Taekwondo classes help to develop flexibility, stamina, agility, and power. It demands courtesy and discipline.

Moreover, it is a perfect sport for self-defense and self-belief. It is part of the Olympic Games as well, so it has some rules.

Source: Vimeo.com

In this article, we will discuss what the 5 rules of taekwondo are?

Requirements and Rules of Taekwondo

1. A taekwondo contest can take place between the competitors of the same sex and in the same weight category. 
2. An area where a fight takes place is 8 meters squared. 
3. In taekwondo, there are three rounds of two minutes, and between each round, there is a break of one minute. 
4. Athletes try to knock out their opponents or score more points by landing kicks and punches at the right spot. Punches are only allowed to the body while kicks are allowed to the head and torso. You can’t throw punches or kicks below the waist area.  
5. If a fighter or coach feels that the point was missed, they can make a protest. Judges look at a video replay and make a decision about the point. 

In taekwondo, athletes aim to punch and kick the opponent and avoid themselves from kicks and punches. Taekwondo involves some challenging techniques and tactics to gain points. You must be familiar with the rules to take advantage and stay ahead of the game. 

In taekwondo, fighters can lose points in case of penalties. Such as:

• Attacking the knee
• Punching the face
• Attack below the waist
• Turning back on the opponent
• Grabbing or pushing your opponent
• Stepping out of the ring with both feet.

• A winner is decided who knocks down the opponent or have more points at the end of three rounds. 
• In the case of a draw, there is an option of a golden point. A fighter with the first landing point is declared as the winner. 

Basic Rules of Taekwondo Competition

Taekwondo isn’t all about knocking your opponent; it is actually earning the most points to be declared as a winner. In taekwondo, competitors earn points by a legal attack on the trunk and the opponent’s head. Moreover, the points are awarded as:

• A Punch to the Chest Guard is Equal to One Point

Athletes need to punch with a good amount of force from the middle to the upper part of the chest. Corner referees count these punches, so a punch must be obvious to all referees to earn a scoring point. It is the first rule to score points in taekwondo. 

• Kick to the Chest Guard is Equal to Two Points

These points are “bread and butter” of a taekwondo fight. You can score as many points as you want by landing a good kick to the chest guard. You can earn these points by using the simplest techniques. Athletes can use sidekicks, roundhouse kicks, and push kicks to score points. More importantly, it isn’t essential to kick exactly on the chest guard; you can also kick on the rib cage and side of the chest guard. During taekwondo classes, this chest guard allows students to kick hard. In this way, they can maximize their scoring potential. 

• A Spinning Kick That Perfectly Lands on Chest Guard is Equal to Four Points

As mentioned earlier, it’s all about throwing punches and kicks at the right spot to earn maximum points. When an athlete lands a successful kick on the opponent, he/she can earn four points. Examples of these kicks are tornado kicks, a back kick, and a round house kick that lands after a turn or spin. A roundhouse kick is an exception, and the rest of kicks are used for defense. In other words, these kicks are useful to prevent offensive attacks from your opponent. In your taekwondo class, you will learn these countering techniques, which is the highest skill level technique. 

• A Regular Kick to the Head is Equal to Three Points

These kicks are not easy to land. So, when you are able to land successfully, you can earn three points. Examples of regular kicks to the head are axe kicks and primary roundhouse kicks. In taekwondo class, trainers focus on leg strength and flexibility so that you can earn point points with head kicks. 

• Spinning Kick to the Head is Equal to Five Points

Spinning kicks are not easy and require discipline and flexibility. These are perhaps most difficult to land and can earn you most points. In most cases, if an athlete lands a spinning kick with enough force, it can result in knocking the opponent. Kicks that can earn you five points include a tornado kick, spinning hook kick, and spinning roundhouse kick. In taekwondo class, you will learn how to use your legs to score maximum points. 

Some New Rules of Taekwondo Competition

For making the competitions fair and more interesting for spectators, rules of taekwondo are continuously refined. So, let’s have a look at some of the latest rule innovations in taekwondo. 

• Now the taekwondo matches are fought on the octagonal matted field of play. It encourages invasive movement and lively footwork. Moreover, it demands good use of peripheral vision. 
• For local and international tournaments, a new scoring system PSS is used. In the PSS system, electronic sensors are built in the protective equipment of athletes, such as the head protector, trunk, and sock protector. These sensors are linked to an electronic scoreboard without wire. When a correct impact is made with the foot and head or chest of the opponent, points automatically flash up on the electronic scoreboard. 
• This technological advancement and use of PSS technology make taekwondo competitions fair and eliminate human error in judging. 

Conclusion

Taekwondo is a sport, and matches take place between the fighters. A winner is decided based on some rules. An athlete who knocks down the opponent or scored more points is declared as a winner. 

Chinese martial arts can be mysterious for both Chinese and foreigners. If you are curious about Shaolin Kung Fu training and want to learn this martial art, then there will be lots of questions in your mind.

We will share about Kung Fu training, from the many results we found for Kung 

Shaolin Kung Fu training for kids

Students under the age of 16 can also get Shaolin training if they are accompanied by parents or any family member. Your kid will also get quality training. Every master in the school is supposed to train 7 students in winter and 15 students in summer.

This will not only ensure high-quality training but also maintain a close family atmosphere within the group. All male and female students can get this training preferably 16 years or more. It depends on the student which style he or she wants to choose. You can even choose more than one style at a time. 

Shaolin Kung Fu training for beginners

This training can help you in lots of ways. For endurance and flexibility, stretching of legs will be done in a different manner. To increase your force and strength you will be needed to do a group of jumps such as Cossack jumps, step-ups, duck walks, sprints, frog jumps, one-legged jumps, and toe jumps.

Monks will help to open the hips at the same time when you are stretching your legs. This tactic can be great for bag work and fighting kicks. There will be lots of running on a regular basis this will help to increase your stamina. 

You will be dealing with stances in each style of Shaolin Kung Fu training. In order to develop patience, endurance, and thigh strength horse stance will be used. For learning advanced and intermediate moves you will be provided with stance or Zhan Zhuang training. Stand your feet at a distance apart, bend your elbows to your sides, and fist your hands in front of you. Sink down into such a position so that your thighs are parallel to the floor. Stay in this position for maximum time as possible as you can. Stay for at least 2 to 5 minutes. 

Shaolin Kung Fu techniques for beginners

Training of beginners includes basic movements such as punches, kicks, stretching methods, and stance. Training for beginners also includes learning of some basic styles and forms. The main purpose of this course is to make you perfect with your simple movements, forms, and techniques.

The purpose of advanced training is to correct and improve basic movements. Advance training involves key techniques such as 

• Spinning
• Turning
• Jumping movements
• Stances
• Kicks

This training course provides opportunities for students to learn the new compulsory form from senior and master trainers. 

Are you familiar with training shoes used for Kung Fu? If not, doesn’t worry we will tell you the best shoes that guys wear during King Fu training. For Kung Fu training you can buy shoes from the “Feiyue” brand. It is the perfect choice for boys. When you try it by yourself you will feel how much comfortable the shoes are. 

Basic Kung Fu training guide for beginners

There are various Kung Fu styles in China but one thing is for sure all the styles have the same roots from Shaolin Kung Fu. All the styles of Kung Fu relate to the culture of China. Training of Chinese Kung Fu can be good for self-defense, person’s health, and it will pay natural attention to the mind and body. Skills, forms, and techniques can help you to reach the true meaning of training. 

• How to choose Kung Fu lessons and forms?

When you have started learning Kung Fu doesn’t worry about the style. First of all, do the basics right and get your body in good condition this will help you to learn the Kung Fu Chinese culture. Look for the history and features of the Kung Fu forms and then decide which training style you want to choose. 

Learning the modern Kung Fu can help to improve the physical capabilities of a person such as flexibility, agility, and speed. This training can be handy in building internal spirits. The first lesson of Kung Fu training can be beneficial for body exploration, improving discipline and energy, and self-expression. 

• Kung Fu forms for beginners

There are various forms of Kung Fu training such as Tai Chi, Bagua, Mantis, and Wing Chun. These forms are similar to those in Shaolin. Shaolin Kung Fu training forms include all kinds of weapon and fist forms. If you have already got the training of Kung Fu and you are an expert then you can learn more complex moves, skills, and internal ones with high morality. The basic training form for beginners focuses on training the physical stamina of the body and learning of the basic principle moves so that a person can perform in the right way throughout his training. So when you are starting a new training session’s one thing that should be in your mind you can’t achieve anything without practice and practice makes a man perfect. 

Tips for the beginners

Guys who are totally new and want to start training from zero and don’t know anything about these Chinese martial arts can learn the basics of Shaolin, one weapon routine, two short Shaolin  Quan forms, traditional Chi Kung, and the routine lessons of Tai Chi Chuan to start with. After getting basic training you can move to intermediate or advanced Kung Fu training. You can optionally learn 

• Xingyi
• Preying Mantis
• Qi Kung
• Bagua
• BaJi

You will have the option to change your class if any stage you will feel that this is not the training you want to master in. Decide about training style and get extensive training of that style to be a perfect martial artist. 

MothershipSG released an article about Lynn Soh, a 77-year-old granny, but also a Taekwondo practitioner who just attained her black belt after going through frequent training where she managed to have her chronic back pain and knee issues alleviated.

Having only started around the age of 73 years old, she now serves as an inspiration to everyone out there who has an interest in the sport but is afraid to join. 

Granny Soh said: “Please don’t wait. Go for it. Don’t say no, the more you say it, the more you look at the ceiling on your bed!”

Is there an age limit to learn Taekwondo? There is no age limit to learning Taekwondo as people live longer and healthier. A 94-year-old man in Indiana is the oldest American to receive a sixth-degree black belt in Taekwondo. 

Many people reckon that martial arts are an activity that one has to start practicing from a very young age.

• Like most sports, Taekwondo practitioners need to have some athletic abilities, physical self-defense skills, and flexibility — all of which are closely related to people of young ages who have greater physical strength and the ability to move around.
• Indeed, as young as five years old, even before they begin primary school, kids attend training academies to pick up this sport.

However, despite these characteristics, Taekwondo has no specific age limit.

There are young adults in university and even adults who take interest in it at a later stage of life. Of course, it is harder for those at an older age to train, given the reduced likelihood of strength and flexibility. But this doesn’t mean it is impossible to learn the sport.

• Contrary to popular belief, older people are still able to increase various athletic abilities like their flexibility and balance, progressing to the middle to higher belt levels.
• One is never too old for Taekwondo! It may be terrifying and challenging for a young adult or an elderly to start learning martial arts.

However, there are many benefits for an older person to pick up this sport, especially at a later age where physical health, as well as mental health, become even more critical to maintain, and Taekwondo can help train both the physical body and the mind. 

First of all, Taekwondo is a sport that requires frequent training that will build up strength and flexibility, so training will involve lots of exercises that will help you build up muscle and clock in movement that becomes especially crucial at an older age.

To begin, Taekwondo consists of both Poomsae and Kyorugi.

• The Poomsae is “a set of systematic series of movements”, which “helps in the development of rhythm, balance, coordination, endurance, patience, muscles, discipline and proper breath control”. (ACME taekwondo)
• The Kyorugi, otherwise known as sparring, may then be a little harder for you at an older age.

Nonetheless, taekwondo training still allows you to have plenty of opportunities for physical movement such as stretching. In Taekwondo, stretching is as important as physical training (PT) to build up strength and muscle.

• Stretching is beneficial for everyone no matter their age. It increases your flexibility, which allows you to have a healthy range of motion in the joints, helping you achieve the frequency range of movement necessary to continue an active lifestyle that is increasingly important as you get older.
• A PT-focused training teaching you the variety of kicks in Taekwondo then helps to get your heart rate up and allows you to work on every part of your body, from your arms to your core, legs, and even the glutes.
• Having a sustained active lifestyle is important, so if you’re interested in this particular sport, don’t be deterred by your concerns about age, for you can do something you’re interested in while keeping fit!

Taekwondo is also beneficial for your mental and emotional health, imparting soft skills like discipline, respect, resilience, and concentration that will help train and boost your mindset and attitude in the face of difficulties. For people who start learning the sport at an older age, it is inevitable that you will face certain challenges along the way, especially if you are not familiar with physical training or stretching exercises — the various forms and stances (Figures 1 and 2) will require you to fully concentrate, push to the best of your abilities and go out of your comfort zone.

Figure 1: The basic stances for taekwondo

(https://made4fighters.com/blog/taekwondo-moves) 

Figure 2: A high kick in taekwondo

(https://www.jhkim-taekwondo.com/programmes/adult-taekwondo/)

It won’t be easy to maintain these stances and take part in endurance training for your punches, or to kick as high as the adult in figure 2, especially if you are not accustomed to such a range of motion. But Taekwondo trains your resilient mindset by making it necessary for you to pick up these various forms. Practice is important and often, people see their flexibility and stamina improve greatly.

Taekwondo enables you to understand the phrase “ If you set your mind to it and work hard, you can accomplish anything”.

Day by day and bit by bit, you will see improvements in your ability to endure these different punches, kicks, and stances if you put in the effort. This requires a lot of resilience and concentration as you push yourself to learn how your body can move and the limits of your body.

Taekwondo is therefore a confidence booster that teaches you to persevere through challenges and also allows you to see the fruits of your hard work. You are never too old for taekwondo, which not only serves as a form of physical exercise but also a mental and social exercise.

You may feel that the sport is something out of your comfort zone and scary for you as an adult entering the sport you commonly associate with younger people, but the environment will be supportive and you will also find that you can push yourself to do things that you thought you never could!

Regardless of your age, Taekwondo offers a variety of benefits for you. You are not too old to care about your health. Taekwondo ensures you stretch frequently, which is something that people should do often, especially at an older age where the joints become extremely important to take care of. 

YouGov surveyed what animals 1,224 Americans and 2,082 Great Britians (3,306 people) think they could win unarmed.

What animal could you win in a fight? The weakest animal you could beat in a fight is a rat or cat (around 70%) while the strongest animal you could beat is a grizzly bear, lion, elephant, or gorilla (around 3%). The other animals include goose, dog, eagle, chimpanzee, cobra, kangaroo, wolf, and crocodile.

The interesting fact is there is no animal in the animal kingdom that no one could not win, including wild animals.

Unarmed combat is very disadvantaged and any martial artist would advise you to run instead of fight when faced with an armed opponent. A bear or lion with its claw and sharp teeth designed to tear your body apart would be categorized as an armed adversary.

Videos of Animal Fights

We will provide videos of people in animal combat (Rat, Cat, lion, kangaroo, goose, and crocodile). Many videos are age-restricted so we only posted the link for you to view in YouTube.

Could you win a Rat?

To start, this is a woman armed with a broom fighting against a rat. There was no winner in the end as the rat evaded the attacks easily while running around in the area. The video garnered 3 million views and noted that vulgarities were used in the video.

Could you fight a cat?

We were unable to find a direct fight between a person and a cat but you could see how agile and nimble cats are in attacking their owners. Foolhardy people were thinking they are stronger than the cat until they get surprised and attacked by their cats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t60i9kPv3xQ

Could a human beat a lion in a fight?

Lions are powerful and known as the king of the jungle. However, they are commonly tamed in zoos due to their acceptance of free food. Some random people tried fighting a lion in a cage with a weapon and shield. He didn’t win and would probably lose if the lion wanted to fight it with its canine teeth.

A man reported killing a young mountain lion in the news. It was also reported that mountain lions resulted in 20 deaths of humans. He claimed to win the fight by choking the mountain lion with many stitches to his nose.

Could a human beat a kangaroo in a fight?

A compilation of human fights with kangaroos ended up badly for some humans. While many punches landed on the kangaroo, the kangaroo had a very powerful and fast double kick while holding the human neck. While the double kick was not lethal, it was great to knockback any human. A longer fight might favor a strong human since the defenses of a kangaroo seem weak and the kangaroo attack is not lethal enough compared to wild animals like elephants or lions. 

Could a human beat a crocodile in a fight?

The crocodile also seems tamed and crocodile farms can be found in many countries. However, it can be seen in the various videos many people are needed to even prevent a crocodile from swallowing a person with its strong jaws. The advantage of the crocodile is to camouflage in the rivers, waiting for an unknowing prey to fall into its gigantic jaws and unable to escape.

Can a human beat up a horse

A human can beat up a horse until the horse outruns the human. Many horses have a temper that will kick the rider off or kick someone they disliked. There is probably not even a fight to watch and begin with since horses are either galloping freely or allowing a rider to sit on them.

Can a human beat a goose in a fight

To our surprise, humans had random fights with goose and ended up with 1 draw and 1 loss to human. A hostile goose came up confidently and with its flying ability to gain an advantage to catch humans off-guard. Other than that, a human should handle an angry goose easily if he doesn’t run 

Conclusion

An unarmed fist fight is probably a bad idea against any animal since it will be an uneven fight against wild animals’ teeth and claws. Fearsome animals were a threat to humans until humans developed hunting tools. Even with hunting tools, animals could run away from humans easily resulting in a stalemate. 

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An event in Olympic that best shows a person’s strength is the weight lifting event. Each Olympic weight plate is 10 kilograms (22 lb) or more are 450 millimeters (18 in) in diameter and made mostly in steel, which is more expensive t than the standard cast iron or cement. The maximum weight an Olympic bar can take is 750kg.



The material used (traditionally cast iron) is shaped by pouring molten iron into a sand mold to shape it, and letting it cool to harden.

• Cast iron is formulated specifically for this purpose because of its low melting point, ie: you don’t need to heat it as much as other iron alloys to turn it into liquid. 
• The plates are then painted, and preferably the paint is baked on in an oven.
• This hardens the surface, protecting against scratching and chipping.

What are weights made of

Nowaday, weights are made from a variety of materials such as

Rubber Weights are Budget-Friendly

Rubber Olympic plates are an affordable option for entry level weightlifters that offer decent quality in terms of durability. They tend to be quieter when dropped than other materials and provide good shock absorption to reduce noise levels in the gym. On the downside they do chip easily which leads to scratches over time if not handled with care.

Plastic Weights Provide Great Durability

Plastic plates are usually injection molded meaning they’re extremely durable with no weak spots that could potentially break under heavy use. The downside is that plastic tends to be more expensive than rubber due to production costs since it must be heated up before being shaped into a plate. It can also take on an unpleasant odor after extended use – another incentive for investing in higher quality weights!

Foam Weights Offer Low Cost and Light Weight Performance

Foam weights, often referred to by their brand name ‘Neoprene’ weights, offer affordability but lack in performance value when compared against traditional metal weight plates due to their lightweight nature (most types have max capacity of around 10kg). Foam tends to tear easily so these are probably better suited to lighter exercises such as Pilates or yoga where less impact is expected during workouts rather than intensive powerlifting training sessions.

Steel and Cast Iron Weights Are Suited For Serious Weight Lifters

Steel and cast iron plates provide greater maximum capacities compared with their foam and plastic counterparts (20-50kg), making them preferable for those interested in high endurance work outs like powerlifting or Olympic lifting. As metal has greater longevity than plastic or rubber it will provide many years of use; however it comes at a higher price point and will require more effort to lift than comparable options due to its greater mass density – something which needs some serious consideration before purchase!

Coating of weights can also be rubber or urethane-coated. 

• Rubber – weights may be cheap but have a strong odor that can be unpleasant for users. Rubber-coated weights can also degrade from sunlight. 
• Urethane-coated – More expensive than rubber-coated. These weights are durable and more shock resistant than rubber-coated weights. These weights have greater wear strength and warranty as compared to rubber-coated weights. And finally, the urethane will not produce odor even it is used for a long time. 

High-quality weights such as Hampton uses interchangeable weight disks, and weight is distributed evenly. So, in this case, even heavier weights wouldn’t put too much stress on your wrists. Another important thing that must be considered is weight storage. Hex-head weights offer limited storage options, while disc-style weights provide more flexibility and storage spaces. 

Cheap Homemade Weights

The purpose of the weights is to keep you fit and keep your body in shape. 

• In just $10, you can make your free weights. It can be a perfect choice to add resistance to your workout routine. Go to the local hardware store; take PVC scrap tubes, wet sand, glue, and sandpaper. Your homemade weight is ready in just a few minutes. 
• Fill a clean plastic jug with water, sand, or concrete. Make sure that jug has a handle, and it will allow you to complete your exercise. Make use of this handle to lift and lower the jugs as you would do with any hand weight. With this hand weight, you can perform tricep exercises, pec flyes, bent over rows, and shoulder raises.  For lunges and squats, you can hold these weights to your sides. 
• Use canned goods as hand weights. Pick up canned goods that fit into your hands. If you are starting your workout and want to build muscles, then the canned goods can be useful. Larger-canned goods can be used as heavier weights. 
• Plastic water bottles can also be used as dumbbells. Take your plastic bottles and fill them with pebbles, sand, or water. While filling any of the material, make sure that weight is equal in both the bottles. Lift the bottles similarly as you would lift the dumbbells. 
• Take an old basket and drill a hole in it. The hole should be large enough to insert weighted material. Put the funnel in a hole and add sand or pebbles into it until you achieve the desired weight. A bike tire patch kit or duct tape can be used to fill the hole. This weight can be used as a medicine ball. 
• Use socks to make wrist weights.  Take dry beans and fill beans into clean socks. For heavier weights, you can use pebbles. Glue or sew the open end of the sock. Use Velcro on both ends so that you can easily remove them. Take the help of a scale to measure and balance weight. Fill the socks as much as you want and cut the excess fabric. For heavier weights, use large-sized socks. When you are choosing a sock, make sure that it is large enough that can be easily wrapped around your wrist. Keep filling it until it completely wraps around your wrist and then seals the ends and cut the excess fabric. 
• For mini weights, use beans or rice packets. For a beginner, these packets can be useful and more than enough. These packets can be suitable for small weight lifting moves and bicep curls. 
• The bicycle tire tube can also be cut and turned into hand weights. Take a tube and cut it into two equal lengths. First, secure one end, using duct tape, and then fill sand and do the same to secure the second end. Another way is to leave them flat and turn them into circles when their ends start touching, put a duct tape. It is the best method to make weights of different sizes. Use a scale to measure the weight, and start with one to three pounds, and then after some time tries 5 or 8 pounds. 

These are homemade ways to make your hand weights. If you want to buy weights from the market, and you are considering which weights are right for you, don’t just consider the price. It is better to invest in high-quality weights that are made from better material, offer excellent grip, and weight distributions. All these factors will make your weight a good purchase. 

Have you ever wanted to know the average weight and height of a sumo wrestler? We discuss our findings on this fascinating sport – read on to find out more!

Sky Hoon. About Martial Art Fan He started his love on martial arts by watching MMA and Angela Lee. He then started this blog to learn more about the different martial arts.

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Fencers have to gear up because fencing is a dangerous sport.

How dangerous is fencing? Fencing can lead to common injuries and death in rare cases. The most well-known fencing death is Vladimir Smirnov, who suffered injuries during the 1982 World Championships that later killed him.

Nevertheless, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, University of North Carolina,

• there were around 1,689 fatalities from football injuries in the US between 1931 and 2007.  
• there were only 7 fatalities in fencing in a similar period worldwide — and no fatalities in the US.

Fencing Fatalities in 3 Countries

Italy 1928 Fencing Death

The fatal accident happened on the 19th of July at the World Championships in Rome in 1982 when Vladimir Smirnov was fencing foil against West German fencer Matthias Behr.

• Smirnov was a former Olympic champion and a star of the sport in Russia.
• During the foil match, Behr’s foil blade broke off, went through Smirnov’s mask, through his eye socket, and into his brain.
• Smirnov lived for nine days before he succumbed to his injuries. 

Ioan Pop, the international technical director for fencing’s governing body (FIE), said

The current standard of safety in the sport owed much to the accident 40 years ago.

Japan 2005 Fencing Death

On Oct 2, 2005, there was a reported death of a fencer in Japan. Mr. Yukito Uetani (55), the president of the Prefectural Fencing Association had the sword of a high school boy stabbed under his armpit. Uetani was taken to the hospital but died of hemorrhagic shock. 

• The sword entered through the cuffs of the armor. The wound was about 15 cm deep and had reached the lungs.
• According to the police station investigation, Mr. Uetani suddenly took a long time to sit down and fell on his back during the match. The sword is 1 meter 04 in length and 0.7 cm in diameter, and the tip of the sword is flat for safety. 
• The referee confirmed both swords and armor were worn before the match, but there were no abnormalities. 　
• Mr. Uetani was participating in the fencing competition Foil at the Mie Sports Festival. Foil is a competition that attacks only the opponent’s torso. Mr. Uetani wore armor to protect the left arm, shoulders, and chest of his dominant arm under the uniform covering his whole body, but when he extended his left arm, the opponent’s sword seemed to enter. 　
• Mr. Uetani has been fencing for about 40 years and won the 1975 Mie National Athletic Meet Adult Men’s Epe. On that day, he participated in the game while serving as the competition chairman.

Ukraine 2004 Death

A teenage fencer died after a broken blade penetrated his chest during a bout at the Junior Games in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Friday.

• Yevgen Prokopyev was fatally wounded when his opponent’s foil broke and stabbed the 17-year-old in the chest, puncturing his lung, local media reported.
• Doctors tried to save the fencer’s life at the scene but failed, prompting organizers to cancel the competition.
• During an attack, the foil of the sportsman broke. But he already couldn’t come to a stop and with the broken blade fatally injured his opponent Yevgeny Prokop’eva.  The event was especially shocking as all safety equipment was being used at the event.
• The head judge took the decision to immediately halt the competition, which would have continued until March 17th.

The root cause of foil thrusting into the body leading to death is not unknown. Therefore safety gears were always worn and check before every competition. The gear even includes a plastron, an underarm protector, that is worn underneath the jacket.

Nevertheless, the fencing blades exhibit poor durability and are broken easily after a short period of usage. Moreover, the lack of standardization for the production of lower quality fencing blades makes it difficult to obtain desired properties.

As seen in 2 of the 3 cases, the unbroken blade led to an unexpected penetration through the protective gear. It does not happen often which is why fencing is still deemed as a relatively safe sport, in comparison to death in football or other sports.

Conclusion

Fencing injuries usually involve bodily strains and sprains because of the high speed and acceleration of movement over time. I would say don’t worry as fencing is relatively safe, especially with its presence in Olympics to ensure fairness and safety.

Lethwei is also known as Burmese bare-knuckle boxing and was developed before Muay Thai. Besides their similar origins in South East Asia and the history of battlefield combat arts, there are many differences between Lethwei and Muay Thai.

We have summarized the differences and similarities between Lethwei and Muay Thai in the following table:-

The Origin of Lethwei vs Origin of Muay Thai

Both muay Thai and Lethwei developed from battlefield combat arts. In Thailand or ancient Siam warriors trained in Krabi krabong which included weapons as well as hand-hand.

• The earliest record of Lethwei traced its way back to the Pyu Empire where the warriors used early versions of the Lethwei. They used it in battles against other countries. 
• Muay Thai is said to have originated in the early tribal migration from the South of China to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It is said that one of the tribes known as the Siamese fought fiercely for their survival as they moved south and had fights with other tribes on their way.

Lethwei and Muay Thai are also known as the Art of 9 Limbs and Art of 8 Limbs respectively

• Lethwei is known as the ‘Art of 9 Limbs’ due to the use of the eight limbs (Legs, Hands, Knees, elbows) and headbutts.
• Meanwhile, Muay Thai is known as the ‘Art of 8 Limbs’ due to the use of the eight limbs (Legs, Hands, Knees, elbows) and headbutts that are disallowed.

Competition Format of Lethwei vs Competition Format of Muay Thai

Muay Thai is very similar to Lethwei in so many ways but there are notable differences

The equipment gear and fighting

• For many Burmese, the addition of boxing gloves meant that Muay Thai has become the more easy route for foreign fighters to take. With the boxing glove, Muay Thai focuses on kicking and roundhouse.
• Lethwei appears to take all the good elements of Muay Thai and combined them with bare-knuckle boxing and headbutts. It has been deemed by many as the most violent combat sport on the planet, yet only now is beginning to gain momentum on the world stage. 

Lethwei fights are known for their brutality, which for some makes it quite unpalatable. However with growing interest and a steady stream of fighters from outside Myanmar showing a keen interest and knack for the sport. It may not be too long before we do see Lethwei finally go more mainstream with more focus on safety.

Modernization of Lethwei for the modern-day competition included establishing rules, the modern-day ring, referee, and judges which have been used since 1953.

• In 2016, Myanmar’s first international promotion called World Lethwei Championship or WLC launched its events using the modern Lethwei rules In 2019, the WLC marked history by broadcasting the first Lethwei event internationally.
• In 2017, Muaythai was included in the Olympics World Games. Muay Thai was shortened to MuayThai as it was deemed invalid by the global SportAccord to have a country (i.e. Thai) in its name.

Dave Leduc, aka. “The Nomad” spoke to Muay Thai Guy on LethWei

The transition to Lethwei was very natural. I was born and trained to fight in that style, from the physical to the mental aspect. After winning a spot on the Tiger Muaythai sponsored fighters team in early 2016, I went a full year dominating the Phuket Muay Thai circuit. Then I got a call to make my debut fight in the Lethwei World Championship against the undefeated 75 kg champion (36-0).

Lethwei Weight Distribution?

In addition to the stance and movement, these fighters tend to distribute most of their weight towards the back leg so they can be light on their front leg.

How do Lethwei fighters use headbutt attacks?

Lethwei fighters commonly set up their headbutt attacks with punching combinations as they shorten the distance between themselves and the opponent.

How long will it take to pick up Taekwondo black belt quickly? The fastest proclaimed Taekwondo black belt, with some Karate background, took slightly over 2 years. However, the average time taken is around 5 years and can take as long as 40 years if you are as committed as Dr. Harlan Van Over, who received it at 94 years old.

grappleshot in Reddit shared:

I started training in my current style (Taekwondo) January 2014. I was going to test for 1st dan June 2015 but broke my shoulder in a bike accident. I had surgery in October 2015 and finally tested successfully in August 2016. But I came from another style (Shotokan Karate), already a black belt, just not trained for many years. Another guy at my club came from an ITF club as a 3rd dan and graded in 18 months. We were both over 40 years old (just). Every other student I know has taken 5+ years.

I only trained 2 days a week for an hour per session, but it was more just learning the forms and tiny adjustments to stances and kicks. I graded at the rate of nearly a Kup a month. My Kwan allows gradings per month (although rare) at the discretion of the Sabum nim.

This article will list more things you may want to take note of that can either be encouraging or discouraging for you. 

No doubt learning anything new takes a lot of time and effort, and in Taekwondo, to achieve your first highest black belt level, it might take an average of five years. However, undoubtedly, this varies from individual to individual depending on your physical abilities and the amount of effort you are willing to put in. 

• I mentioned 77-year-old Ms. Lynn Soh in my previous article on if you are too old for Taekwondo, who took approximately three to four years to achieve her first black belt.
• The second inspiring figure, Dr. Harlan Van Over, who was the oldest person to receive and hold a 6th dan at 94 years old, also began at a later age of 59 years old but remained committed to the sport for decades. 

Lynn Soh, 77-year-old who achieved her first black belt earlier this year (Source: Mothership Singapore)

Your focus on this journey you intend to take shouldn’t be the number of years that you will take to achieve a black belt in taekwondo.

These two individuals show us that age is no limiting factor that prevents one from practicing martial arts, and there are no set years that one should achieve their black belt! Ms. Lynn Soh and Dr. Harlan Van Over serve as great inspirational figures and they remind us just how important dedication and commitment are in anything that we do. 

Learning any new skill, especially martial arts, requires great mental focus and discipline and can teach us patience and perseverance. Of course, as you attend training, you may find out that your stamina and physical strength can greatly affect your initial determination and interest in the sport. 

Indeed, if before joining Taekwondo, you’re not already accustomed to frequent physical training sessions and flexibility training sessions, then the first few months will be a challenge for you. Especially since Taekwondo is a rather strenuous sport, you need a lot of discipline and determination to push through the first few difficult months of training sessions and continue so that you can achieve the black belt level. 

• Typically, a beginner starts learning Poomsae patterns and these include a variety of movements like kicks, stances, and punches that one may not feel used to. This range of movements may be uncomfortable and difficult since it requires some degree of flexibility and strength.
• For some, flexibility may be an obstacle, but for others, strength may be the greater issue at hand. In any kick or punch you execute, you must be in the correct form and display the right amount of power, so these two factors that are related to physical ability—flexibility and strength—are key in this particular sport but maybe great challenges for beginners.

Some may say “one is never too old for Taekwondo or any other sport”, and I second this. Yet I’d also like to bring caution to this phrase and remind anyone interested to pursue the sport: With any other new skill, especially one relating to sports, physical strength is important. But mental strength is all the more crucial for those joining at a later age.

Physical strength and flexibility can be built up and improved as long as you consistently train and are ready to give it you’re all. But the amount of hard work you have to put in may greatly exceed what you think is required, especially for those who are not used to participating in sports activities. Learning the different fundamental movements and techniques (Figure 2) requires a lot of hard work and discipline, for it doesn’t come naturally and easily to the vast majority of individuals, especially those who join the sport at a later age.

Examples of some stances, kicks, and punches that are not the easiest for everyone (Source: Made4fighters)

On top of physical strength, beginners who join at a later age also need to build up their mental strength to push through the training that may be difficult at the start. After weeks or months of training, you may begin to feel frustrated at the rate of your progress or the fact that you are not improving as quickly as you wish you would. But remember: All things take time. You may feel low-spirited now, but when you persevere and prove to yourself that you can complete the training sessions you once found difficult, your overall self-esteem, confidence, as well as your physical ability, may greatly exceed what you had begun your Taekwondo journey with!

At this point, it is perhaps good to note that it is not the belt level you hold or the amount of time you took to achieve each of them that makes up your taekwondo journey. Rather, the values that you will learn, the mastering of physical strength and control, and the friendships that you’ll make may become the more memorable aspects of this journey of yours.

With that said, at different clubs, you may find different practice styles and rules when it comes to training and matters related to belt promotion. Some clubs and schools may focus on quickly promoting their members from belt to belt, and this may easily create a false sense of accomplishment for you.

If you take a look at the techniques learned in the eight different Taegeuk Poomsae patterns and the nine dan Poomsae patterns (ACME Taekwondo), you may notice stances, kicks, and punches are repeated. This means that having a strong foundation and mastering these basic movements is extremely key in this sport, so there is no rush to achieve the highest belt levels within the shortest time possible or even by a certain age.

Find a club with an environment and culture in which you are comfortable training. Be consistent in practicing your basic movements. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from the seniors and coaches. Be tenacious and learn from your mistakes. Be patient and learn at your own pace. It is key that you do not enter Taekwondo with the sole mindset of simply progressing up the different belt levels as quickly as you can. What’s more important is that you master the basic movements so that your progress and future belt advancement can be achieved smoothly. With this, you may feel a greater sense of accomplishment!

Taekwondo, like any other skill, is a big commitment. It may take very long for you to see results and it may be extremely challenging to push through the first few months when you’re still getting used to the frequent training and different movements that you’ve never tried before. But as long as you have patience and perseverance and are willing to put in the hard work, you can do it. Besides, you will have your fellow peers and seniors alongside you, guiding you and learning with you along the way!

I’d like to end this article with a few sentences that a friend of mine in Taekwondo always says: “Do not undermine the effort and dedication that others have poured into their Taekwondo journey. Remain committed to your progress and continue training hard with your friends. One day, your effort will pay off too.”

Indeed, as the saying goes: “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.” 

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Having the Best Martial Arts Mats For Home is important. We’ve reviewed the Martial Arts Mats For Home so that you can choose whether you preferred to go budget, popularity, or premium.If you’re reading this now, you’re might be looking for answers to your questions.Questions like, ‘what are the best martial mats for the home?‘, ‘how to clean martial arts mats?‘, or ‘where to buy martial arts mats‘.

In this review, we’re going to answer all of these questions and take you through what we researched.

1 3/9″ / 35mm

Shock Absorbent

G-Max certified and passes ASTM F355A & ASTM f1081

Our Reviews

Get Rung Martial Art Mats (1 Inch) 25mm 

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Get Rung has been serving North America since 2003. They claimed to be the only matting company that opens 7 days a week. Most importantly, the pricing is for the budget (though their website looks outdated).

Their dense foam mats have a one-year normal limited warranty against manufacturing defects under normal daily use, excludes outdoor applications. If mats are thought to be deteriorating under normal use within the warranty period, you can contact their customer service.  

• The nature of EVA of foam allows for some expansion and contraction and slight color variations. Due to this, we cannot accept returns for color and thickness variations unless the tiles are off more than 2mm in thickness or if colors are substantially different.  

• Before sending any replacement products, email them a digital picture showing the issues for their review. It is typically not necessary to send the product back for review.

The thickness of the Get Rung Martial Art Mats (1 Inch) 25mm is just right, allowing some shock impact for practicing at home.

They claimed to be perfect for karate, martial arts, judo, Jiu-Jitsu

The Get Rung Mat is not the best though as it is reported to be more of 7/8″ inch instead and not recommended for impactful Judo throws. 

Otherwise, the Get Rung Martial Art Mats is perfect for multi-use with color choices instead of the standard black.

Pros

• Competitive price for thickness
• 3 color choices
• Safety tested and Fire Retard
• Long History since 2003
• Long-Lasting based on TrustPilot reviews

Cons

• Dated official website
• Inconsistent colors from some negative TrustPilot reviews

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Stalwart Foam Mat Floor Tiles, Interlocking EVA Foam Padding 

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Stalwart provides power tools and products besides mats. They are widely available and can also be found in Staples and Home Depot.

The Stalwart Foam Mat Floor Tiles, Interlocking EVA Foam Padding is a multipurpose soft flooring for exercising, yoga, camping, kids, babies, and also cats. There are stories in which cats are ripping them apart instead of furniture.

The Foam Moat is not the best though as it is only 0.5″ so the impact is going to be painful.

Otherwise, the Stalwart Foam Mat Floor Tiles decently built and suitable.

Pros

• Multipurpose and good if you have kids or cats
• Widely available in other stores for checking the quality

Cons

• Not thick enough for impactful martial arts

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AK Athletics 12 x 12 Roll-Up Home Use Wrestling Mat Black with Red Circles and Starting Lines

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AK Athletics is established since 1990 and provides professional mats and training blocks for all kinds of martial arts like judo, taekwondo, and martial arts, 

Their factory, a 32,000 square foot facility, and our highly skilled workforce are responsible for foam cutting, woodworking, and industrial sewing operations. They have manufactured our products for over 30,000 facilities nationwide and now over 100,000 customers including Fortune 500 companies directly from our website.

The AK Athletics 12 x 12 x  1 3/8″ Roll-Up Home Use Wrestling Mat Black with Red Circles and Starting Lines is no exception from the usual quality. It is designed to absorb shocks with G-Max certification and passes ASTM F355A & ASTM f1081.

G-Max testing refers to a result in gravities which is the ratio of the maximum acceleration/deceleration that is experienced during an impact.

Pros

• G-Max tested for high impact martial arts

Cons

• More choices can only be found at their website
• It is heavy at 60 pounds

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Martial Arts Mats For Home

By now you’ve probably ear-marked your favorite, but probably want a little more information – that’s why you’re still reading, right?

Well, you’re in luck…because we created an in-depth informational guide for finding Martial Arts Mats For Home, so if you are still unsure or you have any final questions, this buyer’s guide should do the trick

Shock Protection and Mat Burn for Martial Arts

If you are going for high impact martial arts like judo, you need shock protection. Typically, the thicker the mats the better the protection. The material is super important as well. EVA Form is commonly used for shock-absorbing qualities compared to other cheaper material.

• 1-inch thick is needed for Karate, Taekwondo, or other Striking Arts disciplines. These mats will usually have a smooth surface finish that works well for bare feet or soft shoes.

• For ground fighting skill development and training, 1.25 to 1.5 inch thick and surfaced with a no-burn tatami top are ideal for BJJ, judo, grappling, or Jiu-Jitsu style training.

The mat surface tatami texture is designed to prevent mat burns and is most suitable for bare feet. Soft shoes can be worn, but they may scuff the matt. These puzzle mats are all waterproof and reversible. Some  Mat burns are painful and need to be clean

For professional use, you should consider the color and design too as many mats might look “childish” or discolor unevenly.

How to Clean Martial Arts Mats

As your mats will be covered with sweat, dirt, hair, and sometimes blood (ouch!), the ease of cleaning the mat is important.

If you do not clean your mat, there is a high risk of getting ringworm or staph, especially in sweaty sports like Jiu-Jitsu or grappling martial arts. You must disinfect the mats to prevent the bacteria from staying on the mat.

Below are the recommended steps to clean your mats:

1. Vacuuming a mat or sweeping a mat to get rid of dirt and hair
2. Disinfect the mats with antibacterial soap and water 

• There is also mat cleaner which we feel is unnecessary and might harm the mat with its chemical
• Do not use bleach or you will discolor your mat
• Some martial clubs expose their mats regularly to UV sunlight too

That is all you need! Keep clean and clean regularly. 

Our Choice

Our choice is the AK Athletics G-Max certified mats for professional sports. For simpler or practice sports, just get a 1-inch EVA Form mat as those will last and value for money. 

It depends on your usage and selecting a mat is a long term purchase. Below are other suitable choices too.

Item	Feature	Price
	IncStores – Tatami Foam Tiles – Extra Thick mats	Check Price on Amazon
	Z Athletic Gymnastics Folding Exercise Gym Mat	Check Price on Amazon
	Greatmats Gym Mats 5×10 Ft x 2 Inch, Folding Mats for Martial Arts, Gymnastics, Tumbling, Cheerleading, Home Exercise Mats, MMA Mats	Check Price
	BalanceFrom GoGym All-Purpose 4x10x2	Check Price on Amazon
	Prosource Fit Extra Thick Puzzle Exercise Mat 3/4″ or 1”, EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles	Check Price on Amazon
	IncStores – Jumbo Soft Interlocking Foam Tiles	Check Price on Amazon
	IncStores – Tatami Foam Tiles – Extra Thick mats	Check Price on Amazon
	We Sell Mats 3/8 Inch Thick Multipurpose Exercise Floor Mat with EVA Foam,	Check Price on Amazon
	BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles	Check Price on Amazon
	Z-Athletic Folding Panel Mats	Check Price on Amazon
	MAT EXPERT 4x10x2 Gymnastics Mat, Folding Exercise Aerobics Mat with Carrying Handles	Check Price on Amazon
	BalanceFrom 1″ Extra Thick Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles	Check Price on Amazon
	Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Gymnastics Tumbling Mat – Extra Thick with carrying Handles – for Exercise, Yoga, Fitness, Aerobics, Martial Arts, Cardio	Check Price on Amazon
	4x8x2 Thick Folding Gymnastics Mat, Gym Exercise Pad with Carrying Handles, PU Leather Tumbling Mats, Lightweight Gymnastics Panel Mat for MMA, Aerobics, Stretching, Home Yoga	Check Price on Amazon
	gymmatsdirect Gymnastics Mat Folding Tumbling Exercise Mat – 2″ 4″ Thick Folding Gym Aerobics Mats Kids Home Yoga Mat, Multiple Color/Size Choice	Check Price on Amazon
	Best Choice Products 6x2ft Tri-Fold Foam Exercise Gym Floor Mat for Yoga, Aerobics, Martial Arts w/Handles	Check Price on Amazon
	We Sell Mats 5 ft x 10 ft Gymnastics Mat, Folding Tumbling Mat for Exercise, Yoga, Martial Arts, Portable with Hook & Loop Fasteners	Check Price on Amazon
	IncStores – Jumbo Soft Interlocking Foam Tiles – Perfect for Martial Arts, MMA, Lightweight Home Gyms, p90x, Gymnastics, Cardio, and Exercise	Check Price on Amazon
	Greatmats Pro Martial Arts, Karate, Dojo Flooring, Taekwondo Mats Sport 7/8 Inch Interlocking Tile Mat, 10 Pack (Black/Gray)	Check Price on Amazon
	IncStores Home Cheer Carpet Top Mats Roll Out Practice Pad	Check Price on Amazon
	American Floor Mats 3/8in (9mm) Thick 20% Blue 4 x 6 Hi-Color Rubber Rolls (20%), Protective Exercise Mats, Home Gym Rubber Flooring	Check Price on Amazon
	ProsourceFit Tri-Fold Folding Thick Exercise Mat 6’x2’ with Carrying Handles for MMA, Gymnastics, Stretching, Core Workouts	Check Price on Amazon
	Alpha Mats Folding Gymnastics and Exercise Mat, PU Material & EPE Foam, Perfect for Aerobics, Yoga, Martial Arts	Check Price on Amazon
	Yes4All Interlocking Exercise Foam Mats – Cover 24, 48 & 120 SqFt (Multi-Color)	Check Price on Amazon
	Polar Aurora 4x8x2 Multiple Colors Thick Folding Gymnastics Gym Exercise Aerobics Mats Stretching Fitness Yoga 10 Colors	Check Price on Amazon
	Clevr 1 Extra Thick Interlocking EVA Gym Foam Floor Mat Reversible Tiles (24″ x 24″), Protective Flooring for Gym Exercise Mat | 1 Year Limited Warranty | 12 Pieces, 48 Square feet	Check Price on Amazon
	Giantex 4x10x2 Thick Gymnastics Mat, High-Density Anti-Tear Folding Gymnastics Exercise Mats w/ Carrying Handles, Hook and Loop Fastener, Lightweight Gymnastics Panel Mat, Tumbling Mat for MMA, Stretching, Aerobics, Home Fitness	Check Price on Amazon

Sky Hoon. About Martial Art Fan He started his love on martial arts by watching MMA and Angela Lee. He then started this blog to learn more about the different martial arts.

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