Once avoided for fear it would lead to unwanted weight gain, dietary fat is now embraced by health-conscious martial artists. Scientific research confirms the benefits of eating this macronutrient: It helps your body break down fat-soluble vitamins, increases satiety, provides and stores energy, and even improves heart health. Not all fats are good for you, however, and even the beneficial ones can have their drawbacks.

Q:  You talked about lifting conventional weights for enhanced martial arts performance. What about other forms of weightlifting? A:  There is another type of weight training that deserves discussion. It entails attaching extra weight to your body — specifically, your ankles, wrists, or torso — and then engaging in functional martial arts training. Before I begin, let me say this about “functional training.” All too often, people use the term to refer to a hodgepodge of movem

Q:  When it comes to lifting weights, they say slower is better for building muscle, but some people insist that you need fast moves to build the explosive striking power that’s required for martial arts. Which approach is right? A:  There’s no short answer to this question because what’s right for one person isn’t always right for another. However, there are some nearly universal truths for building power with iron that can translate to explosiveness in the dojo. Before I ge

I started taking formal martial art lessons in 1971 at age 11. By the time I tested for my first degree black belt in 1979, I was already starting to feel the effects of hip joint degeneration — I just didn't know it.

Let's face it: As martial artists, we embrace activities that ask a lot from our bodies. Chances are, you know someone who’s asked a little too much from his or her hips and, consequently, is suffering hip pain. Maybe you know someone who’s already undergone surgery to deal with the problem. It’s for martial artists like you that Black Belt  assigned me this article. It explores the hip health stories of some prominent practitioners and explores the options for preserving and

Athletes are always seeking results. They’re looking for a leading edge that might make the difference between a razor-thin victory and...

In the world of combat sports, the emphasis is often on hard training, endurance, and mental toughness..

What if the key to unlocking your full potential as a martial artist lies not in physical prowess?

In a world where fitness trends come and go, finding a workout that not only gets you in shape but also teaches you practical self-defense..

Recognizing and steering clear of these errors will accelerate your journey to becoming a fitter and more formidable fighter...

You need to take pains to do it right so you maintain the strength and stamina you worked so hard to build...

Stories about the way he combined raw eggs, raw meat, milk, bananas and other foods are the stuff of legend....

How martial arts improves mental health? Martial arts offer numerous benefits that can enhance mental well-being, including stress...

Can Martial Arts Help with ADHD? Studies indicate that engaging in complex physical activities, such as martial arts, can strengthen...

Can Martial Arts Help With Depression? Depression should be managed with the help of professional guidance. However, martial arts can...

Will martial arts build muscle? Martial arts can strengthen, lengthen, and define muscularity. In order to create mass or growth in...

Can Martial Arts Help You Lose Weight? Martial arts are an excellent way to lose weight, as they focus on a crucial aspect of fitness:...

Can Martial Arts Help with Anger Issues? Martial arts can help with anger issues only if the individual also addresses the root cause of...

Punches, kicks, pivots, throws and jumps. You and, if you teach, your students execute thousands of them over the course...

Depending on how you breathe, you can either maximize or depress your martial arts performance.

This potassium smoothie helps combat diabetes and heart disease. Get the recipe.

Practically every way of moving and transferring force is done from a split stance position pushing off one foot or leg from the floor....

However, as aging happens the ball starts to roll down the hill quicker. Like in martial arts, you cannot depend on one technique or...

Well, in order to obtain and maximize this speed and power, you must look past training muscles and into the nervous system. Complex...