do as many sets as you can in 20 minutes.

Sets to beat: 12

Middle of the Pack: 11

Last man: 9

For the corporate gym guys…

1. 5 Dead lifts (125% body weight)
2. 10 Military barbel presses (100% body weight)
3. 15 Bar dips
4. 1 minute on treadmill max speed, and max elevation. (don’t start time till you are at max of both)

This is one set. Do as many sets as you can in 20 minutes.

See Tim’s other MMA/Crossfit workouts>>

Tim Kennedy’s Workout – 12 August 2009

1. 50 Pull-ups
2. 50 Hand stand push-ups
3. 50 Hanging knees to elbows
4. 50 Kettle bell swings (45lbs)
5. 50 Bar dips
6. 50 Thrusters (45lbs dumb bells)
7. 50 Sledge hammer slams
8. 200 meter Burpee with long jump

Time to beat: 19:08

Middle of the Pack: 23:22

Last man: 26:04

See Tim’s other MMA/Crossfit workouts>>

Tim Kennedy’s Workout – 5 August 2009

1. 200 meter Farmers walk (40lbs in each hand)
2. 10 Tire-flips
3. 20 Sledgehammer (16lbs)
4. 30 Hanging knee raises

Repeat 4 more times.

Time to beat: 18:03

Middle of the Pack: 21:00

Last man: 24:33

For the corporate gym guys…

1. 50 Shrugs (40lbs)
2. 10 Dead-lifts (225)
3. 20 Dumb-bell chop and lifts (20lbs)
4. 30 Hanging knee raises

Repeat 4 more times.

See Tim’s other MMA/Crossfit workouts>>

Tim Kennedy’s Workout – 22 July 2009

Meritorious (on crack)

1. 400m Run
2. 10 225lbs Deadlift
3. 20 Burpees
4. 30 Pull-ups
5. 40 Hand stand push-ups
6. 50 Kettle bell swings (2pood)
7. 60 Sit-ups
8. 50 Kettle bell swings (2pood)
9. 40 Hand stand push-ups
10. 30 Pull-ups
11. 20 Burpees
12. 10 225lbs Deadlift
13. 400m run

Time to beat: 18:34

Last man: 26:07

Tim Kennedy’s Workout – 10 July 2009

1. 10 Pull-ups
2. 12 Hand stand Push-ups
3. 14 Ball burpees
4. 16 Deadlifts (225lbs)
5. 18 Kettle bell swings (2 pood)
6. 20 Knees to elbow

• Repeat the above exercise 2 more times.
• You’re done.

Time to beat: 13:30

Last man: 20:00