5 Problems With One Step Sparring
In the last post, I discussed three great reasons for one-step sparring. As noted in that post, this topic has been debated. While there are benefits to one-step sparring, some have argued that this training method has downsides. In this post, I will explore the problems…
3 Great Reasons For One Step Sparring
Many martial arts, such as karate and tae kwon do, employ a training method called “one-step sparring.” This training method has been the subject of a fair bit of debate. Some advocate it, while others deride it as impractical and unsuited to the realities of…
To Hell With Inadequacy
For years, I felt beset by a constant feeling of inadequacy, mainly due to being nearly deaf in an overwhelmingly hearing society. It’s easier said than done, but at some point, you will need to “just let go of this shit.” It can be difficult…
Downsizing
Recently, my wife and I downsized from our house in Oshawa to a townhouse in Ajax. The new place has half the square footage of our former house. This entailed a massive amount of purging before the move, starting in October and we are still going…
How Hard Do You Really Train?
I taught the inaugural class at the Harmony Martial Arts Center in Pickering on Friday night. For a Friday night time slot of 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, I had a turnout of 7. Not bad at all. After getting some housekeeping out of the way,…
How To View Private Lesson Videos
Private lesson videos can tremendously aid your martial development if you have the instructor’s permission. Below, I discuss how to watch private lesson videos based on my experiences. Those who practice martial arts have different preferences regarding retaining material from a private lesson. Some prefer…
Teaching the Centerline
Many martial arts incorporate the concept of centerline. Wing Chun is well known for its emphasis on the centerline theory. As seen in the phenomenal video below, even boxing incorporates this as well. Teaching the centerline is often easy and difficult at the same time. If you…
A Surefire Counter!
A surefire counter to most techniques is simply hitting your opponent, either with the cane or with your check/alive hand. If you are not able to view the video, click here. The above video illustrates a simple way to prevent an opponent from grabbing your…
Can’t Keep Up? Do this Instead!
Just focus on your progress. That’s it! Instead of focusing on the fact that you “can’t keep up with others,” you should only focus on your progress. If the others have gotten the 12 angles of attack down immediately and you don’t, DON’T WORRY! Practice…
The Challenge of Teaching Footwork to Kids
The biggest challenge in teaching kids is footwork. Good footwork is crucial to self-defence and particularly so for Filipino Martial Arts. Want to avoid getting hit, slashed or stabbed? Move your feet. At the most basic level, one should be able to step up at a…
