Karate meets all the various points detailed in the dictionary definition of a sport: it’s a “game, competition, or activity”; it involves “physical effort and skill”; it’s “played or done according to rules”, and it’s performed for “enjoyment”. In 2020, Karate made is debut in the Olympic games. I’ve practiced Karate for a number of …
Having spent years studying Shotokan Karate, I was surprised to discover that there is a Korean martial art that, in many ways, is nearly identical. This martial art is called Tang Soo Do. I was keen to compare Tang Soo Do vs Karate and to see what the similarities and differences were between these two …
Large wooden sticks are probably one of man’s earliest weapons and have been used for combat since the days of the caveman. It allows you to attack at range, deliver deadly blows as well as block incoming blows. In more modern times, fighting with wooden sticks has become more finessed. Methods of fashioning and shaping …
Aikido and Tai Chi are both considered soft martial arts in that strikes are met with a yielding defensive technique designed to absorb and redirect the energy of the attack. I’ve always been fascinated by both these traditional martial arts and I’ve looking into ‘Tai Chi vs Aikido: what are the key differences?’. Let’s start …
Hapkido and Aikido both originated from the same martial art – Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu. Despite sharing the same root fightling style they have evolved into radically different combat systems. Curious to know what these differences are, I took the time to study and research the topic to understand hapkido vs aikido: what are the key differences. …
Boxing coaches employ a number of techniques and exercises to get their fighters into tip top condition. We all remember the famous scene in Rocky where Mickey gets Rocky to chase a chicken at his boxing gym, in order to improve his foot work and become faster. In real life, boxers utilise a number of …
If you’ve ever seen a Taekwondo (TKD) display then no doubt you too have been amazed at the athleticism involved as the athletes perform a dazzling array of spinning jumping kicks. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why its popularity has skyrocketed. However, perhaps, like me, you may be surprised to know that Taekwondo …
Height can significantly influence success in many sports. The obvious examples are horse racing, where it’s beneficial to be short and light, and basketball, where being taller is a significant advantage. In this article, we look at whether the same is true for combat sports: does height matter in a fight? Of course, there are …
Both Europe and Japan have developed sporting styles of sword fighting. In Europe it is known as Fencing, whereas in Japan it is referred to as Kendo. In this article we look at fencing vs kendo and explore some of the similarities and differences between these two sword fighting styles. History of Fencing Fencing was …
Fencing vs Kendo: some of the differences may surprise you! Read More »
