Martial Arts And How It Can Benefit Your Child

The children nowadays are prone to various attitude problems. This is why parents enroll their kids in after school pick up programs to hone skills and develop their kids’ personality.

One of the most popular after school pick up programs are martial arts classes. Martial arts are known to help kids handle conflicts inside themselves, as well as conflicts that they may face when they are outside their homes. Various martial arts techniques such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Karate, Judo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Wrestling also teach kids respect for others by first teaching them to respect themselves. It also teaches self-control, self-discipline, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility.

It is notable to stress that one of the most important benefit children get from martial arts training is that they generally become more disciplined from the unique formalities of martial arts classes. This is one difference that this type of lesson offer compared with types of sports. No matter what their social economic backgrounds are, children with problematic attitudes behave well as a result of taking classes a few times per week.

Parents are very happy to see how their seemingly problematic children come out of pick up programs smiling and positively interacting with other kids. Some children even show rising grades after continuous martial arts session.

How do all of these happen? Choosing a martial arts school is of course a very important factor. The environment in which your child will learn new things certainly affect how his outlook in life changes. There are a lot of dojos and school around Tampa and Carrollwood but be wary on making your choices. Choose a school that offers many forms of martial arts techniques. It has a positive effect on the kids if they are made to decide what pick up program to enroll in, whether it is MMA, Karate, Taekwondo, etc.

Instructors also play an important role in molding students. Instructors who care enough to sit and talk beyond the kickboxing or wrestling sessions reach the mind, heart, and soul of their students. Some trainors also include accomplishing schoolwork requirements in their pick up programs. This strengthens the bonding of the martial arts students and make them more active when training for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.

Indeed, martial arts has so many benefits in the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspect of one’s life. It is not hard to understand why it has become a popular activity for the children, youth, and adults. Just keep in mind though that not all programs will produce all of the benefits mentioned in this article. As we have said, it all depends on the teacher and the school. Martial arts programs that are limited to teaching combat fighting techniques may not result in the desired mental, emotional, and social transformation we hope for. Give yourself enough time when searching for a school. Choose one that will give your kids the most number of benefits at the least possible price.

Evolution Martial Arts
14436 N Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, FL 33618
(813) 961-5245
www.graciebarraevolution.com

Martial Arts Equipment For All Styles

In the “old days,” it was not unusual for jugs of water, bags of rice, and buckets filled with sand to be incorporated into a number of different workout programs. Nowadays, we’re fortunate enough to have access to an excellent selection of martial arts equipment. Because of the effective usage of such equipment, it becomes possible to achieve the most from a structured class or private training.

Of course, this could raise questions regarding the type of martial arts equipment is necessary for the “average” workout. Again, there’s enormous variety available. Below is a brief overview of the martial arts equipment you’ll commonly encounter. Nearly all of it is a must for virtually every martial arts practitioner regardless of style.

Certainly, the common punch bag is a clear must in a dojo or training hall. Punching bags not just give you a definitive target to direct your blows towards. Such bags enhance the possibility to develop solid endurance and cardiovascular conditioning. You can find great variety among the many different punching bags available and they include:

Standard Boxing Size: These would be traditional boxing bags that mimic the shape and size of the torso. They’re primarily for the purpose of punching but mid-line and high line kicks are generally effectively trained on these bags as well.

Banana Bags: Most are thinner punching bags which are the size of the human body. The lower region of the punch bag permits the effective training of leg kicks, knees, and also other strikes.

Light Bags: Light punching bags are low weight (about 1/3 the weight and size of a punching bag) and are designed mainly to give resistance to jabbing style punches as well as hook and uppercut line blows. Some even make use of a lightweight punch bag to train headbutts!

Punching bags may be hanging bags that are affixed to various “hooks” in the ceiling or they may be freestanding. Freestanding bags are, essentially durable base mounts. Such bags are significantly more expensive than a number of the traditional hanging bags but they are much easier to move and store.

While hitting the heavy bag is really a must for effective training, you really do need to hit it in as safe a manner as possible. This will likely require the proper protective gloves essential for hitting an impact target. Including all manner of impact targets – heavy bags, focus mitts, shields, and Muay Thai pads. The knuckles inside the hand are quite small and fragile bones. For this reason reliable gloves – whether they are traditional 12oz, 14oz, or 16oz boxing gloves, boxing bag gloves, or mixed martial arts lightweight finger free gloves – must be worn when hitting a heavy punch bag. For those that enjoy sparring with “point karate” gloves, be mindful of the fact that such gloves aren’t manufactured for hitting impact targets. They will not provide you with the adequate protection you require for such training. Stick with using them for light contact sparring instead.

As most martial artists realize, the hands are not the only area that require protection which explains why a substantial amount of martial arts equipment will provide protection to the feet. Shin pads and point fighting footwear are two of the most common. Some may assume that such equipment is only used in sparring. In actuality, wearing when hitting impact targets is advisable too since this can protect the lower extremities and nerve endings from damage. Really, the perennial running theme here is that most martial arts equipment is intended to enhance safety. Obviously, you can also get some items that serve other purposes as well and they’re well worth a look at too.

Stretching devices can be employed to help you extend the range of motion in the leg ligaments. This will definitely prove helpful for people who would like to enhance their kicking flexibility. Similarly, the “old school” Eagle Catcher is a perfect spring action handheld device designed to build up a great level of gripping stretch. The classic makiwara pad has long since been used to toughen the hands in traditional karate training. Similarly, the kung fu wall bag is a fantastic asset for developing strikes common in the Chinese martial arts. Such older and more traditional training aids definitely have their place in a modern world which is becoming more and more noted for its sportive approach to training. But, whether you are practicing for competition or traditional self-defense, you will need equipment that helps facilitate your goals.

Regardless of the type of martial arts equipment you purchase, you want to make sure it is from a reputable name brand manufacturer. Some will make the error of buying more affordable equipment from a “no frills” manufacturer. Rarely is such equipment worth much of anything. Not only will cheap equipment not deliver on expectations, it can put the user at an injury risk. Certainly, that would not be helpful in any way whatsoever. Keep with reliable name brands for your martial arts equipment needs. Such an approach will assuredly prove significantly more helpful in the end.

Blocks – The True American Martial Art

When discussing the various martial arts and fighting styles from around the world, the little known urban system of 52 Blocks, a variation of the more broad style Jailhouse Rock, has to enter the conversation. Researchers Daniel Marks and Kammau Hunter have argued that Jailhouse Rock may in fact be America’s only “Native Martial Art.” With an African influence and believed to have originated in the 17th and 18th centuries by slaves, 52 Blocks went on to evolve in the streets of Brooklyn and US prisons. The style focuses on close quarter techniques, similar to those self defense situations found in environments like prisons, restrooms, alleys, and hallways where movement would be limited.

As mentioned above, 52 Blocks, also called “52 Hand Blocks” and “The 52’s”, is part of a larger collection of fighting styles referred to as “JHR”, or “Jailhouse Rock.” 52 Blocks and their variants are similar to the martial arts of capoeira and savate, both of which were fighting systems associated with urban criminal subcultures, which underwent a gradual process of codification before becoming established as martial arts accessible by the mainstream. Other variations from the JHR collection are Comstock, San Quentin style, Mount Meg, and Stato, each name in reference to the prison that it was started at. As it gained popularity and exposure in the earyl 70’s, Jail House Rock seems to have first showed up in the media in an article on Martial Arts in prison called, “KARATE IN PRISON: Menace, or Means of Spiritual Survival?,” in Black Belt Magazine from July, 1974.

Despite wide belief, 52 Blocks is not a style of Western boxing, nor is it Wing Chun mixed with Western boxing. Considered a defensive style that creates openings for offense through constant movement, the fighter blocks/catches punches with the forearms and elbows. Short power punches, flowing movement, and counter striking are all aspects of 52 that are emphasised, while using sharp and evasive footwork. Unlike boxing but similar to Muay Thai, the elbows are commonly used to strike the opponent.

Much of the argument and conflicting information about 52 Blocks stems from whether or not the style has been influenced at all by “uprocking” or what most of us call breakdancing. Some believe this link is the aspect of some of the fighting techniques inspired by or copied from the “diss moves” taken from the Brooklyn Rock or uprock style of breakdancing. It looks like you can find as many sources stating these links between 52 and urban dancing as you can to the contrary, making it the subject on 52 with the most conflicting information.

As many practitioners of 52 have felt that their system has long been overlooked, it’s now is starting to take its rightful place in martial arts history, the product of longtime growing media coverage. Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight, is one of the high profile boxers to first endorse 52 and professional boxers including Mike Tyson Zab Judah, and Bernard Hopkins have testified to the existence of the style, giving it a voice of legitimacy from true fighters. Rashad Evans, former light heavyweight champion in the UFC, has also promoted 52 and its effectiveness.

Martial Arts Styles Military Self-defense And Other Forms Of Brutality

Where else would you expect to find the greatest amount of lethal force possible but in the military; after all, it is in the job description for any member of the armed forces to be able to live and let die, and kill anyone that interferes with routine operations. The marines, in particular, have to be particularly skilled at getting in, inflicting harm, and getting out alive being the front of the line task force. As the relative bumper of the entire military, they need to be specially equipped, beyond the basic ability to fire a gun, to survive head-to-head combat. They are often considered either the bravest or craziest living specimens for their willingness to undertake such a risky task. The hope is to keep risk as minimal as possible by way of special military self-defense training.

Living with a rifle like its a prosthetic limb is the least intense part of a marines training. Being a body part primarily used for violent purposes, it is used as maximally as possible, both as a bullet-discharging object with extreme accuracy and as a blunt object with the same amount of accuracy. Part of the military self-defense training is strictly dedicated to letting a rifle be all the weapon it can be, as the single aide to a marine beyond his own raw might. Additionally, the marine learns other highly lethal martial arts styles to allow his own body become a self-defense vessel that can be intricately trained to bring swift death in times of desperation and minimal options.

This is only part of a universal tradition of military-based martial arts. Other countries have a variety of martial arts styles that were developed as a means to defend against invading forces. Muay Thai, for instance, came about in Thailand as the result of such a repeated history of invasion; this particularly exceptional example of worldly martial arts styles, sometimes referred to as the Art of Eight Limbs, has a technique called the Throwing Buffalo Punch which is capable of subduing a buffalo in a single strike. You dont want to get in the way of someone with this kind of training. The imagery created by such a powerful form of martial arts evokes the likeness of a Dragon Ball Z character, complete with fire-ball-blasting palms and legs that kick faster than the speed of optical perception.

Of course the described forms of military self-defense are just that: meant for military usage, not for scaring or beleaguering younger siblings. If any civilian plans on learning a form of military-based martial arts, the implications must be considered, being capable of wreaking early departure upon the recipient of any of the inclusive techniques. It would be most acceptable for use against armed aggressors and ones with cruel intensions; in such instances, power blasts would be deemed permissible as a fair means of retaliation. Irreversible pain should only be experienced by those that truly deserve it, and it takes a lot to deserve it.

Summary Of Mixed Martial Arts

A great deal of skill and fitness is required to reach the upper levels of this sport, but beginners should be able to grasp some basic concepts rather quickly, as long as they know what to look for and where to look. Well, this is not a surprising development since parents are getting increasingly aware of the pleasant benefits that kids martial arts present both to parents and kids. Mixed Martial Arts for kids in Fort Worth Texas provides a training opportunity for kids in every aspect of MMA thornwoodmma.com. In addition to this, they also have a stronger immune system. These training programs are considered good for individuals suffering from innumerable health troubles like high cholesterol level, cardiac problems, high blood pressure, breathing difficulty, poor circulation and many others. Typically, mixed martial arts incorporate the top popular martial arts such as Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Western Boxing, Judo, Karate and kickboxing. So, one of the best tips for finding the right Mixed Martial Arts training center for your kid is to find out if the school integrates these major martial arts in their training curriculum.

Since mixed martial arts involve so many different forms, you will have to study a variety of different things at once. Martial arts are great for the body. Regular training strengthens and tones the muscles and adds flexibility. Training in martial arts gives you a full cardio work out. You can expect to greatly increase your strength and stamina and improve your hand eye coordination. Martial arts is a good weight loss program as well because it becomes a complete system in which a healthy diet is part and when combined with the extreme physical activity proper weight loss is assured. Begin by learning about the base forms of mixed martial arts and see if you have interest in all of them. Wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are all included in mixed martial arts and having a familiarity with these base forms is essential to your training. There are rules and regulations surrounding many mixed martial art events, which has caused a major explosion in popularity. With mixed martial arts training, the artist wants to increase muscle strength while producing greater speed and stamina. There is another great importance of the art of MMA. This is self defense. While traditional Mixed Martial Arts programs have focused on training for competition, the popularity of the UFC and other type events have moved MMA and more specifically BJJ training into a mainstream fitness approach for many people. BJJ has proven to be an excellent workout routine for students of all ages and all skill levels if you have the appropriate facility, the right trainers, a flexible program, and stay consistent in the workouts. Mixed Martial Arts or MMA consists of a professional fighter using different styles of martial arts to ultimately defeat his/her opponent. It is not possible to rise to the top of the ranks if adequate hours are not put in at the gym or on the mat. Smart training and practicing are imperative to being a successful mixed martial arts athlete. Thus, mixed martial arts training provides innumerable health benefits to individuals and is becoming immensely popular worldwide. There are innumerable organizations which are offering MMA courses as per the needs of individuals.