Master Clark

With all the different styles of martial arts that are practiced today karate is definitely the most popular. There are karate studios all over the country in virtually every town and city. They are not all the same, however, as the best ones will teach traditional Japanese karate, which involves more than just self-defense techniques. Karate is a truly incredible art form, one which is built upon the basic concept of merging the body and mind into a defensive weapon and using it to protect not only ones own self, but others as well. Karate has actually always been one of the most practiced martial art forms in the world, and it strongly relies on physical coordination and mental focus. There are...

What is Sport Karate? Fighting Divisions In today's terminology, Sport Karate (or Sport Martial Arts) is the application of competitive martial arts in a sporting environment, and has been around for a few decades. The two main categories/divisions of competition are Fighting and Forms, with this article focusing on the Fighting category. Part 2 will focus on the Forms category. Within those two categories, there are various areas of competition - such as weapon forms, musical forms, team forms, team fighting, continuous fighting, and many more divisions (depending what sanction an athlete competes in). Sport Martial Arts is quickly evolving as competitors continue to push the envelope of what...

I have some thoughts on what it takes to be a leader in general. No puns intended for general as in an army general but it was meant generically. Anyway, being a leader fully involves paradoxes as you will get to see in this article. A leader should know the art of being a good follower as well. Same concept as a good conversationalist. A good conversationalist has to be a good listener too, paradoxically. In fact, what would probably be challenging for a leader to do would be to know when to follow and when not to. Following does not mean giving up or giving in but leading from behind. Leaders should be willing to give others a chance to lead. Speaking of which, they should be learnable as well. Do...

Many people are planning to start learning about martial arts nowadays but may not have taken into account the fact that they will need martial arts equipment to be able to practice this hobby or occupation. Here are some tips on how to get the best martial arts equipment you need: 1.Try to figure out which martial arts equipment you want to become proficient in. The uniforms in martial arts differ in design, color and use so you have to be specific about which uniform you wish to use. This also applies to your martial arts equipment since the martial arts equipment for one martial art may be unique to that martial art. 2.Find out what protective gear you need to be able to spar and train in your...

Rap singers dominate above representatives of other musical styles in number of shootings, fights and wrangling. Illegal past of most rap singers is a common place. They are rumoured to push drugs and sell armour. I believe this reasons the style's aggressive character and its close relation to a real everyday life. The history of rap's development, therefore, sees myriad criminal appalling stories. The most popular altercation in the history of rap is regarded a confrontation between 2PAC and Notorious B. I. G. These rappers are rumoured to invoke a West/East coast war in the USA. The conflict emerged from numerous reports on spouse infidelity of Notorious BIG's wife, who betrayed him with 2PAC...

Dorothy Law Nolte may not be a household name, but for parents across the nation her poem -- "Children Learn What They Live" - has long been a child-rearing mantra. You may even remember it pasted up on your own refrigerator or hanging in your kitchen while you were growing up. Children Learn What They Live If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive. If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves. If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy. If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy. If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If children live with...

The core of true fitness lies in your heart's strength. Your heart is one of the most valuable pieces of equipment in your body. This little pump the size of your own fist literally creates life for your body. You can survive a shock to your brain, but if your heart stops, the chances of survival diminish drastically. If your heart is weak, your whole body is weak. It represents the ultimate power both internally and externally. A strong heart helps you lift weights easier, helps you run faster, jump higher and creates a better athlete or a better exercise devotee. If all the above is true, how come a lot of us worry about the size of our biceps instead? I believe this is true because one way or...

I'm often asked the question "Which is better, Karate or Taekwondo?"; "Which is stronger, Judo or Kung Fu?"; or more direct questions such as "Could you beat a Mixed Martial artist in a fight?" Thanks to the current popularity of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) we are seeing a showcase of different styles being pitted against one another. However my answer to all of these questions has to do with the many different paths that are available in the martial arts, and the one common destination. Before I elaborate on what that actually means let me first give you a situation. You are standing outside your local shopping mall and you want to get home. How many ways could you do it? Well you...

Beginner level Karate Kids seem to be getting younger and younger nowadays. What is the right age to start the martial arts? Is your little one ready to become a karate kid? Back when I started practicing martial arts in the early 1980s in England the youngest child my local karate school would take was 8 years old. Consequently I started karate at the age of 8. I was then thrown in with the older kids and the adults and was given the option to "sink or swim". As karate has become more popular over the years, kids of a younger age are getting started in the martial arts. There has of course been a strong influence from the Ninja Turtles and the Power Rangers but also with the ever expanding...

I've got a confession to make. I like watching science programs and nature programs. I recently watched a National Geographic special on The Science of the Punch and learned a lot about martial arts that I hadn't considered before. I learned that the single most powerful punch - by a factor of 30% - was from good old fashioned Western boxing. I saw a lot about transferring energy from the back leg through the core of the body that I'd known before, and some really cool stuff from ninjitsu that I'd never seen before. But what impressed me most of all was watching their section on Mauy Thai, and how some of the combinations in Mauy Thay deliver the ultimate combination of economy of motion and...

The basic principle to be understood in the feeding of dogs is that, with only minor variations, they have the same nutritive requirements as man. A dog apparently has less need for starches, and its digestive juices do not handle fatty foods well. Thus, the dog's meat should always be quite lean, otherwise it will commonly cause a stomach upset with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The best foods for the dog are milk, meat, and vegetables. Most dogs will enjoy milk and digest it readily. Some breeds, however, such as the Boston Terrier, often do not seem to be able to handle milk and will vomit it. Where this occurs, milk should naturally be avoided. But with most breeds this difficulty will not...

Hector, one of the heroes of the Trojan war, had such a fearsome war-cry it would drive whole armies back, Medieval Irish warriors were known to instill fear in even the toughest most disciplined English troops. The druids used a low-droning sound to un-nerve the Roman legions in the battle field, and G.I.'s returning from the pacific after world war 2 tell of a paralyzing Battle-cry that the Japanese used during bayonet charges. Oriental B.S.? Martial-arts fantasy or just proper psychology and physics applied at the right moment? In one form or another, The Kiai or spirit shout has been touted to be an effective psychological weapon in the battle field or in one-on-one combat. Whether you are a...

Our Lord inspired me to write this article to offer practical ways to let off steam without adverse effects. Oddly, one of the first things that came to me was to eliminate any feeling that some of us might have to feel pressured to be "in style." Think about it. Most of the time, being "in style" causes people to look ridiculous. I mean it causes older people trying to look young again to become laughingstocks. It causes younger people a lot of mental and financial pressure trying to maintain stylishness. And it causes overweight people to look even more so! Years ago I also was caught in this same web. One year the hemlines were around the ankle, the next around mid-thigh. I was a single mother...

Whether you're just beginning martial arts training or you've been a practitioner for years, you may have encountered challenges in finding uniforms that have the right fit. Contrary to the popular saying, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to martial arts uniforms. Moreover, a single size might not fit correctly either. After all, many of us aren't proportionate; we may require a larger top and a smaller bottom, or vice versa. Unfortunately, though, many people - especially those just starting out - buy ill-fitting uniforms from their instructors. But before exploring the possibilities for well-fitting uniforms, let's look at the basics: Basic Martial Arts Uniforms The type of uniform you need...

More on Chinese Kung Fu Kung Fu a generic label used to describe the martial arts that come from China. Chinese kung fu is not only about fighting but about self discipline, self respect, humbleness and patience. What makes the Chinese martial arts unique is the use of meditation as part of their art. Also the many weapons they have to master is another unique benefit of kung fu. Kung fu really took off in China when they added mind training to their workouts. They were the first to combine mental exercises with physical. The results were the most effective martial arts system around. When the figured out how to train the mind correctly they were able to push the body way beyond its normal limits...

Boxing is a combat game played throughout the world. The history of the combat sports game seems to be more interesting and the participation of people get increased day by day. It is a pre-historic game which founds its origin in ancient Greek period. Generally, boxing is played by two numbers of players where people fight, knocks each other on proper techniques. The origin of boxing game was found to be in the ancient Greek period and then later by ancient Romans. It was found that during that period they had sports called pugilism which is also referred as boxing. This type of sports event was said to be more popular and most of the people shows their interest in developing the skill and...

Elliptical trainers' costs should not be a big deal if you are after a long-term fitness machine that will serve its purpose well. It is a fact that elliptical trainers do not come cheap. It also does not help that many cheap ones are emerging already. That is why you cannot really blame those who would rather opt for the cheaper ones since they really do not have the budget for it after all. What should have come first and foremost in mind is that physical fitness is a lifetime endeavor. When you see that you are fit enough and has lost some of the pounds in you, it should not stop there. You should maintain it for other health benefits that it can give you. Having your own elliptical trainer is...

Being certified as an IT professional is one way of increasing your chances for a promotion or getting hired. If you are already working though you might not have the time to fit in regular classes in your schedule, especially if the school is located some distance. Programs like online certification training for Linux and Java make it possible for you to get that extra niche up by working at your own pace in your own home without the hassle of commute. Students who would like to enroll in online programs must have a basic understanding of operating a computer, word processing skills, spread sheets and database know-how. You must also have knowledge of accessing the internet and communicating...

Let's see. You did the laundry, dropped the boys off at Karate and the girls at dance class, stopped at the grocery store for a few last minute dinner items...What's missing? As you were taking care of everyone else all day long, did you remember to take care of yourself? I know it can be hard to carve out space for you, since being a mom is a full time job, but taking care of yourself helps you have the strength and energy to keep taking care of everyone else, from your children to the snake your son left in the pocket of his dirty jeans. If trying to squeeze out a few more hours a day just for you seems impossible, why not try one of these ideas: 1. Don't be afraid to start small. It's better for...

Those with children who are planning to move have special concerns. They have to make sure the children are placed in a school that makes them feel safe and secure and makes the move seamless for them. There are some ways to find a great school in a new area for children. Research it on the internet and find out all information needed about it. Go visit it if necessary. Meet with the teachers and staff. Do they seem friendly or do they act uncaring? Check with others to see how the principal communicates with the families. Does he or she send home a weekly news bulletin or commicate via e-mail? Have any of the professors received classroom grants? Does the school work to get parents on a teacher...

In order to learn Wing Chun, it is important to understand the history behind it. There are many versions of how Wing Chun came into being. Some say it was started by Ng Mui, a Buddhist nun who developed it over 300 years ago in southern China and named it after her student, Yim Wing Chun. While others believe it was started by a Shoalin monk in the early to mid 1700s. Wing Chun was almost unheard of anywhere else but China until 1950 when Grandmaster Yip Man began teaching in Hong Kong and his students grew in number. One on these students was the late Bruce Lee who became a master of the form and used Wing Chun as the basis for Jeet Kune Do or the Way of the Intercepting Fist, the style of martial...

Education is a very important part of our lives. While we generally think of education as being found only in facilities which serve this purpose, that there are other methods by which a person can get their education. One of these methods is known as distance education. It can be applied to various aspects of your education as well. The internet is one of the best ways that you will find to gather the information that you need about distance education. You will find sites which can provide you with the courses that you need for a good education. There are sites which will inform you of the differences between the accredited distance learning sites and that of bogus educational sites. As the...

In Judo, Tokui Waza means "favorite" or "best" technique. It's the throw that fits naturally to your body type, and you have practiced it thousands of times to make it an instinctual response. Everyone at the club or local tournament knows that you'll use it, but there's nothing they can do to stop it...you're just that damn good at it. Same thing goes in business. Everyone needs to have a carefully prepared and practiced Tokui Waza. Of course, you are not going to toss your clients, customer or superior over your head (Although that would be nice sometimes) but you are going to have to knock their socks off from time to time with some sort of presentation. And regardless if you are selling the...

Thanksgiving is one day a year when we get together to celebrate all the great things we have in life. But why should this happen only one day a year when there are things to be grateful for each day of the year? By showing your gratitude for the blessings and happenings that occur in everyday life you can teach your children a healthy sense of gratitude that lasts all through the other 364 days of the year. One way to begin teaching gratitude at a young age is to teach your children to use the magic words, "please and thank you." They will need prompting at first to know when they should say please or thank you, but eventually they will learn to say it without being told. Not only does this teach...

It would be impossible to fully track every aspect of the beginnings of mma. The Greeks, Romans, Cavemen? I will try to bring to you a history of mma that impacted the United States as I believe it occurred, and what is now the growing popularity in this reality fighting. When I use the term reality fighting, it refers to actual full contact striking and joint wrenching submissions. It is not meant to disrespect the traditional martial arts. In Brazil there was a competition called vale tudo (Portuguese for anything goes) In the early nineties an elder son of a very respected Brazilian jiu-jitsu (bjj) master came to the United States. This elder son and his younger brother were giving Bjj lessons...

The roundhouse kick when preformed properly is one of the most powerful strikes that exist. Some people believe that this type of technique is too fancy, elaborate, and not practical. This misconception may be due to movies where people do a very high or spinning roundhouse kick. While these are not bad, they are difficult for most people to do effectively with speed and or strength. The fastest, easiest and most powerful roundhouse kick is the one that is below that waist of the person kicking. If the roundhouse kick is higher then the waist of the person performing the strike, it looses power and take more time and flexibility. It can be used very effectively by targeting the lower targets of the...

Are you shy? Do you have difficulty coping with people or situations? Then I have good news for you. You do not have to suffer from shyness and you should not feel insecure and fear that you are being judged with every step you take. Winning the war with shyness takes practice, but is definitely well worth the effort as the result is increasing confidence and self esteem. Wake up feeling good about yourself, able to face the world with confidence and security and the knowing that no feeling of shyness can come in your way of achieving your desires. There are hundreds of books written on the subject of how beat shyness and gain confidence, but there are a few techniques that anyone can practice. Here...

You shouldn't be surprised that there are so many martial arts weapons that have been developed through the centuries. Since many martial arts have been around since ancient times, martial arts weapons are bound to have evolved too over time. Take the knife for example - practically all martial arts will teach their students how to use knives as martial arts weapons because almost all cultures have developed and used some version of the knife. The Philippines has the balisong, also called a Butterfly knife, which folds into its handle when not being used. The tanto is a Japanese stabbing knife that was usually carried by Japanese women within their obi as their self-defense weapon. There is also the...

The back fist is one of the most fastest hand techniques available. As it uses a snapping motion rather than a thrusting one, (like most other strikes), it can be whipped out in a flash. So why is it not used more frequently by martial artists. Well it is a technique that relies heavily on the striking point to achieve the best results. You must use the actual back part of the knuckles to strike. Seldom people strike with the padded hammer fist or the back of the hand, which will not do much damage at all, but a strike with knuckles to targets such as the eyebrow or upper lip can be very painful. Also when wearing gloves, it is impossible to strike with the boney knuckles, and many fighters tend to...

There are many ways that people can learn to defend themselves. The most popular version is that of martial arts. In the different martial arts forms you will sometimes find that there are various weapons which can be used. You will learn about these martial arts weapons from martial arts academies. You will however need to make sure that the martial arts academy that you are choosing has qualified instructors. With the help of these individuals you will be able to master your choice of martial arts weapons. At these times using the martial arts weapons of your discipline will help you. This weapon can also teach you how to move in time with your karate moves. Depending on the form of martial arts...

Tae Kwon Do is a martial art form that originated in Korea over two thousand years ago. Tae Kwon Do literally means "the way kicking and punching". Tae Kwon Do stresses fast and effective strikes that are accurate and powerful. Tae Kwon Do is not just a martial arts style, but also a mindset and way of life. Most people recognize Tae Kwan Do by its fast kicks, spinning kicks, and aerial kicks. However, Tae Kwon Do also makes use of the fists and can be very defensive as well. Taekwondo footwork training allows a martial arts practitioner to improve his or her precision and speed. Tae Kwon Do pushes muscles to their limit in terms of speed, strength, and flexibility. Tae Kwon Do also pushes your body...

Grappling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a martial art that has borrowed from several others to become a unique entity among martial art enthusiasts. Developed in Brazil by the Gracie family, grappling is taking the world by storm as the premier fighting style. A grappling fighter actually one the Ultimate Fighting Championship four out of five times going against martial artists in Karate, Judo, and even jiu-jitsu. Grappling is great on a one to one opponent, but is grappling efficient when you are attacked by multiple adversaries? Grappling main idea is to fight from the ground. A grappling fighter is taught to get in close and grab the opponent and bring them down to the ground so that they can...

While there are many ways that people can try to keep in shape they will need various items to help them. For martial arts the items that you will use are ones that have been used for many centuries. To perform all of your martial arts moves with fluid grace you will need to have access to martial arts training supplies. These supplies should be used with the martial arts discipline in mind. You will find that each martial arts form has different styles and movements. For this reason the martial arts training supplies are geared towards this. The first item that is needed in any type of martial arts is that of the uniform. Next might be various martial arts weapons. While these are the basic martial...

Contrary to what many believe, the importance of weight room training when preparing for mixed martial arts fights cannot be understated. Over the years, many people mistakenly believe that weight training will cause loss of flexibility and a decrease in speed and this is not so when weight training is tailored to martial arts requirements.Weight room training is a very important part of Mixed martial arts training for a very a number of reasons. A mixed martial artist needs not only the strength and power for use as attack but must also have the muscle power and stamina to absorb an attack from his opponent. Stretching is very important as it helps create flexibility by increasing your range of...

The style of "Senso-Ryu", which translates to "Battle Style", is a gendai goshin sogo bujutsu or "modern composite martial art of self defense" consisting of jujutsu (grappling, submissions, immobilizations), atemi- waza (striking techniques), projections (throws) with "aiki" principles, and weapons. Originally developed in the late 1960's by Richard Behrens from various Japanese arts, It is an effective, well rounded system primarily focusing on defense against multiple attackers (taninsu kake). Senso-Ryu claim no direct connection to any specific koryu. Training in this system is a serious commitment and not for everyone. Many people today treat martial arts as a "pastime" or "hobby" and the dojo...

Tae Kwon do is one of the known ways that people exercise to keep in shape. You will find that there are many different places like academies and dojos where you can get the training in Tae Kwon Do that you need. In Tae Kwon Do you will have various types of Tae Kwon Do moves which are needed. These moves can be learned by all of the interested students. Among the moves that you will learn is how to use the equipment which is part of the training. You will find as you progress in your training that each discipline of karate to have its own moves which are different to the Tae Kwon Do moves. When you are practicing with these moves you will notice that you will need to learn how to coordinate your...