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Kickboxer/martial artist Haitian John Leblanc teaching aspiring fighters

By JOSH EZZELL

ezzell@dnj.com

John Leblanc remembers his first fight like it was yesterday.

The kickboxer/martial artist entered the fight after some training and thought he was prepared for what would happen.

Well, he wasn't.

He got knocked down what seemed like every minute and was on the verge of losing. Fortunately for him, his opponent got sloppy and left his throat open, enabling Leblanc to land a shot to his opponent's throat and won despite getting dominated.

"I knocked him out," said Leblanc, who came to the United States from Haiti when he was 7. "He kept knocking me down. He left himself open."

Leblanc, however, has since improved and knows what to expect when he enters competition. Since that first fight he's won the 2001 World Pankration Association Tournament. He was the 2001 Team USA Shidokan World Heavyweight Champion, and in 2005 he was the Tennessee Judo Champion.

Shidokan is often described as bare-knuckled karate and also has grappling in it. Pankration started in ancient Greece and has elements of wrestling and boxing. Judo has many throwing techniques but also emphasizes choking techniques.

"I'm engaging in battle to destroy the opponent," Leblanc said.

Now, Leblanc is ready to share the knowledge he's gained with aspiring fighters. That's why he started teaching classes to beginners three days a week at Olympus Athletic Club & Spa on NW Broad Street in Murfreesboro.

"Every technique I teach," Leblanc says. "I cover as many as possible."

So what does he teach? And when?

On Tuesday and Thursday he teaches Muay Thai kickboxing at 7 p.m., and every Saturday at 2:30 p.m. he teaches Vale Tudo kickboxing.

For $50 a month students can take classes. Private lessons are available, but the interested party needs to contact Leblanc to discuss the price and other details. Leblanc doesn't instruct small children. He typically wants to work with people who are at least 17.

In English, Muay Thai kickboxing is simply Thai kickboxing. It's the national sport of Thailand and involves punches, knees, elbows, grappling, kicks and head-butts.

Vale Tudo is no holds barred and takes place in a boxing ring. The winner is determined by knockout or submission.

"(Leblanc's) a really good striker," said Lance Patrick, a fighter/martial arts instructor who trains with Leblanc. "He's a really good Thai boxing coach. The way he's teaching he's trying to get (students) the basic knowledge."

Leblanc's students do a variety of things. First, they work on conditioning since kickboxing is a physically demanding sport. Second, he works on technique.

"Being in shape isn't being Arnold Schwarzenegger," Leblanc says. "It's being able to do what you need to do. You don't need to bench 500 pounds. Whether it's just going for a jog or walking your dog ? it's being able to do it.

"We warm up and stretch," Leblanc added. "We do technical things ? moves, etc. We work on conditioning, calisthenics."

He wants his students to also be mentally prepared for anything they might encounter during competition.

"It's not tough if you're knowledgeable," Leblanc said. "I started martial arts at 4. The thing that I like is (the program) covers everything. It's a lot of work, but it's fun."

Students are learning and also enjoy his classes.

"He's a very good teacher," said Matt Wilbanks, an MTSU student who's taking Leblanc's Muay Thai classes. "He teaches us the right techniques. You can tell you're getting the right techniques."

That's the idea.

Leblanc wants his students to learn things properly. He doesn't want them to take a beating in a fight and rely on a lucky shot to save himself like he was forced to do years ago.