martial-art-schools | family martial arts

It took great skill and will power to complete this article on martial-arts-supplies. We also request you to use your skill and will power to understand this matter.

2008-08-21T03:03:00.001-07:00

A Featured martial-arts-supplies Article
Tatami flooring for Yoga, Martial Arts and Judo schools

InterlockingFloormat.com is expanding their partnership with all Yoga, Martial Arts, Judo, Karate, Aikido, Tae Kuan Do, and exercise schools. The partnership program will promote all Yoga and Martial Arts schools on its partner webpage. All instructors and studios background, website and contact information are introduced on their page .

InterlockingFloormat.com is expanding their partnership with all Yoga, Martial Arts, Judo, Karate, Aikido, Tae Kuan Do, and exercise schools. The partnership program will promote all Yoga and Martial Arts schools on its partner webpage. All instructors and studios background, website and contact information are introduced on their page .

This is a free marketing opportunity to promote your exercise school in a high traffic website and increase your yoga and martial arts instructors reputation. Interlockingfloormat.com is also providing risk free interlocking floor mat sample for all yoga and exercise partner in the program. If any partner is interested to resell or promote the interlocking floor mat for their students, they can receive very aggressive resell pricing or rebate. All partners can increase extra income by introducing a gorgeous interlocking floor mat to their students and earn it without extra effort.
See these existing partners in http://www.interlockingfloormat.com/partners.htm
InterlockingFloorMat.com is a manufacturer-direct distributor and wholesaler for EVA form mats. Their interlocking puzzle mat products include tatami style mats and educational music puzzle mat. These products are widely using at home, yoga studios, fitness centers, martial arts, Judo, Karate, Aikido, Tae Kuan Do and exercise schools. With high quality EVA foam material and cutting edge technology, these interlocking puzzle mats provide a safe, comfortable, waterproof, anti-fatigue soft-tile for businesses and homes. Please visit www.interlockingfloormat.com for detail.

Marketing Department
Partners@interlocingfloormat.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

free lancer

martial-arts-supplies Items For Viewing
Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training (4th Revision ed)

Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training (4th Revision ed)
Use our method to attain maximum height in your kicks and to be able to kick at that height with no warm-up!

Learn:
* How to stretch safely and quickly to achieve and maintain your maximum flexibility
* How to make your muscles grow stronger and longer so you stay flexible all the time
* How to do splits even if you are over 40 or 50
* How to kick high and do splits with no warm-up
* How to develop each of the three kinds of flexibility—dynamic, static active and static passive—to suit every athlete's needs
* What exercises are "no-no's" if you want to stretch your muscles
* All the factors limiting flexibility
* Brilliantly simple tests of hip joint mobility and muscle length that dispel common misconceptions of what limits flexibility the most

Knife Fighting: A Practical Course

Knife Fighting: A Practical Course
Michael Janich has trained SF vets, police and street fighters in the techniques of knife fighting for years. Now this highly successful, comprehensive instruction is available to the average soldier, martial artist or defense-minded citizen who is interested in developing the practical skills required for today's combative streets.

Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault

Krav Maga: How to Defend Yourself Against Armed Assault
Krav Maga is today's cutting edge self-defense and hand to hand combat system. Initially developed by Grandmaster Imi Sde-Or (Lichtenfeld) for the Israel Defense Forces and other national security services, Krav Maga has been thoroughly adapted to meet civilan needs. The method was designed so that ordinary citizens, young and old, men and women alike, can successfully use it, regardless of their physical strength. This is the first and only authorized, comprehensive manual on the Krav Maga discipline, written by its founder, Imi Sde-Or, and his senior disciple and follower, Eyal Yanilove. This volume especially focuses on the various facets of dealing with an assailant armed with a sharp-edged weapon, a blunt object, or a firearm.

Death Matrix Throwing knives - Set of 3

Death Matrix Throwing knives - Set of 3
These throwing knives are great for practicing your throwing technique. The sport of throwing knives is becoming more and more popular as people realize the fun and excitement of being able to land a knife exactly where you want it. While perfecting your throwing technique, you will be able to make these knives stick whenever you want.Features include:carrying casesolid metal constructionwell balanced for precision throws Both the set of three throwing knives and the single throwing knife come with a case that you can keep them in. Carry on your belt or in your backpack. When camping, bust them out and practice learning your new skill

Iron Baoding Balls

Baoding Iron Ball, famed as one of the "three treasures? of Baoding, China, is a traditional product renowed at home and abroad. The production of Baoding Iron Balls dates back to the Mind Dynasty (1368 ? 1644), and it has been made meticulously by Baoding handicraftsmen through the ages.

Originally, the Baoding Iron Balls were a solid ball, and afterwards, it was designed hollow with a sounding plate inside the pair of balls, one sounds high and one low. Baoding balls relieve stress and stimulates chi sensitivity. They are easy-to-learn and can help alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome. This is self-accupressure at its best! Keep a set by you phone or by your TV!

Dimensions:

Medium: 1 7/8" in diameter.
Large: 2 1/8" in diameter.

Everlast Mixed Martial Arts Full Head Guard

Attitude for Survival

Elite Defense Systems: Insta-D-Fense

martial-arts-supplies in the news
GI Rose soldiers on in new store - Kansas.com

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:03:13 GMT

GI Rose soldiers on in new store
Kansas.com, KS - Aug 11, 2008
She has also been able to expand on her inventory, which includes military surplus items, camping gear and martial arts supplies. ...

Producing such informative sentences on century-martial-art was not an overnight achievement. Lots of hard work and sweat was also put in it.

2008-08-21T02:04:00.001-07:00

Today's century-martial-art Article
The Power of Belief - The Martial Artist's Student Creed

Contained within the philosophical teachings of the Ninja Warrior's mind-science and personal-development practice known in Japanese as Mikkyo, is a series of three affirmations, or statements of devout trust. They are designed to assist a student in successfully embodying the lessons, strategies and tactics being taught. Each statement represents an emotional power held within the student's heart that, when spoken, expresses to him or herself and the world around them, the potential of greatness that lies within.

Contained within the philosophical teachings of the Ninja Warrior's mind-science and personal-development practice known in Japanese as Mikkyo, is a series of three affirmations, or statements of devout trust. They are designed to assist a student in successfully embodying the lessons, strategies and tactics being taught. Each statement represents an emotional power held within the student's heart that, when spoken, expresses to him or herself and the world around them, the potential of greatness that lies within.

These three affirmations are introduced to beginning students of my academy as the 3-part Student Creed. Other martial schools may have a different wording or number, but the purpose is the same. Each part expresses a belief, trust, or inherent faith held by that student about an equally important part of their progress through the Mastery Program and their successful completion of the goal they have set out to achieve. The Studert Creed also helps those students with low confidence, self-esteem, and doubts about their ability to be successful, to hear these words over and over again. In time, this repetitive exposure, like that which produced this student's current depressed state, will take root and allow the student to change from within to become a walking, talking example of the Creed itself.

More than just a set of positive affirmations to be memorized and recited though, when reciting as part of a class or graduation exam, the student should speak each part of the creed in a way that is charged with the emotional intent of the heart.

Take a minute and recite the 3-Part Student Creed aloud:

1. I believe in myself. I am confident. I can accomplish my goals.

2. I believe in what I study. I am disciplined. I am ready to learn and advance.

3. I believe in my teachers. I show respect to all those who help me progress.

Again, we must remember that these phrases are just words. In and of themselves they hold no innate power. We use them, and ones just like them each and every day of our lives.

The real power - the real magic - lies in the emotions behind them. The student who recites these phrases with conviction and an authentic desire to become what the phrases suggest can't help but to be successful in their task.

We must remember that, if we are to change who we are and what we are capable of doing, we must first convince ourselves and no one else that it is possible. For many of us, this task is not an easy one as years of habit-based actions and preprogrammed conditioning have taken it's toll on who and what we think we are. We must remember that we are today, the sum result of all that we have learned, experienced and, yes, believed in the past.

The reciting of the Student Creed is a tool for reminding ourselves - for reprogramming our subconscious, habitual thought processes - in a way that creates new habits conducive to producing the results we are after.

As stated by John Mills, "One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interests." The question is, are we merely 'interested' in changing to become the person we say we want to be, or do we desire the benefits of having attained our goal - we feel it in our very heart and soul - we believe in ourselves, our plan of accomplishment and our willingness to do what must be done - so much, that it literally moves us at our very core?

The true test of gaining the results we seek is in our response to the statements themselves. We may be able to convince others - for a while - that we speak from the truth, but we will never be able to lie to ourselves. Eventually, we will drop our guard or conveniently 'forget' the path we're on and the promises we made to ourself and revert back to the same lazy, sleep-walk' living that was the 'us' before we began training.

Ask yourself these questions:

A. "When I recite the Student Creed, does it move me?"
(Do you get chills, a welling in your chest or an empowered feeling or do you feel like you're reciting the Pledge of Allegiance from school?)

B. Do I have to think about the Creed when reciting it or is it so natural to me that I have the feeling, "of course this is true?"

Through the power of belief, the true, heartfelt drive to become the words we are speaking, the Student Creed takes on a life and power capable of transforming you into the confident, successful, disciplined, respectful and proactive person you were meant to be.

Go for it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. He specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. To learn more, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Featured century-martial-art Items
Deluxe Batman Begins Ninja Costume (Child Large 12-14)

Deluxe Batman Begins Ninja Costume (Child Large 12-14)
This deluxe Batman Ninja costume includes a tunic with attached gauntlets, pants with attached boot tops, headpiece, chest piece and waist sash. (Weapon is not included. Polyester; hand wash cool) Available in three child sizes, small, medium and large.

Scramble Squares: Martial Arts

Scramble Squares: Martial Arts
GENERAL FEATURES: Unscramble the nine 4" x 4" square pieces by perfectly matching the beautiful illustrations on the squares' edges, while forming a 12" x 12" square. Sound easy? It's not! Can you unscramble the nine squares without scrambling your brain? See why Scramble Squares are "Easy to Play, But Hard to Solve!" Beautiful art-work in a large variety of themes. Ages 4 to 104 !

Ninja Scroll

Ninja Scroll
A peak achievement of Japanese anime, Ninja Scroll is a propulsive mix of samurai action adventure and supernatural fantasy from writer-director Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Supernatural Best City). This is defiantly animation for grown-ups, complete with fountains of blood, plenty of naked flesh, and (in both the subtitled and dubbed versions) some decidedly strong language. (Students of Japanese language could pick up some useful expressions.) The plot sounds like a 16th century variation on the X-Files: An entire village has been wiped out by a mysterious plague and an anti-government conspiracy of invulnerable demons seems to be responsible. A wandering ninja, Jubei, and his female counterpart, Kagero, team up to defeat the plotters. Jubei is a classic reluctant hero, agreeing to participate in the mission only after being fed a slow-acting poison; the antidote will be supplied after he cooperates. And Kagero, a looker whose embrace is lethal, is a femme fatale with a difference that seems distinctively Japanese: sexual contact itself is poisonous, especially for a warrior with a pure soul. --David Chute

Best of the Best

Best of the Best
A team from the United States are going to compete in the world finals in karate. The team consists of fighters from all nations, can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win ? Starring: James Earl Jones (Academy Award® Nominee 1970 The Great White Hope, Field of Dreams, Hunt for Red October), Eric Roberts (Academy Award® Nominee 1985 Runaway Train), Chris Penn (The Funeral, True Romance, Reservoir Dogs), Sally Kirkland (Academy Award® Nominee 1988 Anna).

Shaolin Soccer

Shaolin Soccer
With tons of action, eye-popping special effects, and nonstop laughs, here's a hilarious martial arts comedy about a team of misfits who take their best shot at winning a championship! Sing is a skilled Shaolin kung fu devotee whose amazing "leg of steel" catches the eye of a soccer coach! Together they assemble a squad of Sing's former Shaolin brothers inspired by the big-money prize in a national soccer competition! Using an unlikely mix of martial arts and newfound soccer skills, it seems an unbeatable combination ... until they must face the dreaded Team Evil in the ultimate battle for the title!

Black Kung Fu Pant

Black Kung Fu Pant
7.25 oz. cotton/polyester pants feature an elastic waist with drawstring, a gusseted crotch, and elastic ribbed ankle. Imported. Sizes: 0-8. Each sold separately.

UFC Gradient Emblem Logo Flexible Fit Hat

UFC Gradient Emblem Logo Flexible Fit Hat
UFC cap with gradient embroidered logo on the front and Octogon logo on the back. Flex fit one size fits most.

OM Symbol Yoga Meditation Martial Arts Pants

OM Symbol Yoga Meditation Martial Arts Pants
A very comfortable pair of 50/50 cotton/poly sweatpants

Current century-martial-art News
MONROE COUNTY: Local martial arts facility wins award - Tri County Journal

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:13:16 GMT

MONROE COUNTY: Local martial arts facility wins award
Tri County Journal, OH - Aug 2, 2008
But Century Martial Art Supply decided to give them the Mark of Excellence Award, which is given for outstanding contributions in the community. ...

martial-arts
ata-martial-arts

This article on martial-arts-games is supposed to be very useful to one seeking more information on martial-arts-games. Do you think so?

2008-08-17T06:49:00.001-07:00

A Featured martial-arts-games Article
Avoiding Rogue Martial Arts Schools for Kids

Although most Martial Arts schools are genuine, there are others who unfortunately are simply there just to make money. These schools and private instructors do not have the right qualifications, though they may claim that they do. They also do not know much about the various Martial Arts available and therefore they will not be giving your kids the best possible chance of learning the activities. So just how do you spot a rogue school from a good one?

What to Look For In a Good Martial Arts School

The first thing that you should look out for when searching for a Martial Arts school for your child, is whether or not they have the relevant qualifications. Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether the qualifications are real, as some are made up and if you know nothing about Martial Arts you are not going to know which qualifications the schools should have. Also, on rare occasions there are people who forge their qualifications to make it look like they did pass when as a matter of fact they might not have even taken the right courses. However, that is only an extreme example and most schools do have relevant qualifications.

One way to tell if a teacher is good is whether or not they teach a class well. You should always insist on watching a class being taken at least once in order to see what their teaching style is like. Kids may not know whether the teacher is teaching them properly, but it is less easy to teach in front of adults in the wrong way without them picking up on it! You could also ask the children and other parents who attend the school just to see what their thoughts are and whether they find the classes helpful.

Another way of telling just how good a Martial Arts teacher is, is to see how they are after the lesson. Good teachers do not need to offer you special deals in order for you to take their class. Yes they would still be grateful for the extra work but they would not need to literally beg for it. So, if the teacher does try to hassle you into joining they may not be the best school to go for.

Overall it can be difficult finding a good Martial Arts school for your kids but it is possible and the best way to go about it is through word of mouth. It is easier going to a school that someone you know goes to too as that way you know the teaching style has to be good and genuine.

For more information go to http://www.ocjj.com

martial-arts-games Items For Viewing
Bluegun MP-5K Training Replica

Bluegun MP-5K Training Replica

Bluegun Raven P-25 Training Replica

BLUEGUN Sig P226 Training Replica Pistol

BLUEGUN Sig P226 Training Replica Pistol
INERT DETAILED REPLICAS OF ACTUAL WEAPONS DESIGNED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY TRAINING. STRONG IMPACT REISTANT POLYURETHANE PLASTIC WITH A STEEL REINFORCEMENT ARMATURE TO PREVENT BENDING AND FLEXING, WHILE MAINTAINING THE HANDLING AND BALANCE OF AN ACTUAL FIREARM. MOLDED FROM ACTUAL FIREARMS, THEY EVEN RETAIN THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE WEAPON THEY WERE CAST FROM. FABRICATED IN "LAW ENFORCEMENT BLUE" - THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE SAFETY COLOR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Enter the Dragon [HD DVD]

Enter the Dragon [HD DVD]
Recruited by an intelligence agency, outstanding martial arts student Bruce Lee participates in a brutal karate tournament hosted by the evil Han. Along with champions Roper and Williams, he uncovers Han's white slavery and drug trafficking ring located on a secret island fortress. In the exciting climax, hundreds of freed prisoners fight in an epic battle with Lee and Han locked in a deadly duel.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Audio Commentary by Paul Heller
Documentaries:The Making of Enter the Dragon Bruce Lee: In His Own Words by John Little
Featurette
Interviews:Linda Lee Interview Gallery

Curse of the Golden Flower [Blu-ray]

Curse of the Golden Flower [Blu-ray]
Sony Pictures Curse Of The Golden Flower (Blu-ray)
From the director of "Hero" and "House Of Flying Daggers" comes the martial arts epic masterpiece whose savagebeauty and exquisite elegance has mesmerized and captivated audiences around the world. Set in the lavish and breathtakingly colorful world hidden from the eyes of mere mortals behind the walls of the Forbidden City, a tale of a royal family dividedagainst itself builds to a mythic climax as linesare crossed, trust is betrayed, and family blood is spilled in the quest for redemption and revenge. Starring Chow Yun Fat of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" as the embattled Emperor and Gong Li of "Memoirs Of A Geisha" as his poisoned Empress, "Curse Of The Golden Flower" grants you entry into a dazzling and spectacular world of betrayal, vengeance and passion that will change the way you thinkof martial arts forever.

Unleashed [HD DVD]

Unleashed [HD DVD]
Martial arts superstar Jet Li delivers a break-out performance in the gripping, action-packed story about a man raised from childhood by a ruthless crime boss (Academy Award nominee Bob Hoskins) and becomes a violent killing machine. When a blind piano tuner (Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman) takes him in, Danny (Li) tries to start a new life, but his brutal past follows him, forcing him to fight back. Featuring breath-taking fight choreography by Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix and Kill Bill: Vols. 1 & 2).

Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi and QiGong (Book & DVD)

Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi and QiGong (Book & DVD)
The ancient martial art thats swept the nation.

The most popular form of exercise in the world, Tai Chi can slow the aging process, increase balance and flexibility, lower stress levels, and enhance the bodys natural healing powers. Now, with over 300 illustrations, this updated #1-selling guide has been expanded so that readers can create a practice for themselves. Based on the latest research, this new edition includes:
-A DVD that demonstrates 64 groups of movements that are difficult to learn from print alone
-A new illustrated format
-An expanded and updated Tai Chi yellow pages resource
-Expanded health/medical benefits

REAL Ultimate Power: The Official Ninja Book

REAL Ultimate Power: The Official Ninja Book
Dear Stupid Idiots,

A lot of you have been saying that I don't know anything about REAL ninjas. But that's a bunch of bull crap! You dummies don't know anything. And maybe YOU should get a life. I bet a lot of you have never even seen a girl naked! You idiots believe that ninjas had some "code of honor." Yeah right! If by "code of honor," you mean "code to flip out and go nuts for absolutely no reason at all even if it means that people might think you are totally insane or sweet," then you are right. But if you mean a "code to be nice and speak nicely while sharing and not cutting off heads," then you're the biggest idiot ever!!!!!! So if you have any brains, you will shut up and get a life. So go shut up, you stupid idiot.

No thank you,

Robert Hamburger

martial-arts-games in the news
LIFESTYLE IN BRIEF 22/7 - VietNamNet Bridge

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:31:27 GMT

VietNamNet Bridge

LIFESTYLE IN BRIEF 22/7
VietNamNet Bridge, Vietnam - Jul 22, 2008
... and 3 while the opening and closing of the national traditional martial arts games will be broadcast live on VTV# on July 28 and August 3 respectively. ...

russian-martial-art

Please don't treat this as an average piece of writing on african-martial-arts. A lot of effort and hard work has been put to get this end product!

2008-08-13T05:25:00.001-07:00

african-martial-arts For Your Reading Pleasure
As A Martial Artist, Should You Allow Your Opponent The Opportunity To Throw the First Punch?

Concerning the issue of self-defense, I?m sure everyone has at one time or another heard the old saying, ?Wait until after he throws the first punch.? Now you may have heard this from your father, friend, instructor, or maybe even a judge or police officer. What exactly does that mean, and do you really want to wait until after your attacker has actually thrown the first blow, whether it is a punch, kick, tackle, etc.?

According to some ?experts? in the martial arts, just because you are in fact trained in the martial arts, that you as a martial artist are honor bound to let your opponent throw the first punch, kick, etc. Once again, I consider this advice to be akin to taking a 2 x 4 and smacking yourself several times in the groin to see if it hurts. Sure, you?ll find out the answer to that one, but it?s going to hurt like hell and you really didn?t want to have kids anyhow.

According to Nevada State Law; the defender in a self-defense situation needs to have only a reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm before being legally able to defend himself or another person. However, the force used to stop or prevent the attack must not be more than that which is needed to prevent or stop the attack. In other words, if you use more force than what is necessary, you could be the one in trouble with the law.

You are also legally justified in using force against an attacker who attempts to illegally take or injure property in your lawful possession.

Here are the exact statutes as shown on the official Nevada State web site at: www.nv.gov

NRS 200.471 Assault: Definitions; penalties.

1. As used in this section:
(a) ?Assault? means intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension
of immediate bodily harm.

NRS 200.481 Battery: Definitions; penalties.

1. As used in this section:
(a) ?Battery? means any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another.

NRS 193.240 Resistance by party about to be injured. Resistance sufficient to prevent the offense may be made by the party about to be injured:

1. To prevent an offense against his person, or his family or some member thereof.

2. To prevent an illegal attempt, by force, to take or injure property in his lawful possession. (Added to NRS by 1967, 1469)

NRS 193.250 Resistance by other persons. Any other person, in aid or defense of a person about to be injured, may make resistance sufficient to prevent the offense.

For example; let?s say you are faced with the following situation. You are walking to your car after a hard day at work when all of a sudden you see a man approaching you. He walks up to you and here is a transcript of what happens:

NOTE: The capital ?A? stands for attacker and the capital ?Y? stands for you.

Worst Case Scenario:

A. Hey man, got any cash you can spare?

Y. Sorry, I just got off of work and I don?t get paid till Friday.

A. Give me your wallet man, or I?ll bust you in the head.

Y. Sir, before you continue with this course of action, I feel that I need to inform you that being a practicing martial artist, that I am honor bound to try and dissuade you from this course of action. However, if my attempts fail, I must allow you to throw the first punch. Or what ever technique you would like to attempt before defending myself.

NOTE: You may or may not be given the opportunity for this much dialogue.

A. Okay. (Sudden undeterminable body movement) BAM! BAM!

Y. (Unable to actually vocalize a response after being punched at least twice in the face. Mentally you would like to say, ?What in the hell was that?? but you are unable to because you?re mind is trying to figure out why you are now looking up at the sky.) CRACK! (Suddenly you realize that the back of your head seems to be imitating a basketball as it is being dribbled down the court by Michael Jordan. Then there is a moment of complete and total darkness followed by the sensation of endless falling which becomes hotter and hotter the longer that you are falling.)

Your next moment of realization occurs when you are on the receiving end of a barb wire covered trident enema dripping with hot sauce being ruthlessly delivered by a being dressed all in red with horns and a pointy tail by the name of Lucifer.

Better Case Scenario:

A. Hey man, got any cash you can spare?

Y. Sorry, I just got off of work and I don?t get paid till Friday.

A. Give me your wallet man, or I?ll bust you in the head.

NOTE: Once again, you may or may not be given the opportunity for this much
dialogue.

A. Okay. (Sudden undeterminable body movement) BAM! BAM!

Y. (Unable to actually vocalize a response after being punched at least twice in the face. Mentally you would like to say, ?What in the heck was that?? but you are unable to because you?re mind is trying to figure out why you are now looking up at the sky.) CRACK! (Suddenly you realize that the back of your head seems to be imitating a basketball as it is being dribbled down the court by Michael Jordan. Then there is a moment where you see an intense bright light and the sensation of floating.)

Your next moment of realization occurs when you are walking amongst the clouds as you journey towards St. Peter and the Pearly Gates.

If you are a firm advocate of allowing your opponent the opportunity to throw the first strike, I strongly suggest sitting down as soon as you finish reading this article and start drawing up your will. Trust me, your friends and family will appreciate it.

Now I have to put this paragraph in here as a disclaimer to anyone who read this and thought that I was actually serious, instead of inflecting this article with heavily laden sarcasm. If you actually thought that either one of the first two examples was a good course of action, seek professional help immediately before you get yourself or someone else hurt. This type of move is what keeps hospitals and mortuaries in business. On second thought, go ahead and do that as I plan on investing in both businesses anyway. Who knows maybe you?ll help put my kids through college.

If at all possible, I do not under any circumstances recommend that you knowingly allow your potential attacker the opportunity to actually initiate the first strike. Would you allow George Foreman the opportunity to throw the first punch? Or, how about allowing Chuck Norris to throw the first kick? Or, even better yet allowing Royce Gracie to put the first joint technique on you?

As you may well know, the person who lands the first blow is usually the one who wins the fight! Always strive to strike your opponent before he strikes you.

Here is another example of how the above mentioned situation could be played out.

Best Case Scenario:

A. Hey man, got any cash you can spare?

Y. Sorry, I just got off of work and I don?t get paid till Friday.

A. Give me your wallet man, or I?ll bust you in the head.

Y. BAM! BAM! (Insert your favorite techniques or techniques here.) Your attacker is
now either running away, or lying unconscious on the ground while you get in
your car and drive safely away.

Something that must be considered is the value of whatever your attacker wants in relation to your health and well-being. Is your health and well-being really worth the contents of your wallet? On the other hand, does anyone have the right to come up and threaten your life and take from you that which is yours? This is something that needs to be quietly reflected upon by each and every person in order to find out for yourself what is best for you.

In closing, I would like to emphasize the fact that at all times you should try and avoid potentially dangerous or violent situations. However, if you are unable to, always use only that force which is necessary for each given situation. Remember, every situation is going to be uniquely different and what may work well in one situation may be totally inappropriate to use in another. Always try to use your brains before using your brawn.

One final thought, no matter what, make sure that you go home to your family safe and in one piece every night!

Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence? series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com

To sign up for the Chikara Kan, Inc. Newsletter, click on the following link: Newsletter and fill in your e-mail address in the Newsletter box on the right hand side of the page and then click subscribe.

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Billy Blanks - Tae Bo Kicks

Billy Blanks - Tae Bo Kicks
A Fun Workout for Kids of all Ages! Seven-time World Martial Arts Champion Billy Blanks(r) has created a program for kids that puts the "cool" back in fitness!

In this workout, Billy takes the basics of his world-famous TAE BO(r) moves and adapts them just for kids to create a fast-moving, entertaining routine to keep them slim, strong, and active. With high-energy moves and music, Billy's brand-new workout shows youngsters that fitness is fun, while providing kids with a cardio "kick." Best of all, TAE BO KICKS(r) shows how to use your body at your own pace to stay fit and motivated for life!

Running Time: Approx. 39 Minutes Color/NTSC/Mono 05-50463

Hero

Hero
Master filmmaker Quentin Tarantino presents HERO -- starring martial arts legend Jet Li in a visually stunning martial arts epic where a fearless warrior rises up to defy an empire and unite a nation! With supernatural skill ... and no fear ... a nameless soldier (Jet Li) embarks on a mission of revenge against the fearsome army that massacred his people. Now, to achieve the justice he seeks, he must take on the empire's most ruthless assassins and reach the enemy he has sworn to defeat! Acclaimed by critics and honored with numerous awards, HERO was nominated for both an Oscar® (2002 Best Foreign Language Film)and Golden Globe!

The Warrior Diet: Switch on Your Biological Powerhouse For High Energy, Explosive Strength, and a Leaner, Harder Body

The Warrior Diet: Switch on Your Biological Powerhouse For High Energy, Explosive Strength, and a Leaner, Harder Body
Along with the many benefits of leisure-class living comes obesity and its attendant ailments. In The Warrior Diet, Ori Hofmekler looks not forward but backward for a solution–to the primal habits of early cultures such as nomads and hunter-gatherers, the Greeks, and the Romans. Based on survival science, this book proposes not ordinary dietary changes but rather a radical yet surprisingly simple lifestyle overhaul.

Drawing on both scientific studies and historical data, Hofmekler argues that robust health and a lean, strong body can best be achieved by mimicking the classical warrior mode of cycling—working and eating sparingly (undereating) during the day and filling up at night. Specific elements from the Warrior Diet Nutritional Program (finding ideal fuel foods and food combinations to reduce body fat) to the Controlled Fatigue Training Program (promoting strength, speed, and resilience to fatigue through special drills), literally reshape body and mind. Individual chapters cover warrior meals and recipes; sex drive, potency, and animal magnetism; as well as personalizing the diet for women. Featuring forewords by Fit for Life author Harvey Diamond and Fat That Kills author Dr. Udo Erasmus, The Warrior Diet shows readers weary of fad diets how to attain enduring vigor, explosive strength, a better appearance, and increased vitality and health.

Mastering the Twister: Jiu-jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition

Mastering the Twister: Jiu-jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition
The Twister is a neck-jarring, spine-torturing submission hold refined and mastered by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu superstar Eddie Bravo.

Early in his jiu-jitsu career, Eddie Bravo dominated dozens of jiu-jitsu competitions with this unorthodox move. When the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation banned his trademark move, he proved the effectiveness of his entire grappling style by defeating the legendary Royler Gracie without The Twister .

In Mastering the Twister: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition, Bravo uses over 1,200 color photos and descriptive narrative to illustrate snaring an opponent in the infamous Twister from virtually every control position. Also revealed is the entire Twister Side Control game, dozens of submissions from the mount, numerous routes to take your opponent s back, highly effective ways to pass your opponent s guard, and the secrets of The Truck Bravo's patented control position.

Zen in the Art of Archery

Zen in the Art of Archery
This intriguing, influential work of literature-an outstanding way to experience Zen-is now available on cdIt is almost impossible to understand Zen by studying it as you would other intellectual pursuits. The best way to understand Zen is, simply, to Zen. This is what author Eugen Herrigel allows us to do by sharing his own fascinating journey toward a comprehension of this illuminating philosophy. In Japan, an art such as archery is not practiced solely for utilitarian purposes such as learning to hit targets. Archery is also meant to train the mind and bring it into contact with the ultimate reality. If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an 'artless art' growing out of the Unconsciousness. In this way, as the author simply, clearly demonstrates, archery becomes a path to greater understanding and enlightenment.

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Headlines on african-martial-arts
Make a date with Destiny 2008 (News 24 South Africa)

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:42:21 GMT
Next week over 850 competitors from more that 70 Dojos throughout South Africa will gather at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch.

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2008-08-12T12:15:00.001-07:00

The Best martial-arts-workout Articles on Wine
Martial Arts Sparring - Is Sparring Practice In Martial Arts A Waste Of Time?

Does non-contact point sparring actually decrease your ability to defend yourself in a real situation?

After all, you?re pulling punches, avoiding eye gouges, bone breaking, wrist locks and the like. How can you learn to defend yourself when you?re restricting your options?

And what if the fight ends up on the ground? All your skills at dancing around in a padded helmet isn?t going to help you get out of a brutal rear mount arm crank!

Or Is It??

If you take a good, objective look at it?

Sparring May Be The Most Perfect Martial Arts Exercise Ever

I won?t lie to you?I?m in favor of sparring. I think there are no other exercises in Martial Arts that can accomplish as much in as little time as good sparring practice.

Here?s why?

(And bear in mind, I had to keep this article short to prevent it from turning into a book-length discourse!)

What If You Could Combine All Your Training Needs Into One Easy Exercise?

Think I?m exaggerating? Sparring practice improves a wide variety of essential Martial Arts requirements all at once.

Consider this short list of Benefits:

Faster Reflexes

The ability to react instantly gives you the freedom to think and plan under pressure. Quick reflexes allow you to take control of the situation.

Improved Timing & Distancing

Trains you to eliminate unnecessary movement by moving only when and as fast as you need to. This makes you less predictable and harder to read. You seem faster to your opponent. Your ability to accurately judge distance increases your speed because you do not have to consciously stop and assess the situation.

Improved Accuracy

It is relatively easy to attack a stationary target. It takes a special, acquired skill to attack a moving target with exact precision. Fighting practice of this kind develops the skill to make your attacks at the right place, at the right time, and with minimal margin of error.

Instinct

Helps you develop the ability to sense, or "just know" how to move in on, or around your opponent. The more time you spend in simulated fighting practice, the better able you are to "feel" what your opponent is going to do.

Increased Endurance

This might just be the perfect cardio workout. You're in continual motion, or, sometimes, holding perfectly still as part of your strategy, then engaging in sudden, explosive movements. Watch the competitors at a tournament. By the end of a good match, they are usually very winded.

Also - during all that movement and bouncing around on your feet, you?re playing a game of physical chess in your mind, and that game is FUN! Because you?re mind is into the game, you don?t as easily notice the effect the workout is having on your endurance.

Improved Balance

Repeated shifting of your weight develops better control of your movements, which translates into improved balance. High kicks and spinning attacks all require good balance.

Stress Release

Combine the cardio benefits of with the mental discipline and you have the perfect stress reliever. It teaches you to accomplish difficult tasks while in a state of practiced, relaxed energy.

Quick Thinking Under Pressure

Forces you to learn how to make quick choices while under pressure. You become adept at considering options and remember useful information during stressful situations.

Having Fun!

To put it bluntly, good Martial Arts Sparring practice is just plain fun! It is, after all, a game much like chess where your various techniques are the pieces on the board. It requires strategy and acquired skills. As you learn these, and become adept at using them, the exercise aspects of point fighting are more enjoyable when they become aspects of a game.

All of which mean...

Sparring is the perfect way to improve your martial arts skills!

Of course, you might think all of these benefits can be attained in other ways. Well, you?re right, they can. But what other Martial Arts exercise helps you to develop all of these skills?and more?all at one time?

Marshall Buchholz is a Martial Arts instructor and school owner. He teaches the Wu Ying Tao style of Martial Arts in Salem, Oregon. Visit his web sites at: http://www.professionalmartialartsofsalem.com and http://www.learn-practical-self-defense.com

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Reveals the mystery of the martial arts in an unprecedented way. It has more than 100 video clips, stunning images and illustrations and hundreds of pages of enlightening text including complete ancient manuscripts. Tansakusha, A breathtaking interactive interface will bring you a richness of information never before found in one source. The Martial Arts Explorer offers you four paths of discovery accessed from the main menu: The Library, Comparaview, the Journal, and the Timeline. Each of these options encompasses complete worlds for you to explore. The Comparaview presents an amazing view of all the martial arts examined by The Explorer. Roam the Library's virtual space to find a wealth of information about the history, philosophy, art, and medicine of the Far East. Visit the Library's movie theater to view a real action self-defense movie sequence. Visit the Explorer's island, simulated in brilliant 3D animation. Navigate in four pagodas build by Tansakusha to house different types of Far Eastern art. The Timeline exhibition offers a three dimensional view of Far Eastern history. Additionally, you will find information on the philosophies of Zen, Taoism, Buddhism, and more. Tansakusha's Journal is actually a compilation resulting from meticulously combining the knowledge and insights of 12 different martial arts masters. With over 80 hand-written pages, this manuscript stands at the core of the Martial Arts Explorer.

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United Cutlery Large Universal Sword Scabbard

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Imitation leather body and hanging straps. Genuine leather lacing. Available in two sizes. Swords not included. LARGE UNIVERSAL SWORD SCABBARD. MAX BLADE LENGTH: 40-1/4". MAX BLADE WIDTH: 2-5/8". Fits the follwing Kit Rae and LOTR swords: KR0020 UC1265. UC1266 UC1278.

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2008-08-08T18:44:00.000-07:00

martial-arts-stores For Your Reading Pleasure
Top Techniques For Self Defense On The Street - (Arts Defense Instruction Martial Self)

Top techniques for self defense on the street - (arts defense instruction martial self).

Forget the martial arts classes, forget karate, forget most things that you have read.

When it comes to a REAL street attack, all the moves you spent hours practicing will be useless. The aggressive drug user, street robber, or drunken thug will not follow set moves or patterns shown in self defense instruction manuals or martial arts books.

You need to know how to disable that threat as quickly as possible and then make good your escape.

There are no rules to street attacks and there are no rules on defending yourself too. Do not be afraid to be a 'dirty' fighter.

Before I mention some of the techniques to use to fend off any attacker I must stress these 2 points first;

1) If at all possible, run. Do not be a hero. No matter how much you make dislike a drunken or drugged up thug trying to rob you, intimidate you, threaten you or hurt you, the best method to stay alive is get out of that situation. They are already in the mindset of confrontation, have planned what they will do and are ready to go. You are unprepared and likely to be hurt. If you see a gap, take it and get clear the situation.

2) Distract your opponent. They will be expecting you to be intimidated and surprised so do the unexpected. Shout as loud as you can at your attacker and cause a big scene. This may be enough to get them to step back giving you a few seconds with which to escape.

Now, and only now, if you cannot do that, and are boxed in a corner then you can use these moves to stop your attacker no matter how big they are;

1) Groin Kick. Very underestimated in self defense. Remember there are no rules here. Kick as hard as you can, or if you are close or grappling, grab it with your hand, pull and twist. Guaranteed to bring anyone down to their knees.

2) Eye gouge. Again, very frowned upon because it is a 'dirty' trick. Yes, it is, but it works. Put your fingers or thumbs into your attackers eyes. As well as pain it will cause blurred vision.

3) Throat punch. A punch or elbow to the throat will have the same effect as choking. Instant pain and a struggle to breathe. Again, a shock to enable you to escape.

4) neck punch. Similar to the above but on the side of the neck. A hard punch will interrupt the artery blood flow and cause the attacker to faint or at the very least, black out for a split second. Again, allowing enough time to escape.

5) Cupped hands. Cup your hands and 'clap' his ears. This is a dirty trick that will burst his ear drums and instantly stop any attack.

6) Nostrils. This one if for very close fighting. Fingers in the nostrils can pull his nose, and hence him, wherever you want. It may sound like a funny one to do but believe me, an attacker of any size can be pulled off another person or yourself, or his head pulled back by a much smaller opponent just by pulling his nose up his face!

7) Side kick to the knee. The knee is a very vulnerable part of the attackers body. A side kick to this can pop his knee out of place with ease, or even shatter the whole kneecap. Just sweep the kick side on to his knee as hard as you can.

Remember, if you can, then get away as fast as you can. If not, then use the street attack moves above. Yes they are unorthodox, they are dirty but they work. You do not need to know the fancy moves from self defense classes or martial arts. They won't work in real life even if you can.

YOUR PRIORITY IS TO STAY ALIVE *********

For more great tips go to http://self-defence.whitewave.co.uk
Max is a prolific writer on a variety of top issues. For more self defense tips and tricks and more dirty secrets on how to preserve your own life under any street attack go to http://self-defence.whitewave.co.uk

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Fearless (Unrated Full Screen Edition)

Fearless (Unrated Full Screen Edition)
A moving and inspiring story of redemption and personal triumph in the face of great odds, Jet Li's Fearless is the based-on-facts story of Chinese folk hero Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li). The son of a martial-arts master whose greatest strength was his restraint, Huo grows into an unbeatable fighter whose pride and thoughtlessness lead to a chain of tragic losses. After a classic wanderer-in-the-wilderness penance, Huo reinvents himself as a mature instructor of Wushu, a martial arts system that embraces all forms of fighting without preference or pre-judgement. He also becomes a populist symbol, at the dawn of the 20th century, of China's refusal to entirely capitulate to the boot of Western colonialists. Taking on whatever European, American, or Japanese fighter the outsiders bring in to demoralize the natives, Huo becomes a legend that, in real life, is still revered. Thrillingly directed by Ronny Yu (Warriors of Virtue), Jet Li's Fearless is a dazzling action movie that transcends its breathless fight sequences with Huo's sportsmanship virtues, i.e., knowing when you've won by example, rather than by the fist. Jet Li is superb in the role. --Tom Keogh

The Human Tornado

The Shogun Collection

The Shogun Collection
Starring Sonny ChibaShogun's Samurai (1978 130 mins.)A war erupts between two brother when one is picked over the other to be the shogun. Warriors take to each side swearing devotion to their prospective lords. The plot to pit brother against brother is secretly being controlled by a group of nobles hoping to weaken the power of the Shogunate and restore power to the emperor.Swords of Vengeance (1978 158 mins.)When the young master of Ako Castle draws his sword on the elder he is ordered to dissolve his clan and commit hara-kiri. With the help of the now-masterless Ako warriors the young masters chamberlain begins to plot an elaborate revenge two years in the making. The explosive swordplay battles were choreographed by Sonny Chiba.Shogun's Ninja (1983 115 mins.)Hideyoshi a power hungry warlord sends his war commander to the Momochi fort to destroy its clan and obtain its hidden gold. Two daggers tell where the hidden gold is located. One is in the possession of the head of the Monochi family but who has the other? Wild fight choreography and action ensue.Shogun's Shadow (1989 114 mins.)Tachechiyo embarks on a journey to Edo to participate in an initiation ritual that will mark his passage to manhood. Accompany him on the journey they must combat the advancing army of the Shogunate who doesn't want the young master to reach his destination.System Requirements:Run Time: 517 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: SPORTS/GAMES/MIXED MARTIAL ARTS Rating: NR UPC: 787364746798

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Dragon Ball Z, Volume 25 (Dragon Ball Z (Graphic Novels))

Dragon Ball Z, Volume 25 (Dragon Ball Z (Graphic Novels))
After years of training and adventure, Goku has become Earth's ultimate warrior. and his son, Gohan, shows even greater promise. But the strikes are increasing as even deadlier enemies threaten the planet. More action-packed than the stories of Goku's youth, DRAGON BALL Z features time travelers, aliens, and the mighty Super Saiyans clashing over the fate of the universe.

Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition

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A Featured asian-martial-arts Article
How To Write An Authentic Martial Arts Fight Scene

Most fight scenes rely heavily upon the vague, and somewhat inaccurate, public perceptions of how martial artists would utilize their skills in a real fight. That is an unfortunate limitation, because the most interesting aspect of the martial arts is what goes on inside the mind of the fighter. That is where the most compelling part of the story truly lies. It?s what needs to be told.

Authenticity is the Polestar

Authenticity is the polestar. An author must always know the subject, and if the subject is the martial arts, that means keeping a few basics in mind. First, there is no such thing as one martial art. Instead, there is an amalgam of thousands of both popular and obscure fighting arts worldwide.

We may be familiar with the term, Karate, which had its birthplace in Okinawa. But how many of us realize that there are dozens of distinct styles of Karate, each with its own rankings, requirements and principles? How many of us are familiar with the South American discipline of Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, which can be traced to Africa; or Krav Maga, the modern Israeli martial art; or the more than 1500 various styles of the Chinese martial art called, Kung Fu?

Hence, the first question an author describing a martial arts encounter must answer is what style does her protagonist practice? The next is this: how would that style fare in a real fight; with adrenaline fueling the encounter and panic setting in? The authenticity of a real fight is that it is savage, bloody and frayed at the edges. Unlike the crisp, well-executed forms and drills of typical martial arts training, a physical confrontation is hard to control. Breaking boards is fine, but they don?t hit back. An opponent does.

In short, write about the chaos of a real fight. Bring the reader into what makes a fight something to avoid. Show the dark underbelly of the encounter.

For example, here is a fight scene from my novel, Point and Shoot, in which the protagonist uses an Okinawan style of Karate called, Shaolin Kempo, which relies on the interpretation of the five shaolin animals (tiger, crane, leopard, snake and dragon) for its basic moves:

I ducked under the second swing and snapped myself into the tiger mindset. The other four animal styles of our Shaolin Kempo Karate system, the snake, the leopard, the crane and the dragon, often utilized a block or parry before moving in for a strike. The tiger was the only one whose nature did not significantly involve defense. This animal was at the top of the food chain, the strongest and deadliest in the Kingdom. It went in one direction, always forward, toward the prey. All offense.

No holding back.

I formed my hands as if I were gripping imaginary tennis balls and launched myself at him. I dug my fingers into the bicep of the swinging arm and ripped at the muscle, while striking the forearm on the same side, straight in with the heel of my palm, the ?paw? as it were. It was a thousand year old battle protocol from the great Kung Fu masters: first, attack the arm that attacks you.

The bat fell to the ground.

Next, press the advantage decisively. I ripped into his face with the middle and forefingers of my right hand, raking along his nose and mouth. With the other hand, I struck his neck and dug my fingers in, grabbing the windpipe. The technique called for me to pull it out, lacerating his throat and killing him. But there were other options. I pushed rather than pulled, momentarily closing the windpipe against itself, cutting off his air.

Then, I sped things up. Kempo Hands.

I had once timed myself at six strikes per second, and if anything, at that moment, it felt even faster. A double palm heel blow to both ears, ripping downward along the cheek and collapsing onto his throat; stepping under and inside his flailing arms to shoot an elbow upward into his abdomen, taking his center; rolling into a palm heel strike to the groin; and back into a rising elbow to the underside of his chin; arcing down into another palm heel onto the bridge of his nose. There were no wind ups, no wasted motion; each movement was designed to roll naturally into the next.

His body jerked from one direction to the other, in rhythm to the apposite lines of each attack. The primary strategy of Kempo Karate was to strike an aggressor in opposing directions, so he could not muster his composure sufficiently to counter-attack. It also forced the aggressor's body to lurch into the next stroke head on. The strokes would roll into one another and create a tumbling effect. To an outside observer, it would appear to be one simultaneous tornado of movement, of blinding speed, a blur too fast for the eye to follow.

Blood splattered from his nose and mouth. His eyes closed and he made a gurgling sound, flailing his arms impotently as he flew backward.

But my mind-set was the tiger, an animal that kept going when it saw blood. The next move in this particular combination would have gotten him on the ground and "smashed" both hands into his throat. The smashing tiger. A finishing blow to the throat, for insurance.

Instead, I took another step forward and chambered both my hands, palm forward, elbows bent: the left one at shoulder level; the right, at my hip. I shouted a Kiai, the warrior yell, and launched a double palm heel strike, imagining both my palms penetrating through his body. I made contact with his bladder and the underside of his cheekbone. They were both prime acupuncture points; but just as the meridians could be used for healing, the pathways could also be blocked.

His head whipped around, and he collapsed, lying on his back, bleeding from the various facial lacerations and coughing in fits.

*** *

The entire fight had taken less than five seconds; when done right, they usually did. I paused and reached into my back pocket, taking out some tissues, pressing them against his facial cuts. He lay there, quietly, allowing me to work on him. I had seen this before when I was a cop, the defeated male. Docile and compliant.

It occurred to me that this was how a deer might look after being taken down by an actual tiger. Completely shocked and overwhelmed by the ferocity of the attack, waiting for the neck bite that would end it all.

He coughed a few times, but was finally able to breathe again without laboring. I turned him on his side so he could spit out the blood. I wiped it away and found that there were only two places I had actually broken the skin. One was the juncture of his upper and lower lip and the other, his nose. After a few moments of pressure, they both stopped bleeding.

I helped him up and left him standing there, crouching with his hands on his thighs, I searched for my gun in the grass. I found it about twenty feet away. I opened the chamber out of habit to be sure it was still fully loaded and rejoined him. He lumbered his way to the door, ignoring me.

I noted that the baseball bat had landed on the ground behind him. I kicked it into the street.

He dabbed at his face and looked to see if there was anymore blood. "You fight like a girl," he said.

The Author Must Inhabit The Mind of the Fighter

It is important that the author learn what it is like not only to throw a punch, but to take one, as well. Most of us have not been in an actual fight (at least as adults), yet we write about them with impunity. I am not advocating that a brawl take place at the next writer?s convention, but certainly, there is something to be said for an author going to the local marital arts school and learning the basics of controlled sparring.

If you are afraid to try that, use that fear in your story. Emotional content is a powerful tool for a writer. Your characters should be afraid to fight on some level. The way they deal with that fear, either by denying it; using it to bolster their awareness; or allowing it to overtake them in a fit of panic, will establish the realism of your fight scene.

Perhaps your central character is so angry that he sets aside the fear. Perhaps your character is protecting a loved one so she ignores her slight stature and lack of real training and proceeds to overcome a larger opponent. The actual punching and kicking should be secondary. You must guide the reader into inhabiting your character?s feelings and motivations about the hostile encounter.

You Need Not Describe Every Grunt

We all know the standard refrain for new writers: show don?t tell. In a fight scene, the author can ?tell? the reader a great deal about his characters by simply ?showing? how they fight. In this scene from my book, Point and Shoot, I wanted to paint a portrait of how an older man named, Grandfather, would overcome two younger, stronger ones, whom I call White Shirt and Pony Tail, by utilizing the internal aspects of the martial arts.

"Management. We had a complaint from one of the other guests about noise."

"We're leaving," he replied. "Give us ten minutes to clean up."

"I can't hear you, sir."

White Shirt leaned into the door. "I said we're leaving."

Suddenly the door exploded off its hinges, smashing directly into him. He arced across the room.

I had so rarely seen Grandfather let loose to maximum effect in these last years. When he did, it looked nothing like what Bette and I would do, none of those solid and crisp Kempo Karate combinations he had taught me so long ago, drawn from the basic system. His movements were now hidden and obscure.

And unstoppable.

He calmly stepped inside the room. Pony Tail leveled his gun, taking aim from the other side. Grandfather ran his hand in a large arc from head to waist. It looked like he was fanning the air. Pony Tail shouted in pain and fell backward, dropping the gun.

Grandfather approached him without haste. Pony Tail righted himself and scrambled to pick up the gun again.

Still far away from him, Grandfather clapped his hands together, and twisted his palms outward. The younger man smashed against the far wall, caught in a wave of energy. That gave Grandfather the time he needed to reach him. He placed his fingers gently on Pony Tail?s gun hand. The weapon immediately dropped to the floor once more. Then he lightly tapped the center of Pony Tail?s chest. The younger man collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

By now, White Shirt had pulled himself back together. He had his gun aimed.

Without touching him, Grandfather made a short, blunt movement which I did not recognize. White Shirt grimaced and dropped the gun, holding his hands to his temples. There was another blunt movement, this one emanating from a twist in Grandfather?s hip, something akin to a bump and grind.

White Shirt also collapsed to the ground.

Conclusion

Fight scenes should be viewed as opportunities to develop characterization and introduce emotional content to the story. To do so, the author must present a both physically and mentally authentic description of the encounter. Now, go out there and have your characters kick some ass.

About the Author:

G.D. Baum is a graduate of the Sarah Lawrence Writing Program. He has achieved a black belt in Shaolin Kempo Karate, and was ranked sixth in the United States in forms for his Division by the NASKA Find out more about G.D.Baum and his novel Point and Shoot at http://www.pointandshootwebsite.com

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Desert Heat

Desert Heat
Versatility, thy name is Van Damme! So Arnold cries in End of Days? Hah! In this relentless revenge actioner, Jean-Claude not only cries, but has a drunk scene, suffers suicidal despair, does a little slapstick, and still manages to flash his ubiquitous butt. Which, of course, is what his legion of fans want to see him kick plenty of (other people's butts, that is; not his own). Van Damme may no longer generate any box-office heat (like 1998's Legionnaire, this bypassed theaters to go straight to video), but he at least gives his fans what they want. Originally titled Coyote Moon, Desert Heat recalls that guilty pleasure Road House, as Eddie Lomax (Van Damme) comes to the rescue of a gallery of colorful characters terrorized by slobbering, drug-dealing bikers and rednecks in a dilapidated desert town. And this time, it's personal. As one denizen ominously observes, "There's trouble on the hoof and it's coming this way" for the three ill-fated bullies who beat up and shot Eddie and left him for dead. Despite its desert setting, Heat is an oasis for great character actors who pick up Van Damme's considerable slack. They include Danny Trejo (Con Air) as Eddie's Native American friend Johnny Sixtoes, Pat Morita (The Karate Kid), Larry Drake (Darkman), Vincent Schiavelli (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ghost), Bill Erwin (Candy Stripe Nurses), and luscious Jaime Preslly as Dottie the waitress. The director is credited as Danny Mulroon, a pseudonym for John Avildsen, the Academy Award-winning director of Rocky. His career, too, seems to be on the ropes, but he keeps punching with some welcome eccentric touches. At one point Johnny gives the recuperating Eddie a foot massage (didn't he see Pulp Fiction?). And the script offers such goodies as a lovelorn bus driver (Tom's brother, Jim Hanks) inviting Dottie to see Yojimbo, and one biker's plea for mercy from a local tough: "Jessie, we were in high school together. I signed your yearbook." --Donald Liebenson

The Life of Rayful Edmond - Rise and Fall Vol. 1

The Life of Rayful Edmond - Rise and Fall Vol. 1
In this video you will learn the many ways of Grabbing, Chokes, Applications and Solutions with live step by step demonstrations. You will learn the many ways of preventing grabs & chokes to the various parts of the body before any damage is done. Find out solutions against leg and arm strikes. The use of vital points of the body for grabs and escape. Grappling & applications, how to defend yourself against two attackers. Features instruction on hand grabs, leg strikes, fighting, chokes and ways out. Includes excersises for floot, stand-up, maneuvering and take down techniques.

SWEATSHIRT HEATHER GRAY " ORIENTAL STYLE GOJU RYU "

SWEATSHIRT HEATHER GRAY " ORIENTAL STYLE GOJU RYU "
This is a great sweatshirt. Great gift. All TopExpressions products are made under strict quality controls. 100% cotton, weight aprox 25oz.

Headlines on asian-martial-arts
A Night Out for neighborhood fun and safety - Wicked Local Roslindale

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:07:02 GMT

A Night Out for neighborhood fun and safety
Wicked Local Roslindale, MA - Aug 5, 2008
... martial arts demonstrations by students and instructors from the Center for Asian Martial Arts and performances by Hispanic dance group Tierra Del Sol. ...