Inktober 2018 - Day #2: Fundamentals: Grips

Welcome to Inktober 2018 Day 2! Inktober is an event where artists draw 1 picture for each day in the month of October. This year's focus/theme will be on the staff/spear with my notes. Please forgive my crappy picture of the page. Enjoy! NOTES Palm Up/Down grip - Fight initially at long ranges and can rapidly shift hands to center of staff for close-quarters. Powerful long and short strikes using 'push-pull' action of the hands. Palms...

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Inktober 2018 - Day #1: Fundamentals: Staff Lengths

Welcome to Inktober 2018 Day 1! Inktober is an event where artists draw 1 picture for each day in the month of October. There is an official prompt list for the picture of each day. Last year, I put my own spin to Inktober by focusing each drawing on the martial arts. After the first few pictures, I decided to focus on 1 theme for the whole month. Last year's focus was knifefighting and if you want to check it out, please visit my Projects page. This...

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In Memory of: Bob Orlando (Oct 26, 1944 - Aug 11, 2016)

Bob Orlando passed away 2 yrs ago on this date. Bob Orlando lost his long fight with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Bob Anselmo Orlando Lakewood, Colorado Oct 26, 1944 - Aug 11, 2016 As tribute, I'm archiving his "Author of the Month" entry from the now defunct Paladin Press. PALADIN PRESS Author of the Month BOB ORLANDO -- September 1996 Bob Orlando was introduced to the martial arts while on active duty in the U.S. Marines (1961-1964)....

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Not Martial Trained, But Fighting Fit by Badger Johnson

Not Martial Trained, But Fighting Fit.Let’s say you wanted to be good at fighting but did not want to study a martial art. What would you do?As I mentioned earlier, I did a few things as a kid that made me a good fighter and I didn’t realize it.I marched in a HS band, football games and parades. Those parades were from 3-5 miles long as I recall. The Macy’s parade is 5.5 miles. We marched in a relatively flat location in Tidewater, Va. I played...

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I fought at my first Dog Brothers Gathering!

Photo Credit:  http://www.montrealmartialarts.com This is my AAR (After Action Report) of my first ever Dog Brothers Gathering. Many people who train the martial arts don't train stickfighting with minimal protection. For those that do train stickfighting, many don't fight at a Dog Brothers Gathering. And I'm guessing there are few people in their 50's with ~2 years of training going to a Gathering and might I add that the Gathering was...

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The Art of Fighting Without Fighting by Badger Johnson

One of the most important concepts that Bruce Lee and others (Sun Tzu) talked about is ‘Fighting without Fighting’. Why is this important? It involves a methodology of dealing with conflict that gives a successful outcome, with a minimum of subsequent issues. It is a way to empower individuals to handle daily life. It gives an alternative to simply butting heads, using logical and sensible tactics. It is both a way of acting and a thought process...

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Vengeance (1970) - Mala fight - GIFs and video

Friends, it's Friday and you know what that means? It's "Flexible Friday"! I can hear you asking what is "Flexible Fridays"? LOL On some Fridays this year, I will post a video and an animated GIF set from Movies/TV featuring a flexible weapon in use. Today's Flexible Friday features a fight from the Shaw Brothers classic film, Vengeance (1970), where a BG (bad guy) uses a mala (a string of beads) on David Chiang. Enjoy! The...

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How Bruce Lee may have improved skill using biofeedback by Badger Johnson

The method of improving a skill… In martial arts, a skill would be a way to be more effective. 1) Identify the skill needed correctly. That means applying a criteria set to assure one is not working towards a relatively unhelpful skill. 2) Find a way to measure the skill, establish a baseline, then find a way to measure the skill improvements. Ideally, this method of measuring should be similar to the human paradigm and be able to break...

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Some of the Major Misconceptions or Fallacies of JKD by Badger Johnson

This essay is not designed to denigrate Jeet Kune Do (JKD), its standup skills, or various aspects which are quite valuable to learn, including short power, fast close footwork, trapping skills, and over-development of various muscle and core systems. It is an outline to provide practitioners a set of guidelines to help individuals to understand the system and even work on methods to deal with holes in the pure standup game. A layered skill...

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