by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Oct 24, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
Karate chops are a powerful form of strikes in martial arts and can be thrown in a few different ways, including inward and outward. Chopping creates less wind resistance and allows your body to move in a more fluent motion than standard punches; however, punching has...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Oct 21, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves, Video Clips
Have you ever wondered which discipline of martial arts features the strongest kicks? If so, you’re in luck as the good folks over at National Geographic’s Sports Science have gotten to the bottom of it. The four styles of martial arts tested include...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Oct 19, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
One of the most lethal strikes in martial arts is the front kick; although it’s rarely thrown in MMA in comparison to roundhouse kicks. The reason that a front kick is so effective is that it is hard to block, especially when timed just right. Due to the strike...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Aug 21, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves, Video Clips
This incredible takedown move performed by Trevor Logan looks next to impossible. But after a few closer looks we see how he manages to redirect his opponent by placing his hand on the ground. Warning: Do not try this without adequate training. Awesome Takedown by...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Mar 27, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Benefits, Martial Arts History, Martial Arts Moves
Arm locks are simple but effective Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques for blocking attacks and causing submissions and we look at two of the best below. Two Methods for Performing Arm Locks 1. Standing Arm Lock This is effective against a bottle or hammer fist attack....
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Mar 15, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Benefits, Martial Arts History, Martial Arts Moves
Leg locks are a controversial topic in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Practitioners are often told that leg locks are dangerous – causing you to turn your back, which is not recommended and should only be practiced by experienced martial artists. Indeed, leg locks were...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Mar 11, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Benefits, Martial Arts History, Martial Arts Moves
Gi chokes are effective on even the best martial artists, but newcomers to the world of Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu often perform their chokes using the wrong technique. Two Gi Choke Tips 1. Avoid a Shallow Grip If you have a shallow grip on your opponent’s gi lapels,...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Mar 7, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Benefits, Martial Arts History, Martial Arts Moves
An estimated 95% of street fights finish on the floor, which means your ground fighting skills need to be in honed. Obviously, taking your opponent down is only a good idea in a one-on-one situation. Here are a few basic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu positions: Four BJJ Positions...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Mar 5, 2015 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Benefits, Martial Arts History, Martial Arts Moves
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is associated with submissions, so we look at some of the most commonly performed submissions below. Four Effective Submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 1. Armbar This is a favored submission because it can be applied in a number of different combat...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Sep 25, 2014 | American Kenpo, Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
William Kwai Sun Chow created Kenpo, but it was popularized by one of his students, Ed Parker. Parker added his own techniques and innovations to the martial art form in Hawaii and then in mainland USA. Ultimately, the system became known as American Kenpo, though its...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Feb 24, 2013 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves, Taekwondo
Up until the early 1990s, Taekwondo was the world’s most popular martial art in terms of number of practitioners. It still retains an enduring popularity and has been an Olympic sport since 2000. It originated in Korea and although it teaches self-defense, meditation...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Nov 28, 2012 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
Martial arts focuses on mind, body, and spiritual connection. Each movement and each self-defense situation teaches the student to utilize different methods of mind control in order to gain the edge during a fighting scenario. One method is known as passive deception....
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Jun 20, 2012 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
A karate knee strike is a strike using the knee or surrounding area. The knee strike techniques are mainly used in a close range attack to the groin, thigh, and chest area. Many directions can be used in a knee strike; the striker can position his or her knee up,...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | May 20, 2012 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
The majority of martial arts that involve stand-up fighting have similar defensive positions, though within those fighting styles, there can be slight variations in regards to technique. The most popular guard styles include slipping, bobbing and weaving, parrying,...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Mar 28, 2012 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
In martial arts, knowing how to block an opponent’s strikes is equally as important as learning to punch, kick, counterstrike, and evade. There are many different blocking techniques used; however there are four arm blocks that are typically utilized for defending...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Feb 26, 2012 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
If you’ve been practicing martial arts for a while, you’ve certainly learned basic punches – the jab, the cross, the hook, and the uppercut. Depending on how advanced of a student you are, you most likely have learned an array of other strikes to go along with these...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Feb 26, 2012 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
AKA: Turning Kick or Power Angle Kick As one of the three fundamental karate kicks, the roundhouse kick, also referred to as a turning kick or power kick, involves swinging the leg around in a semicircular motion; unlike the two other types of kicks – front kick and...
by Sandoval Freestyle Karate | Feb 14, 2012 | Blog, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Moves
AKA: Twist Kick The side kick, also referred to by some as a twist kick, is one of the three main kicks that all novice martial arts practitioners learn first. The other two kicks are the front kick, sometimes called a push kick or straight kick, and the roundhouse...