Tag: Combat

The whizzer is a wrestling move that is a fundamental technique that every young wrestler must know. It is so effective that it has been adopted within Jiu Jitsu and MMA.

Here is everything you need to know about the wizard and how you can use it within BJJ and MMA. We’ll also detail how the technique works and important tips you need to remember when doing the wrestling whizzer.

Who invented the wrestling whizzer?

The whizzer technique is one that has almost always been a part of wrestling. It’s gone by other names, but it’s most known by the whizzer name.

There have been a lot of purported claims about the origin of the name, but none of them can be verified. 

One claim is that the move was named after former US Supreme Court Justice Byron “Whizzer” White. Although, White never wrestled or did any form of grappling.

Many people also mistakenly call the technique “the wizard” instead of whizzer. W-H-I-Z-Z-E-R.

How does the whizzer work?

The whizzer is an overhook used to defend a takedown, when you missed the sprawl. This overhook above your opponent’s elbow works much like a crowbar.

You use this overhook along with foot placement and your other hand to break your opponent’s grip and evade their takedown. This technique has been adopted in Jiu Jitsu and MMA with great success.

It has even been innovated into different set ups for sweeps and throws. Proving just how effective the whizzer is.

What’s the difference between the whizzer and an overhook?

From a glance, a wrestling whizzer looks exactly the same as an overhook, but they’re two very different moves. The whizzer is used to pull an opponent up to break their grip and prevent a takedown.

Once their grip is broken, your whizzer then turns into an overhook. Using it to force your opponent down instead of up with the whizzer.

The Whizzer from standing

The whizzer was mainly created to prevent an opponent from landing a single leg takedown. Once they grab ahold of your leg, you have to react immediately and hook their arm.

Always hook above their elbow to establish the best control over the arm. You’re then going to use your whizzer and pull your opponent up.

Doing this separates their body from their hands and makes it harder for them to keep their grip. Now, when you have the whizzer, there are two different scenarios that can happen.

You kept your foot planted on the ground or your opponent was able to lift your leg off the mat. If your leg is still on the mat, then keep it on the mat and keep driving into your opponent.

But if they were able to get it off the mat, you have to react quickly to defend the takedown. Hook your leg on the side of your opponent’s leg to balance yourself as you finish the whizzer defense.

When you pull your opponent up with your whizzer, your free hand is going to break their grips. Stopping their takedown and you now have a tight overhook to work with.

The whizzer to uchi mata

Landing a Judo throw like an uchi mata is a common set up off a successful whizzer. Of course, the first step will be to break your opponent’s grips.

Lift your opponent up with your whizzer and break their grips with your other hand as you keep a good base. Once your opponent’s grip is broken, you can now set up your uchi mata.

Keep good downward pressure on their arm with your overhook and pull them forward. As they come forward, you’re going to take two steps.

Your back foot is going to step behind your front foot, then your front is going to step in and back kick. Aim your kick right above your opponent’s near knee. 

When done correctly they will go right to the mat.

Whizzer back take

On top of defending a single leg, you can also use a whizzer to set up a back take. When your opponent shoots in for their single leg, you’re going to do a small sprawl and catch your whizzer.

Right after you sprawl and get your whizzer grip, the far side of your opponent’s back will be exposed. Quickly step over your opponent’s back and get your hook in.

Switching sides with the whizzer sweep

The whizzer has been innovated to be used in variations of butterfly sweeps. If you’re in butterfly guard and your opponent grabs an underhook, you counter with a whizzer.

Obviously, since your opponent has an underhook, you aren’t going to be able to sweep them on that side. That is why you’re going to switch your base and secure a butterfly hook on their other leg.

Collar tie their head and push it to the side as you go on your side and kick your hook to sweep them. A very simple counter that works even against the most experienced grapplers.

Using a whizzer with the knee slice pass

Many grapplers have begun using the whizzer to help them pass their opponent’s guard. One of the most common passes that’s mixed with the whizzer is the knee slice pass.

If your opponent is playing a knee shield half guard, they’re generally going to try and grab an underhook. When your opponent grabs an underhook, your going counter it whizzer their arm.

Keep that pressure on their shoulder pulling it as you put your knee in position for the knee slice. Then grab your opponent’s other arm and pull it up as you drive your knee through to pass their half guard.

Important tips for doing the whizzer

The whizzer is a great defensive technique, but there are details that you’ll need to remember to have success with it. Here are the most important details for doing the whizzer.

• Overhook Above The Elbow: When you first lock in your whizzer, it has to be above your opponent’s elbow. You will have zero control over their arm if you hook below their elbow.
• Pull Opponent’s Arm Up: Remember once you hook your opponent’s arm that you have to pull it up. If you don’t pull their arm up, you just have a weak overhook.
• Plant Your Feet: Be sure to plant your feet when doing the whizzer or your opponent will lift your leg. Then you’ll have to take extra steps along with the whizzer to defend the takedown.
• Hook Your Foot: If your opponent does get your foot off the mat, you have to hook it on the outside of their leg. Don’t let them keep it in between their legs or they will land their takedown.
• Break The Grips: When you use your whizzer to lift your opponent up, remember to break their grips using your other hand.

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated MMA gym in Singapore.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) has come a long way since the sport was developed a few decades ago. The first four Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events were nothing like what modern MMA fans are used to. There were no rounds or time limits, and pretty much everything you could think of was allowed. 

There’s a reason the sport was first known as no-holds-barred fighting. 

While many fans gravitated towards the new sport that allowed martial artists from different fighting backgrounds to compete against one another, athletic commissions and politicians weren’t very fond of it. 

Former U.S. presidential candidate and Senator, the late John McCain, famously described MMA as “human cockfighting.” To become a more mainstream sport, MMA had to evolve into something more regulated. 

The Unified Rules Of MMA

MMA has had a few sets of rules that attained some prominence in the last decade. Shooto rules led to the use of padded gloves, and PRIDE Fighting Championships also had its unique set of rules. Promotions like ONE Championship use a mixed set of rules (coined as Global MMA Rule Set). However, the Unified Rules of MMA has emerged as the most popular standard. 

It was popularized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and it’s used by all athletic commissions in the U.S. It’s a set of rules that focuses on fighters safely without compromising on entertainment. 

There Are 10 Different Ways A Fight Can End Under The Unified MMA Rules:

• Decision: A fighter wins by decision when the time allotted for the fight runs out. Three judges score the fight on a round-by-round basis and tally up the numbers to declare a winner. ONE Championship uses hybrid rules that include 5-minutes rounds like the unified MMA rules, but fights are judged in their entirety, not on a round-by-round basis.
• Knockout: A knockout occurs when a fighter is rendered unconscious or unable to defend themselves due to strikes.
• Technical Knockout: A technical knockout is declared when the referee stops the fight due to one fighter being unable to intelligently defend themselves.
• Submission: A submission occurs when a fighter verbally or physically submits. The most common way to signify submission is by tapping the hands a few times, but it can also be done with the feet. 
• Technical Submission: A referee can step in to save a fighter who has been rendered unconscious due to a choke or is in danger of having a limb significantly damaged by a joint lock. A technical submission might also be declared if a fighter has been severely injured by a joint lock.
• Doctor Stoppage: The ringside doctor that is overseeing an MMA match can declare a contest over if one participant has been severely cut open. The doctor typically calls the fight if the injury prevents the fighter from being able to defend themselves.
• Retirement: A fighter can decide to retire at any point in a fight if they decide they can no longer continue. This typically occurs between rounds.
• Disqualification: A fighter might be disqualified from a contest for repeatedly breaking a rule or throwing an illegal strike. The severity of the infraction and the other fighter’s ability to recover typically determines if the offender is disqualified. Lesser infractions can be punished by taking points away.
• No Contest: If a fighter is unable to continue fighting due to an illegal blow, the fight might be declared a no-contest if the referee doesn’t think the infraction is severe enough to warrant a disqualification.
• Technical Decision: A technical decision might be called if one fighter is unable to continue fighting due to an illegal strike that occurs during the third or championship rounds of a fight. The judges’ scorecards up to that point are used to declare the winner.

Unified MMA Rules Scoring System

The unified MMA rules uses a 10-point scoring system to score fights. Each fight is scored by three judges who score each round individually. That is a huge contrast from ONE Championship’s global MMA rules which requires judges to score the entire fight as a whole.

The winner of each round is given 10 points, while the loser gets 9. The judges are also allowed to score rounds as a draw if there is no clear winner. In this case, both fighters would receive 10 points. Unfortunately, MMA judges tend to be reluctant to score rounds as draws. That sometimes leads to some rather controversial cards. 

The loser of a round sometimes only gets eight points, if they spent most of the round getting dominated. That includes almost getting finished. If a fight goes the distance, the scores from all the rounds are tallied to determine the winner. 

Here’s are the four main criteria judges look at when scoring fights under the unified MMA rules:

• Effective Striking: This refers to how many legal strikes one fighter lands on another. Power strikes and knockdowns count more than jabs. The more damage a strike does the more it factors when scoring a round.
• Effective Grappling: This term refers to how well a fighter uses their grappling skills to dominate opponents. Takedowns are factored when the fighter on top can get some offense going with it. During the earlier days of MMA, takedowns were scored on their own, allowing for strategies like lay-and-pray. Adjustments to the unified rules now require fighters to be offensive with their top control to score points. Referees are allowed to stand up fighters if they feel the top fighter is stalling.
• Effective Aggressive: This refers to how aggressively a fighter attacks their opponent as they attempt to stop the fight. Judges are only meant to use this criterion if they are unable to score a round based on the two criteria listed above.
• Fighting Area Control: This refers to how well a fighter controls the pace of the fight. As is the case with effective aggression, this criterion is only used when the judge is unable to score the fight using any of the criteria above.

It Keeps Improving

The unified rules for MMA are far from perfect, but they lay out the foundation for modern MMA. Improvements like restarting fights on the feet when ground fighting stalls out have made the sport more entertaining. These rules will keep changing as the sport grows and reaches a wider audience. 

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated BJJ gym in Singapore.

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation announced that the 2021 Gi World Championship will be held from the 9th to the 12th of December at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The World Championship (also known as the Worlds or Mundials) is considered the pinnacle of Gi Jiu-Jitsu. It is the platform where top athletes from all across the globe gather to test their skills.

What Is The IBJJF?

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation or IBJJF is a company that organizes Gi and No-Gi BJJ tournaments worldwide. It is considered the premier organization with a long history of hosting events. The IBJJF hosts tournaments of various sizes and scales. Some of the most popular ones include the Pan-American Championship, European Championship, Brazilian Nationals, and World Gi & No-Gi Championships. These events are highly respected by grapplers of all skill and experience. The Gi World Championship is on another level of prominence and is considered the top competition hosted by the IBJJF.

Why Is The IBJJF World Championship Important?

The IBJJF World Championship is an annual tournament where competitors vie for the top spot. This tournament is separated into many weight classes and has divisions for male and female athletes. The men’s division started in 1996. It has a total of 10 divisions. The lightest division is –57 kg, while the heaviest is the absolute (open class) division. The women’s division, on the other hand, started in 1998. It has a total of 8 weight classes from –48 kg up to +80 kg. Aside from the individual competitors, the World Championship is also the event where teams compete for the top place in the rankings.

There are many important events that the IBJJF holds every year, but the world championship is the one that surpasses them all. It is the culmination of competitive BJJ in any calendar year. This means that many athletes schedule their training around this tournament in the hopes that they get to enter the competition in the best physical and mental condition possible. It is critical that these athletes stay healthy leading up to the event, as nagging injuries may hamper performance and decide how they do on the mats. Many high-level grapplers have reached superstardom but have failed to capture the elusive gold medal. The IBJJF World Championship really is the toughest Gi tournament in the world.

Many legends of the sport built their careers competing in the Worlds. This includes prominent names such as Royler Gracie, BJ Penn, Fernando “Tererê” Augusto, Marcelo Garcia, Roger Gracie, Bernardo Faria, Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, Nicholas Meregali, Mikey Musumeci and many others.

Nowadays, many BJJ competitors find success and notoriety competing in superfights, MMA and mixed rules grappling like Combat Jiu-Jitsu. Some even disregard the Gi entirely and focus their BJJ development on No-Gi grappling. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with these, becoming the world champion in the Gi is still highly regarded by most grapplers worldwide. It is safe to say that anyone who has won the Worlds is secured in the annals of BJJ history.

A Glimpse Of The Current Meta

The fascinating thing about the IBJJF World Championship is that it is a window to the current meta of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Since it is the event where the best of the best compete for gold, it is the primary catalyst for the evolution of the sport technique-wise. Our sport’s best minds and athletes battle it out to see which style reigns supreme. Therefore, it is highly recommended to watch the Worlds if you’d like to learn more about what works best in BJJ’s current form.

The techniques you usually see in gyms worldwide have been battle-tested in the Worlds before they became famous. Techniques such as Marcelo’s Single leg X-guard, Bernardo Faria’s over-under pass, Rafa Mendes‘ berimbolo, Keenan’s lapel guards, and many more were used against top athletes for many years. Many since then have adapted these techniques and integrated them as part of their own; this is how the sport continues to evolve and grow.

The Future Is Bright

The athletes of the current generation are impressive, to say the least. The sport has evolved so much that it is very difficult to stay competitive if you are not a full-time athlete. If you’d like to keep up with the world’s best, it is best to start at a young age and continue your training as consistently as possible. While there is no standard protocol for the number of training sessions a competitor should do, many athletes swear that training every day (sometimes twice or thrice a day) is essential to stay sharp.

Many legends of the past have also taken the path of coaching. Some of the prominent coaches of today, such as Murilo Santana (Unity), Marcelo Garcia (MGA), Mendes brothers (AOJ), and many more, were champions during their competition days. Many of these champions show talent in coaching as many high-level competitors train in their gyms.

Final Thoughts

The IBJJF World Championship is an event that should be watched by anyone remotely interested in BJJ. It is an event where stars are born, and legends are made. The rich history of this long-running tournament is still going strong, and with the momentum that BJJ has gotten over the past years, the World Championship will continue to be the premier event for many years to come. The IBJJF is not the only organization that can host events, meaning that other organizations have held their version of the world championships. However, it is evident that the IBJJF World Championship is held in the highest regard.

The long list of IBJJF world champions serves as a history tour and inspiration for those striving to be champions themselves. From December 9th to the 12th, we are about to witness history as the World Championship returns to reveal the best in the world.

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated MMA gym in Singapore.

Demetrious Johnson is one of the least intimidating men who is constantly mentioned when pound-for-pound mixed martial arts rankings are discussed. Standing at 1.60 meters tall, the appropriately named “Mighty Mouse” is the poster child of what a mixed martial artist should be.

DJ is excellent in all phases of fighting. He’s one of the best strikers in his division, and the same goes for his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills. His wrestling is good enough to cause problems for Olympic-level wrestlers like Henry Cejudo.

Dissecting The Mighty Mouse

Demetrious Johnson always steps into the cage with a well-thought-out game plan, and he typically always finds a way to impose his will on his opponents. This article will explore the little things that make DJ one of the greatest champions in MMA history.

1) World-Class Striking Game

If one skill separates Johnson from most of his opponents, it would be his high-level striking. Johnson rarely gets outstruck during his fights due to his incredible striking speed, accuracy, and deep understanding of Muay Thai. He’s equally competent fighting out of orthodox or southpaw stances, and he’s constantly switching between the two, making it hard for opponents to predict his attacks.

DJ’s approach to striking can be best described as conservative. He’s not much of a risk-taker when it comes to the standup game, typically choosing to minimize the damage he takes while outpointing his opponents.

Johnson rarely chases knockouts during his fights, but he does have the power to put opponents away if the opportunity presents itself. Joseph Benavidez learned that lesson the hard way when he got sloppy during his second fight against DJ.

Johnson’s incredible footwork has a lot to do with his success inside the cage. Every step is calculated, which allows him to slip out of attacks and launch devastating counterattacks.

DJ combines his footwork with his keen sense of range to break down opponents from a distance. He loves pumping out his jab as a range finder, and he does the same with low kicks. Johnson starts opening up with combinations once his opponent’s attacks become predictable. He sometimes chooses to push the pace, and he’s equally as comfortable fighting in the pocket or against the cage.

2) Amazing Submissions

Johnson enjoys spending time on the mat, and it shows during his fights. You will rarely find him in a compromising position when a fight hits the canvas. If he’s on his back, he’s constantly working for submissions, looking to reverse, or working his way back to his feet.

If he’s on top, he’s peppering his opponents with shots while constantly looking for submissions. He’s racked up some pretty cool ones during his career, like the nasty guillotine he won his ONE Championship debut with or his last-second –literally – far side armbar submission of Kyoji Horiguchi.

BJ being extremely comfortable regardless of where he ends up on his back allows him to throw strikes without much concern. Johnson is virtually impossible to take down, and if he does end up on his back, he can get back up on his feet whenever he wants. Even Cejudo had a difficult time keeping Johnson on his back when he finally secured takedowns.

3) Great Takedown Defense

Demetrious Johnson isn’t one of those MMA fighters who train in BJJ and convince themselves they are equipped to deal with any grapplers they run into inside a cage. DJ is a student of the game, and he realizes how much success wrestlers have had in the sport. Johnson wrestled at the high school level, but he never took it further than that.

He incorporates it into his training though, leading to an impressive 65 percent takedown defense rate, considering the fact he’s only fought the best of the best since 2011. DJ also incorporates takedowns into his game. He completes about 56 percent of his takedowns.

Johnson landed 14 takedowns during his title defense against Kyoji Horiguchi, and he’s scored more than ten takedowns in a fight three times in his professional MMA career. The fact most of his opponents aren’t expecting him to shoot makes his takedowns that much more effective.

Johnson uses his footwork to lure opponents in, then he shoots in for a takedown. DJ’s takedowns are good enough to put the likes of Henry Cejudo on their backs. His favorite is the double-leg takedown.

4) High Fight IQ

Like many of the other legends of the sport, DJ has a deep understanding of mixed martial arts, the rules of the sports, and the way fights are scored. He rarely makes a mistake when he’s inside the cage, yet he’s always there to make his opponents pay for any mistakes they make.

DJ’s deep understanding of the game often gives him the edge when he finds himself dealing with world-class competitors who are just as well-rounded as he is.

5) Unbreakable Endurance

Johnson is a cardio machine who never gets tired during fights. You can often observe him not even taking deep breaths heading into the fifth round of championship fights.

Cardio is one of the essential parts of success in any sport, yet some fighters refuse to put in the work. DJ isn’t one of these fighters. He understands that cognitive and manual skills are greatly diminished when fatigue seeps in, so he trains appropriately.

All of Johnson’s skills discussed above would be irrelevant if he didn’t have the cardio to keep up with any challenger that comes his way.

Mixing it all up

Mixed martial arts is about mixing up different fighting styles, and Demetrious Johnson does that as well as anyone else. He’s comfortable exchanging blows with the best strikers in the MMA world, and he can grapple with the best grapplers in the flyweight division.

DJ’s intelligent approach and willingness to constantly learn new things led to one of the most impressive unbeaten streaks in the sport’s history. He’s one of the fighters you should certainly study if you plan to compete in MMA in the future.

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated Muay Thai gym in Singapore.

If you’ve ever read our My Life As A Muay Thai Fighter series, you’d know just how tough Muay Thai fighters have had it. Beyond the glitz and glamour of multiple world titles lies a life of near death experiences, hard training, tough love and poverty. But for some of these fighters, the trials and tribulations they faced were a fair price to pay to achieve their dreams. Through these, they were ultimately able to help themselves and their families escape from a life of poverty.

Today, Evolve Daily shares a side of Muay Thai once only insiders knew about. Here are 6 Shocking Facts About Muay Thai Fighters You Never Knew:

1) The majority of fighters started training in their elementary school years.

It is common for multiple-time Muay Thai World Champions to rack up to 300 fights or more. This is because they usually start training at around 7 – 9 years of age. Often times, Muay Thai becomes an avenue for young children such as these World Champions to add to their family’s income.

Sometimes, it is the child’s parents who make the decision for their child to become a fighter. The life of a Muay Thai fighter, especially as a child, is never easy. On top of attending school (if he is even given the opportunity to attend school), he has to adhere to a strict training schedule and supplement it with strength and conditioning exercises. Ask any Muay Thai fighter about his childhood and he will tell you that it was one of the toughest times of his life.

2) Many Muay Thai fighters in Thailand can fight multiple times in one month.

Unlike western boxing where the fight purse could reach up to millions of dollars, professional Muay Thai fighters don’t earn very much money. It doesn’t matter if they are fighting for a title, or already hold titles themselves. Depending on where they are fighting, professional fighters will earn only $150 (SGD) per fight. If they are big superstars fighting at the well-known stadiums in Bangkok, they could earn up to $4000 (SGD). However, if they are lower ranked, they make even less. This is why some fighters end up fighting several times in a month or more often if they are younger. The more fights they have, the more money they could potentially earn.

3) There is very little money earned in Muay Thai.

As we mentioned above, what professional Muay Thai fighters earn is meagre compared to boxers or MMA fighters. Not only is the purse smaller, the prize money is often divided amongst many people – the trainers, the gym, the fighter’s family, the promoters – the list goes on. The fighter himself gets a very small portion of the prize money, if he even gets a portion of the money at all.

Thus, for some fighters, the temptation to accept money from gamblers is very real. Sometimes, the tips from the gamblers are more than the actual prize money.

4) Gamblers run the Muay Thai scene in Thailand.

Gambling has a great influence in the Muay Thai community in Thailand. Sometimes, it could even affect the outcome of a fight. Gamblers could pay off a fighter to throw a fight or tip a fighter if a fight was won in their favor. However, throwing a fight is a serious offense in Thailand and could have serious repercussions for the fighter. Not only that, it is probably the worst thing you could do as a fighter. If a referee suspects a fighter of throwing a fight, they will stop the fight and disqualify them. The fighter could be banned from months to years, and is usually banished from the community.

The next time you watch a Muay Thai fight in Thailand, pay close attention to your surroundings. Chances are, you’ll spot gamblers throwing hand signals to communicate with each other throughout the fight.

5) Some fighters fall victim to poisoning.

The gambling culture has undoubtedly wrought its harm on the fighters themselves. Because so much money is at stake for these gamblers, some are willing to do anything and everything to sway the fight in their favor. One such way is through poisoning. Sometimes, they will ask a favor from a person closest to the fighter to spike their water with poison – not enough to kill them but to incapacitate them to the point that all their skills would be useless inside the ring.

6) Foes in the ring, friends outside the ring. 

Respect is one of the main tenets of Muay Thai. In fact, the first thing a fighter does after congratulating his opponent is go to the opposite corner and pay respect to his opponent’s coaches. Thus, it is not surprising that fighters who frequently meet in the ring become friends, even while they are both active and in the midst of their rivalry. It is also common to see younger fighters get down on their knees and bow to the older fighter’s feet as a sign of respect.

Many of the Muay Thai World Champions, especially the superstars with multiple titles to their names, have fought against each other at least once or twice in their careers. Today, at Evolve MMA, these superstars work alongside and even live with each other. To see them friendly with one another makes it difficult to imagine that they were once using all their power and technical abilities to defeat the other inside the ring.

A New Beginning

Happy endings are very rare for a Muay Thai fighter in Thailand. For many of these fighters, the end of their career signifies the beginning of hardship once again. Uneducated and inexperienced, these fighters know nothing more outside the world of Muay Thai and often find themselves back in poverty.

Fortunately, thanks to the growing popularity of Muay Thai, there are many Muay Thai camps mushrooming everywhere today in Thailand and the rest of the world, providing life-changing opportunities for retired fighters everywhere. Finally, these former fighters have a fighting chance to escape poverty and share their knowledge of an art they love so much with the rest of the world.