The Five Levels of Force
There is a proverb that declares, “You do as you are trained.” If you are trained to always defend yourself with feet and fist...
Break Through Tension with A Systema Breathing Drill
We all know that breathing is our best tool to eliminate tension. We have done numerous great drills at Systema classes and seminars including aSystema...
What to Expect When Training in the Russian Martial Art of Systema?
In his article Bratzo Barrena discusses what to expect when training in the Russian Martial Art of Systema, as most people who attend their...
6 Stretch Yourself: High Kicks with No Warm Up – Side Kicks
High Kicks with No Warm-Up: The Right Body Alignment for Side Kicks
Stretch Yourself: High Kicks with no Warm up, The Right Body Alignment for Side...
Tegumi – Old Style Karate’s Two Person Exercise
Tegumi or Okinawan grappling and wrestling
Just as a great dish needs a recipe or an extensive trip needs a map, so too does the...
Why the Front Squat is the Real Judoka’s Best Friend
I have seen more than one article on the web, heralding the Squat as the best exercise for a judoka. While I can’t argue...
The Conflict Cycle
Any human conflict that you engage in will have a predictable cycle. Whether the conflict involves a heated argument with a hostile subject or...
How to Properly Hold a Knife for Self-Defense and Military Applications – Part 1
Of the innumerable knife concepts and maneuvers that I consider unsound, the most egregious of these are the unsafe knife grips that abound.
O Goshi, for Sport or Street
A basic and popular Judo throw is O-Goshi, the well-known hip throw. It is an ideal throw for shorter people to employ against taller...
The 7 Keys To Martial Arts Speed
Regardless of your martial arts style or method . . . you cannot apply it unless you can react quickly and respond instantly. Speed...
Science of Bruce Lee’s One-Inch Punch
Forget all those broken boards and crumbled concrete slabs. No feat of martial arts is more impressive than Bruce Lee’s famous strike, the one-inch...
Ju No Kata
So-called "Forms of Gentleness," as the ju no kata is referred to, is a grossly misinterpreted standard of Kodokan. As performed in modern-day judo,...
Etiquette Among Martial Artists in China
CHINA began its history several thousand years ago, and has since been a state of ceremonies in the world. As early as in the...
Thanks George Dillman: Understanding Pressure Point Fighting
For some years before I met George Dillman, I had been trying to do interpretation of kata. I knew these movements must have some...
Adding Judo to Your Self-Defense Toolbox Part 2
Read Judo Part 1
The Force of Competitive Throws
The Impact of someone being thrown on their head on concrete is far more devastating than the...
The Sub-Arts of Karate: Tuidi-jutsu and Kyusho-jutsu
Tuidi (Grab-Hand) "The Grappling Aspect of Karate"
All bodies can be weakened - they all have nerves, vital points, joints, tendons and muscles that will...
