Swamp Talks

Is getting hit in the head bad for us when we train in martial arts such as boxing, MMA, kickboxing, karate, muay thai, etc.??? Here is how I see it, and what I did to my students to make them train smarter. Being educated on the truth can keep us training safe for years to come.

I get this question from all of you quite frequently - "What style of Mantis Boxing do I practice/teach?" Seven Star, Tai Ji (Supreme Ultimate), Plum Blossom, Supreme Ultimate Plum Blossom, 6 Harmony, 8 Step, Wah Lum? I decided to take some time to answer you instead of leaving a quick comment when you ask. Hope this helps.

This podcast is a re-recording of a talk I gave at the 5th Annual Martial Arts Studies Conference held at Chapman University in Los Angeles, California in May 2019. The event was hosted by Dr. Paul Bowman, and Dr. Andrea Molle. A two day extravaganza of martial arts history, politics, and culture. There is amazing research into the martial arts taking place around the globe today. It was an honor to be a part of this significant event, and contribute in some small way to the Martial Arts Research Network.

Forms are windows to the past. They can show not only a fighters techniques, system, and series of counters, and counters to an opponent's counter. They are a fascinating anomaly. Are they worth the mining for these techniques and sequences within? Today I'll discuss my thoughts on this, and hopefully shed some light on this facet of Chinese martial arts training.

Forrest Chang and I discussed at great length a style of Chinese boxing known as xingyiquan. I thought I would add a follow-up explaining what Xing Yi Quan is, and share with you some of the history I uncovered while researching another project. Listen and find out more...

Are Chinese martial arts still relevant in modern times? Are they worth saving? A conversation with Forrest Chang of the Chinese boxing style known as xingyiquan. He and I discuss these issues along with current CMA disruptor and MMA fighter Xu Xiaodong, the Shuai Jiao paradox and other changes happening in Chinese martial arts.

Out of all the martial arts available, should ‘Boxing’ be used in hand-to-hand combat training for American soldiers who occupy combat arms roles?

In this podcast, I discuss some funny mistranslations in martial arts.

Today I'll answer a question I received via email the other day - "How do I tell if I'm doing a fake martial art?"

Some backstory behind our upcoming video on Pat Horse found in various Chinese martial arts historical texts, and forms.