Martial Arts

Judo EquipmentFeatured

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You won’t need much equipment to start training judo. Judo training takes place on a mat, which is normally provided by judo schools. The goal is to submit the opponent by using throws, pins, strangulation, or arm lock. Competitors can use only the power of their own body to accomplish this goal.

Judo Uniform

The most important part of judo equipment is a special uniform called ‘judogi’, or simply ‘gi’. It consists of three parts: a bottom (‘zubon’) a top (‘uwagi’), and a belt (‘obi’). The colors of the clothing are white and blue. Judogi uniforms are usually white, except at high-level competitions when one of the competitors wears blue in order to be easier for judges and spectators to distinguish them. This rule was introduced in 1986 and is sometimes frowned upon by more traditional judo masters because the colour white is a symbol of purity of the art of judo.

It is important that the uniform is comfortable and durable, not too flexible, stiff, or slippery, in order to allow the performance of grappling techniques and avoid accidents. There are several well-known and respected manufacturers that produce uniforms in traditional style, paying attention to the quality of the uniforms. If you want something really special, KuSakura is a Japanese company that has been producing judogi for almost 100 years and they have a world-class reputation.

Judo Belts

The variety of belt colors designate different skill levels of competitors. Usually, the light blue belt is worn by beginners, followed by a white, and then brown (for seniors) or purple belts (for juniors). However, colours sometimes vary from country to country. These are the belts worn by students and they must all be attained before being considered a judo master. Black belt designates mastery in the discipline and those who wear a black belt are called “Yūdansha” (“a person who has dan”) because black belts are ranked according to a ranking system called “dan”. This ranking system, called ‘kyu-dan’ was invented by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and has since been adopted by many modern martial arts.

Additional Equipment

You won’t need any special shoes for judo because you will train barefooted.
Optional equipment includes knee pads, elbow pads, wrist pads, mouth guards, and other protective items. These can come in handy since injuries in judo are quite common because of the nature of the sport.

You might also consider buying a grappling dummy so you can practice your moves even when you don’t have a partner.

Add a sports bag, an energy drink or a snack to give you fuel for training, and a T-shirt to wear under your gi to the list and you are good to go!

Martial Arts

Influence of Judo on Esports: Physical and Mental Aspects

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Judo, a traditional Japanese martial art, can have a significant impact on the world of esports. While it may seem at first glance that physical activity and electronic sports have nothing in common, there are several factors that make judo a valuable resource for esports athletes. We surveyed many athletes, and they chose Farmskins as their favorite place to buy CS:GO skins.

1. Physical Conditioning: Judo demands a high level of physical fitness from its practitioners. Regular training includes endurance exercises, strength workouts, and flexibility training. These aspects of physical conditioning can significantly improve an esports athlete’s overall physical health and stamina.

2. Mental Strength: Judo is not only physically challenging but also mentally demanding. It requires high concentration, strategic thinking, and quick reactions. These mental skills transfer to esports, where making fast decisions and analyzing situations are also key competencies.

3. Discipline Development: Judo teaches discipline and self-control. These character traits are essential for success in any sport, including esports. Regular training and adherence to a strict schedule help develop the qualities necessary for continuous improvement in the world of esports.

4. Reaction and Coordination: Judo enhances quick reaction and movement coordination. These aspects play a crucial role in esports, where every millisecond can make a difference. Practicing to improve reaction time can give an esports athlete an edge in competitions.

5. Teamwork: Judo can instill teamwork skills. In team-based esports disciplines, such as team strategies or multiplayer online games, effective collaboration is a key element of success.

In conclusion, judo provides esports athletes with unique advantages by combining physical and mental preparation. The integration of these aspects can contribute to enhancing overall performance in esports and promoting a healthy lifestyle among practitioners.

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Martial Arts

VR in Combat Sports

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Do you have a friend that you want to take with you on a run or spar with, only to be met with their desire to stay in, eat some chips, catch up on the TV show “Space Force”, or play with their phone and their Quinnbet Coupon Code? Their reasoning is, usually, that they don’t want to go outside. Well, now they, and you, don’t have to.

VR has become a part of combat sports and in more ways than one. Let’s discuss how VR can enhance gaming, training sessions, and the viewing experience for the average user.

Virtual Reality in Gaming

Computer games are constantly being made to be more stunning than their predecessors and, in an effort to provide gamers with greater immersion, many VR games have been created. People can have virtual chats, play board games, enjoy rollercoasters, and much more.

How does this help your average martial artist or fitness freak, you may ask? After all, that’s what this site is about, isn’t it? As it turns out, there are a few VR games perfect for boxers and those that want to become boxers, like The Thrill of the Fight and BOXVR. Games like these focus on being authentic and giving you a good boxing workout while you are practicing your speed and technique without having to go to the gym.

Professional Training Sessions

Professionals can take it one step further than gamers, by working with companies that make custom VR products or enhance the experience of existing ones. These VR solutions are not only focused on cardio, punching and dodging, as may be the case with most VR fighting games, but on blocking and kicking as well. Companies like Foundry 45, Technogym, and Techtyche, to name a few, employ designers, programmers, and engineers that can make this possible.

The training sessions do not have to be limited to fighting techniques and learning something new. One of the biggest challenges for many physically active people is what to do with their brain while their body is running or doing burpees and jumping jacks. Practicing in one room can be a bit boring after a while, for some, and VR can provide you with a multitude of environments and virtual goals to accomplish by turning your workout into a game.

As an added benefit, during your VR training sessions, you can be like Tony Stark in his armor, getting all the relevant information about your health and well-being while you are trying to break a record or set a goal. This keeps training sessions engaging and informative.

VR TV

When you watch a fight on TV, you are plagued with awkward angles and commercials. Tickets for the actual matches are often too rich for your blood, without counting the time you take off work and the travel and accommodation costs. VR can help in this regard. Following the fighters to the ring or the arena as if you are really there and seeing all the action from the corner with the ability to turn your gaze left and right is truly something else. You can watch a bit of the fight between Wilder and Szpilka from 2016 on YouTube here to get a taste of what we are talking about.

Sports & Recreation

Best travel and leisure places to visit

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Not sure what to visit next in your travel? Want to visit something new, entertaining and exciting? Take a look at these places which offer something for everyone. They are filled with various events, buildings, people, and exciting food. Check out!

Macau

Macau is a part of China that has a certain extent of autonomy. It became famous after many of the renowned casino operators around the world opened their casinos here. It’s different from online casinos with the no deposit sign in options, because these are real, land-based casinos! It is a place that has an abundance of casino venues, hotels, concert halls, and restaurants. In other words, it is a heaven for people who seek this type of entertainment.

Las Vegas

The same type of entertainment is present in Las Vegas. Join one of the local casinos, or go on a tour around the famous nightclubs. Unforgettable stories are made here – you only need to set your foot in this place that saw more weddings than any other city in the world.

Barcelona

If you are a type that enjoys excellent architecture and an interesting historical site, this Catalonian capital is the place you should visit next. However, if you are a sports fan, there is a gem in the middle of Barcelona that you have to attend for one of the unique experiences. The place we are talking about is Camp Nou. It is the stadium for the soccer club Barcelona where some of the biggest names in soccer play nowadays.

Manchester

Speaking of soccer, Manchester has two big clubs that also have great stadiums. Those clubs are Manchester United and Manchester City. The best atmosphere in the city is when the two clubs play against each other. The fans go crazy in the streets, there’s a lot of beer, singing and sports all around you. If you are brave enough – you should visit Manchester to see how supportive your team looks like compared to them.

New Zealand

New Zealand is a beautiful place for people who like hiking and exploring wildlife. There is nothing like going through the green meadows where Lord of the Rings was shot. If you have read the book or seen the movie, this place is a must to visit. It also features the original Hobbit homes which were in this Peter Jackson’s masterpiece.

Iceland

If you like the cold climate – Iceland is the place for you. This country is located on a remote island, and it is filled with various natural wonders which the tourists adore visiting. If you travel to Iceland, make sure to check every corner of it – it is not very big, and every inch is worth visiting.

Malta

Malta is a place for those who love Mediterranean climate and food. This gem is a mix of various cultures and peoples that blended in and grew into a unique country. It has all – inspiring architecture, interesting nightlife, and a lot of gaming venues such as casinos.

Conclusion

If you have time and money on your hand, make sure to check out one of these places and see how beautiful our planet Earth really is. Make sure to devote time to every site from the list that you visit, as all of them are filled with wonders that are worth checking out and exploring.

Sports & Recreation

Best Adventure Sports

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Adventure sports, also known as extreme sports, are defined as recreational activities that involve a high degree of risk. Speed, height and unusual conditions potentially dangerous to life are just some of the traits included in adventure sports.

We can separate them into a few categories such as mountain sports, water sports, air sports or winter sports, and they can be motorized or non-motorized. They do, however, share one common trait and that is that they require a considerable physical ability. Many of them require specialized gear to minimize the risk of injuries.

Kayaking

Not all adventure sports are that extreme and kayaking is the perfect example. Although relatively similar to canoeing, it is distinguished by the sitting position and the number of blades the paddle has. Kayak is low to the water and usually made of wood or PVP, however, inflatable kayaks are becoming a lot more popular as well. The paddler is sat in a kayak facing forward with legs in front. If you got your paddles and your kayak, all that is left to do is choose where would you like to go kayaking – calm waters of a river or a lake or mountain rapids.

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving requires a lot of equipment and it is an underwater sport where the diver uses a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, also known as scuba. Tanks filled with oxygen allow divers to stay underwater for long periods of time. It is usually attached to your back and completely independent of surface supply allowing the diver more freedom and a better experience. Sometimes, however, divers prefer having only a snorkel, especially if diving in shallow waters.

Another part of the equipment necessary for movement is the fins that are attached to the feet. It is one of the most beautiful adventure sports as it offers plenty of various locations for diving.

Mountain Biking

We can call mountain biking a relative of biking. Though, the only thing that they have in common is the name as even the bikes used are very different. They are specially designed to have extra durability and performance over rough terrains. Regular biking is done on paved roads, smooth concrete streets. While mountain biking is done on rocky mountain roads and, through forests and even deserts.

It requires good bike handling skills, core strength and most importantly perhaps, self-reliance. Reason for it is the location of the tracks. Far away from the civilization, many riders carry a backpack with food and water and even tools. Knowing how to repair your bike and avoid being stranded seems like a must. Even though you need to be self-reliant, group riders are not uncommon at all, especially on longer treks.

Martial Arts

Some Lesser-Known Martial Arts

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When we talk about martial arts, most people have heard of judo, karate, aikido, boxing, muay thai, and so on. These martial arts have, in many parts of the world, become combat sports and it is not unusual for people to bet on them, using promotions and sites they find online, like the Bet9ja Registration.

However, this post is not about them. This post is dedicated to martial arts that not many people have heard of that have still arisen from the desire of people to defend themselves effectively. Here are 4 lesser-known martial arts and the places you might have seen them.

Canne de Combat

Most martial arts people come across have been developed by the common classes and castes that did not have the money to spend on armor and weaponry. Canne de combat is not such a martial art. It is closely linked to savate, both being French. Canne de combat was developed in the 19th century in France and was practiced by the bourgeoisie, in order to defend themselves on the unsafe streets of Paris.

Essentially, canne de combat is similar to fencing, but, instead of a sword or rapier, the person uses a cane or stick. The techniques were later used by police with batons. The martial art itself was revived as a combat sport in the 1970s and somewhat popularized in TV shows like Les Brigades du Tigre and, more recently, Elementary.

Silat

Silat is actually an umbrella term for hundreds of styles and schools in Indonesia, some focused on striking, others on grappling, and some even on weapons. The techniques are used by many military and paramilitary groups in the area and the culture surrounding it has influenced many Asian countries.

A subsection of silat that is worth special attention is called pencak silat. It focuses on striking while using dance as a distraction and is not above fighting dirty to eliminate the opponent. It also covers a wide range of styles and techniques. Apart from the media in Southeast Asia, silat is mentioned in a Japanese manga Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple.

Nora Valo / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) – cropped

Systema

Systema is a Russian martial art that focuses on disabling the opponent as quickly as possible by using grapples, throws, joint locks, and pressure points. Systema is designed to face armed opponents as well as multiple opponents at once. If you like video games, you may have seen Leon S. Kenedy from the Resident Evil series use systema.

Arnis

The martial art of the Philipines, arnis is also known as escrima and kali. Besides unarmed combat, its focus lies in using sticks, as well as bladed weapons like knives and swords. While the art itself may seem obscure, you should know that many movies have their actors fight using these techniques in films, like Liam Neeson in Taken, who combined it with silat for the movie. Other examples you may have seen using a style of arnis include DC’s hero Nightwing, as the former Robin loves using dual batons, and the character from the Soul Calibur game series, Talim.

Martial Arts

Best Underdog Wins in MMA History

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As the name of the sport suggests, MMA is a mix of different martial arts and as such, techniques as well. It allows striking and grappling, both while standing or on the ground. The term gained popularity in 1993 when the largest website covering the sport re-published the article by Howard Rosenberg. Ever since, throughout many fights, there were those that shocked the hardcore fans of the sport, especially those that like betting on their favorites using websites like online-rock.com. Those were the fights where complete underdogs took the whole sports scene by surprise.

Matt Serra vs. Georges St-Pierre

On one side we had GSP, a brilliant fighter that had to conquer the mountain known as Matt Hughes for the belt he had around his waist. At only 25 years old, he entered the ring as a huge favourite. Why? Because his opponent was Matt Serra.

Now, Matt Serra did not climb the ranks the traditional way. He didn’t fight his way for the title shot. He signed up for a reality show titled The Ultimate Fighter: The Comeback. After winning the three fights he had on the show, he was, among other rewards, given the title shot. And boy, did he took it with a fight that did not last even two minutes.

Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko

In 2010, Werdum lost his tenure in UFC after a knockout at the hands of Junior dos Santos, and the Brazilian jiu-jitsu superstar was left fighting in Strikeforce. He was on a two-win streak but the odds in his next match were looking grim.

Against him stood the Last Emperor, Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor had a record of 31-1 with the one loss being a gash above his eye after an illegal strike. We can safely say that he entered the ring undefeated.

Emelianenko unleashed a combo of aggressive attacks and after a short exchange on the feet, Werdum was on the ground on his back. The Last Emperor followed up with ground-and-pound attempting to finish the fight right there. However, things clearly didn’t go as planned because the aggression ended up being his downfall. Werdum pulled off a top-notch triangle choke and just like that after one minute and nine seconds into the first round the fight was over. Emelianenko was forced to tap out in a fight that didn’t just shock the fans but the whole world.

Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey found herself in a similar situation as Emelianenko after losing a fight that changed not only her career but the sport of female MMA as a whole. But, let’s start at the beginning.

Throughout her career, the judoka Ronda Rousey dominated her competition. She would charge in and simply overpower the competition without any regard for a punch or two thrown her way. No challenger was able to stop her advance. That is until she faced Holly Holms.

Many fans and sportsbooks deemed Ronda Rousey a big-time favourite. And while Rousey rode a ‘hype-train’ and seemed unstoppable, Holm was her perfect counter. Rousey attempted to end the fight the way she was accustomed to but it only proved to be her downfall because unlike her previous opponents, Holm was a world-class boxer with elite footwork. Each time she charged in she was met with a volley of punches while, at the same time, Holms avoided Rousey’s attempts to clinch. Before anyone knew, a head kick turned the world of MMA upside down.

Rousey awaited to be medically cleared for her next fight. After over a year of avoiding social media, she was ready to get back into the octagon to face the current champion, Amanda Nunes. After only 48 seconds into the fight, Rousey’s MMA career ended.

Martial Arts

Top martial arts movies

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Martial Art movies are exceptionally entertaining for the fact that you can skip half of the film and still get glued to your couch anticipating the next fight scene. Even though these movies sometimes lack a decent plot, they are an excellent fit for anyone who loves action.

Ip man

This is an excellent biographical movie following Donnie Yen playing Yip Man, the legendary grandmaster of Wing Chun, who instructed many future martial arts masters, one of them being Bruce Lee. When a vicious gang comes to town, Yip must face the challenge and fight against General Miura’s man.

This movie is an energetic and brilliant high-quality action drama followed by a powerhouse performance by Donnie Yen. IP man has elements of humour, wisdom, courage, and elegance, so the movie will definitely move you. The fight choreography is exceptional – a completely different approach from the fight scenes we usually see in movies.

Enter the dragon

Enter the dragon is Bruce Lee’s final film appearance before his death, often regarded as one of the best martial movies of all time.  Bruce Lee plays Lee, a martial artists expert who wants to expose a drug operation under the guise of performing in an international tournament hosted by Han, one-handed crime boss.

Enter the Dragon is a very stylish and intense martial arts action film which deserves a spot in the martial arts movies’ hall of fame.  It is a mixture of great Kung-Fu fight scenes combined with an “ironic” secret agent story. Many people regard this movie as one of the best showcases of Bruce Lee’s immense talent, as he managed to merge the Hong Kong and American Cinema successfully. This movie is an all-time classic performed by the legendary Bruce Lee, a martial arts virtuoso.

Kill Bill

“The bride” (played by Uma Thurman) was one of the deadliest assassins in the world until she decided to retire, obtain a new identity, and get married. But on her wedding day, her former colleagues, including her husband Bill have tried to betray and assassinate her. After four years in a coma, she decides to take revenge.

This movie is a vintage Tarantino classic and one of the best martial arts movies ever created. The story is nothing less than brilliant, the direction is matchless, and the transitions and intercutting between dialogues were executed flawlessly. Kill Bill is an adrenaline-driven coaster ride through captivating martial-arts extravaganza, another Tarantino’s brilliant piece

of artistry, on his short but distinguished list.

Fist of Legend

In 1937, a Chinese Martial artist and engineer, Chen Zen returns to his native Shanghai and finds his kung-fu teacher dead and his school harassed by Japanese. As a culmination in the movie, Chen fights the ruthless Japanese general Fujita.

Fist of legend is one of the best Jet Lee’s performances ever and considered as one of the best martial arts movies ever made. The fight scenes are absolutely breathtaking, while also having a well-told story. The music in the movie is remarkable, and it also touches on the theme of racial tolerance. A real masterpiece in the martial artist movie opus.

Sports & Recreation

The greatest sports champions of all time

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A winner is someone who knows the price of success and somehow always manages to come out on top. There are countless of champions in numerous sports, but some winners deserved to be mentioned as the greatest of all time, in their respected sports. If you’re a fan of racing sports such as bicycle racing or horse racing, their champions aren’t known to a lot of people but still excel at what they do! That is why horse racing offers from bookmakers are becoming more and more popular and people from all over the world like to bet on their favoring racing champions. Here are some of the greatest athletes in the world:

Michael Jordan

Still considered as the undisputed GOAT, Michael Jordan cemented his place on the Mount Rushmore of basketball. Six NBA Finals appearances with six titles and six MVPs is a record that usually ends the GOAT discussion. Statistically, perhaps there are better players; Bill Russell had 11 rings, Kareem finished his career with more points, LeBron James is maybe a better all-around player, but Jordan was a natural-born champion. His killer-instinct will is unparalleled by any athlete, and it will be extremely tough for anyone to surpass him as the GOAT, even for the great LeBron James.

Muhammad Ali

Even though Floyd Mayweather is the only unbeaten boxer ever, the majority of boxing experts agree that Ali is the greatest boxer to have ever lived. His combination of skill, technique, hand speed, dexterity and power made him one of the fiercest fighters and athletes ever. He won his first heavyweight title at the age of 22, beating heavy favorite Sonny Liston. In the legendary Rumble in the Jungle, he took down George Foreman, one of the strongest punchers of all time. His perfection is hard to top, even to this day.

Pele

Edson Arantes do Nascimento started his professional career at 15 and started playing for the Brazilian National team at 16. He scored a goal on both occasions. In 1958, he was the youngest player in World Cup History as he scored a hat trick in the semifinals against France and two more in the Final against Sweden. Brazil with Pele at their side will go and win two of the next three World Cups. He played 19 seasons for the Brazilian Santos, where he scored 619 goals in 638 matches. Pele was a true wizard of football, and it is unlikely that someone will surpass him ever.

Serena Williams

Serena is one of the most dominant female tennis players of all time. She has captured 4 Olympic gold medals along with 23 Grand Slams, and she has an Open era record of 80% win rate. Combination of pure talent with the most powerful groundstrokes in women’s tennis makes her one of the best athletes of any sports. No one has impacted tennis more than Serena as the game is being changed by her success and records.

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is a competitive swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals, 23 of which were gold. He has won a total of 82 medals in major international tournaments, 65 of which were gold.  His fantastic swimming capabilities mostly come from his incredible physical attributes. His international titles and record-breaking performances have earned him a place on the list of best athletes of all time.

Martial Arts

Best Martial Arts Video Games

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Now that the Cheltenham Festival is over,  we can focus on what really matters – video games! And not just any kind of video games, but the ones dealing with super fancy martial arts. For this list, I looked for games that use judo moves, but I also added other critically acclaimed games. The list is a mixture of older games that defined the genre and the latest releases.

Mortal Kombat XL

The last installment in the Mortal Kombat series remains faithful to the origins in terms of gameplay and the overall theme while adding even more brutality and deadlines. You can choose from a number of familiar characters, such as Scorpion and Sub-Zero, or pick some of the new additions including Leatherface, Alien, and The Predator: 33 characters in total, each with their unique moves, combos and “fatality” finishers. The game can be played in a single-player and player vs player modes, both offline and online.

UFC Undisputed 3

In this PS3 game, you become one of the martial arts legends, such as Brock Lesnar, Mirko Filipović, Anderson Silva or BJ Penn. Each fighter has their own unique style that the game faithfully represents. In terms of fighting style, you can choose Judo, Karate, Brazilian Jiu jitsu, Boxing, Kickboxing, or an all-around style.

Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs takes place in open-world Hong Kong and follows the story of a cop who must single-handedly take down the entire army of criminals. But it is not just the beautiful setting or an amazing set of moves that makes this game so great. It is also how the story unfolds, following the main character as he descends further into the dark underbelly of Hong Kong. The game features a unique experience system in which you develop specific skills based on three broad categories: Cop, Triad, and Face. These reflect the struggle within the main character as he must decide whose side he is really on.

Tekken

To all fans of martial arts video games, this game needs no introduction. It is one of the most iconic martial arts games, and the fights will simply blow you away. It has seven installments, with Tekken 2 and Tekken 3 often found on the lists of greatest games of all time.

Street Fighter

Together with Tekken, this franchize, and Street Fighter II in particular, helped define the martial arts genre. Its 2D gameplay mixes various techniques, such as striking and grappling, defense and countering moves for a realistic fighting experience. Its last installment, Street Fighter V was released January 16, 2018.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

The fans of anime will agree that this is the best game in the anime fighting genre. It is stunningly faithful to the TV show in terms of visuals. You can play all your favourite characters from Dragon Ball Z in story mode, player vs player offline and online modes.

Shaolin vs Wutang

This beautiful indie game is a tribute to classic 70’s and 80’s kung-fu films. It includes an original soundtrack that will make you nostalgic about the golden days of martial arts movies. The game features both hand-to-hand and weapon combat, 30 unique characters, and can be played in a single player mode or as a local co-op.