The MartialBody Blog

Articles on the MartialBody Method, Martial Arts & body method development.

June 2017

02Jun

The Place for Cooperation

In my previous article, I explained how honest enquiry was a vital part of testing the validity of a skillset or training methodology. In this article, we will look at where co-operative training fits in to the developmental model and how to avoid the pitfalls.Solo training > Partner TrainingIt is common for some groups to spend almost all their time solo training. They will do forms, basic drills, body methods, movement loops, meditation etc. Indeed, this is a vitally important part of...

May 2017

23May

The importance of honest inquiry

With the recent emergence of challenges where traditional Martial Artists are bested, often in seconds by trained ‘sport’ fighters, I think it is worth looking at perhaps the most important guiding principle of my practice and the foundation of the MartialBody method, The principle of Honest inquiry.“how much can you know about yourself if you have never been in a fight!” – Tyler Durden – Fight club.How do you know if a method is useful for you? How do you dec...

19May

The Quality of Stability

Grab hold of any high-level Judo-Ka and try to drag them around the mat and you notice one clear attribute, stability. In the grappling arts especially the skill of stability is a core component of the training methods and one of the main attributes that is built.Stability can be thought of as our ability to maintain control of our posture, position, motion, and mass, either when we move ourselves or when we move in association with a partner or opponent.In this article, I will explore a few con...

April 2017

05Apr

An introduction to the Attribute Approach.

We have all seen lines of martial artists repeating a specific punch or kick over and over as they attempt to engrain the technique. This is perhaps the most common sight in the martial arts and, although it has heavily fallen out of favour in some circles, repetition does still have its place in the early stages of learning. But behind the repetitions, the techniques, even the free form sparring or competitions there is a layer of ability that is rarely consciously trained. An ability that usua...

March 2017

12Mar

The Attribution of Effort

Whole body power forms the bedrock of some Martial Arts, indeed it is a performance enhancer that we should all be interested in. However, our ability to move every part of our body in harmony is as fundamental to our Health as it is to our martial effectiveness. In this article, we will explore one aspect of this whole-body work, which I call the attribution of effort technique.When we move without competence or in a segmented way, we will often leave certain areas of the body uninvolved in the...

February 2017

23Feb

Where does 'The Research' fit in?

I have a challenge for you, name a top tier MMA coach that has a published a peer reviewed study, maybe a top tier Brazilian Jiu Jitsu professor, how about a top tier Muay Thai Coach or wrestling coach?Yes, I struggled too and this article will highlight why scientific process and the peer review system is only part of the picture when it comes to researching and designing training protocols. Of course, the aim of all coaching is to produce quantifiable and clear attribute gains. Referencing and...

15Feb

Intro to the Anatomy of Connection

An important focus for the martial artist or combat sports athlete is to create a body that minimizes power loss and maintains a certain type of consolidated strength. If you look at virtually any physical training methodology, you will see the initial sections of their training devoted to the fundamentals of alignment, basic strength and how to unify the body. In the MartialBody system we place a large emphasis on harmonizing the body and much of this attribute is due to 'Connection'.Co...

January 2017

24Jan

Unconscious Competence - 'Fluid Body State'

"If one reaches the deepest point, arms, legs and body remember what to do; But the mind does not enter into this at all"Zen master - Takuan SohoWhat is the highest level of skill in martial arts movement? It is not in the complexity of forms or the speed at which the adept can move, nor in the amount of medals won or the lineage of the style, it is the ability to move in accordance with the methods principles without having to consciously adhere to them. In essence it is the ability t...

05Jan

Linking the Mind and Body

Today we will talk about one of the most fundamental aspects of the 'FluidBody' method, utilizing our 'intent' to enhance and fuel our movement. Some Traditional Martial Arts place this concept at the very forefront of their training, Chinese Xing Yi Quan being a prominent example. This is because 'Intent' as a reference for body and mind connection is a very useful way to enhance our movement and create more power.Intent can have many different interpretations, but in th...

December 2016

27Dec

The utility of the spiral

In some martial arts the ‘spiral’ holds a place of special importance for the practitioners. Along with the circle, it is one of the most commonly targeted shapes in body development methods, but what is it about the spiral that makes it so useful?If you watch the motions of some grapplers you will notice the clear circularity and ‘twist’ in their throwing technique, the body coils as it exerts the forces required. But there is more to the meaning of the 'Spiral...

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