The Martial Art of Natural Laws
A common grab involves an opponent placing one or both hands on your shoulders. In this topic, we will discuss what might be done if the opponent is in front of you or to either side as they grab. There are multiple ways by which the grab can be performed and innumerable ways in which Read More …
One could easily write a book just on the subject of using distancing to good effect. This will be a continuing part of your martial arts education, but we will introduce a few initial concepts and ideas as a start. Range As you gain experience you will begin to appreciate the range from which you Read More …
One of the most common types of attacks is a wrist grab. Sometimes an assailant will grab you with one hand. Sometimes the hand will be positioned so their palm is up, but yours is down. Sometimes both palms will be up. Sometimes both palms will be down. The assailant might grab both of your Read More …
Numbers in Japanese Numbers in Japanese are generally not difficult to understand. The method for defining a numeric value is quite regular and easy to interpret once you gain a rudimentary understanding of basic terminology. Here is a list of some common numeric values. At a minimum, you will want to memorize the numbers one Read More …
Large vs Small Muscle Movement and Reaction Times In the next belt curriculum you will study the muscular system in detail. One of the areas you will study involves fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles. People who are exposed to long duration exercises (long-distance running, swimming, etc.) will generally have a larger percentage of slow-twitch muscles (perhaps Read More …
This article discusses some alternate ways in which you might think about common martial arts activities. This suggests that you will want to begin thinking beyond basic blocking, striking, and kicking strategies. You will discover that any part of your anatomy can be used at various times for positive benefit. We will also suggest that Read More …
There are numerous ways by which you can employ the legs to gain a tactical advantage over an opponent. In this article we will cover some you should strive to master. You may have encountered these skills previously, but we cover them here to ensure that everyone is familiar with these methods prior to moving Read More …
Usually when considering strikes to the body, locations such as bones, internal organs, vital structures, and nerves are thought of as the primary targets for strikes. There can be little doubt that such targets are effective if you find it necessary to use them. But deliberately striking muscles can also be quite effective. Striking a Read More …
It seems everyone who studies the martial arts wants to learn how to break bones. I’m not sure what the fascination with this aspect of the martial arts is, but people want to know how to do it. There are far more effective ways to disable an opponent than to resort to breaking bones, but Read More …
In this article we will cover many skills that can be utilized to manipulate and control an opponent. You will be introduced to some new concepts and ways of thinking about controlling and opponent. Big Circles vs Small Circles One useful goal in any conflict is to minimize your own energy expenditure while simultaneously maximizing Read More …
Tractor Dragging refers to grabbing someone with your hands and then using your legs to pull them in some manner. Normally the person is pulled either into your center or parallel to your chest wall, but any movement where you grab someone and use your legs to move them might be considered tractor dragging. Here Read More …
Practice What You Are Bad At We all have things that we feel comfortable doing. Likewise, we all have things we feel are uncomfortable or that we know we are not performing properly. If you are good at something then additional practice will yield only small improvements. If you are really bad at something, then Read More …
Multiple Opponents Dealing with multiple opponents is extremely difficult. While you begin dealing with one opponent another starts to strike you in the back. When you turn to deal with this second person, a third person strikes you in the face. Then the first person starts to hit you in the back. You can’t win. Read More …
Many of the skills you will learn in this belt require excellent physical conditioning. This requirement increases significantly as you progress into future belts. This is the time to become serious about your physical conditioning. Hopefully you have been doing exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, stand-ups, and similar drills to increase strength, improve flexibility, and enhance Read More …
We will discuss ways in which you might enhance your training in this section. As you will discover, your skills and knowledge will grow substantially as you observe, consider, and experience new ideas, patterns of movements, and skills. Watch, listen, experiment and learn through every possible venue. Tournaments Martial arts tournaments are a fantastic way Read More …
A Kiai (pronounced key-aye for those speaking English) is a short and loud burst of noise from your vocal cords. It derives from your abdomen and you deliver it through the vocal cords. People often mistake it for a yell. It is not a yell. A Kiai is nothing but a loud sound. It is Read More …
In this article, we will discuss ways in which you may cause significant bodily harm or pain to an assailant. These methods will be quite graphic. They are not intended to discuss how you should behave toward an attacker. They are intended to explore ways in which you may need to act to save your Read More …
Common chokeholds (different from a rear-naked choke) are interesting attacks. In most cases, the attacker has placed themselves in severe jeopardy, and then mistakenly believes they hold the upper hand. The first thing to realize about chokeholds is that your opponent has, in most cases, employed both hands in an attack and has left the Read More …
One of the most common types of grabs is a headlock. The opponent encircles your neck with one or both arms, trapping your head and limiting or preventing your movement. These can be life-threatening attacks and therefore require an immediate response on your part. We will discuss ways in which you can obtain your freedom Read More …
In Japanese, the word (Gamae) means posture. It refers to not only how you stand and sit, but how you structure yourself before and during a conflict. In this sense, it is a strategic method that can help you gain advantages against a potential adversary. Your posture can improve your longevity as a martial artist Read More …