Martial Arts Styles

Posted on November 23rd, 2010 by admin, under Martial Arts Training Equipment.

There are numerous arranged and systemized methods of combat in the world today, and these are often referred to as martial arts styles. Some of these styles are very traditional and steeped in history; others are more modern. Regardless, they are all unique in the way that they teach fighting, even if there is certainly a significant amount of overlap amongst them.

For the purposes of this article, martial arts styles will be broken down into the following sections: striking or stand- up styles, grappling or ground fighting styles, throwing or takedown styles, weapons based styles, low impact or meditative styles, and the hybrid/ sports style of MMA.

Striking or Stand-Up Styles

The primarily striking or stand up martial arts styles teach practitioners how to defend themselves while on their feet by utilizing blocks, kicks, punches, knees, and elbows. The degree to which they teach each of these aspects depends on the specific style, substyle, and/ or instructor. Further, many of these stand up styles teach other aspects of fighting as well, even if that’s not their primary focus. Some striking styles include:

Grappling or Ground Fighting Styles

The grappling styles in martial arts focus on teaching pracitioners how to take opponents to the ground where they either achieve a dominant position or utilize a submission hold to end the fight. Some grappling styles include:

Throwing or Takedown Styles

Combat always starts from a standing position. The only sure way to get a fight to the ground is via the use of takedowns and throws, and that’s where these throwing styles come in. Please note that all of the grappling styles listed earlier also teach takedowns, and most of these throwing styles teach grappling. Thus, there is a significant amount of overlap. Still, the primary focus with these styles is takedowns. Some throwing styles include:

Weapons Based Styles

Many of the aforementioned styles utilize weapons within their systems. For example,Goju-ryu karate practitioners are taught to use the Bokken (wooden sword). Still, there are martial arts styles that concern themselves with weapons as a primary focus. Some weapons based styles include:

Low Impact or Meditative Styles

Those that practice the low impact styles of martial arts are more concerned with breathing techniques, fitness, and the spiritual side of things than combat, even if all of these styles were once used for combat. Some low impact styles include:

MMA- A Hybrid Sports Style

The truth is that most martial arts styles utilize techniques found in other styles. That said, in recent years, via the popularity of mixed martial arts tournaments, many schools are simply labeling the teaching and utilization of several martial arts styles together as mixed martial arts. Still, the term MMA generally refers to training to compete in a sports style of martial arts that allows for grappling, stand up fighting, takedowns/ throws, and submissions.

View the original article here

Technorati Tags: martial, Styles

No Comments

Martial Arts Movie Actors

Posted on November 22nd, 2010 by admin, under Martial Arts Training Equipment.

Who didn’t love watching Chuck Norris defeat entire armies of Vietnamese soldiers back in the day? What guy out there didn’t get a little pumped when Jet Li proved to be a worthy adversary against both Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon 4? Not to mention those Jean Claude Van Damme spinning 360 degrees kicks. Yep, martial arts movie actors are a different breed. You simply know that when any of the soon-to-be mentioned actors are in a flick, that means edge of your seat action and fight scenes.

 

Along with that, here is a list of some of the more popular martial arts movie actors for your reading pleasure.

Li is a former martial arts champion that claimed 15 gold medals at Chinese wushu championships. He made his American film debut in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), where his amazing speed and fluent martial arts moves thrilled fans everywhere. Fact is, Li doesn’t tend to talk much in his American movies. Then again, he doesn’t have to.

Popular Jet Li Movies

Kung Fu Style Guide

Tai Chi Style Guide

Seagal is an aikido black belt that is considered to be the first foreigner to operate a dojo in Japan. He made his acting debut in the 1988 film Above the Law and appeared in several box office hits from there on. Seagal is somewhat unique as a martial arts movie actor in that his martial arts style, aikido, does not stress strikes as much as throws and joint locks.

Top 5 Steven Seagal Movies

Aikido Style Guide

View the original article here

Technorati Tags: Actors, martial, Movie

No Comments

Martial Arts Techniques

Posted on November 20th, 2010 by admin, under Martial Arts Training Equipment.

Martial arts techniques are not magical, as some movies might lead you to believe. Beginners sometimes really seem to believe that black belts can jump over four cars and take out three attackers along the way before they even hit the ground. In reality, those flowery 360 degree kicks and the like are fun to watch on film, but are oftentimes not the most effective self-defense techniques in reality based combat.

In the end, the sheer variety of martial arts techniques available to practitioners is numerous. Thus, an overview of these in category form seems an appropriate beginning step for readers looking to understand a little bit more about the moves that truly make martial arts special.

General Martial Arts Techniques

Blocks: The act of stopping an opponent’s attempt at striking, usually with the arm. However, other limbs are also used for blocking purposes.

Footwork and Stances: Footwork is one of the most underrated skills a martial artist must possess in order to effectively defend themselves. Professional fighters work on these martial arts techniques to a great extent. In addition, stances are important to both sport and traditional martial arts. One example of a stance utilized in more traditional martial arts styles like Kung Fu and karate is the Horse Stance.

Stick and move, people!

Strikes: Striking in martial arts generally refers to the stand up offensive game. In other words, punches, kicks, elbows, headbutts, knees, and the like. Of course, strikes can also be used in ground fighting as well.

Submissions: Submissions basically refer to joint locks and choke holds. Generally, these are done on the ground—though some can be executed while standing—and the idea is to cause an opponent to give up or submit. Of course, if they don’t give up when a submission hold is employed then serious damage could occur.

Takedowns: Takedowns refer to the act of taking an opponent to the ground. This can be done either through wrestling moves such as single and double leg takedowns or throws.

Throws: Throws are a specific type of takedown that is more defensive in nature. These can generally be defined as martial arts maneuvers or techniques whereby a practitioner locks up with someone and uses their own strength against them to take them to the ground.

View the original article here

Technorati Tags: martial, Techniques

No Comments

The Best Type of Martial Arts

Posted on November 16th, 2010 by admin, under Martial Arts Training Equipment.

The reality is that there is no best type of martial arts. Rather, each type or style possesses its own unique strengths and weaknesses. It’s really about the style that suits what you’re looking to do and learn, rather than a global best kind.

That said, there are some things to consider when looking for the best fit of martial arts for you.

Physical Condition: Some martial arts types, such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA, require a high level of physical fitness. Further, it’s recommended that you actually come into the gym or school in reasonable shape or risk some very hard early days. Along with this, if it’s just that you’re out of shape, no problem. All you’ll need is the drive to get yourself back in excellent physical condition before getting involved in such a program. Work that cardio and core, if you will.

On the other hand, if age or injuries are a significant factor, you may want to stay away from high contact schools or those that have very high intensity workouts. Further, depending on where your particular injuries are and how they flare up, you may want to give the next consideration some thought.

Striking, Grappling, or Both: Do you want to fight standing up via the use of punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and more? Then consider the striking arts of kickboxing, or kung fu, karate, and Tae Kwon Do, for example. Do you want to grapple? Then get involved in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, or judo (although judo is a throwing style, there are many schools that also go heavily into ground fighting as well).

Then again, perhaps you want to do both, in which case an MMA gym or school that teaches multiple styles may be right for you. Remember to think about your physical condition, as was noted previously, when deciding on the kind of martial arts to partake in. For example, if you have a recurring neck injury then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, an art where people are continually trying to choke you from various positions, may not be for you.

Schedule and Distance: Just remember that before joining a martial arts school, distance and the schedule matters. If the schedule doesn’t work for you, it will eventually wear on you. In addition, if the school is too far away then that’s not exactly going to make it easy to keep going either.

Set yourself up for success.

Self-Defense Martial Arts Arguments: Simply put, this is something that you should know when talking with instructors and looking at schools, as it’s sure to come up. Are you looking to learn a martial arts style that claims it will teach you self-defense? Then you’re in luck.

Pretty much all martial arts styles claim to do just that. However, be aware that there are those in the martial arts community that believe sport martial arts do not really teach real-world self-defense skills, as sports are designed to allow practitioners to continue fighting, whereas real world self defense requires that practitioners end a fight quickly. After all, if sport martial arts allowed killing moves then there would be fewer athletes around after tournaments, no?

On the flip side, some sports martial artists believe styles that do not allow sparring at full go or near full go do not prepare martial artists to truly test themselves in real life situations. In other words, if you only practice moves partially either by stopping short, etc., then they’re likely to not work in real life. Such is the case with some traditional styles and schools. These people also point to mixed martial arts tournaments like the UFC, where many of the traditional martial arts styles did poorly early on.

Then again, some of their finishing moves were illegal at the time.

Of course, there is more to the argument than the aforementioned and this article is hardly about taking sides. But just be aware that you may hear some of these ideologies being thrown around in your search for the best martial arts type for you. Thus, it’s something to consider.

Sport Martial Arts: Some people are looking to engage in martial arts as a sport. Along with this, many styles of martial arts have a sport associated with them. For example, judo was actually invented by Dr. Jigori Kano in order to be just that—a sport. Further, there are numerous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, karate, kung fu, and Tae Kwon Do tournaments available for would-be practitioners.

However, not all sport martial arts are considered equal in terms of the contact involved. Kickboxing, for example, will likely involve a significant amount of stand up sparring and contact. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will involve little to none of that, but will certainly test your grappling skills at a full go pace. On the other hand, there are several karate schools out there where there is almost no full contact sparring going on. Included are tournaments that involve only mild contact.

These are some of the considerations for would-be sport martial artists.

In the end, there is a best martial arts type out there for you; it just needs to be found. Good luck in your search. On the next page are some of the more well-known styles for you to choose from.

View the original article here

Technorati Tags: martial

No Comments

What Are Martial Arts?

Posted on November 13th, 2010 by admin, under Martial Arts Training Equipment.

The term martial arts refers to all of the various systems of training for combat that have been arranged or systematized. Generally, these different systems or styles are all designed for one purpose: physically defeating opponents and defending against threats. In fact, the word ‘martial’ derives from the name Mars, who was the Roman god of war.

History of Martial Arts: Ancient peoples of all types engaged in fighting, war, and hunting. Thus, each and every civilization subscribed to a version of martial arts or combat all their own. Still, most people think of Asia when they hear the term martial arts. Along with this, around the year 600 BC trade between India and China flourished. It is believed that during this time information regarding the Indian martial arts was passed onto the Chinese and vica versa.

According to legend, an Indian monk named Bodhidharma facilitated the transmission of Chan (China) or Zen (Japan) to China when he moved to southern China. His teachings lent a lot to martial arts philosophies like humility and restraint that continue even today. In fact, some have credited Bodhidharma with the initiation of Shaolin martial arts, though this assertion has been discredited by many.

Types of Martial Arts: Generally, martial arts can be broken down into five distinct categories: Stand-up or striking styles, grappling styles, low impact styles, weapons based styles, and MMA (A Hybrid Sports Style). Along with this, the emergence of MMA has caused quite a bit of mixing of styles in recent years to the point that a lot of dojos don’t look quite the same as they used to. Regardless, below are some of the more well-known styles.

Striking or Stand-Up Styles

Grappling or Ground Fighting Styles

Throwing or Takedown Styles

Weapons Based Styles

Low Impact or Meditative Styles

MMA- A Hybrid Sports Style

Famous Figures in Martial Arts

There are many people that have contributed to the martial arts in significant ways. Here are just a sampling of them. Itosu Anko: Anko (1831-1915) is widely considered to be “the Grandfather of Karate,” for his work with creating simplified katas and forms for less advanced students. In this way and more, he is credited for helping the art to gain more mainstream acceptance. Helio Gracie: Gracie died in January of 2009 at the age of 95. He is considered the inventor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, having taken the teachings of judo and made them less about strength and more about leverage. Royce Gracie: Helio’s son, Royce Gracie, won three of the first four UFC tournaments. This served to show the world just how effective the art that his father had invented, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, was. He did this, by the way, while only weighing approximately 170-180 pounds in tournaments where there were no weight limits. His performance in these early UFC tournaments changed martial arts forever. Dr. Jigori Kano: During a time when all individualized activities in Japan were on a decline (Japanese jujutsu included), Kano invented Kodokan Judo with the idea that it might someday be mainstream enough to become a sport and hence, less individualized. Thus, he eliminated many of the techniques he deemed dangerous in jujutsu and eventually his dream came true. In 1910, judo became a recognized sport. Bruce Lee: Bruce Lee was important for more than just his ability to act in popular movies and the television series, The Green Hornet. He was also an innovator in the arts, realizing that the things that did not work should be discarded for techniques that were effective. He was the founder of the art Jeet Kune Do, a style designed to live outside the boundaries of other traditional martial arts styles. On July 20, 1973, Lee died in Hong Kong at the age of 32. The official cause of his death was a brain edema, which had been caused by a reaction to a prescription painkiller.

View the original article here

Technorati Tags: martial

No Comments

How to Choose a Martial Arts School

Posted on November 12th, 2010 by admin, under best martial art.

Have you seen how many martial arts schools are in your local phonebook? How do you know if you’re choosing the right school? In this article we will feature advice on choosing the right martial arts school for your child.

Everywhere you turn there’s a martial arts school! It is estimated there is 20,000 martial arts school in the U.S. alone. Chances are you have at least one school within a few miles of your home. Today’s martial arts schools ranges from garage-based schools, to fancy mega-schools with multiple training floors and observation lounges. Based on national averages, martial arts schools charge about $125 per month, but schools can be found charging anywhere from $35.00 to more than $200/month.

Because most parents are not experts in martial arts they will typically choose a martial arts school based on either price or convenience of the location. Unfortunately, choosing a martial arts school is not as simple as comparing prices or the proximity from your home. It may be clich?, but if you compare martial arts schools, you’re comparing apples to oranges. If you plan to enroll your child in martial arts school with goal of building his/her self-esteem or empowering him/her with the ability to defend his/herself it may take a minimum of one year of training, but likely more. That being said, choosing the wrong school can lead to your child wanting to quit before the goal is achieved. Choosing the right school can have a life-changing affect on your child.

Martial arts consultant, and a veteran school owner, Tom Callos, says, “You evaluate a martial arts school the same way you would evaluate any school you would take your child to. Just because you’re thinking of joining a school that teaches the “ancient art of self defense,” doesn’t mean you don’t apply modern day scrutiny to their professionalism, teachers, and facilities.”

Here are six tips to finding the right martial arts school:

The Instructor

This should be your number one focus when choosing the right school. A few qualities to look for in an instructor is someone that possesses confidence, courtesy, a positive attitude, and professionalism. Look for an instructor that treats his/her students with respect, as you would like your child to treat you. Gone are the days of respect from intimidation. The instructor will hopefully be wearing a black belt, which should indicate that he/she has attained a high-level of proficiency within their school. The belt does not necessarily translate that he or she will be a great teacher. Watch a class or better yet have your child participate in a trial lesson to see how the instructor interacts with the students and/or your child. Not getting a good vibe, maybe this is not the school for you.

The Curriculum

Over 93% of parents polled in a national survey indicated they wanted their child to be more confident, focused, disciplined and respectful. Do you want the same for your child? These life-skills are what most martial arts schools tell you they teach. But how do they teach it? Ask to see how the school teaches character development. In some schools the process happens by osmosis. There is no set curriculum and it either happens or not. The top schools martial arts schools invest in a system for teaching personal development that ensures all students are equipped with the same values, regardless of which instructor is teaching the class. Make sure the character education program caters to your child’s learning style. If the lessons are all auditory (i.e. reading stories in class) that may not work best for children who are more visual or kinesthetic (action-based) learners. If the school has no “system” for teaching character education then there are no guarantees your child will gain the values you desire.

The Students

Are there a lot of intermediate and advanced students in classes? Chances are you’ve found a school that knows how to enroll and keep its students; that’s a good sign! If you go to a school that’s been in business for a year or longer and it’s still empty, something’s not right with the school. Most martial arts teachers think their classes are the best classes — the way that most restaurateurs think that their food is the best food. If the parking lot is empty, it’s a sign that the customers have a different opinion. On a side note, big does not always equal best. Make sure that your child will receive the personal attention that he or she would receive in school. The student to teacher ratio should not exceed 25 to 1.

The Style

When shopping for the right martial arts school, the “style” the school teaches is not nearly as important as who teaches the class. A good instructor will inspire your child to be their best. There is not one style that is best for kids. Each style will offer something different. One may focus on kicks and strikes, one may emphasize throws and rolls, and another may concentrate on ground defense. A qualified instructor will not teach your child self-offense. Each style should and will, if taught by a good instructor, teach self-defense; so there is no need to worry that your child will become the next playground bully.

The Commitment

Most schools will give you and/or your child an opportunity to try martial arts before making a commitment. Martial arts schools typically will offer a free class, a free private lesson or an introductory course. This gives you an opportunity to evaluate the instructor and program and determine if what they promise and what they deliver are congruent. If there seems to be a deviation from what you’ve been promised or the instructor doesn’t seem to “live up to the hype”; perhaps it’s time to move on. If the school doesn’t offer a trial program and wants to sign you up on a long-term commitment that should be a definite red flag.

Do Your Research

Most schools will have information that you can peruse on the Internet that should tell about the instructor, and the features and benefits of the school. The theme and content of the website may give you a good indication of whether this is a school you may want to consider. Remember why you want to enroll your child in martial arts and see if the website content addresses those needs. If instead the website is more focused on boasting the accomplishments of the instructor having won several championships, breaking bricks with the touch of his/her hand, or the instructor has high ranking degrees in several different martial arts, you may want to proceed with caution. Remember this quote, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Be impressed by the instructor, not the credentials.

For more tips, visit our website at http://www.success-centers.com.

Gary Martin has been a sought-after speaker within the martial arts industry. He has authored a book on personal development for kids and is the founder of Success Centers. Mr. Martin was also a competitor in 2006 World Championships. He can be reached at success@success-centers.com.

Technorati Tags: Choose, martial, School

No Comments

An Overview of Martial Arts Equipment

Posted on November 10th, 2010 by admin, under best martial art.

Mom, can I take karate lessons?

It’s a question that’s bound to come up if you’re raising boys – and increasingly girls. Martial arts training has become as popular with girls as dance and gymnastics used to be. The media attention to such martial sports and fighting arts as kickboxing, muay thai, karate, jiu-jitsu, tae kwon do and other forms of martial arts have fueled their popularity among youth and adults.

One of the least discussed aspects of martial arts training among non-initiates is the equipment and gear that you’ll need. If you or your child(ren) are considering signing up for martial arts classes, here’s a brief overview of the types of equipment that you may need to purchase for training.

Uniforms

Martial arts uniforms may all look alike to the uninitiated, but each style of the martial arts has specific styles of uniforms that have evolved or been designed specifically to fit that style of fighting and competition. Many schools sell the uniform that they expect you to wear for class and competition, but if they don’t check with the instructor to find out exactly what you should be wearing. Some special considerations for the various forms are the following:

Tae kwon do

The tae kwon do uniform generally has a v-neck pullover top and more close-fitting pants than a standard karate uniform. Students are generally required to wear white uniform pants and shirts, while masters and instructors may wear black uniform tops. The belt is long and designed to double-wrap and tie in the front, and its color designates the training level of the wearer.

Judo

Judo focuses more on grappling and throwing techniques than on kicks and jabs. The uniform has evolved to reflect this, featuring a tighter fit and more reinforcing and padding than the uniforms worn for most other martial arts. Look for a uniform that has reinforced stitching at stress points, and quilted padding to enhance gripping ability and protection. The judo gi consists of two parts – the top or joi, and the shitibaki, loose drawstring waist pants. Student uniforms are typically white or black – though black is not officially endorsed – and competition uniforms are white or blue.

In addition to practice uniforms, there may be team uniforms and competition uniforms, so be sure to check with the school or instructor to find out what kind of uniform you’ll need for various events.

Martial arts equipment – shoes and footwear

As with most other aspects of martial arts training, footwear is often decided by the individual dojo or instructor. For many, bare feet is the only acceptable footwear in class. Others require students to wear shoes with flexible, soft, gripping soles. Major sports shoe manufacturers like Adidas make shoes designed especially for wearing in martial arts training and competition.

Protective Martial arts equipment

In addition to the uniforms, you may also be required to purchase protective gear for training and sparring. At the very least, most schools and instructors require that students wear mouth guards when sparring, and may require that students wear head protectors, chest guards, shin guards, athletic protectors and wrist/hand guards. The uniforms in some forms of martial arts are designed to offer protection, but it’s not a standard rule. As with uniforms, check with the school or instructor to find out what sort of protective martial arts equipment you’ll need.

Training Equipment for Martial Arts

More advanced students may be looking for training equipment to continue their training at home. Among the most popular and useful pieces of martial arts equipment for training are stretch bands and stretchers. These training aids offer resistance training and conditioning that are necessary to prevent injury in martial arts training and competition. Other martial arts equipment that students will encounter at the dojo include training dummies, wave trainers, body bags, breaking boards, kick shields and targets.

Martial arts weapons

For many students, the use of exotic Eastern weapons is one of the most fascinating parts of martial arts. In most martial arts forms, training with weapons is an advanced subject, not attempted until students have mastered using their own bodies and have been trained to focus their strength and power. There are, however, some forms of martial arts where empty hand and weapons training take place concurrently. The most popular martial arts weapons are the following:

Nunchaku are lengths of wood connected by a cord. In trained hands, they make an extremely effective and very flashy weapon. Possession of nunchaku is illegal in many countries. In the U.S., legality is regulated at the state level.

Escrima are staffs or sticks used for fighting and blocking.

Shuriken are also known as throwing stars. They are small bladed stars used for throwing.

This article was prepared for this Martial Arts Equipment Toronto site, please visit them for more information.

Technorati Tags: Equipment, martial, Overview

No Comments

Benefits of Martial Arts

Posted on November 10th, 2010 by admin, under best martial art.

Martial arts is gaining popularity among people of all ages. One key reason could be that learning martial arts can open one to many key benefits. One of the top benefits of martial arts training is that you have learnt the art of defending yourself.

Self Defense

For most people, this is the most popular reason why people learn martial arts. When you learn how you could defend yourself and your family, this could be your best investment to come especially in today’s violent times.

Of course you must remember that martial arts as portrayed in movies like Charlie’s Angel etc, is filled with dramatization and in real life, martial arts is not just about jumping, kicking etc. It is a combination of mind and body control which can be mastered after years of dedicated practice and devotion to the art.

Physical Health

Of the many benefits of martial arts, maintenance of physical fitness is another benefit for which people learn and practice martial arts. Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu are some of the martial arts styles which are excellent for cardio fitness as well as improving the muscular system of the body.

These exercises are useful for strength building as the several movements involved in martial arts training but may not be as effective as workouts with weight lifting. Since martial arts training makes you learn the effective use of strength, these exercises definitely improve your overall body stamina and power. The other important benefit of martial arts is that the exercises help in improving the body’s flexibility.

This is because martial arts training works with the entire range of body motions. Martial arts styles like tae kwon do, Thai kickboxing as well as some schools of karate and kung fu uses high kicks which helps in the improvement of balance and sense of coordination as well.

Mental Health

One other benefit of martial arts which one can never get in any other form of physical sports or activity is the improvement of mental and sometimes spiritual faculties. Mind control is one of the key elements of martial arts training and it helps the practitioner by enabling him to control several emotions like anger, fear, anxiety etc.

A few martial artists even find mental peace through the practice of this art. If you consider modern life with its due share of stress and anxiety which envelop most of us, developing such mental skills can help us get natural relief from many stressful situations as we are better equipped with stronger stress management tools. Being a thoroughly engaging activity, martial arts can make us forget most of the daily worries and tensions and you could emerge a fresh, energized and enthusiastic person after a martial arts training session.

Self Confidence

Another good thing that come from learning martial arts is the gradual build up of self confidence and stamina. Since the art has to be learnt in slow and steady steps, you get the feeling of accomplishment and pride as you move on from one step to another. This aspect of the benefits of martial arts is especially applicable for children who are shy and reticent.

Martial arts training could bring out the best in such children as they grow up to be self-confident adults through the many changes which these training sessions bring forth. Of course it can improve the levels of self confidence in adults too.

This art also teaches you how to face the several challenges in life, be it mental or physical with greater fortitude and lesser fear and apprehension. One other benefit of martial arts is that it induces a tremendous sense of discipline in the practicing individual.

As you can see, the benefits of martial arts are many. Anyone who practices martial arts often find themselves gaining benefits beyond what they have expected. Want to learn more about how to pick up the right martial arts for you? Go to http://www.MartialArtsMagic.com right now to find out more.

Technorati Tags: Benefits, martial

No Comments

Are the Martial Arts Still Under Development?

Posted on November 9th, 2010 by admin, under best martial art.

What is a Martial Art?

A martial art can be defined as any skill that can be applied in warfare. The word martial means “military.” So traditionally, a martial art is a military art. The first things that usually come to mind when discussing modern martial arts are leaping, kicking, punching, blocking, inverting elbows, twisting necks, throwing, and weapon fighting. But also horsemanship, javelin throwing, archery, spear fighting, halberd fighting, wrestling, knife fighting, rifle, shotgun and pistol shooting, demolitions, logistics, and battle strategy can all be described as the field of martial arts. Anything that a soldier might do in battle is a martial art.

By martial art usually it is meant aikido, arnis, boxing, capoeria, chow gar, choy la fut, hapkido, hsing’i, hun gar, jeet kune do, jow gar, judo, jujitsu, karate, kempo, kick boxing, krav maga, kung fu, pa kua, penjak silat, praying mantis, savate, shaolin, tae kwon do, tai chi, white crane, wing chun, wu shu and more! As you can see the list is quite long and it is actually quite amazing how many martial arts systems there are and how many methods of self defense can be formulated.

Often within a martial arts school it is taught that “this particular system is the best system and it was created to beat all the others.” Of course every martial artist would have the viewpoint their style is the best because that is the style they have chosen to do, but in reality what they are saying is “this is the best style for me as it suits my temperment and I like the teaching environment.”

The Changing of the Arts

Throughout this history and development of the martial arts and all the combat systems of man our training tools have played a vital part in evolving and perfecting these systems and techniques.

All the martial arts have been effected by the role that mechanical devices play whether it be weapons, dojo mats, breaking boards or even the uniforms we wear – all these paraphanialia indentify the martial arts into their systems and style.

The main players in shaping our new martial arts would be the traditional wooden dummy, wing chun rings, iron palm ointments and even the system of using forms and karta have developed the martial arts into their current form.

Even today modern training tools are common and again the martial arts are under development with new training products such as the Wavemaster, the BOB training dummy, the Focus Master. All with one thing in common, to create a well rounded combat system.

Ideally a martial arts solo training tool should be workable for all and based on sound theory and through constant practice develop into sound physical application. The ideology and theory would have to take into account all the history of the combat technology of man and give this competition and street application.

The Martialarm Combat Training Partner

In a martial arts career you can occationally find your self with no school to go to or no one to train with and so out of neccessity the martialarm solo training partner was born. The Martialarm is a Martial Arts training machine used to develop the entry and trapping skills of any martial arts system. It is designed to actually test any techniques so to improve the ability to trap and control your opponents hands and arms. This can be done because the Martialarm moves and reacts like a real opponent. The Martialarm moves and twists up, down, left and right just like a real opponent would – so it can spring forward and it does strike back!

The Martialarm Combat Training Partner was designed and developed on the following theories:

Martialarm Theory

#1) Safety – You must maintain 100% safety when entering into the opponents attack range, this means to limit any variables that could occur by covering them. (Methods of entry must be sophisticated yet simple, fast as well as safe!)

#2) Attack – You must have the ability to attack at will, with no concern or hesitation. The attack should incorporate a total control of the opponents weapons. (Attacks must be structured to have within them a 100% defense!)

#3) Adaptability – Techniques, attacks and defenses must flow but not necessarily at a constant pace. Adaptability to choose what’s next is key!

Whatever martial arts you choose just be sure you do look at a few before you decide and enqire with the school what martial arts equipment they utilize to get the best from your training.

This article was written by P. Sundbye who has been training in various martialarts for the last 11 years including Wing Chun Kung Fu, Aikido, Tong Long and the Lee Total Control system. For more information and martial arts news visit http://www.martialarm.com.

Technorati Tags: Development, martial, Still, Under

No Comments

Everlast Mixed Martial Arts Advanced Target Mitt

Posted on November 8th, 2010 by admin, under Martial Arts Training Equipment.

Everlast Mixed Martial Arts Punch / Kick Mitt

Price: $24.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Technorati Tags: Advanced, Everlast, martial, Mixed, Target

No Comments