Are you a martial arts school manager looking for a way to organize, modernize, and streamline your systems? This guest article explains how, using technology, you can update your system to run more efficiently and effectively. If you would like to write a guest article for Little Black Belt, please review the guidelines here.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: How Technology Is Changing the Way Martial Arts Schools Operate”
What is the best martial art for self-defense? While my martial art (taekwondo) is primarily a striking art, the type I’ve trained in includes grabs, joint locks, and takedowns from hapkido. One of my current school’s masters has also been training the black belts in BJJ and judo-based defense, ground fighting, and throws. This gives me a diverse arsenal to have at the ready.
Krav Maga expert Jake Randall provides his insight on which martial arts can provide a solid foundation for self-defense. If you would like to write a guest post for Little Black Belt, please visit the guidelines here.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: What is the Best Martial Art for Self-Defense?”
In the last few months I’ve been adding strength and conditioning work to my martial arts training. I feel great, and my martial arts performance has improved. Guest writer Richard Bennett, coach and trainer for combat athletes and martial artists, shares his expertise on how you can create a strength and conditioning practice that enhances your martial arts performance. If you would like to contribute a guest article for Little Black Belt, please review the guidelines here.
Strength & Conditioning for Combat Sports & Martial Arts: Train Smart to Fight Easy
Combat sports demand it all: strength, speed, power, endurance, and resilience. Whether you’re a boxer, judoka, or martial artist, you need the ability to go the distance and explode on command.
However, many fighters still equate “harder” with “better.” More rounds, more circuits, more fatigue. But strength and conditioning (S&C) isn’t about doing more work — it’s about doing the right work. A smart programme builds the physical foundation that allows your skill and technique to shine.
I’ve always been a fan of forms (poomsae in Korean) and appreciate their ability to focus the practitioner on technique, execution, proper form, and breathing. Forms are practiced across many different martial arts, including Aikido. Josh MacDonald, Calgary Rakushinkan Aikidō, shares his expertise about the history and current practice of forms (kata) in Aikido. If you would like to be a guest writer for Little Black Belt please review the guest writer guidelines and contact me.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: Kata in Aikidō: Form, Principle, and Transformation”
I was recently approached by the team at Parana Sports Industries requesting to submit a guest article. The topic they pitched was intriguing: mistakes to avoid in taekwondo conditioning. Over my nearly 15 years of practicing taekwondo, I’ve made plenty of mistakes, and as I get older, those become more costly to avoid. Whether you’re an aging martial artist like me or a spring chicken, proper training and care for your body will make you less prone to injuries and ensure you can practice for a lifetime.
If you want to submit a guest article for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: 5 Training Mistakes to Avoid in Taekwondo Conditioning”
I’ve discussed the connection of martial arts to mental and emotional health for over a decade; in fact, that’s the reason why I started this blog. I have never, however, approached the topic of using martial arts to manage grief until grief counselor and Aikido student Gyani Richards suggested the topic. The suggestion was timely. I lost my two remaining grandparents within a day of each other earlier this year, which was already a very stressful time for a number of reasons. At first I wasn’t quite sure how to handle my grief. Practicing taekwondo and being among my martial arts friends was one of the best things I did to regain a sense of normalcy and positivity. Please enjoy this beautifully written and thoughtful post and information about Gyani at the end.
If you would like to submit a guest post for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.
Grief and Aikido: Relaxing Under Pressure
“Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.”
— Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido
Continue reading “Guest Writer: Grief and Aikido: Relaxing Under Pressure”
Someone asked me recently about the mental/emotional/spiritual aspect of martial arts. I’ve discussed it many times on this blog. But don’t just take my word for it. Today’s inspiring guest post is from Coach Matt Marcinek on how winning happens in the mind before you even set foot on the mat. If you would like to write a guest post for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.
Everyone talks about toughness.
“Push through.”
“Don’t quit.”
“Be mentally strong.”
But what if we’ve misunderstood what real toughness actually is?
What if it’s not about clenching your jaw and pretending you don’t feel the pressure… but about being calm, aware, and honest when the pressure hits?
That’s the real inner game.
And it’s the one I try to train every day—on the mat and in life.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: Train the Mind, Dominate the Moment”
When Dr. Antti Rintanen (The Internet Doctor) contacted me about a contributing a guest post offering a physician’s perspective on the benefits of martial arts, I jumped at the chance…well, hopped, being mindful of my current Achilles tendon issue. Something we all could use help improving is our posture. In this article, Dr. Rintanen focuses on how your martial arts practice can improve your posture and in turn, other health concerns. There’s even a five-minute martial arts-inspired posture routine at the end you can try today.
This article is not a substitute for treatment from a licensed medical professional. If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related post, please see the guest writer guidelines here.
By Dr. Antti Rintanen, MD, MSc
In today’s world, poor posture has quietly become a modern epidemic. Hours spent hunched over screens, commuting, and sitting at desks have made forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and anterior pelvic tilt the new normal. As a medical doctor—and a lifelong martial arts practitioner—I’ve seen firsthand how movement habits can either restore or degrade the body’s natural alignment.
Are you interested in martial arts training but aren’t sure which one is right for you? Guest writer Justin Mark’s guest post can help you align your martial arts training with your personal goals. Don’t get lost in a Google rabbit hole; find the martial art that fits your unique needs.
If you would like to submit a guest post to Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.
You want to try martial arts, but, uh, you have no clue where to start. Maybe you saw a brutal knockout in MMA and thought, Yeah, I need to learn that. Probably an old-school Kung Fu flick that left you fired up.
Whatever your reason, you now face the question: Which martial art is right for you?
During my taekwondo training with my Korean Grandmaster, I was fortunate enough to learn some HapKiDo-related self-defense techniques. I’ve always enjoyed it and wanted to learn more. I was thrilled when RJ LoPresti of Choe’s HapKiDo approached me about contributing a blog post about their martial art. I’m excited to share Little Black Belt’s first HapKiDo post! If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related blog post, see guest writer guidelines here.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: Exploring HapKiDo: The Art of Coordinated Power”