Jab Strategy

R. Michael Onello, author of Boxing: A 12 Week Course gives this advice about using the jab stragetically:

1. The jab keeps an opponent in a defensive mode, breaking his rhythm and timing. Throwing it does not alter your defensive position or stance so throw it often.

2. Measure distance or drive opponent back with the jab, keeping him off balance, blocking his vision and setting him up so you can create openings and move in to control the bout.

3. Vary the speed of your jab and the placement (moving it up and down) so your opponent cannot time it; this will confuse him.

4. Thrown in multiples the jab can be effectively used to block your opponent’s vision with the first punch and land the second or third (double / triple jab).

New Review: Tang Soo Do Black Belt Forms DVD

Ko-Reivews.com has this to say about Master Young Kil Song's Tang Soo Do Black Belt Forms DVD:

Master Song, Young Kil is a very technical and strong martial artist. The demonstrations of the forms and the instruction are top rate. His movements are crisp and there is a lot here that is very familiar from Taekwondo. The forms are different but the similarities in the Korean arts are noticable. There are strong hard movements combined with sharp footwork and a great sense of speed. I am not familiar with Tang Soo Do forms, so evaluating a black belt forms DVD is difficult. But I have a strong background in traditional martial arts and I have to say that Song, Young Kil is the real deal. These are not "showy" forms, set to hip hop music. This is real traditional martial arts.

If you are looking for strong and straightforward forms training in Tang Soo Do, this DVD is for you. No frills, but filled with content. This DVD is a great purchase for a new blackbelt or an advanced martial arts who would like a solid reference for home study.

Martial Arts Speed Training: How many reps?

For speed training, quality is more important than quantity, says author and veteran martial artist Sang H. Kim. In Martial Arts After 40, he advises, "For speed training, keep the number of repetitions low - less than 10 per set - but the quality of each repetition high. Perform each rep with complete concentration and commitment, resting between reps. If you start to feel your focus or accuracy slipping, move on to the next set using a different technique."