All Questions
11
votes
11answers
883 views
What are good martial arts for aging bodies?
I'm not getting younger, and my weight will always be at least 200lbs. The martial art I'm studying is not kind to my joints. A particular problem is the flying kicks, one of which is featured in my ...
4
votes
4answers
986 views
Bokken and Jo Kata book
When I did Aikido, several years ago, my teacher knew a lot of bokken and jo katas and other tree or four combinations moves (small kata) for bokken and jo that I don't know how to call. The number of ...
2
votes
5answers
210 views
Proper Toe Position for Boots with a Front Kick
In Hapkido we have a variety of striking positions for the foot using a front-kick-like motion. What we use for a front kick is to point the ball of the foot, curling back the toes, and using the ...
6
votes
1answer
175 views
Amount of force to do X
I've often heard in various martial arts circles a lot of claims regarding:
The amount of force/pressure required to break a knee/ribcage/etc (e.g., the statement that a board is roughly equivalent ...
6
votes
2answers
102 views
What to look for in a training/mock gun?
There are a lot of different options out there in guns to use in martial arts training, including wood, plastic, rubber, and with various degrees of realism.
I know from working with knives that the ...
12
votes
7answers
318 views
What characteristics should I look for in a sensei?
Finding the right teacher is important.
While personal achievement has it merits just because someone is good at something doesn't make them good at teaching that same thing. Are there core ...
6
votes
2answers
124 views
Value in Breaking Boards?
For a long time we would include board breaks as part of our belt tests as a demonstration, but in recent years have been moving increasingly away from doing them.
While it can make for an impressive ...
3
votes
2answers
119 views
Martial arts with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)?
Recently I was told by my doctor that I have a fully torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and I've been told to stay away from karate (specifically Shorinji-Ryu Karate-Do Renshinkan) for the time ...
6
votes
4answers
402 views
Are chi-sao-style drills found anywhere other than in Wing Chun?
Is there any other martial art apart from wing-chun, that uses technique or drills like chi sao (sticky/sticking hands)?
11
votes
8answers
1k views
Why doesn't aikido have kicking techniques?
Aikido training does not have kicks. They have of course one-two techniques to avoid and lock kicks, but do not have any. They have strike techniques called "atemi", but did not use kicks in general, ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
In fencing, what is a point of fact?
Given the Shin A Lam controversy, I decided to look up the rules for the appeals process.
The technical rules I found on the British Fencing website indicate that a point of fact can not be appealed. ...
1
vote
1answer
123 views
Getting Punches in stomach as practice in kick boxing
My training in kick boxing includes getting many punches on stomach. I kind of enjoy this painful training. Apart from my master everyone told its not good for stomach. Is it going to harm some ...
7
votes
5answers
307 views
Is it good to practise punching a wall? No place for punching bag
I don't have a place for a punching bag in my home. I wrap up a cloth or a bandage on my hand and i practice my kick boxing punches on the wall along with knuckle push ups. My master told its not good ...
4
votes
5answers
383 views
How to return to Tae Kwon Do?
Some time ago I regularly took part in Tae Kwon Do, but that was ~4 years ago and I'm out of shape.
What should I do to prepare to return to the martial art, and should I start from the beginning ...
3
votes
6answers
542 views
What is the best martial art for reducing back pain and stress while increasing my fitness?
I am looking to practice a form of martial arts which will be good for reducing back pain abd work stress while improving general body fitness. Which would be best to start with?
1
vote
3answers
699 views
Cutting weight fast
I'm dropping a lot of weight for wrestling this year and I don't know if I can stay that light all the time.
Is there any way to drop weight just for the weigh-ins (which are on the day of the match) ...
2
votes
0answers
52 views
How is kiwase Uke done?
I would like to know how kiwase uke is done in Seido Karate? I know its a type of block but I would like preferably a video example.
4
votes
1answer
218 views
Was Goju-ryu developed specifically for use by the Japanese navy?
I need to know the real and original history of goju-ryu karate. In other words, I need to find why this style of karate was introduced. I am a goju player, this is what I know:
Goju is specially ...
4
votes
3answers
156 views
Is it possible to become expert in different martial arts
If i start my career with one martial art and become mature in that, will that particular martial art become my expertise and will other martial arts always be secondary like a native language and ...
2
votes
2answers
65 views
Conditioning after sick leave
What type of conditioning should I perform after being out sick for 2 weeks? I'm taking a Muay Thai test in one week and going back to classes for Jeet Kun Do and Wing Chun in a few days. I usually ...
7
votes
5answers
189 views
How can I judge the competency of a teacher?
Say I went to a dojo (or gym or whatever the place where you train is called) and watched a class. How would I objectively judge whether or not the teacher was proficient at his martial art?
What do ...
2
votes
2answers
53 views
Where can I find Seido Resources?
I am an advanced blue belt in the Seido Karate system, it has been very difficult to find any resource pertaining to katas, and kumite I would love to have video or written instructions for these ...
9
votes
7answers
292 views
How does Bartitsu's “foot hook with a cane” technique work?
Bartitsu is the British Gentleman's MMA. And one of the self-defense sequences, pictured underneath, involves hooking the opponent's foot with your cane and pulling his legs apart.
I've found one ...
3
votes
2answers
203 views
How can I keep my back straight in my horse stance?
When I'm doing a riding horse stance, I am trying to go for a low stance where my thighs are approaching a 90-degree angle with my lower legs. However, in doing so I begin to lose balance and tip my ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
What type of brace should I use for the jumpers knee injury (patellar tendinopathy)?
Due to intensive training in the past few weeks, I injured my knee with the jumpers knee condition. For the first few weeks I have to rest and do nothing but after that I would like to start training ...
6
votes
5answers
499 views
Judo mats: any certification? what characteristics should one look for?
Is there any official certification system for Judo mats?
What specific characteristics should one be looking for in a Judo mat? Remember the primary purpose of the Judo mat is injury prevention.
...
7
votes
3answers
343 views
What are the advantages of using a vertical fist for punching?
There is vertical fist punch in Hapkido as well as some Chinese martial arts and in older styles of boxing, but I see it a lot less in modern fighting and sparring.
What are the advantages and ...
3
votes
7answers
377 views
How does one better execute kick then punch combos when the legs are significantly longer than the arms?
I'm one of those tall, lanky people whose legs are much longer than their arms. While this is often advantageous in Taekwondo, our style attempts to integrate punches and kicks. While leading with a ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
Good exercises for higher side kicks?
I've been training martial arts for several years but still aren't impressed by the height of my side kicks. I think its a combination of strength and stretching since I can use my hands to lift my ...
6
votes
6answers
285 views
How do you take Notes on techniques you've learnt in class?
For those of you who takes notes or keep a MA diary.
What kinds of things do you write down? Do you try and document each technique into a "database" of technique notes? or do you document each ...
5
votes
4answers
167 views
Finding my - center - hara - t'an t'ien
I have put 40+ hours into aikido practice. It it is becoming very obvious that training in class is not sufficient. I need to stretch more and work on cardio to improve my physic.
What I'm having ...
6
votes
5answers
237 views
What aspects of health does form-based tai chi improve?
Similar to other practices--strength training, physical therapy, running, et cetera--we can evaluate the effectiveness of tai chi for improving fitness, mobility, strength, and other health markers. ...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
How do I treat my leg after a painful thigh kick? [closed]
I was sparring and received a pretty hard thigh kick. I have been in a tremendous amount of pain since it happened three days ago. I usually bruise easily but there isn't an bruising yet. The pain ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Learning breathing while meditating
Recenlty I had sit down with my sensei and he was explaining to me how to meditate in seiza.
The only thing I'm unclear on is how should I compress the air into my center while breading in. He said ...
2
votes
2answers
123 views
Can I start martial arts after a minor disc herniation?
I used to practice karate earlier. 5 years ago I was diagnosed with minor disc herniation at L4 and L5. I haven't undergone any surgery and pretty much cured just by physiotherapy and can do all my ...
2
votes
3answers
266 views
Is kickboxing or boxing particularly dangerous?
What I mean is that is it more dangerous than other contact sports that aren't martial arts? Such as Football, Soccer, Basketball, etc...
And if yes, why?
12
votes
6answers
616 views
Is it true that most fights end on the ground? What is the evidence?
I have often heard people make the claim that most of the time, two people who are fighting each other will naturally clinch and wrestle, and then shortly fall over. That is to say that there is a ...
5
votes
8answers
366 views
Are there good alternatives to wood for weapons?
As a follow up to my question on the state of my neglected jo:
Any way to repair a Jo that has become warped?
I've been thinking I don't like my wooden 'Jo's very much. I've broken a couple and ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Injury during training session, after 2 months still feel the pain [closed]
2 months ago I went to Muay Thai training session. I forgot my bandages and went on training. After the session I felt a little bit of pain in my wrist. The next day I had BJJ training. Everything ...
9
votes
2answers
237 views
“Aikido is first and foremost BUDO”
The above sentence has been attributed to O'Sensei and I'd like to use it as a motto for my dojo's website.
Problem: I can't find a reliable source about when/where he said this. Or a proper Japanese ...
3
votes
6answers
2k views
How can I speed up the recovery of a bruised leg?
There are those who say you have to cool and those who say you have to warm your leg, there are those who say you should rest and those who say you should keep using it as you would normally. It makes ...
10
votes
5answers
493 views
Is Static Stretching Before Practice Beneficial, Harmful, or Something In-between?
Among runners there are a fair number of studies out there right now that static stretching before exercising, at least if you aren't doing it now, doesn't reduce your risk of injury and in other ...
7
votes
9answers
313 views
Are Aikido movies on the internet helpful for beginners?
My Aikido teacher advised us (I'm in a beginners group) not to study Aikido movies on youtube, at least not until we get our black belts. He said that's because there are different Aikido styles and ...
5
votes
4answers
383 views
Aikido Forward Roll
How to do safely a Aikido front roll from standing position and from jumping ? What are the key point to be careful for avoid injury like shoulder dislocation ? What are other injury that can happen ...
4
votes
5answers
278 views
What does it mean to “uproot” someone in tai chi?
What does it mean to "uproot" someone in tai chi? What do tai chi practitioners mean when they use this word? I can tell there's a specific meaning to this jargon, but can't identify it. I see the ...
6
votes
4answers
285 views
For a total beginner, is tai chi a good start?
I recently moved, and I found there are two classes within walking distance of my home. One is tai chi and the other is tae kwon do. I am in my thirties, have led a sedentary lifestyle so far. I'd ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Kyokushin karate in bay area [closed]
I am looking for dojo for Kyokushin karate in the bay area. I am going to move to San Jose and looking for a dojo nearby.
Thanks
4
votes
2answers
201 views
Are any Martial Arts Reality Shows/Documentaries useful to watch?
There are a number of Martial Arts-related documentaries and reality TV shows (Human Weapon, Fight Quest, Fight Science, Kill Arman, Deadliest Warrior...) from the last few years, but I have my doubts ...
5
votes
4answers
518 views
Why do taekwondoists bounce so much? (And how do we help them stop?)
At training last night (Japanese JiuJitsu), we had two people with TKD backgrounds training with us. I couldn't help noticing how bouncy they both were. They both came from different TKD school, yet ...
2
votes
4answers
150 views
What rate should I be learning tai chi and qi gong?
I am a beginner with Tai Chi QiGong. There are 20 Movements of forms. I have been taking classes for a little over 3 months and I have only learned 13 of them. For the past 3 classes there have only ...
