What type of Martial Arts are you looking to do?

Striking: Punching, Kicking, and Blows

The "striking" category includes many of the popular martial arts many people in Western culture are aware of. If you've ever seen a martial arts movie on television, and the fights were a series of punches, blocks, and kicks, you probably saw a martial art that emphasizes striking. Heck, even Rocky Balboa was a master of a "striking" martial art!

In striking, the emphasis is placed on quickness and power - can you knock out your opponent with quick blows that take him off-guard? If so, you might be able to neutralize any size or weight advantage the opponent has. Learning how to strike also includes learning to believe in yourself and having the power to break wood using only your fist.

Martial arts that emphasize striking: Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai

Grappling: Locking and Throwing

In the Mixed Martial Arts world, grappling is what you often hear referred to as "ground game." In grappling, your power and technique is directly pitted against your opponent's as you wrestle out the match on the ground. Being an effective grappler means being able to defend yourself at a tremendous disadvantage, as well as capitalize on a "takedown" - when you bring your opponent to the ground.

Martial arts that emphasize grappling: Wrestling, Judo, Jujutsu, Brazilian Jujutsu, Sambo

Weapons: Extending Your Body's Radius

Striking and grappling have one thing in common: they both force you to rely on the weapons you always have available in your body, such as your arms and legs. When it comes to weapons, you are essentially extending the amount of damage and the potential area you can strike in with a foreign object. In other words, you're using something outside of your body to take down an opponent.

Martial arts that emphasize weapons: Fencing, Kendo

Photo Credits: Frank Peters

Originally posted 2009-08-20 03:29:06.

Takedown in Judo

A takedown's premise is very simple: utilizing positioning and leverage, you try to get your opponent down to the ground, with you following, resulting in you having the better position. This is actually different in substance to simply throwing or knocking down your opponent - the premise of a "takedown" is that you're "taking them down" with you. For martial artists that perform better by wrestling on the ground, a takedown might be necessary to win a match.

Takedowns can happen in a number of ways, even if the result is the same. Usually, it comes as the result of two martial artists being locked up against each other, either one of them unable to break free. Generally, the person who can get lowest while maintaining the most control possible will be able to take the other person down because of leverage. But takedowns can also take place suddenly, such as when one fighter "tackles" the other quickly, using his body to knock his opponent down.

If you're interested in learning how to take down an opponent, you're going to have to decide which discipline of martial arts is best suited for you. You'll obviously want to avoid disciplines like boxing and Tae Kwon Do - both of which emphasize striking. Look up some of the best martial arts for learning takedowns, such as Judo, and you'll be able to learn more about how you can use an opponent's weight and energy against him in order to come out with the best possible position.

Much of what goes into a takedown relies on putting you in a better position than you started with. If you can master the "takedown," you can turn things around in your favor quickly. But if you're not used to a takedown, it can also work against you, as an opponent can use it against you.

Photo Credits: parhessiastes

Originally posted 2009-07-30 05:12:12.

Go for the neck.

GROIN

The groin makes for a good break up tactic. It won’t permanently take out your opponent, but it will distract them.

KNEE

The knee is a very good place to strike because this can leave your opponent immobile and make it easier for you to either, run away or break away from the attack.  Attacking the knee is also great prior to a takedown or as a break up before you commit to another attack.

THROAT

The throat is a very good target or primary striking area because it will work as a breakup tactic and it is great as a strategy for removing the threat of further attacks. This can be done by a controlling the opponents breathing, choking them out by constricting the carotid arteries or in the worse case - striking hard at the windpipe and forcing the opponent to deal with a more serious threat than attacking you. Never strike to the throat unless your life is at risk!

EYES

And finally we have the eyes. The eyes make a great primary striking area because they are vulnerable soft tissue areas with a variety of ways to attack. The eyes are extremely sensitive regardless of your opponents size and training  - which makes them the number one target in a street fight.

There are few ways to go about attacking the eyes. One simple strategy is to simply strike at the eyes with the tips of your fingers. This will cause the eyes to water and sting which makes it hard for your opponent to see. Strikes to the eyes will also break your attacker’s concentration, allowing you some time to either escape or prepare for another attack. Another way to attack the eyes is to use dirt or other small objects that can be thrown or sprayed directly into the eyes.

This is why pepper spray is so popular as a self-defense tool. You can also use keys, clothing, shoes and other items to throw into the eyes again either as a breakup or an attempt to scratch the retina making it hard for the opponent either see you or continue with their attack.

The reason this becomes the most practical strategy is because if the person cannot see you, it’s going to be very hard for them to attack you.

Photo Credits: dangoodwin

Originally posted 2010-04-04 03:55:54.