Martial Arts

I have two big passions: learning and martial arts. There's much to be learned through them for myself and the world around me. Lately I have joined a HEMA school of fighting. And the insights I have gleaned have been many.

It is crucial to understand range and what to do within specific ranges of combat when you are fighting. Here we discuss those ranges, along with the issue of timing.

Are there other martial arts like Tai Chi? Of course there are, let's find out what they are.

Judo has been a well-known martial art for centuries around the world. Where does it come from and what other martial arts are related to it and similar to it? Read on to find out!

I started martial arts (taekwondo) by chance in September of 2011. My love of learning artistic movement (and the frozen yogurt place next to my dojang) brought me there. The most valuable benefits, however, were things I never expected.

Kata is an integral part of the martial art of karate, but what is it? And what purpose does it serve?

A brief tutorial on how to defend a leg drag guard pass in BJJ.

A brief BJJ tutorial on how to escape a kneebar.

A brief BJJ tutorial on how to deal with the Wilson/Tozi/Sao Paulo guard pass.

A more fundamental tutorial on how to set up and finish a kimura shoulder lock from side control.

A brief tutorial on how to use movable frames in BJJ.

How to prevent the X-pass in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

A brief tutorial on how to use single leg X-guard in BJJ.

The gi vs no-gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu debate is one that has passionate advocates on both sides. No-gi advocates say gi is boring and slow. Gi lovers say that no-gi is less technical. Who is right?

A brief tutorial on how to take the back from turtle in BJJ.

Honor is more than what you saw in "The Last Samurai." An opponent who practices a traditional style doesn't necessarily fight traditionally when the stakes are high. Yet many people often assume that. So what is it?

A brief tutorial on the "over/under" guard pass for BJJ.

A brief tutorial on how to defend the cross choke (AKA the "X-choke") in BJJ.

A brief tutorial on how to pass the guard using the double unders method.

A brief tutorial on how to sweep and go straight into a submission once they hit the ground.

This article will be a brief tutorial on the concept of the "yogafoot" for BJJ, including a breakdown of the mechanics of the move and various examples of situations in which to use it.

This brief tutorial will teach you how to do the "Shaolin Sweep," also called the "Terere Sweep," in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

A brief tutorial on several "rolling loop choke" variations.

This article will show a brief tutorial on "shin-on-shin" guard and provide some examples of situations where it can be particularly effective.

A brief tutorial on how to stop someone from armbarring you from inside their guard, and some nifty counters.

A brief tutorial on how to flatten and control your partner while passing the half guard, utilizing the crossface.

This article will explain how to do an overhead sweep for BJJ, especially starting in De La Riva guard or closed guard.

Fighting systems are often used for entertainment and extreme combat situations. The number of disciplines is as large as the various societies they come from. There is opportunity here that many tools don't offer.

A quick tutorial on how to finish the armbar (from the "armbar finish position") using the "pocket grip."

How to finish an armbar by maintaining the position in the first place.

This article will examine three different ways to choke folks with your legs.

A brief tutorial on defending a brabo choke and taking the back from an unorthodox position.

A quick tutorial on defending the armlock from the back in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

A brief tutorial on how to use "modified X-guard" and enter into some footsies.

How to pass the guard in BJJ with a "leg drag pass."

Four fundamentally different methods for getting to the mount position in BJJ.

A brief tutorial on how to switch sides on an armbar from guard.

A brief tutorial on how to "survive" in the closed guard by maintaining survival.

A brief tutorial on how to use shoulder pressure from side control.

This article will explain how to attain mount position in BJJ from side control.

A basic tutorial on how to do a sickle sweep for BJJ, and some different approaches to learning the position.

A brief tutorial on three options from technical mount in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and some conceptual considerations. The technical mount is critical for mastering proper BJJ techniques.

Pulling guard can be an effective strategy to get your opponent to the ground and secure victory. Here are five different ways to pull guard in sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

A brief BJJ tutorial on how to defend the single leg takedown. It is very important to master this defense technique so you don't get taken down in a match.

This article examines three different types of drills, with two examples for each one.

A brief tutorial on how to continue finishing a knee cut guard pass with a scissor defense.

A brief tutorial on how to defend against a cross choke (or hand in the collar) from closed guard.

How to finish a Kimura from half guard top, when you have stepped over their head. Here are three distinct ways to do it.

A brief tutorial on how to survive and escape from a guillotine choke in BJJ.

This article will explain how to perform a bridge-and-roll escape from side control.