One question the everyone faces in the beginning of their martial arts journey is "What martial arts style is right for me?" Or "What martial art do I learn?" The hardest thing about this is that many new students know very little about real martial arts training and fighting styles. Many see the UFC and now recognize brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay thai, and MMA training; and these systems are seeing a surge in new students. But there are many other martial arts styles out there that maybe more fitting then just a fighting art.

After 30 years of training and instructing close combat, including conducting more test phases than I can remember, it is still a major concern for me that exponents have difficulty in going tactical and controlling their aggression as well as keeping their adrenaline rushes under control and conserving their energy levels. This doesn't only apply to entry-level exponents but it also applies to advanced exponents and instructors.

It's almost as if in an instant, when confronted with a threat situation or under test conditions when faced with a formidable enemy party, individual exponents throw all care and caution away and extend themselves physically and psychologically to the maximum.

This is a dangerous practice that is tactically flawed and steeped in potential failure and defeat. It not only dangerously extends the individual combatants capabilities but also may underestimate the enemy and this lack of combative smarts may well seal the combatant’s fate if they are wrong in their assessment, judgment and over-extended in their initial execution.

Kicking is an effective art if kept in context, i.e. used as part of the support system rather than as an initiating, attacking tool.

Kicks are best used in one of four ways:

1) If you are outside of punching range and find that there is a large gap between you and your attacker (there very rarely is) martial arts kicks may be used to bridge that gap. Even the kick should never be the end of your technique or attack. The kick is best utilized to setup other attacks, such as a punch or a grappling clinch. If you want old Gracie Jiu-Jitsu challenge footage or the first UFC fights, you will see Royce Gracie and other Gracie Fighters using front stomp kicks to setup and close the distance for the grappling clinch.