Mixed Martial Arts Training Tips - The first thing you need to know Master

Many people just getting started in the mixed martial sport, looking for training tips art tend to jump the gun and tries to figure out where you can learn many different types of similar struggles.

Why is this approach wrong?

While it seems reasonable that the search for different forms of combat training, which is really the wrong approach. You should do something before enrolling in aClash of the school.

Conditioning. You need to provide your body. Your cardiovascular fitness should be in good shape. must be your strength endurance up.

Why is it important?

This is one of the most important advice of mixed martial arts, because here is what happens when you enter combat training with the poor condition:

First, it is not too long. You can quickly and be uncomfortable if your muscularStamina is not up to par will find it easy. So basically it is not always the full benefits of training.
Another important factor is learning. They are always clumsy, tired, and so thoroughly that a state will keep everything you've learned. In addition, training is wasted in part due to their poor condition.
Now set to fight in a school with strong air conditioning to happen. Here's what:

It will be even more of allthe other guys start.
You can compete with the guys with experience to help you learn faster at a pace much longer. For others, it will take months to allow them to reach the level of the position, save, grab, or advanced fighters train.
It will basically be before the game. While there is no need to be all the skills you have an important advantage that all the good fighters are fighting for - well equipped.
Spend part of your attention to condition mixed martialArts Councils and you'll have much more of your real combat training, and Excel at a pace much faster.

The Benefits of Training in Mixed Martial Arts

Martial arts are great for the body. Regular training strengthens and tones the muscles and adds flexibility. Training in martial arts gives you a full cardio work out. You can expect to greatly increase your strength and stamina and improve your hand eye coordination. Martial arts is a good weight loss program as well because it becomes a complete system in which a healthy diet is part and when combined with the extreme physical activity proper weight loss is assured.

Anyone who trains in Karate, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do or any of the arts will gain these benefits. If you have any desire to improve your body and mind at the same time with only one activity, then martial arts is something you ought to seriously consider. You don't just get in shape physically, but also mentally and spiritually. No gym workout can compare. All across the world, adults are joining dojos and thoroughly enjoying the many benefits of Mixed Martial Arts.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combination of Karate, Grappling, Wrestling, Tang Soo Do, Boxing, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do and more all combined in one. Mixed Martial Arts in its modern form, emerged in 1993 through the Ultimate Fighting Championships and was based on pitting different fighting styles against each other with minimal rules to determine which system would be better in a real, unregulated combat situation.

During the late 1990s, the governing bodies imposed extra rules for the safety of the athletes and to try to promote the sport and gain wider acceptance, but still maintaining the no holds barred idea. MMA has grown rapidly in the last few years with many people, both young and old, realizing the many benefits of Mixed Martial Arts both physical and mental, and this has seen enrollment in classes increasing worldwide.

MMA is classed as a combat sport, but it's a sport that stresses the ideals of fair play and respect for your opponent still. However, MMA are still, quite often, wrongly known as vicious and brutal.

Regardless of MMA's reputation, the competition is relatively safe. Due to the rules and regulations imposed and strictly enforced and the tough mental and physical conditioning of the opponents there has never been a death or indeed a critical injury report by the MMA as directly linked to any Tournament.

The classes are run in schools, dojo, youth groups, organizations, church groups, and other less formal settings. MMA is also involved in many gyms mixed martial arts has become popular.

A typical class you have with a hot start, consisting of various stretching exercises, torso twists, jumps, squats and abdominal strengthening exercises. Then there is taught a series of movements and are explained in full. Sparring is controlled andprotective gear is worn, such as helmets, gloves and guards.

At other times a bag will be used for practicing kicks, jabs and punches. Although you may feel awkward and unfit at first, it will not take long before your fitness and skill level improves, along with your frame of mind.

People who practice MMA feel and look healthier, but there are far more benefits than the physical side. While many think of martial arts as violent, in the mainstream it is used as self defense. It does not encourage violence but teaches the student how to control anger and how to use self control and restraint.

Students are taught self discipline and the rigors of training builds character and self-confidence, which ultimately reduces temper induced rages that can often be the cause of many street fights. This confidence carries over into everyday life and as a result Mixed Martial Arts students tend to be become better people than they were.

Mixed Martial Arts training teaches you that you must control the powers that you have had the privilege of learning and never use it recklessly or without thought. Students are also taught that before any success is achieved they will fail many times and that practiced and perseverance is the key. This is a valuable lesson to learn and will often carry over into other endeavors the student undertakes.

Furthermore, the training teaches you that every person is responsible for his own actions and must understand and abide by the given rules. This kind of training improves one's actions in life as well as in martial arts training and tournaments. Many of these arts build a spiritual life into the training, with courtesy, self-control, perseverance and integrity emphasized in the classes. So much so that many Christian Church groups are running Mixed Martial Arts classes for their youth organizations due to the character building characteristics in martial arts training that are also much a part of Christian beliefs.

Given all this, it is no wonder that so many parents are enrolling their children in Mixed Martial Arts classes today. They see their children's health and fitness improve, something their child's peers often lack. And they also witness their children's mindset, attitudes to life and self-improvement, respect and courage all improve as well.

Anyone who trains in Karate, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do or any of the arts will gain these benefits. If you have any desire to improve your body and mind at the same time with only one activity, then martial arts is something you ought to seriously consider. You don't just get in shape physically, but also mentally and spiritually. No gym workout can compare. All across the world, adults are joining dojos and thoroughly enjoying the many benefits of Mixed Martial Arts.

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Martial Arts Training Equipment

Their are numerous forms of martial arts that are trained to learn techniques for combat. One must decide which art is right for them as well as their purpose for the training. Training in the arts combines learning self-defense techniques, fitness training, or training for combat sports. No matter which style of martial arts you train in there is equipment that will assist you in becoming the best martial artist you can be. Here we list of a few of those items and explain why they are important in the martial art of your choice, whether it be Tae kwon do, Judo, Karate, or numerous others.

Building your leg muscles along with Stretching is very important in your martial arts training, and one way to quickly help with getting high kicks is a split leg machine. These split machines have seats that are padded, with spreader arms that you legs sit on. When the lever is cranked the spreader arms move apart. This is to be done until the tension is low to moderate tension in the inner thigh muscles. Hold this position for a count of 30. After this try to turn the lever a little more extending the spreader arms further apart. This is the position you will hold for a full minute. This is the main stretch that will get you those high kicks. The split leg machine should be done daily to increase flexibility.

Another core piece to your martial arts training is the punching bags also going by the name heavy bag. Either the bags can be hung from a wall/ceiling or the base can be filled with sand/water to give it weight so it won't fall over after being kicked or punched. Bags that hang should have strong, heavy chains and a weighted, stable stand.

Kicking bags are another important equipment that should be used in training. Most of these are made with high impact foam that covers reinforced vinyl. These kicking bags are made to so they cover the arms and abdomen of the person holding the bag. There are handle that the holder can grasp on the back side of the kicking bags, thus giving the holder a strong hold to take on the most powerful of kicks.

The last critical piece of martial arts equipment are the shoes. These shoes should have non-slip soles which increases balance. If you notice the traction of the shoe has a circular look towards the ball of the foot to allow for the foot to spin on the mats. This is very important to lessen the likely hood of a knee injury from the torque place on the knee when doing round or side kicks. Martial arts shoes provide better hygiene, since the bare skin of the foot doesn't come into contact with the mats/floor.

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Rededication to Martial Arts Training

Throughout our martial career we may develop a tendency to become complacent in our training. We get lazy. We are tired from the stress of work (or the lack thereof), family and the other things in life that contend for our time and energy.

It helps to have goals to work toward and to be able to focus our efforts on those goals. But what is the goal really? For beginners it is the [once] coveted black belt that is now even awarded to snot faced ten year olds for showing up to class on a semi regular basis. For those of us advancing in years and not necessarily in belts the goal is just to be able to get through the next work out with all of our body parts intact.

I have a new student that is training at the Provo Jujutsu Club. He is physically challenged in several ways. He walks with crutches and though he is willing to practice some things standing up he does most of his training kneeling on the floor. What is his goal in the martial arts? In the long run I am sure it is a black belt but for the short term it is to endure the pain and frustration of those limitations imposed on him. I applaud his efforts and hope he can endure the training I have prepared for him.

I have had students make it to black belt level. For every 100 who come to train maybe five will make it to brown belt. For every 100 brown belts promoted maybe three will make it to black belt. They feel they have achieved the pinnacle of their training when they tie on the newly minted black belt. Then some old fart that trains here puts his arm around their shoulder and gently reminds them: " Now you start over so you can learn what the basics are really all about". Shodan is just that.... first level.

In my personal quest for further knowledge I have found that I too become complacent in my training. This can become life threatening should I ever have to call upon my martial skill to defend my self or someone else. It is easy to rationalize not training with full intent of purpose but it is also important to maintain the edge provided by consistent training. Occasionally I have to throttle myself and recommit to training. It is easy to delegate and I must admit that it is nice to have help teaching.

Recommitting to my training usually means getting back into kata, basics, makiwara and the boards (technique boards or lists. We do not train to break boards!). It also means doing reading, research, and testing concepts to see if they really work. I doubt that if I had ten lifetimes to train in the martial arts that I would be able to learn all there is to learn. Shortly before Master Funakoshi died he commented that he was just now getting the concept of punching. He was ninety years of age at the time and had been training well over seventy years. There is always more to learn.

Returning to kata practice (yes a jujutsuka studies Shotokan Kata, wonder why?) it is necessary to slow down and reexamine the movements and the transitions where many techniques are hidden. It is also important to train until the body understands and that requires studying and perfecting the correct alignment. [Along with all the other principles that govern our arts.] It is also necessary to examine the mindset required of a martial artist. It never ceases to amuse me when I watch some students of the martial arts and how they perceive themselves as "God's Gift". In the days of the Samurai, I have read, that they would do 10,000 draws of their sword and a 1000 cuts. Every day. My how we have fooled ourselves. We think that we can attend two forty-five minute classes per week and in twelve months test for black belt. I teach my students that before they can claim to know a technique they must do it 5000 times. To understand that, read "The Talent Code". Sorry I don't recall the author's name but you can Google it for more information. It has to do with "deep practice" and the formulation of the myelin sheath that covers our nerves.

Recommitting to your training requires more than donning your gi or dobak and heading to the dojo. It requires an in depth examination of your goals, mindset, and a commitment for excellence. Mastery does not come easy. The martial arts are truly a harsh taskmaster. There is pain involved. After all we do not do this for fun though we may have some fun during our training. Never quit. This applies not only to doing your techniques but in combat as well. A martial artist must also have the mindset of a survivor. A phrase I heard when studying Shotokan was: "What do you do if your opponent hits you in the mouth? Swallow your teeth and keep fighting!" In Master Funakoshi's book, "Karate Do, My way of Life" he states that sometimes you just have to swallow your tears and use your head as a mallet. You do not quit just because you are tire or injured. You stop fighting only when the threat is no longer there.

In my younger days we would have an annual practice on New Year's Day. We would recommit to our training by selecting a kata and doing it 100 consecutive times without a break. Take Empi as an example. That's 3700 techniques in an hour and a half. Butt kicker! But it helped us redefine our purpose in training and to commit to another year of training. There is value in pushing yourself beyond your perceived limits of physical endurance. It helps to develop commitment, not only to your training but also to the commitment of delivering your techniques in combat.

Never quit, push and extend your limits. Above all:

TRAIN HARD!

Which is More Important For Self Defense, Firearms Or Martial Arts Training?

The plain simple truth is that martial arts have their limitations, and anyone who tells you differently is a fool. Remember, if fighting with empty hands was all it was cracked up to be, we wouldn't have the need for any weapons. On the other hand, just because you carry a weapon doesn't mean you'll ever have the opportunity to use it. Many people, especially in law enforcement, think that because they have firearms training they will have no need for hand to hand tactics, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. Statistics indicate that a police officer is more likely to be physically assaulted well before they have the opportunity to deploy their weapon. There is only one sure answer to this debate; to be successful in close combat you need both.

One of the most persistent myths about martial arts is that they remove the need for weapons training. The fact is outside of three feet you're dealing with a gun, and inside of three feet you have a real fight on your hands. Many people genuinely believe that they have to choose between gun ownership and martial arts, self defense training, but they're wrong. Historically, martial arts and weapons training have been proven to work together to create an effective form of self defense and close combat.

When primitive muskets were introduced to the samurai by Dutch and Portuguese traders, they didn't abandon their bows or swords, but they began issuing the new weapon to their infantry. Even Saig? Takamori, who led the Satsuma Rebellion that was depicted in the film The Last Samurai, taught firearms training in his martial arts schools. In actuality the rebel samurai all carried firearms in addition to their traditional weapons, and the new imperial army had many samurai serving as officers. The combinations of firearms and martial arts led to many brutal close combat fights between the rebels, and government forces before the fighting would come an end in a bloody charge.

The pioneers of close combat in World War II, who brought martial arts to the military didn't neglect weapons training. To the contrary, self defense expert William E. Fairbairn who studied various martial arts, and had a black belt in Kodokan Judo was also a great proponent of realistic firearms training. During his law enforcement career he taught his students how to survive actual combat by using guns, knives, and martial arts. When Fairbairn met up with Rex Applegate during the war he was already teaching similar shooting techniques. Both men understood that in order to be ready for combat, a warrior had to be deadly with and without weapons.

You would be surprised how many dedicated martial arts own firearms. Some carry them because they regard their sport martial arts training for what it is and have no misconceptions about surviving and assault. Real fights are simply unfair, and if you're dealing with multiple attackers, a firearm can quickly deter them, giving you time to escape.

The world is not a perfect place and chances are you will be taken by surprise. Training in martial arts you will be a better able to protect yourself when your weapons are out of reach. You can't take your weapons every where, but you can still be ready for close combat.

For a long time there has been a rift between "gun guys," and "martial arts guys," and it is unnecessary. To be effective and survive in close combat you need both good weapons and self defense training. Neither one replaces the other so divide your time between the range and the martial arts school. Both martial arts and shooting are about being in the right mindset, to do what you need to do to survive. By understanding both, your odds of survival only improve. If done correctly, your martial arts and self defense training should fall right inline with your firearms training.

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Benefits of Martial Arts Training For Kids

Admit it. When the going gets tough at home, we've all plopped the kids in front of the television and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we can get started on dinner, maybe check email or sort that massive pile of laundry.

But when your five-year old yells at you "Mom, Kids Rule!" or your ten-year old horrifies you with language that would make a sailor blush, you realize there must be something amiss with what these "family programs" really teach our kids. And sadly, its happening everywhere in today's media, sports cartoons, and our children are learning things that we as parents, vowed he would never teach. Old fashioned values like respect and self-discipline, seems to have forgotten, replaced by the dreaded "bling bling" pop culture of today.

Just the thought of an angel, three years turn into a designer clothes, smart mouth, money worship, held me, the layout is sufficient to cover all parents believe that threatenmilitary school brochure, but there is a solution out there to consider.

Martial Arts training.

From Ninja Turtles to The Karate Kid

You and your kids have all seen the flying kicks, battle cries and mighty chops of their favorite TV characters, as they beat the bad guys to submission - but, you may ask, how on earth can these acts of violence teach my child anything worthwhile?

First, know that what you see on television (save perhaps the Karate Kid) is a far cry from what real martial arts are all about. The fact is, martial arts training is based on non-violence.

Originating in Asia (mainly Japan, China and Korea, although Thailand and Vietnam have their own practices as well), martial arts range from a variety of types and styles, all of which are based on well-rounded, moral teachings. The beauty of learning martial arts is that it encompasses not just the physical aspect of the "sport", but mental and emotional lessons as well.

Comparing that to other kid's activities and sports, where fierce competitiveness and "winning at all costs" seems to be the order of the day, it's not surprising that many children grapple with issues of self-esteem and misplaced aggression.

Now imagine your child actually learning valuable life lessons, skills that he will take throughout life, laying the foundation for a happy, well-adjusted and fulfilled adult life. If only karate for kids was popular in the 70's, when I was growing up!

The Advantages

o Karate, and other martial arts for kids, builds confidence and self-esteem as well as self-discipline, respect, concentration and courtesy.

o Many martial arts schools also offer leadership courses for kids, in conjunction with their karate for kids programs, or similar lessons.

o Martial Arts is ideal for children who do not do well in team sports, giving them the ability to flourish this activity, while combining physical and mental practices.

o Many do not realize this, but it is a fact that martial arts training are safer than most school sports.

o Children with special needs, such as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), learning difficulties and hyperactivity are often recommended to participate in martial arts for kids because of The obvious benefits of structured training techniques.

Kung-Fu Master or Ninja Warrior?

Before you sign up Junior for the first martial arts class you see, take your time for the various methods available, and compare them with what you know best suit your child. This is a good way to avoid problems of training techniques, can sprout from a conflict of personality of the child.

Your little Zachsensitive soul? Then maybe a class that does not center sparring (full-on kicks and punches training) but rather, slower, defensive maneuvers would be better for him to go. Children with an aggressive streak may prefer even more significant moves and thrive in sparring matches.

Here is a quick primer on the kid-friendly martial arts, you'll probably be:

Martial Arts of Japan

Karate

Or usedefensive and aggressive moves

o Centers on building strength and endurance

o Involves chops, punches, kicks, strikes, blocking and sparring

o May use weapons

Jujitsu

o Uses defensive and aggressive moves

o Involves lots of sparring

o Teaches a fair amount of weapons training

Aikido

o Uses a more "spiritual" and harmonious style in redirecting the aggression of the attacker as the form of defense, using throws, pins, rolls etc.

o Taught on the premise of disabling an aggressor without attacking, through your individual inner energy

o Does not involve sparring or competitions

Judo

o Uses gentle, "wrestling-like" movements

o Considered one of the safest methods of martial arts

o Emphasizes physical control as well as mental development

o Engages in competitions

Martial Arts From China

Kung-Fu

o The generic term referring to Chinese martial arts with a variety of styles

o Involves attack movements as well as defensive techniques

o Teaches kicks, punches, chops, throws, falls, grappling, katas, leg sweeps and blows among others.

o Engages in sparring competitions

Martial Arts From Korea

Taekwondo

o Competitive in nature, involves techniques using elaborate footwork and unique high kicks.

o Emphasizes strength, force and attack methods.

o Engages in lots of sparring and competitions.

Choosing The Right Instruction

If you have an idea of the type of martial arts class you'd like your child to participate in, the next step would be to find the right school. Finding the right class that not only matches your child's and your needs, in terms of teachers you feel comfortable with, the price, facilities and so on, are all important factors.

Say Do you have a local specialist in Karate for children found. What are the things to watch out for?

1. Good trainers

Check out their qualifications, teaching methods and watch carefully how they interact with other children. It should be a fun learning experience!

2. Space and security

Obviously you would want your child in a facility that is safe for transferring clean, and clean with plenty of space and availability of decent andequipment.

3. School Values

Different martial arts schools inevitably go by different values, for instance, one kid's karate class may handle aggression in one way, while a judo class would have a different approach. Take some time to observe which school's ideals match your family's principles.

4. Prices and Schedules

Prices for martial arts training can vary according to school and location, so make sure you the instruction you choose represents fair value. Finding the most effective way to fit martial arts training into your family's lifestyle is also essential, knowing what works best with your schedule and other activities.

Baby Blackbelts

Starting your child young in karate training is ideal (children as young as the age of four are usually accepted, as it is also a good way to hone fine motor skills), and lots of parents have found that in as little as a year, their children who were involved in martial arts had noticeably gained positive traits such as increased self-esteem, respect and overall physical fitness.

Many parents also opt to join a martial arts training program themselves, making it a great bonding experience for the entire family.

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Is Martial Arts Training Fun for Men and Women?

Fun? Really? I guess it depends on what you are doing in the martial arts to classify it as fun. Or if you are a sick, twisted fool that is into self-abuse and mayhem, brutal martial arts training can be fun. It boils down to what your motivation for training is. If you are into competition, patches, trophies, name recognition and glory then a commercial school oriented to the sporting aspects of martial arts is where you want to go. If you want realistic self-defense training perhaps going to a dojo with fewer trophies on the wall is something you want to seek.

Different cultures have different martial arts and it may take a few tries to find one that fits you and your personality. Personally I have been seeking my path in the martial arts for over forty years. I have found some really great schools and top-notch instructors and I have found some schools that I would not waste another second investigating. But my motivation for martial arts training is not the same as everyone else's motivation. It may be similar but it is not the same.

My martial art training is not done as a hobby or a sport or even a pleasant past time. Sometimes it just plain hurts. Yes there is pain involved but that does not mean that the training does not have its own rewards. The camaraderie and bonding that takes place when you place your life in the hands of your training partner achieves a very high degree. It is true that we do not train for fun but occasionally we can have fun training.

If your goal in the martial arts is to achieve a fairly high degree of physical fitness, to maintain good muscle tone and flexibility then you may want to participate in such things as tournaments, and or demonstrations and that is an excellent goal. It can be fun and provide motivation for setting goals or meeting people of similar interests and abilities.

If your motivation to train in the martial arts is to provide yourself a venue to learn to fight and defend yourself you can still find an enjoyable experience but the bumps and bruises will be more extensive.

To seek "budo" or the way of the warrior your path will be quite different than if you were seeking the thrill of competition. The possibility of female participation is reduced but not eliminated. The concept of having fun is pretty much out the window. The training will be brutal by necessity. On the warrior's path you are not training to compete, you are training to survive.

Back in 1967 when I began training in Shotokan my goal was to become a professional soldier. Vietnam was in full swing and I knew if I wanted a military career, I would have to have combat experience. My dream was to join Special Forces (Green Berets) and to command an SFOD - A. I thought I would be more and better prepared if I had some real martial arts training. The club I joined was the Brigham Young University Shotokan Karate Club. There really was not a choice if I wanted good martial arts training. There was nothing else available. The training was brutal. If we did not draw blood during a workout, it was not a good workout. That intense training served me very well when I entered the military in 1973. I missed out on Vietnam (darn the luck! Shucks, I really wanted to go. Not!) as well as all of the other live fire exercises the United States became involved in up until 1990 when I was medically discharged. The martial art training during those early years was not fun but it saved my butt several times. Just being able to push myself beyond my perceived limits of physical endurance was a direct result of my martial arts training and it served me well. Now my martial art training is very different from that in 1967. It is more intellectual and spiritual and has much more potential for severe physical damage. It still is not fun because pain is involved but we can have fun during the training. The close-knit group of students who care about each other's safety is very much different than in the early days. I run classes in my dojo in the basement of my house and training is done by invitation only. Many of my students are prior or current military. Some have had law enforcement experience. The training is hard but the banter and joking provide an environment that is "fun".

Karate is up close and personal. Jujutsu is intimate. This makes some people uncomfortable until they get past the ma-ai barrier and learn to get close to their training partner and maybe their attacker. We must learn to leave our ego as well as our gender at the door. The focus should be on training and learning. Leave the sexist crap outside. That said, then training can become fun.

I have had several junctures in life that if I quit training, retired my uniform and belt and pursued other interests in life it would be permissible. I've broken my back twice, broke my leg really bad and dislocated my ankle, got hurt on a night parachute jump etc. etc. But I discovered that I can't quit. The martial arts have become quite addictive. Perhaps it is the flood of endorphins that keeps me coming back. Maybe I am just waiting for the fun to happen?

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Suggestions for Getting the Best Martial Arts Training - Attending Ninja Camps and Seminars

One of the many things that can stop someone with a heartfelt desire to study authentic martial arts under a qualified teacher is...

...the teacher or program is nowhere near where they live.

I can certainly relate to the distance that one must travel to get the training you want. I, for one, have always made it a point that, if I wanted something of value, I was willing to do whatever it took to get THAT thing. In the early days of my

Martial Arts Training Equipment Reviewed

There's an old photograph that is often reproduced in karate books. The blurry black-and-white image depicts eight martial artists training outdoors with different types of training apparatuses. One item resembles a rock with a stick stuck into it; another looks like a cinder block with a handle carved into it; and yet another consists of a set of large jars probably filled with sand or pebbles with raised lips. One man and they are all men is wearing what can only be described as platform flip-flops, the base of which is probably made of a heavy, solid material.

Though primitive by today's standards, the training equipment depicted in the photo is to a large extent still popular among martial artists, especially karate students. The rock with the stick stuck into it? That's a "chishi." Updated versions of it are still used to strengthen grips and wrists. Its user simply grabs it, then slowly swings it around in a controlled way. She might swing it in front of her body or behind her head, using one hand or both hands.

In addition to the chishi, many types of training equipment have been developed to strengthen the all-important grip. But if tradition isn't part of your training curriculum, you may never be introduced to such equipment. To strengthen students' grips, a teacher might instruct his students to do simple exercises. He might have students strengthen their grips by extending their arms straight out and squeezing their hands closed into a fist and then opened flat¡ªseveral hundred times. The same can be achieved by gripping tennis balls or small smooth stones.

The gripping jars depicted in the picture, called "nigiri-game" (NIGERE-GAMA), are also designed to strengthen grips. New students would generally start gripping the raised lips of two empty jars. Later they might add weight to the jars by filling them with sand. Real show-offs might even oil the mouths of the jars to make them slippery.

A traditional karate school might also have a "makiwara" (MAKE-WARA), which is basically a striking post. Originally constructed of straw rope wrapped around the top of a wooden board, today's makiwara is often made of black rubber. Karate students strike it to harden the knuckles of their index and middle fingers, which are the first point of contact for a straight punch. Students can also kick the post to harden the sides of their feet.

Today's martial artists are less likely to be found kicking or punching traditional makiwaras, or swinging chishis around their heads. Traditional makiwara posts have been replaced by canvas-covered makiwara boards that can be held by one student while another strikes it. As with traditional makiwaras, it's still relatively easy to break the skin on your knuckles using these boards. Some instructors encourage students to strike boards or pads until their knuckles are raw and bleeding. I always shied away from this. The minute I feel the skin on my knuckles breaking, or see any trace of blood, I ease up on my punches. No amount of praise from my instructor is worth bleeding over.

But not all martial arts emphasize the need for strength like karate. Certainly, tae kwon do and jeet kune emphasize powerful moves. But many styles of martial arts don't involve such intensive conditioning. Still, you should be familiar with the most common types of training equipment if only to help you choose the style best for you.

More common types of training equipment fall into two categories: pads and bags. Pads are usually made of foam wrapped in vinyl or canvas; bags often come filled with cotton fiber wrapped in vinyl or canvas. Both pads and bags enable students to strike and kick at full force.

Small pads, usually about ten inches by ten inches, are held closely at chest level by means of cloth handles. It's important that the student holding the pad exhales each time her partner strikes it. The problem for female students is obvious. Depending on how big you are on top, taking blows to your chest can range from annoying to painful to embarrassing to all three. The most logical move an instructor can make is to pair off female students with female students. But unfortunately logic doesn't always prevail in a martial arts school. If your instructor isn't in the habit of taking a woman's anatomy into consideration when pairing up students for this type of exercise, tell your male partner straight out to take it easy.

Large pads, which are about two feet long and a foot and a half wide, are held in front of the body also by means of cloth handles. Because of their size, these pads enable students to throw a greater variety of strikes and kicks. They also offer students holding them more protection than their smaller counterparts. Manufacturers have recently come out with large pads containing air and foam, which together absorb more impact than pads containing only foam. If your school has these, consider it fairly progressive. On the other hand, schools with the most-advanced equipment pay for it with students' tuition dollars, and may have to charge high tuition fees.

Pads that are worn on the forearms are often used in martial arts styles that use kicks, such as karate and tae kwon do. Like with the other pads, the wearer simply slips her forearms into the cloth handles on the back of the pads. Unlike other pads, these are probably the most comfortable pads for women to wear. Instead of holding them in one place, such as the chest area, a student can raise her arms high, prompting her partner to extend her leg high to strike what might be an opponent's head. Or she can lower her arm, prompting her partner to execute what would be a kick to an imaginary opponent's leg.

I've always preferred punching bags to pads for the simple and obvious reason that I don't have to hold them. (Although, to keep them in place, the bags may have to be held if a particularly strong student is kicking or punching them.) Punching or striking bags hang from the ceiling or are attached by two elastic ropes - one that extends to the ceiling, the other to the floor. Punching bags are also the one type of training equipment you're likely to meet that most resembles a person. By imagining that the bag is your boss, enemy, or the customer service representative who never heard of the words "thank you," you can punch and kick your aggressions away.

Until you've stepped up to a small hanging punching bag the kind you often see boxers using you'll never realize how difficult it is to work with. Here coordination is the name of the game. Not only must you hit it, but you've also got to develop timing and speed. It takes a lot of practice, which is something many students, especially women, avoid, because to become proficient at it, you've got to be willing to look like an uncoordinated fool. After your first few tries, you'll wonder how you manage to walk and chew gum at the same time. But keep at it. You'll increase your upper body strength and size, develop a superior sense of timing and speed, and impress the hell out of every male student in your class.

Large hanging punching bags are a lot easier to practice with. Their size makes them easy to strike at and actually hit. But they're also solid, so be careful. A weak punch thrown at it could result in an injury to the fingers or the wrist. Hard kicks to it could result in bruises or dark red marks. Despite that manufacturers have come out with hanging bags that contain water instead of cotton fiber, and therefore allow students to perform high-impact workouts without incurring injuries, I've yet to see one of these devices in a school.

The best advice is to start easy. Throw some soft punches, then work your way up until you're throwing hard strikes and kicks, but aren't uncomfortable doing so. No matter how loud or forceful your instructor yells for you to "go harder," listen to your inner voice. After all, it's you who will go home with bruises, not him.

In addition to striking and kicking pads, and wearing them when sparring, martial arts students, especially judoists, also roll on padded mats. Some schools have wall-to-wall padding on all the floors; others cover one side of the training floor with padding, the other with a hard wood spring floor; still others bring the mats out on an as-needed basis, then store them when not in use. Either way, they will be your best friend when starting out in your chosen martial art. Just knowing that there's two inches of dense foam awaiting you as you take your first few rolls or falls is enough of an assurance to let you concentrate on what you're doing rather than whether it will hurt.

In addition to pads and bags, you may also train with such equipment as medicine balls and padded mitts. Padded mitts used in the martial arts resemble stiff baseball gloves. They fit over your hands and are used with a partner to improve aim, focus, and timing. The student wearing the mitts moves her hands around, creating a moving target for her opponent to strike at.

In my school, medicine balls are passed around, several at a time, while the class stands in a circle. The idea is to throw it into your neighbor's gut as hard as you can. The problem is sometimes your neighbor aims too high or too low. A word of advice here is to try to stand next to women or students who have good aim and don't throw so hard, or, at the very least, students who are your size. If the person standing next to you is a foot or so taller than you, he might inadvertently throw the ball into your chest. Ideally, the ball should hit you in your stomach area. Always exhale when the ball hits your midsection, and understand that it's okay to tell your neighbor to throw the ball softer.

While one could argue the merits of throwing a heavy ball into someone's gut, it seems to me that some martial arts enthusiasts went a bit too far when they developed a piece of equipment known as the leg-stretching machine. Resembling a seat with wings, these machines hold one occupant, who fits her legs into the "wings," then adjusts them until her legs form a 180-degree angle. Personally, it seems more suited for a torture chamber than a martial arts school. If you can't do this naturally, I don't think your body should be forced into this position.

And, finally, for the martial artist who dreams of glory days where she's breaking boards before crowds of hundreds of cheering fans, there's the re-breakable board. Made of plastic, the re-breakable board can be broken, put easily back together, and re-broken hundreds of times. Hitting the board is supposed to be like striking a three-quarter inch piece of pine not exactly the kind of activity most of us look for when taking up a martial art.

Martial Arts Training Tips - The Olympic Theory

Only a small percentage of around 3% of sports athletes have the time, talent, coaching and resources to compete in the Olympic Games. In fact we are not just taking about the Olympic athletes we are talking about any champion athlete - it could be a mixed martial arts ultimate fighting champion in the octagon. Here are some of the most important mental skills a successful athlete has.

It is the behaviour, thinking and habits of this small and successful group that provides the example we'd want to model for success in our martial arts training. Here are some great examples:-

1. Choose and maintain a positive attitude, realising attitude is a choice, pursue excellence, not perfection, and realize that they, as well as their coaches, teammates, officials, and others are not perfect.

2. Maintain a high level of self-motivation. Are able to persist through difficult tasks and difficult times, even when these rewards and benefits are not immediately forthcoming.

3. Set high, realistic goals and are highly committed to their goals and to carrying out the daily demands of their training programs.

4. Deal effectively with people and have learned effective skills for dealing with conflict, difficult opponents, and other people when they are negative or oppositional.

5. Maintain their self-confidence during difficult times with realistic, positive self-talk.

6. Use positive mental imagery that is detailed, specific, and realistic.

7. Manage anxiety effectively and know how to reduce anxiety when it becomes too strong, without losing their intensity

8. Manage their emotions effectively and are able to use these emotions to improve, rather than interfere with high level performance

9. Maintain concentration and have learned how to maintain focus and resist distractions, whether they come from the environment or from within themselves.

The other 97% are in the majority, so the lesson is; pay less attention to the majority and look for the attitudes and behaviours of the top three percent in our martial arts training.

Questioning Martial Arts

My Sifu, Alan Orr often starts his class with the question "Any questions?"

One of the problems with martial arts training can often be the unwillingness to really question anything, it's an easy habit to get into and often only broken by the best students, so start by asking yourself if you want to be amongst that group? One of the best students, the students who go on to become instructors and/or fighters within their system.

It is a constant questioning of what you are doing, what it is that you are being taught, why do this? What happens in this situation and possibly most importantly "Is what I'm doing actually relevant?" that will lead to finding the solutions. It's maybe that those questions take you away from where you are training to seek out new information, maybe new teachers. I have trained under many different instructors, some good, some not. Sometimes years on you realise all you learned from one was that you had to find another but this article is aimed at cutting down that time span and to help lead you to the right path for you.

Why am I doing this?

This to my mind is one of the questions you should be asking yourself and then a secondary question should be what am I doing to achieve my goals??

My belief is that if you wish to do a martial art then you must want to learn the skills to defend yourself effectively against an average adversary maybe one with greater strength or size, maybe to be able to really fight against a skilled and determined opponent or multiple attackers. The self confidence aspect of martial arts to my mind is the knowledge that you really can do those things under pressure. If you simply want a social club and a bit of fitness thrown into the bargain then fair enough maybe this article holds no relevance to those people and I know there is quite a contingent of people out there that go to their respective martial arts club to say they do a martial art but really have no intention of ever really being able to seriously use it. This article is aimed only at those who really want to achieve a good level of skill and the ability to use it under real pressure.

Anyone who trains at a martial arts club will recognise this scenario.......

You know nothing or very little about the martial arts but are eager to learn, you have seen Bruce Lee flicks, the UFC, Jet Li, you want to be like those guys, you are in a training hall with fifteen others most of which obviously know what they are doing. The instructor starts the class and everything feels alien. You learn some moves, the instructor explains and demonstrates them with the help of a willing senior and they all look good. This is probably where most people have stopped thinking....

Its accepted practice in many walks of life that in order to be successful you must have clear and concise goals. In martial arts this is very true. However so few people take control of their path, instead they chose to rely on the guy standing at the front with the black belt or the pretty suit to take them there. If the guy with the black belt isn't of the highest calibre then you probably won't get to where you wish to be. However if you are in control, if you have done your research and have kept informed then you may learn to recognise what you can take from an instructor and also what to leave, sometimes even when to leave! An instructor must have integrity and humility to truly lead his students to a high standard and this is the ability to be transparent to his students as regards his/her own strengths and weaknesses. I admire any instructor who willingly brings in other teachers to fill his own deficiencies and will happily take his better students to study with others with skills to offer they might not have themselves. The best instructors are unafraid of honesty.

To blindly follow someone on the premise that because he or she has done something a long time therefore they must be right, because they call themselves "Master" or "Sensei" or "Sifu" or simply because they have put themselves into the role of an instructor is certainly unwise. Common sense, taking note of real situations, reading, watching will all tell there own stories so don't ignore them.

Listen to your own experiences!!

My first martial art was Tae kwon do which at the time was very much the fashionable martial art. In some ways I was lucky because I landed at a club where the instructor was both honest and also ex military and unlike many in the TKD field had spent some time boxing and was reasonably progressive with his training. However after 2 years I had started reading Bruce Lee's JKD books and in practice started trying out many of the techniques and concepts outlined there. Bruce Lee's investigations led me to go to a local boxing club and voila.... Some of the guys I really couldn't do much with in sparring suddenly became much less trouble. The day I walked past one particular black belts' defences and landed several unanswered punches was the day I decided TKD had lost its appeal. I had my 5th or sixth grade at the time, no black belt. I didn't want one if 8 weeks boxing could wipe out the advantage of years of my opponents experience.

Be prepared to walk!!!

It was about the same time I decided to find a Wing Chun school. Like many people I decided to learn this martial art because it was the basis of Bruce Lee's thinking. One of the truly keenest and revolutionary minds that the martial arts world had ever produced had based many of his beliefs on his first system and that was good enough for me. Unfortunately finding a teacher to match was another matter. I was in a class almost exactly like I outlined in the scenario above aside from the fact I did have some sparring experience and was still boxing on and off.

One year on my feelings towards this school were changing. Most of the students there couldn't handle my sparring ability, they couldn't handle pace or power, couldn't deal with my ability to kick. I stayed for another year although mainly because I'd met a guy very like minded who became my sparring partner and friend. We used the class to train together and often just experimented with our own ideas. Dave emigrated (returning years later to again help with my development) and that was me done with that school. Again the temptation to stay for the next grade, the next 'level' just lost its appeal and again the idea of chasing the black belt held nothing for me there.

This particular school is a great example of a place where the instructor had lost all his humility and although a nice enough guy who did believe in his own ability he was neither skilled nor really honest. He would rarely chi sao and certainly never spar with his students, external training was very strongly discouraged. Everything was in house. There was never a comparison with the outside and students could blindly follow their "master" for many years achieving meaningless grades in a system that was never ever tested.

The year that time forgot......

In 1993 two things happened that shook the martial arts world. The Ultimate Fighting Championships should have re educated the world as to what it takes to win a fight but much of the martial arts world myself included were unaware of it in its early days (although mixed martial arts certainly changed things for me later on) and a series of books by a gentleman by the name of Geoff Thompson, a night club doorman from Coventry. I can't remember whether it was 93 or 94 when I read "Watch my back", and then bought "Real Self Defence" and "The Pavement Arena".

Real Self Defence is to my mind still one of the best books ever written on the subject of self protection in the street and "Pavement Arena" should be sent to every "traditional" martial arts club in the UK and beyond because its honest and frank discussion of what it takes for a martial art to be effective for real is still very relevant. The information in these two books certainly reinforced some views I held and gave me impetus to explore other aspects of my training. I recognised the truth of what the man said and acted upon it. I still find it amazing how the so many in the martial arts world still manage to ignore all the information available to them, if you wish to own a black belt that's worth more than the 5 quid you paid for it then don't be one of them.

"You too can learn the ways of the force"

I had ditched one martial art took up another and had sampled several others including traditional Ju Jitsu, Freestyle Karate and Kickboxing. Whenever I got sick with Wing Chun I went back to the boxing gym, often doing the two in tandem. My heart was with the kung fu style but often my head with the honest sweat of the gym. Looking back I have often thought that had I put the effort into my boxing over the years that I had my Wing Chun then I would be a better fighter today but as its turned out I now don't think that's true but not because I finally exited the temple doors a shaolin warrior monk with secret kung fu skills only revealed to me after years of training, nor did I face Darth Vader again to finally become a true Jedi.

Like many others I continued to believe that if I just got that bit better in Wing Chun everything would fall into place and I would be the untouchable "Bruce Lee" type I'd seen in his films. I think many martial artists fall into this trap. The truth was I knew my Wing Chun training lacked something, I could see its potential, I knew it had something special, something I hadn't seen anywhere else but couldn't grasp what it was.

So, I followed my Wing Chun instructor and continued to supplement my training now in the new realms of mixed martial arts. I learned some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (A martial art with true depth that has become a second love), Wrestling, takedown defence and indeed takedowns. My new training and sparring partners often derided my Wing Chun training with "prove it, get in the ring, do it!!" In fairness they did give my hands some respect but would often put that down to my boxing and encouraged me to use my long reach and not play the 'Wing Chun' game.

I'll finish this little story with a happy ending but bare with me for the moment and I'll return to the key points of what this article is about.

When learning something new the worst thing to lose is time and many people in martial arts spend many years developing something that simply isn't really relevant in the belief that if they just get better at it then they'll see that thing, learn the ways of the force???? It'll all click??

It's also a total and utter lie

César Córdoba vs. Chaowaritt

FIGHT!!

An Overall View of Muay Thai

Muay is also known as Thai boxing and this is also one of the oldest forms of martial art that is very much effective in self defense. The art form is believed to be created and tested in various battle fields in ancient Thailand. Presently this form of Thai art is practiced by a number of people around the globe. This form of martial art is also used by CIA, US Military personals and Navy Seals. Unlike any other form of martial art, Thai students get grading on the basis of their skills. In most cases its training is offered to earn belt when practicing inside the ring. There are a number of students who are more interested in championship belts as it reflects their dominance in this field.

The skills that are used in this martial art is best for developing striking techniques. When practicing this art form, you concentrate very little in the art of grappling and concentrate more on the techniques of bone shattering, punches and side kicks. If you are very well in making use of this technique, you can develop your skills to take your opponent just with one single blow. In most cases the opponent has to loose his bone and in few cases they are also killed with a single elbow blow or kick.

As this art form was developed in ancient battlefield so a lot of ground grappling techniques are used. With muay technique you can easily overcome multiple attackers. With this form of martial art, you also learn various skills to use swords to overcome your opponents. Apart from swords, players can also make use of other weapons like sticks, spears and strikes. This art form also makes use of techniques that are very fast and precise. This is also one of the reasons why most people like learning this ancient art form. Even if students make use of grappling and submission techniques, still there are a number of students who like Muay Thai just because it is performed within the ring. Presently most strikers also try combining this art form with boxing techniques to make it more effective.

As compared to any other form of martial art, muay thai training is very much different. When practicing, students are thought to make best use of their knees and elbows to strike the opponents. These are techniques that are generally used by a number of boxers around the globe. So when practicing you may have to make best use of kneeing and kicking techniques. So if you need to be expert with this technique, you have to try and overcome your pain. After you have finished years of training you can always develop your skills as a type of deadly weapon. If you are a trained Muay Thai fighter, then you can always create a deadly impact on your opponents.

Breathing Training For Martial Artists

One of the most important aspects of martial arts training is proper breathing. However, for practitioners of hard styles, effective breathing methods are often left to the students to figure out on their own. The central principle of breathing is of internal cleansing, getting rid of that which is old, worn out, and stale, and exchanging it for what is new, fresh, and energized. During inhalation we are bringing in fresh oxygen, nutrients, and vital energy. During exhalation we are expelling carbon dioxide and other toxins and poisons that we produce or collect in our daily lives.

There are a large number of breathing exercises. Some are simple and easy while others require years of practice. I will discuss the five I believe to be the most effective for the martial artists who are beginning to explore the potential of proper breathing. First, we will describe the two methods which are best suited for becoming aware of the body: Attention Breathing and Abdominal Breathing. We will then go on to the more advanced exercises of Reverse Abdominal Breathing and Nose Panting. Finally we will introduce The Complete Breath which is more challenging and requires increased concentration and practice.

In practicing these breathing exercises it is important to concentrate on breathing through the nose, both during inhalation and exhalation. Of course when training in the martial arts, breathing strictly through the nose is unrealistic. In fact it is physically impossible since the body's demand for oxygen increases too fast for the nose to handle the flow. However, while doing these specific exercises it is important. Think of it as a closed circuit within the body, breathing in through the nose and out through the nose. If you open your mouth, you break the circuit and the energy dissipates.

Attention Breathing

It is important to realize that people breathe differently. Children tend to breathe with their abdomen, while middle-aged people breathe with their stomachs, and older people often breathe mainly with their upper chests. But the way people breathe is also affected by other factors, emotions, for instance, or ill health. Someone who is excited will breathe faster and shallower than someone who is sad. Someone who is calm will breathe slowly and deeply. Someone out of shape may be panting after a short walk or climbing some stairs.

Attention breathing, as its name implies, is about focusing your awareness on the natural rhythm of your breath, not to control it but simply to observe it as a bodily function. Your awareness is the instrument which enables you to shift from unconscious breathing to conscious, or dynamic, breathing. This shift is accomplished by concentrating on the feeling of the body as it breathes. Feel the air as it enters your nostrils. Follow it as it flows into the lungs and notice how deeply it reaches into them. Maintain your full attention and follow it back up as you exhale. Feel the used air as it is expelled from the body.

Gradually, as you become aware of the feeling of the breath it should become smoother and more relaxed. But don't try to change your breathing during Attention Breathing. Your aim is to observe your unconscious breathing habits so you will be able to feel the difference when you actually begin dynamic breathing. If you find your mind wandering, simply catch yourself and return to the breath. Try to perform Attention Breathing for five minutes each day at the same time of day, perhaps in the morning when you wake up or at night when you are about to go to bed. As you become used to it, see if you can focus on your breath at other times throughout the day. Eventually the awareness of the breath and your breathing should become an integral part of your life.
Abdominal Breathing

Once you become aware of your breathing, it is time to begin modifying your breathing habits. Abdominal breathing is by far the best breathing method for people beginning to study breathing exercises. Regular practice brings quick, tangible results. It is easy to learn and difficult to do incorrectly. In addition, Abdominal Breathing has the benefit of invigorating the abdominal muscles. Their constant movement massages the internal organs and increases blood circulation.

The basic idea is simple: fill the lungs from the bottom up. Abdominal Breathing is about filling the lungs completely. Most people breathe using only their chests or the top half of their lungs. Abdominal Breathing seeks to expand lung capacity by starting from the lowest part of the lungs. The focus, therefore, is on the abdomen, an area roughly three finger widths below the navel. Known as the hypogastrium in Western medical terminology, this area is called the dan tien in Chinese and hara in Japanese. This point is the focal point of Abdominal Breathing.

Start in whichever stance or posture you feel most comfortable. Inhale through the nose. Expand the abdomen gradually by lightly pushing out and down as the oxygen fills the lower lung cavity. Focus the mind on expanding the abdominal area. Don't be overanxious and forcefully protrude the abdominal wall. Instead, try to achieve a gentle and smooth expansion in time with the inhalation. When the abdomen is full, exhale through the nose and pull the abdomen gently back into the body, compressing the lungs from the bottom. With each inhalation the abdomen expands, with each exhalation the abdomen contracts. It is important to remember that you should not expand or contract your chest; instead, feel as if you are drawing the air deep into the lower part of your body. Repeat for ten cycles of inhalation and exhalation, filling to maximum capacity and emptying completely with each breath.

Reverse Abdominal Breathing

Reverse Abdominal Breathing is more difficult than Abdominal Breathing simply because it reverses the natural flow of the breath. Reverse Abdominal Breathing is a breathing method best suited for those who study the martial arts since it concentrates focus on the hara during exhalation. Regular practice strengthens the abdominal muscles and makes breathing naturally strong. Try blowing up a balloon while keeping one hand on your abdomen. As you blow out, your abdomen naturally expands instead of contracting. The same is true if you are trying to push a car that has run out of gas. In order to express the power you are putting into the act, you exhale while pushing out. Reverse Abdominal Breathing is a breathing method which tends to infuse the breather with power.

Again, start in whichever stance or posture you feel most comfortable. Inhale through the nose. Slowly draw the abdomen in and up. The upper chest will naturally expand as oxygen fills your lungs. As you inhale, contract the muscles of your perineum. The perineum is the area between the anus and the lower edge of the pubis at the front of the pelvis. The central point of the perineum is called the huiyin in Chinese and is the focal point for Reverse Abdominal Breathing. By contracting and pulling up the huiyin you are able to concentrate on the abdominal area. Again, don't be overanxious and forcefully squeeze the abdomen. Instead, focus on keeping a smooth and relaxed motion. When the lungs are full, exhale through the nose, release the huiyin, and push the abdomen out and down. Repeat for ten cycles of inhalation and exhalation, filling the lungs to maximum capacity and emptying them out completely with each breath.
Nose Panting

Breathing through the nose is of the utmost importance when practicing breathing exercises. The nose has a number of defense mechanisms that prevent impurities and extremely cold air from entering the body. First, a screen of nose hairs traps dust and other particles that could injure the lungs if we breathe through the mouth. Next, there is a long passage lined with mucus membranes, where excessively cool air is warmed and very fine dust particles that escaped the hair screen are caught. Finally, in the inner nose are glands which fight off any bacteria that may have slipped through the other defenses. The inner nose also contains the olfactory organ that gives us our sense of smell, which can detect poisonous fumes that could damage our health if we were to breathe them.

The Nose Pant is a great exercise for charging yourself up with energy if you feel sleepy or for releasing stress any time during the day. Imagine that you are blowing a piece of dust out of your nose by sharply puffing out through the nostrils. This is immediately followed by an equally sharp intake of air through the nose. This in-and-out ventilation should be repeated in rapid succession ten times. As you become comfortable with the exercise, increase the number of repetitions. When beginning, just concentrate on the nose and upper chest when breathing, but as you progress try to focus on the abdomen. Abdominal Nose Panting consists of contracting the abdomen as you puff out. Reverse Abdominal Nose Panting expands the abdomen on the puff out. After completing a session of Nose Panting, always follow with a couple of deep slow breaths to calm the body down.

The Complete Breath

The Complete Breath is a dynamic breathing exercise that is both simple and complex. Regular practice expands lung capacity, which, in turn, slows down unconscious breathing and makes it smoother and more regular. In addition, The Complete Breath maximizes oxygen intake and enables oxygen-rich blood to flow to the extremities. It also cleans and invigorates the lungs.

In the beginning it is best if The Complete Breath is practiced from a lying-down posture so maximum concentration can be placed on the exercise itself, which consists of four separate aspects: inhalation, retention, exhalation, and suspension.
Inhalation

Inhale through the nose. Expand the lower abdomen, pushing out and down, just as if you were starting Abdominal Breathing. Once the abdomen is full, continue inhaling and expand the chest, filling the upper lungs. Raise the collarbone and shoulders as you continue inhaling. Fill the throat and the nose. Stop.
Retention

Hold the breath in. Bring your attention to the fullness of the body. Feel the expansion circulating the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Continue to hold the breath in for a count of ten.
Exhalation

Exhale through the nose. Contract the lower abdomen pushing in and up. Continue to exhale by squeezing the air from the lungs and chest. Lower the collarbone and shoulders. Blow the air from your throat and nose. Empty it all out. Stop.
Suspension

Hold the breath out. Bring your attention to the emptiness of the body. Feel your body like an empty balloon waiting to be filled. Continue to suspend breathing for a count of ten.

Repeat

On the next inhalation don't gasp for air. Calmly and smoothly inhale just as before. Feel the air reaching far beyond your abdomen, filling every corner of your body like an expanding balloon. Notice the sensation of your body as the new oxygen is brought in.
Do the complete set five or ten times each day.

The purpose of breathing exercises is to enable you to bring awareness to your breathing. When you are aware of your breathing you can use it to maximum effectiveness. The change from unconscious to conscious breathing is accomplished by thinking about your breathing and becoming aware of your own body. Most of our behavior is unconscious. We walk around in our bodies, rarely noticing how they feel unless there is pain. Seldom do we consciously think of the body as feeling good. Feeling good shouldn't be an absence of pain. It should be an invigorated, energetic state where you are comfortable and happy in your body. Becoming aware of your breath is a way to reach that feeling. Expanding your breathing ability is a way of extending that feeling.

Try to become more aware of your breathing during training and at other times. Take deeper breaths. Do regular Abdominal Breathing. If you feel yourself getting tense or angry, do some Attention Breathing and notice how your feelings change. If you are bored or sleepy, do some Nose Panting to reenergize yourself. No matter what you are doing, breathe. Make conscious dynamic breathing a regular part of your life and you will find it naturally benefits your martial arts training.

Storm Riders part 3

One of my favorite action martial arts films. DISCLAIMER- i dont own storm riders i just think it kicks ass. If you are a fan of naruto you love this. live action ninjas kickin ass (more)

Joe Rogan VS Crazy Lady

Joe Rogan argues with a crazy lady on the radio.

What Martial Art Is Best For The Police

Occasionally I like to surf the web and usually I always find a similar question posted on Internet forums and question and answers sites. "What is the most practical martial art to learn for joining the police?"

Well firstly, to answer this, I suppose you have to look at the work of a police officer. If a person is resisting arrest, an officer wants to control the situation by controlling the offender as quickly as possible. Unless the officers lives are in great danger, they don't want to be choking out there opponents, pulling them into a guard position or trying to break there ankles and knees with heel hooks, so styles that are based on this type of fighting are not so important to learn. Also, with most of the equipment that officers carry on them, (guns, batons, radios, tear gas) which are usually strapped to there belts, it would be very hard to perform head high kicks or even bobbing and weaving type defences so that rules out some stand up styles.

If a person is resisting arrest, then as mentioned above, he/she must be controlled as fast as possible, so techniques that involve restraining and control must be learnt. If an officer is trying to control someone while standing and is failing, then the chances are that both the officer and the offender shall at some time fall to the floor. In this case knowing throws and takedowns, but so as not to really hurt someone may be needed in an officers repertoire of techniques, and also knowledge of how to pin someone and control on the floor may be needed. If the officer has another officer with him/her, than they can both control and "cuff" the offender quite easily from here.

Learning how to deal with multiple attackers, may be something needed by police officers. As most offenders usually stick in gangs then knowing how to deal with two or more people may be advantageous for police officers.

By looking at the above (which is just my own rough outline of police requirements) it is clear that officers would benefit from arts like Judo, Ju Jitsu, BJJ or Karate (for self defence not sport) as the close quarter combat control principles that are needed are present in these arts. But as with anything, there is never a guarantee that things will always work out, but knowing the techniques in these arts should allow you more of a chance than not knowing the techniques.

Gina Carano vs Kelly Kobold

Gina Carano vs Kelly Kobold eliteXC fight Gina wins again

Human Weapon [HQ] - Ninjutsu part 4/5

Ninjutsu is one of the most mysterious, subversive, and deadly martial arts in the world. It is the martial art, strategy, and tactics of unconventional warfare and guerrilla warfare practiced by the shinobi (commonly known outside of Japan as ninja). A female ninja is called a kunoichi. Ninjutsu was developed by groups of people mainly from the Iga Province and Kōga, Shiga of Japan. Throughout history the shinobi have been seen as assassins, scouts and spies. They are mainly noted for their use of stealth and deception. They have been associated in the public imagination with activities that are considered criminal by modern standards. Throughout history many different schools (ryū) have taught their unique versions of ninjutsu. While there are several styles of modern ninjutsu, not all can be related to the historic practice of ninjutsu in Japan so as to be considered a koryū (a traditional or ancient martial art).

Learning Baguazhang Kung Fu Through Martial Arts Video Training

Baguazhang is an internal style of Chinese martial arts based on the eight trigram or eight basic principles laid out in the Yijing or "Book of Changes". Students can now learn Baguazhang Kung Fu from good mixed martial arts training videos.

Effective martial arts video training on Baguazhang places emphasis on using the open hand over the closed fist. This system is based on the theory of continuous change of response to the situation at hand, in order to overcome your opponent through the application of skill rather than brute force.

Martial art training videos present this type of Kung Fu as an art which is based on evasive footwork and a type of "guerilla warfare" strategy which is applied to personal combat. As a fighter, you will be required to rely on skill and strategy, as opposed o the direct use of brute strength or force against force to overcome your opponent. The strategy used in this system calls for constant change in your response to the spontaneous and live quality of the combat that you are engaged in.

This Kung Fu system is very circular in nature and relies almost entirely on open hand techniques, as well as the full body movements to achieve its ends. It also involves spinning movement and very evasive footwork. The footwork and body mechanics involved enable you to set up and execute these techniques, even as you simultaneously, quickly and smoothly change movement direction and orientation. Through this system, you will learn to be evasive and adaptable, which will greatly reduce the amount of physical strength you will require in performing these techniques successfully.

Baguazhang teaches the basis of its various styles - the circle walk practice. Here, you will be required to "walk the circle" as you hold various postures and execute palm changes. These palm changes are short movement patterns which train your body mechanics and enable you to generate momentum during combat.

For your training, you will begin with basic movements whose aim is the training of fundamental body mechanics related to this art. These exercises will enable you to familiarize yourself with how it feels to maintain the correct alignment of your body, as well as how to focus mentally while in motion. This system also emphasizes that the power of the whole body is always much greater than the power wielded by its isolated parts; which is why the power of the whole body is employed in every movement of this Kung Fu system.

Ninja Martial Arts & Self Defense Training - A Serious Problem That You Might Not Have Considered!

Many people get involved with martial arts training, or set out to learn effective self defense - especially in arts like Ninjutsu - the Ninja's self protection system, only to find out that there is something within themselves that may prevent them from ever being able to use what they learn. This article discusses, not only this dangerous trait, but also some suggestions for insuring that this problem doesn't put you flat on your face and at the mercy of a blood-thirsty attacker!

The problem that I'm referring to is the issue of causing pain to others. I can't tell you how many students that I've had over the years who just could not bring themselves to even apply a little pressure to their partner's pressure point without shutting down.

And, of course, the natural question from these students is, "Sensei, how do I overcome this aversion to causing pain so that I can do what I must to survive an attack?"

After carefully observing this phenomenon over the years, I believe that this issue really comes from both a hard-wired response that most humans have to harming others, as well as the programming you may have received as a child about "nice people not hurting others."

I believe that it is not necessarily a bad thing to have this filter in place. It's what separates us from savages and socio-pathic killers.

However, I do agree that, there can be too much of this "aversion response" - especially if your focus is on being able to defend yourself against the rage and animosity from a brutal attacker who wants to beat, break, or kill you.

The question then is, how do you overcome this response in training when you need to learn how to produce results - when your partner is another "nice person" like yourself? And, how do you train safely, without hurting your training partners, and still be able to neutralize an attacker who isn't worried about you using self defense on him?

What I have found that works for me in regards to both is this:

1) When considering the damage that will need to be done to an attacker, I found it useful to make a simple paradigm shift in perspective. I have no problem in putting down a wild animal that is doing, or about to do, damage. So, I simply shift my perspective to see an assailant the same way.

2) When considering this part of training with my fellow students, it's important to note that there is a huge difference between "causing pain," and "hurting" or "damaging" someone. Especially in class when, effectively, your partner is "offering" up his or her body to "the cause" - to your ability to grasp and understand the technique being learned.

As long as you don't go overboard or get a kick out of causing pain, this is a natural part of a proper training process.

Of course, there is a third consideration. and that is...

3) Stop training and resign yourself to the idea that you will not be able to do what you must to properly defend yourself!

ufc primetime: st pierre vs hardy(ep1 pt1)

Part 1 of episode 1

A Simple Aikido Guide

One of the most unique martial arts in existence is Aikido. Aikido focuses on the combination of the powers of the mind and body as well as the forces of nature. The art respects the energies of life and nature and directs these energies physically by channeling them harmoniously. Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba of Japan sometime around the earlier parts of the 20th century. The art is based on circular movements as well as the talents of Morihei Ueshiba who was an extraordinary swordsman and a skilled practitioner of the martial art of Daitoryu Aiki-Jujitsu.

Aikido isn't just a form of physical defense but rather a way of life. By defining your life through this martial art you gain better skill, dexterity, concentration and a long lasting sense of peace of mind. The art of Aikido makes the physical use of body movements as well as an internal energy known as Ki rather than focusing on the use of energy and brute strength to protect yourself from your attacker. Aikido is often seen as a form of defense since its primary aims are created in order to protect you from harm and keep you free from trouble. However the techniques of this art are quite powerful and efficient at the same time.

Primarily four basic techniques exist in the practice of Aikido. The first of these techniques is the katai technique, this one focuses on your basic body movements and breathing patterns, the second is the Yawarakai which teaches the defendant how to properly deflect attacks and how to use the power of the attacker in order to control the events that occur. The third technique is the ki-no-nagare which places an emphasis on teaching the defendant on how to protect themselves and align properly with the movements of an attacker before the attacker makes contact. Ki is the final Aikido technique and it focuses on linking the ki or spirit of the defender and the attacker.

Anyone who is training for Aikido requires a sparring partner. The practice and training in Aikido takes two people and these are the Uke and the Nage. The Uke is seen as the initiator of the attacks while the Nage is the person who defends from any incoming attacks.

Some of the basic Aikido techniques that are included in training include the Ikky which is carried out by putting one hand on the elbow and the other by the wrist. By doing this you give the defender the opportunity to wrest the attacker towards the ground. The next move is the niky and this move provides the Nage with the ability to grip the Uke by using a wristlock and drawing in. Sanky makes use of a rotating technique in order to manipulate the entire arm including the elbow and shoulder region. The Yonky is a technique for controlling the shoulders by making use of both hands in order to grip the forearm region. One other technique is the Goky which is the variant of Ikky technique.

Martial Arts Training - 10 Things That You Can't Get From Solo Training

Are you frustrated with the lack of a good teacher or martial arts school where you live? Are tired of running into those who only want to focus on sport martial arts, or who focus on kids programs?

Are you trying to learn Ninjutsu - the art of the Ninja, but can't find anything more than groups limited to teaching Budo-taijutsu - the armed and unarmed self defense method.

Well, I feel your pain. It seems that, if you want to just learn some martial arts moves, you can go just about anywhere. But, if you're looking for more - if you're looking for strategy, or the life lessons that give meaning and purpose to your self defense skills, then the reality is that options are few and far in between.

The lack of good quality teachers, or the presence of a school nearby - regardless of whether we're talking about my own art of Ninjutsu, or any system of real-world self defense - has forced more than a few well-intentioned students to attempt to learn martial arts and self defense on their own. I know, because that's the road that I took!

But, before we go running out to jump into whatever actual training topics we might find being described in books or found on the countless YouTube clips available, I want to take just a minute to make sure that you are clear about what you "CANNOT" get from solo training - even if you, or others that you've spoken to, think otherwise.

No matter how hard you try, the truth is that, there are just certain things that you cannot get from trying to make sense out of this very deep topic called martial arts - on your own. Well, almost.

That is, unless your idea of martial arts training is just learning the step-by-step "forms" or kata that many systems are founded on. But, if your focus is on real-world self protection and/or personal development training...

...you cannot do this entirely on your own.

Here is a list of things to consider that cannot be done "on your own," in a solo-training fashion. In fact, teacher or no teacher, if your focus is on real-world self protection, some of these things simply cannot be learned or developed without the help of a few "sympathetic" training partners - people who want to help and to see you do well.

Skills, insights, proficiency development, and training benefits that you typically cannot get from training entirely on your own:

1) Real-time, direct feedback from your teacher

2) Interaction, support, and feedback from fellow students - both peers and seniors

3) A "sense of belonging" to the tradition, lineage, and past masters of the art

4) New perspectives from those who have been in situations that you have not

5) Motivation during tough times, or while trying to learn challenging techniques

6) Accountability to someone other than yourself to insure that you are actually practicing and doing what you need to be doing

7) Shorter lapses in contact time with your teacher and seniors - less of a chance to practice incorrectly and waste time with having to re-learn correctly

8) A feeling of connection and knowing that "you are not alone"

9) Answers when you need them

10) Actually being a part of the lineage - an unbroken chain of teacher to student

I know how negative this list makes the solo training experience sound, but you should know what you are up against and what is real when choosing this Path to Mastery. And, while these are all concerns that you should be aware of - regardless of whether you will have to personally deal with each and every one of them - the internet offers the opportunity to be a long distance student and STILL get regular, ongoing, and often "real-time" feedback from your teacher. If you search, and know what you're looking for, you will be able to find an online ninja training, or other martial arts program that will provide many, if not all, of the missing benefits that I listed above.

So, again, the question is...

Mat2 NJ Jiu Jitsu Championships The Good Fight

Sept 12, 2009 The Good Fight: North Jersey Jiu Jitsu Championships in Edison, NJ, held at the Holiday Inn.

Deadliest Style of Martial Art

Here's a different way of looking at the whole what is the deadliest style of martial art debate.

Who cares!?

Seriously. I don't buy into the whole debate and here's why.

If you did a poll of thousands of martial artists you might get a list like this

Brazilian Jiu-jutsu and ground fighting

Krav Maga and reality based self defense systems

Boxing, Muay Thai and cage fighting

Ninjutsu, Kung Fu, Aikido and other Eastern based martial arts

Modern Hybrid Fighting Styles blending multiple arts

Traditional arts like Karate and Tae Kwon Do

In fact you can find forum posts all over the net from people asking "What is the deadliest style of martial art?" Or "What is the best style when learning how to street fight?" Then a bunch of forum users respond with the "best martial art" which is usually some form of cage fighting or combat sport.

There are some great martial arts in this list. Many masters of these arts can demolish an attacker without thinking.

Ask yourself though, is it your art or you as the martial artist that makes up your fighting ability.

I would say it's you and not your fighting style. About every martial art out there has turned out some deadly fighters.

Of course let's be real here. This is only partially true because there are some fruity martial arts out there as well. There are also some fruity martial artists out there that can help you to get stomped in a street fight. With the Internet it seems like the number of these guys has tripled each year.

There's a huge trap in the martial arts that some will fail to avoid. Putting too much faith in your style or technique and not enough in yourself as a fighter.

So how do we sort through the BS when selecting a martial art? Here are some things to focus on that have less to do with your art and more to do with your ability.

Attributes Training- This is completely separate from your martial art style and technique. This will include things like speed, agility, toughness, flexibility, endurance, reflexes etc. No matter what martial art you study all of these need to be improved. You can either improve them individually or train an art that improves them naturally. For example boxing and cage fighting might help you to develop toughness and speed while an art like Wing Chun or Aikido can improve your sensitivity and flow. Select a martial art that develops some of these attributes along with technique.

Common Sense- Find a balance between open mindedness and common sense. Use your best judgment. If your instructor is telling you to do some ridiculous fancy technique that seems impossible to pull off in a fight, there is a good chance your instincts are right. You might want to find a new school or martial art.

Here is the best advice I can give you about selecting a martial art. Decide before hand how much time you are willing to train in the art. One year? Five? Ten? Then make your decision based on that. Some arts take forever to be able to use. While some of these arts can be very effective, not everyone has three hours a day to devote to training.

Then you have the simple fighting styles out there that can get you combat ready in a hurry. While no art can make you indestructible in a month, some styles are better for making a fighter quickly.

Make sure that if you are only spending a little time each day that you choose a simple, functional system that doesn't take ten years to use.