Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Training Tips

Guest Writer: How to Fight vs Opponents with Longer Reach

How To Close The Distance Against A Taller Opponent In Muay Thai ...
Image credit: evolve-university.com

We aren’t all built the same, which means we can’t all employ the same strategies when we spar. I’m shorter than most of the people I fight, so I have to use different tactics than someone taller. My former master was especially good at encouraging me to fight to my body’s strengths, close the distance, and take advantage of using punches and certain kicks. Velin Draogev offers tips and tricks for fighting opponents with longer reach. Read more about Velin’s background and how to access his writing at the end of the article.

If you would like to write a martial arts-related guest post for Little Black Belt, please see the guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Training Tips

The Role of Taekwondo in Self-Defense and Personal Safety

Self-défense | Service des sports Université Paris Cité
Image credit: https://u-paris.fr/sport/self-defense/

While modern, competitive taekwondo has become quite popular, at its core, the martial art is meant to prepare the practitioner to defend themself. How effective is taekwondo?
Guest writer Michael, whose work has been featured on several martial arts and sports sites, explores how taekwondo technique is effective for self-defense.

I’ve personally never had to use taekwondo to defend myself against another person, but one time on a walk I was ready to throw down with an aggressive dog. I was in a fighting stance and everything. Good thing that dog was behind a fence.  🙂

If you would like to be a guest writer for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Injury and Recovery, Training Tips

Guest Writer: Post Fight Recovery for Muay Thai

Adam Green from muaythaiinsider.co.uk is back with tips on post fight recovery. While this article focuses on Muay Thai fighters, these are great tips for any martial arts practitioner. As we get into training and competition season, make sure you are healthy, well, and having fun!

If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related post to Little Black Belt, see guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers

Guest Writer: Muay Boran vs. Bokator

We’re continuing January’s look into traditional martial arts with a guest post from Adam Green, who writes for https://muaythaiinsider.co.uk/. As Adam states in this article, understanding the history and significance of martial arts such as Muay Boran and Bokator enriches the cultural diversity of our shared martial arts landscape. I don’t know much about martial arts from Thailand or Cambodia besides my love of Thai martial artist and action star Tony Jaa, so I learned a lot from this article. I think my fellow readers will too. 

If you would like to write a martial arts-related guest post for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers

Guest Writer: Taijiquan and Chinese Medicine

Martial arts practitioners are fortunate in that they don’t just have access to learning a physical skill when they begin training. They are also exposed to the emotional, spiritual, cultural, and wellness aspects of their chosen martial art. This article provides foundational information about Taijiquan and Chinese medicine, courtesy of Shaolin Shi Yanhao, co-founder of the Taizu Shaolin Kung Fu School.  For more information on the school and its founder, see the end of the article.

If you would like to write a martial arts-related guest post for Little Black Belt, please see submission guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Training Tips

Guest Writer: Taekwondo Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Basic Taekwondo Kicks You Need to Know About - Healthy Mens
Image credit: https://www.healthy-mens.com

Hello, 2024! Are you wanting to try a new martial art this year? Try taekwondo! Tired of hearing me rave about taekwondo without knowing the details of how it actually works? Guest writer Michael, whose work has been featured on several martial arts and sports sites, breaks down taekwondo techniques for beginners in this comprehensive post. 

If you would like to be a guest writer for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership

Guest Writer: A Self-Care Guide to Being Your Absolute Best

The end of the year can feel stressful and overly busy. Make sure you commit to taking care of you this season and throughout the new year. Emma Grace Brown shares some great tips below that I am going to personally follow! Happy holidays and a happy new year. I wish you all the best in the upcoming year.

Photo via Pexels

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers

Guest Writer: Why BJJ Is Great for Self-Defense

Looking for self-defense training? Check out Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In this guest post, Johann Jansen van Vuuren describes how anyone can benefit from this sport. If you would like to be a guest writer, please review the guest writer guidelines here.


When it comes to keeping yourself safe, you need something that would work in the real world. What would that be? The answer is control. That’s the main reason Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is so good for self-defense. BJJ is practical, effective, and you don’t need to be a pro. We’ll keep it short and sweet–in this post we’ll go over some of the many reasons BJJ is great for self-defense.

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership, Work and Martial Arts

Guest Writer: Work-Life Balance Mastery: The Ultimate Self-Care Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs

Whether we work for someone else or for ourselves (or in many cases, both), we need work-life balance to be a functioning human. As a corporate employee and authorpreneur, I carefully use and guard my time so I can get the job done while staying healthy, happy, and relatively stress free. Emma Grace Brown (see her website here) offers self-care tips for busy entrepreneurs. There’s always a rush at the end of the year between getting everything done and taking time off for holidays and family.
Please take care of yourselves and each other.

Image via Pexels

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Mental Health, Training Tips

Guest Post: Essential Guide to Balancing Wellness and Self-Care as a Martial Artist

This post comes from Emma Grace Brown, a frequent contributor to Little Black Belt. If you would like to submit a martial arts-related article, please review the guest writer guidelines.

Image via Freepik

In the demanding world of martial arts, well-being serves as a foundational element for achieving excellence. Balancing wellness and self-care is pivotal for martial artists striving for optimal performance in both their sports and personal lives.

This article, courtesy of Little Black Belt, delves into seven crucial strategies designed specifically for this unique group of athletes. Each method is geared toward helping you maintain and enhance your wellness routine, so consider this your comprehensive guide for excelling in every aspect of your martial arts journey!

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