As you’ve all probably noticed, I haven’t really been posting for quite awhile now. It’s not because I haven’t wanted to or don’t have anything to say — it’s just time.
Recently, I was accepted into a program to help budding game designers and writers build a solid, profitable business. This is something I’ve been working towards for many years now and the work is taking up a good portion of my time. In addition to that, Jay and I are house hunting so we can buy are home, so we can get married…Not to mention Dynamo’s school challenges…. Consequently, I’m putting this blog in hiatus until after the first of 2010.
I will get the October contest results posted next Monday (17 November). Thanks to everyone for being so patient and I’ll see you all again in 2010.
Here’s a list of the top ten most popular posts from On My Own Two Feet.
- 15 Must-Read Martial Arts Blogs. A description of my blogroll and why I chose those sites.
- Famous Fighting Females. Introduction to the irregular series profiling legendary female warriors.
- Do You Need a Black Belt? Why obtaining a black belt is important, at least to me.
- Legendary Fighting Women: Mulan. A brief bio of the real legends of Mulan.
- Fight Like a Grrl: 8 Sites for Female Martial Artists. Just what it says — sites dedicated to women in the martial arts.
- Legendary Fighting Women: Ng Mui and Yim Wing Chun. Legends about the formation of Wing Chun.
- Weight, Body Image and the Martial Arts. The interconnectedness of weight and self-esteem.
- Female Judo Champion Finally Receives Gold. A Judo champion finally has her gold medal reinstated after 50 years.
- Dynamo’s Challenge: Change, Autism and Martial Arts. A discussion of how martial arts has helped my ADHD and borderline autistic son.
- Stop Training for Self Defense? Does martial arts really help teach self-defense?
In the spirit of my A-to-Z list of styles, here’s a quiz to tell you what style you could be suited for:
| What martial art would suit you?iaido
One of the lesser known arts – the way of the sword. Lethal when applied – though extremely hard to master. Savagely beautiful to witness, this art is a way of life more than anything else.
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| Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests. |
Not too far off — Iaido is a style I’ve wanted to study, but I’ve never been able to find an instructor. I’ve always loved blades — swords, in particular. Once I’ve got time and money, I do intend to take up Kumdo (the Korean version of Kendo).
Contest Information
And just for fun, I’m making this into a contest. Just take the quiz and in the comments below, post your result and whether or not you think the result’s accurate. On November 1st, I’ll chose a winner at random from everyone who posts a comment between now and October 31st. The prize is a copy of Sang H. Kim’s Martial Arts After 40.
Thanks for making this journey with me. I’ve learned a lot about martial arts I’d never even heard of and I hope you’ve enjoyed it. Without further ado, here’s the final six: U-Z
- Uechi-ryū (Japan): Okay, I’ve had to break one of my rules to find a “U” martial art — I had to include karate. Uechi-ryū is a style of karate blended with some of the circular motions from Chinese animal style kung-fu. It focuses on self-defense and inner discipline, rather than on sport competition.
- Varma Ati (India): Varma Ati (also called “Varma Kali”) focuses on hitting pressure points on the body, both to hurt and to heal. The idea is to stop an attacker, rather than doing him permanent damage.
- Wing Chun (China): Focusing on close combat, Wing Chun emphasises practicality and efficiency of movement. Practitioners aim to use the least amount of force required in any combat situation. Like Aikido, it relies on deflection and counter-attack in a single “step”, rather than separating the block from the counter-attack as “hard” styles tend to do.
- Xingyiquan (China): Considered a form of boxing, Xingyiguan is a direct, aggressive style with a focus on bursts of explosive power. It uses five techniques, based on the five elements (earth, metal, water, wood, fire), each it’s own “fist” or way of fighting. It also teaches twelve animal forms — the exact ones taught vary from school to school.
- Yaw-Yan (Philippines): Officially established in 1972 by Napoleon A. Fernandez, Yaw-Yan (”Dance of Death”) focuses on hitting fast and hitting hard. Fighters strike with the hands, elbows, knees, and feet. Though superficially similar to Muay Thai, Yaw-Yan uses a wide variety of kicks, as well as punches and some throws.
- Zipota (United States): Developed by a Basque family in Texas, USA, Zipota strongly resembles Savate. There is some debate as to whether or not Zipota is a form of its own, or just another name for Savate — or even if it exists at all! It claims to be more brutal than Savate, making use of grappling and throwing techniques, as well as strikes and kicks.
Other Posts in this Series:
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 1 (A – E)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 2 (F – J)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 3 (K – O)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 4 (P – T)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 5 (V – Z)
Tags: Styles, uechi-ryu, varma adi, varma ati, varma kali, videos, wing chun, xingyiquan, yaw-yan, zapota
More martial arts styles, covering P-T:
- Pankration (Greece): Pankration is an ancient martial art experiencing a modern revival. One of the sports featured in the ancient Greek Olymic games, it’s a mixture of boxing and wrestling likely to be familiar to any MMA fan.
- Qwan Ki Do (Vietnam): Established in 1981 by Master Pham Xuân Tong, Quan Ki Dao (Quán khí đạo) stands for “Way of the Body’s Energy”. It includes both open-hand techniques (using a variety of animal forms) and weapons techniques.
- Rumi Maki (Peru): An ancient art — the combination of fighting styles from the multiple pre-Incan cultures of the area — Rumi Maki means “Hand of Stone”. Modern Rumi Maki has five levels, each with a different focus. Conditioning the body and weapons forms are also important parts of this style and it has a spiritual component which students learn at level 5.
- Savate (France): Meaning “old-[style] shoe”, Savate is one of the few kick boxing styles where the participants are expected to wear shoes. Originally a street-fighting form, Savate uses colored gloves, rather than belts to denote ranking. Its techniques encompass a variety of punches and kicks.
- Tahtib (Egypt): [Scroll down to about the middle of the linked page] A type of stick-fighting, tahtib is also used as a form of Middle Eastern dance performed by men. It can be performed on foot or from horseback and has been used as a form of street fighting and gang warfare in Egypt.
Other Posts in this Series:
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 1 (A – E)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 2 (F – J)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 3 (K – O)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 4 (P – T)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 5 (V – Z)
Tags: Pankration, qwan ki do, rumi maki, savate, Styles, tahtib, videos
More martial arts styles, covering letters K-O:
- Kalarippayatu (India): Maybe one of the oldest martial arts styles still in existence today, Kalarippayatu has both internal and external components. This style is actually a collection of regional styles. It has encompasses both empty-hand and weapon techniques.
- Lethwei (Myanmar): A form of kickboxing, Lethwei differs from Muay Thai in that it doesn’t use gloves — the combatants hands are wrapped in gauze or hemp cloth. Take-downs are encouraged, as are headbutts. Also, a knockout won’t end a fight, necessarily; the unconscious boxer is revived and given the option of continuing the fight.
- Muye24gi (Korea): This traditional Korean style nearly died out. The 24 in its name stands for the 24 methods this style teaches. These methods range from empty-hand techniques, to various weaponry, to fighting from horseback.
- Nanbudō (Japan): Founded in 1978 by Yoshinao Nanbu Doshu-Sōke, Nanbudō’s roots are in karate and it has many similarities with that style. But it’s a separate, holistic, art concerned with self-defense and inner health, as well as combat techniques. It especially focuses on the development and flow of ki.
- Oki Chi Taw (Canada): Based on the fighting arts of the Plains and Assinaboine Cree aboriginal warriors, Okichitaw uses both open-hand techniques and traditional Cree weapons. It’s a “hybrid” system, using throws and takedowns as well as strikes.
Other Posts in this Series:
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 1 (A – E)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 2 (F – J)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 3 (K – O)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 4 (P – T)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 5 (V – Z)
Tags: kalarippayatu, lethwei, muye24gi, nanbudo, okichitaw, Styles, videos
Here’s the next installment of this list, for letters F-J:
- Francombat (France): Founded in 1988 by Alain Basset and Dominique Dumolin, Francombat is a French combat style focusing on self-defense. It’s a flexible system which attempts to match the risks of the modern world. In practice, the idea it to remain in motion as much as possible and to become as “inassailable as the wind” and uses the principles of non-resistance and non-opposition. You can view some animated images of it at Francombat: The Art of Strategy (the page is in French).
- Gongkwon Yusul (Korea): Gongkwon Yusul is a modern martial art, a hybrid form which makes use of modern practical fighting techniques in a traditional structure, including ranks, uniforms, and forms of respect. Created in 1996 by Master Kang Jun, it combines groundwork, throwing, and takedown techniques with stand-up fighting and striking.
- Han Moo Do (Finland): Though founded in Finland, Han Moo Do is based on traditional Korean martial arts. It’s founder, Young Suk (Yoon Soon Hwang) combined several Korean arts, including Tae Kwon Do, Hoi Jeon Moo Sool, and Hapkido to create his new style in 1989. It uses techniques such as kicks, punches, takedowns, throws, wrestling moves, and chokes. It also has three weapon styles: nunchucku, bo (long staff), and sword.
- Iaidō (Japan): A sword form, Iaidō focuses on drawing the sword from its sheath, striking with it, then returning the sword to its sheath. The idea is to remain focused in the moment and learn self-control. It fosters a sense of readiness in all things. It’s mostly performed solo against imagined objects or opponents.
- Jeet Kun Do (United States): Founded by Bruce Lee and given its name in 1968, Jeet Kun Do is as much a philosophy as a set of fighting techniques. With it, Lee sought to free martial artists from rigid adherence to styles and forms. It’s a flexible system which encourages practitioners to change and adapt techniques to suit their unique abilities.
Other Posts in this Series:
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 1 (A – E)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 2 (F – J)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 3 (K – O)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 4 (P – T)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 5 (V – Z)
Tags: francombat, gongkwon yusul, han moo do, iaido, jeet kune do, Styles, videos
There are so many different martial arts styles available to study. This is the first part of a list of martial arts styles, one for each letter of the alphabet, along with their accepted country of origin. Some are well known, others not so much. I’ve stayed away from the “big 4″ — karate, judo, t’ai chi, and tae kwon do — and focused on other styles from various parts of the world. Where possible, I’m including a link to a video of that style.
- Aikido (Japan): Developed by Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido attempts to use an attacker’s own force against him. Practitioners attempt to blend with an attacker’s movements and redirect them, rather than stopping the attacks head-on.
> - Boabom (Tibet): Like the better known T’ai Chi, Boabom combines relaxation and meditation with self-defense. Though primarily used as a means of helping a student gain maximum health and energy, its techniques can be used in a combat situation.
- Capoeria (Brazil): Developed by African slaves, Capoeria looks like a dance, but is also a very effective martial arts system. Its movements are extremely fluid and highly acrobatic. It makes use of kicks and leg sweeps and, to a lesser extent, elbow strikes, punches, slaps and throws.
- Dambe (Nigeria): A type of boxing, dambe fighters wrap one hand in knotted rope for their main striking hand. The lead leg is often wrapped in a chain and used for both defending and striking. Bouts end when one opponent’s hand, knee, or body touches the ground or when an opponent (or official) calls a halt.
- Emei Quan (China): One of the most popular arts in China, Emei Quan is both an internal and external movement style. It has a number of animal styles and comprises both empty-hand and weapons techniques.
Other Posts in this Series:
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 1 (A – E)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 2 (F – J)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 3 (K – O)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 4 (P – T)
- An A-to-Z List of Martial Arts Styles: Part 5 (V – Z)
Tags: aikido, boabom, capoeira, dambe, emei quan, Styles, videos
Earlier today I ran across a forum comment that caught my eye. The post title read: “Please, Stop Training For Self Defense!” Unfortunately, the discussion quickly turned into a flame war and name-calling session. But it did leave me with a thought:
Does martial arts training help improve self-defense?
The posts’ author ignorantly states
PUNCH AND RUN! There, all the self defense you’ll ever need to know, for free.
I think most of us know it’s not that simple, especially for women. But it did leave me wondering — how well traditional martial arts training does prepare someone for an unprovoked attack? I’ve seen many arguments on both sides over the years, but since I’ve never been physically assaulted, I’ve no idea how well my training would help.
Granted, there are many ways martial arts helps self-defense in non-tangible ways, such as:
- Developing self-confidence. A woman with an air of self-confidence is less likely to be attacked.
- Removing the fear of getting hurt. This is one thing even sport sparring can help with. A fear of pain — especially unknown pain — can paralyze people much more than the actual blow itself.
- Realizing the fight’s not over. Through sparring, a woman can learn that the first punch isn’t the end of the fight. She learns that it doesn’t matter who punches first — only who gives up first counts.
- Learning how to land an effective strike. If a woman does decide to fight back, she’s frequently never been taught how to land an effective punch or kick. Most women (from my very limited experience) tend to pull their punches without realizing it, so they have very little actual hurting power.
- Getting over being afraid of hurting him. Surprisingly enough, I’ve spoken to several women in the past who didn’t fight back because they were afraid of hurting their attackers. It doesn’t matter that their attackers are already in the process of hurting them; from an early age, women are taught that hurting others — physically or emotionally — is tantamount to a mortal sin.
What about you guys who have been in real fights — did your marital arts training help? Have you ever been attacked for real and how did you survive it? Please share your experiences.
Tags: Self-Defense
Let’s face it — web sites for female martial artists don’t usually stand out and scream “Here I Am!” The following is a list of web resources for women in the martial arts:
- Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors: An organization for female martial arts instructors.
- National Women’s Martial Arts Federation: A nation-wide organization for female martial artists with an emphasis on self-defense training and certification.
- Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists: Another organization for women in the martial arts. The sponsor an annual training camp for women of various styles to come together and train.
- Tae Kwon Do Woman: Links to stories by and about women in tae kwon do.
- Tuffgrrlz: An information gathering place for female martial artists. Unfortunately, the competitor’s profiles and events list are a couple of years out of date. The site does, however, have a large number of interesting articles on self-defense, MMA, and martial arts in general.
- Women in Martial Arts: One woman’s thoughts about women in the martial arts.
- Women in Mixed Martial Arts: Fighting for Equality: An article which discusses the history of women in MMA and some of the challenges they currently face.
- Women of the Martial Arts: “An area for woman martial artists to discuss the arts and issues as they relate to the female practitioner.” Part of MartialTalk.com.
Tags: links, resources, women in martial arts
