(center)(img src="http://www.karatemart.com/images/blog/NinjaTurtle_FirstPageAuction.jpg")(/center)(br /)(br /)Earlier this week we let you know that the Kevin Eastman artwork auction was underway and had a current bid of $50,000. Any guesses as to where the bids are at now?(br /)(br /)Okay, okay, let's not make this any more anti-climactic than it has to be. So far the bidding has remain unchanged at $50,000. We're a little bummed it hasn't soared to some insane amount, but still, $50k for a single sketch is nothing to sneeze at. Just imagine how many pizzas that would buy...(br /)(br /)Of course, with less than ten hours left on the auction, there's still the possibility of some lurking Ninja Turtles auction sniper out there just waiting to steal this out from under comic fans noses.

Continuing what seems to be a trending topic these days, another incredibly young, talented martial artist is finding himself in the media spotlight for his amazing determination. Nine-year-old Manpreet Singh of Punjab, India is on track to become the youngest recognized expert in (i)Gatka(/i).(br /)(br /)For those that may not know, Gatka is the traditional martial art of the region, practiced specifically by Sikhs. It focuses on the skilled handling of long wooden sticks for both focused attacks and defense. Imagine Arnis stick fighting, except with sticks that are as long as a sword, and you have a rough idea of what to expect.(br /)(br /)Continue reading to learn more about Manpreet and his chosen martial art, (i)Gatka(/i). (br /)(br /)(via (a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/martial-arts-prodigy-guinness-record-manpreet-singh/1/187884.html")India Today(/a))

(center)(a href="http://www.karatemart.com/blog/street-fighter-license-plates-what-if-your-favorite-world-fighters-had-vanity-plates")(img src="http://www.karatemart.com/images/blog/Street-Fighter_License_Plates-Banner.jpg")(/a)(/center)(br /)(br /)This week's KarateMart.com Photoshop fun seeks to answer one very important question pondered among gamers and martial arts enthusiasts alike: If Street Fighter characters had custom license plates, what would they look like?(br /)(br /)An important question to be sure, but one that finally has an answer thanks to the wonders photo manipulation software, and a bored mind.(br /)(br /)Gaze. Gaze you lucky few. You princes of KarateMart. You kings of the Interweb.

(center)(object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="video" width="320" height="280" data="http://www.abcactionnews.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=19214")(param value="http://www.abcactionnews.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=19214" name="movie"/)(param value="&skin=MP1ExternalAll-MFL.swf&embed=true&adSizeArray=1x1000,320x40,3x1000&adSrc=http%3A%2F%2Fad%2Edoubleclick%2Enet%2Fpfadx%2Fssp%2Ewfts%2Fnews%2Fregion%5Ftampa%2Fdetail%3Bdcmt%3Dtext%2Fxml%3Bsz%3D%25size%25%3Bpos%3D%25pos%25%3Bloc%3D%25loc%25%3Bcomp%3D%25adid%25%3Btile%3D3%3Bfname%3Dmeet%2D9yo%2Dcaitlin%2Dmeathook%2Dkelley%2Da%2Dmma%2Dmixed%2Dmartial%2Darts%2Dfighter%3Bord%3D793868774541679600%3Frand%3D%25rand%25&flv=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eabcactionnews%2Ecom%2Ffeeds%2FoutboundFeed%3FobfType%3DVIDEO%5FPLAYER%5FSMIL%5FFEED%26componentId%3D189137614&img=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia2%2Eabcactionnews%2Ecom%2F%2Fphoto%2F2012%2F05%2F05%2F9yo%5FMMA%5Ffighter%5FCaitli72d43e87%2Df5e0%2D4718%2D9901%2Ddb35262b83cb0000%5F20120505085737%5F640%5F480%2EJPG&story=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eabcactionnews%2Ecom%2Fdpp%2Fnews%2Fregion%5Ftampa%2Fmeet%2D9yo%2Dcaitlin%2Dmeathook%2Dkelley%2Da%2Dmma%2Dmixed%2Dmartial%2Darts%2Dfighter&category=sports&title=9y%2Fo%20MMA%20fighter%20Caitlin%20%22Meathook%22%20Kelley%20dominates&oacct=&ovns=" name="FlashVars"/)(param value="all" name="allowNetworking"/)(param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"/)(/object)(/center)(br /)(br /)The video above features a news segment spotlighting a fast-rising Florida MMA fighter whose heart is winning the affection and admiration of Florida fighting fans. What makes the story stand out? It's about 9-year-old girl, Caitlin Kelley.(br /)(br /)While the news piece itself lacks any real substance, the premise of the story should be enough to hold the attention of any martial arts fan. Already ranked 4th in her state for submission grappling, the up-and-comer has taken on a fair amount of competitors (boys as well as girls).(br /)(br /)Of course, at her age I was first in my household at grappling for an NES controller. So I've always had that going for me. (br /)(br /)(via (a href="http://www.themarysue.com/caitlin-kelley-mma-girl/")TheMartySue(/a))

(center)(img src="http://www.karatemart.com/images/blog/NinjaTurtle_FirstPageAuction.jpg")(/center)(br /)(br /)Remember (a ahref="http://www.karatemart.com/blog/kevin-eastman-auctioning-early-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-artwork")a couple of weeks ago(/a) when we told you to start saving your change for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles auction where Kevin Eastman was expected to auction away the first ever drawing of the Ninja Turtles? Well the time to start counting your quarters is nigh, as the coveted artwork went up today and has thus far met the reserve price with a current bid of $50,000.(br /)(br /)The good news? There have only been 10 bidders so far. The bad news? There's still 2 days of auction left. The worst news? I couldn't afford this if there were 2 (i)(b)years(/i)(/b) of auction left.(br /)(br /)At this point I'd have better luck creating my own smash-hit comic book franchise and auctioning the artwork. ((b)Note To Self:(/b) Save all original sketches from (i)(b)Crazy Karate Curmudgeons In Space: Series 1(/b)(/i)) (br /)(br /)Source: (a href="http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7059&lotNo=92357&lotIdNo=152001&ts=off#Photo")Heritage Auctions(/a)