.Martial Arts

ORANGE TO RED and RED TO YELLOW BELT

2008-12-28T14:39:00.016Z

Orange to Red Belt

Grading for your Shotokan Karate Red Belt is similar to orange but there are some more applications to perform.The basics are the same exept you will have to do a side thrusting kick(Yoko-Kekomi)and a side rising kick(Yoko-Keage).The kata you will have to do will be Heian Shodan,and your kumite will still be five step sparring but a little more advanced.

BASIC FORM

In the basic form you start off in the side stance(Kiba-Dachi)sometimes called the horse stance.You stand with your feet parallel two shoulder width apart and facing forward.You must be evenly balanced and bend the knees and maintain an outward tension,keep your arms out straight above your knees.This is a good stance for developing strength and flexibility to your legs.Next you will be asked to do a back stance(Kokutsu-Dachi),stand with your left leg forward knee slightly bent foot facing forward and left arm out straight above the knee,right leg behind you knee slightly bent with your right foot facing the side,right arm down by your side and 70%of your weight on the back foot.You then bring the knees together keeping the hips together push the right foot forwards keeping all the weight on the left foot,step forwards into back stance by abruptly rotating the hips and pushing the right foot forwards.

KNIFE HAND BLOCK

This technique uses the outside fleshy part of the hand to block.It can also be used as an attacking knife blow to the neck.To start you are in a ready stance and prepare to block with the left arm by bringing it up to the shoulder with the palm facing towards the ear,forwards with the other hand palm down execute (Shuto-Uke) to the stomach and step into back stance.Tips for this technique,pull the elbow of the blocking hand to your centre line,time your blocking action to coincide with the twisting of your hips as you settle into back stance,keep your hands tense with your fingers together.

HAMMER HAND STRIKE

This strike is done with the fleshy underside of the fist and can be used to strike collar bone or the nose.You start in the front stance,pull backthe leading hand using the whole of your body.swing the fist up over your head and strike the base of the fist at the collar bone heaight as you step forward.Tips for hammer hand strike(Tetsui-Uchi),make the arm and foot movement big,but don't pull your body weight back to far as it will slow down the forward motion,and finish with the elbow at 90 degrees.

SIDE RISING KICK

This kick(Yoko-Keage)is also called a snap kick because you pull the kick back in a whipping action.The kick is directed upwards and directed at the chin or armpit.You strike with the edge of the foot.Start in kiba-dachi stance,step forward with the right foot,lift the left leg so that it is pointing to the side,kick to the side useing your hips to throw the kick,rotate the supporting foot on the ball of the foot,snap the foot back then step down into the side stance.

SIDE THRUSTING KICK

Start in the side stance step forward with the right foot,lift the knee as high as possible pointing to the front,kick to the side and hold the kick briefly.Make sure the supporting leg is bent and make it feel as though you are pushing all of your body weight into the target,pull the kicking leg back and then step down into the side stance.That show you do a side thrusting stance(Yoko-Kekomi).

KATA

HEIAN SHODAN

The kata you will be doing for your red shotokan karate belt is called heian shodan,You start witha bow and in a firm voice announce your kata heian shodan and step into ready stance yoi-dachi,step to the left into gedan barai then forward punching with the right hand,move the right foot and turn 180 degrees with a downward block then execute a right hand hammer strike,step punch with the left hand,step to the left and execute a downward block to the left,step forwards and execute a right rising block,step forward wiyh a left rising block,step forward with a right rising block,move to the left 270 gegrees and execute a left sided downward block,step forwards with a right hand punch,move the right leg and turn 180 degrees and execute a downward block,step forward and punch with the left hand,step to the left and execute a downward block to the left,step forwards and punch with the right hand,step forwards and punch with the left hand,step forwards and punch with the right hand and KIAI,move the left foot and turn 270 degrees and execute a left sided knife hand block,step forwards at 45 degrees and execute a right sided knife hand block,pivot on tour left foot for 135 degrees and execute a right sided knife hand block,step forwards at 45 degrees with a left sided knife hand block and KIAI,finish by moving the left foot back into a ready stance and bow.

You finish your shotokan red belt karate grading with a five step sparring the same as you did with your orange belt grading,just try and make it more precise and stronger.

Best of luck

RED TO YELLOW BELT

BASIC FORM

Going from red to yellow belt is using what you have already been taught,defending with combinations and techniques where one follows the another.This can be very challenging with some students as they may find it hard to decide which hand to use next,but with repetition this can be overcome.

As usual you will start with basic grading syllabus as follows.A triple punch(sanbon tsuski)rising block with a reverse punch(age-uki,gyaku-zuki)then an outside block with a reverse punch(soto-uke,gyaku-zuki)inside block and reverse punch(uchi-uke,gyaku-zuki)then a knife hand block(shuto-uki)a front kick(mae-geri)a side thrusting kick(yoko-kekomi)lastly a side rising kick(yoko-keage).

KATA

HEIAN-NIDAN

The kata for this grading is called HEIAN-NIDAN and the sequences are as follows.

Bow call out Heian-Nidan and step into ready stance,step with the left foot into back stance.Block the upper level to the side with the left arm and block with the right arm above the forehead,block with the left arm and strick with the right arm, strike out sideways with the left arm,pivot to move and face the other way and block upper level to the side with the right arm and above the forehead with the left arm,block with the right arm and strike with the left arm,hammer strike with the right arm sideways,move the left foot to the centre and lift the right foot to the left knee and place both fists on the left hip,strike with a side rising kick with the right leg and at the same time use a bach fist strike with the right hand,step down with the right foot and into back stance with a knife hand block with the left hand,step forward witha right hand knife hand block,step forward with a left hand knife hand block,block down with the left hand palm down strike with a spear hand9nukite)over the top with the right hand and kiai.

With the left foot move into back stance with a left hand knife block,step forward with the right foot at 45 degrees into back stance and a right hand knife hand block,move the right foot forward into back stance with a right hand knife hand block,step forward with the left foot at 45 degrees into back stance with a left hand knife hand block,move the left foot across and block with right hand inside block do not change arm positions and front kick with the right leg,step into front stance and punch with the left hand execute an inside block with the left hand without stepping,do not change arm positions and front kick with the left leg,step into front stance and punch with the right hand,step forwards into front stance and block with the right side(morote-uke)turn a whole 270 degrees by moving the left foot and execute a left downward block,step with the right foot at a 45 degree angle and execute a right rising block,turn 135 degrees by moving the right foot and execute a right downward block and then step forwards with the left leg at a 45 degree angle and execute a left hand rising block and kiai,finish by moving the left foot back into ready stance and bow.

And lastly you will have to do a five step sparring as in the other two gradings.

Best of luck

YELLOW GREEN AND PURPLE BELT GRADINGS

2008-12-27T15:38:00.009Z

YELLOW BELT TO GREEN

If you have got this far you have beaten thousands of other Martial Art students

It might surprise a lot of martial art students that the drop out is very high especially as they get higher up the grading ladder.They say that one in a hundred will quit after getting there yellow belt and out of the ones left one in a hundred will quit after getting there green belt and so fourth up to black belt.The reason is the higher karate belt you are the harder it gets to reach the next one.I'm not saying this to put anybody off but it does get a lot harder,but worth it.And so it should if you want to be better than the ordinary person in the street,and of course to compete against you fellow karateka student.

To pass your green belt you will be doing similar movements as your yellow belt but with extras.

As always you start with basics(kihon),triple punch(sanbon tsuki),rising block,reverse punch and a downward block(age-uki,gyaku-zuki,gedan barai),outside block with a elbow strike(soto-uke,empi-uchi),inside block,and reverse punch(uchi-uke,gyaku-zuki),knife hand block and a spear hand strike(shuto-uke,nukite),consecutive front kicks(mae ren-geri),a side thrusting kick(yoko kekomi),and a side rising kick(yuko keage).

KATA

HEIAN SANDAN

Bow announce Heian Sandan and step into ready stance,move the left foot into back stance and block at stomach level with a inside left block,move your right foot up to the left foot and prepare by crossing the right arm to the left hip and the left arm to the right shoulder,straighten the legs and at the same time cross and uncross the arms,blocking inside block with the right arm and downward block with the left arm,cross and uncross the arms blocking inside block with the left arm and downward block with the right arm.Now step with the right foot so you face the other way and block to stomach level inside block to the side with the right arm,move left foot up to right foot and prepare by crossing the left hand to the right hip and the right hand to the left shoulder,straighten the legs and at the same time cross and uncross the arms,blocking inside block with the left arm and downward block with the right arm,cross and uncross the arms blocking inside block with the right arm and downward block with the left arm. Step with the left foot into back stance and use a double handed block(morote-uke)block palm down with the left hand and strike over the top with a spear hand strike,move the left foot rotating body anti clockwise and strike a hammer hand blow with the left hand then stepping forwards punch with the right hand and KIAI.Slowly and with control move the left foot towards the right into closed feet stance(heisohu-dachi)and rotate the body anticlockwise at 180 degrees.Lift the right knee and twist the hip and stamp down with the right foot,block stomach level with the right elbow.Right hand back fist strike(uraken-uchi)making sure the arm moves in a vertical plane,snap the fist back to the hip following the same path,lift the knee twist hip and stamp down with the left foot,block to stomach level with the left elbow,use a left handed back fist strike making sure the arm moves in the vertical plan,snap the fist back to the hip following the same path.Lift the right knee twist hip and stamp down with the right foot,block to stomach level with the right elbow,use a right back fist strike making sure the arm moves in the vertical plane,snap the fist back to the hip following the same path,block to the right with a side vertical knife hand stepping forwards with the left foot execute a stepping punch,bring the right foot up to the left foot,moving the left foot around and turn180 degrees anti clockwise,bring the left fist to the hip and the right fist over the left shoulder,slide to the right and move the right foot then the left foot(yori ashi)sliding foot movement where the front foot moves first,bring the right fist to the hip and the left fist over the right shoulder and KIAI,finish by moving the left foot across into ready stance and bow.

KUMITE

Kihon ippon kumite is still one step sparring,similar to Gohon, except that there is only one attackand counter attack before the exchange is stopped.The defender must respond with a counter attack of his or her choice,the attacker must do a head and stomach level attacks using the right handed side attacks and the defender must defend using the left hand blocks,and then change to the other side.Bow to your opponent and judges.And next train hard for your shotokan karate purple belt and all the best.

GREEN BELT TO PURPLE BELT

NOW YOU HAVE REACHED THIS FAR JUST KEEP GOING ITS WORTH IT.

AND WELL DONE

BASIC MOVES

Triple punch followed by rising block,reverse punch and downward block,outside block,elbow strick,back fist strick,inside block,jabbing punch(Kizami-zuki),reverse punch,knife hand block,jabbing front kick(Kizami-mae-geri) and a spear hand strike(Nukite),you will then have to finish off with a side thrusting kick,side rising kick and a round house kick(Mawashi-geri).

movements in more depth

Start in the front stance step forward and block to the stomach level with an outside block.Move your weight to a side stance and strike with the right elbow and then strike out with right hand in a back fist,snap back the fist.

Go into a front stance then step forwards with the left leg and block stomach level with left arm and a inside block,without stepping punch with the leading hand,then swing the right hip forwards and strike with a reverse punch.

Start with a back stance and right hand in a knife hand position,stepping forward with the left leg go into a back stance and block with the left hand stomach level knife hand block.Now lift the leading left leg up and execute a front kick,put the left leg down and without stepping move your body weight forwards and strike to stomach level with a spear hand strike(Nukite-uchi).

Start in a free style front stance,lift the back right leg swing the hips round so that you rotate on the left supporting leg and execute a round house kick(Mawashi-geri),snap back the kicking foot and step forwards into a front stance.

Start in a front stance raising both arms to the right shoulder with the right fist on top step forwards into front stance and block down as if blocking with left hand(Gedan-barai)and punching with the right hand.

Start in a front stance prepare to strike with the left hand by pulling it back.Reach forwards with the right hand and strike to the head level with a knife hand strike(Shuto-uchi).

Stand in ready stance bring the fist to the hips and slowly start to step forwards while crossing the arms in front of the body,palm side facing in,step out into back stance and slowly open the arms and rotate so that palm side faces out,go into start stance and bow.

KATA

HEIAN YONDAN

Bow and announce your kata Heian Yondan in a firm loud voice.Step to the left into back stance(Kokutsu-dachi)with open hands very slowly raise your arms as if blocking upper level inside block with the left arm and a rising block with the left arm,pivot into back stance facing the other way keeping the hands open and very slowly raise your arms with a blocking upper level inside block with the right arm and a rising block with the left arm.While stepping to the left block with both hands lower level cross block(Gedan juji-uki).Moving forwards into back stance block right side double handed block(Morote-uke).Bring the left leg up to the right knee,place both fists on the right hip look to the left and kick with a left rising kick and at the same time strike with a left back fist strike,snap the foot back leaving the left hand and stamp down into a front stance,at the same time open the the left hand and strike it into the right elbow(Empi-uchi).Move the right foot halfway towards the right and place it on the left knee and with both fists on the right hip,looking to the right execute a side rising kick and at the same time strike with with a right back fist strike.Snap the foot back leave the right hand out and stamp down into front stamp,and at the same time open the right hand and strike with the left elbow,using open hands block lower level with the left upper level with the right,now using both hands block upper level with the left and strike knife hand to head level(Jodan shuto-uchi)then kick stomach level with the right foot,snap the leg back and at the same time reach forwards with the left hand in a pressing block while lifting the right fist above the head,keeping both hands in a circular movement bring the left fist to the left hip and the right performs a back fist strike,while stepping forwards into crossed leg stance(Kosa-dachi) (KIAI).

With control slowly move 135 degrees ant-clockwise and step out with the lft leg into back stance,at the same time cross the arms palms towards you with the the left arm on the outside.Open your arms rotating the wrists out into a wedge block(Kakiwake-uke).Front kick head level with the right leg stamp down into front stance and punch stomach level with the right fist,then punch stomach level with the left fist.Very slowly and controlled move 90 degrees clockwise and step out with the right leg into back stance,at the same time cross the arms,palms towards you with the right arm on the outside.Open the arms rotating the wrists out into a wedge block,strike with a head level kick(Jodan mae-geri) with the left leg,stamp down into front stance and punch stomach level with the left fist,then punch stomach level with the right fist,step 45 degress to the left into back stance using a double handed block on the left side,then step forwards using a double handed block with the right side,again step forwards using a double handed block on the left side,move forwards into front stance and push the open hands up to head level palms facing each other as if grabbing somebodys head,thrust the right knee upwards while simultaneously clossing the fist and pulling down to the level of the knee,as if you had an enemys head in your hands and KIAI.Pivot anti-clockwise and face torwards the rear and step into back stance with a left hand knife block,step forwards with your right foot into back stance with aknife hand block,move the right foot back into ready stance and bow.

BASIC ONE STEP SPARRING

There are many different applications in Heian Yondan that the instructor could want you to do.

You will up against an opponent,but remenber this is not a test to see if you can defeat each other but a test to see if you can defend yourself against attack from different angles with kicks and punches.Always block hard and with confidence but not so hard as to hurt your opponent.The same as when you counter attack make it so convincing that if you followed through with the attack instead of stopping a hair width you would put your apponent out of action with one strike.

As in all martial arts the training can alter somewhat between schools.When i went for my purple belt it was not one step sparring as for the other belts,we had to fight free style,which i liked because it was better for you if you won the fight.Even if you lost but put on a good show and the rest of what you did was good you woukd still pass.

Never forget aggression control and respect are the things that make a good shotokan karate martial arts pupil as with any martial art.

Karate Belt Colours

2008-11-28T10:53:00.004Z

Karate Belts

Each organisation has its own colour belt grading system.

The colour of the belt signifies the grade of the wearer.But all of them start with a white belt and finish with a black belt.

This is the colour,Kyu or Dan and Japanese name of the Shotokan Karate style that i was trained with.

You always start off as an ungraded white belt,and have to train for at least three months before you are allowed to grade for your 9th kyu and each kyu thereafter which will be a orange belt(kukyu),all Japanese names of the grades will be in brackets.8th kyu is a red belt(hachikyu),7th kyu(shichikyu) yellow,6th kyu(rokyu) green,5th kyu(gokyu) purple,4th kyu(yonkyu) is a purple belt with one white stripe,3kyu(sankyu)brown,2nd kyu(nikyu)brown belt with one white stripe,then 1st kyu(ikkyu)is a brown belt withtwo white stripes.

When you reach this high standerd you have to train for at least six months before you can go for your 1st dan,which is your first black belt(shodan),all belts from now are black,2nd(nidan),3rd(sandan),4th(yondan)5th(godan),6th(rokudan,7th(sichidan),8th(hachidan),9th(kudan)and 10th(judan).Going from 1st to 2nd dan you have to train for at least a year,thereafter to go higher you may have to run tour own kate school(dojo).When you become a 4th dan a lot of spiritualist training comes into the teaching.When someone reaches the fantastic height of 10th dan they revert back to white belt or red belt because they then claim that they have gone full circle of there training.

My Karate Training and different stages of fitness

2008-11-27T21:36:00.049Z

The first time i was interested in the Martial Arts was after i had been to see a film staring Bruce Lee.He became my hero straight away,and i wanted to learn the martial arts as soon as possible.There was nowhere in my home town that had a training hall for anything like that. I did find a town seven miles away that was teaching Karate. Before i did anything i asked around to find out if anyone new anything about Karate.A Friend of a Friend said that he had tried it for a little while but gave it up because it was to hard.I also found out the training hall was called a Do Jo, and that the style of martial art was called Shotokan Karate.So i made my mind up that i was going to give it a try,and not be like the other person and give it up because it was to hard. As i was a bit shy about going on my own i asked my mate Steve if he would go with me.As he played football and table tennis he was quite fit so did not think he needed to go to a Karate lessons.But after some persuasion he said he would go with me,just to keep me company.So we found out that there was a Karate lesson at seven pm at Trowbridge.seven miles from where we lived in Melksham.So that was it we were on our way to train in Martial Art called Shotokan Karate. On the way to our first Karate lesson i was having doubts,as it was in the year of 1979 and i was 28 and thinking i was to old to start Karate training.I liked a drink and smoked so i was definitely thinking this was not for me as i was not very fit.It would be all right for Steve he was already fit so it wouldn't do him any harm.We got to the Karate school and with a deep breath i walked in to the Karate club for my first lesson in the Martial Arts. The first person we saw was Pete our Karate instructor.If i remember right he was a third Dan,which means he had earned his black belt first Dan about three years ago,because you need to train at least one year before you can go from first Dan to second Dan,and the same for each Karate Dan after that.There was about thirty pupils there and i think about five of use were first timers.We all lined up in our different Karate grades,highest to the left and lowest to the right. We started by doing some stretching exercises which is very important as you need to warm your body up because if your body is cold and you do a lot of physical training you can pull muscles or tendons because your body is cold.We did running on the spot,side and forward splits,plus push ups and sit ups.I done about ten push ups and ten sit ups and light stretching.That was enough for me,but i noticed the higher Karate Belt you were the more you did. You start off as a beginner and have to buy a white Karate suit and a white Karate belt.I cant remember how much they were but i bought mine from the Karate school,and I'm sure it was not to expensive.If it was i think i would of been put off Karate training.Anyway the first lesson was mostly doing exercises to start toning the body.Near the end of the Karate lesson the black and brown belts done a demonstration of how good you could be if you kept up your Karate training twice a week.And i was amazed of how fast and strong they were.I was definitely going back for some more Martial Arts training. After three months of training it was time for my first karate grading,although the first grade to a 9th kyu orange belt(kukyu) is very basic and that all you really have to do is stand in a horse stance and throw punches,and then show you can kick.Next is a kata which is a set of defined movements showing kicks punches and blocks.Next stage is you partner someone and they will try and kick or punch you and you have to block them.You must show a certain degree of control but with aggression and all this watched in front of a high ranking Japanese Master.YES i passed.

When i think back now it seems so simple to pass this first Karate grade,but i can assure you it was very hard and nerve racking at the time.Now i have three months to train for my 8th kyu which will consist of the same kicks and punches but with more power and accuracy.Plus there will be more emphasis on blocking as the martial arts are all about defence.As for fitness i have noticed instead of only being able to do ten push ups and ten sit ups,i am now able to do fifty of each with a lot of effort.So Karate must be doing me some good.

Going for my 8th kyu red belt(hachikyu) was very similar to training for the 9th kyu,but we had to be more precise in our movements and train a lot harder to get ourselves fitter.I think the first grade was to see if we were really interested in learning karate.As sensei Pete said,i will now see if you have the potential of being a karate student or not.

Sensei Pete came over and told use that this lesson would be about the rules of training in Karate.The first thing was that we always show respect for our instructors and fellow students,and show respect for the dojo by bowing on entering and exiting.Always bow to our opponents and to our instructors.That we are not here to hurt anyone but to learn to defend ourselves against any attack from assailants.The longer we train the fitter and stronger we will get so always be in control.

Plus we must have license which will give us our rules and grading records.Mine started on the 14.03.1979.It is a license to the KARATE UNION OF GREAT BRITAIN SHOTOKAN.And it says i promise to uphold the true spirit of Karate-Do and never to use the skills that i am taught against any persons,except for the defence of myself,family or friends in the instance of extreme danger,or unprovoked attack,or in support of law and order.

We must start to learn some of the Japanese words and meaning,so i will give you a run down of some of them i had to learn.The forefist(Seiken)the backfist(Uraken)the spear hand( (Nukite)the wrist(Koken)the knife hand(Shuto)single-knuckle fist(Ippon Ken)and you have the elbow strick(Empi)which can be a very versatile and powerful contact point.Then there is the heel(Kakato)the instep(Haisoku)the ball of the foot((Chusoku)the knee(Hiza)another good contact point used a lot in kick boxing.That's the main striking contact points which will be explained later as i write more about my training and gradings.

A lot of effort is now going to be put in your training to get you fit.So this session we were really put through our paces.Instead of the ten or more push ups and sit ups we could do we had to stop take a minute breather and then start again.At times we just wanted to stop because we had had enough.Some students gave up because they could not take anymore,but about four of use would not give up and kept going until out sensei told use to stop.I think i must of done about a hundred push ups and press ups,more than i had ever done in my life.My mouth was dry and my arms and legs felt like lead.

We were allowed to rest for a couple of minutes,and then we done some light stretching so that we would not stiffen up or get cramp.Now it was time to do some fighting moves.We had to keep our backs straight and lower our body's down so we were standing in a very low stance with legs about shoulder width apart.And then without rising up, we had to throw punches,starting with fist clenched at our sides and punch forward and just before our punches reached arms length we had to twist our wrist and shout.

The reason for the twist is to rip the flesh of an attacker and the shout is two fold,one to stun the attacker for a split second and to bring all of your strength from inside to the end of the punch,plus it helps with breathing,holding your breath when attacking is a common mistake so shouting ensures a smooth exhalation with the technique.The shout is called a [Kiai] and if done properly it brings the inner strength from within,we all have this inside its just a matter of bringing it out and controlling it.The punch we were learning is called [Choku zuki]a straight punch,The reason for the low stance[dachi]is to strengthen the legs when training and when you stand up to fight you will be quicker on your feet.The next karate session we are going to learn to kick.Went home very tired.After each karate lesson we would watch the higher graded members finishing off their training,and wonder and hope we will make it to the next level.

The karate kick we we were being taught is called(Mae-Geri),we had to start with a front stance(zenkutsu-dachi)that is with your right leg forward and knee bent with the left leg behind you out straight,and arms straight down by your sides.You keep your body up nice and straight moving forward without rising up,lifting the knee as high as possible and striking straight out with the left leg,keeping the toes tucked back and striking with the ball of the foot,then snap the leg back and hold it so your left foot is by your right knee.You hold this position just in case you have to strike again,plus you snap the leg back so an opponent can not grab it.Repeat this with the right leg,and go through the same motions many times.As i had had an operation on my toes when i was young i could not tuck my toes back so i was taught to kick with my heels.In the martial arts there are many ways of adapting if you have to.

Now that we had been shown how to punch and kick it was time to learn how to block these movements from an assailant.We had to choose a partner about our own size,so i chose my mate Steve.We had to stand facing each other about arms length away hands straight down by our sides and bow(rei) as a sign of respect.As this is very early days in karate training we had to do everything slowly or we could hurt each other.Your opponent would throw a punch by stepping forward with right leg and throwing a punch with his right arm,you would step back and block the arm with a downward block(Gedan Barai).Which means you focus on the punch step back with the left leg left arm out straight right arm up under your chin with fist by your left ear and as the punch comes forward you pull the right arm down to make contact with his arm and push it out of harms way,as you do this you bring your left arm back with fist clenched at waist height.This action gives power to the block.Repeat with the other side and then change so your opponent can practise.You do this many times and slowly speed up as you get more used to blocking the punch.

The next block is called(Uchi-uki) which is a sweeping block across the body to defend against a stomach attack.You start with a front stance(Zenkutsu-dachi)as the strike comes towards you begin to step back right arm stretched out left arm under right arm fist clenched and sweep the left arm outwards to stop the attack.Repeat with the other arm.make sure you do this very slowly to start with or you will get hit or kicked.Your timing will be way out to start with,but if you and your partner start slowly and speed up as you get more confident.Always remember when training in the martial arts whether it is karate,kung fu,kendo,judo or any other form you are in the dojo to learn to defend yourself,and not hurt you opponent.

My Sensei Pete had a word with me before my next karate training session,he told me that he new my father and had a chat about me.My father told him that i drank and smoked to much,and that i would get in a fight just for the fun of it,so my father asked Pete to keep an eye on me and hopefully sort me out especially my temper which i must admit at that time was very quick and could be violent.I seemed to have no fear and would take anybody on even to the stupidity of fighting more than one person at a time.A couple of times i got beat up bad taking on more than was good for me.So now i was a marked man and Pete said he would do all he could to sort me out.

So now for the next few lessons we were put through a lot of hard physical training,i thin this was going to happen anyway.I have been to a lot of karate dojos since we had this type of training but have not seen any physical as this except when i went to learn Kung Fo for a few months(more about that later).Every karate training session now started with a lot of stretching ,this was doing the side split as far as you could go and then somebody would come and sit on your shoulders to make you stretch even further,i always seemed to have a very heavy person sit on my shoulders.Another stretching exercise was the front splits where you would go as far as possible and then someone would come and push your front leg forward a couple of inches,did that hurt,one of the exercises that i hated the most was bunny hops but to make use stronger we had to not only to do bunny hops up and down the dojo,we had to bunny hop over a person knelt down,if we hit them we would have to stop and do twenty press ups and start again.Of course the more tyred we got the more we hit people,so the more press ups we had to do.We would then do sit ups and forward stretches where someone would come over and push your head forward and down to the floor as far as possible.This would take up the first hour of training,then we would practise sparring,kicking,blocking and kata.Getting up in the morning was hard as i was so stiff and tyred,but in the end it was worth it.

Now was the time to get ready for my yellow belt(shichikyu).I new i was a lot fitter and that my techniques were a much better.For this grade i had to do triple punch(sanbon tsuki)with a rising block and a reverse punch(age-uki,gyaku-zuki)followed by an outside block(soto-uki)and a reverse punch then an inside block(uchi-uki) and again a reverse punch,next was a knife hand block(shuto-uke)followed with a front kick(mae-geri)then a side thrusting kick(yoko kekomi)finishing off with a side rising kick(yoko keage).The kata i had to do was called (heian nidan),i had already learned(kihon)and(heian shodan)but this one was going to be a lot harder,and as usual the grading finished with five step sparring.

Now it is time to start learning my syllabus for my green belt.I no it will only get harder as my sensei said no pain no gain,I'm sure he is right but i did not think so at the time.With all the stretching and sit ups plus push ups and running getting harder and harder i asked him when the pain of training would stop,his answer was never.So then i thought it was about time i started to help myself in karate training if i was to progress any further.So i bought myself a punch bag and put it up in my garage,and worked at punching and kicking it for at least half an hour a day and started to do 100 press ups and 100 sit ups every,and to go for a mile run at least three times a week.I new i had to do this when seeing how fit and good the higher martial art students were.And all this after a 12 hour shift.

So now i had gone from struggling to do ten push ups and ten sit ups to being able to do a hundred each.It was about this time that i started to have a lot of back pain.I had been suffering from a bad back for a while,so i decided to have a rest from karate training,because i was sure it was all the physical work i was doing.I told my sensei the problem and he said have a break for a month and then go back to see how i was,but to make sure i still done some light training at home.So that is what i did,but i was missing the comradeship and the competitive of the martial art work outs,plus i was going to fall behind the others of my grade,but i new i had to rest.

After a months rest i went back to the Karate dojo and saw my sensei and explained that i was on pain killers from my doctor but he was not sure what was wrong.Sensei said he was pleased to have me back and to get back into full training slowly as we are not there to hurt ourselves.I started training again and was pleased to be back,but i had to skip going for my green belt this grading and wait for the next one because it would be hard to catch up,and it is better to miss a karate grading than it is to fail.I was disappointed but new it was the right thing to do.I was so determined to pass the next time round that i cut down on my social life,which was mostly going to the pub and having a few beers most nights to only going weekends.I even had a go at packing up smoking,but no luck there but cut down on them. As i am writing posts on help with karate gradings i will not go into details of the techniques,but just write about what i did generally to get to my black belt.

Back pain or not it was now time for me to knuckle down and get into some serious training.I found myself a way round town which was about eight miles and was determined to run that distance at least three times a week.My first try was a bit hit and miss,i new i could run a mile but eight was pushing it.The first two miles was OK then i started to slow down to a trot for about a mile,then it was a jog for a mile and a slow walk home.Well i had been four miles which was not bad really for someone who was not fit.I was up to doing 200 sit ups and 200 push ups on most days now,i did have the occasional day off,but they do say do not have more than three days off at a time because you lose a lot of what you have already gained.I new i was getting fitter as i could go into my garage and have a workout with the punch bag for about an hour with kicks and punches and the bag would now move with the force of my blows.

It had now been six months since my last shotokan karate grading,and i was told by my sensei that i was ready to take it.I was really pleased as i had missed one grading because of ill health,and so i was behind a grade with the couple of students that were still training,and had started the same time as me.I'm not sure how many people started about a year ago when i did,but i did know that there was only five of us left.I was really keen to get my green belt because in our dojo when you got to purple belt you could take part in competitions and fight for your club,plus being a green belt you were taught to free style.

It is a shame so many karate students give up.I no it can be very hard at times but you can not progress if karate training was made easy.As with any of the martial arts it has to be very physical or you will not get any benefit from it.There was a few different moves to execute for my karate green belt like after doing the rising block with a reverse punch it had to be finished with a downward block.After the outside block was an elbow strike,with the knife block came a spear hand strike,instead of a front kick it was consecutive front kicks,the rest was the same as the yellow belt.The kata is called Heian Sandan incorporating the extra moves.The Kumite was one step sparring,head level stepping punch and stomach level stepping punches.As always i was very nervous but got through ok.My instructor said i had done well so i was pleased as punch.I new now that the training would really get serous because free style was going to be taught and you can get hurt bad if you do not have enough control.Now my karate training really begins.

This was one of the best parts of my karate training,i was allowed to free style train.As i used to street fight a lot this was right up my street.I used to fight anybody just for the hell of it and i was told that i was pretty good at fighting,i can only remember losing three fights and one was three blokes picked on me while i was walking over melksham river bridge and i must admit they gave me a good pasting.When i got back to my lodgings the daughter of my godmother who i was living with could hardly regonise me.She spent about an hour cleaning me up,and wanted me to go to the hospital,but in those days it was a sign of weakness.I was lucky because i used to heal very quickly,and two days later all i had was a fat lip and a black eye.I had a lot of nerve and would not give up no matter how bad i was beaten,so in a way i was lucky that not many lads of that day would want to take me on.The second time i got beat up was when i was drunk and did not no anything about it until the morning when i woke up with blood alover my sheets.Even today i don't no who or why it happened,i expect i got mouthy and deserved it.The third time i remember getting beat was by a hard man from out of town came to boost his reputation,and that day he did,again i had had a lot to drink and he kicked the shit out of me.Two weeks later i found him and kicked the shit out of him,i made sure i was sobber then.I have wrote this not to brag but just to let you no what type of person i was in those days,and you will understand why i have mentioned my fighting days as i write about my karate training.

At the beginning of this post i said i could do about ten push ups and ten sit ups,now i can do five hundred of each,which i did most days,and i went for about an eight mile run three times a week.In my garage i put up a punch bag and used to go out ther for a workout most days for at least an hour.It was a good job that i only worked eight hours a day at that time,or there would not be enough hours in a day.Allthough may karate dojo was in trowbridge my sensei advised all purple belts and above to go to other martial art halls and train as well,because like he said each instructor has slightly different ways of teaching karate.I went to my main martial art hall but at least once a week i went to different towns to train,and i found this was very helpful and recomend it to everyone.

I new that Shotokan Karate had he;ped me with my temper and my stupidity in getting into a fight just for the hell of it.When i was in my local labour club and there was four lads picking on me because i had a spurs scarf on.I was at the bar and they were were taunting me so i got my drink and walked away ignoring them,as i was about half way across the hall the hairs on the back of my neck stood up,so i turned round and one of the lads was throwing a punch at me,i blocked his arms and sweeped his feet away from him,and as he was falling i grabbed hold of him and let him hit the floor without hurting him.I then picked him up with the hand that helped him to the floor,and i told him to go back to his mates and have a good night and enjoy himself as i did not want any trouble.When i sat down with my mate he could not believe that i not only controled my temper but i had not spilled my drink in the process.There was no more trouble that night,and i no it was all down to my martial art training.

Now back to karate training for my purple belt belt.I new it was only going to get harder,but i did not expect to have to do bunny hops over people nelt down on the floor with thier heads tucked into thier bodys so if you missed you did not hit them in the head.There would be about ten lower grade students lined up in front of use green belts and above.We had to bunny hop over each one then rest for a couple of minutes and start again.I hated doing bunny hops but you just do as you are told.If you hit anyone as you were going over them you were punished by having to do ten press ups,hit someone again and it was twenty press ups,i did a lot of press ups which i used to like doing.At this training stage you could see the difference in fitness between green belts,purple belt and brown or black belts.Green and purple belt graded students would normaly hit some of the students and have to do a few punishing press up and the brown belt students would hit a couple,but the black belts hardly ever hit anyone,they just seemed to fly over them,this just shows how fit they are and how fit you can be.

Now it was time to take my purple belt karate grade.I was fairly sure i would pass except for my kata which was HEIAN YONDAN.I was having problems with it in training,but with a lot of help from my sensei and fellow students i should be ok.This time i was realy on edge,i think i must have gone to the loo about ten times in the hour before my grading.I was told it was because like an animal before a fight you try to lose as much weight as possible,i don't no if it is true or not but i passed my grade.The kata went well and my free style was very good,i beat my opposite number,very much to my supprise as he was a good free style student.After the grading he came over and congratulated me saying he was glad it was not for real as i would of killed him.This realy pleased me as he was a very good student.Now i was at the stage i wanted to be,purple belt and i could now fight in cometitions for my club.They would not allow anybody to fight until they had acheived purple belt ranking.All clubs a different,but i think that is about the right time.

Now that i was fairly fit and could free style i thought i was the bee's knees especially as i was a street fighter.One day i came down with a hard bump.We were practicing free style,that is all karate purple belts and above.I new that the black belts were good but i was quite fit now and could fight.Anyway i was put with a girl of about twenty yrs old,black belt and about five foot two high,so we were having a light sparring when i accidently hit her and she told me off and said we were only practicing and to take it steady,i said sorry so we carried on,again i hit her,this time she was a bit annoyed and said if i done it again i was in trouble.I can honestly say i was trying to be careful and did not want her to tell my sensei as i thought.I did hit her again and the next thing i no is that i am on the floor and she has her fist right by my face and the look in her eyes was not pleasand and she said you could be dead no,w so have you learned to be careful.I got up very sheepish and again said sorry,and i did not hit her again.From then on i relaxed and was taught a lot about fighting from her and to never under estimate your opponent.Now i new i was going to learn as much as i could about the martial arts.

Im not going into much detail about training for my karate brown belt,but i can tell you the training got a lot harder.I will just tell you some of the things i had to go through to get my fitness up to a higher standard.It was bad enough doing bunny hop's over student's kelt down,but now we had to do them with somebody sat on your shoulder's,that realy hurt's.Instead of just doing push ups we had to do them on our knuckels,amd onother way of doing push up's was to start the normal way with hands flat on the ground and then we would have to do ten with four fingers,then three then just index finger and thumb,we had to do at least ten of each.I must admit push up's was my favorite and later in my training period i could do ten press up's just with one thumb.i no a lot of people may not believe it but it is true,it used to be my party trick when showing off at party's.

I no i was about ready to take my brown belt but my back had been hurting a lot at this time and i was advised to give up the martial arts.This was something i was dreading would happen,so i took a break from training and started a lot of different types of treatment,like accupuncture,rekie,physio,you name it i tryed it,but to no avail.I was still in a lot of pain all the time.It was about six monthes of no training when i decided to start again.A Kung Fu class started up in my home town so i thought i would give that a try as i would be starting at the bottom and it would not be so bad for my back problems.It is advised to seek out another stye of martial arts to train in as you get a good all round knowledge of the different styles,and as there is no one perfect style it is a good learning curve.

I went to my first lesson in Kung Fu with my older brother,who thought he was fit and all this Martial Art stuff was a load of rubbish.we were introduced to our Sensia who i must admit i can not remember his name,but he was a second Dan of Kung Fu.As the martial art school had not been going for very long there was about ten students and only two had graded at all.I told our Sensia that i had a bad back but had practiced Karate and was ready for my brown belt until i was taken realy bad,and told him my brother had not done any training at all.His reply was that we would all train together and do what he told use to do.

We started off with about a five mile run which was ok for me and the other two graded members,but the others realy found it hard.The three of us arrived about ten minutes before the others who were at a walking pace.I remember my brother telling me that the Martial Arts were a waste of time and that he was as fit as any of use.When he got back to the dojo i took the mickey and asked him how fit he felt now,he was not a happy chappy.After we all had rested our sensei took us back into the dojo so we could do some stretching exercises so we would not pull any tendons.My brother and i paired up and after a short time he had to go outside and was sick,because the sudden exersion was to much for him.I must admit i did take the micky out of him,and he had to admit the Martial Arts was a very hard sport.

I stayed at this dojo for about six months and must admit i did enjoy this different style of martial arts.I never took any grades as my heart was still for karate.I was going to practice both arts at the same time until the kung fu instructor put me off.We were doing some light free style and he was fighting with a young black student and by accident he kicked him between the legs and the poor chap went down in agony.Instead of saying sorry and punishing himself like an instructor would have done in karate he just stood there and laughed.I walked out in disgust and never went back.Don't get me wrong it is very rare to have a sensei of this low standard in any martial art.

I heard that my best freinds mate Jeff had opened a dojo in Melsham,so i went to have a look and make sure he was a good instructor,especialy after the last encounter.I was happy with the way he was teaching and as he only had about ten students and i was the second highest so i would get a more personnel teaching,and i would have the chance to help train the lower grades,which i think helped me a lot as well as them.So now it was time to get back on track and train for my brown belt. I told my good freind Steve about this dojo and he came along and joined as well,which was another good thing for me as we had been training together right from the beginning,and he was the same grade as me but was fitter and had better cordination than me.And as i had a good sense of controled agression we would help each other to gain our brown belts.

We both new that we had to up our training,so Steve spent time teaching me the finer points of karate,like katas and lower stances and better cordination,while i helped him with the accressive part.As i used to fight a lot i new how to take and give a punch but steve had never had a real fight in his life.One day after Jeff had finnished our training we stayed on to do some free style.At one stage Jeff was getting wooried we might kill each other as we realy did hit each other.Like i have always said its no good being able to give a good punch or kick if you can not take one.You can be a brilliant martial artist but get one bad hit and you are finnished.So now it was a regular thing to stay behind and do some extra training,Jeff used to join in as he used to street fight so he new all about defending himself.He was a lot better than use but we all liked to get stuck in.We used to go home sometimes black and blue up are arms and down our legs,but we never done any head strikes unless it was very controled as this was much to dangerous.

Anybody who is at this stage in Karate training now is doing well, it is a big step up to brown belt.I do not no what it is like in everyones dojo but with use it was when you could fight for your club,help teach other students and take over the class when your sensei asks you to.As i said not every dojo is the same,some let you fight at yellow belt stage but Jeff thinks that is to early,but everyone to there own.

I remenber going to a tornament and a white belt was fighting,but what i did not no he had been training for years and had never graded,no wonder he was good.I remember my first contest i had to go against a older black belt,i had seen him warming up and new he was good and there is me still a mere purple belt.My thought was if i get in fast he wont no what hit him and not have time to use his skills.We faced each other and bowed and the ref said fight,we eyed each other up and moved about a bit and then i went in for the point with a kick and punch at the same time,i was amazed that my punch just touched his jaw and my kick just connected with his body and he never had time to do anything.I was just about to cheer my win like the rest of my team were when the ref said foul as the black belt went to the floor.As per custom i turned away from him and knelt down with my head bowed.I was to be disqulified for a low kick but because he never had a box on we had to fight again.He was not taking any chances this time he would'nt let me near him and took me out with a lovely punch to the head and a sweep to the floor.I night not have won but it was a great exsperiance and i new i would fight many more times in the future.

Now that i was back in full training i was determend to go for my brown belt.My doctor had advised me not to train in the martial arts anymore,but the pain killers and determination kept me going.I new this was a big step in karate to get your brown belt,as in my dojo when you earned your brown belt you were allowed to teach the lower belts,which was one of my goals to teach the youngsters as i could relate to them very well. MF sensei Jeff was a very teacher and as hard as nails but he could not relate to the juniors very well so i had the job of teaching them.I found this was good for me as i had to go through all the moves and katas with them so my skills were inproving all the time.At the end of a session Jeff would then take me through my brown belt training,and he was very strict but fun with it.I had to learn a black belt kata so out of the four he showed me i chose Basi Di as it looked like a very powerful kata and i love power.

Just a short note on a site i have just read,i won't put a name to it as i do not recomend people to read it.I was amazed that this person said he had been training in the martial arts for over twenty years and it had not helped his fitness.He was either super fit before he started training or he was not training properly or hard enough.When i first started i could just about do ten push ups and ten sit ups and run about half a mile.After four years training i could do five hundred sit ups and press ups run eight miles three times a week and do an hours work out in the garage most days,that is with going training at least twice a week.I must admit i realy don't no where he is coming from.He maybe a great martial artist but his training had to help him get fit if not fitter than he was.Well thats my opinion and i stand by it,and next i will get on with my story of karate training.

As training for my brown belt is a big step in my life,and Jeff was busy teaching the other karate students as i was with the youngsters he suggested that i go to Trowbridge one a week and train with sensei Pete who i started training with,plus there were a lot af students of brown belt and higher there so i would get some good training in.So that is what i did,and it was nice to see some of my old mates again.There was not that many as when i first started as a lot packed it in as training got harder,but the ones who stuck it out were getting realy good.It was a bit strange at first as i had to go up against some black belt students who at the beggining made me look poor,but they were a great bunch of people and gave me a lot of help.Nothing against Jeff but he was the only black belt in Melksham and the sensei so his training for me was a bit restricted.

Sensei Pete new that i still smoked and liked a good drink,which i must admit i was one of the rare students to smoke but most liked a drink,but not as much as me.One day Sensei Pete got all of the brown belt trainees together and set up a free style bout.At first i thought it was a compatition until i saw a student lose his fight but had to stay up and fight again.This was very rare as after a fight you are very tyred weather you win or lose.It was my turn to get up and as usual Sensei Pete said your turn Harrold,he never called me Phil unless we had finished training.I got up and faced my opponent bowed and away we went to try and win for our own pride as well as to impress Sensei.I won my fight and thought we would both sit down ready for the next two students,but no it was stay up Harrold.Again i just won this fight and again he said stay up Harrold,the third fight i lost so to me it was plain to see i was very tyred and would sit down.But no stay up Harrold,i just scrapped through this fight to win,but i had no spit left in me and my jaw was hanging on the floor my legs felt like lead and my head was swimming.I knew i had to sit down or fall down,but no it was stay up Harrold.Fight number five was a disaster,i lost very easy.But to everyones amazment it was stay up Harrold.As the next opponent was getting ready for what he thought would be an easy win i heard Sensei Pete whisper to him that Harrold was finished so go in there and take him apart.That made me very angry and i fought him with my last bit of energy i had left and won the fight ,i could not beleive it nor could anyone else.I was so shattered it was unbeilviable,it must of took me ten minutes just to start breathing again.After the session Pete took me to one side and told me why he had done somrthing he had never done before.He said that i was not the fittest of students at my grade but new there was more to me than others could see.He took me to my limit and then a bit more,he told the other student to take me apart just loud enough for me to hear,and that was enough for me to respond the way he hoped i would.Like he said in a real fight you don' sit down for a rest you must win.This was the Chi he tought me that day and it has stayed with me all my life and it will never go,controlled anger greats great power,and it has helped me many times.Thankyou Sensei Pete.

The kata for my brown belt was TEKKI SHODAN,i must admit some of the training i mention might not be in complete true order as it was a long time ago,but i do try and get it as close as possible.i will at a later date write all the kata's down for you in as much detail as possible.This is a nice fast moving Kata which did not take to long to learn the moves but to perfect them was as usual hard to do.I was now very busy in the Martial Arts what with training with sensai Jeff and teaching the junior's in melksham and spending as much time as i could being trained by sensai Pete in trowbridge.All this training and getting fitter faster and stronger was of great help in my passing my Karate Brown Belt.Steve and i passed on the same day so it was a good night out,with jeff and a couple of mates.I got shit faced,Steve was not a heavy drinker but he got drunk just like the others.Well thats my 3rd kyu passed and now time to practice for my 2nd kyu.

I have not wrote on my blog for a while as i have been busy workink on my oyher two hoping to make a bob or two,as times are getting hard,one has to try.Anyway back to my Karate Training days.I was now fairly fit now and was realy enjoying teaching the juniors at the Melksham dojo,and training at Trowbridge for my next belt.It was getting even harder as most of the training was with the other Black Belts and some very good Brown Belts.I remember when i asked when did the pain stop and Sensai Pete said to me NEVER,i must admit i did not beleive him,but i no it's true now,i still go home shattered but no it is alway's worth while.I am goin to write about my next two grades in short as although they are very important i want to start again with help on Karate grading as i see most of my readers want a more in depth knowledge of the grades.So in the next couple of weeks i shall stop my personal training and consentrete on grades.As it has been a long time since i graded i shall swot up as much as i can and give you an all the right information i can.

For my brown belt and one white strip 2nd kyu i was a good boy,i vertualy stopped drinking and cut down on my smoking.My wife put me on a strict diet nowing how much i wanted to pass and go for my black belt.I chose Bassia Dia for my kata as with most karate martial art students it is the favorite.I practise3d every day without fail on my kata and trained with steve at least twice a week.At one stage Jeff was getting worried that we might kill each other when we were free styling.But like we said we have to free style in grading and it will be better if we win,plus like i said,if you are in a real fight outside you have to be able to take a punch or kick to survive,no body give a martial art expert the right to win.So now we were both ready to grade and very up for it.The first time i was not too worryed and realy felt like i would pass.

Now the day is here and Steve and i are outside warming up with lots of stretching and light sparring.As we are going for a brown belt grade we have a long time to wait as all the lower belt students go first.We are called up to do our gradings and in line we one step movements which go well for me as i have messed them up before by not understanding whatwas asked of me.Then one step sparring against an opponent,which you try to help each other pass.I was paired against a student named Boo who was very strong as he done power lifting as well as all the other training.This went well but i was hoping i would not be against him in free style because of how strong he was.I completed my kata and i'm sure it went well as i put a lot of power into it.Now it was free style time and yes i had to fight Boo,i thought that because he was so powerfull that he might be a little slower than me.We moved around and i put in a couple of punches and kicks and all of a sudden Boo came at me with a kick and i pulled down my arm with as much power as i could to stop him but to no avail,his kick was so strong thar he lifted me right off the ground and i went tumbling onto the instructors table and crashed to the floor.I jumped straight up to carry on the fight but they would not let me carry on.I failed my first grading,Boo came up and said sorry and that he should of held the kick back a bit,but that did not help i had failed,i thanked him and went home with Steve who had passed,i was happy for him but inside devistated.

THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED

I must make this as clear as possible

Do not do what i did to get my grade

I was so disapointed to fail my grade that i can't explain it.

Still i had to get on with it and not show my pupils how i was feeling,and help them get their grades.At this time in my life i was the fittest i had ever been and Jeff was thinking about leaving the karate club and letting me carry on on my own.I tried to talk him out of it as he was a good black belt and a good teacher to the older students.He left a couple of weeks later and went to train and teach karate in Bath.Most of the students stayed with me but some left to be trained in bath or else where.I wished Jeff and the others all the best,and new i had a lot on my plate but i was determend to carry on.I had one brown belt and one purple belt student still in my dojo,so at least i had some help.Anyway back to why not do what i had done,when my grading came up again i did not no how to go about passing it.My missus said to me why not do what you do normanly on a friday,which was to go out and get drunk.

So that what i did,i got realy drunk,smoked to much and woke up with a hangover.I had a big peice of steak for breakfast and lots of tea,and off i went to my grading.I remember sitting outside the dojo holding my head in my hands sporting a raging hangover and feeling very sorry for myself.Everybody else was doing light exercises and stretching ready for ther gradings.I must of had a dozen wee's while i was waiting,and then it was time to line up ready to grade.I just thought that i would give it my best in the state i was in but would not pass again.But as soon as i moved to start my grade the hangover just seemed to go away and i felt great and mean,and i was ready to pass.Well i did not have boo to go against but he was a good opponent.I won my fight and did all i was supposed to do with flying colours and yes i passed.Like i said don't do what i did because i'm sure it want work for you.

Just one more belt to go and it is the BIG one,1st Dan Karate Black Belt.I was now running the dojo on my own and was enjoying every minute of it.I did not no at the time that running your own club actualy can help in passing your 1st Dan.Not many brown belts at that time had their own dojo's,so Jeff had helped me by leaving.I new that when you got your 1st Dan that it was a great help to run your own dojo to proceed to 2nd Dan.I was stepping up to the mark in training and working very hard,but my back was giving me hell and i was popping pain killer's like no tomorrow.I went to a specialist and he told me to give up the martial arts,but i was not ready to do that yet as i wanted my black belt badly.

I'm not saying passing your brown belt 1st kyu is easy but i found it was not a lot of difference to tacking your 2nd kyu.I can't speak for everyone but i new i had to step up my speed and control,and perfect my kata more and i should be alright to pass.I did this by going to other dojo's in the area and training with the black belt students in their club's.This i found very helpful and would advise it to anyone taking any grade.Every instructor has a slightly different approach to training and standards.A big plus is with the free style in that you fight a lot of different people and get used to people's way's of trying to win.So when you are taking your grade you will be ready for anybody.Two week's before my grading i left my club in the very capable hand's of a dear freind who doe's not want to be named to consintrate on my own forth coming grade.

On the day of my grading i was strangly not as nervous as i thought i would be.There was a lot of student's taking there brown belt grade's,more than i had seen before.Before it was my turn to grade i noticed there was a lot more people failing than usual.I'm sure the reason was that a lot were put up for grading before they were realy ready.I no some student's had passed their grades every three month's which i am sure is to quick,i no where i was concened it was a good idea to wait an extra three month's before taking my grades,and it was good for me to fail as well,it does open your eye's that it take's hard work and dedication to get a high standard in Karate. I passed my Grading and was so pleased that all my hard work and help from fellow students had paid off.

Now it was time to train for my Karate Black Belt 1st Dan,but i was having a lot of trouble with the pain in my back and had problems with training.I had to give my Dojo up as it was to much for me and i could not find anyone to take it on.It was i shame as i realy enjoyed the teaching part of Karate.I did not no until later in life that one of my students went on and became a 4th Dan,i was so proud when he met me and said that i was a big influence on him in his early days of training.He said i was a hard task master and taught hin good controlled power.Iwas proud of him and myself that day.I trained as much as i could for the next six months but new back pain would stop me from training soon.So i took my 1st Dan as soon as i could because if i did'nt i would not be able to take it later on.I am not going to brag about being a black belt because i must admit i don't think i realy deserved it.On the day i w2as in pain and must of done just enough,there were a lot of better student's than me and some of them failed.Maybe the senai's seen something i me and not the other's.It was a privalige to have the honour of 1st Dan but i new my Martial Art day's were over.I did go to some dojo's to help teach there student's controled power until finaly that was to much.

One thing i do no is that if i had not been taught the Martial Art of Shotokan Karate i would of had a much worse life than i have had.It teaches you self disapline and inner strength.It was not until a few year's later when i could not stand the pain any lnger and paid to have an op on my back that i found out that i had a nerve welded to one of my disc and it took the surgeon twice as long to operate on me than anyone else he had operated on.If i had not had the op i would be in a wheel chair now but because of the op and my training i can walk with a stick and still do some exercises to keep resonably fit.So my life is not to bad even though i am in consent pain.I do thank the Martial Arts for my sesolve in life.

I am going to write about keeping fit even when you are disabled.And i am going to write an ebbok on the suject which i hope will help other people stay fit and live longer,and i hope people will buy it.as like anyone else i could do with a little exta money.So to all you Martial Art student's keep it up and best of luck to you all.

Happy training Phil

Hi all it's been a long time since i posted on my blog.I have been so busy building an online business that i have not had the time.This is just a small plug on what i have been doing if anyone is intrested.It's starts with how to make money surfing on the net.

Here is a link if you are intrested

http://trafficexchangeprofits.net/splashywitch.php?id=phils14

Thats it for now,i will get back on track with with my Martial Art blog in the future.

WHICH IS THE BEST MARTIAL ART

2008-06-09T16:45:00.002Z

THE BEST MARTIAL ARTS The classical fighting arts of ancient cultures, including those of China, Japan, and even the ancient societies of Greece and Rome, were often a blend of various martial arts styles. Some of the martial arts schools of thought today also blend several fighting styles into what they believe to be the most cohesive application of the ancient arts. Still, there are those martial arts purists who believe that there can be only one true style; often one that is believed to possess roots that lie in the ancient traditions. The reality is that, even among those “pure” forms, there are several hundred varieties, leading many martial arts seekers to wonder which is the best martial art. Much of the discussion about which martial art is the most desirable came about because of the commercialization of martial arts training. To draw in students, martial arts schools had to find ways to emphasize their own tradition over all others. So, it became commonplace for one philosophy to assert its superiority over all others. The sad fact is that these types of debates minimize the true philosophy behind the study of any martial art. “Ki ken tai ichi” Mind, sword, and body are one – kenjutsu proverb. The focus of martial arts has become the perfection of fighting skills in many schools and training forums. Certainly, the martial arts arose out of a need for self-defense, yet to confine the definition of ancient fighting styles to merely a way of combat is to belittle the spiritual philosophy that reigns in each one. The study of martial arts is not a means to an end but a physical and spiritual path that anyone who has devoted themselves to true study can attest is a life-long pursuit. The martial arts combine several physical and spiritual properties to create a primary philosophy. The majority of these philosophies are amazingly similar. Each school of thought asks that the student create a balance between the physical and spiritual. A student must do more than learn how to move the body and the feet, how to maintain proper posture and distance, and how to execute the proper technique. Every student must seek to blend physical conditioning with grace, confidence, comradeship, and a sense of harmony. “I have nothing against sports, they train the body and develop stamina and endurance. But the spirit of competition and power that presides over them is not good, it reflects a distorted visionof life. The root of the martial arts is not there...”. - Master Taisen Deshimaru. As much as martial arts training is a path toward the mastering of physical conditioning and self-defense tactics, it is also a path along which the true student desires to create opportunities toward self-confrontation and self-discovery. It is as much about the physical confrontation of the opponent as it is about the spiritual confrontation of the self. Ancient fighters knew that the most important battle they would ever have would be with their own fear of death. They knew that their ability to win this battle would be the deciding factor that would determine their success in combat. The confrontation that one has with death is perhaps the most important factor in one’s spirituality. This is why true martial arts training must address the spiritual as well as the physical. According to ancient thought, freedom from the incapacitating fear of death releases great power in the student. So, what is the best martial art? Simply put, there isn’t one. The best martial arts training is the one with which the student feels a spiritual connection as well as a physical one. The best martial arts training is one in which the student seeks spiritual growth as well as physical conditioning. The best martial arts training is one that emphasizes structural technique in addition to an exploration of the inner self. In essence, the best martial arts style is the one that leads the student down the path of physical perfection as well as the perfection of character.

Wanna Fight

2008-06-08T18:33:00.003Z

What to do if someone wants to fight you! Author: Martial Simons Do you even know the difference between kung fu and karate? The danger today - You! Can you even throw a punch? When the World Turns VIOLENT! I bet you run. The enemy may be next door - afraid to look? Help me, Im fat, lazy and afraid of a bully. Are you martially in danger? All titles to bring on that chilling fear inside and solicit a response - so read on.. ITS DANGEROUS OUT THERE Its dangerous out there and especially for you.. The enemy may be next door and you dont know it but you got to have the guts too look. What can you really do once you see some violence or get scared or worse because you receive a bashing or king hit - do you hide in your house? TV today scares the shiit out of many people as it promotes violence and turns the meek yellow and nervous. The danger today is maybe not too obvious to you but you better hone your sensors or you'll get hit without seeing it coming. You know that given a situation to be a hero and stop a crime, terrorism or violence you'll be able to step up or chase after them etc - or maybe you'll cower or be the victim. Were are you on the scared meter of life? Are you out there amongst it or a bit of a shy body or house mummys boy? PHYSICAL COMPETENCE Have you ever seen raw violence or someone getting 'owned'? Just search google for "martial street fights" - "martial owned" Watch those movies and cringe!!! http://www.google.com/se arch?q=martial+owned http://www.googl e.com/search?q=martial+street+fights Kung Fu, Boxing, dancing, balley, incompetance? What will you display to your attacker? Can you throw a punch or even stand steady on one leg? can you do a round-house or even give a kick to the knee? Ever heard of a combination? Today we are lazy, probably fat too.. Go look in the mirror and skip for ten minutes, then check your image again and what do you see? I can judge I am probably half the strength and endurance form 10 years ago, how about you? MARTIAL KNOWLEDGE a martial art is defined as - 1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior 2 : relating to an army or to military life 3 : experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKE htt p://www.martialarm.com/information/martial-arts-definition.htm l a martial art is defined as: various styles of self-defense, usually weaponless, based on techniques developed in ancient China, India, and Tibet. htt p://www.martialarm.com/information/martial-arts-definition.htm l If you've never studied a martial art, your awareness of them most likely starts at Bruce Lee movies and ends with the stylized theatrics of The Matrix. If that's the case, you may not realize from what you've gleaned onscreen that there are an estimated 200 unique kinds of martial arts, and within these, thousands of different styles. Karate, judo, kung fu, and tae kwon do are among the most popular and well-known of the martial arts in the U.S., but there are numerous others. Despite the array of martial arts and styles, most of them share common techniques, and so they can be organized into broad categories that facilitate understanding. The primary way of classifying martial arts is by the basic physical technique they use: striking or grappling. Because karate, judo, kung fu, and tae kwon do have been more prominent than other forms in popular culture, from film to sporting events, many people mistakenly believe that all martial arts are Asian in origin. In fact, diverse cultures throughout history from Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East have also given birth to their own martial art forms. Or a combination of triangles with small circles as can be seen in chinese trapping, wrist locks or Aikido entry and endings. Do you even know the diffference between kung fu and karate? Do you think wing chun is a chinese dish? The different styles can even be related to shapes or geometry - squares, triangles and circles. MARTIAL TRAINING TO LIVE Training is hard..really hard. The most hard is to get started and its down-hill easy from there. What you need is a martial arts machine - something new and exciting to get you off your fat ass. Search for it - martial arts machine - http://www.google .com/search?q=martial+arts+machine Everyone knows someone who knows how to fight - with fists, knives, weapons, guns, tactical, sensless, whatever but START! Or find a martial arts school in your area - http://ww w.google.com/search?q=martialarm+schools+directory GO to the local phone book and look up kung fu or karate. Then give them a call, go along or take your kid. Whats important now is to do something, start with brief excercise, get into stretching, shadow box, then step up and train hard. CONCLUSION IS ACTION Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competance is making you petrified. Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo. Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competence is making you afraid. If you are not liking what you see in the mirror, afraid to go down a dark street, scared of a potential confrontation then train now. Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo. We cant all be Bruce Lee but you also dont want to be an emotional and physical punching bag do you? About the author: Visit us below for more articles and training devices http://www.martialarm.info http://www.martialarm.com

Working Out

2008-06-08T18:32:00.008Z

Title: Working Out and Getting Back in Shape Author: William BristerArticle:

Physical Fitness through a regular workout plan is not simply a plan you embark on to lose weight or gain muscle mass. It is more like a life commitment that will help you maintain good health and the physique you want. For people who are just starting out or are resuming exercises after a lengthy period of time, the initial period of workouts may be tough. But if the transition to an active lifestyle is sought through an intelligent approach, the chances of you sticking to your routine and getting in shape is likely to be very high. The first step to gaining the benefits of working out is to choose an exercise routine that you enjoy. Since each individual differs in his exercise needs, workout routines and programs canbe designed to suit different body types. It is not hard to create your own workout schedule; once you understand the basics, you can do it easily and as per your comfort level.

Think about what you like doing; where do your preference lie? -Indoor or outdoor activities, costs of equipment or gym fees aswell as how much time you can devote to it. After zeroing in the type of activity, start slowly and build gradually on it. Your enthusiasm is likely to be high the first day, but don't over do it because the repercussions of a strenuous workout will include aches and pains leading to a decreased desire to continue. However, contrary to the popular belief that there is no gain without pain, if the workout that you indulge leads to excessive discomfort or pain, then discontinue immediately. The chances are that you are doing something wrong or your muscles are not stretched and warm enough.

Also, when you are considering starting a new exercise routine, consult your physician and make sure you incorporate his/her advice in choosing your exercise program. This assumes more importance if you already have an existing history of medical problems.

Contrary to what people say, workouts and exercise to maintain good health and shape are not just the need to sweat, run or grunt till you fall off or are unable to walk. If you can go to a gym or workout then by all means do so. But if you can't,expand the definition of exercise and include any opportunity to participate in an activity that counts as exercise.

Once you've chosen your exercise routine and time, try and adhere to it as much as possible. If for some reason, you are unable to follow the routine, do not procrastinate to another day, find another suitable time and make up for it.

Adopt a simple Flexible routine so that you do not fall into the procrastination trap ultimately leading to lazy indulgences of nothing at all. Find an alternative for the routine that you have missed.

Taking stairs instead of the elevator, walking instead of taking the car, few push-ups and sit ups, etc. can help you substitute what you have missed. Start with a short, brisk walk , yoga every day or even every alternate day. By making an effort it will be your first step towards better fitness and higher things. Take on gardening, a truly underrated exercise which not only works your body but also reduces stress.

You can even buy exercise videos and start your own workout at home. Dancing, karate, bowling are some other activities that allow you to have a workout and enjoy itas a hobby as well yoga and meditation has assumed great significance in today's fast-paced, hectic urban lifestyle.. About the author:William Brister - http://www.fitnessguidebook.com/-Let us helpyou get into shape.

Martial Arts Focus

2008-06-08T18:32:00.007Z

A lot of people are put off by the idea of martial arts for a simple reason that you need to wake up early and practice outside during winter. In my opinion these are such minor components of the whole practice and if you do get into practicing at dawn and during the winter than you are already into it that much that it does not matter. Focus Many students ask - what do I do with my eyes? Where do I look? Regardless what the practice is - standing, walking, moving - eyes are looking straight but your mind does not register information taken by your eyesight. The gaze is turned internally, observing your muscles, your legs, your hands, scanning every single part of your body with your mind. I used to go to crowded places to train for competitions - the more distraction the better it was. Well, no doubt, I learned how to focus and keep final destination constantly in my mind - perfection of the body posture, allowing the energy to flow freely like cleaning blocked pipes or dirty chimneys. Meridians are fresh, blood circulates to all parts of the body, there are no blockages and as qi starts in your dan tian it swirls through the whole body and is being released into the ground. To reach perfection you first hear about what it is that you are looking for and then step by step focus on each requirement until you get it and lift yourself up to new horizons. I take focus as another insight for daily living. Flexibility (applies to practicing 1:1 with Sifu) A lot of people are put off by the idea of martial arts for a simple reason that you need to wake up early and practice outside during winter. In my opinion these are such minor components of the whole practice and if you do get into practicing at dawn and during the winter than you are already into it that much that it does not matter. Your teacher may be flexible enough to assist you in learning whenever it is convenient for you, some teachers take it easy during winter and if you have a spacious apartment you can practice at home. So, first of all martial arts teaches about flexibility. By being flexible I mean physically and mentally because it is all connected and one directs the other. Calm Another simple implementation of martial arts in daily living is that you learn how to keep being focused and relaxed while doing strenuous exercise. The practice gets your body to twist in new directions, to use muscles you haven't used before, to learn what 'natural posture' means in terms of martial arts. After a while your body becomes soft outside (for the observer) and hard inside (you experience the flow of qi in your body). Simply, if you manage to keep your body relaxed during strenuous exercise then in daily living you can maintain being relaxed in stressful situations. Needless to mention, daily practice enables you to remain calm and focused despite the circumstances and the environment. Patience Recently I have been translating for Liu Sifu - he has new students who do not speak much of Chinese and I am amazed (again and again) how much patience he has. Each student is treated in a new way, with new perspective, so much appropriate for their personality. I stopped asking how he does it, each time it is just as if he knows how nature works. Of course, practicing ba gua was helpful for increasing this insight (amongst other things). As I translate I keep rushing ahead, giving my perspective on what is being said, talking about my experience while he sits calmly and waits for me to finish. Never a single comment, never a single request. I look at new students practicing zhang zhuan (standing stance) and keep thinking: they must be bored, there is so much more to it! And yet, I realize - their mind and body are so occupied maintaining the proper standing stance as it looks simple to an observer while the person practicing has busy time thinking of all things that need to be done - usual case with internal martial arts. I learned patience by living in China and I know that patience is part of every journey - accept the fact that beginning is slow and that some things you will do well, some will be hard. Determination and Discipline Over the course of 7 years of practice I have learned one thing about internal martial arts - there are times when I enjoy it, when the flow of it is so natural and free, by body wakens and mind empties itself accepting nature as the only guide. As everything else in life, there are also times when I am lazy, I dread waking up in the morning, my body rebels, practice seems boring and I question if there is anything coming out of it. Liu calls these times "guan" ("pass"). Each guan is blocking the way towards new learning, realization and expansion. So there is physical guan, lazy guan, guan of doubt etc. It is our choice to stop and retreat from practice or to continue and see what awaits us behind the obstacle. Usually it is expansion of physical and mental experience: body becomes stronger, mind reaches new horizons. However, it does not mean that if you pass one guan you have finished with that lesson. For me, lazy guan keeps coming back but the time needed to pass it is getting shorter and shorter. Lessons are fulfilling enough for me to realize that determination and discipline is what takes me further towards abundant and balanced living. With flexibility, calm, focus, patience, determination and discipline I look forward to every new challenge. Internal Martial Arts, Daily Living, Focus, Determination, Discipline, Calm, Flexibility Copyright Dalida Turkovic 2007 About the Author Dalida Turkovic - Master Coach and Master NLP Practitioner has lived and worked in China since 1990. She practices Xingyi Bagua with Sifu Liu Xu Yang. Visit her coaching website http://www.small-steps-coaching.com/ and her blog at http://life-coach-balanced-living.blogspot.com/

Someone wants a fight

2008-06-08T18:31:00.005Z

Title: What to do if someone wants to fight you!Author: Martial SimonsArticle: Do you even know the difference between kung fu and karate? The danger today - You! Can you even throw a punch? When the World Turns VIOLENT! I bet you run. The enemy may be next door -afraid to look? Help me, Im fat, lazy and afraid of a bully. Are you martially in danger?All titles to bring on that chilling fear inside and solicit a response - so read on.. ITS DANGEROUS OUT THERE Its dangerous out there and especially for you..The enemy may be next door and you dont know it but you got tohave the guts too look. What can you really do once you see some violence or get scared or worse because you receive a bashing or king hit - do you hide in your house?TV today scares the shiit out of many people as it promotes violence and turns the meek yellow and nervous. The danger today is maybe not too obvious to you but you better hone your sensors or you'll get hit without seeing it coming. You know that given a situation to be a hero and stop a crime,terrorism or violence you'll be able to step up or chase after them etc - or maybe you'll cower or be the victim. Were are you on the scared meter of life? Are you out there amongst it or a bit of a shy body or house mummys boy? PHYSICAL COMPETENCE Have you ever seen raw violence or someone getting 'owned'? Just search google for "martial street fights" - "martial owned"Watch those movies and cringe!!!http://www.google.com/search?q=martial+owned http://www.google.com/search?q=martial+street+fights Kung Fu, Boxing, dancing, balley, incompetance? What will you display to your attacker?Can you throw a punch or even stand steady on one leg? can you do a round-house or even give a kick to the knee? Ever heard of a combination?Today we are lazy, probably fat too.. Go look in the mirror and skip for ten minutes, then check your image again and what do you see? I can judge I am probably half the strength and endurance form 10 years ago, how about you?MARTIAL KNOWLEDGE a martial art is defined as - 1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior 2 : relating to an army or to military life 3 :experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKEhttp://www.martialarm.com/information/martial-arts-definition.htmla martial art is defined as: various styles of self-defense,usually weaponless, based on techniques developed in ancient China, India, and Tibet.http://www.martialarm.com/information/martial-arts-definition.htm If you've never studied a martial art, your awareness of them most likely starts at Bruce Lee movies and ends with the stylized theatrics of The Matrix. If that's the case, you may not realize from what you've gleaned on screen that there are an estimated 200 unique kinds of martial arts, and within these,thousands of different styles. Karate, judo, kung fu, and taekwon do are among the most popular and well-known of the martial arts in the U.S., but there are numerous others.Despite the array of martial arts and styles, most of them share common techniques, and so they can be organized into broad categories that facilitate understanding. The primary way of classifying martial arts is by the basic physical technique they use: striking or grappling.Because karate, judo, kung fu, and tae kwon do have been more prominent than other forms in popular culture, from film to sporting events, many people mistakenly believe that all martial arts are Asian in origin. In fact, diverse cultures throughout history from Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East have also given birth to their own martial art forms.Or a combination of triangles with small circles as can be seen in chinese trapping, wrist locks or Aikido entry and endings.Do you even know the diffference between kung fu and karate? Do you think wing chun is a chinese dish?The different styles can even be related to shapes or geometry -squares, triangles and circles. MARTIAL TRAINING TO LIVE Training is hard..really hard. The most hard is to get started and its down-hill easy from there. What you need is a martial arts machine - something new and exciting to get you off your fat ass.Search for it - martial arts machine -http://www.google.com/search?q=martial+arts+machine Everyone knows someone who knows how to fight - with fists,knives, weapons, guns, tactical, sensless, whatever but START!Or find a martial arts school in your area -http://www.google.com/search?q=martialarm+schools+directory GO to the local phone book and look up kung fu or karate. Then give them a call, go along or take your kid.Whats important now is to do something, start with brief excercise, get into stretching, shadow box, then step up and train hard.CONCLUSION IS ACTIONLife is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competance is making you petrified.Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo.Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competence is making you afraid.If you are not liking what you see in the mirror, afraid to go down a dark street, scared of a potential confrontation then train now.Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo.We cant all be Bruce Lee but you also dont want to be an emotional and physical punching bag do you?About the author:Visit us below for more articles and training devices http://www.martialarm.info/ http://www.martialarm.comop/ http://www.exactseek.com/featured_listings.html >

A Dangerous World

2008-06-08T18:30:00.004Z

Title: What to do if someone wants to fight you!

Author: Martial SimonsArticle:

Do you even know the difference between kung fu and karate? The danger today - You! Can you even throw a punch? When the World Turns VIOLENT! I bet you run. The enemy may be next door -afraid to look? Help me, Im fat, lazy and afraid of a bully. Are you martially in danger?All titles to bring on that chilling fear inside and solicit a response - so read on..ITS DANGEROUS OUT THERE. Its dangerous out there and especially for you..The enemy may be next door and you dont know it but you got to have the guts too look. What can you really do once you see some violence or get scared or worse because you receive a bashing or kicking - do you hide in your house?TV today scares the shit out of many people as it promotes violence and turns the meek yellow and nervous. The danger today is maybe not too obvious to you but you better hone your sensors or you'll get hit without seeing it coming. You know that given a situation to be a hero and stop a crime,terrorism or violence you'll be able to step up or chase after them etc - or maybe you'll cower or be the victim. Were are you on the scared meter of life? Are you out there amongst it or a bit of a shy body or house mummys boy? PHYSICAL COMPETENCE Have you ever seen raw violence or someone getting 'owned'? Just search google for "martial street fights" - "martial owned"Watch those movies and cringe!!!

http://www.google.com/search?q=martial+owned http://www.google.com/search?q=martial+street+fights

Kung Fu, Boxing, dancing, balley, incompetance? What will you display to your attacker?Can you throw a punch or even stand steady on one leg? can you do a round-house or even give a kick to the knee? Ever heard ofa combination?Today we are lazy, probably fat too.. Go look in the mirror and skip for ten minutes, then check your image again and what do you see? I can judge I am probably half the strength and endurance form 10 years ago, how about you?MARTIAL KNOWLEDGE a martial art is defined as - 1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior 2 : relating to an army or to military life 3 :experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKE

http://www.martialarm.com/information/martial-arts-definition.htmA martial art is defined as: various styles of self-defense,usually weaponless, based on techniques developed in ancient China, India, and Tibet.

http://www.martialarm.com/information/martial-arts-definition.htmlIf you've never studied a martial art, your awareness of them most likely starts at Bruce Lee movies and ends with the stylized theatrics of The Matrix. If that's the case, you may not realize from what you've gleaned on screen that there are an estimated 200 unique kinds of martial arts, and within these,thousands of different styles. Karate, judo, kung fu, and taekwon do are among the most popular and well-known of the martial arts in the U.S., but there are numerous others.Despite the array of martial arts and styles, most of them share common techniques, and so they can be organized into broad categories that facilitate understanding. The primary way of classifying martial arts is by the basic physical technique they use: striking or grappling.Because karate, judo, kung fu, and tae kwon do have been more prominent than other forms in popular culture, from film to sporting events, many people mistakenly believe that all martial arts are Asian in origin. In fact, diverse cultures throughout history from Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East have also given birth to their own martial art forms.Or a combination of triangles with small circles as can be seen in chinese trapping, wrist locks or Aikido entry and endings.Do you even know the diffference between kung fu and karate? Do you think wing chun is a chinese dish?The different styles can even be related to shapes or geometry -squares, triangles and circles.MARTIAL TRAINING TO LIVE Training is hard..really hard. The most hard is to get started and its down-hill easy from there. What you need is a martial arts machine - something new and exciting to get you off your fat ass.Search for it - martial arts machine -http://www.google.com/search?q=martial+arts+machine

Everyone knows someone who knows how to fight - with fists,knives, weapons, guns, tactical, sensless, whatever but START!Or find a martial arts school in your area -http://www.google.com/search?q=martialarm+schools+directory

GO to the local phone book and look up kung fu or karate. Then give them a call, go along or take your kid.Whats important now is to do something, start with brief excercise, get into stretching, shadow box, then step up and train hard.CONCLUSION IS ACTION Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competance is making you petrified.Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo.Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competence is making you afraid.If you are not liking what you see in the mirror, afraid to go down a dark street, scared of a potential confrontation then train now.Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo.We cant all be Bruce Lee but you also dont want to be an emotional and physical punching bag do you?About the author:Visit us below for more articles and training devices http://www.martialarm.infohttp//www.martialarm.com http://www.martialarm.com/

Karate Uniform

2008-06-08T18:29:00.003Z

Karate Uniform That Allows You To Perform Your Karate Moves With Fluid Grace Muna wa Wanjiru There are many ways that people try to keep in shape. One of the oldest known exercise regimes can be considered is that of martial arts. Of these karate is still the more popular form. To perform all of your karate moves with fluid grace you will need to have a karate uniform. Your karate uniform should be bought with the range of movements in mind. You will find that the karate uniform is designed as a loose fitting tunic and pants. The pants are held to your waist by a drawstring. This drawstring allows you to adjust the fit of the pants with ease. The tunic of the karate uniform is designed so that you can move your arms and body with ease and not feel constricted. While this is the basic karate uniform you will find that there are variations. These variations are based around the type of karate that you are taking part in. Now one of the most important items in a uniform for karate would be the belt. This belt not only helps to keep your upper body tunic closed but it also indicates the level of training that you have passed into. In the karate uniform you will discover that the material feels quite heavy. But the material itself allows your body to sweat freely during your training workout. As the material is also fairly thick it absorbs the sweat and cools you down. The only drawback that could be seen with the majority of uniforms is that they are white in color. While this color may promote serenity it is also a color that shows off every dirt and grime stain that it comes into contact with. Luckily the material is created so that it washes quite quickly. The only note of caution which can be seen is that you should wash all other colored belts - not the white ones - separately so that your karate uniform does not turn that color. You will be able to buy your karate uniform in stores that supply karate goods and other items. The price of these uniforms should not be that expensive. You will find that generally the karate uniform has the capability of fitting just about every student. You may find your karate uniform for sale in specialist stores which are affiliated to your karate dojo. By purchasing your karate uniform early in your training you will be showing your respect for your instructor and the dojo. You will also find that training in these uniforms is far easier and comfortable as opposed to your street clothes. About the author: Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Karate for Years. For More Information on Karate Uniform, Visit His Site at http://www.merp etsales.com/karate/Karate-Uniform.php' target='_blank' class='navigation'>Karate Uniform

Self Defence

2008-06-08T18:28:00.005Z

Title: Self Defence: What Do You Think? Author: John Roberts-James Article: I am not a lawyer, I have no legal experience or skills. These are my opinions, but I hope they may be of use to you. To help you avoid problems. As a keen sports (wo)man your interest may be cycling, running, gymnastics, whatever. It may even be the martial arts, karate, aikido, or any of a wide range of systems. My concern here is that you may be out training by yourself, without a partner. Thus - at risk of being mugged or worse. Possible? These days, probably Probable! Consideration Number One - you are most definitely not allowed to carry a weapon to protect yourself against the risk of attack, or anything which can be construed as a weapon. Legal Fact! The measure is: Reasonability. Is it reasonable for you to be carrying a baseball bat when out on your bike? Or that ninja sword when going to the public swimming baths? Would a jury consider it 'reasonable' ... A carpenter with a screwdriver, Yes; but a road runner with the same - No! If you are carrying anything which could be construed as a weapon as you go to the gym or an event, you'd better have a damn good reason for having it with you, particularly if you happen to use it to flatten a would-be mugger or rapist on the way. There are several factors for a successful self defence 1 You must have the TECHNICAL knowledge to defend yourself; 2 You must have the mental DETERMINATION to do so; 3 A Court must NOT be able to find you Guilty of an ASSAULT, 4 Nor of actually taking part in a FIGHT; 5 And your 'victim' must not be able to sue you for DAMAGES in respect of the severe injuries you gave him while defending against his assault. It is easy to lose control and go overboard. You are legally allowed to defend yourself with 'appropriate force'. The Law says so. But what is reasonable, appropriate force? If a yob tries to hit you with a brick, I suppose it would be reasonable to say "Look up at that Star!" as you kick him in the goolies. But it surely would not be reasonable for you then to smash his head in with his own brick? But what if there were TEN other yobs about to join in? What then? What do YOU think? Self defence must STOP when the threat or attack ceases. And the mugger goes (or runs!) away. At that point you are probably legally secure. But if you now chase after him and smash him on the head, things get awkward. You are aggrieved, enraged indeed, and want revenge. But you will have upgraded the confrontation into a FIGHT! If you enter a fight, the Law will have you, find you guilty and punish you. No question about that, no matter how good your (expensive, oh so expensive) private Counsel is. This brings to mind the case of Tony Martin, the farmer found guilty of shooting dead an intruder - in the back. Martin (poor Tony!) was found guilty and sent to prison. Because the threat had been abated - the 'victim' was actually running away. There was no further danger to the farmer. But in his rage he fired. This manifestly was not a killing in self defence. But any of us could find ourselves in a similar situation. It is important that you realise this. What do you think? And it is important that self defence instructors carefully explain these considerations to their students. As I've already said, It's not only a case of learning what to do It's also a matter of being actually morally and mentally able to do it. But secure in the knowledge that a jury will find that your actions were reasonable. And giving your 'victim' no chance whatsoever of suing you for huge financial damages. Consider this scenario: running through the woods, a total stranger jumps out from the bushes and grabs you. With amazing self reliance and initiative you kick him in the groin... Down he goes, swearing. Now, the Law says you must escape, run away fast from the danger which is no longer threatening you. Your adversary is rolling on the floor, swearing fiercely and clutching his groin. Out of action for at least five seconds. But you are an athlete, you've never had such a physical confrontation in your life. What do you do? Legally, to stay out of jail you must beat a quick and hasty retreat. Remove yourself from the battle situation. But if you stay and keep on hitting him, you are taking an active part in - A FIGHT! Jail looms large in your mind. So as a good law-abiding citizen, off you dash. But you are shocked and confused, your legs won't function properly. Your breath comes in gasps, in your panic you've lost your sense of direction - which way is safety? All is confusion and unreal! Help! He's getting up. Eyes watering with the effect of the kick to his privates and his hate for you! Faster than you, despite his injury, swearing horribly, he catches you, knocks you down and ... Full stop! Now here is the question. Here is the legal obscurity. Here is the jury's problem. Here is YOUR desperate decision: while he was down and temporarily incapacitated, were you correct legally to run away. Or should you have seized the moment and waded in, jabbed your thumbs in his eyes, rabbit-chopped the back of his neck, then smashed his head in with that big stone over there? To put him away. Well away. For Real! What do you think? Quick, your answer. You've got five seconds to decide before he recovers enough to get up and .... DO YOU RUN or ...? Is a problem! Is YOUR problem. What do YOU think? About the author: John Roberts-James is a Black Belt 4th Dan, a Senior Coach, author of "Protect Yourself In Your Bedroom" and other helpful books on practical and effective personal protection methods. http://www.personalpr otectionpublications.co.uk

Self Defence

2008-06-08T18:28:00.004Z

Martial Arts Training for kids

2008-06-08T18:27:00.003Z

Benefits of Martial Arts Training For Kids Author: Jiu Jitsu Article: Admit it. When the going gets tough at home, we've all plopped the kids in front of the television and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we can get started on dinner, maybe check email or sort that massive pile of laundry. But when your five-year old yells at you "Mom, Kids Rule!" or your ten-year old horrifies you with language that would make a sailor blush, you realize there must be something amiss with what these "family programs" really teach our kids. And sadly, its happening all over the media today, from sports to cartoons, and our children are learning things that we, as parents, vowed we would never teach them. Old fashioned values like respect and self-discipline, seems to have been forgotten, replaced by the dreaded "bling bling" pop culture of today. Just the thought of your angelic three-year old morphing into a designer-clad, smart-mouthed, money-worshipping, me-obsessed, lay-about is enough to make any parent consider that threatening military school brochure, but there is a solution out there to consider. Martial Arts Training From Ninja Turtles to The Karate Kid You and your kids have all seen the flying kicks, battle cries and mighty chops of their favorite TV characters, as they beat the bad guys to submission - but, you may ask, how on earth can these acts of violence teach my child anything worthwhile? First, know that what you see on television (save perhaps the Karate Kid) is a far cry from what real martial arts are all about.

The fact is, martial arts training is based on non-violence. Originating in Asia (mainly Japan, China and Korea, although Thailand and Vietnam have their own practices as well), martial arts range from a variety of types and styles, all of which are based on well-rounded, moral teachings. The beauty of learning martial arts is that it encompasses not just the physical aspect of the "sport", but mental and emotional lessons as well. Comparing that to other kid's activities and sports, where fierce competitiveness and "winning at all costs" seems to be the order of the day, it's not surprising that many children grapple with issues of self-esteem and misplaced aggression.

Now imagine your child actually learning valuable life lessons, skills that he will take throughout life, laying the foundation for a happy, well-adjusted and fulfilled adult life. If only karate for kids was popular in the 70's, when I was growing up! The Advantages * Karate, and other martial arts for kids, builds confidence and self-esteem as well as self-discipline, respect, concentration and courtesy. * Many martial arts schools also offer leadership courses for kids, in conjunction with their karate for kids programs, or similar lessons. * Martial Arts is ideal for children who do not do well in team sports, giving them the ability to flourish this activity, while combining physical and mental practices. * Many do not realize this, but it is a fact that martial arts training are safer than most school sports. * Children with special needs, such as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), learning difficulties and hyperactivity are often recommended to participate in martial arts for kids because of the clear benefits in its structured training techniques.

Kung-Fu Master or Ninja Warrior? Before you sign up Junior for the first martial arts class you see, take some time to check out the different methods available, and match it with what you know would suit your child best. This is a good way to avoid any problems that may sprout from a conflict of your child's personality and the training techniques. Is your little Zach a sensitive soul? Then maybe a class that doesn't center on sparring (full-on kicks and punches training) but rather, slower, defensive maneuvers would fare better for him. Kids with an aggressive streak, however, may prefer the more forceful moves and thrive in competitive sparring.

Here's a quick primer on the kid-friendly martial arts training you're likely to find: Martial Arts From Japan Karate * Uses defensive and aggressive moves * Centers on building strength and endurance * Involves chops, punches, kicks, strikes, blocking and sparring * May use weapons Jujitsu * Uses defensive and aggressive moves * Involves lots of sparring * Teaches a fair amount of weapons training Aikido * Uses a more "spiritual" and harmonious style in redirecting the aggression of the attacker as the form of defense, using throws, pins, rolls etc. * Taught on the premise of disabling an aggressor without attacking, through your individual inner energy * Does not involve sparring or competitions Judo * Uses gentle, "wrestling-like" movements * Considered one of the safest methods of martial arts * Emphasizes physical control as well as mental development * Engages in competitions Martial Arts From China Kung-Fu * The generic term referring to Chinese martial arts with a variety of styles * Involves attack movements as well as defensive techniques * Teaches kicks, punches, chops, throws, falls, grappling, katas, leg sweeps and blows among others. * Engages in sparring competitions Martial Arts From Korea Taekwondo * Competitive in nature, involves techniques using elaborate footwork and unique high kicks. * Emphasizes strength, force and attack methods. * Engages in lots of sparring and competitions.

Choosing The Right Instruction If you have an idea of the type of martial arts class you'd like your child to participate in, the next step would be to find the right school. Finding the right class that not only matches your child's and your needs, in terms of teachers you feel comfortable with, the price, facilities and so on, are all important factors. Say you've found a local place that specializes in Karate for Kids. What are the things you should look for? 1. Good Instructors Check out their qualifications, teaching methods and watch carefully how they interact with the other children. It should be a fun learning experience! 2. Space and Safety Obviously you would want to entrust your child in as establishment that is safe, well-maintained, and clean with ample space as well as decent facilities and equipment. 3. School Values Different martial arts schools inevitably go by different values, for instance, one kid's karate class may handle aggression in one way, while a judo class would have a different approach. Take some time to observe which school's ideals match your family's principles. 4. Prices and Schedules Prices for martial arts training can vary according to school and location, so make sure you the instruction you choose represents fair value. Finding the most effective way to fit martial arts training into your family's lifestyle is also essential, knowing what works best with your schedule and other activities.

Baby Blackbelts Starting your child young in karate training is ideal (children as young as the age of four are usually accepted, as it is also a good way to hone fine motor skills), and lots of parents have found that in as little as a year, their children who were involved in martial arts had noticeably gained positive traits such as increased self-esteem, respect and overall physical fitness. Many parents also opt to join a martial arts training program themselves, making it a great bonding experience for the entire family. About the author: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Maryland (BJJ) and Muay Thai Boxing Maryland, Virginia and DC's own Lloyd Irvin is a Brazilan Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ) and Grappling Hall of Fame Inductee. He is now offering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Maryland and a FREE 30 Day Trial of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Maryland (BJJ), Thai Kick Boxing , Maryland Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts program.

Karate-general background

2008-06-08T18:26:00.005Z

Title: Karate - General Background Author: Thanaseelan Vengadasalam Article: Karate, or Karate-do, loosely translates empty hand ("kara" means empty and "te" means hand). This art is indeed predominantly concerned with fighting with bare hands and feet. The basic principle is to turn the body into an effective weapon to defend and attack when and where it is appropriate. History: Karate is one of the most widely practised of the oriental martial arts. It evolved during one of the Japanese occupations of the island of Okinawa, part of the Ryukyu chain of islands, in the 15th century. Its roots, however, can be traced back much further than this - all the way back to ancient India. Many people hold the view that what we regard today as the oriental martial arts have their roots in India. In fact, when we look at such disciplines as yoga and the breathing techniques that originated in India, there does seem to be a great similarity between those and many of the modern martial arts systems. Zen Buddhist monks took the Indian fighting techniques to China from as early as the 5th century BC. Bodhidharma, an Indian monk, travelled at the end of the 5th century AD from India to China, where he became an instructor at the Shaolin monastery. He taught a combination of empty hand fighting systems and yoga. This became the well-known Shaolin Kong Fu - the system on which many Chinese martial arts systems are based. In 1470, the Japanese had occupied the island of Okinawa. The law of the land dictated that anybody found carrying weapons would be put to death. In order to protect themselves from local bandits, who largely ignored the prohibition on weapons, Zen Buddhist monks developed the empty hand system known as "te", importing new techniques from China. Eventually the new art was translated as "t'ang" (China hand), but was familiarly known as "Okinawa-te" (Okinawa hand). It was not until the 20th century that t'ang became known as Karate-do. The suffix do was added by Gichin Funakoshi's son Yoshitaka Funakoshi, in friendly opposition to his father's Okinawa-te style. Practice and demonstrations until that time had been extremely violent. Punches were not pulled and full contact was an integral part of the Okinawa-te style. Yoshitaka Funakoshi transformed the techniques of Okinawa-te into a gentler system, seeking not to deliver blows fully, but to focus strikes at skin level. The do suffix expressed the move away from the aim of the warrior and towards physical and spiritual development. Styles: There are numerous styles of karate practised. Wado Ryu and Shotokan are just 2 of them. Other popular systems include Shinto Ryu, developed in 1948, and now one of the main systems in the world. It is also important to realise that the various styles of Karate are the results of the personal ideas of many individuals about how each basic technique should be carried out or applied. The different techniques within the styles of Karate also dictate whether strength, speed, hand or leg techniques are emphasised. Competitive Karate: Karate has been a self defense system and a form of physical exercise. The competitive and sporting elements have a further part to play in the individual's enjoyment of this activity. It is because of the possibility of participation in competition that many people take up this art. Competition is not the only reason for engaging in this art. It is possible to learn Karate without participating in competitions, however for some people, competition provides motivation and stimulation for training. The sense of achievement that comes from just taking part can be carried over into everyday life. About the author: - Thanaseelan, click http://www2.blog ger.com/profile/11320861502208126526">here< /a> to view his profile and click on http://www.worthofwordplay.bl ogspot.com">http://www.worthof/

Martial Arts and Anxiety

2008-06-08T18:26:00.003Z

Coping with anxiety through martial arts Author: joan Article: "To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill." -- Sun Tzu, The Art of War A lot has been said about martial arts. There's a lot punching, kicking, and wrestling involved -- all considered as systems and tools of brutal force. This notion or preconceptions about the martial arts were developed, in a large measure, due to films and movies that depicted the combative arts as a means of inflicting violence. But in reality, the true aim of martial arts is quite exactly the opposite. At the core of every fighting philosophy are the values of valor, chivalry, nobility, self-control, and self-sacrifice. This art form is not just about fighting, combat, or self-defense. Martial arts philosophy stresses that people should live in peace and harmony. It also emphasizes respect for self and others, compassion, and a high regard for physical and moral excellence. In its purest form, the martial arts is practiced to achieve strength and enlightenment of the mind, body, and spirit. For thousands of years, different people from different cultures have practiced and propagated their own system of martial arts. These unique forms of self-defense and philosophies include the following: · Karate (empty hand) · Muay Thai (Thai boxing or kick-boxing) · Tae Kwon Do (foot hand way) · Wing Chun (forever spring) · Silat (to fend off) · Aikido (the way of harmonious spirit) · Judo (gentle, soft way) · Yaw-yan (dance of death) · Jeet Kune Do (way of the intercepting fist) · Jiu-jitsu (the soft, pliable method) Spiritual Benefits True achievement in martial arts is not gaining the force and skill to smash bricks, cement blocks, baseball bats, and blocks of ice. Neither is it the privilege of wearing different colors of belts nor the prestige of winning sparring championship titles or tournament trophies. The real value of martial arts is in helping individuals harness their natural physical strength and innate goodness of character. The power within-- the elevation of the spirit and the mind. The spiritual side of the martial arts is not religious in any sense but more closely related to the practice of ethics and philosophy. Spirituality in the martial arts is manifested in several training methods and techniques which includes breathing and relaxation drills. According to experts, these drills may help reduce stress and anxiety. Engaging in martial arts also helps people in their battle against emotional, physical, and mental stress and ailments. The deep breathing exercises, similar to the techniques of yoga, produce a calming effect on a martial artist. The inhalation of oxygen and the concentration involved in meditative execution of martial arts routines serve to relax the body and provide "stillness" in the mind during practice. In many martial arts schools, the promotion not only centers of the defensive aspects but also for the benefits of martial arts in coping with anxiety. Long-time martial arts practitioners attest that physical training has helped them deal with depression, insomnia, high blood pressure, and other related illness. To some degree, one can even "shout away" both stress and anxiety during a punching or kicking exercise. Mental Benefits Today, martial arts therapy is used as an unconventional treatment for children or adults with social anxiety disorders. Also known as social phobia, this condition refers to excessive, long-lasting anxiety due to various fears, worries and apprehensions. In general, people with social anxiety disorder have an intense fear of being judged or ridiculed by others. People with this condition may often be found in isolation or may only have very few friends. Through martial arts training, people with anxieties may be taught to improve their social skills at the same time as they learn self-defense. These individuals are also taught to develop self-respect and respect for others. By attending self-defense classes, people with anxieties slowly gain confidence and develop healthy relationships with other people in and outside the class. Regular martial arts practice not only provides skills in self-defense. More importantly, it restores or improves the self-image of the practitioner. Some precautions in practicing martial arts In general, the martial arts is an excellent means to achieve physical fitness and spiritual health. But if it is practiced carelessly or without proper instruction, the physical activities and routines involved in martial arts training may cause harm or injury. Certain very strenuous movements may put a high stress on the muscles and joints. It is also very important to give special attention to stretching. Stretching regularly to maintain or increase flexibility helps lower the risk of injuries. Indeed, the martial arts has a deep meaning and philosophy. It is a centuries-old way of training a fighter --- how not to fight, which is a paradox in the art and science of combat. These days, it is now one of the most popular means to attain physical health and to control stress and anxiety. But just like everything else in life, martial arts can be used either for good or for bad. For the serious practitioner, determining the proper and safe ways of training is as important as gaining the true, philosophical aims of the martial arts. About the author: AmericaPharmacyWorld.com is your one stop pharmacy online http://ar ticle.americapharmacyworld.com/buy_product/buspar. php%3c/a> for anxiety problem

TV Boy

2008-06-08T18:25:00.002Z

Title: How Watching TV As A Boy Made Me A More Disciplined Adult Author: Yoshi Kundagawa Article: When I was a kid at primary school, way before I graduated to the darker days of high school, I used to believe there were three kinds of hero: · The superhero - guys like Batman who could kick butt despite looking pretty dodgy in their day-glo outfits · The anti-hero - like the Incredible Hulk who tried to do good but still got treated like an outcast · the everyday hero - normal people like you and me who could do superhero things, with just a little bit of training Although the first two kinds were cool enough, you never felt like you could be just like them. I mean, how many times would an overdose of gamma personally hit you? But the third kind... Anybody could be like them, even a scrawny little kid like me, and nowhere was this more true than with the 'Kung Fu' TV series. Maybe it was because it was so normal that I liked it so much. The hero didn't look like the Hulk on steroids, and he didn't have need to wear a mask to hide who he was - he'd take on everyone and be proud to show who he was. All I knew was that between 1972 and 1975, at exactly 6.00pm in the evening, I'd be in front of the TV, hunched just like a meditating Chinese martial artist myself. It was also the first thing to introduce me to one of my favorite actors as well, David Carradine, who played the main character, Kwai Chang Cain. Okay, so he may not be the greatest actor on the planet, but you show me someone who is as laid-back cool as him and I'd bet David Carradine could lay the smack down on them. The fact that he was actually a trained martial artist made 'Kung Fu' an even better TV series, since he was just as scrawny as I was! Born of an American father and Chinese mother, Cain is orphaned and becomes an outcast, and maybe I related to that, as my father died when I was very young, too. Taken in by Shaolin monks, they turn this scrawny little kid into the guy that even Bruce Lee would respect. Discovering he has a half-brother called Danny, Cain (as an adult) sets out on a journey across America to find him. Although no specific episodes stood out for me as a kid, I always remembered the little sayings in every episode - the philosophy of why I should strive to become a better person through discipline and honor. It must have worked, because 30 years later, I'm one belt away from achieving my black belt in karate. When I found out that you could get the complete 'Kung Fu' TV series, I almost peed my pants (my strong karate discipline stopped me, of course!), since I never enjoyed the newer version of the series (which also starred Carradine as a descendent of Cain, and was shown in the nineties). Now all I need is my own little brood in my dojo, so I can share with them what made me the man I am today. About the author: Yoshi I Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on http://ww w.martialarts3000.com/martialartsfitnesstraining.h tml"> the kung fu tv series visit his blog.

Sharpen your Karate Skills

2008-06-08T18:24:00.005Z

Title: Training to sharpen your karate skills, accelerate your learning and increase your fitness. Author: Yoshi G Kundagawa Article: You see guys at the gym, sweating and grunting while they work on those machine trying to get stronger, doing all these workouts to improve karate. Well, I have always been a different kind of guy, going for the old school way of getting fit and getting in shape. My workouts to improve karate don't involve playing on some sissified equipment. Sure, I mean, that's good for the muscle boys and all, I mean, Bruce Lee was known for his "one inch punch." Do you think he got that kind of power from working on some machine? I highly doubt it. So, if you are really wanting to get that kind of power, accelerate your learning and get your skills into shape, then you need to get off of those silly machines and get on the floor. Free weights can give you some of the strength training that you need to get the power that you want, but you need to hit the floor and really work out to get the results that you want. Pushups, fingertip pushups and other exercises that increase your core power will give our body a good foundation. But you gotta be focused in order to really get what you are going after in your workouts to improve karate. My first piece of advice is to focus. Yep, that's right. If you want to sharpen your karate skills, you won't be able to do squat if you don't know how to focus your energies first. Meditate, do whatever you have to to get the level of focus that you need. Your spirit must be in tune with your body because if your body and spirit are going north and south, you will not have the power or the strength to be worth anything. This is why I say Tai Chi will balance your chi and keep your spirit and body in harmony. Then you will be free to focus on increasing your body's power and skills. As for power and increasing your karate skills, you won't get that on some machine. The only way to do that is to hit the mats and do these exercises: * Front Kicks against a pad - each leg (sets of 12) * Butterfly Stretch * Forearm Strikes against a pad - each arm (sets of 12) * Crunch Sit-Ups * Rear Leg Sidekicks against a pad - each leg (sets of 12) * Quadriceps Stretch * Pushups You need to move quickly from one exercise to the next, keeping your heart rate up. Move quickly from exercise to exercise and do not stop in between. Keep your blood pumping and your heart rate up while you work so that you can get the most out of your workout. Don't wimp out and rest, keep going, NO MATTER WHAT. You can drink water while you work out. In fact, you SHOULD drink a lot of water while working out. I mean, how is it going to look if you dehydrate yourself and pass out in front of your buddies in the middle of your workout? About the author: Yoshi G Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on http://www.martiala rts3000.com/isshinryukata.html

Fight Scene

2008-06-08T18:24:00.004Z

Title: How To Write An Authentic Martial Arts Fight Scene Author: G.D. Baum Article: Most fight scenes rely heavily upon the vague, and somewhat inaccurate, public perceptions of how martial artists would utilize their skills in a real fight. That is an unfortunate limitation, because the most interesting aspect of the martial arts is what goes on inside the mind of the fighter. That is where the most compelling part of the story truly lies. It's what needs to be told. Authenticity is the Polestar Authenticity is the polestar. An author must always know the subject, and if the subject is the martial arts, that means keeping a few basics in mind. First, there is no such thing as one martial art. Instead, there is an amalgam of thousands of both popular and obscure fighting arts worldwide. We may be familiar with the term, Karate, which had its birthplace in Okinawa. But how many of us realize that there are dozens of distinct styles of Karate, each with its own rankings, requirements and principles? How many of us are familiar with the South American discipline of Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, which can be traced to Africa; or Krav Maga, the modern Israeli martial art; or the more than 1500 various styles of the Chinese martial art called, Kung Fu? Hence, the first question an author describing a martial arts encounter must answer is what style does her protagonist practice? The next is this: how would that style fare in a real fight; with adrenaline fueling the encounter and panic setting in? The authenticity of a real fight is that it is savage, bloody and frayed at the edges. Unlike the crisp, well-executed forms and drills of typical martial arts training, a physical confrontation is hard to control. Breaking boards is fine, but they don't hit back. An opponent does. In short, write about the chaos of a real fight. Bring the reader into what makes a fight something to avoid. Show the dark underbelly of the encounter. For example, here is a fight scene from my novel, Point and Shoot, in which the protagonist uses an Okinawan style of Karate called, Shaolin Kempo, which relies on the interpretation of the five shaolin animals (tiger, crane, leopard, snake and dragon) for its basic moves: I ducked under the second swing and snapped myself into the tiger mindset. The other four animal styles of our Shaolin Kempo Karate system, the snake, the leopard, the crane and the dragon, often utilized a block or parry before moving in for a strike. The tiger was the only one whose nature did not significantly involve defense. This animal was at the top of the food chain, the strongest and deadliest in the Kingdom. It went in one direction, always forward, toward the prey. All offense. No holding back. I formed my hands as if I were gripping imaginary tennis balls and launched myself at him. I dug my fingers into the bicep of the swinging arm and ripped at the muscle, while striking the forearm on the same side, straight in with the heel of my palm, the "paw" as it were. It was a thousand year old battle protocol from the great Kung Fu masters: first, attack the arm that attacks you. The bat fell to the ground. Next, press the advantage decisively. I ripped into his face with the middle and forefingers of my right hand, raking along his nose and mouth. With the other hand, I struck his neck and dug my fingers in, grabbing the windpipe. The technique called for me to pull it out, lacerating his throat and killing him. But there were other options. I pushed rather than pulled, momentarily closing the windpipe against itself, cutting off his air. Then, I sped things up. Kempo Hands. I had once timed myself at six strikes per second, and if anything, at that moment, it felt even faster. A double palm heel blow to both ears, ripping downward along the cheek and collapsing onto his throat; stepping under and inside his flailing arms to shoot an elbow upward into his abdomen, taking his center; rolling into a palm heel strike to the groin; and back into a rising elbow to the underside of his chin; arcing down into another palm heel onto the bridge of his nose. There were no wind ups, no wasted motion; each movement was designed to roll naturally into the next. His body jerked from one direction to the other, in rhythm to the apposite lines of each attack. The primary strategy of Kempo Karate was to strike an aggressor in opposing directions, so he could not muster his composure sufficiently to counter-attack. It also forced the aggressor's body to lurch into the next stroke head on. The strokes would roll into one another and create a tumbling effect. To an outside observer, it would appear to be one simultaneous tornado of movement, of blinding speed, a blur too fast for the eye to follow. Blood splattered from his nose and mouth. His eyes closed and he made a gurgling sound, flailing his arms impotently as he flew backward. But my mind-set was the tiger, an animal that kept going when it saw blood. The next move in this particular combination would have gotten him on the ground and "smashed" both hands into his throat. The smashing tiger. A finishing blow to the throat, for insurance. Instead, I took another step forward and chambered both my hands, palm forward, elbows bent: the left one at shoulder level; the right, at my hip. I shouted a Kiai, the warrior yell, and launched a double palm heel strike, imagining both my palms penetrating through his body. I made contact with his bladder and the underside of his cheekbone. They were both prime acupuncture points; but just as the meridians could be used for healing, the pathways could also be blocked. His head whipped around, and he collapsed, lying on his back, bleeding from the various facial lacerations and coughing in fits. *** * The entire fight had taken less than five seconds; when done right, they usually did. I paused and reached into my back pocket, taking out some tissues, pressing them against his facial cuts. He lay there, quietly, allowing me to work on him. I had seen this before when I was a cop, the defeated male. Docile and compliant. It occurred to me that this was how a deer might look after being taken down by an actual tiger. Completely shocked and overwhelmed by the ferocity of the attack, waiting for the neck bite that would end it all. He coughed a few times, but was finally able to breathe again without laboring. I turned him on his side so he could spit out the blood. I wiped it away and found that there were only two places I had actually broken the skin. One was the juncture of his upper and lower lip and the other, his nose. After a few moments of pressure, they both stopped bleeding. I helped him up and left him standing there, crouching with his hands on his thighs, I searched for my gun in the grass. I found it about twenty feet away. I opened the chamber out of habit to be sure it was still fully loaded and rejoined him. He lumbered his way to the door, ignoring me. I noted that the baseball bat had landed on the ground behind him. I kicked it into the street. He dabbed at his face and looked to see if there was anymore blood. "You fight like a girl," he said. The Author Must Inhabit The Mind of the Fighter It is important that the author learn what it is like not only to throw a punch, but to take one, as well. Most of us have not been in an actual fight (at least as adults), yet we write about them with impunity. I am not advocating that a brawl take place at the next writer's convention, but certainly, there is something to be said for an author going to the local marital arts school and learning the basics of controlled sparring. If you are afraid to try that, use that fear in your story. Emotional content is a powerful tool for a writer. Your characters should be afraid to fight on some level. The way they deal with that fear, either by denying it; using it to bolster their awareness; or allowing it to overtake them in a fit of panic, will establish the realism of your fight scene. Perhaps your central character is so angry that he sets aside the fear. Perhaps your character is protecting a loved one so she ignores her slight stature and lack of real training and proceeds to overcome a larger opponent. The actual punching and kicking should be secondary. You must guide the reader into inhabiting your character's feelings and motivations about the hostile encounter. You Need Not Describe Every Grunt We all know the standard refrain for new writers: show don't tell. In a fight scene, the author can "tell" the reader a great deal about his characters by simply "showing" how they fight. In this scene from my book, Point and Shoot, I wanted to paint a portrait of how an older man named, Grandfather, would overcome two younger, stronger ones, whom I call White Shirt and Pony Tail, by utilizing the internal aspects of the martial arts. "Management. We had a complaint from one of the other guests about noise." "We're leaving," he replied. "Give us ten minutes to clean up." "I can't hear you, sir." White Shirt leaned into the door. "I said we're leaving." Suddenly the door exploded off its hinges, smashing directly into him. He arced across the room. I had so rarely seen Grandfather let loose to maximum effect in these last years. When he did, it looked nothing like what Bette and I would do, none of those solid and crisp Kempo Karate combinations he had taught me so long ago, drawn from the basic system. His movements were now hidden and obscure. And unstoppable. He calmly stepped inside the room. Pony Tail leveled his gun, taking aim from the other side. Grandfather ran his hand in a large arc from head to waist. It looked like he was fanning the air. Pony Tail shouted in pain and fell backward, dropping the gun. Grandfather approached him without haste. Pony Tail righted himself and scrambled to pick up the gun again. Still far away from him, Grandfather clapped his hands together, and twisted his palms outward. The younger man smashed against the far wall, caught in a wave of energy. That gave Grandfather the time he needed to reach him. He placed his fingers gently on Pony Tail's gun hand. The weapon immediately dropped to the floor once more. Then he lightly tapped the center of Pony Tail's chest. The younger man collapsed to the ground, unconscious. By now, White Shirt had pulled himself back together. He had his gun aimed. Without touching him, Grandfather made a short, blunt movement which I did not recognize. White Shirt grimaced and dropped the gun, holding his hands to his temples. There was another blunt movement, this one emanating from a twist in Grandfather's hip, something akin to a bump and grind. White Shirt also collapsed to the ground. Conclusion Fight scenes should be viewed as opportunities to develop characterization and introduce emotional content to the story. To do so, the author must present a both physically and mentally authentic description of the encounter. Now, go out there and have your characters kick some ass. About the author: G.D. Baum is a graduate of the Sarah Lawrence Writing Program. He has achieved a black belt in Shaolin Kempo Karate, and was ranked sixth in the United States in forms for his Division by the NASKA Find out more about G.D.Baum and his novel Point and Shoot at http://www.pointandshootwebsite.c om"

Martial Art Weapons

2008-06-08T18:23:00.002Z

Title: Learning About Martial Arts Weapons From Martial Arts Academies Author: Muna wa Wanjiru Article: There are many ways that people can learn to defend themselves. The most popular version is that of martial arts. In the different martial arts forms you will sometimes find that there are various weapons which can be used. You will learn about these martial arts weapons from martial arts academies. You will however need to make sure that the martial arts academy that you are choosing has qualified instructors. With the help of these individuals you will be able to master your choice of martial arts weapons. At these times using the martial arts weapons of your discipline will help you. This weapon can also teach you how to move in time with your karate moves. Depending on the form of martial arts you will have access to a variety of weapons. You will need to learn how to use these weapons safely so that you don't harm yourself. The instructors at your martial arts class will be the best people to help you out in this situation. With the help of these individuals you will be able to progress not only in your martial arts moves but also in getting the proficiency in the weapon of your choice. This training will also help you to handle the martial arts weapons with care so that you don't get into trouble. You will be shown the right movements for the martial arts weapons so that you don't cause yourself any serious injurious. When you look at the different types of weapons that you can find you will see that each type of martial arts has its own specialty. These will include ones like nun chucks, throwing stars, swords and others. While these are just of a few of the martial arts weapons that you will find it is to your advantage if you become more proficient in the particular martial arts that you have chosen. You will need to learn all about the advantages and disadvantages which will arise from using martial arts weapons. Now even though these weapons can be of great help it is martial arts it is also a good idea to have a well honed knowledge about fighting without any weapons. Being able to overcome this disability will help you out of any potential difficulties. While the different martial arts weapons are perfect for getting your skills honed, there is also another need for training in the art of these martial arts weapons. This reason is quite simply that for certain martial arts weapons are very much apart of the martial art. About the author: Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Karate for Years. For More Information on Martial Arts Weapons, Visit His Site at http://ww w.merpetsales.com/karate/Martial-Arts-Weapons.php'

Martial Art vital points

2008-06-08T18:22:00.006Z

Title: A word about the historic beginnings of vital points. Author: Master L P Lambert Article: The Vital Point combat arts, has been misunderstood for many different reasons. One reason that needs to be acknowledged is that the early development of these art forms were created to destroy the enemy and the need to make these arts instinctual. Therefore in those days the combat arts were a lethal art. It was a war-developed form of lethal hand-to-hand combat, which would render a man inanimate by means of unconsciousness and or death, preferably within one strike. Reason being, when encountering an enemy, that enemy must not be able to signal his company for any type of assistance. A second reason is in centuries past, it was used for the purpose of silent entry to a fortification. The schooling and teaching of these arts were reserved for security and military purposes, and are still used to this day. One thing we do know is, at the turn of the century most Asian martial art systems had changed the attitude of schooling and of kata applications. They would not fully explain to the majority of there students and only to the master top student, the exact point strikes and its technical methods and theories. These Masters decided that they would leave out these techniques and methods in order to civilize the art to display karate publicly in the school systems of Japan. In leaving all deadly techniques out, for fear of civilians getting hurt, was the original reason (martial combat) was drop from the art altogether. Short cuts replaced the techniques and methods in most martial art systems, and a sport or street martial art became popular. Today the making of short cuts, in the good old U.S.A., is even more wide spread. Why? It is profitable and it attracts more students because it is easier and faster to learn! (The new easy to learn method) This practice has continuously turned away from the long years of training and the true art form. Much has been lost. It is understandable in a way because life is so much more complicated today than it was in the time of the founding fathers of the martial arts. In ancient times there were a breed of men that would make the time as well as travel great distances to learn the martial art from anyone who would teach them. In those areas of the world is were you find where the arts thrive. The first to use vital points to strike the human body was southern India. Kalari beliefs of today consider Bodhidharama, a Buddhist monk from India, introduced the martial science to China and there it evolved into the legendary system of today. Some of Karate's larger systems have a legendary story transmitted from master to student, and is still in some schools taught to this day. This is how it goes. It was approximately in the year 3,000 B.C, in India a prince of the royal family lived. He was very wealthy and had many servants. This prince had a great interest in the way that many of the animals fought and defended them selves, especially in a case of a life and death encounter with a predator and the ways used to escape their demise. The prince would spend many hours in the study of the individual movements of the animals and birds as well as their methods of self-defense. He studied the birds and animals of the forest, noting how they used their power to defend themselves. For instance, white crane uses skills along with Qi, when using its legs and wings along with its spirit coupled with silence. (The spiritual requirements mean that you need to be relaxed the (arms) wings in order to circulate air). He noticed the strength and stealth that the Tiger used before successfully slaying its prey. The Tigers strength is in the body springing from the thighs and the waist. Its eyes glare with anger. The prince applied these combat techniques found in the animal kingdom to the human torso and found many of them to be successful. The second area that the Indian prince explored is after seeing a warrior struck fatally with a Bo staff, he became fascinated so much by the ease of the strike and the quickness of the warriors demise, that he started experimenting on captured warriors and slave to discover the weakness in all parts of the human body. Using an instrument that looked slightly similar to a chopstick, carved from bone and fabricated with a blunt point so it would not puncture the surface of the skin. The prince then gave the order to have healthy living slaves and captive worriers jabbed with this instrument in many parts of the body, noting the outcome of each individual reaction. In this bizarre account, thousands of captive warriors and slaves gave their lives for the purposes of the prince's peculiar experiments. In the end, all of the vital points of the human body had been discovered. Finally, the prince combined the movements of the animals with the vital points that caused an unhealthy effect and later learned to use the hands and feet as weapons as well as using weaponry. The use of vital point applications further advanced in China about the time of the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD). In the book named Li Chi, among other things, contained records of death by violence. In 1247 AD a book call Hai Yaun Li, contains a list of 32 dangerous points. In addition, a book called The Bubishi a scroll used by the Okinawan martial arts community has many pressure point lists. Today many U.S. martial artists have worked hard to under stand vital point striking, compiling notes and writing books as well as make videotapes to help instructors as well as students to simplify the learning process. It should be noted that it is extremely difficult to learn by these methods. Later around the sixteen hundreds, China replaced it's civil envoys in Okinawa with military men, among whom were many noted for there prowess in Chinese Kempo. The Okinawa's took a keen interest in their ability and combined these techniques with there own native martial system called TE. The thirty-six points started to spread to martial arts families of Okinawa. These families would of course keep the vital points a secret so that the very people they warred against would not learn the bases of these critical techniques. Some techniques that you will be studying on this web site are from the thirty-six vital points and a few additional points. Some of the points were lost or never given to these Okinawan Masters of TE, But this didn't slow down the Okinawa masters. They had some of there own and added them right on to what they learned from the Chinese. This is why you will be studying forty-four points rather than thirty-six. In addition, there are multitudes of critical point that I will list, 109 points. In remembrance of these ancient masters' who practiced the old ways, and after a long study on this subject myself, I have decided to reveal to the public the art and exact locations of all vital points and the techniques that make it work. For those wishing to learn and practice the forbidden art. WARNING! I want you to understand the real and intense danger that fooling around with striking points can cause. Therefore, I wish to set a few simple rules to help guide you through with out doing damage to yourself or others. 1) A VITAL POINT STRIKE can cause unconsciousness, paralyze parts of the body, disrupt organ function and cause death. Do not intentionally strike a point on another person's body or you're own body, (To find a pressure points, press don't strike). 2) Never strike two or more points with in a twenty four-hour period (practice one point each day). To combine points has, in the past, has caused accidental death. 3) Pressing too hard can cause health problems, (press to the point of discomfort not pain). In most cases, vital points can be established with light pressure. 4) Never practice striking the body as your practice partner is inhaling. This is a technique used to maximize a vital point strike. 5) Dim Mak strikes can and will cause death anywhere from instantaneously to seven years later. For this reason, these points should never be hit other than in a combat situation. 6) Do not practice pressing points after a heavy work out. Conclusion. The combat arts (Budo) using vital point strikes are a stark contrast from the martial arts practiced today. There are really three categories of practice throughout all of the martial systems. 1) Combat martial arts - using any means to KILL, MAIM, or DESTROY the enemy without regard for law. 2) Street fighting arts - to damage to incapacitate, within lawful jurisdiction. 3) Sport martial arts - to do little to no damage at all, along with some self-defense. In addition, with each of these categories, they carry their own philosophy that cannot be intercommunicated as an all in one art. Today the general public at large has become much to civilized to carry along with them the philosophy that would be needed to be incorporated tactically, technically, and spiritually. To be a warrior you must become war! To be a good street fighter you must hit first, hit hard and subdue. To be a good Sport martial artist you must be good at sparring and hit the target first without being hit. Therefore there must be a different type of philosophy in each category to make them work for the student. In addition, there are to many instructors out there that try to please their students by mixing street fighting, combat, and sport martial arts together, IT CAN'T BE DONE! The pioneers of the martial arts lived in a somewhat antiquated society. Combative skills were a necessary part of every day life. Without it, you would surly be at the mercy of the warlords, robbers and thieves. Today, it is true that, there is not so much of a need for the combat arts and its philosophy, unless you live in an urban war zone or are soon to go into combat. Many of us are enchanted with those very pioneer's that lived at that time. To know how the vital points worked and the philosophy involved and the techniques, method and training that was done back in there day. Much of it is lost, forever, but there is a lot that maybe uncovered or rediscovered. About the author: Master L P Lambert http://www.pressurepointkarate.com

Keep in Shape

2008-06-08T18:22:00.004Z

Title: How To Keep In Shape And Gain More Confidence With Martial Arts Author: Muna wa Wanjiru Article: There are many various forms of exercise that people use to keep in shape. One way to keep in shape and gain more confidence is by doing martial arts. You will find many different types of martial arts are available to those who are interested in this discipline. To help you out with the learning process of martial arts there are academies and dojos where you will have a chance of learning different styles and forms of martial arts. In the academies you will get to learn different techniques and weapons use of the many forms of martial arts. While you can learn more about this ancient form of fighting it is best to experience this learning with a qualified and trained instructor. With the help of these individuals you can make sure that your training progress at a rate that your body will be able to work with. You will also be shown the right movements so that you don't cause yourself any serious injurious. Now most of these academies can be geared towards teaching one type of training. For this reason it is best if you see which martial arts form you would like to learn. Once you have made a decision about the unarmed fighting that you want to learn you can think about where you will get this training. You will find that some forms of martial arts are considered as being more popular than others. You can look at the enrollment form of different classes in a martial arts academy to see which ones have more people in them. At the present karate is considered as being quite a good martial arts discipline to learn about. Even in this form of fighting you will find sub disciplines. Some of these martial arts are ones that we have heard about. For instance you will find that Tae Kwon Do is one such martial arts that people take part in. Judo, Ninjitsu, Tai Chi are just a few of the other well known forms of unarmed fighting. You will find that many of these martial arts are inspired by legends who keep the flames of these art forms alive just by their names. For instance we have all heard of Bruce Lee. This Kung Fu master has taught and acted in numerous martial arts movies. As a result many people who have seen the grace and fluid movements have been moved to learn a particular form of fighting. As a result of this desire to learn martial arts even by the young at heart you will find that this ancient form of fighting is still going strong. About the author: Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Karate for Years. For More Information on Martial Arts, Visit His Site at http://www.merpet sales.com/karate/Martial-Arts.php'

Fitness for the over 40s

2008-06-08T18:21:00.002Z

Title: Is Fitness Over 40 Easy? Author: Donovan Baldwin Article: It seems pretty hard to be fit over 40, doesn't it? Well, I could tell you about people like Kelly Nelson and Morjoie Newlin, two female bodybuilders. They're not your typical bodybuilders. Kelly Nelson first began training with weights in the early 1980's at age 53 and was still competing in the 21st century in her late 70's...in a bikini...and lookin' good if I may say so! Morjorie Newlin was in HER 70's before a 50 pound bag of cat litter convinced her that if she didn't do something, old age was going to be a difficult time. That's when she began a fitness training program that included weightlifting. Morjorie Newlin was participating in bodybuilding competitions, and winning, in her 80's! Same comment...in a bikini and lookin' good. Now, obviously, these are special ladies who put in a lot of extra effort to accomplish some specific goals, but it does make a point. Life...and fitness...does not have to end at 40. Both of these ladies STARTED their fitness careers after age 40. Kelly Nelson was 53 and Morjorie Newlin was 72. Years later, both were still active in their chosen fitness areas and still enjoying life as well as, or better than, many in their 30's or 40's. Fitness over 40? Heck, all around the globe, people in their 80's are skiing, hiking, canoeing, biking. Some, not so adventurous, are lifting weights or sweatin' along with Richard Simmons. Some are black belts in Karate, and some quietly and calmly practice yoga or tai-chi. As easy as this sounds, fitness over 40 requires regular performance of the proper exercises. Just as in our 30's or 40's, sitting in the easy chair, clicking the remote, doing 16 ounce curls with a Miller Lite just doesn't cut it. However, it is not necessary to pack up and head for the gym and try to keep up with the hardbody cuties, either. It IS necessary to pick an exercise program or physical activity, combine that with some healthy eating habits...AND STICK TO IT! Even over 40, the benefits normally associated with a regular, moderate exercise program will kick in, but for seniors, some benefits are of special importance. People over 40 tend to break bones, usually from falling. As we age, bones weaken, as do muscles. We lose some of our proprioception, the perception of stimuli relating to a person's own position, posture, equilibrium, or internal condition. Our ability to react quickly to a loss of balance, whatever the source, or to avoid an obstacle or actual peril becomes diminished. Exercise helps bones stay strong and exercises such as weightlifting and other resistance training help your body maintain balance and stability. Weight bearing and resistance exercises assist the body in maintaining proprioception by improving the connections and conditions of the muscles and their anchoring in bone. This training also triggers the reconditioning of the signaling system from body to brain which allows the brain to realize the danger and transmit the appropriate signals to muscles which can react to correct the situation. Weightlifting and resistance exercises can help give your muscles the strength and agility to respond to those signals if you are tripped, off balance, or in other peril requiring quick reaction. People over 40 begin to lose their zest for living and experience more health crises. Part of this is due to normal changes that take place as we grow older. Our bodies get thicker and lose the gracefulness of youth. Things seem to become heavier and harder to move, and we begin to feel aches and pains that often accompany aging. Some of those aches and pains may be due to arthritis, and other ills may also attack us as we seem to become prey to every passing cold or other social ailment, and also see some deadlier or more debilitating conditions crop up in our age group, if not in ourselves. Regular exercise comes to the rescue here as well. It can help with weight loss, or it can help with weight management once we get to our appropriate weight. Regular, moderate exercise can keep joints supple, in many cases even joints under attack by arthritis. I know about this as I have been afflicted with fairly severe osteoarthritis for several years and manage to keep myself active and the condition somewhat under control by my own exercise activities. Exercise also strengthens the immune system, which helps us avoid or fight off the normal bacterial and viral infections which seem to come our way and which often seem to wreak havoc on the older population. Even better; regular, moderate exercise seems to be somewhat effective in helping ward off such common companions of aging as high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. What exercise program is beneficial for fitness over 40? In the first analysis, almost any physical activity which gets your heart rate up, makes you breathe more deeply than normal, and which challenges muscles beyond their normal range of activity is going to be on the list. There are people in their 80's hiking mountain trails, water skiing, playing softball, weightlifting (as pointed out earlier), or even cheerleading. It is NOT necessary to take out a membership in a local gym, hire a personal trainer, or invest in a lot of exercise equipment and apparel...unless that helps get you motivated. Anything from walking, to swimming, to yoga, to weightlifting will generally fill the bill. There are, however, some simple points to think about. 1. Get your doctor's approval first. "Nuff said? 2. Pick an activity, or even a group of activities, which you will enjoy doing. Don't be afraid to try something new...take some classes in yoga, tai chi, or even karate. Maybe you will feel better in a certain amount of solitude and just want to pick up a set of weights and exercise in the privacy of your home. Perhaps the idea of biking around the neighborhood or even around other parts of the country appeals to you. If this is a new set of decisions, realize that you may try a few things at first that just don't pan out for one reason or another. Keep experimenting until you find what is right for you. You are STILL exercising, right? 3. Put some variation into your exercise. Any exercise cannot itself provide the three basic types of exercise needed. We need exercises which will stretch muscles and joints, exercises which strengthen muscle, and exercises which improve our cardiovascular fitness. This is not really hard to do, however, and should not take a lot of time out of your life, particularly when you consider how much it will put back into your life. As one example, you could do a simple weight or resistance training for strength two or three times a week, some sort of low-impact aerobics or walking for cardio on other days, and do some simple stretching exercises every day. None of these workout periods needs to be more than about 30 minutes, although a little more time and effort may produce better benefits, particularly once you have trained up to a level where your body is comfortable meeting the demands you place on it. You are more likely to stay on a physical fitness regimen if you enjoy it. However, things do tend to get stale over time. It doesn't hurt to vary your approach from time to time in either the manner in which you do certain exercises, or by varying the exercises themselves. While not exact equals, for example, swimming, biking, and walking can be somewhat interchangeable as part of your fitness routine. In some cases, simply varying the environment, i.e. taking a walk in the park or botanical gardens as opposed your neighborhood may be all the variation you need to feel like you have put a little zing into your day-to-day workout existence. 4. Start off easy. At any age, a common reason for failure to stay on ANY exercise program is that people tend to try to do too much at first and try to progress too fast. Whatever you choose, your body needs time to adjust to the new demands being made on it, and results will never come overnight. 5. Don't stop. Probably the most important aspect of any exercise program, or any other self-improvement program, is the commitment to what you know you should be doing day after day. A haphazard approach to your exercise program is detrimental at any stage in your life. After 40, however, making sure you get your regular dose of anti-aging exercise is incredibly important. 6. Eat healthy. I try to avoid the use of the word "diet", and often substitute the term "healthy eating" instead. Diets don't work and can even work against you. They are difficult to stay on and take a major portion of fun out of life instead of making life better. Healthy eating choices will do the trick if you make them a regular part of your life. While fitness over 40 can demand some of your time and attention that you might not want to surrender to it, the rewards in overall health, fitness, and enjoyment of life will far outweigh any investment you put into it. About the author: Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer living in Copperas Cove, Texas. He is a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include art, nature, animals, the environment, global warming, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. You may learn a little more about fitness over 40 at http://nodiet4me.com/fit_over_40

Martial Art Work Out

2008-06-08T18:20:00.005Z

Title: Making Martial Arts as a good well rounded workout regiment. Author: Yoshi G Kundagawa Article: As I was reading about Martial Arts and all that it involves, I became very enthralled. I dared to find out what all the excitement was about. The phenomenon of martial arts to be used as a workout regiment for many athletes or even perspective physical fitness fans is growing rapidly. In a nutshell, this is all that I discovered. What I found to be most interesting is the fact that martial arts is researched and is used for various reasons based on each individual's goals. Martial arts are simply defined as the systems of practices and traditions of training for combat. The sport is utilized for combat skills, fitness, self- defense, character development and building self-confidence. I feel that the art is commendable in that it strives to enhance moral values and provide guidance for children who become involved with the sport. So, I decided to study further to obtain information on how it may be beneficial as a "workout regiment." I continued to find measures that could contribute to a successful martial arts workout. Coincidently, the art has as one of its benefits the exercising of your body and mind so you gain a "good well rounded" workout. Many forms of martial arts will help you burn calories, along with the structuring of strength and endurance. You would not believe that the appropriate administration of the martial arts techniques helps you burn up 600 calories within an hour. However, it is important that you find the style that will be most accommodating to your lifestyle. Let me discuss with you the different styles in order for you to choose the best fit for you. For full body training, Judo may be a perfect choice for you. Judo is defined as "the gentle way" and concentrates more on self-defense as opposed to attacking your opponent. Its basic purpose is to throw your component through different techniques to disarm him. It is recommended, however, that you are not physically challenged to perform these movements. Perhaps Kung Fu may be an option for you. This will definitely add some spice to your workout. Kung Fu is put into two categories, hard and soft. The hard style focuses mainly on impressive strikes and kicks, while the other, soft Kung Fu focuses more on staying balanced and grounded when attacked. At any rate, both styles are prominent for self-defense skills while simultaneously enhancing quickness and agility. If you desire more of a challenge or competitive edge, learn Karate. Different from Kung Fu, Karate displays more combative and focuses on blows with the hands and feet. There are also special breathing and shouting techniques. Karate is a great choice especially for family exercising as classes are offered from the beginner to competitive. Lastly, Tai Chi is another form of martial arts. During Tai Chi, your goal is to control energy, conveniently known as "Chi." Its practice is to have slow and controlled movements that vary in the length of performance. Tai Chi is not very advantageous with weight loss, yet it does prove to improve flexibility and reduce stress. More so, it may even lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Since the techniques are slower than other martial art forms, it appears to be a good choice for older exercises or for those of us that suffer from mobility issues because of arthritis, illness or injuries. From all the information that I have gathered, I hope that it makes it less complicated for you to decide which martial art style that would best meet your objectives. Whichever workout regiment that you try, it is sure to maximize your physical endurance as well as uplift your mental clarity. I encourage you to have a positive attitude from the day you begin on this journey. Always remember that martial arts are equivalent to self-confidence, high moral and ultimate respect first and then the rest will emanate into your everyday life. Finally, I must inform you as well, always get advice from your medical personnel before beginning any of these styles of martial arts. Pay close attention to your body and recognize when you need a break. Remember, martial arts is about improving your life and enhancing your workout regimen, not causing harm to yourself. About the author: Yoshi G Kundagawa is a freelance journalist. He covers the mixed martial arts industry. For a free report on http://f012.m ail.lycos.co.uk/app/msg/mail/read/%3Ca%20target=

Mixed Martial Arts

2008-06-08T18:20:00.004Z

Title: MMA Or Mixed Martial Arts As It Is Also Called Author: Muna wa Wanjiru Article: There are lots of different types of activities which people engage in to keep fit. One of these activities is that of martial arts. You will find that there are many different versions of martial arts which you can try out. One of these is that of MMA or mixed martial arts as it is also called. In this branch of the martial arts there are also different forms involved. One of these versions of MMA is called kick boxing. In kick boxing you will find that the contestants are trained to use their feet and hands. The MMA is one of the more interesting martial arts which you can look into. As it is more physical in many ways than the other martial arts you should look into the different options which are available. As with any type of martial arts you will need to have a qualified teacher show you the intricacies of MMA. When you first decide to learn one of the MMA fighting styles it is important that you take the time that is needed to develop your style of fighting. This is an area that you should be prepared to spend quite a bit of time in. As the main goal of MMA or that of any martial arts is to learn discipline while you are learning the intricacies of your particular fighting style you need to hone your skills. As you become more proficient in the different forms of martial arts which are needed for your style of MMA you will find that you are capable of defending yourself as well as taking the offensive when the time comes. Now you will need to understand that even the MMA has competitions where contests from different schools of fighting can see how well they have learned their subject. These competitions are kept in the bounds of good sportsmanship. Just as these competitions foster a sense of learning there are professional grade MMA competitions. In these tournaments you will be facing a variety of opponents. For the people who prefer to go through with this form of fighting it is very important that you don't misjudge the strengths or weaknesses of the many contestants. These competitions are one of the many ways that the attention of martial arts fans can be brought to MMA. With the enthusiasm for MMA growing every day you can be sure that at some point in time this branch of martial arts will be as popular and well known as karate or Kung Fu. About the author: Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Karate for Years. For More Information on MMA, Visit His Site at http://www.merpetsales.com /karate/Mma.php'