Master Clark

Being a Black Belt in Martial Arts as well as being a Certified Fitness Trainer, I am asked all the time about what the best workout or routine is for a beginner or someone who has trained before and is just getting back into it. There are so many answers to this but I usually tell them that the easiest way to break back into training is to make it as simple as possible...especially where the Martial Arts are concerned. Never have I seen more injuries than in class when someone is doing a new technique, giving it their all after a long layoff. Now, I have been strength training for most all of my life and have been doing Martial Arts conditioning for the last 8 years. What works for me won't...

Knowing what is the best martial arts conditioning equipment and how to use it can mean the difference between being somewhat in shape and being extremely fit. Not only that, but your mastery of whatever combative art you're doing can be greatly enhanced with the right equipment. So, if you're interested in getting really good at your art, and also in getting in extremely good shape, then you need to get the right equipment and learn to use it. There are basically two types of equipment to buy. The first type of martial arts conditioning equipment would be sport specific-something you would only use in a self-defense context. The second type of equipment is geared more towards your more general...

MARTIAL ARTS CONDITIONING PUTS UNIQUE DEMANDS ON THE BODY Unlike some athletic pursuits, martial arts is all about skill. While conditioning, strength, and flexibility are undoubtedly important, they're just the building blocks upon which your skills are perfected. Therefore, you need a conditioning regimen that boosts muscular endurance to unprecedented heights of achievement, but leaves you with enough energy to devote to your skill training. If your conditioning workout leaves you dead tired, your martial arts will suffer. KETTLEBELLS AND MARTIAL ARTS CONDITIONING: THE EXTRAORDINARY LIE So do kettlebells and martial arts go together like two peas in a pod, like the kettlebell marketers will have...

You're at wits end. You've just found out your man is cheating on you and you're about ready to start tossing skillets at his head. Honestly, no one would blame you. Once cheating has occurred, the relationship may no longer be salvageable. It's not easy to forgive and forget. However, it's still important to understand why men cheat on their wives and girlfriends to help you avoid similar situations in the future. After all, you deserve a man who will cherish, adore, and love you the way you've always wanted. Most men cheat on their wives and girlfriends because they aren't happy in the relationship. If they're happy and their needs are met, then they have no reason to cheat. However, many men...

u don’t think that you have the time to learn proper self defense, then you have just run out of excuses. You no longer need to go to a weekly class or work out in the gym to be able to properly defend yourself. With self defense videos, you can now learn how to defend yourself from the comfort of your own home. If you are looking for a self defense video, the first and last place you need to look at is close combat training. There are of course hundreds of different videos that you can buy but they will all only give you one piece of the puzzle. Since there are so many different kinds of martial arts and defense tactics, it is important to find one that suits all of your needs at once. That...

r modern world, knowledge on various subjects can already be easily acquired through various medium. The Internet has especially helped our lives become better and much more convenient because knowledge and learning have become well within our reach. Many classes that were typically taught within the four walls of the classroom, for example, may now be taken at the comforts of your own home, with the aid of the computer. Back in the day, self-defense classes were to be taught in martial arts schools, clubs, and gyms. In such settings, the student came face to face with the master and was able to spar with him. The student was also able to compare self-defense moves and tricks with fellow students...

Evaluate Your Motives There are many different reasons for taking up MMA. What do you want to accomplish with your training? Are you looking for a new hobby or would you like to have a career in MMA? Is it just a fun way to get fit or are you looking to get a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu, for example? Is it about becoming a skilled martial artist and fighter and perhaps trying out your skills in competition some day? Do you plan to be the next UFC Champion or is it more about learning to defend yourself and getting fit at the same time? Would you like to become an instructor or coach? The answers to these questions will help you to set short and long term goals and choose the gym that's right for you...

Avoiding the very situations that make things dangerous for you is the first step in self-defense once you leave your home. While something could happen to you in your own house, the odds are highly more likely that if you were attacked, it would be away from home while you are out and about. While you do not have to be 100% on guard every time you walk away from home, you should know enough to be not only self-aware but also aware of what is going on in your surroundings. Taking a proactive approach to your own safety can go a long way in preventing attacks or harassment. There are a few general ideas you can employ that will greatly lessen your chances of a harmful confrontation with a criminal...

Many people don't realize it, but realtors face many hazards when it comes to personal safety at work. They frequently work alone, in empty homes, and meet clients in unfamiliar or empty locations. If you are a real estate agent, be sure to consider your personal safety when going about your work. With a little preparation and a small investment in pepper spray and other self defense products, you can ensure your safety while on the job. The job of a realtor involves spending a lot of time alone in locations that may be new to you. Plus, there is the added danger of being lured to unoccupied homes by potential attackers pretending to be potential buyers of the property. As you arrive alone to a...

I've talked pretty badly about the mixed martial arts (MMA) as a form of self-defense in the past, but always promised to talk about its good points someday. This time I'm going to discuss the technical problems inherent in learning a martial "sport" and trying to adapt it for use in real combat, but I'll also show you what we CAN learn from modern MMA. In the beginning, there was Vale Tudo in Brazil and Cage Fighting in Russia. The only rules were "no biting or eye gouging." That was almost the real deal, but even then I told people that one of the best techniques for getting out of chokes, neck cranks and many holds on the ground had to do with the proper use of pressure against the eyes of your...

Most articles talk about how to fight the wrinkles before they appear. In this article, let's look at some methods to reduce the wrinkles you already have. Every tip in this article have been confirmed by the American Academy of Dermatology as being highly useful in minimizing the signs of wrinkles. The first trick to fight the wrinkles you have already got is actually contained in the doing the things that will help prevent new wrinkles from appearing. Things like avoiding sunlight and using sunscreen when you can, not smoking and trying to avoid contact with secondhand smoke, sleeping enough, sleeping on your back, and finally, drinking enough water. A great homeopathic remedy for wrinkled skin is...

We cannot avoid stress. It is everywhere. Our daily activities and interactions with other people predispose us to stressful situations. Our stress comes from a multitude of sources ranging from an overflow of work in the office to death of a loved one. Sometimes, it is due to external circumstances beyond our control. Whatever its origin, stress can create a serious effect on our body, mind and soul. Studies show that a variety of diseases have been linked to psychological stress. Although still in its early stages, research shows that 75 percent of all physician visits are made by people with stress related complaints. Even our everyday aches and pains like headaches, backaches and...

In order to get rid of the belly fat, first you should now why it is still there on your body. There are a lot of people who complain that despite regular workouts, they are not able to kill the abdominal fat. According to them, they play sports and pump iron in gyms, yet the belly remains chubby. Belly fat can be formed because of many reasons. If you are regularly working out but still are not able to get rid of your stomach fat then your diet may not be control. Another reason for your bulging belly could be that your workout does not targeting your abs. This means that the exercises that you do may help you in keeping the other parts of your body fit but they do not helping you get a flat tummy...

Many people around the world experience excessive sweating, so you should not be alarmed if you are one of them. If you are looking to cure hyperhidrosis, you must first understand the cause of hyperhidrosis. Sweating is our body's normal way of cooling down. By sweating, the body releases moisture onto our skins, so that when the moisture evaporates, heat is taken away from our body. Therefore it is very natural to sweat when our body temperatures heat up, either during a workout, or under a stressful or anxious situation. Excessive sweating, however, is a completely different case from normal sweating. Excessive sweating does not need to happen when the body temperature is high. In fact, it can...

The founder of shotokan karate, master Gichin Funakoshi, said, 'The ultimate aim of the art of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the characters of its participants'. Other Karate sensei preach Ikken Hissatsu (To kill or finish with one blow), which is correct? I once witnessed a no rules fight between two karateka (someone who practices karate) and there was a referee. One of the karateka wore his karate suit, the other just shorts and you could tell that the fighter wearing shorts had trained in other disciplines. The guy in the karate uniform had a look that I can only describe as 'monk like', he looked very calm and relaxed. The guy in the shorts looked like a wild...

Many times an attacker will use a deadly weapon against a victim. This can be a gun or a knife or some other type of weapon that can cause great bodily harm. Martial arts and self-defense experts do not always agree on a proper defense. In this article we will show 2 defenses against deadly weapons in a self-defense situation. Many martial arts or self-defense trainers do not teach defense against deadly weapons. Their thoughts are that in most cases the victim is better off cooperating with the armed attacker. In some cases though the level of experience and confidence one has in their own abilities plays a role. The stories of people being taken and further abused by an assailant with a gun or...

What follows is a tip you can use to improve your students' technique practice. You'll find the best instant motivator and discover the best times to introduce this variable. This technique is what I call Enthusiasm by Demonstration. Students Practice Problem In the beginning of class you typically have your students practice punching and kicking techniques. Maybe you also have other strikes, like elbow strikes. And maybe even some check, blocks, and footwork. Unfortunately, you have recently noticed your students just going through the motions. You don't see much enthusiasm for practicing the boring stuff. Even modeling proper technique in front of the class doesn't seem to help much. The Practical...

Pepper spray is one of the old non lethal self defense products that has for years been used as a weapon of self defense. It is also known as OC Spray (The full form of OC is Oleoresin capsicum) and is derived from a certain class of plants called Capsicum. Chilli Pepper Spray is used widely for a variety of self defense purposes! Out of the different types of sprays the most common one is chili pepper. The main ingredient present in spray is Capsaicin that produces a burning sensation in any human tissue that it touches. Capsaicin has the natural capability to irritate humans so it is made from it is used widely for a variety of self defense purposes. For example, the police uses chilly spray to...

On your journey to martial arts training excellence it's important to understand the stages we go through as we are learning and developing, so we know where we are at and know where we are going. Here are the 4 stages of learning. I Unconscious incompetence Blissful ignorance Confidence exceeds ability, we are not knowledgeable/skillful We don't know we don't know. I don't know how do this martial arts technique or whether I am doing it right. II Conscious incompetence We discover a skill we wish to learn - driving a car, riding a bike Confidence drops as we realise our ability is limited We need to practise to learn. Often this means not succeeding at first. This is learning; unfortunately, in our...

This is a really good skill to have and after 30 days it becomes a habit, your progression rate will be far greater than those who only attend a class or two a week. At first ten minutes is a good time to start with. It's no time at all and everyone can spare ten minutes each day, even if it means putting on the electronic brain reducer a little later! Practice all areas of skill and mix your martial arts training, shadow spar, bag work and partner work. Fit your training in with goals, so decide where you want to be "begin with the end in mind", which is personal Leadership and then begin to marry your goals with your daily actions which is called personal management. Remember it's stupid to want...

Bassai Dai translates as "To storm a fortress" and is practiced in many styles of karate. There are many variations of the original Passai, which was the original name for Bassai. It is believed that there were two versions of Passai practiced on Okinawa. Karate master, Sokon Matsumrua brought one Passai kata to Okinawa, from China and the other was taught to Okan Oyadomari on Okinawa, by a Chinese martial artist, who resided there. The one we are referring to here, is the shotokan Bassai Dai, which many believe came from the Okan Oyadomari lineage. In many shotokan karate dojo, Bassai dai is the first intermediate brown belt kata that a new brown belt karateka practices. Many shotokan karateka use...

I'm not going to waste your time with a bunch of garbage about "why self defense is important" and all that. You should already know that it's everyone's right and responsibility to be able to protect themselves and those they love. You're here because you want something more, right? You're here because you want real-life, no-holds-barred street fighting techniques that are designed to break, crush and maim your attackers. You want the details on "dirty" street fighting techniques that are made for survival – and may even save your life. None of this "twist your foot this way" or "move your wrist an extra half inch" crap that anybody can spout off in some kind of "karate 101" book. The common...

A reasoning fallacy particularly potent in arguments ofpersonal beliefs, ideologies, or worldviews is theself-sealing argument. Self-sealing arguments takepositions that no evidence can possibly refute. While thismay seem attractive, and a good way to win any argument,self-sealing arguments are both useless and potentiallydamaging to relationships. One of the most common forms of self-sealingarguments is claiming the other person is not sophisticatedenough or learned enough to understand the concept beingargued. It is evident in the following conversation: John: All families are dysfunctional. Mike: My family wasn't dysfunctional. I had a goodchildhood. John: That just shows how...

The going has gotten tough in your happy home more than a time or two. If you've sent more skillets flying than flowers it's possible that you're a candidate for cheating. Or you might be one of the many men or women in the world who is currently being cheated on. Whether you're the one doing the cheating or the one who has had the world ripped out from under you by a cheater you might want to take a little time to learn how to fight fairly so that you can avoid cheating in the future. The benefits of learning the right way to fight can save your marriage even after an affair. I'm not talking about donning boxing gloves and going 10 rounds though that might be what you feel like doing after some of...

Many people today are suffering from one ailment or another. One thing is abundantly clear however, the market is listening. With so many different medications, products, and natural remedies available we can definitely come to the conclusion, that we need to pay attention to our body. Leaving all that aside, however, sometimes the best "cure" is prevention. Take hemorrhoids for example. Many people hear all the talk about them but most, until they are afflicted with it and are in excruciating pain. Having no idea how to cure hemorrhoids, they find themselves in a compromising position. Had they known how to cure hemorrhoids easily and efficiently before it became a problem, even before it became...

How many fights have you had with your partner have ended with something along the lines of "I just can't get over the fact that you cheated." You probably didn't say it that nicely but the point is that whenever you don't want to deal with the issue you're really arguing about or you think you can't win the fight you go back and open the old wound that cheating brought into the relationship. This might even be your passive aggressive way or turning the dagger a bit by playing on the guilt your partner feels about cheating. Cheating isn't an insignificant act. As much as you were hurt by it the person who loves you more than anyone else in the world has to live with the knowledge that he or she did...

Self defense training - especially in Today's often violent world - has to be less about your own personal preferences, and more about what you'll need to survive. While they say that they're looking for effective self defense training, far too many people take up the study of martial arts or enroll in a self defense program for one of three basic reasons: 1. Convenience. The school or class is being held close to their home or job. Heaven forbid, we wouldn't want them to have to go out of their way to learn how to not die! 2. Preference. Often a self defense training program is chosen, not because it's effective, but because the student likes the "style" or approach. People who like wrestling will...

Have you ever been in a situation that required you to act against an attacker? Have you ever thought that learning martial arts is the need of the hour? If these questions hold good for you, then learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the answer! Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is from the Japanese martial art that uses a system of throws, strikes, blocks, sweeps and locks to overcome an attacker. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is both practical and defensive. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu helps the defender to make use of the attacker?s strength, size and momentum for his/her advantage to overcome the attacker. One can become very good at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because of this reason. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training is a gradual process and...

One of the most under utilized, yet effective self defense impact weapons is the police style expandable friction lock baton. Law enforcement personnel take full advantage of these batons using them daily. Civilians for the most part are just becoming familiar with the weapon. The expandable baton is an excellent self defense weapon. Made of solid steel the handle is lined with a comfortable, durable and gripping foam. The baton is thickest at the base and becomes more narrow toward the top of the shaft. In the closed position it makes for an excellent “blocking weapon” as well as a pressure point tool. In the closed position the baton is compact, between seven and ten inches depending upon...

You never know for sure if your assailant has a weapon of not, unless they use the weapon to threaten you. (More on that later) In low light conditions, how do you know if it's a stab or a punch? Some times it's too late. So you must always assume he's armed! Most martial arts and self defense systems teach you separate defenses for armed and unarmed assailants. If you are practicing separate weapon and empty hand techniques right now, you're adding another difficult step to an already difficult situation and increasing your chances of being severely injured or killed exponentially. For arguments sake, let's say you can identify he has a weapon, your training tells you to react in a completely...

Did you know the Taser is used by well over 11,000 law enforcement agencies in four countries? The reason is simple: when it comes to applying non lethal force in the continuum of force law enforcement agencies teach, the TASER has the most consistent and best take down record. TASER C2 has a higher instant incapacitation rate than a 9mm hand gun. Maybe that is why it has over 500,000 users worldwide. The TASER C2 shoots out 2 darts attached to 15 feet of wire 50,000 volts travels over the wires and over-rides the central nervous system providing incredible takedown power. This allows you a safe distance to protect yourself and family from an attacker. If a close quarter defense is warranted, the C2...

Stun guns have been around for a long time. Until about 5-10 years ago they were used almost exclusively by law enforcement with great success. Then they became popular for civilian use. Today they are the second most popular self defense product behind only pepper spray for self defense. "They are hand held devices with two or more prongs on the end that conducts an electrical charge. When applied to an assailant for 3-5 seconds the charge causes the body to overwork to such a degree that all blood sugars in the body needed for energy are depleted. There is no energy left. It is like running a marathon in 5 seconds." The new rechargeable pen stun gun is 1.2 million volts of pure power. The compact...

Before you buy a self defense product you should do some homework and make sure you get the right product for your needs. This checklist will help a lot. Here are some tips to study before you buy. The product you choose could end up saving your life. 1. Self defense items cause no long lasting damage to an assailant. 2. They are only meant to give you time to escape a threatening situation and seek help. Nothing more. 3. They can incapacitate an assailant for anywhere from 5-45 minutes. 4. Stun guns and tasers are illegal in some states. Pepper sprays have restrictions in some states. Check with your local Sheriff before you buy or look on the internet. 5. PEPPER SPRAYS have ranges from 6 to as...

Kajukenbo is an eclectic martial art that was created in Hawaii in the late 1940s.It was invented in 1947 in Oahu, Hawaii, at the Palama Settlements, to deal with local crime, as well as to help the people defend themselves from U.S. Navy sailors who would drink and fight with the locals. The inventors were Sijo ("founder") Adriano Emperado, Peter Young Yil Choo, Joe Holck, Frank Ordonez, and Clarence Chang, who called themselves the Black Belt Society. The system of Kajukenbo Brutal, deadly, overkill, street effective. These and many other such terms have been used to describe the martial art system known as kajukenbo. Kajukenbo gained it's reputation for being brutally effective decades ago in the...