Mixed Martial Arts: It's a Whole New Game!

By Ken Yabashi

Fight! Mixed martial arts is making waves and generating a great deal of excitement from loyal fans. This sport is a full contact combat sport and it makes use of a hodge-podge of martial arts (both traditional and non-traditional).

Mixed martial arts, of MMA combines the punching styles of boxing, the different types of kicking (as used in Tae Kwon Doe and other similar martial arts), as well as the various classes of grappling. These moves can be done when the opponents are either lying down or standing up.

Anyone who has a certain level of expertise in any kind of martial arts is welcome to join and be a contender. However, one must know the rules first, because it can get quite confusing and you may even forget the certain styles or moves apply while some do not.

It used to be that MMA was thought of as barbaric, uncultured and unhealthy. So, to make sure that MMA does not have such limits, the proponents of the sport provided a set of rules to the contestants. The weight classes became expanded into 9, and special gloves have to be worn as protection both for the wearer and for the diamond. There is also a 5-minute time limit per round for professional fights, with the fight lasting for three to five rounds. Other parts that should not be used are the elbows and the head butt).

To become the winner, one fighter must do any of the following - get a submission by the competitor, knockout the competitor and have the fight stopped by the referee, by the competitor's cornerman (who will throw in the towel) or by the fight doctor. A knockout is defined as the competitor's being unconscious because of the blows he endured. The fight is declared over to ensure that the unconscious competitor suffers from no further injury.

For a technical knockout (this is when the fight is stopped), the judges will declare who won the fight. And lastly, for a fighter to win by submission, the other opponent must signify his submission by saying it out loud for the referee to hear, or by tapping the mat or his opponent's body. - 30300

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The Infinite and Golden Truth about Tai Chi Chuan

By Al Case

The truth of Tai Chi is inherent in a symbol that nobody understands. If you read to the end of this article you will understand that symbol, and it will enlighten your practice of the martial arts. I am speaking of that grand terminus, the yin yang symbol.

The symbol of the Yin Yang is two fishes swimming is night and day is good and evil is...ridiculous. The Yin Yang symbol has nothing to do with those poetic but cut off observations possible to our short lived species. The Ying Yang symbol is actually an empirical observation and quite mechanistic approach to our universe.

Everything in the universe is a motor. A motor is defined as tension between two objects. Doesn't matter whether the tension is push or pull, just that the tension is, and that is what holds our universe together and...keeps it apart.

A simple little atom, with its protons and electrons, forever chasing and never catching each other, is but a motor. A cell, with sodium and potassium bubbling their happy little lives away, is just a simple, little motor. And this dichotomous viewpoint of the universe can be expanded to include all the combined motors, even through the confusion of machines, up to the repulsion and attraction of celestial bodies that sweep through the universe.

When you do Tai Chi you are pulsing energy up the legs, across the generator, and down the legs. Back and forth, alternating current, causing the generator, called the Tan Tien, to bubble its unique energy, called chi. Imagine the generator as a little cup of tea, being swirled, not to slosh, but to be mixed in yin yang motorific fashion, just enough to froth just a bit of steamy chi.

As you practice Tai Chi Chuna you become aware of the space that is your body, and the movement of awareness hollows the body to receive chi. Eventually the golden elixir that is called Chi fills the body and becomes responsive to the wishes of the student/philosopher. Mental clarity, endurance, strength, good health, all are the product of a body made to function as it was supposed to function.

Animals do Tai Chi, and wonder why we don't. Babies are possessed of Tai Chi, and robbed of it through the cultural expectations which accompany the aging process. And, the space of yourself being attained, you know the answer...who you were before you were born, and who you are after you die.

I sell nothing by telling you of this, I only search for people who can understand, and give away my knowledge. Can you have what I have said? Can you realize the truth of the eternal you that all love and none see? - 30300

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Al Case has analyzed the martial arts 4O+ plus years. He has written hundreds of articles and had a column in Inside Karate. His work is available in a free ebook at Monster Martial Arts.

Choosing the Right Martial Arts School

By John Kirzno

With all the reasons people go into martial arts, getting the right martial arts school (or martial arts instructor) is one of the barriers to entry for the sport. Choosing the right martial arts school starts with some research that you should go through before signing the contract for classes. Here are some questions you should ask.

What Styles Do They Teach?

Not all martial arts styles are a good match for all practitioners, and the line between martial arts and high energy yoga exercises is something of a blurry one. Softer styles (such a Wing Chung) tend to be a bit harder to find schools for, largely because martial arts is marketed to a specific demographic. Think about what kind of martial art you want to learn, and what your goals are. Hard striking style, or a style that focuses on redirection and blocks? Do you have balance problems that will make high kicks dangerous, or any other physical constraints to run?

What Age Levels Do They Teach?

The bread and butter martial arts class, from the perspective of martial arts schools, is aimed at children between the ages of 10 and 14. Many many parents use martial arts schools as structured after school activity for their kids, where they'll learn something that gives them focus and self discipline, and maybe keeps them from being bullied. Talk to your martial arts instructor about this; there are differences between schools aimed for kids and martial arts schools aimed at adults.

Are You Comfortable With The Instructors?

Not all people who teach martial arts at a martial arts schools should be teaching them. Not because they aren't good martial artists, but because they're not exactly versed as teachers. Always ask to watch a few classes before you sign up, and look for things like who they focus on when they teach. You're looking for teachers that focus on the students who are having difficulty mastering the subject matter; it's always easier to teach to the interested. It's more challenging to teach to the students who are having some time learning the process.

How Well Maintained Are The Facilities?

Most martial arts schools are put into spaces in strip malls, or in other multi-use places. There should be a place where students can change into and out of their exercise gear, with lockers. It's unlikely that you'll find one that has showers that can be done. That said, you want to look for signs of ill repair - this is one of the handful of ongoing expenses of running a martial arts school, and there's no excuse for a dojo in poor repair. - 30300

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When you choose the right school and the right instructor, learning a martial art can be fun experience for the whole family. For more information on this subject and for self defense tips, you can visit our site.

The Health Benefits of Learning a Martial Art Form

By John Kirzno

So, why do you want to learn a martial art? For many, the main reason the do so is to learn self defense. This is most definitely a helpful benefit to learning the art since it can greatly boost one's self esteem and self confidence. But, are martial arts only about fighting? No, it is most definitely not solely about fighting. When one looks at the history of martial arts, one will discover there are a great many health benefits to be derived from the study of martial arts.

At the core of traditional martial arts is the study of forms (aka katas) and their origins date back to the early days of the Shaolin Temple. When asked about why forms were so important, the most common response people will give is that the forms were intended as a means cataloguing (and even hiding) the techniques that comprise the specific art. This is most definitely a true statement but it is only a partially true statement. Forms were also designed as a means of promoting health and wellness.

One way this was achieved was through the employment of static contractions. That is, the kata is performed in a manner where one uses a great amount of isometric strength and tension while doing the movements. Such a process can be a little difficult and this is understandable. After all, you are adding tension and reverse polarity to the movements. This, in turn, delivers an excellent benefit to the performance of the form. Namely, helps develop lean muscle mass. Such muscle mass has the added benefit of delivering enhanced strength and a faster metabolism. Greater strength reduces the potential for injury when performing common everyday tasks. A faster metabolism reduces the amount of stored fat you possess which can reduce your potential for developing a number of serious adverse health conditions. Yes, there is much more to performing a kata than merely learning the root motions of a martial art.

Those interested in losing a great deal of weight simply need to perform their katas with a great deal of speed and fluidity. Of course, the faster you move the more calories you burn and the learner you get. But, do not lose your precision when performing a kata in this manner since you do not want to lose the connection to the important martial art component of the form. In short, don't develop bad habits due to a sloppy performance.

It is also possible to perform a kata in a slow manner. This has the great benefit of using the kata as a means of stress relief. Also, you will pick up a number of fine points in the kata which will certainly aid in performance development.

Finally, any and all katas can be used as a means of mediation. Which method of performing the kata is best for meditation? Honestly, the answer to that will be based on your own personal preference. Meditation is best performed when you find the right speed for your needs. - 30300

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When you choose the right school and the right instructor, learning a martial art can be fun experience for the whole family. For more information on this subject and for self defense tips, you can visit our site.

Aikido, The Latest Martial Art

By Rhys Jones

The sphere of Martial Arts is one of the most important gifts of Asia to the world. Who will not remember Bruce Lee and the fact that he was first and foremost a martial arts competitor before being a film star? Martial arts films are a huge hit with the escalating popularity of Asian movies like 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and more recently 'The House of the Flying Daggers'.

The Chinese are the first nation that come to mind when it you think of these things, but the Japanese are equally as sporty with a rich heritage of body contact sports in their past. Modern Japan still gives honor to the martial arts by holding tournaments and promoting their sports abroad,

One of these is Aikido. It is important to note the fact that the word comes from three Japanese characters from which one derives the meaning of the one word. Ai signifies 'joining', Ki signifies 'spirit' and Do means 'way'. From this we can understand why Aikido lies beyond only the physical skills of it students, especially since its first proponent, Ueshiba, focused on the spiritual and philosophical improvement of his students.

In Aikido, one is not taught violence instead, one is trained to be in harmony with the adversary so that you are able to defeat him more easily. This might seem strange but it really works. In approaching an opponent, the aim of the Aikido practitioner is to be one with the opponent so as to be able to attack him where he is weakest and in so doing, divert or put him out of action, but never to kill him.

This is where Aikido becomes an art form. Art is something beautiful to look at and something positive and Aikido is all that. At least one of the people involved in the combat is searching for harmony and concord can only be achieved if there is elegance in the actions. The moves may be calculated, but there is an air of elegance in performing these movements. Not a feminine grace, but a grace that emanates peace. The 'art of peace' is what they call it in Aikido and it is one of the most affirmative influences of Aikido on its students and to everyone else who chooses to learn about this Japanese martial art.

Some of the techniques in Aikido embrace the following.

Ikkyo is the first technique. Using this technique, you manipulate an opponent by using one hand to hold his elbow and one to hold near the wrist. This grip is supposed to allow you to pin your enemy down to the ground.

Nikyo, the second technique, is when you perform a wrist lock which enables you to twist the arm of your opponent which will in turn cause nerve pressure.

Sankyo, the third technique, is a technique that creates upward-spiraling tension throughout the arm, elbow and shoulder. There are many other techniques but the first three are enough to give you a basic insight.

In studying Aikido, it is vital to remember that, together with building physical strength, you will need to improve your mind to be able to overpower your opponent. Just like in any art form, it takes a lot of training and discipline to reach the summit of the art of Aikido. The important thing to remember is, that anyone who wants to get into the art, must have the resolve to give honor to the art by performing it in the best way possible. - 30300

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If you are interested in the Japanese Martial Art of Aikido, please click a link to visit our website at http://aikido.the-real-way.com

MMA Fights: Bringing Martial Arts to a Whole New Level

By Ken Yabashi

Mixed Martial Arts is the newest wave in the fight scene. What fascinates avid fans of this full contact sport generates a certain degree of rabid excitement that fully engages the viewer. Viewers are so engaged that some of them even want to join in the fight.

MMA features a mix of techniques in grappling and striking that can be used whether the two opponents are standing or down in the ground. MMA has totally revolutionized the sports world by introducing this unique sport.

Anyone who has a certain level of expertise in any kind of martial arts is welcome to join and be a contender. However, one must know the rules first, because it can get quite confusing and you may even forget the certain styles or moves apply while some do not.

Today, MMA has a lot of set rules, as it is veering away from its image that it is a kind of a bloodsport - no holds barred and to-the-death kinds of fights. These rules aim to protect the two fighters so that they stay safe and do not need to suffer injury. There are nine weight classes by which everyone wanting to join will qualify. There are also absolutely no head butts and elbows and the fighters must wear gloves specified by the group. Each round (for professional fights) will last for five minutes, with each game having three to five rounds.

To get the winner's crown, the opponent should either submit to the other player or be totally knocked out. There are also times when the game is stopped by the referee, the fight doctor or the opponent's corner man. For a win to be declared a knockout, the opponent should be rendered unconscious because of the other fighter's blows or grapplings.

With fight stoppage, the judges will decide who has won. This is called a technical knockout. When a competitor gives up the fight through submission, he has to tap on the floor or the competitor's body or announce verbally that he is submitting. - 30300

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Ninja Warriors - Practice With Your Throwing Stars

By Jim Wilkinson

The throwing star, or shuriken, is a centuries old Japanese weapon that was often used by ninja warriors as an additional weapon to their swords or Ninjato. If used correctly the throwing star can be part of a good martial arts training program.

Using a throwing star requires practice and in order to practice you need a target to throw at. Common sense, right? Well it should be but it is very important to recognize that throwing stars can be dangerous and safety is of the utmost importance. Never fool around by throwing them at someone. There are very nice Ninja target boards you can buy but you don't have to. A simple piece of plywood with a bullseye drawn on it will suffice. Make sure you place the target in a location that you cannot hurt anyone or break anything if you miss the target.

When you pick out the throwing stars to use for practicing you should look for ones that are a little thinner and have more points on them. They do not have to be real sharp either. A duller, thinner star with a lot of points on it will be best for practice. If you opt for the thicker style of throwing star you will find that they can be a little more difficult to throw with any amount of accuracy.

Start out by standing about 15 to 20 feet from the target. You can move further away from it as your skill improves. Before you throw your first throwing star check your practice area again. Be positive that there is no chance someone could walk into the area unexpectedly and that if you miss the target you will not break anything.

It will improve your accuracy if you are standing the right way when you release the throwing star. If you will be throwing right handed stand with your feet about shoulder length apart and move your right foot back one step. Do the opposite if throwing left handed. The main principal is to make sure you are balanced and comfortable when you throw.

Hold the star properly. Grasp it firmly between your thumb and index finger. The proper technique of throwing your ninja star is pretty simple. With the throwing star in your grasp, bend your wrist forward slightly. Bring your throwing hand back alongside your ear, bent at the elbow, and snap your arm and wrist forward toward the target. You want to snap your wrist and release the throwing star when your arm has become parallel to the ground. From the time you have the star in your grasp until 1 second after you have released it, your eyes should be focused on the bullseye of the target.

Don't throw the star with the intent of trying to put it through the target. The speed of the star is not the most important thing. It is the amount of spin you are able to put on it. The better your wrist snap when releasing the more spin will be on the star. The more spin you put on the star the more accurate your throw will be.

Remember all those holes in the wall next to your dartboard when you first started throwing darts? Well, don't expect to become an expert at throwing stars right away either. Give it time and a lot of practice and you will see your skills as a ninja warrior improve. - 30300

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