Dojopedia

Welcome to our advice section where experienced instructors
and guest experts answer your martial arts questions

May 2012

Is the rise in the popularity of MMA changing how you teach self-defense?
Imi Lichtenfeld, Krav Maga's founder, was way ahead of his time. Krav Maga was one of the first self-defense systems to prepare its practitioners for any scenario. He knew that a person could be attacked by a ground expert, a stand up fighter, a wrestler, etc., so the system had to get its practitioners ready for any possibility. Krav Maga was "MMA" before MMA, so we really haven't had to change the system. MMA's popularity definitely has brought people to our gym as Krav Maga is known for its completeness.

Mark Slane is the founder of the United States Krav Maga Association (USKMA) and promotes the spread Krav Maga and real world self-defense training throughout the country. Visit Mark and his dedicated staff at www.uskma.com

April 2012

Is it possible for a person to earn high rankings in multiple martial arts? I recently checked out the website of a school in my area, and the owner claims to have master rankings in a half dozen arts.
Generally speaking, the title of “Master” is granted to practitioners holding the rank of 4th degree black belt or higher. Depending on the art, this can be achieved after about fifteen years of uninterrupted training or can take as long as a lifetime.

While it is extremely unlikely, it is theoretically possible for an individual to study multiple arts concurrently and consistently earn rank over the years. However, unless the ranks are from related arts or are some type of “honorary” rank, any individual with more than four master rankings would be exceptionally rare.
-Dojopedia Staff

March 2012

A local school in my area offers belt ranks in Muay Thai. Are there traditional belts, like in Karate, used in Muay Thai?
Traditionally, Muay Thai does not have official belt ranks. If you have had the opportunity to train at gym in Thailand, you will find it is very much like a boxing gym in the United States. There is no structure, no curriculum, and system of progression. Technical improvement depends entirely on the trainer and the ability of the practitioner, commonly referred to as "Nak Muay" in the Thai language. In an effort to establish minimum technical requirements and to help students make measurable improvements, many schools, including my own, have instituted a colored belt rank progression system similar to the ones used in traditional Karate schools.

From my experience, I find that students retain and learn new material faster with a progression system especially when it is applied in conjunction with a Muay Thai curriculum.

Khun Kru Nakapan Phungephorn is the Founder and Master Instructor at the BETA Academy in Washington DC. He has studied, coached, and competed in Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Art,s and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu for over 15 years and was the 2001 WKA Amateur Muay Thai Middleweight World Champion. Visit Kru Phungephorn at www.betaacademy.com

February 2012

I am a relatively small woman (5’ 1’’) and would like to study an art for self defense. I’ve had so much mixed advice that I am not sure which would be the best for me. As far as self-defense for woman, what art would you recommend?
If your goal is to gain real self-defense skill, look for an instructor who trains realistically and understands your needs. Your training should be direct and effective but broad enough to cover the kinds of situations you might find yourself in. As a woman, if you are ever attacked in real life, the odds are you will be lifted off of your feet, knocked to the ground, or pinned to the ground. Look for a self-defense program that devotes a good amount of time to dealing with these scenarios. And remember, there is no perfect art or system. Effectiveness is the result of practice, evaluation, and modification no matter which style you choose.
-Dojopedia Staff