Yin & Young EP60 - Rama Reddy - Writer, educator, and MMA coach

Yin & Young Podcast

In this episode we chat with Rama Reddy, a mixed martial arts coach that has trained and taught around the world (US, Taiwan, Brazil, India) and currently lives in Germany. From Rama’s website: “I am a writer and educator based in Berlin, Germany. I believe education is civilization’s most vital tool.” Recorded early February 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Met James in Taiwan in the mid/late 2000s.

• Born in NY, moved to Houston, then lived in Seattle for most of his formative years.

• Opened an MMA studio in Bangalore, India due to its growing population and his own family’s connection to the area. Lived there 7 years before moving to Germany.

• India can be a tough place to live, particularly for an entrepreneur.

• Discussion on race vs. nationality.

• How he met his wife and what led him to live in Germany.

• Rama traces his martial arts background: wresting, BJJ, boxing. Fighter/coach Eliot Corley helped shape his striking.

• Building a group of dedicated martial arts students.

• Differences in the student-teacher dynamic between the U.S., Germany, India.

• Four Rs: Relevancy, Relationships, Rigor, Results

• How his teaching philosophy has evolved: a focus on relationships.

• Currently working on the Square Ring: a boxing board game: https://www.boxingboardgame.com/

LANGUAGE CORNER (01:13:38)

• P.U.F.E.L: Stages of a Takedown by Rama Reddy https://www.instagram.com/p/CYEfStVovXZ/

  • Position: “tie” in wrestling, kumi-kata 組み方 in judo (grip fighting, lit. “assembly method”).

  • Unbalancing: “set-up” in wrestling, kuzushi 崩しin judo

  • Fitting-in: “shot” in wrestling, but tsurikomi 釣込 in judo closer in meaning.

  • Execution: “finish” in wrestling, kake 掛け in judo.

  • Landing: nage 投 in judo (throw).

Rama Reddy’s links

• website: https://www.ramareddy.org

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/ramareddy.mma/

• Berlin gym (Deutsch): https://www.ramareddy.org/berlin

• Interview with Robert Drysdale, BJJ Rules: https://youtu.be/3cIcc1tTRBk

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Credits: This episode was produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Consider supporting Yin & Young on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast

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