Customer Reviews

Title Shot: Into the Shark Tank of Mixed Martial Arts

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Author Kelly Crigger does a phenomenal job of depicting these athletes candidly and in their own environment. He captures the indomitable spirit it takes to compete in MMA, but also the manages to convey the various personalities of the fighters he meets. It is obvious Crigger is a fan of the sport but he doesn't get all starry-eyed and fanboyish about the MMA stars he comes across. Title Shot is funny and insightful and a must-read for any MMA fan.

TITLE SHOT
Into the Shark Tank of Mixed Martial Arts
by Kelly Crigger (Victory Belt)
© Marc Wickert November 19, 2008
www.knucklepit.com

Title Shot is to mixed martial arts what Jack Kerouac's On the Road was to bebop, with author Kelly Crigger taking readers on an up-close tour of some of America's most successful MMA gyms, where they encounter very colorful coaches and competitors.

Crigger is a lieutenant colonel in the US Army, and served in the 1st Special Forces Group and the 3rd Infantry Division as well as completing the Army's Ranger School. His military career has included trips to the holiday destination of Afghanistan. Knowing firsthand about action, Crigger takes a trek across the US on a quest to see what makes mixed martial artists tick.

Title Shot opens with a visit from BJ Penn who "wants to do something for the troops" before he hooks up with Crigger. Of BJ, the author says, "He was gracious, humble, and genuinely happy to spend time with soldiers of Fort Lewis, Washington."

Like Kerouac's Dean Moriarty (Neal Cassady), Kelly Crigger then commences his yearlong journey across America, starting at Matt Lindland's Team Quest in Portland, Oregon, then travels to Cesar Gracie's, David Terrell's and Ivan Salaverry's gyms in Northern California, before cruising down to spend time with Greg Jackson in Albuquerque. Kelly leap-frogs up to Somerville, Massachusetts, to take in Mark DellaGrotte and his Sityodtong Muay Thai Academy, where Crigger plays some very amusing mind games with Mark using a stone dragon ornament that adds a lot of humor to the book.

Readers get more firsthand experience of MMA when they're escorted to IFL finals in Florida, and Coconut Creek's American Top Team gym. But probably the highlight of Crigger's tour is his arrival at UFC 79 in Las Vegas, where there are cameo appearances from such names as Georges St-Pierre, Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. The experience is capped off with the author's interview of Dana White, which is both enjoyable and an extreme eye opener.

There are encounters with too many big names of ultimate fighting to list them all, but I can say you won't be disappointed.

This book is very satisfying reading and a must for all MMA fans.

Ex-Army Ranger Kelly Crigger produces an entertaining inside look at the growing world of MMA. MMA fans will likely find this book a delight. His approach is to visit and write about the top MMA training venues around the country, with some side trips to the US Army Combatives tournament, the IFL and UFC 79.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and have only three criticisms, two quibbling, one more substantive.

First, the omission of Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, IA is huge. So many elite fighters come from there, it's astonishing that one can tour the top training venues and skip over Bettendorf. It's like writing about Olympic highlights from Beijing and not mentioning Michael Phelps.

Second, in the effort to be funny, Crigger over-uses some humor conventions. Someone is "as grim as an IRS agent on April 15th." He was out of it like a ... And on and on and on. Nearly every page has one of these would-be witticisms. Some are amusing but after a while it gets tiresome and repetitive, repetitive, repeti - oh, well, you get the idea.

Third, at times Crigger - the ex Army guy - feels obliged to explain in asides how various ,members of the training dojo correspond to the hierarchy of the US Army. Ok, so...? Why should the reader care? He is shoehorning his Army experience into the book in a way that does nothing to add to the story.

Don't get me wrong, though. This is a fun book and Crigger takes at once a respectful yet puckish approach to the world of MMA. He takes the sport seriously but not too seriously.

Even with these reservations, I WOULD recommend "Title Shot"!!

"Title Shot" is the rare book that combines the author's unique blend of humor and passion for MMA to deliver equally to the hardcore fans and the novice learning about the sport. Crigger wanted an inside look to see what makes MMA tick, so he devoted a year to gaining the answers. He traveled to five separate camps, the IFL Finals, the Modern Army Combatives Tournament and UFC 78. Each time he hung out with the fighters and trainers, even getting a two-hour interview with UFC President Dana White. Throughout the book, Crigger blends just enough history on the sport to educate the novice without overwhelming the expert. But the most unique facet of this book is his insight into the personal side of the sport. He spent his time in the camps really getting to know the fighters and what drives them. This insight, coupled with some of the funniest sarcasm I've ever read, makes "Title Shot" a superb read.

Excellent look into Mixed Martial Arts. Kelly Crigger does a great job of not only getting involved in MMA itself, but also the minds and philosophies of the fighters. He spends time at many of best gyms in the country and shows firsthand what makes fighters tick. Great book that I highly recommend for any interested in MMA.

In his book, Title Shot, Lieutenant Colonel Kelly Crigger documents his visits to some of the most prestigious camps and events in the mixed martial arts world in this entertaining and in depth look at the sport of MMA. Always interesting, Crigger's insightful observations at camps like ATT and Greg Jackson shows the reader the underbelly of legendary teams, and his interviews with the sport's biggest stars show a side of MMA you can't get watching the UFC's promotional spots.

continued at Bloodyknux.com
http://www.bloodyknux.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36949

My husband bought this book and I decided to give it a shot. It was fantastic!! I have a new love for this sport. The author made it very entertaining. A must read for everyone!

TITLE SHOT deserves ongoing and repeated recommendation as an outstanding account of an Army officer who embarked on a survey of mixed martial arts competition to learn what drives fighters through years of grueling training. He lived in one of the five top MMA training camps in the U.S. and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sports to develop this blend of memoir and an insider's guide into mixed martial arts competition seldom experienced by the general public. A top pick for any MMA or casual fan alike, this will find its place in many a general lending library.

Provided defininte insight into why some of the current and up and coming fighters do what they do. Traveling to five of the top camps in the country LTC Crigger was able to get an inside look at the training and mind set of these fighters and their camps. But more than just learning about the fighters, we are introduced to the trainers and the camps. Most fans will know the fighters, but only the hardcore will know the camp and trainers. As a career military man myself, I enjoyed the correlation between the military ranks and the positions various personalities hold within the MMA world, does it add to the book? I guess that is up to the reader, I enjoyed it. I will also use the book with my junior leaders, as it does a good job of describing some of the best MMA trainers leadership virtures and flaws. Overall I would definitely recommend this book to both the avid fan as well as the casual observer. D.A. Boling, Baghdad Iraq.

The book was fast paced, witty, humorous and frank in its treatment of the controversial and highly popular combative sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Mr. Crigger got deep into the inner workings of these world class athletes as well as their lives and motivations. His treatment of the athletes was candid and surprisingly humane. His time in the army as a high ranking officer and special forces operator makes his macho voice all the more astute due to his knowledge of the human behavior of tough guys. It was an informative and fun read. I have been involved with MMA from its inception back in 1994 and this is the first book I have read to honestly put a face on what is fast becoming a world wide venue filler. bill curry miami florida