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No Gi Essentials, by Roy Dean

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:29:57 PDT

No Gi grappling is very popular. More and more martial artists are starting to train no gi and this DVD is tailored specifically for this. Roy Dean, a master of the martial arts has done an excellent job in providing no gi grappling lessons that all martial arts will find enlightening. No Gi Essentials is presented professionally, very practically and easy to understand by all.

Roy Dean starts by showing essential movements and grips. These concepts are very important for no gi fighting just as they are for gi fighting and Roy clearly gives this section adequate focus with demonstrations proving that what he teaches is 100% effective.

Many grappling DVDs, when demonstrating takedowns, focus merely on single leg and double leg takedowns with variations. Roy Dean’s takedown chapter however provides viewers with much more. His deep knowledge of other martial art styles comes into play here as he demonstrates many other takedowns which can be found in Judo, Sambo and other forms of submission wrestling. Being such an expert, Roy has combined all of his takedown knowledge from many arts to provide his own expression of martial arts and in this chapter, it is clear to see.

The arm drag chapter is given a great deal of focus. It is a very essential technique that must become second nature to no gi grapplers and Roy gives demos of how it can be effective from various different positions, also showing techniques that can easily be applied after the arm drag.

The kimura and the guillotine are also demonstrated by Roy but unlike other DVDs, Roy provides options. Options and variations for when these techniques go wrong/or are countered. Roy doesn’t simply show a few basic techniques, keeping the secrets for himself, rather, he passes on the vital knowledge needed to succeed, on to others, gained from his many years of training. This is one of the reasons why Roy Deans DVD’s as so special and should be obtained by all serious martial artists.

The rolling analysis is where Roy becomes your own personal tutor. Narrating his own sparring sessions, he describes his own movements along with his sparring partners. This is great for viewers, so as they can see the exact movements Roy demonstrates in this DVD in real action, proving there effectiveness. A lot can be learnt by studying this rolling analysis chapter.

Disc 2 starts by providing viewers with options and learning material from the guard and the mount. Many options are given from these two vital positions and again Roy does a great job of providing expert tuition.

The side mount escapes chapter is including also in disc 2. It is amazing to still see grapplers with not much knowledge in this area, and Roy provides options and ideas for the aspiring grappler to learn and drill. Roy also demonstrates “baiting”. A very important and effective way of opening your opponent’s ankles when in there guard, and something that all should be aware of.

Training for many years with Roy Harris has provided Roy Dean with great knowledge of leg locks. This DVD shows leg lock combinations, options and variations which every grappler should be aware of and should practise regularly.

This is a great DVD. It shows Roy Dean at his best. Not just as a martial artist but also as a teacher. He speaks clearly, keeps the DVD from not getting boring and most importantly provides no gi essential tuition. It should be purchased by all martial artists.

To order your copy of No Gi Essentials click here

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Tags: MMA, roy dean, no gi, jiu jitsu

Art of the Wirstlock, by Roy Dean

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:10:10 PDT

Many people view Aikido as a waste of time. They see it as ineffective and not practical. Wrist locks, a major part of Aikido, have been around since the dawn of time. They are used amongst law enforcement officers throughout the world to restraint assailants however, for some reason martial artists do not use them to the degree that they should be used. This DVD by Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expert, Roy Dean, proves to you that they can be more effective than many people think and that with the correct training they can be made to fit in with modern BJJ.

The DVD begins with Roy introducing viewers to various styles of ju jutsu. Nearly every martial artist has heard of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu thanks to MMA but there are so many other styles of ju jutsu that have been practised for many years that no one has heard of. Roy does a good job of expanding the viewer’s knowledge and during this brief introduction, Roy describes to the viewers his own training in Aikido and why many deem it as ineffective.

The Basic 5 chapter is where Roy demonstrates the 5 basic techniques of Aikido. He does this slow and with understandable explanations coupled with expert tutorials. The Shihonage and Kotegaeshi chapters are also given thorough examination by Roy. These are very important movements in Aikido and Roy outlines there effectiveness with clear demonstrations.

The ground fighting chapter is what many BJJ, Judo and other submission fighters should find very enlightening. Here, Roy demonstrates how the techniques outlined in the chapters above can be applied through common ground fighting scenarios.

The demonstrations chapter not only teaches, but inspires and motivates. It provides some great watching material to give viewers the drive to get into the dojo, learn, drill and implement Roys teachings shown in this DVD. It really is great to see the master showing his prowess here.

Disc 2 is an extra treat for the viewers. It provides footage of 3 seminars held at the Yosokan Dojo in California and covers basic BJJ techniques and how they are combined and there correlation with Aikido techniques. Also no gi leg lock footage taken from one of the seminars is shown. This is very interesting to see, especially for martial artists not used to leg locks as the principles for wrist locks and leg locks are the same.

When viewers watch this DVD they will clearly see how Aikido wristlocks can be applied in BJJ, submission fighting and even MMA. Aikido has something to offer to non Aikidoka and Roy has done an excellent job in proving this. It is a DVD that should be purchased by all martial artists.

To order your copy of Art of the Wristlock click here

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Training With Muscle Soreness

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 12:02:25 PST

Training With Muscle Soreness - Should You Do It? And Can It Actually Help You Get BETTER Results?
By Nick Nilsson

Muscle soreness is something that every trainer has experienced. The typical advice is to wait until you're not sore to train that muscle again. But what if you can actually get BETTER results by training when sore!

It's safe to say that muscle soreness is something EVERY trainer has experienced at some point in their career. Severity of muscle soreness (known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness or DOMS for short) can range from mild discomfort when you move to the point of being almost crippling.

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is "should you train when your muscles are still sore?" The answer is not quite as simple as some people make it out to be, though. Many trainers will tell you "if the muscle is still sore, don't train it." And, in truth, for many people that's the safest answer.

But, in fact, by NOT training when you're sore, you could actually be missing out on results AND slowing down your recovery!

So what is muscle soreness? Muscle soreness is basically damage to the muscle fibers as a result of training. Without going into great detail on how it happens and how the recovery process occurs (which is beyond the scope of this article), muscle soreness is your body telling you that it's in need of repair.

Now how can it possibly be GOOD for you to train a muscle again while it's still sore? Here's where we get into a contentious area. After reading this, you may choose to agree with me or disagree with me but all I ask is that you consider my arguments...

If you've never trained a muscle hard two days in a row or trained it while it was still sore, you're going to be in for a shock at how unique a stimulus it can actually be. Sure there are arguments against doing that, e.g. the muscle hasn't fully recovered and you'll be tearing it down even more.

But consider this...from an adaptation standpoint, of the following two scenarios, what would give your body the greater stimulus for growth?

If you train the muscle hard once, you'll get a good growth stimulus. Your body immediately starts sending nutrients to the damaged area and starts rebuilding. When the muscle is fully recovered and is no longer sore, you train the muscle again and restart the process. This is the standard way of training and it usually means directly training a muscle twice a week (sometimes even just once a week!) with at least 2 or 3 days in between sessions for that specific muscle.

In the next scenario, you train the muscle hard then the next day, train it hard again. Recovery is nowhere near complete and the muscle is sore when you train it on the second day.

Here's the key...if you think about it, would the body see this second scenario as a greater threat to its survival? Would the body then ramp up its recovery processes to try and prepare for the next challenge, which it (from its recent experience of being hit with the same hard stimulus two days in a row) thinks is coming again very soon?

In my experience, this absolutely happens. The body's response to training is a very simple "stimulus-response" system, but your body is also fully capable of sending more resources where more resources are perceived as being needed.

When you eat, your body sends more blood to the digestive system. Your brain doesn't tell it to do that, it just happens. When you get hot, your body produces perspiration. The same thing happens with training. For example, when you train your biceps, your body sends blood and nutrients to the biceps for recovery. It doesn't send it to the calves if the calves haven't been worked.

If you train your biceps hard two days in a row, your body sees this as a big threat to the biceps and will ramp up recovery processes to specifically protect the biceps. The two days of training will build up much greater recovery momentum and get you better results.

Here's yet another advantage to training a muscle when it's still sore...even if you don't train it hard, you will still be sending blood (and therefore nutrients) to that muscle, helping it to recover faster than if you didn't train it at all. So even if you're not up for a hard workout for a sore muscle, even giving it some light to moderate work will still help with recovery.

So I've talked about training a muscle two days in a row...what about when you're scheduled to train it a couple of days later and it's still sore at that point? The same concepts apply - your body will STILL perceive that as a greater threat and increase recovery.

The only times I would NOT recommend training when sore is if the soreness causes you to use poor form in your exercises or if the soreness is so bad that it makes the exercises too painful to do.

For instance, if you just did deadlifts for the first time in your life and the next day, you have a VERY hard time sitting down without falling down into the seat, you should wait before doing deadlifts again. Your form will change because of the pain and it could lead to injury.

But if your muscles are a bit stiff or sore, go ahead and train them. Your body will ramp up your recovery processes in response.

How do I know training the body with this frequency can be effective? I'll give the best example I know...a program I did myself! This is NOT a program I would recommend lightly to anyone because when I did it I was on vacation from work and I was basically only eating, sleeping and training...no stress, no extraneous activity.

This was one of the most extraordinary programs I ever put myself on, not only in terms of workload but results as well. It involved doing total body workouts twice a day, six days a week. This meant 12 total-body workouts per week, increasing the workload every week.

I used partial training, negative training, low reps and high reps. For the entire first week, I was EXTREMELY sore but I stuck with it and trained everything twice a day, no matter how sore I was.

After 3 weeks of this training, I backed off, still doing 12 training sessions per week but splitting the body in half - I was still working my whole body every single day and doing partials and negatives.

During the back-off phase, my recovery processes were practically unstoppable! NOTHING I did could make me sore (and believe me, I tried!) and my strength and muscle mass shot way up.

Conventional wisdom would believe I would be completely totaled at the end of a program like this, overtrained, small and weak. My results? In 6 weeks, I went from 208 lbs in bodyweight to 228 lbs. And as an example in strength gain, I went from a 295 bench press for 1 rep to 350 lbs for 1 rep.

This is a VERY extreme example of training through muscle soreness and using maximum workout frequency. But the take-home lesson from it is this: you CAN get great results by training even when you're sore! Your body will react to the stress and ramp up recovery in response.

The programs in my new book, Muscle Explosion - 28 Days to Maximum Mass utilizes this concept to the extreme...in the second week of the program, you'll be doing ONE exercise for FIVE workouts in a row, totaling more than 300 sets! You'll get sore and you'll fight through it and you will be BIGGER and STRONGER at the end of the five straight days of work than when you started.

About The Author:
Nick Nilsson is the author of Muscle Explosion: 28 Days to Maximum Mass and is known throughout the fitness world as the "Mad Scientist" of fitness. He is a renowned personal trainer, body builder, and professional fitness writer who has written for Men's Fitness, Reps Magazine, Muscle & Fitness and hundreds of fitness websites all over the internet. Nick is recognized throughout the fitness world as an innovator and pioneer of ground-breaking methods for building muscle and strength fast. His degree in physical education covers advanced biomechanics, physiology and kinesiology.

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Mastering Basic Sweeps for All Martial Artists

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:17:03 PDT

Sweeps from the guard are a vital part of grappling. From a competition point of view, sweeps can win points and can help put a fighter in a better position to dominate their opponent. From a self defence point of view, sweeps are vital. Although not necessarily the best position to be in, if one does find themselves on the floor with their opponent on top of them, one must quickly be able to get them off and get up.

With the amount of media available at ones disposal to learn new and fancy looking sweeps, there are martial artists who that devote many hours trying to perfect these fancy moves without grasping a sound grip of the basic sweeps.

By practising and using the basic and probably most used sweeps, one will not only stand a better chance of success when it comes to sweeping and reversals, but one will also gain a better understanding of the principles behind sweeps and what is needed for them to be effective.

A successful sweep is one where technique is used to reverse ones opponent rather than strength. This means that body positioning, proper gripping and timing are crucial for successful sweeps. If one tries to power their opponent off them, they shall quickly learn that there is not much success this way.

With this in mind, below are the best sweeps to practise in order to understand sweeping principles so that variations to these basic sweeps can be carried out instinctively through hours of repetitive sparring.

Butterfly Sweep – The butterfly sweep, used from the butterfly guard is great to practise timing and body positioning. Without falling and pulling your opponent at a certain angle, this sweep will not work very well. One will learn that their body positioning is vital for sweeps and all grappling techniques.

Scissor sweep – The scissor sweep is one of the most basic but most used sweeps. It teaches one to use the “push – pull” principle with both legs. This is very important as many advanced sweeps and variations use this principle.

Hip Heist Sweep – This sweep, also known as the sit up sweep will only probably work, if it is performed in combination with other techniques such as the guillotine or figure four lock (kimura) or as a defence to the opponent’s attacks. It will teach timing and how to flow from one technique to another.

These three sweeps are some of the most basic but are so vital for every ground grappler to master. They will help ones grappling immensely from the guard and if they are learnt to a high level, one will easily be able to perform variations and shall be able to use their principles with other sweeps and other grappling techniques in general.

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Dont Drop Your Guard when Striking!

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Sun, 09 May 2010 04:39:07 PDT

Lyoto Machida got knocked out at UFC 113. He fought against Mauricio Shogun Rua. The cause of the knockout was due to Machida throwing a punch to Rua, but at the side time getting caught with an overhand right to the side of his head.

The following was said by Rua,

“I noticed that every time he would try to attack on the timing of my kicks, he was attacking, but without his guard in proper place with his face exposed,” said Rua, “so that’s why I worked a lot this time, not only on the kicks, but also for (the) overhand right punch to surprise him when he was trying to move in for my kicks.”

Many times on this website you will read articles stressing the importance of a good guarding hand at all times, but never more important than when throwing punches and kicks of your own.

If you have seen the fight you will notice exactly what Rua is talking about. Machida did drop his guard on many occasions during the short fight which did not even last a round and paid the price because of it. This is not to say that Machida is not a great fighter because he is. However he got sloppy and lost because of it.

Allowing bad habits to form such as dropping ones guard is not something new. It has probably happened to all strikers once of twice in their martial arts training.

This is why it is so important to return to basic training every now and then. This will allow for a martial artist to check, preferably in front of a mirror or with the help of a trainer to see whether bad habits are forming and is a great way to rectify them.

Performing basic training is the only way to achieve this and something that should be undertaken by all martial artists regularly.

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Tips for Smoothing out Basic Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:06:36 PDT

Basics are the cement which holds all martial artists fighting together. Without good basics one will never develop into an advanced fighter and it is for this reason that they must be drilled again and again.

Unfortunately though, it is very easy to concentrate on advanced training and basics can often get neglected. If this happens one will find that bad habits will develop and sloppiness will occur.

The following are steps which can be taken to work on basic techniques and hopefully they may help you to smooth out the rough patches which you may have developed.

Slow down – This is the first thing to do. Slow your training right down so that you are almost performing the technique in slow motion.

Train in front of a mirror – The mirror will tell you exactly where you are going wrong. It is probably the most useful training apparatus one can have.

Think about the technique – Some people train with music on which is fine, however if you are trying to work on a basic technique, turn the music off and maybe even train on your own so you can think about the technique and focus on it 100%

Drill it – Drill the technique until you can perform it perfect ten times in a row. Try not to get frustrated here as it can take time.

Although you may think that you may have regressed due to the fact that you have to work a basic technique try not to let it bother you. It is actually good because it gives you a chance to work your basics again, something which you may not have done for a while and it can break up a possible repetitive workout regime which may have developed.

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Shoulder Ram for Martial Artists

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:27:20 PDT

There is a saying in martial arts that the body must become a weapon. There are many weapons on the human body including the fist, feet, knees, elbows, shins and many more which seem practical. There is one part of the body however which is very practical but not used nearly as much as it should be. This is the shoulder.

The shoulder ram is a technique which can only be used at close range for obvious reasons. It does not need much training to become efficient with it and is something that all can be able to use.

Below are a few targets where the shoulder ram can be aimed at.

To the chin/face – The shoulder ram to your opponents chin/face is great to use when you have pulled their head downwards (as if performing a Thai clinch hold) or after your have struck them hard low which will normally result in them lowering there head slightly.

To the ribs – If your opponent tries to grab around you or maybe tries to grab over your shoulder you may be able to ram your shoulder into your opponent’s ribs as you thrust your weight forward. With enough power this can break the ribs.

To the solar plexus – This is possible if your opponent again tries to grab around or over you, exposing their torso or as you close the distance for some kind of throw/takedown.

To the hip – Just like ramming the solar plexus before a throw, one can aim slightly lower and ram into their opponents hips instead which helps breaks your opponents balance, making the throw easier. Most judoka/wrestlers may have felt this before being thrown by a double leg takedown.

To the knee – Sometimes you may be pulled down, tripped or even struck by your opponent which drops you down. Although this is usually a bad position to be in, you can, as a last result ram your shoulder as your thrust your weight forward into your opponents knee/s. This can easily bring your opponent down to your level.

The shoulder ram is great to use and should definitely be practised in ones daily training. The best way to practise it is against the heavy bag. With each bag session simply spend 5 minutes or so ramming the bag with your shoulder, not specifically aiming for power with each ram but precision, accuracy and balance. It can be easy to lose your balance with this technique so make sure that you adopt a nice firm stance just as with punching.

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Kenji Midori Karate Kicks

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 09:56:04 PDT

The following video shows the kicking power, flexibility and speed of the "Little Dragon" Kyokushin fighter Kenji Midori

Be sure to watch out for his stop kicks which he uses to send his opponents crashing down towards the mat when they attempt an attack of their own.

Marks

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Giant Set Weight Training

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:34:00 PDT

One of the greatest weight training methods that a martial artist can perform is giant sets. Giant sets are a training method that is very beneficial for all. It is a way of boosting not only your muscle tone, size but also stamina of the muscles.

Giant sets training involve three or more sets of three or more different exercises for the same muscle group. For instance, if you are performing giant sets for legs, one could do 12 reps of leg extensions followed by 12 reps of squats followed by 12 reps of lunges. Obviously because of the fact that one performs so many reps for one giant set, one must use a medium weight rather than heavy.

For martial art reasons, muscle stamina is something of great importance. When muscles do not have the stamina to carry on working when they are tired, one can easily be dominated by their opponent.

Giant sets are also a great way of training the mind for martial arts. In order to finish a giant set one has to push through the pain barrier and fight the urge to stop. Giant sets training is one of the most difficult form of training and it is very tempting to stop and carry on with more normal weight training.

Giant sets are good to shock your muscles. When performing the same routine for a period of time, your muscles can become used to the workout and can stop growing. Giant sets are a great way to shock your muscles to react to the change of the workout and can be “reignited” to start growing again. For this reason, use giant sets sparingly. They are not for every workout but can produce amazing results if used every so often.

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Striking Takedowns

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:39:08 PDT

Takedowns are a major part of martial arts. For MMA, they provide one with the opportunity to ground and pound, or work for a submission hold, and for self defence, taking down your opponent can provide you with the chance to flee the area quickly.

Many people think that takedowns are performed only via grappling, throwing or picking up your opponent. However, one can perform a takedown by striking their opponent with power. These striking takedowns are so valuable for all martial artists to consider and start practising if not already.

Some simple strike takedowns include,

Power foot sweep – The power foot sweep involves a hard kick with ones lower shin similar to a roundhouse kick, instead of a sweeping motion with the sole of the foot, aiming for the lower calf area of your opponents leg. Your aim with this strike is to strike through your opponent visualising this throughout the execution of the technique. It is very painful if performed correctly.

Power foot sweep after grabbing a leg – The same power foot sweep described above is performed once your have caught your opponents leg from either defending a kick or after attempting a takedown.

Knee to the outside of the thigh – This strike takedown is great when clinched with your opponent. It is performed by driving your knee into the outside of your opponents thigh whilst pulling him in the opposite direction to where your are striking.

The push – A technique that is old, classic and very valuable if performed correctly. When you push your opponent your should aim for the middle chest area. Also you should drive your body weight forward with the push. If performed correctly, your opponent will be easily taken of balance and shall fall.

Kick to the inside of the thigh - The front or side kicks are ideal for this. When you strike your opponents inside thigh with power, his leg will buckle and should fall easily. This is another great technique to perform when clinching your opponent and is part of basic Nahainchi kata bunkai.

Kick to back of the knee – This is for self defence only. A strong kick to the back of your opponent’s knee joint will easily and quickly drop them. It is very valuable for all to learn.

Strike takedowns are dangerous and should be practised with caution and with proper protection worn at all times. If one is able to master these described above, plus others, they shall be adding some very important and valuable techniques to their fighting repertoire.

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A Shocking MMA Outcome

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:56:34 PDT

In the world of MMA, there has been some shocking upsets.

For example, did anyone think that Royce Gracie, a small jiu jitsu fighter would ever dominate his much larger opponents? Or how about Anderson Silva ever losing to a heel hook? No one ever expects these things to ever happen

Shock upsets though do happen, but I bet no one ever expected this!

Marks
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Double Kicking for More Powerful Kicks

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:44:41 PDT

Everyone wants to develop more powerful kicks. Heavy bags, weight training and certain exercises are used to develop this much needed attribute that every fighter needs. However, one exercise which seems to have fallen out of fashion over the last few years is double kicking.

Double kicking is a great exercise in order to develop more powerful and explosive kicks. Although not necessarily a great way of throwing kicks in actual combat, it is a great training exercise for all martial artists to use, especially strikers.

In order to carry out the exercise, one starts of in their natural fighting stance. They then bring up their front or back leg into a chambered position (which depends on which kick is being practised). The first kick is then thrown and the leg then returns to the same chambered position. A slight pause is followed for about 1-2 seconds and then the second kick is thrown, before bringing the kicking foot back down to the floor.

When practising double kicks it is important to try and throw the second kick as powerful as possible. The truth is that it is very hard to throw the second kick as hard as the first, especially if you are new to this type of training but you must give it your all in order to benefit from the exercise.

A few benefits which comes from practising double kicking include,

Balance – By throwing double kicks one will quickly learn how to balance better on their supporting leg. This will add to a more powerful and explosive kick.

Strength – Apart from developing a stronger kick one will also strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments used in kicking.

Agility – By double kicking with some more advanced techniques like reverse roundhouse kicks, inverted front kicks etc, one can quickly develop their agility. This will help in many aspects of martial arts from kicking to some throws/takedowns and to scrambling around when ground fighting.

Cardio – Double kicking conveniently is a great cardio training exercise. After a few minutes of it, you should be sweating. After half an hour of it, your legs and lungs will feel like they are falling apart.

When double kicking, start of performing the same kick twice. For instance, front kick then another front kick. After a while, mix up different kicks. Front kick with a roundhouse kick, roundhouse kick with a side kick, axe kick with a reverse roundhouse kick. There are virtually limitless combinations, some which are easier to perform than others but all will benefit you.

After performing the double kicking exercise in air for a couple of weeks, start practising your double kicks against a heavy bag and watch how quickly your kicks become more powerful!

Marks
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Countering, Drawing and Creating Openings

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:09 PDT

After watching the Anderson Silva VS Demian Maia fight, it clearly showed something. It showed that a fight which delivers a lot of action will be because most of the time one fighter is generally an attacking one and the other fighter is a defensive fighter, preferring to allow an attack to come to him before countering. Sometimes though, a defensive fighter will fight another defensive fighter which may show a completely different kind of fight.

The thing is if you are a defensive fighter and your opponent is a defensive fighter or simply does not attack, preferring for you to make the first move then there is a sort of stale mate. I period of time where the two of you move around the fighting area, maybe throwing a couple of jabs but simply waiting for the other man to make the first move.

Not only is this boring to see, especially for spectators who may be watching but it can also leave you thinking that you may be doing something wrong. This is where panicking comes into play and may force you to do something that your opponent can capitalise on.

The thing to do in this situation is to somehow make your opponent attack you or develop a clear opening where you can easily score with an attack of your own. The following may help.

Drawing – By drawing you make your opponent think he has a chance of attacking successfully, in which you then wait for him to make his move then retaliate. Common draws include, lowering your guard slightly so your opponent strikes high, extending your lead leg slightly in order for your opponent to kick at it and moving backwards in order for your opponent to move forwards towards you in which you quickly strike at him.

Create on opening – By creating an opening in your opponent’s defence you can then strike him or go for the takedown. Feints are good for this, as is sidestepping your opponent when he moves in towards you.

Fake high and shoot in low – The classic way to close the distance for the grappler. Fake an attack high towards your opponents face and then quickly shoot in low towards his legs, aiming to grab both or one leg at least. This is an old way of shooting in towards your opponent and still works when done correctly.

By learning and utilizing these and other ways of creating action in a stalemate fight not only will you give the crowd something entertaining but you will also keep your opponent guessing. You will make him think that you are not only a defensive fighter but one who can mix it up. Someone who can attack when forced to do so. By fighting in this way, you can become a very dangerous fighter.

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Kung Fu Grappling and Submission Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 PDT

The following is a video showing some of the grappling and submission techniques found in Chinese Kung Fu.

As someone with a grappling background in judo and submission grappling the principles behind the techniques are familiar but the way some of them are applied are new to me.

The techniques seem to be very painful, technical but most of all interesting. For self defence situations some of the techniques may be useful mainly because, the person performing them stays standing without going to the ground with his opponent which is very important for the streets. Enjoy!

Marks
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How BJJ is Useful for Self Defence

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:10:51 PDT

When MMA first developed into an actual sport the rule that seemed to float around in the martial arts world was that groundwork must be learnt if one wishes to be successful in it. How true this is. With the ability of being able to take down your opponent, one must learn how to control, escape from being held down and how to submit people.

However, self defence training is different to MMA. If one learns ground fighting as it is portrayed in MMA and grappling competitions, thinking that they will become efficient in defending themselves on the street, they are mistaken.

Rolling around on the floor looking for submissions or chances to ground and pound your opponent is a bad situation to be in. With the threat of multiple attackers, and possible attacks with weapons, never mind the fact that street fights don’t take place on nice cushioned mats, fighting on the ground is the last place you want to be.

Because of these facts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been given a reputation by some as an art crucial for MMA but an art of little value for self defence. In actual fact though, this is wrong. Yes grappling on the floor, primarily what BJJ teaches is not advised in a self defence situation, but learning and applying techniques from BJJ can help someone survive certain areas of street fighting.

Most street fights start at close range which quickly goes into clinch range and from here it is very easy to end up on the ground and without any ground grappling knowledge, one can find themselves in trouble. Because of this, the reasons why some areas of BJJ are effective and probably vital for self defence include,

BJJ teaches takedown defence – Although Judo or Wrestling may offer more takedown defence training, BJJ also does include it. In order to be dominating on the ground one must gain good positional control of their opponent and a good throw/takedown will provide this. Because of this learning how to defend being taken down is included in BJJ.

BJJ teaches how to escape being held on the ground – If you are held down on the ground in a self defence situation you need to be able to escape as quickly as possible so you can get back up onto your feet to escape attacks from your opponents friends, something which usually happens in today’s street fights. BJJ teaches practical escapes to all types of hold downs and if you are concerned with self defence training, you need to know them.

BJJ provides experience on the ground – There are not many arts that give as much groundwork attention as BJJ and because of this, one can quickly become familiar and more importantly, comfortable on the ground. A lot of martial artists with no groundwork experience start panicking when they hit the floor and this leads to a lot of energy wasting which makes getting up a lot more difficult.

There are useful techniques that can be applied for self defence in all martial arts. It is always up to the person learning the art to seriously think about how they can adapt them for street fighting by making them as practical as possible.

If BJJ students think about how they can adapt the techniques they learn, for the street, they shall find that they will be able to defend themselves very well from the clinch and when on the ground. Hopefully other martial artists can also include this in their own training to make themselves that little bit more knowledgeable.

Marks
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Anderson Silva: Lessons From Legends

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:04 PDT

Anderson Silva is regarding by many to be on of the most diverse MMA fighters in the world today. Having extensive knowledge in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Judo, Boxing and Taekwondo, Silva often leaves his opponents guessing as to what techniques he will use during a fight.

Standing wise he is deadly, but also when on the ground, Silva has used his BJJ experience to submit people and anyone thinking that they can dominate him there, should think again. Here are the points that are important when thinking about Anderson Silva.

Belief in techniques – Amongst the standard techniques used in MMA Anderson Silva is known to also use ones seldom seem, such side kicks and spinning elbows and with great success. If one has lots of experience, belief and confidence in there techniques they should always be successful no matter what anyone thinks.

Learn clinch fighting – Before people knew of Anderson Silva, the clinch was a commonly known area of fighting, however, after Silva destroyed Rich Franklin with his clinch fighting expertise utilizing vicious knee strikes, people quickly realized that it can be a dangerous place to be if you do not know how to handle it.

Time your attacks – Silva is not one to quickly rush in on his opponents. He first studies his opponents for the initial part a fight, trying to figure out the best way to handle them. After he has done this, it is then that he uses his skill to take advantage of them.

A lot can be learned by studying the way Anderson Silva fights. He is one of the best fighters in the world today pound for pound, but above all he is a gentleman. He does not boast, show off or show disrespect to his opponents. He is a true champion who has earned his place as one of the best ever witnessed.

Marks
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Martial Artists Looking Good

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:13 PDT

Does a martial artist need to obtain a bodybuilder type physique in order to be a successful martial artist. Media and movies especially, have portrayed the ideal martial artist as strong, fast and flexible with a physique that could win professional bodybuilding contests. Is this necessary though?

Not every martial arts practitioner has a bodybuilder type physique. Go into any martial arts school regardless of style and chances are, only a small percentage of the practitioners have well defined six packs, and pecks like barrels. Also it is not always necessary to look like that. There are plenty of famous martial artists that do not have bodybuilder type physiques and they seem to do just fine holding strength, speed, stamina, flexibility and other attributes that every good martial artist should have.

The thing is though, in order to create a physique that replicas an ancient Greek statue one has to put in the time and effort. This would probably include, plenty of training with weights, some cardiovascular workouts and concentration on ones diet by eating nothing but the correct foods. Also chances are that this training is in addition to ones martial art training.

With this focused effort to improve ones physique certain additional advantages will also be offered, such as, • Strength gains via weight training • Increased stamina and muscular endurance via cardiovascular training • Flexibility of the muscles (if the weight training is correct) • An improvement in energy and ones metabolism through a well balanced, healthy diet

As a martial artist who is looking to improve his/her fighting abilities, these advantages are not only very beneficial but in some cases necessary in order to progress.

So as you can see, it is in ones best nature to try and improve their physique in order to better their martial arts but it must always be remembered that training to improve ones physique must not turn into bodybuilding and one must always keep in mind that the weights, cardio training and a healthy diet are there to help one improve as a martial artist. So things like cutting out carbohydrates to help shed body fat, or certain isolation exercises which help make a muscle look good but do nothing for your martial arts, may be used by bodybuilders to help improve their physiques but would not be useful for martial artists.

Marks
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Royce Gracie: Lessons From Legends

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:01 PDT

When it comes to submission grappling, one of the names that will stand for all time is Royce Gracie. Coming from the most successful grappling family to ever live, Royce gave the world a taste of Gracie Jiu Jitsu in the early 1990’s that left peoples jaws hanging. He dominated the early UFC’s and along with Ken Shamrock became the first UFC Hall of Famer.

Royce has had some great battles throughout his career and because of these, we are able to learn a thing or two from him.

Grappling matters – To be a successful fighter for the street or in competition, one must learn how to grapple when standing and on the ground. Without this knowledge, one will quickly learn that they are defenseless from these combat positions. Even for the streets, ground grappling is needed so one can know how to get up off the floor as quickly as possible.

Flexibility and relaxation when caught in submissions –Against his fight with Matt Hughes and Hidehiko Yoshida, Royce was caught in an arm lock and a foot lock which many fighters would have tapped out from. Through a lifetime of grappling however, Royce has learnt that being flexible is an important attribute to have for grappling, but most of all relaxation is needed. When one starts tensing there limbs it is then that joint locks can be applied most successfully on them.

Size doesn’t always mean success – Royce Gracie was one of the smallest fighters in the early UFC’s. However, because of his grappling knowledge and technical prowess he was able to dominate fighters much bigger and stronger than him.

Trust in ones abilities – Because of his size, people thought and said that Royce would get pummeled in the cage. However, because he had complete trust in his martial arts skills, he didn’t let these comments bother him.

Because of Royce Gracie and his family, grappling finally got the recognition it deserved and made people realize that it is vital for becoming a complete martial artist. Everyone who studies martial arts and who understands that grappling is important has Royce Gracie to thank and because of this he goes down in history as one of the greats.

Marks
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Catch Wrestling Shin Lock

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:53:54 PDT

Shrimping is a very useful way to keep the distance between yourself and your opponent when you find yourself with your back on the floor and your opponent in your guard. However, there are certain submissions that one must be very careful and aware of when performing the shrimp.

The following video demonstrates such a submission. It is so easy to apply but unfortunately not many people attempt it. As your opponent shrimps is it very easy to trap his shin with your knee and apply the lock as in the video.

The technique is demonstrated by Tony Cecchine who is a top authority on Catch Wrestling with many excellent dvds which I urge you to check out. Hopefully the video will be of interest to you. Enjoy!

Marks
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Recovery After Martial Arts Training

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:43:32 PDT

A martial artist trains, then recovers, then trains and recovers and so on and so on. Training, to many martial artists is given thought, attention and a high level of respect. This is needed so one can learn, adapt and constantly improve ones fighting abilities. So why is recovery not given the same respect?

Aikidoka, judoka, BJJ fighters and many other grapplers take a lot of physical punishment when training. Muay thai fighters, kickboxers and karate ka also punish their bodies and muscles through constant punching, kicking and receiving blows. For this reason, recovery should be a top concern.

Recovery is needed so as ones body can work as efficiently and effectively as possible. If muscles are sore, ligaments are tender and joints hurt then one will not be able to train to their maximum and their fighting technique will suffer.

Some of the best recovery methods which many martial artists use include,

Take time off – This is the number one way to recover from workouts and although obvious to some, many people still do not do it. A lot of people will take maybe a day of from training, but if your muscles are in pain whenever you try and throw a punch or lift your leg for a kick then you simply have not rested enough. Take time off from training until you feel strong again.

A hot bath – A hot bath is a great way to relax your muscles. When using this method of recovery keep a water bottle handy and sip some every few minutes to keep getting in some liquid. Sweating occurs during a hot bath and its best to keep hydrated. Another tip which you may find useful is to keep a cool damp towel around your neck. Some people complain after a hot bath of dizziness or headaches and this may help.

A cold bath – As much as a hot bath is good for recovery after training so is a cold bath. It helps reduce the inflammation occurred during training to the muscle, joint and ligaments. This is always best to do straight after a workout if possible.

Calm stretches – Stretching to a couple of inches or so below your maximum is a great way to treat muscles that have been beaten through hard workouts. Don’t hold each stretch for more than 20 seconds as this type of stretching is only to help you recover a bit quicker. A good time to perform these type of stretches is straight away after a hot bath, once your muscles are well warmed.

Quality diet – Many martial artists, especially those who are trying to cut a certain amount of weight before a fight/competition tend to restrict the calories they consume. Whilst this is needed to lose weight, many people cut back too much and coupled with the fact they burn up extra calories through training, this can seriously increase the time needed to recover between workouts. Make sure you are eating enough quality food each day.

Water – A lot of people do not drink enough water. When training hard one must keep well hydrated. Muscle is made up of mostly water and without it you simply are not doing your muscles any favours. Keep hydrated always!

These are old fashioned rules that have been around for many years when concerned with recovery from training. Recovery is a very much neglected area to many martial artists and it is a shame. If one has recovered fully between workouts, they will notice that they will be able to train harder with extra strength and speed during workouts. Treat recovery with respect and you will be training for many years to come.

Marks
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Mike Tyson: Lessons from Legends

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:03:58 PDT

Mike Tyson has had one of the most extravagant boxing careers of all time. Known primarily as a power fighter, Tyson ruled the heavyweight boxing world during the mid eighties to early nineties.

Being a protégé of the great trainer Cus D’Amato, he learned the sweet science to a tee and coupled with his natural raw strength he quickly became champion of the world. However, some feel that life outside of the ring may have contributed to Tyson not reaching his full potential but nevertheless, there are still valuable lessons to be learnt from the great ‘Iron Mike’.

Head movement – Mike’s head movement when watching most of his early fights was amazing. Using Cus D’Amato’s peek a boo style of boxing, Tyson would constantly bob, weave and move his head from side to side in between punches. His opponents where left punching nothing but air most of the time!

Power gets the job done – Tyson hit hard! Most of his fights were won due to knock out in which he would display legendary punching power. Through years of heavy bag hitting, Tyson achieved this required attribute which all fighters should try develop to their maximum.

Heavy can still be fast – Heavyweights weigh over 200lbs. Some think that being heavy means one loses speed. Tyson, like many other great heavyweights like Ali and Frazier proved that one can still be heavy and super fast.

Take the centre – Tyson always came out of his corner and took the centre of the ring. By taking the centre of the ring, your opponent receives the initial feeling that you are ready to fight without running away. Psychologically, this may have overpowered his opponents, and provided him with a win before even having to throw a punch.

Although Mike Tyson’s boxing career probably did not go the way he wanted it towards the end, he will always be known as one of the most entertaining fighters to have ever graced the square circle. Like Muhammad Ali he is another heavyweight boxing champion that has inspired millions and should always be given a round of applause because of it.

Marks
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The Double End Bag

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:28:27 PDT

Today’s video is all about the Double End Bag.

A great piece of training equipment is definitely not used as much as it should be.

This bag will quickly speed up a fighter’s reflexes, timing, coordination and movement.

The video explains the basics of using the bag and is a great start for all to use if new to it. Enjoy!

Marks
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Seizing for Self Defence

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:00:05 PDT

Seizing is a very natural and ancient fighting technique. It does not need much practise for one to become efficient in seizing, but some basic training does help one develop this very effective part of fighting into a great asset of ones fighting arsenal.

Regarding combat sports, seizing is forbid in most. This is because many of the follow up techniques which flow from seizing your opponent are too dangerous for competition or seizing certain parts of the body cause great damage if applied properly.

However, for self defence purposes seizing can be vary effective and a great way of dealing with an attacker.

Some of the ways in which seizing can be effective include.

To create pain – The kind of pain that seizing can create depends on what part of the body is seized. For instance, if the bicep is seized via a clinch it causes pain, but is bearable to some degree. If the testicles are seized however, this is awfully painful and not bearable at all. Seizing to create pain is dangerous. If practising it is carried out then the seize should be very light.

To control – The hair can be seized to control the head, the forearms can be seized to control the arms and many other body parts can be seized in order to control. This is especially useful when defending against strikes and when delivering strikes. By controlling your opponent you can aim your strikes much more effectively and is a very useful method of fighting, especially when concerned with self defence.

To open up striking areas – When the hair is seized, the head can be pulled back in order to open up the throat for a strike. This is one way in which seizing can be used to open up striking areas. This is something that is worth researching and experimenting for all martial artists.

To lock – Especially useful when concerned with the fingers, seizing can be used to lock. By grabbing your opponent’s fingers, they can be locked quite easily. If one is involved in a self defence situation and the opportunity to lock your opponent’s fingers becomes available, it is worth taking.

Seizing is very useful. It is well worth every martial artist developing their skills in it and when used correctly can quickly become a major part of ones fighting method.

Marks
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Muhammad Ali: Lessons from Legends

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:00:05 PDT

“Float like a butterfly, Sting like a bee!” This is the famous saying that was attributed to Muhammad Ali who some feel was the best boxer and sportsman to ever live.

Ali was someone who defied the odds. Winning the heavyweight championship in boxing three times, he was and still is an inspiration to many people throughout out the world.

By being who he is, he has taught us so much and here are just some of the most important points we can pick up from him.

Speed gets you places, fast! – Muhammad Ali was fast! Watch any of his fights and the speed at which he would jab and move is amazing. His lightening fast striking and movement is what kept most of his opponents chasing him trying to get a punch in.

Never stay still – As mentioned, Ali’s movement was fast. But even if it where not as fast as it was, it would still be of benefit to him. By using constant movement, his opponents could never establish a solid base in which to strike him. Ali knew that this would help him stay away from hard punches and used it wisely.

Timing is key – Against George Foreman, Ali got pummeled by the heavy striker for seven hard rounds. The only thing he did was use the now termed “Rope a Dope” technique in which he stayed against the ropes, guarding himself and took the hits. However, he knew that Foreman was going to punch himself into exhaustion and when this happened Ali unloaded on him, knocking him out. Ali timed it beautifully.

When there’s a will, there’s a way – No one thought that Ali had a chance against Foreman or Frazier. People thought they where to strong for Ali, and because Ali was not as fast as he used to be he would not be able to cope with them. However, against all odds, Ali proved that with a game plan and more importantly a strong will, anything is possible.

Ali will always be remembered, not just in the world of boxing but by all people, even those who don’t follow sports, simply because he has shown that trust in ones abilities and strong belief in success can allow you to do anything.

Marks
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Malaipet Clinch Sensitivity Drills

noreply@blogger.com (MARKS) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:01 PST

In grappling competitions it is not uncommon to find blind people competing. Their fights start whilst already clinching to their opponents and from there, whether it is on the ground or standing the fight continues.

The attribute which blind people use to grapple is sensitivity. Through many years of practise, they are able to feel the movements of their opponents and can defend or attack because of this.

Muay thai fighters, via many years of clinch practise also develop their sensitivity attributes to such a level where they too can clinch fight whilst wearing blindfolds. Many muay thai martial artists actually practise the clinch in their daily training without even looking at what their opponents are doing.

They are able to feel when their opponents move there arms or legs and can respond accordingly.

The following videos shows muay thai legend Malaipet showing certain attacks, counters, throws etc from the clinch. The techniques demonstrated work well if one has excellent sensitivity and timing and are great for all martial artists to practise in order to develop these very valuable attributes. Enjoy!

Marks
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Links for 2009-09-29 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 PDT

UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®
The UFC official website, for news, events and more
Martial arts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
the wikipedia definition and history of martial arts
The Gokyo of Kodokan Judo: Videos of 40 Throwing Techniques
40 Judo throwing techniques
United States Judo Federation
The Judo Federation of USA
GRACIEMAG.com
The Gracie Jiu Jitsu mag
London Fight Factory - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), Capoeira, MMA, Muay Thai, Weng Chun Kung Fu - Home
MMA gym based in London

Links for 2009-03-27 [del.icio.us]

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Martial Development — Martial arts for personal development
A good blog with interesting artcles
Mousel's Self-Defense Academy - Mixed Martial Arts, Jeet Kune Do, Thaiboxing, Submission Grappling
Martial arts forum with interesting articles and discussions
Muscle & Fitness Magazine Online -- Bodybuilding, Health and Fitness Information
Great Monthly Muscle Mag
Bodybuilding.com - The Future Of Bodybuilding! Huge Bodybuilding Site.
The Best bodybuilding site on the internet offering training advice on all topics and supplement store.
Build Muscle, Six Pack Abs and Lose Fat Fast. Natural Bodybuilding blog
FightingArts.com - Martial arts magazine and center for discussion, martial artists, martial arts supplies, martial arts books, budo, self defense, karate, kung fu, aikido, taekwondo, judo
A great traditional martial arts website
24FightingChickens - Shotokan Karate
Karate blog with many great articles
Martial Arts Supplies including Uniforms and Weapons
A good supplier of martial arts training equipment
Iain Abernethy is one of the leading exponents of applied karate, Bunkai and Kata
A great website by one of the leading authorities of Karate kata bunkai