Choosing a Self Defense / Martial Arts School: A Parents Guide

"Daddy, I want to take Karate!""Mommy, Jimmy on the bus hit me again today"There are many reasons why parents want to sign their children up for Self Defense or Martial Arts classes. Once you have made the decision, now you are faced with many different options and questions. What style?... Read More

Basic Drills

We all have a good foundation in the basic blows and combinations.Think about adding the following drills to your basic syllabus.These can be trained as "stand alone" combinations OR worked into existing "Defendu" combinations either "before" or "after".1. HARD left lead to chin (mental foramen) HARD overhand right to chin... Read More

A Beginning History of Old School Jujutsu - Part 1

Over the next couple of day's I will writing an article of the history of Pre-WWII Japanese Jujitsu/Judo. I wasn't sure where to start, but here I am so let's get started.I'm going to start with H. Irving Hancock, who in the early 1900's wrote several books on the history... Read More

A Great Question!

It's a question that we went back and forth with for awhile ourselves many moons ago. The "how" and "why" of our conclusions may be of some interest. Whether or not anyone agrees with them, well at the least you'll fully understand the basis for them.The question is this:Why does... Read More

The Acronym That Saved My Life

Frequently, I get asked about certifications, systems or methods. We made a decision a long time ago of purposely staying away from things like this.Obviously, it's a no-brainer, money maker and it's not that I don't want to make money; but our purpose was to give you real training on... Read More

Are You Still Standing Toe to Toe?

How many times do you practice techniques with your training partner and you stay in the same spot? Next time you are training, see how much you and your partner move. You will find you move very little or not at all. You see, when you are training, or doing... Read More

Are You Frustrated Yet?

I was talking to a parent recently and they told me that their son was not going to compete in wrestling because they were afraid they would get frustrated when he lost. The parent felt the child was far too sensitive to handle the frustration of failure and may get... Read More

By-Rote Combinations

Do not believe that practicing "by rote" 1-2-3,etc. type "responses" to street attacks is a viable or particularly useful training exercise. Example: He does this, I do that. For attack A I use Defense A.Realize that in a street fight there are far too many variables, too many contingencies. Uncle... Read More

Catholic Self Defense

Note: I wrote this essay regarding the development of Tekkenryu jujutsu. However, I think it is applicable for all methods of self defense. It may also explain why martial arts are the way they are.Catholic, by definition, means universal or "broad minded".I could pull out STACKS of manuals, syllabuses, films,... Read More

Bogu Training

About four years ago Carl recommended we start using the Bogu during our kumite (sparring practice). This method was developed in Okinawa and then found its way into mainland Japan and eventually to the U.S. where only a few clubs still do this. And even in those clubs, only a... Read More

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Showing 1 - 10 of 89 Articles
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What Can We Learn From What Has Already Been Done?

Pre-WWII Judo was a far different thing than what we... Read More

COMBATIVES A Rose by Any Other Name?....Part 2

The advent of World War One (the war to END... Read More

Regular or De-escalated

We always stress that NOTHING occurs in a vacuum. There... Read More

The Dojo

Just as an aside. For those who would "box" us... Read More

The Test

"Will this work so that I can use it instinctively... Read More

New Book: Positive Aikido

A new book with a practical look at Aikido and... Read More

Its Not a Matter of Who is Right

"People here may belittle sports arts...."Who?Almost EVERY "combatives" man of... Read More

Women in the Martial Arts

1st Lady Assistant to Sensei Henry Ellis Ellis Schools... Read More

Strategy as Applied to Warrior-citizens

After years of study, I have come to a small... Read More

Samurai Swords ? Choosing a Sword to Buy

It's undeniable that a well placed and mounted samurai sword... Read More

Samurai Sword Facts

The first samurai swords we're actually straight bladed, single edged... Read More

Break the Bones

"HONE O ORERU" is a Japanese term that translates literally... Read More

By-Rote Combinations

Do not believe that practicing "by rote" 1-2-3,etc. type "responses"... Read More

Why Every Cop Should Study Judo Part 1

Up until 30 years ago, JUDO was the martial art.... Read More

Benefits of Martial Arts Training For Kids

Admit it. When the going gets tough at home, we've... Read More

I Know Karate and Kung Fu and Lots of Other Foreign Words!

Martial arts have become incredibly popular in the US. Drive... Read More

Martial Arts and The Bible

As a Christian and a martial arts student, I have... Read More

Samurai Armor Part 1

The first prototype for Japanese samurai armor came about in... Read More

Judo Nagewaza (Throwing Technique) In The Street

How practical are throwing techniques (nagewaza) for self-defense or street-fighting?... Read More

The Rebels Guide to Cultivating Vitality

Many Taoists recluses and Buddhists monks dwelled in mountains and... Read More

Choosing a Self Defense / Martial Arts School: A Parents Guide

"Daddy, I want to take Karate!""Mommy, Jimmy on the bus... Read More

Is it a ?Hurt? or is it an ?Injury?

My father fed me this line every time I felt... Read More

COMBATIVES? ...... Don?t Tell Me. I Know What That Is! (Part 1)

"Combatives" from the root word COMBAT ? "to fight in... Read More

The Plight of Industrialized Man

Living in the Pacific Northwest is a challenge for any... Read More

Martial Arts and The Zone

On the occasions you delivered the perfect strike; blocked without... Read More