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What Is Aikido and How to Use It for Self Defense

Today, you are faced with a lot of choices as to what method to use particularly when you speak of safety or self-protection. The market is filled with pepper spray or self-defense guns that are designed in various ways. But aside from personally having your own device, you can also learn from different kinds of martial arts. It is not only a good activity to optimize physical health but more importantly your tool for added security.

Founder Of Aikido

Aikido is one of the martial art that is widely adapted by people from all walks of life across the globe. Its origin dated back in the year 1925 when Morihei Ueshiba, a martial art professional created and developed this method in order to coordinate the spiritual and physical life to philosophical growth. He had enough experience to create quite a few numbers of techniques which can be learned by anyone who aims to protect the self from opponents especially those larger in size.

In the year 1941, this form of martial art was recognized in Japan. He established a dojo or training school which taught this method. From there on, the art of Aikido reached the Western countries. It was in the year 1953 when France adapted this method and was considered the first Western country to establish a training school. Just after France, Germany and America recognized the art also. The descendants of Ueshiba then continued the training school particularly his son and grandson upon his death.

This method of martial art is not intended to inflict harm but only to incapacitate the person attacking you with the use of different techniques. It is termed as the Art of Peace. It works just like the phone stun gun which is designed to cause temporary incapacitation and not permanent body damage. There are 20 basic techniques which can have countless combinations and they involve holds and body throws that can be executed depending on the movement and force of your attacker.

The attacks in Aikido which are called "atemis" are directed on specific pressure points of the body wherein if they are hit will cause pain and temporary immobilization. Discipline and proper use of the techniques are taught on students learning the method most especially that it can cause death when used for different purposes. The main aim of the art is to create a complete distraction and generally defend you by just disarming the attacker and not putting his life in danger.

Aikido is a form of defense that does not use any weapons. But there are some students who try to incorporate this method with the use of a wood stick or a wood sword. Some teachers in training schools believed that it becomes more effective when you learn the method using sword strikes. So anywhere you go when you can just grab on to something like a stick or an umbrella for instance, you can defend yourself at all times.

The art of Aikido is indeed an effective form of martial art and self-defense. The techniques will keep your attacker immobilized even if they stand taller and larger than you.

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Why Muay Thai Is Gaining Popularity As A Martial Arts Form

If you are a fan of mixed martial arts or MMA, you would have noticed that muay thai kickboxing fighters are very prolific in their kicks and punches to the state of devastating their opponents often in just a single round. The martial arts world has taken notice of this martial art form from South East Asia especially in Thailand where it is a national sport and thousands of people are taking up the sport every day all over the world.

This martial art form started out as a self defense drill in ancient villages of Thailand, Burma and Laos where villagers trained to protect themselves against marauding bandits and robbers. It was later adopted by the Thai military of various dynasties in training its soldiers for unarmed combat. Today, it has evolved into a very popular sport that has spread throughout the world.

In the old days, practitioners of Muay Thai faced detrimental injuries and even death as the fighters practiced without protection gear and proper gloves. They only have a piece of cloth wrapped tightly around their fists to protect them from lacerations. As humanity progresses through the years, safety gears were made compulsory in Muay Thai fights to provide more protection to the fighters and competitors.

In the modern world, the sport is being practiced in the far flung regions of Russia to the United States and even in the Arabian peninsular. It is now considered as an international sport which Thailand is very proud of being its heritage.

There are a large number of television networks that broadcast Thai Muay and MMA fights with Muay Thai exponents on a pay per view basis. Live matches are also being organized on a regular basis in many countries. Muay Thai fighters are also constantly pitted against other martial arts exponents in MMA bouts such as exponents of Karate, Kapap, Jiu-Jitsu, Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do amongst others.

Subject to the occasional variations, bouts are usually fought in 5 three minute rounds with a two minute interval time in between. All fights are preceded by a traditional dance by the fighters as a form of respect to their teachers and as a form of warm up as well. This dance adds color and excitement to the matches.

All exponents wear armbands and headbands when competing. The headbands are all blessed by Buddhist monks or by the fighter's teachers which is supposed to bestow good luck on the ones wearing them. The bands are also a source of inspiration and spiritual pride.

During the match itself, a traditional band will play music according to the pace of the fight. The music will be fast and furious if that part of the bout is also fast and furious and vice versa. This is like watching a movie when the background music also matches the scenes of the movie.

However, if you do intend to take up Muay Thai, do be warned that the training is very intensive and should you want to fight at a competitive level, the matches can be very grueling and brutal. Perhaps is could be the reason and the allure why the sport is so popular these days.

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