Joel Williams

I am a husband, father, and health science professor. I've had the honor of serving Global Martial Arts University as Content Director since 2019. GMAU is the industry leader in online martial arts training. Welcome to the family!

A Brief History of Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. The word “Taekwondo” consists of three parts: “tae,” meaning foot, “kwon,” meaning fist or hand, and “do,” meaning way. Although Korea had its own native martial arts for thousands of years, Taekwondo, as we know it today, originated in the 1950s. In this blog, post I provide a concise history of the art.

Krav Maga Grappling: The Side Clinch

In combat sports, or self-defense, “clinching” refers to a category of close-quarters techniques. There are multiple types of clinches: the Muay Thai plumb, the body lock, etc. All of these are used in a standing grappling situation and can be used offensively or defensively. The most common clinch taught in Krav Maga is the “Side Clinch”. This particular technique can be very effective in controlling (and defending oneself against) an attacker and useful in setting up combatives (offensive maneuvers), such as the groin kick or knee strikes. Read on to learn more about the Krav Maga Side Clinch!

Bruce Lee & Nunchaku Pop Culture

The nunchaku may be one of the most widely known Okinawan Kobudo weapons. Nunchaku were popularized in the 1970s thanks to Bruce Lee and his wildly popular martial arts movies. Read on to learn more about how Bruce Lee was introduced to the weapon and incorporated it into his movies.

Kobudo: Okinawan Weapon Arts

Okinawan Kobudo is a traditional martial art from Okinawa, Japan, that focuses on using various weapons for self-defense. “Kobudo” translates to “ancient martial way,” and it encompasses the practice and techniques of weapons such as the bo, sai, tonfa, nunchaku, kama, and other lesser known weapons. Read on to learn more about Okinawan Kobudo!

The Founder of Krav Maga – Imre “Imi” Lichtenfeld

Imi Lichtenfeld led the effort to develop Krav Maga, the unarmed fighting system used by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Krav Maga was originally developed for a small group of Jews (pre-WWII) as a system of proven techniques, that could be quickly learned to defend against physical attacks. Over time Krav Maga was systematized as the primary empty-hand training for military personnel. During his service in the IDF, Imi Lichtenfeld developed and refined his hand-to-hand combat techniques. After leaving the military, he adapted Krav Maga for civilian self-defense, enabling schools and training facilities to begin teaching Krav Maga to everyone. Read on to learn more about this fascinating history!