Art Reviews

For Preschoolers Finding it tough to find a program that offers appropriate martial arts for pre-schoolers? Then look no further than Studios Group Martial Arts (SGMA) Calgary. Our Lil’ Dragons program is specifically designed for children as young as four. Our emphasis on rewarding success keeps children motivated and encourages them to stay positive and try hard. As well, our individualized program accounts for the physical and mental condition of each student and allows all children to see success. Parents will see noticeable improvements in both the physical coordination and the attitude of their child. Here are some of the benefits of our martial arts program for pre-schoolers: a special belt stripe incentive that teaches children that a good attitude and positive work ethic will be rewarded; improved fitness and coordination; beautiful, full-colour certificates and trading cards with each new belt level; successful transition into children’s program; and viewing area for parents. Our -Stripe- system on the children’s belts rewards the students in many ways. First children are constantly being encouraged by their success, this helps with their retention and desire to always want to come to class. Second, as Instructors we are able to assess what each individual child needs to work on. This individualization of the program allows ALL children to be successful. Third, stripes are given for both good attitudes and proper techniques. Fourthly, all of students receive beautiful full color certificates and full color trading cards with each new belt level which they are very proud of. Lastly, after the children achieve all the stripes and belts they then can successfully move up to the regular children’s program even before they turn 6 years old or begin grade 1. For Kids: At Studios Group Martial Arts Calgary, we know providing martial arts for kids is an exciting and motivating way to help them develop to their mental and physical best. Our taekwondo instructors focus on technique and teach actual martial arts. This means students get in shape through advanced kicks, strikes, blocks, and self-defence moves. Because we offer the highest instructor-to-student ratio that other Calgary schools cannot match, our instructors are able to spend quality time with each student. Students attend two 1-hour classes per week and receive formal certification with each new belt. Any student who attends and trains regularly can achieve a real Black Belt (with formal certification from the World Taekwondo Federation in Korea) within 2-4 years. We have several different programs teaching martial arts for kids in the Calgary area, including: a regular martial arts for kids program with a progressive curriculum that allows student to develop in a logical and systematic manner; an advanced martial arts for kids program that allows student to train up to five days/week and learn to become instructors or competitors. Studios Group Martial Arts Calgary is a martial arts school that maintains the traditional martial arts values while incorporating advanced and modern martial arts training and teaching methods.

One of the most important aspects in mixed martial arts fighting, and one that is often overlooked and taken for granted when learning how to fight, is that of footwork. The fighter with exceptional footwork and movement skills has a notable advantage in any fight whether boxing, Muay Thai, MMA or streetfighting.

Some of the most renowned fighters we have seen in boxing have all demonstrated tremendous footwork and movement; Jack Dempsey, Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Prince Nassim and the incomparable Mohammed Ali all employed incredible foot work and movement skills to evade and attack their opponents.

One of the major difficulties that the early kickboxing scene was plagued with was that fighters came from the karate disciplines. Many early kickboxers, coming from karate backgrounds, complimented their karate kicks with the superior punching techniques taken from boxing but most were slow to subscribe to the highly mobile boxing footwork.

The classical karate disciplines focussed on flat-footed “stand your ground tactics” with inadequate footwork and maneuverability. This often led to fighters from predominantly boxing backgrounds and token kicking skills defeating high ranking karatekas that had taken up full contact kickboxing to demonstrate the power of karate.

Those fighters that came from a boxing background or who realized that maneuverable footwork and strategic positioning were an integral part of the boxers’ game plan demonstrated a pronounced advantage by including it in their training.

Muay Thai fighters, however, not tainted by the classical karate systems, have always demonstrated a very fine sense of footwork and position, such that that they move in and out just out of range to make the opponent miss and then back in to range to hit with power and precision.

We saw a repeat of the kickboxing era in the early days of mixed martial arts fighting, with the grapplers ruling and it appeared that fighters that mainly relied on their standup skills were not going to be competitive.

The fighters that relied heavily on standup were very unsuccessful at stopping the takedowns of the grapplers, allowing themselves to be put in positions that limited their movement and ultimately to be taken down.

However, this was all to change (as we who have embraced experimentation and shunned dogma have come to expect) when Maurice Smith, a world champion kickboxer of the time, showed that with good footwork and ring (cage) generalship the grapplers could be stopped with an essentially striking focussed game. Harmony was restored to the universe and the evolution of the emerging mixed martial arts fight game continued with predominant strikers appearing again.

The mixed martial arts fighters that mainly relied on their takedown game were now under the selective pressure of having to adapt their takedown methods to contend with the evasive maneuverability and adapted striking methods of the standup specialists.

The principal characteristics that set the successful mixed martial arts fighters apart from those that failed were their footwork and ring (cage) generalship that permitted them to neutralize the takedowns.

We now see mixed martial arts fighters who have adapted and developed there movement and positioning to the cage, such that the fights are more dynamic and evenly balanced between the grapplers and strikers. The latest exponent of excellent footwork and generalship, in mixed martial arts, is Lyoto Machida who demonstrates very powerful hit and move skills that are the key to the strikers’ game against a grappler.

It is therefore critical that when we train we include fast and maneuverable foot work into our mixed martial arts training drills.

Once a new standup striking or takedown setup technique is learned, and has been adequately drilled for effectiveness, we must combine it with effective footwork and movement so that we can move in to execute it, and out again, if it is countered or if on execution we need to move away because it did not finish the job and the opponent covers up; a hit and run strategy of fighting.

Here are some of the main points that must be addressed in your footwork whether fighting mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, or boxing:

1) Learn to move on the balls of the feet with bent knees to facilitate rapid and precise weight transfer.

2) Keep the feet spacing about shoulder width apart, i.e. avoid wide stances.

3) When moving make the steps small; better to take a series of smaller steps, then one large one that upsets balance.

4)Practice quick changes in direction always ensuring to maintain good balance.

5) Practice constant movement.

6) Develop a keen sense of position in relation to your opponent; this must be acquired to the level of unconscious competence so that you can concentrate on the fight.

7) When you step in to strike train for speed, explosiveness and accuracy.

8) Train sprawling and angular changes for takedown avoidance.

In addition, footwork should be developed for both offensive and defensive tactics. The use of evasive angular stepping that is the basis of the “make ’em miss, make ’em pay” strategy, combined with fast bridging the gap techniques and good ring generalship must be developed to provide the complete fight game plan in mixed martial arts.

As soon as you initial start training MMA, you get by with limited training equipment. Standard T-Shirts and also shorts will suffice for Muay Thai and additionally even no-gi grappling. The vast majority of gyms have mitts and shin protectors which you can borrow, but sooner or later {you will need to invest in the own compounded martial arts clothing. The following is a fast physical appearance at a few of the basic gear which you should choose upwards when you decide that you are serious about the training.

Rash Guards

Whether you train BJJ in a gi, or perhaps focus on top of stand-up and no-gi grappling, it is a good idea to purchase in a tall quality rash protect. Different from obviously t-shirts, rash guards are really manufactured a technical cloth that wicks sweat away from your system and also enables you to regulate your body heat. This excellent will mean which you remain cool and additionally dried out when you are really training. Long-sleeved rash protections help to shield your elbows from mat burns up too.

Thai Shorts

Thai shorts are really a needs to have for any Muay Thai or kickboxing professional. When you can train Muay Thai in normal work out center shorts, when you choose upwards a group of Thai shorts you can expect to ask themselves the way you ever trained with no them. Thai shorts are cut somewhat different to normal shorts. The couple are baggier, and also manufactured an even more breathable information. The baggy cut means it is easier to help you throw round kicks, teeps and additionally knees. Mobility is definitely an essential component of Muay Thai, and when you begin sparring it is a great move to have the ideal gear a possibility.

Give Wraps

Give wraps are long strips of fabric that wrap around the wrist and also knucles, providing assistance and also padding. They are designed to be used under boxing mitts. When you are doing technical work, you could get away without wrapping the hands, however should you decide do bag work, power work or perhaps sparring you risk damaging your wrists should you decide attempt to punch with no proper help. Hand wraps are really especially important if in case you have small hands, because classique boxing hand protection could have also big of the give compartment to provide any assistance for you.

Gis

There are really many different kinds of gis. Karate gis tend to feel very slim and also have softer collars and light pants. They are really generously cut to let many versatility of movement. Judo gis are really much larger, have powerful collars, padded knees and additionally long coats. Judo gis are designed to be strong enough to deal with being useful for throws and also distribution. Karate gis are really usually plain processed, while Judo gis may be processed or perhaps bluish. BJJ gis are really manufactured strong fabric, and even while these are lighter when compared to Judo gis (because BJJ players weigh in sporting their gis) the couple continue to have powerful collars and protected joins. BJJ gis have lesser jackets when compared to Judo gis, and are cut to get a a bit tighter put.

Hoodies

Hoodies are a really popular form of compounded martial arts clothing. Numerous MMA clinicians dedicate wearing a hoodie that bears the icon of the work out center to tv show off their allegiance and also promote the work out center in their neighbourhood. Hoodies are not just aesthetic, however. They are even a very useful form of clothing. Inside the winter months, a hoodie is a handy accessory which keeps you warm on top of your morn run, and stops you from feeling cold whenever you are looking for a bus after a hard training session.

Indeed there are lots of companies which makes mixed martial arts clothing today. Brands like Fairtex, Boon, Hayabusa and also Rev Equipment are really popular with professional fighters. Everlast and additionally Tap Out produce reasonably priced MMA essentials and also have become house-hold names now. The clothing keeps you low risk and also pleasurable inside the gym, so it pays to purchase the greatest gear you really can afford.

Martial arts are popular as self defense tactics, to improve fitness levels, as well as enhance concentration. Women specially, benefit from learning these techniques for self defense, which are useful when they are travelling alone in secluded areas. If children learn these techniques early in their lives, they will benefit from increased confidence for the rest of their lives.
Depending on your goals, choose a martial art that suits you. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts call for high levels of fitness. If injuries or age are significant factors for you, avoid these. For instance, people with recurring neck injuries should avoid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This sport calls for opponents to throttle you continuously from different positions.
Kickboxing involves less contact than Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In kickboxing you will need to stand and spar. Karate also does not involve much full contact sparring. Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai are suitable if you want to enhance your punching skills.
Judo involves learning how to throw people to the ground. Some martial arts have underlying belief systems like Buddhism. Learning an art like this can benefit you spiritually, mentally, as well as physically.
Look for a suitable martial arts organization online. You should read customer testimonials, so that you know how satisfied previous clients were with the facility and instructors. Alternatively, you can ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations.
Check the experience level of the instructors. Visit the facility to determine whether it is well maintained. Confirm whether the schedule matches your requirements. The facility should be located close to you; otherwise you may feel lazy when it is time to attend class.
Check the size of the facility, the number of students in a class, and the number of sessions per week. In case you want one to one coaching, confirm whether the facility has that provision. Ask if there is a trial class available, so that you can see how comfortable you are with the techniques being taught.
You can consult the instructor in case you are unsure about which art is suitable for your needs. Sport and self defense being the two different motivations, choose a style which fits your lifestyle and needs. If you train hard, you may even be eligible to participate in tournaments.
Think carefully before you decide to learn martial arts. West Chester PA residents should look for a reputed organization imparting training of this nature in their area.