Benny "The Jet" Urquidez & William "Blinky" Rodriguez

Who is Benny "The Jet" Urquidez & William "Blinky" Rodriguez?

Joe sits down with retired kickboxer, martial arts choreographer, and actor Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, and his brother-in-law, kickboxer, martial arts instructor, and community leader William “Blinky” Rodriguez.

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez and William 'Blinky' Rodriguez discuss their careers in kickboxing and martial arts choreography
• 02Benny shares stories about his legendary kickboxing career and work as a martial arts choreographer in Hollywood films
• 03Discussion covers the evolution of kickboxing and how it influenced modern MMA and combat sports
• 04William Rodriguez talks about his community work and martial arts instruction in Los Angeles
• 05The brothers-in-law discuss training methods, discipline, and the philosophy behind martial arts
• 06Joe and guests explore the differences between traditional kickboxing and modern fighting styles
• ▶Benny discusses his legendary kickboxing career and championships0:05:30
• ▶Discussion of Benny's work as martial arts choreographer in Hollywood films0:18:45
• ▶William Rodriguez talks about community work and martial arts instruction in LA0:32:15
• ▶Conversation about the evolution of kickboxing and its influence on MMA0:48:30
• ▶Both guests share philosophy and training methods for martial arts development1:05:00

The Show

Joe brings on two legends from the Los Angeles martial arts scene: Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez, a retired kickboxing champion and legendary martial arts choreographer, and William 'Blinky' Rodriguez, a kickboxer and community leader. The conversation dives deep into their careers and the lasting impact they've had on combat sports and entertainment.

Benny's story is particularly fascinating because he's done it all. He was a dominant force in professional kickboxing, but what really sets him apart is his work choreographing fight scenes for some of Hollywood's biggest action films. Joe and Benny discuss how different that skill set is from actual fighting and how it requires a completely different mindset. The precision needed to make scenes look good on camera while keeping everyone safe is an art form in itself.

William brings a different perspective as someone deeply invested in the LA community. He talks about using martial arts as a tool for community development and keeping kids off the streets. The conversation touches on how important mentorship and discipline are in martial arts, especially for young people looking for structure and guidance.

Throughout the episode, both guests share insights into training, the golden age of kickboxing, and how the sport has evolved. They discuss the technical aspects of striking, the mental game, and why kickboxing was so influential in shaping modern MMA. Joe asks good questions about the transition from traditional kickboxing rules to mixed rules and how that changed the sport fundamentally.

The energy is relaxed and conversational, with both Benny and William clearly passionate about passing on their knowledge. They discuss the importance of footwork, distance management, and reading opponents, all fundamental concepts that transcend fighting styles. There's genuine respect in the room for what these guys have accomplished both in and out of the ring.

Best Quotes

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