The Effectiveness Of Karate Moves

By Tim Danners

Karate is known to been an effective form of marital arts, so why is it so and what moves are there that we can learn today to get an idea of its effectiveness? First off, you should know that karate was originally developed by ordinary farming folks in Okinawa, Japan. Tired of being attacked and pillaged by armed bandits. These people took it upon themselves to develop a form of empty-handed combat which were effective against these mounted raiders.

Weapons were forbidden to be carried by the common Japanese folks if they were not samurai or the warrior class. This is one of the main reasons why you see flying or high kicks in karate. It was due to the necessity in knocking off these bandits or warriors from their horses.

Now what are some of the moves we can analyze that shows the effectiveness of these karate moves? Among the many moves, there are some common effective ones, like the back hand lash, the bottom fist, side hand hammer blow and choker.

Lets take a quick look at these.The back hand lash was one of the original attack moves in karate and how it is done is that when an opponent comes at you, you lash out with your palms straightened and tightened. It works like a plank of wood being smashed against the enemy's ribs.

For the bottom fist it is delivered best against an enemy that is wearing amour. In the olden days, most warriors wore some form of armor. What this meant was that normal killing blows to the soft vulnerable spots were not feasible. Hence this move was created to smash against hard armor, thereby creating concussion effects on the enemy. Hitting it on the head is effective as it can disorient and even knock out the enemy.

Another move sometimes used by karate practitioners is the heel of palm attack. As the name implies, your striking surface is the heel of the palm. This is powerful for several reasons. If delivered correctly and with connection power, the blow can be devastating to the opponent and can knock them out pretty quick. - 30300

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The Sure Fire Method for Creating an Iron Grip with Karate!

By Al Case

Using Karate, are you able to crush a coconut just by squeezing it? With Kung Fu, can you take a shoot of bamboo and twist it until it breaks? With Shaolin, can you grab a man by the arm and, with a light squeeze, bring him to his knees?

If you aren't able to accomplish the things I have just listed, and you study any of the martial arts I have mentioned, or other similar arts, then you should be wondering what is wrong with your martial art. After all, martial artists in ancient times could do these, and other tricks, and make them look simple. That said, let me introduce you to an Iron Grip...using an ancient training method.

One would think that an Iron Grip depends upon fantastic muscle, but, there aren't many muscles in the hands. Truth, the muscles that activate the hands are usually in the forearms. And, yes, you are going to need iron muscles in the forearms.

To begin this method of training, make sure that you are in good condition. I would recommend doing the kata called Sanchin, and doing it with lots of dynamic tension and sinking the weight into the ground. The power of the imagination must be strengthened through a firm reliance upon this simple discipline.

Now, this exercise is incredibly simple, but must be done every single day, and for long, boring hours. If you want the Iron Grip, you've got to be willing to pay the price. So if you are one of these weak willies who think that going to a class makes you an expert, cease and desist.

You must schedule at least an hour a day for this exercise, and you must adhere to that schedule without fail. Second, you must be able to find a certain fascination of intent during the course of that hour. You must fall in love with the long, slow breaths, and you must trust in the method I am about to prescribe.

Stand in a Sanchin stance and hold two mason jars in front of you. Your arms should be slightly bent, and you should use only the fingertips for gripping. For the first month, hold empty jars, for the second month, add an inch of sand and hold a high horse stance. Add an inch every month after that, and lower the stance until you are in a low horse stance.

And, when you have filled the jar, you do it all over again with an empty jar, but in a deep stance, and with the lip of the jar greased. Now, some of you think I am just fooling around, and you are the ones who are going to talk the talk, but never walk the walk, and certainly never discover the true depths of the martial arts, nor of yourselves. For those of you who are willing to discover the true depths of The True Martial Arts, however, and are willing to plumb your depths through Karate or Kung Fu or Shaolin, I offer this profound yet simple article. - 30300

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Learn How To Avoid Unnecessary Street Fights

By Vincent Grammar

There are countless street fighting tips on what to do when you are in a street battle but what do you do if you wish to avoid any needless confrontation? Within this kind of positions, your should want to focus on what is best to say to your opponent in order to stop the confrontation. It is really essential to access a routine out of expressing in words your aim at your target.

In the past, you may have seen a street fighting scene and what do you usually recall what you saw the most vivid? In all chance, you may first call to your memory what you heard because people do talk in street fight events. Well, "talk" might not be exact to explain the situation, but normally it's more of an exchange of brief phrases in order communicate their objective.

There are vital street fighting tips that concern short words to point out to the attackers. Such easy phrases can be used to protect yourself like "don't hurt me" or "help". These phrases may be make you look to be weak, but the goal is that you're trying to let it be known that you don't want trouble and chances are you may avert any further conflict. There are many choices to do in the given scenario and the greatest street fighting tips will let you know what you should say. In those circumstances in which you think a word or two, delivered at the right time and tone could work miracles.

Verbal phrases are really important when used for withdrawing or as threats. These set phrases serve as tools to stimulate emotional responses. You can find those right responses that can click the button of an attacker to stop. Some examples of those oral exchanges that could stop street combat could relate to things like "I don't want trouble", or "keep your distance".

In the beginning if you have started with "I'm sorry, I'm looking for no trouble" and then you sense the attacker doesn't back away, then you can try intensifying your attitude by including some type of insult in your commands. Once in a while such rough phrases could scare off your opponents if you think that is the right tactic to use. An example are "back off" or "stop it". If followed by the right confrontation stance, such phrases will fortify your position. The entire point is to avoid personal injury. - 30300

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How to Build an MMA Workout

By Espen Hanson

Most top tier fighters separate their MMA workout into five minute circuits. Each circuit contains a one minute break in between the circuits. This format mimics modern day MMA fights and how they take place. This type of training is the best to simulate what a fighter's body will go through during a fight.

No matter what type of workout someone does, it is important to warm up before serious physical activity. Common warm up techniques for fighters include exercise bikes or using a jump rope. But there is also running, press ups, dips, pull ups, shadow boxing, and a host of other techniques you can use to warm up your muscles.

It is very important to improve your cardio for mixed martial arts fights. Running and cycling are the most often used for this. Some fighters also use swimming as well since it is a total body workout and great for cardio. Circuit training can also be incorporated into a workout.

After cardio, strength building is also key to a good MMA workout. Strength building and body weight exercises are important because they give a fighter more power in their strikes, a greater ability to takedown an opponent, and also make submissions easier.

All fighters utilize bag work as part of their training regimen. Whether it is a bag lying on the floor for ground and pound, a bag hanging upright for striking, or a bag used to simulate a person in throwing drills, it is a necessary component to MMA training. For strikers, it is also a great way to work on striking combinations.

Finding a partner, or multiple partners, to train with is an absolute necessity. Finding a partner with an appropriate size and skill level to train with will help you become better at your craft. It is important that both fighters understand that the goal is not to hurt the other fighter, but to push them and train hard.

We've already mentioned that a bag is important for bag work. But you'll need other equipment to build a successful MMA workout. Most gyms will have all of the equipment you would ever need.

Developing good dieting habits and having good nutrition is a key to a solid foundation in mixed martial arts. Good nutrition is the fuel that a fighter's body requires. The better the fuel that is put in the better results a fighter will see. This also allows them to stay in top physical condition for weigh-ins.

The mental aspect of fighting is one that definitely cannot be overlooked. If a fighter can put together all of the physical parts to being a fighter, the mental game is still as tough if not more tough. Some of the best fighters in the world have been beaten due to a lack of mental fortitude or focus.

If you can put all of these different components into your MMA workout, or multiple MMA workouts, you can be successful. Whether you are doing it to become an elite fighter or just to get into shape is up to you. But this is a general overview of all the things one should think of when designing their MMA workout. - 30300

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Henderson Tops Cerrone For Interim Lightweight Title

By Ross Everett

No one knew quite what to expect in Saturday's WEC Interim Lightweight Championship battle between Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson. Henderson was known for his dominating wrestling skills, while Cerrone has a reputation as a punishing striker. Instead of being a clash of styles, however, it was an instance where the differing approaches of the two competitors complimented each other perfectly. The result was a 'fight of the year' candidate bout that Henderson won by a narrow-yet unanimous-decision.

Henderson opened the fight with a takedown, but quickly got caught in a guillotine choke attempt. He extricated himself from this predicament only to find himself in a triangle choke that appeared for a moment to be a potential fight ending submission. That would not be the case, however, and Henderson would take control in the last half of the round with his powerful takedowns and 'ground and pound' punching assault. The almost even first round would prove to be the decisive frame of the fight.

Rounds two and three were all Henderson, as he took Cerrone down almost at will and began to pummel him on the ground. Cerrone managed a couple of submission attempts from the bottom, and did what he could to keep Henderson off of him with upkicks but nowhere near enough to salvage either round. At times, Cerrone looked downright clueless as to what tactical approach to take.

The tide would turn again in the fourth round, as Cerrone began to time Henderson's takedown attempts. He became much more difficult to get to the ground, as well as administering punishment of his own after stuffing takedowns with punches and knee strikes. Later in the frame, Cerrone came close to ending the fight when he locked in a nasty and unorthodox choke that WEC commentator Frank Mir described as 'almost an inverted rear naked choke'. After some tense moments, Henderson was able to escape. Cerrone would also control the final round, evading Henderson's takedowns while scoring with his striking. He had another potential fight ending submission attempt in the fifth round, as he locked in an arm bar and appeared to have good leverage as he twisted Henderson's arm into a nasty angle.

The decision itself was somewhat surprising, with Henderson winning all three judges' scorecards by identical 48-47 scores. He'd clearly won rounds two and three, while Cerrone was the obvious winner of rounds four and five. This meant that all three judges had given the edge to Henderson in the first round, favoring his takedowns and ground punching attack over Cerrone's two early submission attempts. (The Savage Science scored the fight 48-47 for Cerrone).

Henderson will now face WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner to unify the titles. Varner entered the cage after the decision was announced to 'cut a promo' on the winner, and suggested the fight take place in December in Phoenix, Arizona though neither the date nor venue has been finalized. - 30300

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MMA Flashback: Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title Changes Hands As Sobral Tops Southworth

By Ross Everett

Renato Babalu Sobral defeated Bobby Southworth by TKO to become Strikeforce light heavyweight champion in the co-main event of the promotions 'Destruction' card on Friday night. Despite leaving with the belt around his waist, it wasn't a highlight reel worthy finish.

A -350 wagering favorite despite his challenger status, Sobral was expected to use his world class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills and vast experience against superior competition to dominate the tough but limited Southworth. It didnt happen that way, as Southworth easily got the better of things in the first round. Southworths style isnt exactly one that provides Wanderlei Silva type excitement--he looks to use his strength and conditioning to control his opponent en route to a decision victory. While the result makes him something of a MMA equivalent to boxing's John Ruiz, it does afford him the best chance of victory.

The first round displayed Southworth's style in microcosm, with much of the frame spent pushing Babalu up against the cage or on the ground inside his guard not really doing much. Sobral had one effective strike the entire round"and it would decide the fight. During a clinch against the cage wall the challenger rocked Southworth with a hard elbow strike that not only busted his nose but opened a huge cut over his right eye.

Upon seeing the gusher of blood Referee John McCarthy brought the ringside physician over to take a look. As Southworth's corner futilely worked on the gaping wound during the break the doctor once again took a look and better realizing the severity and placement of the cut recommended to McCarthy that the fight be stopped. The veteran official complied, awarding Sobral the TKO victory and the championship belt.

The other half of the co-main event was decided in much more decisive fashion as Scott Smith knocked out well traveled veteran Terry Martin in a mere :24 seconds. Unfortunately, Martin didn't adequately close the distance against a fighter dubbed 'Hands of Steel' and was caught with a perfectly placed punch that knocked him out cold.

In the semifinal event, Duane 'Bang' Ludwig defeated Yves Edwards by unanimous decision in a very closely contested bout. Edwards was originally slated to face lightweight champion Josh Thomson until a toe injury necessitated his withdrawal. Ludwig took the fight on two weeks notice, and after a takedown clinic by Edwards in the first began to control the fight with his superior standup skills. Edwards' superiority on the ground in the first two frames wasnt enough to sway the judges who obviously favored Ludwig's more effective striking. All three judges scored the contest 29-28 Ludwig, and he may have earned himself a championship match as a result.

Earlier in the evening, Kim Couture made short work of overmatched Lina Kvokov as she TKOd her foe in 1:44 of the first round. Couture, the wife of UFC legend Randy Couture, gained even more notoriety for the courage she displayed in her professional debut last June. She had a much easier time here"despite the fact that both fighters entered with 0-1 records Couture was significantly more polished as she put Kvokov on the defensive from the outset with her sharp punching combinations. She recovered momentarily and survived the initial onslaught. The reprieve was only temporary, however, as Couture launched another barrage of punches prompting the referee to step in and wave off the non-competitive affair. - 30300

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The Three Necessary Stages to Immaculate Martial Arts!

By Al Case

A common conception towards the martial arts is that they are a rite of passage. Rite of passage is part of the social layering amongst societies. But, modern society doesn't really need rite of passage in the martial arts, rather, it needs a logical approach to make the martial arts easier to learn and more effective.

This, of course, means that the bully boy attitude of many instructors is going to have to go out the door. The idea that you have to be a man to do something needs to be put aside. Really, to grow up in this society means that the ability to think takes precedence over the use of muscles.

There are three stages in this thinking process, and, unfortunately one of them is unknown. The three stages are CBM, which means Coordinated Body Motion, matrixing, and mushin no shin, which I shall explain. Of the three, nobody even knows that matrixing exists.

CBM is the concept of using the body as one unit. This means that all parts of the body must be used at the same time, starting motion at the same time, and stopping motion at the same time. Mystical in the past, one need merely evaluate the range of motion and the mass of the body part and so on of the various body parts and go about integrating them through analysis of simple motions inherent in the martial arts.

Matrixing is the analysis and handling of force and direction. Matrixing is done on a simple graph, and it reveals all the things that one doesn't know. Hidden techniques and mysterious moves are all things of the past once one starts to Matrix his martial art.

Mushin no shin is Japanese for Mind of No Mind. I have also referred to it as Time of no Time, and it means that the person has managed to ignore all the chaos and static of the human mind and begun analyzing reality as it is, and in the here and now. Interestingly, in spite of the fact that Matrixing has been unknown, a rare few people have managed to achieve Mushin No Shin, but they have been unable to pass it on, for there has been no logic or science to perpetuate it as a logical method.

Matrixing is incredible important, as it stands as a way for the human being to overcome a mind that isn't fully functioning and perceive, and have doings with, reality as it truly is. Once fully matrixed, a person will have no more illusions about what is actually happening in life. And, this means that you don't have to use a rite of passage to beat somebody up to get him to learn something that, the faulty mind put aside, would be obvious.

Interestingly, I came across the graphing method of matrixing by making long lists of martial arts techniques, and searching for the most efficient method for crossing the lists and discovering all the tricks of the martial arts. What I didn't know was that I was going to uncover all the potentials of motion that I did not know existed. Well, at this point you know ten times what I did before I began my study of matrixing, so give it a try, and let me know how it works. - 30300

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