Part 1 of this article examines whether the Olympic Games have been good for judo and taekwondo. For input, we interrogated fire experts,...

Frank E. Sanchez has been around the block. As a youth in Guam, the U.S. territory in which he was born, he frequently had to call on his...

Tony Jaa is the undisputed king of heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, next-level fight scenes. With his insane Thai-style fighting skills and...

On my way to California’s Central Coast to interview a 57-year-old male martial artist who paints his toenails, I got bogged down in...

So this guy is standing 6 feet in front of me.  He’s got his right hand behind his back, and he’s saying he wants to f@%* me up. It’s...

Martial arts movies have always been more than just films—they’re a window into cultures, philosophies, and fighting styles. Whether it’s...

In the martial arts, few individuals honestly can be said to have changed history. Among the handful who have, perhaps none generates a...

Wally Jay and the Evolution of Small-Circle Jujitsu Ask anyone to compile a list of the martial arts movers and shakers of the 20th...

Using a serrated bread knife, can you cut a baguette, a loaf of French bread, in a single stroke? If you can't, you have work to do in...

With a deadline fast approaching, the need for 1,000 words on the business of writing about martial arts and a case of writer's block, I...

“The only fights you truly win are the ones you don't have.” – Lee Child Keeping that quote in mind, along with the fact that crime is a...

Lee’s life read like a novel that frequently found him appearing at the confluence of historical events — from escaping the Communist...

Origins Around 495, a nondescript Buddhist temple called Shaolin was constructed in Henan province in eastern China. Thirteen years...

When it comes to martial arts, the action is often the main attraction—fast fists, dramatic kicks, and bone-crushing throws. But...

For years, Cambodia occupied a spot on my bucket list of countries in which I wanted to learn martial arts. Once there, however, I was...

Definition Combatives is a set of tactics and techniques designed to preserve your life in a violent situation with no regard to...

Released in 1995, Mortal Kombat  was a game-changer for both video game adaptations and martial arts cinema. Directed by Paul W.S....

When the scenario is laid out, when you know what attacks will come and how you’re expected to respond, you can be forced to employ...

During a match, a young grappler thinks he’s safely passing his opponent’s guard to get to a better position. Then he feels an intense...

Much Emphasized, Yet Least Discussed One of the most emphasized yet least talked about karate techniques is kata—the dance-like series of...

In the world of martial arts, forms (kata) competitions have long been a showcase of precision, power, and artistry. Over the years,...

There was a saying in old Japan: Bushi wa kuwanedo taka-yoji.  Roughly translated, it means, “When he’s hungry, the samurai uses a...

A fight is a clash between fully animated, independent combatants who are free to do whatever they want as they simultaneously attempt to...

Mortal Kombat  is known for its brutal fighting and iconic characters, but what many fans don’t realize is that real martial artists...