<$BlogRSDURL$>


Thursday, November 03, 2016

No Holds Barred: Kevin Jackson on Iowa State Wrestling 2016-17 


On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is the head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

The 2016-17 wrestling season kicks off for Iowa State this Friday, November 4, when they go on the road to face Big 12 rival South Dakota State, followed by another road meet with another Big 12 rival, North Dakota State, on Sunday, November 6.

The lineup this year will include all three All-Americans from last season: 133-pound wrestler Earl Hall, 174-pound wrestler Lelund Weatherspoon, and 184-pound wrestler Pat Downey, who actually achieved All-American status last year at 197.

We spoke with Coach Kevin Jackson by phone Wednesday.

"We're excited about the year," said Coach Jackson. 'It's my first time being able to return three All-Americans to our starting lineup. We have seven guys who have qualified for the NCAA championship, so they have seen that level of competition."

As for the preseason rankings, which have Iowa State in the middle of the top 25, he said, "We don't pay too much attention to the rankings. I can't remember when the last time the rankings held true," also noting that with three returning All-Americans, "very few teams can match that."

He added, "If our young guys can connect to what our seniors and juniors have done, I think we're going to feel pretty good about our results."

We discussed more on the projected starting lineup for Iowa State, how they have one of the top recruiting classes in the U.S., highlights of this season's schedule, proposals to move the college wrestling season to one semester and have the national tournament in April, why for college wrestling "to grow, change is necessary", and much, much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

The Boxing Tribune, boxing's independent media. Unlike every other major boxing website, The Boxing Tribune is not funded or owned by promoters, managers, or networks, and is fully independent and free to write the truth. For independent boxing news and views, go to http://boxingtribune-news.com.

The North American Catch Wrestling Association, a grassroots organization designed to help rebuild the sport of catch-as-catch-can-wrestling. For more information, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/NorthAmericanCatchWrestlingAssociation.

The National Registry for Wrestling, whose mission is to increase wrestling's fanbase, to build a registry of all wrestling fans, to serve as a connecting point for all wrestling fans, and to provide TV and Internet listings for wrestling. For more information, go to NR4W.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Sunday, March 13, 2016

No Holds Barred Tenth Anniversary: Kevin Jackson on Iowa State Wrestling and NCAA Championships 



On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is the head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

This is another in a series of discussions celebrating the tenth anniversary of this No Holds Barred podcast, which began in March 2006. These interviews will focus both on the legacy and issues raised over the years on this show, as well as contemporary issues and the future of the combat sports and martial arts.

We spoke with Kevin Jackson by phone Wednesday.

"Thanks for having me, Eddie," he said. "It's a pleasure to be on your show. Congratulations on the ten year anniversary. It's amazing how fast time goes by. We've been friends and we've talked about a lot of different subjects over the years. It's just a pleasure to be a part of your ten year anniversary and No Holds Barred and talk to you today."

Iowa State, which just finished third at the Big 12 Championships, will be bringing six wrestlers to compete at the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which take place March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Once again the ESPN networks will provide live video of every match, with the finals and semifinals televised live on ESPN, the other four sessions televised live on ESPNU, and ESPN3.com providing live multi-mat viewing throughout.

The six Iowa State wrestlers who will be competing at the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships are: Kyle Larson at 125, 2014 All-American Earl Hall at 133, Tanner Weatherman at 165, two-time Big 12 champion Lelund Weatherspoon at 174, Dane Pestano at 184, and Patrick Downey at 197.

We discussed the prospects for each of these wrestlers.

We also discussed several broader issues, including the failure of the many recent attempts to create a real professional wrestling organization; how wrestling is still not locked into the Olympic Games; why wrestling is a "sport as blue collar as it gets"; how wrestling "is a sport for all"; the issue of diversity in college wrestling; MMA and wrestling; and much, much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

The Frank Gotch World Catch Wrestling Tournament. On Sunday, July 3, 2016, catch wrestlers from all around the world will compete in Humboldt, Iowa, the hometown of the legendary world champion wrestler Frank Gotch. Organized by the Catch Wrestling Alliance and co-sponsored by IAWrestle, the Frank Gotch Statue Committee, and the Frank Gotch Kids Wrestling Club, the event will take place at Humboldt High School. For more information, go to CatchWrestlingAlliance.com.

The North American Catch Wrestling Association, a grassroots organization designed to help rebuild the sport of catch-as-catch-can-wrestling. For more information, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/NorthAmericanCatchWrestlingAssociation.

BJJ Eastern Europe, for the latest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu news, articles, interviews, competition calendar, European belt rankings, academy directory, and more. For more information, go to BJJEE.com.

The National Registry for Wrestling, whose mission is to increase wrestling's fanbase, to build a registry of all wrestling fans, to serve as a connecting point for all wrestling fans, and to provide TV and Internet listings for wrestling. For more information, go to NR4W.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Thursday, October 22, 2015

No Holds Barred: Kevin Jackson on Iowa State Wrestling 2015-16, Mental Toughness, and Character 


On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is starting his seventh season as head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

The 2015-16 college wrestling season is about to start, with Iowa State having their first dual meet by hitting the road to face Virginia Tech Saturday, November 7, at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia.

We spoke with Coach Jackson by phone Tuesday.

While 2015 NCAA champion Kyven Gadson has graduated, this season's Cyclone wrestling team has a number of holdovers. But there will be some changes, as redshirt senior Tanner Weatherman, a two-time Big 12 runner-up, will be moving down to 165 pounds, and redshirt junior Lelund Weatherspoon, a 2014 Big 12 champion, will be moving down to 174 pounds. Senior Earl Hall at 133 pounds, a 2014 All-American, is another wrestler expected to have an outstanding season.

"I would have to say it's not a rebuilding year anymore," Coach Jackson said. "We're past the rebuilding stage. I think we have everything in place to take the necessary steps to do what we're capable of doing," he said. "I think we have a lot of the pieces in place to really make some noise."

We also discussed the likely starting lineup at each weight, including those weights where the starter remains to be determined by wrestle-offs.

Wrestling is a unique sport, and in this highly quotable interview, Coach Jackson shared some of his observations on it.

"People think that wrestling builds character. I think that's been said several times. But really, wrestling reveals character. A wrestling match, especially a collegiate match, will tell who you really are, what you've really been doing every single day in your day-to-day life," he said.

"It is a direct reflection of life. That's the beauty of our sport, how it carries over to life."

A large part of wrestling involves mental toughness. We discussed that at length, with Coach Jackson explaining that skillsets can easily be taught, but that some of mental toughness is "ingrained" in people. The mind can control the rest of the body, he said, with success both on and off the mat being "based on the decisions you make in life."

We also discussed what lies in the future for Kyven Gadson as he trains to make the 2016 Olympic team, the expansion of the Big 12 Conference for wrestling, the proper equipment needed for new wrestlers, and much, much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web, at http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/no-holds-barred-with-eddie-goldman.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player for iOS is available for free on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at AmericanTopTeam.com.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.

Gracie Tournaments, featuring regional, national, and world competitions in submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For more information, go to GracieWorlds.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

No Holds Barred: Kyven Gadson, NCAA Wrestling Champ 



(Photos by Bob Mayeri)

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Kyven Gadson, who just won an NCAA Div. I wrestling championship at 197 pounds at the 2015 NCAA national tournament, representing the Iowa State Cyclones.

And he did it in grand fashion, pinning his opponent, Kyle Snyder of team champion Ohio State, in the second period of their final match.

After the match, ESPN, which was telecasting this event, interviewed Kyven Gadson, who, when asked how he felt, cracked that he wanted some ice cream, and then ended the interview. This interview went viral online, and was one of the most talked about stories at this year's NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships.

We spoke with Kyven Gadson by phone Wednesday.

Explaining why he called his pinning move in the finals 'The Gadson', he said, "The reason we call it 'The Gadson' is because that's something Coach [Kevin] Jackson had taught me a while back, but I was really the only one on the team hitting it. So when I was hitting it in competition, we would say, 'Gadson Airlines' or 'Cyclone Airlines'."

He continued, "It's actually called a 'Polish Steparound Throw', according to Daniel Cormier. But I told Daniel last night when I was talking to him, that I would never, I couldn't call it the 'Polish Steparound Throw'. It just doesn't have that flavor to it. But I'd call it 'The Cormier-Gadson'. I saw him hit it in his highlights versus Dan Henderson, if you watch that on YouTube," referring to the Cormier-Henderson MMA fight.

"It was something that I had been practicing and had actually used it earlier in the tournament to get a fall in the second round, and had been using it a good amount of the season," he said. He also explained how to do this move, which involves getting an overhook on one side, an underhook on the other side, and hooking the leg as you throw your opponent to the mat.

We also discussed his viral interview where he said he wanted some ice cream, and how he only found out afterwards, and unexpectedly, that it had gone viral.

In addition, we delved into his career as a wrestler at Iowa State, which has now concluded on such a high note. We discussed his "roller-coaster relationship" with his late father, Willie Gadson, an All-American wrestler at Iowa State and his high school coach, who passed away from cancer in 2013, and how that affected his life on and off the mat. We also discussed the need for more diversity in college wrestling, his plans to become an athletic director at a university and get a master's degree and Ph.D., how he presently has no plans to continue wrestling, why he no longer uses social media, and much, much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at AmericanTopTeam.com.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.

Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to TakedownRadio.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

No Holds Barred: Coach Kevin Jackson on 2015 Big 12 and NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships 



On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is in his sixth season as head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

Iowa State will be the host this year for the Big 12 Wrestling Championship, which takes place Saturday, March 7, at Hilton Coliseum on the campus of Iowa State University. The 2015 NCAA Div. 1 Wrestling Championships take place March 19-21 in St. Louis, Missouri.

We spoke with Coach Kevin Jackson by phone Wednesday.

"We're excited to host the tournament. The Big 12 Championship has always been competitive, always been a highly-contest event," he said.

"Oklahoma State has held that title for the last few years, and obviously we're in a position where we feel like we can fight for it this year. Make no mistake, they're the clear favorite going into the tournament, but we feel we've been wrestling pretty well. We have three guys seeded number one. They're going have to hold their number one seeds, and then everyone else is going to have to out-perform their seeds to give us a chance to win."

The home advantage for Iowa State could also play a role this year.

"Our crowds have been great. I think they can play a vital role in cheering on our wrestlers. But it's going to be a lot of fun," he said.

"And this is the time of the season that we're most excited about that we do all the training and hard work for throughout the year."

We discussed how the Iowa State wrestlers match up with their rivals in this tournament, how the team usually gets better as the season progresses, some of the plans of the seniors whose college wrestling careers will be over after the NCAA national tournament, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at AmericanTopTeam.com.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.

Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to TakedownRadio.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Thursday, September 04, 2014

No Holds Barred: Kevin Jackson on Iowa State Wrestling 2014-15 


On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is starting his sixth season as head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

We spoke with Coach Jackson by phone Wednesday.

Iowa State Wrestling is in a good position coming into the new season, which starts in November. All of the team's NCAA qualifiers from last season are returning, including their three All-Americans: Kyven Gadson, Michael Moreno, and Earl Hall.

In particular, a lot of attention is focused on redshirt senior 197-pound wrestler Kyven Gadson.

"Ever since Kyven Gadson has stepped foot on campus, he's had the potential, and we've had the expectations, for him to be a national champion. And that hasn't changed," said Coach Jackson.

"This year he has to put a couple of things together, stay locked in, wrestle with intensity and aggression. And I think if he does that for seven minutes, I think he's going to give himself a great chance to win. He's been a leader of our team. He's a two-time All-American. And this could be his last shot at it."

We also discussed the potential of Iowa State's returning All-Americans Michael Moreno and Earl Hall, how Earl Hall is the "best athlete" on the team, the importance of college wrestlers training and competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, the "challenging" situation involving the many upcoming changes in college sports including the likelihood that some college athletes will be directly financially compensated, the resulting increased necessity to market the sport of wrestling, Iowa State's new assistant coaches Trent Paulson and Angel Escobedo, and much, much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at AmericanTopTeam.com.

Defense Soap, an effective, deep penetrating body soap with natural antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial soap ingredients. Defense Soap is the best cleansing body soap for men and women athletes who are involved in contact sports such as MMA, wrestling, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, to help their antifungal, anti-ringworm, anti-jock itch strategy. Check out their web site, at DefenseSoap.com.

Takedown Wrestling Media, America's wrestling TV and radio shows, which are hosted by founder Scott Casber, and have been airing on radio and Internet for over 17 years. Takedown Media produces a weekly TV program seen in 54 million homes in the U.S. on DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable affiliates around the country, called Takedown TV. Takedown Media also produces the weekly USA Wrestling TV show for the governing body of the sport, USA Wrestling. For more information, go to TakedownRadio.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Thursday, March 06, 2014

No Holds Barred: Coach Kevin Jackson on 2014 Big 12 and NCAA Wrestling Championships 




On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is in his fifth season as head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

The month of March will see the conclusion of the 2013-14 college wrestling season, with only conference and national championships remaining for Iowa State.

They will be competing at the 2014 Big 12 Wrestling Championships, which takes place Saturday, March 8, at the McCasland Field House in Norman, Oklahoma. The finals will be televised live in the U.S. on various Fox networks, including Fox College Sports, beginning at 8 PM ET/ 7 PM CT. As always, check your local listings.

The 2014 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships also take place in Oklahoma, March 20-22 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. The finals will be televised live in the U.S. on ESPN, with extensive coverage of all sessions both on television and online on the ESPN networks.

We spoke with Coach Kevin Jackson by phone Sunday to preview these tournaments and to discuss what to expect from the Iowa State Cyclones.

"This is the most exciting time of the year for everyone. The Big 12 Championships, the NCAA Championships -- everything else is practice," he said.

Much attention is being given to Iowa State's redshirt junior Kyven Gadson, who will be the number one seed at 197 pounds for this year's Big 12 Championships, and is also currently ranked number one in the country at that weight.

Coach Jackson said that Kyven Gadson's performance this season has gotten the Iowa State wrestling community and many people on the campus "very, very excited, based on this year, based on where he is ranked right now, the opportunity to be seeded number one in the NCAA tournament, and the opportunity to be a two-time Big 12 champion."

We also discussed how this season in college wrestling has seen numerous upsets and these tournaments are very hotly-contested; what wrestling must do to add more fans; the role of real professional wrestling and catch wrestling; and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Monday, October 28, 2013

No Holds Barred: Coach Kevin Jackson Previews 2013-14 Iowa State Wrestling 


On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is starting his fifth season as head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

Before last season, Iowa State was not even ranked among the top 25 teams in the NCAA Division I by the college wrestling preseason polls. Coach Jackson proved them wrong by leading a young team to an 11th-place finish in the national championships, and having three wrestlers earn All-American status. This season, he sees even more success.

"We're in a good position to continue to move the program forward," he said in this interview, recorded by phone Monday. "We have Mike Moreno and Kyven Gadson, two athletes that were All-Americans last year, returning to our starting lineup." And they only lost two seniors from last year's starting lineup.

"We're excited about this year and can't wait to get started."

They will get started with their regular season Thursday, November 7, when they face both Drexel and Grand View in home dual meets at the historic Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

Before that, Mike Moreno, ranked number three in the preseason polls at 165 pounds, will be wrestling top-ranked David Taylor of Penn State, a 2012 NCAA Div. I champion and three-time finalist. This match will take place Saturday, November 2, as part of a loaded lineup at the annual NWCA All-Star Classic, held at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, on the campus of George Mason University.

We also discussed with Coach Jackson who else on the Cyclone wrestling team he expects to start and achieve success this season.

In addition, we discussed some of the ongoing problems facing the sport of wrestling, both internationally and nationally. He bemoaned the fact that 2012 Olympic gold medalists Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner are not getting all sorts of major nationwide product endorsements. The continuing problems with marketing, media, and promotion of wrestling once again show, he said, "It takes professionals to do a professional job."

And we discussed the upcoming fight this Saturday, November 2, on the Bellator MMA card in Long Beach, California, involving "King" Mo Lawal, who had trained with Coach Jackson for several years at the Olympic Training Center, against Emanuel Newton, who had upset him with a first-round knockout when they first met in February of this year.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Monday, June 10, 2013

No Holds Barred: King Mo On His June 19 Bellator Fight 



On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Bellator MMA fighter "King" Mo Lawal.

He will be returning to action Wednesday, June 19, in the semifinals of Bellator MMA's four-man light heavyweight tournament, facing MMA veteran Seth Petruzelli. This fight will headline this card, which takes place at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma, and will be televised live in the U.S. on Spike TV.

This will be the first fight for "King" Mo following his upset loss to Emanuel Newton on February 21, 2013, in the Bellator Season 8 light heavyweight tournament semifinals. In that fight, he lost by first-round KO after Newton landed a spinning backfist.

We spoke with "King" Mo Monday by phone about his June 19 fight and the lessons of his last fight.

In this interview, he admitted, "I got caught" by Newton's spinning backfist. And, he said, in preparing for the June 19 fight with Petruzelli, "I had to make some adjustments."

But he added, "I'm not going to change much," noting that his wrestling, grappling, sparring, boxing, and kickboxing are all "on point."

He already weighs 210, just five pounds over the MMA light heavyweight limit, and said, "I'm always in shape. I'm ready to go."

He also discussed his training with Olympic gold medalist wrestler and current Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson, and noted boxing trainer Jeff Mayweather, along with numerous active fighters. We also discussed the first-round TKO upset win in boxing this past Saturday by Adonis Stevenson over Chad Dawson to capture the WBC light heavyweight belt.

In addition, "King" Mo is signed to perform in the TNA pro wrestling organization, which also airs on Spike TV. We discussed his training for that, how it compares to the other training he is doing, and what real catch wrestling moves he is learning there. And we discussed Quinton "Rampage" Jackson also signing with both Bellator and TNA, the continuing turmoil in international wrestling and some of his experiences there, and more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Thursday, February 28, 2013

No Holds Barred: Kevin Jackson on Iowa State Going To NCAAs and Big 12s, Saving Olympic Wrestling, and King Mo 


On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again speaks with Coach Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is the head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

After a slow start to the 2012-13 college wrestling season, Iowa State reeled off eight wins in their final nine dual meets, with the team now ranked 20th in the nation. Several wrestlers are also individually ranked in the top 20, including redshirt sophomore Kyven Gadson, who is ranked seventh at 197 pounds.

"Were happy with the last few months," said Coach Jackson in this interview, which was recorded by phone Wednesday. "It's just the way our guys are competing. The wins are coming. The dominating performances are coming. The major decisions, the falls, the tech falls are all falling into place."

This all comes at the right time for Iowa State. The regular season is now over, with the Big 12 Duals and Championships slated for March 8-9 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and the NCAA Div. I National Championships March 21-23 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Coach Jackson added, "We're still a young team. We have four sophomores and three freshman starting in our lineup. So we're really excited about our future. But also we think for a lot of these guys the future is now, and that there are great opportunities for them at the Big 12s next week, and then at the NCAA tournament a few weeks later."

While college wrestling in the U.S. prepares for these championship tournaments, the entire worlds of wrestling and sports were rocked by the recent decision of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee to drop wrestling from the program of the 2020 Olympics. We also discussed this with Coach Jackson.

"I don't know exactly what went wrong, besides I think our leadership within our international governing body [FILA] was flawed, and we weren't staying ahead of the game," he said. "We weren't staying ahead of what we needed to do to show the IOC that we were worthy of being in the Olympic Games, and the great things that we have done throughout the history of the Olympic Games, and how we are an integral part of those Games. And I don't think our international governing body did that."

Besides going over what changes international wrestling needs to make and what we can do to help save Olympic wrestling, we also discussed the recent loss in the Bellator MMA organization by "King" Mo Lawal, who had trained for years in freestyle wrestling with Coach Jackson at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Coach Jackson was also a professional MMA fighter in the 1990s in both UFC and Battlecade Extreme Fighting, so he offered some friendly advice to "King" Mo.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Monday, October 29, 2012

No Holds Barred: Coach Kevin Jackson Previews 2012-13 Iowa State Wrestling 


On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is starting his fourth season as head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

Injuries and a series of other factors led to disappointing results for the Cyclones last season, including none of their wrestlers winning a national championship or All-American status. Coach Jackson, however, is convinced that his young team, many now with a taste of top-level NCAA Division I wrestling, will perform much better in the coming 2012-13 season.

"We can expect everyone to perform at a higher level," said Coach Jackson in this interview, which was recorded by phone Monday afternoon. "The group of young men that we threw out there last year had a great opportunity to gain some valuable experience, to wrestle the best teams in the country, and to wrestle the hardest schedule in the country, and recognize that they are capable, that they should be in the hunt, that they should win." He added that they are still a relatively young team which is dominated by sophomores. "All those sophomore have seen the best competition, and there will be no surprises for them going into this year."

We discussed who are the likely starters for the Cyclones this season, which officially opens for them Saturday, November 10, at the Harold Nichols Cyclone Open at the historic Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. We also discussed the realignment of college conferences and the possibility of wrestling teams being grouped in regional conferences, the proposed change to the format of crowning a national team champion in NCAA Division I wrestling through a new national duals tournament, the importance for wrestling of the use of social media, and more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City December 1 and 2 for the fourth annual MMA World Expo, featuring an amateur MMA tournament, the Big Apple BJJ Open, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, and much more. The 2012 MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 1, and Sunday, December 2, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Sunday, August 12, 2012

No Holds Barred: Kevin Jackson on the Spectacular Wrestling at the 2012 Olympics 



On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with 1992 freestyle wrestling Olympic gold medalist, former MMA fighter, and current head wrestling coach for the Iowa State Cyclones, Kevin Jackson.

We spoke by phone Sunday evening just after the conclusion of the 2012 London Olympics, and the eight days of wrestling at it, and both agreed that this was a great event which showcased spectacular wrestling and unparalleled athleticism.

Speaking about U.S. freestyle wrestler Jordan Burroughs, who won a gold medal at 74 kg, Coach Jackson noted the "electricity that surrounds him and the technical skills and the athletic ability and the energy in which he wrestled with, of scoring points and not going to one clinch." Burroughs wrestling this way on the first day of freestyle competition "set the tone" for other wrestlers in other weight classes, he added.

On the issue of world-class wrestlers, particularly some Americans, leaving international competition to go into MMA, Coach Jackson commented, "Most wrestlers want to wrestle. If they're still in a position, in a situation to be the best in the world, that's what they want to do. But some choose not to. They choose to go into the MMA for the financial gain, as opposed to the fame or the challenge."

We also discussed the success of 96 kg freestyle wrestling gold medalist Jake Varner of the U.S., who was a two-time NCAA champion at Iowa State and wrestled in his senior year under Coach Jackson. We discussed many of the great accomplishments at the 2012 Olympics in wrestling, including three wrestlers winning their third straight Olympic gold medals: Saori Yoshida and Kaori Icho of Japan in women's freestyle, and Artur Taimazov of Uzbekistan in men's freestyle. We discussed how the collegiate wrestling programs in the U.S. have helped prepare wrestlers for international competition, what are the prospects for Iowa State in this coming season, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Friday, February 10, 2012

No Holds Barred: Kevin Jackson on Mat Mayhem 


On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is the head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.
This weekend, February 11 and 12, the 2012 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals, the national dual meet championship for Division I NCAA wrestling, will take place with a new format, which has been dubbed Mat Mayhem. There will be four regional tournaments, each featuring six of the top teams in the U.S. The winners of each tournament will face each other on February 19, making Mat Mayhem a college wrestling version of the Final Four in college basketball. The four regional tournaments will be held Saturday, February 11, at Rutgers in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Sunday, February 12, at Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, at Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and at Cornell in Ithaca, New York.
Iowa State has received the number three seed for the National Duals Midwest Regional in their home building, Hilton Coliseum. The first round will begin at 11 a.m. CST with Iowa State vs. Wisconsin on Mat 1 and Northern Iowa vs. Virginia Tech on Mat 2. Both Iowa and Oregon State will have first-round byes. The winner of Northern Iowa/Virginia Tech will face Iowa in the second round beginning at 1 p.m. CST. Oregon State will square off against the winner of Iowa State/Wisconsin in round two. The final round will begin at 3 p.m. CST. with the championship bout and extra match between the losing first-round teams.
We spoke with Coach Jackson by phone Thursday afternoon about Mat Mayhem and how he expects Iowa State to do.
"College wrestling is as good as it has been," said Coach Jackson. Besides having better coaches than ever, he explained, "the wrestling has gotten better."
We also discussed the overall performance of the Iowa State team, which has a large percentage of freshmen who have been starting, as well as some key starters who have been sidelined with injuries. But with the success of Andrew Sorenson, the return of Jerome Ward and Chris Spangler, and the maturation of this young team, Coach Jackson expects them to be peaking just as the season approaches the Big 12 and NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. We also discussed the upcoming U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in April, what wrestling needs to do to make it easier for fans to watch it, and more.
There is a special section on Mat Mayhem on TheMat.com.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
DARE Championship. Based in Thailand, DARE is a mixed martial arts event where fighters from all over the world compete to become the DARE Champion. DARE is one of the first MMA promotions in Thailand, and has been televised in many countries and online. For more information, go to their web site, at DareFightSports.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
The American Sambo Association, which is committed to becoming the premier association in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of Sambo. Sambo is a form of sport, self-defense, and combat established in the former Soviet Union during the early twentieth century. For more information, go to ussambo.com.

Labels: , , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

Saturday, November 05, 2011

No Holds Barred: Coach Kevin Jackson Previews 2011-12 Iowa State Wrestling; Snake Pit Expands 



On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Kevin Jackson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion freestyle wrestler, who is starting his third season as head wrestling coach for the legendary Iowa State Cyclones.

While Iowa State did have an NCAA champion last season in senior Jon Reader at 174 pounds, the team finished a disappointing twentieth at the NCAA Championships, one of the lowest finishes since the team started competing in 1928. While some starters are returning this season, the 2011-12 Cyclones are a relatively young team which will feature several new wrestlers in their lineup, including freshmen, such as the highly-touted Kyven Gadson.

We spoke with Coach Jackson Friday afternoon by phone about his young team. We discussed who are the likely starters, the new recruits for the Cyclones, how competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling is helpful for college wrestlers, possible changes in the Big 12 Conference, and much more.

In addition, we open by noting the continued revival of catch wrestling. This week saw the launch of the new web site of the world-famous Snake Pit. Much more is to come for this home of catch wrestling in Wigan, England, and around the world.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

MMA World Expo. The mixed martial arts community comes to New York City, featuring the Renzo Gracie Gi Open 2011 tournament, a signing of his new book by MMA legend Randy Couture, grappling and muay Thai action, MMA fighters, seminars with world-class trainers, vendors, panel discussions, and much more. The third annual MMA World Expo takes place Saturday, December 17, and Sunday, December 18, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

The American Sambo Association, which is committed to becoming the premier association in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of Sambo. Sambo is a form of sport, self-defense, and combat established in the former Soviet Union during the early twentieth century. For more information, go to ussambo.com.

Labels: , , , , ,


0 comments Tweet

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Links
  • Eddie Goldman Presented Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award -- The Conscience of Combat Sports
  • WAAR Sports
  • Girlboxing
  • Archives

    Subscribe to No Holds Barred
    Email:
    Browse Archives at groups.google.com

    © 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 Eddie Goldman all rights reserved.