Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego

Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in San Diego

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The Bubishi — Helping us Gain a Deeper Understanding of Karate

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The Bubishi is an ancient manual of karate combat as used for civil self-defense. Chojun Miyaji, the founder of Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate, famously referred to the Bubishi as “the ‘Bible’ of Karate-do.” The Bubishi covers not only fighting strategy, tactics, and techniques but also history, etiquette, anatomy, healing and medicine. While the Bubishi should not […]

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Kata Practice — Waste of Time?

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A criticism some practitioners of combative sports such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Muay Thai and Western boxing lob against “traditional” martial arts relates to forms. Forms are a core of martial arts practice in many Asian martial arts, including Karate, Kung-Fu, Tai Chi, Kuntau, Silat and Eskrima. In those martial arts, forms (called kata

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Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Book Review

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Mention the words “Jiu-Jitsu”, and you are sure to evoke images of contestants grappling on the mat, or of MMA bouts filled with ground fighting. While Jiu-Jitsu and, in particular, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, are very popular today as combative sports and (to a lesser extent) self defense systems, the parent martial art of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu is

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Power Generation in Martial Arts: Axis, the Spine, and the Center – Gamaku

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Many students in our San Diego martial arts school ask: “how can I increase the amount of power in my strikes?” The answer is simple: get to understand your center, and how to use it effectively! The center is an incredibly important concept in martial arts. Where beginner martial artists use their limbs in an

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Ten Martial Arts Tips for Jump-Starting Your New Year

4 Comments / Get in Shape in San Diego, Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego, Karate in San Diego, Martial Arts in San Diego, Qigong in San Diego /

As the holidays are winding down and the New Year rolls around, here are ten martial arts tips to give you a jump-start on the New Year by helping boost your energy, increase your fitness level, improve your self-defense skills and sharpen your martial arts resolve:

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New Martial Arts Belt Ranks, December 2014

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For a martial arts instructor, seeing students in our dojo grow and develop in the martial arts, and improve both as martial artists and as human beings, is one of the most satisfying experiences. Congratulations on the effort you put in, and on earning your new ranks! Ken: High Green Belt — rank of Yonkyu

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Carmel Valley / San Diego Martial Arts dojo Anniversary, 2014

Carmel Valley Dojo Anniversary Celebration, 2014

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We had a great time yesterday celebrating the dojo’s two year anniversary teaching martial arts in San Diego / Carmel Valley. with a special training and a tasty dinner. My thanks to the students. It is YOU who make our dojo a thriving family! It is YOU who are responsible for creating the collaborative and

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Kanei Uechi, son of Uechi-Ryu founder Kanbum Uechi, performing Sanchin kata

The Road to Mastering Martial Arts and Self Defense

6 Comments / Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego, Karate in San Diego, Martial Arts in San Diego, Qigong in San Diego, Resources, Self-Defense in San Diego /

Recently, a student at our San Diego dojo asked me: ”I read somewhere that the Naihanchi katas, by themselves, teach one how to defend themselves. In other words, if one knew the Naihanchi katas, they would automatically be able to defend themselves. Is that true? Asked differently: is there one kata or a set of techniques

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100 ways to hit groin

100 Ways to Attack the Groin

1 Comment / Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego, Karate in San Diego, Martial Arts in San Diego, Self-Defense in San Diego /

As we know, one fundamental premise distinguishing practical martial arts such as Okinawan Karate, Kuntau, Silat and the like from combative sports such as MMA, boxing, BJJ and Muay Thai, is the targeting of vital targets. For example, Okinawan Karate constantly utilizes eye gouges, hits to the throat, to pressure points, and, of course, to

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