All Questions
10
votes
2answers
524 views
Should I train differently to spar guys who are bigger than me?
I am a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I have a few tournaments coming up and I am training in my sparring techniques. I am 12 years old with 2 national sparring championships (and on the ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
How bad is kickboxing for your brain?
I'm not asking for medical advice, I'm just asking this out of sheer curiosity:
To me it seems that kickboxing is the best kind of workout I could get, nothing else gets me in shape quite as quickly ...
9
votes
2answers
744 views
How do I increase flexibility to achieve a full split?
I am 21 years of age. I have been learning taekwondo for a year. However, I am still unable to achieve a complete split. What are exercises that I can do to increase my flexibility to reach a complete ...
3
votes
8answers
228 views
What can one do to avoid entering a grappling situation?
Let's work with the following assumptions:
I have good awareness of the area
I have good mobility: the floor is not slippery, and my shoes work, and I have room to move
I need to avoid grappling in ...
7
votes
3answers
355 views
Shoulder brace for Judo?
I've got a combination of neck and shoulder injuries on my left side. Neck from being spiked, shoulder from an americana and a west point ride suplex. I've definitely got weakness in my rotator cuff. ...
3
votes
4answers
192 views
How do I keep the bo staff from moving off centre as I train in twirling it?
I'm practicing Yuan-style Tai-Chi, and I'm having difficulty keeping the bo staff from moving off centre as I twirl it - I consistently find my hold slightly to one end or another after a series of ...
5
votes
6answers
221 views
How to train to avoid target fixation?
One problem I've seen in myself and others at various stages of training is a tendency to become fixated on a particular target or technique when fighting. The tendency to focus on only a handful of ...
4
votes
1answer
189 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
142 views
How many (and what) things have I failed to do if I get into a fight?
Basically every answer I've ever read that involves a "real-world" situation begins with "If you got into a fight, your training already failed you". I know - I gave a couple of those answers.
So, ...
3
votes
3answers
151 views
AiKiDo - is there a good translation for all the terms?
I find it extremely difficult to memorise all terms - there is no connection to me with them. Is there a good german or english translation for all terms used in AiKiDo?
5
votes
5answers
2k views
How can you practice wrist locks/grappling holds without a partner?
The problem I have is that I have class once a week, and the class is small. Striking techniques, and overall one-step sparring techniques I can practice at home and in the air. Grappling, ...
4
votes
3answers
828 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
390 views
Established “curriculum” for MMA?
I'm basically asking for an established MMA "curriculum". By that, I mean a way of training students for mixed martial arts that has been applied successfully by a significant number of schools. The ...
2
votes
3answers
94 views
Do martial arts instructors also seek fitness instruction certifications?
I suffered a heart attack right after Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training last year, and as a result I have been paying much more attention to my health.
I've trained in martial arts on and off for years, ...
4
votes
1answer
327 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 ...
8
votes
3answers
142 views
Bokken and Jo restoration
I have an old jo and bokken that are quiet damaged after repeating hitting other fast flying pieces of wood. Is there a way to bring those back to life from an aesthetic point of view as they are ...
6
votes
4answers
119 views
How to cover all of the material? Especially in small classes
Hapkido has an extremely large number of techniques and an even larger number of variations in it. It includes a huge variety of techniques with the hands, feet, and with various weapons. Not to ...
7
votes
2answers
215 views
Blocking with a katana blade
Are there any school/style of Japanese swordsmanship that teach blocking (a parry or deflect is fine as long as there is contact between them) incoming attacks with the sharp edge of the blade of a ...
5
votes
3answers
78 views
Does it help to use shorter breaks during training than during competition?
I know a boxing trainer who insists that, when training for a fight with one-minute breaks between rounds, it will give you an edge conditionally over your opponent to use only 30-second breaks during ...
5
votes
5answers
122 views
Ways for restraining an “automatic aggression response”
I have little hope for an answer, but would like to hear your ideas:
Yesterday evening I went visiting my dear old ma. She lives at one of very best neighborhood of Tel-Aviv - Very quiet, very ...
8
votes
2answers
181 views
Do all schools of BJJ come from the same root?
Do all schools of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) come from the same original source? Or did some come down different path ways and hop on to the BJJ marketing wagon?
5
votes
3answers
290 views
How to get to closed guard when your opponent is in the combat base position?
A little background on the situation:
You can be in either sitting / butterfly or on your back in open guard
Opponent is on one knee, other one up
DLR, 1 Leg X-guard, full x-guard, hooking sweeps ...
3
votes
5answers
238 views
What martial arts cultural remedies are there to avoid and relieve soreness?
Are there any secrets that come from the hidden, secret, traditional world of martial arts (you may smile), that could be taken or applied before or after extensive sessions to prevent, lessen or ...
4
votes
4answers
333 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
214 views
What are the differences in a knockout from the liver versus the head?
What is the difference in the physiological mechanics for a knockout caused by an impact to the head and a knockout caused by an impact to the liver?
3
votes
1answer
102 views
Has anyone had/recovered from achilles rupture?
I was in sparring class doing a basic drill (switch stance into a rear leg front kick) and blew out my right Achilles with a complete rupture.
I had surgery to repair it about 4 weeks ago. I am ...
3
votes
4answers
147 views
Benefits of an X-Stop in Tae Kwon Do?
Whilst I've never practised an X-stop, I was wondering what the benefits of it are? The move consists of a jump, punctuated by the back foot being placed a head of the front foot, and behind it, ...
5
votes
5answers
266 views
Doing Miller's One-Step Drills
In Rory Miller's book Drills he talks about various "one-step" drills where you each get one movement at a time with a partner. This move can be either an attack or a defense, done slowly, and they ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
How do I fix a broken berimbau?
I have a berimbau verga that has cracked at the top. I've tried to glue or tape it it back together but the wood keeps cracking apart where the leather is nailed in. Does anyone have any suggestions ...
5
votes
2answers
563 views
China leader's bodyguards: From bagua to baji?
I have heard that in China, the emperor's bodyguards used to be Baguazhang practitioners. I do not have source to back this up, but Wikipedia at least hints at it:
Because of his work as a servant ...
3
votes
5answers
739 views
“Rules” for weight distribution per FOOT (not leg, foot) for any given stance/intent?
I train in Taekwon-do (1st Dan Instructor) and ninjutsu (Beginner) and I had an interesting insight/question arise from my ninjutsu Instructor (which is why I picked up the second art):
In ninjutsu's ...
2
votes
2answers
197 views
Are there alternate versions of the ITF Taekwondo pattern Yulgok?
In ITF Taekwondo, movements 15, 16, 18, and 19 of Yulgok are hooking blocks, as far as I know.
Recently, however, I've been practicing Taekwondo with people who learned in different dojos, and a ...
3
votes
2answers
114 views
What technique should I use for hand wrappings?
There are so many techniques to be found on the internet. At the Uni (where I train kickboxing), they just refer to the internet.
I keep on winding up with crappy hand wrappings. The one that stays ...
9
votes
6answers
336 views
How can I try to engage students who don't really want to be there?
I teach Aikido at a local community college. Roughly half of the kids are there just to fulfill a P.E. requirement. These students can be frustrating because they aren't really interested in martials ...
6
votes
2answers
392 views
What glasses can I wear for martial arts training?
In the good old days I used to train karate. I would like to come back to martial arts (not necessarily karate) to work on my agility and endurance.
There are two catches:
Now I have a myopia + ...
1
vote
3answers
511 views
Straight punch to the head and knockout
When performing a straigh punch (left or right) to the head what is the better target for maximise the chance of knockout ?
3
votes
5answers
440 views
Will engraving a staff made of white waxwood compromise its integrity?
I've just purchased a staff made of white waxwood. I need a way to make it stand out from other staves made of white pine. The easy answer is of course to use a marker and put my initials on it, but I ...
4
votes
3answers
156 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
208 views
What are tai chi's high-percentage push hands techniques?
In the context of tai chi push hands, what are the most commonly effective techniques? (Push hands in competition and in class both count.)
For analogy, in judo, it is well known and documented that ...
0
votes
3answers
420 views
What time requirement and certification does one need to become a Krav Maga instructor?
How does one become a Krav Maga instructor in the United States?
More precisely:
Is there a federal authority who fix the necessary requirement for teach as instructor?
If there is one, what is ...
5
votes
3answers
282 views
What is the application for tai chi's single whip?
What the bleep is going on in tai chi's single whip posture? It seems to be emblematic of tai chi, being a pose frequently struck by practitioners in the presence of cameras.
The actual sequence ...
3
votes
4answers
182 views
What do instructors look for before allowing students to compete in judo?
Entrance into judo competition as a new judoka is contingent on the go-ahead of a recognized judo instructor. What criteria would an experienced judoka instructor use to make that determination?
I ...
5
votes
4answers
588 views
Why Do Pressure Points Work Differently Against Different People?
In hapkido we do a great deal of training with various pressure point techniques. These include pinches that hit a nerve (e.g., on the inside of the leg or on the outside of the elbow) or strikes that ...
1
vote
1answer
137 views
Explaining how to breathe deeply
One of the things we emphasize heavily in my Hapkido group is breathing. It tends to flow with your motion and be very deep in nature. We also have deep breathing exercises along these lines ...
7
votes
2answers
171 views
How, historically, did American push-hands get so restrictive in comparison to Chinese push-hands?
In tai chi circles outside of China, push hands competitions are noticeably more restrictive in their rules and format:
Many competitions use "fixed-step" rules (for example, this British event and ...
19
votes
6answers
803 views
Drills for reducing your natural “flinch” reaction
When going into a longsword bind, or getting hit as part of a Kata, I tend to flinch visibly and shut my eyes.
What are some exercises I can do, solo or with a partner, to help me keep my eyes open?
6
votes
5answers
380 views
What are good questions to ask for a black belt testing?
I am a 4th Degree in American Karate. The dojo I have recently become a part of has a number of Black Belt candidates, and I will be serving on the panel. I don't have much experience attending black ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
How and when martial art was originated, who originated it? [closed]
I have read of Bodhhidhharma's story, who taught Shaolin monks martial arts. I've read of Tai Chi to be the first martial art and root of all other. I've also read of Okinawa island where Japanese ...
6
votes
3answers
964 views
How useful is a grappling dummy, when you don't have a live training partner available?
There is no substitute for a live training partner, but sometimes a training partner just isn't available and drilling is an important part of training for groundwork grappling.
For those times I ...
5
votes
5answers
204 views
Sliding the Feet in Contact With the Ground
Some techniques in hapkido are practiced with a foot sliding along the ground or remaining in contact with the ground. For example, in a sequence we call a stepping pattern, it isn't uncommon to step ...
