David and Goliath

Gaining leverage over your opponent means that you are able to use something small and make it incredibly important. Has anyone - perhaps a teasing older brother - ever held your hands in such an uncomfortable position that you weren't able to fight back at all? This is the concept of leverage, of which the root word is "lever." By changing one small element of a combat situation, you are able to change the entire momentum.

Common leverage points usually deal with weak areas on the human body, such as joints. When you're able to disable an opponent's joints, they won't be able to bend. The joint is a small area that enables a whole lot of movement, which is why it's important to focus on joints in a combat situation; you want to keep yours free and inhibit the bending of your opponents' joints.

But leverage doesn't only have to apply to the levers in the physical human body. Leverage can also refer to using one aspect of a fight to your advantage: in jujutsu, you learn how to use an opponent's weight to your advantage, and against your opponent. By utilizing momentum and gravity, you can utilize this idea of "leverage" to defeat someone who is larger than you.

Oftentimes, getting leverage over an opponent is a simple matter of quickly discerning their advantages and working to inhibit them. If you're fighting a smaller, quicker fighter, then you'll want to get that fighter in a situation where their quickness doesn't count - such as wrestling on the ground, where your strength can overpower them.

In the Battle of Thermopylae, 300 Spartans and other warriors famously used leverage (in this case, the terrain) in order to repel a massive army. What can you accomplish in your martial arts sparring - or even your life - if you understand leverage? A lot.

Photo Credits: maha-online

Originally posted 2009-11-17 03:02:50.

Flying Sidekick.

If you've decided to take up a martial art, or if you're providing for someone who has, you know that it's time to get stocked up on gear. Along with a new hobby usually comes a new way of dressing - sometimes for aesthetic purposes, and sometimes for practical purposes. When it comes to martial arts, it's important to make sure that you've got both the aesthetic (uniforms) and the necessary (helmet and pads). It's time to stock up on some essential martial arts gear.

Head Gear

First, you'll want to make sure that you're stocked up on head gear. The first thing anyone who's sparring needs to do is to make sure that they're essentially wearing a helmet to compliment the protection they already have with their skull. Your brain is your most vital organ, so make sure that you keep it shielded from potential injuries like concussions. This means wrapping your head up with some effective helmets.

Sparring helmets typically look like wrestling helmets. The Dyna Sparring Gear Set includes a helmet that protects the head, ears, and the cheeks, while allowing for a degree of comfort, as well as holes so that air isn't trapped by sudden impacts.

Remember that head gear also refers to mouth guards - mouth guards can do a lot to protect your head. Don't consider a mouth guard to be an "optional" item - they're nearly as important as helmets. Mouth guards help prevent concussions be softening the impact your head has with your jaws. When you're sparring, make sure you have the right kind of head gear - both inside your head and outside.

Other Sparring Gear

Once your head is protected, you've done a lot to keep yourself safe during a sparring session. But the other gear you'll need also pads some of your loosest joints and most frequently impacted bones. Gloves should protect both your fingers and your knuckles, providing plenty of padding - it should be relatively easy to punch a solid surface without feeling too much pain.

Sparring gear also can go over your chest and other areas of your body - the more area you have protected, the better. Sparring gear will help to make sure that you avoid injuries while practicing your martial arts, allowing you to maintain your habits and discipline.

When it comes to the everyday gear, many martial arts centers will tell you where to find uniforms and might even provide a belt for you. Remember to ask your trainer about the kind of gear you'll need, and try to err on the side of safety.

Photo Credits: kaibara87

Originally posted 2009-07-21 05:36:09.