Martial Arts: Self Defense

Ouch! Stop pulling my hair!
By Christopher Caile
Getting caught in a hair pull can be dangerous and painful, and you can end up in a vary precarious position. Suddenly the head goes forward and down in front of your body -- balance and strength are lost.More

         Chinese Arts:

Inside the Eagle's Claw
By Victor Smith
In the martial arts today there is so much diversity that students rarely get a chance to peer past the veil of an art to really understand how it is composed. Instead, preconceived notions, suppositions or movies fill in the gaps to create something else. I would like to give everyone a glimpse into a traditional Northern Chinese system of study, that of Fann Tzi Ying Jow Pai -- Northern Eagle Claw.More

         Martial Arts: Energy Arts and Qugong

Acupuncture Points Verified with New Technology
By David Silver
Modern science is beginning to verify ancient Chinese concepts of energy pathways and points. Here is the science. More

         Martial Arts: Tai Chi, Taijiquan

Yang Family Taiji Quan - The Hidden Tradition
By Scott Rodell
Few students of Yang style taiji quan (tai chi) realize that Yang family decedents practiced a secret and slightly different family art which in modern times is rarely taught. More

The Straight Arm Double Lapel Grab Part 1
By Christopher Caile
This technique taken from the karate kata Pinan four is a simple, easy to execute self-defense for this type attack.

Up Against The Wall
By Christopher Caile
Pushing someone from behind into a wall or object to hit or steal from them is a common technique, but it is easy to counter with a little knowledge.

Channan: The "Lost" Kata of Itosu?
By Joe Swift
The series of five basic kata called Pinan (later renamed Heian in Japan) are probably the most widely practiced kata in karate today, but were they based on an earlier kata known as Channan?

A Brief History of Chinese Kung-Fu: Part 1
By David A. Ross
There is a lot of contradictory information circulated about the origins and purposes of Chinese martial arts and most of what is painted by those within these arts is not only misleading and illogical, but also inconsistent. More

Leg Circles Part I – Stretching the Hip Muscles for Higher Kicks
By Paul Zaichik
"This exercise loosens up and stretches the muscles surrounding the hip joints. Practicing it regularly will promote higher, faster and more powerful kicks.

A Brief History of Chinese Kung-Fu: Part 2
By David A. Ross
In recent history Chinese martial arts witnessed growing control of the central government over their practice and interpretation. More

Characteristic Traits of a Good Judo Coach
by Elie A. Morrell, Hachidan
The judo coach's basic job is to pass on his knowledge to others in a clear and understandable way.  If he can't  properly communicate, this will have long range adverse effects on the students' progress in judo.

The Study of Kuzushi
By Neil Ohlenkamp
The concept of Kuzushi, or the breaking of an opponent's balance, is central to many martial arts including judo and jujitsu. More

Terminology - Body Parts
By FightingArts Staff
Japanese anatomical terms and their English equivalents.

Haunting Danger, Unseen Enemy: An Introduction To Blood Borne Pathogens For Martial Artists - Part 1
By Len Sclafani, DDS
Your most dangerous opponent in the dojo might not be human.

Creativity, Bound Flow & The Concept of Shu-Ha-Ri In Kata
By Deborah Klens-Bigman, Ph.D.
Kata has been a traditional tool for teaching martial arts in Japan for centuries and is also prevalent throughout Japanese traditional arts including, but in no way limited to, flower arranging, tea, traditional Japanese dance, and the kabuki and noh theaters.

Why Kata Is Important
By Jason Armstrong
Too many karate-ka today relegate kata to a secondary status behind practice of free fighting. In my view this is a mistake because it represents a profound misunderstanding of kata?s role and purpose.