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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MMA Fighters - The Ultimate Athletes

Being a professional athlete demonstrates how individuals who put the functionalities of their bodies into good use would result into. There are more attributes that an athlete should possess beyond strength, speed and stamina. Aside from those three mentioned, an elite athlete must have superior conditioning through power, quickness, muscular and cardiovascular endurance, agility, balance, coordination and flexibility.

There are different types of athletes, based on the sport they excel at. We have football players who have tremendous power, quickness, agility and coordination, but lack conditioning that runners possess. On the other hand, we have marathon runners who have awesome endurance, stamina, balance and speed, but don't put strength and power into play. Basketball players have explosive movements that football players have, plus cardio. But what these top basketball players in general have with power, would lack in agility, and vice versa.

So which sport qualifies as the most complete athlete?

Mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes not only have the mental toughness to get inside a cage and put a serious hurting on their adversary across the cage, but have all the physical attributes to back up their fighting skills. Believe it or not, even the smallest MMA fighters can pack a lot of power with a lanky frame. Plus, there are more factors to consider that makes MMA athletes the best bodies in the world. Here's how.

Let's start with strength. An MMA fighter requires grappling skills, or grappling defense to win. Even if you don't want to get the fight to the ground, sooner or later, somebody's gonna get a hold of you. For you to be able to defend the takedown, you need core and arm strength to aid your technique. If you're the one going for the submission, it's your job to find holes on their ground game, and capitalize with the right technique, plus additional strength, since with that level of fighting almost even, your strength will make the difference.

As far as speed goes, MMA fighters undergo a series of sprints as part of their training, to develop leg power. A slow fighter might be as good as dead of a fighter. And speaking of power, those explosive takedowns, kicks and punches MMA fighters do have the highest amount of power ever recorded. If you don't believe it, ask a heavyweight bodybuilder to punch a heavy bag, and compare his stats to a heavyweight MMA fighter. Not because you bench press more than the other doesn't mean you punch harder.

Stamina is working at the same pace for a long time, while endurance is simply working as long as you can. Without stamina, you will get your ass kicked by your opponent. While you slow down, the other men would probably be trying to hit you with the same volume of punches that he was working on for the past round. And since most fights are a war of attrition, it would best if you could rely on your second wind and try to outlast your opponent, and yourself. And without muscular endurance, your arms will tire out during submission holds wherein your opponent refuses to submit, which makes it a big risk for you once the hold has been released, and your arms are as good as a vegetable.

While speed is measured on how fast you can travel from one point to another, quickness is how fast you can move, period. And with the help of agility, which gives you the ability to move from side to side, forward and back, these factors can make you a blur to your opponent's eyes. MMA fighters have this ability to hit you from the front, move to your side, kick your legs, move back in front, and hit you again, as they move sideways in a circular motion.

Thanks to coordination, they can mix up kicks and punches beautifully, while faking a shot for a takedown, and move away at a possible attack at the same time. Even before you can think of what you want to do to them, they already have 3 to 4 moves already in mind, plus the attacks they anticipate from you. And with flexibility, in case you're grounded, it keeps you from taking damage by contorting you limbs without straining you muscles.

And finally, balance keeps you on your toes during a fight. If you want to avoid getting your face from getting punched from the ground, you'll maintain your balance to keep the fight standing.

I can assure you that being an MMA fighter not only makes you the ultimate fighter, but the ultimate athlete as well. I have tried playing basketball, football, running, and combat sports. And so far, training for MMA was the only sport that I've looked for a puke bucket, and called it a day. There have been lots of professional athletes from different sports who crossed over to MMA, but found themselves gasping for air or couldn't stretch their bodies as far as they want it to be.

If you want, you can see for yourself if you're cut out to be an MMA fighter.

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The History of Hapkido

The history of the martial arts is full of twists and turns. My search for its origin has led me to believe that the truth will never be known. Since Cain killed his brother Abel mankind has studied ways to do each other in; and to keep from being done in. Systems have blended into each other over the centuries and continued to evolve into the arts we practice today. Some arts have been developed no doubt to emphasize a certain quality, trait or philosophy. Some of the arts emphasize throwing, choking and joint locking such as Judo. Others emphasize twisting and turning like Aikido. And still others like Karate and Kung Fu major on kicking and striking techniques. Hapkido seeks to employ some of all these methods for self defense.

Hapkido is a martial art that was started in Korea by its' founder, Yong Shul Choi. Choi was born in the town of Yong Dong, near Taegue, South Korea in 1904; about five years before the Japanese began their occupation of Korea. Choi became orphaned at the age of eight or nine and was taken to Japan to be assigned work. He eventually came to work for Sokaku Takeda (1860 - 1943), the 32nd patriarch of Daito Ryu Aikijitsu.

Choi stayed in the employ of Takeda for thirty years. When Takeda died in 1943 Choi was released and took his leave, returning to the Teague area of Korea shortly thereafter. There is some controversy over Choi's certification in Daito Ryu Aikijitsu. Whether or not Choi was ever officially certified in Daito Ryu Aikijitsu is not really important in my mind. He was obviously able to master the techniques he was around for 30 years, and go on to teach them to many others.

When Choi returned to Korea he was poor. He sold rice cakes to feed his family until he earned enough money to buy some hogs. He fed the hogs with leftover grain he got each morning from the Suh Brewery Company. The manager of the brewery, Bok Sup Suh, saw Choi, a man in his 40's at the time, defeat several men in a fight one morning over a dispute about his place in line. Mr. Suh was a black belt in Judo and was impressed by Choi's strange martial arts style. He sent for him and an agreement was reached between them where Choi would teach Suh his system of fighting in exchange for grain and money. Lessons were held in Suh's dojang at the brewry until Suh was instrumental in helping Choi open his first school in February of 1951. He also became his first black belt. Some of Suh's knowledge of Judo techniques was incorporated into the system of self defense that would later become known as Hapkido. The original name of Choi's self defense system was Dae Dong Ryu Yu Sool; the Korean translation for Daito Ryu Aikijitsu. He taught a very pure form of the Aikijitsu art until his death in 1986.

One of Choi's students by the name of Han Jae Ji began to incorporate the aggressive kicking and striking techniques of Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do/Soo Bahk Do into Choi's system of self defense. He is widely credited with being the first person to use the name of Hapkido, supposedly starting in 1959. He also incorporated certain weapons, including the short staff (Don Bong), the middle staff (Jung Bong) and the cane.

Han Jae Ji is credited with producing many famous masters of Hapkido who helped spread the art across the world. Some of his more notable students include: Grandmaster Tae Mon Kwon, Grandmaster Jae Nam Myung, Grandmaster Sea Oh Choi, and Grandmaster Bong Soo Han who played in and choreographed the fight scenes in the Billy Jack movies. Ji appeared in Bruce Lee's movie Game of Death. Grandmaster Ji relocated to the United States in 1984 and formed Sin Moo Hapkido (Sin - Higher Mind; Moo - Warrior Ways).

The name of Hapkido went through numerous changes, including: Yu Kwon Sul, Yu Sool, Ho Shin Mu Do, and Bi Sool. With the passage of time each teacher and organization integrated their own understandings and self defense into the art. Although there is one system of Hapkido today, there two distinct types of Hapkido.

The first are the schools that hold tightly to the original teachings of Yong Shul Choi. These schools are mainly located in the Teague vicinity of South Korea. The main emphasis is on the Daito Ryu based joint locks, deflections and throws.

The second style of Hapkido are those schools, instructors and organizations that trace their lineage to Han Jae Ji. These schools teach the techniques of the first style along with punching, kicking and weapon techniques. These schools are located mainly in Seoul, Korea, as well as most of the western world. There are more students, whether directly or indirectly, of Han Jae Ji's Hapkido than any other Hapkido instructor in history.

In the 1960's some of the advanced teachers of Hapkido petitioned the government of Korea for a formal organization. The Korea Kido Association (KKA) was granted a charter by the Korean Ministry of Education on September 2, 1963. The KKA was authorized to regulate the standards for promotion and supervise the standards of teaching for Hapkido, and for thirty other martial arts. Yong Shul Choi was it's first chairman, with Han Jae Ji and other Korean masters as Board of Directors members.

Hapkido continued to fragment over time, as most martial arts are doing today. In 1965 Han Jae Ji left the KKA and formed the Korea Hapkido Association (KHA), with the blessing of Chung Hee Park, the president of South Korea at the time. Ji resigned from the KHA in 1973. He hoped to take a lot of its members with him to form The Republic of Korea Hapkido Association (RKHA). Ji invited two of his previous students, Moo Wong Kim and Jae Nam Myung, to join him in this endeavor. Both Ji and Myung left the organization eventually and a new organization sprang up from its foundation known as The Korea Hapkido Federation (KHF). The KHF is the largest, Hapkido governing organization in the world today. It's president, Se Lim Oh, has served as its head since his election.

Another note worthy person in the history and development of Hapkido was Jae Nam Myung. Myung was a student of Han Jae Ji and was awarded his 8th degree by Ji in 1972. He trained along side of several other notable Hapkido masters such as Bong Soo Han and Sea Ho Choi. He was also one of the original masters that served on the Board of Directors of the KHA.

In 1965 Myung welcomed a visiting Japanese Aikido teacher, Sensei Hirata. He was the only master to do so, probably due to the lingering ill feelings for the Japanese from the Japanese occupation. Myung and Hirata exchanged techniques over the next several years and Myung eventually formed an alliance with the Japanese Aikikai. He became the Korean representative for the Aikikai and remained so until the time of his death in 1999. Myung's version of Hapkido includes many Aikido based techniques.

In 1969 Myung formed his own organization known as Han Kuk Hapkisool Hae. In 1972 he relocated his headquarters from Inchon to Bukchang-Dong, Chung-Ku, in Seoul. He changed the name to Han Kuk Hapki Hae, The Korea Hapki Association. It is more commonly referred to now as The International Hapkido Federation.

The first Hapkido school to open in the United States was called The Hapki-Jujitsu School of Self Defense. It was opened in 1964 in Los Angeles, California by Sea Oh Choi when he was 28 years old and a 5th degree black belt. Choi retired in the mid 1970's as a 6th degree.

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MMA Training Gloves For The Most Safety And Comfort

The best way to ensure you will get the safest and best fitting pair of MMA training gloves, is to take a pro fighter friend along with you for advice. The best thing is to get educated about the choices and the requirements for the best ones for you. Learning which glove is the best for your next session and purchasing the correct item, with the correct fit, will help to reduce direct or stress injuries to a fighters greatest treasure, their hands.

These protective gear also serve to help to drastically reduce bruises and cuts to a sparring partner. Their hands need sturdy protection from scrapes, bumps and scuffs that can occur often during exercise sessions. This unrivaled protection for the fine bones and tendons in the hands can make the difference between a long and hearty career, or one with a quick end due to unexpected injury.

Even though there are many places that advertise used gear that is as good as new, it is best to buy brand new items when it comes to your protective gear. Saving a tiny bit of money will be far from worth it if a faulty piece of gear causes you a permanent injury. This area of your budget is not the one you should cut.

The average trainer glove set is usually between 4 and 5 ounces. Often slightly heavier than fight night ones, this is due to the added padding and protection of the trainer glove. Open fingered and with moisture absorbing material included, the right pair should feel neatly snug. Good ones to train in allows a fighter to go from a grapple to a strike in a fluid move.

The size and weight of a glove to train in are not the same thing. Those with smaller hands will use some with weights under 14 ounces. The larger weight class requires a glove that is on average an 18 to 20 ounce weight. However, there can still be a size of any combination included on the weight. A fighter could have a weight 12 to 14 ounce glove, but be a size 10.

A seasoned fighter may have their own glove purchasing ritual. Many have gone with smaller companies as opposed to the larger entities. Training gloves will fit much like a shoe. This means that the perfect glove for you may not fit so perfectly on your first try-on. Expect them to begin stretching once you have worn them a bit until they become a perfect fit.

The other element that holds importance is the determination of the size. If you plan to use hand wraps, take that extra space into consideration as well. Since it can be awkward for a fighter to apply his own wraps, it may be a good idea to bring a friend along, especially one with MMA or Boxing experience.

It should go without saying, that just because a name brand is big or can afford a lot of marketing, this doesn't mean you should purchase their items without testing them out first. Often, a seasoned MMA fighter has found a great bargain with the best fit imaginable. They can likely steer you towards a direct purchase of your MMA training gloves faster than any salesperson.

Get your high quality yet affordable MMA training gloves products. Visit http://www.freestylecustoms.net/

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Mixed Martial Arts Training - How To Get Into Top Shape

The world of Mixed Martial Arts or MMA is fast evolving these days. Both trainers and athletes are constantly coming up with better ways to train. And if you want to get into this sport, it is very important to condition your body first.

Say you have been training in boxing, wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for years and years. And you have mastered quite a lot of techniques. Your strike may be impeccable, your takedowns are unbeatable, you are in perfect control of your game. But the moment you step into that cage, you suddenly realize that while your skills are undoubtedly top of the line, your body is not in top shape.

You may be fast and sharp in the beginning. You take down your opponent with a lightning-fast single leg that he does not have time to stop. You are perfectly in control, or so you think. As the game progresses, you realize that with each scramble, you seem to lose some speed. You begin to struggle with your breathing and at the blink of an eye, the tables have been turned. You now end up defending yourself instead of delivering the offense you have been practicing for years. And before you know it, everything turns black. You just passed out.

The point is, in the world of MMA, skill will be rendered irrelevant if your body is not in optimum shape. In short, you are not conditioned properly. So the solution to prevent this from happening is through a well-rounded mixed martial arts conditioning program.

The program must develop:

• Aerobic capacity which pertains to the maximum amount of oxygen that the body can use in a workout session, that is normally assessed during a brief period of high intensity exercise.

• Anaerobic capacity which pertains to the total amount of energy from the anaerobic energy systems, that is maximally stressed in short duration high intensity activities.

• Strength that is the degree to which muscles can apply force against any resistance.

• Functional Strength which refers to the maximum strength, strength speed, strength endurance and reactive strength.

• Power which is the ability to exert maximal muscular contraction at once through sudden bursts of movement. Power is composed of speed and strength.

• Muscular Endurance that refers to the muscle's ability to perform sustained work.

There are a range of exercises that you can do to develop these attributes such as sprinting, running, plyometrics and weight lifting. Start where you are weakest and work from there. By training everyday and doing these exercises religiously, you will acquire that conditioned body in no time.

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How to Choose a Martial Arts Instructor

Choosing an instructor in the martial arts is highly subjective and can be very difficult.

To a large extent the martial arts are personality-driven. That is, people will study under a teacher who represents what that person thinks is the highest expression of his idealized vision of a teacher (sensei).

The teacher's personality is also of great importance. People will just not study under someone they do not like (not for very long). And as much as I don't believe in luck, I must say that a degree of luck is involved.

Why?

Well, people don't always reveal themselves in time for us to avoid an unpleasant encounter. This is true of both students and teachers. Most of the time such unpleasant encounters occur because of misunderstandings between the student and instructor..

Often, the misunderstanding involves money. Before agreeing to enter a school or signing a contract or agreeing to become a member of a club, read the document you are signing or make sure you understand what the teacher expects regarding dues and other rules.

Yes, there are bad students and there are also bad teachers. Think about martial arts movies in which a bad instructor infects his whole school with his "win or die" philosophy. But, it usually turns out ok in the end, right?

Choosing a teacher is chancy and It is directly related to choosing a school. And by school I mean not only the location but also the organization backing the local school. It's all subjective. By that I mean that joining a school is subject to whatever goals you have in mind.

Don't just accept or settle for the first school or teacher you find. Stick to your standards and make this one of the best decisions you have ever made.

How to Choose a Martial Arts Instructor

So, let me bullet-point some things to be aware of in choosing a teacher.
· He should have a verifiable rank.· He should be authorized to teach.· He should be an adult - seriously.· You should not feel pressured to join the club.· You should not feel intimidated by the teachers or by the other students.· You should not feel like you are about to be initiated into a cult.· The facility, instructor and students should be clean (in every sense of the word).· You should feel welcome

It's not all rock 'em sock 'em and it's not all sitting on a mountain in meditation for 30 years.

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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How to Find the Best Krav Maga Instructor

A professionally trained instructor, who has gained the knowledge and skills of self-defense can only prepare excellent professionals of Krav Maga. Krav Maga is a mixture of martial arts and street fighting techniques that were practised in ancient Israel. As these close combat techniques are also taught by many self-proclaimed gurus and amateur instructors, the possibility of joining a weak Krav Maga program always remains high. To avoid this, a good research about the instructor's background will always come handy.

Selecting the best Krav Maga instructor is a difficult task. So the research for finding a genuine instructor should be based on certain points. These points are:

The first thing to find out is that, whether the instructor is a self-taught person or a certified one. If the person is self- taught, then he or she can apply wrong approach in teaching, that may be harmful for the students. On the other hand, if the instructor is a certified person, then it is advisable to check the background of the instructor's mentor as well. Getting trained by qualified and expert instructor is always beneficial.

There are many levels of self-defence training. After qualifying a particular level, a certificate is given to the qualifier. This certification tells about the kind of expertise a person has gained. Therefore, it is advisable to checkout the certification of the instructor in self-defence training.

Experience is another criteria to judge the suitability of a instructor. A more experienced self-defence practitioner will surely be better than a less experienced one. There are many instructors who had served the armed forces or special police forces. Their vast experience can bring out the best in any student.

If the number of students taught by an instructor is high, then it clearly indicates his or her expertise. So, sometimes it is better to choose an instructor who has taught a large number of students.

A black belt level instructor with a long experience can be the best Krav Maga trainer, who can teach the best skills to train you for real world self-defence. By spending a good time in researching potential instructors, one is likely to find a qualified and experienced teacher.

A qualified and experienced Krav Maga instructor always values your time and provides the most critical elements of self-defence techniques. These elements may include fitness, awareness, prevention and effective approach towards real life threats.

Apart from individuals imparting training in Krav Maga techniques, there are several organizations that are organizing training for the same. They have developed specialised training sessions for specific category of people like military, civilian, law enforcement personnels and people involved in VIP protection. One among these organizations is ikmf.

The author of this article is an expert associated with International Krav Maga Federation, that imparts training in Krav Maga techniques.

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MMA Shorts - What's the Big Deal!?

What are MMA Shorts?

To the untrained eye, the shorts that you will see your average MMA (mixed martial arts to the layman) fighter wearing at the gym or on TV may not look anything special but you would be so wrong to think so! After reading this brief article you will go away being so impressed by the level of detail that goes in to a pair of MMA shorts that you will rue your ignorance... well maybe not but, if you're new to the sport and want to know what to look for if you're thinking of investing in a pair then read on.

MMA Shorts are specifically designed to withstand rigorous full contact of MMA but at the same time offer maximum comfort and allow unrestricted movement. I can hear you say, 'How do they do this?! Sounds awfully complicated!!

In response to the above, there are number of ways that MMA shorts fulfill their purpose, many brands exist and (although some brands may like to hype it up with marketing jargon) it's not all that complicated. Often more expensive than other pairs of sports shorts like those used for soccer or basket ball, there's a bit more that goes in to the making of MMA Shorts that I have simply attempted to describe below.

What kind of features could I expect find on a pair of MMA Shorts then?

Stretch Panels

Check out the inside leg of any brand of MMA Short and you're likely to find what's called a stretch panel. The stretch panel, often made from a spandex type material, is built in to the shorts to allow them to move more freely with the fighters movements without tearing or ripping. Also, because the stretch panel expands when pressure is forced against it, it is therefore much more comfortable than having some inflexible tough material in it's place.

Split Seams

Again, another common feature of MMA Shorts are split seams along the sides of the shorts. Split seams are exactly what they say they are and the size of the split seam on the side of the shorts varies in size depending on the brand, but they all serve the same purpose. The split seam allows for extra comfort and to aid unrestricted movement, especially for MMA enthusiasts of the large thigh variety! The unrestricted movement aspect is important when grappling and kicking, because as we all know MMA is about as full contact as a sport gets, and fighters tend to need to be pretty god damn flexible too! However not all shorts have the stretch panel feature, there are plenty of brands out there that just have a wider leg to serve the same purpose, personal choices and recommendations are usually just down to the preference of the wearer.

Dual Velcro Fastening

As well as having the standard drawstring (some brands even have variations on this, but that could be a whole new article on it's own!), MMA shorts usually feature a Velcro fastening strip on the front of the shorts as well as horizontally across the front of the waistband. This dual type of Velcro enclosure system is designed to make sure the shorts are as secure as possible once on, as well as concealing the drawstring, which if exposed could easily be pulled and loosened, which, given the full contact nature of MMA, could result in being caught with your pants down in a literal sense!

Lightweight and Quick Drying Material

MMA shorts are often made from lightweight (usually a polyester composite material) materials, that are quick drying and wick away moisture quickly. Again given that MMA fighters wear very little and need to be as agile as possible, you don't want the shorts you are wearing to be cumbersome and get in your way. You also don't want an overly absorbent pair of shorts, given the fact they are likely to come in to regular contact with blood, sweat and water (maybe tears too if you're not very good!). Please note however that just because MMA shorts are designed to repel liquids, are quick drying and reduce the growth of bacteria, you still have to wash them, unless of course you're a planning to win your next fight via some kind of 'stink out submission' technique!

Rubberised Waistbands

Not something that you will find on all types of MMA shorts, but more often than not at the higher end of the market will be a rubberised inner waistband. Designed with the aim of providing extra grip around the waist to reduce shift and movement of the shorts when worn and in use. The inner waistband of a lot of MMA shorts are lined with a rubber like material, a feature employed for the purpose of providing extra grip for the shorts around your waist. This extra grip helps to reduce shift and movement of the shorts when in use. As in any fast paced contact sport the split seconds count and you would rather not take your eye off the ball to keep adjusting your constantly moving shorts!

I tried to keep it brief, but there could be a lot more to add but we'll save that for another time. I hope that you can now go forth and scour the new world of MMA shorts armed with a little more (useful) knowledge than you had a few minutes ago!

Glynn McBride

Marketing Manager
Hayabusa Fightwear UK & Europe

http://www.hayabusafightwear.co.uk/

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How to Choose a Martial Arts School, What Matters? Part I

When looking for a martial arts school there a several things to consider:

· Is the location important to you?
· How much are you willing to pay for training?
· Are you looking for a competitive art or a more traditional art?

I am going to speak based both upon personal experience and on observation of many martial arts schools.

My experience as a teacher has been that location does and does not matter. I have opened schools in low-traffic areas and in high-traffic locations.

In the high-traffic areas there is the advantage (from the teacher's standpoint) of a lot of people seeing you and stopping by to watch a class. This, in turn leads to a higher rate of join-ups and a lot of enthusiasm among the students.

From the student's point of view, there is the excitement of having a lot of other students to train with and other students at the same beginning level. There is often a great sense of camaraderie among students at the same level.

Additionally, if the area is spacious and well-lit with ample parking and is located near other businesses, there is a great advantage to the school if the cost is reasonable.

For the teacher, the ideal situation is to own your own building and rent space to other businesses. This can offset the costs that would normally go for rent and might even offset most of the costs of being in business including taxes. That's a real plus for a martial arts school.

Students like the convenience of parking near the school, as well as feeling safe as they enter and leave classes.

A few possible disadvantages of such a prime location may be an increased cost of tuition fees. Since a martial arts school is not generally operated as a charity, basics such as rent and utilities must be covered. Additionally, the instructor(s) must be compensated for their time.

Even if the school you choose is a "non-profit" rent, utilities and salaries must still be paid in most cases. Someone always has to pay whether it's the student or the teacher.

In a lower-traffic area there are both advantages such as:

· Lower start-up costs
· Possibly lower tuition

There may also be disadvantages:

· Parking availability (there may be more there may be less)
· May not be as well-lit
· Possible security concerns outside of the school

In Part 2 of this article I will show that, while location is an important consideration, there are other factors that might make either choice (high-traffic area vs low-traffic area) the right choice.

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 Karate?

Whenever someone mentions Karate I think of a brick being split into two. I always thought it'd be really cool to actually do it and as a kid, I and several of my friends gave it at least a dozen attempts. Unfortunately as we found out, it wasn't particular pleasant, certainly painful and most ineffective.

Karate is primarily an offensive martial art focused on striking your opponent with a combination of punches, kicks, knee & elbow strikes, and open- handed techniques. Having said that, some styles teach grappling, locks and throws.

Today, Karate is practised for self-perfection, cultural reasons, self-defence & as a sport.

History of Karate

The word "karate" literally means "empty hand." Karate was developed from indigenous fighting methods called "te" meaning hand, in the Ryukyu Kingdom located just south of Japan (an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands what is now known as Okinawa, Japan.)

The martial art was brought to Japan during early 20th century in a time of cultural exchanges between Japan and the Ryukyuans. By 1924, Keio University established the first university karate club in Japan. Over the next 8 years, karate became grew in popularity and in 1932 all major Japanese Universities such as Tokyo and Hokkaido University had karate clubs.

After World War 2, Okinawa became an important United States military site and karate became popular among the servicemen (i.e. a man serving in the armed forces) stationed there.

During 1960s and 1970s martial arts movies such as Firsts of Fury (starring Bruce Lee) & Drunken Master (starring Jackie Chan) were a real hit and even more increased popularity of Karate as well other martial arts.

Karate schools began appearing across the world; open to anyone with an interest in martial arts or those eager to become the next Jean-Claude Van Damme or Jet Li.

Training

Karate is commonly practised as an art, sport or for self-defence. Traditional karate emphasises self development (i.e. self-perfection), where as modern Japanese styled karate is more focused on psychological elements (e.g. perseverance & fearlessness). Additionally there's Sport Karate which focuses on exercise and competition.

Karate training is divided into 3 aspects - Kihon (basics or fundaments of karate), kata (different forms/stances) & kumite (sparring).

Kihon is essential in order to learn more advanced forms of karate. It includes the practise of correct body form, breathing, stances, punches, kicks, blocks, and thrusts.

Kata means literally "shape" or "model". Katas may vary in length (number of movements) and difficulty and are usually practised solo or in pairs. Some kata require low/wide stances which aim to develop your leg strength and posture. There are around 100 kata across all forms of Karate, each form with minor variations of the kata.

Kumite (sparring of Karate) means "meeting of hands." Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an opponent using the techniques learned from kihon and kata.

During kumite, levels of physical contact may vary significantly. Knockdown karate (full contact) is where one uses full power techniques to bring their opponent to the ground. Bogu Kumite (i.e. sparring in armour) allows full power techniques with some safety. Bogu Kumite is a rough, full contact training method where the participants are encouraged to throw full-power blows. Types of equipment for Bogu Kumite include - "Men" (a steel cage mask), "Kote" (padded gloves) & "Do" (a semi rigid chest protector which consists of several padded plates made from heavy plastic). Other types of protection include a groin protector, elbow pads and shin protectors.

On the other hand, Sport kumite and/or Structured kumite allows for light or semi contact. In Structured Kumite two participants perform a series of techniques with one striking while the other blocks.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Karate

Advantages
- Improved reflexes and coordination
- Increased strength and stamina
- Improved fitness and weight loss
- Gain the confidence and skill to defend yourself and others
- Head on, close combat

Disadvantages
- Greatly relies on strength, agility and fitness level
- Difficult movements and strike combinations
- Usually a wide stance is needed which may limit your movement
- Training can become monotonous (e.g. practising Japanese kihon repeatedly)
- Head on, close combat

Should you consider trying Karate?

I can't guarantee you'll be breaking bricks in half after your first lesson, however if you're looking for a martial art that focuses on head on, close combat and you're relatively fit or want to become fit - Karate could be for you.

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How to Choose a Martial Arts School, What Matters? Part II

Personally, I like the clean, open and well-lit type of location. And, if the rent were reasonable, I would (and have) gladly choose to locate my school in such a place.

However, when starting a new school that is not always what is available.

Sometimes you have to settle for what you can get. I have started more than one school and usually had to settle for a location that was not always optimal. I do not look for or accept locations that are run-down or in known dangerous areas. But, cost is always a consideration.

Even my teacher in Japan has his main school for at least the last 30 years in a hard-to-find location in a building that is less than prime. But, it is clean and well-maintained.

The point is, I was able to find him even though I was from a foreign country. And I wasn't looking for a building. I was looking for a teacher.

If you are just looking for an activity, any activity will do. As long as it is located in a nice, clean, well-lit building that should be enough. But, if you are looking for training in a specific art, you are looking for a teacher, period.

If the teacher has the credentials, if he has the knowledge and ability, I think that is a more valid criterion. You can find out about a teacher, his reputation and his background. If that person fits what you are looking for, that is the person and location you should be looking at.

The things that are more important and worthy of consideration are:

· The teacher

· What that teacher teaches

· Is that what you want to learn?

If competing in tournaments is your passion that is what you should look for in a teacher. If traditional martial arts interest you, find a teacher that is known for his traditional approach to his arts. Also, there are some martial arts that can cover both bases (tradition and competition).

The best school for you is the one that fits your view of what a martial art should be and offers the schedule, teachers, costs and locations that are accessible to you.

I can't over-emphasize the need to do your homework. You must enter into the study of the martial arts with your eyes open and a solid idea of what it is that you want to achieve. Be proactive and then throw yourself into your studies with energy and joy.

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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Northern Shaolin 'Longfist' Kung Fu

Da Mo

Shaolin 'Young Forest' Kung Fu was inspired by the arrival in 527 CE of Bodhidharma aka 'Da Mo' at the Shaolin Monastery in Henan, Northern China. Da Mo was 28th Buddhist Patriarch and Founder (and 1st Patriarch) of the School of Chan Buddhism referred to today as 'Shaolin Chan'.

Bodhidharma was also a Great Master of Internal Arts! His 12-year sojourn at Shaolin-Si (The Shaolin Temple) revitalised, invigorated and raised Martial Arts there to unprecedented levels of excellence. The Temple became a repository of Martial expertise, knowledge and skill that continues to evolve and develop today. 

Northern China

Northern China, mountainous, with rocky, irregular terrain, is China's classical 'heartland'. Civilisation spread from here to the flat Southern plains and its inhabitants are taller and longer-limbed than their Southern counterparts, with average heights approximating those of the West. 'An inch longer, an inch stronger!' runs the Shaolin 'Longfist' maxim. Many authorities consider Changchuan the ideal Chinese Martial Arts Style for Westerners to learn, considering their tall bodies and long-reach.

Southern Styles, like Wing Chun, specifically designed for smaller individuals, inevitably have a shorter reach. Changchuan (Longfist) Kung Fu evolved on ancient 10th Century CE Chinese battlefields, through the genius of Tai Jo (Supreme Founder) General Zhou Kuang-Yin, later Emperor Taizu, who established the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 CE) becoming China's second Shaolin-trained Emperor. Its battlefield origins and long-range striking capabilities make Changchuan/Longfist the most powerful Kung Fu style.

Northern China's rocky mountainous nature meant Longfist practitioners needed mobility, agility, deft footwork plus jumping and leaping ability, to fight effectively on its sloping obstacle strewn terrain, hence Longfist's emphasis on kicking techniques. Shorter Southern Styles, designed for the flat Plains, involve less motion, deeper stances and focus on hand technique: 'Nan Chuan: Bei Tui' (Southern Fists and Northern Feet) runs the Kung Fu adage.

Hard Work

Kung Fu translates as 'time and effort' and 'hard work', reflecting the dedication, concentration and commitment needed before Kung Fu training's benefits become apparent.

These include: i. the ability to defend one's self;

ii. improved health, strength and fitness;

iii. increased will-power and endurance;

iv. expansion of mind and consciousness;

v. increased self-awareness and abilities to harness internal energies, or Qi.

A programme of External and Internal Longfist Kung Fu empowers such developments. Westerners are usually most deficient in the latter. The stresses and worries of modern life cause Qi-flow through their bodies' meridians and pathways to be weak and irregular. Internal Training stabilises, regulates and strengthens this via Qigong ('strong Qi') exercises. These involve breath-control, meditation and internal organ-training routines known only to certain Schools of Chinese Martial Arts.

The Northern Shaolin School's most potent original 'Classic' examples of these were amongst revolutionary changes to Shaolin Monk Martial Training made by Bodidharma (Da Mo) almost 1500 years ago. The Monks' health, strength, fitness, endurance, Martial Arts performance levels and longevity all increased substantially as a consequence. Still taught in Kung Fu Classes today, such exercises will do the same for you, over time.

Sifu Peter Allsop M.Ed. teaches Shaolin Kung Fu and Qigong in Yorkshire and Derbyshire U.K. With almost 40 years experience he is Shaolin Fists International Area Instructor for this region and Senior Student of Grandmaster Yap Leong.

Trained in the U.K. and China, Peter teaches Changquan ('Longfist') Wu Xing (5 Animals), Wu Tzu (5 Ancestors) Kung Fu and 5 Elements Qigong. Sheffield Chinese Lion Dance Team Member, he also publishes 'Red Dragon Martial Arts Ezine'.

Access fee resources at: http://www.sheffieldkungfu.com/

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Managing Family Ties in a Martial Arts School

Nearly all martial arts facilities have multiple members of a family signed up to take classes. Normally, a child's parents decide they need some sort of discipline and education in how to defend his or herself. After awhile, if the child is having fun with their training, a brother, sister or parent (usually the father) chooses to sign up as well.

At my 11-year-old's school, there are two sets of children's classes, one for ages 5-7, and another for ages 8-13. Once the student reaches 14, they are placed in the adult class. With these groupings, it is common for siblings, or a parent and child, to be placed in the same class. The training can be something for a family to bond over...but both scenarios can cause issues. Fortunately, these issues can be easily avoided in most circumstances.

I have seen multiple sets of brothers, or a brother and sister, training together in the same class. If the children are non-competitive by nature, and get along with each other, I think having them together as training partners can be perfect. They know how to communicate and share with each other, and the one with greater skill and aptitude for the sport can help the other one catch up.

From my experience, however, it's common for one of the siblings to have difficulty with this kind of skill imbalance. Several times, I've seen one brother or sister quit out of frustration when they didn't "get it" like the other did, or the more talented sibling tease the other rather than help. For that reason, I highly recommend that siblings don't train together unless you are 100% sure they can handle it. Talk to the head martial arts instructor at the school and express any concerns you have going in, or let them know if there's a developing issue. Many times, the problem won't exist during training, but will rear its ugly head when they get home.

Where my family trains, we have several sets of related adults & teenagers taking classes together. A couple of fathers and sons, a father and two sons, a father and stepson...even an aunt and nephew. Having these families working together, sharing a bond through the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, adds dramatically to the positive atmosphere, making the school a unique place to be. But it's important for the adult to not act as a parent during training. You have to be able to let go and have them learn on their own.

In a recent class, we were learning multiple choke techniques from the top mount. Whenever something new is being learned, both participants must be cautious about execution. The person being choked has to learn how to tap at the right time - early enough to avoid getting hurt, while making sure the move achieves the desired result. The person applying the choke has to learn the proper way to perform the technique - some misapplied chokes are still painful enough to get a submission because of a cranked neck or other pressure.

In the case of our teens, their learning curve is a little slower as compared to older adults. This particular time, the 15-year-old on top was cranking and pushing and doing everything but getting a nice, clean choke. The 16-year-old on the bottom was taking all of this abuse without letting their partner know that something was wrong; calling the head instructor over to ask for help would have been a good idea. After several minutes, the poor victim left the mat, stretching his neck and asking for an ice pack.

It would have been very easy for his father to overreact, either by babying him, or getting upset with both of them for training in a way that led to an injury. Instead, the parent correctly kept out of it...other than adding a mocking "Eh, maybe that'll toughen him up."

When we're all on the mat together, we're part of a larger martial arts family, connected with generations of people who shared the same experience. For that bond to exist during training, it has to take precedent over family connections. Both relationships grow stronger as a result.

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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Three Judo Mistakes I Make: Osotogari

As I progress with my Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu trials and tribulations, I am becoming proficient enough to understand what I'm doing wrong. I'll take this as a sign of wisdom and experience, rather than incompetence. Hopefully, sharing my mistakes will help others avoid those mistakes, and speed them along the proper path.

Osotogari translates as "major outside reap". It is one of the original throws defined in Judo, and considered one of the classic techniques of the sport. Osotogari has adapted to be used from all sorts of approaches, grips, and footwork. In the standard definition, you step across your opponent's body from a standard collar-and-sleeve grip, lift your near leg, and use it to sweep your opponent's near leg. Since you're across them, your right shoulder will be near their right shoulder, and your right leg will sweep their right leg.

When I fail to successfully execute osotogari, it is probably because of one of these three mistakes:

1) I'm not close enough

Whether you're trying to do the throw as your opponent is leaning backward or coming forward, they have to be close to you. There is no way to generate enough power for your leg to sweep through their leg if they are not right next to you. Getting in close, so that your shoulder is touching their opposite shoulder, is critical.

2) I don't slide my grip to their neck

In order for me to take my opponent down by sweeping their leg, most of their weight has to be placed on that leg. If I don't, they'll just pick it up and step over or around my sweep. I can get my opponent off-balance on my target leg by pushing from my collar grip, most likely. But I can get them to move much easier if I apply the pressure higher up on their body, rather than to their core. So as I make my approach, I am also sliding my grip up their collar to the back of their neck.

From the neck grip, my kazushi technique looks more like a clothesline than a push, and that's OK. I'm not trying to hurt them, but I have more strength in my bicep than I do my hand. This technique allows makes the throw work in a no-gi environment, from collar-and-elbow wrestling grips, which is critical to keep the move viable in today's MMA world.

3) I sweep too low on my opponent's leg

Let's say my approach and grips are both good. I can, and probably will, fail at osotogari if I sweep too low on my opponent's leg. The key to any good throw is to generate enough power at the proper leverage point. In this technique, it is easier if I use a short, powerful lever - my thigh. If my leg sweeps through below my opponent's knee, it will be far more difficult for me to take them down.

Sweeping at a high point also keeps me closer to my opponent as they are going down. In a sport Judo tournament, where my goal is just to complete the throw, I may not care where I end up in relation to them when my osotogari is done. If I'm in a grappling or MMA match, however, I care a great deal. If I'm close to my opponent as they are going down, I can follow through directly into an arm bar (assuming I keep elbow control), or failing that, strong side mount control.

Osotogari has long been regarded as one of the most effective throws in Judo, and is still seen performed regularly at all levels of the sport. It is a perfect example of everything that Judo aspires to be: an application of grip control, momentum, and leverage. If you avoid my mistakes and have good technique, your osotogari will always serve you well.

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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5 Ways To Optimize Your Tai Chi Or Qigong Horse Stance

Horse stance, or "ma bu" is a stance common to virtually every martial art, qigong and standing meditation practice. Let's explore 5 ways to optimize this stance so that you can get the most out of whatever art you practice.

1) This stance mimics sitting on a horse. So make sure to feel as if you are really sitting. If you "sit" into this stance while executing a punch or strike, you will remain grounded. If you "sit into this stance while doing energy work, you will be able to ground negative energy and stabilize your mood and endurance levels.

2) Sit straight. Just like any dressage artist or other horseback rider will tell you, you need to have good posture while sitting on a horse. Whether you are sitting on a horse or standing in horse stance, you need to tuck your pelvis, loosen your hips, straighten your back, lightly traction your neck and keep your ears in line with your shoulders. This will also ensure that your organs and vertebrae are in proper alignment. Doing so will benefit your health and unblock flow of qi (life force energy).

3) If your upper body is in straight posture, make sure your lower body is also in good posture. Gently rolling the pelvis a little under (without a compensatory backward leaning) and keeping the knees turned a bit outward, in line with your toes, will strengthen your core (your back and abdominal muscles). It will also make you solid and secure in your footing.

4) Feel as though you were sitting on a horse. This means your inner thighs conform to its body. Feel that while you are holding your legs in this arc-like structure, there is a "form" onto which you can mold your stance. You gently push the legs inward while feeling as though a physical object (imagine it being a horse) pushes gently outward against the inside of your legs.

5) Relax. Like the chassis of an automobile sits into the shocks (springs), make sure your torso sits into your "kua" (your inguinal creases and hips). This will keep all your movement, while in the horse stance or while going into and out of this stance, very smooth and rooted.

Use these tips and you will notice a tremendous improvement in your progress, whether it be for physical martial arts technique, or for increasing and developing your internal energy.

Loretta Wollering is a recognized expert and master-level instructor in the field of tai chi chuan (taijiquan). She specializes in teaching tai chi from its ancient principles and from the traditional lineage of Master Jou Tsung Hwa. She is open-minded and accepting of all people interested in the art, no matter what their beliefs and levels of physical ability. Feel free to enjoy more information at: http://www.internalgardens.com/. You can also join beginners as well as advanced enthusiasts at America's biggest and friendliest tai chi gathering - Tai Chi Gala - headed by Ms. Wollering: http://www.taichigala.com/ YES - All are welcome here.

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Karate Kumite - Should You Get Emotional?

Karate Kumite and Clint Eastwood, I never thought those two things would come together in a sentence. In the old flick 'The Outlaw Josie Wales,' Mr. Eastwood lectures some soft pioneers about how to get mad dog mean when you're in a fight to the death. There is truth in his lecture, but there is, especially if you are training in classical martial arts training, a falsehood.

The truth is that you have to raise up your desire to survive. You have to be willing to do more than you have ever done before. You have to be willing to fight harder and never give up.

The lie is that emotion increases your desire to win. To understand this, and other things concerning emotion and the martial arts, we have to define what, exactly, emotion is. The odd thing is that if you look in a dictionary you will not find a good definition.

Emotion is not 'mood,' or an 'instinctive state of mind,' and that sort of definition tells us nothing. So consider this definition: when somebody is unable to accept reality he/she creates a mental turmoil that is emotion. That's a good one, and I know because I made it up, but we have to look deeper if we are really going to understand emotion, it's value, and how to handle it.

The Neutronic definition for emotion is: 'Motion inside the head.' You get angry, and in your head you want to create motion (of some sort) towards somebody (hitting them in the head with a hammer). But it is all in your head, and, though that can be tapped into and used, it is also a little less than real.

So, think about this: when you punch somebody, would you put energy into your knee? Sort of a waste of energy, eh? What you want to do, as a martial artist, is put energy into and only into the fist.

When you direct energy into body parts other than the one(s) being used you are not being efficient in your motions. This same idea holds true in the subject of emotion. Energy put into emotion is not energy put into the desire to win; to win it is best if we get mad dog cool and determined, not extra angry.

Emotion is not to be discouraged, for emotion is a handle by which we can read others, release our own feelings, experience love, and that sort of thing. However, emotion in a fight can inhibit a person's will to fight. When it comes to Karate Kumite you must increase your desire to win without falling into emotion, or trying to use emotion in any way.

Got a bully in your neighborhood? Want to learn how to defend yourself? Karate Kumite is the best and quickest way to defend yourself in the world. Mouse on overto Monster Martial Arts to find out more.

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Key Attributes of Karate That Benefit the Athletes Engaged in Popular Organized Sports

From the time young boys and girls have reached the age of six, seven or eight it is likely they will have become engaged in some form of organized sports. T-ball is often the first sport for a boy, while soccer has become the sport of choice for the youngest girls. But before long, and often before the parents are even aware, several years have passed and the children have advanced into other sports, like softball, baseball, basketball, flag football, and football, although soccer continues to be played at all ages by boys and girls.

No matter the sport, each participant wants to be able to perform well and wants to improve in their play as time goes on. This is only natural. As the children mature and begin to think in terms of high school and college, the possibility of sports scholarships come into play. The desire to play adequately is replaced by the desire to excel, which often becomes the dominant emotion. Whether or not, this becomes the driving force, everyone wants to play to the best of their abilities and this is usually enough of an incentive to make participants work as hard as they can to achieve their goals.

For young children, the first responsibility of the coach is to teach the children how to play the game and particularly, how the coach wants the game played. Each position in every team sport requires that the player in that position have a distinct set of physical attributes and skills that might make them particularly suited to that position. For example, in baseball, a first baseman, a pitcher or a catcher need not have the running speed that an outfielder should have. A six-foot-tall ten-year-old would more likely play center on a basketball team than play point guard, and a slow-footed but sure-handed person would do much better at goalie on a soccer team than they would playing forward. Based on each candidate's attributes, the coach must assign everyone a playing position. These may change in time, so these considerations remain part of what occupies the coach's time and energy.

Coaches do their best to bring out the best in each member of the team. At the younger ages, the coaches are usually volunteers who have had little formal training in how to get the most out of their players. Sometimes the team is lucky and gets a coach that can achieve a great deal. More often, the best of intentions cannot make up for their lack of knowledge and skill and as a result, the coaching is 'good enough' but doesn't always bring out the best in the players.

In addition to teaching the game and the fine points of the various positions, the coach has many other teaching obligations. The coach must teach the players to play as a team, to be respectful of the other players on his or her team, but also the players on the other team. Some of the players will take on leadership positions while others must learn to follow and cooperate with the leader, or speak up respectfully if there is a dispute about something the leader has done. This represents only a partial list of a coach's responsibilities so it is a fortunate team that gets a really competent coach.

Often in the attempt to win at the intermediate ages, winning itself becomes the overriding objective. How much each player actually plays and in what positions is determined by the coach who bases he decision on the player's skill and resulting contribution to the desired "win". How the players are treated often defines how these young athletes perceive of themselves. The player left out often feels inferior while the player that plays most of the time begins to feel superior to the others. It is possible that the less capable child is developing more slowly and will get better, even as the season progresses. It is important for the coach not to let the good player become overly confident and perhaps over bearing while the other child loses confidence in him or herself and thereby does not take advantage of his or her capabilities.

Fortunately, there is another activity in which young people can participate that is more individualized and allows each individual to develop to the level at which he or she is capable at that person's age and stage of physical and mental development. There is no competition as to who will get to play in the game, for how long and at what position. It does not require specialized training as determined by the sport and the position played in that sport. Everyone learns the same thing and many ways to accomplish what is required. This allows the teacher to concentrate on the same lesson while exposing all the participants to many concepts and aspects of the lesson. The teacher can focus on each student's capabilities so that positive attributes are brought to light for everyone to share and from which they can all benefit. All students can learn from watching and practicing with other students and from helping others as they proceed through the lessons. That activity is Karate.

How Karate is Taught Learning Karate involves much more than learning to punch, kick, grapple and block. Instead, students first learn how to stand still, clear the mind of all distractions, find their center, and establish their balance. From there the students learn to bow as an acknowledgement of respect for self, others and very importantly, respect for the training area and what it represents to them personally that is, the opportunity they have to train. They then stand again, this time progressing through all the basic stances. From there they begin to learn how to fall, forward and backward, in such a way as to minimize the likelihood that they will get hurt from the fall. They then learn how to execute the various complex positions, moves, techniques, strikes, kicks and blocks. Combinations of these replicate the moves they make under various circumstances in all sports. Once these combinations have been absorbed, through knowledge, application, and repetition, the student will be able to handle him or herself much better than they would have otherwise in all situations whether in sports or even physical threats to their person.

In the training process, each action is given a name and combinations of these actions are learned in forms, one-steps or combos. Each of these are also given a name. The starting position in a form is called "Chumbae" and involves nothing more than standing at attention with the student's arms and fists placed in a certain position. The student takes this position at the command of the instructor. The difficult part of the position is not getting into it, but rather the fact that there is to be no movement until the next command is given. If the student has an itch on his nose, or any other distraction, not reacting to the situation becomes a test of self-control.

The next command might be "fold for a high block." A smooth transition to the placement of arms, hands, body and feet is to be made as swiftly as possible, while not appearing to jerk into place. This command will be followed by other commands to move into other positions. Each action called out by name requires immediate recognition and a smooth response.

At first, the command recognition is not immediate and the response is not smooth or quick. But with time and repetition the response becomes more immediate and the repositioning movement more fluid and precise. Much like learning a new language, individual words are recognized first, then with frequent use the words become able to be put together in smooth sentences that eventually generate complete thoughts and concepts. This can be accomplished once students have taken on the new language as their own.

This is Karate.

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Keep Your Child on the Right Track With MMA as an After School Activity

Did you know that recent reports show that between eight and fourteen million kids are left unsupervised?The most crucial time for your child is after school hours. In saying that,studies show that 29 percent of negative activity around the hours of 3pm to 6pm occur from juveniles. The time your child has after school plays an important part in your child's life in the long run, and getting them involved in after school activity, such as mixed martial arts, is very beneficial in areas of their childhood on up to adulthood.

Guidance, structure and self-discipline as well as physical fitness are traits we would like for our children to carry on even when they are not in our presence. Children need positive consistent guidance when it comes to self-control and with that in mind will enable them to keep up good behavior and stay focused. Participating in after school activities helps beat obesity. Statistics show that 33 percent of children under the age of 19 are severely overweight. Meanwhile, case studies continue to show that martial arts is a very effective way to lose weight as it involves learning a variety of techniques that requires intense physical exercise triggering at every aspect of the body and all the while empowering them to build confidence and will power. Getting your child to attend two or three days a week will hep your child stay fit and healthy.

Communication skills and critical thinking work through martial arts training as well and will keep their mind focused in a positive direction. These are skills used in the classroom at school or even in your child's career. Mixed Martial Arts not only builds your child's self- worth it allows them to broaden their interests and gets them involved in team work and more involved with their surroundings.

Furthermore, all these benefits are something today's youth can not do if they are at home falling into the traps of video games ,computer games or hypnotized by television lounging on the couch. Remember that an active child is a healthy child, and keeping them busy will enable them to keep their minds from wondering and possibly getting into mischief. Not to mention, when they are not engaged in any type of physical activity they are more prone to life long health issues as we mentioned earlier.

It is important to keep our kids well balanced and focused going in the right direction whether it being at school or at home even when they reach adulthood on into their career.Keep your child on the right track by keeping them motivated and productive with the life learning values of martial arts.

http://www.epicbjjacademy.com/
Weatherford Tx
817-808-2675

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Using Wing Chun Dummy Plans To Build Your Own

Many martial artists have discovered the benefits of training with a wooden dummy. This practice was brought into the mainstream world of martial arts by the kung fu style Wing Chun. While every Wing Chun technique can be applied and trained on a wooden dummy, artists from other styles are also adapting their own training to apply to a wooden dummy.

Wing Chun dummies can be prohibitively expensive, however, with retail models often costing upward of $1,000 or more! Fortunately, dummies can be built for much less, but it can be a bit of a project if you're unprepared.

Here is a brief overview of building your own.

Locate good Wing Chun dummy plans - Some of the plans available are just basically blueprints. They show dimensions and measurements, but don't actually tell you how to build the dummy. For example, making the holes in the dummy's body can be challenging as it requires cutting square holes in a round body. This may require a bit of extra instruction for someone who has never done any sort of drilling/sawing/filing/etc. before.

Consider having the arms made by a professional - The arms are the most complicated part of the dummy to make. The shanks that hold them into the body of the dummy must be square, and the arms themselves are tapered and cylindrical, and building them requires the use of a lathe. Most people do not have lathes, and renting one (not to mention learning how to use it) can be expensive. Fortunately, the arms can be purchased (either wooden dummy companies, or made by carpenters) for relatively cheap, often around $60 per arm.

Consider using PVC for the body - 8" PVC pipe has an outer diameter of 8.625" which is perfect for a Wing Chun dummy (8.5-9.5" diameter is the acceptable range). Some people may initially complain about using plastic instead of wood, but the plastic is just as hard, exactly the right size and shape, and significantly easier to work with. Cutting square holes into PVC pipe takes a little time. Cutting square holes into a solid piece of 8.5" diameter wood takes forever, especially if you're not accustomed to working with wood. And PVC is much cheaper, too.

Take your time - Building your own dummy can be fun and rewarding, but don't rush it. Double check all your measurements before you cut anything.

Building your own Wing Chun dummy can be rewarding and affordable. The cost of building your own is generally significantly less than half of buying one retail. Be mindful of it and it will reward you for years.

For the most comprehensive wing chun dummy plans available, please visit this link!

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