Martial Arts Camp

Perhaps it's time to pick up your feet, and change the image! Consider signing up for a Martial Arts Boot Camp.

Martial Arts Instructor and Ninja Boot Camp expert Rick Tew of NinjaGym suggests, "If your reflection isn't living up to your expectations, chances are your self-image could use an explosive short term program to boost your potential."

Quality camps introduce you to a fascinating array of martial arts skills and act as great introduction for those looking to see what the martial arts has to offer, without having to commit to any one style or system.

A good camp might offer professional instructors with multi-martial art skills, climbing walls, kettlebells, rope climbs, punching and kicking bags, obstacle courses, and everything you need to get your mind, body and spirit back on track.

"How you look, act and feel definitely affects how you, inspire and change the world around you," Rick says, "I love to see people look back and laugh at the person they were before attending one of our camps - confident with their new self." He adds, "These days, you can't afford not to take care of your mind, body and spirit as a whole."

Some additional benefits to Martial Arts training camps are:

Camps Build the Self-Image:

It is very inspiring to complete a Camp. You might be tired and sore, but oddly enough, extremely energized. Each camp builds confidence, which carries over to all aspects of your life.

Kick-Start a new fitness strategy:

If you’ve reached a weight loss or fitness plateau, your body has adjusted to a program and stalls. You need to kick-start your fitness routine to start seeing results again.

Great Calorie Burners:

Since you’re moving rapidly from one exercise to another and working upper and lower body at the same time, martial art exercises burn a lot of calories.

Aerobic and Muscle Toning at the Same Time:

If you have limited time to exercise, a boot camp is one of the most efficient strategies to catch up. It allows you to get aerobic and strength training done while being 100% focused for a few days or a few weeks.

Alleviates Boredom:

Training is challenging, but never boring. Time goes by quickly when you’re engaged in so many types of exciting martial arts exercises.

Do your research and do yourself a favor, join the next Martial Arts Training Camp that interests you.

Photo Credits: UNC - CFC - USFK

Originally posted 2010-04-07 03:11:07.

Defend yourself!

One of the first things to understand about self-defense are an opponent's weak points and vulnerabilities. Someone without martial arts training will likely be very susceptible to a quick counter-defense that they did not anticipate. For example, while many inexperienced people might try to fight and grab with hands, you can gain an advantage over your opponent by grabbing their rest, rendering their hand essentially useless. You can then use this wrist to pull them in and get them out of attacking position.

If someone comes at you with a hand coming forward, you can use your opposing hand to grab their wrist and pull them off-balance. For example, if someone pushes at you with a right hand coming forward, use your right hand to pull their wrist and subsequently the rest of their upper body. You can stay in attacking/defending position, but they'll be off-balance. This is the time to strike.

Keeping your opponent off-balance is one of the keys to defending an attack. You don't necessarily want to fight back, you simply want to get them to stop using an attack position. If their upper body is facing you, they have the potential to strike at you. Either get distance between the grabber, or use the aforementioned wrist-grab technique to get them off balance.

It's important that you learn to make these moves with confidence and strength. You can't "guide" your opponent's wrist to where you want to go. You've got to move it there yourself. That means being physically assertive. This is one of the things you'll learn in martial arts classes, and it's part of the reason you break wooden boards.

Mentally intimidating your opponent is a great advantage of being so assertive. If they see that you are self-confident and that you mean it when you grab them, they might think twice about the attack. Be sure to keep that in mind, and build up an "assertive vibe" so that people don't invade your personal space.

Photo Credits: dangoodwin

Originally posted 2009-08-11 03:01:27.

What is the point of breaking boards?

The at-home television viewer might find him or herself openly questioning the validity of breaking boards: after all, when do these types of situations really need to be used in real life?

But there is a method to the madness of breaking boards, and once you come to understand it, you'll also understand why they remain a great benchmark for many people who are pursuing their goals.

First, try to understand that breaking boards is often more of a psychological test than a physical one. The people who break boards are born with the same appendages and bones as the rest of us - what they've achieved through practice, most anyone can achieve through similar work and dedication.

How is it a psychological test? Breaking through something that appears impossible to break measures one's beliefs. Many martial artists will tell you that if you don't believe you can break a board, you won't be able to do it. It's only through confidence and experience that the beliefs develop and you begin to realize that you do have the power - if you put your energy into breaking those boards.

These martial artists will also tell you that when it comes to breaking larger amounts of wood, ice, or concrete, that belief becomes that much more vital. Attacking these hard objects with nothing but flesh puts them at a real risk of injury. It's through belief and mental discipline that these oddly-seeming feats can be achieved.

If you've ever seen someone walk on hot coals, you've witnessed the same principle taking place. The human body is more than capable of walking over hot coals: it's the mind that needs work.

In martial arts, it's not always about the technique behind the fist - it's about the mind controlling the fist. And breaking boards is a great way to put that mind to the test.

Photo Credits: lepiaf.geo

Originally posted 2009-07-22 05:41:32.