The Real and Mystical Reason Why I Didn't Matrix Shaolin Kung Fu!

By Al Case

Matrixing, to give you the definition right from the start, is the analysis and handling of force and flow. Every object, every particle in this universe has a direction, and everything in the universe has lots of potentials for collision. Thus, the study of Matrixing becomes the single most important thing one can learn if one is going to understand things like Shaolin kung fu.

Now, to set this article up in the proper manner, let me say that the martial arts are taught through the memorizing of random strings of data. This is like somebody memorizing a dozen pieces on the piano, and thinking he is the next Mozart. Obviously, one has to break through the memorizing process and start finding the structure of his art, and how to arrange that art before he can lay claim to being a master artist.

So, let's slide into the subject of Shaolin. Shaolin has a few thousand years of history, and every master and his sister has added to the mix, and thus the logic of the art has become mixed and impenetrable. There is a vast variety of these strings of random data, you see, and there is no set of principles with which to define it.

If one studies Shaolin kung fu like Choy Li Fut or Hung Gar, one thinks that the art is filled with deep horse stances, windmilling arms, and a mangling of concepts which pop out at you at the oddest times. One thinks that one must beat up students right up to the head abbot if he is going to find the sacred scroll, and one must meditate and beat his fists into heated iron pellets for a dozen years to get the real kung fu. The sad fact is that this is a small subset of concepts, and it does not penetrate the True Art in any meaningful fashion.

If one studies Wing Chun, one thinks that he has to stand squarely, close the eyes, and absorb attacks with antennas called forearms. Three sequences of mystical data, a daunting wooden dummy to beat your arms, and never the idea that everything is just random strings of data, and not the True Art. Thus, Wing Chun is phenomenal, amazing, gives true ability, yet it just touches lightly upon the True Art.

Then, of course, there the subset of art called the Praying Mantis, speaking of antenna arms that manipulate an opponent to his doom and disgrace. If you really consider the structure of these arts, however, it is almost like Hung Gar or Choy Li Fut and Wing Chun have been choped out of the same pie. Thus, the principles waggle and interbreed into new bastards, and the True Art is obscured in a dense fog of fascinating ability and amazing art.

This all said, Matrixing could easily organize Shaolin, in the various forms of Hung Gar or Choy Li Fut or Wing Chun and come to the truth of the true art. But I chose Karate to present the principle of Matrixing, and to expose the world to the concept of logic through analysis and handling. Simply, the history was shorter, the mountain was smaller, the obscuring fog more transparent, and karate was easier to define.

There is a true blessing in my selectio of karate as a matrixng vehicle, however, for if youmatrix karate, you can use that matrixing as a template for Shaolin. All you have to do is plug the pieces of Shaolin into Matrix Karate, and, voila, you have instant true art. Doesn't matter how much fog, who cares how tall the mountain is, it can all be resolved into an easy to learn slices of True Art, and thus open the door to the whole of The True Art. - 30300

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Requires Commitment and Focus

By Curtis Adams

Brazilian jiu jitsu training is something that more and more people are getting into. This martial art exploded onto the scene and became hugely popular, especially with the success its practitioners received in the Ultimate Fighting Championships. As a result, there have been many people that are new to the martial arts who are now training at jiu-jitsu academies. While different teachers will have different teaching styles, there are some basic similarities to how a class should be structured.

Brazilian jiu jitsu training, like advanced training and most kinds of structured physical activities, will almost always start with some form of a warm-up. If you're new to jiu jitsu, then the teacher will almost certainly focus on a lighter warm-up session. A lighter session will usually involve some fundamental exercises such as situps and pushups, and perhaps laps around the room. Stretching also happens as soon as your body has warmed up a bit. A heavier warm-up would be longer and really created to break a sweat and help you with conditioning for endurance.

Subsequent to the warm-up, the next part of Brazilian jiu jitsu training typically concentrates on techniques. Certain moves will be selected by the trainer and broken into sections so that students can perfect each stage. Errors are ironed out at this time, and the instructor will attempt to spend time with each student to ensure things are being done correctly. More knowledgeable students are often matched with newer ones, so that the former can assist the latter. This is especially important in larger classes where the instructor cannot provide everybody personal training simultaneously.

After the warm-up and the practice part of Brazilian jiu jitsu training comes the hands-on fighting. When you have a partner working with you, techniques are easier to execute and fighters can become complacent and over confident. By including a sparring session at the end of a lesson, students will need to apply their newly learned techniques against an opponent who will not know what their next move will be, and who will not be so willing to let them win.

Brazilian jiu jitsu training is not for the casual participant due to the amount of work involved and the high expectations that instructors tend to set. But if you are dedicated and make the most out of each session by warming up properly, concentrating on mastering the techniques taught, and making the most out of sparring sessions, then you will have a positive experience. This is personal training at its highest and you will find yourself with greater physical and mental strength as a result. - 30300

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The Sword And The Spear - Tools Of Another Age

By Jeff Kamar

Guns, bombs, and nonlethal alternatives are the weapons of today, with melee weapons quickly becoming a thing of the past even in the poorest third world countries; where battles are fought now, it is at great range with weapons people couldn't have even imagined centuries ago. But let us not forget the mlee weapons that shaped the world for over a thousand years.

The sword in particular has a special place in the hearts of many. Perhaps it is because it is the preferred weapon of duelists, and we find something special about the idea of two men facing off, skill against skill.

Whatever the reason, though, it is undeniable that the sword is the most common weapon when it comes to popular culture melee weapons. Be it the curved grace of the Japanese katana, or the simple efficiency of an Italian rapier, swords have a tendency to show up when you need to suitably epic duel.

But let's not ignore the other weapons of ages past. For example, the spear. Despite the somewhat weaker popularity of it in pop culture, it is a fact that a spear is almost universally considered superior to the sword; there is a saying that a swordsman most possess three times the skill of a man wielding a polearm to best him.

For this reason, polearms have served as the primary weapons of the vast majority of armies since the dawn of human history. The relative ease of making simple spears, combined with their high efficiency, makes it hard to find a weapon more suitable for the armies of ages past.

The last of the popular melee weapon types is bludgeoning and bashing weapons. Maces, morningstars, flails, even some bladed weapons such as axes fall into this territory. While these weapons have their own flaws, their simple efficiency means they cannot be ignored.

One key use of bludgeons is as a tool to defeat heavily armored foes. An enemy that a sword can barely scratch can be destroyed completely by a mace or warhammer. There were even several time periods where, because of how common heavy armor was, maces and flails overshadowed swords as knights preferred sidearms.

Finally, lets give a bit of recognition to shields. While not strictly speaking a weapon, a shield is almost unmatched for value in a melee fight, even if they aren't particularly popular in modern movies and culture.

A skilled fighter can defeat almost any attack with a good shield in his hands, and the best can use them as a brutally effective bludgeon. Dual-wielding may be popular in movies and games, but I'll take a shield for my off hand any day in real life.

That's all I have to say about melee weapons today. I hope you've learned a little about the weapons that defined our history for so many years, and that you give them at least a little respect even in a world with guns and bombs. - 30300

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Notable Rounds during UFC 94

By Diego Penn

JAKE O'BRIEN VS. CHRISTIAN WELLISCH: Round 2 - After trading more punches to open the round, Wellisch lands a body kick and follows with a leg kick. O'Brien avoids subsequent blows and counters Wellisch with three consecutive jabs. Wellisch lands a nice leg kick. O'Brien works jabs as Wellisch swings and misses wildly. O'Brien lands a nice left- overhand right combination, but Wellisch shakes it off and attempts a takedown. O'Brien, though, dips for the double-leg takedown and slams his opponent to the mat. Wellisch rolls free and quickly gets to his feet and lands a left-right combo. O'Brien counters with an uppercut, but Wellisch continues to push forward. O'Brien counters a low kick-jab combo with an easy takedown and again slams Wellisch to the mat. Wellisch, though, again gets to his feet quickly and land a nice combo of low kicks and punches just as the round ends.

JOHN HOWARD VS. CHRIS WILSON: Round 2 - The fighters fire leg kicks at the same time, but Howard's lands thunderously and knocks Wilson off balance. Howard follows with some big punches, ties up his opponent, and sends Wilson to the mat. Wilson quickly escapes, and the fighters again trade in the center of the cage. Wilson lands a nice body shot, but Howard closes the distances, scoops up Wilson and slams him to the mat. Howard gets one leg free and works for side control, but Wilson gets to his feet, the fighters stay clinches, and Wilson scores a trip takedown. Howard quickly escapes, and we're back standing. After a clinch, Howard lands a right- left combination and then shots to the body. Wilson clinches and looks for knees to the body, but Howard keeps his stances and they seperate. Howard just misses two looping shots, and Wilson uses the opportunity to throws him to the mat. Working from inside guard, Wilson throws elbows to the body and left punches to the head. The pace slows, and the ref issues a warning to pick up the pace. Wilson looks for a leg but gives up his position just as the round ends.

MANNY GAMBURYAN VS. THIAGO TAVARES: Round 2 - Gamburyan lunges forward with a left and then connects with a left and a leg kick. Tavares shakes it off and remains in his offensive stance. Gamburyan backs him up with some wild overhand rights, but Tavares then shoots for the takedown. Gamburyan has his back to the fence and tries to shake it off, and then he reverses the position and take the top position. Working from guard, Gamburyan can initially do little as Tavares ties him up.Gamnburyan gets through a few punches before he grabs a look and looks for a submission. He quickly gives it up and returns to Tavares' guard. After a few shoulder presses, Gamburyan delivers two big right elbows just as referee Josh Rosenthal steps in to restart them standing. Gamburyan strikes first with a low kick, but he's countered with a combination from Tavares. Tavares just misses with a right cross and he dips to take Gamburyan to the mat. The Armenian puts his back against the fence and tries to defend against the takedown. He's able to wait out the round in the position.

JON FITCH VS. AKIHIRO GONO: Round 1 - Gono and his corner "men" enter the cage in drag, complete with silver dresses, jewelry, sunglasses, wigs, sequined gloves and high heels. The two drag- tastic back-up dancers are in the same get-up. The cageside dance routine delights the crowd. Fitch's Johnny Cash ballad doesn't have the same effect. We're underway, and Fitch fires a combination and immediately looks for the takedown. Gono, pinned against the fence, refuses to go down, and he tries to sprawl free. Fitch briefly takes his back before pinning Gono back against the fence while trying to improve his position. Gono escapes and eats a knee in the process, but no harm appears done. Fitch fires a head kick and knees before Gono closes the distance and pushes him into the fence. Fitch does some damage from the Muay Thai clinch before Gono breaks free. Fitch eats a right hand as he shoots in, and after jockeying for position, finally wrestles Gono to the mat. Fitch then takes his opponent's back and struggles to secure the body triangle. Fitch then attempts the rear-naked choke, but Gono defends well. Fitch peppers him with punches from behind and finally secures his hooks. Gono covers up, but Fitch gets through a series of punches. Gono gets to his feet, but he can't shake Fitch from his back before the round ends.

JON FITCH VS. AKIHIRO GONO: Round 3 - The camera catch Olympian Satoshi Ishii before the round begins. Fitch strikes early with kicks, clinches and then forces a visibly exhausted Gono the mat. Fitch works to side control and delivers brutal blows from above. When Fitch stands, Gono kicks his way free and gets back to his feet. Fitch works front kicks before Gono attempts a flying knee to the body. Fitch clinches and puts him against the mat. Gono tries to escape by rolling free, but Fitch collapses on top of him and takes his back. Gono rolls free and takes top position while Fitch uses butterfly guard. Gono tries to deliver an elbow, but Fitch doesn't allow it. The pace slows with a minute to go before Gono delivers an elbow. Fitch gets to his feet and just ducks under a head kick from Gono. With time running out, Gono tries everything from a Superman punch to a head kick, but nothing connects, and Fitch takes him to the mat to let time expire. Jon Fitch def. Akihiro Gono via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-26).

DONG HYUN KIM VS. KARO PARISYAN: Round 1 - Parisyan strikes fiirst, but Kim takes him to the mat and puts him on his back. As Parisyan looks to roll for better position, Kim pops him with a straight punch to the face. Kim then takes his opponent's back as Parisyan gets back to his feet and locks in a body triangle. Kim throws some short punches from behind while looking to sink in a rear-naked choke. Parisyan, standing with his opponent clinging to his back, goes to the mat, but Kim keeps the dominant position. After absorbing a series of hammerfists, Parisyan again returns to his feet, but Kim remains on his back. Parisyan tries to slam his way free by slamming into the mat. He breaks free but is corralled with an armbar. Parisyan escapes but is locked in a triangle choke. He again escapes trouble and works from inside Kim's guard. Parisyan throws some punches to the body, but Kim gets back to his feet and again takes his opponent's back. He struggles to get in his hooks, though, and Parisyan gets back to his feet and clinches face to face with Kim. Parisyan tries a trip takedown with no luck, and the fighters trade a couple short punches before the round ends.

DONG HYUN KIM VS. KARO PARISYAN: Round 3 - After a quick clinch, Parisyan puts Kim against the cage, but it's Kim who gets the trip takedown. Parisyan works from below, and after failing with the triangle choke, kicks Kim in the face, forcing the referee to halt the action and issue a warning. Parisyan immediately charges forward, but Kim overpowers him and puts him on his back. Parisyan quickly gets to his feet, and the fighters again clinch against the cage while jockeying for position and hand control. Parisyan tries a flying knee that does little and immediately closes the distances and pulls Kim's legs out from under him. It doesn't last long. and Kim gets back to his feet. Parisyan avoids a takedown attempt but grabbing the fence, which the referee doesnt see. The crowd boos the stalemate. A minute later, there's still little action against the cage. Parisyan scores a brief takedown, but Kim gets to his feet easily. The final minute of the fight is much of the same, and little connects as the fighters focus on getting position. The round ends with a chorus of boos. Karo Parisyan def. Dong Hyun Kim via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

B.J. PENN VS. GEORGES ST. PIERRE: Round 1 - No touch of the gloves. After an early clinch, St. Pierre pins Penn against the cage and works knees to the body. Penn gets off the fence and delivers his own. Still clinched, St. Pierre dips for a leg, and then two, but Penn masterfully avoids the takedown. Penn grabs a Muay Thai clinch as St. Pierre again goes lowfor a takedown attempt. Penn balances out of it and hobbles around on one leg as every kind of chant eachoes through the arena. St. Pierre breaks the hold with an overhand punch that partially connected. He then backs up penn with a combination and partially connects on a right. Back to the center of the cage. St. Pierre again looks for the single-leg takedown, but Penn again balances perfectly to avoid it. Pinned against the fence, Penn eats a short uppercut but lands a left on the seperation. Back to the center of the cage before St. Pierre lands a left and then a right. Penn shakes it off. The fighters again clinch, and St. Pierre pushes Penn into the fence. Penn misses a big right hand and then absorbs a low leg kick from St. Pierre. The round's final clinch allows St. Pierre to sneak in a short uppercut.

B.J. PENN VS. GEORGES ST. PIERRE: Round 2 - St. Pierre works the left jab and catches Penn with it when he rushed in. Penn retreats to regroup and eats another punch when he again pushes forward. St. Pierre shoves Penn into the cage and is met with an elbow, and when St. Pierre dips, Penn batters him with some quick rabbit punches. St. Pierre, though, finally gets the takdown and works from inside Penn's guard. Penn goes high with his legs but eats an elbow to the kisser and some shots to the body. Penn shows no ill effects from it but is blasted with a right when St. Pierre stands over him and rains down a punch. St. Pierre takes side control and delivers a steady dose of punches, and the crowd goes crazy. St. Pierre maintains the dominant position and connects with punches to both sides of Penn's head. St. Pierre tries to secure the crucifix position, but Penn escapes. Back to full guard, St. Pierre delivers elbows to the head and body. Penn tries to again high with his guard, but St. Pierre stands out of it and rains down two big punches and reclaims side control. Penn wraps him back up in full guard but eats two quick forearm strikes to the mouth. A third one is followed by a right hand, but Penn's face is starting to show some damage. St. Pierre closes out the round with more ground and pound to take a two-rounds-to-none lead. - 30300

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The Secret Behind Matrixing Technology in the Martial Arts

By Al Case

There is a tremendous amount of interest in what Matrixing Technology is. It is pretty obvious that Matrixing is going to be the next phenomena in the martial arts. It is pretty obvious that Matrixing is going to sweep the world and provide transformation in the martial arts.

To explain why this eventuality is going to occur, let me say a couple of things. The first is that Matrixing does not make any martial art less than it is, it makes every single art it touches into a grand and glorious success. The second is that the purpose of matrixing is to align data in the martial arts program, to make all martial arts logical and easier to learn.

Now the stated purpose of matrixing is to analyze and handle force and direction. To understand this is to understand that every object in the universe has a direction in which it is traveling. And, collision is the point at which trajectories intersect.

Thus, the point of matrixing technology is to control the paths of objects so that collision is avoided, or at least for one instead of against one. In the martial arts this becomes the singe most important thing in the martial arts. In fact, a little matrixing and you understand it is the core concept of all martial arts, and life itself.

Joe Blow throws a fist at you, or a spear or a foot or an elbow or a body or whatever. You analyze the route that the weapon is following, and you can handle it. If you do not accurately analyze the path of the weapon, poor you.

How do you ascertain that you have the correct trajectory analyzed? By knowing what all the potential trajectories are. Only if you have assessed the trajectory by all the potential trajectories can you determine that you have selected the correct trajectory to handle.

So matrixing is a method by which you can analyze all the trajectories, and thus select the correct one to handle. And, by matrixing, you can analyze all of your potential responses, and be assured that the one you choose is the best one. And, here is the real key, matrixing enables to discover trajectories that you did not know existed.

That's right, to discover the things that you don't know, and this makes you the ultimate explorer, the ultimate pioneer of the martial arts. With matrixing you have the key to discover all the hidden mysteries, no matter if you are studying shorin ryu or Tatum kenpo or that esoteric form of krav maga. Beginners in isshin ryu will learn faster, wudan hsing i students will uncover the ancient mysteries, and even the bash and trash experts of the ground and pound arts in ultimate fighting championships and mixed martial arts will find themselves uplifted and enlightened. - 30300

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The Secret of the Three Essentials Necessary to the Martial Arts

By Al Case

In the martial arts, I don't care if it is tae kwon do, fut ga, Shotokei, or whatever, there are three key ingredients. These three essentials are what makes an art an art, and they are why people become obsessed with the arts. Oddly, one of the ingredients is virtually unknown.

One of the ingredients is the pursuit of strength. Muscle mags are filled with strength advertisements, and everybody obsesses on strength. Oddly, strength is the least important of the three essential techniques of the martial arts.

Another ingredient is technique, and this is the most important of the three essentials. Technique is measured by how little effort you need to make a move work. If you need a lot of strength, then your technique is not very good.

The second most important essential to good martial arts, and the one most people are missing, deals with speed. Interestingly, at least in the beginning, speed is absolutely vital to make a technique work. Yet strength is what everybody obsesses about.

Yes, people try to get faster, but it is an individual effort, and usually put aside when they chase strength. People believe that having more strength is going to make them faster martial artists, you see. Well, it will, but there are flexibility problems with the concept, and the speed gained is not always enough.

Speed must be developed in a fashion which tailors it to the technique. As knowledge of technique rises, so should the escalation of speed. In my over 40 years of martial arts I have found only one technique which develops speed in the proper manner.

The Speed Drill is nothing more than a simple slap and grab motion, and yet it is so much more. It makes all techniques as easy as slapping a slow buzzing fly. And every technique can be altered to take advantage of the slap and grab Speed Drill.

So practice the strength of Uechi, and build the technique of Aikido. Work the sticky hands of Wing Chun and focus your concentration into the great nothingness through Tai Chi Chuan. But if you want sheer, raw, powerful speed...you need to practice The Speed Drill. - 30300

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The Secret of Making Real Internal Energy!

By Al Case

One of the biggest mysteries come out of the eastern arts is internal energy. Wudan arts, like Pa Kua Chang and Tai Chi Chuan and Hsing i claim it. Supposedly it takes lifetimes to create this thing called internal energy, but when you get it you can defeat attackers with just a sigh and a wave of the palm.

Atually, the fact is is that internal energy is in many arts, and if it is not, it can be invested into any martial art easily. The principles of internal energy, you see, are very simple and logical, though they take a certain amount of patience. So if you study kenpo or tae kwon do, or even boxing, then get set to step up to the next level, this article is going to give you a hand up.

The most important thing is that you have to have phenomenal basics, not just good, but absolutely phenomenal. What this means is that you must sink your body weight when striking or blocking, and do so with such awareness that you actually create a beam of energy down your leg. You must align the parts of your body so that they form an unbroken pathway for the energy to flow along, very important that they are relaxed, because intention and energy will flow easier through a relaxed body.

Now, you must make sure that you move the parts of your body in a harmonious fashion. Everything starts at the same time, and everything stops at the same time, this is called Coordinated Body Motion. Analyze your body so that all of the pieces are moving in harmony when it swings into alignment.

Now, you've got basics, and here comes the internal energy. Fill a pipe half with sand and cap it. Move that pipe in such a way that when you stop it all the sand strikes the inside of the pipe at the same time.

What I have described, with the pipe drill, which can be done throughout any form, is what internal energy is and does. It is energy swirled on the inside of your body in such a way that it collects and deposits its entire mass inside of the block, or strike, or foot, or whatever, at the same time. We used to develop this type of energy in kang duk won korean karate, way back when, but we didn't think of it as chi because it didn't have any undue significance, it was just the way we did our forms and techniques.

It is helpful if you move slowly, focusing awareness of the motion of energy inside your body. And, to be truthful, the internal Wudan martial arts have arranged their forms so that the growth of internal energy is easier. But you can feel it in Karate, or tae kwon do, or any combative method you happen to study, if you just take the time to appreciate what you are doing.

The real key is that this method, and, to be truthful, all methods, rely on awareness. It is an idea that moves awareness, and the path of this awareness can be called Chi, or Ki, or Prana, or pneuma, or intention. Now, the real question here is whether you can take the time to invest your movements with chi, or intention, or whatever you want to call it, do you have the patience and the awareness to make something significant out of your martial art. - 30300

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