Why Is It Called a 'Gi'? The Strange History of Martial Arts Uniforms

From karate and judo to taekwondo and jiu-jitsu, martial arts uniforms have evolved in surprisingly different ways, and the word "gi" itself has become one of the most misunderstood terms in martial arts culture. Why are some uniforms thick while others are lightweight? Why do some wrap across the b…

The Martial Arts Training Methods That Seem Insane Today

Modern martial arts training already looks intense to most people.

Heavy sparring. Endless drills. Conditioning workouts that leave people sore for days. But compared to some of the training methods martial artists used in the past, today's classes can look surprisingly tame. For cent…

How to Tell if a Martial Arts School Is Actually Good

Choosing a martial arts school sounds easy until you actually start visiting them.

One dojo feels welcoming the moment you walk in. Students seem happy, the instructor is approachable, and the atmosphere somehow just feels right. Then you visit another school and something feels off, …

Whatever Happened to These Martial Arts?

Karate. Taekwondo. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ask most Americans to name a martial art and the answers usually come pretty quickly. But martial arts history is filled with styles that once had serious momentum, passionate students, and loyal followings before quietly fading from the mainstream. Some were …