If you read my stuff you might’ve noticed I talk a lot about different styles of kung fu. And if you’re not into Chinese martial arts you might be having some questions. Such as: what are they really? why are there so many? And maybe some more. So for those [Read More]
This is the first in a series of six articles on things I have learned from High-Intensity Resistance Training that have influenced my approach to martial arts. As he was for many, Bruce Lee was my gateway into the world of martial arts. Actually, the first movie I ever [Read More]
Ah, the venerable heavy bag! Is there anything else that says “this is a real fighters’ gym” more than the presence of a heavy bag dangling from chain? It is just so basic an item that its absence is immediately noted. Due to its versatility, it deserves its special place [Read More]
My best boss has never stepped foot in the corporate world, where I’ve worked for nearly twenty years. This person was my Sabumnim, my master instructor from the taekwondo school where I trained for five years. I’ve never worked in a formal leadership role in my day job. Nor have [Read More]
In previous articles, I have discussed several reasons why someone may be attracted to training Martial Arts. There are almost as many reasons as people training! However, undoubtedly one of the biggest drivers is the motivation of learning. In my professional environment, I hear this again and again: people are [Read More]
January 2nd, 2022, I mark four years of Krav Maga. Even though I’m currently training Ju-Jitsu, because I can’t do striking with an injured shoulder, I will always be a Krav Maga person at my heart because it was the gateway to this incredible world of martial arts. I think [Read More]
After my training, I was so excited to get my Instructor pin and return to my unit. My dream had finally come true. Well, at least it felt that way until I actually returned to base. When I returned to my troop, they were stationed in a fairly dangerous [Read More]
Introduction Lineage is a touchy subject, for many people. As a Wing Chun practitioner, I can tell you that when people hear I do Wing Chun, 99% of the time their first question is: “What lineage do you study?” That inquiry was usually followed by, “Who was your Sifu?” This [Read More]
Hindsight is 20/20 – we have all heard this, and I would imagine we all agree that it is true. When I look back at different situations in my life, I can see where, had I been more aware, or had learned to trust my instincts, I could have avoided [Read More]
Is Individualism Compatible With The Martial Arts? At first glance, the world of martial arts may not seem a very promising place to exercise individualism. The thought of modern martial arts conjures up images of phalanxes of students simultaneously executing identical actions in a warehouse setting. Couple that with the [Read More]
Several years ago, during a low period in my life, I wondered if taekwondo had become yet another addiction. I’ve been addicted to many things: people, exercise, food, alcohol, thought patterns, and coping mechanisms. Taekwondo had been a saving force in overcoming the worst of my mental illnesses. Of course [Read More]
Assuming you’re not a hermit and still tolerate human society you probably noticed that movies based on comics are all the rage now. You might say it’s been that way for the past decade or so. And some, while not being actual martial arts films, are very close to the [Read More]
The stigma of invincibility associated with the practice, and worse yet, the teaching of Martial Arts, is a historical remnant that has no place in today’s society and prevents us from being ourselves. The vulnerable full of flaws ourselves that have so much to offer to others when we allow [Read More]
When the last article finished, I had just finished advanced training in the Israeli army and had been working as a special operations soldier. I had wanted to be a combat instructor, but when the army selected me for field service, I had not argued and had accepted my fate. [Read More]
Bad Martial Arts Sequels Movie sequels are risky business. If a movie is good enough to warrant a sequel then it must have been a high quality piece of filmmaking. A good sequel should raise the stakes and be better than its predecessor. Look at Godfather Part II, The Dark [Read More]
Although different schools can teach any martial art style differently, no style has a higher level of in-fighting than Wing Chun Kung Fu. (The only one that comes close is Jeet Kune Do which, oddly enough, grew out of Wing Chun.) This is unfortunate because, since people within the Wing [Read More]
Many arts include joint locks and throwing within their respective arts. They may change names but can essentially be reflections of each other. If you have studied joint locks, you understand the incredible detail that can go into making the locks work. Everything comes down to rotation of the joint, [Read More]
The year I started my adult taekwondo training, I had a raging eating disorder. It manifested during my teen years, peaked during college, and remained mostly contained throughout my twenties and thirties until I hit my emotional rock bottom. It quieted as I found my mental solace in taekwondo. [Read More]
I realize that I need to step back and talk about another step in my Krav Maga journey, becoming the 2010 IDF Krav Maga Champion. The issue of whether Krav Maga should have tournaments is an essay on its own, so I’ll leave it for after this series. At the [Read More]
Sorry, no katanas allowed Just kidding, you’ll probably see something that looks like a katana a few paragraphs below. But let’s all agree that when people think of “Asian swords” they usually picture a katana in their minds—maybe even considering both terms to be equal. And I get it, katanas [Read More]
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