Chael's Big Mistake

In a recent UFC fight between Champion Anderson Silva and challenger Chael Sonnen, there was a moment in the fight where the everything changed. People blame the elbow, I saw things differently. Mistakes happen,  and not all strikes will land, but the goal of martial arts is to keep yourself safe at all times. One of the first things you learn is to get up properly without getting punched, kneed, or kicked in the face. It's the stuff we all drill and probably find boring but here is why its important.

It's not just important in self defense but also in lifestyle situations. The most common problem people have when they get injured, are tired, get old, is getting up and laying down. This should be the most natural of acts. It's all variations of The Turkish Get Up, which is the only way to get up under a lot of duress and load. It's used in martial arts, physical therapy, by strong men, circus, ballet, etc.