Photos by Rick Hustead Post-9/11, “combatives” has become the buzzword of the martial arts industry. However, many students don’t have a clear understanding of what it means. A good working definition is a set of combat skills particular to a group of people. It’s important to note that the components of any set of skills vary according to the goals and technology available to the group. For example, the combatives used by the ninja of ancient Japan differ from the combatives used by modern-day Army Rangers. Some of the disciplines that exist under the title of combatives are used by a variety of groups. An obvious example is unarmed fighting, which would have been as important for an ancient ninja as it is for a 21st-century police officer. However, other disciplines favored by one group may be inappropriate or unnecessary for other groups. An example is the skills required to aim and fire antiaircraft weapons and artillery; they’re important for members of the military but not for civilians or even police SWAT teams. Obviously, if you’re a civilian designing a set of combatives for personal use, you must look at all the disciplines that are available, then weed out the ones that don’t pertain to your needs. Since your primary goal is to survive a deadly encounter, you won’t require extensive training in arrest and handcuffing techniques. You should also avoid including martial sports such as judo and defensive pistol competition; even though they can teach skills that are useful in combat, they condition you to function under a set of rules that can hinder your actions on the street. So what exactly should you include in your curriculum? Listed below are seven disciplines you need to cover. To be a well-rounded citizen warrior, you must acquire knowledge and training in all of them. People who specialize in one or two areas will always be able to rise to a higher level of proficiency than a person who practices them all, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into having more options in a dynamic and uncontrollable situation. Just as a military unit may choose to stress certain combat skills over others because of its goals, you may choose to focus on certain disciplines more than others. For instance, you may not be willing to train with or carry a firearm. That’s fine—as long as you recognize that you’re creating a gap in your armor and make an effort to fill it with alternative methods. So if you decide to forego guns, you can substitute less-than-lethal options such as pepper spray. With that in mind, presented below is a minimum set of skills for a comprehensive introduction to civilian combatives: Physical Conditioning Being in shape is essential for anyone who’s preparing for combat. As advised by fitness professionals, your training should consist of the following: • Cardiovascular Conditioning When faced with a fight, it’s important to be able to maintain your endurance. Running is one of the most effective and least expensive ways to improve your cardio capability, and it offers the fringe benefit of ingraining a potentially life saving skill: running for your life. • Musculoskeletal Conditioning Four components demand consideration here: strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and power. Strength training forces your muscles to move increasingly heavy weights. Muscle endurance enables your muscles to perform repetitive movements in an efficient manner. Flexibility is important for maintaining the strength of tendons and ligaments. Power is derived from a combination of strength and speed. • Nutrition Management Food fuels your body while it exerts itself in training. Eat better foods, and your efficiency will improve. Also crucial is consuming the recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals to help repair tissues that become damaged during high-intensity workouts. • Lifestyle Management Sleep and rest allow your body to recover from training. Abstinence—or, at the very least, moderation—with respect to alcohol, tobacco and drug use is essential. Mental Conditioning  This category includes situational awareness, observation and memory skills, mental toughness (survival mindset) and focus. For all that in a nutshell, consider enrolling in a seminar dedicated to street survival. Or read some books written by people who have been there and done that. Firearms Gun training for civilians should concentrate on safe and proper use of the handgun. It’s the most versatile weapon for the citizen warrior because it can be easily concealed and is effective at close quarters. Rifles and shotguns have applications in home-defense settings and rural areas, but they’re very limited in most other places. Less-than-Lethal To supplement firearms training—or to replace it if you don’t feel comfortable with guns—you should consider OC or pepper spray. In addition to stopping an unarmed assault, it can help you keep a knife- or bludgeon-wielding attacker at bay. For most people, that’s infinitely preferable to closing the gap and attempting a disarm because the dynamic nature of real combat will probably doom you to failure. Unarmed Combat Obviously, martial arts training is an indispensable subset of civilian combatives. Your workouts ideally will provide you with skills in all four ranges: kicking, punching, trapping and grappling. The key to efficiency and proficiency lies in learning a few proven techniques for each range and practicing them both through visualization and physical training. Emergency Driving Maneuvering a motor vehicle while under stress is an often-overlooked skill, but it can become pivotal to your survival should you need to escape from a kidnapper or carjacker. Finding quality instruction is challenging, but many good driving schools are out there, and some will accept civilians. No matter the source, you should learn the fundamentals of evasive driving, including the J-turn and threshold braking. The most difficult part of maintaining your emergency-driving skills is locating a place to practice. Because you won’t be able to do the drills on the street, periodic refresher courses may be in order if your finances allow. Emergency Medicine As you learn combatives, you shouldn’t overlook the acquisition of medical knowledge. You won’t have to delve into the discipline as deeply as a paramedic or medical doctor has to, but you’ll definitely benefit from basic training in first aid—whether it’s to treat yourself, an innocent bystander or an incapacitated attacker. You can seek training through the American Red Cross, which runs programs in most communities across the country. For a more detailed treatment, you may want to pursue certification as a first responder or emergency medical technician. Multiple Sources Unlike learning a traditional martial art, mastering combatives requires you to seek multiple sources of instruction. One-stop shopping just doesn’t work in this field. The wise student obtains training from recognized experts in the disciplines described above. Always remember that no one skill will save your skin in all situations. Every time you learn something new, you give yourself options you wouldn’t have had, and any one of them could be the key to your survival one day. About the author: Bill Bishop has been a special agent in the U.S. Secret Service for 14 years. He served in the presidential protective division from 1996 to 2000, then oversaw antiterrorism and counterterrorism security for the 2002 Winter Olympics. He’s trained extensively in close-quarters-battle tactics, hapkido, judo and jujutsu.

Martial arts, a blend of skill, discipline, and philosophy, offer far more than just self-defense techniques. Across centuries, they've evolved, intertwining with cultures and histories globally. Here, we delve into 10 intriguing trivia that shine a light on the lesser-known facets of various martial arts. The Ancient Roots of Martial Arts: While many associate martial arts primarily with East Asia, their origins span globally. For instance, Pankration, a no-holds-barred blend of boxing and wrestling, was a revered Olympic event in ancient Greece as early as 648 BC. Kung Fu's Monastic Connection: Shaolin Kung Fu, one of the oldest, most famous styles of martial arts, originated in the Shaolin Temple in China. Monks practiced it not just for self-defense but to improve their health and attain spiritual enlightenment. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's Japanese Ancestry : Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), now a global phenomenon, was adapted from Japanese Judo. Mitsuyo Maeda, a Judo master, introduced the art to the Gracie family in Brazil in the early 20th century, leading to the development of BJJ. Karate's "Empty Hand": The word "Karate" means "empty hand" in Japanese, reflecting its status as a martial art that emphasizes defense without weapons. This philosophy underlines the art's focus on self-discipline and physical and spiritual development. The International Spread of Taekwondo: Originating in Korea, Taekwondo is known for its high kicks and agility. It became an Olympic sport in 2000, a testament to its global appeal and the universal values of respect and perseverance it promotes. The Silk Route's Martial Exchange: The Silk Road was not just a trade route for goods but also for ideas, including martial arts techniques. This exchange helped spread martial arts across Asia, enriching styles and creating new forms. Capoeira's Disguise as Dance: Capoeira, a martial art from Brazil, was developed by African slaves and disguised as a dance to avoid punishment. Its fluid, acrobatic moves are performed to music, a legacy of its origins as a hidden form of resistance. The Philosophical Foundations of Aikido: Aikido, a Japanese martial art, focuses on harmony and the redirection of force. Its founder, Morihei Ueshiba, emphasized that Aikido's goal is not to defeat the opponent but to achieve a peaceful resolution. The Hollywood Boost: Martial arts films, particularly those starring Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li, have played a significant role in popularizing various martial arts worldwide, inspiring countless individuals to take up training. The Diversity of Martial Arts: There are over 200 distinct types of martial arts, each with its own techniques, philosophies, and cultural backgrounds. This diversity reflects the unique histories and values of different communities around the world. These fascinating facts underscore the depth and diversity of martial arts history, while also shining a light on their power to cultivate discipline, respect, and a profound connection between the mind and body.

Malia Dacascos Bernal was a world champion in forms and fighting in the 60s and the first woman to compete in the men’s division. Her 1974 cover marked the first female competitor ever to grace the cover of Black Belt Magazine . The GrandMaster, Champion and Martial Arts legend has many accolades including being proud mom to movie and TV star Mark Dacascos. Her magnificent 1974 cover boldy states, "My mommy can beat your daddy" and descirbed her wife, mother, kung fu superstar. Over the years, Senior Grandmaster Malia Dacascos Bernal earned a 9th-degree black belt in Wun Hop Kuen Do, and she was the very first woman to own a martial arts school in Hamburg, Germany. As a martial arts instructor and coach, she has tutored many of the top world champions in forms and fighting and her legacy can still be seen today.

In fact, his understanding of martial arts far exceeds that of many present day black belts! I know, I know...it's a random thought. Before you fact-check this Black Belt article against wikipedia to see if the white-haired genius really did karate, let me stop you though. He didn't. That doesn't mean he didn't know the "secret" that many martial artists tend to forget however. Wanna know the secret? Here's what Einstein knew, "It can scarcely be denied that the supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as few as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of a single datum of experience." In other words, everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler. Mind you, don't accidentally carve out important knowledge while trimming with Occam's theoretical razor. The goal of any professional, be they a scientist guided by their brain or an artist moving by their heart, is to refine what they can present to a point of absolute simplicity. We all know that basics are the foundation for martial arts, right? Unfortunately, martial arts often get diluted due to a misunderstanding of the purpose and application of core skills and concepts. The essential elements either get overly simplified and glossed over or they get covered up and complicated with unnecessary baggage. Let's delve into what often gets missed about the most important parts of our martial art and how to truly upgrade them in a meaningful way! Defining The Essentials If you study a Japanese martial art, you call them "kihon". If you study a Chinese martial art and speak Mandarin instead, you may call them "jibengong". No matter the style you train and what you call them, the basics of your martial art are considered the foundation for everything advanced and effective. If you are demonstrating a creative or XMA form, strong basics will only provide cleaner lines of movement and allow for an improved expression of energy. If you are a fighter, skilful basics will always be your best friend when sparring or fighting in the ring. If you study koryū or another traditional martial art, the most fundamental elements of your system will be the pieces that likely carry on the founders' ideas and messages best. These basics may at first seem to be simple blocks, strikes, or kicks. Upon closer examination, these become powerful lessons on transitioning postures, controlling weight distribution, projecting intention, gaining muscular coordination, improving breath control, and much more. Dope, right?! Effective Expression  You can only consciously improve that which you are aware of. That's kind of how "consciousness" works. If you want to improve how you fight, you must understand how you execute the elements of fighting. How do you move? How do you kick and strike? How do you receive and defend? Understand, and then you can truly improve. How a fighter stands often aides and alludes to their preferred tactics. If you are confused about your specialties, the unfortunate truth is that your movements might be inhibiting themselves. Stand so that you have access to your best tools and tactics. Set yourself up for success whenever possible. Just as a writer should strive to remove the unnecessary word count, just as a sculpture removes the excess undue to the authentic image, our goal should be movements and speech that can express without excess or confusion. We start off with a grossly unrefined motor movement or general idea of a concept. Then, as an artist, we carve away the unessential to uncover the beauty layered deeply underneath. What Is The Key To Improving?  Ehem, can you say "Ichi! Ni! San!"? An endless number of repetitions is the commonly touted answer for improvement. Well, that answer isn't wrong...but it isn't fully right either. Practice makes for permanence. Thing is, you want to ensure your newly engraved habit is one that can actually be applied to a multitude of stressful and changing situations. If you want to perform near perfectly, you have to practice in a way that mimics that ideal in as many ways possible. This, ironically, means letting go of perfection at times and pressure testing our basics in new ways. Spar with a focus on effectively inserting a specific movement in as many moments as possible. Introduce unique mental or physical variables during solo training, such as changing the intention or the environment. The goal is to refine your basics so that they become like supernatural skills. Your basics are the easiest to learn and hardest to master. That in and of itself represents much of the typical martial art journey quite well. The Way isn't complex, stick to it and you will know what your next step needs to be. It is simply a matter of staying disciplined, receptive, and willing to keep walking. Your basics are your system encapsulated. Learn it and refine it. As you progress, make it as simple as possible, yet no simpler. Follow the wisdom of Einstein-sensei.

And while that part is known, it might be worthwhile to suggest a connection to MMA. Not meant here is that obvious connection that most agree (and strongly assert) exists. Namely, that MMA's history is inexorably linked to Bruce Lee and of course Inosanto his most famous baton-carrying (Kali/Arnis/Eskrima stick?) student. Every fan of MMA shouts at the screen and at any poor soul joining them in the umpteenth viewing of any of the Dragon's films with grappling; "See, I told you! MMA!" Guilty as charged here. But there are other nuggets to mine for here. The reader is no doubt aware or should be that Dan Inosanto still has teachers . Students would be expected, but teachers? And not just teachers, but teachers in disciplines he has not been known for in his history. It must be admitted that Jeet Kune Do as usually thought of is a no way is the way lifestyle and as such actually offers the way out of needing to invest oneself in particular disciplines in an exhaustive sense. This is actually probably a genuine benefit of JKD, namely, that it really does open doors to adaptation and the description Inosanto gives of his teacher Lee: open-mindedness. The hybrid nature of JKD's philosophy almost begs to have its practitioners not be anchored down to whole schools of thought. But like other good things that can be misemployed, the no way approach might give opportunity to the less-initiated to cut corners as it were. In other words, only mastering parts of specific disciplines might keep someone from the hard work of the more challenging parts of the particular art. An analogy might be an athlete only ever wanting to bat in baseball or shoot free-throws in basketball – who needs all that running and defense stuff, right? Inosanto is not merely claiming white belt status in his known or comfortable fields either, he really digs deep into other fields. He doesn't play the hobbyist – He doesn't master JKD and toy with BJJ. He has spoken often of Lee's love of cross-training, but also about his proficiency in forms. Meaning, Lee did not merely dabble. Likewise, Lee's student himself is not merely looking at leglocks or armbars in Jiu Jistsu and subsequently adding them as single cogs to a machine, but spending time on all of the fundamentals. He is training with some of the best to do it. Just go look up the name Machado and BJJ – maybe second only to Gracie. And lest we forget, this student we speak of is in his seventies. Here is the plot twist and thesis. In addition to a call for the respecting of Insanto, there might be an indictment against (at worst) and a lesson for (at best) MMA fighters who think it a bad idea to dig down in areas outside of their comfort zone. Avoiding names here, there is a growing list of pro fighters whose primary skills are systematically decoded while others that are potentially underdeveloped in their arsenals are found lacking. The very best can be confronted in areas they spend copious amounts of time on. Go back and look at GOAT candidate (full disclosure – winner to this writer while the Usman train tallies miles) Georges St-Pierre apply his armbar (might also apply to the kimura) to Dan Hardy and not get the finish. No criticism from this armchair at all and of course it speaks volumes to Dan Hardy's determination, but in his own words GSP felt he needed work on technique. GSP said that. This is what appears to be reflected in Sifu Inosanto. There is of course the other end of the pendulum's oscillation error where fighters ignore their bread and butter for new skills, but we are here speaking of the fundamental attitude of a legend in the MA of MMA. Willingness to grow and not merely try. Without question it is admirable, but even further, it is a mindset that can be applied not only to MMA, but to all of life for that matter.

PFL  MMA fighter Khai Wu, from Tracy, CA, fights in the bantamweight (135 lbs) division and trains at the Onmi Movement MMA and Dave Camerillo’s Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu. You may recognize Wu as Mark Zuckerberg's trainer and as one of a few MMA fighters who have given a TED talk. His talk was titled “Play With The Cards You’re Dealt."  As a Taiwanese  American fighter it's his personal mission to help grow the sport of MMA in Asia. In this clip Khai "The Shadow" Wu talks about tackling each opportunity with the tools you have. Watch the exclusive full interview HERE! To connect with Khai, visit: Instagram: @shadowkhai X/Twitter: @khaiwu Facebook: @khaitheshadowwu TikTok -  https://www.tiktok.com/@_khaiwu

Brazilian sensation, who's undefeated under the BRAVE CF banner, has also said he has more heart than his opponent. After an unforgettable 2023, Luiz Cado is planning to kickstart the new year on a strong note and for that, he needs to overcome the challenge posed by Ismail Naurdiev at BRAVE CF 81 on 20 April.  Cado and Naurdiev are scheduled to lock horns in a high-stakes Super Welterweight bout which will serve as the co-main event of the BRAVE Combat Federation’s return to Slovenia. The fight between Cado and Naurdiev has title shot implications as well since it could possibly push the winner towards the current Super Welterweight champion Kamal Magomedov. Ahead of the fight, Cado seems to have figured out his opponent’s game and did not mince words while revealing his plans for the fight.  “[Ismail Naurdiev] has really good takedown defense and has good takedowns as well. But I don’t think he’s that versatile when it comes to jiu-jitsu, when it comes to the ground game. He doesn’t have that many submissions up his sleeve. He has a more conservative style in this aspect. I think this fight will be a stand-up battle basically. For sure, I won’t be the one trying to stall the fight. And because of his fighting style, I don’t think he’ll be stalling either. He’s very technical, with a very good stand-up game,” he said.  The Brazilian is currently riding a three-fight winning streak and is yet to suffer a defeat under the BRAVE CF banner. He had a strong 2023 as well which saw him secure two submission wins. Cado submitted Willker Lemos at BRAVE CF 73 in August and then followed this up with a submission win over Vernon Ramos in the main event of BRAVE CF  78 in December.  The performances earned him nominations for two fan-voted end-of-year awards: Submission of The Year and Fighter of The Year. While the last two wins came through his prowess in grappling, Cado feels that his fight against Naurdiev could be a stand-up battle and he is confident that he will force Naurdiev to quit.  “The biggest differential between us will be the heart. Both of us have a very high striking level. But he doesn’t have the same level of heart that I have. When push comes to shove, brother, my heart beats stronger. And I feel capable of getting out from any problem, any adversity inside the cage. He’s a guy, that when he starts getting beat up, He doesn’t have the heart, doesn’t have the defense. He doesn’t have that basic instinct, that savage instinct that I have. So this is definitely the biggest difference for us inside the cage. When we’re inside, and he starts having trouble, with the strikes I’ll be connecting, we’s going to quit on me and won’t want to fight anymore,” the Brazilian concluded.

In late February, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) achieved several milestones as it introduced its mixed martial arts (MMA) events to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the first time. PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions - which was held in Riyadh - was the PFL’s inaugural event under their Pay-Per-View Super Fights Division, it was the first PFL event to introduce stars from Bellator MMA, which the league acquired in late-2023, and more importantly, it was the first global MMA event to be held in Saudi Arabia.  The timing of it all couldn’t be any more perfect, as Saudi has steadily been turning into the global event capital for combat sports, with some of the biggest boxing events being staged in the largest country in the Middle East.  Furthermore, the PFL’s successful entry into The Kingdom sets the tone for the future of the league - and the sport of MMA in general - in the region.  This April, the PFL will be launching PFL MENA, the league’s second international offshoot. PFL MENA, which will be made up of four events, will take place across major markets in the Middle East, and will shine the spotlight on up-and-coming talent from the region.  “PFL MENA expands the PFL brand and MMA footprint in the Middle East bringing events to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider region,” explained PFL CEO Peter Murray.  “Through PFL MENA, we hope to be able to not only find and develop the next Middle Eastern MMA star, but we also want to be able to put the spotlight on MMA in the region and give it the attention and the exposure that it deserves,” added newly-installed PFL MENA General Manager Jerome Mazet.  Over the past few seasons, a number of talents from The Middle East have already made their mark inside the PFL’s SmartCage. Names like Jarrah Al-Silawi and Saudi’s own Abdullah Al-Qahtani have proven that fighters from the region have what it takes to compete on a global stage, and all they need is the opportunity. PFL MENA will serve as that golden opportunity.  Apart from that, the PFL also signed Hattan Al-Saif, the first female from Saudi Arabia to sign an MMA contract with a major global promotion, signaling that the league is all-in on developing up-and-coming talent from the region.  With the undeniable popularity of combat sports,  especially MMA, in the Middle East, PFL MENA is looking like it’s destined to be a success. The success of PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions in Riyadh, however, was an important milestone in the PFL’s continuous push for the growth of the sport of MMA in the region.

Visualize, the fight begins. You go into your defensive stance. You spend about 30 seconds moving around looking for an entry point or angle to punch, kick, or lock up and take down your opponent. You find the point and throw an explosive punch. Your opponent blocks it. You go back into your defensive stance and wait to find another opportunity. Or, let's say in jiu-jitsu, you spend 2 minutes in the mount or guard position waiting to find the opportunity to execute the right technique with speed and explosiveness. Punch faster, kick quicker, throw harder. Yes, these are all important to develop in your martial arts. However, martial arts and jiu-jitsu are not predominantly explosive sports. They are sports that use explosive techniques that have bursts of speed from their aerobic base. And, if your aerobic base has no strength, no foundation, then it affects your endurance, explosiveness, and speed. After you perform an explosive fast technique like a kick or throw without success, where do you have to return, to your aerobic base. Let's understand the three different energy systems so you can comprehend their integration into martial arts. Slow-Twitch Fibers The misconception about slow-twitch fibers is that they are weak. They are not weak. They just produce less force than the other two systems. You can and need to strengthen your slow-twitch fibers. Slow-twitch fibers are necessary to develop in your training to optimize your strength, speed, and power. Slow-twitch muscle fibers are important for all athletes. These fibers stabilize your joints, alignment, posture, and help prevent injury. If your slow-twitch fibers are not strong, your alignment and joints will be weak. When using fast-twitch fibers, moving through large ranges of motion, or using bigger muscles, they create high amounts of force. If your slow-twitch fibers are not strong enough to support and stabilize your alignment and joints, when generating high amounts of force, you will be more prone to injury. Alignment and stability are similar to the foundation of a building. Is the foundation concrete or sand? Which one can withstand greater force over a longer time? This is similar to your slow-twitch fibers and how they support force. Firstly, the key for training slow-twitch muscles are high repetitions and low resistance. This will increase the strength of the slow-twitch fibers. Secondly, training aerobically greater than 3 minutes or more creates more mitochondria to increase endurance capacity. Mitochondria are cells that boost endurance. The more you have, the greater your endurance. Think of slow-twitch fibers as sustainability. If you can run 3 minutes at 9MPH. And, from training over time, you can run 3 minutes at 8MPH. You have increased your mitochondria and endurance. If you can do 15 reps with 50 lbs. And, over time from training, you can do 15 reps with 65 lbs. Well, now you increase slow-twitch muscle strength. Again, it is not that they are weak they just produce an overall strength base. In order to tap the slow-twitch fibers, the aerobic activity needs to be sustained for 3 minutes or longer. Slow-twitch fibers should be trained first before fast-twitch fibers. Your alignment and joints need strength to stabilize first, to sustain force, before generating it. Fast Twitch Fibers Fast-twitch fibers are large fibers that produce high and quick force. Type IIA fibers are a mixture of slow and fast-twitch fibers. They are highly oxidative like slow-twitch fibers that are resistant to fatigue and also are glycolytic to generate higher amounts of force during anaerobic training. These muscle fibers can use both oxygen and glucose. They are hybrids and switch back and forth depending on the activity you are doing. Their duration is from 10 seconds to 3 minutes. Type IIB fibers are fast-twitch. They are low oxidative and highly glycolytic that fatigue rapidly. These fibers are quicker to fatigue because they are glycolytic and have little to no mitochondria. They do not use oxygen. Type IIB fibers produce the greatest amount of force but only up to about 10 seconds in duration. Now again visualize, the fight begins. You go into your defensive stance. You spend about 30 seconds moving around looking for an entry point or angle to punch, kick, or lock up and take down your opponent. You find the point and throw an explosive punch. Your opponent blocks it. You go back into your defensive stance and wait to find another opportunity. Or, in jiu-jitsu, you spend 2 minutes in the mount or guard position waiting to find the opportunity to execute the right technique with explosiveness and speed. Slow-twitch fiber sustainability provides the necessary strength and time for the faster exhaustive muscles to recover and be used again during the match. Now that you understand each system, you can improve and enhance your martial arts training accordingly. Don't underestimate slow-twitch fibers. Again, they are not weak, they are about sustaining rather than generating. They need to be strong. All the systems function together like an orchestra playing a symphony, the low tones support the high ones. Take out the low tones and the high ones lose support and don't sound so good.

In various martial arts there are different names for the titles of some master ranks In the following text I am going to mention and explain some of the most popular ones. One of the most common and famous words in the martial arts that indicates a specific title is certainly the word sensei . The word for the title sensei is commonly translated as a teacher, although the word literally would have another meaning - a person who was born before, ie. a person who was spiritually born before others, or rather, a person who knows life (one who has gone before). The Japanese word sensei is composed of two words; Sen - before and sei – life. The word sensei is a newer word, and it began to be used in Japan at the beginning of 1960 (word is generally known and accepted ), first in martial arts (about 1945-1950 in ju-jutsu, judo, aikido, karate) and later in1968 (first time included in the Japanese dictionary) the word began to be used as a term of respect, and then indicating the title for a variety of learned men. Thus the name of sensei is now used as a title for teachers but also for doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, engineers, journalists as well as for many other learned and respected professions. The word, as well as the title - sensei, is often associated with Zen philosophy. In Zen Buddhism it is assumed that a person who knows life and has a lot of life experience, has a feeling as if reborn. The word sen-sei , comes from the Indian word sen-an ( sen ani ), which was used as a name for the leader (the person who was acting as a leader or as a warrior leader) of the Indian caste of noblemen warriors - kshatriyas. Their main feature was the ability to lead, ie. to be the leader of other members of that noble warrior caste. They were expected to show great courage, stamina, sense of justice, generosity, good diplomacy, as well as a desire to protect the weaker, either of injustice or death. Persons who bore such a title had to be ready, if necessary, to sacrifice their lives in defense of their subordinates. They were expected to show exceptional loyalty to their subordinates, too. The caste of kshatriyas was slowly gone in the Middle Ages, and it was replaced by the Rajput caste. The Japanese name for the warrior kshatriya caste was Setsuri, and acceptance of some of their principles in Japan later resulted in the phenomenon of the famous warriors - Samurai. The word sen-an spread over India to China, and from China it was gradually transferred to Korea and Japan. Also the word gradually began to change (different pronunciation and titles), and as the word altered itself, so its meaning did the same . The word sen-an in China gradually changed into the word senfan ( sienfan ), and also its meaning slowly changed, and from the title of the wartime leader, it became the title for a person who is skilled in martial arts and teaches others in one of them. In China itself, in martial arts, there were other names for people who taught others. The most common name for such people was Sifu (Cantonese) or Shifu (Mandarin Chinese) . The meaning of the word would be, an old man who has a great knowledge and experience in martial arts, and teaches us like a father. In India, the spiritual leader, according to Sanskrit writings, is called - Guru (Goru), while in Japan the name of the spiritual leader (senior teacher of Zen Buddhism) is Roshi . Also, the Japanese sometimes use the title Sosai , which is used as a name for the presidents of some large companies, ambassadors, and directors - generals of certain large organizations, and even of martial ones (for example - Sosai Oyama). There is also a title in martial arts Sempai , which is awarded to the older and more experienced students, who is also an assistant teacher. In China, there is a martial arts title Shi , usually connected to the masters of martial arts from the Shaolin Temple, which indicates not only the great master of martial arts, but also a teacher of Zen philosophy. The very title of Shi has its stronghold in the name of the province ie. the name of the forest - Shao shi, where the Shaolin Temple is situated. The Chinese sometimes use the title of Shihan for a master who has attained the highest level of learning (as well as in martial arts as in Zen philosophy). It is often used in Japan, too. The title that is closest in meaning to the words sen-an is the one which is used in Korea for the masters of martial arts - Tae kwon do, and its name is suseung-nim . It is given to a great master. The more commonly known title is sonseang-nim and it means the person who is a general master (war leader) and a great connoisseur of martial arts. There is also the title O'Sensei , used out of respect for a particularly great teacher and master of martial arts like the creator of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. The word, the title O'Sensei , is usually translated as - a great teacher. A similar word in the martial arts is the title Soke , which is given out of respect for the person ie.the master who is the founder of a particular martial style. The meaning of the title of sensei , was best described by a Japanese martial artist Shigeru Egami (1912 -1981) in his famous dictum. "Not every Sensei is a master and not every master is Sensei." Master Egami was a famous master of Shotokan style and the pioneer of Shotokai style. This saying became more recognized and popular when it was repeated in the book "The Book of Ki," by the famous Japanese master of martial arts (ju-jutsu, judo, aikido) Koichi Tohei (1920-2011). Nowadays there are lots of those who present themselves as sensei , as well as those who would like to be one. Also, there are those people who are called sensei by others (sometimes out of respect for those persons, although mostly not knowing the meaning of the title sensei ). The title sensei requires the master's hard and lengthy work, good knowledge of martial arts, as well as a certain correct way of transferring his life experience to his disciples. The title sensei is not acquired with the Dan rank. All that use the title of sensei should know that the true sensei does not seek and recruit his students - even their followers, but they themselves find him. In adition, when the connoisseur of martial arts enters any hall (dojo) in which Eastern martial arts are practised, he bows showing honour and respect to sensei ( sifu ) as well as to a certain martial art. Such a bow in the martial arts is best known under the Japanese title - sensei ni rei (Greeting to the teacher) Sometimes at the same time in the hall (dojo) there are more highly ranked and recognized masters of certain or different martial arts, exercising together but, then only one of them is sensei , although there can even be more sensei or sifu masters in the hall. He then leads their exercise and takes on the role of the leaders so that all the other martial artists (regardless of their level of mastery) should listen and respect him. However, none of the previously mentioned titles in martial arts, literally means a teacher, the term is most often used as translation of specific titles. Sensei - the leader and the person who guides us through life, because he knows it well and also has a lot of life experience, Sifu (Shifu) - an old man with extensive knowledge and experience that teaches us as a father, Sonseang - nim – a general master, a wartime leader, Guru - the person who takes us on the spiritual path. To translate the name of these titles, with the word - teacher, is very simplified and distorted, and at least incomplete as the meaning of certain title. Today many martial arts (skills) apply the name and title - coach or instructor. The title - Master or Grand Master is often used, too. Some of the masters use even two titles, such as sifu shi or Master Sensei, although there are no real reasons for it. It would be the same case with a person who has obtained different degrees in a few different martial styles - the dan ranks; when introducing himself he gives the highest rank (for example, a person who has gained the title 3rd dan judo, 4th dan aikido and 5th dan karate, presents himself as a master of 5th dan) . Some practitioners think they will automatically become sensei when they get some master rank, such as 3rd dan, but it is not so. Also, there are many coachs (instructors) who have the characteristic of a good sensei , as there are those masters who present themselves as the sensei , but they do not have the necessary qualities, nor the quality of such a large and demanding title like - sensei . There are masters of different martial arts, that consider that the term sensei should be used for a person who is a guardian and admirer of tradition martial skills. It is interesting that in the arts of aikido and jiu jitsu the title sensei is placed after the name of the master, while in karate, judo, nin jutsu like all the other titles in other martial arts, it is placed before the name of the master, which is according to the rules of writing titles more correct. In some martial arts like Muay thai or Brazilian jiu jitsu, the titles of masters are not used, although these skills emerged on the basis of skills that use the titles such as shifu and sensei . All in all, it can be said that the word and title sensei in martial arts, can not be translated simply as a teacher, because the title sensei , has a much broader meaning.

Travis Wong is a martial artist, tricker, parkour expert and stunt coordinator.  The former co-host of MTV's Ultimate Parkour Challenge, has been featured in 30+ international ad campaigns, choreographed for artists Jennifer Lopez, Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello, and Miley Cyrus. Stunt Coordinating and fight coordinator credits include Back In Action for Netflix starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, "Witchboard," "Minions: The Rise of Gru," "Stumptown," and Marvel's "Legion" on FX just to name a few. Today Travis is also the co-owner of the world renown Joining All Movement Center - JAM Gym in Van Nuys, CA where the gym welcomes all enthusiasts of the martial arts, tricking and parkour to discover their next level.  Travis answered some of our burning questions ahead of his interview with our publisher. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Black Belt Magazine : Growing up you had martial arts all around you. Your father (a renowned Sifu), your mom (a champion), and your uncle (the publisher of Inside Kung Fu Magazine), can you share some memories of those early days?  Travis Wong: As far back as I can remember, I was always at my parents martial arts studio since I was in an infant all the way through adolescence. There are pictures of me walking around in a walker with a bottle in one hand and a staff in the other. The story that my mother always tells, is that when I was three years old we were at Tat Mau Wong’s tournament in San Francisco and I told her I wanted a trophy. She tried to explain to me that those were reserved only competitors, and I told him that I wanted to compete. She spoke with the event organizer about allowing me to enter the seven-year-old division, since there was no younger divisions at the time, and the organizer said they would give me a medal just for being a part. when the division ended, they started walking four of us over to the podium, and my mother thought that they were going to just give me my participation medal, and before they realized what was happening, I was placed on the second place stand and from that moment on I was hooked on competing. My childhood consisted of going to school and coming home to eat and finish homework, so that we could go to the studio for several hours every single day. My weekends consisted of going to competitions locally and around the United States, and I never realized how truly blessed I was to have been born into a martial arts family until later in life. What was the emphasis of your training growing up fighting, forms, weapons, demo?  My parents didn’t have a children’s program at their studio until I was born, and essentially created one out of necessity of me being there. My training consisted of mostly forms and weapons, and as I got older and wanted to compete more I was  focused on training for demonstrations and the competition circuit. Because there were not many other students my age, especially competing, I was one of the  central areas of focus as far as creating forms and drilling them over and over. Whenever my parents friends or teachers would visit I would always be the one to do a live demonstration, and this extended to live events and stage shows as well. At a very young age you were already very accomplished. But also the first and oldest son of the “sifu” how did that affect your martial arts training?   There was a lot of pressure being born into a Martial arts family and my father being recognized within the world. It was a blessing in the sense that I was able to receive firsthand instruction from someone that people wanted to learn from all around the world, and he also allowed me  the opportunity to be exposed to several other martial arts and the masters of those respective styles. At times this was also very difficult, because at the end of the day when I would go home my instructor and coach would still be there, and that was not always an easy thing to deal with especially getting it to my teenage years.  How did you get into the entertainment business?  I had always watched my parents and their involvement in the entertainment industry from training students that became stunt performers and coordinators, as well as training actors and actresses for television shows and movies but never knew how to find my way. My senior year of college I received a phone call from a Stone coordinator named Noel Vega, who was coordinating a television show for Spike TV, known as “Deadliest Warrior.” They needed individuals that could do several styles of martial arts for recreations, and my name had consistently come up from other Martial arts instructors and Stunt performers. I skipped two weeks of school and drove down to Los Angeles to be a part of this television show, and quickly realized that this is the path that I wanted to take. Fast forward to a couple months later when I graduated and relocated back to Los Angeles, I had driven a few of my friends to a Casting location for a callback they had for a commercial. While sitting in the hallway, the Casting director came up and asked me to also come in, and later that afternoon I was booked on my first commercial for Coca-Cola and Taft Hartley into the SAG/AFTRA union. What was the first “stunt” job you ever had in a movie?  Technically my first stunt contract for a feature film was for “The Green Hornet” coordinated by Jeff Imada, and my first feature film I was ever a part of was "Step Up 3D" where I did a flip and was the first time the word Tricker was credited in a motion picture. What were some of the early challenges when you first started out, both physically and emotionally?   I think a lot of people have an idea of the entertainment industry being all about glitz and glamour, but there are very long days and times where working conditions are not always ideal based upon weather, your costume, or being challenged to do something extremely difficult and replicate it. I remember the first time I went on a full run of show, which means from the start of production until it finishes principal photography, and after the first two weeks I literally couldn’t move my neck or turn my head, because my body just wasn’t used to doing fight scenes and falling for 12-15 hours every single day. While safety is always one of the primary concerns and important, I unfortunately within the early years of my career had several accidents where I was rushed to the hospital and sustained injuries that required surgery or months off of work for physical therapy and rehabilitation. This process became physically and emotionally draining, as someone so used to using their body every day and having that taken away while going through the process of rebuilding was extremely challenging. What is the most challenging part about stunt work?  Physically, I think the most challenging part is being able to take falls and reactions where it supposed to look like you were injured or dying, and having to jump back up and do it again repeatedly. There is an extreme level of precision required in order hit your marks, keep actors safe that you are interacting with, and being able to do skills repeatedly with the same precision and energy for multiple takes and different camera angles. Mentally, I think most people aren’t prepared to work long days on set which can go anywhere from 12-18 hours and even longer in rare instances, and also the challenge of being away from home and the comforts of familiarity when you are on the road on projects living out of hotels in a foreign place. You must have seen a lot of martial arts movies. What era do you most enjoy or relate to?   While I am a huge fan of modern action that I have been fortunate to be a part of over the last two decades, I always love the old school movies of Jackie Chan before he came to America and when he just broke into the American scene. What is the origin story of JAM?  When I graduated college and relocated back to Los Angeles, we would all train at open gyms at Gymnastics Olympica or Valley College. During a few of the sessions there were times in which we had paid at GO to begin training and had to wait for their gymnastics teams to finish practicing, and I joked with my friends saying that I was going to buy a spring floor so we had our own place to train at. I couldn’t shake this idea from my head, and convinced my parents to move their Kung Fu studio into a warehouse I would rent and split the rent and floor space with them. The first few months were empty and I was worried I made a bad decision, and one day I released a video on youtube of my friend Anis Cheurfa doing “9 corks in 9 seconds” which went semi-viral within the stunt and tricking communities and before long we had people coming from all over to train as there weren’t any other tricking or parkour gyms in existence at the time. After 3 years we outgrew the space and because I had split the facility with my parents I had been using the name White Lotus Martial Arts Center which was an extension of my fathers White Lotus Kung Fu studios. I wanted to create my own legacy and before we expanded to a new building I thought of what words were used in tricking, parkour, dancing etc and settled on JAM and reverse engineered it to spell out Joining All Movement. Along with 2 of my stunt friends and colleagues Aaron Toney and Jake Huang, we invested in a much larger space and moved into the first JAM in Reseda, CA and the rest is history. We’ve been blessed to be considered a Mecca for individuals in the tricking and stunt communities, and are thankful for anyone that has walked through the doors and become a part of the JAM family over the last 12 years.  What type of training do you offer at the gym?  We offer parkour, tricking, and tumbling classes for all ages as well as private lessons and special workshops/intensives for actors and aspiring stunt performers in film fighting and fight choreography. We also have my parents that sublease and teach Kung Fu, as well as Simon Rhee’s Tae Kwon Do program, and Bryan Sloyer’s Balintawak LA.  What is the best advice for people entering the field of stunt work?  My best advice is to be a sponge and learn as much as you possibly can from watching previous action movies to modern day films, and to practice on improving your skillsets as often as you can. I tell people all the time that we can make as much money as doctors and lawyers, but with that being said we have to hold ourselves accountable to the same amount of time and energy that they spent in school that we must translate to our training. For those starting off one of the best exercises is to replicate a scene from an existing short film, independent fight scene, or TV show/feature film, which will teach you how to perform, shoot, edit, place cameras, as well as have something you can compare you version to performance wise etc. Most job opportunities when starting off will have to be either short films, student films, music videos, or commercials, and just continue to compile footage to add to your reel and resume and continue making meaningful connections with other stunt performers and eventually meeting stunt performers.  Who are your heroes in the stunt-fighting field?   My heroes of previous generations are Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Jet Li and Donnie Yen. Modern day heroes include Tony Jaa, Scott Adkins, and Michael Jai White. But I also look up to many stunt coordinators that came before me such as Jeff Imada, JJ Perry, Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, and many of my peers that are some of the top performers and up and coming coordinators.  What projects are you working on that you can discuss?  I’m currently stunt coordinating a Netflix film called “Back In Action” starring Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, and Glenn Close. What's your favorite movie you have worked on?  I will forever remember working on "GI: Joe Retaliation" because it is the only film where I worked with my other on as she was cast in a featured part. She got the chance to come watch me perform on set, and sharing the screen with her is a special memory. For selfish reasons I also will always remember "The Jungle Book," as I grew up watching it and got to work on it with two of my best friends Ben Jenkin and Paul Whitecotton, but it was also one of the first times in my life I got to be a lead stunt double as there are limits roles for Asian performers as the leads in films.  What's your favorite movie you have ever seen featuring stunts?   One of my favorite movies of all time is Police Story because it features so many iconic and insane stunts that were done years ago before current technology. From the car chase through the village, to Jackie holding onto a bus with an umbrella, to the over the top fight scenes in the mall concluding with him jumping and sliding down a pole multiple stories, there are tons of elements that still hold up to this day.    Watch the full video interview HERE! Connect with Travis here: www.TravisWong.com www.imdb.me/TravisWong @TheTravisWong  | @JAMovement

2024 PFL Regular Season to feature Bellator stars and the new Women’s Flyweight Division 2024 PFL Regular Season, Available Live on ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced full cards for the first three 2024 PFL Regular Season events, available live on ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally.  The PFL Regular Season features a true sports-season format, where elite fighters from around the world compete in a Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship, with each winner of the six weight divisions receiving a $1 million prize.  The first 2024 PFL Regular Season event, live April 4, from Boeing Center in San Antonio, TX will feature some of the world’s best Heavyweights and Women’s Flyweight fighters and is headlined by 2022 PFL World Champion Ante Delija and Bellator’s former Interim Heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavsky with a co-main event featuring Denis Goltsov facing Linton Vassell.  The second event of the 2024 PFL Regular Season will take place on April 12 from The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas and showcase the Light Heavyweight and Lightweight divisions. The main event will see former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Phil Davis take on 2022 PFL Lightweight Champion Robert Wilkinson while 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Impa Kasanganay faces Alex Polizzi.  The third and final 2024 PFL Regular Season first half event takes place on April 19, from Wintrust Arena in Chicago and will feature action in Welterweight and Featherweight divisions. Undefeated Welterweight Magomed Umalatov returns to the PFL SmartCage to take on former Bellator Welterweight Champion Andrey Koreshkov in the main event while 2022 PFL Featherweight Champion Brendan Loughnane faces former title challenger Pedro Carvalho in the night’s co-main event.     PFL San Antonio – April 4, 2024 San Antonio, TX Main Card: 10 pm EST on ESPN 2 and ESPN + Heavyweight Regular Season Main Event Ante Delija (24-5) vs. Valentin Moldavsky (12-3) Heavyweight Regular Season Co-Main Event Denis Goltsov (32-8) vs. Linton Vassell (24-8) Women’s Flyweight Regular Season Bout Liz Carmouche (20-7) vs. Juliana Velasquez (12-2) Heavyweight Regular Season Bout Tyrell Fortune (13-2) vs. Daniel James (14-7-1) PFL San Antonio Early Card 6 pm EST on ESPN + Women’s Flyweight Regular Season Bout Dakota Ditcheva (10-0) vs. Lisa Mauldin (6-3) Heavyweight Regular Season Bout   Bruno Cappelozza (15-7) vs. Sergei Bilostenniy (11-3) Women’s Flyweight Regular Season Bout Taila Santos (19-3) vs. Denise Kielholtz (8-5)  Heavyweight Regular Season Bout Steve Mowry (10-1-1) vs. Oleg Popov (16-1)  Women’s Flyweight Regular Season Bout   Kana Watanabe (12-2-1) vs. Shanna Young (9-5) Women’s Flyweight Regular Season Bout Chelsea Hackett (4-1-1) vs. Jena Bishop (6-0)  Featherweight Showcase Bout Lucas Brennan (9-0) vs. Dimitre Ivy (12-7) PFL Las Vegas – April 12, 2024 Las Vegas, NV Main Card: 9 pm EST on ESPN 2 and ESPN + Light Heavyweight Regular Season Main Event Phil Davis (24-7) vs. Robert Wilkinson (17-2) Light Heavyweight Regular Season Co-Main Event Impa Kasanganay (15-4) vs. Alex Polizzi (10-3) Lightweight Regular Season Bout Clay Collard (24-12) vs. Patricky Pitbull (25-12) Lightweight Regular Season Bout Mads Burnell (18-5) vs. Michael Dufort (12-4) Light Heavyweight Regular Season Bout Sadibou Sy (16-7-2) vs. Josh Silveira (12-2) Light Heavyweight Regular Season Bout Antonio Carlos Jr. (15-5) vs. Simon Biyong (9-3) PFL Las Vegas – Early Card 6 pm EST on ESPN + Light Heavyweight Regular Season Bout Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (21-7-1) vs. Jakob Nedoh (8-1) Lightweight Regular Season Bout Bruno Miranda (16-4) vs. Brent Primus (12-3) Lightweight Regular Season Bout Gadzhi Rabadanov (20-4-2) vs. Solomon Renfro (11-4) Lightweight Regular Season Bout Jay Jay Wilson (10-1) vs. Adam Piccolotti (14-5) Heavyweight Showcase Bout Marcelo Nunes (10-2) vs. Giacomo Lemos (8-0) PFL Chicago – April 19, 2024 Chicago, IL Main Card: 10 pm EST on ESPN and ESPN + Welterweight Regular Season Main Event Andrey Koreshkov (27-4) vs. Magomed Umalatov (14-0) Featherweight Regular Season Co-Main Event Brendan Loughnane (27-5) vs. Pedro Carvalho (13-8) Welterweight Regular Season Bout Logan Storley (15-2) vs. Shamil Musaev (16-0-1) Featherweight Regular Season Bout Gabriel Braga (12-1) vs. Justin Gonzalez (14-3) Welterweight Regular Season Bout Goiti Yamauchi (28-6) vs. Neiman Gracie (12-4) Featherweight Regular Season Bout Bubba Jenkins (21-7) vs. Kai Kamaka (12-5-1) PFL Chicago – Early Card 6:30 pm EST on ESPN + Featherweight Regular Season Bout Adam Borics (18-2) vs. Enrique Barzola (20-7-2) Featherweight Regular Season Bout Timur Khizriev (14-0) vs. Brett Johns (20-3) Welterweight Regular Season Bout Laureano Staropoli (13-5) vs. Murad Ramazanov (11-0) Welterweight Regular Season Bout Don Madge (10-4-1) vs. Kyle Crutchmer (10-2) “The Professional Fighters League is excited to return to Regular Season action this April with three hard-hitting and crowd-pleasing events,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The PFL’s extensive roster of world-class fighters, which now includes Bellator stars, means the toughest test in MMA, the PFL Regular Season, just got tougher.”