The Jitsu Foundation

The Jitsu Foundation or TJF is a national-level association of sports clubs headquartered in the United Kingdom, but also has affiliated organisations in other countries around the world (Australia, Canada, Cyprus, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Argentina). Focusing on standing throws and locks using weakening strikes to assist, the style taught within the association is known as Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu (少林寺完柔術).

Style

Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu is taught as a self-defence system which acknowledges that situations may include multiple armed or unarmed opponents, rather than a single "one on one" officiated match. Joint locks and throws, complemented by weakening strikes, are employed to deal with attackers in an efficient way. In most cases, a practising pair will include an Uke and a Tori in which the Uke launches an attack and the Tori defends. The style includes some treatment of groundwork (newaza) however to a far lesser degree than some sports-based styles of jujutsu. Much of the competition focus of styles such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo is ignored in favour of maintaining awareness of the complete surroundings with all possible threats considered. The commonly held prescriptions of "clean fighting" are disregarded in the Jitsu Foundation and the use of all advantages available (including groin strikes, hair pulling, spinal locks, eye rakes, and to a small extent nerve points) is encouraged - although in competitions such as the Randori Nationals, these are not employed. The style has adopted the name 'jitsu', a shortened version of 'jiu jitsu,' or 'jujutsu.'

Conor McGregor

Conor Anthony McGregor (born 14 July 1988) is an Irish mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight and lightweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is the current UFC Featherweight Champion and the former Cage Warriors featherweight and lightweight champion. As of 14 December 2015, he is No. 3 in the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings and ranked as the No. 1 featherweight and No. 5 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by Sherdog. He is currently on a 15-fight win streak, 14 of which have not made it past the second round.

Early life

McGregor was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was raised in the South Dublin suburb of Crumlin and attended a Gaelscoil and Gaelcholáiste at both primary and at secondary level in Coláiste de hÍde in Tallaght where he also developed his passion for sport playing association football. In his youth, he played football for Lourdes Celtic Football Club and supported Manchester United in the English Premier League.

In 2006, McGregor moved with his family to Lucan in west Dublin, attending Gaelcholáiste Coláiste Cois Life. Following that, he commenced a plumbing apprenticeship. While in Lucan, he began sparring with future Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Tom Egan who taught McGregor how to grapple and ignited his passion for mixed martial arts. McGregor's walking weight is around 170 lbs.

Nate Diaz

Nathan Donald Diaz (born April 16, 1985), professionally known as Nate Diaz, is an American mixed martial artist currently competing for the UFC in the lightweight division and the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 5. He is the younger brother of mixed martial artist and former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and WEC Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz. In addition to the UFC, Diaz has competed in the WEC, Strikeforce, and Pancrase in Japan. As of January 4, 2016, Diaz is #7 in official UFC lightweight rankings.

Background

Nate, the younger brother of Nick Diaz, was born and raised in Stockton, California. Like his brother, he went to Tokay High School, and at the age of 14, Nate began training with Nick. Together, they run a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Lodi, California and is known to train with Nicolas 'Nico Greek' Lipari.

Mixed martial arts career

The Ultimate Fighter 5

Diaz was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 5, which exclusively featured Lightweights, fighting on Jens Pulver's team. In the preliminary round, Diaz defeated Rob Emerson by submission; in the quarterfinals he defeated fellow Team Pulver teammate Corey Hill via triangle choke submission in the first round. In the semifinals, Diaz defeated Team Penn member Gray Maynard by submission, advancing to the finals where he faced teammate Manvel Gamburyan. After losing the first round, Diaz won by submission after Gamburyan was forced to tap out in the second round due to the dislocation of his right shoulder as the result of attempting a takedown. With the victory, Diaz became the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 5.