Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun (1192–1199) of the Kamakura shogunate

A shogun (将軍, shōgun^?)  listen (help·info) (literally, "a commander of a force") was one of the (usually) hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867.^[1] In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents (1203–1333), were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor. When Portuguese explorers first came into contact with the Japanese (see Nanban period), they described Japanese conditions in analogy, likening the emperor, with great symbolic authority but little political power, to the Pope, and the shogun to secular European rulers, e.g. the Holy Roman Emperor. In keeping with the analogy, they even used the term "emperor" in reference to the shogun/regent, e.g. in the case of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, whom missionaries called "Emperor Taicosama" (from Taiko and the honorific sama)

The modern rank of shogun is equivalent to a generalissimo. Although the original meaning of "shogun" is simply "a general", as a title, it is used as the short form of seii taishōgun (征夷大将軍), the governing individual at various times in the history of Japan, ending when Tokugawa Yoshinobu relinquished the office to the Meiji Emperor in 1867.^[2]

A shogun's office or administration is known in English as the "office". In Japanese it was known as bakufu (幕府^?) which literally means "tent office", and originally meant "house of the general", and later also suggested a private government. Bakufu could also mean "tent government" and was the way the government was run under a shogun.^[3] The tent symbolized the field commander but also denoted that such an office was meant to be temporary. The shogun's officials were as a collective the bakufu, and were those who carried out the actual duties of administration while the Imperial court retained only nominal authority.^[4]

Etymology[link]

The term transcribed as: sei-i taishōgun, seii-taishōgun or sei-i-tai-shōgun means "great general who subdues barbarians" or "the generalissimo for the subjugation of barbarians"^[5]. Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, seized considerable power and land from the aristocracy in Kyoto. He became the practical ruler of Japan, and received the title sei-i taishōgun. Thereafter, the heads of three successive shogunates received the same title. After the downfall of the Kamakura Shogunate, certain conditions had to be met in order for a warlord to be bestowed the title of shogun. First and foremost, the warlord had to descend from the Minamoto clan. Secondly, all of Japan had to be unified under a single warlord, or daimyo. If a daimyo unified Japan, and was not of Minamoto descent, then he would be given the title of "regent". In formal diplomatic communications with foreign countries, the title taikun, the source of the English word tycoon,^[6] was used.^{[citation needed]}

History[link]

Heian period (794–1185)[link]

Originally, the title of Sei-i Taishōgun (Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force Against the Barbarians^[7]) was given to military commanders during the early Heian Period for the duration of military campaigns against the Emishi who resisted the governance of the Imperial court based in Kyoto. Ōtomo no Otomaro became the first Sei-i Taishōgun in history.^[8] The most famous of these shoguns was Sakanoue no Tamuramaro who conquered the Emishi in the name of Emperor Kammu. Eventually, the title was abandoned in the later Heian period after the Ainu had been either subjugated or driven to Hokkaidō.

In the later Heian, one more shogun was appointed. Minamoto no Yoshinaka was named sei-i taishōgun during the Gempei War only to be killed shortly thereafter by Minamoto no Yoshitsune.^{[citation needed]}

Kamakura shogunate (1192–1333)[link]

In the early 11th century, daimyo and protected by samurai came to dominate internal Japanese politics.^[2] Two of the most powerful families, the Taira and Minamoto, fought for control over the declining imperial court. The Taira family seized control from 1160 to 1185, but was defeated by the Minamoto in the Battle of Dan-no-ura. Minamoto no Yoritomo seized certain powers from the central government and aristocracy and established a feudal system based in Kamakura in which the private military, the samurai, gained some political powers while the Emperors of Japan and the aristocracy in Japan remained the de jure (and in many ways de facto) rulers. In 1192, Yoritomo was awarded the title of Sei-i Taishōgun by the emperor and the political system he developed with a succession of shogun at the head became known as a shogunate. In Japan everyone wanted power. With power came wealth and a grand life.

Yoritomo's wife's family, the Hōjō, seized the power from the Kamakura shoguns. When Yoritomo's sons and heirs were assassinated, the shogun became a hereditary figurehead. Real power rested with the Hōjō regents. The Kamakura shogunate lasted for almost 150 years, from 1192 to 1333.

In 1274 and 1281, the Mongol Empire launched invasions against Japan. An attempt by Emperor Go-Daigo to restore imperial rule in 1331 was unsuccessful, but weakened the shogunate significantly and led to its eventual downfall.^[9]

Kemmu restoration (1333–1336)[link]

The end of the Kamakura shogunate came when Kamakura fell in 1333 and the Hōjō Regency was destroyed. Two imperial families, Go-Saga the senior line, and Go-Daigo the junior line, had a claim to the throne. The problem was solved with the intercession of the Kamakura Shogunate, who had the two lines alternate. This lasted until 1331, when the Go-Daigo line refused to alternate with the Go-Saga line. As a result the Go-Daigo was exiled. Around 1334–1336 Ashikaga Takauji helped the Go-Daigo line regain the throne.^[10]

The fight against the shogunate left the new Emperor with too many people claiming a limited supply of land. Ashikaga Takauji turned against the Emperor when the discontent about the distribution of land grew great enough. In 1336 the emperor was banished again, in favor of a new emperor.^[10]

During the Kemmu Restoration, after the fall of the Kamakura shogunate in 1333, another short-lived shogun arose. Prince Moriyoshi (also known as Prince Morinaga), son of Emperor Go-Daigo, was awarded the title of Sei-i Taishōgun. However, Prince Moriyoshi was later put under house arrest and, in 1335, killed by Ashikaga Tadayoshi.

Ashikaga shogunate (1336–1573)[link]

The tomb of Ashikaga Takauji

In 1338 Ashikaga Takauji, like Yoritomo a descendant of the Minamoto princes, was awarded the title of sei-i taishōgun and established Ashikaga Shogunate, which lasted until 1573. The Ashikaga had their headquarters in the Muromachi district of Kyoto, and the time period during which they ruled is also known as the Muromachi Period.

Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1867)[link]

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Tokugawa Ieyasu seized power and established a government at Edo (now known as Tokyo) in 1600. He received the title sei-i taishōgun in 1603 after he forged a family tree to show he was of Minamoto descent.^[11] The Tokugawa shogunate lasted until 1867, when Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned as shogun and abdicated his authority to Emperor Meiji.^[12]

During the Edo period, effective power rested with the Tokugawa shogun, not the emperor in Kyoto, even though the former ostensibly owed his position to the latter. The shogun controlled foreign policy, the military, and feudal patronage. The role of the emperor was ceremonial, similar to the position of the Japanese monarchy after the Second World War.^[13]

The title of shogun in Japan meant a military leader equivalent to general, and at various times in the first millennium shoguns held temporary power, but it became a symbol of military control over the county. The establishment of the shogunate (or bakufu) at the end of the twelfth century saw the beginning of samurai control of Japan for 700 years until the Meiji Restoration in the middle of the nineteenth century.

Modern usage[link]

Although today the head of the Japanese government is called "prime minister", the usage of the term "shogun" has continued somewhat. A retired prime minister who still wields considerable power and influence behind the scenes is called a yami shogun, or "shadow shogun", a somewhat modern incarnation of the cloistered rule. Examples of shadow shoguns are former prime minister Kakuei Tanaka and the politician Ichirō Ozawa.^[14]

Shogunate[link]

The term bakufu originally meant the dwelling and household of a shogun, but in time it came to be generally used for the system of government of a feudal military dictatorship, exercised in the name of the shogun; and this is the meaning that has been adopted into English through the term 'shogunate'.

The shogunate system was originally established under the Kamakura shogunate by Minamoto no Yoritomo. Although theoretically the state, and therefore the Emperor, held ownership of all land of Japan, the system had some feudal elements, with lesser territorial lords pledging their allegiance to greater ones. Samurai were rewarded for their loyalty with land, which was in turn, on the liege lord's permission, handed down and divided among their sons. The hierarchy that held this system of government together was reinforced by close ties of loyalty between samurai and their subordinates.

Each shogunate was dynamic, not static. Power was constantly shifting and authority was often ambiguous. The study of the ebbs and flows in this complex history continues to occupy the attention of scholars. Each shogunate encountered competition. Sources of competition included the emperor and the court aristocracy, the remnants of the imperial governmental systems, the shōen system, the great temples and shrines, the shugo and the jitō, the kokujin and early modern daimyo. Each shogunate reflected the necessity of new ways of balancing the changing requirements of central and regional authorities.^[15]

See also[link]

• List of shoguns
• History of Japan
• Feudalism
• Daimyo

References[link]

Notes[link]

Further reading[link]

• Beasley, William G. (1955). Select Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy, 1853–1868. London: Oxford University Press. [reprinted by RoutledgeCurzon, London, 2001. 10-ISBN 0-19-713508-0; 13-ISBN 978-0-19-713508-2 (cloth)]
• Columbia University (2000). "Japan: History: Early History to the Ashikaga Shoguns". Factmonster. http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/world/A0858985.html. Retrieved 2007-04-17. 
• Brazell, Karen (November 1972). "The Changing of the Shogun 1289: An Excerpt from Towazugatari". The Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese 8 (1): 58–65. DOI:10.2307/489093. JSTOR 489093. 
• Brock, Karen L. (Winter 1995). "The Shogun's 'Painting Match'". Monumenta Nipponica 50 (4): 433–484. DOI:10.2307/2385589. JSTOR 2385589. 
• Grossberg, Kenneth A. (August 1976). "Bakufu Bugyonin: The Size of the lower bureaucracy in Muromachi Japan". The Journal of Asian Studies 35 (4): 651–654. DOI:10.2307/2053677. JSTOR 2053677. 
• Grossberg, Kenneth A. (Spring 1976). "From Feudal Chieftain to Secular Monarch. The Development of Shogunal Power in Early Muromachi Japan". Monumenta Nipponica 31 (1): 29–49. DOI:10.2307/2384184. JSTOR 2384184. 
• "Japan". The World Book Encyclopedia. World Book. 1992. pp. 34–59. ISBN 0-7166-0092-7. 
• Mass, Jeffrey P. and William B. Hauser, eds. (1985). The Bakufu in Japanese History. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
• McCune, George M. (May 1946). "The Exchange of Envoys between Korea and Japan During the Tokugawa Period". The Far Eastern Quarterly 5 (3): 308–325. DOI:10.2307/2049052. JSTOR 2049052. 
• Ravina, Mark (November 1995). "State-Building and Political Economy in Early-modern Japan". The Journal of Asian Studies 54 (4): 997–1022. DOI:10.2307/2059957. JSTOR 2059957. 
• Seigle, Cecilia Segawa (December 1999). "The Shogun's Consort: Konoe Hiroko and Tokugawa Ienobu". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 59 (2): 485–522. DOI:10.2307/2652720. JSTOR 2652720. 
• Hurst, C. Cameron, III; Smith, Henry (November 1981). "Review of Learning from Shogun: Japanese History and Western Fantasy, by Henry Smith". The Journal of Asian Studies 41 (1): 158–159. DOI:10.2307/2055644. JSTOR 2055644. 
• Sansom, George. 1961. A History of Japan, 1134–1615. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 10-ISBN 0-8047-0525-9; 13-ISBN 978-0-8047-0525-7
• "Shogun". The World Book Encyclopedia. World Book. 1992. pp. 432–433. ISBN 0-7166-0092-7. 
• Sinsengumi, Bakumatuisin (2003). "仙台藩主" (in Japanese). Bakusin. http://www.bakusin.com/date.html. Retrieved 2007-04-17. 
• Smith, Henry (ed.) (1980) (PDF). Learning from Shogun: Japanese History and Western Fantasy. Santa Barbara: University of California Program in Asian Studies. http://www.columbia.edu/~hds2/learning/Learning_from_shogun_txt.pdf. 
• Totman, Conrad (1966). "Political Succession in The Tokugawa Bakufu: Abe Masahiro's Rise to Power, 1843-1845". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 26: 102–124. DOI:10.2307/2718461. JSTOR 2718461. 
• Wakabayashi, Bob Tadashi (Winter 1991). "In Name Only: Imperial Sovereignty in Early Modern Japan". Journal of Japanese Studies 17 (1): 25–57. DOI:10.2307/132906. JSTOR 132906. 

Emma Louise Hewitt (born in Geelong, Australia) is a singer-songwriter and trance vocalist who lives in Amsterdam.

Biography[link]

Hewitt was the lead singer of the Australian rock band Missing Hours, with whom she released the eponymous debut album in October 2008. The band that she formed with her brother Anthony is currently no longer active, because both now live in Europe and are now working as songwriters of electronic dance music.^[1]

Although Emma Hewitt had a musical background in rock music, she released her debut single in 2007 in the field of progressive house. "Carry Me Away" was a collaboration with British DJ Chris Lake. The single reached number 11 in the Spanish singles charts as well as number 12 in Finland.^[2] The single was a total of 50 weeks in the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay charts in the United States and reached number 1 in December 2007.

After the success of her first single, she has worked with several trance artists such as Cosmic Gate, Gareth Emery, Dash Berlin and Ronski Speed. The single "Waiting", which she published with Dash Berlin in 2009, was ranked 25th in the Belgian singles charts. In Armin van Buurens popular radio show A State of Trance the single was elected by the audience with 2109 votes to the second best song of the year 2009.^[3] At the International Dance Music Awards 2010 "Waiting" was awarded as best HiNRG/Euro Track. She was nominated twice in the category Best Trance Track with "Waiting" and "Not Enough Time".^[4]

Discography[link]

As Missing Hours

• Missing Hours (2008)

As Emma Hewitt

• Burn the Sky Down (18 May 2012)^[5]

Singles

• 2012: Colours
• 2012: Miss You Paradise

Collaborations

• 2007: Chris Lake feat. Emma Hewitt – Carry Me Away (Hot Dance Airplay #1, Global Dance Tracks #28)
• 2009: Cosmic Gate feat. Emma Hewitt – Not Enough Time
• 2009: Serge Devant feat. Emma Hewitt – Take Me With You
• 2009: Dash Berlin feat. Emma Hewitt – Waiting
• 2009: Amurai feat. Emma Hewitt – Crucify Yourself
• 2010: Ronski Speed pres. Sun Decade feat. Emma Hewitt – Lasting Light
• 2010: Marcus Schössow & Reeves feat. Emma Hewitt – Light
• 2010: Gareth Emery with Emma Hewitt – I Will Be the Same
• 2010: Lange feat. Emma Hewitt – Live Forever
• 2011: Dash Berlin feat. Emma Hewitt – Disarm Yourself
• 2011: Allure feat. Emma Hewitt – No Goodbyes
• 2011: Allure feat. Emma Hewitt – Stay Forever
• 2011: Micky Slim feat. Emma Hewitt - Tonight
• 2011: Cosmic Gate feat. Emma Hewitt - Be Your Sound
• 2011: Cosmic Gate feat. Emma Hewitt - Calm Down
• 2012: Dash Berlin feat. Emma Hewitt – Like Spinning Plates

External links[link]

• Official website
• Emma Hewitt discography at Discogs
• Emma Hewitt on Myspace

References[link]

1. ^ beatsmedia.com: Beatsmedia exclusively interviews Emma Hewitt. Accessed 23 October 2010.
2. ^ swisscharts.com: Chris Lake feat. Emma Hewitt - Carry Me Away. Accessed 23 March 2010.
3. ^ A State of Trance, Episode 436. Accessed 23 October 2010.
4. ^ 25th Annual International Dance Music Awards Nominees and Winners. Accessed 27 March 2010.
5. ^ Emma Hewitt Announces Debut Album, BURN THE SKY DOWN. Accessed 2 May 2012.

Forrest Griffin
Born	(1979-07-01) July 1, 1979 (age 32) Columbus, Ohio, United States
Nationality	American
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Division	Light Heavyweight Heavyweight
Reach	77 in (196 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	Las Vegas, Nevada
Team	Throwdown Training Center & Xtreme Couture
Rank	Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Robert Drysdale[1]
Years active	2001–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	25
Wins	18
By knockout	3
By submission	7
By decision	8
Losses	7
By knockout	5
By decision	2
University	University of Georgia
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: September 15, 2011 (2011-09-15)

Forrest Griffin (born July 1, 1979) is an American mixed martial artist. Since 2005, he has been signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion.

Griffin, a former Georgia police officer, first rose to prominence after winning the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. In the tournament finals, he fought and defeated Stephan Bonnar in an exciting brawl that is widely credited as sparking the current success of the UFC. He went on to serve as a coach on the 7th season of the reality series opposite Quinton Jackson, whom he later defeated at UFC 86 to become the Undisputed UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. He and Rashad Evans are the only fighters to go from winning The Ultimate Fighter to winning the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Early life[link]

Griffin graduated from Evans High School in Evans, Georgia, a suburb of Augusta. He then graduated with an A.B. in Political Science from the University of Georgia.^[2] While attending school, Griffin served as a law enforcement officer for the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in Augusta, Georgia. He also served as a patrol officer with the University of Georgia Police.^[3]

He trained at The HardCore Gym in Athens^[4] for five years under Adam and Rory Singer.^[5] He later left law enforcement to pursue a career in professional mixed martial arts.^[6] Griffin is also an MMA instructor at Throwdown Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[7]

Early Mixed martial arts career[link]

Before the Ultimate Fighter he fought the likes of Jeff Monson, Jeremy Horn, Chael Sonnen and early UFC veteran Dan Severn in his first pro fight. Forrest Griffin is also known for a fight with Edson Paradeo, in which Edson broke Griffin's left arm with what appeared to be a badly blocked roundhouse kick aimed at the body. Forrest continued on to win the fight by knockout with his right hand after escaping a deep armbar. As a result from the armbar and the badly-blocked body kick, he has a huge permanent lump on his left forearm.^[8]

The Ultimate Fighter[link]

Griffin first became well known by taking part in the first-season of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter, a mixed martial arts reality show. At the time, he had given up mixed martial arts and taken a job with the Augusta/Richmond County Sheriffs Department in Georgia, but he was persuaded by Dana White to take part in the show.

Griffin vs. Bonnar[link]

On the show, he reached the finals where he defeated Stephan Bonnar by unanimous decision. The fight was credited by Dana White as the "most important fight in UFC history"^[9] and the fight that brought the UFC into the mainstream. For winning the competition he was given a six-figure professional contract to fight with the UFC.^[5][10] The Stephan Bonnar fight was declared the #1 UFC fight of all time in the UFC Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights program.

Rise To Fame[link]

Griffin vs. Ortiz[link]

On April 15, 2006, Griffin took on his toughest opponent yet when he fought former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 59, in which he lost a controversial split decision. Despite his loss on the judges scorecards he won over the fans with his ability to withstand everything that Tito could throw at him.

Griffin vs. Bonnar II[link]

At UFC 62, Griffin then fought Stephan Bonnar in a rematch from their earlier fight.^[11] Griffin won by unanimous decision, sweeping all three rounds.^[12] The fight was not as explosive as their previous encounter but was still an exciting bout.^[12]

Griffin vs. Jardine[link]

Griffin was then defeated by Ultimate Fighter 2 semifinalist Keith Jardine at UFC 66 by way of TKO at 4:41 of the first round. After the fight, a visibly distraught Griffin sat in his corner crying. Moments later, he walked away from Joe Rogan's attempt to interview him, saying "I don't ev...Keith came in and he did exactly what I wanted to do and he knocked me the fuck out. Let's go home."^[13] Griffin then walked off camera, leaving Joe Rogan to speak to the camera by himself. Moments later, Griffin reappeared heading the opposite direction saying, "I'll be back," as he headed out of the Octagon.

Griffin vs. Ramirez[link]

Griffin's next fight was supposed to be at UFC 70 against Lyoto Machida on April 21, 2007 but he was unable to fight due to a staph infection.^[14]

On June 16, 2007 Griffin defeated Hector Ramirez at UFC 72 in Belfast, Northern Ireland via unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 30–27 to Griffin, during the fight Forrest was able to land 38 leg kicks breaking the UFC record for most leg kicks landed in three five minute rounds.^[15] This record has since been broken by Amir Sadollah, who landed 46 against Peter Sobotta at UFC 122.^[16]

Griffin vs. Shogun[link]

At UFC 76, Griffin fought against PRIDE's 2005 Middleweight (205 lb) Grand Prix champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.^[17] At the time, Shogun was ranked the #1 light heavyweight fighter in the world by several MMA publications. Griffin won by rear naked choke at 4:45 of round three after dominating Shogun for the majority of the fight. It has since been reported that Griffin required surgery after the fight due to a shoulder injury that was sustained before the bout. It was also been reported that this shoulder has been a recurring problem for Griffin.^[18]

Coaching The Ultimate Fighter 7[link]

On The Ultimate Fighter 6 finale, Dana White announced that Griffin was not only the number one contender for the Light Heavyweight title, but also one of the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 7 and would fight the other coach at the end of the series.^[19] The other coach, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was announced by Dana White on December 9 at Spike TV's Video Game Awards show.

During the season all fighters of Team Forrest would make it to the finals consisting of Jesse Taylor and Amir Sadollah, although Taylor was removed from the finals after a security recording was presented to Dana White. He was shown kicking out one of the side windows of a rented limousine. The staff of the hotel where the incident occurred reported that a drunken Taylor had frightened female patrons and confronted hotel security by acting aggressively and screaming that he was a UFC fighter. Dana White told Taylor that this type of behavior was unacceptable and that he believed Taylor did not possess the mental discipline to deal with the pressures of fame and popularity that being in the UFC would put on him. White told Taylor that because of his actions he had forfeited his place in the final match, a decision that an emotional Taylor did not try to protest. His replacement, Team Rampage member C.B. Dollaway, went up against Team Forrest participant Amir Sadollah, with Amir going on to win by armbar in the first round.

On June 20, 2008, Griffin co-hosted the 25 Tuffest Moments in The Ultimate Fighter with Stephan Bonnar and Dana White.^[20]

Winning and Losing the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship[link]

Griffin vs. Jackson[link]

On July 5, 2008, Griffin fought the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Viewed as a heavy underdog by many going into the fight,^[21] Griffin faced Jackson in a hard fought battle that was named "Fight of the Night" by UFC president Dana White.^[22] Griffin won a unanimous decision victory and became the new undisputed UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

Griffin appeared to be in trouble in the first round after being dropped by an uppercut, but he rallied in the second round and landed a damaging leg kick early that severely wobbled Jackson. Griffin followed up with ground strikes and cemented his control, preventing Jackson from mounting any significant offense for the entire round. After three more back and forth rounds, Griffin would go on to win the fight by unanimous decision to capture the light heavyweight title.^[23]

The decision was described as controversial by some commentators.^[24][25][26] After the fight, Jackson's trainer Juanito Ibarra, unhappy with the judges scoring, expressed plans to protest the unanimous decision with the Nevada State Athletic Commission but never filed as it would not have changed the decision.^[27]

Griffin's documented pay for the fight was $310,000. $100,000 to fight, win bonus of $150,000 and $60,000 for the Fight of the Night award.^[28]

Griffin vs. Evans[link]

Griffin's first title defense came at UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008, against undefeated challenger Rashad Evans.^[29] After Griffin controlled most of the first two rounds with effective striking, Evans caught one of Griffin's kicks and took him down, defeating Griffin by TKO in the third round with ground and pound from inside the champion's guard.^[30] The loss was Griffin's third loss since entering the UFC. During the fight Griffin broke his hand,^[31] sidelining him for several months.

Decline and Redemption[link]

Griffin vs. Silva[link]

After recovery, Griffin signed on to fight pound-for-pound stalwart Anderson Silva at UFC 101.^[32] Griffin was slated to take on Brazilian Thiago Silva, but on April 28, 2009, UFC President Dana White confirmed that he would instead accommodate Anderson's return to the light heavyweight division following his middleweight title defense against Thales Leites at UFC 97. During the bout, Griffin was knocked down three times in the first round by Silva. During the third knockdown, Griffin charged Silva with a flurry of punches, each of which were avoided by sways from Silva, who then countered with a compact right hand whilst retreating, knocking Griffin out.

After the fight, Griffin got up from the canvas, left the cage, and jogged out of the arena. It was initially suggested that Griffin was rushed to a hospital due to a dislocated jaw and trouble hearing in one ear.^[33] However, it turned out there was no injury to Griffin's jaw.^{[34][35][36][37][38]} Both fighters were awarded $60,000 as Fight of the Night bonuses and Silva received an additional $60,000 in bonus money for Knockout of the Night.

Griffin vs. Ortiz II[link]

When Mark Coleman got injured and had to drop out of his matchup against Tito Ortiz, Griffin accepted a rematch against Ortiz at UFC 106.^[39] Griffin also wore white and black fight shorts instead of his trademark tan shorts for the fight. Griffin went on to win the gory battle by split decision, showing superior striking skills and a stronger ground game than in their previous fight. After the fight Griffin said, “Tito was a great fight for me to come back, we’ll have to do a third that’s 1-1 man.” With a split decision in both of their fights, Griffin seemed more than willing to get a rubber match put together with Ortiz to settle the score once and for all. “You could tell he was a guy getting ready for Mark Coleman, no offense, and he’s a guy coming off back surgery. We’ll do it again, I won’t break my foot, he’ll be in better shape,” commented Griffin.^[40]

Griffin vs. Franklin[link]

Griffin was expected to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on May 29, 2010 at UFC 114, but he pulled out of the fight due to a shoulder injury.^[41] He was replaced by Jason Brilz.^[42]

Griffin faced former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126.^[43] Griffin controlled the majority of the fight showing superior kicks and combinations knocking Franklin down in the second round and also took Franklin down and controlled him on the ground in the 1st round, Griffin went on to win by unanimous decision.^[44]

Griffin vs. Shogun II[link]

A rematch with Maurício Rua took place on August 27, 2011 at UFC 134.^[45] Griffin lost the bout via KO (punches) in the first round and is out up to 6 months with possible right-foot and jaw injuries.^[46] Before the fight, Griffin was updated that his wife had gone into labor. Dana White also voiced his support for Griffin, stating that he was very proud of him regardless of the loss.^[47]

Griffin vs. Ortiz III[link]

Griffin is expected to face Tito Ortiz for a third time on July 7, 2012 at UFC 148.^[48]

Personal life[link]

Griffin and his longtime girlfriend Jaime Logiudice were married on September 18, 2009.^[49] The couple expected their first child, a daughter, in September 2011.^[50] Forrest's wife was going into labor (nine days early) as he competed against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 134 on August 27, 2011.^[51]

Championships and awards[link]

[edit] Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
  • The Ultimate Fighter: Light Heavyweight Tournament Winner
  • Fight of the Night (Three times)
  • Submission of the Night (One time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Fight of the Year 2005: vs Stephan Bonnar (The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale)
  • Fight of the Year 2008: vs Quinton Jackson (UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin)

• FIGHTING SPIRIT magazine
  • Fight of The Year 2006: vs Tito Ortiz (UFC 59: Reality Check)^[52]

Mixed martial arts record[link]

Books[link]

Griffin is the author of two books, 2009's Got Fight?: 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat and 2010's Be Ready When The Shit Goes Down: A Survival Guide to the Apocalypse, which both received positive reviews.^{[citation needed]}

TV, movie and video game career[link]

• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. On November 20, 2007 he had a brief cameo in the episode "Fight" as an MMA champion and murder suspect. But he was fatally shot within the first few minutes.^[53]
• Human Weapon. On September 28, 2007 he had a cameo in the episode of MMA: America's Extreme Fighting.^[54]
• UFC 2009 Undisputed. Griffin is the cover athlete for U.S. and European copies of "UFC 2009 Undisputed", he is also a playable character.
• I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. Griffin had a brief cameo in the film "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell". He played the role of a police officer inside a local police station.
• UFC Undisputed 2010. Griffin is a playable character in "UFC Undisputed 2010]".
• UFC Undisputed 3. He also is a playable character in the third installent of the series.
• Unrivaled. Griffin played a full combat fighter named Landon 'The Brither' Popoff in 2010
• 13. Played the character Joey Blarro in 2010.
• Locked Down 2011(film).

See also[link]

• List of current UFC fighters

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Forrest Griffin

• Official website
• Professional MMA record for Forrest Griffin from Sherdog
• UFC Profile
• Griffin's Second Book

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2011)

Ferry Corsten
Ferry Corsten live in Toronto, Canada
Background information
Birth name	Ferry Corsten
Also known as	Ferr, System F, Moonman (more)
Born	(1973-12-04) 4 December 1973 (age 38)
Origin	Rotterdam, Netherlands
Genres	Trance
Occupations	DJ, Producer, Remixer
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Flashover
Associated acts	Gouryella, Vimana (more)
Website	www.ferrycorsten.com

Ferry Corsten, also known under the alias System F, (born 4 December 1973) is a Dutch producer of trance music, in addition to being a DJ and remixer. He also hosts his own weekly radio show, Corsten's Countdown. He routinely plays at events all over the world with crowds in excess of tens of thousands. In 2009 Ferry Corsten ranked #7 on DJ Magazine's annual Top 100 DJ Poll, dropping to #9 and #18 in subsequent years.^[1]

Life and career[link]

Before 1999: Early years[link]

Ferry Corsten was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He has produced and remixed under many aliases since the release of his first record at the age of sixteen,^[2] but he officially started to work as a musician when he was 17 years old. As a teenager he saved money to buy his first keyboard by washing cars, and selling mix tapes to kids in his neighbourhood. He later began to perform live performances with a friend and won his first award "De Grote Prijs van Nederland" at Holland in 1989.^[2] He eventually released a record with a couple of friends when he was just sixteen years old and later began releasing self-made productions while he grew up in Rotterdam in the 1990s, producing underground hardcore gabber tracks, later expanding into club-house and trance music. His first single to reach a chart position was "Don't Be Afraid" under the alias Moonman, which was only the start for becoming a composer as well. In 1997 Corsten and his partner Robert Smit established a dance label named Tsunami with the Dutch based dance company Purple Eye Entertainment b.v., this junction made the creation of another label possible; Polar State.^[3] Ferry Corsten was studying to become an Electrical Engineer, so he went to the Technical Training School and after that Higher Technical Education.^[4]

1999–2004: Rise to fame[link]

In February 1999 Corsten's second solo project, System F, was released on the Tsunami imprint along with the album Out of the Blue, including the same-named melodic tune that became a hit on dance floors all over the world, achieving a top twenty position in the United Kingdom single chart. The follow-up single was "Cry", produced together with Robert Smit which reached the UK Top 20.^[3]

His growing popularity in the late 1990s led to cooperation with many famous trance DJs and musicians like DJ Tiësto (Gouryella, Vimana), Vincent de Moor (Veracocha), and Robert Smit (Starparty). The track "Gouryella" by the act Gouryella was released in May, the single entered the UK Singles Top 75 at number fifteen and achieved various hit positions throughout the world. The next single was entitled "Walhalla" which entered the UK single chart at number twenty-seven. In 1999 Ferry was elected as producer of the year at the Ericsson Muzik Award in London.^[2] In September 2000 the third Gouryella single entitled "Tenshi" was released. In 2000, Corsten also remixed William Orbit's "Adagio for Strings" as well as "New Year's Day" for U2. His remix of Barber's "Adagio For Strings" was awarded at the Dancestar 2000 awards. The Ministry of Sound dance compilation series entitled Trance Nation became one of the best selling dance compilations in the UK and was awarded the platinum status.^[3] In 2000 in his home country Corsten got awarded the Silver Harp award for his numerous outstanding contributions made to Dutch dance music.^{[citation needed]}

In 2001 Ferry Performed and Produced the Dance Valley Anthem, the largest selling theme of Dance Valley and the largest event of The Netherlands (80.000 visitors)

In 2002 Ferry contributed to remix projects of tracks by Japanese superstar Ayumi Hamasaki. He went on to compose and arrange her heavily trance-based song "Connected," which was released in 2003, along with remixes, as a single in Germany which has sold 4 million copies, making this one of Ferry's most successful songs.^[2]

Ferry Corsten is the electronic dance music artist with the highest amount of dance singles in the UK charts^{[citation needed]}. He^[when?] has 10 gold singles, between those his 1999 remix of "Madagascar", "Out of the Blue" as his alias System F, both "Gouryella" and "Walhalla" in 2000, "Cry" and the "Dance Valley Theme" in 2001 with "Exhale" which is his latest as System F with Armin van Buuren; and his 2003–2004 singles "Punk" and "Rock Your Body Rock".^{[citation needed]}

In 2003 he launched his first album as Ferry Corsten, Right of Way, in Heineken Musical Hall with 4,500 clubbers at his eight-hour set.^[5] The music video of the song was nominated in the TMF Dutch MTV Awards in Netherlands. The album spawned three singles, "Punk" (UK #29), "Rock Your Body, Rock" (UK #11), and "It's Time" (UK #51). "Rock your body Rock" was voted biggest hit by BG Magazine in The Netherlands and reaches the top 10 in the UK.

In 2004, he produced and performed the single "Everything Goes" for the TMF Dutch Awards.

2005–2007: L.E.F.[link]

In 2005, Corsten founded his own record label, titled Flashover Recordings and released his 2nd artist album L.E.F., And he released his concept L.E.F. worldwide. In this year he was number 5 in the DJ MAG Top 100.

His track "Fire" was nominated in the best trance video category for the^[6] 2006 Trance Awards.In the DJ MAG Top 100 he was number 6 this year.

In 2006 Ferry Corsten performed at a concert in El Salvador in September and he did his Road to Voodoo Bus Tour: 20 states, 27 cities in 5 weeks.

The single "Junk" with vocals by Guru (Gangstarr) – top 20 charts Holland was released in 2006.

On 4 July 2007, Corsten debuted his new weekly radio show titled "Corsten's Countdown" which counts down a list of the highest voted trance tracks.

In 2007 Ferry released the single "Beautiful" – top 40 charts in Holland, and the single "The Race" (Brain Box) – top 20 charts in Holland. Also a New mix compilation Passport United States of America is released.

In 2007 was the successful 1st edition of Full on Ferry Concert Ahoy' Stadium Rotterdam (cap:12.000) and he produced the 1st official anthem for Bavaria City Racing in 2007 (F1 demonstration in the center of Rotterdam with more than 500.000 spectators. Official opening of the event by Ferry Corsten and the prime minister of The Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende).

He was dubbed the King of Crossover in an August 2007 interview on UK clubbing website HarderFaster.net, reflecting his recent L.E.F. (Loud Electronic Ferocious) style, which some^[who?] hail as a new direction in dance music. Corsten describes it as "everything from electro house, trance and techno".

2008–2009: Twice In A Blue Moon[link]

Ferry Corsten's third album, Twice In A Blue Moon, which made its debut at the 2nd edition of the Full On Ferry event at Ahoy in Rotterdam, was released on 1 November 2008. The first single from the album, Radio Crash, has been played by Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Above & Beyond and many other DJ's globally. The track has been a huge hit in clubs across the world and gave Ferry a good start in promoting his new album.^{[citation needed]} He also released the single "Into The Dark" ft. Howard Jones (March 2008).

In 2008, Ferry Corsten was the first DJ ever to be named Ambassador of Freedom by Dutch Liberation Day Comity.

2009–present: Twice In A Blue Moon (Remix Edition), Once Upon A Night Vol. 1 & 2 and WKND[link]

Ferry's album, Twice In A Blue Moon, consists of remixes of the previous album (Twice In A Blue Moon). It includes remixes by Rafael Frost, Lange, Ummet Ozcan, Markus Schulz and many more. The countries he visited during Twice In A Blue Moon: The Experience have included; Australia, the United States, Romania, Brazil, and Lebanon with debut show on May 29 in Mallaca, Malaysia.

This year also was the third edition Full on Ferry – The Masquerade in association with UDC on October 17, 2009, at Ahoy' Rotterdam.

In 2009 Ferry Corsten released two singles: "We Belong" from the album Twice in A Blue Moon (Date of release: May 25, 2009) and "Made of Love" from the album Twice In A Blue Moon – top 40 Ducht charts / Radio 538 Dance Smash / No.2 in UK Club Charts (Date of release: Valentine's Day 2009). And he released his DVD; Ferry Corsten – Backstage. Corsten reveals his concept Once Upon a Night, a mix compilation that immediately hit number 1 on iTunes in the US right after its release, and the supporting world tour.

Ferry's interactive radioshow Corsten's Countdown is available in more than 30 countries.

The DJ application Cue Play DJ set up a promotional partnership around Corsten's countdown 150st edition. Cue Play DJ is a mobile digital DJ application for the iPhone, with tracks from the Flashover label.

In 2010 Ferry Corsten has mixed the BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and the album FC System F – Champions came out in February.

Ferry released Once Upon A Night in 2010. The album came out on March 30 and he started his tour: Once Upon A Night: The Experience.

After the release of Vol.1 Ferry released Once Upon A Night Vol.2 on October 1 and his world tour started on September 17. He's one of the best DJ in the world referring to the DJ Mag Top 100.

Ferry hosted a New Year's Eve event at the O2 Academy Brixton, London in 2011/2012 in which he delivered the midnight set and went on to perform back to back with other successful Trance DJ's/producers - Judge Jules, Sied Van Riel, Marcel Woods to name a few.

Pseudonyms[link]

Aliases[link]

A Jolly Good Fellow, Albion, Bypass, Cyber F, Eon, Exiter, Ferr, Firmly Underground, Free Inside, Kinky Toys, Lunalife, Moonman, Pulp Victim, Pulse, Raya Shaku, Riptide, Sidewalk, Sidewinder, Skywalker, System F, Tellurians, The Nutter.

Collaborations[link]

Discodroids (with Peter Nijborn), Gouryella (with Tiësto), Veracocha (with Vincent de Moor), Vimana (with Tiësto), FB (with Benny Benassi)

Discography[link]

Studio albums

Tours[link]

• Play Station Tour (2003)
• Right of Way World Album tour (2004)
• Heineken Tour (2004)
• Passport Compilation World Tour (2005)
• LEF World Album Tour (2006)
• Tour (2007)
• Tour (2008)
• Twice In A Blue Moon World Tour (2009)
• Once Upon A Night World Tour (2010)

Recognitions[link]

Selected remixes[link]

• Apoptygma Berzerk – Kathy's Song
• Armand Van Helden – Witch Doktor (Free Inside Remix)
• Art of Trance – Madagascar
• Ayumi Hamasaki – A Song for XX
• Ayumi Hamasaki – Kanariya
• Ayumi Hamasaki – WHATEVER
• Bobina – Invisible Touch (Ferry Corsten's Touch)
• BT - Force Of Gravity (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• BT – Suddenly (Ferry Corsten's Fix)
• Corderoy – Sweetest Dreams (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Cosmic Gate – The Truth (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Duran Duran – Reach Up For The Sunrise (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Elles de Graaf – Show You My World
• Embrace – Embrace
• Every Little Thing – For The Moment
• Faithless feat. Boy George – Why Go (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Faithless feat. Dido – Feelin Good (Ferry Corsten Fix)
• Gatecrasher Sheffield – mix compilation (Mixed by Ferry Corsten)
• Girl Next Door – Jōnetsu no Daishō
• Kai Tracid – Conscious (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Kamaya Painters – Endless Wave (Albion Remix)
• The Killers – Human
• Klubbheads – Klubbhopping (A Jolly Good)
• Laidback Luke feat. Johanthan Mendelson – Till Tonight (Ferry Corsten)
• Marco Borsato – De Bestemming (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Markus Schulz – Do You Dream (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Matt Darey presents Mash Up – Liberation (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Mind One – Hurt Of Intention (Ferry Corsten Fix)
• Moby – In My Heart
• Moby – Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad
• Nelly Furtado – Do It (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Novastar – Because The Remix
• Oceanlab – Clear Blue Water
• Public Enemy – Bring the Noise
• Rafaël Frost – Red
• Ramin Djawadi – Prison Break Theme (Ferry Corsten Breakout Remix)
• Rank 1 – Awakening (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Shiny Toy Guns – Le Disko (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Solarstone-Late Summer Fields(Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Tiësto – Kaleidoscope (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• Tony Walker – Field of Joy
• U2 – New Year's Day
• William Orbit – Barber's Adagio for Strings
• William Orbit – Ravel's Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte (Ferry Corsten Remix)
• William Orbit feat. Ferry Corsten – Clavier (Ferry Fix)
• Yoji Biomehanika – Theme From Bangin' Globe (System F Remix)

See also[link]

• Flashover Recordings
• Gouryella
• Veracocha

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ferry Corsten

• Official website
• Artist Site at Ultra Records
• (French) Interview Ferry Corsten - Actualites Electroniques
• (English) Interview Ferry Corsten - Actualites Electroniques
• Full On Ferry - Official Website
• (English) Full On Ferry - London NYE 2011/2012 Official Website
• http://deepmix.info Music with Ferry Corsten