All Questions
4
votes
4answers
329 views
What would you do to handle a road rage fist fight?
A video of a road rage fight shows two people, Mendez and Ramirez, who were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. The man who was beaten in the video was Jerry Patterson. In a ...
4
votes
5answers
591 views
What exactly is Kalaripayattu?
I have heard a lot about ancient Indian martial arts called Kalaripayattu.
Does anyone have info on this? How does it compare to kung fu?
4
votes
5answers
388 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 ...
4
votes
4answers
149 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
3answers
748 views
Why is Krav Maga expensive?
I've trained in several martial arts over the years. During that time, I've paid less ($60/mo) or more ($150/mo) depending on the area, skill level of the teachers, etc.
However, I'm noticing an odd ...
4
votes
3answers
140 views
What methods are effective for increasing co-ordination on dual handed techniques?
I have recently begun practicing escrima, and I find it difficult to simultaneously wield two sticks while keeping co-ordination and rhythm.
Are there some drills I could do on my own to improve my ...
4
votes
2answers
447 views
What are the differences between iaido and kendo?
I don't understand the differences between Iaido and Kendo. If I compare any other Japanese martial art, like Karatedo and Judo, the differences are obvious.
Why are there two different Japanese ...
4
votes
5answers
295 views
Relaxation Techniques
On training I hear all the time the world "relax" and "loose your self" etc.
From what I have see you must be relax to do anything, from martial arts to dancing, to talk.
So my question is very ...
4
votes
4answers
295 views
I have very little toe flexibility - are there other front kicks I can use?
I have very limited mobility in my toe joints, to the extent that I can't pull my toes back the way you need to to perform a front kick, so currently the only forward kicks I know I can manage are axe ...
4
votes
6answers
161 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, ...
4
votes
3answers
173 views
Are championships against Aikido philosophy?
While I was in Brazil, I heard that there is no such thing and it's against the Aikido principles, but I don't remember more than that. In the UK, I heard about some guys that do it. Is there really ...
4
votes
4answers
153 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 ...
4
votes
4answers
307 views
What's this posture called, and does it signify something
In Tai-Chi, if I remember correctly, many stances and movements signify something , such as "push opponent away", "block a kick" etc. At least that's whatone of my trainers claimed.
In one of the ...
4
votes
4answers
999 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 ...
4
votes
7answers
836 views
Is aikido a good addition to Karate? Or shoud I go for jiu-jitsu? [closed]
First a little background here, I've done Karate for 7 years and quit some years back because of reasons I won't discuss here.
In either case I have all this experience build up and recently met ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Dropping weight before a MMA fight
In wrestling, we would drop a kg of water weight the night before and call it good. In MMA it is typical to drop between 4-6kg in the months before a fight. One issue I have is that I put on muscle ...
4
votes
4answers
145 views
Frequency of Martial Arts lessons
I'm 20 years old, and currently working as an IT professional (meaning I am busy). I want to learn either Muay Thai or BJJ.
How many times a week is ideal for me to fully learn? Is 2 times a week ...
4
votes
3answers
281 views
Origin of the “pinyon” in Villari's Shaolin-Kempo-Karate system?
When I was young, I took a few years of Shaolin-Kempo-Karate at a couple Villari's dojos. As part of our training, we had the expected set of katas that we were required to learn. However, there was ...
4
votes
3answers
280 views
Correct usage of the title “Master”?
Is it proper to refer to anyone who teaches classes at your school as Master, or is that title generally reserved just for the person who is the head of the dojo?
FWIW, to give it a little more ...
4
votes
2answers
242 views
Alexandre Dumas' Three Musketeers: 17th century French Rapier
In "Les Trois Mousquetaires", we have a lot of sword fights. We have a dozen different people who are described as really good sword fighters. What sword schools were active during the 17th century ...
4
votes
1answer
122 views
Ueshiba and Tomiki picture identification
Does anyone have any historical information about the following picture: when was it taken? Who is in the background? Where was it taken? What was the occasion?
4
votes
3answers
157 views
What is the best way to determine board-breaking ability?
Suppose you have a room full of people. You have access to all their biometrics: the mass of their arms, their body, and so on. You can also make them punch in open air and measure their punching ...
4
votes
2answers
432 views
Can I practice any of the martial arts after a hernia surgery?
I am diagnosed with Inguinal Hernia. I'm 21 years old, so the doctor said he cannot predict whether it's going to be a 'mesh' or a 'sewn-up' repair.
I am very interested in martial arts - especially ...
4
votes
2answers
75 views
Impact of being smaller(shorter arms) and how to overcome this
I'm not so tall 1.70 meter but i have very short arms. When training Wing Chun i notice that from training distance all my training parters can easily hit me. But if i stretch my arm to hit i really ...
4
votes
2answers
123 views
Tips for faster regeneration after training
Sometimes after a hard Thai Boxing class for example containing long heavy-bag sessions or sparring (usually something consisting of intervals with explosive motions) I still feel tired or exhausted ...
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 ...
4
votes
5answers
279 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
271 views
What is a good training scheme for kendo?
I want to pick up my kendo but I'm afraid I'm a bit out of shape.
Does anyone know a good training scheme to get into shape and be ready by September (5 - 6 months)?
4
votes
4answers
381 views
How to meditate after an adrenaline rush or exertion?
I always find it difficult to concentrate and empty my mind when I have just had argument with someone or have done very tough physical training.
What are good pre-meditation techniques to find the ...
4
votes
1answer
96 views
Ten Chin or Tein Chien or something else?
Ten chin or Ttein Chien I'm not sure of transliterated spelling, is the footwork
where one foot replaces another/one moves back and the opposite forward,
It should one of the four fundamental primary ...
4
votes
2answers
159 views
How can a teacher recognize that a student has progressed from 'ha' to 'ri'?
The Japanese use the concept of Shu, ha, ri to indicate progress in development/growth. Straight from its WikiPedia page, Aikido shihan Endou Seishirou said:
It is known that, when we learn or ...
4
votes
2answers
227 views
Is Tomari-Te a valid type of Okinawan (Ryukyu) Kempo?
George Dillman claims to teach Ryukyu (Okinawan) Kempo Tomari-te. The theory here is that there were three villages teaching Kempo: Naha, Shuri, and Tomari. I have heard that Tomari really did not ...
4
votes
1answer
28 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?
4
votes
3answers
179 views
How do I improve my jumping technique for jumping maneuvers?
Many martial arts (taekwondo and karate being the most obvious examples) incorporate powerful jumping maneuvers as part of the standard set of techniques practiced within the art. Many of these ...
4
votes
3answers
154 views
Any way to repair a Jo that has become warped?
I left my Jo (white oak, 1 inch diameter, 51.5 inch length) leaning in the corner for two years. Now I'm using it again and it is noticably bowed and deformed. While it is straight "enough" to be ...
4
votes
1answer
65 views
What universal structures or recommendations are in place for TKD advancement for children?
My daughter is six, knows her orange belt form so well the other kids (even the high oranges) often watch and follow her during form practice and has the three tips usually required to take the belt ...
4
votes
2answers
126 views
Advancement Speed in Taekwondo
I've been studying Taekwondo for about two months, and I took the first test that my school offered after I joined (two weeks ago), and received my yellow-stripe. It looks like the school holds tests ...
4
votes
2answers
206 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
158 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Force with a spear
When working with a rapier you use a very light touch, not just for safety reasons within the rules, but because that is entirely sufficient to kill someone and if you go any harder you are likely to ...
4
votes
2answers
115 views
How is the scoring determined in Judo for the Olympics?
I've been watching the Olympic Judo matches and I'm confused.
I know that ippon is an instant win. And 2 waza-ari are the equivlent of an ippon. But then there is another number associated with the ...
4
votes
1answer
126 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
87 views
Safely Training Axe Kick Throws
We have a technique in hapkido that flows as follows (using the hard-grab variation for simplicity, there are variations):
Opponent grabs left hand with their right.
Defender pulls arm out to the ...
4
votes
4answers
345 views
Looking for cheap cutting material for tameshigiri practice
I am looking for an online store (preferably) or a store with a physical location in northern New Jersey (if possible, otherwise central works too) that sells either tatami or beach mats (they can be ...
4
votes
1answer
220 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
1answer
305 views
What is Grandmaster Park Bok Nam's Bagua lineage?
We know that Master Park studied Tang Soo Do when he was younger, and then transferred to Bagua, and only studied Bagua under one teacher, Lu Shui Tian.
Blue Dragon Kung Fu's website explains the ...
4
votes
3answers
625 views
What's the best way to sew badges onto a uniform so they don't come off?
I have no domestics skills, and I'm very poor at sewing! A number of badges I've attempted to sew on to my Gi have come off when grappling. Is there a good way to sew badges on so to minimize the ...
4
votes
1answer
188 views
Can a Judo athlete compete in more than one weight class in the Olympics?
I am specifically speaking about the London 2012 games. I am not asking if any athletes are doing this, just whether it is technically permitted.
Wikipedia says nothing, but this was allowed in ...
4
votes
1answer
41 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
190 views
What are the origins of “tricking”?
My wife recently introduced me to the practice of "tricking" (essentially, a form of martial arts demo that focuses on jumps and acrobatic maneuvers - in some ways, the martial arts version of ...
