Adult Martial Arts for Self-Defense

Adult Martial arts for self-defense

Martial arts can provide quite the entertaining spectacle in a sports arena; however they also play an important role in self defense, some of the best martial arts for self-defense including the following;

Kickboxing

Kickboxing as a martial arts skill revolves around punches and kicks as well as knees, varying depending on the type of kickboxing one chooses to practice. The attacks are often fast paced and typically strike at all viable openings on a given attacker. Kickboxing is very effective against attackers; whether you are launching a kick at a mugger’s jaw or side stepping to grab an attacking weapon, the lack of fancy moves and strikes eliminates opportunities for mistakes, this complimented by the fact that, with enough practice, almost anyone can master the art.

Karate and Taekwondo

When one talks about Martial Arts for self-defense, Karate almost always comes to mind. The martial arts form places special emphasis upon the deflection of attacks, at which point one can focus their efforts upon delivering as many deadly blows as possible. And considering the fact that strikes from attackers are often straight forward, knowing how to sidestep a knife before delivering punches to the knife hand and lower side or belly can prove crucial to saving your life.

Aikido

Aikido is a very recognizable form of martial arts. It is also a very defensive style; taking into account the fact that every attacker must leave a portion of their body vulnerable when the launch an attack, the key to Aikido lies in always remaining on the defensive, which should, theoretically, make you invulnerable. Aikido focuses upon using an attacker’s own movements and momentum against them.

Jiu-jitsu

Jiu-jitsu could best be referred to as a hybrid style of sorts; very universal in its approach, jiu-jitsu combines various elements such as eye gouging, biting, grappling and joint locks to achieve victory. Practitioners of the art have been known to place special emphasis upon their own as well as their attacker’s center of gravity.

Western Boxing

The average boxer trains for several years to learn how to optimize their punch; the fact that they cannot kick allows them to horn their skills, and this makes them very deadly. Even boxers of average skills can put a man down with a single punch. The amount of effort they put into improving the strength and durability of their bodies makes them that much more powerful.

By learning to weave and bob, punch and block on instinct, boxers can train their bodies to become true fighting machines, the kind that can prove useful in putting an overly confident attacker down, if not outright killing them without intending to do so.

For more information, check out www.JohnsonsATA.com

The Power of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

The effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a martial art and self defense technique that was developed by Carlos Gracie. This technique was originated after experimentations in its parent art Japanese arts. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is also prominently known as Gracie jiu-jitsu and it basically focuses on grappling and ground fighting. With proper techniques and methods of this self defense art anyone can easily defend a stronger assailant.

Submissions in the art of Brazilian jiu jitsu often involve two different points. First, there is the joint lock. This is where a person's joints will be held in positions to where that person will not be able to move properly or effectively. This is often done with the intention of trying to keep an opponent from trying to go anywhere or fight back in a particular match that one wants to get into.

Chokes are often used in many cases. A choke is a type of submission in Brazilian jiu jitsu where pressure is used to keep a person from being able to breathe properly. The person will have to submit after a period of time in order to keep from losing consciousness. It must be checked appropriately for whatever has to be used in a spot.

These two forms of submissions are used in gentle manners but can be used to improve anyone's ability to keep their bodies active and ready for all sorts of functions. This may prove to be valuable and helpful for all the needs that people have when trying to get an upper hand on a competition.
However, these submission moves in Brazilian jiu jitsu have to be used as carefully as possible. There is always going to be the risk that someone might end up being injured in the event that a submission move is used for too long. There has to be a control to make sure the moves will not be too strong or tough. The moves should simply be designed to where the body will stay comfortable and careful for any point.

The best way to get help is to try Brazilian jiu jitsu moves with a classmate. A class will provide anyone with plenty of ways to try and see how well different actions can be used. This could enhance anyone's ability to keep one's body active and ready for all sorts of functions.

The moves used in Brazilian jiu jitsu are impressive because they can involve many ways how the body can be placed into stress. A person can use Brazilian jiu jitsu moves to get an opponent to submit when everything is used carefully. This makes for an important process that is certainly worth trying out for any plan one has in mind during a match.

For more interesting articles about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for Self-Defense
For the most AMAZING Gracie Jiu-Jitsu classes:  Johnson's ATA Black Belt Academy

Better Grades with Martial Arts

Better Grades with martial arts training

There are many parents today who have been considering new after school or extra curricular activities for their children. These after school activities are important for kids as they help them foster new friendships, learn important life skills and these after school activities have been proven to help kids get better grades. However, parents will also need to make sure that they are choosing the right after school program for their kids. This is why more parents then ever have been turning to kids karate or martial arts training in order to help their child grow and thrive. For parents who are considering kids martial arts training for their own little one; there are a few important facts that they will want to keep in mind that can help them with their training.

- Taekwondo classes are for both boys and girls

The past few years, many girls have been signing up for mixed martial arts and karate classes. In fact a large percentage of those who are enrolling in this training are female students. This can be a rewarding experience for any young girl and a great way to build self confidence. Also, many parents enjoy the idea of enrolling their daughters in karate classes because these classes teach self confidence and their daughters will get to learn the important skills of self defense.

- Karate classes are quite affordable

When compared to other sports and after school programs like dance or beauty competitions; karate classes are quite affordable. In fact, many karate classes are much more affordable than hiring a babysitter for that time. This means that you can not only make sure that your child is being watched over but you can save money as well all while teaching your child important and rewarding lessons with their karate training.

- Kids can start karate classes at a young age

There are many parents who may think that kids can only start karate training when they are older. This is not true. While many of the younger children will only do demonstrations in their competitions until they are older; kids can start doing karate training as young as five. This makes karate a great activity for kids to start young and grow with.

- Taekwondo teaches kids important lessons

Karate and martial arts training is not about fighting. In fact there are many kids who will take karate for years and who will only do demonstrations; they will not do any fighting. Instead many of these training sessions will focus on teaching your child important lessons that make up the heart of martial arts such as respect, focus and discipline. Your child can learn a lot in their martial arts training and its more than just fighting.

For more interesting articles about martial arts for kids:  TKD for Kids
For the BEST Martial Arts instruction:  Johnson's ATA

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ATA Top 10

You've heard us talk about the Top 10 before, but how do you get into it?

Before we get too deep, you'll need to understand that we are actually talking about two different Top 10 lists here.  The Top 10 in the State and the Top 10 in the World.  The are both lists of the 10 best competitors in their respective areas, but the criteria to get onto the lists are different.

So, let's look at is from the perspective of a colored belt who's interested in the the Top 10 for the first time.

Your first goal would be to get into the State Top 10.  In order to compete in the State Top 10 you must be an active Leadership Student at your school.  This is a goal that is accessible to anyone.  Each time you place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a tournament you earn points.  Assuming there are at least 5 competitors in each event you would earn 5 points for 1st, 3 for 2nd and 1 for 1st (less points for fewer competitors).  The tournament season runs from World Championships of one year to April 31st of the next.  The 10 competitors in your division with the most points are the Top 10.  It's just that simple (so far :-) )

If you get into the State Top 10, you are invited to District Championships.  Districts are usually held at the end of May.  We are in the North District meaning that the State Top 10 from North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska are all invited.  The one winner in each event is crowned District Champion.  For Colored Belts that's as far as it goes.

Now for the World Top 10.  This is only for Black Belts (you do not need to be a Leadership Student).  This is a very lofty and difficult goal as there are lots of students around the country training very hard to be in the final 10.  You earn points the same way as the State Top 10.  The tournament year for World Top 10 is the same as the State.  If you finish the year in the World Top 10, you earn an invitation to compete in the Tournament of Champions at our World Championship tournament.  More on that in a moment....

There is another way to earn the invitation to the Tournament of Champions.  Win a District Championship.  This means that you don't have to spend the year travelling to tournaments, but can be a very difficult challenge.

At World Championships, you can consider it to be 2 distinct tournaments.  The Tournament of Champions is invitation only and takes place on Friday of that week.  The winners are crowned World Champions.  This is the end of the tournament season.  Saturday and Sunday is the regular tournament portion.  It is the first tournament of the season and anyone can register and compete.

All State, District and World Champions are eligible to wear special uniforms displaying their championship status.  Depending on the number of competitors in a ring, this can also lead to that student earning a bye in the first round of either Sparring or Combat.

We currently have several students in the Top 10 in both State and the World.  Help cheer them on and even consider making your own run at a Championship!

-Mr. Johnson
www.JohnsonsATA.com
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Math and Martial Arts?

If you know me outside of class, you probably know that I'm a not-so-closet math and science geek.  But I think I can make the graph above make sense to everyone, even you haven't calculated sine curves in a while.  :-)

I'm kidding.  Actually it's very simple.  This graph represents a natural evolution of a student's motivation.  Every child that joins martial arts is excited, that's why they started.  However, it is completely natural that eventually something causes that excitement to wane.  It could be something negative that happens in class, it could be actual boredom.  But more often it's wanting to stay home to keep playing their video games, watching tv, or playing with their friends.  Often even the idea in the back of the child's mind that they MIGHT get to do those things is enough to hear:

"I don't wanna go to class".

This is naturally very concerning to a parent that had such high hopes, and is paying for the classes.  Usually this will happen once or twice and the conversation will go something along the lines of:

Parent:  "Why don't you want to go to class?"  (genuinely trying to diagnose the problem)
Kid:  "It's boring"

Parent:  "How can it be boring, you loved it last time you were there?"
Kid:  "It's boring"  (possibly while they're staring intently a their Nintendo 3DS XL)

Parent:  "Well you have to go."
Kid:  "I DON'T WANNA GO".

Parent:  (now concerned)  "Ok, let's take a break today, but then you HAVE TO go on Saturday".
Kid:  "Ok"

Then Saturday rolls around and the same conversation ensues.  By the third or fourth time, it ends with:

Parent:  "I'm not going to keep paying for classes if you're not going to go!"
Kid:  "OK"  (maybe watching videos of some guy playing a Mario game on YouTube through their Wii, possibly while also playing their Nintendo 3DS XL)

This is often decision day.  And often times the decision is to quit.  Before I diagnose this a little, 1 piece of advice:

If you find a way, with your instructors help, to motivate your child to continue, they WILL thank you when they earn their Black Belt.  I guarantee.  I meet adults every day that say:  "Man, I wish I would have stuck with it!"  I have never heard anyone say:  "Man, I am SO GLAD I quit when I was a kid!"

When you find yourself in this situation, the first thing to understand is that every single student, and parent, goes through it.  When I poll our highest ranking Black Belts, they all say they have gone through it many times.  Remember, when their motivation is low, if you can help them through it, it will go up again.

Keep in mind that loss of motivation could be due to something that happened in class.  Or it could be due to getting demoralized due to a loss at a tournament.  But if the answer isn't clear, it's equally likely to be tv or video games.  Don't let your child quit something healthy so they can play even more video games.  This goes for any activity you choose, martial arts or not.

So, what can you do?  The first thing is talk to the child.  Put yourself into their mind and try to find out if something actually happened, if they really dislike martial arts, or if it's tv and video games.  Then speak to your instructor.  They have years of experience teaching hundreds or thousands of kids.  They've seen it before and will have solutions for you.  Maybe trying a weapons class would be re-motivating.  Maybe a special event or a new piece of equipment.  Maybe helping out in a class would be re-motivating.  There's lots of solutions.  And if your child loved martial arts, we can get them back to that again.... with your help.

Thanks for reading!

-Ryan Johnson

www.JohnsonsATA.com
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JohnsonsATA1 on Twitter

Thanks!

I just want to use this weeks post to say thank you to everyone that made our 2015 Sioux City Regional Tournament a success.

A tournament is a huge and overwhelming project.  It takes literally hundreds of man hours to prepare.  It takes dozens and dozens of people to pull it off successfully.  I am certain that I'll forget to mention some people that were critical to our success, for that I apologize in advance.

Thank you to my leadership team that worked so hard setting up Thursday and Friday and then working at the tournament Friday evening and all day on Saturday.  Rachel, Rachel, Julaina, Beth, Ereys, Eric, Molly, Mr. B, Jorleny, Laura, Cyndi, Lance, Katie, Dan, Hannah, Stacey, and more.  Thank you!

Thank you to all of the people that judged Friday evening and all day on Saturday.  We have a lot of rings (18) and it takes a lot of people willing to help out and judge.  Thank you!

Thank you to our sponsors.  With your help, we are able to provide every child with a medal to reward their hard work.  We are able to host a great event and invite grandpas and grandmas and aunts and uncles with no spectator admission.  Thank you Jerry's Pizza, Milwaukee Wiener House, Horizon Restaurant, Sioux City Bandits, RE Scott Inc, Beautiful Birth Day Doula, AGP, The Feed Shed, Serenity Birthing Services and More!  Thank you!

Thank you to everyone that competed.  Ultimately, a tournament is all about the competitors.  Thank you for making the trip and spending your time competing at our event.  I hope you had a great time and will be back next year.  Thanks!

Thanks to C. S. who doesn't want to be mentioned, but I'm doing it anyway.

Thanks everyone, see you next year!

-Ryan Johnson

www.JohnsonsATA.com
Johnson's ATA on Facebook and Twitter

One Big Reason to Compete

With our annual Sioux City Regional Tournament coming up soon, I thought I'd share with you one (of many!) big reasons to consider competition for kids.

I read a long time ago that adults are more afraid of public speaking than death.  Now, that sounds crazy, but I think many people would agree that they are terrified of public speaking.  This fear limits us in so many areas of our life.  I have been guilty myself.  This was my biggest roadblock in trying to become an effective instructor.

Fear of public speaking takes certain jobs (like sales) completely off the table.  It limits your ability to progress through management levels in a company.  And it can seriously limit your opportunities.  How amazing would it be if we could teach a 7 year old to overcome this fear before it is even fully developed.  Developing the ability to perform in front of an audience could completely change the trajectory of their life.  We'll never know for sure, but why not arm them with as much ammunition to succeed at life as possible!

Tournament competition is part of the process of doing this.  It will help kids learn to overcome the fear of public speaking and performance.  It will teach them the importance of preparation.  It will teach them that hard work reaps real tangible results.

What an amazing thing to give to a child!

www.SiouxCityTournament.com

www.JohnsonsATA.com

Have you given up on New Year's Resolutions?

This is going to be a short but powerful post.  The topic is inspired by all the failed New Year's Resolutions, but really this is a year round post.  

I have trained martial arts for over 25 years.  I love it.  I have set and accomplished more martial arts goals than I can remember.  After all this time, it comes as naturally as breathing.  But a few years ago, I decided to get serious about weight training and I was fortunate to re-learn this valuable skill.

When I started weight training seriously, I went through the same process as anyone else.  The first few weeks were amazing.  Huge results, fast progress, totally motivating.  Eventually though, that wore off.  My progress slowed.  Little aches started to appear.  Not long after starting, I began to question the amount of time I was spending on it.  I work a lot of hours, so my free time is precious.  And I was using a lot of it lifting weights.  This is the stage where most people go off the rails.  I have before too.  

That's when I realized that I had a decision to make.  I didn't have enough time to be able to lift weights and have enough free time to watch tv or play around on the computer.  If I wanted to be able to do it long term, it needed to stop being something that took away FROM my free time.  I needed to make it what I do IN my free time.

These days, everyone is busy.  No one has enough time to do everything they want and/or should do.  If you truly want to accomplish your goals, make it what you want to do in your free time.  Your martial arts training is the same.  Once you begin to see your training as a drag that detracts from the fun things, you have started down the slippery slope of excuses and rationalization.  Think back to your first classes, or your first time sparring or training with weapons.  Those were things that you looked forward to doing IN your free time.  If you are serious about your goals, you can choose to have that back again.

-Ryan Johnson

www.JohnsonsATA.com

JohnsonsATA1 on Twitter

Johnson's ATA and Gracie Sioux City on Facebook