The Puzzle of Using Yoga to Master the True Martial Art

By Al Case

There are two paths to take when one studies the martial arts. These directions are art and sport. One of these methods leads straight to decay, the other leads, ultimately, to enlightenment.

If one studies the martial arts simply as a sport, he engages in the fact of contest, and that actually defines the difference between sport and art. If one studies the martial arts as an artistic form, he is attempting to conquer the part of him which resists and fights. Subdue the self, or subdue another, these are the differences between sport and art.

If one is attempting to subdue another, he is holding the world responsible for his problems, not taking responsibility. Wether the accumulation of wealth, or just trying to beat somebody down, the student is not using the art the way it was designed, as a mirror for the soul. It is the soul, the individual, the spirit, the I AM that is the point of the martial arts, not defeating somebody else.

When one is doing the art as sport, he is creating the strongest body, and then tossing that body to destruction. When one is doing the art as art, he is obsessed with finding out the truth about himself and what this thing called life is really all about. He is engaged in defining what impulse is behind the muscle and quiver of fighting his fellow man, and then defeating that impulse

This all said, the True Martial Way can be defined by analyzing the degree of motion within the art. A young man practices Karate and Shaolin and that excessive type of motion. As the student ages, he may move into taiji, slowing his motion down, looking at it, trying to understand his every action.

Eventually, man becomes tired, still, and begins to think about what it all means. At this point he has become motionless, a person who watches the movement of the universe, and this is where he finds the truth. In motionlessness, he sees the truth of who is behind all motion.

When one does Yoga one is exercising, making the body strong, but not through mock fighting. This does create a weakness, as the universe is motion, and we should study motion to understand life. That one weakness aside, yoga does encourage progression to the heart of the matter.

Putting the body in an asana, breathing, watching, we slowly become aware of who is doing the watching, who is creating the asana. We find the I AM that is behind all the motion of the universe, and thus we become who we were meant to be, spiritual, souls, individuals unique and creative and filled with passion. We could wait, and grow old through lack of a method, or we could pursue violence through the martial arts until we run out of violence, or, we could just accelerate the process with yoga, through posture and slow breathing, and find out who we really are. - 30300

About the Author:

Al Case has studied the martial arts for more than 4O plus+ years. He has written for the magazines,, including his own column, Case Histories. He is the developer of Matrixing Technology and Neutronics. You can get a free ebook at his website, Monster Martial Arts.

Understanding the Principles of Gracie Jiujitsu

By Curtis Adams

Gracie Jiujitsu has its roots in Brazilian jiu jitsu, but it is considered to be its own discipline. There are certain moves and martial art techniques that the Gracie family developed and perfected over the years, but there is also a greater philosophy that comes with Gracie jiu jitsu. There are three principles involved, and they embody a way of thinking and training, during and in preparation for combat. They also, however, are used as a way of leading one's life outside of the ring and combat.

The first principle of Gracie Jiujitsu is about control. In a fight, this involves being the one who will dictate what happens during the fight. Part of this is in physically controlling your opponent and restricting his movements to what you want him to do; the other part is the self-control that you need to impose upon yourself so that you can make the best choices to win the fight. This is personal training at its best, and it is part of a healthy lifestyle. It is expected that you are able to exercise enough control to eat properly and take care of your health.

The next principle of Gracie Jiujitsu involves patience. This is particularly important for a fighter, since so much that occurs in a fight can depend on timing and whether enough patience has been used. Patience is often rewarded, as opportunities are more likely to appear. For those who rush, bad decisions are more likely to occur. This philosophy is instilled from the beginning and it is expected that if you can be patient on the mat, then you will display the same quality in your life outside of the dojo.

The final of Gracie Jiujitsu principles is efficiency. This is particularly important for a fight, since the foundation of this discipline is built on the assumption that you will be fighting someone stronger and bigger than yourself. Jiu jitsu schools will often promote the idea that you drain your opponent of his or her energy while conserving your own strength in order to finish the fight. This applies to daily living as well, with the idea that you are able to maximize your results through an efficient application of effort, whether it is in business or social situations.

As you can see, Gracie Jiujitsu goes well beyond the mat, and really the only people who will succeed in this discipline are the ones who are able to live their lives according to the ideals that the discipline is based upon. Brazilian jiu jitsu academies are everywhere nowadays, and you can probably find one that won't require a commitment on your part to lead your life outside of the dojo according to the Gracie Principles. But whether that will result in you being a better fighter is unlikely, since how you are on the mat is not so different from how you are when off it. - 30300

About the Author:

Gracie jiu-jitsu caught the attention of the world in the early 1990s with the launch of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. These were mixed martial arts fights that paired fighters of different disciplines. The Brazilian jiu jitsu style is considered by many to be one of the most effective forms of combat.

Trampolines And Gymnastics ' A Great Activity

By Dave Vower

Trampolines have been in existence for hundreds of years. They can be used as a fun activity or a more serious pursuit. Trampolines and gymnastics have seen a resurgence in popularity over the last ten years as more adults and children are rediscovering the joy and excitement as well as health benefits that can be achieved.

A typical trampoline is designed similar to a springboard. They are generally rectangular or square in shape and feature a strong elastic fabric pulled over a metal frame. There will be pads along the edge of the frame and the floor that help prevent injury.

You may have noticed that there are more trampolines in neighborhood gardens than ever before. Today there are many options available; the latest models come in all shapes and sizes. If you have young children then you could choose a small low lightweight option for indoor use. If your garden is big in size then why not consider one of the larger ten foot by ten foot models. These have an added security feature of netting to prevent you from jumping out and breaking a leg.

You can also see trampolines and gymnastics regularly on TV. Since the year 2000, the Olympics and most major international athletics competitions feature the activity. It actually takes many years of practice to become highly a highly skilled performer. And of course you can also see professional gymnasts in most circuses; the feats and stunts they pull will leave you amazed.

It's also known that regularly using a trampoline can be a wonderful form of exercising. It will improve your cardio vascular system as well as improve the tone and strength of your legs and abdomen. Be sure to warm up for a few minutes as it is easy to damage a muscle when out of practice.

No matter how old you are it always feels great to jump about on a trampoline. It is a perfect way of releasing tension and having fun. - 30300

About the Author:

Dave has been writing articles online for nearly 3 years now. Not only does this author specialize in health, fitness and relationships you can also check out his latest websites on Weekend Breaks In The UK and Sunbeam Electric Blanket.

The Truth About Matrix Martial Arts and True Intelligence

By Al Case

It is a proven fact that Matrix Martial Arts raises intelligence. It is a proven fact that when one matrixes his art, be it shotokan or aikido or that rare form of wudan Tai chi chuan, the art becomes better, and the person becomes more intuitive, and his intelligence goes up. What is not so obvious is why this is so.

Intelligence is measured in todays institutions through various tests. What these tests do, however, is tell you how big your memory is. What these tests do is evaluate how adequate your memory is.

Thus, current testing is checking the state of memory, and it has nothing to do with the factors of true intelligence. Current testing does nothing more than verify that the memorization methods of modern schools is working. To come to grips with what this really means we must define what true intelligence is.

True intelligence is the speed at which your mind works. There are other factors, but this is the one that is most important. This doesn't evaluate how big or good your memory is, but how fast you can interchange with the environment.

In the martial arts the student is taught by having him or her memorize strings of random data. Or memorize random strings of data, however you want it. The hope is that if you get a big enough memory then you can pull a trick out of the hat, and hopefully it is the right trick.

When you matrix the martial arts you put the data in a logical sequence, no more random data, or random strings of random data. Thus, you are going to use less of your memory, and the data is filed in the right manner for quick and accurate extraction. Thus, you are not slowed down or made incorrect by having the incorrect data, the missing data and the gaps and holes and wrong arrangements of data and so on, and intuition can kick in.

Intuition means that the data being extracted for use is being extracted virtually instantaneously. Furthermore, and here is a blessing, it is never wrong. Thus, the true speed of the martial arts, as represented by intuition, is in effect, and thus the students intelligence is raised.

Now, it doesn't matter what form of wudan you are partial to, or what system of karate you study, all that matters is that you take the time to rearrange the data by applying matrix martial arts to it. When you use matrixing as your mode for learning, you see, it is nothing more than putting the book on the bookshelf. The trick here is that we are putting all the books on all the bookshelves throughout the entire library, in the right order, at the same time, and that is certainly measurable as an increase in intelligence. - 30300

About the Author:

Al Case has learned martial arts for 4O++ years. He began writing for the martial arts magazines in 1982. He is the founder of Matrixing technology, which you can find out about by getting his absolutely free ebook at Monster Martial Arts.

Story Regarding The Chinese Traditions

By Omar Negron

Besides it's rich history, China is world famous for it's culture, particularly the Chinese ancient Dragon dance and therefore the lion dance. The traditions of the east have over the years turn into a rage within the west; many of us enjoy watching these dances, knowing little or nothing concerning their origin and value. The Dragon it's a belief in China that the folks of China are the forbearers of dragon. Dragon is of course a mythical creature, believed to own had features of alternative animals like fish, deer, lion, horse, snake and vulture.

The Legendary Dragon Dance:- The dragon dance is a vital festive tradition in China. Initially this dance was performed to please the God of water and for rain throughout the drought years. Gradually it took a type of leisure and fashioned a important part of all festive occasions, especially throughout the spring festival and Lantern Festival.

Dragons are usually contrived out of bamboo, wood, cloth and paper typically it's an enormous creation generally even ranging a lot of than a hundred meters. Poles are hooked up to the belly of the dragon and during the show; performers hold these poles and lift the dragon, beginning the grand dance with the beats of roaring drums. The dragon mask and body used for the dance is coloured inexperienced, gold and red. If this dance is performed at midnight, then it's preceded by carrying bunch of burning torches to loosen up the show.

The Lion Dance:- Chinese contemplate the lion to be a symbol of power, pride, dignity and bravery, capable of fighting off evil spirits. In Chinese mythology, lion is the 9th son of the dragon and was thought-about as the foremost protector; still it is seen in front of imperial palaces and big houses.

Besides the dragon dance, the lion dance performance conjointly includes a long history within the Chinese tradition, it had been originally used for worship and to hope for rain, the lion dance is usually performed with the dragon dance on auspicious occasions. A good performance is believed to bring luck and happiness.

The fascinating lion dance will be seen at the time of the Chinese New Year or on any ancient festival. The lion dance is performed by Wushu - Kung Fu experts. There are sometimes 2 performers who bring life to the lion - the one managing the lion's head leads the dance and depicts the lion's emotions. The opposite plays the body and tail. They hide themselves underneath a cloth fur attached with the head. There's also a third person - a man who allures the lion, and carries a silk flower ball or wears a mask of the happy Buddha with a banana-leaf fan in one hand. He more magnifies the level of merriment of the Lion Dance by dodging from left to right, jumping all around to create a spirited entertainment, driving lion crazy.

The centuries recent traditions of the Chinese continues to be alive and surprisingly gaining popularity by the day. However, it's for us to stay alive the history of these age previous traditions, cultures and practices. - 30300

About the Author:

Star Collection Entertainment Sdn Bhd, the lion dance is a vigorous form of dance that is usually performed during Chinese festivals such as Chinese New Year. Our team established in year 1990. We are one of the World Class Lion Dance Competition Management Company

How to Punch Harder than Mike Tyson!

By Al Case

Wham and bam! Iron Mike Tyson, a few years ago, was knocking them down faster than they could stand up. More than half of his first nineteen fights ended in the first round, and always with the opposing fighter laying face down like a drunk that had been humped by a bulldozer!

No other fighter was knocking people out like Iron Mike, also known as Kid Dynamite, and there were a lot of strong fighters out there. So there had to be something that Mike was doing that nobody else was doing. There simply had to be a secret behind his incredible, dynamite filled, slobber knocking punches!

The secret can be detailed in two parts. The first part is that he was not as tall as the other fighters, therefore he was automatically ducking under the incoming fist, and rising up with his own. This meant that he had to use the push of his legs as part of his punch.

Because he was rising up, he learned how to push with his legs and use his hips so they assisted the angle of his punch. He just happened to be the exact height that enabled him to arc his punch at exactly the right angle, to pop that chin at exactly the right spot. Every fighter attacked him in similar fashion, he defended the same way, and he went on winning until opposing fighters analyzed him correctly and actually boxed him!

The other part of the secret has to do with his lifestyle. He was winning fights while Cus DAmato was training him, because Cus DAmato was keeping him in hand, caring about him as an individual, working with him as a person. When Cus died, however, everything changed for the man who came to be known as The Baddest Man on the Planet.

After Cus died Tyson came under the influence of such people as Don King. His marriage ended in divorce, and he eventually began taking prescribed medicine. The mental edge evaporated, and other fighters were no longer coming in in exactly the right manner to be taken apart by him.

So the secret of Mike Tysons elephant hammering punch had to do with taking advantage of his height to use his legs and come up under his opponent. It also hinged upon the discipline in his lifestyle which was enforced through the friendship of a man who cared about him as a unique individual. And everything changed when fighters figured out what he was doing and he no longer had a trainer who could help him solve the issue.

The lesson here is that when you train in the martial arts, you must assess your body truthfully, and learn how to avoid its weaknesses and exploit its strengths, not an easy thing to do, but rather requiring an honest and truthful approach to oneself. The second thing you must do is live an appropriate lifestyle, staying away from people who say they love you, but who act otherwise, this is seen easily if you look at how they treat people in their past. Anybody who follows these two rules, analyzing their body correctly and living a good lifestyle, has a chance to develop the hardest punch in the world. - 30300

About the Author:

Al Case has examined martial arts, and the science of hitting, for over 40 years. A writer for the magazines, he is offering a free ebook on the martial arts. You can also visit Punch Em Out if you want a 100 page book which has the secrets of the hardest punch in the world!

How to Make the Transformation from Shaolin to Wudan

By Al Case

One of the oldest martial arts on the planet is Shaolin. It was brought from India by a fellow named Bodhidharma, and has been an inspiration to martial artists the world over. Interestingly, Shaolin evolved into an internal art atop Wudan Mountain.

I know there will be those who disagree with what I say here, but I hold to it, as I have watched students go through the evolution of hard to soft, and the evolution of art from Shaolin to Wudan mirrors what I have seen students go through. Indeed, as students peel layers off the art, so they peel off layers of unawaress, and attain the truly miraculous.

The beginning students learn to expend energy from the tan tan, to spread that energy throughout the body and make the body hard. Arms become like iron, stances become as if permanent fixtures to the planet. This, however, is all based on explosion, and outward expulsion of energy.

As a student explores the various martial arts he will come across the concept of drawing in energy. The act of guiding a punch, instead of just bashing a block into it, increases awareness of the concept of absorbing energy, instead of just putting it out. This progression of art often begins with Shaolin, begins the transition with a softer art like Wing Chun Kung Fu, and goes whole body with a Wudan art like Tai Chi Chuan.

The odd fact of the matter is that if the student stays within a hard art, he will evolve into the soft. The unfortunate fact of aging, of the body no longer being able to handle the explosive energy of hard arts, will bring the student into the softer arts. He will punch so that he doesn't experience whiplash in his neck, he will use his legs so he doesn't suffer hip problems, and he will naturally evolve his art from hard to soft.

As these progressions of age and art occur, students learn to use their minds and their bodies with less effort, and and they are often surprised that the abilities they gained in the hard arts grow even greater. Instead of exploding energy through their bodies, they push the energy with less effort, and focus it. Thus, awareness builds, and the blinders come off.

Instead of exploding energy brutally through their bodies, the students learn to guide and manipulate energy within their bodies. They learn to move energy easier and naturally as they become more aware. They learn that the body energy they were so proud of when they were young and robust was only a hint of things to come.

Finally, they make the change from hard to soft, from inner to outer, from internal to external, and the Shaolin adept becomes the Wudan sage. Instead of using violent art, the Wudan master moves with an opponent, drawing in the energy of the attack and transforming as he wishes. Yet, though there is wisdom in the Gung Fu of the Wudan variety, there is no disdain for the hard, for the true sage knows the need for his early Shaolin training, he knows the benefit of understanding energy on hard levels if the student is to make the transition to the softer Wudan intelligence. - 30300

About the Author:

Al Case has analyzed the martial arts for 4O years, he began his Wudan training in 1974. You can see how soft he is by picking up a free ebook at Monster Martial Arts.