Here’s an intentionally short video on the 5 striking surfaces of the foot. This really is a primer for a more elaborate video that I will do soon
Please share this with all beginning students…and with those senior students who take it for granted that they know how to kick, but can’t explain what parts of the foot they kick with. Fundamentals…it all starts with fundamentals.
I just got done watching Kung Fu Panda 3 on cross country flight. Here’s my review.
Two Thumbs Up
I’ve really appreciated the Kung Fu Panda series mainly because they are an amazing media to get the virtues of martial arts (read…kung fu) into the mainstream and in front of our youth. They are always very age appropriate and sophisticated enough (although I’m not saying they are sophisticated per se; it’s Hollywood) to keep adults focused as well. To this sap, the underlying messages are sincere and thought provoking. All this applies to Kung Fu Panda 3.
The theme of Kung Fu Panda 3 emphasized the power of being yourself; recognizing who you are and being the best you that you can be. Matter of fact, one of my quotable quotes from the movie is when Po said “Your real strength comes from being the best you you can be.” One needs to be open-minded in these movies or you risk perceiving them as cheesy. If this fits your personality, then stay away from Kung Fu Panda 3. But then again, if this is you, then you’re probably not a martial artist and are therefore not reading this.
The only criticism that I have is about the typical inconsistency in trying to depict Po as a slovenly out-of-shape overweight panda who can’t climb a flight of stairs without being winded, yet when it comes to fight scenes he becomes the epitome of physical fitness. That’s a silly position, given that I can suspend my disbelief on everything else…I’m just venting. Beyond that it’s essentially a cartoon that is allowed to do anything, and does so well.
The movie does well on the treatment and importance and respect for chi. Kai, the antagonist of the movie, is determined to collect the chi from all the great masters, and Po is the last one he needs. So he travels from the spiritual world to the mortal world to get Po. Kai uses these really cool pair of knives at the end of chains that he uses effectively to skewer things like mountaintops to smash his opponents. Good stuff. As a matter of fact, when I asked my youth students this morning who their favorite character was, it was Kai, mainly because of his weapons. Out of the mouth of babes…
Po ends up with the secret tribe of Pandas (I won’t say how to avoid the spoiler). They are the stereotypical slovenly pandas. But when they find out that Kai and his Jombies (zombies made out of jade) are coming, Po figures out the secret to teaching: “I don’t need to teach you (pandas) how to be me, I need to teach you how to be you.” The cool, entertaining, and appropriately humorous training montage ensued…and the rest you will have to see for yourself.
Master Sifu plays a bit part. Master Oogway shows up just long enough to be defeated (maybe intentionally?) by Kai. The team plays a bit part.
If you are a martial artist, watch KP3 when you have some time. If you are the parent of a young martial artist, watch KP3 with your chils. Be sure and take advantage of the opportunity to talk to them afterwards about the cool parts.
Quotable quotes:
PO: “You set me up to fail, why?”
MASTER SIFU: “If you only do what you can do you, you will never be more than you are now.”
“I don’t need to teach you about who to be but about who you are.”
“Are you done teaching or are you done being humiliated?”
“Punching and kicking? You think that is what the great Master Oogway saw for you? A 500 year prophesy fulfilled so you could spend your
days kicking butt and running through town high-fiving buddies? Oogway saw greatness in you against my better judgement. Incredible power lies in front of you…power beyond anything that you can imagine.”
“Chi is the energy that flows through all living things…mastery of chi requires mastery of self.”
PO: “Oh man?!?! You mean I have to sit alone in a cave for 30-years?”
MASTER SIFU: “Eventually. After you master teaching.”
PO: “Theres’s no way I’m going to be like you!”
MASTER SIFU: “I’m not trying to turn you into me. I am trying to turn you into you.”
PO’s FATHER: “Sometimes we have to do the wrong thing for the right reason.”
“You gotta let the hill tell you where to roll.” –I’m hoping that I’m not giving to much credit to the writers by thinking that this was their credit to Bruce Lee’s discussion of letting the mind flow like water in a river.
PO’S PANDA DAD: “It’s going to take a lot more than the end of the world to keep us apart.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” “I KNOW” (Meaning beyond words)
“Having you in Po’s life doesn’t mean less for me, it means more for Po.” (Unselfishness)
Wisdom from Roy Cadiente, Kyoshi, 6th Dan, Goju Ryu
Usually I tell my students that they already have a natural instinct or ability to protect themselves. It is inherent in our DNA. We as humans are wired for survival, and most everyone has the instinct for self-defense. Their skills are a natural talent; they just do not know it because they are not tapping into them. That’s what Karate, boxing, and other martial arts training does. Martial arts training refines these skills. Oddly, when one becomes proficient in their defensive skills they find that their best defense is realizing that they do not have to use the physical skills as they learn to walk away from trouble or physical aggression.
This is something that we teach to all of our young students, but it is equally applicable to adults. Most karate or martial arts people understand the concept that the best way to win a fight is not being there in the first place. In walking away, you ensure a sense of security; the person who walks away has a security or secure feeling, then no one gets hurt and most of all a serious consequence is avoided. In a physical encounter one may come out a winner, however both are hurt, and in the true spirit of martial arts, this is to be avoided.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Tai Chi, Angus Clark, 2000
That this book is approaching 20 years old has no effect on the tremendous value that this book could be to anyone interested in the multi-faceted art that is tai chi. From exceptional illustrations and descriptions of body mechanics, to the importance of mobility, to, of course, amazing descriptions and accompanying illustrations of key tai chi postures and sequences. The book has a nice glossary and includes a very effective use of insets to elaborate on key points. Although this may sound cliche, it really is a resource for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. Looks like most copies are available from used sellers…all the better…priceless knowledge for a good price. I actually recommend this book to ANY martial artist and ESPECIALLY to any martial arts instructor. We as instructors really should all be teaching the universal concepts of mobility, movement, appropriate relaxation; and this book can help with that.
Available at:
By the way, the author is still very active in movement and wellness. He has a great website at: http://www.livingmovement.com/
Notable:
I was very impressed with an inset “Learning to Relax.” Being a karate-guy myself, with strength and force being the rule, I was very interested in this section. Teaching someone “how to relax” would be a difficult thing, but not for Angus Clark. I followed what he said, and was very surprised in how just a few short words he could instruct the reader in this critical aspect of tai chi.
Quotable:
“Tai chi is a holistic practice in which the mental component is as important as the physical, and imagination and visualization make an immense difference…”
“To be well based is an essential human requirement. Like uprooted plants, people need a source of energy to tap.”
“Tai chi practice should be alive.”
How to Beat Up Anybody: An Instructional and Inspirational Karate Book by the World Champion, Judah Friedlander, 2010
Notable:
I couldn’t stop laughing when reading Chapter 10 about how to protect yourself from a home invasion by a ninja. How he came up with such concepts is a mystery to me. He must have had some martial arts training to hone in on some of the esoteric concepts that he satirizes. Regardless, it’s great light reading for adult martial artists.
Quotable:
“I kick him [the bad guy] so hard the entire planet shakes. By the time I land, it’s night.”
“Use your sense of smell to determine which knuckle is on course to hit you first. Remember, every knuckle smells different.”
Side Note: With such techniques as “The Karate Fart” and a section where he teaches karate to strippers, this book is not for children.
Everyone needs to start a new discipline somewhere. Everyone can also improve what they’ve been doing for years. This article will layout the most useful foundation for fighting. Master these four principles alone, and you will be a great fighter. Master these four principles and others, you will be an even greater combatant.
I’ll discuss all four of them at a summary level and then will write in detail on each one in separate articles.
Speed :: Distance :: Timing :: Power
Choose a mnemonic to remember them.
(S)ensei (D)oes (T)his (P)erfectly
(S)parring (T)akes (D)iligent (P)ractice
Speed: Not only how fast a technique is executed based on the person’s skill and practice, but this “speed” also considers the time it takes from the point a technique is executed until it reaches its intended target. It also considers generally how long it takes to execute a technique. Some techniques simply take longer than others, such as a front punch vs. a spinning back fist. Speed is the V in the kinetic energy equation KE=1/2m * V2 The energy formula will be discussed in detail in the stand-alone article about Speed.
Distance: Refers to the empty space between you and your opponent. Distance is the most important of all the four pillars. Why? Simply put, if you are too close, your technique won’t be effective, and you are susceptible to attack. If you are too far, your technique is useless.
Timing: Refers to the fighter’s ability to time an attack or a defense for maximum effectiveness. Timing is the most difficult concept to master. Much of the success in timing is based on natural instinct. However, like all skills that are not natural, timing can be acquired through experience and a lot of practice.
Power: Everyone thinks that power is everything. What they do not realize or appreciate is that power takes time and therefore is not always the best means to win a fight. Power refers to the energy that is produced by a technique upon technique. Power is the KE in the kinetic energy formula KE=1/2m * V2 The energy formula will be discussed in detail in the stand-alone article about power.
Book Review: Martial Arts Encyclopedia (previously published under the titles of Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People and The Original Martial Arts Encyclopedia: Tradition, History, Pioneers)
Imagine — you might have to close your eyes because what I am about to describe will be difficult to imagine—imagine that you have decided to write a 400+ page reference book on oriental martial arts. Now imagine that you cannot use the internet for any research;
imagine that any phone calls you make to interview people have to be made from a phone that is permanently connected to a wall, you have no computer, and there are only a handful of published works to which you can refer. Unimaginable, right? Not for author and International Hall of Fame inductee Master Emil Farkas, because that’s exactly what he did in the years leading up to the publishing of Martial Arts: Traditions, History, People in 1983 (henceforth I will refer to it under its new title of Martial Arts Encyclopedia) Inspired by his observation that nearly all martial arts books at that time were “How To” books, conducting years of exhaustive research and organizing his notes on approximately 25,000 index cards, he published this first of its kind complete martial arts reference book.
Emil Farkas—8th degree black belt in shotokan karate– earned his first black belt in 1963. Over time he made a name for himself in Hollywood starting as bodyguard for Phil Spector, soon after being sought by the hollywood community to instruct actors in fight choreography. His Beverly Hills Karate Academy opened in 1970 and is still running today, making it the longest running same address martial arts school in Los Angeles ( http://beverlyhillskarateacademy.com/). But he is also an academic. His degree in anthropology and geography prompted him to tie his intellect to his broad and deep martial arts background. The fact that he is a talented writer makes the book that much more valuable. Which brings me to my next point.
One of the true joys of this book is how easy it is to read, a unique attribute for reference books. So much so that it becomes very engaging. Reading it can be the equivalent of web-surfing. You know those times when you Google one topic that leads you to another topic and then another and then an hour later you realize it’s time to get back to work? Same here. Each entry includes bolded typeface to denote a reference within the book. For the knowledge hungry, its virtually impossible to see the bold entry and not then seek it out via the index. In one personal example, I went to the entry on goju ryu; this section referenced Meitoku Yagi (a new name to me), so I went to his biography which bolded sanchin; that took me to sanchin kata which newly informed me that sanchin has an association with shotokan, and so it continued. 45-minutes later I felt like, well, like I had been web-surfing on paper, but without the regret of wasted time felt after actual web-surfing. Wonderful. This is testimony to his writing talent but also to how comprehensive is Martial Arts Encyclopedia.
I don’t know everything about martial arts, but after 30+ years of my own study, I would say I know a lot. That said, I have not been able to find anything in this book that is missing. Included is a chronology of martial arts starting at 720 AD, across Asia, Europe, USA and “other.” 59 styles of kung fu are referenced. The martial arts weapons section alone could be its own book. There are 287 weapons detailed alphabetically. Try and find a single annotated list like that on the web. (I mean this both rhetorically and literally. If you can find such a list on the web, please write to me at shihan.matt@ocigk.com) I actually don’t think it exists. Even Wikipedia, our 2d millennium lazy button to “research” wasn’t even close. Nor was blackbeltwiki.
To be clear, this is not just a large glossary or extravagant martial arts dictionary (although he’s done that too.
The Overlook Martial Arts Dictionary is another of Farkas’ invaluable reference works). Each entry is broad-ranging, with the depth being appropriate for where the entry lands on the well-known to esoteric continuum. There is much more written about Masutatsu Oyama (legendary karate strongman and founder of kyokushinkai), for instance, than about So Neichu (student of goju ryu’s Chojin Miyagi and one of Oyama’s early instructors). No matter the case, every entry is informative and thought provoking.
I had the pleasure of speaking to Master Farkas and I asked him how he was able to produce such a comprehensive work without the luxury of technology or a vast library of other reference material (remember my earlier mention that at the time most all martial arts books were instructional books teaching martial arts). Over months he combed through the limited written documentation that was available. Travel, 100’s of phone calls and personal interviews with experts at the time. They in turn directed him to others, who shared their notes with him. By doing this he was able to gather new information and validate previously obtained information. Each entry was written up on an index cards; he estimates that he had nearly 25,000 index cards by the time he was finished.
By way of conclusion, when I was a Marine officer I started a discipline that remains with me to this day in my business career. I have with me always something I call a BOAK (Book of All Knowledge, say boh-k). It is a ready reference for all that is pertinent to my job at the time. Martial Arts Encyclopedia is my MABOAK (Martial Arts Book of All Knowledge, say Mah-boh-k). I recommend it be yours too.
Martial Arts Encyclopedia is an essential book for any martial artists. I sincerely believe that it is better than the internet. Or, at least the first reference before turning to the internet. Well written, fully illustrated, unmatched comprehensiveness, and I could go on. Instead, I will end here by encouraging you to get a copy today and assert your own opinion on how this book enlightens your martial arts experience.
I generally don’t like “diets.” They represent a change to your behavior that by and large is not sustainable. This zero belly diet is not a diet, even though it’s called a diet…it’s the best life style plan that I have yet to uncover, and I have uncovered dozens. The plan simply says that for every meal you need a protein, a fiber, and a good fat (some olive oil, avocados, etc.), period. Your carbs are captured in the fruits and vegetables that you eat in the “fiber” aspect of the plan. The plan also strongly emphasizes the consumption of smoothies. Something that I completely agree with. You can pack so much nutrition in a smoothie, and they are so yummy and filling. You’ll see a bunch about smoothies in this BLOG.
I’ve bought the audio, kindle version of the Zero Belly Diet. Great works! I haven’t acquired his other pubs because I have gotten everything I need out of the Zero Belly Diet book, but I definitely would recommend looking at his other works.
Check out this great article from Outside magazine. Running, still one of the best forms of exercise for overall cardio vascular fitness, is essential to our martial arts training. If you want to be a fit martial artist, you need to run. Just resign yourself to that and do it.
This article is awesome. It breaks down 10 ways for you to become a better and faster runner. And the better and faster a runner you are, the more you get out of each work out. You’ll also enjoy it a little more, which helps as well
Note that the article mentions tart cherries. Take note of this, as tart cherries are a great superpower fruit. Note that we are talking about “tart cherries” not your standard red cherries. Tart cherries, grown mostly in Michigan, are mostly found as dried..Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Trader Joes have them for sure. Tart cherries are yummy and a rich phytonutrient (i’ll explain these in a different post, but for now, just know that phytonutrients are good). I digress…read this article, and do what it says. Being a good runner is good for your martial arts training.
Here’s one of many drills that will be posted on this blog. Feel free to use the diagram however you want. I created it as a .png so you photoshoppers can edit it to include your own drills in the grey boxes. Feel free to cut and paste any or all of the below.
For each drill I will address five areas: (1) Purpose; (2) Description; (3) Equipment required; (4) Audience (That is, for what level and age group the drill is appropriate); (5) Best Practices (I’ve learned all of the potential pitfalls of these drills so you don’t have to).
Here it is, the inaugural drill posting for www.mmablogdingo.com
Four Line Drill for Karate
Purpose: Skill development with a class of 8 or more
Equipment Required: Any pads, targets, or kicking shields. Focus mitts, Thai kicking pads.
Description: Assign 2-4 students to stand at a station with their backs to one another. Each student is given a bag, focus mitt(s), kicking shield or other striking target. Each station is assigned a technique or series of techniques. Evenly line up the students in front of each station. When you say “begin,” each station executes their technique and then moves to the back of the line to their right.
Audience: All ages, all levels. Ideal for classes of 8 or more.
Best practices:
This drill is highly usefull with large classes as it keeps a large number of students active will little effort.
This drill is appropriate for all levels. Be sure and match the difficulty of the technique with the level of the students.
Although it can be difficult to track, consider two separate (I do not recommend more than two) techniques at each station: one for one level of students and one for another level. Example: Station 1=Beginners and intermediates, four straight punches; Advanced, two punches and then double right round house
While this is a highly effective and fun drill for young children students, be sure and pay as much attention as the young students in line as you do those executing the techniques. They will goof around in line and detract from the focus of the drill.
Plan out the total time you want to consume by the drill and then divide that by about 1/3d and that is how many times to change the techniques at the station.
Remember to replace the students at each station so they don’t spend the whole time holding the bag.
There are more best practices where these came from, but I have to sign off. Feel free to write me at dingoblog@martialartsdingo.com if you would like more detail on how to make this drill even more effective for your particular situation.
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