Martial Arts Are About Survival
Here’s a shocker for you … martial arts are about survival. Yep, that’s right. The purpose of martial arts is to have the skill...
A Interview with Mikhail Ryabko About Systema Stick Training
Question to Mikhail: In your opinion, what makes stick a good weapon in Systema Stick Training?
Reply: I like it because it is easy to...
The Sobering Facts About Progressive Protection System Footwork
Upon observation the footwork of The Progressive Protection Systems (PPS), as taught by Master Geoff Bennett, seems to have more in common with western...
Isn’t It Time To Get Fit Again?
After spending nine months in the most physiologically loving, friendly environment - your mother’s womb - most of us are born healthy, happy and...
Weight Gain Season On The Horizon
It's here, just look at the seasonal shelves in your favorite store. Retailers refer to this time as the holiday season, but I like...
Kata Training: Practice Kata Correctly
This translation originally appeared in Vol. 29, No. 1 of the Hiroshima University of Economics Journal of Humanities, Social and Natural Sciences.
Translator's Introduction
Over the...
The Role Of Kata For Contemporary Fighting Martial Artists
When many people see the name of the system I study, Progressive Protection Systems, they instantly think of a modernist system, which abhors the...
Chuck Merriman on Kata and the Meaning of Bunkai
"The kata are the essence of karate; without them karate would be the mere learning of various fighting and self-defense techniques, expressing nothing and...
Martial Arts Breathing Training
One of the most important aspects of martial arts training is proper breathing. However, for practitioners of hard styles, effective breathing methods are often...
Samurai Weapons
Throughout the history of the Samurai, Samurai weapons included different size swords, daggers, spears and more necessary for different types of kills.
The age of...
Boxing, Sambo and Mud Fighting . . .
This incident took place when I was 14 years of age.
I grew up in Tver, a fairly tough industrial city, 2 hours North of...
Fitness For Martial Artists
Many readers have written me in response to "The Link Between Martial Arts and Fitness," and not all of you were complimentary. In particular,...
The Japanese Sword Forging Process – Part 1
Throughout history the sword forging process used in the creation of authentic Samurai Swords has been as much an art form as it is a...
Kata and Pressure Points
By George Dillman ~ Kata can be compared to a song. The meaning of the song is stated in the lyrics and expressed in...
The Jim Wagner Metric Arm Striking and Blocking System
Walk into any traditional-based martial arts school and ask the instructor, “I want to learn how to defend myself. How long will it take?”...
Why the Front Squat is the Real Judoka’s Best Friend
I have seen more than one article on the web, heralding the Squat as the best exercise for a judoka. While I can’t argue...