Semmy Schilt, right, has been crowned 2009 K-1 Champion after stopping both last year's champion and this year's favourite.
The heavyweight division has been somewhat of a snoozefest of late and Schilt has borne much of the criticism, but there was no time for boredom to set in last night as most of the fights ended in first-round knockouts. First up was the much-anticipated repeat of Badr Hari v Ruslan Karev, which Hari convincingly won by stopping the Russian under the two knock-down rule. He faced Alistair Overeem next, in another anticipated rematch, and once again stopped the big fighter in the first round. Schilt's road to the final was almost as straightforward, flooring veteran Frenchman Jérôme Le Banner with body kicks and then seeing off a lacklustre Remy Bonjasky, last year's controversial champion.
The final, then, was contested between a Dutchman accused of being boring and a Moroccan who is anything but. Hari started - as per usual - going straight for the kill, but Schilt deflected much of the onslaught and caught Hari with a left jab that sent him to the floor. Hari beat the count and once again went on the offensive, but he was hurt and a thunderous high-kick from Schilt sent him to the canvas for the second time. As the final was contested under the three knock-down rule, Hari got the chance to fight on, but Schilt soon floored him for a third and final time to claim the champion. Boring or not, Schilt proved that he is still very much a force to be reckoned with, equalling countryman Ernesto 'Mr Perfect' Hoost in claiming his fourth title.
In the Chinese Zodiac, which is also used here in Japan, 2009 is the Year of the Ox. I was born in the Year of the Ox, therefore 2009 should be an auspicious year (I'm hoping that's how it works...)! Here's what Ox-folk like myself are like, according to Wikipedia: Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
To celebrate - and to use on our family's New Year cards - I have drawn what I think is quite a cute little ox. The picture on the left is the original sketch and the one on the right is the full-colour version. Whatever kind of animal you are, I wish you all a great 2009!
Congratulations to Barack Obama, who has been elected the 44th president of the United States.
In many ways, Obama represents all that is good about the US - how a man from modest beginnings and mixed race can rise to lead his country - at a time when the country has become deeply unpopular. That unpopularity is due to the polarizing, arrogant cowboy politics of George W Bush and his administration. In eight years, him and his cronies have managed to severely damage the image of the US abroad. Obama brings with him the hope that the damage is not permanent.
While I have a certain amount of respect for John McCain, he did himself no favours by aiming cheap shots at Senator Obama and choosing the - sorry to be so blunt - awful Sarah Palin as his running partner. She comes across like a female George W Bush: swaggering and arrogant without any real substance. I'm sure she's actually a lovely person, but she seems fake, shallow and unappealing.
If there were any doubt that Obama is the choice not only of America, but of the world, have a look at this: http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/results
Obama promised change and it feels like change is already in the air. It feels like the world has breathed a collective sigh of relief. I don't think any presidential candidate has been this popular since John F Kennedy. As a British man living in Japan, it would be easy to say that the outcome of this election has absolutely no bearing on my life, but the reality is that it could affect everybody. Like it or not, the United States arguably remains the world's sole superpower. Hopefully now that power will be wielded in a responsible, balanced manner by a level-headed, erudite president.
That can only be a good thing for us all.
I am honoured to report that my media, creative and education agency, K Creative, has been listed as a 'Role Model' on the Creative for a Cause website.
Creative for a Cause is a collaborative resource for educators of
Visual Communications who wish to instruct their students on the
importance of adopting a social and ethical approach to their work. The Role Models area of the site highlights industry role models who have integrated a socially responsible approach into their business philosophy.
One of the founding aims of K Creative is to pursue a socially responsible and ethical approach to business, including donating a portion of profits to charitable and developmental causes and aiming to establish free English learning and tutoring centres for children and adults who may not otherwise have access to private English language education.
We are a small team and we are just getting started, but it is wonderful to have our efforts recognised. Thanks to everybody who has supported us so far and we hope that even more people will support us in the future.
