Joints and Martial Arts

Joints are how we move and their importance and usefulness shouldn't be underestimated. For each joint below the following will be discussed; their normal range of motion, relative strength and usefulness, their muscular attachments, vulnerability, etc. Here the aim is to balance the information in terms of anatomical accuracy and understand-ability with overall importance focused on martial arts

Key terms

• Joint : Where bones meet and movement occurs
• Bone : Dense rigid calcified connective tissue
• Cartilage : Flexible connective tissue
• Muscle (skeletal) : Soft contractile tissue
• Tendon : Nonelastic muscle to bone connective tissue
• Ligament : Fibrous bone to bone connective tissue
• Flexion : Bending of a joint that decreases the angle of the joint
• Extension : Bending of a joint that increases the angle of the joint

List of Joints - with details

• Temporomandibular Joint (Jaw)
• Atlanto-occipital Joint (Neck)
• Pectoral Girdle (Shoulder)
  • Sternoclavicular Articulation (Collar)
  • Glenohumeral Joint (Common Movement)
  • Acromioclavicular Joint (Extended Movement)
• Cubital (Elbow)
  • Humeroulnar Joint (Elbow Hinge)
  • Humeroradial Joint (Stabilizer)
  • Proximal Radioulnar Joint (Rotation)
• Manus (Hand)
  • Distal Radioulnar Joint (Forearm Rotation)
  • Radiocarpal Joint (Wrist)
  • Trapeziometacarpal Joint (Thumb)
  • Metacarpophalangeal Joint (Knuckle)
  • Interphlalangeal Articulation (Finger Joints)
• Vertebral Column Articulation (Backbone)
• Acetabulofemoral Joint (Hip)
• Knee
  • Tibio/Patellofemoral Joint (Knee)
  • Superior Tibiofibular Joint (Outer Knee)
• Ankle
  • Talocrural Region (Combined Ankle Joint)
  • Metatarsal and Interphalangeal Articulations (Foot and Toes)

Knowledge: The hope is that the knowledge above will help you (the practitioner) better understand how martial mechanics work especially with Joint Locks.

Questions: Please join the wiki community and ask away!

References:

1. A thanks to Grey's Anatomy which was uses as a main source for many of the muscle name and data for this section.