All Questions
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 ...
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 ...
27
votes
17answers
813 views
Is practising techniques on both the left and right sides beneficial or detrimental to martial development?
Is there any evidence to suggest that practising techniques on the left and right side of the body produces more adept martial artists?
By "adept", I mean the learned ability to proficiently and ...
23
votes
17answers
3k views
Which martial arts focus on self defense?
I'm trying to make sure I ask this question in a manner that doesn't make it subjective or argumentative.
While all martial arts have merit, I believe those merits lie in various areas. Which ...
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 ...
20
votes
6answers
381 views
What martial notation systems exist for describing techniques in writing?
What are some examples of clear ways to describe martial techniques in writing?
I often take notes during and after classes, and occasionally find that I haven't described a particular technique ...
19
votes
6answers
763 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?
19
votes
5answers
300 views
How can I respectful​ly raise concerns about class difficulty level/teac​hing style at my club?
I practice Taekwondo regularly with the club at my university. There are three main instructors, one 3rd dan and two 1st dan (my belt level).
The club has a lot of black belts of varying degrees who ...
18
votes
11answers
1k views
Why do martial artists “shout” in the execution of a technique?
When I see people doing forms, participate in competitions, or break blocks of concrete or wood with their hands, they are always vocally expressive in what they are about to do. What names do this ...
18
votes
5answers
1k views
How do I practice judo throws on my own without a partner?
How do you practice your judo throws at home or any time that you're by yourself?
The leg movement is easy to do as long as you have the space, but proper arm movement and strength is hard to ...
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 ...
17
votes
6answers
532 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 ...
16
votes
16answers
1k views
What are the purposes of martial arts forms?
A lot of martial arts use forms as a part of the training. They are taught and drilled. One benefit, of course, are the applications that you get from them. Small books of self-defense and movements ...
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 ...
15
votes
7answers
567 views
Why are firearms not part of the martial arts world?
Systems of martial arts utilize of variety of weapons that include polearms, blades, and blunt objects among others. While Systema and some branches of ninpo budo taijutsu include firearms as part of ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
What does the closed fist covered by open hand signify?
This motion shows up in some styles of Karate (opening movement of several Shotokan kata - Bassai Dai, Jiin, Jion, Jitte) and some Kung-Fu styles. What does it represent?
14
votes
2answers
233 views
How can one maintain or rekindle discipline and passion in martial arts?
As I understand you have to have passion for path you choose when learning martial art. And it is life long process.
BUT I have met people who's passion dwindled and they no longer had heart in ...
13
votes
7answers
730 views
Are martial arts suitable for a busy, IT professional?
I am a 22-year-old IT professional with 5 days work a week (8 hours daily). My office being far from my place I remain out for nearly 12 hours.
I get stressed sometimes because of this schedule, and ...
13
votes
7answers
665 views
What do I need to keep in mind when picking a martial art as a bouncer?
For a bouncer, who is already larger, fitter and stronger than average, which martial arts training would you recommend?
Which skills training, or other properties of the martial art, dojo and ...
13
votes
4answers
398 views
What are the signs *not* to train at a specific school?
What are things to look for in a school to indicate that one should absolutely NOT study there?
You know, things like having the name Cobra Kai or making you do donut runs because you're the new ...
13
votes
2answers
760 views
Do shock knives make a good 'training' alternative to real knives for knife fighting sparring?
Often when doing in knife fighting sparring, people tend to ignore that they've got cut. I've seen shock knives on the net, and they seem kind of interesting as they at least give feedback that ...
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 ...
12
votes
6answers
276 views
What is a good age to introduce children to a martial art?
I have seen different recommendations for different styles as to what age to introduce a martial art to a child, sometimes as young as 4 years old. Factors such as attention span and interest of the ...
12
votes
5answers
390 views
What's the most effective way to discipline students (particularly juniors)?
When teaching martial arts, particularly to juniors we sometimes run into problems with discipline. Most people assume that you can hand out physical exercise as a good disincentive to poor ...
12
votes
7answers
319 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 ...
12
votes
6answers
622 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 ...
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 ...
12
votes
2answers
158 views
Have any Kung Fu styles established a formal connection to the Shaolin Temple?
I often see martial arts schools claiming to be "Shaolin" in some way or another. As far as I know, though, that claim doesn't necessarily mean they are connected to the temple.
Where can I find a ...
12
votes
2answers
731 views
What kind of damage can your hand get from holding the barrel of a fired gun when disarming it?
I have a background mostly in Krav Maga and ICS (Israeli Combat System), and one of the techniques taught for disarming a gun, involves grabbing the barrel of the gun and pushing it to the side before ...
12
votes
4answers
508 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?
11
votes
7answers
961 views
What is a good push-up routine to build punch strength?
I've been told that I don't have much power behind my punches and that push-ups are a good way to improve this. Is there a good push-up route that could be done at the beginning or the end of the day ...
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, ...
11
votes
11answers
903 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 ...
11
votes
3answers
165 views
When moving to a new city, what considerations need to be taken into account finding a new teacher?
I took Shidokan for several years, and was very happy with my dojo and my sensei. I recently had to move for work, and I know from experience that these are two of the most important parts of your ...
11
votes
3answers
310 views
Training Body Reading Without Sparring
When I did rapier, with some emphasis on sparring as well as structured drills, one of the things you got very good at was reading the other person's tells. Some of which were things that could be ...
11
votes
2answers
586 views
How did the colour belt ranking system originate?
Many martial arts (karate, judo, jiujutsu, taekwondo, kung-fu, etc.) use some form of coloured belts to denote rank and level. How did this come about? Did the concept have common origin or did ...
11
votes
7answers
827 views
How do I improve my attack speed?
This question is a little different than a previous question on speed and footwork. Recently my sensei critiqued my sparring, saying my block and counter techniques are pretty strong, but I'm lacking ...
10
votes
5answers
5k views
Mouth guard / gum shields - tips?
I've recently starting light sparring (Muay Thai and Boxing) and use one of those single boil+bite style gum shields.
How often should I need to re-mould it as it seems to have lost it's fit after ...
10
votes
6answers
316 views
What exercises are safe (or not) for total beginners?
I am kind of a total beginner. I did some Tae Kwon Do when I was little, but I don't take that much into account, considering everything; I always liked Martial Arts and everything that revolves ...
10
votes
9answers
282 views
Start attacking instead of blocking while sparring
I have been practicing kung fu for the past one and a half years. I can do head level basic kicks like roundhouse, side and front kicks but when I spar I don't feel like attacking the opponent. I seem ...
10
votes
4answers
170 views
Avoiding breath lockups
I am beginner at aikido and when I train, for some reason I tend to hold my breath when I should be exhaling. Mostly during falls and techniques where I'm nage.
Is there a way to get rid of this bad ...
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 ...
7
votes
6answers
686 views
How can one practice spear-hand strikes, while still knowing you got the technique right?
One of the techniques in many martial arts is a spear hand strikes, where you make your hand rigid and thrust into the opponent. There are a couple of different variations, e.g., in hapkido we have a ...
5
votes
6answers
797 views
Morning exercise routine for student of Aikido
What would constitute good routine after you get up in the morning to make your body more acclimated for hard lessons later in the day? I'm talking not just about muscle exercises, but stretching and ...
4
votes
6answers
156 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
156 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
269 views
What makes this seated Daito-ryu technique work?
Let us examine this one section of only a few seconds of a video of Okamoto-sensei, a Daito-Ryu practitioner, demonstrating a way to free oneself from an opponent grabbing both your wrists when both ...
2
votes
2answers
52 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
1answer
1 views
Understanding the nature of a high ranking judoka?
This is sort of a theoretical question that isn't as superficial as it will initially sound--
Take any one of the three living 10th dan judoka, the youngest of whom is 86.
I would imagine that the ...
-1
votes
0answers
41 views
Martial Arts Vs Self-Defense [closed]
For me there is no doubt that MA (Martial Arts) and SD (Self-Defense) are two completely different things that may cross-over. The view to support this differentiation is based on 1) History, 2) ...
