“The only enemy is self, and the only wealth is health,” anonymous. If we took the time to recognize this on a daily basis, each and every person would be making a concerted effort to bring peace into their lives. All the battles that we fight outside of ourselves amount in very little. All the posts we make. All the people we kill. All the money we make. Every battle we wage on a daily basis has very little to do with the war we are waging everyday with ourselves. A suicide bomber is very evidently not at peace, nor is a shooter that takes a school or a clinic.…

This article will forgo including fighters from the modern era, but of course honorable mentions go out to George St. Pierre, Randy Couture and Anderson Silva. All three great pioneers in their given martial arts styles being ground and pound, wrestling, and Muay Thai/BJJ respectively. I wouldn’t include Fedor here, because he is for the most part a brawler who knows how to hit the sweet spot again and again. With that said, I wouldn’t want to meet him in a cold dark alley of Russia on even one of my better days. Moving away from the modern warriors, this list is going to look at innovators, thinkers, movers and…

A Simple Form to Start 15 Postures Yang Style Tai Chi is a very easy way to begin learning Tai Chi. It is one of the shortest forms, and the movements are not terribly complex. As you progress to learn Tai Chi, you will find that there are several more complicated transitions and stances. The most complicated transition in 15 Postures Yang Style Tai Chi is when you move from push into single whip. Just Practice the Stances To start learning the form, it is best just to practice getting into the stance. Pay attention to where your body and limbs are when in a particular stance, because the most…

One Kick Ten Thousand Times The dynamics of a well rounded martial arts class do not have to be complicated.

These three styles have several similarities, but there are fundamental differences across the board. Kung Fu finds its roots as a martial art (the words by themselves are often used in everyday speech to represent good work done) in China. Its most famous temples are found in the shaolin mountains, but throughout the land of China are tens to possibly a hundred or more different styles.  Tae Kwon Do comes from the divided countries of North and South Korea. There are several different styles of Tae Kwon Do, and the divisions now run to international levels with the ITF (International Tae Kwon Do Federation) and the WTF (World Tae Kwon…

The Importance of Posture In Martial arts, proper form, proper use of techniques and applying grace are important factors for several reasons. Using good technique/good form encourages better posture, circulation, sense of balance (i.e. homeostasis), and can generally improve your overall health. Take a look at the YouTube video below for a better understanding of the effects of prolonged poor posture: What MMA has to say Many mma fighters will say technique and proper form are not useful, because it doesn’t mean that you will knock out your opponent. There is a level of validity in this regard. Almost anyone can knock another person out so long as they hit…

The ultimate showdown between two mystical disciplines both hailing from the East comes down to one thing… Nothing. Don’t be so ridiculous. Sheesh. In reality both arts incorporate many of the same elements. What is known as the meridian system in Tai Chi is called Chakras in Yoga, and the central points of energy production are essentially the same. There are several other similarities between the two arts, spiritual practices, meditation systems or health maintainers depending on how you view the two. Yoga focuses on certain stretching techniques and breathing patterns to illicit a healthy response. There are several different schools, and levels of difficulty among each school. Two of…