When I decided to study martial arts, I knew it was going to be a commitment. So naturally, I researched all the different styles of fighting out there so that I could make an informed decision as to which discipline to study. This is how I ended up choosing combat sport oriented disciplines over theContinue reading “Could Tai Chi Benefit Combat Athletes?”
Category Archives: Philosophy & Perspective
Combat Sports vs Self-Defense
So there is this idea that adding a sports competition element to the martial arts can actually hurt or undermine the efficacy of the self-defense aspect. I’ve heard variations of this argument from multiple sources. You hear this argument mostly from Krav Maga people and old-school Karate guys, so most people who compete in MMA,Continue reading “Combat Sports vs Self-Defense”
Meditation on Mental Elasticity
One of the best compliments I’ve received in martial arts in the past few years came from a Jiu Jitsu brown belt at my gym. We’ll call him Juan since that’s his name. I’ll paraphrase as well as I can: “You are constantly learning and improving. I’ve rolled with a lot of guys your ageContinue reading “Meditation on Mental Elasticity”
Remember to Breathe
You may notice that I generally conclude my articles with something along the lines of “happy training, and don’t forget to breathe,” or a variation thereof. The Implied message is both as simple as, yet deeper than, it sounds. Taken at its most basic meaning, it is a simple reminder to breathe. It is throughContinue reading “Remember to Breathe”
The Benefits of Gratitude
“Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect. In effect, you are thanking your opponent for giving you the opportunity to improve your technique.” – Jigaro Kano So, yeah. Themed seasonal blog post this time, but a worthy topic nonetheless. My grandfather once told me that when he wakes up each morning, he meditates onContinue reading “The Benefits of Gratitude”
Of Health and Hedonism
In my early 20s, the pursuit of pleasure was one of my primary motivators. The majority of weekends, I was out looking for adventure, whether that entailed getting high as fuck at a concert, drunk as fuck at a house party, or doing hallucinogens in the forest with a good friend or three. I alsoContinue reading “Of Health and Hedonism”
Martial Arts vs Combat Sports
I tend to use the terms “Martial Arts” and “Combat Sports” interchangeably because in my mind, they are. I realize there are purists out there who get weirdly pedantic about that. “Wrestling and Boxing aren’t martial arts.” Yes, they are. I don’t care, dude. They are. Generally it seems like this distinction is important toContinue reading “Martial Arts vs Combat Sports”
How Boxing Benefits Martial Arts Training
Hello everyone. So for those of you who know me or have read some of my previous posts, you may know that I am a big advocate of cross training. The concept of stylistic purity is outdated and serves no useful purpose. For example, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is my primary art. But I make roomContinue reading “How Boxing Benefits Martial Arts Training”
4 Reasons to Do Martial Arts
Hello everybody. As documented by this totally modest blog, I am an advocate for martial arts. I believe it to be a viable path towards self-improvement, not to mention learning different ways to beat people up is just a ton of fun. But how does learning to beat people up translate to self-improvement? Well, martialContinue reading “4 Reasons to Do Martial Arts”
Strangle Buddies 