Ask Sideswipe!
Have a question for Sideswipe? Simply email the Sideswipe team. We'll post your question – and our answers – to the site as soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you!
Hi! I just saw you perform for the first time ever on TV and you guys are amazing!!!! Do you tour/do shows? Anything in Canada? Are you on Facebook? lol, I'm sorry but I think I may be addicted! Take care, best of luck and hope to see lots more of you!!! – Cindy
Matt: Hey Cindy! Thanks for the support. A few of the team guys are on Facebook and Myspace. We do travel all over the country and world. Keep checking this site as we announce all our up coming events here. We have done shows in Canada and I hope we can get back there soon!
I just wanted to know who taught you guys all your tricks – Michael C.
Matt: Hey Michael – We all worked on tricks in different ways. Tricks where really just being created when we all started. One of us would pick up a move from a different style or sport and then we would change it a little and then try to improve it or try spinning more, kicking out of it, or going to the splits. It was a lot of trial and error, but that is basically how we got started.
Craig: Yeah, pretty much, we all learned to trick by working out with each other. We all pick up different tricks when we train together.
Chris: For the most part, we've been on the front line of the xtreme tricking era, so no one has been able to teach us any of the tricks. Normally, one of us will create a trick by adding a spin or another move to a basic kick and if it looks good, we all mimic it. Luckily we all had traditional martial arts coaches who would make sure no matter how flashy we got, out basics were still strong. That's the biggest part of tricking; maintaining your martial arts technique but making it a little more stylish. Now, there are also books and DVD's teaching the how-to's of tricking, and there are plenty of places to take private lessons, camps or seminars on tricking.
Hey. You guys are extremely talented! I am in Shotokan Karate and I am a 3rd degree brown belt and working with the weapons is my favorite part. What is the most enjoyable part about being in Sideswipe? What do y'all like to do when y'all aren't practicing with the team? – Stephanie H.
Matt: Good question, Stephanie! The best part of performing is coming up with all the different shows that we do. It is always a challenge and inspiring to come up with new stuff. When we are not performing we all do different things. I really enjoy playing guitar.
Craig: Being on Sideswipe is great because you get to make a living being with great friends, traveling the world, performing for thousands doing what we love most, martial arts.
Chris: As many famous coaches have said "the destination is never as important as the path"... we all love what we do. We enjoy competing and performing all over, but we also really enjoy the process of creating new routines, perfecting old ones, and pushing ourselves to new levels. That's what keeps it exciting. When we're not flipping around, we're usually doing something athletic and fun like hitting the fitness trail or full contact golfing.
Hi! I am a 15 year old Tae kwon do student and I want to learn Xtreme Martial Arts, but there are no XMA schools in Holland. Soon I will order the How to Trick book and DVD, do you have any other tips? Thanks in advance. – Robert B.
Matt: Robert – the best thing I can say is Practice, Practice, Practice! If there is a move you are working on there is usually never a secret or trick. It is a lot of hard work on that one move. One thing that can help is to video yourself doing the move and then comparing it to how you want it to look and try to fix those things. Good Luck!
Craig: Tips? You could also try to find fellow trickers in your area and get together. Having a group of buddies helps you train. Dedicate yourself to training, set goals, and have fun!
Chris: Many people learn extreme martial arts tricks without actually having an instructor. The key is to find a great traditional martial arts school to work the basic techniques, then step up each move on your own, by adding a kick or a flip to that move. If you need ideas, there are millions of martial arts videos online. Spend some time looking up the cool new tricking trends and try adding them to your martial arts arsenal.
What is the training schedule & regimen like on both a daily and weekly basis for team members? Do team members follow any particular diet? Is this your primary occupation? – John H.
Matt: Our training definitely varies depending on whether or not we are getting ready for a show. In full training mode, we train 5-6 days a week, 3-6 hours a day. Mostly we run basics, tricks and combos. We also add in full routines and cross train with running and calisthenics. Diet also becomes stricter as competition gets closer. It is really important to give your body the proper fuel to do what it needs to do, so we eat a lot of protein, veggies and complex carbohydrates. Because martial arts and performing is our whole lives, it is important for us to work at it every day.
You guys are so great! You are such an inspiration! Who inspires you? – Kaylee L.
Matt: The people who inspire me are the people who really work for what they want. My students inspire me so much; they work so hard for perfection at such a young age and it really inspires me to work hard also. My instructor John Sharkey is also a huge inspiration to me. He is such a good man and he has a heart bigger than the world.
What have you learned about yourself as a person that you might not have learned without being involved in the martial arts? – Lisa
Matt: Martial Arts has taught me that I really can achieve anything I put my mind to. Believe it or not, I really lacked belief in myself when I began martial arts. Since then, I have learned to believe in myself and in my abilities. Martial arts really teaches you to look inward and pull out of yourself all the things you need to be successful.
You guys are really great! What is your all-time favorite move? – Tony G.
Matt: We all have different moves we like to throw. My current favorite is a hook, cartwheel full.
Craig: Mine is the Corkscrew.
Chris: Favorite move? Well, my favorite move changes just about every week. Basically whatever my newest trick is, is my favorite. I like tricks that involve an actual kick or technique... not just spinning in the air. That way, the trick shows your ability without losing the martial art side of tricking. Right now, my trick of choice is my swing through kamikaze (basically a full twist-flash kick).
Hey guys, I just recently moved and haven't found a new dojo. I want to keep training, but have limited supplies. What are some of the conditioning exercises you guys do to help with your performance? – Kyle
Matt: Hey Kyle – Most of our training does consist of working on moves, combinations and routines. When we do cross train, we do sprints, plyometrics, stairs and a lot of pushups, sit ups, pull ups and dips. Good Luck!
Craig: Kyle – Some good basic conditioning drills are tuck jumps (bring knees to your chest), push-ups and sit-ups. We also cross train by long distance running, sprints, running/jumping up bleacher steps at a football stadium. Start with this, let us know how it works.
Chris: You don't need supplies to train for martial arts – just a pair of kicking pants or shorts and some space. I actually prefer to train outside in parks. The key elements of training are basics (all of your traditional punches, kicks, blocks and stances), overall body conditioning (which can be achieved by running, doing plyometrics for explosive movements, practicing your forms, and basic strength exercises like pushups or sit-ups). Weight-lifting and using equipment can be beneficial as a form of cross training, but it is definitely not essential to your martial arts.
How did you come up with the name Sideswipe? – Carrie M.
Matt: Hey Carrie! The name Sideswipe actually comes from the move called Sideswipe. The main reason for going with this name, though, is because of its dual meaning of something unexpected. A lot of people don't expect us to do what we do, so the name really fit.
