The unsung hero of martial arts isn’t any of its pioneers, or its many students – it’s the wooden dummies that are a mainstay of any martial arts and fighting education. The use of dummies has been documented as far back as three thousand years ago in traditional Chinese combat training, but it has appeared…
In the United States and most of Europe, self-defense is not taught at schools. Yes, schools have after-school clubs with trainers from both inside and outside the school using the gyms and classroom to teach a vast range of martial arts, but schools very rarely have it on their curriculum, let alone as a core…
When you hear “Shaolin,” you probably think of the iconic style of Chinese martial arts. From the famous, 1982, Jet Li film Shaolin Temple, to modern entertainment like Kung Fu Panda, the name of Shaolin Kung Fu is known all over the world! Let’s take a look at some facts about Shaolin that you might not…
Bringing up martial arts with new people can be a weird experience. Whether they practice themselves or not, often a large number of misconceptions arise and many people act either defensive, self-confident or a weird mix of both. There are over 50 officially recognized martial arts around the world, with probably hundreds of smaller, more…
When things go bad, fights go ugly. Either it’s in a bar, in the ring, or even in war, a fight that goes sour is often fair game for any move imaginable. A kick in the groin or a finger in the eye – anything goes. Despite our apprehension to support these moves, we thought…
SPEED OR POWER: Fights are complex interplays of a variety of factors. Often, people try to boil down a fight into two factors: speed and power. A quick fighter is amazing to watch from behind the ropes – lightning-fast strikes and great positioning are very easy to appreciate in a fight. Movies also often show…
There are times when you might encounter a certain person with a rather insistent handshake. Perhaps not Donald Trump himself, but there’s definitely people out there who are particularly forceful when it comes to greetings. There is, of course, always the option of falling over awkwardly, or the French response of standing your ground and…
As a martial artist, you’ve become involved in a unique discipline that few people outside of the field will truly understand at a deep level. Naturally, that means there are things that only you and your fellow martial artists will get! Let’s name a few things that only martial artists will understand. Making healthy choices…
There’s nothing quite like capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that more resembles a dance than any other discipline you’ve seen. Every time it’s on display, it’s got a lovely mix of graceful moves, music, amazing acrobatics, and skill. Originally created as a martial art disguised as a dance, it’s no wonder it is so fascinating to…
You’ve probably seen some pretty crazy neck exercises on the side of the ring in Muay Thai, MMA, UFC and a number of other high power, strike heavy martial arts. Maybe you know what’s going on, maybe you don’t but we’re here to tell you why regular neck exercises are key to preventing a knockout.…