Best products from r/martialarts

Can you get a bag on a stand or one of those punching dummies and put him in your room? Like this one?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ND13TCZ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07ND13TCZ&pd_rd_w=qTBye&pf_rd_p=80559f3c-f83b-49c1-8a72-40f936e9df7a&pd_rd_wg=ayUHW&pf_rd_r=RXH6YBF946XR0H8SFSPT&pd_rd_r=c431633d-5c84-11e9-8963-117ccf44e055

That's what I have and it goes with me everywhere. Just fill it up the base with water and you are good to go. Sand is better but if you are in an apartment/home its easier to just use water as you can just dump it out fast when you have to.

This one is even better as it has the torso for kicking but its more expensive

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NF3VDP4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_7?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07NF3VDP4&pd_rd_w=qTBye&pf_rd_p=80559f3c-f83b-49c1-8a72-40f936e9df7a&pd_rd_wg=ayUHW&pf_rd_r=RXH6YBF946XR0H8SFSPT&pd_rd_r=c431633d-5c84-11e9-8963-117ccf44e055

If not at least see if you can pick you a bag.

https://www.amazon.com/Everlast-Power-Freestanding-Heavy-Black/dp/B07BL36JD4/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=punching+dummy&qid=1555006075&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Feeling the impact will definitely help vs just shadowboxing in the air.

The training dummies are kind of expensive but they last forever. I've had mine for over 10 years now and I consider him/it to be one of the best investments I have made. The price hasn't dropped much since the days I bought mine. At least consider it.

There is a bonus too. You can use him as a coat rack for your jacket. I dress mine up like a street thug complete with leather jacket and black wig. Makes for a better "experience" when I'm kicking the shit out of it. Just don't leave him in front of a window as neighbors will think you got some weird dude staring at them all day in your apartment. (since from their perspective than can't see anything past the waist).

I should update this at some point but anyway:

Here's an Abridged version of my book recommendation list.


Firstly, for Greco, I'd have to suggest Martell's Greco-Roman Wrestling

However, Martell is more suited for those who have a folkstyle background. For those who don't (and even those who do) I would recommend Randy Couture's The Natural Way as it builds up from wrestling basics into freestyle and, following that, into Greco.

For an interesting look at the transitional period between Catch and American Folkstyle I would recommend Leonard's A Handbook of Wrestling that can be found free here especially for those with a self-defense interest as it includes techniques now illegal in American Folkstyle while still teaching the positionally dominant wrestling basics. Some techniques are more a product of the times though.

For boxing I have to recommend two books, though they are more or less one book. Haislet's Boxing is one of the most comprehensive guides to the various aspects of Queensbury boxing without having a specific bias toward any one style. The U.S. Navy's boxing uses the text from Haislet in it's technical segments, but is more structured around teaching a large class, complete with lesson plans and coaching tips.

For specific ground-fighting tactics and techniques, Jackson's The Ground Game is probably the best overview of that phase, complete with both striking and submissions and used by the best in the world.

For a self-defense focus, I would suggest two boxing-related texts. The first is The art of Infighting by turn of the century era boxer Frank Klaus. The second is Banned from Boxing which is an academic and technical work on the use of grappling in Bareknuckle-era boxing, complete with hair pulling and even standing chokes. Both of these present great options for dealing with physicality in limited space and applying "dirty boxing."

Finally, for a very specific recommendation, B.J. Penn's MMA Book of Knowledge as it has a comprehensive guide to fighting against the cage, which also applies to fighting against walls and other barriers one might encounter in life. There are relatively few texts that do this in-depth, so if one is interested this is the book to get.

Also, Wikitenauer has been mentioned already, but I specifically recommend Auerswald's Treatise on Wrestling. Blades really aren't my field, but The Fellowship of Lichtenauer is my go-to source for dagger and short-blade fighting at least.


I've posted this a couple of times, but I can say that there are a number of quality pieces by fighters. However, despite many of them containing basic techniques, they are far more valuable to someone already proficient trying to pick up new tricks or strategic information than to the novice.

Perhaps you've already gotten him a book by now, but here are my recommendations for him and anyone else who reads this thread. I'm a martial arts researcher and a former martial arts teacher. I even wrote my Master's Thesis on martial arts. I've read literally hundreds of books on the subject. There are a lot of terrible books out there on the martial arts but you can't go wrong with any of these.

If he studies Shotokan, the best place to start is with the guy who invented it.
Karate-Do: My Way of Life is written by the founding master of Shotokan, Gichin Funakoshi.
http://www.amazon.com/Karate-Do-Way-Life-Gichin-Funakoshi/dp/1568364989/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411959258&sr=1-10&keywords=shotokan


My number one recommendation is When Buddhists Attack by Jeffery Mann - This is an very well researched book on the history of the relationship between Zen and the Martial arts. It is a fantastic book that will help him deepen his understanding of martial arts instead of intentionally mystifying it more to try to sell more books like most martial arts books do.
http://www.amazon.com/When-Buddhists-Attack-Curious-Relationship/dp/4805312300/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411958781&sr=1-1&keywords=when+buddhists+attack



If he's more into stories, I'd recommend Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. It's a novelization of one of the most famous samurai to ever live. It's an exaggeration of his life but very entertaining.
http://www.amazon.com/Musashi-Epic-Novel-Samurai-Era/dp/156836427X


If he'd rather learn about the real person I'd recommend The Lone Samurai by William Scott Wilson. Wilson is a famous translator and historian, his work is very well researched and enjoyable to read.
http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Samurai-Life-Miyamoto-Musashi/dp/1590309871/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411958941&sr=1-1&keywords=the+lone+samurai


I'll end with a list of books NOT to buy. These are books are really popular but are full of misinformation, outright fabrications, or worse.


Joe Hyams - Zen in the Martial arts
Eugen Herrigel - Zen in the Art of Archery
Inazo - Nitobe - Bushido

Hope this helps! If not, you have gift ideas for next year!

This is an excellent guide to how to stretch, here. The only problem is that it doesn't really tell you what stretches to do, although in your case it sounds like you need to do more dynamic stretches. So for a big fat book of different types of stretches I would look at Relax into Stretch. I was able to find it at my local library. Another resource that I have not used, but came to me highly recommened is Stretching Scientifically. Using these programs you should be able to get into the splits in anywhere from 6 months to a year. Also, make sure you are doing strengthening exercises as well. Safe flexibility depends a large part on your strength.

Tl;DR read this and begin practicing boot to face TKD very soonly.

Really solid read and yeah I mostly agree.

I'm just interested in what's effective. I think personally if you want to incorporate TMA into your style you should train, mma, Boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ, judo etc first then just pick out the nuggets of TMA you want later. Or you could find a fighter/trainer that has already mixed them like Duke Rufous or Rafael Cordeiro.

Like I don't need to be a 3rd degree TKD black belt to have a solid side kick or spinning heel hook kick.

Theres also the issue that not all TMA are created equal, like you're probably gonna have an easier time incorporating Kyokushin into your actual fighting than say Wing Chun because it's just more realistic.

Also would reccomend this and really anything written by Erich Krauss. Specifically his books covering Eddie Bravo.

/u/Toptomcat nailed it. Wholeheartedly agree in reference to Bubishi, not very practical but interesting nonetheless. I loved Draeger's CAFA and Unante is comprehensive thesis on the historical origins and lineages of the Okinawan fighting arts. These titles might not be for everyone but I am a history buff in addition to a martial artist so I enjoyed them.

Couple of others:

• Book of the five Rings-Miyamoto Musashi
  
  
• Karate-do: my way of life- Funakoshi
  
  A few off-topic but related titles:
  
  
• Ways of the Peaceful Warrior
  
  
• Autumn lighting
  
  
• American Shaolin
  
  
• The Ronin
  
• Musashi-perhaps on of my favorite novels of all time
  

Gotcha.

I'm pretty weak on stretching as I've always been pretty flexible and haven't put a ton of time into it, but AFAIK, for range of motion issues the main point is making sure you stretch for long enough (like at least a minute or two for a stretch) and actually relax the muscles being stretched while doing it. I'd recommend waiting until after class to do super-serious stretching; it lengthens the muscle fibers which weakens them temporarily and may make you slightly more susceptible to injury. Deep stretches for short periods of time effectively just warm the muscles up (and don't increase max ROM), so are fine to do whenever but won't improve your total flexibility.

I've heard multiple recommendations for [Stretching Scientifically] (https://www.amazon.com/Stretching-Scientifically-Guide-Flexibility-Training/dp/0940149451) by Kurz, but I haven't used it or its programming myself.

Robotic motion: try to make sure your back is straight when you're moving. Unfortunately there are a lot of places it can not be. IME it's important to pay attention to the transitions between the c-spine and t-spine (base of the neck) and t-spine and l-spine (bottom of the ribs). Make sure that you're "stacked" in both of those locations and you're not at the end of your ROM either forward or backward. Try to get power in your movements by rotating your entire upper body using the hips, then back assists and arms add a little bit of snap but do very of the base power generation.

This is an excellent book to learn about TKD's history. For a more general reference book for the Korean arts I would also recommend Korean Martial Arts Handbook it has a lot of good information on TKD's history as well as the schools that TKD was created from (as well as other Korean arts like Hapkido, etc).

I love Aikido, I'd choose it for sure. A good book on Aikido for you to read is "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere"

But if Judo was available I'd definitely look into that as well

It's almost impossible to teach yourself any martial arts style unless you already have a high baseline of athleticism or already have some training in a combat sport or martial art. Without observation and feedback from an expert, you're at a very high risk of developing poor habits and potentially injuring yourself long-term. I'm sure you know that already, though. If you must practice by yourself, here are some tips:

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1. Film yourself from every angle and compare it with what you see in the videos. If you can find a mirror, use that, too.
   
2. Like other commenters have suggested, combat sports such as boxing and wrestling are "martial arts," too, and extremely useful for self-defense and general fitness. Try to find a club or instructor nearby for those.
   
3. Work on basic fitness, including strength, endurance, and flexibility. Lift weights, do some cardio (calisthenics, jogging, cycling, etc.) and stretch at least a little every day.
   
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   Here are some of my favorite resources. Note that I use these to supplement my training because I am a karate black belt with over a decade of experience; I really don't think beginners can teach themselves from videos or books. Proceed very slowly and with caution. If and when you do get formal instruction, be prepared to unlearn a lot of bad habits you may have accidentally acquired.
   
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   Here are my favorite martial arts YouTube channels:
   
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4. Fight Tips – MMA instruction by Shane Fazen https://www.youtube.com/user/FightTipsVideos
   
5. Kwonkicker – Taekwondo and Muay Thai instruction by Micah Brock https://www.youtube.com/user/kwonkicker
   
6. Ando Mierzwa – Kung Fu and general martial arts instruction by Andrew Mierzwa https://www.youtube.com/user/AndoMierzwa
   
7. Ginger Ninja Trickster – Taekwondo and kickboxing instruction by Aaron Gasser https://www.youtube.com/user/GingerNinjaTrickster
   
8. ATHLEAN-X – Strength training and general fitness by Jeff Cavaliere https://www.youtube.com/user/JDCav24
   
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   My favorite books:
   
   
9. Stretching Scientifically – If you want to develop high kicks and good overall flexibility, you need this. A guide to stretching by Thomas Kurz https://www.amazon.com/Stretching-Scientifically-Guide-Flexibility-Training/dp/0940149451
   
10. Championship Fighting – A handy guide to boxing by world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1501111485
    
11. Training and Fighting Skills – An introduction to kickboxing by undefeated champion kickboxer Benny Urquidez https://www.amazon.com/Training-Fighting-Skills-Benny-Urquidez/dp/0865680159/

Kenji is a great martial arts manga, being more realistic in its depiction of martial arts and actual real-world styles than most mangas. Additionally, each art has a number of its key techniques detailed, much like an instruction manual, complete with foot positioning and movements. Great stuff.

Also, it's non-fiction, but American Shaolin is an interesting first-hand account of a westerner's training at the Shaolin temple in China, though most of the interest comes from the author's cultural experiences rather than strict details of his training.

Someone mentioned a book by Neil Ohlencamp as being really good for improving one's Judo/Sambo game and being an all-around great read in regards to technique with principle.

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https://www.amazon.com/Judo-Unleashed-Essential-Techniques-Intermediate/dp/0071475346

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Also the Judo Master Series many have said are very Good Books for Judo/Sambo/Grappling.

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https://www.amazon.com/Pick-Ups-Masterclass-Techniques-Robert-Walle/dp/1874572100/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=judo+pick+ups&qid=1556987181&s=books&sr=1-1-spell

The Book of Martial Power talks about strategies and general MA principles. Some are very good and intrinsic to many MAs, but the more I read the more I felt the author was very influenced by the Internal Chinese MA shtick. So a lot was pretty good, but some was really weird and definitely does not apply to most or even many MAs. So I would say it's a 'must read' about intangibles, but some of it you might not even understand unless you've done CMA, however those bits are mostly rubbish so don't worry too much about it.

Jump rope, run, do body weight exercises (push-ups, pull-up, air squats, crunches, burpees, etc), stretch out, buy a set of rings and do pull ups and ring exercises.


I have the Bas Rutten workout, and you can do them with air punches/kicks if you don't have a bag. The kickboxing CD has 10 2-minute rounds with 1 minute rest in between or 10 3-minute rounds with 1-minute rest in between. If you can do the 2-minute round set with good technique, you have pretty decent cardio. IF you can do the 3-minute round set, you're bangkok ready.

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There's also the Precision Strike app that you can get for your phone, where it calls out combinations and does round timers. I used to use it more, but I find I like the pacing of Bas's workouts better.


Finally, you can always just pull up a workout video on youtube. Some might require you to work a heavy bag. Some won't.

Here.

As far as these things go, it's a pretty good book. He breaks down virtually all of the tangibles in his fighting system with decent written description together with exhaustive photos. What you won't get, and what I think you can't really get from a book, are the intangibles that allowed him to link it all together into a seamless whole. But take it for what it's worth. I feel like I definitely gained from it.

I don't claim affiliation to any particular kickboxing style as the kickboxing class I plan to take basically has elements of boxing, karate and muay thai kicks as well as elbows knees and clinching. In the video, you saw what i meant by adapting kickboxing moves for self defense.

The kicks, sweeps, knees and the kicking against the ground are good examples and elbows would also be used. A good book on the subject which i highly recommend to you: https://www.amazon.com/Combat-Kick-Boxing-Framework-Success/dp/1840241950/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467905639&sr=8-1&keywords=pat+o+keeffe

I would give this a read. Came across a copy in my university library a few years back. The phrasing and writing style is a bit esoteric for my tastes, but if you're looking to get into Aikido for the long haul, soaking in the philosophy and lifestyle as well as the techniques, then I think it's worth having a look at.

To what I understand, Aikido will serve you quite well as you age and become less able to perform in more striking-centric disciplines.

The Bas Rutten Training CD will get your stamina built up quickly. As a bonus, you get even more practice in!

Throw a polar chest strap on, get that HR up to 160 or so, and go at it for half an hour. In a couple of month's you'll be a machine.

I know a few people that found this book very useful for increasing flexibility. http://www.amazon.ca/Stretching-Scientifically-Guide-Flexibility-Training/dp/0940149451/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346780113&sr=8-1

Might want to go with Thai-style pads rather than focus mitts. I've seen them as cheap as $30 on MMAHQ.com (a deal-a-day website like Woot but for gear).

Generally, they're easier to hold but not quite as satisfying to hit. They don't give as much "pop" as mitts and the holder can't shift them quite as quickly. Since you guys are just looking for the basics, I'd consider picking up Bas' workout - it's made for heavy bag but with a partner you'd quickly pick up where to hold for each other and when to switch the pads up (for knees and kicks), and the DVD would at least get you some help with the form of the strikes. Plus it's Bas, he's goddamn hilarious.

Yoink.

https://smile.amazon.com/Musashi-Epic-Novel-Samurai-Era/dp/156836427X/

I trained in TKD (McDojo) and TCMA from the age of 14-27 then quit for 15 years. Except for a bit of running and a couple of drunken fights my only exercise during this period was 12 ounce curls, deep smokey inhales and the horizontal bop.

At 42 I rejoined the world of martial arts with a year of Aikido, followed by a year of Shotokan followed by a tasting menu of Northern, Southern and Marquis of Queensbury techniques. At 47 I am more flexible than I was at 16. Much.

Start at the beginning, stretch scientifically and be prepared for seemingly endless plateaus and brutal setbacks. I may have had a tiny advantage because my hips had once been fully open but you can do it!