this may be old news...
FORMER VOL BILL DUFF TO CO-HOST NEW HISTORY CHANNEL SERIES TO TRACE HISTORY OF HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT
''Human Weapon'' Premieres on Friday, July 20 at 10pm ET/PT
June 29, 2007
New York - This summer The History Channel® embarks on a remarkable journey across the globe to reveal the history behind one of humankind's most ancient skills: the art of hand-to-hand combat. Viewers will join hosts Jason Chambers - mixed-martial-artist and professional fighter - and Bill Duff - former professional football player and wrestler - as they embark on a mission: to explore the history and practice of these time-honored combat arts. Together, Jason and Bill fold back the rich historical and cultural layers of Muay Thai, Eskrima, Judo, Karate, Savate and more in the ultimate search of HUMAN WEAPON.
This journey of human experience is one the two hosts will take with their fists and their feet...with their sweat and blood. They will walk in the shoes of people of many cultures who used these fighting techniques - skills that were born out of each society's need to defend itself. And at the end of each journey, one of these two warriors will face the ultimate test - he'll try to survive a real fight with a true HUMAN WEAPON.
Their thrill-seeking quest takes hosts Jason and Bill to some extreme and exotic places. Each episode of HUMAN WEAPON charts an expedition through foreign continents, famous cities, exotic villages, back alleys and lush landscapes in their quest for a different type of combat. After learning about the history and culture, and training in it themselves, they will see if they have learned enough to take on one of the professional fighting masters in the discipline - and survive.
The first week of Human Weapon (July 20) takes the hosts to Bangkok to learn different forms of the ancient art of Muay Thai, also known as the "Science of Eight Limbs." In this fighting technique the hands, shins, elbows and knees are developed into weapons designed to crush an opponent. As in every episode, the hosts experience the history of the art, how to train in it, and the culture it evolved from. In their journey through the exotic kingdom once known as Siam, Chambers and Duff discover the origins of Muay Thai in an ancient Buddhist temple, battle professional fighters in a hardcore rural gym and immerse themselves in the jungle camp of secretive Muay Thai Master Preang. They'll become intimately acquainted with all eight limbs. Until one of them must use what they've learned in a fight against the Champion Yodecha.
In future episodes of Human Weapon we find the fighting pair battling an opponent in a jungle cockfighting pit, practicing ancient wrestling moves on a water buffalo and learning the secrets of a death strike in a Japanese temple. We follow Chambers and Duff as they travel the world from Japan to France, to the Philippines and Israel and beyond, absorbing each nation's singular history and traditions, while learning how each individual location gave birth to its distinct form of combat.
Some of the topics covered in Human Weapon, in addition to Muay Thai (Thailand), are: Eskrima (Philippines), Judo (Japan), Karate (Japan), Savate (France), Pankration (Greece), and Krav Maga (Israel).
Human Weapon Hosts
Jason Chambers
A Total Fighting Challenge Welterweight Champion, Jason Chambers has a record of 16 wins and 4 losses as an MMA fighter. He has been training in various martial arts since the age of six. Jason has fought in "Deep" in Japan and "Rento Maximo" in Mexico and all over the USA. He has trained under Renzo Gracie and currently trains under Eddie Bravo in Jiu-Jitsu. In addition, Jason also holds the rank of "Phase 1 Instructor" in Jeet Kune Do under Joe Goytia. Some of Jason's current training partners are Karo Parisayn, Bas Rutten, and Randy Coture at Legends Gym in Hollywood, California.
Bill Duff
Pro Football player, bodyguard, wrestler and stunt double, Bill Duff holds a brown belt in Korean street fighting (Toa So Dou) under Master Davis of the Wa Wrang Studios in Riverside, New Jersey. He is a two-time heavyweight state champion wrestler, member of the New Jersey Hall of fame, and undefeated in bar fights. Bill, 6-foot 4 inches tall and 280 pounds, was a professional football player for seven years. He started for the Orlando Rage in the XFL and spent the 2000 and 2002 NFL Europe seasons with the Berlin Thunder, helping them win the 2002 World Bowl Championships. Continuing his career with the Arena Football league, he played for the Indianapolis Firebirds and Columbus Destroyers. Prior to this, he played for the Cleveland Browns in their expansion year 1999-2000. He was also co-captain of the 1997 SEC champion Tennessee Volunteers.
