Respect is an attribute that we would all like our children to possess but how do we relay the meaning of this attribute in a very simple way that they would understand.

There is still a misconception in parents and potential students that Martial Arts Training is predominately about punching and kicking but fortunately there is so much more to Martial Arts and this is the reason that so many people have managed a life time of commitment to Martial Arts Training.

It can be difficult to choose the right words when teaching others the meaning of Respect but we use this on -

Respect is - “to Treat other people in the same way that you would like to be treated or to treat them like they are special”.

It’s a very simple explanation and after repeating a couple of times in class or at home, together with a few short talks on how we can show respect to one another,  is very surprising how quickly the children learn and more importanly understand the meaning of Respect.

Have Fun - Train Hard - Train Smart - Fightwize

Sensei Malcolm - Jiu Jitsu Calgary

Anyone who has been a victim of bullying will understand the horrendous effect that it can have upon you. I’m not just referring to the physical injuries that are obvious to all but the mental impact that can have an even bigger and longer lasting effect.

Learning Martial Arts can do a great deal for many people to help Stop bullying. However, there are many types of bullying that occur in different places such as in the home, at school, in the workplace. It can also occur in many different forms – verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and so on.

Martial Arts is not the be all and end all solution to all forms of bullying but it has helped and will continue to help for many cases.

We have received several Testimonials to be proud of, at both Jiu Jitsu Calgary and Fightwize for cases from parents whose children were being bullied at School and when these children discovered a new found confidence in themselves by attending classes or courses; this helped to put an end to their particular situations.

The knowledge that you can make a difference is great for boosting Self Esteem at any age.

Let’s remember that bullies, especially in the Schoolyard, are not looking for a fight but a victim and when that victim decides to make a stand then this oftentimes all that is required. It is a big step but confidence and Self Esteem are both big players in the effort to help Stop bullying.

Let’s face it, bullies will always exist so give your children the tools to promote the confidence that will help to prevent them from becoming that victim.

The emphasis is really to “Prevent Bullying” by promoting confidence and not to promote fighting or violence. The advantage to using Martial Arts as a vehicle is the fact that their are so many other benefits that can be gained along the way in the way of fitness, health, spirit, coordination, focus, concentration and so much more.

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In Self Defense, it is essential that your strikes are very simple movements. In a high stress situation, after your body has reacted with an adrenal rush, it is not possible for most people to carry out fine or complex motor skills.

As with all Self Defense Techniques, the strikes must be very simple movements. Striking is just one part of a System, you should have your other pre-fight strategies in place in order for your strikes to be most effective.

An example of a pre fight strategy is being verbal with your set up. If you learn how to verbalize, you can lower your assailant’s guard. Strikes that are not expected are far more effective.

Being Pre-emptive, striking before you have been struck can be a life-saving strategy in many situations. In other situations there may not be a pre-fight stage such as a blind sided attack or ambush.

Fear Control is also an area that must be enhanced. If you are paralyzed by the effects of fear then your strikes will not even happen.

There are two distinct types of strike, distractions and power strikes. Distractions carry the perception of speed and are used to create an opening for other strikes or techniques. Power Strikes carry weight and momentum.

Let’s take a look at some simple strikes that can be used starting with punches. Punching is a great tool for many people but many other do not punch well to put it politely. The other downside is that punching to the head area could cause more damage to puncher than to the person on the receiving end. Catching a tooth in the punch can break the skin and allow the transfer of diseases or infections.

Punches to other parts of the body would be a much safer option for most. The solar Plexus for example makes a very effective target for such a strike.

Your Elbow makes a great tool for striking in a close quarter struggle. It can be used in a variety of ways and from various positions. Fast distracting strikes can be used if the elbow is the closest tool to the target but great power can also be generated by rotating the hips and shoulders into strikes.

Knees are very effective as a weapon too, obviously during a close quarter struggle too. Kneeing to the groin, inner thigh or outer thigh can be totally debilitating.

Simple low Kicks can be made to be effective by most people. Nothing has to be fancy about kicking. Kicks targeted below the waist are very effective. To give them names, Round Kicks to the thighs, Side Kicks to the Knees, Shin Kicks and Foot stomps can all be useful in a stun and run type of strategy.
Not all strikes are intended as finishers. Distracting strikes, whether with the hands, feet, elbow or knees will create an opening for power strikes. Let’s not neglect the close quarter strikes that can be made effective by anyone. Eye gouges, tearing at the ears, scratching to face and nose, throat grab etc.

One important point to remember is that force should parallel danger. Therefore, strikes that could cause permanent damage to the assailant should only be used in a life threatening situation. Take some time to attend a course or attend a Martial Arts class that is dedicated to Self Defense Training just like our own School “Jiu Jitsu Calgary“.

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I am a big fan of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), it is great to see these athletes getting themselves into superb condition and then climbing into the cage to fight. The big question is what impact is UFC having on Martial Arts today?

Is UFC Helping or Hurting Martial Arts? It  is certainly debatable and I can see cases for both sides of the argument.

The technical ability of these competitors is outstanding; it is also amazing to see the fighters coming from so many different backgrounds, specializing in different areas of combat.

What does concern me though, is the fact that some of the most important attributes of Martial Arts are oftentimes not present within the competitors - Respect, Discipline, Code of Honor, Code of Conduct, etc.

In UFC and Cage Fighting in general, there is too much cussing, disrespecting one another and general misconduct.

Let’s Lead by example!

UFC is right there in the spotlight for everyone to see. It has attracted a great deal of media attention in the last couple of years. Yes, there are some great competitors, demonstrating excellent techniques but it is not a complete representation of Martial arts. Even if that is not what they are trying to be, it is the way they are thought of by many.

The fighters in UFC become role models for children, so they should be conscious of the example that they are setting.

Lets remember that 70% of Martial arts involves children, helping them to become good citizens, team players and leaders through encouraging discipline, respect, conduct, focus, mental and spiritual development and so on.

Many parents do not really know what Martial Arts is, so the likes of UFC is the only picture of Martial arts they have. They have the impression that this is what it’s all about. To think that this is what their children are being prepared for, is in many cases, not really the encouragement required to Promote Martial arts amongst parents.

The types of injuries being received by competitors in MMA and other Cage Fighting  type arenas is certainly keeping surgeons very busy too and that is unlikely to change any time soon.

There are several different opinions spinning around whether or not UFC is hurting or helping Martial Arts. What do you think?

There are so many variations on Jiu Jitsu Throws, some take advantage of the attackers momentum, some take advantage of momentum generated by the thrower, others require good leverage and others may require good mechanical technique. It is knowledge and practice of such areas that allows people to take on much larger and stronger opponents.

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Jiu Jitsu forms the basis of Judo (Throwing Techniques), Karate (Striking Techniques) and Aikido (Joint Manipulation).Judo is one of the Arts that was extracted from Jiu Jitsu, so throws could be practiced safely in a sporting type arena. The Judo throws shown above are the same as the throws used in Jiu Jitsu.It is such variety that makes such a great Art for us to be involved in, the Jiu-Jitsu Throws are just one element that is very dynamic and attracts much attention.