Pier Reguillet

Many of you reading this article may already be well on your way to becoming a black belt in your chosen martial art. Some of you may just be starting out on your journey and others may have reached the coveted black belt and are now working towards higher degrees of the black belt. How long were you told it should take you to get the black belt? Two years? Three years? Five? Ten? Why does it take so long to get a black belt? This article will help to answer your questions. In general, it takes about 3 to 5 years to get your black belt in most legitimate martial arts. This timeframe can be shortened or lengthened based on several factors such as your commitment to your training, your[..]

Karate is a martial art developed in the Japanese territory known as the Ryukyu Islands. It includes punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques. Karate students may also learn grappling techniques, arm locks, throws, and point strikes depending on the schools or style they study. Karate began as a fighting system referred to as "ti.After trading contacts were established with the Ming dynasty of China by King Satto of Chūzan;in late 14th century, various forms of Chinese martial arts were slowly introduced to the Ryukyu Islands by the visitors from China. A group of Chinese families moved to Okinawa near the end of the 14th century where they established[..]

Whether in a martial arts class, a self defense class, or practicing on one's own, we all practice this specific martial-arts kick over and over. Yet now, a bunch of discussion groups are saying that this kick (or even a punch) is useless for women as a self-defense strategy. Do you use this move? Does it work for you? Defending Against a Rape Attempt For the past month, I have been doing a little forum reading (lurking). Very interesting. Many martial artists make a conclusion that hitting or kicking the groin is useless as a defense to being attacked. Yes, they really do believe this. Let me explain: The thread usually starts with someone asking for opinions on an attack requiring a[..]

Think about a war. A war involves two parties the oppressors and the defense force. Every violation or war has a defensive party. Defensive parties try to justify their engagement in violation as mechanism for protecting their rights, properties and lives while the oppressor shows only egoism and use of forces. In such polar situation, the moral stays with the defensive forces. The oppressor is accused of being first attacker. In addition, the defense force is liable to defense the attack. Self defense is not vivid like the above example. It occurs between two persons and entities. The arrangement made in order to protect life, property can be termed as self defense. However, the term[..]

In the realm of self defense thinking and training, there is the idea of being "armed" and "unarmed." This idea presupposes that you are either carrying a weapon or "empty-handed." And yet, if we consider that our ability is only as limited as our ability to recognize options, we can see that there is no such distinction to the person who is really skilled at self defense.   This article takes a look at the real ability to be able to defend yourself against a brutal attacker who will be taking advantage of your limiting perceptions and recognition of options.   It's funny how, once they find out that I teach self defense, many men take this opportunity to puff out their chests and let[..]

We don't practice martial arts fighting in order to prevent ourselves from being assaulted. Even predicated on the conviction that if a person assaults me, I will assault him more effectively and therefore be safe, to practice martial arts with the goal of better assaulting the assaulter degenerates the practice into a series of challenges. Each challenge drives its own individual goal of imagining an assault and role-playing yourself assaulting the other person better. In spite of the bravado that is part of today's cage fighting showmanship, not even cage fighters train that way. Martial Arts Fighting As A Game A mixed martial artist I know once told me that when he has been challenged[..]

Martial arts have caught the fancy of so many young and dynamic people. These forms of interesting exercises make an individual feel powerful by increasing his or her stamina and ability to protect. Earlier practiced as an art form, nowadays martial arts have attained patronage from many people. However, with the changing time, martial arts are taken as an effective tool to develop a different fighting style such as judo, boxing and tae kwon do. Besides a necessity, learning martial arts is a true symbol of style and appeal. Hence, martial arts have a great demand hence, it is quite beneficial to know about martial arts supplies and from where you can get the best supplies. Basic martial[..]

Taking up martial arts is a great way to exercise. It is demanding but also good fun and you can put as much effort into learning the right technique. This training can be a much more rewarding way of spending your workout time if you generally find regular exercises to be slightly boring. Different types of martial art will require different types of equipment. However, you probably will not need to invest in large exercise machines that most workout regimes would otherwise require. To get started you will probably want to look the part. Most types of martial art have certain attire that you should wear. These are very different depending on the style you are taking up so you will want[..]

w what you’re probably thinking… “what am I suppose to ask or look for when picking a Karate school for my child?” Not to worry! This is a very common question parents ask themselves when they are looking for a Karate school near by. And, I want to make sure you ask the right questions, but more importantly, find a studio that offers exactly what you want and makes you feel comfortable. As the old saying goes: “Karate is the best thing you can do for your child”. So make sure you find a school that fits! Before you start your research, you may want to evaluate what you or your child are looking for. Increase self-confidence. Learn self-defense. Develop[..]

As adults also have problems paying attention at times, it is therefore unsurprising and altogether natural for kids to have similar difficulties in concentrating. Unless your kid is suffering from ADHD, those problems can be easily rectified when you enroll him or her in a martial arts workshop. Martial Arts Are Good for Kids Many parents are reluctant to have their kids enroll in martial arts classes because they suffer from the same mistaken assumptions shared by the public. Martial arts do not teach kids violence. It is, in fact, very much against violence and for a martial arts student to use his skills to commit violence or inflict physical harm violates the most basic code of[..]

Martial arts seem to be very popular these days. There are so many forms of these arts. We know them generally as Tae Kwan Do, Judo, Kung Fu, Karate, Aikido and other more obscure ones, each one has as many different styles as there are masters. The proliferation of different styles are normally the result of former students who open up their own school, possibly because they have created their own style and not too happy with their former sensei or masters. I took up Karate when I was a kid after being influenced by violent films and action stars like Bruce Lee. The instructor was a good man who actually taught the philosophy of martial arts and that was to refrain from violence at all[..]

In this article you will learn some key pointers and some of the best street martial arts techniques from a variety of fighting styles, providing with the crucial skills needed to keep you alive in the event of an actual attack. The best street martial arts technique I ever learned is trapping. By using this type of move, you are actually trapping your adversary's extremities, keeping him or her from being able to attack. One way to accomplish this is to wrap an arm around your assailant, keeping his or her arms pinned to the body, and perform numerous strikes to the body and face with your free hand. Another technique from this list of martial arts moves is to stay away from fancy kicks[..]

History of Wado Karate In 1934 Master Hironori Ohtsuka founded the traditional Japanese Karate style called Wado-Ryu Karate – which translates to “way of peace” or “way of harmony”. Master Ohtsuka believed that “violent actions may be understood as the way of martial arts, but the true meaning of martial arts is to seek and attain the way of peace and harmony.” Considered as a pioneer of the martial arts due to his dedicated training and innovative ideas, Otsuka Sensei began his martial arts career in Shindo Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu, and than trained under the personal guidance of Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi – who is sometimes recognized as the Father of Karate. After[..]

Karate training for kids is a world away from adult karate classes, or is it? Children simply do not have the physical strength an adult has, but they do possess the 'uncluttered mind', which is definitely a huge plus when someone first starts to learn karate. In general, they are more flexible than us adults, and learn karate faster, especially the karate kata. This is starting to look good for our karate kids, but wait. Adults can grasp the deeper meaning of karate moves and martial arts philosophy and obviously, in a self defense situation, adults can defend themselves against other adults, whereas a child has no chance against a drug fueled 200Lb + aggressor. But I would like to go a[..]

You can learn a few of the basic taekwondo techniques for defending yourself. This martial art self defense principle called hosinul uses punches, kicks and pressure point knowledge to teach you elf defense. The moves are designed to stop and cause injury to an assailant so you can away if being attacked. All of the martial arts teach self defense as a basic principle. With taekwondo techniques you are taught to protect yourself from attacks that come from every angle, and armed attackers. With so many people looking for a reason to get fights caught on tape, knowing these techniques can keep you safe from these predators. Taekwondo techniques include the use of pressure points. You will[..]

Self defense is a necessity in everyone's lives. Some people receive training to defend themselves as part of their career. A person in the protective services or police force would naturally be learning basic self defense. Today more and more people from the general population are also taking an active and avid interest in different forms of self defense such as Karate, Silat, Kick boxing and other forms. This is a type of indigenous art form originating from Indonesia. From there it has grown in popularity and spread to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. There has also been a Chinese version of this same martial art form known by the name Kuntao. Those who practice this are called as[..]

There are many different ways to stay in good physical condition or maintain your current condition if you are already in good physical shape. More than fifty million people belong to physical fitness health centers of all kinds and types and visit them three to four times a week in an effort to maintain some form of good health through weight control and body building. Most of these health centers stress muscular and cardiovascular exercise routines only. The participants are only interested in a seasonal effort to "look good" for some event or occasion rather than a sincere interest in maintaining their overall health. Few, if any of these fitness programs deal with both the physical[..]

If you enjoy training in various locations or if you need to set up safety flooring in new locations on a regular basis, I highly suggest that you use interlocking martial art mats. These mats are a firm EVA foam material that come in large squares and connect together to make any sized mat or training surface you desire. They are also known as puzzle mats or jigsaw mats. Not only are they great as a training surface, they work well as fitness flooring, or protecting a kids play area. But most importantly, they are awesome mobile mats. Whenever I wanted to move or change training locations, I could pull my mats up in a matter of minutes and stack them up on top of each other. A small[..]

If you are in a street fighting situation, wouldn't you want to know how you can put an end to the fight...and quick? The longer it goes on the more chance there is of injury, even in the better fighter. This is where jujitsu takedowns come into play. These jujitsu techniques are designed to deal with an opponent quickly and effectively. With jujitsu takedowns you control the fight. But the problem with these techniques is that practicing them incorrectly can lead to injury. Correct Takedown Techniques There are many different jujitsu takedowns and this article isn't about them as such. This is about practising those techniques correctly; not only to master them, but to avoid injuring[..]

Hapkido is a discipline of coordination, a way of strengthening the mind and body, of fusing the individuals physical and mental powers so that he or she will emerge as a more fully integrated human being. The Meaning of Hapkido The word in fact means; Method or Way (DO) for the coordination Harmony (HAP) of mental Energy or spirit (KI). One should always try to avoid violence, but if someone grabs you, attempts to strike you, or physically assaults you in any way, it has escalated beyond words, and you are left with the only option which is to defend. Hapkido is based on three important basic principles 1. The principle of the circle. All movements are round. The Hapkido fighter moves[..]

Korean Hapkido - Most physical confrontations take place in specific ranges, which are commonly designated as kicking, punching, trapping and grappling. I have learned that proficiency in only one range does not guarantee success in a street fight because real confrontations can flow from one range to another in the blink of an eye. Kicking range. Korean Hapkido comes well equipped for fighting in the kicking range. Yet its leg techniques differ from those of many other arts because of the tremendous power imparted by pivoting the supporting foot and following though with the leg motion. Punching range. Just inside kicking range hand techniques take over. The punching range[..]

"How can I hit harder?" This is perhaps one of the most common questions I am asked after a new student begins training. In Jeet Kune Do, the lead weapons (attacks thrown from the front arm/leg), are the primary weapons. Unlike the boxing jab or the kickboxing lead roundhouse kick which are setup attacks, the JKD frontal attacks are power strikes designed to deliver stunning or even knockout force. As simple as these techniques are, cultivation of adequate power can be challenging. First off, let me elaborate on a few important distinctions: 1. Force 2. Velocity 3. Power In the world of physics , force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. For our purposes, I will simplify force[..]

The "Jeet Kune Do Experience: Understanding Bruce Lee's Ultimate Martial Art" by Jerry Beasley (Paladin Press) incorporates material from Beasley's "In Search of the Ultimate Martial Art" and "The Way of No Way." It addresses the subject of training in the system of jeet kune do (JKD). The book is not about Bruce Lee, but rather the art that he created. In this book, Beasley attempts to provide an acceptable definition to the term jeet kune do, based on the principles that compose the conceptual framework. He does this by recognizing the views and values of individuals who studied with Bruce Lee directly, or as second hand participants. Beasley's knowledge of JKD comes primarily from his[..]

How did the father and founder of Jeet Kune Do die? The mystery of Bruce Lee, master of Jeet Kune Do's, death has never been solved! It is not a question of who killed the godfather of Jeet Kune Do, as in the case of Brandon Lee, Bruce Lee's son, but what killed him? Brandon Lee himself was also well trained in Jeet Kune Do - with Brandon Lee's death, a real bullet killed him. Brandon Lee, a martial artist also skilled in Jeet Kune Do, was killed on a movie set. Evidently, there was a real bullet in one of the “fake” guns being used on the movie set - what is not known is this: where did the real bullet come from that killed Jeet Kune Do master, Brandon Lee? (It has been suggested[..]

Brief History: Wing Chun (also known as Wing Tsun, Ving Chun or Ving Tsun) is one of the most popular types of Chinese martial arts. Though it's basically an unarmed combat technique, Wing Chun may include weapons as part of its course. The origin of Wing Chun can be traced back to China, but the real history of its creation has long been a topic of much debate. The most credible suggestion regarding the origin of Wing Chun dates back to 1700 AD in the Henan Shaolin Monastery. When the Qing forces raided and ravaged the Southern Shaolin temple, a nun named Ng Mui fled to the distant Daliang Mountains, the only survivor. Ng Mui already had knowledge of Kung Fu in the Shaolin temple, which[..]

When I was first hit with wing chun punches, I was immediately hooked - I couldn't believe how hard and quickly I was struck - what a demonstration that was. Many years and thousands of punches later my opinion of Wing Chun punching is very different, my understanding better and my application of this awesome strike harder, faster and more realistic. What was once a feeling of uncertainty, a feeling of 'what if' and worry that I could not defend myself has been replaced by a calmer feeling of knowing that my punches can do the damage they are intended to. Worrying about not hitting hard enough is no longer an issue and dealing with the stress of a situation, the strategy of a fight (and[..]

Donny Yen's latest movies about Wing Chun grandmaster, Ip Man, started a Wing Chun rage across Asia. As a martial arts fan and a full time options trader with plenty of time for such pursuits during daytime in Asia (since the US market opens in the evening in Asia), I went to Beijing China in order to study this ancient Chinese martial art under Master Wong. The training was systematic and demanding and I am very surprised how much there is to learn about options trading from Wing Chun. Wing Chun is not only a physical art but a philosophical one which we all saw from how the late Bruce Lee portrayed it. I found that many aspects of Wing Chun's physical and philosophy applies neatly to[..]

Vital to every martial art is training your strikes and using the Wing Chun punching bag is no different. There are lots of different types of bag and pad that you can use to train your Wing Chun punch - and to say that one is better than the other misses the point. Together, heavy bags, wall bags, focus pads etc are all keys to the puzzle that is... hitting hard and fast with your Wing Chun punch. This article will focus on some of the excellent training tips and secrets behind the wall bag (or sand bag) - arguably the most popular and traditional Wing Chun training bag. Filling your wall bag Depending on your instructor, lineage and experience you'll hear a variety of fillings. On the[..]

The Tae Kwon Do uniforms are required to be loose fitting and usually it comes in either white or black. The uniform comes together with a belt tied along the waist. The color of the belt describes what level you are in. Since you are in constant use of these Tae Kwon Do uniforms you will have to know how to take care of it so it does not rip because that is usually what happens. You will notice that the uniform is quite heavy at first but you get used to it and material is quite thick, however you will need to get loose fitting so that when you sweat during training it flows down onto your body. While the Tae Kwon Do uniforms might resemble the karate ones, they are totally different[..]

What can a sales person, marketer or business person learn from the martial arts? The answer: A lot! There are five tenants that make up the core of Tae Kwon Do. These tenants are: -Courtesy -Integrity -Perseverance -Self Control -Indomitable Spirit This article is the first in a series of articles that will focus on these tenants and the impact they can have in the business world. As a practitioner, these tenants can do wonders in building self confidence. They also provide a focus for achieving something bigger and better than one's self. Tae Kwon Do teaches self-confidence and focus through these tenants, which are necessities in the world of sales, marketing and business. Courtesy,[..]

Tae Kwon Do is an excellent way for individuals to learn self-defense, proper exercise, and self-confidence. While becoming an expert in Tae Kwon Do can take years of practice and dedication, a knowledge of a few basic stances is needed in order to form the foundation of this martial art. The first stance a student would learn is called the Attention Stance. It is a simple stance used when beginning and ending practice, testing, and times when respect is to be directed toward the instructor. The stance is performed with feet placed closely together with toes pointing forward. The hands are one fist length away from the student's belt and one fist length away from each other. They are[..]

While the roundhouse kick is probably the most commonly used kick in Tae Kwon Do, the common front snap kick is a vital weapon in the art's arsenal. Also known as the A-Chaki, this is traditional the first kick taught to students as it appears in the beginner forms. This kick has great potential for the street where it can be used to attack the groin and it has excellent tournament value since it can be easily modified to hit sport safe targets. Of course, in order to deliver the front snap kick properly, one needs to understand its basic mechanical principles. Unlike some other martial arts, the front kick in TKD generally does not use the instep. Instead, the toes are curled back to[..]

Muay Thai is one of the deadliest Martial Arts style also known as The Art of the 9 Limbs. For the able Muay Thai training program, in adjustment to get acceptable result, the training should be done on every added day basis. The training affair should not be organized every day because it will over use the physique and beat its potential. Training on alternating day base will as well advice to balance physique beef of boxers to accomplish abiding that they are accessible as able-bodied as has beneath adventitious to get astringent injuries for the next training session. Muay Thai training schedule Morning 05.00 Active for 5 Kilometers 05.40 Short active for 50, 80, 100 metes 5-10[..]

Out of a small black personal timer on my waist, a shrill cry is heard; and it has not come too soon. For the row of exhausted students in my midst running lap drills, it is a sweet sound as it signals the beginning of a one-minute round of rest. Some of the students go straight for their water bottles, some rest their heaving torsos on their weakened hips, while the rest shrug it off and keep jogging. All however, answer the next bell - the beginning of a new round and with it, a new drill. This is Muay Thai Fundamentals, a new physical fitness class at Spring Creek Lodge Academy. Muay Thai, or Thai Kickboxing, is a dynamic and challenging martial art that utilizes the whole body in[..]

It is no secret that in order to be successful in your weight loss goals that you have to stick to your routine. However the same old routine day in and day out can get very boring. I would recommend trying out a Muay Thai kickboxing workout. Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand and a martial art that is very effective for self defense. Unlike Western boxing that only uses the hands for punching, in the art of Muay Thai the practitioner use hands, elbows, knees and the shins. That it why it is often referred to as "The art of 8 limbs". As a way of getting in shape it provides an excellent cardio workout that is never boring. Training starts with a half an hour warm up consisting[..]