Martial Art Moves

Who Else Wants To Learn Extreme Martial Arts?

2010-12-30T04:45:00.000-08:00

With the recent surge in popularity of UFC fighting, many people are curious about learning extreme martial arts. This type of self defense is a combination of many martial arts styles using a combination of philosophies, movements, methods and techniques. It is also combined with gymnastics and acrobatics. Extreme martial arts is usually what is seen on TV in the UFC ring, movies and on the web.

Those who are involved with the sport of extreme martial arts believe that utilizing a combination of the skills that students learn in seld defense classes can have students reaching goals once thought impossible. Not only that by focusing on more than one type of martial art encourages students to become better then was thought possible.

The goal of XMA is to show as much strength of the mind as the body. If you can stand with your feet planted firmly on the ground and command the attention of others without using movement, or sound you could be able to fend off attackers by fear alone. The intense eyes of a extreme martial art expert would be enough to scare a normal person without even having to throw a punch or a kick.

Where You Can Find More Information on XMA

With the popularity of XMA growing everyday, it is easier than ever to find classes that will teach you how to successfully begin to practice this art. It is thought that those who practice extreme martial arts have more flexibility, strength, and a higher degree of coordination than those who only practice one type of self-defense. This form of martial art appeals to not only kids and teens, but young adults as well. It is also a more exciting and visually appealing form of self defense that can be enjoyed by many members of your family. It is a great way to get healthy and fit, physically and mentally.

You can look in your local yellow pages to see if you can find an extreme martial arts studio near you. If this doesn't offer you any suggestions, you might try searching on the internet. The internet will be able to give you much information regarding techniques, philosophies and where you can find an extreme martial arts class in your area. Those who are pure martial arts practitioners frown upon XMA because it lacks applications that can be used in the real world. However, in my opinion most martial arts and self defense moves are useless in the real world. Most self-defense classes should be intended for physical and mental well-being.

Most martial arts techniques take years to master and are too difficult to remember in a spur of the moment street attack. 90% of self-defense experts actually freeze in fear during an actual attack due to the brute and violent force of their attacker. To defend yourself against violent street criminals, such as an armed 300 pound skinhead ripped on crystal meth you need serious defense techniques, like that they train the military's special forces with.

Self-defense classes are great for kids and your fitness, but as Madison Greene knows first hand, those techniques are no match for a viscous street criminal who is intent on robbing, raping, or murdering you. If you would like to be introduced to techniques that are easy to learn and can actually protect you in the real world visit: www.HardcoreFightingSecrets.com [http://www.HardcoreFightingSecrets.com]

Why a Martial Arts Training DVD is the Best Way to Learn Self Defense

2010-12-29T06:26:00.000-08:00

Martial Arts Training DVDs are the the absolute best when it comes to learning to defend yourself, and there are five specific reasons why. I will go into these reasons one at a time, and, at the end of the article, let you know a couple of things you should definitely be careful of when looking for martial arts courses. Here's the list.

1) Assist you to pick and choose the right art for you.
2) Know what is happening before you start.
3) Know what is happening without being confused.
4) Remembering what the teacher says.
5) Be able to go over the lessons as often as you want.

Maybe you've been pushed around, maybe it's your son that is being picked on, maybe you just live in a rough section of town, but the fact remains that it is time to learn some serious self defense. The first thing to do is select the right art to study. But there are so many disciplines to choose from...how do you know what art is right for you?

Martial arts training videos are an economical way to search for the art that is right for you.

First, look around on the net, get an idea of what the various arts are, then simply order courses in the arts that intrigue you. You will find that prices are low, and you can sample through the arts and get some real in depth instruction before you even enter a martial arts dojo.

Eventually, you are going to want to train with an experienced teacher and make sure that what you are learning on video works for real. So once you have studied martial arts videos you will have an idea of how the various arts work, and you can walk into martial arts training hall and know what you should be looking for, and what questions you should be asking. Whether it is a karate dojo, a taekwondo training dojang, or a kenpo training hall, you're going to walk in with a real confidence and surprise the instructor with some good questions.

As you start lessons you are going to find another blessing--you know what is happening in class.

How many times have you walked into a class and been unsure of yourself. Having studied martial arts prior to even starting a class will eliminate confusions and enable you to get all the benefits of martial arts training right from the get go.

Knowing what is going on right from the start will enable you to learn faster and remember the information better. While others are trying to figure out a side kick, you'll be in the stance and pumping them out like tomorrow's champ, and know exactly what you are doing!

And, if there is something you don't understand, you can probably find it on the instructional DVD. You can go home, pop the martial arts courses into the video player and go over your lessons again and again. There will be absolutely nothing you don't understand or can't figure out when you can go over the lessons in this way.

The most important thing to be careful of is not to fall for gimmicks. Even though the courses on the internet don't cost much, be careful of the fellow who offers you something like 'Ten Killer Martial Arts Techniques that will enable you to beat up anybody on the street!'

Even if the guy has something that actually has value, there is still nothing better than learning a whole art. And the sad truth is that these gimmicks don't work, you need to dedicate yourself to some real art if you are going to decrease your reaction time and make self defense moves second nature.

Learning a few techniques is like eating dessert, it tastes sweet, but it won't get you to the next meal.

Simply, you want something that is going to not just going to put you good shape, but make your body change on deep levels.

You don't want a 'beat 'em up' quick course, you want a long term dedication that is going to change the way you think.

You want the real thing.

You want something that is going to last you a lifetime.

That said, I always recommend that you get a course with a good and comprehensive martial arts training manual that is written by somebody with experience...maybe somebody who has written for the magazines.

It's easy to stand in front of a video camera, you see, and rattle off a bunch of tricks, but if the guy has written an actual martial arts book then you can be sure he has not just set up a camera and gone to town, but has actually thought about what he is going to teach you, and has the actually ability to instruct, and it is a proven fact that writers make good teachers.

That's about it. Consider the things I have listed in this article and you should be able to learn martial arts online by finding an excellent martial arts training DVD.

Al Case began the martial arts in 1967. He offers a wide variety of Martial Arts instructional DVDs and books at http://www.monstermartialarts.com.

Work On Your Balance for Martial Arts Performance and Life

2010-12-28T08:18:00.000-08:00

As we age, our ability to balance decreases. Those of us getting older probably realize this from time to time. I mean, come on, I never started to teeter when standing on one leg pulling my pants on in a hurry when I was younger. And I'm not even that old yet. But it's a fact, balance becomes harder the older you become. That's where practicing martial arts can really help a person. The activities in many martial arts work on balance, and while it's true balance decreases with age, if you practice balance drills, you can slow down this decrease and maintain better balance into your elder years. The key here is to practice!

Here's where you can benefit twofold. Practicing many martial art movements helps with your balance. Doing balance drills will help your martial arts. Pretty much a win-win in my book. So if you aren't including balance drills in your training regimen, you are missing out. So start including them, and keep at them to assist with your training and general balance throughout your lifetime.

Simply put, balance is the ability to maintain your body position and equilibrium while moving and at rest. And it is obvious when we see elite athletes perform incredible feats of athleticism that require outstanding balance that not everyone has the same ability. This is true for both static and dynamic balance. The former being such as when you are standing upright and dynamic balance being when you are moving, such as running or jumping.

Part of your balance comes from physiological sources such as proper posture. You also use different sensors that help you determine if you are upright or aligned. The primary one for most of us is vision. That is why it is harder to stand on one leg with your eyes closed. We also have pads in our feet that provide sensors and of course the vestibular apparatus found in the inner ear.

There are also biomechanical sources. These are warning systems your body is equipped with to alert you of imbalance. This is why knowing your center of gravity is so important. (True center of gravity is where the lines of gravity for the vertical and horizontal orientations of the body intersect.) Regarding your body, your center of gravity will depend on the position you are in. It will move depending if you are standing, sitting, or bending. It is important to know your center of gravity to help with your stability, which is determined by the relationship of your center of gravity and base. We all know when you lean one direction, it is easier to lose your balance in that direction. That's because the center of gravity is moved to the limits of its base, and then not much is needed to upset the equilibrium.

This is important for martial artists because balance is a fundamental key to performing most of our techniques. We derive balance from our stable stances and proper footwork. We have to find a "balance" if you will between a higher center of gravity for mobility and a lower center of gravity for stability. It is even more difficult to maintain this balance during movement, but by maintaining proper balance while moving our movements become more economical and faster.

We improve our balance by correct posture and head placement which leads to correct body alignment. We also use correct footwork to maintain our equilibrium while moving. This becomes more difficult when performing spinning movements. One way to help is to pick a spot before you spin, and when turning, snap your head around to the front and refocus on the spot while your body finishes the turn. You can also increase your balance by incorporating balance drills and movements into your training. Practice standing on your head or hands, then try walking on your hands. (Practice against a wall or with a partner holding your legs at the beginning.) Practice your kicks slowly while standing on one leg. Stand on one leg with your eyes closed. Practicing various yoga poses can increase balance as well as provide other health and fitness benefits. Drills where you push or pull against a partner help with balance, as does Judo type randori. Walk on balance beams, fallen trees, or railroad tracks. Create your own drills and practices. There are a lot of ways to improve your balance and keep it from deteriorating as you age. The key is to make sure you make a point of working on your balance. It's worth it!

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. He also mediates and teaches conflict resolution and negotiation. Alain combines his military, martial art, and Asian experiences with his business, law, and conflict resolution education into a powerful way of living with balance, honor, and integrity. He teaches how to use the Warrior's Edge to Take Action and Achieve Remarkable Results, as well as resolve conflict and negotiate. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com and http://www.yourwarriorsedge.com

Martial Arts Movies and the Imagination - Entertaining, But Certainly Not Realistic

2010-12-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

Being a martial artist, having bounced for over 15 years and having been in several street fights, I can honestly say that I have a firm grasp on the difference between what I see in martial arts movies, what happens in the gym, and what its like to engage in real combat out on the street.

It is very understandable that a lot of people who don't train or who haven't been in a lot of fights have some pretty big misconceptions about what it's like to use martial arts in a live situation. What is even more disturbing though, are many of the martial artists who walk around with an unrealistic view of their capabilities. I partially blame the media, both martial arts movies as well as televised mixed martial arts events.

It should go without saying that there is a tremendous difference between what happens in a choreographed fight scene in a martial arts flick and what happens in real life. Without a doubt, trained stuntmen and the fighters who enact these scenes are basically dancing with each other in a preplanned fashion. Even if there is some occasional contact, the players know what is coming, and can roll with the punches. Just like a dance, everything is timed and happens along a known rhythm. It is the rhythm and feel of a fight that separates a fight scene from an actual event. Not to mention the unknown. Though once you find yourself engaged and fully attentive to an actual fight, the unknown rarely becomes a conscious factor. All of your attention becomes diverted from all of the 'what if's', and you usually find yourself acting and reacting. Hopefully, you have drilled your defense and technique to the point that a lot of what happens is reflexive.

The experience of watching professional fighters fight in mixed martial arts events, and even the act of training and full contact fighting itself though closer to reality is also different from the real thing. Rules, the fact that both parties fighting are trained and in shape, and the knowledge that you may have of the other persons style of fighting create elements that make a ring fight noticeably different from a real life confrontation. From a purely physical standpoint, fighting in the ring or a cage is much, much more taxing and difficult. Two trained fighters who are in peak physical condition, who know what kind of attacks to expect are going to exert themselves a heck of a lot more than anyone fighting for a minute or two out on the street. For a street fight, two minutes is a long time. They usually end a lot sooner than that.

The main element that is usually missing from a trained martial artist's expectations of a real, live encounter is most often the amount of damage that they feel their techniques are going to do to an opponent. It's laughable sometimes what you hear people saying regarding their self defense techniques.

"I'm gonna hit him here, and then he's gonna fold over, then I will kick him in the head and it will be all over."

Really?

Where do people come up with some of this stuff? Besides martial arts movies, I would have to say that their instructors are responsible for propagating this nonsense. Also, I can see how it can be very easy to develop power in one's techniques and infer that because they are able to hit an inanimate object so hard that a blow like that must be able to knock someone out or incapacitate them. Problem is, people move, people react, and unless someone has done a lot of full contact sparring and a lot of drills that adequately represent what it is like out on the street, their timing, their distance and the placement of their blows are not likely to do anywhere near as much damage as what they imagine. This leads me to the main difference between the pseudo-violence in martial arts movies, what happens in the training hall, in the ring and out in the real world: timing. Even when you throw out all of the other variables such as not knowing if your opponent is going to pull out a weapon, if they have friends who are going to jump in, what it is like to fight in street clothes and on uneven surfaces, the main element that is different is timing.

Your timing, and the rhythm in which you execute your techniques will likely be different due to some internal factors, most importantly due to the added adrenaline because your body recognizes the difference from being in a real 'fight or flight' situation that cannot be created in a gym. Also, even if you have been training full contact, you will not be used to the erratic timing of your opponents. When two people who have been trained fight each other, there is that rhythm that forms that is not unlike the 'dancing' that happens during choreographed fight scenes in martial arts movies. Though odds weigh considerably towards a trained fighter, untrained opponents have the unknown edge of sporadic timing.

When you drill techniques, counters and footwork, by the nature of repetition and the time required for clean techniques to be executed, a certain rhythm and timing develops. Untrained fighters do not execute their attacks according to this rhythm. This is why a real fight will never look 'clean' as it often may in the ring, and certainly in those martial arts movies.

Even taking into account the fact that there are many, many unknown elements to a real life violent encounter, trained martial artists who have yet to experience what a real fight is like will not fully appreciate some of the differences between what its like to spar with someone, and what its like to fight someone who has the serious intent to cause you bodily harm.

If you are a fan of the martial arts, whether you simply like to watch the movies or to learn from instructional martial arts DVDs, you can click here for both training tips and all of your martial arts DVD needs.

Street Stoppers - The Martial Arts' Most Devastating Trips Sweeps and Throws For Real Fighting

2010-12-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

"Street Stoppers: The Martial Arts' Most Devastating Trips Sweeps and Throws for Real Fighting" by Mark Mireles and Loren W. Christensen is a good book. I applaud the two for writing about a subject that has not been addressed like this, even though it is such a very important subject when it comes to fighting and self-defense.

Both authors are accomplished martial artists with impressive backgrounds in real-life violent encounters. In other words, they have been there and done that, and I recommend anyone wanting to learn more about the real-life application of martial art moves listen to them.

That brings me to my complaint about this book, and why I feel it is good, but maybe not great. I wanted more information from these two extremely knowledgeable men. The book is just over 280 pages, but the majority of the book is filled with pictures. As far as pictures go for illustrating throwing techniques, they are done well. They are black and white and clear enough to easily see what the author's intend for you to view in them. However, the accompanying text is fairly basic and minimal. And that is not just a complaint about this book, but any book explaining martial art techniques through pictures and text. Knowing a bit about publishing of books and videos, I understand the fine balancing act that goes on to ensure you put just enough and stay within the parameters of page length and so on. There are a lot of little things and finer points that make these techniques most effective that the authors did not have the space to include, or were not as detailed as I'd have wished they would have put in the written portions.

With that out of the way, let's look at the good things about this book, and there are many. It is definitely a book I recommend for your self-defense library, and one that I think you will learn some valuable information and techniques from. (That is if you actually get out and practice what the authors show, and feel how to do the trips, sweeps, and throws they illustrate.)

Chapter One: Mechanics of Trips, Sweeps and Throws discusses topics such as sport vs. self-preservation, 6 areas of attack on the human body, and some basic positions along with some other practical advice.

Chapter Two: Trips covers what the authors call the Navy Seals of martial art techniques, trips. They are powerful, masked in stealth and deception. After a brief description of physical and psychological aspects about 14 trips are illustrated through pictures and short descriptions.

Chapter Three: Sweeps covers a few standing sweeps, a few hand sweeps, and some ground fighting sweeps. Again, all of these are illustrated with photographs and brief explanations of written text.

Chapter Four: Throws features about fifteen variations of throws and how to execute them. All are shown with the same type of photographs with accompanying text.

Chapter Five: Spins is a short chapter illustrating a couple of spinning type moves that put your opponent on the ground.

Chapter Six: High Amplitude Throws: The Greco Roman Model focuses on a couple popular moves from Greco Roman wrestling. After showing how to train to do the back arch, instruction on the salto and suplex are shown.

Chapter Seven: Combinations is my favorite chapter of the book. Many times when you go for a trip, sweep, or throw, something goes wrong. Regardless if it is your fault or if your opponent is countering, being able to flow into a different technique is extremely important. Practicing the combinations in this chapter might just save your butt one day.

Chapter Eight: Falling had some good general information on falling for those that do not train in an art that throws and how to take some of those falls on the street. (I say for arts that don't practice throws, because if your art practices throws, you have most likely learned to fall.)

Chapter Nine: Law & Ethics contained a few pages on legal considerations and fighting ethics. With both authors having backgrounds in law enforcement, I expected this chapter to be a bit longer, but it still contained some practical advice.

There is a short conclusion and that is the end of the book. As I stated, I think this is a good book and deserves a place in your martial art/self-defense library. However, I do wish the authors would have included more text and explanations in some areas. I have a Judo and Hapkido background, so I've done my share of throwing and being thrown, and this includes real situations on the street. I do like that the authors covered the topic from the street and not competition, and even with my experience I definitely learned a couple new things from these two tremendously experienced instructors. I'm going to practice some from this book with training partners to make my throwing even better, and I encourage you to do the same.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a mediator/attorney and an author/speaker through his own company Burrese Enterprises Inc. He teaches people to live with the warrior's edge through his writing and speaking on a variety of topics focusing on the business areas of negotiation and success principles as well as self-defense and safety topics. He is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks, several instructional dvds, and numerous articles. You can find out more about Alain Burrese and read many more reviews, articles and more at his website http://www.burrese.com

The Chinese Martial Arts - Part of Culture

2010-12-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

The Chinese martial arts are an important and unique component of the Chinese cultural heritage with centuries of history. They embody the entire Chinese cultural characteristics from one aspect. The Chinese martial arts is generally called Wushu, where Wu means military and shu means art, thus Wushu means the art of fighting . The Chinese martial arts not only include the physical exercise but also Chinese philosophy, meditation, military, strategy, techniques, education, aesthetics, etc, and mirroring the character and sagacity of the Chinese people.

The Chinese martial arts contain the traditional cultural spirit of Chinese people and pay great attention to mental activities in fighting. They stress that mind should guide breath ,breath should guide the motions of the body , that hands , eyes and pacing , spirit , breath and force , ferociousness and agility , the external and the internal , all should be harmonious , and that motions should be changeful and rhythmic . Furthermore, they advocate winning the opponent artfully and through taking advantage of the opponent's momentums. At the same time, the martial arts practices do not mind to retreat a step first so as to be justified, advantageous and well controlled. In fighting, the players strive to hit surely, accurately and forcefully, and put sureness in the first place.

Settling the relationship between the body and the mind is the top concern of the Chinese martial arts which emphasize the "the external exercises for bones and muscles and the internal exercises for breath." All the schools of the Chinese martial arts stress "presence of mind, breath and strength", so as to equilibrate Yin and Yang, regulate breath and blood and build up body and strength. By settling the relationship between mind and body and the relationship between oneself and the opponent, they also settle the relationship between "form and content" of the martial arts. In fighting, it is very important to achieve "changing according to different opponents", and "getting opportunities through defending".

The Chinese classic philosophy is the principle of the Chinese martial arts. Generally speaking, theories of the Chinese martial arts have been influenced mostly by Chinese philosophies; while the technical progress of the Chinese martial arts corresponds with the development of the classic culture and technique, especially with the development of combating methods, artistic interests and hygiene. They underwent three phases. The first phase was the phase of bravery, based on strength and bravery; in the second phase, martial skills are developed, ground on tactics and skills; the third phase is the phase of martial arts exercises which are based on standardization and stylization. On the level of philosophy, the marital arts stress "unification of man and nature", i. e. the unification of existence and nonexistence, acting and stopping, Yin and Yang, mind and things, the subjective and objective. And on the social level, the martial arts emphasize cultivation of mind and personality, awareness of the natural law and complacency. They thus break all prejudices with regard to winning and losing and to successes and failures, and take a calm attitude. In fighting, the practitioner of the martial arts plays calmly as in a game, with a free and initiative attitude. Therefore, the Chinese martial arts are not simply a sport event or a fighting technique, but are thinking, life attitude and personality cultivation. In a contest with an opponent the Chinese martial arts exercisers not only take a great care about the moves , and exertion of force , but also take a great care about his own temperament and mind , with a martial arts spirit transcending mere technique.

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Street Martial Arts Moves to Destroy and Dominate!

2010-12-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

In this article, you'll learn a few great methods of self defense to help you the next time you're in a fight. All through my life, I've been in a lot of fights; from my time in prison to by years as a bouncer, I've learned a few ways to street fight that you should really learn.

To begin with for street martial arts, you are well within your rights to bite your opponent, so keep that under your hat. Whatever extremities the opponent lunges in your direction, try to bite them, whether it's his fingers or arms, even hands. If you take every opportunity to bite, you'll be in a much better position to win.

When it comes to street martial arts moves, just focus on the kneecaps, shins, and the groin as potential targets for your kicking. Try to avoid sidekicks, as it's all to possible for your opponent to catch your leg; if this happens anyway, learn ways to quickly get back on your feet. If you just stick with low kicks, your balance will be less affected, and you'll have more distance from him.

When considering other street fighting movies, try not to rehearse your methods of defense whenever possible, as that can be easy to anticipate. Just go to a park every once in awhile and practice, so you can give yourself a more realistic mindset.

Another street martial arts moves you might want to know is the value of eye gouges over punching in a fight. Whenever you can, try to poke or stab at your attacker's eyes, and then follow it up with punching. You'll be taking away your opponent's visibility, giving you the upper hand in the melee and allowing you to win.

Cardio and weight training will really help you perform your street martial arts moves more effectively, and you'll be healthier to boot. When someone attacks you, you don't want to be out of shape when it happens. You'll be more likely to be mugged if you are consider to be overweight or scrawny, so get in shape.

The best street martial arts moves aren't attacks at all; you just have to stay vigilant whenever you can, and never let your guard down. If you're traveling alone through places that aren't crowded, try to give yourself the opportunity to hear anything coming. If you can maintain a constant vigil, you'll be much more prepared in the event of an attack, using street fighting moves to win the battle.

I will turn you into a deadly street fighter when you discover the list of 27 barbaric street based self defense tactics here! Or you can get some more free self defense tips from my blog over here now!

Run Your Martial Arts School Like the Crows Eat

2010-12-23T16:16:00.000-08:00

Every morning I get up, walk to my foyer closet and grab a handful of peanuts. Then as I walk to the end of my driveway to get my paper, I drop them along the way.

Within minuets the crows come by to eat them.

You should run your dojo the same way the crows eat their peanuts.

Have a Single Goal

Martial arts business is a complex thing. There are many, many functions that need to be done each month in order to be successful.

The crows have a single goal - find my driveway and eat the peanuts. Often when you have a list of things you want to accomplish you find more and more things to add to the list. Soon you become overwhelmed with the enormity of the list.

This can bog you down and make you want to not do anything. By having a single goal you narrow your focus and are able to concentrate on just the task at hand.

Your goal might be writing this month's school newsletter, developing a Bring a Friend to Karate Day program, or working on a new marketing strategy. See? Already we have 3 tasks. Pick one.

The crows come by my house first thing in the morning. I imagine they go somewhere else for a mid-morning snack then on to lunch and so on. You might want to block time for specific tasks on specific days and times. Always make absent student calls on Wednesday right after classes and so on.

Many Tasks

Eating peanuts is much more than just swallowing. The crows have to break open the shell, pull the nut out, then break up the nut to small chunks so they can finally eat it.

Most goals have many tasks as well. Let's say you want to create a new martial arts marketing program for your summer camp. That's a big job. You have to break it up into small tasks that are manageable and can be done within a certain amount of time.

Make It Easy On Yourself

The crows fly in, find a peanut and bang the peanut against the ground with their beak. This cracks open the shell. But they don't do this on the hard asphalt of the driveway. Instead they pick it up then carry it over to the grass where the ground is soft.

As a martial arts business owner, you need to find ways to make your goal easier as well. You need to learn to use systems that are already built for you, learn to delegate tasks whenever possible.

For instance, IMAMS has Done For You training modules in martial arts marketing, student retention and internal marketing so you do not have to use trial and error to see what works and what doesn't.

Complete The Job

The crows make sure they completely eat all the small bits of one peanut before they find a new one.

One of the hardest things for a martial arts school owner to do is stay on task and complete one thing before moving on. As a single owner we tend to do this, then that then the next thing all without ever really completing any of them. As a result many details get dropped or left behind.

Move On

Once all the peanuts are gone the crows fly away.

When you have completed your goal - down to the last detail - then select a new goal and move on.

At IMAMS we can help you focus your martial arts business to help you grow your school and retain your students.

To learn about the first and only No Membership Membership program in the Martial Arts Business Industry Click Here. PS It's FREE!

Chuck Phillips,
International Martial Arts Management Systems
http://www.imams.com

To read more articles by this author and learn about the first and only No Membership Membership program in the MA Business Industry please visit our web site.

PS It's FREE

Street Fighting Moves - How Traditional Martial Arts Discriminate Against Middle Aged Men & Women

2010-12-22T17:10:00.000-08:00

Walk into any traditional martial arts dojo, and just observe. Notice how many middle-aged men and women that you see there over the age of 50. I would dare say very few. Have you ever asked yourself why? If you say that martial arts is only for the very young, then how do you account for the fact that most of the teachers who consider themselves as masters are in their 50's and 60's? (By the way, to reach your 50's and 60's in the mastery of a martial art usually means that you started maybe as a teenager and because you are a teacher, you get to continue to practice and maintain your skill level by practicing hours each day. The average everyday person has a life and families and cannot devote every waking hour to the perfection of a fighting art.)

I am well into middle-age, but I have the body, strength and endurance of a 30-year old - not by accident, but because I take very good care of myself with progressive weight lifting, regular jogging and healthy eating. However, even for a "young" man in my condition, the typical martial arts program is not set up to cater at all to me and my age bracket.

I will reveal for you now as to how and why the traditional martial arts program unwittingly and maybe unintentionally, but definitely, discriminate against the middle-aged man or woman. (For abbreviated purposes, TMA will stand for Traditional Martial Arts.)

TMA (Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, etc.) Emphasize And Glorify "High Kicks" - Due to most of the hoopla and fiction of what is portrayed in the movies, high kicks are emphasized and taught. The interesting thing is that for real life self protection, attempting high kicks is risky foolish, unwise and impractical. Trying to kick someone in the face makes as much sense as bending over to punch someone in the foot. High kicks require extreme hamstring and hip flexibility which begins to diminish rapidly after age 40.

TMA Teach Systems Which Require 10, 15 and 20 Years To Master - Man! Who has that much time to afford to learn and master how to fight? Surely not the 50-year old and up.

So What Is The Solution for The Middle-Aged Man or Woman Who Wants To Learn Self-Protection?

My advice is very direct and succinct. Forget about all of the Traditional Martial Arts programs, and enroll yourself in a Reality-Based Self Protection program which does not emphasize high kicks and extreme leg and hamstring flexibility, and instead of taking years to master can be taught and learned in a matter of a weekend.

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From Charles Prosper - The Street Fighting Sifu

Realistic Answers About Martial Arts

2010-12-21T19:58:00.000-08:00

Since the dawn of time, physical combat has played a role in nearly every culture and civilization across the world. Differences in cultures and societies bring many different combat disciplines, commonly called martial arts, to the forefront.

Martial arts have been widely popularized by action movies featuring martial artists as heroes or villains. Perhaps the most popular is Bruce Lee, who led the wave of its films in the West and created a fascination with the discipline.

Although there are many practitioners and places to learn it, there is much misinformation concerning the martial arts. The following questions deal with many of the common misperceptions concerning it, their purpose, types of it, and how it applies in real world fighting situations.

Hopefully these questions and answers will help give beginners and people interested in it a more realistic view of what the martial arts are about and how they fit into the modern world.

What are Martial Arts?

In the loosest sense, the term "martial arts" essentially means "military arts," so any training system that prepares an individual for combat or self-defense is technically martial arts. The typical perception is that such arts are fighting styles -- like karate or kung fu -- that originate from the Far East that can transform the smallest person into a deadly fighting machine.

Although these examples are martial arts, modern ones also include: boxing, grappling techniques, such as Brazilian jujitsu, and even the training that police officers receive, concerning how to use a pistol. Many traditional form of this art are not necessarily preparing a student for street fights, so much as it's teaching discipline and maintaining physical condition.

What is meant by "soft" and "hard" martial arts?

Soft and hard refer to the striking and blocking style utilized by such an art. A soft style focuses on redirecting energy, especially your opponent's energy, to throw or put them off balance to strike or move into a better position. Soft styles teach students moves that require little energy and are easy to recover from or regain balance if they're blocked. Examples include aikido and ninjitsu.

Hard fighting styles, on the other hand, are centered more on offensive moves, rather than redirecting an opponent's energy or weight. The striking techniques in hard styles deliver a lot of power and some painful blocks. Hard striking means that a person can be knocked off-balance much easier, in comparison to soft styles. A few hard fighting styles are karate, tae kwon do, and muay thai.

What martial arts styles are best for self-defense in real settings?

Just about any training of this art will be beneficial in a street fight or confrontation compared to not having it, but certain disciplines are designed for actual combat.

Both hard and soft styles can work well for self-defense, but many people feel that hard styles are more effective since they teach you to strike first and strike hard, while soft styles are more technical and teach you to redirect your opponent's energy. Some styles of it that have street credit are: juijutsu, karate, muay thai, tae kwon do, and ninjutsu.

Ground fighting disciplines can also be very effective, especially if you want to neutralize a person, without leaving any marks or causing long-term damage. However, ground fighting is not a good option if you have to fight more than one person.

The biggest benefit of learning such an art if you're in a street fight is that you practice fighting on a regular basis and, for most people, a street fight is their practice.

If martial arts instructors are so experienced, why would they want to avoid a fight?

Logically, there are more reasons to leave quietly than fight, even if you believe you have the upper hand. Unless you are in a controlled situation, you never know who you're up against and how far they are willing to go to win the fight.

People who pick a lot of fights typically gravitate towards extremes. Generally, they think they're really tough, that they have a lot of fight experience, or that they've picked up some dirty little tricks that will always turn the fight in their favor.

This may include cheap shots, but weapons are never out of the question -- not to mention, their friends could intervene at anytime. Even if you "win" a fight, you may end up in court over assault charges, especially if it is known that you practice it.

What is the deadliest martial art?

Realistically, in a real fight, someone with no fight experience or training can kill someone. The human body is fragile and things can easily get out of hand. Many people believe that there are pressure points that can kill or disable someone with a light blow.

While there may be some truth to this, most deaths from fighting come from someone's head hitting concrete or getting stabbed. As far as martial arts that lend themselves to incapacitating people, many of the hard styles fall into this category, as does Brazilian jujitsu.

Brazilian jujitsu is a ground fighting technique and will teach you how to lock people in submission holds or choke them out. Muay thai is considered one of the most dangerous martial arts because it was designed to be used for combat.

However, several muay thai moves are not usually taught and are banned from use in competitions because they are moves that, if executed properly, will kill someone instantly.

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The Attire Required For Practicing Mixed Martial Arts

2010-12-20T22:49:00.000-08:00

Mixed Martial Arts is one of the most commonly practiced martial art forms. The rules of this form have undergone evolution over the years. It is not only the rules and technicalities of the form but also other factors which determine its entertainment and professional quotient. The clothing that has to be worn by the wrestlers or combatants is specified in Mixed Martial Arts just like any other school of fighting.

The attire that is worn by the fighters is used not only while fighting but also while training. One of the important gears which the organizers of the various tournaments expect these fighters to wear is the shorts. In order to slow down the submission blows, the combatants wear a kimono that is specially designed for fighting. The shorts are the most important piece of clothing that is mandatory in the fight because it provides the fighter with comfort and safety.

While fighting, it is important that the clothes that the fighter wears allow him flexibility. But it is also essential to have durability along with the flexibility. Hence, a lot of brands have come up with various designs which are vital and comfortable for the fighters practicing Mixed Martial Arts. With the growing availability and improvisation of these sporty clothes, there is a wide variety of MMA as well as casual clothing that is being offered to the people all over the world. The shorts used by the Mixed Martial Arts fighters are very similar to the ones worn by the wrestlers undertaking Muay Thai which is an extremely well known form of martial art from Thailand.

The gloves are another important accessory which is crucial for a fight of Mixed Martial Arts. They are extremely helpful to the combatants in the professional fights. In order to express clearly the purpose of these clothes, these clothes have been given the name of 'fight wear.' Apart from the usual requisites of the fight, there are an increasing number of items which are being added to the MMA clothing range which include hoodies, t-shirts, caps and hats. Just like in the case of sportswear, there is a lot of choice regarding the number of brands that specialize in MMA clothing. As the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts increases, so does the demand for these MMA clothes.

Avirex, Ecko Unlimited and No Fear are amongst the most reputed brands with regards to MMA clothing. The shorts which are used for these fights look just like the regular board shorts. They reach halfway through the thigh of the fighter so that they can provide for maximum flexibility. The other brands like Warrior Wear, Sprawl and Tap Out are also well known for their quality fight clothes. The player has the choice of choosing the various designs available in the shorts depending on his weight, physique and background. There is no fuss when it comes to the kind of footwear which has to be used in a Mixed Martial Arts fight. In fact, most of the fighters prefer to fight barefoot so that they are able to move more comfortably and quickly.

Emile Jarreau, aka, Mr. Fat Loss is fascinated by health, nutrition and weight loss. For more great info about MMA Training for losing weight and keeping it off visit http://www.MrFatLoss.com.

Martial Arts Schools and the Lion Dance

2010-12-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

Where there is a Chinese community, there will be a lion dance at official events such as parades, weddings, grand openings. The uninitiated may think it strange to have a noisy lion dance as part of the entertainment. Actually there is more to it than mere entertainment. Traditionally a lion dance troupe is invited to bring in good luck at an auspicious event.

From the standpoint of the martial arts school, putting up a lion dance promises good income for the school. Moreover, it is an opportunity for the school to showcase its top trainees. The next time you watch a lion dance live or on TV, savour each move and leap. Take in the heart-thumping drumbeats and clanging cymbals as well.

Normally, two 'lions' are present in each performance, although more or just one may participate. The lion costume consists of a lion's head made of colourful papers over a bamboo frame. Some bits of furry materials enhances its look. It has a mouth that opens and closes, eyes that blink, and ears that wiggle. A multi-coloured silk cloth seven to ten feet long forms the body or tail.

Animating the creature is the job of two males-one manipulates the head and the other the body. The fancy footwork, arm thrusts, changes in height and speed, all shows the lion in different moods: happy, angry, sad, contented, cautious, excited, curious, and tentative.

The lion moves in sync to deafening beats from one single large drum. Gongs and cymbals accompany in supporting roles. When the lion's head is raised, fast music is played. The lion moves to the beat and stops when the music stops. Key movements, such as those leading up to stunts require music with special significance. These beats have ritualistic meaning for attracting good luck and dispelling evil.

The lion dance at Chinese New Year always includes a head of lettuce with a red packet (envelop) for luck tied to it. The lettuce is planted several feet high from an upper floor window for the head dancer to pluck. This part of the dance is called Choi Ching, which literally means "pick the greens". To reach a high hanging choi ching, the dancer stack on the shoulder of another.

The lettuce represents a medicine that had once saved a village from a deadly plague. This is why the lion spits out or returns the lettuce instead of swallowing it. Inside the small red packet is a gift for the martial arts school. It ranges from a few hundred dollars to thousands from big corporations.

Lion dancing is the ultimate workout for martial arts students. It strengthens the body, improves rhythm and invokes creativity. The dance (literally means 'manipulation') requires strong stances and powerful waist movements to animate the lion. Traditionally, lion dance is a way for martial arts schools to show off their pugilistic skills in a competitive but non-combative manner. Good teams excite the crowd and attract new students sign ups.

So the next time you watch a lion dance, think of it as an invitation to join the martial arts school.

For information on martial arts skills, visit my blog at http://horsestance.blogspot.com

Street Fighting Moves - Do You Know the Only 3 Reasons Why Anyone Would Want to Learn a Martial Art?

2010-12-19T02:22:00.000-08:00

I think before any worthwhile accomplishment can be undertaken, we must know why in order to establish clearly defined goals. I have noticed that in the study of martial arts more than any other skill, there is much confusion as to why one wants to learn it in the first place. Basically, there are only 3 reasons why anyone would want to study a martial art.

The Only 3 Reasons For Learning Any Martial Art:

Reason For Learning A Martial Art #1 - Street Self Defense - Originally, martial arts were introduced and became popular after the influx of the kung fu, Bruce Lee martial arts movies. Martial arts were taken for the sole purpose for street self defense, that is, learning how to kick butt with style. The college kid decides. "That's it! I will never be pushed around again! I am going to learn karate."

Reason For Learning A Martial Art #2 - Sports Fitness - I once saw a sign outside of a Karate school which said, "Karate Aerobics". I never went inside to check them out because I don't think I could have handled it very well if I had gone in, and, instead of gis, had seen everyone doing round house kicks in purple tights and leotards to the music of "Macho Man" by The Village People.

Reason For Learning A Martial Art #3 - Tournament Competition - You want to sign up for a martial arts school because you want to be known as the number one fighter at all of the tournaments given. This is typically for the person, usually in his twenties, who needs to assert his ego and self worth through the collection of trophies.

I am not placing judgement on any of the three reasons, I am only suggesting that you know your reasons, and try not to confuse one with another. Make one of these reasons as your primary goal in order for you to focus and become your best at whatever your reason happens to be.

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From Charles Prosper - The Kung Fu Fighting Guy

Better Martial Arts Practice - On the Dance Floor

2010-12-18T03:32:00.000-08:00

Subtle, Yet Real On The Dance Floor

At a filming of the show America's Got Talent, I witnessed a mini dance competition for audience members, between taping and judging the show's real contestants. (I guess it's AGT's way to keep the audience both enthusiastic and entertained.)

During the dance competition, I saw a phenomenon that I have seen for years. A percentage of males (teens and young adults) incorporate martial arts techniques into their dance moves.

Have you seen this, too?

I even saw some young "karate move flashers" at my daughter's middle school dance.

Whether at a taping of America's Got Talent, or a kids' dance, the moves are messy. They are pure slop.

This started me thinking...

Martial Arts Can't Mimic Dance Exactly

You shouldn't make your dance moves mimic martial arts moves exactly. The crispness, stances, and so on would make you look ridiculous. In fact, a lot of what I see borders on the silly, as it is.

But what if... what if...you could isolate a movement that's necessary but hard to learn smoothly, and practice this over and over?

Isolated and Concentrated Martial Arts Practice

What I am proposing is that you make your dancing look like dancing. (If you do martial arts moves, "because" you don't know any dance moves, then... learn some.) Subtly incorporate a motion that's needed for advanced martial arts application.

What did I have in mind?

Broken rhythm of darting in and out on different beats. Mix it up.

Circling while dancing, and smoothly changing direction. Just don't make it look too "boxer like."

Raising and lowering your arms on the beat, and then cleanly switching to the half beat, and back. This doesn't have to look like a punch... just play with the timing.

Doing a couple of speed motions with your feet, by having them close together. We all know this is the most efficient way to move quickly.

Dropping down. It doesn't have to be splits ouch at the thought of "me" doing that. In the Filipino martial arts, there is a quick drop down to one knee... except the knee doesn't make contact with the ground. Hmm.

Leading any motion with your elbow(s). Don't make it look like an elbow strike. Simply use the dance move as an excuse to get your elbow out there quickly.

More Creative Martial Dance Practice

Do I have any other ideas?

Sure, I could go on and on. But let me leave you with a potential gem....

What if you could have your arms or your feet describe the exact path that you'd need to punch, move, or kick in a real fight... but what if you hid the fact that it was a martial arts move?

You'd execute the "path" of the punch without your hand being clenched in a fist. It would be slow and smooth. You'r train your brain... acquire muscle memory for when you do practice at full speed, during martial arts class.

Take any of these ideas and practice them over and over, "karate kid style," and you might just have the ingredient necessary to help you master some aspect of your practical training.

And we didn't even talk about the aerobic benefits of dancing for the martial artist.

Just dance, dance, dance... all night long!

Keith Pascal is the author of "How to End the Fight with One Hit": Best Strike Tactics.

Keith is the editor and author of several martial-arts ezines, including:

Punch newsletter. (Free devastating punch ebook when you join.)

Pascal has taught martial arts for almost 30 years. He quit high school teaching in 2000, to become a full-time martial-arts writer.

Best Martial Arts Moves For a Bar Fight

2010-12-17T04:05:00.000-08:00

Obviously getting in a bar fight is not something to look for and you should always try to talk things out, however there are times when people just get in your face and you have no other option but to strike. Clearly you cannot afford to take the first hit and you must make your first strike count as you could quickly find yourself outnumbered. In most cases you will find that you are a point blank range from your opponent so these moves are designed for perfect delivery at close range.

1. The Headbutt

The headbutt is the perfect move for a bar fight, honed and developed by the British in the pub.? This can either be delivered from the front to the nose or with a twist to the side striking your opponents temple.? Great for taking them by surprise and creating a lot of blood to scare them off.? Although this is not taught in many of the traditional martial arts it has always been a favorite in self defense situation.

2. The Elbow

There are three viable options for using the elbow in this situation. The forward horizontal elbow to the face, the elbow uppercut to the underside of the chin and the reverse horizontal elbow if your attacker is behind you. All of these are extremely effective as they are difficult to see coming and the point of the elbow is extremely hard.

3. The Chop

Practice your forward outwards chop to the throat. This offers speed and disabling your opponent quickly. A chop to the throat will certainly throw them off and give you time to evacuate or follow though with a series of other blows.

4. The Eye Gouge

OK, this may not be an actual martial arts move but it is one that can take out any size attacker. This can either be done with a forward mush to the face with fingers spread to make sure you land in both eyes or a real gouge from the side making sure you hook your finger in the eye really good. No matter how strong and big you are getting jammed in the eye scares people and will have them reacting self defensively instead of striking at you.

Tony Mills is the Chief Editor of online Content for The MMA Zone. Tony is an expert in the field of martial arts training and conditioning.

To see more article and information on MMA Gear and Martial Arts Supplies please go to The MMA Zone.

3 Critical Differences Between Self Defense and Martial Arts Fights

2010-12-16T06:26:00.000-08:00

If you've taken self defense training classes, then you probably know that there is a difference between the strategies you've learned and practiced in class and a real fight or self defense situation. There is also a big difference between the staged fights you see in movies and what actually goes on if you are attacked. Take a look at your assumptions before you are caught in the position of having to fight back against an assailant using unrealistic tactics. There are three main differences between the types of fights you'll be engaging in during martial arts instructions and what you're likely to find in a situation where you are truly defending yourself against an attacker.

In both movies and martial arts classes, fights are pre-staged. This is an essential difference between what you see and what could happen in a real-life scenario. The moves are memorized step by step, with no room for variations or decision-making under pressure. If all of your training has been the memorization of specific moves, then you have not developed the critical skills required to fight back when you are actually being attacked. Your assailant will not move in ways that are easily predictable even if you have a martial arts background. A self defense situation will be chaotic and stressful, and your memorized moves won't fit into your response in this situation.

Self defense training tends to coddle trainees. In a practice fight, your attacker won't be coming at you with a knife or gun, and may not even be coming at you full force. In a real situation, you can't expect your attacker to back off for any reason, even if you have already given up your wallet and cell phone and are on the ground. You must use everything you have to fight back if you want to escape a dangerous situation.

Pre-staged fights are emotionally sterile. You know what to expect and that the fight is coming. Even if you're nervous before a martial arts competition, it could never compare to the nerves you will be facing if you are ever attacked. The reality is that you never have time in advance to prepare before you are attacked. Your heart will be racing and you may panic, forgetting everything you've learned. An attack is one of the most emotional situations you could ever find yourself in.

Even though self defense training might not realistically replicate a self defense situation, this doesn't mean that the training is not valuable. When you are attacked, confidence is key. If you plan to undergo martial arts training as part of your personal defense strategy, make sure that it focuses on real-life scenarios, not step-by-step moves. In addition to martial arts moves, you should always make a secondary plan to protect yourself. Have pepper spray or a stun gun, for example. Remember that the "bad guy" will often come armed, and your martial arts moves will be no match for his preparations. If you really want to survive a real-life attack, martial arts training alone may not be enough.

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3 Street Fighting Martial Arts Moves Exposed!

2010-12-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

There are some close kept secrets even in the world of self defense. The following are some solid tips that will help you become a better and stronger martial artist.

Street fighting martial arts moves #1: Groin Kick

Actually, there are a number of ways to inflict damage to the groin area aside from kicking. You have the options to punch, pull, twist, grab stomp and even bite! As it's such a sensitive part of the male anatomy anything to inflict damage to the groin will work.

Street fighting martial arts moves #2: The Eye Gouge

When I was studying Jeetkunedo Concepts our instructor made it a point to teach us than an eye gouge can be even more damaging than a punch in the face. If you need to cause some damage don't hesitate to jam your fingers into your attacker's eye socket. When a fighter in the UFC suffers an eye gouge he's allowed to take a 5 minute break. Obviously it's extremely painful, so make good use of it!

Street fighting martial arts moves #3: The Kneecap Kick

You can do permanent damage to an attacker if you break his kneecap and it would quickly put an end to the conflict. To preform this move you'll want to visualize kicking straight through the knee joint. If you drop your attacker and leave him crying in pain on the ground you know the fight is yours.

Make note of the above street fighting tips and try to include them in your own training.

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Three Steps To Making Deadly Martial Arts Moves

2010-12-14T11:26:00.000-08:00

Everybody buys into the concept of Deadly Martial Arts Techniques, but most schools don't deliver. Teaching Little Johnny, training for tournaments, these concepts take from the fighting arts. Interestingly, one need only understand the three stages of technique, or bunkai, and it doesn't matter whether you do karate or kenpo or taekwondo or whatever, and your art is going to become deadly.

The basic idea and principle of what you are doing must be understood. Often there are a bunch of little things that need to be understood, but they come together in a single idea. This idea is presented in the form, and it is why things like Karate kata or taekwondo poomse are actually vital training tools.

The form, you see, is a concept that is perfect. You practice it without distractions and you attempt to make each move as perfect as you can. You try to lose such things as reaction times, and you train your body to move more and more efficiently.

The second thing you need to do is apply the pieces of the forms in bunkai, or techniques. You need a touch of controlled distraction, you need to experience resistance. Most important, you need to experience the reality of bodies colliding with bodies.

The idea here is that you need to have somebody try to stop you from doing your tricks. This enables you to deal with real live opposition, and go through the doors that will enable you to make a trick work, and to find all the 'what ifs' that will get in the way of that workability. This is perfection pushed new levels of difficulty; this is learning how to make the art work in spite of anything that might get in the way.

The third thing is to take your skills and make them work in freestyle, or sparring. Here your kenpo techniques may not be so smooth and liquid, in spite of anything Mr. Parker might say, and you are going to have to push through all resistance and make them functional. Ultimately, as you test these applications and find the working parts, you are going to find the perfection of art that can be found in such forms as wankin and seisan and even lowly sanchin.

The thing you have to watch out for, in this process of smoothing out distractions, is getting sold on violence as a solution. You must not come to love the Joy of Combat that is so alluring. You must, in spite of the chaotic nature of the subject, hold to cold, calm logic; you must control yourself until you find yourself.

The martial arts are a project of finding yourself through intense workouts, and through the seeking and isolating of perfection in every movement you do. Perfection is there, you know, but you have to pay a price. Deadly Martial Arts Techniques, you see, can only be bought by inner peace.

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Three Martial Arts Lessons That Can Save Your Butt on the Streets!

2010-12-13T12:10:00.000-08:00

I have been in plenty of street fights, tournament fights and fights in the bars. I plan on sharing some special key martial arts lessons you can pick up and learn from based on my experiences. This will further your edge in your training and will take you to higher levels as a fight expert.

Martial arts lessons #1 - When you can avoid an attack from happening in the first place you will be at an advantage. If you can give up your wallet to a man with a gun pointed at your face you just won. Even if it means losing twenty dollars and credit cards you can cancel later. Knowing that violence is only a tool allows you to remember that avoiding confrontation can work sometimes better then violence.

Martial arts lessons #2 - Not all sport based martial arts can work on the streets in an attack. I had to learn this lesson the hard way. You want to train in a system that is focused on reality based self defense. I recommend such styles as: Krav Maga, Military Martial Arts, Jeetkunedo Concepts and Karate. Unfortunately I didn't include any ground based fighting arts, simply because in a street assault you never want the fight going to the ground.

Martial arts lessons #3 - When you are confronted and being intimidated with impending violence be the first one to attack and attack hard! Let your animal instincts take over and don't allow fear to paralyze you from attacking or counter attacking. You want to explode with violence that will disrupt your assailants mind and actually take advantage of the bad guy and have a better chance of winning!

Just knowing those three things can take your training to a higher level. Being trained and taking these lessons is a good idea, but having the integrated systems of reality based combat will make you a better fighter.

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The Importance of Practical Self Defense in Martial Art Training

2010-12-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

The concept of martial arts and practical self defense training is not at all new to any one of us. Through movies, magazines, and TV shows, we all have been in touch with martial arts. We have seen Bruce lee's movies in jam packed theatres and even bought DVD's of those movies home and watched them unlimited number of times.

We all love martial arts; we admire the various forms of this magnificent art and respect those who have been trained in martial arts. Many people developed interest in this art form and decided to get martial arts training. Today, in every country and city, to locate a martial arts club or school is one of the easiest task. Institutes and schools for professional martial arts training are available almost everywhere.

Mixed martial arts, Muay Thai Kick boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Karate and Silat are some of the famous forms of this art of self defense. Martial art is a very broad and extensive term used to summarize various practices, forms and styles used in a combat. In practical self defense training weapon training, grappling and strikes are three specific areas of focus and interest. These are further divided into sub-forms and styles of martial arts training.

Striking has three major styles which summarize almost every martial art form which includes various types of strikes.

? Kicking: Taekwondo, Savate and Capoeira

? Punches: Wing Chun and western boxing

? Other types of strikes: Karate and Muay Thai

Weaponry Training is sub divided broadly into two divisions- Traditional and modern weaponry. Jukendo, style of martial arts is included in modern weaponry, while Fencing, Eskrima, Kyudo, and Gatka are traditional forms of weaponry training.

Grappling involves pinning techniques (Judo and wrestling), Joint lock (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido and Hapkido) and throwing techniques (Sambo, Glima and Jujutsu).

Importance of self defense training lies in its ability to infuse in us the proficiency to safe guard ourselves under difficult circumstances. Those who wish to learn multiple styles of martial arts can go for Silat, which has quite similar moves and techniques to Judo and Muay Thai techniques.

In Silat, the students need to undergo 7-training program that required the students to understand the philosophy of each discipline in the silat course. There are; Bunga (the pillars of attacking and defensive silat positions), Jurus (art of attack and defence of Silat either with bare hand of weapon), Belebat (the art of unarmed self defense), Tapak (step pattern), Buah Pukul (practical self-defense in fast action moves), Tempur Seni (art of combat either with weapon or bare hand) and Tempur Bela Diri (self defense combat with weapon or bare hand). ?Looking to those 7-training program will give you an idea on how hard the training it is. With every program has their own objective outcome, every silat exponent that finished their program should be able to defend themselves in any dangerous situation.

Here are some of the self defense moves and techniques that most of the silat exponent will need to master in order to receive their completion achievement certificate in Silat and entitled the 'Pendekar' or Warrior title:

??? * Elakkan or avoiding technique movements

??? * Tangkisan or blocking technique

??? * Tangkapan or catching technique

??? * Amuk or rampage with due diligent

??? * Weaponry system such as sickle, sword, cudgel, kris or a short wavy dagger, rope, walking stick made of hardwood, dagger with straight cutting edge and trisula.

Thus, learning the practical self defense techniques will not only prepared yourself in any emergency situation but also can help you to sense the danger and unexpected situation that will happened no matter where you are and what you are doing in your normal life.

This article was submitted by Cikgu Nizam, an expert and world leading self defense and Silat coach online. Did you find these tips on practical self defense article useful? Find out more about self defense by going to Practical Self Defense Blog at: http://www.CikguNizam.com

Vibram's FiveFingers Shoes - Not Just Another Pair of Martial Art Shoes

2010-12-11T17:04:00.000-08:00

A long time ago - oh say going back about 10 years or more, I wrote an article for one of my Web Sites called, Tabi or not Tabi, that is the question (punning on Shakespeare's to be or not to be). It was focused on the benefits of the popular Ninja Martial Arts footwear called the Tabi Boot.

Now whether or not Shakespeare would have been a good Ninja is up for speculation, but we can all probably agree that he would have preferred to avoid the modern day slings and arrows of outrageously pointy objects.

Therefore, to end this worrisome fear and conclude that one might indeed desire NOT TO BE the victim and to take arms (and feet) against this sea of trouble (especially when training in the sea of Thailand, where the coral can pierce even the toughest of feet), by giving yourself foot protection that still offers the wearer a better chance at having opposable toes.

Okay, so that might be stretching your toes and this belief in good footwear a bit too far. Let us get back down to earth:

Many of us train in the martial arts OUTSIDE. In fact, in the system that we teach as part of the Multi-Martial Arts, Mind - Body - Spirit, Outdoor Adventure experience (catching my breath) - training outside is required 80% of the time.

Why are big boots just not very Ninja like?

If you saw the movie Kick Ass, you might have noticed the main character (incidentally named Kick Ass), was wearing some rather clunky looking construction boots as part of his super hero outfit. Now if you are going to be punched, kicked and generally thrown around as much as this character, one might certainly desire to have more armor. Big shoes = more armor.

However, you will not be jumping over too many candlesticks if you prefer to don the jack-of-all-trades footwear. A cat in boots is just slow (cats in hats are up for discussion).

I started to train seriously in the martial arts when I was about 15. This was also the time I was in the Boy Scouts and taking many weekend camping and hiking trips. It was general practice to own a pair of HUGE hiking boots. It was almost as if I did not have a choice in the matter. From my Scout Leader to my parents, there was a lot of pressure to wear what I thought were just a bulky piece of rubber and dead cow. I find it pleasant to know that after all of these years of sticking to my beliefs, it turns out that science is indeed supporting my bad habit (see the post on going barefoot) of wearing lighter shoes.

When hiking with the Boy Scouts, I would sneak in anything but hiking boots. I wore wrestling shoes, I wore Ninja tabi boots, I wore the popular Adidas or lightweight TKD shoes (my street shoe of choice in the 80's, along with the horribly unfashionable super-baggy-pants).

I tried to wear anything but, big, bulky hiking shoes. My scout leaders said that I needed to wear hiking boots to keep from twisting my ankle in the rocks. However, my real life experience taught me otherwise and honestly, boots had the opposite effect on me. They did not protect my ankles because they actually caused me to have poorer balance and coordination - which lead to more ankle injuries.

That was my first argument - big boots are not good for being agile.

So out with the shoe and in with the new.

There are countless number of the benefits of going barefoot. The only question is - how can we be as close as possible to bare feet without losing too much proprioception or putting the bottoms of our feet in danger? The answer - wear shoes like Vibram's Five Fingers.

These types of shoes are perfect for the martial arts and adventure activities as they allow us the ability to maximize our balance and still spread out the toes for a true feeling of agility. You can feel light on your feet and when you hike, jump, swim, climb, or kick - it just feels better - more natural.

Now I still like the split toed shoes like the tabi or Nike's small running shoe. These are still superior to bunching the toes together.

For advanced hardcore hiking and climbing, I would suggest that you pack up the barefoot shoes and unleash a good pair of approach shoes (multi-purpose adventure shoe with climbing rubber). I would consider approach shoes to be best shoe for any Street Ninja.

But if you don't need the armor of a slow moving tank, then consider a pair of lightweight martial art shoes. Here are a few of the reasons why I like these types of shoes. Please feel free to add your comments.

01 Five Fingers are lightweight

I am a member of the travel light - mobile office club. That means that my office can pack down into a small pack and I prefer never to use a suitcase. Traveling light requires high quality lightweight gear. These shoes are LIGHT, but also serve a multitude of uses. That alone is a key factor - one item = many and so I can fuel my Less-is-More quest.

02 Light shoes with sticky rubber so you can play like a monkey

I would normally say, "shoes great for rock climbing," but I do prefer approach shoes if I am going UP a rock face that requires a firm sole. However, for all other climbing and bouldering, lightweight shoes with decent rubber soles are perfect. Climbing easy routes and scrambling through places like Malibu Creek - California are a blast. Climbing trees and jumping from boulder to boulder (try doing a Rock Jumping Hike in tight climbing shoes - not fun).

03 Water worthy footwear

This is again another huge plus for a shoe that has many uses. In Thailand on the islands, I like to train, go running, cruise the beach and just jump into the water without having to take off my shoes. With shoes like the Vibram Five Fingers, not only can I protect my feet, but I don't have to worry about stray dogs running off with my flip flops if I leave them on the beach while I go for a swim (yes, I speak from experience).

04 Multi-Purpose Shoes

As I mentioned, I like to pack light and this means I prefer one item that can serve many uses as opposed to many items that only have one purpose. These shoes are tested and proved good for running, swimming, scrambling, hiking, and or just playing around. I even wear them in the gym. However, most importantly, I can wear them with my uniform when needed.

05 Shoes that look really weird - Eye Candy

Wearing these shoes is like running around with a sign on your back that says, "ask me about my feet." For many, this is a con, but - if you like to share your thoughts, love attention and can handle debates with people that still believe the Earth is flat...dare to go public.

06 Shoes with flexibility

You can actually move your toes in these shoes. This is great for the martial arts. If you want to pull your toes back when throwing a front ball kick - no problem. If you are climbing up a rope, you can place the rope between your big toe and simply walk up the rope.

07 Non leather shoes

No cows are harmed in the making of these shoes. Leather also weighs more.

08 Shoes for better health

Having lighter shoes is better for your body in the long run (yes this is a double whammy). And, reminding yourself that you should stop walking on your heals (bad Ninja) is helpful too. If you have not gone barefoot in a while, these shoes will remind you of what muscles and joints you need to develop.

Nevertheless, do not consider them a replacement for all your shoes - just another great shoe to have when needed. Common sense is required.

I consider these types of shoes the multi-adventure shoe because I can participate in most of my outdoor activities in only one shoe. Some other benefits:

* If you want to practice stealth movements - the closer to being barefoot the better. These types of shoes are better for silent movement.

* Your foot can move at a faster speed and thus adapt quicker to changes in the terrain if you have on lighter shoes.

* Heavy shoes are hard to swim with and do not move naturally in the water.

Naturally, I am not asking you to throw away your steel-toed boots if you need to kick some trashcans. In addition, if you plan to hike the John Muir Trail, I would suggest that you wear a pair of shoes that can go the distance (unless you are trained in walking long distances with a pack barefoot in advance). Most of us will simply want to pack a pair lightweight multi-purpose shoes to wear every now and again.

I wear mine to the on runs through the park, cruising on a moped in Thailand, on short hikes (though I also go barefoot hiking).

Feel free to chat about your thoughts on these and other shoes for the martial arts.

Rick Tew is an internationally acclaimed Sensei or teacher in the martial arts and founder of CMS - College of Martial Science and NinjaGym. He runs Short and Long term Martial Arts Training Camps in California, Thailand and Holland. Visit http://www.theninjacamp.com/ to view training programs and schedules.

Read Rick Tew's martial arts blog, watch training videos and be part of NinjaGym Martial Arts Community. http://www.ninjagym.com/dojo/

Three Martial Arts Moves You Absolutely Need to Know!

2010-12-10T17:58:00.000-08:00

So what are some of the best kept secrets in terms of martial arts moves? I will explore and show you some great moves and tips to get the most from your martial arts training and make you an even better, stronger and faster fighter!

Martial arts moves #1 - The groin kick. You can use as many various ways as inflicting damage to the groin as possible, and it is not limited to the kick. You can grab, pull, twist, punch, elbow, stomp, even bite. It's a sensitive area on the male body and doing anything to injure it will work.

Martial arts moves #2 - The eye gouge. When I did extensive training in Jeetkunedo Concepts my instructor forced us to realize that the eye gouge can be more devastating then a punch to the face. If you can shove a finger into his eye socket and cause some serious damage by all means do it. When you see a UFC fighter get eye gouged they take a 5 minute break. Obviously it works so use it!

Martial arts moves #3 - Kick to the kneecap. If you can break through an attackers kneecap you can permanently damage him, and stop the attack from progressing. using this technique you want to visualize yourself kicking through the knee joint. If you can drop a bad guy on the ground and have him squeeling in pain like a baby pig, you've just finished and won the fight!

Try to memorize and implement those three different techniques I outlined above. They are good techniques to incorporate into your training regimen.

Another thing I recommend is that you download my 2 free self defense PDF combat reports! Inside I share my battle tested, prison based fighting techniques in two easy to read and master guides you can download and read right now free!

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Other stuff like: How to disarm guns and knives, How to fight with an expandable baton, Philipine knife fighting, How to fight like a commando military martial arts, Home made weapons and more..

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The Most Important Martial Arts Moves

2010-12-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

It is certainly no secret that it can take many years to become a martial arts expert. Not only do you need to learn all the physical aspects of the trade but you also need to learn how to train your mind. But with all the different martial arts styles out there, how are you to know which one is best for you? Well the simple answer is that everyone is different. Therefore, you need to analyze your reasons for wanting to learn martial arts moves and that will make the decision much easier.

Although it can take many years of intense dedication to master an entire arsenal of moves, it does not take long to learn the ones that you will need in order to defend yourself. There are simply so many different types of martial arts out there that it can be a daunting task to even figure out which one to try. That is why many beginners are instead choosing to instead learn the basics of self defense first. Many people are finding that this is a very practical and interesting way to get involved in this arts as a beginner. Not only will you be introduced to different styles of martial arts, but you will quickly learn the most essential moves that you need to know in order to properly defend yourself.

Although each type of martial arts consists of hundreds, if not thousands of different moves and strikes, there are only a few that you absolutely need to know. Of course it would be nice to know how to break a board with your hand, but that skill doesn't come with many practical purposes. But if you need a handful of moves that you can use in any type of violent situation, then you are set to defend yourself.

One of the most effective martial arts moves in self defense is the Claw. This is a simple maneuver that any can learn in only a matter of minutes. It revolves around the principle of using your attacker's body weight against them. That is why the Claw is a very poplar self defense move for women. Basically, the person who is being attacked would force their hand on the attackers chin and push back as hard as they can. Once the attackers head is pushed past his shoulders, he won't be able to stand up any more. This gives the person the time to run and call for help. When performed correctly, someone of 100 pounds can easily take down a 300 pound monster that is after their wallet.

All martial arts styles come with their very own moves. But it is important to note that many of these moves won't be useful to you when it comes to self defense. So before enrolling in a course, make sure to conduct your research and find the absolute best solution for your needs. Your personal safety, as well as that of your family, should be at the forefront of the decision.

For more details about martial arts moves & martial arts styles, please visit us online.

“Men!! 100% or Not At All. Pick Your Fights!”

2010-12-08T23:37:00.000-08:00

August 11th, 2010

Written by: admin

by Jack – Real World Protection

Often with Self Defense, what we say is slanted towards or is specifically for women. This is simply because women are more concerned about safety on a daily basis. As a man, you’re probably not concerned for your safety when you take the dog for a walk, go to the mailbox, return to our car in a parkade, or notice a woman looking at you. But such common, everyday occurences are a time of anxiety for many women. The average woman going about her daily activities FEELS more concerned about her safety, and rightly so, because she IS more in danger of violence than the average man.

However, many men are also concerned about safety, both their own and for their families. In some ways, they may feel reluctant to talk to others about this because of the social idea that they, as a man, are already supposed to be able to take care of themselves and their loved ones. But many of us, of course, did not grow up in the circumstances where we would actually learn to fight other young men. So we don’t actually know what to do, and don’t have confidence in our natural abilities.

As for women, there are many things a man can do to stay safe without having to fight. You can also use your awareness and intuition to avoid possible trouble. You can use your verbal skills to defuse a potentially dangerous situation. See our other articles for help with these skills.
There are some key differences, however, in how and why men attack men compared to men attacking women.

The first key difference comes in the reasons a man might attack another. A source of considerable danger for men is the tendency to fight over words or territory. You could be attacked because of this, or you may be tempted to start a fight for such reasons. Women often need to have their self-protective instincts, and their natural ability to fight, woken up. Men often need to have their tendency towards self-righteous anger and their tendency to fight throttled back and channelled in more effective and POSITIVELY self-protective ways.

An insult, real or imagined, can be enough to precipitate a fight. One principle for any of these situations… don’t! Don’t engage in such fights, and don’t start them. Don’t give him an excuse. Don’t give that stupid driver the finger, tailgate him to show your impatience, or cut him off to retaliate against him for cutting you off. It’s not worth the possible result of him pulling a gun and killing you. And don’t instigate such a fight yourself. Don’t fight someone because he called you a name or cut you off in traffic.

One really blunt way to think of this… You absolutely must avoid physical confrontation at any cost until the final line is crossed. That line might be a threat to your life, a sexual assault on you or a member of your family, or a threat to their lives. It might be a similar threat to a person you don’t know – it’s different for different people.

But when the final line is crossed, all rules are gone. You make your stand. You fight 100%. You must be fight with a willingness to risk death. Would you be willing to take that risk if your six-year-old daughter was being hauled into a van by an abductor? Of course you would! You woudn’t even think about it for a moment.

IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO FIGHT IN THIS SPIRIT, YOU SHOULDN’T BE IN THE FIGHT. If what you are fighting over is not worth risking death, you must just walk away. You absolutely should not be fighting because, in this modern world, this guy who attacked you may very well be prepared to kill you, or at the very least, he may not care if he does.

The second major difference comes in what you do if it does become necessary to fight. Unless you are quite highly trained, don’t rely on punching. Your legs are much stronger and the chances of you breaking your fingers or wrist are quite high. Fingers tightly squeezed together and jabbed full-force into someone’s eye will do more to end a fight than most people’s punching. Thigh smashes or kicks to the groin or head are far more powerful than your arms.

In real fighting, there are two kinds of blows – opening strikes and finishing strikes. If this is potentially a life or death situation, there is only one way to fight – 100%. There is no room for tactical strikes in a real fight, like punching someone in the ribs or the side of the head.
You can keep yourself and your family safe in most circumstances.

The most effective way to do that is to wisely avoid danger when you see or feel it coming. There’s nothing worth fighting over unless it is a “final line” life or death situation. Anything short of that, you should swallow your pride and walk away. But if you have to fight, there is one way – totally and without reservation.

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Kelas Silat Elit PCS [Flickr]

2010-12-08T01:18:00.000-08:00

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