Category: Contributed

Animal Mode: Primal Self-Defense with Teeth, Nails, and Head by Michael Martin

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Before there were spears, clubs, or even sharpened stones, there was the body. The earliest martial art wasn’t passed down through scrolls or techniques — it was born in blood, instinct, and survival. Long before structured combat systems, early humans defended themselves with what nature gave them: teeth to bite, nails to claw, and a … Continue reading Animal Mode: Primal Self-Defense with Teeth, Nails, and Head by Michael Martin

Partnering Up Law Enforcement With Taekwondo by Brad Yakots

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

The law enforcement profession has always been a tough field to work in.  Police officers respond to unfolding situations where the opportunity for injury or even worse is real.  The initial academy training and the number of iterations needed to correctly handle the myriad of situations an officer will encounter while maintaining the fitness standard … Continue reading Partnering Up Law Enforcement With Taekwondo by Brad Yakots

Creative Anachronism in Japanese Martial Arts: Preserving the Past Through Practice by Michael Martin

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Creative anachronism is more than nostalgia; it’s the pointed revival of historical practices in the modern world, imbued with symbolic resonance, ritual, and performance. Like costumed historical reenactors staging battles for educational or cultural impact, practitioners of budō, or traditional Japanese martial arts, engage in reenactment through their uniforms, weapons, customs, and values. In the … Continue reading Creative Anachronism in Japanese Martial Arts: Preserving the Past Through Practice by Michael Martin

What MMA Can Learn from Traditional Martial Arts by Andy Salazar

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

The inception of modern Mixed Martial Arts in the early 90s threw a massive curveball at the fighting world. Not only did the beginnings of the UFC and Pride Fighting Championship introduce Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to the larger combat sports community, but it was also the first time that different martial arts were pitted against … Continue reading What MMA Can Learn from Traditional Martial Arts by Andy Salazar

Uncovering Diverse Career Pathways for Martial Arts Enthusiasts by Michael Martin

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Martial arts, with their deep roots in ancient combat training, have undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into diverse and multifaceted practices that extend beyond the battlefield into modern sports, recreational activities, and a variety of professional careers. From their origins in ancient cultures such as China, Japan, Korea, and Greece, where martial arts were developed … Continue reading Uncovering Diverse Career Pathways for Martial Arts Enthusiasts by Michael Martin

Scenario Training: The Hidden Secret Weapon by Antonio and Michael Aloia

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

As we train for longer periods of time in Aikido, different questions begin to arise through the rigor of regular and consistent practice. While we train at the dojo in a controlled environment by martial arts standards, a question may arise in those hours of perfecting the techniques: how would we, as nage, find ourselves … Continue reading Scenario Training: The Hidden Secret Weapon by Antonio and Michael Aloia

Inside Wei Son Do: The Cutting-Edge Martial Art Taking the World by Storm! by Jessie King

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John Morgart Jr. is a rising name in the martial arts world – a Tang Soo Do master turned innovator who created his own fighting style known as Wei Son Do. Hailing from western Pennsylvania, Morgart’s path in martial arts has been marked by early dedication, competitive success, and a drive to blend tradition with … Continue reading Inside Wei Son Do: The Cutting-Edge Martial Art Taking the World by Storm! by Jessie King

A Distinctive Dilemma: How Aikido Struggles to Find an Identity in the Modern World by Michael Aloia

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Even during its formation, Aikido has taken on many permutations and multiple interpretations. In brief, its origins are a mixture of physical movements, battlefield ideologies, cultural philosophies, and religious beliefs. More than 80 years after its coining, Aikido continues to take on many forms and interpretations. With the art now moving into a new era … Continue reading A Distinctive Dilemma: How Aikido Struggles to Find an Identity in the Modern World by Michael Aloia