Japanese Karate - A Warrior's Spirit

By Spioros Arena

You may never need to use any of the strokes and maneuvers learned in Japanese Karate to defend yourself against surprise attack. After all, a mastery of Karate tactics is only insurance in such emergencies and any study and practice of it is certainly worth your while. But there is a dividend-a bonus value that goes beyond its purely defensive role. By practicing Karate you also contribute to good health.

Karate involves many body movements, which while not strenuous or fatiguing, nevertheless tend to build muscular tone and also limber up the body in general. Like other forms of exercise, Karate also stimulates the circulation, causing oxygen-rich blood to reach all body organs. It is a well known fact that this exercise makes for general well-being.

Science now knows that the physically active person is less prone to infection. He actually catches fewer colds and builds up body resistance to many diseases. He enjoys more vigor, more vitality. He looks younger and feels younger. He is more alert and has that gleam of youth in his eyes and complexion. It goes without saying that a person is more attractive to the opposite sex and is usually more successful in business when he looks and acts young.

When you are healthy you are actually younger. Many men of 30 are actually older, naturally speaking, than some active men of 50 or more. A person leading an inactive, sedentary life has far less life expectancy, whereas an active, physically powerful man prolongs his life expectancy, all other things being equal. But most important of all, he enjoys better health, greater agility and extends that feeling of youthful energy right into the twilight years of his life.

Certainly this is a bonus feature well worth while in your practice of Karate. But it can only be achieved if you practice the art. Karate can also be an excellent sport that will bring you much pleasure in the years to come. Naturally the Code of Courtesy applies here with greater force than in meting out blows to an enemy. Care must always be exercised not to cripple an antagonist.

Performing Japanese Karate among friends can be a very rewarding experience. Some of the maneuvers bring such lightning results as to cause amazement even among the most blase person. It certainly wins admiration and a Karate man's reputation has a way of spreading. Women, especially, admire and respect a Karate expert, whether he's tall and muscular or small and puny. They look upon him as they would a war hero. But there is a satisfaction even greater -it is that inner feeling of security and strength that you'll have for the rest of your life.

Gone are the feelings of inadequacy. No longer need you face humiliation. Your manhood is confirmed to yourself. You actually win new confidence in yourself and this can well be translated to other endeavors, whether social or business.

Naturally, to become proficient in Karate you must devote yourself to it. Merely reading a book will not make you an expert. You must practice, practice, practice! After a while you will find that you actually have mastered most of the strokes and tactics. Karate is not difficult at all. You can actually memorize the various maneuvers in weeks, and you can really make use of them in little or no time.

There's a vast difference in being a rank amateur and an expert. What you want to be is up to you. Let us say, however, that the time you devote to this centuries-old art will pay you back ten fold in added protection, extra energy and fuller enjoyment of life.

If you approach Japanese Karate as though it were a mere chore, your progress will be slowed. But if you take it as a sport-as an enjoyable pastime-it will turn out to be not work but fun. And your progress will be greater. Yes, you must love the art, stay with it, make it a fun-hobby. Then will you be amazed how advanced you can become-even in 3 or 4 short months!

Learn The Karate SecretsTo Defend Yourself With Speed And Skill Like The Legend, Bruce Lee. For More Training Visit: http://www.karatesecrets.org

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Martial Arts and NLP Mind Tricks

By Stephen Ladd

Are you interested in learning martial arts? Won't it be great if you can train your mind to learn martial arts faster and in a more effective fashion? Do you think that's not possible? Well read on to find out how you can program your mind to be a master fighter.

Neuro Linguistic Programming:

Scientists have discovered a kind of programming of the mind termed 'Neuro Linguistic Programming' or NLP that has modernized all human functioning enhancements radically. NLP is targeted at observing an expert from any field, identifying, and separating the average from the extraordinary.

The Fundamentals:

The basic model of the NLP is taken from any skilled professional of any field. The expert could be a dentist, a lawyer, a sportsman, surfer, or in any area. The modeler studies with precision every aspect of this expert. That includes his or her values, ethics, behavior, habits, etc. The modeler then imitates the expert. Once the modeler becomes adept at this, the person begins to reduce his activity. He discards anything that has no significant effect on his functioning and brings it down to a level where he only needs to work at core techniques that help him gain expertise.

The success of the modeling NLP depends on whether he has been able to train someone else in the technique successfully. If the results are the same, the experiment is a success.

How NLP Can Help Martial Arts:

We all know how hard it is to train to become a black belt. One has to train for years and years. It is not just a long process but also an extremely laborious and challenging task. That is what makes it worth it.

NLP puts you on the race faster, giving a better platform to meet this challenge. It will enhance your capabilities and increase your tenacity. In short, it will program you to build your mettle.

The modeling NLP does not claim to make you a genius. Metaphorically speaking it programs your genes to be one. What it does is documents the brain's knowledge and transfers it by imitating and training. The modelers own capabilities are also an important factor, which grows and develops with more experience.

Martial Arts fuse attack and defense into the same mechanism. When you can do that, your performance is perfect and your mind is clear. Your every move looks pre synchronized as onlookers watch you fight your opponent. Every action is precisely timed and perfectly executed. If you have heard about the ancient masters, you will know how unperturbed their state of mind was even at the most tense moments.

Building the 'Second You':

It is possible to build on one's sub consciousness using hypnotherapy. Many experts use hypnosis for all sorts of things but building on one's neural connections is really what makes you the smart student in martial arts. It is difficult to unlearn things that become part of your sub conscious and muscle memory.

You train both your mind and your body until your every move becomes of secondary nature. Hypnosis can help with teaching your subconscious. It is all a matter of practice that takes you to the art level of martial arts.

Get you FREE Special Report and Video "How to Overcome Fear and Pre-Fight Anxiety and Attain Ultimate Confidence" by visiting http://www.RenegadeMindsetForFighters.com Stephen Ladd is know as the Renegade Fighter Mental Coach, pioneering the use of cutting-edge alternative psychology methods like NLP, Hypnosis and Energy Psychology specifically for the combat athlete who wants to dominate their opponents and be victorious. ---------------------------------------------------------- For more Articles on Martial Arts, see www.bestmartialartsource.com.

How Families Are Positively Influenced by Martial Arts

By Ava Belinda

It is well-known that martial arts do good to the health. In these days, more and more people tend to take these arts as an entertainment as well as an improvement in overall health.

These arts have many forms, such as karate, jujitsu, tae kwon do and judo. Different form has different discipline. You should take the one which is right for you. Finding the right form will do your great good. Once you find the right one, you need to stick to it. You will find that your overall health has significantly improved after a few weeks.

Nowadays, more and more families have enrolled in the training center to learn these arts. Parents and children come to the training center together. Martial arts is beneficial to parents and their children in many ways. Firstly, it can enhance the intimacy between parents and children while improving fitness.In these days, most parents are busy with their work and have little time to play with their kids. In this way, parents and children can not only improve their fitness but also the relationship.

Secondly, many parents find the programs are useful in assisting children since most martial arts programs focus on defense skills. Instead of teaching children to become aggressive, these arts provide the children with the necessary skills to ward off the school bully through a powerful mind and body connection. This is especially true for children who are generally considered to be unassertive.

Thirdly, These arts have many benefits in terms of psychological help. They have a profound impact on children and adults. The majority of children lack the ability to focus and concentrate. Martial arts, through repetition and structure, provide some structure and focus to the student's life.

The benefits of martial arts is unlimited. I just mention a few. Act now and you can enjoy these benefits right now.

Click to find more about Mixed Martial Arts

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Karate is an Excellent Sport

By Karen Peralta

The sport of karate masters the soul, causing it to be more perfect and disciplined. It not only teaches you how to fight; it teaches you how to think, behave and act as well. My husband is a seventh degree black belt, among his other martial arts proclivities, and in six months I made it as far as a blue belt.

I have basically used my karate training twice in my real life. I used it to halt a black bear attack in the mountains of Washington State, and to foil two house burglars. For that, my husband has given me an honorary fourth degree black belt, primarily because I was also able to demonstrate a very good flying kick as well after some practice. He took only six months to get his seventh degree black belt, which also required that he actually catch in his hand an arrow as it was fired only one hundred feet away from him.

He and I survived, and you will too if you go ahead and take karate and other martial arts. Like I said, they can be useful in real life. For example, in the case of the bear attack, I used the "wall" stance they teach you in class. Maybe I should tell you about class first.

You enter a large room called a "dojo" with the other karate students. Next, a teacher or several teachers, called "sensei," may confront you. They taught me the wall right away, for example, by being a wall of power that kii-iid (yelled loudly) at me. It frightened me - but got me more used to the concept of becoming what they described as "a potential killing machine." I decided right away to never use my karate to hurt others, unless I was severely under attack and could get away with it without hurting any innocent parties (such as myself). You don't have to be heroic - I'm quite the physical coward myself.

The sensei really put me through my paces, and when I learned "the wall," I learned how to spread my legs and plant my feet with my knees over them, so that I became an invincible wall, with no one being able to push me over. This worked great during the bear attack. I used it to communicate a firmness of purpose, which the bear listened to. Then he demonstrated back that he was tougher than me. So I then signaled him that I wouldn't fight him in a respectful manner. Being intelligent, this black bear then simply turned and walked away satisfied that he had won the argument. So he didn't run down the cliff further and attack anyone else. We both won that day thanks to karate, and nobody was hurt.

In the case of the house burglary, karate gave me the strength of mental purpose and character to confront the burglars with what they were really doing and how they were terrorizing the home owner at whose house they were caught. The two burglars were astonished that I had any such courage to confront them. I only yelled at them and never used any real karate, and thus nobody was injured. The two burglars left and didn't come back to bother the home owner. Karate had won the day - once again.

In my husband's case, he was the proverbial 98 pound weakling until he learned a wide variety of martial arts, including karate, from a single master who personally trained him. The next time he was in a fight, after his training, he laid a bully who was menacing his life completely low. Nobody has ever taken him down in a fight since, even though he has been threatened with both guns and knives - nobody.

Therefore, you should learn karate or martial arts, which contains as wide of a variety of styles as the countries they now come from: aikido, kung fu or gung fu, karate, judo, kendo, and hundreds if not thousands of schools from Japan, China, Korea and Brazil. Pick a style, any style, see what's at your local dojo, and once you take up this wonderful sport - practice, practice, practice. It will teach you great discipline and knowledge of your own power. Try it and see, and you won't be sorry about the results. Like me and my husband, it might even save your life someday.

RAINBOW WRITING, INC. -- featuring Karen Peralta, copy editor, ghost writer and book author. We are affordable professional freelance and contracted book authors, ghost writers, copy editors, proof readers, book rewriters, coauthors, graphics technicians, assistants with publishing and script buying, and film script writers, screenwriters and editors. http://www.rainbowriting.com

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Chinese Martial Arts Weapons

By Matthew Proctor

Martial arts weapons come in all shapes and sizes. Their origins fall in cultures and regions spanning the globe; generally, where man exists so too do martial arts weapons. These weapons are the implements of man's early wars, they come from a time before firearms were readily available for purchase at the local department store, and they come from a time before the department store.

When most think of the definition of martial arts weapon a few things are brought to mind. The first would be a martial artist. Usually one thinks of a Chinese Monk or Bruce Lee type character when thinking of the martial arts. After all, even though martial art forms come from a vast variety of cultures and backgrounds the term has taken on an Eastern root. It is believed that the Ancient Chinese were the first martial artists and this is why we think of them before anyone else when discussing martial arts weapons.

Chinese martial artists use a variety of weapon types but there are a few famous ones that stand out above the rest. The Shaolin monks prefer using a variety of bladed weapons like the straight sword or single headed spear. They also were keen to use the nunchakus, two blunt short sticks attached in the middle by a strong rope or chain. The meteor hammer is one of the more exotic weapons of the Shaolin monks. It is a rope of chain with two heavy steel balls attached to either end that can be whipped at an opponent by controlling and manipulating momentum.

The cartoon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a great example for Chinese martial arts weapons. The turtle characters each wield a different weapon and they are all from the ancient Chinese. There is the straight sword of Leonardo, though occasionally it can be called a Katana, the Bo staff of Donatello, the nunchakus of Michelangelo, and the Sai of Rafeal. Their master splinter named the turtles after old European painters but trained them in the weapons of the ancient Chinese and Japanese.

Most of the weapons were originally farming implements. The Chinese and Japanese developed their martial arts forms in secret while working the fields for the tyrannical governments. The nunchakus were originally used to till crops and the Oar was used for paddling boats. These weapons could be played off as farming implements until it was time to attack and this was a helpful advantage in over throwing ancient governments.

Check out more articles for more useful information about martial arts weapons and a further study of the importance of chinese martial arts weapons.

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Karate Punch

By Fred P Nichols

There are many different ways to strike with the elbow down to the hand, to be exact about 24 different strikes. Basically there are two ways to strike with the hand - open hand and clinched fist. Open hand strikes are effective striking vital areas and pressure points. As well, the open hand strikes allow the arm to relax more making it suitable for multiple hand combination and increased speed.

There are many different types of strikes in the martial arts. By far the most effective and powerful strike is the Karate punch. In the Karate punch the clinched fist is used. The clinched fist tenses the muscles of the arm more than the open hand strikes. The punch is thrust into the target area and as contact is made the wrist rotates. This is called the corkscrew action. The added corkscrew action at the end of the Karate punch tenses the muscles of the arm even more. This is the natural tension of the arm.

For a little experiment make a fist with the palm facing up and the arm extended. Place the hand of the other arm on the bicep of the extended arm. Now twist the wrist of the extended arm so the palm is facing down similar to the Karate punch. You should feel the bicep of the extended arm tense. This is the body's natural focus.

Twisting motion of the wrist is such that the strike makes contact when the palm of the hand has turned 90° from the up position. As the first two knuckles make contact with the intended target. The hand continues to rotate with the corkscrew action until the palm faces down and the strike drives through and into the target.

Timing of the Karate punch:

1. Start with a good stance.
2. Drive off the rear leg by pushing to drive the hip towards the intended target.
3. Shoulder starts moving with the hip.
4. Start the punch movement. Keeping the elbow directly behind the fist
5. As the arm moves forward approximately half way to the target rotate the fist sideways so the palm is facing left or right depending on the arm you are punching with.
6. Continue the corkscrew action as soon as the two knuckles make contact driving through the target.

There are many aspects to the Karate punch. But one of the most important aspects is that the moving parts of the body work in unison. The hips, shoulders, arms, and feet are placed in motion and need to work together. When done correctly a majority of your body mass will be behind the Karate Punch, generating a very powerful punch. Other aspects of the punch to consider:

• Impact point (Distance to target)
• Focus and Eye direction
• Breathing
• Thrusting the Karate punch
• Position of the Feet
• Wrist Location
• Relaxation and Tension of the clinched Fist
• Location of elbow relative to the Fist

Another important aspect is breathing. Exhale through the mouth all the way through the execution of the Karate punching technique. To get the air out you are going to have to exhale forcefully because of how fast the technique will be. And the technique must be fast! A loud yell will help in forcing the air out. This is called a Kiai. The kiai function is to force the air out, startle your opponent, direct focus energy, and give you a burst of energy.

The striking area of the hand is the first two knuckles of the hand. These are the knuckles of the index and middle fingers at the base of the hand. The wrist is straight with the first two knuckles leading.

It is very important to keep the wrist straight while making contact with the intended target. If you strike with a bent wrist you will seriously injure the wrist possibly breaking it. Also, at contact make sure the fist is firmly clinched or serious injury will occur to the hand.

Keep your elbow behind the fist at impact. This generates more power into the strike. If the elbow is too far away from the hip and extended out to the side, the shoulder can be injured. The hip rotating puts a lot of power into the impact of the punch. With the hip forward and shoulder jammed the shoulder joint is put into an awkward position. Also, a lot of power or force is directed away from the target area.

Get all the help you need with learning expert Karate techniques. Get a FREE 10 Part Secrets of Karate minicourse. Get started today learning expert Karate techniques from author and master Karate Instructor Fred Nichols who has been teaching Karate to students for over 38 years. Learn the true meaning of Karate and become proficient in the martial arts at: http://www.okinawanryu.com

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The Way of the Warrior - Martial Arts and Fighting Styles From Around the World by Chris Crudelli

By Alain Burrese

The first thing that stands out with Chris Crudelli's new book "The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Styles From Around the World" is the stunning photographs throughout the entire volume of this coffee table sized visual smorgasbord of martial arts from around the world. It is fascinating to browse and marvel at the wonderful pictures that fill almost every page of this oversized 360 page tomb of martial art information and splendor.

This magnificent visual guide to the martial arts is divided into seven sections, with each section focusing on the indigenous and imported styles synonymous with a particular geographical region. These sections include: India and South Asia; China and East Asia; Southeast Asia and Oceania; Japan and Okinawa; Europe; Africa, Middle East and Central Asia; and finally The Americas. In these seven sections there are descriptions of more than 300 fighting styles. Included are the obvious well known martial arts such as Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, and Aikido. But also included are little know obscure arts like Aki Kiti, Ba Ji Quan, Mizongyi, Taekyon, Banshay, and many others. The book is truly a fascinating look at more martial art styles than most people ever realized existed. Pictures range from ancient drawings, old photographs, and modern photos of stunning displays of martial prowess with fascinating backdrops. There are action shots from competitions and martial art demonstrations as well as those from training sessions and ancient training halls and temples. I can't stress enough what a visual feast this book is for the martial art enthusiast.

The text includes descriptions of the various fighting styles as well as notes on key players in the arts history as well as modern masters. The book illustrates key weapons the various styles are known for and describes the main principles and theories behind the styles. Obviously, due to how the book is organized, the country and culture of each style is also provided. These descriptions are brief, but make for a very interesting overview of the arts to accompany the great photographs.

Scattered among the descriptions and colorful pictures are quotes that capture the spirit of the various arts and warriors who devised them and helped shape the styles into not only methods of fighting but for many a way of life. I was glad to see one of my favorite quotes from Karate Master Gichin Funakoshi, "The ultimate goal of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of the character of its participants."

This book is truly a work of art and a wealth of information. It could easily take a place on the coffee table of any martial artist, or a professional lobby or school front for anyone who practices the arts. And it is definitely a marvelous addition to any martial art library. I sincerely thank Chris Crudelli for putting such a book together. I highly recommend this for all martial artists and those who follow the warrior's path.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a mediator/attorney with Bennett Law Office P.C. and an author/speaker through his own company Burrese Enterprises Inc. He writes and speaks about 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 at his websites http://www.burrese.com or http://www.bennettlawofficepc.com

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Martial Art Karate

by Fred P. Nichols

There are many different styles of martial arts and by far the most popular is the martial art Karate. What sets the martial art Karate apart from the rest is how and why it was developed. It developed out the basic necessity of survival by peaceful people and became a way of life. Karate became a formalized martial art that developed in Okinawa as a way of defending a culture against armed warriors.

The martial art Karate in its purest form is an art of weaponless self-defense. It is comprised of punches, kicks, and strikes executed in circular or linear thrusting and striking motions. Combining these techniques with proper breathing and body position, forming animal like stances, Karate becomes a self-defense system worthy of defending against an armed or unarmed assailant or assailants.

With roots dating back to China, Karate emerged as a martial art capable of withstanding any adversarial challenge. Many of the techniques and self-defense philosophies within the Okinawan fighting systems came from the original form of Shaolin Kung Fu. The people of Okinawa did make minor changes to concentrate on power that would focus on inflicting injuries to opponents wearing armor.

Since Karate develops around the strengths of a practitioner some techniques were modified from original Kung Fu techniques to adapt to the physique of the Okinawan people and terrain of Okinawa.

Most martial arts have many essential aspects that make up the respective systems. Karate maintains the nine original essential aspects brought from China. Not many Karate practitioners know about these aspects nor do they practice all of them. The nine aspects of Karate are:

• Breathing
• Striking Vital Areas
• Pressure Points
• Joint Locks
• Grappling
• Pain Control
• Throwing and Sweeping
• Choking
• Counters to all the above aspects

Through Okinawan Kata (forms) and drilling of basic techniques these aspects are practiced and perfected. Within the Okinawan kata most of theses techniques are hidden movements. With some techniques just too dangerous to practice on another human being some of these nine essential aspects have been neglected, put aside, or just forgotten. Most Karate practitioners only concentrate on two or three of these.

The uniqueness of the martial art Karate is the powerful strikes a practitioner can deliver to an adversary. Through countless hours of training Karate practitioners develop physical and mental strengths that seem super human in nature.

A benefit from practicing the martial art Karate is that it builds extremely strong bodies. A practitioner not only develops strength in the body, but the mind as well. This keeps the Karate practitioner young and healthy.

Modern day Karate has evolved into a mixture of many martial arts. Traditionally, there were only two types of kicks - the back kick and the front kick. Today you find just about every type of kick within Karate, which more than likely was influenced by sport Karate. Karate was never intended to be a sport, but only for use in life or death confrontations.

Sport Karate evolved as a way for practitioners to test their skills against other martial artists. The first karate tournaments awarded points for a kill strike or blow. Today points are awarded for tagging the opponent, and in many cases these techniques in sport Karate lack power.

Understand one thing about the martial art Karate, the techniques practiced and if executed properly can deliver tremendous power making it an effective self-defense system for anybody regardless of their size and gender.

Get all the help you need with learning expert Karate techniques. Get a FREE 10 Part Secrets of Karate minicourse. Get started today learning expert Karate techniques from author and master Karate Instructor Fred Nichols who has been teaching Karate to students for over 38 years. Learn the true meaning of Karate and become proficient in the martial arts at: http://www.okinawanryu.com

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