Owner: MarksChat URL:markschat.blogspot.com Join Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:35:24 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Fighting and training methods for unarmed martial artists Site statistics:Click here
The Best Martial Arts Teacher - the video camera 2007-10-16 07:01:00 When bodybuilders prepare for competition, there goal is to lose a lot of body fat whilst keeping there muscles big and toned. To gauge there fat loss some take a fat loss test comparing themselves to a certain time before. Others uses the pinch test to determine there body fat but the best device they can use is the video
camera. Nothing will tell them weather there ready for competition like this useful invention because they SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE when they move!
A martial artist should have the same approach to there training. For instance, if you have a habit of dropping your hands low when you perform a roundhouse kick, it doesn't matter if a thousand people tell you you are doing it, you may not start to change until you either, get hit when you kick in sparring, or see it in action yourself when training alone. I know i would rather see it than feel it! Seeing yourself when practising on the heavy bag for instance will give you a clear indication of faults you have, and may Read more:Martial
, Teacher
, Martial Arts
Chainless Heavy Bag training 2007-10-15 03:23:00 When people see a heavy bag, instinctively they think theres only two ways they can be practical, Striking them whilst hung up,Using them as a tool to slip, bob and weave when swung,The actual reality is there many unthought of ways that they can be effective training in martial arts and for anyone wanting to improve there fitness.
When the bag is chained up and hanging, all strikes ever thought of can be practised on the bag, but an unchained bag practice is just as vital in my opinion. Throws can be practised. Tie two belts or two pieces of rope to the bag to act as arms and a great variety of throws can be worked. Pickups and suplex type throws can be drilled over and over again (a Heavier bag would be good at this stage). When lying the bag on the floor, groundwork positioning and maneuvering can be worked, by transitioning to different positions, like scarf hold to mount to side control etc. Also strikes from all these positions can be practised with MMA in mind. Doing stomach ex Read more:Heavy
The Best Weight Training Exercises for Martial Artists 2007-10-22 04:52:00 There are many people who dont agree with weight training for martial arts. They argue that the use of weights, tenses up muscles and flexibility is lost. When looking at bodybuilder Tom Platz stretch his legs into all kinds of seemingly impossible positions, I fail to see how flexibility is lost. In the modern world we live in and the advances of science it has been proved what weights not only develops muscle strength and speed, but tendons and ligaments are also conditioned which is vital for all the impact training received in martial arts.
My opinion is that the best weight training exercises are those that work a lot of muscles at the same time, and because of the nature of these exercises it is nearly always the biggest and most used muscles that are worked. Deadlifts are my favorite. They work nearly every muscle in your body and are designed to create a very powerful physique. Also, there is no other exercise in the gym where you can lift as much weight with than the deadlift Read more:Weight
, Training
, Exercises
, Martial
, Artists
True martial artists 2007-10-22 04:44:00 Just today i saw the UFC 77 Anderson Silva vs Rich Franklin fight Silva vs Franklin. Although there are people who dont agree with MMA style fights i must say that this was a great show of true martial arts. When i say martial arts, not just do i mean the physical aspect regarding techniques and tactics used but the respect the two fighters showed each other. Being humble in victory and gracious in defeat, the two warriors gave a true account of what every martial artist should strive for.
Sparring with the Master 2007-10-19 05:54:00 When people start sparring, in most schools it is rare that they will start sparring with the teacher of the school. However as time passes by, as long as the teacher is still actively sparring, they will get the opportunity to spar and learn from him.
Chances are they will be lucky to even touch the teacher never mind hitting him at the start. But as the student progresses he/she will eventually be a tough match for the teacher and maybe the opportunity to get one over him will present itself. This could be a chance to throw the teacher perfectly, or to get a submission on him or maybe even a great opening for a perfect roundhouse kick. And as soon as the student sees this opening I GUARANTEE that a small thought will pop up saying "shall I do it or shall I not as its the teacher, I don't want to embarrass him by beating him so maybe I should hold back" A lot of martial artists I have spoke to have given me different opinions on this. Some would hold back while others see it as a wa Read more:Sparring
, Master
Striking Point for Empi Uchi (Elbow Strike) 2007-10-27 11:39:00 Although many martial artists know the correct point of striking for empi, there are still lots that think its best to strike with the tip of the elbow.
Ask any Mauy Thai fighter, and they will say that the correct striking point is on the forearm, within two inches from the tip of the elbow. When the elbow is swung into the target either in a hook or uppercut fashion, this is the best part to strike with. If a spinning elbow strike is performed then the striking surface would be again two inches from the point, but on the upper arm tricep side. Although called an elbow strike, it is not the exact point of the elbow which is used for these strikes. The only time when it may be practical to use the point, is when delivering downward elbow strikes to a low target, back elbow strikes to a target behind and side elbow strikes. This is because the technique is not delivered in a circular motion as the other but in a straight line motion.
Read more:Striking
, Elbow
Judo Osase Komi using the Belt 2007-10-26 10:11:00 For people who study judo and any martial art style that trains with a gi and belt, here is a little tip that may be useful to add to your fighting arsenal.
When grappling with an opponent, either on the floor or standing, to gain extra control of your opponent, use the belt to wrap around one or both of your opponents arms. This may sound strange, unheard of and maybe unfair but think about it. If you manage to wrap yours or your opponents belt around his/her arm or both arms (anywhere from the wrist to the elbow) you will immobilise that arm so it cant be used, and also, you will gain some control or leverage of your opponent. In judo or jiu jitsu competition this technique is sometimes used, but i believe it should be used more. When ground fighting, without full control of your arms, moving is very hard, which could result in you losing the match. It is not a good idea to look specifically to tie up an arm or to, but in the course of sparing or in competition, if the opportunity
Self defence training 2007-10-25 05:51:00 When training self defence
techniques, the only way a technique will become effective is by drilling it over and over again for many months, even years so as it becomes second nature. After drilling a number of techniques the student will also gain the ability to flow from one to the other, if the technique being applied is not working, instead of trying to force one that has been defended well by the opponent.
Now in order to become proficient in applying self defence techniques, like already mentioned, they have to be drilled infinity times. This requires something important, THE PARTNER YOU TRAIN WITH MUST NOT RESIST THE TECHNIQUE BEING APPLIED!!! Of course after a great amount of practice drilling the techniques, your partner can resist slightly allowing you to flow from one technique to the other, creating a more realistic situation, but while initially practising the techniques it is very important that your partner allows you to PRACTICE. Many times i have witnessed, and exper
Where to Guard when Punching 2007-10-23 13:34:00 Karate, Kung fu, Boxing, whatever you fighting style, as long as you punch, there will always be the need for a guard. Unlike kicks, when you punch, unless you are extremely tall with long arms, you shall also be in reach for your opponent to punch you back.
This is where your guarding hand comes into play. Boxers and most martial artists nowadays tend to have there guarding hand clenched as a fist, and held near the cheek area protecting the delicate chin. An argument to this is that if you are wearing big boxing gloves which increase the size of the guarding area and provide a cushion if hit, that is fine, but what if you are not. The fist without gloves is small which may not guard enough and there is no protection to the front face area. Some people believe that the more effective guard would be an openhanded one held in front of the face which protects the facial features, but then again it doesn't protect the chin which if struck hard, is the best way to score a knockout. It co Read more:Guard
, Punching
Speed Ball Bob, Weave and Slip Training 2007-10-31 05:45:00 The platform speedball is one of the main training apparatus for boxers. It is used to develop timing when to strike, the speed it takes for you to see things and register in your mind what has happened, and the speed to react to what has happened. Obviously one of the ways to react when using the speedball is to strike it, but also bob, weave and slipping can be practised and enhanced.
The idea is that when you strike the ball, as it quickly hits the platform and bounces back towards your head, you must slip or bob and weave to avoid it hitting you. It is important to position the speedball so it is level with your eyes for this exercise. Some people have the speedball too high or too low, but level with your eyes is just right. As you practice you shall have to continuously strike the ball so as to keep the practice from stopping, and the harder you hit, the faster the ball will hit the platform and bounce back towards you so be ready and waiting to use correct head and body movemen Read more:Speed
, Weave
, Training
Back Throw Twist (Secret to Ura Nage) 2007-10-30 06:29:00 The back throw, also know as side suplex or in the Judo world as ura nage, can be one of the most devastating techniques to perform. Without extreme practice, this throw can be very dangerous, not just for the person getting thrown but also for the person throwing. There is always the possibility that when picked up, the person throwing could land straight on his back with his opponent landing on top of him.
With the weight of both fighters landing on the ground hard and fast, the person throwing could be badly injured. The trick in order to make this throw successful and less dangerous, is to twist once the opponent is picked up. This is achieved by the person initiating the throw, lifting his opponent, and before landing backwards, pushing off either his/her right of left foot in order to twist his/her body and turn the opponent round so as to land first on the mat with the person throwing landing on top.
It is a very hard throw to carry out as the confidence needed to do it is ve Read more:Throw
Strong Kicks and Powerful Flexibility 2007-10-29 04:55:00 Throughout this site there are many posts that give information on how to strengthen the muscles used in kicking. One legged squats and heavy bag kicks for example are very good ways to strengthen the leg muscles. Another tried, tested and recommended training method is simply to hold certain kicks in the extended position for a length of time.
The exercise works like this. For a side kick workout, holding a wall or chair for balance, bring your kicking leg to the chambered part of the technique, then slowly extend your leg as high as possible to the full extended position of the side kick. Then hold this position for as long as possible. If not done before, you will be doing very well to extend your leg fully without it dropping. Work with this, and gradually you will be able to keep your leg in the extended position for long intervals and also, you will start to notice your leg being held higher and higher, as your flexibility will improve. The side, front, roundhouse and back kicks Read more:Strong
, Kicks
Sand Training, an Ability Builder for the Martial Artist 2007-11-02 03:30:00 For those of you that are unfortunate to not live near warm sunny beaches, with dry clean sand then I'm afraid you will have to wait until the next time you go on holiday to try this one. Training
on sand is so beneficial to every type of martial artist and ten seconds into it and I'm sure the differences will be noticed from when training on a hard durable floor.
When training in your dojo, home or wherever it is you normally train, its very easy to take for granted that the floor helps you with movement. Try getting up and jumping from side to side. If you stop to analyze the process of moving, you should notice that in order for this to happen, you have to push into the ground with your feet, so as to drive your legs to start the movement. This pushing into the ground with your feet is also achieved when walking, running, jumping, kicking and lunging. When a grappler moves when ground fighting, not only will he/she use his feet to push, creating movement, but also the hands are u Read more:Builder
, Martial
, Artist
Shadow Boxing in Water 2007-11-22 09:20:00 Gaining speed in martial arts is a hard sought after process which can only be obtained with constant practice of techniques. One good way to work speed in punches is by practising in water.
Training in a swimming pool, and in water up to about chest level, start throwing punches. Practise single punches and also in combinations. Because you are in water it will be hard to use proper body movement but that doesn't matter. Concentrate on throwing punches as fast as possible for a period of time. Apart from obtaining great speed with this practise it is also an excellent cardiovascular workout. Because body movement will become sloppy, training in water, make sure to practice punches out of water straight after so as not continue being sloppy.
Read more:Shadow
Advice for Judo Street Fighters 2007-12-07 04:26:00 There are some that see Judo as merely a sport. With no real emphasise on strikes, it is seen as impractical for the streets. My personal opinion is that every art has something to offer. The stand up grappling that is learnt in Judo is very practical. Throws are quick, strong and can successfully defend oneself if needed. Also the strength that is built through Judo training is second to none.
Critics of Judo may have valid points though, that should be considered by every Judoka. Firstly the point that strikes need to be learnt. Just basic strikes and defense of strikes. (A good article for self defence striking techniques for Judoka and other grapplers is http://markschat.blogspot.com/2007/09/close-quarter-strikes-for-grapplers.html). By learning these, Judoka will be more confident when striking and when getting struck. Secondly, the fact that a Gi will not always be worn. Nearly all Judo fighters pull there opponents very strong Gi sleeve or lapel when throwing. Practice throws w Read more:Street
, Fighters
The Art of Feinting for Fighting 2007-12-06 03:29:00 The feint is one of the best tactics that a martial artists can employ. It is used mainly when striking, but can be also used when throwing. The feint is a move used by the top fighters and is one the most difficult techniques to master.
The art of feinting involves tricking your opponent into thinking you are going to attack in one way, but then very quickly changing the attack, either to a different target or with a different technique. The reason behind the feint could be to lower or raise your opponents guard in order to create a path for a different strike or to learn the way in which your opponent reacts. For instance weather he moves backwards when struck, or weather he blocks and counters simultaneously, maybe he prefers slipping or bob and weaving. The experienced fighter will learn his opponents preferred reaction with only a couple of feints. If the feint is used to create an opening for a second strike, then the second strike must follow immediately after the feint. There Read more:Fighting
Osoto Gari Thowing Technique 2007-12-05 05:16:00 The Large Outer Reap, (known as Osoto Gari in the Judo World) can be a very useful technique for throwing people in front of you. Also when done correctly, as the person being thrown is taken backwards, it can be very dangerous as the landing area would be the upper back, neck or even the top of the head.
When reaping with the right leg to the opponents right leg, most people perform the technique by stepping past there opponent with there left foot, then bringing there right leg round to reap the back of there opponents right leg while simultaneously pushing the opponent backwards and downwards vigorously. This is a good way to learn the technique but the problem is that when you make the initial step with your left foot past your opponent, he/she will see what is happening and will counter accordingly. To stop this, the start of the technique should include a hard and fast pull in. Holding your opponent, pull him/her in to you hard, while simultaneously making the initial step with
The Backfist (Uraken) 2007-12-04 04:58:00 The back fist is one of the most fastest hand techniques available. As it uses a snapping motion rather than a thrusting one, (like most other strikes), it can be whipped out in a flash. So why is it not used more frequently by martial artists.
Well it is a technique that relies heavily on the striking point to achieve the best results. You must use the actual back part of the knuckles to strike. Seldom people strike with the padded hammer fist or the back of the hand, which will not do much damage at all, but a strike with knuckles to targets such as the eyebrow or upper lip can be very painful. Also when wearing gloves, it is impossible to strike with the boney knuckles, and many fighters tend to disregard the technique because of this. Kyokushinkai fighters although, (who fight without gloves) should use the technique more often. A hard strike in between the ribs can be very painful indeed. One of the best ways to use the backfist is with a lop sao. Used highly in Wing Chun the lop
Sacrifice Techniques, Good or Bad 2007-12-03 04:58:00 Sacrifice Techniques are techniques that place the person performing them, in a position where they can be easily countered when they are carried out. Some people believe that most sacrifice techniques look like they belong in a movie rather than in competition or part of ones repertoire of techniques.
Sacrifice techniques are normally associated with arts where grappling and throws are emphasised such as Judo, Wrestling arts, Ju Jutsu, BJJ etc. The Kodokan Judo syllabus has a number of techniques which are actually referred to as Sutemi Waza (sacrifice techniques). They nearly always depend on the thrower falling backwards, sidewards or frontwards towards the floor in the hope of taking the opponent with them. Obviously if the person being thrown counters this or sees the techniques coming, the person performing them could fall to the floor alone, and find him/herself in an awkward position where he/she can be dominated. BJJ practitioners use a strategy when standing, to take the fig
Slow Body Weight Exercises 2007-11-30 08:02:00 To gain the most amount of muscular strength, i am a firm believer that training with heavy weights is the best way to achieve it. Pushing or pulling a resistance (eg weights) creates a whole lot of strength, fast. But sometimes a well equipped weight training gym is not available.
When this is the case, training using your own body weight with exercises such as press ups, chin ups, one legged squats etc are an alternative to weights. A very efficient way of performing these exercises to to do them slowly. When doing press ups for example, from the starting position take about 4 -10 seconds for your chest to reach the floor and the same when returning back to the starting position. It has been found that great benefits can be achieved when training in this manner, and more strength can be obtained than when doing the exercises at normal speed.
Read more:Weight
, Exercises
Fighting Tired, Fighting Defensivley 2007-11-29 06:50:00 Everyone at some stage during sparring or a competitive fight will get tired. It is not physically possible not to. When you get tired, mentally you do not think or react as fast, and physically it can be extremely more difficult to move than when you are fresh. A lot of training is spent mastering techniques and fighting ability, but not much time is spent training once tiredness kicks in.
This is strange to me as it is something that always happens, so you must prepare for it in my opinion. Unfortunately there are not many things that you can do when you are tired because of the fact that you are ....tired. Personally i think the most important thing to do is not show your opponent that you have run out of steam. If your opponent thinks that you are tired he/she wil probably try and end the fight but rushing you with lots of techniques. Signs of fatigue include, breathing heavily from the mouth, a drop of the guard, a half hearted attempt at throwing strikes, not bending thoroughly Read more:Fighting
Karate Basics (Kihon training) 2007-11-28 07:45:00 The amount of times i have had people tell me that they think karate is a joke, is uncountable. When asked why, they say that it only involves marching up and down like robots, in long deep stances, with one hand always chambered at the hip, and the other performing a very unrealistic block or punch. What they have obviously witnessed is karate basic training or Kihon. Then the best part is when they say, "you cant use that in a real fight".
What they fail to understand though, is that Kihon trainings sole intention is not to teach self defence techniques. I have been training Karate
for a number of years and completely agree that if in a self defence situation, a lunge punch was executed while chambering the non punching arm at the hip and stepping forward into a long front stance, then the consequences would not feel good and you would probably find yourself eating a punch or two in the process. Kihon trainings main purpose is teach other fighting necessities such as, rotating the h Read more:Basics
Best Bodybuilding and Weight Training Book 2007-11-27 07:52:00 For anybody wanting to get into supreme top shape, weather to excel as a martial artist, or just to become more fit and muscular, i recommend a book written by Arnold Schwarzenegger called The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding.
For beginners and advanced exercisers, this book is amazing. It contains everything a person needs to know, including information on training principles, training methods, diet and nutrition, analysis's on different injuries and much much more. Instead of buying different books which cover all these aspects, i advise this one book by Arnie. The advantage with this encyclopedia compared to others, is that is written by one of the best bodybuilders of all time who won the Mr Olympia competition 7 times. His experience and prowess in the sport is apparent in this book and because of his reputation, you can not help but keep reading more of what he has to say. If you are looking for a book which will help you achieve your fitness goals, this is the book for y Read more:Weight
, Training
Training Workouts and Boredom 2007-11-26 05:10:00 When martial artists, or any person involved in physical training spends a certain time period using the same workout routine, boredom will soon develop.
This boredom can involve the person being mentally bored of doing the same repetitive workout. Training
the same exercises, at the same time, on the same days for instance can create boredom that can sometimes be so off putting that the person may even skip workouts. There is also the physical boredom that develops in your muscles. When training the biceps for example, if preacher curls are the only exercise used, with the same weight, for the same amount of reps and sets, then the muscle will eventually get used to the training and will stop growing and developing.
The key is to change your workout every now and then. Train on different days at different times during the day, concentrate more on weights sometimes and then change to concentrate on cardio. Do heavy weights for a period, then train light weights explosively. For a week Read more:Boredom
Nukite, A Deadly Karate Technique 2007-12-17 04:24:00 So many times I have seen the Nukite (strike using the finger tips) performed by world class karateka. What puzzles me though is why it is nearly always aimed at the opponent's midsections.
To me, it is obvious that nukite is a poking type of technique, meant to be struck to areas which are vulnerable, especially to areas that are not meant to be struck with great force to be effective. The eyes, the throat and the groin are the only areas in my opinion that nukite should be aimed to. It is possible to train the fingers to become unbelievably strong. Demonstrations have been carried out showing great martial artists break boards with there finger tips and pierce melons with them. But what is the point of training the fingers to strike the torso hard when a fist could be used instead, and probably much better too. People say that, with the fingers the pain is more, since the striking area of the fingers is smaller than the fist. If that is what is sort after, then why not use the one Read more:Karate
Heavy or Light Weight Training 2007-12-14 04:51:00 One question that has always sprung up in conversations that involve martial arts and weight training is what should be lifted, heavy or light. Does a martial artist benefit from lifting the heaviest of weights for 6-8 reps or taking it slightly lighter with reps from 12-20.
This is one of those questions that have been given a variety of different answers. Some people say heavy, some say light and others say both. Some say that if you lift heavy weights you shall build muscles which are to big, which are not practical for martial arts. The reality is that in order to get big, you must train regularly with heavy weights, eat lots and lots and do this often, limiting cardio training, which is very hard to do. If it was easy to build muscle, everyone would be as big as houses and entering bodybuilding competitions. Although good technique is a must with martial arts, being strong will not make you any worse of a fighter, but shall make you better, allowing for stronger punches, kicks an Read more:Heavy
, Weight
, Training
Training Through Illness 2007-12-13 04:51:00 Everybody who trains will at some time become ill. The illness I am referring to in this article is a cold, or flu, nothing more than that. Headaches, aching limbs and eyes, dizziness and sore throats, these are the symptoms which are common to colds and the flu. The question is, is it best to train through these illnesses?
Karate Do Legend Gichin Funakoshi, in his book, Karate Do My Way of Life explains how he regularly trains. He also says that when he becomes ill, he trains for an extra amount of time. The training which he describes though is kata. Because kata is something which can be practised alone, although he trained longer, odds are that he didn't train with the same speed and intensity than when he wasn't ill.I think the type of training depends greatly on weather to train or not through illness. For grapplers, with all the heavy pushing, pulling and hitting the floor through throws and takedowns, it may be wise to stop this type of training when ill, and maybe conce Read more:Training
Standing Locks, Effective or Not 2007-12-12 04:38:00 Many times the following has been seen and experienced. Two martial artists are sparring. They spar using strikes, clinch fighting, takedowns and ground fighting. There strikes are impressive, there clinching fighting is smooth as are there takedowns and they move from submission to submission incorporating locks to nearly every joint and a variety of chokes when on the ground. They seem to be experts in there field, except that not one can apply a lock of any type while standing. Why?
Well the reason why, is because of the fact that they are both experienced fighters. To be able to apply a lock (standing or on the ground) a few factors need to be addressed. Firstly the person being locked must not be able to move away from it. When standing, it is very hard to control an opponent from moving away. On the floor it is much easier especially if they are on there back or lying on there front. When standing, as soon as your opponent sees that you are going for a lock, he/she will quickly Read more:Standing
Straight Strikes Vs Circular Strikes 2007-12-11 03:59:00 The arm techniques are many in martial arts. From the western boxing syllabus there are four basic punches (jab, cross, hook uppercut), and these have many variations. Then from the oriental martial arts there are many strikes that can incorporate the elbow, fist, palm of the hand, knife and ridge hand, fingers, or forearm. From all of these techniques mentioned, from whatever fighting system in the world, they all have something in common. They are executed through a straight, or through a circular motion.
To some, straight strikes are seen as the preferred method. Whether snapping or thrusting, they are thrown in a straight line, are easier to perform and can be thrown much faster than circular strikes when in combination. The jab, one of the main techniques used in western boxing is seen as the most vital weapon. Although not very powerful, it can irritate an opponent and is excellent for setting up other strikes.
Circular
strikes (such as hook punches, roundhouse elbow strikes) ar Read more:Straight
, Strikes
Why an Unbelievable Martial Art Technique is Slowly Dying? 2007-12-10 03:51:00 The stop hit was something that Bruce Lee endorsed. It is not a technique that is relatively new. I'm sure fighters from thousands of years ago employed this technique on the battlefield, be it with a kick, punch, push etc. It must have been used as it is very effective in defending oncoming blows. So why is it slowly dying out?
Firstly it is necessary to explain the stop hit. As your opponent throws a strike or kick, the moment the technique is performed, you stop hit by throwing a technique of your own and making it land at your intending target while your opponent is still halfway through his technique. A perfect example of the stop hit can be seen in Bruce Lee's Way of the Dragon. As he fights towards the end of the film with Bob Wall, his opponent initiates a kick with his back leg, and Bruce quickly performs a front leg side kick hitting just as his opponents foot leaves the floor. The stop hit is something that is not usually expected but can be very surprising when success Read more:Unbelievable
, Martial
, Slowly
, Dying
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