How To Get The Best Ninja Uniforms

A Ninja is silent assassin, a warrior of night. He moves like a cat, without making a sound and can complete his job before you can say "Ninjitsu". A Ninja uniform must be black coloured that camouflages with the darkness of the night and also, a Ninja in pink wouldn't look very amusing. Ninja uniform should not be too tight and you can expect it to be too loose either. Unlike a Samurai, foot wear in a Ninja uniform is kept such, that it makes minimum noise when the Ninja walks and lets our man do the job without making any extra noise, there is a sole, but, a very thin one. Most important part of the uniform, is the mask, a ninja uniform must include a mask. Without a mask, one can't be a Ninja. Uniform is designed in a way, that it doesn't interferes in the combat, weather it is martial arts or using weapons. A Ninja should wear comfortable clothes, because, his job is not really one of the most comfortable jobs. He has to climb, jump, fight, run and hide. He can't afford sweat to bother him or leave his odor for guard's dogs, Ninja uniform is airy and lets in enough air in and out.

If you're planning to buy a Ninja Uniform, I'd recommend, you make one yourself; I mean, a Ninja's identity should always be a secret. Choose a fabric that suits you and that doesn't makes unwanted noise. Noise, you ask? How can clothes make noise. Well, it does happens. Remember when you wear your most comfortable cargo pants, the more cloth on the pant hits each other and makes noise, if this happens with jeans, you might alarm people 3 blocks away. So, make sure that your airy Ninja uniform's not making unwanted noise, you don't want that your victim to feel-- Let's say, hear your presence, right before you were about to assassinate him, or tag him.

If you're making your suit at home, mark my words: "Do not compromise with stitching." Well, you might have heard, "A Stitch in time, saves nine." Use the best thread you can get and do it perfectly. If you're not satisfied by what the machine did, do it again, or better do it by your hands; respecting the traditional ways of Ninjas. Don't forget to keep slots and pockets for little weapons like daggers, swords, Suriken (Ninja stars), almighty scrolls and jelly beans; they're not really weapons, but, will help kill time while you're waiting for your victim. Use buttons instead of Zips or Velcro; buttons don't make noise.

Never wear your suit under your normal clothes. This isn't a spider-man costume, and you are not spider-man. If you wear it under your shirt, it'll probably reveal your identity, because, it'll make your upper clothes look baggy, letting others know that there's something wrong; which is not appreciated. If you can't keep your identity secret there's no point living; Hari-Kari, please. Most importantly, make your Ninja Uniform comfortable than that of Pirate Uniform. Everyone knows that Ninjas and Pirates are more likely to get into a fight in the 21st century. You don't want to lose against a stinky bearded pirate, now do you?

Get you Ninja Uniforms and Ninja Uniform from Kage Ninja Gear where you can buy authentic Ninja Gear, Uniforms, and Clothing.

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How To Knock Somebody Out With One Punch - Karate Style

I hope you never have to knock someone out with one punch, but consider the state of modern society. Crime statistics are going up, kids being taught to sell drugs in school, and you've got a nice looking girl friend. In a kung fu style, or a karate style, or any martial arts style, here are the things you need to know.

First, get yourself in good shape by doing some good, hard exercises. Hey, work up some perspiration, lift some weights, make your body hard and fast. You'll not only get lean and mean, but that good looking girlfriend is going to love your new look.

Second, practice throwing your strikes from the ground. This means that you push with the legs, turn the body, snap that shoulder around, and pop that fist out as fast as if you are slapping mosquitos. Practice this body motion, and practice doing it all at the same time.

Third, you don't want to get tagged on the way in; the point here is to make him snooze, not you. So you must practice lateral movement. Make sure you don't move away from your opponent, but sideways to set up the pop.

Fourth, practice slapping his hand to the side as you close. Don't think you aren't going to get struck in the middle of the action, it happens. But do what you can to minimize the chances of getting your own self knocked down.

Fifth, pop him on the side of the jaw, not on the bony tip of it. You must rock that head sideways so the brain moves back and forth inside the skull. Interestingly, while many people recommend putting weight in your punch content, a fist to the jaw should actually be light and snappy, leave shock in his jaw without taking shock back up your arm.

Now, the bonus to this is that you are now set up for a second attack, and he is probably going to be out of position. You floated to the side, now turn the hips and sink the weight and drive a punch down to the pubic area. Hit the top of the thigh bone and he will fall, hit the groin and he will cry, hit the belly and you can knock someone out with a body punch!

In closing, I sure hope nobody out there in the real world gets put in a position where they will have to do the things I have told you about in this article. In the event that you do, however, make sure you practice the things I have told you. Remember, a little practice in a karate style or a kung fu style, and you will know how to knock someone out with one punch.

Discover ALL the inDiscovermation on how to knock someone out with one punch, head to Monster Martial Arts.

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Martial Arts Uniform Basics

When beginning martial arts classes, one of the first questions that students or parents of students usually have is "what kind of uniform do I or my child need"? In this article we will go through and examine some of the various pros and cons of the different weights, sizes, and styles of uniforms on the market. Before we begin however, I would like to point out that this article will be focusing mainly on Karate gi's.

First we will discuss the different weights of uniforms. Typically there are three weight classes for the karate gi. These are light weight, middle weight (sometimes referred to as medium wieght), and heavy weight. The easiest and fastest way to describe what these refer to is that they describe the density and thickness of the material used to make the uniform. This also directly affects the physical weight of the material as well.

The lightweight uniform is the thinner of the three classes. The material itself typically breathes a little better and also moves well with the body giving less resistance. Also, these are the cheapest in regards to cost. To students 16 years of age or under I will generaly suggest the lightweight uniforms. Children within that age group are still growing usually and so their sizes will change often. You also can never tell whether or not a child that young will stay with the class for a month or a few years. This cuts the costs down for parents and/or students and since younger students are learning basic skills like balance and coordination, this uniform will also serve them better by giving less resistance physicaly while practicing. The drawback for this lighter material is that it also wears out much faster and tears easier under heavy training. This is why I do not recommend this uniform to older students or adults. They simply end up replacing their uniform more often.

The middleweight (mediumweight) uniform is as the name implies. It is a slightly heavier material that is a bit more durable but still breathes fairly well and gives less resistance than the heavyweight gi. Most times I will recommend this uniform to new students ages 16 and up. The cost is still reasonable and it provides the older student with better durability so that they replace them less often. This is an excellent choice for most novice practitioners within the arts. The drawbacks are similar to the lightweight in that these will also be more prone to wear and tear under heavy training, but for the average student who only trains a couple hours a week and does not know if this will be a life long endeavor it is a great choice that will serve them well.

The heavyweight uniform is made from a thick almost canvas like material. It's physical weight is heavier and so it creates more resistance while training until the material has been worn and stretched, at which point it will become much more comfortable. Students also tend to feel more "hot" and will generaly sweat more due to the fact that this material doesn't breathe as well as the other two. I recommend the heavyweight gi to adult students who are ages 18 and up and who are planning on life long training. I also suggest that instructors stick with heavyweight. Although if someone is teaching his or her own class then they should have a pretty good idea of what to buy and what their preferences are. While this weight sounds bulky and uncomfortable, it has many redeeming features. It will save money in the long run because a good heavyweight gi can last for at least 5 years or more under heavy training. The likelyhood of this material tearing while being pulled, stretched, or just generaly abused is small at best. After being used and worn for a while the material will become more comfortable and will begin to feel like and old friend.

When deciding on which uniform/gi to purchase, the students and even instructors should consider these things.

1.cost

2.age of practitioner

3.duration and intensity of training.

As far as sizes go, I would try to find sizing charts from whatever company you are planning to make the purchase from since both size and quality can vary from one manufacturer to another. Typically though, gi's are sized by a combination of height and weight instead of waist size, inseam, etc. like a normal pair of pants would be.

I sincerely hope that this helps some of you martial arts enthusiasts out there. My one last piece of advice on this subject is this...anytime you are going to make purchases of this nature, take your time and make informed and educated decisions. This will save you a lot of money and frustration which leaves more time and ability to enjoy your training.

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How to Begin a Martial Arts Career

Have you ever considered the possibility of getting up at the crack of noon, having a leisurely breakfast and spending the day as you wish? Spending time with your family, going shopping or to the beach? Working out with weights or studying whatever you want to study? And then, working for 2 to 4 hours at a job that you love, with no boss and with people who love and respect you? And on top of all this, making a comfortable living?

This is what you can achieve as an independent martial arts instructor. The possibilities are virtually limitless.
Financial SecurityMore free time to spend as you likePlenty of time to study and improve your artYou can enjoy the benefits of living life to the fullest while helping other people to live and work with joy, confidence and security.

How to Begin Your Career

To develop this type of career requires a lot of hard work. There is much to learn and you must be willing to change and improve many areas of your life. For instance:
You must be punctualYou must really study and understand your art, its history and its application to daily lifeYou must learn and understand the basics of running a businessYou have to improve your "people skills"

There are many programs available designed to teach you about the martial art of your choice. The various arts range from extremely active to styles that are much softer in their approach. There is probably a style that would fit just about anyone.

In this and in articles to come, we are going to discuss not only the virtues of entering training with the specific goal in mind of teaching as a professional, but we are going to delve into the traits that make a good teacher and how to develop the markers of a good instructor.

And, make no mistake, to have a career as an instructor you don't need to be or to have been a champion of a particular art. Technical ability does not necessarily equate with being a good instructor. The traits of a good teacher are more closely related to caring for people and having the desire to help others reach their own goals, not showing off your particular skills.

If you're good at your art, that will become obvious through your actions and in the quality of the students you produce. The important thing is who you can help, not how great you are.

I look forward to writing more on the topic of the martial arts as a career and, how to actually begin your journey.

For more information about career opportunities in the martial arts, download my free e-book "9 Tips On How To Open Your Own Martial Arts School By A Teacher Who Has Been There, Done That" http://www.mashihan.com/acma_sq.htm. David Parks-Kennedy is a career martial artist (for more than 30 years with teacher ranking in Aikido) now living his dream in Mexico.

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Martial Arts - What Is Aikido?

When I was little my dad taught me a little bit about Sambo and how to box, at least what he could remember from "back in his day". Then followed the endless days of watching martial art films and playing "Tekken".

After watching a few Steven Seagal movies, (Under Siege, Marked for Death & Above the Law) my dad got me into Aikido. A Japanese martial art and a form of self-defence which combines locks, holds, throws and using one's momentum & energy against them.

History of Aikido

Aikido is a Japanese martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba. He is often referred to as Osensei meaning "Great Teacher".

The word Aikido is written in 3 kanji (a set of Japanese ideographs derived from the older Chinese ideographs). Each kanji has a set of different meanings. The first kanji is read as Ai and it can mean, to combine, join or unify. The next kanji down is read as Ki and means spirit, mood or energy. The third and last kanji is read as Do and means, way. To further confuse you, if you put all the kanji together Aikido means The way of Unifying with life energy. Of course there are several variations to what the word Aikido actually means, however I feel this meaning fits it best.

Training

Alike Judo & Karate, in Aikido you may require a Gi (A lightweight two-piece white garment) to train. However, many dojos will let you train in your usual clothes for a short time until you get your Gi. Just don't push it!

Also, as a general rule, you shouldn't wear any type of jewelry (e.g. bracelets, rings, watches etc) most dojos will forbid wearing jewelry as it may cause injury to yourself & others while training.

A lot of the time you will train with a partner a technique(s) demonstrated by the teacher beforehand. One of you will assume the Tori or Nage role, while your partner will take Uke's role. The role of Uke is to initiate the attack against Tori (also referred to as Nage) who then applies the technique which aims to disrupt Uke's balance and ultimately either throw Uke away or put him/her in a lock where he/she taps out. Throughout the technique, as Uke, you must reclaim your balance and constantly look for a counter.

A common misconception that people have about Aikido is as Uke, you must oppose Tori at all costs. However training like this, greatly increases the chances of someone getting hurt. It's unpleasant and at times, frustrating.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Aikido

Disadvantage: Especially when you first begin Aikido, the martial art suffers from lack of realism while training. The strikes seem unrealistic (e.g. Shomen'uchi - a vertical knifehand strike to the head) & most techniques are first done from static, therefore seem unpractical.

Advantage: On the other hand, the idea of Aikido is to blend in with your partner & use their energy & momentum & redirect it against them, rather than oppose it head on - something I particularly like about Aikido.

Disadvantage: The use of Aikido is first and foremost for self-defence. Therefore its primary focus is to how defend against various strikes, rather than how to best perform them.

Other forms of Aikido

Also, Aikido is often seen as a non-competitive martial art. Having said that, Shodokan Aikido is a style of Aikido that focuses on competition where both Uke and Tori are expected to perform techniques one another. This is known as Toshu Randori. The other form of competitive Aikido is known as Tanto Randori. Tanto is short Japanese sword (i.e. a knife or a dagger). During Tanto Randori, the attacker will be handed either a rubber or stuffed knife and must land a successful strike on his/her partner to score a point. The bare-handed defender must use an Aikido technique to either throw away his/her opponent or put him/her in a lock.

Scoring is as follows:

Tanto tsukiari - 1 point awarded for a successful Tanto Strike. However, there are a few limitations. The strike must land on the upper half of your opponent's torso. When the strike lands, your arm must be extended and you must be moving forwards and finish the attack with good balance. (i.e. Glancing hits don't count).

Yuko - 1 point awarded for breaking the attacker's balance. I believe this applies to both Toshu & Tanto Randori.

Waza-ari - 2 points awarded for either a successful throw or lock, but loss of balance and posture.

Ippon - 4 points awarded for either a successful throw or lock, and have good balance and posture.

Should you consider trying Aikido?

I like to say a martial art is as good as the people you train with. There are a dozen of martial arts I'm more than eager to try. I first tried Aikido and really enjoy it. From my experience, Aikido is a great way to keep yourself fit, meet some amazing people and learn something new. Whatever martial art you decide to do, be it Aikido, Jujutsu, Capoeira or something completely different, the key to learning a martial art is to stay safe on the mat.

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My Long, Interrupted History With Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

In 1995, I was a fan of wrestling and martial arts living in Dallas, Texas, and writing on those topics for a newsletter called "The Wrestling Lariat". Specifically, I was covering the Japanese shoot-wrestling promotions UWFi, RINGS and Pancrase, and this upstart promotion in the U.S. called the Ultimate Fighting Championships. I was impressed by not only Royce Gracie's performance inside the cage, but his family's conviction and desire to prove Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was the most effective martial art.

Through a co-worker with many years of martial arts experience, I heard that one of the Gracie cousins, Carlos Machado, was opening a BJJ school in the Dallas suburbs. Mestre Carlos was doing some personal training for Chuck Norris, and choreography for his television show "Walker, Texas Ranger." Norris had provided some space at his production studio to set up a small training facility for Mestre Carlos to take on some new students.

I had very little experience in wrestling or martial arts, and wasn't an active athlete...but I had to go try it. From Day One, I was absolutely a fish out of water. Not only was I the only martial arts novice in the room, most other students were existing black belts in judo or other arts, looking to take Machado Jiu Jitsu techniques back to their own school. Unlike today, BJJ was a secret. At the time Carlos Machado stared in Dallas, there was only a couple other Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools outside of California (Renzo Gracie in New York, Carlson Gracie Jr. in Chicago).

People went out of their way to learn from Mestre Carlos. A number of students came from all over Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. I knew two students that would drive the 4+ hours from Houston to Dallas for Friday's class, stay overnight in a hotel, train again Saturday morning, and drive back; they did this every week for months on end. Champion collegiate wrestlers and fighters came for private lessons. I saw Pancrase and UFC champion Guy Mezger a number of times; MMA legend Frank Shamrock once.

Realistically, I had no business being there, but I was hooked almost instantly. I loved the idea of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's efficient use of leverage and position. I didn't have to be a bodybuilder or physical freak of nature to make an opponent do what I wanted. I liked being in on the ground floor of the next wave of martial arts. I appreciated the changes that were happening to my body, losing weight and feeling stronger than I had since I was a teenager.

Those of us who were regulars at the school felt like an insulated community, a BJJ island. Nowadays, there are hundreds of Jiu Jitsu schools across the country. You go on their Web sites, look up their Facebook pages, and see them at grappling tournaments many times a year across the country. At a big tournament, like NAGA Great Lakes, you'll see 60, 70 or more schools represented. It is almost impossible to imagine BJJ as an upstart fad.

But back then, there wasn't a submission tournament outside of Brazil or the fledgling Abu Dhabi Combat Club. The UFC had shows two or three times a year, and several times the company was in danger of going out of business. It wasn't on any television outlets outside of PPV; you'd never dream it would be shown on basic cable, much less broadcast television. But we hung in, as fighters and fans, because we loved the training, and we knew that we were part of something special.

After about a year, in the summer of 1996, I received my first belt promotion...and a health scare. Several bouts of strep and tonsillitis led to a necessary tonsillectomy. After the surgery, I had some bleeding issues through my scar tissue - one of which came from trying to head back to train and getting choked way before I was ready. While I was healing, I met the woman who would eventually be my wife, and my priorities quickly changed. I didn't want to take several hours driving back and forth to the studio and training, three times a week. I had other things on my mind, and in my heart, so I quit.

I spent the better part of 15 years off the mat. I was still a fan of the UFC and other mixed martial arts, but I always made excuses why I didn't back into it. I was too busy getting out of shape to stay in shape.

Eventually, my son reached the age where I wanted him to start in martial arts. With my past love and experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I started my search there. And from the first day, he loved it like I did. His enthusiasm was contagious, and being around the sport again fueled my itch to get back on the mat. But that's another story, for another time....

Paul Herzog and his son Christopher have been taking judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction at Petushin Martial Arts since the new Rosemount, Minnesota facility opened in 2010. In addition to receiving some of the best grappling instruction in the Midwest, Paul has lost 30 pounds, and Chris has gained strength and self-confidence. If either of those sounds appealing, please contact the academy at 612-991-9116 or go to http://www.petushinmartialarts.com/ to arrange your first visit!

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How To Train Like A MMA Pro Fighter

It is the desires of every beginner in MMA (mixed martial artist) to one day become a pro in this sport. There is only one known way of becoming a MMA pro and this involves tireless efforts in your MMA training program. MMA training program that one may choose to join is known as MMA conditioning program. This where by the candidate uses aerobics as the strategy if he or she intends to act like a pro? The procedure involves the supply of limited oxygen in the room to help the body in the stimulation of a fight like scenery. During your MMA training program especially in the conditioning training program, there are various applications that the trainee needs to observe during his or her endeavors to act and train like a professional athlete in this sport.

Weight lifting is a fact, you can't fight if you are not fit and this is why before you get to the exercise sets, you would be required to lift heavy weight and prepare your body on what is to come. This is beneficial especially on the fact that chances of getting injured aren't that rare in this sport. When training for muscle endurance however, you may not be required to lift heavy weight although the sets of exercises are much similar. The exercises that can be done may be about 2-3 reps, and probably multiply each rep by 3 sets. Your MMA training workouts may involve procedural deadlift, a series of back squats; weight assisted chin ups as well as a series of bent over rows. A power clean and jerk could also be counted as part of these MMA training workouts.

You cannot become a pro over a day, for example during MMA conditioning training, the success of the MMA training workouts will be determined by the efforts you put during your training. For instance, the reason why your coach will always demand on having heavy weight sets during your MMA training is not because he or she wants to protect you against your opponents but rather to prepare you for the ring winnings. Therefore if you want to be a pro, train like one and you will see the results. Higher reps for instance are meant to prevent you from getting running tired easily. The same objective is gathered by the muscles during extreme MMA training in that your muscles will not tire easily and hence you will be able to sustain the combat for a longer time.

To become a master you can't train on empty stomach. Any pro weight training exercise requires a diet that will repair muscles, help in giving you energy to take you through as well as build the muscles. This is why nutrition comes in as a procedural training process to be undertaken by any individual who longs to train like a pro. Training is not something you can just wake up and decide to do on your own. Massive training is required from an instructor who may be qualified enough into turning you into a pro!

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