As a martial artist, you never really appreciate what true pain is until you see someone dislocate a shoulder or pop a knee in the middle of a class. I’ve had the unfortunate opportunity to hear that loud “pop” followed by a blood-curdling scream twice in my martial arts career and neither of them has discouraged me from going back.

Pain and risk of injury go with the territory in any kind of contact sport so if you’re going to participate you should learn to expect and overcome pain if you want to be successful.


During the spring of 1999 I joined a Kenpo dojo in Boston, Massachusetts, that was invitation only. I had been through a few years of training and got the invite from a friend at work who had been attending classes at this school for about a decade. We walked through the door just as this middle-aged woman who had been sparring chose to resist a throw move by the instructor instead of falling as she should have. The result was my first experience with that popping sound. She screamed, went down in a heap, and was immediately surrounded by most of the students.

Later on I would learn that there are actually 5 ways to overcome pain in martial arts and they can be applied in any contact sport…

Relaxation

You should always relax your body as soon as possible when you injure yourself until you determine the extent of how badly you are hurt. If you are in the middle of an activity you should disengage quickly and move away from the contact area. If this is not feasible right away then try not to use the affected part of your body. You will often see fighters switch their stance or even go to an opposite approach in the middle of a round. This is almost always due to the pain of an injury.

Meditation

Meditation is relaxation taken to the next level. Those who are experienced with meditation claim that they can shut off the pain entirely by relaxing the mind and body and simply channeling the feeling of pain away. This may seem far-fetched to some but the brain controls all messages to the body, including the nerve pulses that tell you that you are in pain. If you can block those with the control that comes from regular disciplined meditation then you can overcome the pain.

Blocking Out

Ignoring or blocking out pain is a sign of either tremendous toughness or extreme stupidity. Pain is your body’s way of telling you to stop whatever you are doing so you don’t injure yourself. In martial arts we use tapping out as a universally understood signal that we are at the extent of our pain threshold. You can ignore pain to a certain extent and keep fighting but you need to know what your limitations are. Weightlifters often say “no pain, no gain” and it’s true to some extent. You do need to feel the pain to build muscle, but pushing beyond your capabilities will result in strains, tears, and chronic injuries in your neck and back if you’re not careful!

Understanding

Understanding pain is by far the most effective way to deal with it. That martial arts instructor in Boston that I learned so much from made it a point to teach us all about the human body and how it worked. Knowing how the pieces go together and how they come apart gives you a tremendous edge when you start to feel pain. Is it an indicator of a pending or existing injury or is it just the normal pain of physical exertion? Understanding the difference will enable you to push yourself further without fear of injury.

Acceptance

Accepting pain is for those who suffer from chronic conditions yet still want to participate in contact sports. Everyone has a certain tolerance level when it comes to pain: for some it is higher than others. For those in chronic pain it is reality of life that they have to deal with. Learning to accept that certain activities are just going to hurt but doing them anyway is the ultimate test for a true athlete. There are those who play just because they love the game, no matter how much pain they are in during or after the game, match, or contest. Think about that the next time you think you’re in pain.

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Meditation plays an important part in martial arts across the entire world. It’s often overlooked as the thrill of combat always seems more important, but for who take the time to incorporate some form of stillness and introspection into their path of learning claim it makes their training complete.

Martial arts, including Jujitsu, Aikido, Karate and more, use meditation for a few reasons…

Self-observation

Questioning, without judgement, one’s motivation for training… ego, fitness, self-improvement, violence, kudos, escapism.

It’s not easy to be honest with yourself on why you train in your martial art, and it’s very likely the purpose that first drove you the start is very different from what continues to push you on. Meditation is a place where you can question your motives, your approach and the responsibilities you feel that accompany your growing power.

Mentally reviewing techniques

Meditation provides another way to study kata and forms, turning things around in your mind and replaying moves with precise changes. Meditation also allows you to isolate footwork, gravity, balance, flow, state of mind, power, timing, and everything else that make a kata truly insightful.

Clearing demons & self control

Meditation is also used for clearing ones head of thoughts and feelings that have no place in the dojo, or that could be a weakness in combat – such as rash anger or jealousy. We all have these elements, and ignoring or repressing them creates a ticking time bomb waiting to blow.

So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.

If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.

If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.

- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Psyching up

Boxers, athletes and rock stars… All experts focus themselves before a big challenge. Meditation is there to clear one’s head, center one’s self and focus one’s energy. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth slowly, whilst concentrating on immovable thoughts of empowerment is one way to do this.

Healing

The effectiveness is difficult to prove, and perhaps it’s just delusion, but meditation has been used for thousands of years to heal faster; especially in Chinese disciplines such as Qigong.

Becoming still

Meditation can be described in many ways, but one of the simplest is to begin by imagining one’s thoughts as a pendulum swinging back and forth, never settling in one place for very long.

The constant noise of the world, our lives and our minds make it impossible to experience stillness and tranquillity - meditation aims to slow this chaotic oscillation of thought, sensation and feeling, and eventually bring it to a soft standstill. When your thoughts are still, you can begin to take control rather than be lead.

Designed by Takayuki Kubota, the Japanese Kubotan became highly popular in the mid-1970s when it was introduced to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The LAPD eventually began teaching female officers its proper use along with lessons in jujitsu and other martial arts.

Soon however, male officers and other security personnel began to utilise its strength in subduing uncooperative suspects.

Having a strong history associated with jujitsu and other forms of martial arts, the Kubotan works with the body’s abilities to bring about maximum efficiency in defense. The Kubotan is a Japanese invention that acts as a self-defense keychain. It can be used as a close-quarter self-defense weapon when such actions are necessary.

Used correctly, it can hold opponents in painful locks and strike at pressure points. The Kubotan has been affectionately called the “Instrument of Attitude Adjustment” by many of its users. Today, security personnel of all professions use Kubotans as a small defense mechanism. Mercenary operations utilize its pocket-size strength along with members of the Secret Service and FBI.

The device, as marketed by Takayuki Kubota, is a high-impact plastic rod measuring approximately 5.5 inches in length and a little over a half an inch in diameter. To the casual observer, a Kubotan appears to be merely a large keychain or a key fob.

Modern Kubotans, however, come in a variety of sizes and designs. Some are made of metal and spiked or pointed. Some include hidden darts or tear gas. Kubotans have a long history with law enforcement and defense personnel as well as those looking for convenient self-defense options.

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We got an email the other day from one of our Twitter followers who’s son is competing in the upcoming Ishin Ryu Jujitsu competition. It’s no ordinary Jujitsu tournement either; it’s the annual Infant and Juniors Grappling, Take down and Hold contest.

Try saying that three times fast!

@Squiretwizz is Karateka by training, but his son trains with Trevor Steward Renshi in Jujitsu. You can find out more about the Ishin Ryu Jujitsu dojo here

Last year the competition was open to all dojos in East Anglia and had around 150 children take part. Much fun was had an some medals won. The contest also featured in the UKs Combat martial Arts magazine.

This year they plan to do it all again. It’s to be held in Thetford Lesuire center on 10th May and it should be bigger and better this time around, so if you’re in the area you should get down to support the kids!

If you can’t make it down, be sure to send @Squiretwizz a quick tweet to wish his son luck

The Jutte is a weapon from the Japanese Edo period, used by law enforcement offers of the era. The weapon is said to have “the power of ten hands.” It is a baton that features a one-pronged tine.

There is no cutting edge, but the cylindrical jutte measures approximately 45cm from end-to-end and only 5cm long above the handle towards the tip. The weapon is heavily associated with those practicing the martial art of jujitsu and other Japanese kobudo.

Originally, historians believed that the tine itself was used to stop swords in the midst of battle or in the line of duty for law enforcement. However, while it would be possible for a user to enable the tine to perform this function, most likely this was not the case since the tine is so close to the hand. The potential damage to the defender is high. Most users of the jutte believe that during the Japanese Edo period, a person facing a swordsman would only capture the blade after evading its danger.

A much more common use for the jutte’s tine is to hook into clothing or body parts such as the mouth or nose for better control of the enemy. It can also be pushed into joints or weak points in the body to cause heavy amounts of pain. On the battlefield, ancient warriors used the jutte to trap an enemy in concert with a lasso or a grapple.

Most historians believe the jutte helped influence the development of the sai. In jujitsu, like most other batons and stick weapons, it can easily be used to strike the enemy on muscle tissue and manipulate joint connections.

It is believed that the jutte was first designed by Japanese swordmaker Masamune. It is unknown of the exact date of the creation or indeed when Masamune existed, although most believe it was sometime in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He lived and worked in the Sagami Province where, in addition to the jutte, he developed tachi swords and the tanto daggers in the Soshu tradition. Other legends claim that the jutte was developed by his father, Munshinai.

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Although the bo staff is a versatile and commonly found weapon, let’s face it – it’s a big stick. You can paint it, and sprinkle it with kanji-adorned mystisism, but it’s still a big stick.

We’ve put together a collection of bo staff technique videos for you to check out.

Basic Spin

Although bo staff spinning isn’t the first things you’ll learn when studying bo staff, it’s certainly one of the more impressive techniques. Like with all elements of Jujitsu however, you’ve got to start off slow and practice hard. I like this video because it’s not out to impress – but it does teach some important, fundamental points to bo staff spinning.

360 Spin

Assuming you’ve watched the first video and come back a couple of weeks later after religiously practising, here’s how to pull off a 360 spin bo staff technique. Expect to clip your ear a few times before you master it

Bo Staff Grip

A great little exercise to develop your bo staff technique – just by repeatedly changing your grip you can build strength, control and balance when spinning the bo staff. This is the unsexy part to getting white hot with the bo staff.

Bo Staff Tricks in Karate

So after a few years of twizzing and twirling, you can stick all your bo staff techniques together in an almight kata, play some thumpy bang-bang music and look damn impressive.

Try Not to Do This…

If you haven’t clocked yourself on the head yet with your bo staff, you obviously haven’t pushed youself past your comfort zone! Get practising and go get all Donatello on your opponents!

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The Yawara is a Japanese weapon used in a number of martial arts. Essentially one or somtimes two small, thick sticks they can be palmed and used to throw opponents, applied to pressure points or even break bones. Yawara is also a form of martial arts, and the name is used interchangeably with Jujitsu.

It is believed that this style of fighting developed from a sheathed knife fighting technique called tantojutsu.

While the Yawara stick is easily concealed, it remains legal in all jurisdictions. The effective use of this Japanese tool requires some training, but is characterised by simple moves that incapacitate the opponent quickly. Any object can substitute for the basic six in long stick – a dog chew, a dowel or even a small piece of a branch, if sufficiently sturdy. The flexibility of this weapon is obvious. Small, light and non-invasive it allows the carrier a great deal of protection without violating the law.

The Use of the Yawara Today

The use of this Japanese weapon was introduced to police officers in the 1940s. Professor Frank Matsuyama wrote a book describing the use of the yawara stick directed at law enforcement officials who had some level of hand to hand combat training. As the yawara stick is easier to manage than a night stick and more easily concealed by a plain-clothes officer, the stick enjoyed great popularity among street savvy cops.

Yawara jitsu remains a martial art used by only a select few, and is now taught at a small number of jujitsu schools and other kobudo schools around the world.

The jo staff is a wooden staff used in many forms of Japanese martial arts kobudo, such as jujitsu. The form of martial arts that uses a jo staff is called jojutsu, or jodo. The jo staff is a little more than four feet in length made entirely out of wood.

This weapon is used similar to that of a sword or other stave. The jo staff can be made pretty quickly from various trees, and thick branches. This is one advantage fighters had that swordsmen didn’t. If there came a time to fight, a jo staff could easily be manufactured.

The jo staff is a shorter version of the bo staff, another Japanese weapon. It is said that in the early 1600s, a samurai warrior named Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi came up with the idea after he was defeated in a duel by the famous Musashi, but not killed. His weapon of choice at the time was a bo staff, but it was too long. So through deep mediation while in the mountains, he came up with the jo staff which is about two feet shorter than the bo staff. After he started using the jo staff, it is said that Muso was never defeated in a duel again.

Studying the Jo Staff

There are two branches of modern study of the jo staff. One is called koryu, or ‘old school’ jodo. The other branch is called seitei jodo. Jojutsu has also been modified for the Japanese police force, referred to as keijo-jutsu or as police stick art.

The purpose of the Japanese Sai weapon was debated about for a long time. Some people thought the weapon was intended for just that purpose, to be a weapon.

But other people theorised that the Sai was made as an agricultural too to measure crops, to bale hay, to hold rolling carts in place or to plant rice.

The Sai is a dagger shaped fork with two prongs that are usually curved and project out from the hilt of the weapon.

The Sai is sometimes used as a training weapon in the martial art Jujitsu. In Jujitsu the practitioners focus on the forms of certain movements and sometimes add in a weapon for aesthetic flair. The Sai is often used in kata and form. The tip of the weapon is often dulled or blunt as to not hurt the opposition.

The unique shape of the Sai, with the two pronged hilt, has the advantage during combat as it can trap the opponents weapon in these prongs and disarm them. Even weapons as large as a long sword can be disarmed. The Sai is also a very good weapon for defensive moves. The Sai is a very versatile weapon and is probably best used by those who are very agile.

The Sai in Popular Culture

In popular culture, the Sai has been featured in many movies. The comic book, super hero character Elektra used a pair of Sai as her weapon of choice, and Jennifer Garner certainly looks the part, so long as she doesn’t act, speak or move. Other notable Sai advocates include Gabrielle, the character from Xena, Raphael the Turtle and the Neo in The Matrix Reloaded.

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The Bo staff on the surface is one of the most simplistic of all Japanese weapons. Used in many different art forms from karate to jujitsu, the Bo staff is one of the most destructive and adaptive weapons available to the martial artist.

The Bo Staff is used extensively in Jujitsu kobudo (weapon training) as it offers a range of opportunities for disciplining kata, footwork, distancing and control.

Unlike many other martial weapons, the bo staff has a very long range an enable the attacker to have superior reach on his opponent. Most Bo staffs are about 1.8m long, although the concept of a wooden stave as a weapon can be found easily in most cultures – the Quarter Staff in medieval English for example that rose to popular culture fame through the duel of Robin Hood and Little John.

An expert armed with a Bo can keep a much heavily armored and armed opponent at bay frustrating and neutralising their effectiveness. While this weapon can not be easily concealed, it is so common that most armed opponents will not even think twice about it. For example, in these times it could easily be disguised by carrying buckets or baskets. These buckets would be carried on either end and the Bo staff would be draped across the back. Simply set the buckets down, slide the staff out and you are instantly armed. The key is that you are trained in the proper technique to make the weapon as effective as possible.

The Bo Staff – Simple Tool to Deadly Weapon

While staffs have a history of being used throughout mankind, the Asian martial artist has taken this weapon and turned it into an art form. The staff is traditionally about two meters long and three centimeters thick.

While the weapon has been used informally since the earliest recorded history, a martial art called kobudo emerged from Okinawa in the early 1600s that featured this weapon. The reason for this was one of necessity as all the commoners of Okinawa were banned from having weapons. This ban forced the people to find other ways to defend themselves and using a simple staff proved to be the best.