NinjaGym™ Martial Arts and Fitness

Knife and Blade Training in the Martial Arts

Most of this material on training with a knife also applies to other weapons.

“That‘s not a knife, this here is a knife”

Since the beginning of time, the knife has proven a very practical and efficient tool for survival. Familiarized through a rage of Rambo, Crocodile Dundee and Ninja type films. The knife (as it should be) is given its due respect. This easily concealed item will be the most confronted weapon on the street or in the work place, from the toolbox to your kitchen.

Practice makes perfect or at least it keeps you on the path of least resistance

The more training you have the better. It won’t be as easy as learning a few fancy knife disarms though. You have to perform each technique hundreds to thousands of times in order for it to be useful in combat. This could take years when incorporated with other training.

What we are saying is that you must increase the odds of self protection through realistic repetition and training. If you are training knife skills that are not realistic – then reality will cut up your fantasy self-defense skills and leave you bleeding in the streets.

Mind Set

When defending against a blade wielding assailant or assailants, one must first accept the possibility of being cut. If one does not accept this likely chance of being wounded, it could result in unnecessary movements and incorrect timing. Fear of getting cut must be overrun with the fear of losing your life. Remember, the knife is just an object (harmless by itself), it is the attacker you are fighting not the blade. Defending against a blade attack is not easy and the focus of training should be directed towards increasing your chances of survival. Your objective is to survive. Sometimes it is important to sacrifice an area of the body to the blade in order to improve chances for escape or to surprise and overcome your opponent. Read the rest of this entry →

Combat Reality in the Martial Arts

This section is designed to give the student an understanding of Ninjitsu combat procedures, principles and theories. Obviously, no one can be expected to take time out during a fight and take note of what the details of life might be. You will have to develop the ability to take time out without taking time out. That is to think without thinking, fight without fighting, etc..We will need to develop this skill just as you do when learning to drive, walk or ride a bike. These are the A-B-C-D’s to learning anything. Our goal is to reach level D.

A. Unconscious incompetence

You do not know that you do not know.

B. Conscious incompetence

You know that you do not know.

C. Conscious competence

You think and you do.

D. Unconscious competence

You don’t think and you do.
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How to Stretch and increase Flexibility to enhance performance

If you do not have flexibility then it will be a challenge for you to kick high and perform advanced body movements.

So, I will say it once again, “Stretch.” The question is, How Do I Stretch?

There are two specific ways of stretching: 1 = Static and 2 = Dynamic

As a rule of thumb, you do Dynamic stretching before or during your workout and leave static stretches for after your work out.

Static
Static stretching is slow and constant and held (as far as the muscle will stretch) for up to 30 seconds – though many martial artists use leg stretchers and hold the stretch for as long as 30 minutes. Static or passive stretching uses an external force to hold the stretch in position.
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How to Jump in the Martial Arts

Designed for jumping over obstacles or attacks to the lower limbs.

✓ Leap into the air pulling the knees above the hips

✓ Pull the legs inward to form a V shape

✓ Land on the balls of the feet and allow your legs to bend as you take up the shock

Another way you can jump is while jumping onto objects or things, you run up to it, jump off one leg and place on top of the object, while leaving the other leg trailing behind to balance yourself. You drag the trailing foot on the object as it is extended below.

For example:

If you were to run up to a 3 foot post that is in the ground, jump off the left leg and place the right foot on top of post. As you place the right foot on top, the left foot is placed below against the post to balance yourself while standing up onto the post. You can start jumping up onto bigger items like tables and walls and once you get more agile and coordinated with your one foot or feet, you can jump up onto higher and smaller objects like tall skinny posts.
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How to do a Low Sweep Kick in the Martial Arts

Low Sweep Kick

✓ Leg comes into coil position

✓ Foot turns with the heel in and the toes out

✓ Stomp down at an angle towards the target area pushing forwards with the heel of the foot

STRIKING SURFACE

Heel, bottom of foot/shoe

STRIKING AREAS

Knee, Shin, Instep, Stomach/ribs
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How to do a Palm Heel Strike in the Martial Arts

You might recognize the Palm Heel strike from many mixed martial arts such systems such as Ninjitsu, Karate, Tae Kwon Do etc.

✓ The Palm Heel strike is formed by bending the wrist and fingers to expose the palm of the hand.

The striking surface is the lower palm area. The Palm heel strike is good when protecting fingers, knuckles or wrist from unnecessary damage. The Palm Heel Strike is an excellent jamming strike, good for stuns and blocking.

The Palm heel strike is great for self defense in general and the first strike to teach beginners as well as woman and children. The Palm Heel Strike is very effective and easy to learn. You have less body parts to injure as you are not using the wrist, knuckles and fingers, only the butt end of the forearm bones. It is a much stronger strike then a normal punch as well.

ATTACK

Linear

PRIMARY AREA

Face, nose, groin, ribs Read the rest of this entry →

How to do a Cat Stance in the Martial Arts

Cat Stance is designed for pivoting, night walking, returning to the rear, blocking and weapons fighting.

• Standing on the flat of the rear leg, bend the knee.

• Slide lead leg forward onto the ball of the foot (about one foot) with 10% of the weight on the lead leg.

• Lead knee is slightly bent.

• Keep your majority of weight on the rear leg.

• Bring arms up and cross in front of the chest, the lead arm being the same as the lead leg.

When in a cat stance, the front foot can easily be lifted to kick or block. Also used for stealth training. Read the rest of this entry →

How to Use a Stick in the Martial Arts

If you haven’t done so already, please read Rick Tew’s Intro to Martial Art Weapons by following the link below:

Martial Art Weapons

Also be sure to read the article:

Looks can be deceiving

The article teaches more about stick self-defense and the reality of weapons in the martial arts.

If you are learning realistic self-defense, you will need to learn how to use a stick. In almost any environment, you can find something to resemble a martial arts stick (or escrima / kali stick) to use as an improvised weapon or what we call an “Environmental Weapon.”

Roof and Wing Block with Stick

In this video, Sensei Rick Tew demonstrates the basic roof and wing block with a couple of sticks that were picked up from the ground in Lumpini Park, Bangkok. These sticks or natural clubs were already here and we simply added them to our morning training exercise to drill and practice the strategies of stick fighting in a more street combat or realistic environment.

The roof block is simply the idea that you are creating an angle with the stick, similar to what you might see on a typical A frame style roof of a house. The idea being that it can still protect what is underneath while providing a shield but also ensure that whatever lands on the roof also has the ability to roll or fall off of it. For a house that would be rain or snow, but with stick fighting it would be another stick, club, staff or other weapon like a pipe or crowbar. This is more of an offensive strategy. The pro is that you have more space to move, react and you can see more of your opponent and do not obstruct your vision on the side that you block as much as you would with a wing block.

The wing block is applying the concepts of the roof block, only you are resting your weapon onto the arm / shoulder that it is closest to. This is more of a defensive strategy. The pro is that you can rest your weapon onto the arm to provide a more solid base (great against multiple attacks) or to simulate a shield. The con is that you will partially obstruct your view on the side you are blocking on. This tactic is similar to a turtle pulling in its head. The shell offers a protective barrier but it is at the cost of some visual benefits.

In the Martial Science the idea is not to have one tactic or another, but instead, to learn both so you have a good balance and you can adjust or react accordingly. If you are trained in only one strategy, you will be limited and also robotic in your movements.

When practicing any of these types of drills – especially with environmental weapons like the stick – be sure to pay special attention to your EYES. It is suggested to wear eye protection if you are not used to this type of training. New students will discover that unlike a stick used in the DOJO environment that a weapon from the wild is unpredictable. It can break or dirt and debris can easily fall from it and into the eyes. One strategy we use in Modern Ninjitsu is to pull the loose part of bark and dirt from a stick with a single swipe and use it as a distraction or a way to temporarily blind our opponent. Read the rest of this entry →

How to develop a Natural Reaction in the Martial Arts

If something comes close to your eyes, it is natural for your eyelids to close and protect the eyes. Most of us do this without having to think much about it.  It is a natural reaction for our bodies.

In the Martial Science, a natural reaction is a trained response that comes naturally in the time of need.

Do you have to think about walking?  At this point in your life, walking comes naturally.  But the truth is, you didn’t know how to walk as a baby.  You had to train and practice in order to make your movements as simple as breathing.

In a dangerous situation, you will have no time to evaluate and come up with a multitude of logical defenses. Your body must move reactively. When practicing, you must perform maneuvers over and over until your body will react and no pause for thinking is involved. Evasion can not be categorized into a technique – since it involves so many natural elements.

There are 4 steps involved in creating a natural reaction with anything that we do or learn: Read the rest of this entry →

How to Duck under Attacks in the Martial Arts

Designed to duck under attacks or moving objects while protecting the head.

• Bend   knees and lower the body by stepping out keeping the back straight, head up

• Lift the forearms above the head to form a roof shape for protection

• Eyes remain aware of your surroundings chin is slightly pulled in

• Hands palm down on top your head with elbows to side to make a “roof” position so attacks can slide off or over you easier

Applications

• Lower center of gravity

• Get out of direct line of sight of others vision

• Duck under attacks or moving objects

• Duck up and down for strength building and endurance

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