Powerful punches. Killer kicks. Flaming fireballs. (Fireballs?) What if you could fight like a video game character? Enter Sofia Mathilde. The Danish stunt woman, martial artist, and YouTube creator has a catalog of videos exhibiting her prodigious abilities to emulate signature moves from characters in video games such as Mortal Kombat , as well as dynamic fight scenes with weapons, punches, and kicks. After seeing her imaginative videos, I wanted to find out more about her martial arts background, those wild video game videos, and what the future holds for the stunt performer. Sofia Stunts Sofia Mathilde’s channel is called Sofia Stunts , and viewers can watch scores of videos showcasing her acrobatic skills, martial arts abilities, and stunt work. Mathilde tells how her martial arts studies and stunt career began almost simultaneously, “Karate was the first that I did, and then I moved on to FMA, which is Filipino martial arts, because the person who got me into stunts, it’s JP Stunts, his name is Joon (Joon Poore), he does mainly FMA. It’s one of many forms of martial arts that he can do. He taught me this (FMA) and I just fell in love with it. You can use it with weapons, you can use it without weapons, you know: hand-to-hand combat, and it’s always the same movements. You just have different things in your hands. It’s very useful, and you get a really good flow from it. That’s been my main form of martial arts for the past two years now.” Mathilde is not limited to Karate and FMA though. “I do a lot of other kinds of martial arts as well, dabble in it, like wrestling. Lucha Libre wrestling, I love it…and Tae Kwon Do as well.” In short order, Mathilde went from training in martial arts to working as a stunt person, which she’s been doing for the past three years, “I have done a little bit of stunt coordinating as well, but mainly as a performer.” In addition to her stunt gig, she has carved out a special niche making videos of flashy moves from characters in video games such as Tekken, Street Fighter, and especially Mortal Kombat. Mortal Kombat While the martial arts techniques portrayed in video games are often unrealistic, Mathilde has made a study in bringing them into real life and turning the sequences into a kind of short kata performance. By recreating the signature fighting moves of such characters as Kitana or Sonya Blade, Mathilde has found an inventive approach that crosses over to both martial arts and video game aficionados. Although the videos take dedication to create and perform, for Mathilde, they are a labor of love, “It’s really fun. I love doing them.” And the videos have attracted some noteworthy fans, as Mathilde explains, “It definitely has gotten my name, quite a bit, out there. The creator of Mortal Kombat recognized it (Ed Boon), and Sonya Blade, herself (Kerri Ann Hoskins), recognized the Sonya Blade videos, which has really gotten my name out there to a lot of people to see. It has really expanded my possibilities, and my career in general. A lot more people know about me, also here in the Danish film industry. I have a little bit more of a reputation now, at least, from doing those videos.” Social Media Anyone looking to build their online presence should take some pointers from Mathilde’s use of social media to create more likes, shares, and engagement with followers. She is on multiple platforms, (Twitch, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.) and though there is a lot of martial arts content available online, Mathilde has found a way to distinguish herself from the crowd by displaying her abilities in a context recognizable to many viewers. If readers want to level up their social media game, whether to bring awareness to their school, or fighter profile, or just to gain followers, they may want to study her example. What if your hero shared your video? A lot has happened in a short time. What’s next for Mathilde? The Next Big Thing Mathilde’s teacher, Joon Poore, has been important in her training and her career. Mathilde elaborates on how meeting the right person at the right time can make a huge difference in a person’s life. “Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to be the superhero in the film or something like that, and I never knew where to start with that. So, that he just kind of showed up in my life, and gave me exactly the dream I’ve always wanted, is incredible. Yeah, a big shout-out to him. With a growing online presence and seemingly endless possibilities, the versatile martial artist and performer spelled out her future goals, “What I really want to do, is not just double, I love doubling actors, but I’d also love to have my own role, maybe, and play a part, because I also do a bit of acting. So, being a character that can fight, and doesn’t have to have a stunt double to do these things would be really cool…to be the character, instead of doubling it.” Is there a secret to creating great content, studying martial arts, and working as a stunt performer? You have to have a vision and you have to have goals. “ I always have goals. It’s how I live. Everything I do. I always set mini goals, and a big goal, so that I stay disciplined with it. With stunts, I’d love to get to work on something bigger than I’ve been on now.” Who knows where the intrepid Mathilde will be seen next, but it could be at a theater near you. https://www.youtube.com/@sofiastunts/videos

Jeet Kune Do , often referred to as JKD, is a martial art style developed by the legendary Bruce Lee . It is a hybrid martial art that incorporates various techniques from different fighting styles, such as Wing Chun, Boxing, Fencing, and others. What makes Jeet Kune Do so effective is its emphasis on practicality, adaptability, and efficiency. One of the primary reasons why Jeet Kune Do is so effective is because it focuses on practicality. Bruce Lee was not interested in preserving any traditional techniques or forms that did not work in a real-life situation. Instead, he was interested in finding what works in a real-life fight and discarding what does not. JKD incorporates only techniques that are proven to be effective in a street fight. The practicality of JKD can be seen in its training methods. JKD practitioners train in sparring, which involves practicing with a partner, testing out their techniques, and getting used to reacting to an opponent's movements. This training method ensures that JKD practitioners are prepared for a real-life fight. Another reason why Jeet Kune Do is so effective is its adaptability. Bruce Lee believed that fighting techniques should be adaptable to the individual practitioner, rather than the practitioner adapting to the techniques. Therefore, JKD is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the individual's body type, personality, and strengths. For example, if a JKD practitioner is naturally fast and agile, they may emphasize footwork and quick strikes. On the other hand, if a JKD practitioner is naturally stronger, they may emphasize powerful strikes and grappling techniques. This adaptability ensures that JKD practitioners are not limited by a strict set of techniques but can instead adjust their techniques based on the situation. Efficiency is another key aspect of Jeet Kune Do that makes it so effective. Bruce Lee believed that a fighter should strive to achieve maximum results with minimum effort. Therefore, JKD emphasizes techniques that are simple, direct, and efficient. For example, JKD practitioners are taught to strike with the closest weapon to the target, which reduces the amount of time it takes to execute a strike. Additionally, JKD practitioners are taught to use their entire body when striking, which increases the power of the strike. These techniques make JKD strikes more effective than strikes from other martial arts styles. One of the most notable aspects of Jeet Kune Do is its philosophy. Bruce Lee believed that a martial artist should not be confined to a particular style but should instead be open to all styles and ideas. Therefore, JKD incorporates techniques from various martial arts styles, including Wing Chun, Boxing, Fencing, and others. Bruce Lee also believed that a martial artist should strive for personal growth and self-expression. This philosophy is evident in JKD's emphasis on individual expression and adaptability. Jeet Kune Do is a highly effective martial art style that emphasizes practicality, adaptability, and efficiency. It's focus on practical techniques and sparring training ensures that JKD practitioners are prepared for real-life fights. Its adaptability allows practitioners to adjust their techniques based on their strengths and the situation. Its emphasis on efficiency ensures that JKD strikes are more effective than strikes from other martial arts styles. Finally, its philosophy of personal growth and self-expression makes JKD a unique and highly respected martial art style. You can start learning Jeet Kune Do from masters like Harinder Singh here! Black Belt+ biggest martial arts digital platform in history. The platform includes thousands of remastered instructional videos, martial arts movies, documentaries, and, of course, digital issues and articles from the iconic Black Belt Magazine . The new app is available on iOS and Android mobile devices and tablets. Or download and subscribe directly from Black Belt at plus.blackbeltmag.com .

Up- Close and Personal Interview with Multiple British Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awardee, Andrew "Chi" Osbourne Interview Conducted By Christopher Evans The name Andrew "Chi"Osbourne may not be a familiar name in the world of martial arts outside of Great Britain , but when those who ARE big names need help , advice and inspiration in all things martial arts related , Andrew is at the top of their go to list, a fact that still bewilders the humble martial artist, " You know.. I'm just ME..just a down to earth normal guy.. It's not as though I'm Muhammad Ali going around saying I'm the greatest of all time.. It amazes me that people who I've never met before in my life from all over the world, know who I AM and are fans of the martial arts style I've crafted and take comfort and inspiration from what I do..’ "..The most surreal moment was in 2016, when I was inducted into British Martial Arts Hall of Fame .. I was standing next to Richard Bustillo , who was one of Bruce Lee's senior students , waiting to be presented the award .. he looks at me and said .. I know you .. you're Andrew "Chi" Osbourne, your Tai Chi forms are phenomenal, a really touching style you have ..".. My jaw just dropped, Bruce Lee is my all time idols , he still is, and to have that come from one of his senior students just blew my mind, I almost went into shock... I just didn't know what to say to him! Andrew, who counts Bill Superfoot Wallace , Benny The Jet Urquidez, Art Camacho and British actor Mark Strange as personal friends , still lives in the same area of Wolverhampton in the British Midlands, famous for its Steele manufacturing factories, that he was born in and grew up in . " I was born in the 1960's in to a mixed race family, my father was a musician from Jamaica and my mother was white from the u.k. , and I was one of ten brothers and sisters ..which may seem unusual now, but at the time you thought nothing of it ..you just had to que up to use the bathroom and get on with it.. the life we had wasn't too bad.. we cared and looked out for eachother." Andrew was inspired by the kung Fu craze that was sweeping Britain in the 1970,s to take up martial arts. "Going back to Bruce Lee again, it was seeing a clip of him in Enter The Dragon in 1975 on a children's tv program that inspired me to get into martial arts, at the time , that clip caused controversy, as it an was an x rated movie for 18 years and over shown in the afternoon on a children's tv program.. but Bruce Lee, man, he changed my life..there was something about the martial arts ..It was like a calling to me , something inside me said "this is what you have to do .. now go and do it !..." Andrew spent his formative years studying Wada Ryu Karate with Sensei Joshua Johnson (M.B.E) the first black martial arts instructors in the u k. He then studied , Hung Gar, and laterly Mian Quan Pai. " Those were tough years , but very educational.. alot of things we did and the conditions we practiced in , you couldn't get away with today.. But at the time , that's all we had , you just did it and grew from the experience, gained an understanding and respect for other people and other martial artists . The hard work did pay off , and alot of the grounding I had was forged during those early years". It was not until the late 1980's and into the early 1990's when Andrew started to develop his own form for tai chi kuen , earning The ‘Chi’ moniker in his name. "Back then a lot of the martial arts magazine writers were based in the midlands where I live , and they would come to me lotoking for the next trend and write articles on what I was doing for their magazines. At the time people thought that Tai chi was just for the elderly, but it is a foundation for every martial art . I gravitated towards Tai chi as it was all about healing yourself, rather than hurting and doing damage to others... but at the same time it can be used as an efficient fighting style when sped up and used in defense". There wasn`t anyone teaching tai chi kuen to the level that I was looking to achieve at the time , there was no internet back then, so I learned everything I could from books , from my peers in the martial arts industry in the uk.and just asorbed as much information as I could travelling around .. Once again referencing the little dragon.. Bruce Lee ..his old adage , take what is useful and reject what is useless. That what I did with my taichi kuen style, it references the hard and soft styles development by from the Shaolin temple, and all the different family lineages thereafter, it is a bit of mixture of many styles.. kind of like chop suey to use cooking analogy... abit of this from here.. a bit this from there, to create the perfect dish ..". Andrew's unique style is more akin to free form dance then any strict form or kata. "My style... you can call it the extension of my soul. It does change depending on how I'm feeling and what mood I'm in.When I do my forms on stage for a demonstration or during my daily practices it does feel like the whole universe is watching and that I draw in that power from this unseen source and .. slowly let it go ..then .. boom.. you can feel the energy flowing .It is an emotional release ,even for those watching. You can feel the power..the chi power.. people just start crying or feel a happy feeling when I do my thing..it's almost spiritual". In 2011 Andrew had to put his martial arts skills to the test when he suffered a racially motivated attack at his workplace by a person who suffered from severe mental health issues . "The person had a vendetta against my family for being mixed race...He knew where everyone lived and had a hit list if which order he was going to do things in.." Andrew's quick thinking and martial arts skills , not only prevented the attacker from causing any serious injury to Andrew's colleagues, but also saved the life of his family. Andrew was awarded a bravery award for his actions by the metropolitan police. Andrew chronicled his attack and its`s aftermath in his best selling Autobiography ‘ Out Of The Darkness` co-written with celebrated author David Major. The attack had long lasting repercussions and as a result Suffering from PTSD and Andrew forced him to stop practicing the martial arts he loved." It crushed me for long time ..I just couldn't find the focus to do anything martial arts related. I was thinking about things you shouldn't... thinking about life.. dying and the meaning of it all.. It was until I used martial arts as a tool to heal myself, that I found I could break through the depression and get the help I needed. I'm still finding my way back .. but I'm getting there thanks to the support from my family ,friends. and mental health care professionals. I am an advocate for PTSD survivors and mental health health in general. I would encourage people to talk to someone, it doesn't have to be someone they know ..there are a lot of charities out there .. lots of lovely people ,who are trained help.No- one should carry such a heavy burden alone..no matter what their circumstances are .. there is someone who can help.., PTSD , no matter what the cause, is not a shameful thing .. it's just the way the body reacts to a stressful situation, there is help for everyone out there to deal with it". In subsequent years , Andrew has been inducted into the British Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and also acknowledged in the recent volume of The worlds greatest Martial artists of all time almanac.Not bad for someone who is an independent martial arts practitioner and doesn't teach in a school or dojo. "The ying yang symbol means a lot to me, and kind of epitomizes my style and my philosophy of life in a nutshell.. I've had some great times and also have been through some really dark tough times ..in recent years I've suffered from PTSD , been placed in sheltered accomodation, been made unemployed ..but with help and support from my family, friends and my martial arts family throughout the world I'm starting to get back on top of things ". ‘I`ve released a clothing line, with t-shirts that have positive slogans which are selling quite well. I`m currently working on my second autobiography, which I hope to release by the end of the year. It will cover all that has happened in my life since the last book, and also a few new revelations from my past, and also my thoughts on martial arts." Ultimately, I'm just me doing what I love to do .. practicing martial arts and helping people stay positive . My advice to everyone out there going through tough times, is to do what you love to do as a tool to help heal youself...no matter what what happens in life.. as they say ..be yourself, as everyone else's has already been taken" . ☯ Andrew`s Book ‘Out Of The Darkness’ Co -Written With David Major is available to buy from Amazon.com

February 6, celebrated as Muay Thai Day in Thailand, was marked by a Guinness world record as 3,660 participants joined together to perform the world's largest mass waikru ceremony. The wai kru is the traditional pre-fight dance Thai boxers execute prior to their bouts and Monday thousands of Thai military cadets, university students and other volunteers, clad in traditional muay Thai regalia, gathered en masse for the record-breaking performance at Rajabhakti Park in the Hua Hin district. Lead by the renowned fighter, Buakaw Banchamek , the performance was witnessed by the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who's ruled the country since seizing power in a 2014 military coup. Muay Thai Day coincides with the celebration of the coronation of King Sanphet VIII of Ayutthaya in 1703. Known as "the Tiger King," Sanphet is popularly considered the father of muay Thai. The record-breaking performance culminated the three-day "Amazing Muay Thai Festival 2023" staged under the auspices of the Royal Thai Army. It also comes at a time when Thailand has been engaged in a controversial spat with neighbor Cambodia over the use of the Cambodian term "kun Khmer," rather than "muay Thai," at the upcoming Southeast Asian Games.

No. Well, maybe I should elaborate. When John Wayne Parr decided to set up his Caged Muay Thai promotion, he did it with a clear idea. To grab people who like MMA, but complain when the fights go to the ground. His promotion sported four ounce gloves, and it took place in a cage, just like MMA, it had all the hallmarks of MMA aside from anything involving a submission or ground work. While the competitors trained and fought Muay Thai rules, and were allowed the same techniques, in reality the fights ended up looking quite different to traditional Muay Thai. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO3SGi0SlkY&ab_channel=AusMuaythai There are a few reasons that make this a different sport, but first there’s a distinction that we have to make, as Muay Thai is both the name of the martial art and the sport. In conversation we like to distinguish between different martial arts styles. Muay Thai is one style, Karate is another. However in practise all these martial arts actually are, are a collection of techniques that are used for fighting. There is actually nothing stopping you entering and possibly even winning a karate tournament without having ever studied the art. If you’re familiar with the rules, and are a good enough competitor, it’s entirely possible for a Muay Thai practitioner to do just that. As a matter of fact, it has actually happened before. With Sakmongkol winning local karate competitions, mostly off his decades of Muay Thai training. Equally, there are a few knockdown karate practitioners who have competed in Muay Thai, under muay thai rules and have had some success. So when we talk about whether or not cage muay thai is really Muay Thai, what we’re actually talking about is, is it the same sport? And the answer to that, for me, is a resounding no. While competitors like Rodtang have fought well in the cage, and they’ve done so using their Muay Thai – it doesn’t alter the fact that Rodtang in the cage, and Rodtang in the ring are completely different beasts. So why are these different sports? The Arena We’ll get the most obvious part out of the way. The cage. Fighting in a cage and fighting in the ring are two very different beasts, a ring favours the offensive fighter, who can shepherd their opponent to the ropes or into the corner. The cage favours the defensive fighter. I spoke about this at length in Rodtang and the Woes of Ring Cutting, and touched upon in the Adesanya/Pereira pre-fight breakdown. In short, where the cage is open and lacks real corners, it’s far harder for a fighter to trap their opponent. The level of lateral footwork needs to be much higher to accommodate for not only the lack of corners, but the abundance of space. The Gear Caged Muay Thai nearly always features four ounce gloves used for MMA competition. Muay Thai is a style that lives and dies off clinching. If you’re not able to clinch well, you won’t have any success in the sport. MMA gloves with their open fingers allow for far more precise and accurate clinching, that far more closely reflect how Thai boxers train. Usually, you would train clinch without gloves, despite competing with gloves and not being able to access the same grips. This is something that has caused a lot of debate amongst western fighters, on whether or not you should practise clinching without gloves at all. When you’re competing with MMA gloves however, it really makes no difference. Having more freedom to pummel for position, and being able to more easily access gable grips, S grips etc. mean that clinching is already different from what you see in traditional Muay Thai. The Scoring While the aspect least talked about, the scoring of caged muay thai is probably the biggest factor that changes it from the traditional sport. Caged Muay Thai is scored round by round, under the 10 point must system. This scoring system has been used for boxing and MMA for years and while it’s ever present it’s also never quite worked. I could complain about how the scoring system turns fights into a game of tag where it becomes more about who touched who the most, as opposed to who was more effective – or how a fighter can lose round 1, 2 and 3, but completely dominate the 4th and 5th rounds and dictate how the fight ends and still lose, but for now I’ll just say promotions that show caged muay thai use this flawed system. Meanwhile Thai Stadiums use a radically different scoring criteria that is better in some ways and far more frustrating in others. On paper, fights are scored as a whole, and it’s less about who hit who more, but who fought better, who landed cleaner, who was able to dictate the pace of the fight and who was able to deal more damage. Thailand benefits from having judges that are actually familiar with the sport and strategies they’re judging, as opposed to having Cecil Peoples and Adelaide Byrd. There is however a few problems with the scoring system. The first is that while on paper the fight is scored as a whole, in practise, the 1st, 2nd and 5th rounds are rarely that important. This is partly due to the influence of gambling in Muay Thai (although again that is a factor that makes the two sports very different), but what is absolutely a flaw in the scoring system is that stadiums have historically not scored punches, elbows or leg kicks unless they have a visible impact on the opponent. A punch will not score, if it doesn’t rock the opponent, whereas body kicks score just for landing cleanly. There is credibility to this idea in that punches don’t do the level of damage body kicks do – but it completely ignores the attritive effects of punches and low kicks. While I won’t say if one scoring system is better than the other, it influences the way fighters compete. Caged Muay Thai that you’ll see in John Wayne Parr’s promotion, or in One Championship is fought at a pace more akin to kickboxing, it’s more focused around punches, and for many that will be more exciting than Stadium Muay Thai. Stadium Muay Thai was best described by my Dad, a guy with no interest in combat sports at all, but had somehow seen some fights either on TV or on the internet: “It starts off really slow, but as it goes on it gets really fast” That pace is also dictated in part by the music playing during every fight. Something absent in caged fights. I think that people will innately have a preference between stadium muay thai and caged muay thai, should indicate more than any of these analytical reasons, that the two aren’t really the same sport. They will both utilise the same martial art, but they’re tools being used for different tasks.

In sumo wrestling, tradition and spirituality are everything. The referees and judges will wear official, traditional clothes. The arena will be blessed, the wrestlers will be blessed and each wrestler will have to take part in the ancient traditions of the sport. It’s all taken very seriously. It’s not just a fun day out for the audience, but it is part of a shared cultural experience that draws upon the religion and superstition of Japan. Meanwhile in the old Lumpinee Muay Thai stadium in Bangkok, you’re neck deep in shouting gamblers waving bills, loud abrasive music wails and there is a profound smell of urine in the air. Two fighters kick each other and with each kick comes a loud yell of ‘Oi’ from the audience, informing the judges that the kick did indeed land. On paper you couldn’t have two more polar opposite experiences if you tried… but then there is the Wai Kru Ram Muay, the traditional monkol and praijid. Muay Thai is an art and a sport that is still very connected to the spiritual beliefs of the Thai people. Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist culture, but a religion alone doesn’t dictate the culture of a nation. Thailand is rich with folklore of malicious spirits, demons and monsters, and unlike more secular countries in the west, the people of Thailand still do legitimately believe in them. Muay Thai is different from other martial arts that will emphasise mindfulness and spirituality as part of the arts values. Kung Fu goes hand in hand with ideals of strength, inner peace and balance, this comes from how far removed Kung Fu styles, and indeed many karate styles, are from actual combat. Spirituality makes up a larger chunk of learning these martial arts because they are fundamentally less about fighting, and more about preserving traditions, though those traditions may well be invented, more than they are historical. Muay Thai exists in a nation where this spirituality is still alive and well, and for Thai people, Muay Thai is less about expressing those ideas, and more about just learning to fight. So, when Thai boxers do fight, the connections to spirituality come not from the martial art as a concept itself, but instead from Muay Thai as an extension of Thai culture. Muay Thai is far more woven into the culture of Thailand, than Kung Fu or Karate are to their respective regions. Indeed, Muay Thai is in this respect, much more like sumo. They are the national sports and martial arts of their region. While the many styles of kung fu and karate were mainly practised by the wealthy middle class, Muay Thai was practised by the everyday villagers of Thailand, the poor, the impoverished. Karate and Kung Fu are respected, for sure, but they are not a cornerstone of their nation’s cultural identity in the way that Muay Thai is. It might be interesting to a Japanese person that you study karate, but in Thailand, if you know Muay Thai, that means you’re a boxer . Children leave home to become boxers, grow up on camps and make their names fighting. When you see those boxers partaking in blessings, ritual dance and wearing traditional gear, it is not an appeal to tradition or history, but an earnest expression of a living culture that you are seeing. Buddhist ideals, such as balance, find their way into the scoring of Muay Thai, a kick thrown with poor composure and balance will not score, even if it lands. It’s not enough to have landed, it needs to have been thrown well . Whether all this is a good thing or not is of course subjective. After all, adhering to spiritual beliefs that stem from superstition, isn’t exactly a scientific or rational way to live a life. Especially when those said spirits cannot be proven to even exist. There is the argument that this spirituality encourages and fosters bigotry – while women are allowed to fight in Thailand, they must climb into the ring under the ropes, due to the belief that stepping over the ropes as a man would, will curse the ring and invite evil spirits to it. This is of course, sexism, justified by religious belief and it is fair to criticise it as that, but it does show how Muay Thai is intrinsically linked with the spirituality of Thailand, for both the good and the bad. Muay Thai as a martial art, has no great opinions on ‘being like water’ or finding inner peace, it knows what it is, an effective fighting style. Yet it is perhaps the most spiritual of all martial arts, as it is an active part of the culture of Thailand. It isn’t a niche hobby, nor is it an attempt to revive lost tradition – it is simply part of Thailand’s national identity, that means it comes with spirituality, both good, and bad.

When we talk about kickboxing, we are usually talking about K-1 Rules, formerly known as Oriental Rules, or even better known as ‘the one where you can kick in the leg’. This style of kickboxing has a few influences but generally we can say that it stems from Kenji Kurosaki’s particular approach to Kyokushin karate, and his experiences in Thailand against Thai Boxers. As a result, we often see professional kickboxers coming from one of three backgrounds, the first and most common background being a gym specifically teaching K-1 rules kickboxing. This is the case for most dutch fighters, and many Japanese fighters. The other two are fighters that come from either Muay Thai or Kyokushin karate, who then adjust for kickboxing rulesets. Today we’re going to examine those two bases and the pros and cons of each of them when adjusting to kickboxing, and decide which, if any, is better for K-1 rules. Kyokushin Founded by Mas Oyama and frequently billed at ‘the strongest karate’, Kyokushin is the progenitor of what we now call ‘knock down karate’. There are multiple styles that train for this specific ruleset, be it Ashihara, Shidokan or Seidokaikan to name a few examples, but Kyokushin is the most common of this approach. Knockdown karate is won by, you guessed it, knock out or knockdown. Where it differs from other karate styles is it’s explicit prohibition of face punches. This has proved controversial amongst practitioners of other karate styles due to it being ‘unrealistic’, although these styles usually don’t practise hitting each other whatsoever. Mas Oyama decided that he’d prefer to lose face punches in order to keep fights bare knuckle, and while we can argue whether or not he made the right decision, we cannot argue that Kyokushin hasn’t produced tough, capable fighters in spite of this limitation. Kickboxers like Glaube Feitosa, Fransisco Filho and Tenshin Nasukawa all developed initially in this style of karate before moving into kickboxing. So what are the pros and cons when adjusting to kickboxing? Pros: Kyokushin is above all else known for tough physical conditioning. Kyokushin fighters are used to taking bare knuckle body punches, and hard low kicks resulting in high pain tolerance and a general lack of fear when it comes to damage. This undeniable produces strong fighters and a Kyokushin fighter is unlikely to be knocked out in a three round kickboxing bout, save for a particularly severe or well timed blow. Furthermore Kyokushin is fought at a very close range and fast pace. This is beneficial when it comes to kickboxing, as fights will usually consist of three rounds of three minutes. The ability to score often and score well in that short span of time is essential to winning a decision. For a Kyokushin fighter, adjusting to kickboxing may as well be a matter of adjusting to head punches, which brings us to the draw backs. Cons: Like it or not, the lack of head punching in Kyokushin is a problem. Every major Kyokushin fighter from Filho to Hug, have all talked about the difficulty of learning to defend their head consistently in fights. While defending your head should seem like a given, especially considering high kicks are humorously legal in the sport that pans face punching – the reality is that training routinely in hard sparring situations without head punches, dulls your reaction to dealing with them. A lot of time spent in Kyokushin will be spent on traditional martial arts skills such as kata and bunkai, which while useful are simply not optimal for kickboxing training. There is a lot of time spent on forms that could be better served spent on sparring and partner drills in order to directly develop fighting skills. Muay Thai The art of eight limbs and usually cited as the most effective striking art on the planet. Muay Thai needs very little introduction, it’s the national sport of Thailand and Thai fighters have always dominated the top levels of kickboxing. Muay Thai allows for unlimited clinching, sweeps and elbows in addition to the punches, kicks and knees allowed in kickboxing. As a result training in Muay Thai fundamentally trains you to compete in kickboxing with a fairly smooth cross over. Despite this however there are still things to consider when making the cross over. Pros: Training in Muay Thai teaches you every thing you need to know about kickboxing. It also teaches simple, fundamental techniques such as the teep, which are rarely seen in kickboxing. A big part of why Thai boxers dominate in kickboxing simply comes down to their use of the teep to control the distance in kickboxing bouts. Kickboxers rarely have to deal with the teep and as a result are usually pushed around by great Thais. Cons: Unlike Kyokushin, you will not be gaining techniques in kickboxing, you will be losing them. Kickboxing prohibits unlimited clinching and elbows, meaning that a Thai boxer who specialises in these techniques is going to have a much harder time adjusting their game to be more boxing heavy to compensate. The limited clinching can also cause problems for fighters who like to tie up to avoid damage, as excessive clinching to smother punches can cause point reductions. This can make it harder unable to dictate the pace of a kickboxing bout. Finally, lets elaborate on that pace. Muay Thai typically favours a slow start as two fighters get used to their opponents. Kickboxing starts fast and stays fast, which means that slow starting fighters can and have been caught early and suffered losses as a result Conclusion While I’ve tried to give a balanced view of the pros and cons of both styles, Muay Thai wins this one. Kyokushin absolutely does work as a base for kickboxing and plenty of great fighters have come from this discipline, but they have to do a lot more work in order to adjust. Whereas Muay Thai training has essentially already prepared you for kickboxing competition and the adjustments have to come from what you can no longer do, as opposed to learning to defend some of kickboxing’s most basic techniques. That being said both of these styles have absolutely, historically worked and no one should feel discouraged from trying out kickboxing if they’ve come from either of these two brutal styles.

Self defence is probably the main reason people get into martial arts, even more so than competition, and emulating your favourite action star or superhero. Every martial art proclaims to be perfect for self defence, but how many martial arts are actually practical? Well to start, any martial art that goes on about one shot knock outs, or disrupting chi, is firmly out of the question. Also any martial art that doesn’t feature hard continuous sparring is also out. So what martial arts are we left with? Boxing, Full Contact Karate Styles, Sanda, Sambo, Judo, BJJ, Wrestling styles and of course Muay Thai. But how can you adapt Muay Thai for safe use in the street, and how good is it actually? Today we will take a look and find out. The Reality of Street Fighting and the Myth of the Street Fighter First lets do away with a common talking point in martial arts circles. There is no such thing as an experienced street fighter, who fights on the streets so regularly that they are able to take on a trained martial artist. This popular archetype that you hear about all the time in discussions, simply doesn’t exist. It’s a myth, and no amount of anecdotes about the tough guy you may have known from college, work or the bar will change that. The guy that everyone knows who they think is really tough and would be able to take on pro fighters, would get worked over by someone with 6 months BJJ experience. However that does not mean that fighting in the street is safe for a martial artist… In the real world, street fights are unpredictable and there is no real way to plan for a street fight. BJ Penn was at one time the greatest fighter on the planet, yet he was knocked out by a pub local in a street fight only a few months ago. In the street you have no idea if your attacker is armed, if they are in a group, or if anyone else will jump into the fight just to be a part of it. This is part of why I’ve always been reluctant to say that BJJ is going to be reliable for self defence in most cases, as the second you’re rolling about on concrete and someone else jumps in, you’re in a lot of trouble. The Gracie’s may have asserted that the majority of street fights go to the ground, but the Gracie’s also claimed that Rickson Gracie, a man who has confirmed verifiable losses in competition, has never lost a single contest. The positive is, it’s very unlikely you will ever be in a street fight, but if you are what is the first thing you should do? Step One: Attempt to Run Away The most important fighting styles for street fighting are the 100 meter dash and parkour. Running away should always be your first line of defence. A benefit of Muay Thai from a self defence perspective is that if you can keep your opponent at a kicking range, you should have enough space to run. If running is not an option, how do you adapt Muay Thai for self defence? Step Two: The Long Guard When there is no clear exit, keeping your arms out stretched in a long guard, palms facing outwards to indicate you don’t want to fight is probably your best bet. By trying to talk the opponent down, you have a chance of avoiding conflict. The benefit though is you’re also already using your long guard which means that you have now created a barrier between your attacker and you. Some self defence circles call this ‘the fence’. Your opponent needs to get past the fence to get to you, and in stepping forward to mount an attack, you now have a safe venue with which to attack. Step Three: Attacking In this situation we are talking about a life and death conflict, so we are not going to worry about any laws when it comes to self-defence. Remember that you are allowed to attack first if you believe your life is at risk – don’t just sit and wait for someone to attack you if you’re certain an attack is coming. When it comes to using Muay Thai for self defence, there are three attacks that I believe are the most efficient and reliable for ending a fight quickly and escaping. Why these three attacks in particular? Because the truth is in a life or death situation you need to focus on the most immediately reliable techniques which do the least to compromise your balance. While nobody is going to be catching Buakaw’s kick in a street fight, the reality is most people are not Buakaw and kicking can leave you at risk of being thrown onto concrete. 1: The One-Two Combo Everybody knows the simple jab to rear straight combo. Nothing else is needed in terms of punching. A jab alone from a bare fist will be enough to stun most people and the follow up left hand will either cause enough damage to mount a follow up attack – or potentially scare the attacker off pursuing you further. There are some silly people, who advocate against punching in a street fight, arguing that you should instead palm strike, because you might break your hands. This is absurd advice, a punch will do more damage than a palm strike and provides more range – and you should not be worried about breaking your hand in a life or death situation. 2: Muay Thai Knees to the Groin In Muay Thai you will train knee strikes again and again to hit the belly of your opponent. If you’ve been training for about 6 months you should be able to confidently fire off a powerful knee. The only adjustment needed is to lower your aim and hit the groin. This is a devastating attack regardless of if your attacker is male or female. Regardless of whether you’re hitting testicles or the pubic bone, this attack drops people. Although it is probably best to follow up with multiple shots rather than hoping one will get the job done. For women being attacked this is essential as women are lacking in punching power when compared to men. So knees to the groin should be used as quickly as possible to incapacitate a target. 3: The Elbow in Close Range When in close ranges, the most reliable upper body strike will come from your elbow. It’s a rock hard piece of bone that smacks across the attackers face, either causing concussive damage, breaking eye sockets or cutting the skin. While at a distance you’re best served punching, if you do fall into close range the elbow is the way to go. Remember that you should only beat on someone enough to stop them, you shouldn’t follow up with unnecessary shots, especially to someone who is down. Step Four: Call the Police After a fight is over, you should immediately get to a safe place and call the police and inform them of what has happened. The reality is that now that you have defended yourself as a martial artist, your attacker will look far worse for wear than you and it will be easy for your attacker to claim that you assaulted them. At that point you explain the situation and the authorities should take it from there.

The worlds of classical high culture and kung fu met this weekend in New York as the Hong Kong Ballet brought their version of "Romeo and Juliet" - set in 1960s Hong Kong and replete with kung fu fight scenes - to the stage at the New York City Center. The performance featured a mix of barehanded martial arts along with sticks, staffs and butterfly knives. The fights were choreographed by martial arts expert Hing Chao , one of the world's most respected authorities on southern-style Chinese martial arts. According to Chao , the fight scenes featured elements of three classic southern kung fu styles, hung kuen, Fujian white crane and wing chun, which would have been common in 1960s Hong Kong. This presented quite a challenge to the choreography, said Chao, since the southern styles tend to feature performers being solidly planted on the ground to generate power while ballet is made up of light movements and frequently involves being off the ground.

Dr. Craig D. Reid, author of the Ultimate Guide to Martial Arts Movies, lists his candidates for the top 5 Kung Fu films of the '80s, when the martial arts movie craze was in full-swing. Did your favorites make the cut? Twenty-first century kung fu film fans are more aware and appreciative of good movies than their ancestors ever were. There are three main reason for this: the mainstream success of Chinese-language martial arts films such as Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Zhang Yimou's Hero and House of Flying Daggers in the West; the use of stylized Hong Kong action in Hollywood blockbusters; and the international success of Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh and their cohorts. Now, without further ado, let's take a trip down memory lane and dive in to the top five kung fu films from the eighties. 5: ​Zu: Warriors From Magic Mountain (1982)​ This movie started the "fant-Asia" film craze, a mixture of horror, fantasy and science fiction with over-the-top martial arts action. It also initiated the now-prominent "wire-fu" action as created by Hong Kong's Ching Siu-tung. Zu gracefully intertwines Chinese myth, brilliant special effects and comic-book action. It's a roller coaster of magic, giant world-protector deities, killer poltergeists and supernatural heroes sporting phenomenal fighting skills. 4: Police Story (1985) Just when Hong Kong martial arts movies were all beginning to look the same, Jackie Chan came along with Police Story. It gave the industry a face-lift by creating a whole new style of martial arts movies called wu da pian — a genre that mixed contemporary themes, fast-paced choreography, and the most dangerous and amazing stunts ever put on film. With no wires, no doubles and no holding back, Police Story cemented Jackie Chan as one of the world's greatest stuntmen. 3: Martial Club (1980) Liu Chia-liang — whose first directed film Spiritual Boxer (1978) started the kung fu-comedy genre — helmed Martial Club, which stars Gordon Liu Chia-hui as Huang Fei-hong and includes a rare appearance by Wang Lung-wei as a nonvillain. The final conflict involving those two — which takes place within the confines of a 3-foot-wide alley and without wires — beautifully depicts the effectiveness of hung gar kung fu in tight spaces. This fight inspired Jet Li's bathroom battle sequence in his latest film, Unleashed. 2: Duel to the Death (1983) Directed by the father of wire-fu, Ching Siu-tung, this film blurs the line between the real and the supernatural. The villains are ninja who seem neither human nor poltergeist. Ching's swordplay action is said by some to have honed decapitation into a fine art and by others to have plunged human vegematics to the depths of beauteous slaughter. No one has ever done a ninja film that comes close to this one. 1: Legendary Weapons of China (1982) The best pure martial arts director of all time, Liu Chia-liang stars and directs himself as Lei Gong, a Chinese boxer who quits an evil sect of martial artists who think they can stop bullets from Western guns. The final 10-minute fight between the 50-year-old Liu and his real brother, Liu Chia-rong, features the most outstanding and authentic Chinese weapons choreography in the history of the genre. Each weapon is clearly demonstrated in one continuous scene that you wish would never end.

Kung Fu, a traditional Chinese martial art form, embodies a rich history and profound philosophy. With its origins dating back centuries, Kung Fu is renowned for its dynamic movements, mental discipline, and holistic approach to self-improvement. It has inspired some of the most unforgettable action scenes in cinematic history and Kung Fu masters receive an almost mythical legendary status! Let's look at the essence of Kung Fu and see what makes this almost mystical art so captivating! Historical and Philosophical Foundations Kung Fu t races its roots to ancient China, where it emerged as a means of self-defense and physical fitness. Its development is influenced by various philosophies, including Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. These philosophies emphasize harmony, balance, and the cultivation of inner strength. Kung Fu practitioners embody these principles through disciplined training, which integrates physical techniques, mental focus, and spiritual growth. Understanding the historical and philosophical foundations of Kung Fu is crucial for appreciating its essence. Physical Techniques and Forms Kung Fu encompasses a diverse range of physical techniques, including strikes, kicks, joint locks, throws, and grappling. These techniques are organized into sets called forms or "taolu," which are choreographed sequences of movements that simulate combat situations. Practicing forms develops strength, flexibility, coordination, and body awareness. Additionally, Kung Fu training involves conditioning exercises such as stances, footwork, and specialized drills. These physical techniques and forms are the building blocks of Kung Fu and play a vital role in self-defense and combat proficiency. Mental Discipline and Focus Beyond physical techniques, Kung Fu emphasizes mental discipline and focus. Training involves concentration, mindfulness, and the cultivation of a calm and focused mind. The mental aspect of Kung Fu is as essential as the physical aspect, as it enhances reaction time, decision-making abilities, and self-control. Meditation practices are often incorporated to develop mental clarity, inner peace, and a deeper understanding of oneself. Kung Fu practitioners strive to achieve a harmonious union of body, mind, and spirit, enabling them to overcome challenges both inside and outside the training hall. Ethics and Values Kung Fu is not merely a means of combat but also a path of personal development. Central to this development are the ethics and values that underpin Kung Fu philosophy. Practitioners are expected to uphold virtues such as respect, humility, integrity, perseverance, and self-discipline. These values extend beyond the training environment and influence practitioners' interactions in everyday life. Kung Fu instills a sense of responsibility, promoting harmony, and emphasizing the importance of using martial skills for self-defense rather than aggression. Kung Fu encapsulates a holistic approach to martial arts, combining physical techniques, mental discipline, and ethical values. Its essence lies in the harmonious integration of mind, body, and spirit, fostering self-improvement and personal growth. Aspiring practitioners should embrace the historical and philosophical foundations of Kung Fu, devote themselves to rigorous physical training, cultivate mental focus and discipline, and uphold the ethics and values that define this profound martial art. If you want to learn Kung Fu and dozens of other martial art styles, check ou t Black Belt+ . Black Belt+ is the biggest martial arts digital platform in history. From its rich history spanning over 60 years, the platform includes thousands of remastered instructional videos, martial arts movies, documentaries, and, of course, digital issues and articles from the iconic Black Belt Magazine . The new app is available on iOS and Android mobile devices and tablets. Or download and subscribe directly from Black Belt at plus.blackbeltmag.com .

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced their list of the 22 sports which will be contested at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles with taekwondo making it on to the schedule. First contested at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Paralympic taekwondo provides competition for athletes with limb impairments or arm amputations. Organizers of the 2024 Paris Paralympics, which had already included taekwondo among their events, announced the schedule for their games this week with the first day of competition set to see three taekwondo medals awarded. The IPC chose not to add karate to their 2028 games leaving taekwondo and para-judo, which is contested among judoka with vision impairment, as the only Asian-based martial arts included.