Make Martial Arts your Hobby.

Martial arts definitely fit the mold of this type of hobby, but simply saying that you take up "martial arts" doesn't tell you enough. So let's take a look at the different aspects of martial arts, in addition to the different styles and disciplines the martial arts contain, and we'll see if martial arts is the ideal hobby for you.

Getting out of the house - for some people, having an excuse simply to break up the monotony of the Wednesday blues is a good enough reason to take a once-a-week martial arts class. Whether you're taking kickboxing, karate, or mixed martial arts lesson, getting out of the house and meeting other like-minded, active people is a great way to add some flavor to your week. For other people, taking up martial arts is not reason enough to go out of your way, which is why you'll want to find a discipline that actually appeals to you.

Getting in shape - if you're a little more intense about the kind of experience you want to have, and even want to lose weight and tone up, then more martial arts lessons should be on the menu. Involved sports like boxing can be quite the workout and will work muscles you didn't know you had. The best part? The more often you engage in your hobby and solidify your skills, the better in shape you'll be. What you get out of it is what you'll put into it, so if you want to get out of the house and get in shape, martial arts is a great way to do it.

Plus, when you have that "martial arts" body, you'll be glad to tell them all about your fun hobby when you're on a first date.

Adding discipline to your life - if nothing else, martial arts help you to have discipline in your life. It's easy to get out the XBox and load up a game of Madden NFL, but if you really want to have discipline with your hobbies, it helps to go somewhere, meet someone who will teach you the new discipline, and do these things on a regular basis. Does martial arts fit the bill?

What do you think?

Photo Credits: UNC - CFC - USFK

Originally posted 2009-11-24 03:08:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Martial Arts

1. The term "martial arts" simply refers to all types of combat. Getting the word from Mars, the Roman god of war, the world "martial" generally refers to all things conflict. So the "martial arts" generally translates as "the conflict arts," or the art of combat. If someone asked you to name a martial art, you might tell them Kung Fu or Karate - but the martial arts aren't limited to the styles of the Far East. Fencing is as much a martial art as ninjitsu, for example.

2. Martial arts with codes of conduct generally are linked to the Far East. Philosophies in the Far East, including Daoism and Confucianism, have an influence on how we view traditional martial arts - as having a code of discipline or set of moral principles. This is not a requirement of a martial art, however.

3. Much of the martial arts developed through trade. Though you don't often associate trading with martial arts, many styles did develop partially due to the influence of expanding trade. For instance, many martial arts of China and India were developed in the areas near the Silk Road.

4. Today's revival of interest in martial arts is largely due to Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee, a film star and martial artist in the 1960s and 1970s, had a lot to do with the recent rise in interest in the martial arts. He is also sometimes credited with bringing about the idea of "mixed martial arts," or martial arts that borrow from different disciplines in order to create a more ideal discipline.

5. Martial arts are constantly evolving. Though some disciplines stay true to their heritage, today's modes of combat change with technology. With advanced robotics and satellite linking, navigation and manual tasks can often be lead to robots rather than people.

Photo Credits: MorroBayChuck

Originally posted 2009-12-29 03:36:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

What is mental presence?

Mental Presence: A Definition

When you're sparring with someone, you usually have two ways of interpreting their presence. You have what you see (the physical presence), and you have what you don't see (mental presence). The mental presence of your opponent will partially be shaped by your own interpretation of him. If you're scared, their mental presence will be larger. If you're confident, it will grow smaller.

Whoever has the larger mental presence will often have the advantage in a fight. Mental presence is often boosted when the opponent is not sure about you - uncertainty can quickly turn into fear. When you are much faster than your opponent originally estimated, you gain a boost in mental presence.

How to Develop a Larger Mental Presence

The more confidence you build, the more mental presence you'll have. Of course, this is easier said than done. In order to build confidence, you'll have to practice being assertive. In sparring matches, concentrate on being assertive even if it's at the expense of your fighting skills. It will be important to isolate one skill - your fearlessness and assertiveness - in order to build it up for a while. Once you feel comfortable standing tall and being assertive, bring your skills back into the mix. You should find that you perform much better.

Surprise is the quickest way to build mental presence. If you don't appear strong but your moves have the added strength of assertiveness behind them, your opponent will be more in the dark as to your true abilities. The more uncertainty and surprise you can generate in your opponent, the more mental presence you'll have.

Remember that mental presence comes from within. It comes through the self-discipline to work on your confidence and skills. It also comes from understanding your opponent's mind and knowing how human beings typically react when surprised or caught off-guard. To have mental presence, it's important that you take action as opposed to reacting.

Photo Credits: thivierr

Originally posted 2009-08-17 03:37:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Kung fu.

If you're a kung fu student and want to prepare your body for what's going to be coming to you, you need the right exercising habits. After all, you wouldn't do squats to prepare for a ping pong tournament, would you? Here are some very important ways to train for your kung fu pursuits.

Kung fu is about action, but remember that action requires rest. Before you go off and exercise four hours a day, every day, remember that your body needs recuperative time in order to adjust to the new demands you place on it. When you work a muscle, you place demands on that muscle and your body is forced to adjust during a rest period by adding more strength to your muscle. Kung fu will constantly remind you that action is important, but remember that conscious action and conscious relaxation - relaxation aimed at improving yourself, not relaxation as a crutch - will help your body become strong and powerful.

Keep your breathing in tune with your mind and your body. Breathing has a powerful place in kung fu, so it will be important for you to exercise in conjunction with how your mind and body feel. If you can focus all of them onto the task at hand, your discipline will improve and your exercising will be more effective. Concentrate on breathing well; ask your instructor if you want some tips.

Understand that strength is something that is maintained, not built. Sure, you build muscles, but if you want to embrace the full discipline of a kung fu student, you'll need to remember that strength is maintained by constant action, not by building something in one day and expecting it to last a lifetime. This means your exercising will need to be a regular habit, as will your striving to improve yourself.

If you stop going to the gym, your muscles weaken from less frequent use. Your life is often like this in other areas as well, so remember this powerful lesson.

Photo Credits: mK B.

Originally posted 2009-12-22 03:55:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

A little girl praticing Tae Kwon Do.

Question: How do I know that martial arts are right for me or my child?

• Answer: You don't really know until you try martial arts, but there are some clues that should help you along the way. If physical activity and building hand-to-hand combat skills sound attractive, there's a chance that martial arts can be a great outlet for that aggression. If you need discipline and structure in your habits, martial arts might also be what the doctor ordered. Ultimately, however, the only real way to know is to give them a shot.

Question: What type of martial art is best to learn?

• Answer: As you know, the martial arts feature a number of disciplines: Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and the increasingly popular arts like Brazilian Jujitsu or Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). There's no straight forward answer to this question, as it depends on the person asking it, but many people these days prefer the style of grappling offered by MMA. Tae Kwon Do is a worthy pursuit but isn't always right for children who want to build real long-term self-confidence.

Question: How does the belt system work?

• Answer: It varies from discipline to discipline. Some disciplines might not even have a proper "belt" system. Of course, you're aware of some of the more obvious rankings: black belts are the highest and white belts are the lowest. You might also see some frequent low colors: green and yellow, and potential high colors: brown or red. Keep in mind that some disciplines also feature "degrees" or "stripes" attached to belts - the more of these you see, the more progress the wearer has made.

Question: Will I really learn self-defense?

• Answer: One of the age-old questions about the martial arts are whether you'll really learn how to defend yourself. Some people have fantasies of taking on a half-dozen bullies with a flurry of kicks and punches. Reality, of course, is often different. If you're in the martial arts to exclusively learn how to fight, you'll have a long journey ahead of you. Part of martial arts also includes knowing when not to fight, and how to stand up for yourself without getting in any violent altercations.

Question: When do I get to break the boards?

• Answer: For many martial arts, breaking boards isn't a question of skill, but rather the mindset that you have: do you believe in yourself enough and do you have enough faith to put your fist through a piece of wood? This can be more of a psychological test than a physical one, and is often part of testing when you try to advance in rank. Tae Kwon Do, for example, will probably feature these kinds of tests.

Photo Credits: egarc2

Originally posted 2009-07-27 05:56:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Takedown in Judo

A takedown's premise is very simple: utilizing positioning and leverage, you try to get your opponent down to the ground, with you following, resulting in you having the better position. This is actually different in substance to simply throwing or knocking down your opponent - the premise of a "takedown" is that you're "taking them down" with you. For martial artists that perform better by wrestling on the ground, a takedown might be necessary to win a match.

Takedowns can happen in a number of ways, even if the result is the same. Usually, it comes as the result of two martial artists being locked up against each other, either one of them unable to break free. Generally, the person who can get lowest while maintaining the most control possible will be able to take the other person down because of leverage. But takedowns can also take place suddenly, such as when one fighter "tackles" the other quickly, using his body to knock his opponent down.

If you're interested in learning how to take down an opponent, you're going to have to decide which discipline of martial arts is best suited for you. You'll obviously want to avoid disciplines like boxing and Tae Kwon Do - both of which emphasize striking. Look up some of the best martial arts for learning takedowns, such as Judo, and you'll be able to learn more about how you can use an opponent's weight and energy against him in order to come out with the best possible position.

Much of what goes into a takedown relies on putting you in a better position than you started with. If you can master the "takedown," you can turn things around in your favor quickly. But if you're not used to a takedown, it can also work against you, as an opponent can use it against you.

Photo Credits: parhessiastes

Originally posted 2009-07-30 05:12:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Muay Thai

The martial arts have been developing for thousands of years, so it makes sense that in today's culture, you can find so many disciplines and sub-disciplines within the "martial arts" realm. But what kind of martial arts define what is going on today, and what are people interested in learning? Some of the answers may surprise you. Here are some of today's most popular martial arts, and the countries of their origin.

Muay Thai. Famously associated with Thailand - heck, it is called "Thai" land - Muay Thai is a type of fighting style that you'll hear a lot about if you tune into today's mixed martial arts events. It is similar to kickboxing in its style and makes an emphasis that just about any limb or part of the body can be used as a weapon against your opponent.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu. If you haven't heard of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, then it's probably fair to say that you don't pay much attention to mixed martial arts. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a vital component to many fighters' style, including fighters like B.J. Penn and Wanderlei Silva. Country of origin? Brazil, of course, where it continues to thrive.

Tae Kwon Do. Loosely translated as "the way of the fist and foot" or the art of punching and kicking, Tae Kwon Do is traditionally associated with South Korea, coming to more popularity after the end of World War II. In the United States, you'll be able to find a variety of Tae Kwon Do classes, even if there might not be any Karate classes to sign up to!

Karate. Speaking of Karate - originating in Okinowa - one of the world's most famous martial arts emphasizes fighting without weapons. If you find yourself in a self-defense situation with no weapons, then your body and the world around you have to become your weapons. That's the philosophy behind Karate, which is a style of martial arts practically synonymous with the phrase "martial arts" in the first place.

Judo. Also originating in Japan, Judo is a type of fighting that emphasizes using an opponent's strength and weight against him. You'll find this kind of strategy also emphasized in the always-popular jiu-jitsu. Judo also emphasizes submissions and locks as part of someone's weapons against opponents who may be more powerful than yourself.

Photo Credits: loura

Originally posted 2010-01-05 03:39:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Class

Learn how to provide something for nothing. The old saying tells us that there's no such thing as something for nothing, but if you want to spread word-of-mouth about your martial arts class, you'll have to suspend your disbelief. Why? You can't expect someone to up and register to your class simply because you believe it will help them. You have to actively demonstrate that you have real value to share. The best way to do that? Provide a free sample!

A free martial arts demonstration utilizes the same principle as the sample lady at your local grocery store: giving out something for free attract peoples' attention; once you have them reeled in, you want to tell them why they should pay you for more. This is a great way to get your foot in the door and if you're just starting out as a martial arts instructor, it's probably a necessity. Never underestimate the value you can get out of doing work for free!

Develop a full program. If you embrace the principle above but fail to deliver on the content once your students sign up to your class, you'll quickly find yourself in need of more marketing. Instead of waiting around for people to become great students themselves, make your program as good as you can make it. Make it comprehensive, challenging, but also common sense. Then, take this program and give out as much information on it as possible.

This, again, represents the "something-for-nothing" principle listed earlier on: if you can give away as much information as possible, and your information is high-quality, then people will want more, and they'll want personal instruction. Give away everything but the meat itself, and people will be more interested in your class than you might have thought. Then make sure that you class delivers on its promises so that students spread the word.

Photo Credits: Listen Missy!

Originally posted 2010-01-19 03:33:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

David and Goliath

Gaining leverage over your opponent means that you are able to use something small and make it incredibly important. Has anyone - perhaps a teasing older brother - ever held your hands in such an uncomfortable position that you weren't able to fight back at all? This is the concept of leverage, of which the root word is "lever." By changing one small element of a combat situation, you are able to change the entire momentum.

Common leverage points usually deal with weak areas on the human body, such as joints. When you're able to disable an opponent's joints, they won't be able to bend. The joint is a small area that enables a whole lot of movement, which is why it's important to focus on joints in a combat situation; you want to keep yours free and inhibit the bending of your opponents' joints.

But leverage doesn't only have to apply to the levers in the physical human body. Leverage can also refer to using one aspect of a fight to your advantage: in jujutsu, you learn how to use an opponent's weight to your advantage, and against your opponent. By utilizing momentum and gravity, you can utilize this idea of "leverage" to defeat someone who is larger than you.

Oftentimes, getting leverage over an opponent is a simple matter of quickly discerning their advantages and working to inhibit them. If you're fighting a smaller, quicker fighter, then you'll want to get that fighter in a situation where their quickness doesn't count - such as wrestling on the ground, where your strength can overpower them.

In the Battle of Thermopylae, 300 Spartans and other warriors famously used leverage (in this case, the terrain) in order to repel a massive army. What can you accomplish in your martial arts sparring - or even your life - if you understand leverage? A lot.

Photo Credits: maha-online

Originally posted 2009-11-17 03:02:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Bruce Lee Statue

But many martial arts were developed back when conventional weapons and hands and fists were used to dominate other people. Today's world is drastically different. If you want to become a world-class survival artist in the modern world, you have to embrace not only martial arts, but knowing how to avoid trouble in the first place and build a secure, balanced life. Here's how you can hone your survival skills outside of the conventional martial arts.

Learn urban and rural survival skills. Sure, you may be a good martial artist, but if you're ever caught in a tough situation in an urban environment, could you survive with your wits alone? Urban survival can include different skills such as blending in with the crowd, learning how to escape a city, and using technology to your advantage. Rural survival skills are also crucial, as you never know when you might get trapped in a survival situation far from the comforts of civilization.

Learn financial survival skills. The economic crisis that the world sunk into last year is a wake-up call: today's financial world doesn't stand on stable ground, and all of the martial arts skills in the world won't help you retain your bank account should a bigger crisis hit. How protected is your financial situation? If you lose your job, will you be out of money in a hurry, or do you have emergency funds saved? Do you have all of your money in cash, or do you diversify with commodities like gold and silver?

Avoiding danger, even while traveling. It's not possible to always avoid danger, but that doesn't mean you should walk into the rough part of town simply because you have a black belt. A wise martial artist knows how to avoid danger in the first place, even if you're in places that you don't know quite as well as your home. Make sure that you generally avoid bad areas, rough situations, and, when overseas, areas where tourists are constantly targeted. Information is valuable, so ask around if you're not sure.

The modern renaissance man won't only know how to defend himself, but how to protect himself and his lifestyle. Being able to block a punch is great, but achieving more balance can help you survive other threats to your livelihood.

Photo Credits: juanma.