MarksTraining.com

Aggression in the Martial Arts

2008-11-19T09:35:00.004Z

Throughout the years, many martial art schools state that some of the main reasons of learning martial arts is to actually become more humble, relaxed and to be less aggressive. Although martial arts does provide this to an extent and after many years of training hopefully it should start to show, it is some peoples views that martial artists can also develop more aggression. Take the following

Striking to the Body

2008-11-17T09:48:00.005Z

Some time ago I wrote an article about Body Blows and how useful they are during fights. After receiving a knee strike while clinch training a few nights ago, the whole point of this article is to reiterate that body blows are very effective and can do a lot of damage. As mentioned, during some clinch sparring, the only strikes that we agreed on throwing where knees. As I was grappling with my

Superfoot Training for High Kicking

2008-11-13T09:25:00.003Z

To be able to kick fast and with power is probably the thought that comes in most peoples minds when the word martial arts crops up. Since martial arts where first portrayed on the silver screen, fighters have been expected to be able to pull of jumping spinning kicks, aimed always towards head height. Of course, the reality is that these types of spectacular kicks should be left at the movie

What is a Black Belt in Martial Arts

2008-11-12T10:19:00.005Z

Whilst on a martial arts forum I came across the thread “What is a Black Belt and who deserves it” The thread author answered his own question with, “To me a BB [black belt] is a representation of knowledge over application. That may seem strange considering that I have stated in other posts that I adhere to the "Smash Mouth" MA dictionary. However, my argument for this is simple. To say that

Martial Arts from Books and DVD's

2008-11-10T10:04:00.005Z

The best way to learn martial arts is to regularly attend a certified martial arts training centre, listen to everything the teacher there has to say and eventually you shall grasp the body mechanics and instinct needed to apply the techniques. From then on, its practise via drills and sparring. Whilst visiting martial art forums I have come across many people stating that there is no point

Mastering the One Handed Press Up

2008-11-07T09:42:00.006Z

There are certain exercises that are always visually more pleasing to watch than others. Likewise, these exercises not only grab the attention of people in the gym when they are performed, but most of the time make there way onto the dance floors in night clubs every Saturday night. Exercises like these include the splits, back flips, high jumping kicks, and one of the firm favourites, the one

Why Should I Study Martial Arts?

2008-11-06T09:19:00.005Z

There are many reasons why people train in martial arts. Be it self defence, victory in competition, attaining a certain fitness level or just to socialise, everyone has there own reasons. However are these reasons valid enough for people to continue there training. Shouldn’t the only reason why people train in martial arts be, simply because they like it and want to? I read in a magazine a few

Defending Attacks

2008-11-04T09:39:00.004Z

With regards to striking, there is attacking and defending. We all know what attacking is. You attack your opponent with single or a combination of techniques, trying to penetrate his/her guard in order to hit. However, is defending just a simple matter of stopping an oncoming attack with blocks? When people first start sparring, they rarely do anything in the form of defence apart from blocking

10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Flow Drill

2008-10-31T11:41:00.004Z

The following is a flow drill from the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu system of Eddie Bravo’s. It is a drill that will help all grapplers in flowing and transitioning from position to position. What I find particularly interesting and hopefully you do as well is that the drill is performed on both sides. I have found that most grapplers tend to only perform drills, throws etc on one side only. Learning to

Body Conditioning for Martial Arts

2008-10-29T11:49:00.007Z

People who are involved in striking arts will at some point get hit. Even if the style you practise is non contact, it is nearly impossible to never actually take a hit. For those who have not experienced a blow to there bodies, not only can it hurt you, but the shock of getting struck can stun you for a moment, leaving your opponent enough time to finish you off. For these reasons, it is wise

High Roundhouse Kick Defence/Counters

2008-10-27T12:40:00.010Z

Whatever striking art you train in, there is one kick which is used the most often. It is a kick which many feel is the most natural to perform and one which is one of the fastest to perform. It is called the roundhouse kick and everyone loves to be able to use it towards high targets. Although probably not the best weapon for the street, for the ring or cage is can be used in devastating fashion

High Intensity Martial Arts Training

2008-10-23T09:58:00.011+01:00

Last night, a buddy of mine and I met up to do some training. It took place at my fathers shed which is solid, big and has enough room to hang a heavy bag and freely move around it when striking. In England at this time of year, its starting to get cold and dark by early evening and although we had a small heater providing us with some warmth we knew we where going to have to keep moving to keep

Clinch Takedown

2008-10-21T12:47:00.007+01:00

Hopefully all martial artists know how important the clinch can be in a fight. If you know how to gain control and position in the clinch and have mastered striking from there whilst keeping your opponent tied up, it can be one of the most devastating ways to end a fight. Clinch striking involves maybe the strongest weapons, the elbow and knee. Although the elbow makes more sense to use when

Ring and Cage Fighting

2008-10-19T10:48:00.005+01:00

Sparring is something that most martial artists should do. People who can get away with never exchanging blows with a partner are those who choose to practise martial arts for the sake of keeping up an adequate fitness level. However if your aim is to compete in fighting events or to be able to defend yourself better on the street, you must spar. And one of the areas in which you must constantly

MMA Training - Mixing the Arts

2008-10-15T13:47:00.017+01:00

Every one knows that in order to be an MMA fighter you have to be proficient in striking and grappling. A few years ago if you where a striker, all you needed to know was basic grappling and you would have been ok and grapplers needed to know just basic striking. Today, knowing just the basics of one area is not enough. You have to be really good at striking and grappling. So say someone attends

The Art of Expressing the Human Body

2008-10-15T09:09:00.004+01:00

There are many books for martial arts and fitness enthusiasts alike that give training tips, methods, drills and workout plans which help to not only provide new information, but also give inspiration and motivation in order to get it done! Everyone who works out knows that sometimes the biggest reason why we let our training slide is because of a lack of motivation. Well who to motivate you

Cheat Meals when Dieting

2008-10-13T09:13:00.005+01:00

If you are a martial artist trying to keep within, lose or put on a certain amount of weight or are a bodybuilder in the process of shedding away unwanted fat to reveal a high level of definition, no doubt you would have come across the concept of dieting before. Im sure all will agree dieting is one of the most challenging tasks to pass psychologically. A great deal of will power is needed to

Bas Ruttens Neck Crank

2008-10-10T22:09:00.006+01:00

Frequent readers of this website will no doubt know that I am a big Bas Rutten fan. Bas was one of the first real mixed martial artist with skills in striking as well as grappling. One technique which I found on YouTube which I think has to definitely get mentioned is his neck crank. The great thing about this submission is that it can simply be applied from the scarf hold as long as you use

Dealing with the Sprawl and Brawl

2008-10-09T10:10:00.007+01:00

The Sprawl and Brawl (SaB) tactic is one that is basically designed for the striker. If a striker knows that he would get dominated on the ground by his opponent, then what is it worth for him to try and start ground fighting. By keeping the fight standing through well timed and placed strikes and good sprawl technique, the striker may be able to keep the fight in his comfort zone. As for the

Judo's Kuzushi

2008-10-07T09:31:00.006+01:00

The whole point of Judo type throws is so a smaller person can beat a larger person. Strength against strength however, the smaller person may have less chance of toppling the larger, but why, when knowing this would the smaller person try and out muscle the larger? In order to take the larger person down, the smaller person must unbalance his/her opponent then an easy effortless technique can

Guarding When Kicking

2008-10-03T09:54:00.008+01:00

A post from Nathan at TDA entitled Why Do We Get Hit led me to write this following article. In it, Nathan describes the various reasons of why we get hit including that without a proper guard when kicking sometimes we can take a blow. I think that this is a very important aspect of kicking that needs to be addressed. When a kick is executed, most of the time nearly all concentration is put into

Goshin Jutsu Training

2008-10-01T10:16:00.005+01:00

I found the following videos on Youtube demonstrating Goshin Jutsu by Zado Juku, which are pre arranged forms of defence from typical street style attacks. The techniques demonstrated include strikes, throws, locks, chokes ground fighting and escapes. In order to become proficient using these techniques the best way to practise is to start slow in the beginning, concentrating on correct timing,

Bodybuilding and Martial Arts

2008-09-29T10:39:00.007+01:00

Over the weekend, Mr Olympia 2008 took place in Las Vegas, which may have turned a few heads. Two time winner Jay Cutler who dethroned 8 times Mr Olympia Ronnie Coleman a couple of years ago placed second losing to the winner, Dexter Jackson. Bodybuilding is a great and often misunderstood sport which can offer many benefits to martial artists. Unfortunately there are still those who think that

Mike Zambidis

2008-09-26T11:49:00.005+01:00

Being a Greek myself I just had to throw in the following video of Greek fighter Mike Zambidis. The style which “Iron Mike” uses is obviously an aggressive and ferocious one which is similar to another Iron Mike I’m sure you’re all aware off. (If not click here). Mike Zambidis is not the largest of fighters, having some of his opponents completely dwarfing him. Not ever letting that bother him

Leg Locks in Judo

2008-09-25T09:43:00.006+01:00

20 years ago, the martial artists very familiar with locks and holds being applied to the joints of the arm (fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder). Judo and Ju Jutsu where demonstrating these locks, as where Aikido and some Karate and Kung Fu schools. However, fast forward to today and with the rise of lesser known martial arts back then and MMA, leg/ankle locks have been brought before people