Home Dojo on a Dime

Posted on August 17, 2011 by moaimartialarts

I’ve been thinking about this project for awhile.  I’m starting to offer private karate and fitness classes at home, and some of my buddies like to come and roll.  So I guess now there’s good reason to finally finish my garage makeover.  I had to make it multi-use, as neither my wife nor I are crazy about parking outside–especially after last winter in New England.  So here’s how I set it up and how I got around some of the challenges of designing a true garage dojo.

First, I expanded the original mat space by about 150%.  Here are the 3/8″ thick, 48″ square EVA foam tiles I got at Home Depot.  They were on sale for about $16 per four pack.

I got about 144 square feet to expand the flooring.

It was very humid when I put these down, and they didn’t fit together as easily as I’d hoped.  I used a rubber mallet to force the puzzle pieces when needed.

The thin flooring is easy on the wallet.  Training on it is better than concrete, but not as nice as tatami or hardwood.  On the upside, it’s close to $1 per square foot, and it can handle pretty much everything but takedowns and throws.

Next, every good dojo needs a mirror, right?  A quick Googling showed that a large mirror would cost hundreds of dollars–not good for my tight budget.  I got around the problem thanks to the back-to-school display at Home Depot.

Just remember to buy extra . . .

These babies were $5 each!  I originally thought of running them along the whole wall but then realized I couldn’t see above my chest.  So, I decided to make 4′ x 5′ mirror roughly in the center of the garage.  How did I make my $25 dojo mirror?

Voilà!?!

I popped each pane out of each chintzy frame and attached them to the wall.  The cashier actually warned me not to take a few of the mirrors home because the backing was coming off.  It took me a minute to explain to her why I wanted to buy broken dorm mirrors.

To remove the glass, I carefully pushed a screwdriver into each corner of the frame.  Then I carefully snapped off each section.  Some mirrors had stronger adhesive than others, so I carefully scrapped that off as well with my razor blade.  Did I mention how CAREFUL I was?  Yeah, I racked up about 35 years of bad luck figuring out the best way to do this! Good thing the mirrors are so cheap and that I have a ShopVac.

If you plan to make a mirror like this, be sure to buy the panes at Home Depot.  This isn’t an endorsement (hate the place!); rather, their mirrors are easier to snap apart.  I got some at Lowes that were much higher quality in that the frame wouldn’t come off unless I broke the friggin’ glass.  (Did I mention there was some frustrated experimentation going on?)

I attached glass to the wall using Industrial Strength Velcro.  That way if I break a pane, I can easily reattach a new one.  I’d like to think this a smart idea on my part, but time will tell.

Velcro for mirrors, heavy tiles to park the cars

Lastly, I found that the mats needed some protection from the weight of our cars.  I tried parking on a foam tile overnight, and it looked like a Necco Wafer by morning.  Another stop at Home Depot yielded the Traffic Master floor tile, designed for professional gyms and auto shops.  These are expensive ($38 per pack of four 18″ tiles) but totally worth it.  I got two boxes and hammered together four parking mats.  I duct taped the backs so they wouldn’t separate when driven and parked on, and I positioned them accordingly.  I only needed to worry about one side of each car, as the opposite side doesn’t park on the flooring.  What’s nice about making the parking mats is that you can slide them off the training area and use them as a warning track to protect the mirror.

The finished project!

And that’s how I put together my garage dojo.  The entire project, if I count the original section of flooring from a few years ago, still cost well under $500.  How would you go about a similar project, if you haven’t already?  I would love some tips on how to make it easier, cheaper, or better!

Posted in DIY, Equipment | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Full Nelson: The Wrestling Dilemma

Posted on August 14, 2011 by aidanfitzy9933

Here is a post from our newest correspondent, Aidanfitzy9933.  He’s a sports nut, and he’s here to discuss some of his thoughts about his favorite form of athletic competition: wrestling.  If you haven’t taken the time to learn more about one of the word’s oldest martial arts, then you should start here by reading about the history and state of wrestling today.  Enjoy!

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I’m here to talk about wrestling, one of the oldest forms of hand-to-hand combat in the world today and the oldest word still in use to describe Mano-y-Mano battle. Dating back to 1100 A.D., wrestling was the most popular sport at the Olympics and was celebrated throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Gradually, wrestling gained popularity in the U.S.; there are currently over eight different forms of non-folk style wrestling, including mixed martial arts. The problem faced today is that history means nothing to people of the last 20 years, and the thought of two men rolling around in unitards doesn’t appeal to many–unless it’s spiced up with a few kimora’s and “ground and pounds”.

Unfortunately, mixed martial arts is the only form of wrestling that remains in the mainstream; keep in mind, I mean real wrestling, not show business, cough cough, like the WWE. As a high school wrestler, I actually find the dilemma frustrating: there is no exposure for a sport that dates back centuries, and takes more discipline, agility, and skill than one can imagine. Currently golf is more prominently featured than wrestling, and it is gaining popularity at a rapid pace. Maybe it’s because wrestling has never had a Tiger Woods, or at least one you’ve heard of.

Cael Sanderson, the only collegiate wrestler to never lose, while winning over 100 matches–159 consecutive to be exact. Or then there is Dan Gable, infamous for his motivational quotes, rather than well known for his incredible skill and accomplishments. His accomplishments consist of a 181-1 career collegiate record, his only loss coming in his final match by 1 point, and two Gold medals, one at the Olympics and one at the World Championships. Most recently there was a wrestler at Arizona State, Anthony Robles, who won the NCAA championship with one leg; he was prominently featured on SportsCenter but only for the sheer wow factor that comes with a handicapped athlete. You’ve also probably seen wrestler Ellis Coleman’s “Flying Squirrel” takedown on SportsCenter’s top ten plays, or plastered all over Youtube, but if you haven’t, its worth a look:

I’m a sports fan, don’t get me wrong, but, having said that, for anyone to say that they need to truly appreciate that some of the most dominant athletes of the last 30 years have been wrestlers. Even in my high school, football gets the front page; almost nobody other than the wrestlers knows that my high school is second in all time wins in the state of Connecticut. Our shoddy basketball team, or even our golf team, will capture the sports page before wrestling. I have no solution to the problem; people are just turned off by what wrestling represents: to them, its too “homoerotic” or pointless. But really it’s a mind game as much as a display of physical dominance. Maybe you have to experience it before you can appreciate it, but I encourage everyone to take some time and study wrestling, watch some collegiate wrestlers, or even type in “Dan Gable inspirational videos” on Youtube.  It’ll help you start your day right.

Posted in Opinion | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

A Free UFC Card? Yes Please!

Posted on August 11, 2011 by ALar

UFC on Versus 5: Hardy vs. Lytle Preview and Predictions

A stacked UFC card for free on cable? Sign me up! This Saturday on the Versus Network, the UFC will be showcasing some of its newly acquired WEC talent as well as some perennial Octagon warriors. Our gracious Webmaster at Moai Martial Arts and I gladly shelled out $55 for last weekend’s exciting card that was well worth the price. The action ranged from awkward moments such as Dennis Halman’s “revealing” fight shorts to exciting finishes by UFC stars Vitor Belfort and Rashad Evans. After a great night of fights I was eagerly awaiting more Octagon action, and thanks to the UFC we only have to wait a little while longer for a promising free card on Versus.

Preview:

Amir Sadollah v. Duane “Bang” Ludwig

Sadollah and Ludwig were slated to fight earlier in 2011, but the fight was scrapped due to Ludwig sustaining a chest injury while training. The Ultimate Fighter 7 Winner Sadollah looks to keep his two fight win streak going against the kick boxer Ludwig. Ludwig has 20 professional wins to his name with 10 of them coming by knockout. Sadollah seems to have regained the form he had during his Ultimate Fighter winning run, and I expect him to use his impressive Muay Thai skills to defeat “Bang”.

Prediction: Sadollah by TKO

 

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone v. Charles Oliveira

Oliveira looks to rebound from his last bout, which was deemed a no contest after Pennsylvania Athletic Commission officials observed that an illegal knee was thrown prior to Oliveira submitting Nik Lentz in June.  He faces off against MMA veteran Cerrone who boasts an impressive record of 15-3 with one No Contest. Twelve of those wins have come by submissions.  Cerrone is another product of the Greg Jackson camp and always provides fireworks when he steps in the ring. He holds six Fight of the Night awards from various WEC and UFC cards. I believe Cerrone will pressure Oliveira from the second the bell rings and expect “Cowboy” to submit Oliveira and to continue his four fight win streak.

Prediction: Cerrone by submission, 3rd Round

 

Jim Miller v. Ben Henderson


This fight oozes Fight of the Night potential. Dana White recently stated that Jim Miller is knocking on the door of a lightweight title shot: his only two career losses come to the two fighters who are currently interlocked in battle for the lightweight strap, Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard.  I expect Miller to do everything in his power to step closer to that title shot.  On the other side of the cage, Ben Henderson looks to make his name known in the UFC with a win over a top contender.  Many of our readers may best know Henderson for being on the receiving end of one of the greatest knockouts in MMA history by Anthony Pettis.  Henderson won his UFC debut against Mark Bocek and looks to add another win to his UFC resume.  This fight is tough to call but I look for Miller to continue his seven fight win streak and take one more step closer to a title shot.

Prediction:  Miller by decision

 

Main Event: Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy v. Chris “Lights Out” Lytle

What an interesting bout we have for our Main Event of the evening. A young, talented fighter, Hardy, just two fights removed from a title shot against GSP versus a true veteran of the fight game, Lytle, who has 53 MMA fights under his belt.  Lytle is known for his iron chin and will.  He has never been knocked out or submitted in his MMA career. Hardy is coming off two tough losses to fighters at the top of the welterweight division. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson utterly dominated him on the ground and Carlos Condit knocked him out in the first round.  I expect fists to be flying early and often in this one, with each fighter having something to prove. Lytle wants to prove he belongs in the mix of the lightweight division and will be looking to add another UFC Fight Bonus to the eight that he already has adorning his mantle. While “Outlaw” will be looking to regain the form he had before being crushed by GSP and end his losing streak. Each fighter will leave everything in the cage, but I have a feeling the wily veteran will prevail.

Prediction: Lytle by Decision

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So these are my picks.  Everyone’s got an opinion.  Who do you have winning these fights?

Posted in MMA | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Martial Arts Dream Vacation!

Posted on August 4, 2011 by moaimartialarts

I’m getting a little vacation time in, and, while I’m not bummed about this, I can’t help but think about where the best martial arts trip would be.  What if time and money were no object?  Where would you like to train for an extended stay?  If I missed any martial arts Meccas, be sure to provide your suggestion.  Have you been to one or more of these places?  Which was your favorite and why?

Posted in Polls | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Training Poll

Posted on August 1, 2011 by moaimartialarts

I’ve been thinking about the best times to train lately.  I feel like I have the most mental energy in the early morning, but I feel a little sluggish physically.  I like to work on skills shortly after I wake up, usually around 5-6:00AM.  During the school year, I’m mentally exhausted in the afternoon/evening, but I feel keyed-up and hyper when I get home.  So I save my conditioning for then, usually around 4-5:00PM.  How about you?

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Super Summer Shorts Shootout!

Posted on July 25, 2011 by moaimartialarts

It’s on!  Four pairs of grappling shorts enter, one pair leaves.  I recently tested shorts from Jaco, Sprawl, Revgear, and ClinchGear.  Let’s see which ones are hottest!

Jaco USA Resurgence Fight Shorts

These are the first pair I tested.  They feature four-way, sweat-wicking stretch material and a neat little pocket in the lower thigh to store your mouthguard.  These are thoughtful and innovative features.  Also unique to these shorts is the waistband.  According the product page, the Resurgence shorts feature a “Patent-pending compression waist-tightening system that can be tightened without creating ‘scrunching or cinching’ around the waist while providing a comfortable, no-slip fit.”  Sounds impressive!  What this entails is an open waistband with a drawstring that cinches through flaps at the hips and in the back.  It took me a little while to figure out that the flaps are supposed to stay inside the shorts.  (They look like you’re wearing Depends unless you tuck them in.)  The flap material is gummy and keeps the shorts in place and your shirt or rashguard tucked in.  There’s also a pouch at the front in which you hide the tied drawstring.  Complicated, yes.  But effective?  Despite the special design, they do “scrunch” quite a bit–at least on me.  I read that these shorts run small, so I ordered a size up.  They fit comfortably in the legs, seat, and crotch, but maybe there’s a little extra material at the waist.

SPRAWL Fusion-S

The next pair I wore were by Sprawl.  I reviewed a pair of their Gi-Flex pants a few months ago and liked them a lot.  These shorts are essentially the same–kind of like cutoff jeans with out the fringes.  (My wife tells me they’re out of style.)  The Fusions look a lot better than that, and their four-way stretch fabric is said to be fungus and blood resistant.  I don’t plan on training in a landfill anytime soon, but I guess that’s a plus.  Sprawl did a great job with their Channel Lock waistband.  Like the Gi-Flex pants, you Velcro the fly and waist closed, and the drawstring holds everything in place.  A tacky material rings the waist and keeps your top tucked in.  I wish they made pants like this when I was in middle school: they would have spared me years of embarrassment.  I roll with some pretty aggressive leg lock guys, and, while I tap a lot, I’ve yet to be pantsed.

Revgear Spartan Pro High Performance Fight Shorts

These shorts by Revgear wear pretty well.  They feel like a regular pair of soccer shorts and are made of two-way stretch material.  There’s a lot to a name, and, all things considered, these fight shorts are pretty Spartan.  They have a mouthguard pocket by the waistband, but, other than that, they’re no frills, which I like.  The one slight difference these shorts have compared to others is the way they close.  The Velcro waist and fly fasten, and then a piece of fabric that “locks” the whole band closes like a little door.  It seems superfluous to me, and the drawstring loves sticking to it.  I can also imagine this flap wearing out and hanging open with age.  It would probably also happen with weight gain–like when your pants pop open after too much barbeque.

Clinch Gear Team Quest Sublimated Performance MMA Shorts

These short were the last I tried, and they were provided by the folks over at MMAHQ. (If you haven’t checked out their site yet, you definitely should for great daily deals.  These shorts went for $28!)  Like the Spartans, these fight shorts are made of two-way stretch material and have an inner pocket for your mouthpiece.  They have a long strip of Super Stretch paneling on each leg to provide flexibility for guard work and kicking.  Most other shorts have a slit up the side.  For example, the Jaco Resurgence shorts have a 5″ cut that reminds me of Muay Thai trunks.  So Clinch Gear’s MMA shorts are comfy without revealing too much thigh, which may be important depending on what gym you train at.  The waist system is totally different than the other shorts: there’s no drawstring!  Instead, the Double Grip waistband is all Velcro; it cinches by pulling the extra-long closure tighter and folding another Velcro piece over the top.  This system worked better than I thought it would–especially after wrestling with the Jaco’s weirdness.  Overall, these shorts are solid and the sublimated graphics will never peel off.  You may wish they would, however; the design is very busy and may not be for everyone’s taste.  The gold and burgundy color scheme prompted my wife to wish me a good Quidditch match as I left for jiu-jitsu class–again, that may be a plus where you roll.

The Best Around

So which pair is the best?  It can be argued that most MMA/grappling shorts are pretty much equal.  As long as they cover your ass and don’t come off too easily, they function as expected.  I held out on buying shorts for a long time due to this mentality.  I did get tired of ripping my basketball shorts and repeatedly retying them while rolling.  So a few pairs of shorts may became a good investment.

What I found is that it all comes down to the waistband.  If the shorts are easy to close and stay put, then you’re golden.  So here’s my ranking from best to worst, judging primarily the comfort and security at the waist.

1. SPRAWL Fusion-S

While I considered durability and style as well, the Sprawl Fusion-S had the snuggest fit.  You’d need the jaws of life to take them off without unfastening the fly and untying the drawstring.

2. Revgear Spartan Pro High Performance Fight Shorts

I like the basic black look of Revgear Spartan shorts better than any other pair, but the screwy hinge by the belly button may prove to be annoying.

3. Clinch Gear Team Quest Sublimated Performance MMA Shorts

Hendo’s Clinch Gear shorts are light and strong; I’d like them better with a standard waist system.

4. Jaco USA Resurgence Fight Shorts

The material used to make the Resurgence shorts is super stretchy and seems made to last.  I just can’t get the waist to work right.  Again, it may be me, but they’re too bunchy to be completely comfortable.

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Thanks for reading.  I hope the review is helpful to you.  Let’s hear some feedback on these shorts if you’ve tried them, or post any other recommended pairs that you have.

Posted in Equipment, Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

New Facebook Like Box!

Posted on July 20, 2011 by moaimartialarts

It’s on the right —–>

Like us on Facebook for exclusive videos and other content!

Plus, you’ll automatically join our Facebook contest.  Like us today!

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DIY Deadlifting Kit

Posted on July 16, 2011 by moaimartialarts

I’ve been focusing more on training strength and power since winter–especially exercises requiring multiple muscle groups like squats and bench press.  As athletes improve these movements, they often need to use pretty heavy weights.  But having big dumbbells, Olympic bars, and bumper plates takes up a lot of space in a home gym and can get really expensive.

I know what you’re thinking, but I still refuse to purchase a gym membership.  There’s a new Planet Fitness nearby that wouldn’t look too kindly on my lame attempts at lifting.  Plus I hear (trying) to “pick things up and put them down” offends the people talking on their cellphones while working out.

So I decided to modify an old sandbag.  I combined the sand from a lighter bag to make this one extra heavy.  With the extra weight, there’s no way I could grip the sides of the bag to lift it.  That’s why I used some ratcheting straps for handles and because the ones sewn on would easily rip off.  I also duct taped the hooks to keep them from opening up while raising or lowering the bag.

$50 vs. $500 . . . you decide

I tried this bag for deadlifts today, and it worked pretty well.  I pulled both conventional and sumo deadlifts.  Sumo-style worked a little better for me because the size of the bag and the slack in the handles makes it hard to pull straight up with the legs close together.

There are a few advantages to lifting a sandbag as opposed to a bar.  First off, you can drop it with impunity.  It won’t bounce anywhere or break the floor.  You can’t really hurt yourself with it either, unless you manage to get under it.

The downside is that there’s a limit to how much weight you can add.  I have sand in this one, but you could switch to pea gravel or drainage rock to increase resistance.  (Bags run at about $4.)  Also, use is limited: a heavy sandbag won’t work for a lot of other exercises (e.g. clean and press, snatches, sandbag burpees) because even if you can handle a lot of weight, it will likely be too unwieldy and unsafe.

I enjoyed lifting this bag today, and I look forward to getting better at it in future workouts.  And that’s my home training solution for the month.  If you have any other suggestions for DIY-fitness projects, let us know!

Posted in DIY, Equipment, Fitness | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Google+

Posted on July 13, 2011 by moaimartialarts

Hey, if you’re “cool enough” to get an invite to the best thing since Facebook, check us out!

Moai Martial Arts on Google+

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Book Review: Move-A-Day BJJ

Posted on July 11, 2011 by moaimartialarts

I recently picked up a copy of Move-A-Day BJJ by Darin Reisler.  As the name implies, the book provides a simple description of a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu move or concept each day.  It’s a text that fills the gap left by huge, multi-disc sets of instructional DVDs, scattered YouTube videos, and dense books.  You can learn a lot from those sources, but there’s one drawback–they take a lot of time to digest.  To carry the food metaphor a little further, and to show you what this book is all about, here’s the author’s description:

There are several great books available on this topic that offer extensive instruction.  This particular book is unique because it presents the reader with a bare bones approach.  A new “move” is presented, in a shorthand fashion, for each calendar day of the year.  Its purpose is best realized as a supplement, secondary to the classroom environment.  To extrapolate on an old analogy, the material doesn’t give you the proverbial fish. Rather, the book is designed to guide you, day-by-day, in your experience of learning how to fish.

If BJJ is a meal, and your classroom instruction is the main course, this book is a multivitamin.

As promised, Move-A-Day BJJ supplements your regular training regimen.  It’s actually formatted like a desk calendar, and you can follow the lessons sequentially each day.  Topics span the general BJJ curriculum but include some more advanced material like leglocks, takedowns, and the De La Riva guard.  As this is not a definite program of study, strategies, drills, techniques, and positions appear spread throughout the book.  This may seem different at first, but the mission here is not to guide readers through formal instruction but to aid them in their overall learning.

That’s one of the reasons for the nifty table of contents–in case you want to easily skip around.  This is particularly useful if you want to review a move just learned in class, to refresh your memory regarding something from a while back, or to add a few interesting techniques to your repertoire.  This is how I brushed up on Darin’s infamous baseball bat choke from the guard.  (Thank, man!)

Aside from the excellent, bite-sized instructional content, this book is also very well put together.  Seriously, it’s pretty much bombproof: its hard cover and nice, tight binding lets you take this book from your desk, to the bathroom, and even in your gym bag without coming apart.  You can’t do that with those oversize softcover books from Victory Belt.

I fully recommend this book to anyone studying jiu-jitsu or to those who practice other styles who want to learn about “the gentle art.”  Priced at $19.95, it’s a great buy that should serve you well for years to come.

Visit www.moveadaybjj.com for more information and a free preview!

Posted in Instruction, Jiu-jitsu, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment