The Wonderful Secret of the Everlasting Energy Known as Chi!

By Al Case

Chi, that mysterious force that the ancient masters used to defeat attackers without touching them. A secret vapor of the body that enables people to live long and healthy lives. Heck, there is even evidence that Chi was the secret of the Jedi Knights...grin.

Lots of mystery surrounding Chi, lots of things that people don't understand. Yet, it has to follow rules. If it manifests in the universe, then there are ways to define and describe the way chi functions.

Chi is all around us. Have you ever heard of the glow of good health? Have you ever finished a task and stood back in satisfaction and noticed that the world is just a little more relaxed, a little brighter.

The trick is to make this feeling last all the time. Tai Chi can enhance your health immensely, and this will make you glow. And, if you can throw yourself into work and avoid distraction you will feel immense satisfaction, which ability is immensely enhanced by the practice of tai chi.

Chi is not invisible, it is merely not seen by those who haven't honed their perceptions. One can easily see chi if they hone their perceptions, and perceptions are easily honed by doing tai chi. When practicing the form, for instance, one creates a space about themselves, and this space is quite extra sensory in nature.

As one grows and cultivates this space they begin to perceive within it without using the normal senses. People feel what is happening, sense, like radar, the movements of the world about them. This is an appreciation of the universe on the level of chi perception.

Chi is generated through the simple act of breathing, and relaxing, so that the body can function the way it was designed to function. Do you see a wild animal performing calisthenics? The reason is that the wild animals movements that are relaxed, and this allows his body to function the way it was designed to function.

There does not have to be a lot of mystery concerning chi. Indeed, chi responds wonderfully on a mechanistic level. Chi is one of the most empirical concepts in the universe, the problem is that people don't know how to view it empirically. - 30300

About the Author:

With 4O years in the martial arts, Al Case has thoroughly solved the puzzle of chi. You can begin tapping into his method by getting a free ebook at Monster Martial Arts

Olivias Simple Guide To Grasp While You Are Buying Martial Art Supplies

By John Stevens

Those who are simply beginning their study of a martial art you will most doubtless be shocked by the big selection of supplies for sale. There are a few alternative categories of provides that you'll attain together with uniforms, weapons, breaking boards, protective gear, targets, and dojo mats.

Uniforms are a chief component of your study of the martial arts. A good amount of martial arts uniforms are white, though you can get them offered in numerous alternative colors. Different styles of martial art can each one have a uniform that is explicit to which discipline. Common things to look for in any martial arts uniform come with lightweight cloth, comfort, sturdiness, plus flexibility.

Many martial arts students will be trained on the proper use of martial arts weapons. Each design of martial art will have its own type of weapons that are used. You'll need to speak together with your instructor to work out which weapons you may be using within your study. The yumi, or Japanese bow, is a terribly ancient kind of martial arts weapon.

Nearly all karate studios will even have dojo mats. Here give a cushioned surface which can cut back the chance of injuries during falls or grappling matches. There are a lot of alternative types of dojo mats as well as take down, grappling, plus standard.

Many martial arts demonstrations use breaking boards. Here boards and bricks are broken by a element of the body, nearly all often the hand or foot. Breaking boards come in a lot of other shapes and sizes and are frequently made from wood.

There are several different types of martial arts provides materials. The trick can be determining that things you actually need for your particular discipline. It is usually a good idea to get a listing of things from your instructor prior to you head out shopping. - 30300

About the Author:

Find all styles of fantastic martial art supplies, and martial arts gifts here. You will probably not want to miss out on these cut-rate prices.

A Few Thoughts on How You can have Perfection of Form

By Al Case

After forty years of intense study of the martial arts, of studying Karate and Shaolin and Aikido and other arts, I have learned one very interesting truth about fighting. This truth is that people become better fighters if they study martial arts forms. And, sadly, people who don't study forms don't always get better at fighting.

The very interesting thing about all this is that most people don't really know what fighting really is. People are locked into the bang and pow of such things as reaction time, and they never really open up to the subject of developing intuition. Only through classical forms, such as are taught in such classical martial arts as wing chun or Shaolin, will a person make serious inroads into and start to develop the reality of this subject of intuition.

Most training methods in todays consumer related karate, you see, rely on making muscle, on increasing speed, on being bigger and better and faster. Yet, the sad truth is that being the biggest, bestest, fastest does not always make one into a good fighter. The best fighters in the world are the ones who have trained themselves to perceive what is coming before it arrives.

Most martial arts training methods in modern times, you see, because they rely on reaction time, have reaction time built into them. Reaction time means that you are moving because something else has already moved, which means that you are moving too late, you are moving after the punch is on the way and nearly there. To not learn to move too late you must train in a classical method, such as Krav Maga or ninjitsu or Aikido, which teaches you to move before the punch is thrown.

Thus, to accelerate yourself as a fighter, to improve yourself on every possible level, you need to study martial methods, such as form training in classical styles such as hung gar and wado ryu, which address you in areas other than just muscle and reaction time. The forms of the classical arts accelerate your ability to fight as I am discussing here. Yes, they sometimes seem unweildy and one does often have to adapt and change what they learn to make the various teachings work, but the benefits are great and far in advance of meat and muscle and bone, and a person will be vastly improved, on an intuitive level, as a fighter.

When you do a classical form from a classical art you are traveling down the same, old street. After a while of traveling down that street you begin to realize that you are seeing the same things over and over. After a while you gain the ability to predict what is going to happen on that street before you make passage.

This kind of prediction is just the start of the martial arts, however. The real key lies in finding the silence of the form, which is available through such arts as Uechi ryu and Goju ryu. In the middle of silence you can find and define the exact thought that must precede every action.

Nothing in this universe moves without a thought occurring first. Thus, the study of the classical martial arts, with correct form done correctly, with correct training methods, aid the fighter in developing intuition. Yes, studying forms, such as in Isshin ryu and shito ryu, opens your mind and allows you access to abilities that are not found by the fellow who just fights. - 30300

About the Author:

Al Case has been perfecting his form for 4O years. You can see the results of his endeavors with a free ebook at Monster Martial Arts.

How To Get Started With Karate

By Joma Kristen

Ok so what is karate? It is a Japanese marital art evolved from the islands of Okinawa. The story goes that this marital art was developed due to the necessity of the farmers living there to protect themselves from armed bandits wearing amour.

What this means is that karate was an art that was meant for killing and fighting. While today's karate has evolved to become more of a sport, this was where it's roots came from. Knowing that, it is imperative that you know the purpose you are learning karate for. Are you learning it just as a hobby and sport? If so then carry on with your kata movements and get good at tagging opponents in karate tournaments. If you are looking to learn it as a serious form of self-defense, then you must learn it as a marital art and not a sport.

Historically speaking, original early karate tournaments back in Japan were given points for hitting the kill-zones of the body. While it is common sense many karate practitioners gloss over this point and have the mistaken notion that being able to 'fight' well in tournaments equates to actual fighting skills. This is a misnomer and can get you killed.

So with that in mind, let's look at what you can do to get started if you are totally new to karate. One of the best and most cost effective way to learn karate is to buy a karate-book and start learning the katas. Wait a second; don't they say that you can't learn martial arts from a book? While that is partially true. If you are a total beginner, the main concern you should have is to ingrain the karate moves into your body. Concentrate only on getting the movements correctly. Developing the hitting power and timing comes later when you get good at the moves and you already are learning from a good karate school.

To summarize, it is perfectly fine for beginners to learn karate moves at home and familiarize yourself with it. You could even get good at it training karate at home. Eventually though, what you want to do is to transit from that to learning from a competent instructor.

They will be able to show you the finer points in Karate. Remember, regardless of which karate school you enroll in or book you purchase from, it pays to know what you are learning karate for. Having an end-goal in mind is important and can save a lot of wasted time and possible dangerous habits. - 30300

About the Author:

If you want to learn karate be sure to check out our site today.

UFC 103: Belfort Blasts Franklin In Main Event

By Ross Everett

Vitor Belfort made his first appearance in the UFCs iconic octagon in five years, headlining the main event of UFC 103 in Dallas, Texas. Just over three minutes later, he had already become a top contender. Belfort dominated veteran Rich Franklin en route to a devastating knockout victory just past the midway point of the first round.

The fight against Franklin was contested at a catchweight of 195 pounds, and Belfort took several tries to finally make weight on Friday afternoon. The pace of the bout was tactical and deliberate until the very end"Belfort landed a few leg kicks, but for the most part it was several minutes of the fighters circling each other. Belfort was clearly measuring Franklin for a big power shot, and he found it after a brief flurry in which neither man gained an advantage. Out of nowhere, Belfort floored Franklin with a nasty uppercut and quickly mounted a ground and pound assault on his fallen adversary. It only took three or four big shots to Franklins head before the referee jumped in to stop the fight.

At the post fight press conference, Dana White quickly endorsed the prospect of a matchup between Belfort and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva"either for the title or at a 195 catchweight. Silva has only three fights remaining on his UFC contract, after which hes insisted that hell retire (although he continues to toy with the idea of boxing against Roy Jones, Jr.). Obviously nothing has been signed, but White clearly wants to get his moneys worth out of the fights remaining on Silvas deal and from that standpoint alone a matchup against Belfort makes perfect sense.

A changing of the guard was in evidence in the co-main event, as Junior Dos Santos defeated former PRIDE Open Weight GP champion and MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop by verbal submission. Cro Cop appeared to be moving much better on his surgically repaired knee than in recent fights, though he still demonstrated an overreliance on his counterpunching. Still, through the early part of the fight he was doing well with his straight left hand counter. As the fight wore on, however, Dos Santos began to pick Cro Cop apart and in the third round began to use his Muay Thai knee strikes to good effect. It was a knee strike to Cro Cops head followed by an uppercut that ended the fight"Cro Cop suddenly indicated to the referee that he couldnt see and was unable to continue. Ironically, he may have suffered a broken eye socket similar to the one he famously inflicted on Bob Sapp in a 2003 K-1 bout.

Earlier in the card, Paul Daley made the most of his role as a late substitute for injured Mike Swick as he stopped Martin Kampmann by second round TKO. Kampmann complained of an early stoppage, but Daley gave him trouble throughout with his sharp strikes and fast hands. The end came after a brutal left hook knocked Kampmann to the canvas, after which Daley followed up with some ground and pound until the stoppage. - 30300

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer specializing in college football and NFL football betting. He is a frequent contributor to print publications, and often appears on talk radio where he gives tips on successful football betting. He lives in southern Nevada with his two dogs and an emu.

Can the Force Really Be with You?

By Al Case

Luke, there is a thing called The Force. Close Your Eyes and feel The Force, Luke. May the Force be with you always and forever!

Wow, something really neat, like an invisible ocean that surrounds you. And everything in the universe was built out of this ocean stuff! And, heck, if you train at the Jedi Academy...you can control the Force!

Well, now that we?ve completed the introduction to our first class in the Martial Arts, we can get down to the reality. Chi, or Ki, is an invisible ocean of subtle energy and everything in the universe is made of it. And, oh yeah, with practice you can learn to do what you want with it.

The difference, of course, between the movie and the reality is that one takes hard work, and the other one you get fat over popcorn. And, of course, the movie never comes true.

But, doggone! You got to spend half a twenty, and then rent it for a Lincoln and then see it on cable for a buck, then, finally, see it for free, uh, with a few dozen advertisements to break it up and editing so you don?t see the good stuff, and so on! The question, however, is when are you going to toss the fantasy and start doing the work and make that stuff you see in the movie come true?

So, they have these things called instructional courses that you can get on DVDs. To get into a field of study, such as Kenpo or Krav Maga or Ninjitsu or, the list goes on, and a DVD will cost you about as much as a movie. The difference, of course, is that you are paying for the movie every time you want to get nothing done for a few hours, and once you have the martial arts DVD there is no more cost, it?s like the difference between renting a car and owning a car.

Now comes the fun part of this whole thing, you actually get to do something. You are no longer holding down a couch eating endless amounts of popcorn, you are now able to hone your body into a sleek exotic car that runs good, drives the chicks (guys, if you?re a girl) wild, and that good conditioning is going to last you long into your lifetime. Slowly, a half hour here or a few minutes there, you copy the DVD, go along with the instructions, and, zingo bingo, you feel the changes.

Good health starts to seep through the ocean of your body, improving your hearing and vision, and you can work longer, harder, and more efficiently. Discipline starts to grab a hold of you, making you able to conquer new tasks, tasks which you previously thought daunting and difficult. And, here is the fun part, the world starts morphing to keep up with the new you...new friends, more money, the ability to make enough money to go to the best restaurants, maybe a real play, maybe a huge sporting event...and now the Force is truly with you. - 30300

About the Author:

Al Case has studied the martial arts for forty++ years and he can control The Force. Find out how through the free ebook he offers at Monster Martial Arts.

Ninja Nujitsu and a Nunchaku

By Anne Torres

The word Ninja conjures up many exciting images of feudal Japan when secret operations practically characterized the whole era. Espionage and assassinations were an ordinary thing and if there were anybody who could execute such missions with unfailing precision, it would be the Ninjas. Aside from their mastery of physical movements, these highly trained fighters also banked on their strategically designed weapons which always gave them an advantage over their enemies.

One such weapon which found its way today is the Nunchaku. The original creation, composed of two sticks bound together by a rope or chain, was meant for use by rice and soybean farmers who used it to separate grain from husk. It was made of wood tied together and hardened by long-term exposure to mud, usually for years, to keep the wood from rotting.

Today, Nunchakus can be anything from wood to fiberglass and connected by a chain or any type of rope. They should be equal in length and may be round or octagonal, although the latter is more injurious due to its edged structure. If you've taken a glimpse into ninjutsu classes, you must have seen one of these historic weapons.

One trick with the Nunchaku lies in its length, averaging twelve inches, which should be just enough for the user if it is to function with as much power as it should. The standard rule is for the sticks to be about as long as the fighter's forearm. Mini chucks, which are at least eight inches long, make them easier to hide and catch an enemy off-guard immediately before an attack while longer chucks equip the user with the ability to strike from all angles.

Along with length, the other essential component of a good Nunchaku is balance or its ability to hang from the user's hand while forming a ninety-degree angle from the floor. This is the usual problem with inferior Nunchakus which don't satisfy this requirement. The result is poor control by the user, thus hindering the full power of the weapon. In fact, sophisticated routines are just impossible with a poorly balanced Nunchaku.

What made these weapons particularly strategic for the Ninjas was their small size which allowed them to be concealed from the enemy who would tend to think that the opponent was unarmed. Once the Ninja achieved a good distance from the target, he could quickly pull out the Ninchaku and begin attack. - 30300

About the Author:

Learn ninjutsu and learn to apply the discipline and power of this age-old martial arts through proper Ninjutsu training.