It’s said that getting injured in part of the game. Just like in any sport, there is a risk of getting hurt while practicing martial arts. It doesn’t really matter which style of martial arts that you are into—jujitsu, karate, judo, kickboxing, or kung fu. The point is, there’s always a chance that you would hurt a part of your body while sparring or when in competition.

In 2011, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission noted that there were more than 35,000 visits to emergency rooms in hospitals for injuries that are related to martial arts. That bit of information may sound scary, but wait till you learn more of the stats in other sports.

For instance, the same agency reports that there were more than 570,000 visits to emergency rooms in hospitals due to basketball-related injuries. Of that number, 8,000 resulted in hospitalization.

The other sports aren’t far away. Football related injuries resulted to more than 466,000 trips to the emergency room, while baseball and softball injuries had 265,000 trips. Soccer injuries, meanwhile, resulted to more than 231,000 visits to emergency rooms.

Although engaging in martial arts is less likely to get you injured than say, playing basketball, there is still the chance that you would end up getting these injuries if you aren’t careful, or when bad luck strikes:

Skin Damage

Cuts and bruises are fairly common in martial arts. There is also the possibility that you’ll develop skin infections such as staph and ringworm when you participate in contact sports like martial arts.

Concussion

Since martial arts emphasize on striking and throwing, it’s easy to understand why you are at risk of concussions when you engage in this contact sport. Concussions can happen when you are hit hard in the head, or when your noggin hits the mat hard.

Symptoms of concussion are dizziness, nausea, headaches, difficulties in concentrating, and memory problems. If you experience these symptoms, you should stop training or sparring and seek medical help. You must also get clearance from a qualified health care professional before returning to play or compete.

Strains and Sprains

There is also the risk of strains, or injury to a muscle or tendon. For instance, you may tear a muscle when you hit an opponent or object.

Sprains are also common, because of all the kicking and grappling in martial arts. These repetitive activities can put a strain on the knees, damaging the ligaments and resulting to sprain.

Hand and Arm Injuries

Grappling and punching can cause injuries to the arms and hands. The fingers are particularly prone to getting injured because of the repeated punching. While hand injuries may seem less serious than sprains or concussions, you should not take hand and arm injuries lightly. In fact, injuries to small joints of the hand may take a long time to recover.

Risk Factors

There are certain factors that would increase your risks of injury. One of these is poor technique. Moving a body part incorrectly can put a lot of strain on the joints, ligaments, and muscles. There’s also increased risk of injury when you use excessive force, like when an opponent fails to pull a kick or punch and subsequently inflicts harm on you.

Moreover, novice martial arts practitioners are more likely to get injured due to the fact that their bodies aren’t used to the physical demands of the sport. Training too much and too often can also increase a martial arts practitioner’s risk of injuries.

Safety Tips

You can prevent these injuries from happening if you follow safety tips. One of the more commonly suggested safety tips is to warm up thoroughly before training or sparring. You should stretch for at least 15 minutes before throwing any kicks or punches.

After training or sparring, give yourself time to cool down. You must also not forget to stretch afterwards. And drink lots of water during and after a training session.

During training, always wear appropriate protective gear like mouth guards and helmets. You must also have a chest protector, padding, and braces.

You must also make good use of peripheral vision. Good hand-to-eye coordination would be very valuable as you can protect yourself against strikes. This can be harnessed over time, especially through frequent practice.

Maintaining good physical condition is another way to minimize your risks of getting injured. When you get fatigued easily, there’s the tendency for you to execute a technique improperly which can then lead to straining a muscle or injuring a finger.

Speaking of techniques, you should practice new techniques at half speed. Talk to your coach or instructor before pulling off a new move so that you’ll know how to safely execute it.

Injuries may be part of the game, but you can always avoid them if you just follow the aforementioned tips.

Read More

These days, you can learn almost everything as long as you have a smartphone or tablet that is Internet-ready. You just go to Google, search a topic that you’re interested in and voila… you’ll get all the information you need. Everything becomes easier and simpler when you have apps that can teach you whatever you’re interested in, like martial arts.

Of course, nothing beats the old school route of hitting a gym and getting schooled by a master instructor. But having an app that can help you brush up on techniques wouldn’t hurt, right? And there’s the luxury of reviewing those techniques while you’re commuting from work to a nearby gym.

That said, here are some martial arts apps that you can install on your phone or tablet:

iBJJ

This is a jujitsu app that you can get both on an Android or iOS device. It has still photos that you can scan through. The lack of videos is quite a bummer, but here’s a reason why the developers made it that way—they say that it is easier to understand the techniques in photo format. There’s a descriptive text for each photo, and you can see frames from a reverse angle so you’ll better understand how the body should be positioned.

The app is very easy to navigate, as the techniques are sorted into categories like back attacking and top guard. There are 90 moves taught in this app, which is not bad considering that you’ll have to pay for it (around $4).

Learn Karate

Unlike the previous app, this one is freemium app on Android and iOS. That means you can get the basic app for free, although you’ll have to pay $5 to get access to more information.

It’s available on both iOS and Android, where it is called Karate Training.

It’s a very handy practice resource, especially for novice karate students. Aside from the lessons on karate techniques, it has tips on how to build strength and improve flexibility. There’s also a section on symbolic attack and defense postures that students should learn.

And unlike the iBJJ app, the techniques are presented in videos. There are also photos and descriptions of how to execute the techniques. Overall, it is a very good app that even expert karate practitioners would appreciate.

Taekwondo Bible

You can learn this popular martial art that has Korean origins by downloading the Taekwondo Bible app on Android. It’s free and frequently updated, which should augur well if you have a new Android device.

It has detailed instructions on how to execute the techniques, with diagrams that will teach you how to place your feet when performing the attacks. There are even explanations of the Korean names of the moves. However, you’ll only be able to learn five taekwondo patterns in the free version. If you want to access the full list, you’ll have to pay a nominal fee.

Taekwondo White Belt

This is an app that is geared towards the beginners. For one, there’s a section that is dedicated on the history and philosophy of taekwondo. There are also detailed instructions explaining basic techniques, with photos and videos and accompanying descriptive text.

The app is very easy to navigate and there are more advanced techniques that it offers to users, albeit you’ll have to pay again for the full content. The price is very affordable though ($1). The major beef you’ll have with the app is that the menus feel unresponsive.

Yang Tai Chi for Beginners

This app is available on both iOS and Android devices, and features video-based lessons that teach you thorough the movements of the martial art. The video lessons are backed up with text-based instructions as well as explanations on how to perform the correct postures. You’ll even get schooled on the movements, what they are for and what they mean.

Like the other apps in this list, the free version has limited content. You’ll have to shell out $10 to access all the videos.

My MMA Trainer

This is an app that is available on Android and a good one at that for mixed martial arts training. A very useful feature is the Workout Builder that lets you design your own workouts. You’ll also get access to videos of specially selected exercises.

Boxing Timer

Don’t get fooled by the name as the app can also be used for all sorts of workouts like Muay Thai and mixed martial arts. You’ll get to design your own workouts with this handy app which is only available on iOS.

These are just some of the great apps that you can download and install on your iPhone or Android device. So what are you waiting for? Download one and start brushing up on your knowledge of martial arts!

Read More

Martial arts have become more than just a physical routine for competitive fighting. The more brutal arts have been incorporated into military use while others have been modified for fitness and health programs. Just about everyone has something to benefit from martial arts.

The only issue now is choosing which one of the different arts is right for you. There are so many to choose from such as Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. They might all sound the same but upon deeper inspection you’ll see each one has their own separate quirks and differences.

Step 1 – Look into Yourself

The first step in identifying the right martial art is to know what you want, what your strengths are, and what your weaknesses are. You’ll want a martial art that improves your weaknesses while honing your strengths.

Remember that every martial art is different no matter what they say; a 5’2” skinny man wouldn’t do much good in Sumo wrestling but put on an Aikido gi on him and teach him the basics he could throw down a much larger opponent after just 3 months of training.

By identifying what your body is capable of, what areas of yourself you want to improve or alter, and what goals you realize can be realistically achieved, you’ll have a shorter list of martial arts applicable to your needs and wants.

Step 2 – Look into the Martial Arts Schools Nearby

Yes, you might to look for the schools nearby before deciding on one of the different arts in the world. Why choose Pencak Silat if there’s no school within 200 miles of where you live? By jotting down the schools within a certain travel radius you’ll instantly be able to create a short list of viable options.

Step 3 – Formal Training

This is where the martial art schools will differ. You’ll want an in-depth look at their training regiment, their schedule, etiquette, and more. This is where you’ll see how they wear their gi and belts, their ceremonies, rules, and training gear.

If you’re still deciding which martial art to practice, try visiting a few of these schools. You’ll want to talk to the instructors and even to some of the students to get a feel of how their particular martial art works and what philosophies they imbue to each other.

This will also allow you to study the different martial arts in action. You’ll get a first-hand look at what you could be learning.

Thinking of joining a Karate class? Visit the school and check what kind of Karate gi they wear, what training gear they use, how they spar, and what time they begin and end.

Another part of this formality is to see how the instructors teach their students. Do they spar their students to let them learn in direct combat or they have the students perform katas routinely with a partner?

Formal arts are like Kendo where everything is done in a precise order, with symbolic meaning and a proper method of doing things from start to finish. The least formal are like boxing where a boxer simply fights in a ring and the trainer yells specific instructions.

Step 4 – Informal inquiry

So you’re done visiting the school, you’ve talked to the instructor, and you’ve seen whether or not their martial art is suitable to your body’s capabilities, your needs, and your wants. Now it’s time to see the martial arts in action as performed by the masters so it’s time to turn to your computer and YouTube.

This might sound like a waste of time for some but watching videos can help you determine what style is best suited for you. Try to emulate easy moves and watch some tutorial videos if you can find them. Switch things around and see which martial art clicks the most with you.

You’ll want to do this during your alone time. Martial arts instructors can be very persuasive so you can expect a lot of sales talk when you visit their schools. When you’re alone following YouTube videos, there’s no one buzzing sales talk in your ears so you can concentrate on what really feels right for you.

Step 5 – Give it Some Time

So you’ve decided on a martial art? Decided to invest on a brand new Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi and rank up those belts? Before you decide any further, try to lock down your goals and give your decision a good year as a test run. Attend every class for the year and see how far you’ve come.

If after a year and you don’t feel like it’s getting you anywhere then take some time off and try something else. It can seem annoying to have to waste an entire year but if you’re really not happy then don’t pursue it to a point of being miserable.

Read More

The Internet is filled with people who look at masters with high ranking Krav Maga belts and go “He’s not a real fighter because Krav Maga isn’t a practical art” or “Krava Maga is just a watered-down combat art formerly used by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF).

These people have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

Krav Maga is not only one of the most practical martial arts but under a skilled master it is also one of the deadliest. It ranks among the most brutal arts, a spot shared by Pencak Silat/Kali, Wushu, and Russian Systema.

If that’s not reason enough to start ranking up Krav Maga belts then take a moment to consider the following:

Krav Maga is Practical for Real World Fights

Fighting for sport is one thing but fighting to defend your life from thugs and rapists is another. In the ring or on the mat, there are rules and a referee to make sure everybody follows those rules. In the real world, you have to be able to win or your life could be in jeopardy. There is no middle ground.

Krava Maga was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, originally designed for practical use in the streets. Its roots shaped the art into a practical system that can be used realistically. It was later refined and taught to the IDF, so it wasn’t the other way around as many people believe.

Krav Maga is a Complete Package

Judo focuses on grapples and submission locks. Aikido has some striking but it focuses on momentum control and takedowns. Karate is focused almost entirely on empty-hand striking. Krav Maga is a package of all three: striking, wresting, and grappling.

This means you will always have a strategy to fight back with no matter what situation you are in. Whether you are standing and striking or you are on the ground outmatching someone in an arm lock, Krav Maga will keep you equipped with the skills you need to win.

Krav Maga is Easier to Learn

The essence of Krav Maga is to focus on a martial art that is practical in real life situations so it doesn’t use difficult katas and formations like Karate or Wushu. Instead, the techniques in Krav Maga focus on instinctual movement – meaning these are the most likely, most natural movements a person will actually do in combat.

This makes it much easier to learn, especially for beginners. However, the mantra of “easy to learn, hard to master” does apply so only the most dedicated students climb up to the black Krav Maga belts.

Krav Maga is Applicable to People of All Sizes and Strengths

Have you ever seen a skinny Sumo wrestler or a boxer without large muscles? How about a wrestler who doesn’t look like a walking tank of muscles? Those are bodies that many people can only dream of and that make their martial art so difficult for smaller people.

Krav Maga doesn’t share that issue. Krav Maga is designed so that tall people, short people, skinny or heavy can use its art for self-defense and counter.

Krav Maga Takes Stress into Consideration

When you’re in a real fight you often won’t have the time to think about what you can and cannot do. The situation is urgent and you need to be able to react in a split-second’s time. Many other martial arts do not train you for this – the moment a fight breaks out, people forget all their kata and body forms.

Krav Maga fixes this by preparing the mind as much as it prepares the body. Mental control and properly assessing a panic-inducing situation is integral to the lessons of Krav Maga. After all, it was later taught to IDF soldiers so teaching them how to take control even in a war zone was crucial.

Krav Maga Doesn’t Take Forever to Master

As with every martial art it does take some time to gain experience and hone your skills however it won’t take you six-twelve years to reach the higher tiers of learning. This isn’t Brazilian Jiu Jitsu where there are many required years before you can become a black belt.

This is because Krav Maga focuses on skill and concentration. If you’re really good and you practice every day then it in just 2-4 years you’ll be counted among the best in the art. There are people who have only studied 3-5 years and yet are certified instructors already.

Krav Maga Has Been Battle Tested

Many martial arts claim they are useful and have been tested by soldiers but very few actually have. Kali, a Filipino art, and Russian Systema are some that really have been combat tested and Krav Maga belongs with them.

The thing with soldiers is that they fight as a group and with firearms. Very rarely will a soldier ever fight hand to hand while in a battlefield.

Read More

They always say that one of the best ways to help your kids explore who they are develop into righteous, physically fit adults is to get them into martial arts. Martial arts, in the eyes of some, are just acts of violence but the truth could not be any further from this statement.

Martial arts like Hapkido, Aikido, Judo, Krav Maga, and others teach more than just fighting. These are ways of life that influence a person’s control over their body, their mind, as well as their philosophies in life.

If you need any reason to start your kid enrolling martial arts then take a look at these seven listed below:

Kids Get More Active

It’s time to get your kids away from the TV, away from their video games, and definitely away from the Internet. Too many kids are staying indoors eating junk food and wasting away on Facebook. Martial arts training is a great way to get them out of their coop and back into action.

Kids are spending so much time with their gadgets that the era of playing basketball and football outdoors is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Kids don’t even play out in the street together anymore. They just visit one kid’s house and sit around a TV and play video games.

Martial arts changes that. They have to interact physically with the other people.

Boost Their Social Skills

Martial arts classes involve a lot of people working together to help one another get better. It’s like a brotherhood but it is the philosophy of the art that binds everyone like a family instead of a verbal oath. This kind of environment would do a lot of good for a child.

Kids can learn how to make friends, how to help each other, and to understand their limits with other people just by attending these classes.

Kids Develop Better Self-Discipline

Kids will get hit during their training. It’s inevitable. They’ll get hit, thrown, and pushed a lot. They will win some sparring matches and they will a lot more. A child with no self-discipline will suddenly lash out and fight back with no honor but martial arts slowly eliminate that.

Self-discipline is a big part of martial arts because a child needs to learn to control themselves in situations so tempting to just fight back and hurt someone. Kids learn martial arts not to hurt but to defend and that essence is gained through continuous sessions at the dojo.

Learn to Set Goals

If you’ve seen the colored Hapkido belts, Karate belts, and Judo belts then you might be familiar with the hierarchy of skills in martial arts schools. These belts help a student identify what rank they are, what skills they have to learn, and just how far they are from the top.

This belt system helps them to identify goals and form plans to achieve those goals. They understand that a blue belt is better than a white belt and the only way they’ll reach that rank is to master the current skills taught to them and to prove that they have mastered everything for their current level.

Goal setting plays a larger role in life, such as being able to set goals to save money, finish college, and get a good job. It all starts here in their childhood, while studying martial arts.

Raise Their Self Confidence

Wearing a Judo gi with a blue belt might seem like a small achievement for people aiming for the black belt but for a young child they will wear it with pride, especially when they learn the meaning and history of the uniform they wear.

Shy kids often turn out to be quite confident after studying martial arts. Martial arts becomes a gateway for them to open up, feel like someone that matters, and their growing list of fighting skills makes their confidence grow even more as time passes by.

Improve’s Health

As mentioned above, martial arts gets kids outdoors and into physical activities. Over time, this develops into a regular routine and that helps kids avoid obesity and other health conditions. The physical aspect of martial arts builds their strength and endurance, making your kids less likely to get sick.

It’s not just about burning calories either. Martial arts help the bones to develop and get stronger, a child will develop a stronger immune system, develop better breathing, and will be less prone to improper posture.

Kids Will Develop Quality Self-Defense

Self-defense is one of the main goals of studying martial arts. Children get bullied at school and may even be assaulted by adults who aim to hurt them, kidnap them, or rape them. Martial arts is a perfect means of teaching them how to protect themselves when necessary.

Martial arts teaches a child when to run, when to fight back, how to fight back, and when to avoid fighting all together.

Read More