Get to Know AKA – Exclusive Interview with Javier Mendez (Part 1)

For those that are not very familiar with the name, Javier Mendez is the founder, owner, and head trainer of the American Kickboxing Academy. Javier first made his name in the Martial Arts world as a two-time ISKA World Kickboxing Champion. After his illunstrious career in Kickboxing was finished, he opened up AKA and became one of the top coaches in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Some of the greatest fighters to have ever lived have called the American Kickboxing Academy their home.
Frank Shamrock, BJ

King Mo joins the American Kickboxing Academy

Muhammed Lawal better known as King Mo is one of the most accomplished freestyle wrestlers to ever make the jump to Mixed Martial Arts. Mo was a Division One NCAA All-American wrestler for Oklahoma State University and at one time was even the number one ranked wrestler in the US in the -96kg division. When the King failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, he took his skills from the mat, and applied them to MMA.
He flew to Japan, made his debut at Sengoku 5, and has never looked back since.

MMA power rankings

Rankings have become a mess in MMA. Some folks like myslef want to use wins over quality competition as the main means to judge fighters at the top of the game (rankings wise). Some others want to judge rankings on more of a “whom would beat whom” basis. Personally I don’t abide by that philosophy, but certain folks do and the endgame is always in one way or another “agree to disagree”. After some thoughts over this weekend I think I have a pretty good solution. Power rankings: Judging a fighter solely on t