While working on my most recent book, which discusses the creation of various styles of martial arts, I realized that there were certain recurring tendencies in the way many of them grew and developed. Upon further research, I was surprised to find that there was no formal discussion online of the stages—or life cycle—that popular […]
The Life Cycle of a Martial Art: The six stages from creation to decline Read More »
Welcome back to our alphabetical journey through martial arts in cinema! In this second part, we’ll explore representations of martial arts styles from M to Z. As before, I am not claiming these are the definitive representations, but rather some personal favorites that I hope you’ll enjoy too. Bear in mind that I struggled
The A-Z of Martial Arts Styles in Movies – Part Two (M-Z) Read More »
A few days ago, I was reading an article in Blackbelt magazine that discussed different styles of martial arts in cinema and suggested movies that represented them well. While the article was intriguing, it didn’t offer much variation in the styles discussed, so I decided to put together my own list, running alphabetically from A-Z.
The A-Z of Martial Arts Styles in Movies – Part One (A-M) Read More »
As many of you may know, I’m an avid MMA enthusiast. Over the years, I’ve trained in various disciplines that find themselves at home in MMA, including Muay Thai, BJJ, Taekwondo, and other traditional martial arts. Recently, I presented research on MMA in Vietnam at the Martial Arts Studies (MAS) conference (you can read about
Last week, a friend of mine who owns a local dojo, hosted Sensei Leo Tamaki, the founder and head of the Kishinkai School, for an intensive seminar of Aikido. Kishinkai is a modern school of Japanese Martial Arts that takes a pragmatic approach to combat, incorporating both weapons and open-handed techniques in a way that
Bridging the Gap: Insights from a seminar of practical Aikido with Sensei Leo Tamaki Read More »
As an avid follower of both traditional martial arts and combat sports, I have been greatly interested in the developing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) scene in Vietnam. In recent weeks, the online community has been united by controversy surrounding the alleged unfair judging of a recent contest (not for the first time). This has led
Fighting Fair: A case study of Judge Bias in Mixed Martial Arts Read More »
This post features a review of my latest book from the magazine ‘Wing Chun Illustrated – Issue 78’. This magazine is a great publication that focuses not just on all things Wing Chun, but covers a wide range of topics related to Chinese martial arts and reviews different books.
From June 4-6, 2024, martial arts scholars and enthusiasts from around the world gathered in Cardiff, Wales for the annual Martial Arts Studies Conference. Hosted by Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media & Culture (JOMEC), the event featured a diverse range of topics and disciplines, striking a masterful balance between ancient practices and current trends.
The Martial Arts Studies Conference 2024: A Fighting Scholar’s Paradise Read More »
This article is an extract from my latest book “Legendary Masters of the Martial Arts”. It features one of the best-known stories of Bruce Lee, then discusses the known facts about the legend and its functions, questioning why it is so widely known. The who book is available to purchase here: https://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Masters-Martial-Arts-Unraveling/dp/1594399646 Introduction Bruce Lee was
Bruce Lee: The Man, the Myth, the Legend – Separating Fact, Fiction and Function Read More »
What is the most effective style of martial arts? This article compares weapons, striking, wrestling & submission systems.
What is the Most Effective Style of Martial Arts? Read More »
