Pier Reguillet

There are 3 main types of shin guards in the martial arts: Grappling, kickboxing or striking and muay thai. Muay thai and MMA are both striking styles, while muay thai guards are more padded. Grappling shin guards are designed with padding in mind and also with staying on while rolling too. Most of these type have a sock type way of keeping the guard in place. A couple of draw backs are that they can be difficult to get on and off and they can get hot. Many of the higher end guards come with a strap at the top of the calf to help tighten them. The Muay Thai shin guards are built to take heavy hits. Down the front of the guard you will often find re-enforced padding. The way they are kept on is not...

Muay Boran is the Other name of Ancient Thai Boxing. It is a traditional form of Muay Thai which is still taught and practiced in Thailand. Muay Boran is still practiced and taught in order to preserve the Boxing Techniques from Muay Thai's History before the introduction of formalized rules and the introduction of gloves in the 1930s. Muay Boran is the ancestor of the modern day Muay Thai Boxing. Most of the Facts of Muay Boran have been extinct now, many of the original records from Thailand regarding this fascinating subject were destroyed in the sacking of Ayuddhaya in 1767 and others lost in the mists of time. The late Arjarn Samai Messamarn from the Buddhai Swan Institute in Thailand was able...

I want to first say, that when I was learning kick boxing, it was mixed with Muay Thai methods. So some of the things I learned may be slightly at an advantage or disadvantage in a real fight. I will say though the mixture of the two was completely AWESOME! The power of Muay Thai is so amazing that its almost superior to any other stand up strikes. The speed of Kick Boxing is really what brings it a whole new level though. Muay Thai, uses grappling, elbow strikes, knee strikes, each blow meant to put an end to the fight I like that! Kick Boxing uses Kicks, alot like Tae Kwon Do, and Boxing. Trust me that is a deadly combination. The Kicks In this style of fighting are usually meant to target the...

Muay Boran is the Other name of Ancient Thai Boxing. It is a traditional form of Muay Thai which is still taught and practiced in Thailand. Muay Boran is still practiced and taught in order to preserve the Boxing Techniques from Muay Thai's History before the introduction of formalized rules and the introduction of gloves in the 1930s. Muay Boran is the ancestor of the modern day Muay Thai Boxing. Most of the Facts of Muay Boran have been extinct now, many of the original records from Thailand regarding this fascinating subject were destroyed in the sacking of Ayuddhaya in 1767 and others lost in the mists of time. The late Arjarn Samai Messamarn from the Buddhai Swan Institute in Thailand was able...

In summary, there is always only one answer for this question : If you would like to discover whether Muay Thai is suitable for you, just come to visit several Muay Thai gyms and try a first lesson (certainly most of Muay Thai gyms offer free introduction class) and see whether you want to learn it!!! As I mentioned that everyone can learn Muay Thai. However, I would like to explain more on that as there may be some of you who have different background of martial arts training, from beginner to expert boxer, then I want to contribute some suggestion which based on my personal opinion to several group of Muay Thai learners I. New to martial arts, no previous experience and looking for something to...

Many Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand practice a form of martial arts known as Muay-Thai. More commonly known as Thai Boxing. Muay-Thai is steeped in history and is the national sport of Thailand. Muay-Thai today differs quite a lot from the ancient art which was known as Muay Boran. Today you wear gloves similar to boxing gloves, and throw kicks and punches in a ring. Muay-Thai has its own set of rules for fighting in the ring. But if you are learning Muay-Thai at some gyms, you will still practice techniques that would be illegal in the ring. This shows the difference of Muay Thai as an art compared to Muay Thai as a sport. Because you use your hands, knees, shins and elbows extensively...

Quantum physics has a theory that promises to change the way we see the world and this theory is the theory of strings. What this particular theory states is that strings are the primary structure that make up everything which we can see and which can't see in the world. The word string is actually just a word that these theoretical physicists have used to describe everything tangible and intangible in the physical world. No direct correlation has ever been claimed between the string theory and the principle of ch'I that can be found in Eastern cultures but they both share the same basic idea. This basic idea is that there is a basic energy that connects everything. By understanding this energy...

On May the 14th 2005 the committee organised what is considered to be the most successful Martial Arts Event in Britain to date the " Kenshiro Abbe Jubilee Celebrations." It was the intention of the committee to establish the true history and legacies left in our care, not just for the students of today, but for the generations that follow in the future. This Budo event was so successful in establishing the history, legacy and lineage of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, and the genuine direct students from his arrival to the UK in 1955. As a result of that great event, there are now many more martial arts students who were not aware of the importance of the influence of Abbe Sensei on British Budo, they now...

When my friend Lynn asked how I incorporate the principles of Aikido into my writing practice, I was surprised and dumbfounded-surprised by the delightful question and dumbfounded because I've been practicing Aikido for fifteen years and teaching and writing about Aikido almost as long, but I'd never considered how my Aikido and writing practices might be connected. Aikido-translated as The Way of Blending with Energy-is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century. Ueshiba died in 1969. Aikidoists call him O'Sensei or Great Teacher. A master of many martial arts, O'Sensei believed these arts could serve a higher purpose, and over time he created Aikido as a way to...

This afternoon I discovered that The Reverend Kensho Furuya, founder of Little Tokyo's Aikido Center Los Angeles, passed away earlier this month, to the sadness of many friends, students, and fellow martial artists. The memorial web page, posted by his dojo community, displays his picture and simply refers to him as "Our Chief Instructor." Some may think this characterization is unduly modest, given the Sensei's many accomplishments. But to be a teacher is a very serious profession, often without immediate gratification and bearing heavy responsibilities for the development of others. Sensei Furuya bore his burden with humility and dedication, sharing this story, about the life of a teacher: "Many...

The power over life and death can be held quite easily in the hands of a single individual. This individual may choose to slow down when people are crossing the road or to squeeze the trigger when hunting for deer. Certain unsavory elements in society will cause great harm so that they can get money easily instead of working hard for it. A person can easily fall victim to these criminals when you're walking to your car after you've completed your shopping or when you're returning home from work at a late hour. The presence of the police at every crime isn't a guarantee so the best thing is to be prepared at all times. Preparation in its best form will involve the study of a martial art. An...

Aikido originated as a martial art sometime in the early half of the 20th century. The martial art was created by Morihei Ueshiba and it was borne out of his search for a technique that provided contentment and satisfaction technically and spiritually at the same time. The word Aikido derives from the three words Ai, Ki and Do. These three words mean joining, spirit and way in the same order. What Aikido is therefore is a way of joining the spirit and body together in order to find the way or the path. Different moves of techniques and moves exist in this far eastern discipline. The basic structure of the martial art comes from the throws and locks in another martial art called Jujitsu and the...

training never really becomes easy. Lots of practice and techniques are needed. There are some tips. The defense techniques of kung fu are integral, whether taught as a fitness method or a competitive sport. An essential part of kung fu defense is learning to block a common straight punch. 1. No emotional content 2. React automatically to the situation 3. Spar with strategies and versatility 4. Maintain self respect and self control 5. Use your instinct and best techniques 6. Perfect your timing and distance After you perform a self defense technique, it is wise to not pursue attacking. For mostly legal reasons, it is better to make an escape and contact the authorities. Speed is a critical part in...

Most martial artists are making a critical error in their approach to training. This error has the potential to prevent them from ever developing true ability, confidence and understanding. The critical mistake is not utilising a conceptual approach to training. Although the benefits of a conceptual approach are too numerous to cover in one article, contrasting this approach with the approaches that currently dominate the industry is a good starting point in understanding why a conceptual approach is necessary. So let's actually get down to definitions. What do I mean by a conceptual approach? And why do we need one? What practical difference does having one make to our training? Most martial...

This Korean Karate trick is one of the simplest and most deadly moves you will ever find. As simple as it is, it requires exquisite timing, and a number of little bits and pieces of which I am about to tell you. Understanding these fine points, and working on the thing a bit, and you are going to have one of the most powerful punches in your martial arts arsenal. I discovered this trick in the form which is sometimes called Heian Five, it happens right after you execute a crescent kick and low block. You are now standing in a horse stance, and you swing the right arm across the body to cover the left side of the body with a palm block. You then perform a left fist to the left, and that is what I...

Self defense is the preventive measure which is used by a person or individual if he/ she thinks that their is a danger to his/ her life from some one. Just imagine a film scene in which a girl is walking across a street. Suddenly a ugly looking man comes in her way. The girl without getting scared pinches the man in his eyes with the keys and then run away to a safe place. But this is totally a filmy situation in which you know in advance what will be going to happen. In real life Self defense is not so easy. If a person gets scared by attack he makes the situation worse. One of the best way of self defense is to use your common sense and trust your abilities. For example understand your...

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) was developed to allow people of any size, strength, age, or gender to effectively defend themselves against opponents who might be larger, taller, or stronger. One of the ways (BJJ) empowers you to accomplish this is that it was designed to dominate any combat scenario where the combatants are on the ground, off their feet. Many experts claim that 90% of street fights inevitably end up on the ground anyway. Think of all the fights you've witnessed in person: were there two or more people throwing textbook kicks or boxing like pros? Or was it a sloppy grappling affair? If you ever have the misfortune of being attacked or finding yourself in maybe even a life-or-death...

There are many Brazilian masters of Jiu Jitsu, but it is impossible to say very much about the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) world without mentioning the Gracie family. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu really grabbed the world's attention in 1993 when Royce Gracie won the first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), but BJJ has a long and distinguished history prior to that. Since 1925 more than 40 members of the Gracie clan have spent their entire lives teaching and developing and practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In the process they have made it into a global phenomenon and created an empire of BJJ schools and academies. Carlos Gracie emigrated to Brazil from Scotland in the early 20th century, where he met a...

I'm of Filipino heritage and I never really knew (for lack of better words) how "cool" the Filipino martial arts were until I started seeing some of it in the movies. If anyone has ever seen Bruce Lee movies, you'd only imagine how cool it would have been to fight like him. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of being the offensive-type person and just making fights with anyone. I was definitely more interested in the way he defended himself. Someone would throw a punch and he would somehow block them with one arm and hit them with another one simultaneously! It was great. So, it wasn't until I started looking around for a qualified, certified, Jeet Kune Do school where I could learn that style. I...

The art of Chinese Wing Tsun Kung-Fu was described by the ancient masters as a 'living philosophy.' Wing Tsun, at the highest level, teaches you to understand yourself and how to interact with other human beings. Based on the amalgamation of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian principles, the etiquette of Wing Tsun is aimed at enshrining important ideals in its practitioners. These include a true appreciation of honour, loyalty, dignity, respect for other human beings and control of ones ego, emotions and temper. Without these a person can never master himself, or the art of Wing Tsun, as these two are synonymous. It is these unique charcteristics which has led to the art being widely regarded as 'the...

The origin of wing chun training can be traced back to the turbulent, repressive Ching Dynasty 250 years ago. It was the time when 90% of chinese The Hons where ruled by the Manchu and the Tibetans which where the 10% minority. The oppressors governed the Hons with many unjust laws and restrictions. For instance, the female infants were compelled to bind their feet so that during their lifetime, they would be dependant upon their parents husbands or children. Many opportunities where limited to the Hons. Most of all, all Kung Fu practice was banned. Then the Hons decided to organise a revolution, the Shaolin temple was selected as a secret training sanctuary. Five Grandmasters got together and...

Interview with ninja master Brian McCarthy 8th Dan [Adrian]: This is an exclusive pod cast from the websites of the BBD. On Remembrance Sunday, the final national seminar of the BBD in 2006 took place in Edinburgh. The head of the BBD, Brian McCarthy, joined me on my breakfast show to talk about Ninjutsu history and tradition, Brian's journey as a renowned martial artist and training within the BBD. First part of a three part discussion about Ninjutsu history and tradition. [Brian]: Thank you, Adrian. [Adrian]: Good morning, Brian. Now I'm going to ask you some fairly obvious questions because if I said Ninjutsu, most people wouldn't know what it is. If I said shinobi, they definitely wouldn't...

Although practiced widely in Japan, the art of present day Karate was introduced into that country less than fifty years ago by Funakoshi Gichin. Actually, the art of Karate can be traced back to the ancient Chinese art of Kempo. Legend has it that Kempo originated during the Liang dynasty when a Buddhist monk named Taishi taught this art to monks in the Shaolin-szu Monastery as a means of defense against militant aggressors and as a way of building up their weakened physical condition. Taishi preached that for the true understanding of religion, the body and soul should be strong and inseparable, and that in a weakened physical state the necessary religious practices could never be adequately...

   When one thinks of self defense, images of pepper spray and tasers appear. You may then think of the bad guy in a red man suit ready to take your wallet, with the shouts of NO!, and with a few swift kicks to the groin the bad man falls in pain, the day is saved. Most cities have studios where one can take self defense classes as well as local churches and private organizations. Most offer basic courses in which you have the chance to not only learn the techniques but also try them out in a safe controlled situation.    Unfortunately an essential part of self defense is left out in many classes, which are the mental aspects of self defense. Mental self defense starts when you wake up and get...

Many athletes do not gain their complete strength and conditioning potential. This is mainly due to the fact that they do not make frequent improvements at each session. Each time that you visit the gym you should make small goals that you can achieve. Always try to push yourself to the limit without burning out. Learn to recognize your limits and never go past them. In this article I list 3 ways to get stronger for martial arts. As you get stronger then you should increase the work you do in the same amount of time. Combat technique is practiced by many, but strength is needed to improve. Many people do not understand this and might neglect one of the most important parts of being a martial artist...

al arts courses can infuse within your youngster self-confidence, focus, and self-control. Formal lessons can provide an avenue through which your kids can workout while getting together with other kids and adults; in doing so, they will build a feeling of mutual respect for others while they learn how to socialize inside a welcoming, yet competitive atmosphere. Signing up your kids into taekwondo, karate, or self-defense classes can be quite a beneficial introduction for an everlasting goal. That said, you need to make sure the dojo considers basic safety a high priority. In the following paragraphs, I'll offer a handful of suggestions that will help ascertain whether a martial arts dojo will...

inster, CO – May 10th — How would you feel if your child gained rock solid confidence, laser like focus, and a Black Belt attitude this summer? Sound good so far? And what if they also learned life skills, developed balance, coordination, and agility — all while meeting new friends. Would you still be interested? Most parents are looking to get their child involved in a Summer Camp activity, as soon as school gets out. This is a great way to keep kids active by putting them on a schedule that allows them to have fun and learn, while getting out of the classroom setting. Why is this so important? Let’s face it… kids need to be kids. Local martial arts school owner...

inster — December 7th, 2009 — The Dojo of Karate is one of Westminster’s newest thriving businesses that teaches Traditional Karate, Modern Self-Defense, and Fitness Classes to the community of Broomfield, Westminster, and Thornton. In September, 2009 school owner and master instructor, Javier Lozano Jr decided to join the Broomfield Chamber of Commerce as a way to help continue to grow his business and network with other prospering small business owners in the community. "When I first opened in August 2008, I was still working a full-time job and running my school in the evenings, so networking was out of the picture." said Lozano. "But, things changed this past September that...

My most influential teachers always said the most important karate lesson was whatever fostered greater discipline and self control. They wisely pointed out, that with this foundation in place, everything else follows in natural order. I'm glad that people have started to ask about discipline and self control in karate, because it is not inherently obvious how the practice of punches and kicks can lead to improvement in these areas. In fact it almost seems like a paradox that the practice of martial arts could possibly develop calm, assured and highly disciplined individuals. Are we all falling for the hype that is touted in the popular martial arts magazines or is there really some truth to the...

inster — December 22nd, 2009 – The Dojo of Karate had their 1st Annual Holiday Party on Friday, December 18th, 2009 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. It was a Potluck style event where students and members brought a dish to share with everyone else. There were a wide variety of food, from pasta dishes, to dips, sushi, enchiladas, and all sorts of desserts. And, the food never seemed to run out… which is a great problem to have. It was entertaining to see how much the kids were enjoying the wide selection because some kids had plates of Doritos and a huge slice of cake, while others were eating ‘real’ meals. The Dojo of Karate Holiday Party was a great time for students to hangout...

I learned this type of kick some forty years ago in Kwon Bup Korean Karate. This was the forerunner of Choi Hong Hai's Tae Kwon Do, and the unfortunate truth is that these kicks aren't practiced anymore. Why, I don't know, because this type of kick is the hardest kick, the fastest kick I have ever seen. I call this move, doesn't what martial art you do, the pop kick. Whether you do a snap, a side, or a wheel, the basic principle doesn't change. You replace the left foot with the right foot, and kick with the left foot...this all has to occur at the same instant. By same time I mean that the left foot and the right foot begin motion at the same time, and the right foot hits the ground at the same...

"The Karate Kid" is a very entertaining and inspirational film, starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. Both of them do a great acting job in this film. The karate scenes are also terrific. Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) is a teenager from New Jersey whose mother gets a job in Los Angeles and decides to move there, much against Daniel's wishes. Daniel meets a very pretty blonde named Ali at a beach party. The two hit it off quite well. However, Ali has some tough friends who go after Daniel and give him a black eye. The beginning of the school year turns out to be a disaster. Daniel is enrolled in the same school as Ali and his adversaries. He tries to join a karate club, which his adversaries turn out to...

In our society there are many options competing for people's free time. One of the challenges of the church is how to find ways to share the gospel so that people will attend the event. Right off the bat let me say that I'm not talking about altering the gospel in any way. The gospel of God is that man is basically sinful, completely unable to save himself and so in desperate in need of a savior. God has graciously provided that savior in the person of His own Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross as a substitute for sinful man. When God opens a person's eyes to see this and gives him faith he then repents and believes and is saved. That is the true Gospel. The method of communicating the gospel...

"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." - Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate The underlying principles of karate-do (Way of the Empty Hand) include not only self-defense, but a system of learning that provides one with a tool for self-improvement. Its accessibility is shown by its ability to be practiced hard or soft, by nearly anyone, and nearly anywhere, even in one's own mind. Its precepts and discipline can lead us on in the difficult times of our lives. This is the connection of body, mind, and soul. "There is no first strike in karate." - Gichin Funakoshi Karate-do is a way of life that teaches one to be...

One of the most important things a superior martial artist can have, inside the ring or out, is the gunfighter mentality. The best fighters, like BJ Penn and Rashad Evans, have this intuitively in their personality. The second place guys don't. Interestingly enough, the Gunfighter Mentality used to be part of the training in the classical martial arts. I remember training back in the middle of the last century, and everything we did was geared towards this ability. While there were many factors involved in the death of this principle, people like Bruce Lee probably drove home the spike. Bruce Lee added the circling strategy of boxing to the martial arts. The Gunfighter Mentality depends on creating...

In an age where crimes like mobile snatching, gun-point robbery, rape, etc are the top source of revenue for newspapers, no one can deny the importance of the specialized self defense training. However, ironically, there are millions of people around us who just cannot afford to spare some time for such practices; in effect, they might even feel that these trainings are of no use, and okay, we feel rather helpless to make them realize. The trick that we are going to discuss hereon would probably look funny to 99 out of 100 people, but honestly this trick can at times prove to be very effective. All you need here is a little 'acting', when you fall into a situation where you simply cannot do anything...

Many people tend to lump self defense and martial arts together, thinking they are one in the same. This however, is not true. There is a profound difference in philosophy and goal. Self defense is a subset of martial arts. The best way to show the difference is by going to the foundation of self defense. The model of self defense is divided into three parts: Heart, Mind and Body. The heart is concerned with motive. Why do we do what we do? This is the core of self defense. The how and what of our actions flow from the why. In self defense our motive is survival. Our attitude in a confrontation is to avoid a fight. This is done by having a proper heart attitude. We must remove ego from the equation...