Martial Arts

From 700 AD to the present day, the katana has been the weapon of choice for Samurai warriors and students of Japanese martial arts. Today, people use katanas in martial arts tournaments, such as...

Many martial arts styles use forms (kata, hyung) as a principal method of passing on the art. Form training allows you to discover your optimal body mechanics for each technique. Other physical...

One of most fun moves I have ever learned and used. The Von Flue choke is used when you are either in side control and/or half guard while your opponent is attempting a guillotine choke. This a...

Every time you go to the movie theater, fire up your X-Box, or flip open a comic book, you will see people throwing bone-shattering punches right and left, leaving piles of their enemies behind...

Tasers, a product of Taser International, are non-lethal self-defense devices often used by law enforcement and other security professionals. A Taser sends out an electronic charge in order to...

Century is a company that designs martial arts training equipment, and has designed it since 1979. At Century, they believe in the benefits of martial arts because of the life changes they have...

Including movements that stretch and strengthen the shins in a martial arts conditioning program improves stability and power during kicks and jumps. The primary muscle of the shins, the tibialis...

In Jiu Jitsu, participants wear rash guards to protect against skin abrasions suffered from rolling on mats. A rash guard is nothing more than a protective shirt.

A well recognized activity in martial arts is board breaking. It is a demonstration of strength, concentration, and technique representing damage to a human body. Few things are more impressive...

This article will teach you the fundamental tools needed to fend off an attacker on the street. This curriculum is mainly taught to women, but works well for men as well.

Among the most efficient, powerful and symbolic weapons in human history, the katana, or samurai sword, emerges from a rich cultural context. Developed in the early pre-medieval period and...

Your karate belt is like your badge of honor. Sure it’s only a piece of cloth, but it represents your hard work and dedication. As a martial artist you want to be able to tie your karate belt...

For several careers, arm reach is an important statistic. It determines how readily you can pull an object down from a high space and from how far away you can strike an opponent. Depending on...

Palm sticks are a small, concealable weapon not designed to be lethal. Palms sticks have several different names, including kubaton, dulo and hand sticks. Kubaton is the name most recognized...

In your day to day life, you probably was in an argument with someone, or even probably a confrontation with your co-worker or a stranger in a store, concert, or parking lot. This article will...

Executing a rear naked choke UFC style is the easiest way to defend yourself and the perfect technique for beginners to learn self defense.

A left-hook is a more challenging punch to really get the feel for. I suggest you read my other articles before trying this one.

Made popular by tae kwon do and karate practitioners, the flying side kick is an easily recognizable martial arts technique. According to rumor, the technique originated from the need for a...

Easily among the most respected and efficient bladed weapons ever designed, the katana (or samurai sword) is a frequent item in Japanese martial arts traditions. Prone to occasional rust spots as...

Karate competitions, especially ones that use full-contact, have the exciting manuever that uses one opponent's leg to kick or displace the other opponent's leg so that the other opponent goes off...

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is evolving into one of the most popular combat sports in the world. By combining the arts of boxing, Muay Thai, karate, wrestling and jujitsu, mixed martial artists...

A formidable choke to deal with is that of the guillotine choke. It usually is applied when someone leaves there head open when attempting a take-down. There are other ways to get caught in it;...

A formidable choke to deal with is that of the guillotine choke. It usually is applied when someone leaves there head open when attempting a take-down. There are other ways to get caught in it;...

Tai chi is an amazing martial art to learn. Besides for the martial art applications, Tai chi is known for its numerous health benefits. By practicing Tai chi you can reduce stress and improve...

The nunchaku are a traditional martial arts weapon that many styles use. They are basically two pieces of wood attached to each other by a string or chain. These short range weapons can be used...

A homemade "boffer" (or PVC sword) offers one of the safest and most productive alternatives to practicing with a metal, wooden or other potentially damaging sword. A common item among martial...

Taoist Tai Chi is a form of Chinese Tai Chi, a martial art practiced for exercise and stress management. While very similar to traditional Tai Chi, Taoist Tai Chi does have some notable differences.

To be a great martial artist is more than just having the skills to kick and punch. It is a process of self development, learning both techniques & philosophy, and learning when not to use...

Martial arts is a rewarding activity that you can participate in through out your entire life. Once you pick our the art and school you feel will best suit your needs then you can start to...

The martial arts offer many benefits to their practitioners. Traditional arts such as karate and kung fu emphasize mental clarity and personal discipline. Applicable arts such as krav maga and...

In this article I will attempt to teach you how to throw a straight right hand. This punch can be more effective when set-up by a left jab first. So some of you might want to first check out my...

In this article i will describe the appropriate form for throwing an effective jab. If your a beginner i suggest that you first read my article "how to get into a standard boxing stance"...

In this article I'll be talking about the basic boxing stance. This is one article in a line up of many articles that I have written on self-defense. Please read my other articles if you want to...

The roundhouse kick is a useful weapon for a karateka (karate student). It can be extended to cover a long distance, or it can be shortened for use as a tight counterstrike. The snapping motion...

A karate gi (uniform) is made up of three parts: the jacket, the pants and the belt. It is made from a strong cotton canvas material with heavy stitching that is designed to hold up when the...

The karate sidestep technique is a basic motion that is common to many martial arts. It involves moving out of the path of an opponent so that you can gain an advantageous angle. This has two...

We were awaken at 0430am. The Boarding Officer ordering everyone to, "get geared up we got one!" It was just before first light as we stood on the flight deck of that Arliegh Burke...

Whether you are training in the sport of jujitsu or learning self defense, it is always good to know how to get out of a choke hold. There are many variations to do so, and adapting to each...

Whether you are considering a martial arts school for yourself or your child, finding the school that best fits your needs can make all the difference. Taking time to document your own preferences...

Spanish sword fighting has a rich history with the Spanish culture. Rapiers and short swords were used in various forms of combat and also had significant influence on the development of Filipino...

The deadly martial art of Muay Thai is more popular than ever. This centuries-old tradition has found a new home in Mixed Martial Arts and professional competitions. For thousands of novice...

Street fighting varies from many other forms of combat in that there are no rules. When fighting a bigger, stronger person in the street, you must be smart and keep your head. Swinging wildly will...