Attending Your First Class of Capoeira

Ones experience when attending class for the first time can be intimidating and confusing. The main reason for this is due to the fact Capoeira uses moves that are unfamiliar to most people outside of Brazil. Even moves that may seem simple, like ginga and role, are difficult to master even after months of practicing. Though someone new is usually nurtured on their way to becoming a capoeirista, the first class my seem like being thrown into the deep end of a pool.

Sometimes You Learn the Most From A Well Intentioned and Calculated Butt Whoopin'

As you may and should well know, three of the many tenants of almost any martial art are respect, self-discipline, and self-control. These tenants should be applied to every situation, even those where you think they shouldn’t. A prime example of this comes from my own personal experience with a senior classmate of mine when I was just a green belt.

Best Martial Arts Training Creates Speed and Strength

Martial arts is about training and discipline. Learning about the correct styles and techniques will help in finding the correct school and instructor.

Adjusting to the Movements

One thing to be aware of when beginning to train Capoeira, is that it will take time for the body to get used to the movements. It is normal to experience pain and soreness and should be expected. To most non-brazillians, the body motions required are foreign. Fortunately, with time and practice, the body adapts.

Martial Arts: More Than Just a Workout

So many people view martial arts as good for only one thing. What these same people fail to realize is that the martial arts are about so much more. In this article we talk about some of the many things martial arts offers.

Capoeira History

In Brazil, hundreds of years ago, African slaves fighting against oppression developed a new kind of martial art capoeira (sometimes misspelled capoeria). Today, capoeira's legacy can be found across the globe and in many nations. Capoeira’s oral history tells of the years of persecution and hard work that made the art what it is today. Anyone wishing to study capoeira needs to first learn about into its rich historical foundation.

Consider the Benefits of Martial Arts Schools

When looking at martial arts schools, there is a lot to consider. What techniques and styles are they teaching.

The Revival of Bare-Knuckle Boxing

Most people today think of fighting systems as Asian. Some also even think of Brazil or Israel, but most don't think of martial arts as being European or American. Some have heard of Bare-Knuckle Boxing but don't equate it with other martial arts. They really don’t know how effective and brutal a street-minded European boxer could be. In fact, Bare-Knuckle Boxing was once considered one of the most effective empty hand systems in the Western world for self-defense.

5 Ways to Ruin Your Self-Defense Training

99% of sport fighting, traditional martial arts and self defense systems fail at training the body's subconscious reactions for real fighting because their primary focus is improperly based upon techniques instead of enhancement of the body's natural delivery system. In addition, they teach you how to develop combative tools but fail at teaching how to utilize them in an uncooperative environment. Worst of all, they propagate techniques filtered through the prism of competitive fighting which is a natural out growth of the limitations imposed upon the fighters. They fail to understand that these techniques were developed as a work-around due to the prohibition of using potentially or completely lethal skills for competitive bouts. While practical in competition, these techniques have no basis in life and death combat.

5 Ways to Ruin Your Self-Defense Training, Part 4

99% of sport fighting, traditional martial arts and self defense systems fail at training the body's subconscious reactions for real fighting because their primary focus is improperly based upon techniques instead of enhancement of the body's natural delivery system. In addition, they teach you how to develop combative tools but fail at teaching how to utilize them in an uncooperative environment. Worst of all, they propagate techniques filtered through the prism of competitive fighting which is a natural out growth of the limitations imposed upon the fighters. They fail to understand that these techniques were developed as a work-around due to the prohibition of using potentially or completely lethal skills for competitive bouts. While practical in competition, these techniques have no basis in life and death combat.

5 Ways to Ruin Your Self-Defense Training, Part 3

99% of sport fighting, traditional martial arts and self defense systems fail at training the body's subconscious reactions for real fighting because their primary focus is improperly based upon techniques instead of enhancement of the body's natural delivery system. In addition, they teach you how to develop combative tools but fail at teaching how to utilize them in an uncooperative environment. Worst of all, they propagate techniques filtered through the prism of competitive fighting which is a natural out growth of the limitations imposed upon the fighters. They fail to understand that these techniques were developed as a work-around due to the prohibition of using potentially or completely lethal skills for competitive bouts. While practical in competition, these techniques have no basis in life and death combat.

What Kids Learn from Martial Arts

Article on kids and martial arts.

Foxy Boxing

A boxing match between two women is called foxy boxing. These are quite different from boxing matches between men. Boxing matches between men focus on power and stamina.

Learn How To Kick: Kicking Effectively in a Self-Defense or Combat Situation Part 4 of 10

This is article four in a ten article series that will deal with the various components that need to be addressed when considering the utilization of a particular kick in a combat or self-defense situation. These ten components can also be used by the tournament competitor although certain segments would have to be modified slightly for the tournament aspects of kicking, rather than the more intensive nature of using a kick or kicks in combat.