By Sensei Serge Sognonvi and Carmen Sognonvi
Originally published at http://www.urbandojo.com/blog
Here’s a round-up of the best martial arts-related news stories and blog posts that we came across this week.
Tools of the Sensei
School teachers and karate Senseis are both educators, but that’s where the similarities end. In this post, martial arts blogger Matthew Apsokardu breaks down what the differences are: “The ‘Sensei’ is a unique figure in modern culture, as he/she is not a school teacher, nor a coach, nor a guidance counselor. The Sensei is somewhere different, with an intriguing mixture of tools and responsibilities.”
Push-Ups for Martial Arts
Push-ups are a staple of martial arts class warm-ups. You’ve likely seen many different variations of the basic push-up: with your arms out wide, with your hands forming a diamond, tapping your shoulders, and so on. In this post, martial arts blogger John Vesia introduces us to a new and particularly intense type: the Muay Thai push-up.
The Freedom of Discipline
Many parents bring their children to martial arts classes because they want their kids to “learn discipline.” In reality, what martial arts instructors do is not so much develop discipline, but teach students to discipline themselves. And in that lies freedom, believes aikido and judo instructor Patrick Parker: “The same way that a person that is super-diligent on their diet and exercise is free to go to a special meal occasionally and eat whatever they want without worry about consequences.”
The Jab in MMA
The jab is a staple of boxing, but how does it carry over to MMA? In this post, MMA strength and conditioning coach Rob DeCillis shares a video from top boxing trainer Wilson Pitts, in which he shows how a jab “will help you slow down an opponent that likes to shoot and help you keep your distance to prevent it.”
Bruce Lee’s One Inch Punch
Is the one inch punch just a neat party trick? Or is this actually a useful technique worth learning for martial artists? In this post, martial arts school owner and blogger Jon Law examines how to apply the short range power of this punch to other types of movements.