Learn about Kempo karate.

The striking speed of Kempo

Throughout the world of martial arts, the style known as Kempo is one of the best for combat situations. Kempo uses extremely fast strikes, which is the area it is most known for. This style of karate has been around for many years, originating from Japan and is often known as a Combat Karate. It was tested on the ancient battlegrounds, using punches, kicks, and very little grappling.  This art employs weapons as well, and includes disarming techniques against opponents who are using weapons.

What many don’t realize, is that this style of fighting is actually an older form of Karate. To be more specific, it mainly uses the forbidden techniques of sport karate and kickboxing to create a devastating means of self defense. Throughout this deadly martial art, stylists will be taught that every block is a counter, and every counter is a block. Instead of simply blocking an attack, students will learn how to block in a way that executes a strike.

An adult kempo class in action.

The most well known aspect of this art form is speed. Those that have been practicing for many years, including black belts, are able to execute techniques with blinding speed. Often times, a practitioner can land many strikes before an opponent can even get the chance to counter - or block.

The hand speed in this sport comes from something known as “speed striking”. Although Kempo uses weapons and weapons training, it is more an unarmed martial art that teaches students how to defend themselves in any situation.



The speed striking  takes many years to master. Students of the art will practice forms on a daily basis, which helps with the speed. By practicing a certain movement over and over again, students will of course get faster and faster. They will spar with other students, with instructors, and also with equipment such as punching bags. Over time, students will get amazingly quick and able to execute strikes with speed and precision.

Shadow boxing is also essential to developing speed within this sport. Students will spend quite a bit of time shadow boxing, learning their own movements.  As a result of shadow boxing, students can learn physical resistance as well as improve their levels of fitness. This also helps with technique as well, as students will be engaging in practice by themselves.

The main exercise where speed striking will really come into play is with sparring. When sparring, students test their knowledge and skills against other students. The instructors will pay close attention during this exercise, to encourage participation and rule abiding. Sparring can be interesting to watch, especially when there are two black belts squaring off. The more time a student spends sparring, the faster he will develop in the art of speed striking.

Kids learning Kempo Karate

Throughout the years, Kempo has proved to be a popular sport. It is one of the fastest striking martial arts in existence, although it teaches students self control and how to avoid confrontations. Kempo is taught all around the world, making it an excellent physical activity for children as well. From adults to children, you can  learn self defense, harmony, self control, and self confidence.

Learning about Judo

The art of judo.

Original founded back in 1882, Judo comes from the feudal Japanese fighting system. This art form is often translated as the “Gentle Art", although there is nothing gentle about the sport, implying that force is never resisted but given way to and used upon itself. This sport is a fun and exciting an all inclusive, an art, a discipline, an activity, a way to protect yourself, and a way, or philosophy for life.

Modern day judo has something for everybody. For kids, it is a natural form of activity, being a disciplined form of playground rough and tumble. For adults, it is a physically demanding sport perfect as a combat form, fitness training, and character-building.

The techniques embodied in this sport enable a weak and small person to overcome a larger, stronger person because they are based on scientific principles such as leverage and balance. This art is known best for it’s amazing throw techniques. But Judo is more than just throws. It also involves grappling on the ground, controlling holds, arm locks, leg locks, learning how to fall and even choking techniques. You will learn all aspects of self defense.

A good look at the techniques taught in modern day judo.

In 1964 judo was first introduced into the Olympic Games. Now, it is practiced by millions of people all across the world.  This sport can help students stay in shape, excel in all areas of competition, and protect themselves. For a majority of students, Judo is practiced for fitness and fun, as well as self defense. As with all martial arts though, it can turn into a way of life.

Similar to other martial arts styles, this sport has rules that ensure the safety of those competing and practicing. Students who are looking to test their skills will enjoy the competition levels, which range from club meets to national tournaments, and on up to the well known and best level of competition - the Olympic Games.

Anyone can study Judo, male or female, children and even those with disabilities.  also helps students learn and develop respect and self discipline  It offers the chance to learn self confidence, leadership skills, power, flexibility, and physical prowess. This art form has evolved quite a bit over the years, going from a fighting art to competition status. If you wish to study this sport, you should be able to find somewhere that teaches it in any major city.

Have you heard of Ninjutsu?

A look at Ninjutsu, also known as Ninjitsu

The martial art known as Ninjutsu is not terribly well known, with a very clouded history. Originating in Japan, the history is often disputed, as most of what is known about the martial art is that which has been passed down from generation to generation. But this ancient martial art is not centralized like modernized martial arts such as judo or karate.

Over 70 different Ninjutsu Ryu (schools) have been identified and discovered over the years, however many of them are no longer in use. A majority of them were created around a set of specific techniques and skills, although when those skills of a specific Ryu were no longer needed or wanted, the Ryu seems to die out and fade out of use. There are currently 9 Ryu that are commonly taught.

The art of Ninjutsu is best associated with the ninja’s from ancient Japan. Ninjas are infamous around the world, for their stealth and very secretive work. A ninja is a fast, strong, adaptable warrior, hence their traditional roles as mercenaries in Japan during the Shogun era. The ninja warrior has a wide range of techniques in his or her arsenal which makes them very similar to today's mixed martial artist. A student of this art uses punches, kicks, elbows, knees, throws, locks, chokes, rolls, take-downs, gouges and weapons to be a complete fighter. A ninja also knows when to fight and when not to fight.

In regards to the art, the term of Ninjutsu doesn't actually refer to any certain style, but rather a group of the martial arts, with each one having it’s own view that’s expressed with each of the different Ryu. The Ryu vary, meaning that one may focus on one certain physical dynamic, while the next may be focused on redirection.

Modern ninjutsu training.

What many people aren't aware of, is the fact that Ninjutsu involves both unarmed and armed fighting skills, along with philosophy, strategy, history and spiritual developmental. During combat, the movements focus on distance, posture, and flow. Students of this art are taught to react to every movement, and respond in ways that will place them in a position of advantage. From being in this position, the stylist can effectively change the outcome of the encounter - quickly going from negative to positive.

Those that practice the martial art of Ninjutsu are instructed and trained to use their entire body for everything they do, which provides the most leverage and power. This art is of course is well known in Japan, as that is where it has it's origins. The techniques taught can be used for self defense.

Ninjutsu is less a martial art for children  than for adults.

The martial art of Capoeira

About Capoeira

The martial art of Capoeira was originally created over 400 years ago in Brazil by the Africans. This martial art is unlike any other, and possesses a blend of power, beauty, mental balance, physical power, music, and an overwhelming sense of art and finesse. It is known for it's quick and complex moves, using mainly power, speed, and leverage for leg sweeps.

Upon it’s creation, Capoeira proved to the world that it can be practiced by anyone, regardless of size, weight, or age. The style is more than a martial art, but also a social event that has a rich tradition and history.  It is a truly powerful martial art, resembling a collaboration of music, dance, and exotic movements.  It can also be played as game, which emphasizes skill.

One thing you may notice when watching Capoeira games is the the music. Both the music and the lyrics play a big part in the way that the game (known as jogo) is conducted. The jogo consists of a circle, called a roda, with the players in the middle and the musicians and other players around the circle. For the players, there are several different rhythms that call for different speeds. When watching the game played, spectators are normally in awe from the movements. .

Players that enter the game will enter the circle, often with a spring, cartwheel, or other type of visually impressive movement. Upon entering the circle, players will complete back and forth with various combinations of poetic movements and breathtaking aerial displays. It takes years of practice and hard work to become great at the jogo, as it requires precision, fast movement, and dedication to the techniques.

Have a look at the famous capoeira movements, it's almost like an orchestrated dance.

The ginga, which is a rocking back and forth movement, is the fundamental movement in this art form. It is important both for attacking and defending and it has two main objectives. One is to keep the capoeirista (practitioner) in a state of constant motion, which prevents him or her from being an easy target. The other objective is to mislead, fool and trick the opponent, using fake moves and feints, which leaves them open for an attack or a counter-attack.

Attacks should be done when opportunity arises and must be decisive, like a direct kick in the face or a vital body part, or a strong take down. Most attacks are made with the legs, like direct or swirling kicks, rasteiras (leg sweeps), tesouras (scissor kick) or knee strikes. The head strike is an important counter-attack move. Elbow strikes, punches and other forms of take downs are used against opponents.

The defense is based on the principle of non-resistance, meaning to avoid an attack by using evasive moves instead of blocking it. Avoids are called esquivas, which depend on the direction of the attack and intention of the defender, and can be done standing or with a hand leaning on the floor. A block should only be made when avoidance  is not possible. This strategy of fighting allows quick and unpredictable counter-attacks,and gives the ability to focus on more than one adversary.

From a defensive standpoint, capoeira is flashy, very creative, and also very useful, as the techniques seem to come out of nowhere and can be very hard to defend against. The  student defends himself through the use of dancing movements and acrobatic techniques. 

Capoeira and the jogo game are very popular in Brazil, with hundreds of students learning this martial art.  It is less popular in the United States, although it is offered. In South America it is much more common, with jogo games being played on a daily basis.

This is a fabulous martial art for kids, if you can find somewhere that offers it.

More about Muay Thai as a martial art

A more in depth look at Muay Thai

Also known around the world as Thai boxing, Muay Thai is an ancient art of self defense that was created and tested in battle by the fearless warriors of ancient Thailand. Today, Muay Thai is seen all around the world. The United States Navy SEALs, Thai military, and even the CIA take full advantage of the devastating and bone crushing techniques this martial art offers.

And the battle art has evolved into a popular sport.

Muay thai has always been a sport for the people as well as a military fighting skill. In all its golden ages, the people have trained and practised the sport whether they were King or commoner. It was part of the school curriculum right up to the 1920′s when it was withdrawn because it was felt that the injury rate was too high. The Thai people however, continued to study it in gyms and clubs just as they do today.

The skills that are taught with Muay Thai are far more dominant than other striking based martial arts.This art uses very little grappling, but focuses more on powerful kicks, punches, and elbow strikes. Students of Thai fighting can often take an opponent down with just one shot, often times breaking bones and sometimes even killing them with just one lethal kick or elbow. The reason why this kick boxing style doesn't utilize ground grappling or submission holds is because it was developed in ancient battlegrounds where there were always multiple attackers. These attackers had credible sword fighting skills, which made the need for a dependable fighting system a necessity.

The 1930′s saw a radical change in the sport. It was then that it was codified and today’s rules and regulations were introduced. Rope bindings of the arms and hands were abandoned and gloves took their place. Groin guards had already been used for many years.

An amateur Muay Thai fight. Notice their protective gear.

Photo credit Flickr

Along with the introduction of gloves, came weight classes based on the international boxing divisions. These and other innovations – such as the introduction of five rounds – substantially altered the fighting techniques that boxers used causing some of them to disappear.

Although there are other martial arts that put a lot of emphasis on striking, Muay Thai is quite different. The first area in which it differs is the effective use of both elbows and knees strikes. The elbows and knees that are used with most Thai techniques are feared all around the world by boxers and other stylists.

Kicking and kneeing are two of the main forms in practice with this art form. In order to become efficient with kicking, the shins need to be conditioned, although in  a Western training center, shin guards may be used. Through years of training and conditioning, fighters can become lethal and deadly weapons.

If you live in a big city and wish to study Muay Thai kickboxing, chances are good that you'll find a center that teaches it. Many gyms and dojos offer their 'soft' version of Thai kickboxing, some using belt and grading systems, others using the techniques purely for exercise.

Training at Tiger Muay Thai

Photo credit Flickr

All in all, Muay Thai is a great martial art for defense and competition. It is one of the strongest martial arts in the world, and practitioners often enjoying pitting themselves against those who study other martial arts, to see who is the strongest....

An Introduction To Aikido

Lets talk about Akido

It's a fact that Aikido is one of the most popular martial arts in America today. The art of Aikido is best associated with actor Steven Seagal, who popularized this art with his movies. Aikido has a rich history and fine traditions, an art that originally started in Japan back in the 1940s.

Aikido’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was born on December 14, 1883. Ueshiba founded the martial art of Aikido by combining both his religious beliefs and his training in martial arts. At that time, the style was known as aikibudo, it wasn’t until 1942 that the name Aikido became popular. This style was quite different from others around at the time, incorporating several different styles of jujitsu, aiki-jujitsu, and spear and sword fighting techniques as well.

See a much younger Steven Seagal demonstrate his knowledge of Akido

Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. This requires very little physical strength, as the student "leads" with the attacker's momentum, using entering and turning movements. The technique uses joint locks, weight manipulation, and throws to achieve it’s purpose.  This martial art is very effective, which was the intentions of Ueshiba from the start. Aikido consists of many techniques, and it is the result of Ueshiba’s creative innovation.

Aside from what many think, there really is no unified belief or philosophy in the martial art of Aikido. While Aikido is indeed rich in heritage and religion, it believes in harmony and peace of the spirit. By achieving a higher spiritual power, Ueshiba has always believed that the human body is capable of anything.

There are different approaches to Akido and today aikido is found all over the world in a number of styles, with broad ranges of interpretation and emphasis. However, they all share techniques learned from Ueshiba and most have concern for the well-being of the attacker.

Over the years, Aikido was introduced in America with amazing results. Steven Seagal is by far the most popular and well known practitioner in the limelight, showing the world the power and harmony of Aikido through his movies. Many martial arts dojo’s around North America that offer the study of this art, and quite possibly even some in your area.

Not only will Aikido teach you self defense, but it will also teach you harmony of the spirit and how to find inner peace as well.