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THIS MONTH'S FEATURE

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Increase speed, agility, timing, and finesse

Do you know how to increase speed, agility, timing, and finesse in one training session?

If you're practicing martial arts, these qualities should be of utmost importance to you.

If you're lighter on your feet you can reach and attack your opponent much faster, doing this training will give you cat-like abilities and take your reaction speed to a whole other level.

Having finesse means that there's no wasted movements and every move you make is the most efficient one.

In this training I'm referring to, your timing has to be "bang-on" or else, technically you're dead!

You miss, you're dead?

Are you sure you still want to do this training?

I think you should.

If you train with that, do or die mentality, you will have an edge.

Just like this story my father told me about the master and student taking a stroll through the palace gardens.

They both spot a fox chasing after a rabbit.

The student turns over to the master and says: "The fox will catch the rabbit for sure"

The wise master replies: "Not so. The fox is running for dinner while the rabbit is running for his life".

Are you a fox or a rabbit?

Train like the rabbit.

That training I was talking about is none other than Knife fighting.

You can learn more about the Basics to conquering the knife here, filled with drills on how to use the knife to acquire super speed, finesse and agility and valuable advice on how to survive a knife attack.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

How to make the most out of sitting

Pack your bags. Get your boarding pass. We're off to Toronto.

I'm here in TO with my dad (Sijo to some) on business. Traveling can take it's toll on your body. I'm finding myself doing exactly what I said I wouldn't do: Sit

Sometimes you just don't have a choice. Although I talked about this a few days ago about being a sit-aholic, I can't get around it. I have to sit but I can choose "how I sit".

There are 2 types of sitting: Active Sitting and Passive Sitting.

You can get a pretty good workout from a chair anywhere in the world.

What's cool about chair training is like breathing, nobody knows you're doing anything.

You should start with muscle contractions. Get started with your abdomen. Contract at maximum intensity and hold for a count (let's say 30 seconds) for a total of 10 reps. Then do suck-ins. Focus on pulling your stomach in to touch your spine (visualize this, If you can touch your spine, that's freaky).

Proceed to any muscle of your choice, since it's so easy, why not do the whole body. You always start with self-resistance then move to using pressure against the floor, arm rest, back of the seat, and the wall. It'll make your travel, computer work or daily commute more efficient and productive while keeping you feeling strong, fit and relaxed.

When applying pressure with your hands, feet or your body against something, focus on keeping a constant pressure, to "stick" and project through the object. This in turn builds your sticking energy used in many of our Energy Drills but also helps you build more speed.

Think of a race horse, waiting for that gun shot and those gates to open. The horse presses against the gate (pressure) and makes his start that much more explosive when they do open.

You can use the same approach to make your punch faster simply by using a wall. Start by punching out in the air as fast as you can. Then to increase speed put your fist (Knuckles) against the wall with your arm not fully outstretched, press against it for maximum and hold for 30 seconds. Now turn to the side and punch out, did you feel a difference?


You bet you did.

For strategies like this and many others check out our Speed Training Program, where you'll learn drills to increase your visual, auditory and sense of touch reflexes.

Pick it up here,

Aim higher,

Sifu Martin

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Friday, November 30, 2007

Feel Your Way To Weapon Training Success

We just completed our last seminar of the year, it was held at our Ottawa Kung Fu School.

Whenever students work with weapons a funny thing happens.

Something "clicks".

Maybe it was a certain footwork or technique they were struggling with and suddenly through weapons training it finally makes sense.

Why is that?

A few reasons.

When you're working with weapons you have to rely on feeling.

Things like keeping momentum, leverage, and following through.

By paying attention to the weapon you have no choice but to pay attention to other areas of your body.

Also you'll find that if something feels, not right, there's no choice but to improve how you move your feet or transfer your weight. It can also mean you're not twisting the body correctly or your mental focus is off.


When you're working with a weapon like the Nunchaku, you have to find balance between your left and right hand, you have to become ambidextrous.

Now imagine how much better you can complete combinations, locks, chokes, and move other weapons with greater ease.

Weapons training brings about a better sense of Body Awareness and sharpens your mind.


This can be transfered in other things you do like brushing your teeth with your left hand, as well as eating.

You can also play other sports on your weaker side like hockey or tennis or even playing pool.

Doing all of the above is good for your brain, it forces it to make new connections and makes it that more efficient.


What are you waiting for, master a weapon.

It will definitely cut down your learning curve and gives you something to practice when you don't have a training partner.

This group enjoyed it. So can you. Check out our weapon training products here.




Master yourself,

Sifu Martin










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Thursday, September 27, 2007

Arms of Stone


Nothing strengthens the arms and hands like a wooden dummy. Results show very quickly. Your palms, wrists, back of hands, fingers, inner & outer forearms are all being re-inforced simultaneously.

Some of the other benefits are increased speed, flow, crispness, kicking techniques, close quarter power (improve you power punch), footwork, distance, power, and balance. I've been using the Mook Jong (Wooden Dummy) for about 22 years now.

I used to stand on a chair to practice. Looking back on my training, I have to attribute some of my foundational growth to this device. We teach classical sets as well as "free-style" ones. The first key principle: "it is a Means to an End". Meaning it's only a tool. Once you've learned the classical sets, acquired super arm conditioning, Jing (life, or snap), flow and speed, you move on to creative flow.

Another way to challenge your development is to blindfold yourself. "Seeing" and "Feeling" through sense of touch. There's always a way to challenge yourself and take it to another level.

We don't just like the classical dummy but also modern ones.

Some of our collection (over 50 different models) range from: spring loaded (which adds a more human feel), breakable arms and legs, moveable (on wheels), with timer, steel, adjustable (height), padded, etc...

Not only will wooden dummy training make you physically tougher but mentally as well.

Aim Higher,
Sifu M

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