Starting a Martial Arts School

Things may not be the same all over the country, but in my hometown, new martial arts schools are popping up almost as quickly as corner convenience stores. Unfortunately, most only last a few months and then disappear. It makes me wonder, what exactly are they doing wrong and what does it take to run a successful martial arts school?

Getting started.

Most people starting a karate school are usually doing so because they have a strong passion for the martial arts and want to have a career where they can be doing what they love. The main difference between the schools that fail and the ones that succeed is that most successful school owners look at their school as a business above all else. If you are serious about opening your own school, you need to do your research and realize that there are going to be many aspects of the business world which you may not enjoy, but that you can't neglect.

(Keep in mind that the following are just a list of tips that have been helpful to current school owners and that your results may vary.)

Location, location, location!

It may sound cliché, but yours schools location is one of the key elements to success. I recommend purchasing a local map. On the map, mark the location of schools, apartment buildings and martial arts training facilities. By plotting these locations, you will be able to get a clear picture of your surroundings and of locations that would be most suitable for a new karate school. Since kids will make up a large portion of your student base, you will want to be in an area that is easily accessible to them. A prime location would be an area that has a high concentration of schools, apartment complexes and residential housing. Once you have located these key areas, you will want check to see if there are any other martial arts schools nearby. You should try to avoid areas that have established schools already in place; I would recommend being at least 6 miles away from another martial arts school. After you have located an area that you think will fit your needs, you will want to drive around that area and try to locate buildings that are for sale or rent.

What type of buildings do I look for?

When picking a location, you want to make sure it is in a clean and safe area. Since a large portion of your students will be kids, you want to make sure that you're in an area that parents will feel safe leaving their children. You will also want to make sure that the building you select has enough space and adequate parking. Another big factor is street viability. Ideally you would like your school to be located in an area that is visible from the street. The busier the street, the better. Most beginning karate schools start out in a facility that is 700-1500 square feet and average rent usually varies from $700-$2500 per month, depending on location. Before you sign a lease, keep in mind that everything is negotiable. Most landlords will lower their rent when pressured and many will give you 1-2 months of free rent for remodeling time and often cash up-front for remodeling costs.

Timing can be key.

Although student enrollment varies from area to area, most schools report that they receive that largest amount of new student enrollment between February and June. By starting your school in January or February you should be able to capitalize on this trend. Once established, you should also allow for extra advertising dollars during these months.

How do I advertise?

Most of the larger schools swear by the Yellow Pages. Unfortunately, an effective add in this publication needs to be at least 1/8th page or larger and it's not uncommon for an established school to run a 1/2 to full-page ad. Unless you have several hundred dollars or more a month to spend on this form of advertising, I would recommend just taking their complementary ad which comes with your phone service and spending your money on the more aggressive forms of advertising. Your Yellow Page representative will tell you otherwise, but then again, it's their job is to get your money. The bottom line is that most people will pass up your small ad and call the full-page ad for Master Kim's Mega Karate Super Center. Don't be frustrated, there are other ways to advertise and even Master Kim had to start somewhere.

Low Cost Advertising Options:

Demonstrations - Team demonstrations are a great way to get exposure for you school. The best part is that they can be done for little or no money. If you're having trouble locating an audience, you should contact local schools or the Parks and Recreation office for your city. There are usually groups holding events every month and most would be happy to have you sponsor a martial arts demonstration. Just make sure you are well rehearsed and can provide an impressive and entertaining show.

School Papers - Getting mentioned in school papers and newsletters is an effective way to target younger students. You can often get in such publications by contacting local schools and offering a discount coupon or by providing a student reporter with an interview.

Flyers - This is another great, low cost advertising method. It is best to incorporate a discount coupon or free lesson certificate onto your flyer. Once you make your flyer, you can simply run off copies as needed at any copy shop. You will then want to distribute these certificates to local businesses that cater to your potential customers. For example you can go to toy stores and after-school programs for kids and fitness clubs and nutrition stores for adults.

Word of mouth - Another tried and true method of advertising is word of mouth. A way to encourage this is by offering your current students with incentives for bringing in friends. You can provide the student with a discount for every person they bring in and additional incentives for each sign up. You will be surprised how effectively this works. You can even make a contest out of it and offer monthly and annual prizes for the students who bring in the most people.

Quality and Convenience.

You should tailor individual classes for kids, men and women. When making class schedules, make sure that you accommodate each groups needs. For your younger students you should try to make classes that are available shortly after school. You may also want to add additional classes during extended vacations, such as summer break and Christmas. For your older students you should offer both morning and evening classes. Keep in mind that this hectic world of ours demands that people work different shifts. Also try to avoid running classes during meal times. It is important that your classes are fun and energy packed, but equally as important, they need to be convenient.

Getting paid. How do I insure payment?

This is a tough topic. Most of the larger schools swear by contracts, but with the swarms of new schools opening and closing, many students are very reluctant to sign a contract or pre-pay for many months of instruction. I personally believe that if you provide quality instruction at a fair price, there is no need for a contract. It is also pretty universal that most students who stop attending class, will also stop paying, contract or not.

Whether or not you decide to use contracts, getting paid is a real concern. Many school owners have found that the job of collecting payment can be almost as difficult as running the school itself. Because of this, most schools no longer accept pay as you go plans. Instead, they make their students pre-pay for several months at a time, or require that the student keep a credit card on file that can be charged on a monthly basis. Another option is EFT- Electronic Funds Transfer; this automatically transfers funds from your student's checking accounts to your own. By taking the time and effort required to set up such methods, you will help insure timely payment and bypass the headache of chasing down delinquent students.

Be prepared for the long haul.

One of the biggest reasons for a karate school to go out of business is the simple fact that the owner has run out of money and can no longer pay their bills. It doesn't matter how great of an instructor you may be, or how great your facility is, don't assume that it's going to be easy. Most schools take a minimum of six months to a year before they start to make a profit. You need to make sure that you are prepared for this and that you have enough capital to carry yourself through this time. It is also very important to keep a close eye on your bottom line. I have often seen business owners blindly spend money and simply hope there is enough at the end of each month. By keeping a close eye on your bills and receivables, you can often avoid financial trouble before it arises.

Like most things, a successful school takes time to grow, but with proper planning, hard work and a little luck, you can build it into a prosperous business that you can be proud of.


Article written by Jason Wright and provided by American Martial Art Supply.

Kids in Mixed Martial Arts

Parents have been searching for ways to control and discipline their children for centuries. They’ve tried everything from corporal punishment to time outs to V-Chips in television sets. Little did they know that the answer was residing in Randy Couture’s fists the entire time. That’s right, the seemingly barbaric sport seen on SpikeTV once a month could be one of the most effective solutions for parents looking for a way to give their children focus and confidence.

Generic “Karate” classes have been a cornerstone of youth athletics for quite some time, but with the recent upturn in MMA coverage and popularity, full service multi-discipline gyms are opening up for only the toughest kids. Just kidding. These gyms are open to children of all ages and experience levels. Additionally, MMA is one of the easiest sports to learn and maintain.

However, it probably isn’t a good idea to send your child to one of these gyms if you expect him to be the next Gracie or Hughes. Martial Arts Academies that specialize in working with children tend to focus just as much on discipline, time management, respect, and other life skills as they do on traditional self defense. More importantly, MMA for kids offers an alternative to coming home from school and doing nothing, or even worse, becoming involved with drugs, gangs, and alcohol. Granted, there are schools which are more competitive that do specialize in future professional fighters, but most focus on a more holistic education.

The “distraction” of an after-school program like a MMA class will instill all of the qualities you wish for you child to exhibit while being cool enough as a sport to stand up to peer assessment. There’s a marked difference in leaving school to work on your ground and pound as opposed to developing your chess game. Involving your child in MMA is a win-win situation for the child and adult. The child is allowed to save face with friends, learn a new skill, and feel better about himself while the adult knows the child is in good hands with a productive and positive after-school program.

Some detractors of the sport have pointed out the effects of teaching children violence. While professional wrestling has been blamed with deaths of many, MMA is a different sport and one in which violence is not glorified. However, if your child is enrolled in a school of any quality, it will be set out during the first session that the moves are not be used on the parent’s bed against a sibling. The moves are real, they are dangerous, and they are only meant to be used if there is no other alternative.

Mixed martial arts has been proven to motivate children towards better grades in school, increased attention span, and more success in other sports they play, let alone the obvious benefits of regular exercise and self-defense capabilities. So don’t just sit there! Use our Martial Art School Finder and enroll your child in a martial art school today!

Krav Maga - The Only Fighting Sport You Need?

Krav Maga shares its techniques with many other martial arts, including karate, boxing, savate, muay thai, jujitsu, judo, kobudo and wrestling. However, the training is very different. It is a brutal game. There are no set rules, no specific uniforms or attires and no competitions. There is also no distinction between the training for men and the training for women. The only training rules that are emphasized, by the Krav Maga instructors, are that there are no rules, and there should be injury inflicted to oneself or one’s partner when in training. The game borders on savage, and centers on crippling attacks to vulnerable body parts.

It is designed for use in real-life, dangerous conditions, for example, from disadvantaged positions, or against armed opponents, when you are dizzy or when you are up against many different opponents and the techniques focus on the maximum efficiency, to cause the most damage in these worst case scenarios. The name generally translates as “close contact” and this is often misinterpreted to be “full contact” like martial arts such as karate. However, unlike karate and other martial arts, there are no predetermined sequences of events, no set moves and no choreographed styles. Krav Maga centers around effectiveness for either attack or defense situations, and the sport emphasizes rapid learning and the motion of continuous combat.

The way, in which Krav Maga works, is for the game player to attack and defend in potentially very lethal situations. The aim of this sport is to neutralize the threat (the attacker) and escape the situation by any means possible, normally by causing the maximum amount of pain and damage possible to all opponents, as quickly and as safely as possible. It very often involves incredibly crippling attacks to the most vulnerable body parts. This generally involves performing dangerous strikes and blows to the eyes and the groin area, head butting and other efficient and potentially brutal attacks.

It encourages the improvised use of any objects that may become available in the fight. Things that are lying around in the vicinity of the attacker and defender can be used to deal vicious blows and cause some serious damage! The key components are these vicious blows and they must be dealt whilst attempting to maximize personal safety within the fight.

When indulging in this brutal game, there are five main “forces” as it were to consider. These forces are thought of as guidelines for the fighters and although they are hugely generalized, they are highly encouraged by instructors.
The first force is Presence. This is where you use your presence to gain authority over a subject. The idea is to intimidate and demand respect. Secondly, after gaining attention and authority, you use Verbalization. Use your voice to command your subject. Then comes the Empty Hand Control. This is where you search your subject, and disarm him or her if necessary. Remove all objects that could be used as weapons against you and immobilize them. Lastly, comes Deadly Force. Krav Maga is generally known for heading straight for this last force, and it is where the player will use any force necessary to cause permanent injury to a subject, or even to go as far as to cause death to your opponent.

Krav Maga is not thought of as a sport, and after knowing all of this; it is easy to understand why. It cannot even be generalized as a form of self-defense, as deliberately causing any injury or death to an attacker is illegal. Admittedly, the art of Krav Maga, if it can be called an art at all, is designed to neutralize a threat in potentially lethal situations, but the way of escaping is by inflicting great pain.

It would be highly advisable to steer clear of using these methods if affronted by an attacker, and to try other, milder forms of self-defense and sports such as karate or judo. You should take up sports that encourage some form of self-control and do not allow for a game player to inflict as much pain and suffering as is humanly possible!

GLOBAL GLIMA : PART II

Thanks to a spreading familiarity with Glima; via the web and the international mixed fighting conferences, young fighters around the world are picking up Glima today. There is a growing interest to learn more about this honorable martial art. Much more can be learned about the practice of Glima today online at sites such as the Martial Arts School Finder, an excellent resource to learn about Glima as well as the other martial arts mentioned. For more about the history of Glima, you may wish to read the information at http://ejmas.com/jwma/articles/2000/jwmaart_kautz_0100.htm

“Lausataksglíma” is the more aggressive version of the sport. It differs in many ways from other styles of glima and comes in two main forms: A version for self-defense and a version for rough competition. In either all kinds of wrestling techniques are allowed but in the friendly version they executed in fashion so they won’t cause the opponent injury. In a friendly match, the winner is the one who is still standing when the other is laid out on the ground. In cases where both the opponents fall to the ground together, the match continues more like traditional wrestling, on the ground. The opponents then employ techniques intended to keep the other down while getting up one.

In any version, the uniform is the same. Each of the wrestlers wears a standardized belt around the waist and separate, additional belts on the lower thighs of each leg. These connect to the main belt with vertical straps. A fixed grip is then taken with one hand in the belt and the other in the trousers at thigh height. From this position the glima-wrestler attempts to trip and throw his opponent to the mat. A thrown wrestler may attempt to land on his feet and hands. If he is able to catch himself, he has not lost the fall - similar to the way in boxing, if a knocked down fighter is able to rise within ten seconds, the fight continues. The winning condition in this type of glima is to make the opponent touch the ground with an area of the body between the elbow and the knee. Traditionally, the judges favor technique over strength when selecting the winner of a match. It is a strategic style of fighting - with elements of planning as in chess. Please see our related articles about strategies in Martial Arts at Martial Base.

GET TO KNOW GLIMA : Part I

Glima is a proud sport - an international form of wrestling with a long and exciting history. It is the national fighting style of Iceland, and dates back as far as the 12th century. Glima is still practiced today, and becoming better known internationally all the time. The word “glima” translates as a “struggle.” A common expression in modern Icelandic, to “glima” with something means to struggle with something in life, similar to the word “grapple” in English. Its name illustrates the nature of the sport, which is based on a philosophy of respectable confrontation with traditions and regulations that differentiated from boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai and other forms of more aggressive fighting. Though Icelandic, this style of fighting bears a similarity in its ethos to more traditional Asian martial arts like Karate and Judo. Glima is also an ancient combative style. There is evidence of glima dating as far back as the 12th century. Some tales of wrestling in Icelandic sagas, for instance the Younger Edda, argues for a case that this style is even older. More recently it has been made famous by International Strong man, Jon Pall – who is a native of Iceland.

This “system” of combat is categorized into eight main bragd (techniques), which form the basic training for approximately 50 ways to defeat an opponent with a “throw” or “takedown.” A unique stance for combat is one of the things that make Glima unique and easily identifiable, for those who are familiar with its rules. Two opponents must remain standing upright throughout the match. Forcing your opponent to fall to ground is considered poor sportsmanship and is frowned upon. Footwork is crucial. As in most styles of boxing, the sportsmen must remain in constant motion, usually moving in a clockwise manner. Because of this, Glima is often described as having “dance – like” qualities: due to the rhythmic movements of the wrestlers. Glima opponents step clockwise around each other (similar to a waltz). This creates opportunities for strategic offense and defense, and also helps prevent a stalemate. Interestingly, Glima wrestlers are trying to note look over the shoulder of their opponent, rather into his face. This tradition and comes from the Icelandic belief that wrestling is a sport based on contact, and therefore, the primary sense one should use is touch - as opposed to vision.

While Glima remains primarily a recreation; a fun pastime for exercise, and a gentleman's sport there is also the “lösatags” version, which is a more aggressive and abides by additional rules. The recreational exercise version is by far the most widespread and the one typically associated with the term “glima.” Some argue that to the term should be restricted to recreational fighting only, and it is this non-violent but athletic version, which is Iceland’s popular national sport. Learn more about this fighting style by using the Martial Arts School Finder at www.martial base.com/schoolFinder2.cfm

Graceful but effective: the art of Judo

Many people consider Judo an ancient martial art form but are surprised to learn that it was actually founded in the late 19^th century in Japan by Kano Jigoro. Jigoro initially studied in the Tenjin Shin’yo-ryu school of Martial Arts which was established in the beginning of the 19^th century in Japan by Iso Mataemon Minamoto no Masatari. Both of these systems are derived from the more ancient school of Jujutsu in Japan.

Jujutsu itself dates to the period in Japan of the late 16^th century. The art is distinguished by not training in the use of weapons, and fighters also Judokas do not wear any body armor. These traditions of Judo are very popular currently around the world with many practitioners at the local and international level in all countries. The sport is practiced competitively through regional Judo or Jujutsu associations, international regulatory associations, and the Olympics.

• Balance is regarded as very important for Judo practitioners to learn. This balance is required for evasive action, counter attack, and keeping one’s feet in the match.

• Quick Movements are used by Judo Practitioners to enter areas of leverage beyond the defenses of an opponent, and to throw an opponent to the mat.

• Leverage is necessary to use the force of the body in motion to reroute the opponent to the mat and apply a pin.

• Pins represent the immobilization of the opponent through locks, chokeholds, and other moves similar to wrestling of Sumo.

• A pin of ten seconds scores a point, while a pin of 25 seconds will win a match.

• Throws are based in quick movement past an opponent’s defenses, or counter-attacks. Throws use points of leverage which are intuitively learned through repetitive practice.

• Submissions occur when an opponent has been pinned or a chokehold has been applied.

• Scoring is based on points awarded for throws and submissions or points deducted for penalties.

Judo and Jujutsu both value graceful moves and “gentleness” in the practice of this Martial Art. Thus there is a strong influence from the Taoist Martial Arts tradition in China such as Tai Chi. The practitioner of Judo must move gracefully through various stances to be effective. Both Judo and Jujutsu use grappling techniques to apply choke holds, locks, and pins to an opponent. When an opponent has been pinned through one of these maneuvers, the match is over. Points will be awarded based on whether the opponent was thrown, forced to the ground and pinned, or completely immobilized and subdued. Practitioners of the sport will compete in tournaments and advance by defeating opponents in this manner to challenge for championships or award medals. Judo training has also widely become popular for self defense and spiritual awareness across the world. There are teachers of Judo and Judo schools on nearly every continent and country, and competition in the Olympics, Good Will Games, and other international events is extremely competitive.

There are considered to be two stages to a Judo match: when the opponents are standing, attacking, and searching for the means to administer a throw, and the mat stage, when the opponents are wrestling on the mat. Students of Judo practice these techniques repeatedly at a Martial Arts school and then enter into competition. As such, all Judo schools focus on “grappling techniques” and throws more than striking and blows, and incorporate many aspects of wrestling in a Martial Arts format. The Judo uniform or “Judogi” has become standardized for international competition and training over the last 50 years.

Belt Levels in Judo:

• White Belt

• Blue Belt

• Yellow Belt

• Orange Belt

• Green Belt

• Purple Belt

• Brown Belt

• Black Belt

Judo is based on training through sparring, and it is necessary to enter a school with a good teacher. The beginning student will be awarded a white belt, and as he or she trains, learns the various techniques, and masters them, progresses through the degrees of discipleship to other belt colors and levels. The top respect is awarded with a black belt, and there may be up to ten levels of mastery within the black belt ranking system.

Judo is popular worldwide, and children as young as 4 or 5 years may enter into training, continuing until old age. Judo is the basis of many other martial arts, and modern practitioners combine many styles into one practice or way. To find a Judo or Jujutsu school, visit the Martial Art School Finder which has a great list of all categories and locations.

Is Aikido the Art of Peace?

Aikido is another Martial Art like Judo or Jujutsu that is primarily based on grappling techniques, locks, throws, and pins. This form of Martial Arts was first founded in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba, a true visionary with an advanced philosophy of world peace and enlightenment. Thus, Aikido is often known as “the Art of Peace” in translation because it so highly values the cultivation of awareness and spiritual attainment. Ueshiba was said to have been inspired by traditional Japanese Shinto religion, with its awareness of the harmony of the elements and their balancing being perfected taken as key. Like Tai Chi, a great Aikido practitioner may never need to strike a blow, as he or she cannot be hit by the attacker. The attackers own energies are deflected and rerouted into an easy submission or immobilization. There is also an emphasis at de-arming attackers with weapons from an empty handed perspective.

AIKIDO & TAI CHI:

Though Ta’i Chi has Taoist roots in the ancient past dating back 8 to 10 thousand years, it is the ancestor and precedent for most Martial Arts systems. Aikido is similar in many ways to Taoist based Tai Chi, but takes also many influences from Judo, Karate, and the Samurai and Ninja traditions of Japan. Tai Chi does not include wrestling or striking, but its philosophy of movement and presence is found in Aikido.

• Aikido has a central focus on Ki or Chi energy that is directly taken from Ta’I Chi and Taoist philosophy.

• Non-resistance is practiced in a manner directly related to Ta’i Chi masters in China, who offered no attacking moves.

• Aikido and Ta’i Chi masters used evasive techniques that were so effective, attackers could not strike them.

• Aikido and Ta’i Chi both share a practice based on the attainment of mental clarity within motion.

• Aikido training may also include the use of weapons, and the defense against weapons by an unarmed opponent.

• Aikido students will train in defending against multiple opponents simultaneously.

• Locks are used in Aikido for grappling in a manner similar to Judo.

• Holds are used to submit, immobilize or pin an opponent in an Aikido match.

• Training is conducted for means of self defense and protection rather than aggression.

• Following the training leads to good health, body-mind balance, harmony of the elements, stable meditation, and realization of the Way.

• Realization of the Way is the means to World Peace and ultimately, Enlightenment.

Aikido relies on training to perfect its practice like other schools of Martial Arts. Much as in Judo or Jujutsu, the practitioner of Aikido will repeat again and again responses to basic situations, so that deflecting blows and rerouting them into pins, throws, or submission of the opponent by other grips is a second nature reflex action, involving no need for planning or thinking. Moving with the spirit of the moment keeps one on the edge in the battle. Ueshiba was famous for stating that a practitioner of Aikido must “stare death in the face.” There is no place for fear and likewise no place for animosity for the practitioners of this art. Aikido practitioners will even train with multiple attackers to perfect their skills in all positions and situations. Devotees consider it a “way of life” and through it may also engage in meditation and devotional offerings at a temple.

AIKIDO PRACTICE:

• Redirection of an opponent’s energy.

• Throwing the opponent.

• Applying joint locks and submission holds.

• Mental and physical training.

• Discipline and Awareness.

• World Peace through realization of the Way.

Aikido, like other forms of Martial Arts, has an international governing board as well as regional councils and national associations to regulate competitions at various levels. Aikido has become popular in international competition along with other Martial Arts at the Olympics, Pan American, Pan Asian Games, and other annual events. Judges in the sport are trained and promoted by their respective leagues. Aikido has a relatively short history in the West, being first introduced to France and other countries by direct disciples of Morihei Ueshiba. Like other Martial Arts in the modern age, students draw upon interests and influences from a variety of schools to improve their movement and skills. If Aikido is still considered the “Art of Peace” among Martial Arts practitioners, it is a testament to the enduring legacy of Morihei Ueshiba whose teaching has continued across the years to be revered by followers of Aikido. To find a Aikido training school in your area, please the Martial Art School Finder which has a detailed list of all schools and locations online.

What is Sambo?

Sambo was invented by the Soviets during the time just after the Revolution in Russia, and was seen as an example of the Socialist dream to reinvent traditional arts on a scientific model. Sambo is similar in many ways to Judo and Jujutsu, but is also said to incorporate traditional Russian wrestling techniques as well. The man generally credited with teaching and introducing Sambo in Russia was Vasili Oschepkov, who was also one of the first Russians to learn Judo. Oschepkov taught these techniques to Russian Special Forces and Commandos during the period between the two World Wars.

The name “Sambo” derives from an acronym in Russian which means “combat without weapons.” These techniques were used by soldiers initially and gradually formed a sport sanctioned by the Soviet Union as beneficial to the people’s movement and a shining example of Socialist advances. The Soviets promoted the sport Sambo through Eastern Block sporting events in the manner that Judo was being practiced competitively internationally. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the sport retained its popularity and tournaments in Russia, and began to have more of an international influence, as its teachers were then able to freely travel and teach Sambo abroad.

FACTS:

• Sambo is one of only four forms of wrestling practiced in international competitions, the others being Freestyle Wrestling, Greco Roman Wrestling, and Judo.

• Sambo is a combination of many traditional Russian wrestling styles collected from across the former Soviet Union and Asia.

• Some of the best international Freestyle fighters and kickboxers study and practice Sambo.

• Sambo was used by elite Soviet troops and KGB agents in the Cold War for hand to hand combat techniques.

• Russia’s President Vladamir Putin is a master of the art of Sambo.

Sambo is categorized in Russia and internationality by the environment in which the martial arts practices are used. In this way, there is “Self Defense” Sambo, which is learned by individuals for personal protection in the social environment. “Combat” Sambo is practiced by Special Forces and elite troops during training for hand-to-hand battle techniques in warfare. The “Sport” Sambo is the variety found in competition in Russia and internationally. It has its own rules, uniforms, and officials that make it similar to wrestling or Judo as practiced competitively. “Freestyle” Sambo is without the rules of the sport variety for competitions that are created as a new category by the American organization of Sambo players. There is also a “Special” Sambo in Russia that is learned and taught by KGB agents, police, and army soldiers in the Special Forces. All of these varieties of Sambo are derived from the teachings of Vasili Oschepkov and are often fused with training in Judo, Jujutsu, or other martial arts. Sambo was recognized as an Olympic sport during the Moscow Olympics in 1980.

SPORT SAMBO:

• Distance is measured though five categories in Sambo to prepare mans of approach and attack simultaneous with defense.

• Catches seize the opponent bodily in a manner that is firm, based in motion, balance, and leverage.

• Throws are conducted to drop the opponent to the mat in a manner for application of a pin.

• Joint Locks are applied to an opponent for immobilization and submission.

• Pins are achieved when an opponent has been immobilized and signal the end of the match.

COMBAT SAMBO:

• Combat Sambo is based on close quarters combat in industrial settings.

• Combat Sambo include means to immobilize attackers with knives, guns, and other weapons.

• Combat Sambo uses holds and joint locks, as well as throws, for defense and submission of an enemy.

• Combat Sambo includes training in defending against attacks from multiple attackers, as in Aikido.

Sambo’s rise in international popularity is generally linked with the other Martial Arts, and found in fusion styles in Kickboxing, Freestyle Fighting, and Wrestling. Professionals such as soldiers, security, and law enforcement train in Sambo for alternative methods of throwing, locking, pinning, and submission of violent adversaries. Russian trainers have passed the style on to numerous masters in other countries, and training centers can be found internationally in countries such as America, Japan, Brazil, and others. To find a Sambo training school in your area, please visit the Martial Art School Finder has a detailed list of all schools and locations.

What is the difference between Muay Thai kickboxing and traditional kickboxing?

Muay Thai is known by several names. The basic translation simply means, “Thai Boxing,” but it is often referred to as “King of the Ring” kickboxing or “the Art of 8 Limbs” by practitioners and fans. Muay Thai is different from modern kickboxing in that its rules allow the use of both hands and feet, as well as both elbows and shins, to apply force against the opponent. In American kickboxing, the use of the elbows, knees, and shins is generally not allowed in the sport. Japanese Kickboxing is directly related to Muay Thai, but combines some elements of Karate and Judo in the sport. Traditional Muay Thai fighting in Thailand was used for military training, Royal Guards, as well as for self defense. This lineage of Muay Thai was passed down through Buddhist monks in Thailand. As nearly every man in Thailand would become a novice monk for a period varying from a few months to a few years, there was a general distribution of the techniques involved in Muay Thai fighting across society. Muay Thai also involves ritual, dance, and music that are based in Thai culture, and are not found in the Japanese and American forms of Kickboxing.

FACTS:

“Pradal Serey” is the name for Muay Thai in Cambodia. The name is translated “Free Fighting”.
“Tomoi” is the name for Muay Thai in Malaysia. The name is translated from a term for “elbows & knees”.
“Muay Lao” is the name for Muay Thai in Laos. It is the national fight style of Laos.
“Lethwei” is the name for Muay Thai in Myanmar (Burma). This sport allows headbutting.

Both the Japanese and American forms of Kickboxing are derived from the tradition of boxing and karate promotions and exhibitions. These are ring fighting events with an audience and admission system. Japanese Kickboxing was promoted in the late 50’s and 60’s as an alternative form of Karate fighting that had more contact and excitement for fans. Japanese kick boxers began to fuse multiple martial arts styles into their fighting and boxing techniques as the sport became more popular. American Kickboxing is related more to boxing originally, but was also fueled by promoters looking for new and unique fighting styles for public matches. As Kickboxing grew in popularity worldwide over the last 20 and 30 years, the American and Japanese Kickboxing matches have attracted some of the largest audiences and prize awards. However, Muay Thai remains the national sport in Thailand, and its popularity is unrivaled by any other sport or form of fighting and martial arts in the country.

Countries with Muay Thai Kickboxing Associations:

Thailand
Burma
Laos
Cambodia
Malaysia
Indonesia
Japan
USA
Canada
Spain
UK
Sweden
Denmark
Czech Republic
Portugal
France
Others

With the advance in promotions of Kickboxing and Muay Thai fighting across Asia and the world, various regulatory and licensing agencies have been established to govern the weight class systems and awarding of Titles. Many countries, such as Japan, America, and Thailand with large Kickboxing fan bases and promotions, will participate in International Title Matches in various weight classes such as Mini Flyweight or Super Heavyweight. The range of these classes may include upwards of 20 various divisions based on a Kick boxer’s body weight. Nearly 50 different countries have their own national Kickboxing association, but the Muay Thai is governed by a World Council based in Thailand itself. Muay Thai Kickboxing has also spread in popularity internationally following its depiction of its tournaments and matches in several popular movies and TV shows.

SCORING:

Points are awarded for the way a fighter upholds the traditional Muay Thai style, as well as for aggressiveness, and poise
Points are awarded for excellence in attacking and counter-attacking.
A maximum of 10 points is awarded to the winner of each round.
A Muay Thai Kickboxing match will last 5 rounds.
Each Round in a Muay Thai match is 3 minutes.
There is a 2 minute break between rounds.

Many kick boxers will train in Muay Thai along with other martial arts such as Karate, Judo, Capoeira, or Taekwando to mix styles in their matches. To find a Muay Thai kickboxing school or a traditional kickboxing school, please click here to use the Martial Art School Finder which has a list of all locations.

Women In MMA

This morning, Fatal Femmes Fighting made an appearance on NBC’s Today Show. Last month, well known EliteXC fighter Gina Carano was among the top search terms on MMAJunkie.com. The Oxygen television network airs a show called Fight Girls. Anyway you break it down; it’s clear that women are breaking into the mixed martial arts business left and right. From their ever increasing popularity and appeal, it looks as if they’re here to stay

Although professional female fighters haven’t yet broken into the ranks of Liddell and Hughes, they’re certainly on their way. Gina Carano was the first female in a major organization (EliteXC), but these wily women have been beating each other up for quite some time. Yuka Tsuji, possibly the most famous female in the biz, has been fighting since 2001, boasting an impressive 18-1 record. She also received some mainstream exposure in the television series Jackass, in which she knocked cast member Ryan Dunn unconscious. However, these women aren’t just around for entertaining the drunken Vegas crowd and they certainly know what their doing. Learning some of the toughest MMA styles around and earning black belts in their various disciplines, these women deserve to be taken seriously.

While these professional fighters are impressive in their own right, you don’t have to be committed to 8 fights a year a grueling training regiment to learn one of the world’s fastest growing sports. In fact, most female practitioners of MMA learn the sport casually or in a class with friends. Jessie Shoap, a student of Krav Maga in the Philadelphia area, spoke with Martial Base on some of the advantages to learning a mixed martial art.

“Most of our exercises were done with someone coming up behind us or attempting to choke us" said Shoap. These exercises not only provide the women with exercise and knowledge of a new sport, they serve as a viable self-defense method. She continued, “They would mostly put us with guys, and guys that were much bigger than us. We learned how to escape from a choke up against a wall.” It may not look like much in a classroom, but the techniques employed by Jessie are some of the same ones we see being utilized in the octagon on a regular basis.

While females in MMA may never reach the status of the Liddell’s and Jackson’s, they can certainly hold their own and provide a fascinating alternative to the types of fights we’ve been seeing repeat for years. For every professional female fighter, there are hundreds who practice MMA to stay in shape and feel confident when alone. For that majority, MMA is not just a sport, but a way of life.