Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art, game, and culture created by enslaved Africans in Brazil during the 17th Century. Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Throughout the game, a player must avoid a sweep, trip, kick, or head butt that may knock him or her on the floor. Less frequently-used techniques include elbow-strikes, slaps, punches, and body-throws. Capoeira has three variations known as “Capoeira Angola”, “Capoeira Regional”, and the ever-evolving “Capoeira Contemporânea”.

From the 16th to the 19th centuries, Portugal shipped slaves into South America from western Africa. The South American country of Brazil was the most common destination for African captives[citation needed] with 42% of all enslaved peoples shipped across the Atlantic. Most commonly sold into Brazil were Akan, Igbo, Yoruba, Dahomean, Muslim Guineans, Hausa, and Bantu (among them Kongos, Kimbundas and Kasanjes) from Angola, Congo and Mozambique.

These Africans brought their cultural traditions and religions with them to the New World. One theory suggests that capoeira originated from a fern courtship dance[citation needed] in Angola used by suitors of young women, however, this is only one of many disputed theories. There is contention as to whether the game arrived with enslaved Africans or whether Africans refined a preexisting Brazilian game. One catalyst for capoeira was the homogenization of African people under the oppression of slavery. Capoeira emerged as a way to resist oppression, secretly practice art, transmit culture, and lift spirits. Some historians believe that the indigenous peoples of Brazil also played an important role in the development of capoeira.

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Jujitsu is a 2500 year old unarmed combat discipline that has its roots in ancient Japan. The exact date on the creation of this martial art form is hard to trace but techniques resembling that of Jujitsu had already been incorporated into the training methods of the Samurai, from the 8th to the 6th centuries. Earliest Japanese historical records such as the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) also have passages related to unarmed combat systems.

Before this Japanese martial art developed into what we know as Jujitsu today, there were many other Japanese combat techniques such as Kogusoku, yawara, kumiuchi, and hakuda etc, also collectively known as Sengoku Jujutsu. Traditions finally gave rise to the modern Nihon Jujutsu we know today, which is classified under Edo Jujutsu – the true unarmed Japanese combat system.

Jujitsu gained prominence during the reign of Tokugawa in the 1600s but was soon alienated when Emperor Melse regained power. However, towards the mid-20th century, the ban on Jujitsu in Japan was lifted, following the Meiji restoration, and the combat art form began to be widely practiced.

The Philosophy:

Jujitsu revolves around three basic states of mind – Zanshin, Mushin and Fudoshin. The proper combination of these elements gave the power, preparation and potential to the practitioner to excel in the Jujitsu art.

1. Zanshin – “remaining spirit” – connotes the readiness for anything at any given time.

2. Mushin – “no mind” – Its spontaneity permits instantaneous action without conscious thought.

3. Fudoshin – “immovable mind” –during times of confrontation.
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Sometimes one would see references to ‘hard’ style and ‘soft’ style martial arts. To many non-martial artists, these terms may be puzzling. In North America, these terms are used to classify martial art styles into two main categories. Japanese/Okinawan karate and Korean tae kwon do are generally referred to as hard styles. Movements in both karate and tae kwon do are often linear with their forms (traditional sequence of set moves) performed with crisp movements. Chinese kung fu styles are usually referred to as soft styles.

The circular motions of kung fu forms give them a more visually graceful or softer appearance especially when many of the movements flow from one to another. Even Korean kuk sool won which is sometimes referred to as ‘Korean kung fu’, is often classified as a soft style since its movements are also more flowing than the stop and go of tae kwon do or karate. This is not to say that hard styles such as karate or tae kwon do are more powerful martial arts than kung fu and other soft styles. The term ‘soft’ is a bit misleading because the power from circular kung fu moves are often hidden. Circular moves can generate just as much power as linear ones.

The terms hard style and soft style came as a result of the evolution of North American martial arts competitions, particularly in forms divisions. For many years, open karate tournaments which allowed all martial arts styles, had competitors from different martial arts backgrounds compete in the same forms divisions. All equivalent level competitors, whether they used a Japanese/Okinawan karate kata, a Korean tae kwon do pattern or a Chinese kung fu form, competed together in the same divisions. This provided a nice martial arts showcase for spectators especially at the bigger tournaments. However, some competitors and judges considered divisions with combined styles to be too complicated. For example, judges who were familiar with only Japanese or Korean styles had a difficult time scoring competitors performing Chinese kung fu forms. Sometimes competitors from different martial art styles felt that judges were being biased against them. Judging a hard style form against a soft style form was often like trying to compare apples to oranges.
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All the martial arts have been altered due to the function that mechanical devices play whether it be weapons, dojo mats, breaking boards or even the uniforms we wear – all these paraphanialia indentify the martial arts into their systems and style.

The main players in shaping our new martial arts would surely be the non-contemporary wooden dummy, ving tsun rings, iron palm ointments and even the system of using forms and karta have developed the martial arts into their current form.

Even today modern training tools are common and again the martial arts are evolving and growing with new training products such as the Wavemaster, the BOB training dummy, the Focus Master. All with a common idea, to create a well rounded combat system.

Ideally a martial arts solo training tool definately has to be workable for all and based on great background ideals and through constant drilling develop into sound physical application. The ideology and theory would have to take into account all the history of the combat technology of man and give this competition and street application.

Being psychologically prepared is critical for self defense during an assault in the street. It is very important to be ready to repel the assailant (assailants) using all the means you have. Note that even being in not very good physical shape these means could be quite sufficient to disable your enemy (enemies).

For example, if you wear hard sharp-toe shoes, then kicking your enemy in groin or shank with the toe of such shoe (even if there are no years of practice behind this kick) immediately makes him writhe with pain for several moments. And this gives you enough time to either disable the enemy or simply run away.

Scratching facer using fingernails also causes pain shock to your enemy and makes him unable to resist for some time. Remembering how dangerous a furious cat can be for people is enough to understand this.

In several cases, a furious cat is known to make its owners hide in one of the rooms and wait for the police to come and help them. Police officers in this situation often have to use guns to protect themselves and rescue the owners of the animal.

Now let’s take a look at a cat, its weight is about 30 times less than that of a man. And this tiny thing can resist police officers armed with firearms. That’s one thing. The other thing is that a common schoolboy, who tortures a cat giving it a hard time, can cope with it, the cat doing nothing to protect itself. Read the rest of this entry »

Mixed martial arts are not only for competitions or tournaments. You can also enjoy its many health benefits. Through regular MMA training, you can enhance flexibility, tone your muscles, and provides excellent cardio workout. After several weeks of training, you can already see improvements in your stamina, strength, and hand-eye coordination. Many individuals who want to lose weight can also benefit from MMA. You can incorporate it in your weight loss program together with proper diet.

If you’re an MMA enthusiast, you will learn many fighting techniques like that from Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, Karate, Judo, and many others. Many players of mixed martial arts are able to improve their minds and bodies by engaging in martial arts seriously. If you want to improve the shape of your body, this is an excellent tool to achieve it. Many teachers or instructors also teach their students on how to enhance their spiritual lives. Their mental state also becomes better. All these things you can enjoy without spending many hours in the gym. There are many MMA classes all over the world; both children and adults are already into this combat sport.

If you try to watch a MMA match, you will notice that the players are using combinations of Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, Boxing, Tang Soo Do, Wrestling, Grappling, Karate, and other forms of martial arts. The matches follow minimal rules. You can never really tell what will happen in the games. Players use different techniques as they see fit; it is therefore very important to know various fighting techniques so that when you’re in the actual situation, you will know which techniques or martial arts styles to apply. Read the rest of this entry »

Kata competitions, which is where competitors use techniques of the same style and get graded for how well they perform.  You will also find freestyle games where the competitors go after each other.  The defenders are graded on how well they perform.

With the jujitsu system, there is more attention paid to pinning, throwing, choking and strangling techniques.  This is different than other systems of martial arts like karate.  Even though jujitsu is originally a Japanese system, there are some jujitsu schools that use some Chinese moves.

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Jujitsu is a name used for Japanese martial arts techniques.  The meaning of this word is the “art of softness” or “way of yielding”.  Jujitsu came from Japan as a way of defeat of an opponent without using any weapons.  Since hitting the opponent didn’t do much justice, they would be attacked with pins and throws.  This worked against the attacker’s energy.

How To Martial Arts

There are different ways that people do jujitsu.  Some of the techniques used include, holds, throwing, trapping, biting, gouging, striking and kicking.  At one time, there were self-defense schools that taught their students how to use weapons, but that is no longer the case.

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Fighting systems in martial arts differ from one another. You can’t compare one system with the other because there is no specific objective or standard format for doing so. The systems have their own fighting techniques, methods, and goals. The capacity and ability of the individual to learn various fighting systems will determine his success in the upcoming game matches.

A person’s body is one of the aspects of most fighting systems. Aside from that, the systems also give value to spiritual and philosophical ideals. The Chinese, Korean, and Japanese fighting systems follow the principles of Confusion. There are certain systems which are sports oriented and they follow unique rules which may contradict that of the rules of other systems. Some very good examples are Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Washu. Reality based or systems which emphasize self defense include Kombato, Jeet Kune Do, and Defendo. Martial arts have different forms and each has its own set of goals and so it can be very difficult to compare them.

However, it’s possible to asses the value of martial arts in teaching fighting disciplines. Some systems focus on unarmed combat while other systems focus on using particular weapons; others focus in self defense, escaping from harm, etc. Read the rest of this entry »

In every game, there are rules to follow. With the modern mixed martial arts, several rules are imposed. Through time, the rules changed significantly ever since the Pankration showed up to Japanese shoot wrestling and up to the UFC. As the sport spread out among spectators and fighters, it was agreed upon that rules must not be to a minimal but to an extent, thus, amendments were made. Some of the main motivators for the changes in rules were due to the protection of the fighter’s health, shedding the image of a barbaric bout and most of all, being recognized and appreciated as a sport.

MMA includes different fighting methods or techniques using several forms of martial arts like judo, taekwondo and even karate. This made the people who are concerned with keeping the participants safe to make additional rules in order to maintain an organized competition that avoids any mishaps. New rules involve weight class introductions which was a significant factor. Some of the rules are as follows:

1. Gloves (open-fingered) – introduced to encourage participants to use their hands to strike another participant so as allowing captivating matches, gloves protect the fists when giving out a punch, and reduce any occurrence of cuts.

2. Time – limit in time were emphasized in order to avoid tenacious and long fights. Limiting the time also gives the competitors the chance to conserve their strength for the following round. Technically, matches that doesn’t have any time limit become dull and seem to complicate the airing of events.

3. Stand-up rule -  here, the referee has the capacity to stand the fighters up when it’s becoming as if both of them are already resting on the ground or if they are not perceived to be advancing to any dominant position.

4. Clothes – men are usually required to wear shorts, thus being the only attire permissible. To be able to attain leg flexibility combined with durability, there are now different shorts made for MMA fighting. Read the rest of this entry »