Using Kettlebells to Inform our Martial Arts Training

The primary goal of a fighting style is to prepare you for the demands of actual combat. In the past, practicality was stressed because practitioners were required to fight simply by the circumstances in which they lived—whether military warriors in full-scale conflicts, monks defending themselves from bandits, or farmers defending their land from occupying armies, such as the Okinawans vs. the Japanese.

The goal of training is simple and it is the first question that we should ask clearly and answer honestly, day in and day out, before and after class, personally and professionally: What can I do to learn to fight better?

Alternative formulations:
• What will be the best way to become a better fighter?
• How can I be more prepared to fight?
• How do I become a better fighter?
• How do I improve my ability to fight?
• What can I do to better my odds in any given physical confrontation?
• Am I getting better at handling potential physical violence?

The relentless attempt to develop a skill so foreign and frightening to “normal” people is what confers the side benefits of fighting arts.

Navigate the pages on the left fo useful training information on Boxing, MMA, and Traditional Martial Arts.

©2008 by Brian Petty