All Questions
2
votes
1answer
27 views
Is “choondu marmam” in Kalari Payattu real?
In Kalari Payattu there is something called choondu marmam, which is used to attack the opponent with spiritual power. Is it real?
1
vote
2answers
53 views
Martial art for a complete newbie - can i learn on my own?
I am just aware of the term martial arts and kung-fu perhaps from watching a lot of movies
but i am unaware of how can i learn any of these in actuality.I want to learn some martial arts.
Well ...
6
votes
6answers
324 views
Why drop the bokken vertical prior to a downstroke?
My sword teachers raise the sword to above the head, just short of horizontal before beginning a cut. I've noticed that other instructors (e.g. Breeland Sensei, at approx: 1:31, and I will try to ...
3
votes
3answers
153 views
What are the applications and principles of this particular seven-star mantis stance?
I recently saw a Seven Star Praying Mantis school perform in public for a cultural festival, and one of their characteristics is the seven-star stance. The stance entails one of practictioner's leg ...
1
vote
4answers
204 views
Quickly learning the full essentials of Krav Maga
I'm at a training center right now where group classes are taught. Essentially there are six belts and getting to just the first 'belt' requires roughly six weeks of training. Also, I generally feel ...
3
votes
2answers
138 views
Is there a sport aspect to Krav Maga?
I'm familiar with the basics of Krav Maga (history, philosophy and approach), but not a practitioner. There's a lot to like in this martial art from my perspective, but I generally don't see any ...
2
votes
2answers
75 views
How easy or hard is it for a combat sport champion to defeat a much stronger man?
As a layman in martial arts, I've been curious about this question: In a real life situation, is it easy/difficult/impossible for a seasoned professional fighting expert (in whatever discipline of ...
2
votes
4answers
136 views
How much can I improve my punching precision? How?
I'm not yet strong enough in the legs to talk about precision, so I'll stick to punches.
Firstly, what is the upper limit of precise punches, how precise can I get them to be? Within millimeters of ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Attacked by black belt [closed]
I was attacked in the street by my neighbour who is a black belt Tai Juitsu,
I want to know how I go about getting his licence revoked.
He is claiming self defence only because I tried to get him of ...
3
votes
3answers
242 views
What are the most effective exercises (hojo undō or otherwise) for martial arts?
A while back, my Aikido teacher adviced me to do do-in / tao yin exercises to improve my flexibility because a particular muscle in my leg is relatively short and sometimes hinders me while ...
4
votes
4answers
145 views
What is Fa-jin?
Fa-jin, according to the Wikipedia article, means "to discharge power explosively". If there is only one way to do this, what is it? If there is more than one way, what are the two or three main ways ...
4
votes
4answers
149 views
Can Forms (Kata/Poomsae/etc.) or Techniques (Waza) be practiced on the ground?
A lot of non-sport-related martial arts, in my experience, seem to limit ground technique to getting back to the feet in an effective and quick manner. While I don't disagree that being on your feet ...
12
votes
4answers
507 views
What is the oldest documented Eastern Martial Art that is still practiced?
Probably the oldest overall is something like wrestling, but of the eastern arts, what would be the oldest that people still practice?
9
votes
2answers
72 views
Can someone learn Krav Maga moves without exacerbating injuries?
Would like to learn Krav Maga but have injuries that mean I would only be able to learn it in a limited fashion. I would want to learn it for self defense purposes after being accosted by a male in ...
6
votes
5answers
501 views
How does one progress from tai chi push hands to free-sparring?
A common tai chi pedagogy is to progress from forms to push hands (tui shou) to free sparring (san shou). As Ayron Howey says:
[You] cannot simply practice Tai Chi forms without other training in ...
3
votes
5answers
526 views
How long should it take to gain fighting proficiency in tai chi?
I hear it commonly said that internal arts such as tai chi require a significant amount of time to become proficient. If undertaking the study of tai chi, without necessarily having prior experience ...
20
votes
9answers
3k views
Is weight training useful in martial arts?
This may sound like a bit of a daft question, but I have heard and read different sides. On the one side, people say weight training will increase your strength and power and therefore will be ...
8
votes
5answers
260 views
What can i practice to remove tension from my movements
I'm a Wing Chun student and my Sihing regularly tells me that i shouldn't be so tensed in all my movements.
A lot of techniques in WC required smooth arm and leg movements to react to our opponents ...
6
votes
1answer
65 views
How to adapt kote hineri against a larger opponent?
Couple of weeks ago we were working on Kote Hineri; I am at least a foot taller than my daughter. My hands are correspondingly larger; I haven't measured, but my palm is probably an inch wider than ...
1
vote
2answers
290 views
Designs for a Board Breaker / Board Holder?
Does anyone have designs to build your own DIY board breaker/board holder for power breaking?
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Strength training for a mixed martial arts beginner
I am starting MMA. Which excersises would be best to get my physical strength up to the levels of people doing MMA for years or experienced in MMA?
10
votes
8answers
2k views
What are good exercises for building grip strength for judo and BJJ?
I'm looking for exercises to help maintain a grip on an opponent's gi while pulling them around. There are two elements to this: strength and endurance. Meaning, I want my grip to be hard to break but ...
9
votes
2answers
87 views
What are the possible signs some has lost consciousness when being choked?
I thought this would be obvious, someone would just pass out and go floppy. However last week during rolling I got someone in a sleeve / Ezekiel choke while in my guard and he didn't tap out. He ...
3
votes
1answer
27 views
Who were the first female aikidoka?
When did the first women start training in Aikido? Who were they and where did they train?
Who was the first female aikidoka to achieve teaching rank?
3
votes
2answers
67 views
Who was the first female judoka?
Who were the first female judo players? When did they train?
Keiko Fukuda was promoted to fifth degree in 1953
5
votes
1answer
77 views
Short leg issue and wide-soled shoe
My left leg is 3/4" shorter than my right leg. I have trained in Tae Kwon Do for 6 years and earned my first Dan. However barefoot training is becoming a real problem. Martial arts shoes all seem to ...
4
votes
0answers
197 views
Terminology: List of all boxing and muay thai technique terms with example photos
I'm looking to put together a list of all the technique terms for: boxing, muay thai. Such as the names for all the different punches, kicks, knees, elbow punches, etc...
Anyone know if there is a ...
6
votes
3answers
185 views
How should a novice train if unable to join a dojo yet?
I have wanted to start learning a type of martial art for a long time, but my lifestyle didn't help (I have lived in 5 countries in the last 10 years, changed location at least once in each of those ...
0
votes
2answers
130 views
What is shen energy? Is there such a thing as a “shen state” and if so, how does it come about? [closed]
I have heard of a "shen" energy which is related to qi (chi) and also of something called a "shen state"; a state of heightened awareness and energy which comes on all at once, purportedly due to high ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Stretches for kicking?
I started Muay Thai today, and when doing a basic kick (a straight teep) above my waist level, I felt strong resistance/mild pain where my leg connects to my hip, right at the top of the leg, by the ...
0
votes
0answers
90 views
how to fight with eyes [closed]
There's a strong mental aspect to fighting and martial arts, and many arts teach methods for using the eyes/gaze to control an opponent.
How could one use their eyes/gaze to attack the confidence or ...
8
votes
9answers
450 views
What material should be covered in a rape-defense course?
Many martial arts schools have outreach programs either open to the public or at local colleges, high schools, or youth programs that are of a limited duration (one day or a handful of sessions) and ...
39
votes
10answers
1k views
How do you prepare for the stress of a real self-defense situation?
How do you prepare for a real stress situation, in which you are forced to defend yourself or others? I'm not talking about avoiding conflict; assume that you have already tried all that is possible ...
12
votes
12answers
563 views
When should I run away?
What are the criteria I need to evaluate in order to conclude that I should run away?
Sometimes the right answer is to walk away, sometimes it is to give them your wallet... When is it time to leg ...
7
votes
9answers
202 views
Choosing a Target When Cornered by Multiple Attackers
I would like to know which (if any at all) contemporary system base their tactics in deciding who to attack first in order to create a escaping route.
Scenario:
Cornered in a place where 4 ...
3
votes
1answer
75 views
What is the best bo staff for an 8-year-old for competitions?
What would be the best bo staff for an 8-year-old child to use in competitions. The bamboo toothpick is much too heavy for him. Would anyone recommend the fiberglass bo staff?
4
votes
1answer
39 views
Measuring the foot when buying Tabi (and giving the size using the japanese convention)
I train in one of the martial arts where Tabi is often used. I am about to order a pair of leather Tabi and have a question regarding measurement.
The International Shoe Size Conversion Charts Table ...
5
votes
1answer
68 views
Légion étrangère close combat system
What is the system of close combat taught in the Légion étrangère? How did it evolve during the history of the Légion?
17
votes
6answers
531 views
Does ninjutsu qualify as a martial art?
I have often heard that yes it does, and no it does not. The fact is that densho (transmission scrolls) do exist detailing the skills used in war and defense, including hand to hand combat. Does this ...
6
votes
4answers
141 views
Why should I wear my gi with left side over right side?
I know the proper way to put on your gi is to put the left side over the right side, but why is this? Where did this custom come from? I think it applies to all martial arts (at least I know it does ...
7
votes
4answers
160 views
Which disciplines involve smacking away opponents' strikes?
I recently started MMA and have been learning wrestling, jiu jitsu, boxing, and some Muay Thai. Very beginner.
In every Bruce Lee fight I've ever seen, he avoids opponents' blows by a combination of ...
0
votes
2answers
131 views
Krav Maga, is it 100% legal for defense?
I am 15 and I am currently being trained in Krav Maga, one on one with a partner. My trainer was trained by the Israelis in the Australian embassy as security.
I have a very practical question:
Am I ...
4
votes
0answers
51 views
What is a “heavy jab”?
I do MMA, and my gym has a Muay Thai class taught on the other side of the mats which I was considering joining also. The other day I was observing it and the instructor was teaching the students ...
6
votes
2answers
433 views
Do ninja follow the bushido?
Until recently I have been told that ninja do not abide to a moral code (in particular, the samurai bushido), and that the definition of a ninja is "a warrior without honor".
Is this true? A ninja is ...
7
votes
3answers
507 views
What are ways to increase flexibility for karate kicks?
What are the most effective ways to increase flexibility for karate kicks?
16
votes
10answers
1k views
What martial art should I start with?
Young male, not looking for anything specific, but I am a huge fan of MMA in general. (not just the UFC/SF)
What would be a good beginner martial art for both fitness and relevancy to watching ...
30
votes
12answers
16k views
How dangerous is it to choke someone unconscious or to be choked unconscious?
A little background:
I was practicing with my instructor one morning. It was just him and me and we were doing free training of submission grappling. At one point I managed to get him in a choke ...
17
votes
7answers
2k views
Are there legal ramifications to being a trained martial artist?
One common urban legend that tends to be passed around from time to time is something along the lines of the following:
Black belts are considered lethal weapons by the law!
Which might also be ...
4
votes
5answers
155 views
How effective are foul techniques as a side control escape?
How effective are techniques such as biting, eye pokes, groin grabs et cetera as escapes from side control or other hold-downs? This would be in comparison to other escape methods like bridging, ...
8
votes
3answers
122 views
What are the key changes when moving from TKD-based point-break to continuous sparring?
A few years ago, my Taekwondo organization (ITF-based if that makes a difference for purposes of this question) made the shift from point-break sparring (sparring stops after one side scores, resets ...
