Martial Paths

07/06/2021

Funny how they read the same way.

04/08/2021

03/22/2021

"Can I learn self-defense in 6 months?"

It's a common question with an easier answer.

No.

Based on my XP as an instructor, it takes people 6 months just learn the name of the techniques they’re trying to learn, never mind performing them.

Unless… you train every single day for at least an hour on top of your twice-a-week classes for 6 months.

The biggest misconception about self-defense is people seem to be under the impression they can just download the information in a short amount of time and then carry on with their lives.

Memorization of a technique is not enough.

Muscle memory takes time to build in order to become proficient enough for you to operate in nano-second circumstances like a street fight.

Even if you do manage this feat of humanity in 6 months because you’re a freak of nature, then what?

Do you know you have to continue this rigorous pace just to maintain your newfound skill set?

It will disappear.

The cardio goes away first in about 2 weeks. Then strength gains fade. Eventually, muscle memory vanishes and even the memory itself dissipates to nothingness.

Best of all, as you age, this process happens faster!!!

-Sensei Jim

02/15/2021

Bagua Zhang for Longevity and Regeneration 🌱

Living well into your old age, so that your golden years are truly enjoyed, provides strong motivation for learning bagua zhang(bagua/pakua). Bagua zhang practices help prevent disease and injury and—should stress and illness occur—enable you to recover and heal more quickly.

Bagua zhang practices are also rejuvenation tools. Read more: https://www.energyarts.com/benefits-of-internal-martial-arts/

01/14/2021

***In the spirit of transparency, most of this article was written over a year ago. Of course, we all understand what has happened since. Let’s face it 2020 was a s***show with violent protests and riots erupting across North America and the world, presumably exploding violent statistics everywhere.

The stats cited in this article are bad. Real bad. Somehow, we made it worse.

–Jim

A breakdown of Violence in Canada statistics and and an accusation of just how common violence is in Canadian communities.

01/14/2021

What a machine!

While no Blackbird was ever shot down by enemy action, that didn’t mean that nobody tried to achieve this. While the Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird,

01/13/2021

http://www.martialpaths.ca/the-lost-arts-1-skipping-rope/

Is Jump-Rope lost? No. Not really. But is skipping rope overlooked as a foundational training regimen in martial arts clubs around the world? Probably.

01/07/2021

http://www.martialpaths.ca/creativity-comprehension-interpretation-in-martial-arts/

Creativity in Martial Arts is often overlooked in favour of pure repetition. Here's how to break the pattern and create your own artform.

12/15/2020

It's cold outside, so I'm working indoors.
Here's a new article.

An examination of a possible misconception of discipline and what it means in the martial arts community and society at large.