Martial Arts Magazine Australia
Solana Axton
Writing the manuscript itself took about a year, and then came the task of submitting it to the publisher, re-writing, and editing the document. Plus, we had to commission cover artwork and arrange several photo shoots to gather images for the applications presented. Not to mention the back-and-forth emails with my focus group to gather their feedback on the developing material.
When the idea of writing a book resurfaced in the spring of 2019, my school had just spent a year and a half focused on the practice of one kata: Bassai Dai. Even though we are a Taekwondo school, we incorporate legacy classical Karate forms into our syllabus, and we often do a deep dive on specific forms. Bassai Dai seemed like the perfect subject since a wide range of Okinawan, Japanese, and Korean stylists practice the pattern. The depth of material we had gathered and developed about the form seemed promising. We found the irony of a Taekwondo instructor publishing a Karate book as a chapter in the already compelling story of Bassai Dai somewhat amusing.
But that was just the beginning of the process. We edited the book, not just for layout and flow, but for grammar and punctuation, blurred and missing pictures, and to ensure the accuracy of headers and sub-headers. And we did all of this right up until the final upload for the printer, two years after working together on the project.
It was difficult enough trying to make progress despite facing challenges from a global pandemic, time zones differences between author and publisher, and the goal to represent 3-dimensional concepts on 2- dimensional pages. A minor stumbling block was the various photo shoots we had to organise to represent the material in the book.
We had done the first photo shoot with the initial draft of the manuscript in 2019, but two years later we needed additional photos for expanded explanations and re-takes on some of the originals. And we booked yet another photo session at the end of 2022 to redo some photos.
Eventually we found ourselves some ways into the first quarter of 2023, feeling the time pressure from the release date of March 23, 2023 at the American Karate and Taekwondo Organization Annual Seminars in Dallas, Texas. We still had final edits to make, e-proofs to closely review, and pre- order web pages to set up. Plus, I had been invited to teach several sessions for the event, as well as several seminars at various schools near and around Dallas.
The first black belt, Jeff Palm, trained with my school in Australia 10 years ago and found our practice complementary to his own training. And the second black belt, Will Just, found my blog 5 years ago, has been in contact with me through email since, and in a leap of faith, came to Dallas to be my seminar partner.
The road trippers, once shown our practice, came to be extremely helpful to other seminar participants. Moving between roles as demonstration partners to assisting with the participants, they were an unexpected blessing to help me communicate concepts and techniques.
Around 170-180 martial arts practitioners attended those seven seminars in and around Dallas. I expect the enthusiasm they displayed, the positive feedback to the material presented, and the buzz of energy I felt throughout the sessions will feed my very soul for many years to come.
Uncover the secrets to cultivating a balanced mindset, as we delve into the intricate interplay of ego and id in martial arts training. Explore the evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and learn how to enhance its effectiveness by incorporating ancient wisdom from traditional martial arts. Discover the transformative power of integrating yoga into your training regimen, as we reveal the astonishing benefits for both body and mind.
Embark on a fascinating journey through the history and techniques of Okinawan Kobudo, and gain valuable insights into the offensive mindset required to excel in a second dan grading. Reflect on the crucial role of ethics in karate, as we examine the profound teachings of legendary masters and modern-day philosophers.
Immerse yourself in gripping combat analysis, as we break down iconic fight scenes from classic martial arts movies. Master the art of kata with our expert tips and techniques, designed to help you effectively learn, remember, and understand these timeless forms. And be inspired by the personal stories of dedication and growth from fellow martial artists, as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of their unique journeys.
Founded by a martial artist, CENTURY started in a one car garage in Oklahoma City. Today we are a company of martial artists with 250 team members, many of whom participate in daily on-site classes that include karate, tae kwon do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kung fu san soo, jeet kune do, Cage Fitness, and even yoga. We use the products that we make and sell. We strive every day to live the core values that martial arts teaches including humility, respect, courage, and doing the right thing.
MAGAZINE/BOOK FEATURES: Andrea has been featured twice in The World Martial Arts Magazine, twice in Martial Art Illustrated UK, twice in MASUCCESS magazine, and in the Deadly Art of Survival magazine. She was also featured in the book, Legends and Legacies.
INTERVIEWS: Andrea has been interviewed on numerous martial art and positivity podcast shows including Martial Thoughts, Martial Art Nation, Warriorcast, the Dynamic Dojo Radio Show, Martial Arts Media, Readily Random, Life is a Marathon, the Master Jack show, The Every Day Martial Artist, The Motivated Martial Artist, Coaching Call, Gloves Off, The Martial View, and more where she shares her insightful messages of positivity, hope, encouragement and martial arts. Her mission is to help others live positive, happy, and powerful lives.
The sheikh is impressed by this quiet and decisive demonstration of force and asks Kelley to stay an extra week to teach him Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Kelley requests a favour in return: to put Layla on the first flight home.
Kelley effortlessly wins his first two bouts. But in the third bout, in a display of outrageous unsportsmanlike behaviour, Brazilian Marco Blaine sucker-punches him while he is still bowing. Kelley gets a vicious beating and left with a detached retina in one eye.
Five years pass. Kelley has pretty much given up fighting, choosing to work as a maintenance man in a dojo. No one outside of a small circle of friends has heard of his skill. Blaine has become a celebrity, with his picture on the covers of martial arts magazines. Layla is killed in an automobile accident and Kelley is devastated, barely able to take care of his young son.
Alex Ranarivelo, who co-wrote Born a Champion with Sean Patrick Flanery, is a French director from a French-Malagasy family. He is known for sports films such as The Ride (2018), about a seven-year-old boy from a neo-Nazi family who is sent to a juvenile detention centre for stabbing his father with a kitchen knife to protect his mother. The boy is adopted by an inter-racial couple. The movie is based on the true story of Scottish BMX rider John Buultjens, who played his own abusive father in the film.
Rickson Gracie is the third son of Hlio Gracie, and a ninth-degree red belt, the second-highest ranking in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In the mid-1980s he was considered to be the toughest fighter of the Gracie family.
I was OBSESSED. The judo training only lasted a few months but I was hooked. I would read every martial arts instructional book in the public library and practice at home, hire every martial arts movie at the video store I could (until my Mum put her foot down on me getting the really violent ones) and once I was in my teens I started buying Martial arts magazines and scouring the yellow pages for clubs near by to go attend their free trials.
I actually got the notion originally when I was 15. I was set on moving to Japan and becoming an Aikido black belt, returning to Melbourne and teaching. This never happened but the obsession never left me even though I did a host of different carreers and studies over the years. After a year or so of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu I knew I wanted to at least teach it, after five years of BJJ I began to coach classes in Ringwood and after eight I opened my own club in Lilydale but quickly moved to Croydon and after a year moved to Bayswater where I have been the last six years.
in early 2008 I was at the train station in Ringwood and across from it in a little tiny shop there was a bjj / mma club. At the time I was dealing with a great amount of depression, and anxiety and really lacking any kind of self worth. I walked in to try it out and proceeded to be arm barred, choked, kimurad and crushed for two hours, it was heaven and I was hooked and have been ever since.
I had been out of any regular training for awhile, and having martial arts again to anchor me and provide a healthy environment and outlet made all the difference in my learning to manage my mental health and build a future for myself again.
I do. I train in Judo regularly where I am thrown on my bum and humbled, I attend seminars on armed and unarmed combat tactics, and occationally HEMA (European sword fighting) because being hit with swords is also fun.
A month ago I was chatting with my friend Joseph Svinth (a prolific author and editor within the field of Martial Arts Studies) over email. At the time I was still recovering from the last round of conferences and let things slide. But earlier this week I decided to take another look at one of his most interesting finds. It is an engraving (executed by F. A. Sleap) that graced the cover of the Illustrated Australian News on Wednesday the 26th in May of 1886.
This image will be of immediate interest to any student of Chinese martial studies. It shows two individuals engaged in armed single combat. The ferocity of their fight is suggested by the fallen sword, pole and bamboo helmet that have been discarded in a lower corner of the frame. Behind them sits a large crowd of spectators, including what appears to be dozens of other Chinese individuals armed with spears. Western observers can be seen on the mezzanine above them and there is an inset bubble suggesting that the demonstration had its own musical accompaniment.
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