If you practice the martial arts, the color of the belt around your waist is used to signify your grade, level or ranking within the style. Colored belts, however, were never part of the ancient martial arts tradition. According to martial art folklore, a student was given a white belt to match his uniform and hold up his pants. After many years of training, the belt became stained with...
The American public has long assumed that a black belt is a sign of expertise or mastery in the martial arts. In reality, all a black belt means is that a student has learned the basic techniques and principles of a specific martial art. It doesn\'t mean that they are a master or possess magical powers.
Becoming a black belt really means that you have learned the basic principles of a...
I am writing on this topic to inspire you. Everyone has some type of natural talent. Some people are well aware of their natural talents and do all they can to cultivate them. Some aren\'t and even go so far as saying that they have nothing to offer the world. I have taught martial arts instructor for close to 30 years and I can tell you this is not so. I advise my students to take a...
What is it about a man like Bruce Lee that has made him a martial arts legend? While the fancy stunts of Jackie Chan and Jet Li provide us with heart stopping entertainment, most of these feats employ the use of trick photography, strings and trampolines. What is so intriguing about Bruce Lee is that the man was real and so were his martial arts. Regardless of who comes and goes at the box...
We Americans love affiliations and endorsements; The Good Housekeeping Seal, Better Business Bureau etc. They lend credibility to a business or product. They assure us that our chosen product or service has received some type of validation from a higher authority.
Martial arts are no different. Look at most generic articles entitled \"how to choose a good martial arts school.\" A piece of...
In the old days, we used to say \"make sure you learn how to fight standing up first, and then learn what to do on the ground.\" Today, the proponents of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tell us that 90-95% of all fights end up on the ground, so because of this, martial art students should focus on ground fighting.
As a martial arts instructor and proprietor of a large dojo, I meet many prospective...
When I opened my first martial arts school, a lot of barroom brawlers and street fighters came through my door. Some grew up in environments where they had to fight to survive while others just liked looking for trouble.
I wasn\'t necessarily targeting them in my marketing plan. Most of them were there to challenge me or one of my students to a fight. I earned their respect with my martial...
One of the goals of a good martial arts curriculum is progress. Regardless of the style you have chosen to study, all of them begin with the fundamentals and can take you to the level of mastery. Success however depends on two things: commitment on your part and a skilled instructor who not only teaches you the art, but also challenges you.
To some, progression in the martial arts is about...
On Tuesday, October 7, 2008 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The goal is to encourage the American population to add some type of physical activity to their daily routine.
Daily physical exercise is vital for achieving and maintaining a healthy body. Scientific studies have proven that regular workouts help reduce...
A prospective student came to the door, interested in martial arts training. When I asked him if he had any previous experience, he replied \"yes, I\'ve studied for about two years.\" His training history consisted of 3 months in aikido, 2 months of karate, 4 months of kung-fu, 3 weeks of tai chi, etc., etc. This is what we call \"style hopping\"; going from one style to another.
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