Krav Maga Techniques and Training - What to Expect When You Start
April 27, 2008
BRIEF HISTORY OF KRAV MAGA
To understand the history of Krav Maga it is necessary to explore the background of our founder and also a little of the history of Israel as all are intertwined.
The founder of Krav Maga (pronounced Krahv-mugah and which translates from Hebrew as ‘contact fight’ or ‘contact combat’) was Imi Lichtenfeld.
Imi was born in 1910 in Budapest, Hungary but grew up in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. Imi was a natural athlete, excelling in wrestling and boxing and winning national championships in both. He was influenced greatly by Samuel Lichtenfeld, his father who was a chief detective inspector and also self defence instructor to the men serving with him. Samuel also taught self defence at Bratislava’s first gym, which he owned. He naturally passed on his knowledge to the young Imi.
During the 1930’s, fascist and anti-Semitic factions appeared in Central Europe, including Bratislava. During this period of time, Imi took part in numerous clashes and fights with fascist and anti-Semitic thugs both alone and with his companions, many of who also trained in combat systems such as boxing and wrestling. These fights honed his fighting skills and awareness and moulded him from a skilled sportsman into a practical fighter. As you shall see, Imi`s early upbringing influenced heavily what was to eventually become Krav Maga.
After escaping from the Nazis clutches, and enduring many hardships and adventures (including serving in the Czech Legion) Imi arrived in what was then Palestine and joined the Haganah resistance (which was a pre-IDF military organisation) fighting alongside them for Jewish Independence.
During the mid-forties he also taught several elite units hand-to-hand type combat based upon his experiences. In 1948 the State of Israel was born and the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) was founded and Imi was asked to become Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and Krav Maga.
During the next 20 yrs he refined and developed his unique method of self-defence and hand-to-hand combat continuing to teach regular and special units of the military. Imi’s Krav Maga had to meet the varied needs of the IDF, as from the moment the State of Israel was born it was at war with its neighbours and therefore the IDF’s new recruits needed to be trained quickly and efficiently in hand-to-hand combat.
Grandmaster Imi’s solution to this problem was to use his deep understanding of both the human body and human dynamics, and also his extensive personal experience in real-life violent situations and knowledge of various fighting systems and combine it with the body’s natural instincts and reaction under stress.
These instincts and reflexive movements were then polished and refined, therefore reducing reaction time. Added to these elements were aggressiveness and a ‘never quit attitude’.
Krav Maga was eventually refined and adapted for civilian use and has evolved into a training curriculum that can be adapted for civilian, military, law enforcement and also close protection. The system has now extended beyond Israel’s borders and is taught and practised worldwide. Grandmaster Imi passed way in January 1998
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN KRAV MAGA
From a physical point of view a practitioner is taught ‘combatives’ such as hand and foot strikes, knees and elbows supplemented by head butts, gouging, biting etc. These are practised in a shadow fighting format, on bags and pads and also partner work and from a myriad of angles.
Escapes from chokes, grabs and holds are learned as are defences against armed assault (blades, bottles, guns, sticks etc). All of the above are taught and practised in a realistic and effective manner against single and multiple opponents.
Grappling and anti grappling, break falls, hand and foot strikes and regaining feet are also taught alongside other ground fighting strategies. When this is introduced is dependent upon the Instructor and the Group/Associations curriculum.
The principles strategies and techniques of Krav Maga are relatively simple to learn and easy to retain. This retention is aided by drilling the techniques under pressure, when disadvantaged and when tired so that they become intuitive to the practitioner. The workouts themselves will increase fitness, flexibility and all the other attributes that come with practising an energetic aerobic system of combat.
Mental Visualisation is an essential part of a practitioner’s development and aids learning and retention. Scenario planning and the use of everyday objects as improvised weapons should be visualised (and of course practised physically) in a variety of scenarios and situations. Confidence will develop as a practitioner develops his/her skills. This is transferred into confident body language that is beneficial in a social as well as combative sense.
Tactical awareness of one’s surrounding is encouraged and taught and many Krav Maga clubs also teach/discuss body language (your own and other peoples). Conflict management is another area that should be taught and combined with an effective ‘game plan’ such as:
- Avoidance
- Escape
- Verbal dissuasion/conflict management
- Pre-emptive strikes (if/when appropriate)
- Plan ‘B’ - (also known as Murphy’s Law)
YOUR FIRST DAY AT A KRAV MAGA SCHOOL AND WHAT TO EXPECT
Typically a new student’s first session is made up of some or all of the following depending upon the length of the lesson time, which is typically between 1–1½ hrs duration. A brief discussion on Health & Safety would take place (removal of watches and jewellery prior to practise) fire alarm drill, toilet facilities etc. This would be followed by a brief overview of the background of the system and then into the class proper.
A brief but thorough warm up to get the practitioner ready (physically and mentally) for the session ahead will take place. The intensity of the warm up/conditioning will increase as the experience/fitness of the individual/group grows. The warm up may be general or specific (e.g. if the emphasis was to be on kicking techniques more emphasis would be placed on stretching out the leg muscles to prepare for the task ahead).
This is usually followed by a brief but intense combat game of some sort. Often this would involve a game of ‘tag’. This game is aerobic so gets the oxygen and blood pumping, gets the reflexes ‘in tune’ for the work ahead and is good fun! This also helps to ease any apprehension the new student may be feeling as well as serving as a very basic introduction to outside defences against hooking type punches, circular knife attacks etc.
We are now ready to learn 360 degree outside blocking against a circular hand attack. This is using the body’s reflexive and instinctive reactions to block an attempted circular attack to the defenders upper, mid or lower body. Gradually a hand strike is introduced which should be applied simultaneously with the block.
Basic striking is initially taught, such as straight strikes with the heel of palm and also the fist. A knee to the groin and also a front kick could be practised also. We have now introduced the new practitioner to ranges of combat long, medium and close.
Escape from a 2-handed front choke is often introduced. It is a convenient start point for self-defence training against grabs. There is an instinctive reaction to this type of attack which is to send both hands to the danger (throat area) and try to peel the hands away from the throat/windpipe. Krav Maga will turn this instinctive movement into an effective defence (by polishing and refining it).
Instead of peeling the hands away a Krav Maga practitioner would turn his hands into a hooked shape and pluck or snatch the hands away in an explosive movement whilst simultaneously kneeing to the groin. This would then be followed up by a hand strike as taught earlier on the class and then the student is taught to escape (hit and run).
If time permits we would look at the same problem but from the side or rear. The defence involves using similar principles to defend effectively e.g. pluck/strike/follow-up strikes/escape.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
Training attire should consist of loose comfortable clothing. Preferably without zippers and buckles for the safety and comfort of both you and your training partners.
Footwear is dependent upon the surface on which you are practising:
- A matted surface would require appropriate footwear such as martial art type shoes (or wrestling boots as these give good ankle support), whereas a wooden studio floor would also give the option of gym shoes.
- A groin guard and mouth guard are recommended - just in case!!
- As the student progresses shin guards can be added to ones kit, as can bag gloves and hand wraps.
Higher level practitioners may wish to participate in controlled sparring. Therefore the appropriate sparring gloves would be required (usually 4-16 oz) and possibly a head guard. This would be discussed with your instructor/coach.
EXPECTED TRAINING COSTS
I can only give an approximation from my knowledge of the UK scene. Typically a class varies in cost from £6.00 to £10.00 each class. It is now becoming more common on the UK scene to pay by Direct Debit (monthly Standing Order) with a tiered structure in place.
The cost of tuition varies due to the area of the UK one resides in as the cost of living varies between the North and the South. The venue also affects class costs (there are very few full-time academies currently in the UK).
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About the author: Steve Maycock teaches Krav Maga in Birmingham, England and is a full-time Krav Maga Defensive Tactics Instructor with clubs throughout the West Midlands. Steve has also recently qualified as a Self Protection Instructor with the renowned author and self protection expert Geoff Thompson.
Martial arts supplies, equipment, and mixed martial arts gear supplier reviews
April 25, 2008
Martial Arts Gear Suppliers: A List With Reviews
Nothing sucks worse than trying to train with low-quality gear. Here’s a list of reputable martial arts equipment suppliers with reviews of their products and service:
Century Martial Arts - Often known as “the big boy” in the martial arts equipment industry, they definitely have the largest selection. Although they’ve started offering a wider variety of equipment for contact martial arts (mma and kickboxing), their real product focus is on supplying equipment and uniforms for karate, kung fu, and tae kwon do schools. Service is prompt and courteous, and if something goes wrong with your order they will make it right. Quality on a scale of 1 to 10: 7.0 for most products.
RevGear - Great MMA supplier. Frankly, I love their gear and their prices cannot be beat. These guys have been quietly cranking out quality gear at great prices for years. They offer the typical selection of uniforms and foam sparring gear, but where they really shine is in the MMA and kickboxing equipment department. Their boxing gloves are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever used, and their shins and MMA gloves are good quality (all leather and plenty of padding, unlike the generic MMA gloves they sell at the local sporting goods stores). Customer service is excellent, and don’t be surprised if you end up getting Paul Revlin himself on the phone when you need help with an order. Over all quality: a 9.5 - highly recommended.
MMA Warehouse - This is THE place to go when you want to buy any of the top brands of MMA clothing and gear at decent prices. Tapout, Affliction, Sprawl, Throwdown, No Fear… you name it, they probably have it in stock. Plus they carry all the pro quality gear from Combat Sports and Ringside. They are also a top-rated store for customer service at BizRate, which is hard to get. Overall quality is a 9.0since they carry all well-known, top brands.
What is Jeet Kune Do? One Instructor Shares His First Experiences
April 23, 2008
Jeet Kune Do is a philosophy and training methodology that was founded by the late Bruce Lee. The literal translation of the term Jeet Kune Do is, “Way of the Intercepting Fist”. Jeet Kune Do instructors are influenced by many functional arts including, but not limited to Thaiboxing, Kali/Escrima, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wing Chun, Western Boxing and more.
After training in traditional martial arts for several years, my work relocated me to California. I had heard a lot about this “JKD” stuff and decided to investigate. After a little research, I discovered there was a school located just around the corner from my apartment.
The school’s instructor was the late great Ted Lucaylucay. The year was 1982 and I will never forget my first day at class. The students were all dressed in t-shirts and shorts! This was unheard of during this time period.
I located the instructor and for a moment, thought perhaps I had made a huge mistake. His appearance was that of someone with long hair covered by a bandana, a goatee, red suspenders and red tennis shoes! Of course after 5 minutes of conversation, I knew I had discovered a gold mine.
The instructor gave me a quick explanation of the four ranges of combat, including kicking, punching, trapping, and grappling (known as MMA today). I was then invited to stay for the sparring class, but had another commitment.
The next evening, I attended the street kickboxing class and was again “enlightened”. During the sparring segment of our class, I was paired up with a young male about my size and age. I performed a couple of good roundhouse kicks, and then on my third attempt, was swept off my feet and placed not so gently on my backside.
While I was trying to kick my next partner in the head, he began to kick my legs with Thaiboxing techniques. Pain is the only way I can describe this encounter.
Now afraid to kick, I decided to try and punch more. My final sparring partner parried my punches and shot a good low single leg takedown administering more pain, by way of leg lock. I had never even seen a leg lock, much less know to defend against one.
I believe in just one training session, I observed one of the most important tenets in JKD, that being “using no way as the way”. All of my sparring partners were able use different methods, but still achieve their goal. Needless to say, I joined the school that night and have never looked back.
I was a young blackbelt at this time and had fought in many tournaments, but the reality was, I had little training for practical fighting. I believe the true beauty of Jeet Kune Do is that, the student is always encouraged to evaluate their training and be truthful with ones self. We must constantly research our training methods and continue to improve.
My senior instructor Mr. Dan Inosanto, who has always encouraged us to research and improve our training, started his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training while in his late fifty’s!
Every JKD school will be slightly different, depending on the instructor’s background. Some will emphasize grappling more, while another may prefer more boxing, but all should address practical, functional training methods. Most schools will provide you with any necessary equipment needed. Also most JKD schools will have music playing and everyone should be having fun. Yes fun. If it is fun, you will always continue to train!
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About the author: Mike Keller teaches Jeet Kune Do and MMA in Sweetwater, Texas. He has blackbelts in several martial arts and has been certified in JKD Concepts by Dan Inosanto, Larry Hartsell and Ted Lucaylucay.
Starting Martial Arts Classes in the Korean Style of Tang Soo Do
April 21, 2008
A Brief History of Tang Soo Do
Following the liberation of Korea in 1945, The founder of Tang Soo Do, Grand Master Hwang Kee returned to the country of his birth where he set about teaching a combination of Chinese “Tang” arts and Soo Bahk Do. On his 31st birthday, Grand Master Hwang Kee opened his first school in the Soeul Railway station (September 9 1945). This is classed as the birthday of the art known around the world as Tang Soo Do.
Tang Soo Do is both a hard and soft style, deriving its hardness in part from Korean arts and its soft flowing movements from the northern Chinese arts. Tang Soo Do is a composite style, being 60% Korean, 30% northern Chinese and 10% southern Chinese.
Tang Soo Do, defined loosely as the way of the worthy hand, is a classical martial art, and its purpose is to develop every aspect of the self, in order to create a mature personality who totally integrates his intellect, body, emotions, and spirit. This total integration helps to create a person who is free from inner conflict and who can deal with the outside world in a mature, intelligent, forthright, and virtuous manner.
What You’ll Learn in Tang Soo Do Class
Curriculum for most traditional Tang Soo Do schools consists of Forms (Hyung), One step sparring (Il Soo Sik), Self Defense (Ho Sin Sol), Sparring, Board Breaking, and Staff forms (Bong Hyung). The emphasis is more on the art and regular training than on point sparring.
- Forms are prescribed sets of motions that are meant to teach the basics of the art as well as to simulate defense against multiple attackers.
- One step sparring is working with a partner, one person performs a prescribed striking attack while the other practices various prescribed defensive techniques.
- Self defense consists of various prescribed defenses against grabbing attacks such as wrist grabs, bear hugs, shoulder grabs etc. The defenses are both controlling, such as arm bars and wrist locks as well as striking combinations.
- Sparring – the sparring practiced in most traditional schools is focused on practicing all of the basic kicks and strikes in an unformatted manner. Students learn how to combine techniques and defend against various attacks. Point sparring, which emphasizes techniques that can score points against the opponent is also taught as preparation for tournaments.
- Board Breaking – Students learn how to break board using the hand and foot techniques they have learned.
Most Tang Soo Do schools will teach the Korean translations for the techniques learned in class as well.
Your First Day at the Dojang - What to Expect
Your first impression upon entering most schools is the formal respect shown by all the students and instructors. Students all bow before entering the training floor. Students and instructors bow to each other and refer to each other by formal terms such as sir, Kyo Sa Nim (certified instructor), Sa Bom Nim (Master instructor), etc. Respect for one another is one of the core values of a traditional martial arts school.
All students will be wearing traditional uniforms with belts that denote their rank. Patches on the uniforms usually designate the school and/or federation affiliation. One unique aspect of Tang Soo Do is that black belts are actually a dark navy blue color, as is the trim on black belt uniforms. The navy blue is meant to show that training is never finished and there is always more to learn.
Your first lesson will cover the school’s etiquette; bowing, how to address instructors and other students and other general guidelines. You will then be taught some basic strikes and kicks to prepare you for participation in group classes
Required Equipment
Initially, you’ll need a uniform and belt to begin classes. At some level, you’ll need to purchase sparring gear which usually consists of headgear, foot pads, hand and forearm pads.
Expected Training Costs
Training costs can vary significantly. You should expect to pay no less than $100 per month. Costs can be vary depending on the location of the school, what they include in their membership and other factors.
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About the author: David Estes holds a 2nd Dan in Tang Soo Do from the Traditional Tang Soo Do Federation based in Wales, U.K. He is a co-owner and instructor at A.K. Martial Arts & Fitness in Vista California.
The Top 7 Things to Consider When Selecting a Martial Arts School
April 19, 2008
Congratulations on choosing to enroll yourself or your child in a martial arts program! As a 10 year practitioner of martial arts, I enrolled in 4 schools in different parts of the country before launching my own school in upstate
Below, I’ve outlined what I believe to be the key questions to ask yourself and your prospective school instructor. I often tell people that choosing a martial arts school is like choosing a college. You need to do your research on the curriculum being taught, the quality of the schools graduates, the cost, and then you need to visit the school to see if it “feels” right.
Traditional or Modern
Some schools are very traditional while others take a modern approach. Traditional schools often emphasize the discipline and uniformity that people associate with the martial arts. Modern schools may blend a variety of styles and have looser standards of behavior.
Children, Adults, or Both
Are you looking for a school for a child or for yourself or both of you? What does the school offer? If the school is solely focused on teaching children and you are seeking aggressive full-contact martial arts training, this might not be the school for you. The class schedule should reflect dedicated classes for adults and children.
Contact – light, medium, full
How hard do you want to hit or be hit? Most martial arts involve contact sparring after a certain period of training. Some schools believe pain and contact are to begin on the first class while others permit no contact until black belt level. It is important to match your expectations and ask the instructor what type of contact the school permits and at what level.
Style – Taekwon-do, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, Kenpo, Wing-chun, Aikido…
The differences in martial arts styles are too varied to describe in a single article. Do your own research on this website or YouTube to get a sense for the different martial arts styles and their philosophies.
Instructor
Ultimately, the quality of the school rests upon the decision making of the instructor. When you meet him or her in person, you should be able to get a sense of the character traits and physical ability. Some schools are run by an instructor who owns several schools. The classes in other schools are only taught by the head instructor. Before enrolling yourself or your child, you should know who the instructors are and their teaching philosophy.
The students
Look around – are the students like you or your child? Are they your age and ability level? Are the exercises they perform in your range of ability? Do they greet you with a smile and encourage you to join? Try to talk to a few of them and find out why they chose the school and see if their answers are in alignment with your goals.
Pricing and commitment
Most martial arts schools ask for a 6-12 month commitment up f
As an instructor, I know that the first 3 months with a new student requires a lot of additional time and effort on my part that needs to be taken into consideration. I have to alter my classes to permit time for the new student to learn basic skills and routines. I also have to dedicate time to review the new student’s progress, physical wellness, and emotional contentedness with the school. This is my commitment to new students.
Phone calls and private conversations are part of the curriculum to keep the student coming to class. New uniforms, student journals, certificates, belts, federation dues and training equipment are all costs to the school and may or may not be included in your tuition.
To summarize, making a commitment to a martial arts school is something to take seriously. Only by researching the style, the level of contact, the age and ability of the students and by meeting the instructor can you really predict how well you will adapt to the training.
If you think of it like choosing a college, you will surely know that you have chosen the right school for you or your child. It should just “feel” right. Congratulations on taking the first step. You may have heard that interviews with senior citizens reveal a simple fact time and time again: as we age, we regret the things we failed to try more than the things we have tried and failed.
So, start your research on the internet right now and make appointments to visit the schools in your area as soon as possible!
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Goju Ryu Karate, The “Hard-Soft” Style
April 18, 2008
What You Will Learn in Goju Ryu
You will learn a traditional Karate that involves how to defend yourself, this will come through practice of basic and advanced movements. Deep breathing is a very big part of the Goju Style, this helps to strengthen us mentally and physically.
Kata is also taught, this is a pre-arranged set of moves that puts into practice what you learn, there is also what we call “Bunkai” and this is the actual application of each of the moves for each Kata, “Bunkai” can also be open to interpretation as long as the technique works.
You will also learn leadership skills, relaxation (through Ibuku), discipline, increased concentration, increased coordination, self confidence.
Your First Day at The School – What to Expect
Your first lesson will be in the beginner’s class, this is how all students start training, you should wear loose comfortable clothing remembering that you will get very warm. The class will begin with a bowing in ceremony paying respect to the Head of style in Japan, the class instructor and finally everybody in the class.
Beginners stand at the rear of the class and the more advanced students towards the front, this allows beginners to easily see how to perform their moves. Then we do a warm up and stretching session for about 15 minutes, this is to ready our bodies for strenuous activities and help avoid injuries.
We then start what is called the basics, at this stage you will have a Sempei (Assistant instructor) help explain some Japanese terminology and you will learn stances, basic block, punches and kicks that the Sempei will also help you with.
Required Equipment
At our school you would be required to have a Gi (Karate suit) before your first grading, after your first grading you will need for class Kumite (Sparring) a mouth guard, approved gloves (optional=fore arm protectors, shin guards, groin guard). This is fairly standard among most Goju karate dojo you’ll find.
Some Interesting Goju Ryu Facts and Dates
- The first forebear of the system, Kanryo Higaonna, was born in 1853.
- 1869 became Uchi Deshi of Grand master Ryu Ryu ko.
- 1881 began privately teaching his style of Naha-te.
- 1902 Began instructing 14 year old Chojun Miyagi.
- 1905 He opened his first public class at the Naha commercial high school.
- Passed away December 1915 aged 63.
- Chojun Myagi, Born April 25, 1888. in Naha
- 1930 Created the name Goju-Ryu (meaning “Hard & Soft School”).
- 1931 Introduced to Gogen Yamaguchi.
- 1933 After many hard years of teaching at places such as Kyoto University, Ritsumei Kan University & Kansia University, Karate was finally registered at the Butokukai (centre for all Martial arts in Japan) & as such meant that Karate was now recognised with other great martial arts like Kempo & Judo.
- Passed away on October 8, 1953
- Gogen Yamaguchi, born at Kagoshima on the 20th of January 1909.
- In his early school days he studied the art of Kendo & at the age 12 he started his life long study of Goju Kai Karate as he studied with Sensei Takeo Maruta at the Maruta Dojo in Miyazai Kyushu.
- 1929, at the Shinsengumi post in Mibu, Kyoto he founded the first Goju Karate-do school
- He studied law at the Kensei in 1928 & ritsumeikan University from 1929 to 1937 where he received his law degrees, While studying at the university he started the University Karate club & created the free sparring form, the club quickly developed a reputation for hard training & fierce breathing techniques (ibuku).
- 1945 Established Zen Nippon (all Japan) Karate-Do (GOJU STYLE KARATE) and founded branches and exercise halls all over the country.
- 1950, he founded the national organisation of All Japan Karate-do (GOJU STYLE KARATE) in Japan.
- 1951, he received his 10th degree Blackbelt from Chojun Miyagi.
- 1964, As a result of his hard work over the years at unifying all styles of Karate, the All Japan Karate Federation was formed.
- 1969, he was awarded the Blue ribbon medal by Emperor Hirohito.
- May 20 1989 Passed away leaving a great legacy
(Note: some sources conflict over dates and locations of events. All care is taken.)
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About the author: Marty Bodsworth started training in Goju Kai Karate Do in 1982 in Doonside (Australia) during that time he has competed at National level winning two heavyweight titles (GJK JKF 1998) and (WOMAA 2002) as well as running and officiating at club, state, National and international events. He holds a Blackbelt with Australian Goju Kai (Sydney), a Ni Dan with Mario Borg Goju Ryu and a Ni Dan with Goju Ryu Karate Do Seiwakai. He currently teaches Goju Ryu Karate classes in Glendenning and Quakers Hill Australia.
Links to Martial Arts Sites
April 17, 2008
Hung Gar Kung Fu, The Powerful Southern Style
April 16, 2008
Hung Gar is an external, hard and powerful Southern Shaolin style of Kung Fu. It is also known as Hung Kuen, Hung Fist and Fu Hok Pai (Tiger/Crane Style). Hung is the sir name of the originator but it also means to stand tall with integrity. Gar means clan or family in Cantonese. Hung Gar translates to Hung Family being one of the five Southern Kung Fu family styles: Hung Gar, Lau Gar, Mok Gar, Choy Gar, Li Gar. They were all named after the originator of the system.
Hung Gar Kung Fu originated in the Fukien Southern Shaolin Temple. Shaolin which translates to youthful forest was known as the number one monastery under heaven. Kung Fu does not mean martial arts. The word for martial arts in Chinese is Wushu. Yet, today’s Wushu is a non combative, creative and acrobatic form system created by the People’s Republic of China as a sport.
Martial Art means war like art. Hung Gar is a true martial art or war like art. Hung Gar is a form of Chinese street fighting. It’s arsenal of attack includes Claws to the eyes, strikes to the throat, low kicks to the groin and knees, elbows, knees, sweeps, iron broom sweeps, and attack to the joints. Hung Gar is not a sport but an art of war. There is no direct translation for the word Kung Fu. Kung Fu could mean accomplishment of man, something you do well or an expertise.
A rebel and tea merchant named Hung Gei Guen (Hung Xi Guan) was perfecting his skills under the tutelage of the head abbot of the Shaolin Temple Gin Sin when one of the top fighting monks the White Eyebrow Priest (Pai Mei or Bak Mei) betrayed the temple. Pai Mei killed Hung’s teacher and the Ching Empire burned the temple down in 1734. Hung’s preferred boxing system was primarily based on the fierce tiger style. The tiger’s attributes are overwhelming power, tenacity and fearlessness. The tiger claws his enemy with hand strikes and tears them up with brutal power, breaking bones and ripping muscle. The tiger is an aggressive, offensive animal.
Just like the tiger that simply will not back down is the Hung fighter. He takes on the spirit of the tiger as he/she smothers, overwhelms and overlaps with strikes an aggressor’s attack with vicious strikes, claws and low kicks to vital and lethal areas of the body. Legend has it that Hung was also schooled in the crane style by his wife Fong Wing Chun (Fang Yung Chun). There is no relationship with Fong Wing Chun and the Kung Fu style of Wing Chun that was popularized by the late great Bruce Lee. Wing Chun is a common Chinese name. The crane is less offensive then other styles, preferring to allow an attacker to commit himself before launching into a series of kicks and smashing hand strikes. The crane evades the attack.
Master Hung is said to have combined the best techniques from both systems to create Hung Gar. Yet, Hung Gar is not only the fusion of the overwhelming and fearless tiger with the defensive and lethal techniques of the crane. Hung Gar is a complete system of fighting and weapons utilizing the three other animals of Shaolin, the snake, leopard and dragon with the five elements.
Hung Gar unlike other martial arts was not developed for sport but for defense and war. This style of kung fu is not soft or flowery like. It is a strong, powerful and aggressive fighting system. Hung Gar has proved itself in the battlefields of China for approximately 300 years. First fighting the Manchurian invaders of the Ching dynasty and then fighting gangs and drug lords in the turn of the last century.
Hung Gar practitioners were also known for their “Thousand Pound Foundation” or Horse Stance. When a Hung Gar practitioner sank into a low horse stance more then ten people with staffs were unable to move him. Hung training emphasizes strong low stances, iron hard forearms, low snapping kicks and ambidextrous deceptive powerful hand techniques. Hung hand techniques use simultaneous blocking and striking.
The blocks of Hung Gar were well respected and feared. Opponents often thought twice before challenging a Hung Gar practitioner, since with a single block he could numb or incapacitate an attacker’s limb, how much more powerful must a strike be? So it is said that we of the Tiger Crane do not block, we strike the strike.
Hung Gar is also know for it’s physical conditioning with Iron Rings and iron forearm training. Hung Gar Iron Ring training can be seen the movies Master Killer also know as the 36 Chambers staring Hung Gar Master Gordon Liu and in Kung Fu Hustle staring Hung Gar Master Chui Chi Ling.
Hung Gar’s most recognized Master is the Chinese folk hero and Hung Gar Grand Master Wong Fei Hung. His life story has been immortalized in numerous books and over 100 Chinese movies. Some of the most recent movies are Legend of the Drunken Master, Once Upon a Time in China and the Iron Monkey. These movies can be found in your local video store. Today’s top action hero’s Jackie Chan, Jet Lee and Gordon Liu have all played Fei Hung in the silver screen.
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About the author: Master Julio Anta teaches Hung Gar Kung Fu in Miami, Florida. He recently came out with the first video on Iron Ring and iron forearm training “Shaolin Physical Conditioning.” For more information on his training DVD you can log on to his web sites at www.AntaKungFu.com or on My Space at www.myspace.com/ShaolinFitness.
Wesley Snipes Martial Arts Film Star
April 16, 2008
Wesley Snipes martial arts prowess has arguably been the foundation of his action movie career. Although dramatic roles in early films such as New Jack City and White Men Can’t Jump did not require Snipes to display his formidable martial arts skills, it is interesting to note that many of his later roles involved a great deal of martial arts based fighting.
What is even more amazing is that in his best-known action role as Blade, the day-walking vampire hunter, Snipes acted as both producer and fight choreographer on the first two films in the series. Obviously, this is a man who loves his martial arts.
Wesley Snipes martial arts training and background is impressive. A fifth degree black belt, with high ranks in Shotokan karate and extensive training in capoeira, he is an accomplished martial artist. Snipes first started training at the young age of 12, and credits his martial arts training for helping him overcome adversity. In an interview with the Calgary Sun, Snipes talked about how his early martial arts training taught him valuable life-skills:
“They are what taught me how to deal with adversity in my life. You have to endure and overcome so much physical pain to learn these moves that you can apply the same principles to life experiences. I was a small child. I matured late. It made growing up in a tough world even tougher. I started out using martial arts training to defend myself, so my style is traditional martial arts mixed with Bronx street fighting.”
Snipes seems evasive when asked directly what martial arts he uses most in his films. Yet he never hesitates to give credit to his early training in traditional martial arts, nor his ongoing passion for the Afro-Brazilian art of capoeira, which he studies under Mestre Jelon Vieira. However, he readily admits that he draws on several martial arts styles for his fight scenes, and it’s easy to see influences in his choreography from tae kwon do, hapkido, kenpo karate, and Filipino martial arts.
No matter what martial arts Wesley Snipes practices, there is no doubt that he is one of the most entertaining and engaging action film stars to hit the silver screen. If you’d like to check out some of his work on DVD, the following is a recommended list of the all-time best Wesley Snipes martial arts action flicks to watch:
- Passenger 57
- Boiling Point
- Rising Sun
- Blade
- U.S. Marshals
- The Art of War
- Blade II: Bloodhunt
- Blade: Trinity
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About the Author: Mike Massie has been teaching the martial arts for over twenty years, and is a well-known and outspoken advocate on the topic of ethical martial arts school management. He resides in Austin, Texas and runs a full-time martial arts studio in nearby Hutto, TX.
Kempo-Jitsu: Kajukenbo roots, Black Uniforms, and Hard-Core Martial Arts Training
April 16, 2008
There is a long running joke in the martial arts, that basically says when someone says X is the best style, what they really mean is “I study X”. Well I study and teach a style called Kempo-jitsu that is derived from another style called Kajukenbo and I’m going to tell you why I feel it’s the best style around.
The history of Kempo is convoluted at best. Romanticized stories of Shaolin warrior Monks and burning temples. While I’m sure most of it is true, our focus is going to be on the modern aspects and history of the art.
Sometime between 1947 and 1949, Adriano Emperado, along with several other martial artists (the notorious “Black Belt Society,”) first formulated the system of Kajukenbo. This system used a style of Kempo as the backbone of the system, but also included Shotokan Karate, Kodokan Judo, Sekeino Jujutsu, Sil-lum Pai Kung Fu and Escrima. The system was designed to be the ultimate in self-defense. While they were creating the system members of the Black Belt Society would intentionally get into fights in the Paloma settlement of Hawaii where they lived in order to decide which techniques were good enough to include in the system. The mantra became “Use the useful and discard the rest.”
In 1950, Victor “Sonny” Gascon began training in Kajukenbo. He did not train directly with Emperado but with some of his Black Belts. 10 years later George Pesare began training with Sonny Gascon in California. In 1961, due to “politics” (a common theme in Kempo history), Sonny Gascon left behind the name of Kajukenbo and called his system Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu. In 1966 a Pesare student named Nick Cerio earned his first Black Belt and opened his own school. A great martial artist named Ed Parker once was quoted as saying “You see that man over there? (Pointing to Prof. Cerio) That’s the most dangerous man I’ve ever met.”
And thus, Modern Kempo was born. The trend these days is to attempt to take Kempo back to its Kajukenbo roots, making it what might be the most all round martial art the world has ever seen. The best styles of the world have contributed with their specialties. Kicking techniques from borrowed from Karate. Clinching, takedowns and ground work from Judo and Ju-jitsu. Emphasis on multiple and fluid hand techniques came from Kempo, and superior striking power came from Boxing. Stand up fighting and ground fight is equally emphasized. There is always something new to learn as a result of the versatility. Since you can specialize on the training that suits you, it never becomes boring. Kempo Grand master Villari said it best; “Kempo fits itself to you, not the other way around.”
Okay, so now you know the whys and the who’s. Now for that all important step… going to your first class and what to expect. You’ll probably want to show up a couple minutes early to introduce yourself to your fellow students and check out the school (if you haven’t visited already). You’ll often need to sign a waiver.
Before class starts, you’ll have a chance to get dressed and stretch. Some teachers use a very light warm-up, whereas others start the class with a heavy-duty conditioning session. Most classes start with a group warm-up, such as running laps and doing push-ups, followed by solo drills like forward and backward break-falls and punching and kicking drills.
Don’t worry if you don’t get it right at first - no one does on their first day, and they take a little practice. Just give it your best try and the instructor or a higher belt will make sure you learn to do it right. After warm-ups, you’ll be partnered with someone and go to your own section of the mats to be taught your first lesson. At some schools you will practice a beginner curriculum, and at others you will simply do whatever techniques are being taught that day.
Some schools have private lessons to teach specific techniques and then use the group classes to practice the application of those techniques.
At most schools (at least the good ones) the class concludes with live sparring, or one day a week is set aside for sparring. Some schools start with timed rounds, some allow you to continue doing “free sparring” with no time limits, and others do a combination of both. Some schools require you to wait until you reach a higher rank to spar some let you start from day one.
One thing you will notice that seems to be universal in Kajukenbo and Kempo schools is a sense of family. Everyone is there to learn and to help others learn. Egos are left at the door. I remember attending a rather hard seminar that included Kajukenbo and Kempo practitioners from all over the world and feeling that if I made a mistake in a technique… I may have a hurtin’ put on me… but nobody was there to hurt me.
The equipment required for Kajukenbo is very basic. A gi (uniform, usually black), is all you need to start. For sparing the usual requirements are a helmet (similar to what boxers wear to train in), Mouth guard groin protection and foot pads or martial arts shoes.
I require my students to own 2 sets of gloves. First is a standard set of 14 - 16 ounce boxing gloves. We use these for our straight boxing / kickboxing training. We also use the traditional Kempo gloves made famous by Bruce Lee in “Enter the Dragon”. These allow us to safely train holds and submissions as well as strikes. Senior belts are allowed to use MMA gloves instead of the Kempo gloves.
As you progress through the system, you may also like to purchase (if it’s not required) a training knife, rubber gun, and 2 sets of Escrima sticks (one padded one not). Please note that these requirements vary from school to school, so check with any prospective instructors.
Cost of training varies. Some schools are very bare bones and charge just enough to keep the doors open. Others are huge corporate chains that charge top dollar. Some charge for ranking tests and others do not. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide what the school offers in terms of private and group lessons and what you are looking to spend.
Now for the most asked question: Why do you guys wear a black gi?
When Kempo Grandmaster James Mitose returned to Hawaii in 1937 from his Kempo training with his Grandfather, Sukuhei Yoshida in Japan, he knew that people would assume his “Art” was just another Japanese martial art.
He immediately wanted to send a message to all the other martial artists in Hawaii that this was not the case. He did this by wearing a Black Gi, which was contrary to the nature of the “Traditional” Japanese martial arts. James Mitose wanted all to know that while there were some similarities to other martial arts, Kempo had taken a different path of development and was a style of its own - not to be considered Japanese in nature or origin.
Much of the nature of the martial arts in Japan had its origin in the Shintoism (the original religion of Japan). Within Shintoism “White” was symbolic of “Purity”. “Black” by its very nature took on the opposite meaning: night- death- evil.
The message the “Black Gi” sent was that Kempo, and by lineage, Kajukenbo is a War Art; black was an indication of “Death and Bruising.” To this day Traditional Japanese and Okinawan tournaments will not allow the wearing of a black gi. For example, Ted Sumner is affiliated with a group of martial artists in Japan who send “exchange groups” to train and live with Ted in California. Those students refuse to step onto the mat to freestyle spar with anyone wearing a black gi. The wearing of a black gi also has a great psychological effect.
I remember reading a article by Chuck Norris when he related that as a brown belt what concern him most were those “Kempo fighters in black uniforms.” For over 30 years the “black uniform” gave Kempo its unique identity; Kempo and Kajukenbo were at one time the only styles wearing the black gi!
Today so many are wearing black uniforms you can’t tell if they are Kempo or Kajukenbo stylists, until you see them fight! (We are the ones disqualified for excessive contact). The black gi is part of our Kempo/Kajukenbo heritage and distinguishes us from all other martial arts. It states to the entire world: “We are a fighting art”!
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About the Author:
John Sexton is the principal instructor and director of Ronin Martial Arts in Denver, Colorado. He has been studying martial arts for over 20 years, first starting as a young teen with the study of tae kwon do, but his true beginning in martial arts came with the study of Jujitsu and Kempo, leading to his love of Kajukenbo. He began teaching Kempo professionally in 2000 with a large chain school but soon became disillusioned with the business aspect of the school and walked away. He continued to learn, teach and research the martial arts in general, as well as Shootfighting (a type of MMA style), CQC (Police and Military style self-defense) and his hybrid art of Kempo-jitsu in specific, and plans to do so till they pound the last nail shut to his coffin.
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