Husker_Power Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Tomich passing on his martial arts knowledge LJS Come to think of it, there was nothing very fancy about Jared Tomich, the two-time Nebraska first-team All-America defensive end. He basically bulldozed his way into backfields in the mid-1990s. "In college, I was just a big bull-rush guy," Tomich says. "Just a pusher." When the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Tomich joined the NFL's New Orleans Saints in 1997 as a second-round draft pick (No. 39 overall), he quickly realized being only a "bull-rush guy" wasn't going to cut it. He needed to find an edge of some sort, quickly. He found it in martial arts. "It changed my game," says Tomich, a native of St. John, Ind., who spent six seasons in the NFL before being released by Kansas City in the 2003 preseason. "Martial arts let me have a little longer career than I think I might have had otherwise." Tomich is now using his martial arts experience — he has a second-degree black belt in karate — to help improve other football players, including those at his alma mater. Tuesday and Wednesday, Tomich and his longtime martial arts instructor, Michael Storms, will be in Lincoln to teach Nebraska players the benefits of what he calls "combat football." It'll basically be a two-day seminar. Combat football. Perfect. Husker strength coach James Dobson is intrigued by the idea. "Football's a game of hands," Dobson says. "Especially when you're talking about linemen and linebackers and even DBs and receivers. You're always trying to get people off of you. In martial arts, that's what the experts are great at doing. That's what really sparked my interest." Nebraska isn't the only football team using martial arts. Tomich and Storms have been making twice weekly trips to Florida during this offseason to work with the NFL Miami Dolphins, essentially as consultants. Tomich says the key is applying martial arts to sports-specific moves. "It improves your hands and feet," he says. "Martial arts really teaches you to work the two in unison and be as efficient as possible. In today's age, you have to do whatever you possibly can." Says Dobson: "I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years, you'll have these (martial arts) guys all over the place." Tomich, who in 1995 led Nebraska's national championship team with 10 sacks, sought out Storms in 1997 as a Saints rookie. "The NFL, it's just a completely different game (than college)," Tomich says. "I still remember, as a rookie, going into one of my first practices. I remember the first time I tried to bull-rush a 340-pound offensive lineman. He just kind of displaced my weight, and for the most part just threw me on my butt." Tomich eventually started bringing Evan Marcus, then a Saints assistant strength coach, to his martial arts workouts with Storms. Marcus is now the Dolphins' head strength coach. Tomich, who spent four seasons in New Orleans and two in Green Bay, now describes himself as a karate "junkie." In this case, "junkie" is a good thing. To be sure, martial arts gave Tomich that all-important edge. Quote Link to comment
huskertim Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 A 260 lb 2nd degree black belt, Yikes! Yes sir Mr Tomich, whatever you say. Quote Link to comment
HuskerTrucker Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 I am kind of surprised more teams haven't signed onto this already. There is a lot that come from this, if taken seriously. It is better than a bunch of ballerina's prancing around on the 50 yard line... Quote Link to comment
Touchdown Tommie Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 I am glad he is coming back to NU to put this on. I remember doing this type of stuff when I played in college. It truly helped using our core strength and also using our hands more efficiently. Quote Link to comment
Vuren Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 I am glad he is coming back to NU to put this on. I remember doing this type of stuff when I played in college. It truly helped using our core strength and also using our hands more efficiently. it also helps foot work and balance. Quote Link to comment
T_O_Bull Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 They were discussing this on Dan Patrick's Fox radio show the other day. Sounds intreguing. T_O_B Quote Link to comment
Drowning_in_the_Sea_of_Red Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 "Keep practicing, Joey, and someday you will choke that chicken." But seriously... I can't way to see Ndominator Suh karate chop Sam Bradford in half. Quote Link to comment
huskernumerouno Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 "Keep practicing, Joey, and someday you will choke that chicken." But seriously... I can't way to see Ndominator Suh karate chop Sam Bradford in half. LAMO Quote Link to comment
UGAHusker Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I am kind of surprised more teams haven't signed onto this already. There is a lot that come from this, if taken seriously. It is better than a bunch of ballerina's prancing around on the 50 yard line... It's going on, people just aren't hearing about it. My Kenpo instructor consults with the UGA football team for a couple weeks every year teaching basic principles that can be applied to football. Quote Link to comment
BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Tomich is at least the second former Husker to share their martial arts training with the team: http://www.huskerboard.com/forums/index.ph...&hl=martial Quote Link to comment
Huskerballz Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Imagine the possibilities if we were able to get Chuck Norris in for a seminar! Fahget about it! Quote Link to comment
gamecocks Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Imagine the possibilities if we were able to get Chuck Norris in for a seminar! Fahget about it! Pelini vs. Norris. That would be crazy. Quote Link to comment
husker B-rent Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 bah!!!!!!!!!!!!! as much as i like mr. pelini....noone beats my main man chucky norris....did you hear about how he whipped freddy kruger and then spit in his ripped off throat!?!?!? Quote Link to comment
HuskerfaninOkieland Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Karate Kid seems to permeate thru my head when I read this article. Stoops: [on the practice field] Team, we have visitors. Fall in behind me. Hai! [approaches Suh and Tomich, then speaks to Tomich] Stoops: I hear you jumped some of my players last night. Tomich: Afraid facts mixed up. Stoops: You calling Mr. Bradford a liar? Tomich: No call no one nothing. Stoops: What are you here for, old man? Tomich: Come ask leave Suh alone. Stoops: What's the matter, the boy can't take care of his own problems? Tomich: One to one problem, yes. FIVE to one problem, too much ask anyone. Stoops: Is that what's bothering you? The odds? Well, we can fix that. Feel like matching, Mr. Bradford? Bradford: Yes, sensei! Tomich: No more fighting. Stoops: This is a football field, not a knitting class. You don't come onto my field, drop a challenge and leave, old man. Now you get your boy in his pads, or you and I will have a major problem. Tomich: Too much advantage. Your team. Stoops: Name a place. Tomich: Big 12 Championship. Stoops: [laughs] You've got real nerve, old man. Real nerve. But I think we can accomodate you. Can't we, Mr. Bradford? Sam Bradford: Yes, sensei. Stoops: Fall in. [bob turns and leaves] Tomich: Ask one more small request. Stoops: Make it fast. Tomich: Ask leave boy alone to train. Stoops: You're a pushy little bastard, ain't ya? But I like that. I like that! All right. No one touches the prima donna until the tournament. Is that understood? [Team responds with "YES SENSEI!"] Stoops: But if you don't show, it's open season on him... and you. [they nod at each other] Quote Link to comment
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