Martial Arts Articles

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Tuesday, 25th November 2008 @ 10:47 PM

If you practice the martial arts, the color of the belt around your waist is used to signify your grade, level or ranking within the style. Colored belts, however, were never part of the ancient martial arts tradition. According to martial art folklore, a student was given a white belt to match his uniform and hold up his pants. After many years of training, the belt became stained with dirt, blood and sweat to the point where it turned black. See, while you were encouraged to wash your unif... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Tuesday, 25th November 2008 @ 7:33 PM

I am writing on this topic to inspire you. Everyone has some type of natural talent. Some people are well aware of their natural talents and do all they can to cultivate them. Some aren't and even go so far as saying that they have nothing to offer the world. I have taught martial arts instructor for close to 30 years and I can tell you this is not so. I advise my students to take a survey of their lives, from the time they were children to the present. Pay close attention to what you... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Tuesday, 25th November 2008 @ 7:32 PM

The American public has long assumed that a black belt is a sign of expertise or mastery in the martial arts. In reality, all a black belt means is that a student has learned the basic techniques and principles of a specific martial art. It doesn't mean that they are a master or possess magical powers. Becoming a black belt really means that you have learned the basic principles of a style. There is nothing magical about it. Your real martial arts education begins when you get your... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Wednesday, 19th November 2008 @ 6:18 AM

What is it about a man like Bruce Lee that has made him a martial arts legend? While the fancy stunts of Jackie Chan and Jet Li provide us with heart stopping entertainment, most of these feats employ the use of trick photography, strings and trampolines. What is so intriguing about Bruce Lee is that the man was real and so were his martial arts. Regardless of who comes and goes at the box office, there will never be another Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee's Fighting Method: Basic Training w... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Alan Largo @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 2:49 AM

Learning to manipulate Chi and have it do what you want, when you want, and how you want it is not something that happens overnight. Many people learn that Chi is the secret behind most martial arts. The amazing things that can be performed by martial arts masters are through belief they can obtain this ability easily and then they too can do the amazing things done by martial arts masters. The reality is it does not work that way. Manipulating Chi is a process that takes a sign... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Sunday, 16th November 2008 @ 12:46 AM

We Americans love affiliations and endorsements; The Good Housekeeping Seal, Better Business Bureau etc. They lend credibility to a business or product. They assure us that our chosen product or service has received some type of validation from a higher authority. Martial arts are no different. Look at most generic articles entitled "how to choose a good martial arts school." A piece of advice you will often see is that you find a school that is affiliated with an "accredited ... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Alan Largo @ Wednesday, 29th October 2008 @ 10:32 PM

Knowing Chi is only the first step in being able to utilize it and manipulate it. It is one of the things that are rarely taught in most martial arts. This is because it is something that takes years to develop and practice. It is more difficult than simply training your body to be able to accomplish the movements, forms and katas. Therefore in order to be able to use this energy, you must be able to feel and recognize it. You must have an awareness of it. Everything i... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Tuesday, 28th October 2008 @ 5:40 PM

In the old days, we used to say "make sure you learn how to fight standing up first, and then learn what to do on the ground." Today, the proponents of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tell us that 90-95% of all fights end up on the ground, so because of this, martial art students should focus on ground fighting. As a martial arts instructor and proprietor of a large dojo, I meet many prospective students interested in ground fighting, because of the popularity of mixed martial arts and the ... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Monday, 20th October 2008 @ 6:53 PM

When I opened my first martial arts school, a lot of barroom brawlers and street fighters came through my door. Some grew up in environments where they had to fight to survive while others just liked looking for trouble. I wasn't necessarily targeting them in my marketing plan. Most of them were there to challenge me or one of my students to a fight. I earned their respect with my martial art skill which was gained partly through traditional training and partly through my own exper... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Saturday, 18th October 2008 @ 8:26 PM

One of the goals of a good martial arts curriculum is progress. Regardless of the style you have chosen to study, all of them begin with the fundamentals and can take you to the level of mastery. Success however depends on two things: commitment on your part and a skilled instructor who not only teaches you the art, but also challenges you. To some, progression in the martial arts is about earning another belt or stripe. The space between these belts and stripes however is where the mar... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Wednesday, 8th October 2008 @ 10:11 PM

A prospective student came to the door, interested in martial arts training. When I asked him if he had any previous experience, he replied "yes, I've studied for about two years." His training history consisted of 3 months in aikido, 2 months of karate, 4 months of kung-fu, 3 weeks of tai chi, etc., etc. This is what we call "style hopping" going from one style to another. "What's wrong with going from style to style" some students say. Even Bruce... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Wednesday, 8th October 2008 @ 11:29 AM

In The Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi admonishes Daniel-san for not looking him in the eyes. In Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee points to the moon and tells his student not to concentrate on the finger or he will lose all the heavenly glory. Some martial artists, however, spend a lot of time working on their basics, polishing their forms, but little or no time developing proper eye contact and focus. Why are the eyes important in martial arts training? The eyes are a declaration of your fighting ... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Monday, 6th October 2008 @ 4:59 PM

If you're going to open a martial arts school, please beware that you will have to deal with troublemakers. You know what I'm talking about. You've seen the martial arts movie where a karate teacher is busy teaching class for example, and all of a sudden, a bunch of clowns from a rival school show up and want to fight. If you think this scene only happens in the movies, you are sorely mistaken. It is not uncommon to have challengers come into a martial art school looking... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Monday, 6th October 2008 @ 3:57 PM

First you must empty your cup. What martial artist hasn't heard this piece of Eastern philosophy at one point in his lifetime? Here's how the official story goes. A professor of philosophy visits a well-known Zen master. The professor is full of his own opinions. The master, being a good host, serves the professor a cup of tea. As he fills his cup, he just keeps pouring until the cup starts to overflow. The professor could no longer stand it. "Stop!" he said. &qu... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Phoenix Delray @ Monday, 29th September 2008 @ 9:27 PM

Fedor Emelianenko is said to be one of the best heavyweight fighters in the world. Known in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) as The Last Emporor, Fedor Emelianenko has proven that he is one of the greatest Mixed Martial Arts champions who has ever lived. ESPN, The Wrestling Observer, and The Fight Network all couldnt agree more. Fedor Emelianenko was born on September 28, 1976 in Luhansk, part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in the former Soviet Union. His father was a steel worker,... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Phoenix Delray @ Saturday, 27th September 2008 @ 10:34 PM

Fedor Emelianenko has been hailed as one of the greatest MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) athletes that has ever been. He is currently the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion. Born on September 28, 1976, Fedor Emelianenko has proven throughout the last decade that he is a prime heavyweight champion fighter, and is second to none. In Mixed Martial Arts fighting circles, he is known as The Last Emporor and has worked his way to becoming a legend in the sport. Fedor Emeli... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Phoenix Delray @ Friday, 26th September 2008 @ 7:19 AM

Chuck Liddell is one of the most popular MMA champions today. He was born December 17, 1969, and is known in the Ultimate Fighting Championship world as The Iceman. He is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion, and has been active in Mixed Martial Arts for years. Chuck Liddell has a long career in wrestling and kickboxing that goes back many years. Chuck Liddell began taking lessons in Koei Kan Karate when he was only twelve years old, and a close look at ... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Phoenix Delray @ Thursday, 25th September 2008 @ 5:23 PM

On August 10, 1971, Kevin Randleman was born in Sandusky, Ohio. Kevin, also known as The Monster, is an American Mixed Martial Artist. Kevin Randlemans background is one of wrestling. He was a two time Division I NCAA Champion for Ohio State University. Kevin Randleman is a former heavyweight champion of the UFC. He is known for his strength and his athleticism. In October of 1996, Kevin Randlemans career began with a Mixed Martial Arts win over Luiz Carlos Macial, Geza Kalman, and D... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Phoenix Delray @ Wednesday, 24th September 2008 @ 1:59 PM

MMA fighter Kevin Randleman was born on August 10, 1971 in Sandusky, Ohio, and seemed destined to be a champion athlete. Kevin, also known as The Monster, is an American Mixed Martial Artist. At five feet, 10 inches tall and 205 pounds, the 37 year old MMA champ has an impressive athletic history. Kevin Randlemans background is one of wrestling. He was a two-time Division I NCAA Champion for Ohio State University. For two years out of the four that he spent at Ohio State, he was the Divisio... more...

Recreation and Leisure » Sports » Martial Arts | By Calasanz Martinez @ Monday, 22nd September 2008 @ 6:33 PM

I appreciate martial arts students who want to do everything perfectly. They are usually very committed and hard working. They sign up for classes ready to train and full of enthusiasm! Unfortunately, this enthusiasm disappears very quickly. The one problem is that perfectionists worry themselves to death! They start off with a very positive attitude, but set the bar so high that they get depressed and disappointed if they can't meet their expectations. Students with su... more...