Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
From The Zen Way to The Martial Arts...
...In the traditional Japanese arts, whether martial or other, proper breathing is taught as an essential and fundamental factor of concentration.
Air contains the energy and life from the universe which we receive through our lungs and every cell in our bodies, and so it is important to know how to breathe.
We ordinarily breathe fifteen to twenty times a minute...
...deep, full breathing does not take place only at the level of the thorax or diaphragm but is supported by the intestines. One can learn to breathe more slowly, five or six deep, calm breaths a minute.
...through the practice of zazen this type of breathing gradually becomes a regular, basic habit, especially while we sleep. The life energy of the universe that is contained in the air is transformed into human energy. The more receptive we are to that universal life, the greater our own energy grows and the fewer calories we need.
...to be continued.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Transforming Anger by Nikhil Gangoli
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
All of us feel anger and hatred from time to time. Eastern meditation and mindfulness techniques can help us mange and transform our anger so that the energy contained in
the anger benefits us instead of spreading misery in others and ourselves.
It is important to note that although anger causes us pain we should not reject it or
disown it. Suppose your stomach or legs or some other part of your body grew diseased
and caused you pain. Would you for that reason try to get rid of your stomach or your
legs? Of course you would not. Anger can be transformed and the energy contained in it
can be of much use to us. The story is told of Angulimala - a famous dacoit who had
murdered 999 people. Yet a meeting with the Buddha changed him and transformed
the anger within him. If a legendary dacoit can transform his anger then surely so can
we.
Think of your anger, as a farmer would regard organic fertilizer. A farmer with garbage
and organic waste knows that he can use it to grow nutritious fruits and vegetables. So
also we can use the anger within us to grow spiritually and become awakened.
We can care for and transform our anger the way a mother cares for here baby - by
practicing mindfulness whenever we are angry. The effect mindfulness has on anger
can be compared with the way flowers respond to sunlight. At sunrise the rays from
the sun reach the flower. The photons contained in the sunrays penetrate the flower.
After 15 to 20 minutes the flower can no longer resist and she opens herself to the
sunrays.
In a similar manner we need to practice mindfulness at all times and especially
when we are angry. Observe the breath entering or leaving the body when you are
angry. At the same time observe the anger within you without judging or condemning or rejecting it in any way. After some minutes the anger will open itself to you and fade
away. The cause of the anger will be revealed and the energy contained in the anger
will be available for your use.
Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese poet and Zen Buddhist master, says that we need
to care for our anger the way a mother cares for her newborn baby. The mother may
be cooking in the kitchen and yet the moment the baby cries out she immediately goes
to see what is wrong. Because she is a skillful mother she soon finds out what is wrong
- whether it is that the baby is hungry or the nappy is too tight or whatever may be the
case. In the same way the moment we fell angry we need to care for it by practicing mindfulness. We can observe the breath. We can go out for a walk and make the act of
walking our meditation practice. Observe the sensations in the feet as they land on the
ground one after the other. At the same time observe your breath. You will soon know
how many steps you take for each in breath and out breath. Walk in this mindful manner
for 20 minutes to half an hour and your anger will open itself to you and be transformed.
Anger, left uncared for, spread a lot of pain and misery not only in ourselves but also in
other that we come in contact. There is a natural tendency to lash out at others when we
are angry and this has the result of spreading misery. If we practice transforming anger
through mindfulness we will not only be much happier and more peaceful ourselves but
we can also care for others and share our happiness and peace. In this way our meditation practice will help in making the world a better place.
Thich Nhat Hanh has written a very insightful book on this subject - Anger, Buddhist
wisdom for cooling the flames. Many effective ways of dealing with anger are explained.
I hope you enjoyed this article and hope that it will be useful to you.
Stay tuned for more.
For more articles in this series and a free report on the connection between
Eastern
Philosophy and Quantum Physics please visit Eastern Philosophy and Meditation
About the Author
Nikhil Gangoli is a keen student of Eastern Philosophies and Meditation
methods.
For concise and insightful descriptions of Zen, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism,
Confucius
and meditation techniques in the Eastern Tradition please visit http://eastern-philosophy-and-meditation.com
All of us feel anger and hatred from time to time. Eastern meditation and mindfulness techniques can help us mange and transform our anger so that the energy contained in
the anger benefits us instead of spreading misery in others and ourselves.
It is important to note that although anger causes us pain we should not reject it or
disown it. Suppose your stomach or legs or some other part of your body grew diseased
and caused you pain. Would you for that reason try to get rid of your stomach or your
legs? Of course you would not. Anger can be transformed and the energy contained in it
can be of much use to us. The story is told of Angulimala - a famous dacoit who had
murdered 999 people. Yet a meeting with the Buddha changed him and transformed
the anger within him. If a legendary dacoit can transform his anger then surely so can
we.
Think of your anger, as a farmer would regard organic fertilizer. A farmer with garbage
and organic waste knows that he can use it to grow nutritious fruits and vegetables. So
also we can use the anger within us to grow spiritually and become awakened.
We can care for and transform our anger the way a mother cares for here baby - by
practicing mindfulness whenever we are angry. The effect mindfulness has on anger
can be compared with the way flowers respond to sunlight. At sunrise the rays from
the sun reach the flower. The photons contained in the sunrays penetrate the flower.
After 15 to 20 minutes the flower can no longer resist and she opens herself to the
sunrays.
In a similar manner we need to practice mindfulness at all times and especially
when we are angry. Observe the breath entering or leaving the body when you are
angry. At the same time observe the anger within you without judging or condemning or rejecting it in any way. After some minutes the anger will open itself to you and fade
away. The cause of the anger will be revealed and the energy contained in the anger
will be available for your use.
Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese poet and Zen Buddhist master, says that we need
to care for our anger the way a mother cares for her newborn baby. The mother may
be cooking in the kitchen and yet the moment the baby cries out she immediately goes
to see what is wrong. Because she is a skillful mother she soon finds out what is wrong
- whether it is that the baby is hungry or the nappy is too tight or whatever may be the
case. In the same way the moment we fell angry we need to care for it by practicing mindfulness. We can observe the breath. We can go out for a walk and make the act of
walking our meditation practice. Observe the sensations in the feet as they land on the
ground one after the other. At the same time observe your breath. You will soon know
how many steps you take for each in breath and out breath. Walk in this mindful manner
for 20 minutes to half an hour and your anger will open itself to you and be transformed.
Anger, left uncared for, spread a lot of pain and misery not only in ourselves but also in
other that we come in contact. There is a natural tendency to lash out at others when we
are angry and this has the result of spreading misery. If we practice transforming anger
through mindfulness we will not only be much happier and more peaceful ourselves but
we can also care for others and share our happiness and peace. In this way our meditation practice will help in making the world a better place.
Thich Nhat Hanh has written a very insightful book on this subject - Anger, Buddhist
wisdom for cooling the flames. Many effective ways of dealing with anger are explained.
I hope you enjoyed this article and hope that it will be useful to you.
Stay tuned for more.
For more articles in this series and a free report on the connection between
Eastern
Philosophy and Quantum Physics please visit Eastern Philosophy and Meditation
About the Author
Nikhil Gangoli is a keen student of Eastern Philosophies and Meditation
methods.
For concise and insightful descriptions of Zen, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism,
Confucius
and meditation techniques in the Eastern Tradition please visit http://eastern-philosophy-and-meditation.com
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Kumite Tips #7 You must be perfectly centered at all times...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
You can immediately improve your Kumite by 100% by simply practicing proper body positioning...
...and learning to automatically snap back into that centered position after every technique...
Think of your body as being a tank. Compact, with a low center of gravity, arms, legs and hips in perfectly balanced position, ever ready for the crank of the turret and launch of a missile...
It's the tank that does the fighting, the arms and legs are there simply to deliver the payload.
Your Kamae must be centered and have the ability to move the hips in any direction at any time. If your not balanced it'll create an opportunity that your Kumite partner can utilize to launch an attack.
One of the best Kumite positions in Karate is Sanchin, it's the most balanced and it creates an inside tension, which makes it easy to explode out in any direction at any moment.
I am learning that the initial power in kumite is done primarily with the legs.
Attacks are delivered by pushing off the floor, keeping the hips centered as you torque the momentum generated by your legs, through the rotation of the hips and finishing with the whip like rotation of the upper torso, including the shoulders, arm, and finally ending with the fist...
...and don't forget to immediately snap back, or retract to your original centered position, otherwise you'll be a sitting duck for a counter-attack.
I've learned that more power and accuracy is generated, when my feet are planted firmly on the ground and I am well balanced
Your legs should be not too wide or too narrow, you must be able to move quickly in any direction. A good Kumite stance is a modified Sanchin, where the width is as usual but the length is a little longer...
The hips are in Hanmi or facing to the side, rather than to the
front.
The secret to quick movement is with the back foot...
...angled fully forward or nearly forward, as this position allows for the greatest freedom of movement in any direction.
There should be pressure on the back ankle, so that once it is released, it automatically springs forward. Try to use your rear foot for control of your movements, not the front foot. Your rear foot is better able to propel your center forward and back, side to side, and at different angles.
Spend time training in just movement in all directions, and in particular the use of the rear foot as a spring, it will elevate your Kumite dramatically...
RJF
You can immediately improve your Kumite by 100% by simply practicing proper body positioning...
...and learning to automatically snap back into that centered position after every technique...
Think of your body as being a tank. Compact, with a low center of gravity, arms, legs and hips in perfectly balanced position, ever ready for the crank of the turret and launch of a missile...
It's the tank that does the fighting, the arms and legs are there simply to deliver the payload.
Your Kamae must be centered and have the ability to move the hips in any direction at any time. If your not balanced it'll create an opportunity that your Kumite partner can utilize to launch an attack.
One of the best Kumite positions in Karate is Sanchin, it's the most balanced and it creates an inside tension, which makes it easy to explode out in any direction at any moment.
I am learning that the initial power in kumite is done primarily with the legs.
Attacks are delivered by pushing off the floor, keeping the hips centered as you torque the momentum generated by your legs, through the rotation of the hips and finishing with the whip like rotation of the upper torso, including the shoulders, arm, and finally ending with the fist...
...and don't forget to immediately snap back, or retract to your original centered position, otherwise you'll be a sitting duck for a counter-attack.
I've learned that more power and accuracy is generated, when my feet are planted firmly on the ground and I am well balanced
Your legs should be not too wide or too narrow, you must be able to move quickly in any direction. A good Kumite stance is a modified Sanchin, where the width is as usual but the length is a little longer...
The hips are in Hanmi or facing to the side, rather than to the
front.
The secret to quick movement is with the back foot...
...angled fully forward or nearly forward, as this position allows for the greatest freedom of movement in any direction.
There should be pressure on the back ankle, so that once it is released, it automatically springs forward. Try to use your rear foot for control of your movements, not the front foot. Your rear foot is better able to propel your center forward and back, side to side, and at different angles.
Spend time training in just movement in all directions, and in particular the use of the rear foot as a spring, it will elevate your Kumite dramatically...
RJF
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Newest martial arts study today by Dylan Miles
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
When we say martial arts, we think of the much publicized Chinese Kung Fu that is graceful yet powerful. Ever since Bruce Lee hit the screen with his Kung Fu flying kicks, people of the West has been mesmerized and in awe of the martial art method. Jet Li popularized the martial art called Wu Shu, which is a far more graceful, and yet lethal and quick. Jackie Chan also hit the screen as a Kung Fu master with his own brand of comedy.
Thanks to the movies and screenwriters, many more people are learning martial arts as a method of self-defense today. Other types of popular martial arts include Taekwondo, Karate, Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu.
For those who are keener to explore the art of 'self-defense' instead of style, power and grace to help protect themselves from physical attacks, try Jiu-Jitsu. The actual full-name of the martial art is Shorinii-kan jiu-jitsu. When they say that in martial arts, the most important thing to develop is the strength of the body, the mindset and avoidance, they are right. For example, if the attacker was using a knife against you, learning Jiu-Jitsu will teach you how to use the very same knife that the attacker is holding now against him. The art of Jiu-Jitsu is very unique because it does not teach you how to attack another person, but instead, it teaches you how to redirect the force, energy and anger that the attacker is aiming at you...back to himself.
Jiu-Jitsu is also about escaping, restraining the attacker and disarming and throwing them on the floor with force.
Of late, another form of martial art has caught the attention of more people, Hapkido, a Korean form of self-defence. Hapkido is a form of martial art that uses very natural techniques. The people often move around in circles, like they are in a circular shaped ring, therefore, their movements are often in a huge circle.
The reason why Hapkido is an extremely useful martial art is because of their jabbing movements and can-hardly-be-seen and hard to predict jabs and kicks that leave the attacker totally floored. Movements flow from one to another smoothly until the 'victim' returns the attacker's favor with a countermovement.
Martial art is not aggressive but instead, they are responsive and most of the time, extremely graceful and elegant. The more elegant ones with flowing movements are often designed to enthrall the audience. Others aim at helping the proponent defend themselves. Knowing a few basic martial art moves can save your life, especially if you're of the weaker sex.
About the Author
Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.martialartsmasters.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
When we say martial arts, we think of the much publicized Chinese Kung Fu that is graceful yet powerful. Ever since Bruce Lee hit the screen with his Kung Fu flying kicks, people of the West has been mesmerized and in awe of the martial art method. Jet Li popularized the martial art called Wu Shu, which is a far more graceful, and yet lethal and quick. Jackie Chan also hit the screen as a Kung Fu master with his own brand of comedy.
Thanks to the movies and screenwriters, many more people are learning martial arts as a method of self-defense today. Other types of popular martial arts include Taekwondo, Karate, Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu.
For those who are keener to explore the art of 'self-defense' instead of style, power and grace to help protect themselves from physical attacks, try Jiu-Jitsu. The actual full-name of the martial art is Shorinii-kan jiu-jitsu. When they say that in martial arts, the most important thing to develop is the strength of the body, the mindset and avoidance, they are right. For example, if the attacker was using a knife against you, learning Jiu-Jitsu will teach you how to use the very same knife that the attacker is holding now against him. The art of Jiu-Jitsu is very unique because it does not teach you how to attack another person, but instead, it teaches you how to redirect the force, energy and anger that the attacker is aiming at you...back to himself.
Jiu-Jitsu is also about escaping, restraining the attacker and disarming and throwing them on the floor with force.
Of late, another form of martial art has caught the attention of more people, Hapkido, a Korean form of self-defence. Hapkido is a form of martial art that uses very natural techniques. The people often move around in circles, like they are in a circular shaped ring, therefore, their movements are often in a huge circle.
The reason why Hapkido is an extremely useful martial art is because of their jabbing movements and can-hardly-be-seen and hard to predict jabs and kicks that leave the attacker totally floored. Movements flow from one to another smoothly until the 'victim' returns the attacker's favor with a countermovement.
Martial art is not aggressive but instead, they are responsive and most of the time, extremely graceful and elegant. The more elegant ones with flowing movements are often designed to enthrall the audience. Others aim at helping the proponent defend themselves. Knowing a few basic martial art moves can save your life, especially if you're of the weaker sex.
About the Author
Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.martialartsmasters.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Balance: A Mystic Ideal by Edwin Harkness Spina
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Last week, a friend of mine gave me a best-selling business book that forecast the rise of the right brain thinker and the demise of the left-brain thinker. Scientists have identified the right brain as the emotional, empathic, artistic side and the left-brain as the side of logic, intellect and language. The essence of the author's argument is that we are moving from the age of information, which was dominated by computer programmers, MBAs and accountants, into a new conceptual age, which will be dominated by artists, caregivers and designers.
To many people with an interest in personal and spiritual growth, this is old news. A variety of tapes and CDs have been on the market since the early 1980s that were designed to influence brain rhythms, so that you can, in the words of one marketer, "meditate more deeply than a Zen monk."
What is remarkable is that the underlying mystic principles are now being accepted and transmitted to the general business public!
Albert Einstein once said, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it."
While producing great technological advances, our reliance on left-brain thinking has not necessarily advanced our evolution as a species. From the mystic perspective, however, neither would switching to a world dominated by artists and caregivers.
In the world of the mystic all is one. This provides the answer as to which side of the brain we should use-both.
The overriding goal should be BALANCE. Those that will thrive in the emerging spiritual age will be whole-brainers. Using both sides of the brain in synchronization puts you in the proper state of mind so you can transcend it and attune with God. You will think more clearly and improve your coordination.
This is true no matter which side of your brain currently dominates. In the mystic's view, there is only one Creator. Your job as an artist is to attune with this One source of all creation and report back your "findings" via your work. Similarly, the engineer will never design anything of transcendent value by only relying on logic. You are selling yourself short by only relying on one dominant hemisphere.
The Kabalistic Tree of Life illustrates this principle. Tifereth, the sephira of beauty, represents the ideal balance between justice and mercy. Lying in the middle column, it is also the most direct path to the highest aspect of God.
The most direct method of attaining balance is through meditation. Meditators are taught to "center themselves." But meditation is not the only way. Any activity in which you feel pure joy, in which you lose yourself so completely that time passes without your conscious awareness, is one in which you are in balance. This can happen while you are walking, swimming, singing, dancing, playing a sport, communing with nature or making love.
A simple way to tell if you are "in synch" is by looking at a stereogram. These posters consist of a collection of black and white or colored dots. When the proper focus is attained, you are able to see a hidden picture within a picture. People that are too dominant in either their left or right brain are unable to see the picture. When your brain is synchronized you can see it. To view a text-based stereogram with a hidden word visit:
Mystic Warrior Stereogram
What's important is that in times of stress or fear, the brain will automatically return to its dominant side. Accountants will become more left brained and artists will become more right brained, neither of which is suitable if your goal is to attune with God and express your God given gifts. Neither will help you evolve spiritually.
So the next time you're feeling frazzled and tense, pursue an activity that involves your whole mind and helps you connect with God. Turn off the TV and go for a walk, play with your children, or take 15 minutes to meditate. The influx of spirit into your being will not only reduce your anxiety, it will make the world a better place, as well.
About the Author
Edwin Harkness Spina is the author of the award-winning spiritual thriller Mystic Warrior. Receive a free copy of Mystic Secrets Revealed, when you sign up for the Mystic Warrior Newsletter at Mystic Warrior Stereogram
Last week, a friend of mine gave me a best-selling business book that forecast the rise of the right brain thinker and the demise of the left-brain thinker. Scientists have identified the right brain as the emotional, empathic, artistic side and the left-brain as the side of logic, intellect and language. The essence of the author's argument is that we are moving from the age of information, which was dominated by computer programmers, MBAs and accountants, into a new conceptual age, which will be dominated by artists, caregivers and designers.
To many people with an interest in personal and spiritual growth, this is old news. A variety of tapes and CDs have been on the market since the early 1980s that were designed to influence brain rhythms, so that you can, in the words of one marketer, "meditate more deeply than a Zen monk."
What is remarkable is that the underlying mystic principles are now being accepted and transmitted to the general business public!
Albert Einstein once said, "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it."
While producing great technological advances, our reliance on left-brain thinking has not necessarily advanced our evolution as a species. From the mystic perspective, however, neither would switching to a world dominated by artists and caregivers.
In the world of the mystic all is one. This provides the answer as to which side of the brain we should use-both.
The overriding goal should be BALANCE. Those that will thrive in the emerging spiritual age will be whole-brainers. Using both sides of the brain in synchronization puts you in the proper state of mind so you can transcend it and attune with God. You will think more clearly and improve your coordination.
This is true no matter which side of your brain currently dominates. In the mystic's view, there is only one Creator. Your job as an artist is to attune with this One source of all creation and report back your "findings" via your work. Similarly, the engineer will never design anything of transcendent value by only relying on logic. You are selling yourself short by only relying on one dominant hemisphere.
The Kabalistic Tree of Life illustrates this principle. Tifereth, the sephira of beauty, represents the ideal balance between justice and mercy. Lying in the middle column, it is also the most direct path to the highest aspect of God.
The most direct method of attaining balance is through meditation. Meditators are taught to "center themselves." But meditation is not the only way. Any activity in which you feel pure joy, in which you lose yourself so completely that time passes without your conscious awareness, is one in which you are in balance. This can happen while you are walking, swimming, singing, dancing, playing a sport, communing with nature or making love.
A simple way to tell if you are "in synch" is by looking at a stereogram. These posters consist of a collection of black and white or colored dots. When the proper focus is attained, you are able to see a hidden picture within a picture. People that are too dominant in either their left or right brain are unable to see the picture. When your brain is synchronized you can see it. To view a text-based stereogram with a hidden word visit:
Mystic Warrior Stereogram
What's important is that in times of stress or fear, the brain will automatically return to its dominant side. Accountants will become more left brained and artists will become more right brained, neither of which is suitable if your goal is to attune with God and express your God given gifts. Neither will help you evolve spiritually.
So the next time you're feeling frazzled and tense, pursue an activity that involves your whole mind and helps you connect with God. Turn off the TV and go for a walk, play with your children, or take 15 minutes to meditate. The influx of spirit into your being will not only reduce your anxiety, it will make the world a better place, as well.
About the Author
Edwin Harkness Spina is the author of the award-winning spiritual thriller Mystic Warrior. Receive a free copy of Mystic Secrets Revealed, when you sign up for the Mystic Warrior Newsletter at Mystic Warrior Stereogram
Sunday, December 25, 2005
"Lil" Dragon program...starting 4 to 8 year old kids off on the right path...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
MIDWEST CITY, OK. The martial arts industry combats childhood obesity with Century’s, “Lil’ Dragon” program. Over eight hundred martial arts schools across America are catching kids early and teaching children from ages four to eight how to respect their bodies as well as their parents and teachers. They learn to kick out calories while learning important life skills such as stranger awareness, anti-drugs, health, nutrition, and exercise. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, “one in three children is overweight.” The Lil’ Dragon program addresses this issue head-on, (and stomach) by providing children a whole life approach to making choices that effect both their mental and physical health. The best part is no one sits on the bench. Everyone is included. Century’s Lil’ Dragons’ catches all kids early and helps them develop terrific life skills that will make them not only a better citizen but a healthier one as well. Century, Incorporated is the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of martial arts supplies and school curriculum. For more information please contact Greg Hodson, V.P. Media, Century, Incorporated. (405) 426-4187. ghodson@centuryfitness.com. Or Kimber Hill, National Spokesperson, Century’s Lil’ Dragon. (386) 740-0605 kim
ber@modernmartialartsacademy.com
MIDWEST CITY, OK. The martial arts industry combats childhood obesity with Century’s, “Lil’ Dragon” program. Over eight hundred martial arts schools across America are catching kids early and teaching children from ages four to eight how to respect their bodies as well as their parents and teachers. They learn to kick out calories while learning important life skills such as stranger awareness, anti-drugs, health, nutrition, and exercise. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, “one in three children is overweight.” The Lil’ Dragon program addresses this issue head-on, (and stomach) by providing children a whole life approach to making choices that effect both their mental and physical health. The best part is no one sits on the bench. Everyone is included. Century’s Lil’ Dragons’ catches all kids early and helps them develop terrific life skills that will make them not only a better citizen but a healthier one as well. Century, Incorporated is the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of martial arts supplies and school curriculum. For more information please contact Greg Hodson, V.P. Media, Century, Incorporated. (405) 426-4187. ghodson@centuryfitness.com. Or Kimber Hill, National Spokesperson, Century’s Lil’ Dragon. (386) 740-0605 kim
ber@modernmartialartsacademy.com
Free Fighting Kumite Tips...#2....R E L A X..
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
It's easy for me to sit here and tell you to be more relaxed and not so tense while free style sparring with a seasoned or a not so seasoned kumite partner.
What isn't so easy, is to take my own advice and actually make this principle of tensing and relaxing a part of my basics and the focus of my Kata...
In fact, properly done Kata utilizes these and other very important principles.
There are postures where for a split second, you should turn your body into a stone statue (during blocks and strikes) and times during the transitions between postures, that you should be as relaxed and flowing as a meandering river.
I can tell you from my own experience how a tensed body and tensed muscles, restricts not only your speed and power, but one's ability to move properly...
...although I think that's apparent to most martial artists.
So basically, the answer to the tightening of the mind and body problem, is through the application of mind and body relaxation...
...the mind in particular...
...as one quick thought can transform your body into a young bending willow branch or a hard stationary tree trunk.
The answer to this problem of resistance as opposed to relaxation can be resolved through Kata with the correct application of strong hard techniques and smooth flowing transitions between techniques...
...so practice your Kata diligently and focus on the points where your body is either tensed or relaxed.
Then when Kumite rolls around, you can practice the little points you picked up during your basics and Kata training and apply them to sparring.
Of course in Kumite were not only faced with one opponent but two...
...the other one being ourselves...
...the one that allows fear to creep into our minds, which in turn tenses all of our muscles and movements...
...more on over coming fear later...
RJF
It's easy for me to sit here and tell you to be more relaxed and not so tense while free style sparring with a seasoned or a not so seasoned kumite partner.
What isn't so easy, is to take my own advice and actually make this principle of tensing and relaxing a part of my basics and the focus of my Kata...
In fact, properly done Kata utilizes these and other very important principles.
There are postures where for a split second, you should turn your body into a stone statue (during blocks and strikes) and times during the transitions between postures, that you should be as relaxed and flowing as a meandering river.
I can tell you from my own experience how a tensed body and tensed muscles, restricts not only your speed and power, but one's ability to move properly...
...although I think that's apparent to most martial artists.
So basically, the answer to the tightening of the mind and body problem, is through the application of mind and body relaxation...
...the mind in particular...
...as one quick thought can transform your body into a young bending willow branch or a hard stationary tree trunk.
The answer to this problem of resistance as opposed to relaxation can be resolved through Kata with the correct application of strong hard techniques and smooth flowing transitions between techniques...
...so practice your Kata diligently and focus on the points where your body is either tensed or relaxed.
Then when Kumite rolls around, you can practice the little points you picked up during your basics and Kata training and apply them to sparring.
Of course in Kumite were not only faced with one opponent but two...
...the other one being ourselves...
...the one that allows fear to creep into our minds, which in turn tenses all of our muscles and movements...
...more on over coming fear later...
RJF
Saturday, December 24, 2005
The Origins of Tai Chi by Stephen Todd
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
The Origins of Tai Chi The principles of Tai Chi were established by Taoist hermits and evolved as a martial fighting art called Tai Chi Chuan.
The early Tai Chi teachers were mystical figures however; the exception was Chang San-Feng, who was the first major figure in Tai Chi history.
The Ming Dynasty places his date of birth at 1247 and he is credited with being the founder of the fighting art called Wudang Kung fu.
He is believed to have studied under a Taoist recluse living in the mountains of Northwest China; he then studied at a Shaolin temple.
The Shaolin temple is credited as the originator of fighting martial arts such as Shaolin temple boxing and Kung Fu.
After watching a fight between a bird and a snake, Chang was impressed by the ability of the snake to dodge and counter attack the larger crane.
Chang observed this ability to defend and counter attack and then modified his Kung Fu fighting technique.
From this point on the soft or internal Chinese marshal arts were born including: Ba Gua, Hsingi and Tai Chi Chan.
Chen Style The 17th century in China was a time of war and Tai Chi was developed as a fighting discipline. The most famous of these was the Chen style of Tai Chi founded by Chen Wang T'ing who served under general Chi Chi-Guang.
General Chi Chi-Guang is credited with writing the "classic of Kung Fu" which, set out the principles of what has now become the Cheng style of Tai Chi.
T'ing is credited as being the first person to refer to Tai Chi Chuan rather than Wudang kung fu.
Yang Style Yang Lu-Chan found work in the household of Chen Chang-xing and secretly spied on Tai Chi Sessions of his master.
One day he offered to fight a stranger in front of Chen, who was unaware of his fighting skills.
Chen was so impressed by his performance that he accepted Yang as a student, Yang then travelled throughout China as Chen's representative and in any fights he took part in legend has it he was never beaten.
Yang adapted the Chen style to be a gentler version of Tai Chi. Today, Chen is acknowledged as the oldest of the three Tai Chi styles but it is Yang's style is more popular.
Wu Yu Hsiang Style The third major style of Tai Chi was developed by Wu Yu-Hsiang, who studied with Yang and Chen.
His style incorporates features of both styles and these three styles form the base from which many other styles have flourished.
Modern Developments The government in Peking in 1949 established the Wushu Council to formulate a style that would popularise Tai Chi, improve people's health and make it a competitive sport.
The Wushu style is responsible for popularising Tai Chi and bringing it to a greater audience than ever before.
A new style called the Beijing 24 step form came from this research and has become popular worldwide.
The most famous of the Tai Chi masters of the 20th century was Chen Man-Ching; he simplified the Yang style big form of 108 postures cutting it to just 37.
This style is easier to learn and established Chan Man Ching as the most influential Tai Chi master of the 20th Century.
About the Author
Re Vitalise offer a warm welcome to both novice and experienced pupils. In addition to offering regular tuition there are several Tai Chi weekend breaks available.
To learn more about our services go to:
Re-Vitalise Tai Chi - Retreats and Mini-breaks
The Origins of Tai Chi The principles of Tai Chi were established by Taoist hermits and evolved as a martial fighting art called Tai Chi Chuan.
The early Tai Chi teachers were mystical figures however; the exception was Chang San-Feng, who was the first major figure in Tai Chi history.
The Ming Dynasty places his date of birth at 1247 and he is credited with being the founder of the fighting art called Wudang Kung fu.
He is believed to have studied under a Taoist recluse living in the mountains of Northwest China; he then studied at a Shaolin temple.
The Shaolin temple is credited as the originator of fighting martial arts such as Shaolin temple boxing and Kung Fu.
After watching a fight between a bird and a snake, Chang was impressed by the ability of the snake to dodge and counter attack the larger crane.
Chang observed this ability to defend and counter attack and then modified his Kung Fu fighting technique.
From this point on the soft or internal Chinese marshal arts were born including: Ba Gua, Hsingi and Tai Chi Chan.
Chen Style The 17th century in China was a time of war and Tai Chi was developed as a fighting discipline. The most famous of these was the Chen style of Tai Chi founded by Chen Wang T'ing who served under general Chi Chi-Guang.
General Chi Chi-Guang is credited with writing the "classic of Kung Fu" which, set out the principles of what has now become the Cheng style of Tai Chi.
T'ing is credited as being the first person to refer to Tai Chi Chuan rather than Wudang kung fu.
Yang Style Yang Lu-Chan found work in the household of Chen Chang-xing and secretly spied on Tai Chi Sessions of his master.
One day he offered to fight a stranger in front of Chen, who was unaware of his fighting skills.
Chen was so impressed by his performance that he accepted Yang as a student, Yang then travelled throughout China as Chen's representative and in any fights he took part in legend has it he was never beaten.
Yang adapted the Chen style to be a gentler version of Tai Chi. Today, Chen is acknowledged as the oldest of the three Tai Chi styles but it is Yang's style is more popular.
Wu Yu Hsiang Style The third major style of Tai Chi was developed by Wu Yu-Hsiang, who studied with Yang and Chen.
His style incorporates features of both styles and these three styles form the base from which many other styles have flourished.
Modern Developments The government in Peking in 1949 established the Wushu Council to formulate a style that would popularise Tai Chi, improve people's health and make it a competitive sport.
The Wushu style is responsible for popularising Tai Chi and bringing it to a greater audience than ever before.
A new style called the Beijing 24 step form came from this research and has become popular worldwide.
The most famous of the Tai Chi masters of the 20th century was Chen Man-Ching; he simplified the Yang style big form of 108 postures cutting it to just 37.
This style is easier to learn and established Chan Man Ching as the most influential Tai Chi master of the 20th Century.
About the Author
Re Vitalise offer a warm welcome to both novice and experienced pupils. In addition to offering regular tuition there are several Tai Chi weekend breaks available.
To learn more about our services go to:
Re-Vitalise Tai Chi - Retreats and Mini-breaks
Friday, December 23, 2005
AMAZING KUNG FU MARTIAL ARTS HISTORY
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
AMAZING kung fu martial arts HISTORY by Peter Sundbye
The term 'Kung Fu' does not relate to any specific form of martial art, but rather translates as 'skill' or 'ability'. Scholars believe that the use of Kung Fu to describe the Chinese martial form originated in Hong Kong and Kwangtung province. There are records of the Jesuit priest, Pere Amiot, writing of the 'peculiar exercises' practised by the Taoist priests of his region which he called 'Cong Fou'.
need a kung fu training machine to practise your attacks and defenses on? MARTIALARM martial arts supplies MACHINE - Very Unique Martial Arts Equipment and Training Gear
Wu Shu is traditionally the term widely used to describe the traditional Chinese martial arts, though other descriptions such as Kuo-shu, Kuo-chi, Chien-shu and Tao-fa have also been used from time to time. (Wu Shu is the term currently used for Chinese martial arts by the People's Republic of China).
Exactly when Kung Fu first sprouted is unknown, with historians stating that Chinese martial forms most likely predate recorded history. Since the dawn of time there have been battles between man and animal, warring tribes, etc. during which conflicts combative techniques were executed and accumulated and passed down from generation to generation.
What is particular about the Chinese martial forms is that many schools or styles were created by imitating the fighting techniques of animals such as monkeys, lions, tigers, snakes, bears, etc. The adaptation of animal techniques stems from a belief that in order to survive in their harsh natural environment, all animals (even birds and insects) were naturally endowed with skills for fighting.
Hence techniques were born from the tiger's pounce, the eagle's sharp claws and the elusiveness and unpredictability of the monkey. Still, it is difficult to attach a precise date to the true birth of Kung Fu. Some traditional historians date it as far back as the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC). Others place it in the period of the Contending States (475 - 221 BC) and the Yellow Emperor, Huang Ti. Indeed, it would appear that modern Kung Fu has adapted and evolved from the warring experiences of China's past, with distinct traces of Mongolian, Tibetan, Indian and other cultural ideologies exhibited in many styles. If there is one common reference point in tracing Kung Fu's history, it is the Shaolin Temple and the journey of Buddhism from India to China.
Buddhism reached China during the period of the Eastern Han Ming Emperor (58 - 76 AD) and soon flourished. It is estimated that by 500 AD there were more than 10,000 Buddhist temples in China and many emperors became devout Buddhists. In 495 AD the Shaolin Temple was constructed by the order of Emperor Wei Xiao Wen (471 - 500 AD). The Temple was built to house the teachings of a Buddhist monk named Batuo, who came to China for Buddhist teaching in 464 AD. As such Batuo can be considered the first Shaolin Temple monk, though there is no record of how or what (471 - 500 AD). The Temple was built to house the teachings of a Buddhist monk named Batuo, who came to China for Buddhist teaching in 464 AD. As such Batuo can be considered the first Shaolin Temple monk, though there is no record of how or what Batuo passed down by way of religious Qigong practice, just as there is no record of how or when he died.
The most influential person in the study of Kung Fu's history through the Shaolin Temple is an Indian monk named Da Mo (or Ta Mo). Da Mo, also known as Bodhidarma, had been a small prince of a Southern Indian tribe. He followed the Mahayana school of Buddhism and was revered as a bodhisattva - and enlightened being who had renounced nirvana so as to save others. The legends of Da Mo in Chinese mythology are elaborate, to say the least. One legend has Da Mo sitting in a cave where he stared at the wall for nine years in meditation. After accidentally falling asleep, he became so angered with himself that he tore off his eyelids and threw them on the ground. Tea shrubs grew from the ground beneath the discarded eyelids and monks have used tea ever since to deter sleep.
Dao Mo was invited to China by the Emperor Liang Wu. He arrived in Canton in 527 AD but when the emperor disliked his preaching. Da Mo withdrew to the Shaolin Temple. Upon arriving at the Temple, Da Mo found many of the monks to be sick and weak. He pondered this problem for nine years (his nine year seclusion) and when he emerged wrote two classics: Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) and Xi Sui Jin (Marrow/Brain Washing Classic). The classics taught the priests how to build their Qi to an abundant level and use to it improve their health and change their physicality to one of super strength. When this training was combined with martial forms, the priests found a marked improvement in the strength and power of their martial techniques.
It is believed that Da Mo may have authored the series of 18 exercises contained in a manuscript, the I-Chin-Ching, outlining the Shaolin method of Chinese boxing. The method that emerged from the Shaolin Temple, which is representative of the northern Chinese styles in general, was called wai-jya (wai-chia) or external family of Chinese boxing. Shaolin strove the increase speed, strength and elasticity. It was vigorous and calisthenic and became the basis from which Karate in Okinawa and the Korean martial arts were derived. The Xi Sui Jin was hard to learn and as such was passed down secretly only to a few disciples in every generation. Sadly Da Mo passed away in the Shaolin Temple in 536 AD but what he had started would live on for centuries.
Very quickly the Shaolin Monks would become revered for their fighting prowess. During the period between the Sui dynasty and the Tang dynasty, in the 4th year of Tang Gao Zu Wu De (621 AD), Qin King Li Shi-Ming had a momentous war against Zheng King Wang Chi-Chong. With Qin King in trouble, 13 Shaolin monks came to his assistance against Zheng. When Li Shi-Ming later became the first emperor of the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD) he rewarded the Shaolin Temple with approximately 600 acres of land. He also granted the Temple the right to train its own soldiers.
Such were the riches of the Shaolin Temple that martial arts training became a necessity to protect its wealth from bandits. The responsibility of defending the Temple was given to the soldier monks known as Seng Bing. For three hundred years the Shaolin Temple enjoyed a golden period in which it legally owned its own martial arts training organisation. The Temple also remained open to outside martial influences, absorbing what it could and incorporating these techniques and training methods into its own system. During this period one of the most famous Shaolin monks was Jueyuan. He travelled the country learning martial arts techniques and working with other famous martial artists. When in Lan Zhou he met the famed martial artist, Li Sou, who in turn introduced him to, Bai Yu-Feng and his son. Later all four men returned to the Shaolin Temple and studied together. After ten years, Li Sou left the Temple but Bai Yu-Feng and his son stayed on and became monks. Bai Yu-Feng's name changed to Qiu Yue Chan Shi and, according to the book of Shaolin Temple record, it was he who developed the then 18 existing Buddha Hands techniques into 173 techniques. He also compiled the existing techniques contained with Shaolin and wrote the book The Essence of the Five Fist, which discussed the methods and applications of the Five Fist (Animal) Patterns. This is proof that animal patterns had already existed for some time in the Shaolin Temple.
The Shaolin Temple would also be responsible for spreading the Chinese martial arts to Japan. In the year 1312 AD the monk Da Zhi came to the Shaolin Temple from Japan. He studied the Shaolin martial arts (barehands and staff) for 13 years and returned to Japan to spread Shaolin Gongfu to Japanese martial arts society. In 1335 AD a Buddhist monk named Shao Yuan ventured to Shaolin from Japan. During his stay he mastered Gongfu and returned to Japan in 1347 AD.
The golden era of the Shaolin Temple ended when Manchuria took over China and became the Qing dynasty. In order to prevent the Han race (pre-Manchurian) Chinese from rebelling against the government, martial arts training was outlawed between 1644 and 1911 AD. In order to preserve their teachings, the Shaolin techniques were passed onto layman society. Martial arts training in the Temple was carried out in secrecy and the Shaolin monk soldier decreased in number from thousands to a couple of hundred. In 1911 the Qing dynasty fell in a revolution led by Dr Sun Yat-Sen. The value of Chinese martial arts was re-evaluated and for the first time the secrets of Chinese martial arts were permitted to be openly taught to the public.
During the Chinese civil war, Chiang Kai-Shek tried to unify they country. The battle spilled into the Shaolin Temple in 1928 and the Temple was burned for the last time by Warlord Shi You-San's soldiers. The fire lasted forty days, destroying all major buildings and priceless books and records. In order to preserve the Chinese martial arts, President Chiang Kai-Shek ordered the establishment of the Nanking Central Guoshu Institute at Nanking in 1928. The traditional name Wushu was renamed Zhong Guo Wushu or simple Guoshu. For the first time in Chinese history, by rule of the government, all the major martial arts powers in China came together to share their knowledge. Unfortunately, at the commencement of World War II, all training discontinued. China was taken over by Communists following the Second World War. All religions and all Shaolin training was prohibited under Communist rule. Wushu training was established at the National Athletics Institute. However this was not pure Wu Shu, but rather performance based with major portions of martial training and technique application eradicated by the government to discourage possible unification of martial artists against the government. It was not until the 1980s (unfortunately after several of the traditional masters had died) that the Chinese government realised the value of traditional martial arts training and so encouraged it. KFS
About the Author
This article was submitted by P. Sundbye who has been training in various martialarts for the last 11 years including Wing Chun Kung Fu, Aikido, Tong Long and the Lee Total Control system.
For more information and martial arts news visit MARTIALARM martial arts supplies MACHINE - Very Unique Martial Arts Equipment and Training Gear
MARTIALARM martial arts supplies MACHINE - Very Unique Martial Arts Equipment and Training Gear
AMAZING kung fu martial arts HISTORY by Peter Sundbye
The term 'Kung Fu' does not relate to any specific form of martial art, but rather translates as 'skill' or 'ability'. Scholars believe that the use of Kung Fu to describe the Chinese martial form originated in Hong Kong and Kwangtung province. There are records of the Jesuit priest, Pere Amiot, writing of the 'peculiar exercises' practised by the Taoist priests of his region which he called 'Cong Fou'.
need a kung fu training machine to practise your attacks and defenses on? MARTIALARM martial arts supplies MACHINE - Very Unique Martial Arts Equipment and Training Gear
Wu Shu is traditionally the term widely used to describe the traditional Chinese martial arts, though other descriptions such as Kuo-shu, Kuo-chi, Chien-shu and Tao-fa have also been used from time to time. (Wu Shu is the term currently used for Chinese martial arts by the People's Republic of China).
Exactly when Kung Fu first sprouted is unknown, with historians stating that Chinese martial forms most likely predate recorded history. Since the dawn of time there have been battles between man and animal, warring tribes, etc. during which conflicts combative techniques were executed and accumulated and passed down from generation to generation.
What is particular about the Chinese martial forms is that many schools or styles were created by imitating the fighting techniques of animals such as monkeys, lions, tigers, snakes, bears, etc. The adaptation of animal techniques stems from a belief that in order to survive in their harsh natural environment, all animals (even birds and insects) were naturally endowed with skills for fighting.
Hence techniques were born from the tiger's pounce, the eagle's sharp claws and the elusiveness and unpredictability of the monkey. Still, it is difficult to attach a precise date to the true birth of Kung Fu. Some traditional historians date it as far back as the Shang Dynasty (16th century BC). Others place it in the period of the Contending States (475 - 221 BC) and the Yellow Emperor, Huang Ti. Indeed, it would appear that modern Kung Fu has adapted and evolved from the warring experiences of China's past, with distinct traces of Mongolian, Tibetan, Indian and other cultural ideologies exhibited in many styles. If there is one common reference point in tracing Kung Fu's history, it is the Shaolin Temple and the journey of Buddhism from India to China.
Buddhism reached China during the period of the Eastern Han Ming Emperor (58 - 76 AD) and soon flourished. It is estimated that by 500 AD there were more than 10,000 Buddhist temples in China and many emperors became devout Buddhists. In 495 AD the Shaolin Temple was constructed by the order of Emperor Wei Xiao Wen (471 - 500 AD). The Temple was built to house the teachings of a Buddhist monk named Batuo, who came to China for Buddhist teaching in 464 AD. As such Batuo can be considered the first Shaolin Temple monk, though there is no record of how or what (471 - 500 AD). The Temple was built to house the teachings of a Buddhist monk named Batuo, who came to China for Buddhist teaching in 464 AD. As such Batuo can be considered the first Shaolin Temple monk, though there is no record of how or what Batuo passed down by way of religious Qigong practice, just as there is no record of how or when he died.
The most influential person in the study of Kung Fu's history through the Shaolin Temple is an Indian monk named Da Mo (or Ta Mo). Da Mo, also known as Bodhidarma, had been a small prince of a Southern Indian tribe. He followed the Mahayana school of Buddhism and was revered as a bodhisattva - and enlightened being who had renounced nirvana so as to save others. The legends of Da Mo in Chinese mythology are elaborate, to say the least. One legend has Da Mo sitting in a cave where he stared at the wall for nine years in meditation. After accidentally falling asleep, he became so angered with himself that he tore off his eyelids and threw them on the ground. Tea shrubs grew from the ground beneath the discarded eyelids and monks have used tea ever since to deter sleep.
Dao Mo was invited to China by the Emperor Liang Wu. He arrived in Canton in 527 AD but when the emperor disliked his preaching. Da Mo withdrew to the Shaolin Temple. Upon arriving at the Temple, Da Mo found many of the monks to be sick and weak. He pondered this problem for nine years (his nine year seclusion) and when he emerged wrote two classics: Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) and Xi Sui Jin (Marrow/Brain Washing Classic). The classics taught the priests how to build their Qi to an abundant level and use to it improve their health and change their physicality to one of super strength. When this training was combined with martial forms, the priests found a marked improvement in the strength and power of their martial techniques.
It is believed that Da Mo may have authored the series of 18 exercises contained in a manuscript, the I-Chin-Ching, outlining the Shaolin method of Chinese boxing. The method that emerged from the Shaolin Temple, which is representative of the northern Chinese styles in general, was called wai-jya (wai-chia) or external family of Chinese boxing. Shaolin strove the increase speed, strength and elasticity. It was vigorous and calisthenic and became the basis from which Karate in Okinawa and the Korean martial arts were derived. The Xi Sui Jin was hard to learn and as such was passed down secretly only to a few disciples in every generation. Sadly Da Mo passed away in the Shaolin Temple in 536 AD but what he had started would live on for centuries.
Very quickly the Shaolin Monks would become revered for their fighting prowess. During the period between the Sui dynasty and the Tang dynasty, in the 4th year of Tang Gao Zu Wu De (621 AD), Qin King Li Shi-Ming had a momentous war against Zheng King Wang Chi-Chong. With Qin King in trouble, 13 Shaolin monks came to his assistance against Zheng. When Li Shi-Ming later became the first emperor of the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD) he rewarded the Shaolin Temple with approximately 600 acres of land. He also granted the Temple the right to train its own soldiers.
Such were the riches of the Shaolin Temple that martial arts training became a necessity to protect its wealth from bandits. The responsibility of defending the Temple was given to the soldier monks known as Seng Bing. For three hundred years the Shaolin Temple enjoyed a golden period in which it legally owned its own martial arts training organisation. The Temple also remained open to outside martial influences, absorbing what it could and incorporating these techniques and training methods into its own system. During this period one of the most famous Shaolin monks was Jueyuan. He travelled the country learning martial arts techniques and working with other famous martial artists. When in Lan Zhou he met the famed martial artist, Li Sou, who in turn introduced him to, Bai Yu-Feng and his son. Later all four men returned to the Shaolin Temple and studied together. After ten years, Li Sou left the Temple but Bai Yu-Feng and his son stayed on and became monks. Bai Yu-Feng's name changed to Qiu Yue Chan Shi and, according to the book of Shaolin Temple record, it was he who developed the then 18 existing Buddha Hands techniques into 173 techniques. He also compiled the existing techniques contained with Shaolin and wrote the book The Essence of the Five Fist, which discussed the methods and applications of the Five Fist (Animal) Patterns. This is proof that animal patterns had already existed for some time in the Shaolin Temple.
The Shaolin Temple would also be responsible for spreading the Chinese martial arts to Japan. In the year 1312 AD the monk Da Zhi came to the Shaolin Temple from Japan. He studied the Shaolin martial arts (barehands and staff) for 13 years and returned to Japan to spread Shaolin Gongfu to Japanese martial arts society. In 1335 AD a Buddhist monk named Shao Yuan ventured to Shaolin from Japan. During his stay he mastered Gongfu and returned to Japan in 1347 AD.
The golden era of the Shaolin Temple ended when Manchuria took over China and became the Qing dynasty. In order to prevent the Han race (pre-Manchurian) Chinese from rebelling against the government, martial arts training was outlawed between 1644 and 1911 AD. In order to preserve their teachings, the Shaolin techniques were passed onto layman society. Martial arts training in the Temple was carried out in secrecy and the Shaolin monk soldier decreased in number from thousands to a couple of hundred. In 1911 the Qing dynasty fell in a revolution led by Dr Sun Yat-Sen. The value of Chinese martial arts was re-evaluated and for the first time the secrets of Chinese martial arts were permitted to be openly taught to the public.
During the Chinese civil war, Chiang Kai-Shek tried to unify they country. The battle spilled into the Shaolin Temple in 1928 and the Temple was burned for the last time by Warlord Shi You-San's soldiers. The fire lasted forty days, destroying all major buildings and priceless books and records. In order to preserve the Chinese martial arts, President Chiang Kai-Shek ordered the establishment of the Nanking Central Guoshu Institute at Nanking in 1928. The traditional name Wushu was renamed Zhong Guo Wushu or simple Guoshu. For the first time in Chinese history, by rule of the government, all the major martial arts powers in China came together to share their knowledge. Unfortunately, at the commencement of World War II, all training discontinued. China was taken over by Communists following the Second World War. All religions and all Shaolin training was prohibited under Communist rule. Wushu training was established at the National Athletics Institute. However this was not pure Wu Shu, but rather performance based with major portions of martial training and technique application eradicated by the government to discourage possible unification of martial artists against the government. It was not until the 1980s (unfortunately after several of the traditional masters had died) that the Chinese government realised the value of traditional martial arts training and so encouraged it. KFS
About the Author
This article was submitted by P. Sundbye who has been training in various martialarts for the last 11 years including Wing Chun Kung Fu, Aikido, Tong Long and the Lee Total Control system.
For more information and martial arts news visit MARTIALARM martial arts supplies MACHINE - Very Unique Martial Arts Equipment and Training Gear
MARTIALARM martial arts supplies MACHINE - Very Unique Martial Arts Equipment and Training Gear
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Kumite Tips #6....Feints...use them to overwhelm your Kumite opponent...
<Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
If your opponent knows what area you are going to attack, it will be a simple matter for them to counter such a telegraphing of your intentions...
...thus the use of feints, and why they are an important part of a kumite students strategy.
Humans are creatures of habit and patterns, so the secret is to unlock your opponents responses ie: blocks and movements, to certain high and low attacks.
You have to get your opponent to react to what appears to be a serious attack...
...so your feint can't be a half hearted attempt, or else it won't be as effective.
It should seem as though you're making a full blown attack and fully intend to carry out the attack, except at the very last moment, and while your opponent has been frozen in anticipation of the attack, you arrest the technique and focus on the newly created opening for your secondary technique.
The more realistic your feints are the more unnerved your opponents mind will become while trying to defend against your attacks...
Don't be too repetitive with the same feint though, because your opponent will catch on...
...of course, if your opponent is slow to learn, like I am against my Sensei, keep using the same feints, if your opponent keeps falling for them, well...they'll eventually catch on...
...so throw in an actual attack to certain areas of the body, just to keep your opponent off guard and guessing...
Here's a couple of examples that work for me...
I raise my knee straight up as if intending to do a front kick, usually someone who isn't that experienced will react by lowering there guard, this opens up the head area for a Jodan punch. Next time I will again raise my knee, but my opponent has learned by now not to lower his guard, so he keeps it up anticipating a Jodan punch, instead I use a Jodan mawashi-geri around his guard or a Chudan mawashi-geri to his unprotected ribs...
When it comes to punching techniques, feint with either hand and punch with the other...your opponent won't know where the punches will be coming from.
Feints are designed to uncover weaknesses in your opponents defenses...
...once you find those weakness, attack them with both physical and spiritual authority...Its techniques like this that can overwhelm an opponent and make the difference between two equal Kumite partners.
RJF
If your opponent knows what area you are going to attack, it will be a simple matter for them to counter such a telegraphing of your intentions...
...thus the use of feints, and why they are an important part of a kumite students strategy.
Humans are creatures of habit and patterns, so the secret is to unlock your opponents responses ie: blocks and movements, to certain high and low attacks.
You have to get your opponent to react to what appears to be a serious attack...
...so your feint can't be a half hearted attempt, or else it won't be as effective.
It should seem as though you're making a full blown attack and fully intend to carry out the attack, except at the very last moment, and while your opponent has been frozen in anticipation of the attack, you arrest the technique and focus on the newly created opening for your secondary technique.
The more realistic your feints are the more unnerved your opponents mind will become while trying to defend against your attacks...
Don't be too repetitive with the same feint though, because your opponent will catch on...
...of course, if your opponent is slow to learn, like I am against my Sensei, keep using the same feints, if your opponent keeps falling for them, well...they'll eventually catch on...
...so throw in an actual attack to certain areas of the body, just to keep your opponent off guard and guessing...
Here's a couple of examples that work for me...
I raise my knee straight up as if intending to do a front kick, usually someone who isn't that experienced will react by lowering there guard, this opens up the head area for a Jodan punch. Next time I will again raise my knee, but my opponent has learned by now not to lower his guard, so he keeps it up anticipating a Jodan punch, instead I use a Jodan mawashi-geri around his guard or a Chudan mawashi-geri to his unprotected ribs...
When it comes to punching techniques, feint with either hand and punch with the other...your opponent won't know where the punches will be coming from.
Feints are designed to uncover weaknesses in your opponents defenses...
...once you find those weakness, attack them with both physical and spiritual authority...Its techniques like this that can overwhelm an opponent and make the difference between two equal Kumite partners.
RJF
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
King Kong--The Ultimate Martial Artist
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
A must see movie this Holiday season will be King Kong...
...not just because it's a classic, because it has some great martial arts fight scenes in it.
In particular when Kong faces off with 3 T--Rex's handicapped by having to use one of his appendages to gently clutch Naomi...
It's better than most martial arts fight scenes, very well choreographed as Kong displays aspects of a seasoned Martial Artist with high flying kicks and the use of Hikite to tear one T--Rex's jaws apart...
Kong's use of awareness, Maai and Waza o hodokoso koki, are exemplary and in the end the awesome and fierce creatures don't stand a chance against this big fellow...
By the way if you want to order this and other great looking posters of King Kong, click on him and you'll be taken to MovieGoods.Com
King Kong (2005)
Cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell, Kyle Chandler, Lobo Chan, Thomas Kretschmann, Evan Parke, Colin Hanks; DIRECTED BY: Peter Jackson;
RJF
A must see movie this Holiday season will be King Kong...
...not just because it's a classic, because it has some great martial arts fight scenes in it.
In particular when Kong faces off with 3 T--Rex's handicapped by having to use one of his appendages to gently clutch Naomi...
It's better than most martial arts fight scenes, very well choreographed as Kong displays aspects of a seasoned Martial Artist with high flying kicks and the use of Hikite to tear one T--Rex's jaws apart...
Kong's use of awareness, Maai and Waza o hodokoso koki, are exemplary and in the end the awesome and fierce creatures don't stand a chance against this big fellow...
By the way if you want to order this and other great looking posters of King Kong, click on him and you'll be taken to MovieGoods.Com
Cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell, Kyle Chandler, Lobo Chan, Thomas Kretschmann, Evan Parke, Colin Hanks; DIRECTED BY: Peter Jackson;
RJF
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Bunkai...the street fighting Kumite secrets of the Martial Arts
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
At first, the Karate-Ka diligently learns the lessons and techniques of Kata...
...then, once a level of competency is reached, the student attempts to learn all there is to know about the very deadly applications, or Bunkai, hidden away within the Kata movements.
During a Karate-Ka's training he/she believes they are training oneself to adequately defend themselves when they have to, but once they start to utilize Bunkai, only then do they understand the level of physical damage that can be inflicted upon another human being, and why it must never be used except in extreme situations.
To understand certain aspects of Bunkai, you simply need to understand basic physics...
...when you strike any object, a certain amount of force and energy is released...
...and if you can double the speed of your strike, the resultant force inflicted upon the object almost doubles.
And if the object being struck happens to be human bones, joints or organs, catastrophic and in some cases fatal injuries will arise.
Now, a Karate-Ka can train hard and long to increase the speed of his blocks and strikes with great effectiveness, or...
...he/she can use the secret of the Hikite , which they have been unknowingly learning from their very first Kata movement...
For example, if after blocking and trapping a punch, you grab hold of an attackers arm and pull him towards you while unleashing a back-fist or front kick you will inflict the most amount of damage possible, by doubling the amount of impact speed through the simultaneous action of striking and pulling or Hikite...
...couple that action with the targeting of a pressure point and your attacker will undoubtedly know by then, if they're still conscious, that they're up against the real thing and just might decide to go and find an easier victim...
You see, it's that pulling by one arm, while striking with the other, the Hikite, that doubles your punching or blocking speed, and faster speed means greater force.
It's like a head on collision between two speeding cars, as opposed to one car just hitting a wall.
To practice Bunkai in the Dojo is very difficult and must never be practiced except at a very slow speed, otherwise someone will get hurt.
So, right away you can see the problem...how can you become proficient at Bunkai without practicing the techniques at full speed?
Well, realistically you can't, you'll just have to learn them at a controlled pace and realize that they will be there for you, when you need them.
So, there you have it, one of the secrets of Kumite, the Hikite...
...the secret that's no secret at all, and one that you've been practicing all along...cool eh?
RJF
At first, the Karate-Ka diligently learns the lessons and techniques of Kata...
...then, once a level of competency is reached, the student attempts to learn all there is to know about the very deadly applications, or Bunkai, hidden away within the Kata movements.
During a Karate-Ka's training he/she believes they are training oneself to adequately defend themselves when they have to, but once they start to utilize Bunkai, only then do they understand the level of physical damage that can be inflicted upon another human being, and why it must never be used except in extreme situations.
To understand certain aspects of Bunkai, you simply need to understand basic physics...
...when you strike any object, a certain amount of force and energy is released...
...and if you can double the speed of your strike, the resultant force inflicted upon the object almost doubles.
And if the object being struck happens to be human bones, joints or organs, catastrophic and in some cases fatal injuries will arise.
Now, a Karate-Ka can train hard and long to increase the speed of his blocks and strikes with great effectiveness, or...
...he/she can use the secret of the Hikite , which they have been unknowingly learning from their very first Kata movement...
For example, if after blocking and trapping a punch, you grab hold of an attackers arm and pull him towards you while unleashing a back-fist or front kick you will inflict the most amount of damage possible, by doubling the amount of impact speed through the simultaneous action of striking and pulling or Hikite...
...couple that action with the targeting of a pressure point and your attacker will undoubtedly know by then, if they're still conscious, that they're up against the real thing and just might decide to go and find an easier victim...
You see, it's that pulling by one arm, while striking with the other, the Hikite, that doubles your punching or blocking speed, and faster speed means greater force.
It's like a head on collision between two speeding cars, as opposed to one car just hitting a wall.
To practice Bunkai in the Dojo is very difficult and must never be practiced except at a very slow speed, otherwise someone will get hurt.
So, right away you can see the problem...how can you become proficient at Bunkai without practicing the techniques at full speed?
Well, realistically you can't, you'll just have to learn them at a controlled pace and realize that they will be there for you, when you need them.
So, there you have it, one of the secrets of Kumite, the Hikite...
...the secret that's no secret at all, and one that you've been practicing all along...cool eh?
RJF
Black Mask--Movie review---3 1/2 out of 5
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Don't see the article you were looking for?...use the Google Search this site box on the side or the Blogger Search this blogg at the top...
Black Mask (1996)
a.k.a.: "Hak hap"
Cast: Jet Li, Ching Wan Lau, Karen Mok, Matt McKenzie, Françoise Yip, Kong Lung, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang
DIRECTED BY: Lee, Daniel
This movie has some funky set designs... almost cartoonish at times. The story line and plot is the usual good battling evil as Jet defends the good against steroid pumped up gangland ninjis trying to take over the drug trade in Hong Kong. There's lots of action in this movie of course, with excellent hand to hand fight scenes as well as lots of explosions. This film isn't to be taken very seriously, thanks to the dubbing of voices and the silly comic relief...
But if you like this genre like I do, its fun to watch and have a good laugh with...
By the way, it's rumored that Jet Li is getting out of making martial arts movies, which is sad news to hear...so if you want something to remember him by, you can click on the poster where you'll be taken to MovieGoods.com and you can purchase the movie poster...
RJF
Don't see the article you were looking for?...use the Google Search this site box on the side or the Blogger Search this blogg at the top...
a.k.a.: "Hak hap"
Cast: Jet Li, Ching Wan Lau, Karen Mok, Matt McKenzie, Françoise Yip, Kong Lung, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang
DIRECTED BY: Lee, Daniel
This movie has some funky set designs... almost cartoonish at times. The story line and plot is the usual good battling evil as Jet defends the good against steroid pumped up gangland ninjis trying to take over the drug trade in Hong Kong. There's lots of action in this movie of course, with excellent hand to hand fight scenes as well as lots of explosions. This film isn't to be taken very seriously, thanks to the dubbing of voices and the silly comic relief...
But if you like this genre like I do, its fun to watch and have a good laugh with...
By the way, it's rumored that Jet Li is getting out of making martial arts movies, which is sad news to hear...so if you want something to remember him by, you can click on the poster where you'll be taken to MovieGoods.com and you can purchase the movie poster...
RJF
Saturday, December 10, 2005
How to become a Healthy Samurai...Eat a Healthy Diet...Its that simple...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
It's hard to believe that with all of today's scientific and modern medical practices, the boomers, gen x'ers and their children, will by all accounts, not live as long, or be as healthy as their parents and grand-parents.
The three biggest reasons for that unfortunate fact, is our lack of exercise, poor diets and stress...
And it is also the three areas of our lives which we have the most control over...
You see, there are all kinds of reasons or excuses for instance, that I use unconsciously to justify my choice of a Wendy's cheese burger combo with fries and pop, as opposed to the grilled chicken burger with a side salad and a bottled water...
When I make the effort to become aware about how I feel about my choice, I experience the uncomfortable sensation of guilt...
...now I don't like that feeling, so I instantly direct my mind away from the guilt and focus it on how good that greasy burger and fries taste...especially with ketchup on the fries ...and consequently my feelings of guilt become a distant memory.
I know I don't have the greatest diet in the world and it's obvious there are a whole lot of folks in the same boat.
So, what I have attempted to do to rectify this problem, is to try and eat healthy every other day...
If I had the greasy burger and fries on Monday, on Tuesday I will go to Safeway and grab one of those packaged salads and a water or a container of fruit...
That way, I don't experience any guilty feelings and instead get the sense that I am doing something very good for my body.
This alternating of food choices on a daily basis is a good interim step for most people and could lead to an overall habit of simply putting the very best food available into your body.
The example used above was for eating out, but you can use the same principle when cooking for yourself or your family at home...every other night cook a highly nutritious meal with plenty of vegetables, leaner cuts of meat and try to incorporate a different kind of salad as well...
There are many good sources for the proper kinds of food to eat, like the Canada's Food Guide To Healthy Eating...
...or Food Guide Pyramid Topic Page (Food & Nutrition Information Center) and sites that have easy meal planning ideas...
So if you make a conscious effort to eat healthier, your body will perform better and you just might live to be a hundred...
RJF
It's hard to believe that with all of today's scientific and modern medical practices, the boomers, gen x'ers and their children, will by all accounts, not live as long, or be as healthy as their parents and grand-parents.
The three biggest reasons for that unfortunate fact, is our lack of exercise, poor diets and stress...
And it is also the three areas of our lives which we have the most control over...
You see, there are all kinds of reasons or excuses for instance, that I use unconsciously to justify my choice of a Wendy's cheese burger combo with fries and pop, as opposed to the grilled chicken burger with a side salad and a bottled water...
When I make the effort to become aware about how I feel about my choice, I experience the uncomfortable sensation of guilt...
...now I don't like that feeling, so I instantly direct my mind away from the guilt and focus it on how good that greasy burger and fries taste...especially with ketchup on the fries ...and consequently my feelings of guilt become a distant memory.
I know I don't have the greatest diet in the world and it's obvious there are a whole lot of folks in the same boat.
So, what I have attempted to do to rectify this problem, is to try and eat healthy every other day...
If I had the greasy burger and fries on Monday, on Tuesday I will go to Safeway and grab one of those packaged salads and a water or a container of fruit...
That way, I don't experience any guilty feelings and instead get the sense that I am doing something very good for my body.
This alternating of food choices on a daily basis is a good interim step for most people and could lead to an overall habit of simply putting the very best food available into your body.
The example used above was for eating out, but you can use the same principle when cooking for yourself or your family at home...every other night cook a highly nutritious meal with plenty of vegetables, leaner cuts of meat and try to incorporate a different kind of salad as well...
There are many good sources for the proper kinds of food to eat, like the Canada's Food Guide To Healthy Eating...
...or Food Guide Pyramid Topic Page (Food & Nutrition Information Center) and sites that have easy meal planning ideas...
So if you make a conscious effort to eat healthier, your body will perform better and you just might live to be a hundred...
RJF
Monday, December 05, 2005
Shin, Wasa, Tai---Mind or Spirit, Technique and Body
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
The Zen Way to the Martial Arts
<----Click to purchase this book from Amazon.com
..."In the martial arts, as in the game of Go, a thorough knowledge of wasa, technique, is useful. And it is certain that in a young person the body is the fundamental element, whereas in an older man technique and spirit predominate.
In reality, shin---spirit---is what matters first; technique and body come afterward. In other sports, especially in the West, physical strength is the most important factor, but this is not so in the martial arts. In judo the body must be well formed, but that is less important than technique and mind-intuition needed to use it correctly. In a fight between a strong technique and a strong body, technique will prevail..In a fight between a strong mind and a strong technique, mind will prevail, because it will find the weak point."...
RJF
The Zen Way to the Martial Arts
<----Click to purchase this book from Amazon.com..."In the martial arts, as in the game of Go, a thorough knowledge of wasa, technique, is useful. And it is certain that in a young person the body is the fundamental element, whereas in an older man technique and spirit predominate.
In reality, shin---spirit---is what matters first; technique and body come afterward. In other sports, especially in the West, physical strength is the most important factor, but this is not so in the martial arts. In judo the body must be well formed, but that is less important than technique and mind-intuition needed to use it correctly. In a fight between a strong technique and a strong body, technique will prevail..In a fight between a strong mind and a strong technique, mind will prevail, because it will find the weak point."...
RJF
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Really Cool Samurai-Martial Arts Movies--The Seven Samurai
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Seven Samurai (1954)
a.k.a.: "Shichinin No Samurai", "The Magnificent Seven"
Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Kuninori Kodo, Isao (Ko) Kimura, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki, Daisuke Kato, Bokuzen Hidari, Kamatari (Keita) Fujiwara, Yoshio Kosugi, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Jun Tatara, Sojin, Kichijiro Ueda, Jun Tazaki, Keiji Sakakida, Keiko Tsushima, Gen Shimizu;
Directed by legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa,
WRITTEN BY: Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni; CINEMATOGRAPHY BY: Asakazu Nakai; MUSIC BY: Fumio Hayasaka. PRODUCER: Shojiro Motoki, Kingsley International, Toho Films.
Kurosawa's masterpiece, set in 16th-century Japan. A small farming village, beset by marauding bandits, hires seven professional soldiers to rid itself of the scourge. Wanna watch a samaurai movie? This is the one. Sweeping, complex human drama with all the ingredients: action, suspense, comedy. Available in several versions of varying length, all long--and all too short. Splendid acting. In Japanese with English subtitles.
If you want to purchase the poster...simply click on it and you'll be taken to MovieGoods.com
RJF
Seven Samurai (1954)
a.k.a.: "Shichinin No Samurai", "The Magnificent Seven"
Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Kuninori Kodo, Isao (Ko) Kimura, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki, Daisuke Kato, Bokuzen Hidari, Kamatari (Keita) Fujiwara, Yoshio Kosugi, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Jun Tatara, Sojin, Kichijiro Ueda, Jun Tazaki, Keiji Sakakida, Keiko Tsushima, Gen Shimizu;
Directed by legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa,
WRITTEN BY: Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni; CINEMATOGRAPHY BY: Asakazu Nakai; MUSIC BY: Fumio Hayasaka. PRODUCER: Shojiro Motoki, Kingsley International, Toho Films.
Kurosawa's masterpiece, set in 16th-century Japan. A small farming village, beset by marauding bandits, hires seven professional soldiers to rid itself of the scourge. Wanna watch a samaurai movie? This is the one. Sweeping, complex human drama with all the ingredients: action, suspense, comedy. Available in several versions of varying length, all long--and all too short. Splendid acting. In Japanese with English subtitles.
If you want to purchase the poster...simply click on it and you'll be taken to MovieGoods.com
RJF
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Karate & Martial Arts Kumite Tips...#5...Train with an experienced partner...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
I was fortunate enough to be able to spar with my Sensei last night in Kumite...
...It was both awe inspiring and humbling to witness his punch/kick speed, feints, foot sweeps and agile footwork firsthand, up close and personal...
...and it gave me a new appreciation for the role that experience plays in Kumite.
My Sensei, who is in his early fifties, has over 40 years of Karate and Boxing experience, and has the ability to pull his punches and kicks even when they're being launched at full speed...
...otherwise I would have been picking myself up off the floor all night.
A thought entered my mind about the lives of samurais, who would have had to go up against more experienced samurais or accomplished instructors and how they would have learned the lessons of Kumite the hard way...
...losing teeth, broken ribs, other broken bones and torn ligaments...ouch...
...and I thought about how thankful I was that the ways of training in Karate-Do have changed so much for the better.
I mean sure, I'm going to take a lot longer to learn to keep my guard up than the poor student who learns to do it instinctively after being clocked on the jaw a few times, but hey that's the way things are now, or at least they should be...
And if they aren't that way at your Dojo, you might want to ask yourself why they aren't.
My Sensei was showing the class a secret technique and then we would practice it on each other...
...what I noticed immediately, was that the technique was really awkward and counter intuitive to perform...
...consequently, what the opponent thought he was seeing, was not what was actually happening and that misdirection left a huge opening for a hard front kick to the body or a roundhouse kick to the head after feinting a low front kick...it was really cool.
You just don't get that kind of insight and knowledge from sparring with a same level or lower level colored belt opponent...
...but once you do learn something new like that, it's always fun to try it out on lower belt Karate-Ka...
...and that way the knowledge gets passed down.
So if you want to improve your sparring skills, seek out experienced partners who would be willing to show you some of their secrets of Kumite...
RJF
I was fortunate enough to be able to spar with my Sensei last night in Kumite...
...It was both awe inspiring and humbling to witness his punch/kick speed, feints, foot sweeps and agile footwork firsthand, up close and personal...
...and it gave me a new appreciation for the role that experience plays in Kumite.
My Sensei, who is in his early fifties, has over 40 years of Karate and Boxing experience, and has the ability to pull his punches and kicks even when they're being launched at full speed...
...otherwise I would have been picking myself up off the floor all night.
A thought entered my mind about the lives of samurais, who would have had to go up against more experienced samurais or accomplished instructors and how they would have learned the lessons of Kumite the hard way...
...losing teeth, broken ribs, other broken bones and torn ligaments...ouch...
...and I thought about how thankful I was that the ways of training in Karate-Do have changed so much for the better.
I mean sure, I'm going to take a lot longer to learn to keep my guard up than the poor student who learns to do it instinctively after being clocked on the jaw a few times, but hey that's the way things are now, or at least they should be...
And if they aren't that way at your Dojo, you might want to ask yourself why they aren't.
My Sensei was showing the class a secret technique and then we would practice it on each other...
...what I noticed immediately, was that the technique was really awkward and counter intuitive to perform...
...consequently, what the opponent thought he was seeing, was not what was actually happening and that misdirection left a huge opening for a hard front kick to the body or a roundhouse kick to the head after feinting a low front kick...it was really cool.
You just don't get that kind of insight and knowledge from sparring with a same level or lower level colored belt opponent...
...but once you do learn something new like that, it's always fun to try it out on lower belt Karate-Ka...
...and that way the knowledge gets passed down.
So if you want to improve your sparring skills, seek out experienced partners who would be willing to show you some of their secrets of Kumite...
RJF
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Martial Arts outside the Dojo...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
If you don't see the article you were looking, use the Google search this site box on the side-bar...
Everyone does a good job while training in the Dojo's, but that time is very small compared to the time outside.
Outside the Dojo should be just as important as inside.
I'm not talking about training at home, which is of course a very good idea...
...I'm talking about your daily routines at home, at play and at work.
A good habit to get into is to "think" about your martial arts at various times during the day...
...practice in your mind what you might do in a situation if you were attacked or grabbed by someone while at a restaurant or shopping mall... or if you had to help an innocent person who was being attacked by a vicious dog at a park...
...if you didn't have a walking stick to use like a jo, what else could you use as a weapon...These kinds of thoughts.
You can also practice your punches and kicks on objects throughout the day...
...and your children, pets and significant others aren't one of those objects...
...I should know, a play fight with my wife ended up with both of us having bruises and soreness for days...I had to put her in a wrist lock just to keep her from strangling me...
During work, if you find yourself alone in a big enough area, practice one of your Kata's or Kumite sparring...
...try to avoid the Karate yell though, tends to draw attention.
It's outside the Dojo that you may be called upon to use what you've been trained to do, so you must also train your mind to respond correctly.
Develop an awareness for your surroundings, escape routes and such...
...always a good idea anyway, just in case there is ever a fire or emergency in your work place or wherever you might be.
Another good mental exercise is to look at body types of people and determine how you would respond if they suddenly attacked you. Would you be able to maneuver yourself into an advantages position considering the obstacles in your surroundings?.
If you are mentally prepared for a situation and your body has been physically prepared from hours of hard work in the Dojo, then you'll be able to respond in the most efficient way to any circumstance...
RJF
If you don't see the article you were looking, use the Google search this site box on the side-bar...
Everyone does a good job while training in the Dojo's, but that time is very small compared to the time outside.
Outside the Dojo should be just as important as inside.
I'm not talking about training at home, which is of course a very good idea...
...I'm talking about your daily routines at home, at play and at work.
A good habit to get into is to "think" about your martial arts at various times during the day...
...practice in your mind what you might do in a situation if you were attacked or grabbed by someone while at a restaurant or shopping mall... or if you had to help an innocent person who was being attacked by a vicious dog at a park...
...if you didn't have a walking stick to use like a jo, what else could you use as a weapon...These kinds of thoughts.
You can also practice your punches and kicks on objects throughout the day...
...and your children, pets and significant others aren't one of those objects...
...I should know, a play fight with my wife ended up with both of us having bruises and soreness for days...I had to put her in a wrist lock just to keep her from strangling me...
During work, if you find yourself alone in a big enough area, practice one of your Kata's or Kumite sparring...
...try to avoid the Karate yell though, tends to draw attention.
It's outside the Dojo that you may be called upon to use what you've been trained to do, so you must also train your mind to respond correctly.
Develop an awareness for your surroundings, escape routes and such...
...always a good idea anyway, just in case there is ever a fire or emergency in your work place or wherever you might be.
Another good mental exercise is to look at body types of people and determine how you would respond if they suddenly attacked you. Would you be able to maneuver yourself into an advantages position considering the obstacles in your surroundings?.
If you are mentally prepared for a situation and your body has been physically prepared from hours of hard work in the Dojo, then you'll be able to respond in the most efficient way to any circumstance...
RJF
Monday, November 21, 2005
Kumite Tips...#4...ones spirit...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
One's Kumite training must be more than just strength and technique focused...
...although that kind of training is absolutely necessary and will serve you very well in your Kumite battles, it lacks the one quality that may in fact determine your fate...
...that quality being the spirit.
In the days of the Samurai, battles were a matter of life and death, and in a battle of physical equals, it was the intuition of the mind that decided who would live and who would die.
It is with this sense of spirit, fighting as if ones life was on the line, that gives the Kumite Martial Artist, the proper perspective and the edge in a battle...
..it is the spirit that must be developed along with the mind and body...
... all together they will transform you into a formidable opponent.
RJF
One's Kumite training must be more than just strength and technique focused...
...although that kind of training is absolutely necessary and will serve you very well in your Kumite battles, it lacks the one quality that may in fact determine your fate...
...that quality being the spirit.
In the days of the Samurai, battles were a matter of life and death, and in a battle of physical equals, it was the intuition of the mind that decided who would live and who would die.
It is with this sense of spirit, fighting as if ones life was on the line, that gives the Kumite Martial Artist, the proper perspective and the edge in a battle...
..it is the spirit that must be developed along with the mind and body...
... all together they will transform you into a formidable opponent.
RJF
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Secrets of Martial Arts...and life...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Don't see the article you were looking for?...Use the Google search on the side bar or the Blogger search at the top...thanks
Excerpt from The Zen Way to The Martial Arts...
Concentrating means "all out," total release of energy; and it should be the same in every act of our life.
In the present-day world what we see is the opposite: young people half living, half dead. Their sexuality is half way, too, yet they think about sex at work or during zazen, and the other way round as well, and so it goes with everything they do.
But if you have exhausted all your energy, you can take in fresh energy, flowing like the water in the stream.
If you try to spare your energy in a fight, you cannot win. That's one secret of the martial arts. We cannot count on wasa, on technique alone. We have to create.
The martial arts are not theater or entertainment. That is not the true Budo. Kodo Sawaki used to say that the secret of the martial arts is that there is no victory and no defeat. You can neither win nor be beaten. It is not the same as in sports.
...to be continued
Don't see the article you were looking for?...Use the Google search on the side bar or the Blogger search at the top...thanks
Excerpt from The Zen Way to The Martial Arts...
Concentrating means "all out," total release of energy; and it should be the same in every act of our life.
In the present-day world what we see is the opposite: young people half living, half dead. Their sexuality is half way, too, yet they think about sex at work or during zazen, and the other way round as well, and so it goes with everything they do.
But if you have exhausted all your energy, you can take in fresh energy, flowing like the water in the stream.
If you try to spare your energy in a fight, you cannot win. That's one secret of the martial arts. We cannot count on wasa, on technique alone. We have to create.
The martial arts are not theater or entertainment. That is not the true Budo. Kodo Sawaki used to say that the secret of the martial arts is that there is no victory and no defeat. You can neither win nor be beaten. It is not the same as in sports.
...to be continued
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Free Fighting Karate Kumite Tip # 3....you have to move...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Here's my disclaimer...I've only been taking Karate Kumite for a couple of years and not even on a regular basis.
So, what I am relating about Kumite Tips is my direct experience as a Karate-Ka, one who has only recently embarked on the path or the way...
The Kumite stories are about my direct observations and lessons learned...some the hard way...
"Kime" in Karate is about Focus...building and delivering all of ones kinetic energy to a particular target.
Now, that kind of focus of intent and energy is only devastatingly effective if your opponent happens to be a Makawara board...or is inexperienced enough to simply stand there and let you tee off on them.
After taking a few solid shots to the body, the Karate-Ka learns his first lesson...
...and consequently discovers his best defensive weapon...that being movement.
It's so simple and naturally an integral part of basic Karate and Kumite that it hardly ranks as a Kumite Tip, it should really be classified as a rule...
...as an example, when attacked... move...block, trap and attack...
Just like everything else in Karate, there are deeper levels of understanding associated with the fine tuning of techniques and this is true of movement.
As an example, when I first started sparring with my sensei, I lunged in with a lunge punch...only to realize a split second later that Sensei's fist was firmily planted on my jaw and he was nowhere near my punch because he had deftly side stepped me...
...an experienced Kumite opponent is always ready to counter-punch you, not only to where his mind tells him the target area "is", but also to where the target "will" be, a fraction of a second later if the attacker changes the technique...
...they seem to have the ability through experience, to give themselves an infinitesimal amount of space to choose either punch option 1 or option 2 and be able to deliver it with Kime to that exact spot...
My Sensei knew without thinking exactly where my head was "going" to be while executing my lunge punch...
Consequently here is the beginners Second Kumite Tip...
...always use your other hand (the non-punching hand) to protect your jaw while lunging in with a lunge, reverse, or straight punch...
...unlike the basics where your opposite hand pulls back to the hip, it's new role becomes that of a guard.
Kumite is like a chess match where moves are countered and those moves are countered...
...like chess the Karate-Ka can only learn and excel, by sparring with an experienced opponent.
One important point for the beginner is this...you are much more vulnerable while initiating an attack against your opponent than defending and waiting to counter his/her attack.
I'll discuss feigning an attack to get your opponent to open up at a later time, it comes under the subject of strategy.
Kumite, especially freestyle, will take the Karate-Ka years to master if ever.
It should be part and parcel with the development of solid basics, and correctly performed techniques in Kata.
Put all three of those together and you'll be a well rounded martial artist.
RJF
Here's my disclaimer...I've only been taking Karate Kumite for a couple of years and not even on a regular basis.
So, what I am relating about Kumite Tips is my direct experience as a Karate-Ka, one who has only recently embarked on the path or the way...
The Kumite stories are about my direct observations and lessons learned...some the hard way...
"Kime" in Karate is about Focus...building and delivering all of ones kinetic energy to a particular target.
Now, that kind of focus of intent and energy is only devastatingly effective if your opponent happens to be a Makawara board...or is inexperienced enough to simply stand there and let you tee off on them.
After taking a few solid shots to the body, the Karate-Ka learns his first lesson...
...and consequently discovers his best defensive weapon...that being movement.
It's so simple and naturally an integral part of basic Karate and Kumite that it hardly ranks as a Kumite Tip, it should really be classified as a rule...
...as an example, when attacked... move...block, trap and attack...
Just like everything else in Karate, there are deeper levels of understanding associated with the fine tuning of techniques and this is true of movement.
As an example, when I first started sparring with my sensei, I lunged in with a lunge punch...only to realize a split second later that Sensei's fist was firmily planted on my jaw and he was nowhere near my punch because he had deftly side stepped me...
...an experienced Kumite opponent is always ready to counter-punch you, not only to where his mind tells him the target area "is", but also to where the target "will" be, a fraction of a second later if the attacker changes the technique...
...they seem to have the ability through experience, to give themselves an infinitesimal amount of space to choose either punch option 1 or option 2 and be able to deliver it with Kime to that exact spot...
My Sensei knew without thinking exactly where my head was "going" to be while executing my lunge punch...
Consequently here is the beginners Second Kumite Tip...
...always use your other hand (the non-punching hand) to protect your jaw while lunging in with a lunge, reverse, or straight punch...
...unlike the basics where your opposite hand pulls back to the hip, it's new role becomes that of a guard.
Kumite is like a chess match where moves are countered and those moves are countered...
...like chess the Karate-Ka can only learn and excel, by sparring with an experienced opponent.
One important point for the beginner is this...you are much more vulnerable while initiating an attack against your opponent than defending and waiting to counter his/her attack.
I'll discuss feigning an attack to get your opponent to open up at a later time, it comes under the subject of strategy.
Kumite, especially freestyle, will take the Karate-Ka years to master if ever.
It should be part and parcel with the development of solid basics, and correctly performed techniques in Kata.
Put all three of those together and you'll be a well rounded martial artist.
RJF
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Performing Martial Arts in the Spotlight....
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Don't see the article you were looking for?...use the Google search on the side bar for specific martial arts stuff or the Blogger search this site box at the top of the page...RJF
Some people thrive on it...
...you know, being the center of everyone's attention and drawing on the energy of the situation to perform at a higher level, using the occasion to really show their stuff...
...and then there are others, who's worst nightmare is to perform in front of even small groups of friends and family...
... so self conscious that they can't seem to remember a simple Kata that they've done flawlessly thousands of times before.
Everyone, at some point in their life has to deal with their self consciousness and there's going to be certain situations that trigger those God awful physical manifestations...
...we know them as increased heart rate, profuse sweating, spinning/chattering mind, a general shakiness, discomfort...and most of all fear.
Now a few people who have a problem with their self consciousness, can spend thousands of dollars on psycohtherapy, when all's they really need to do, is to put themselves into situations where they are forced to confront and deal with their self consciousness...
...literally forcing themselves to stand there alone and to suffer with all those horrible feelings, wishing they could just run away and hide.
One important element of that kind of experience and situation, is that it has been structured so as to leave the person with no escape route, no way to turn back, no opting out, back against the wall so to speak and leave no choice but to move forward and to deal with the present moment in a clear and concise way.
There in lies the opportunity, for real life altering inner work on ourselves...
...and it all begins by being totally aware of yourself at that very uncomfortable moment in time...
...and sustaining those feelings long enough to observe them, experience them and finally to let them run their course, to lose their energy and ability to paralyze, mentally and physically...
If a person could be forced into a situation like that and be able to stay with it long enough, a new mind arises, a mind that seems to burn off the old fearful mind, like the early morning sun burns off the mist from the awakening day...
...and so it was as I stood there watching the rest of the participants demonstrating the designated Kata, Empi, for trophy night...
...being the only 3rd level brown belt amongst all black belts, I would have been the last to go and perform...but I had no intentions of doing the Kata anyway, so I was not concerned about anything.
...now for some reason, I thought that it was going to be voluntary whether the people who showed up that night would have to perform...
...I really hadn't practiced enough for the Kata and had really only done it a few times in regular class training.
To me, I was just there to work out a bit, watch the others do Empi and then vote on who should receive the trophy for the best performance...
During one of the Black Belt's performance, the head instructor came close enough to me for me to whisper over at him that I would be opting out of the demonstration, not to mention I still had a sore left foot from the previous weeks Kumite.
To my horror the head instructor whispered back..."I can't hear you"...
...well I immediately got flushed and started sweating, I couldn't believe my ears...a couple of seconds later he comes back and says..."We all have to suffer, its your turn...just do the best you can".
For what seemed like an eternity, I stood there with my self conscious feelings of fear and embarrassment, knowing that in a few minutes I would be making a complete fool out of myself in front of 20 blackbelts.
I watched the others performing, intently hoping that I could pick up some more of the Kata movements, but I gave up on that idea soon enough, it just wasn't going to happen...
I thought about leaving, faking an illness or perhaps just feinting for a second...but I couldn't...
...I was just going to have to deal with my pyhsical discomfort and my ensuing embarrassment.
...I had no options, I had to experience what was happening to me physically and mentally, I was totally locked into my here and now reality.
Amazingly, once I had resigned myself to that very poignant fact, my physical and mental symptoms of discomfort began to recede a bit and I began to breath normally.
The more I began to experience my thoughts and feelings, the more they seemed to diminish...
...they also began to lose their power over me without me doing anything except exploring and deeply experiencing what was happenig to me...
...and the more I experienced what was happening to me, the more the fears and discomfort began to fade.
I was still faced with the prospect of totally embarrassing myself in front of 20 black belts, but it just didn't seem to be the monster that I had self consciously made it out to be.
There was just one black belt left, and then I would be the last to go...but I wasn't feeling that bad about it anymore.
Now my Master and head instructor is a cool guy and is very knowledgeable when it comes to human nature and must of taken notice of my situation...
...instead of instructing the next black belt to go up, he indicated that was my turn to go up...
...and to my great delight he says "Come on...I'll do it with you.."
I must say, what I had initially thought was going to be a terribly embarrassing situation, turned out to be a very rewarding experience for me.
Even though I totally blew the Kata with the head instructor right beside me, it didn't matter, I had learned a valuable lesson about my inner self and how to overcome fear through self awareness and nothing more...
It was also Jo Kata trophy night and again the same situation...not prepared, not knowing the Kata, thinking I was going to opt out...
Only this time while waiting my turn to totally embarrass myself, I had no fear or any self conscious feelings whatsoever and when I went up to perform the Jo Kata I had a big smile on my face and enjoyed every moment of it....
Finally, along with the Empi Kata and Jo Kata trophy night, it was Kumite Trophy night...and in that situation I was actually much better prepared...
...I actually came in second...
You see, the Martial arts and in particular Karate, are really a way of life and the Karate-Ka can use what they learn in the Dojo to overcome negative situations in life...
...conversely negative situations in life offer huge opportunities for personal growth as a person and a Martial Artist...
RJF
Don't see the article you were looking for?...use the Google search on the side bar for specific martial arts stuff or the Blogger search this site box at the top of the page...RJF
Some people thrive on it...
...you know, being the center of everyone's attention and drawing on the energy of the situation to perform at a higher level, using the occasion to really show their stuff...
...and then there are others, who's worst nightmare is to perform in front of even small groups of friends and family...
... so self conscious that they can't seem to remember a simple Kata that they've done flawlessly thousands of times before.
Everyone, at some point in their life has to deal with their self consciousness and there's going to be certain situations that trigger those God awful physical manifestations...
...we know them as increased heart rate, profuse sweating, spinning/chattering mind, a general shakiness, discomfort...and most of all fear.
Now a few people who have a problem with their self consciousness, can spend thousands of dollars on psycohtherapy, when all's they really need to do, is to put themselves into situations where they are forced to confront and deal with their self consciousness...
...literally forcing themselves to stand there alone and to suffer with all those horrible feelings, wishing they could just run away and hide.
One important element of that kind of experience and situation, is that it has been structured so as to leave the person with no escape route, no way to turn back, no opting out, back against the wall so to speak and leave no choice but to move forward and to deal with the present moment in a clear and concise way.
There in lies the opportunity, for real life altering inner work on ourselves...
...and it all begins by being totally aware of yourself at that very uncomfortable moment in time...
...and sustaining those feelings long enough to observe them, experience them and finally to let them run their course, to lose their energy and ability to paralyze, mentally and physically...
If a person could be forced into a situation like that and be able to stay with it long enough, a new mind arises, a mind that seems to burn off the old fearful mind, like the early morning sun burns off the mist from the awakening day...
...and so it was as I stood there watching the rest of the participants demonstrating the designated Kata, Empi, for trophy night...
...being the only 3rd level brown belt amongst all black belts, I would have been the last to go and perform...but I had no intentions of doing the Kata anyway, so I was not concerned about anything.
...now for some reason, I thought that it was going to be voluntary whether the people who showed up that night would have to perform...
...I really hadn't practiced enough for the Kata and had really only done it a few times in regular class training.
To me, I was just there to work out a bit, watch the others do Empi and then vote on who should receive the trophy for the best performance...
During one of the Black Belt's performance, the head instructor came close enough to me for me to whisper over at him that I would be opting out of the demonstration, not to mention I still had a sore left foot from the previous weeks Kumite.
To my horror the head instructor whispered back..."I can't hear you"...
...well I immediately got flushed and started sweating, I couldn't believe my ears...a couple of seconds later he comes back and says..."We all have to suffer, its your turn...just do the best you can".
For what seemed like an eternity, I stood there with my self conscious feelings of fear and embarrassment, knowing that in a few minutes I would be making a complete fool out of myself in front of 20 blackbelts.
I watched the others performing, intently hoping that I could pick up some more of the Kata movements, but I gave up on that idea soon enough, it just wasn't going to happen...
I thought about leaving, faking an illness or perhaps just feinting for a second...but I couldn't...
...I was just going to have to deal with my pyhsical discomfort and my ensuing embarrassment.
...I had no options, I had to experience what was happening to me physically and mentally, I was totally locked into my here and now reality.
Amazingly, once I had resigned myself to that very poignant fact, my physical and mental symptoms of discomfort began to recede a bit and I began to breath normally.
The more I began to experience my thoughts and feelings, the more they seemed to diminish...
...they also began to lose their power over me without me doing anything except exploring and deeply experiencing what was happenig to me...
...and the more I experienced what was happening to me, the more the fears and discomfort began to fade.
I was still faced with the prospect of totally embarrassing myself in front of 20 black belts, but it just didn't seem to be the monster that I had self consciously made it out to be.
There was just one black belt left, and then I would be the last to go...but I wasn't feeling that bad about it anymore.
Now my Master and head instructor is a cool guy and is very knowledgeable when it comes to human nature and must of taken notice of my situation...
...instead of instructing the next black belt to go up, he indicated that was my turn to go up...
...and to my great delight he says "Come on...I'll do it with you.."
I must say, what I had initially thought was going to be a terribly embarrassing situation, turned out to be a very rewarding experience for me.
Even though I totally blew the Kata with the head instructor right beside me, it didn't matter, I had learned a valuable lesson about my inner self and how to overcome fear through self awareness and nothing more...
It was also Jo Kata trophy night and again the same situation...not prepared, not knowing the Kata, thinking I was going to opt out...
Only this time while waiting my turn to totally embarrass myself, I had no fear or any self conscious feelings whatsoever and when I went up to perform the Jo Kata I had a big smile on my face and enjoyed every moment of it....
Finally, along with the Empi Kata and Jo Kata trophy night, it was Kumite Trophy night...and in that situation I was actually much better prepared...
...I actually came in second...
You see, the Martial arts and in particular Karate, are really a way of life and the Karate-Ka can use what they learn in the Dojo to overcome negative situations in life...
...conversely negative situations in life offer huge opportunities for personal growth as a person and a Martial Artist...
RJF
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Preparing for a colored belt grading?...it's easy...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Not the article you were looking for?...use the blogger search this blog box, at the top of the page...thanks RJF
Generally, most colored belt gradings are held around every 3-4 months, and going to the Dojo twice a week for 4 months adds up to around 30 hours of training...
...training that may or may not be solely dedicated to helping you pass your next belt grading.
So, guess what, you have to spend at least that many hours dedicated to the display of basics, forms called Kata's and then either one step, three step, five step, or free style Kumite (sparring).
How are you going to do that you ask?
That's right...I'm talking about homework...that dreaded word we all hated while growing up.
That's if you want to excel and pull off a decent showing that is...
Now, there is going to be a huge difference between little Johnny doing Heian Nidan and a strong 20 year old man or woman...so make sure there really is a difference in the eyes of the judges...
...the difference in Kime (Focus and Concentration) should be apparent.
Also, if your not near total exhaustion after your grading...you just didn't put in the effort...and it will be noticed.
If you simply want to do the motions and achieve a black belt, that's fine...
...but if you truly want to live the life and way that Karate and other martial arts teach...then you have to get serious about your training...
...and if you happen to end up with a black belt after 4-5 years of hard training, well, that's just a bonus but it's not the real goal.
So, in a nut shell, to pass your belt grading you simply have to practice...
...practice some more and then finally practice some more after that...
Easy, isn't it?
...and believe me, when grading time comes, you'll do just fine.
RJF
Not the article you were looking for?...use the blogger search this blog box, at the top of the page...thanks RJF
Generally, most colored belt gradings are held around every 3-4 months, and going to the Dojo twice a week for 4 months adds up to around 30 hours of training...
...training that may or may not be solely dedicated to helping you pass your next belt grading.
So, guess what, you have to spend at least that many hours dedicated to the display of basics, forms called Kata's and then either one step, three step, five step, or free style Kumite (sparring).
How are you going to do that you ask?
That's right...I'm talking about homework...that dreaded word we all hated while growing up.
That's if you want to excel and pull off a decent showing that is...
Now, there is going to be a huge difference between little Johnny doing Heian Nidan and a strong 20 year old man or woman...so make sure there really is a difference in the eyes of the judges...
...the difference in Kime (Focus and Concentration) should be apparent.
Also, if your not near total exhaustion after your grading...you just didn't put in the effort...and it will be noticed.
If you simply want to do the motions and achieve a black belt, that's fine...
...but if you truly want to live the life and way that Karate and other martial arts teach...then you have to get serious about your training...
...and if you happen to end up with a black belt after 4-5 years of hard training, well, that's just a bonus but it's not the real goal.
So, in a nut shell, to pass your belt grading you simply have to practice...
...practice some more and then finally practice some more after that...
Easy, isn't it?
...and believe me, when grading time comes, you'll do just fine.
RJF
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Here and Now continued...from The Zen Way To The Martial Arts
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Use the blogger search this blog box, at the top of the page to find the story you were looking for...RJF
From The Zen Way to The Martial Arts...
"The moon's refection on the surface of the water moves incessantly. Yet the moon shines and goes nowhere it stays but it moves."
A very short poem on the secret of Zen and the martial arts, and also a great koan.
The stream never flows backward. The water slips past, past, past...but the moon doesn't move. In a contest the mind must be like the moon, while body and time slip past, past, past like water in the stream.
Now never returns. In zazen every breath out is that one, the one now, and it never comes back again. Of course, you can "catch" your breath but what you catch is never what went before, The breath that comes after is never the one that came before. Yesterday was yesterday and today is today. Different.
To be continued...
RJF
Use the blogger search this blog box, at the top of the page to find the story you were looking for...RJF
From The Zen Way to The Martial Arts...
"The moon's refection on the surface of the water moves incessantly. Yet the moon shines and goes nowhere it stays but it moves."
A very short poem on the secret of Zen and the martial arts, and also a great koan.
The stream never flows backward. The water slips past, past, past...but the moon doesn't move. In a contest the mind must be like the moon, while body and time slip past, past, past like water in the stream.
Now never returns. In zazen every breath out is that one, the one now, and it never comes back again. Of course, you can "catch" your breath but what you catch is never what went before, The breath that comes after is never the one that came before. Yesterday was yesterday and today is today. Different.
To be continued...
RJF
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Adventures in Kumite...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Use the blogger search search this blog feature, at the top of the page if you don't see the article you were looking for...thanks RJF
I should know better...trying to front kick a 6'2 260 lb black belt...
...I'm a second level brown belt by the way, 48 years old, 5'7 and 150 lbs with all my clothes on.
I didn't hear my big toe crack, but I sure felt it...ouch!
It didn't stop me from sparring for the rest of the night...I just wasn't able to use that foot for any kicks...which reduces the number of weapons I have at my disposal.
One of natures and our bodies neat tricks, is to block out pain when the adrenaline starts flowing in a fight or flight response from an outside threat.
Of course when the adrenaline is gone, as a matter of course, my body appropriately informs me of the injured area that needs attending too, by sending shooting pain signals from my toe to my brain.
It was really bad technique on my part...kicking like I'm kicking a soccer ball, rather than raising my knee and thrusting forward with my hips, and hitting with the ball of my foot.
Anyway, I'm at least symmetrical now, cracked toes wise, my right big toe a month ago and now my left...
When am I going to learn...
At least I'm not as bad off as the black belt teenager that took a reverse roundhouse kick to the face, bloodying his nose, courtesy of a female black belt in our class.
Guys, a word of warning when sparring with women...
...always be prepared for the unexpected and give yourself more room for defending yourself...
...women will take liberties with you because they will see you as being bigger and stronger and able to take more abuse, which is true of course...
...but even a 110 lb women can knock a man down with just the right roundhouse or reverse roundhouse to the jaw...
...so remember, don't take the gals lightly.
My sensei likes to mix up the partners, so that we get a chance to spar with karate-ka with different body types and different levels of skill.
After sparring with the immovable object, a 260 lb blackbelt instructor from a different dojo, I was partnered with a purple belt, with similar stature to myself.
Now this fellow and it is one advantage of smaller men, very quick...so all my blocking and striking had to be turned up a notch.
Kumite is where the practical aspect of basic training and kata are utilized...
...Unfortunately performing free sparring kumite at kata and basic kicking and striking speeds, will have you lying on the mat for the 10 count.
There is no time for thinking in free sparring kumite...
...even at this basic introductory level this fact is all too clear.
The game can change from defense to offense in a split second...
...being the first to attack, can also mean being the first to be hit the floor.
More on Kumite soon...
RJF
Use the blogger search search this blog feature, at the top of the page if you don't see the article you were looking for...thanks RJF
I should know better...trying to front kick a 6'2 260 lb black belt...
...I'm a second level brown belt by the way, 48 years old, 5'7 and 150 lbs with all my clothes on.
I didn't hear my big toe crack, but I sure felt it...ouch!
It didn't stop me from sparring for the rest of the night...I just wasn't able to use that foot for any kicks...which reduces the number of weapons I have at my disposal.
One of natures and our bodies neat tricks, is to block out pain when the adrenaline starts flowing in a fight or flight response from an outside threat.
Of course when the adrenaline is gone, as a matter of course, my body appropriately informs me of the injured area that needs attending too, by sending shooting pain signals from my toe to my brain.
It was really bad technique on my part...kicking like I'm kicking a soccer ball, rather than raising my knee and thrusting forward with my hips, and hitting with the ball of my foot.
Anyway, I'm at least symmetrical now, cracked toes wise, my right big toe a month ago and now my left...
When am I going to learn...
At least I'm not as bad off as the black belt teenager that took a reverse roundhouse kick to the face, bloodying his nose, courtesy of a female black belt in our class.
Guys, a word of warning when sparring with women...
...always be prepared for the unexpected and give yourself more room for defending yourself...
...women will take liberties with you because they will see you as being bigger and stronger and able to take more abuse, which is true of course...
...but even a 110 lb women can knock a man down with just the right roundhouse or reverse roundhouse to the jaw...
...so remember, don't take the gals lightly.
My sensei likes to mix up the partners, so that we get a chance to spar with karate-ka with different body types and different levels of skill.
After sparring with the immovable object, a 260 lb blackbelt instructor from a different dojo, I was partnered with a purple belt, with similar stature to myself.
Now this fellow and it is one advantage of smaller men, very quick...so all my blocking and striking had to be turned up a notch.
Kumite is where the practical aspect of basic training and kata are utilized...
...Unfortunately performing free sparring kumite at kata and basic kicking and striking speeds, will have you lying on the mat for the 10 count.
There is no time for thinking in free sparring kumite...
...even at this basic introductory level this fact is all too clear.
The game can change from defense to offense in a split second...
...being the first to attack, can also mean being the first to be hit the floor.
More on Kumite soon...
RJF
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Alcohol and Karate training...save it for after...
Kumite Tips #1/Kumite Tips #2/Kumite Tips #3/Kumite Tips #4/Kumite Tips #5/Kumite Tips #6/Kumite Tips #7/Kumite Tips #8/Kumite Tips #9
Use the blogger search this blog feature, at the top of the page if you don't see the article you were looking for...thanks RJF
A lot of people enjoy a beer or two after work, I know I do...
...but when the Head Instructor starts to notice it, smell or otherwise...then I have to question my practice. Especially when it gets pointed out in front of the whole class.
I'm definitely not one to preach about the evils of alcohol...
...I've got my numerous stories of overindulgence...
...and there's plenty of evidence about it's negative affects, no matter where you care to look...
...everything from brain and liver damage, right through to addiction and possibly family violence.
So back to Karate and alcohol...
...so the way I see it, Karate is a way of life and a way of becoming aware of my actions and in turn a way to discipline myself...
...after all, I need discipline to off set my indulgence...don't I?
You know, Ying and Yang, balance, and all that stuff...
Anyway, I've decided to break a long held routine of having a beer after work, and in particular before going to the Dojo, and I will now wait patiently until after my class...
Besides, it will probably taste even better...
Cheers..
RJF
Use the blogger search this blog feature, at the top of the page if you don't see the article you were looking for...thanks RJF
A lot of people enjoy a beer or two after work, I know I do...
...but when the Head Instructor starts to notice it, smell or otherwise...then I have to question my practice. Especially when it gets pointed out in front of the whole class.
I'm definitely not one to preach about the evils of alcohol...
...I've got my numerous stories of overindulgence...
...and there's plenty of evidence about it's negative affects, no matter where you care to look...
...everything from brain and liver damage, right through to addiction and possibly family violence.
So back to Karate and alcohol...
...so the way I see it, Karate is a way of life and a way of becoming aware of my actions and in turn a way to discipline myself...
...after all, I need discipline to off set my indulgence...don't I?
You know, Ying and Yang, balance, and all that stuff...
Anyway, I've decided to break a long held routine of having a beer after work, and in particular before going to the Dojo, and I will now wait patiently until after my class...
Besides, it will probably taste even better...
Cheers..
RJF
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