I am a jiu-jitsu student. I train pretty hard and always resist tapping up until the last second during class. Especially when resisting on choke techniques. Sometimes I get really disoriented a day after training hard and just can't think. Could resisting chokes in the long run do damage to my brain?
our answer tt0007

Why is the correct stance so important? My teacher is always worried about how I stand. I want to move!
our answer tt0006

How do I know that I am improving my flexibility properly?
our answer tt0005

My sifu was talking about falling by rolling smoothly on the ground like a sphere. What does it mean?
our answer tt0004

I am an advanced karate student and sometimes while training ippon kumite we rotate partners that range from beginners up to my degree. How can I practice at my technical level with all of them?
our answer tt0003

Do you know of any portable office exercise for strengthening the whole body that I can do during my break time? Preferably one that doesn't require an intensive warm-up?
our answer tt0002

Some techniques feel more "comfortable" than others. Can you please tell me more about changing patterns?
our answer tt0001

back to top

tt0001
Some techniques feel more "comfortable" than others. Can you please tell me more about changing patterns?

... Psychiatrists have noted that breaking mental patterns, many of which relate to specific body language, can release tension and bottled up emotions and allow for new ideas, ways of coping, and reinterpretation of events. Similar results occur when physical patterns change or limitations are overcome in the martial arts. As we age, we become accustomed to certain ways of doing things, and our ideas about ourselves and our abilities become fixed. Many of these assumptions are challenged through the course of martial arts training.
... A simple example will illustrate how what we feel is natural is often simply what has become usual. Most of us fold our arms across our chest or clap our hands one way only. Left over right, or right over left. Changing that pattern requires no significant effort or skill, but can require much practice. One feels right and the other not, and often the beginner will say "but I can't do it that way." It is not that they don't know how, or lack the ability to learn, but they just feel unaccustomed to the sensation, especially compared to the old way. Many advanced students are also faced with this challenge when correcting old errors or attempting alternative approaches, especially with a new teacher. Many teachers will confirm that it is often easier to teach an absolute beginner to achieve an intermediate level, than a person with previous experience or advanced skills in another style or approach. It can be frustrating to unlearn and relearn, especially if the muscle and reflex responses are similar. It is on these occasions that the principle of the beginner's mind must be invoked.

back to top

tt0002
Do you know of any portable office exercise for strengthening the whole body that I can do during my break time? Preferably one that doesn't require an intensive warm-up?

... Yes, this is one of our gems, and you too will be amazed by the benefits that this apparently simple exercise will produce. It works all the main muscle groups, builds powerful kicks and works magnificently for the natural alignment of the spine.
Enjoy!

Sensei Uensei Stretch

Stance: Left foot forward the distance of a walking step, hands and arms together reaching toward the sky, legs straight.

Action: Flex the front knee and raise the back heel. Exhale and feel the length of the body as if it is stretching from the fingers into the sky and the rear leg into the earth. Return and inhale. Next phase, bring the rear heel to the floor and shift the weight to the right leg, straightening the left leg and pointing the toes, keeping the upper body the same. Exhale and hold the stance. Repeat five times on each side. This exercise stretches and strengthens the legs, back, torso and upper body. This motion can be adapted to a self-defense maneuver that relies on extension and displacement.

back to top

tt0003
I am an advanced karate student and sometimes while training ippon kumite we rotate partners that range from beginners up to my degree. How can I practice at my technical level with all of them?

... First of all, remember how other advanced students were training with you when you were at previous levels. Hopefully they were enthusiastic about helping you, respectful of your current abilities and careful for your safety. The following is an example of one of our favorite ippon kumite that we do when we train with our students, no matter their level. Breaking the exercise into progressive parts will help you to understand the whole and allow you to modify the technique for the partner you are training with.

... You may stop the sequences at the level that your partner is capable of executing and also to the point that you can totally control the movements. Tell your partner what you will do before you do it, that will help both to train ippon kumite. It's a "laboratory" of techniques, for distance measurement, adjusting tempos and sharpening reflexes. Over all, don't forget that it is a two person collaborative exercise.

• With beginners you will train up to the first step backwards with shuto uke (knife hand defense) and then turn counterattacking with elbow.
• At an intermediate level keep on going until the hold before the take down.
• At advanced levels continue in a controlled fashion and safely put your partner on the ground (if you can do it with this level of control, when you need it in self-defense, it will be a matter of decision and quick action). Proceed through the ending sequences and its branches.
• Pay attention to your partner's safety signals (three taps and/or the voice mate) to indicate an immediate stop to the action so no one gets hurt. Be very thankful to the beginners because they will allow you to train over and over the "opening" technique which is the initial reaction that you will depend on. Don't underestimate the value of a training partner at any level. Use the opportunity to refine your reflexes and basic abilities. Train safely and have fun!

back to top

tt0004
My sifu was talking about falling by rolling smoothly on the ground like a sphere. What does it mean?

... This image speaks by itself. Make your body more round in form and avoid any direct contact with "pointing" joints or/and bones on the ground, like the elbows, shoulders, and knees. It will help protect you from possible injuries and it will "take" the surface. It is also an attitude that is relaxed rather than rigid, moving rather than static. Now... go back to you class with this image in mind. We hope that it helps you.

back to top

tt0005
How do I know that I am improving my flexibility properly?

... A good martial arts teacher will insure that his students seek improvement in their flexibility as a result of consistent regular practice, good warm-ups and cool-downs, and stretching that is longer and deeper by gradual degrees. It is more important to maintain flexibility on a daily basis and stretch intensively only occasionally. One should stretch only when the muscles are fully warm and to the extent appropriate for the level of activity performed that day. It is prudent to know your limits and wisely improve upon them.
... A good stretching exercise will create a sensation of sweet discomfort, not pain, and there should be a feeling of release in tension from the other areas of the body not directly involved in the stretch. It helps to smile, relax the face, jaw, and tongue, and wriggle the toes to ensure that you are not overly tense or causing damage. Exhalation while stretching is vital. Good breathing practice before and after a session of stretching will help the circulation of oxygen and removal of waste by-products from the tissues by the bloodstream.
... True flexibility is not measured by the degree of final stretch in an exercise, but is more effectively measured by where you start the next time. Even so, abilities from day to day will be affected by how intense the last class was (was there some new exercise?), outside activities (the Saturday softball game or the office picnic), your workday footwear (high heels or construction boots), sleeping position, etc. Factors such as the weather, humidity, room temperature, and even what you ate for breakfast can also enter into the picture.

back to top

tt0006
Why is the correct stance so important? My teacher is always worried about how I stand. I want to move!

... The martial artist learns to build a technique from the bottom up. Stances differ according to purpose. Some, like the kiba-dachi, or horse-riding stance, are low and stable and intended for holding one's ground. Others are available for quick movement, or jumping or extending ones reach. No one stance is perfect or without some limitation or disadvantage. All have at least one angle or direction from which you can be toppled, and often there is a weak point or aspect of the technique, which, if not done correctly, can cause injury or repetitive strain. This is why it is so important that the students accept correction and concentrate on accurate technique. It is also the reason why a good teacher will not allow a student to practice with full power, or with such training devices as a heavy bag or makiwara, (a heavy post anchored in the ground and wrapped with straw and rope) until the have has achieved correct form.
... It is easy for the beginner to feel that such emphasis is not relevant to their purposes, and even intermediate students will sometimes forget the importance of solid stances as their minds becomes distracted by other details. Some will argue that most stances are useless and the only stance is the fighting or guard stance. Again, only someone who is looking at the obvious and the easy makes this type of comment. The practice takes you below the surface to recognize the real purposes of the training both physical and mental. Practicing the stances not only prepare the student to spring back from fall or recover safely from a loss of balance, it also provides strengthening and stretching of the lower limbs. Martial artists recognize that because they practice deep stances in kihon they don't need to supplement their training with knee bends or leg presses, for example. A good, well-rounded training program in martial art does not require the use of weights or any external equipment. The back stance for example, develops the position, muscle, and flexibility required for the roundhouse kick, the front stance for the front kick, and so on.
... Learning to move between stances while keeping the center of gravity low and the spine in line with the head is essential. The head will follow the eyes, and the body will follow the movement of the head. Leaning too far forward or back will allow an opponent to easily unbalance you if don't fall over on your own. Individual body size dictates the length of stances and the distance between the feet, which reflect the mathematical relationship of the distances between joints. The physics of weight distribution, loads, and the structural principles of triangles, bridges, arches, and levers are all at work in the architecture of the body. Students learn what these distances are and can, with practice, accurately place their feet in the correct positions without thinking.
... The proper linking of stances is vitally important to performing more complex techniques. Arriving at and leaving the stance with balance and precision is just as important as the stance itself. This is the body awareness that you acquire during the repetitive practice of kihon. Trained martial artist will sense invisibly the location and position of his body in relation to itself, its direction of movement, gravity, and balance. This is a step-by step process, built over time as both a physical muscle memory, and a mental construct that involves visualization, a sense of timing and rhythm, and a developed awareness of center or hara.

back to top

tt0007
I am a jiu-jitsu student. I train pretty hard and always resist tapping up until the last second during class. Especially when resisting on choke techniques. Sometimes I get really disoriented a day after training hard and just can't think. Could resisting chokes in the long run do damage to my brain?

... Simply, listen to what your own body is trying to tell you. This isn't about being tough, it's about being smart.
... Choking techniques, shime-waza, are proven techniques for the skillful martial artist to restrain or subdue an opponent, in a fashion that will not cause any permanent physical damage. Statistics made by judo organizations indicate there is minimum danger of shime-waza under expert supervised conditions, but there is no doubt they stress the body in an unnatural way. Reflecting the principle of "maximum efficiency with minimum effort," their purpose is to alter the level of oxygen in the lungs and/or in the blood stream and its supply to the brain, with suffocation and/or loss of consciousness, caused by pressure on the carotid arteries, trachea or vagus nerves. Indeed, they can produce serious consequences according to their pressure, duration and frequency, which also can be magnified because of weaknesses in the recipient and other and physical characteristics. Cardiac disorders or hypertension are flags to avoid their practice.
... It is very important to not confuse such fragility with "wimpiness" or lack of courage in an athlete. Supremacy of Ego (in the sense of not giving up as synonymous of "what doesn't kill you, makes you strong") doesn't apply when self-defense and health issues are a priority for the intelligent martial artist. The inclusion of chokes in the daily practice is dependent on important safety rules. They will allow you the continuity of the training and the integrity of your persona.
... The signal mairi, two or three fast light consecutive taps (with hand or foot) on your body, floor or partner's body should be used with frequency. The voice mate (Japanese for surrender and stop) is also for the same purpose but in shime-waza it will be almost impossible to speak due to the nature of the technique. The tapping out signal should be given when you sense the first signal of alert from your body, such as a gentle increase of pressure in your eyes, or a light tickle in your throat. Many times such signals seem too light to receive personal attention and the quick response to submit. You are learning through your own body and the way you feel the next day, that you should be more sensitive to such signals.
... It is a training exercise for both parties and should not be confused with some sort of preparation for a real street fight. If you are thinking about that then think about this: it is already too late when you are locked in such a hold. No amount of toughness is going to keep you conscious. During the training, and under expert supervision, there will be time to experience such "resistance," but it is counter- productive to make it a daily habit. Also, it can provide your partner with a false sense of his/her ability when applying such
... We allow ourselves to practice this way and submit to techniques for the training of the other person as well as your own. So, partners should be very aware of their body language all the time. You need to develop observation and awareness skills so that you don't kill someone in self-defense when "reasonable force" does not require it. This sensitivity is extremely important when applying many other techniques in order for them to work. Each human body is different and a good martial artist will be able to read the body arrangement and resistance of an individual with a well-trained knowledgeable "
... Last but not least, consult your doctor if you are still feeling the same way, and inform your teacher about your concerns. He/she will be more attentive to your "resistance" and his/her "clinical eyes" will help you too. Be prudent and friendly with your body, it is wise and telling you the right thing. Practice with a safe and healthy attitude and you will have more years of fun and learning.

back to top