Tag Archives: Martial Arts

Los Angeles Filmmaker Creates New Movie Genre: A Martial Arts Musical Comedy

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- To his knowledge, it hasn't been done before, but that doesn't scare Zak Lee Guarnaccia, actor/stuntman, and executive producer at LightRow Pictures, a subsidiary of Light Row Ranch, LLC (https://www.lightrowranch.com/). In fact, it excites him. Audiences are hungry for something new and he's ready to deliver with "The Next Big Hit," a martial arts musical comedy, set to come out fighting in 2022.

With its dark, comedy-crime underworld storyline, this offbeat buddy flick pairs up a fabulously gay movie producer on the run from a loan shark with his very straight cousin, a martial-arts stuntman. An outlandish plot about making a martial arts musical ensues.

"The Next Big Hit," directed by Renata Green Gaber; created and written by Zak Lee Guarnaccia; and screenplay by Pat Battistini and Cerina Vincent ("Stuck in the Middle" Disney Channel), is slated to co-star with Guarnaccia and comedic talent, Perry Anzilotti. Currently in its pre-production phase, Guarnaccia is confident that "The Next Big Hit" will be worthy of Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards consideration.

To generate a buzz and movie support, Guarnaccia will repeat a fitness challenge he completed in 2012 where he climbed 189 steps at the "Santa Monica Stairs" in California for a non-stop 24 hours. This time he's inviting others to join him in the "Extreme Fitness Challenge, which will also benefit "The Heart of Los Angeles" (HOLA), a non-profit organization that gives underserved young musicians a chance to spotlight their work in "The Next Big Hit."

Watch a previz: https://youtu.be/AuKAgADvlbk

For more information: https://www.thenextbighitmovie.com/

About Zak Lee Guarnaccia

A self-described "underdog," Guarnaccia says passion drives him. He moved to the U.S. from Italy in 1989 with $400 and a dream to compete as a professional martial artist and to establish a career as an actor and stuntman. He's always been enamored by martial-arts themed movies and comedies and the growing popularity of "LGBTQ-themed" shows featuring predominantly LGBTQ and minority cast lineups. Recent feature films he's worked on include: "Judas and the Black Messiah;" "Red Notice" with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson; and "The Morning Show" with Steve Carell and Jennifer Aniston.

For more information: https://www.imdb.me/zakleeguarnaccia and https://www.instagram.com/zakleeguarnaccia/

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0603s2p-next-big-hit-300dpi.jpg

*Photo Caption: Zak Lee Guarnaccia's, "The Next Big Hit."

To his knowledge, it hasn't been done before, but that doesn't scare Zak Lee Guarnaccia, actor/stuntman, and executive producer at LightRow Pictures, a subsidiary of Light Row Ranch, LLC. In fact, it excites him. Audiences are hungry for something new and he's ready to deliver with "The Next Big Hit," a martial arts musical comedy, set to come out fighting in 2022.

Related link: https://www.thenextbighitmovie.com/

MMA Organization Tuff-N-Uff gives back to the Las Vegas community by offering a FREE MMA event

LAS VEGAS, Nev. /ScoopCloud/ -- With the average prices of event tickets to popular mixed martial arts events often topping hundreds of dollars, seeing such an event live is out of reach for many of the sport's most ardent fans. Tuff-N-Uff, the nation's largest and longest running amateur MMA organization, has decided to help do something about that by offering a packed roster of fights at a FREE event that will be held June 29, 2019 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

"The fans are the reason we exist and we want to do our best to show as many of them as we can that we appreciate every one of them. Tuff-N-Uff's 6th annual 'Pack the Mack' is our way of giving back to the MMA fans & community of Las Vegas which has been so good to Tuff-N-Uff for so long," says Jeff Meyer, CEO of TuffNuff.

This year's event will be the 6th annual FREE event, dubbed PACK THE MACK that Tuff-N-Uff has hosted and features a total of 10 amateur MMA title fights. Free tickets are limited and those interested are encouraged to visit https://www.unlvtickets.com/ to download and print their tickets.

After the fights, Tuff-N-Uff is hosting an AFTERFIGHT party at Hooter's Casino at which ladies can drink for free, and men can purchase UNLIMITED DRINK WRISTBANDS for $30.

About Tuff-N-Uff:

Tuff-N-Uff is the largest and longest running amateur MMA organization in the United States.

For more information about this event or Tuff-N-Uff, please contact CEO Jeff Meyer at 702-883-9200 or via email: Jeff@TuffNuff.com

Learn more at: https://www.tuffnuff.com/

With the average prices of event tickets to popular mixed martial arts events often topping hundreds of dollars, seeing such an event live is out of reach for many of the sport's most ardent fans. Tuff-N-Uff, the nation's largest and longest running amateur MMA organization, has decided to help do something about that by offering a packed roster of fights at a FREE event that will be held June 29, 2019 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Related link: https://www.tuffnuff.com/

Orange County Jiu-Jitsu Holds Inaugural Fundraising Event and Continuing Campaign to Support National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Orange County Jiu-Jitsu (OC Jiu-Jitsu), a Clark Gracie Academy, and Hot Head Clothing, an apparel line designed solely to benefit child cancer patients, announced that they recently held a unique fundraising event to heighten awareness and raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to combat childhood cancer.

The fundraising event was inspired by Jacob Sebastian Garcia, a jiu-jitsu student, who was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2012 at the young age of just three-years-old. Jacob is now in remission but like many children, he continues to battle the after effects of chemotherapy treatment every day. Jacob's mother and father (Erica and Robert Garcia) observed numerous struggles endured by so many parents of kids with cancer, lots of which do not have adequate insurance to provide effective treatment and becomes very expensive.

As a result, they decided to start a fundraising page via St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which never chargers parents for cancer treatment or associated medical services. Erica and Robert then teamed with OC Jiu-Jitsu to hold a fundraising event in Sept. during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The inaugural event was held at OC Jiu-Jitsu in Irvine, Calif. on Sunday, Sept. 16. A two-hour session was led by Jeff Weins and Budo Jake, who are both accomplished black belts in jiu-jitsu and regularly teach kids the art. They kicked the fun off with kids showing up from throughout Southern California demonstrating their entertaining moves in front of a packed, sold out crowd of supporters in an open mat format. The second hour consisted of a seminar that involved more kids from the Southern California jiu-jitsu community rolling around and demonstrating various moves for the audience.

"We held a very successful event and are pleased with the turnout and initial results, but most importantly, we want this to be a continuing campaign and still need donations," stated Jeff Weins, one of the event organizers who is also an instructor at OC Jiu-Jitsu. "I don't think people realize how many children and their families are affected by cancer across the country. Creating awareness was one of the biggest drivers for us to raise funds for St. Jude."

But Jacob's mother and father didn't stop there. Their son's journey with cancer inspired them to establish Hot Head Clothing - a collection of unique shirts, tank tops, beanies and hats designed specifically for child cancer patients, with a portion of the proceeds are donated to cancer research for children.

"We started Hot Head Clothing because, unfortunately, some people do stare and make negative gestures when they see a child who is bald as a result of chemotherapy and may also be wearing a mask, tubes, and/or other medical devices," stated the Garcias. "Our message is even though you're bald, you still have a 'hot looking head.' Further, the specially designed shirts with custom zippers provides doctors and nurses with easy access to chest ports and picc lines to treat patients, which typically requires them to disrobe. This spares them from embarrassment, maintain confidence levels, and keeps their spirits up."

Fast Facts About Childhood Cancer:
* Every year 15,780 children will be diagnosed with cancer in the U.S.
* 1 in 300 boys and 1 in 333 girls will be diagnosed before their 20th birthday
* Every day 7 children will die from cancer
* The side effects of treatment for cancer can last a lifetime.

What the Donations Result In:

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude vows to not stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.

The money raised by events like what OC Jiu-Jitsu and Hot Head Clothing recently held helps ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food - because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Charity fundraisers help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital continue to lead the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Interested parties can make donations by visiting the fundraising page created on St. Jude's website: http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=5004062&fr_id=101470&pg=personal or Hot Head Clothing items can be purchased at its website: https://www.hotheadclothing.com/ and Instagram @hotheadclothing.

OC Jiu-Jitsu is located at 2540 Main Street in Irvine, Calif and Hot Head Clothing is located at 2166 West Broadway PMB #197 in Anaheim, Calif. Weins says that he plans to hold future fundraising events in conjunction with Hot Head Clothing and other entities in order to raise money for childhood cancer, but will be looking for a larger venue due to an expected larger turnout.

About OC Jiu-Jitsu, a Clark Gracie Academy:

Based in Irvine, Calif., OC Jiu-Jitsu/Clark Gracie Academy was established in 2015 by world champion martial arts expert Clark Gracie, an American Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor and member of the world-renowned Gracie family. He is the grandson of legendary Carlos Gracie, the founder and creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and first eldest son of Carley Gracie, the father of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in the United States. The academy teaches students of all ages honor, respect, discipline, confidence, strength, endurance, strategy, and controlled self-defense.

For more information, visit https://www.gracieirvine.com or OC Jiu-Jitsu's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1883548621938061.

About Hot Head Clothing:

Based in Anaheim, Calif., the genesis of Hot Head Clothing was Jacob Sebastian Garcia, who was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2012 at the age of three. Jacob's journey with cancer inspired his parents to create a clothing line for kids with cancer, which they dubbed Hot Head Clothing.

Children who have cancer must undergo a painful surgery that involves getting a chest port, which is a tube that goes into a vein in the chest direct to the heart. It can be embarrassing and uncomfortable to regularly disrobe in order to receive chemotherapy treatment.

Hot Head Clothing created various garments that include custom made zip-down t-shirts, so nurses can quickly and easily access the port. Additional products include beanies, masks, hats, hoodies, tank tops and t-shirts with messages relating to cancer containing eye-catching designs. A portion of sales proceeds go to childhood cancer research.

For more information, visit https://www.hotheadclothing.com/ or email support@hotheadclothing.com.

Orange County Jiu-Jitsu (OC Jiu-Jitsu), a Clark Gracie Academy, and Hot Head Clothing, an apparel line designed solely to benefit child cancer patients, announced that they recently held a unique fundraising event to heighten awareness and raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to combat childhood cancer.

Related link: https://www.gracieirvine.com

CES MMA continues East Coast Takeover May 4 with New York debut of Oyster Bay Welterweight John Gotti III

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- CES MMA launches its New York division on Friday, May 4, 2018 with "CES MMA NY," a star-studded event at the iconic The Space at Westbury Theater, featuring the region's top talent, including Bellator veterans Matthew Secor of Glens Falls, Kenny Foster of Corona and the long-awaited New York debut of Oyster Bay welterweight John Gotti III.

"With the incredible amount of pro talent located in the New York region, opening a division there is a logical step in our east-coast expansion," states CES MMA vice president Jimmy Burchfield Jr. "We had the opportunity to work with John Gotti III when he made his pro debut in Rhode Island back in October. We are now excited to see him go to work at home."

Tickets for "CES MMA NY" start at $75 and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

After a successful pro debut at "CES MMA 46" in Rhode Island, Gotti III makes his homecoming against fellow New Yorker Eddie Haws of Schenectady.

In the co-main event, the always exciting Bellator vet Kenny Foster makes his third appearance with CES MMA in a featherweight showdown against Jacob Bohn of Le Roy.

Also on the "CES MMA NY" card is bantamweight Sergio Da Silva of New York City who battles Walter Smith-Cotito and Al Jones also of New York, faces Elmira veteran Quentin Gaskins.

The full fight card can be viewed by visiting http://www.cesmma.com, https://www.twitter.com/cesmma or https://www.facebook.com/cesmma, or following CES MMA on Instagram at @CESMMA.

CES MMA launches its New York division on Friday, May 4, 2018 with "CES MMA NY," a star-studded event at the iconic The Space at Westbury Theater, featuring the region's top talent, including Bellator veterans Matthew Secor of Glens Falls, Kenny Foster of Corona and the long-awaited New York debut of Oyster Bay welterweight John Gotti III.

Related link: http://www.cesmma.com/

Progress, Growth and Changing The World: Martial Artist Maria Turnhout Promoted to 5th Degree Black Belt

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Nov. 9, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday, November 21, 2015, KMA Black Belt Champions is proud to host their 16th ceremony showcasing the new Black Belts at their Sherman Oaks, California school. The celebration, at Van Nuys High School Auditorium, is the culmination of a three month testing process.

This year, the Fall Ceremony is exceptional. In addition to the First and Second Degree Black Belts, and Third Degrees the school now enjoys after 13 years of teaching, the community will be celebrating the advancement of the school's co-owner, Master Maria Turnhout, who received her Fifth Degree Black Belt in MMA on August 12, 2015, after training more than 30 years.

Master Turnhout, with outstanding references from leading martial artists, was promoted at a ceremony in Chicago by Great Grand Master Fred Degerberg, who was promoted to 10th Degree Black Belt at the same event. Becoming a 5th Degree Black Belt is a momentous achievement for a woman, of course, but it is a significant accomplishment for anybody.

After receiving her 4th Degree Black Belt ITF more than five years ago, and having been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame during that time and also becoming one of few females to earn a KRU in Muay Thai, Master Turnhout was a modern day Ronin, a masterless master. Master Turnhout reached out to then Grand Master Degerberg because of his renown in the blended martial arts curriculum and asked to study with him.

Leading students at her award-winning martial arts school in the San Fernando Valley meant she had to keep learning herself. The school Turnhout and partner Laura Welch (2nd Degree) built more than a decade before started as Kicks Martial Arts, utilizing her background in child psychology to create strong programs for kids. Growing to more than 250 students of all ages and stages, with special programs for adults and seniors, the school became known as KMA Black Belt Champions.

Less than 5 percent of the population participates in martial arts, and of those, many students stop training before earning a black belt, or just after, but at KMA Black Belt Champions, most of the students continue training "black belt and beyond." As typical in life, this attitude comes from the top down. The instructor team lets students know of their continued training around the country and the world, where blended styles of martial arts continue to evolve the multi-discipline program that is graded in Tae Kwon Do belt levels.

Maria Turnhout didn't start martial arts intending to get her Fifth or even Tenth Degree Black Belt. She started martial arts like all students, as a white belt, and wanted to grow her body and mind. "I found women in martial arts to be treated respectfully, not treated differently," Master Turnhout shared. An important fact thirty years ago, when there were very few women training in the art. Women now make up half of the student population at most schools.

Over the last three decades, Turnhout has seen martial arts become more professional, in ways of teaching, protective gear, and a growth in progressive martial arts schools that focus on Responsibility. "It's not just hands and feet," Turnhout explains. "Curriculum now includes mindset and training students to feel empowered. We train the brain, to be focused and victory oriented."

Turnhout delights seeing thousands of people walking through life more brave thanks to their training at her school and those like it. She embodies the concept of leading by example. Turnhout and the students at KMA Black Belt Champions don't get Black Belts (or 5th Degree Black Belts), they become Black Belts, transforming their own lives and the lives of those around them. Maria Turnhout received her new belt this summer, but she never considered a celebration of the wonderful accomplishment at the time. She was proud to celebrate her advancement with her own students at their semi-annual Black Belt Ceremony.

"Martial arts is progress, growth and change," Maria Turnhout tells her students, and shows them every day.

To learn more about KMA Black Belt Champions and Master Maria Turnhout visit: http://www.kmaonline.us/.

About KMA Black Belt Champions:

Based in Sherman Oaks, California, KMA is an award winning martial arts school teaching progressive mixed martial arts to children and adults.

* PHOTO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/15-1109-Turnhout-300dpi.jpg

Twitter: @kma_blackbelt

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NEWS SOURCE KMA Black Belt Champions :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.