Remember when you first started training? For some, it was just a few days or weeks ago, for others, years have gone by since we took our first step on the Path of Warrior Mastery. But, can you remember?

Even more importantly, can you remember what brought you to the program? What was going on in your life at the time. How long had you been thinking about taking martial arts classes and why then, at that moment, did you decide to take action?

Remember what you told us you wanted to get from the program? Remember the personal interview during your first visit as-well-as the chats since then? What is it that the martial arts gives you or helps you with that keeps you coming to class?
What?

And, more importantly than “why” you began training is “how do you know it’s working in your life? How have you been tracking your results? Aside from new belts and tips and all the trappings’ that say you’ve done a lot, how has your training been helping with those areas of your life you said you wanted to fix?
You see, it’s one thing to say that you want to learn martial arts or to become a warrior and it’s quite another matter to be doing what is necessary to become the new you in your dreams. As one of my teachers says…

…”everybody wants to progress

…everyone is into personal development, but…

…very few are willing to look in the mirror to see where he or she is, right now. Very few are willing to ask the really hard questions like “why do I do things the way I do,” or, “what habits do I have that are getting in my way?”

“Unfortunately, on the road to anywhere…

…you can’t get there from not-here.”

One of the best signs that your teachers have to see who is, and who is not fully engaged in the program is that questing, seeking attitude. The students and members (yes, parents are learning too) who ask the most questions, or more specifically the right questions, are the ones who are both 1) progressing faster than average and 2) less likely to see that progress because their eyes are constantly on the road in front of them. For these students, the questions are not, “when do I test for my next belt or get my next tip,” but, “how does this ABC relate to XYZ part of my life?

Everyone of us has the capacity to engage in what we are doing at the 100% level. No one can give 110% and giving less is under achievement. But, many students, both academic and within the martial arts, shoot themselves in the foot without even knowing it. It’s almost as, without consciously knowing the damage they are causing, set themselves up for failure before ever taking the first step towards achieving their goal.

One way this is done is in not being able to clearly see or focus on what’s important as discussed above. The other is in being willing to accept less than best at the outset.

While we may be Okay with getting less because we know we gave it our all, many have the habit of setting a goal like, “I want to lose 20 pounds,” and then, in the very next breath, expressing, “but I’d be Okay with losing 5.”

How destructive our speech can be to our own subconscious focus - don’t you think?

So, as we enter the next quarter of this year, let’s focus on the original goals, with any modifications since beginning. And, with an eye on results, lets be here (or anywhere you find yourself for that matter), fully engaged 100%. Let’s ask the questions that will allow growth to be almost automatic and, if we find something that isn’t serving us - if we cannot fully engage - recognize it as a distraction and let it go.

The goal of the Warrior Mastery & Leadership Program is to produce, what in Japanese is called, the Tatsujin - the human being developed to his or her fullest potential.

Not a karate master.

Not a good martial artist.

Not a Black Belt.

The goal is to become a Tatsujin…

…a master of life!

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. He specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. To learn more about ninjutsu and authentic warriorship training and other subjects related to the martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com To subscribe to his online newsletter, go to http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html

Here are two more fantastic life skills your child can gain from a kids Karate class.

Goal Setting

Any child, who starts to learn Karate, arrives to class with a few goals in mind. These goals are as simple as learning a new Karate technique, advancing to the next belt rank, and impressing his or her parents. Once a short-term goal is achieved, confidence settles in, and Karate training is a succession of goals.

Therefore, overcoming obstacles, which routinely occur within martial arts, become “second nature.” Children, who regularly accomplish goals, within their Karate class, learn to accept adversity, set-backs, and disappointments. Finding solutions “under fire” is a routine part of a Karate classes for children. This is extremely rewarding and builds a child’s self esteem to the core of his or her inner being.

Anger Management

Karate class gives children an outlet for life’s daily stress. Children today have too much stress with unstable family units, bullies, peer pressure, and financial worries. The Karate studio serves as a bridge between academic school and the family unit. Children have a safe place to “vent” their frustrations, when they come into a Karate class.

Many physical education programs, in schools, have been scaled back - and playing out on the street is very unsafe. Karate is safe, physical, and supervised. Kicking and punching bags, or target pads, is just one way for children to get some frustration out of their systems.

Children also learn to count and yell (kia) within the Karate class at appropriate times. The kia is the sound you often hear when a Karate practitioner demonstrates a breaking technique. The ability to vocalize is an empowering experience for children and a natural part of childhood.

Running, jumping, punching, kicking, and screaming are normal, but children are often put on prescriptions for being active. Karate gives children a safe and structured solution for managing anger. Many parents, with children in our Karate classes at our North Providence facility, remark that their children sleep better, are more focused on homework, and are more cooperative after a Karate lesson.

If we spent our childhood years with less physical activity, more stress, and were told to be quiet all the time, we would have anger management issues, as well. Extra energy is a part of youth, and you can easily see this in any species. Youth is full of energy, taking chances, and learning boundaries. This is why “Karate for Kids” is so valuable in developing character within our children today. There is no equal to Karate training, in structure, or in child development.

Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Buying the perfect Japanese swords is not an easy thing to do, as there are many Japanese swords to choose from and many things to take into consideration. The first look at the many Japanese swords on the market will make a person dizzy. Which one is the best for me So many Japanese swords attract the eye and so many seem appropriate for the wall at home…Of course the best one will also be the most expensive, but how do you know for sure what is the best choice

Getting to know the market involves reading a lot, documenting about how Japanese swords are made and comparing the merchandise in front of your eyes. This means a lot of information will have to be processed in a short while for your own good. Things can actually get easier if you are paying attention to some aspects like the steel of the Japanese swords, their forging, heat treatment and polish. The Japanese swords can be used for battling purposes or for decorating. Depending on the purpose you are looking to buy Japanese swords, these aspects are more or less important.

The ancient smiths made extraordinary blades for the Japanese swords. This is why the most important aspect when choosing the Japanese swords is their blade. The blades consisted in steel purified by the process of forging and folding. The Japanese swords had their blades beat and purified through a long process that gave them a very high quality. Nowadays technology has progressed to a level where pure steel is no longer obtained through such a difficult process. Swedish Powdered Steel is the new and available to work with pure steel. The Japanese swords (especially when used for battle) have to have a very strong and difficult to break blade. What gives them these properties is the even distribution of carbon in the steel, which doesn’t allow weak spots in the just forged blade.

The forging of Japanese swords makes them authentic, with unique blades made by skilled craftsmen. The forging degree is determined by the smith and by how much he folds and beats the blade of the Japanese swords. The structure gets stronger and the grain finer with every repeated folding. If they are not forged then they are modern Japanese swords that are not one of a kind. In this case they are not an individual expression. They make these kind of Japanese swords for selling purposes to the persons who don’t really care about their authenticity (for buyers that want to decorate their houses or offices).

The heat treatment of Japanese swords also gives them a higher quality making their grain structure finer. The authentic Japanese swords differentiate themselves through a sign left by the heat treatment it is called the Hamon. The changed molecular structure from the heat treatment is visible on the edge of the Japanese swords where the blades have a different color (Pearle). Of course modern manufacturers have thought of a way to give the Japanese swords this look without the heat treatment using a chemical treatment that doesn’t change the molecular structure.

The final touch for the blades was the polish, which used to be made by hand. It took several days or weeks just for one Japanese sword to have its blade polished. Such traditionally polished by hand Japanese swords would cost thousands of dollars nowadays. As the process is no longer practical it is currently done with the help of different polishing instruments. Some buyers look for a mirror-surfaced blade, but the true beauty of the Japanese swords is to be able to see the metal folding pattern and the Hamon on the edge. To buy such Japanese swords (that are fully polished and take a lot of time to finish) will probably cost a lot more than you would have expected. But invest only if you are serious in buying the authentic Japanese swords.

There are more things to admire and appreciate when buying Japanese swords the design and shape, the mountings, the weight balance. You should also be careful that the blades don’t have any cracks and that the sayas fit, the fittings don’t rattle or the wrappings aren’t tight enough.

You could be a simple buyer that doesn’t want anything special or you could be a collector or investor that wants only the best for himself (the authentic Japanese swords), but no matter what you want them for, the Japanese swords are treasured items worth buying and taking care of. Whichever Japanese swords you may choose or consider perfect for you, the spirit of the worrier will always be in their symbol and remind you of true virtues.

Resource box:
If you are looking for Japanese swords you can click the link.

I was looking at my rather impressive bookcase recently when I realized that my literary tastes are kind of …dark. I wish that I was talking about dark, as in vampires or medieval times or even your basic murder mystery. No, I mean I have books on ancient martial arts, terrorism, firearms, police officer survival, edge weapons, stalking and rape prevention, etc. Then, of course, I have the odd doomsday thrillers. If my home were ever searched, I’m sure I would end up on the Department of Homeland Security watchlist. I can pull down a few volumes on how to make improvised explosives, how to launder money and even how to pick an armored vehicle for family protection in a violent world. You might think I’m a little paranoid at first glance, but not exactly…

Since the early eighties, I have been a police instructor tasked with training officers how to survive a dangerous job using dangerous tools. Officer survival has become an obsession with me and I decided early on that the best way for me to pass on this knowledge, was to actually have the knowledge. All police officers have seen their share of violence and danger. We have all witnessed horrible crime scenes and have long since stopped shaking our heads in amazement that people could treat others with such bizarre and creative forms of chaos. I enrolled in numerous armed and unarmed response classes and became in instructor in too many programs to list here.

A few years back, I put together a few thoughts on what I believed were personal protection skills necessary to help both police and civilians survive. It was simply listed under three categories: Awareness, Avoidance and, Defense. I believed then, and still do to a degree, that if you were in that condition ‘orange’, you could anticipate most danger and avoid it. Failing in that, there were some basic things that could be taught, bought or supplied that would help protect us. It never fails to amaze me how crime and violence always manages to evolve, keeping us (good guys and protectors) off balance. Just when you think carrying a pistol with you offers a great measure of security, some fanatic intentionally drives a plane into a building. Just when you think that your martial arts training dollars were a good investment, we find a world of mutants who don’t respond to pain the way they’re supposed to. I won’t even get into the suicide bombers at this point in my comments. So, where are we headed with our survival training today?

At one time in my police career, I was a member of our SWAT team. We trained for every imaginable scenario we could come up with. Usually we gleaned some lessons from other agencies failures and successes. We never really failed ourselves, because we were well trained, you see. If we could visualize a mission, we would buy the needed equipment, and seek training. We evolved into paramilitary team that could solve most problems with firepower, trained negotiators or just plain patience. Today, there are not enough hours in the day or days in the week to cover all of the threats. However, we still are expected to have an appropriate response prepared.
Realizing that 99% of our contacts do not involve the judicious use of deadly force, agencies began to emphasize so called “less lethal” techniques and technology to save them from liability. We’re still waiting for the Star Trek phasers to hit the market, but until then we’re forced to use what we have. Let’s begin with a working description of what is meant by the term “less lethal.” These are tools and techniques that are developed to help us gain control of a violent person with a low probability of causing death or serious injury. Death can occur, but we can honestly say that we tried to avoid it.

There are many weaponless defensive tactics programs that claim to provide the practitioner the skills necessary to meet violence with love. Pardon my sarcasm, but that’s not reality. Pressure point tactics have always been suspect, but gained favor when politicians saw it as humane and less likely to cause a lawsuit. It was abandoned when we were able to convince the bosses that the violent folks out there had the ability to ignore pain and really didn’t appreciate our honest efforts to gently persuade them to stop their antisocial behavior.

Batons, Mace, pepper spray, TASERs, long range impact weapons ( bean bags, SAGE guns, etc.), Kubotans and tools were tested, issued and remain as options. All of these tools, along with Verbal Judo skills of communication, remain in our arsenal and can be accessed when appropriate. However, they can only help us if we have them when we need them. All require manual training and even more importantly, the right mind set to employ them when necessary. So in the parlance of law enforcement, we have a Use of Force Continuum (or Matrix) to choose the right level of force to use against a specific level of threat.

During a recent training session I conducted with private security personnel, I realized that all of those choices were mind boggling to the class and almost to a student, they preferred martial arts and firearms. I’m not referring to the years of discipline, ‘know yourself before you can defeat your enemy’ type of martial arts either. I’m talking about the Ultimate Fighting Championship stuff they watch on television. Empty hand destruction, or shoot ‘em! Not a very large arsenal for personal or legal protection. Being so under prepared means that much of their game plan relies on luck. I’d rather play the lottery.

With the help of some colleagues in the executive protection field and some uniformed security officers and private investigators, I floated a short survey to see if there was a great deal of emphasis on less lethal training and equipment in the private sector. The results were predictable, but raised some concerns as well. Here are some of the responses I received. (I’m still receiving the responses)

1. Have you received less lethal training? 80% yes

2. What type of defense training?

a) Unarmed defensive tactics-80%

b) Pressure point tactics-40%

c) Friction lock batons-60%

d) Pepper spray-80%

e) TASER-0%

f) Long range impact weapons (Sage guns, bean bags, etc.)-0%

g) Kubotan/ Persuader-40%

h) Nunchakus- 10%

i) Other less lethal tools-60%

3. Was training documented and retained in your records? 40% yes, 60% no

4. Ever used techniques or tactics that were taught? 40% yes, 60% no

5. Ever use deadly force? 10% yes, 90% no

My unscientific reading of these results would indicate a need for training in less lethal techniques and technology. There are about one in five security professionals that have little or no training in conflict management. This concerns me because a great majority of those also feel the need to get their Concealed Weapons Permits.
This is a very unscientific survey and was used to generate discussion; however, most who responded were prior or current law enforcement officers. Although no concrete conclusions can be made by these responses, it does point to a need for additional tools to be added to our tool box. The difference between a street fighter and a professional is the amount of time we spend weighing the consequences of our actions. Whether it is protecting a client or a family member, we must be ever mindful of end results; physical, psychological and legal.
Does our training reflect reality? Or does it merely reflect wishful thinking?

Jerry MacCauley is a police trainer and Certified Security Trainer in West Palm Beach, Fl. As a twenty five year police officer, many of the training he provides has been street tested and is constantly updated and revised to meet new and emerging threats. Mr. MacCauley can be contacted at jerrymaccauley@hotmail.com and comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Up until 30 years ago, JUDO was the martial art. Then with the introduction of the more mysterious martial arts with more of a “killing” edge to them this coupled with the focus of the USJF/USJI (the leading Judo organizations in the US and the world) focus on Olympic competition and the simple fact that training in judo is painful and to this day, very difficult to get a black belt rank in it, especially if you are in a competitive area. I could probably write another 5 pages on this, but I will stay on point.

During these years EVERY major metropolitan Police Department had a Judo club. Even countries like Thailand taught Judo to there police force, NOT Muay Thai. I personally train a number of law enforcement officers and I have seen the results first hand. So why is Judo the martial art for law enforcement?

The primary purpose of non-lethal force with law enforcement is to get your target to comply. What is the most realistic way of getting someone to do something you don’t want to with out seriously damaging them? How can you get someone from their feet to the ground as quickly as possible? How do you know what its going to be like for real? The answer is JUDO.

First off, when most people “resist” arrest, it’s an ego thing. They are looking to be restrain, or they don’t want to look like a punk and go quietly. The advantage the cop has is that the suspect knows that the officer is not trying to kill him or her. I realize this is a disadvantage in some situations, but that’s what the stuff @ www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com is for.

First, the object of judo is to throw the opponent from his feet to his back. Think about the majority of the altercations policemen get in, most of the time the skel is just kind of testing the officer. Once the suspect feels that the officer is going to be a tough customer, he’ll comply. Nothing drives this point home better than taking someone from their feet to their ass with one shot. Usually, when the guy is on the ground, he’ll take his medicine, since he knows the cop really isn’t going to kill him, a lot of time, that’s all it takes. Plus, to witnesses, it just looks like you pushed or pulled him over; mean while, they hit the deck HARD. Just ask my friend who threw guys one night with sasae tsuri komi ashi (lifting, pulling, ankle throw). These guys were fighting each other, and the guys on the scene had to get them to stop. So, he got in the fray and tossed ‘em all. Well, I guess they felt that getting up and fighting again wasn’t that much of a priority.

A popular argument is that most fights go to the ground. This may be true, but most people don’t know what they are doing. Most people don’t study judo.

One of the primary components of judo is being able to stay on your feet. You develop this skill as a by-product of the training. Just gaining the ability to stay on your feet is worth the price of admission. Especially when you are in a ‘scrum’ maintaining your balance is a primary concern.

The fact is, there is not better way to practice imposing your will on someone who is non compliant. Nothing gives you greater confidence than throwing a man that has 100 pounds on you. Nothing. Especially when that guy doesn’t want to be thrown.

Another important component is the pinning and submissions of judo. To secure a full point in judo you need to hold him on his back for 25 seconds. Being able to hold a man down until the cavalry arrives will save your life. Plus, while this guy struggles, you are just squeezing the life out of him. Trust me, when it comes time for you to put the cuffs on him, he’ll be as compliant as a wet noodle.

Strangles and arm-bars, yep, Judo has them too. If you have to put someone “out of commission” and you really want to know how to strangle someone who doesn’t want to be strangled, you’ve come to the right place. When they wake up, you will have them cuffed and ready to go. (Uh-oh, the choke hold alarm! Hey, I am not talking about liability; I am just trying to save your life).

Lastly the overall toughening and body conditioning is second to none. If you can “randori” for 30 minutes, non- stop – you’re in really good shape. So why aren’t some many people, knocking down the doors of every Judo club. Because it’s hard work and it hurts. There’s no junior black belt, student of the month. Your gi is white and the work is hard. No secrets, just hard work.

The irony and the tragedy: the guys who train with me are only a few. Most of the guys interested in this type of training are SWAT or tactical guys. Unfortunately, these guys are the least likely to get in a roll around. That’s the irony. The tragedy is the guys who are most likely to need good hand to hand fighting skills are the patrolmen doing car stops, domestic violence; and all of the first response details. By the time the SWAT shows up, the situation is intense and the reality of a hand to hand confrontation is highly unlikely if not damned near impossible.

© www.thetruthselfdefense.com

Damian Ross is the owner of Zenshin and instructor of Tekkenryu jujutsu and Kodokan Judo. He started competing in the combative sport of wrestling in 1975 at the age of 7 and began his study of Asian martial arts with Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16 in 1984. In 1989, Shinan Cestari gave a seminar at Sensei Ross’s dojo. Sensei Ross has trained under Shinan Cestari’s direction ever since. In addition to Tekkenryu Jujutsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do, Sensei Ross has also studied Bando. Sensei Ross continues his study of Judo under the direction of 8th degree black belt Yoshisada Yonezuka and Tekkenryu Jujutsu under it’s founder, Carl Cestari. Below are is a list of some of his title ranks:

Yodan (fourth degree black belt) Tekkenryu Jujutsu under Carl Cestari
Shodan (First degree black belt) Kodokan Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Varsity Wrestling Lehigh University under Thad Turner
2nd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do
http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

You take with you in combat all the good and bad habits that you learned in your training routine. If your tactics in your training consist of high fancy kicks, wide movements, which require you to have a lot of room you will instinctively do the same when your adrenaline kicks in a street confrontation. That will seriously hinder you if you are fighting for survival in a confined area with furniture around such as a living room or bedroom. Your training should also focus on the mind/spirit as well. Self defense is 90% mental it does not matter how effective your tactics are, if you don’t train your mind for combat you will freeze.

Condition stimulus training is about making your training as real as possible so when your instincts take over in a high adrenaline stressed situation you are ready to use your environment to your advantage and not be hindered by it. Your mind will also be familiar with the stimulus and you will not freeze. Many martial artists and practitioners of self defense programs become overwhelmed when their environment changes from a dojo setting to a small confined area. Being in a room filled with furniture gives a martial artist the feeling of being closed in on and makes them feel that they can not move, so they stiffen. Being in this type of environment changes the way you are going to move or perform a tactic. It is completely different from movement in a dojo where you a vast amount of space.

When you are threatened and your adrenaline kicks in you now unknowingly give 100% faith and trust to your self defense system that it will get you out of harms way. Remember you fight like how you trained if you have trained in traditional systems you will most likely not use your environment to your advantage to defend yourself instead you will be hindered. You will focus on how you can not move and get tied up with objects in a room such as furniture because your training hasn’t prepared you for that type of stimulus. What you wear while training is also a big factor when it comes to be prepared to move in the streets. Many self defense training systems get practitioners to wear loose fitting clothing when they practice tactics for the obvious reason of being able to move freely. The downside of this is that when you move on the street wearing boots, jeans and form fitting clothing your range of motion is restricted. You will move much slower and if you are a female wearing heels will be off balance performing tactics because you have not trained yourself to move with heels on

The benefit with training this way is obvious, you give yourself more options, weapons and exits. Your mind is prepared and conditioned for the stimulus that comes its way when violence is presented to it. The more the mind is shown a stimulus the more it is accustomed to it and unfazed it becomes “normal” just like any other everyday event it has experienced.

Norm Bettencourt is the Creator/Founder of TACT Self Defense which specializes in combat management tactics for mind, body & spirit. Visit http://www.tactselfdefense.com

Many Taoists recluses and Buddhists monks dwelled in mountains and forests to observe, listen, and meditate in order to gather deeper understanding and greater knowledge of nature than is possible when living in the milieu of human society.

Often in search of extraordinary longevity and treasures of life, these extraordinary men (and a few women) moved from observation of nature to experimentation and development of the body. The goal of longevity necessitated that the body be prepared by a lifetime of practices. Thus preparation of a strong, healthy body led to the development of these breathing exercises. For thousands of years men have practiced and developed these breath control techniques to improve health, correct problems and heal illnesses of various parts of the vital organs. You can experience the benefits for yourself.

The breathing exercises are grouped into three areas, performing unique (yet integrated) functions. The first concern is immediate triage for the sufferer, with focus on illness prevention, and elimination of sickness. The second level aims at rejuvenation and methods for prolonging a healthful life. The upper level exercises help calm the mind, harmonize the will, cultivate spirit. Each movement is in rhythm with deep breathing technique. Full concentration and daily practice are required.

I studied many of these techniques at the Chi Kung Institute in San Francisco. The instructor was Chiu Lim Chan, age 54 at the time (1975), who looked 35 and had a belly as hard as a stone. He got the teachings on Wu Tang Mountain from a 180 year-old man; that was in 1940.

Tao Ga Chi Kung/Taoist School Energy Work

· Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation)

· Tao Yin/Lead and Guide Energy

· 5 Animals Frolics

· Meridian Chi Kung

· Medical Yin-Yang Chi Kung

· 5 Organs Chi Kung

· 5 Animals, 5 Elements Chi Kung

· 6 Joints Chi Kung

· Two Meridians Chi Kung

· 18 Silk Reeling Chi Kung

Lohan Shou Chi Kung/Buddhist School Energy Work

· Pa Tuan Jin/8 Pieces of Gold Brocade

· Iron Warrior

· Bei Wu Hsing Chi Kung/N. 5 Animals Chi Kung

· Shaolin Zen One Finger Pointing Chi Kung

· Chan Mi Kung

· Shipalohanshou/18 Methods of the Arhat. If you want to purchase Dr. Orem’s training manual in this art, click here:

· Yi Jin Ching/Tendon Washing Classic. If you want to purchase Dr. Orem’s training manual in Yi Jin Ching, click here:

· Shii Shoei Ching/Marrow Washing Classic

· Bodhidharma Jing Kang Ch’uan/Diamond Body Chi-Kung

· Stone Warrior Chi Kung

View this article in its entirety:
http://kempochuanfa.com

Sifu Orem is the author of several manuals focused on the practicum and methodology of effective training, including the acclaimed SENG PING TAO: PATH OF THE WARRIOR MONK and ESOTERIC MARTIAL ARTS OF ZEN: TRAINING METHODS FROM THE PATRIARCH. He has also created and produced 50 training videos with such diverse topics as Kempo Ki/Chi Development, Northern Shaolin for the Mature Athlete, T’ai-chi and Pregnancy, a children’s Kung Fu series, plus many northern and southern Shaolin hand and weapon forms. He was a featured writer with the on-line martial arts magazine DRAGON’S LIST (dragonslist.com)in the following issues: November, (1999), January (2000), March (2000).

This article explains a few things about tae kwon do, and if you’re interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don’t know.

You have probably heard this over and over again but you are going to hear it again now? Taekwondo is known for its kicks.

The kicks used in Taekwondo sparring are more striking than in any other martial art. Even though the kicks in poomse are simpler than the ones used in sparring, they can be equally as impressive if executed properly.

Also, a good, solid front kick is more impressive than an impromptu tornado or double roundhouse kick.
What is it that makes a great taekwondo kick?

1. Balance.

Balance may not be seem as obvious as you think. And balance is more than just not ending up on the floor. It is a matter of fluidity, of gracefulness, of naturalness.

With a properly balanced kick, the supporting foot does not wobble, the hands do not flail about, and the athlete does not rush to complete the kick.

Also, the athlete begins and ends the technique in the proper stances without having to correct the stances to accommodate the kick.

Practice moving within your stances. When you feel comfortable doing simple things within your stances, you should try to kick from one stance into another.

2. Proper form.

Having proper form is a requirement to having a beautiful kick. Proper form may be defined as the correct positions to which the entire body enters as it performs a kick from start to finish.

It is wise to talk with your instructor or other certified professional martial artist to learn the more articulate details of proper form. They will have the answers to any questions that you may have.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on tae kwon do now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

3. Control.

The kick in Taekwondo is not supposed to be like that of a whip. It does not have to be so fast that it cannot be seen.

Instead, the kick is to be relished and beheld as the single most attractive feature of Taekwondo.
It is therefore necessary to control the kick. Controlling the kick involves the ability to freeze the kick for a split second at full extension.

This freeze is the life of the kick. It is the most memorable and beautiful part of the kick. Controlling the kick is not that easy though. Usually it involves much concentration and many years of practice.

Form is a must to both control and power. If you are not sure that you are doing the kick with proper form yet, keep working on the form part before you begin working on the control part.

Control takes some muscle development and patience, but it is well worth all the effort in the end.

4. Power.

Nothing is worse than seeing someone perform a kick with great form, balance, and control, but with no power.

If this is the case, that person is better off as ballet dancer than a taekwondo practitioner. There is no such thing as an excellent kick that has no power.

Take note that proper form is needed to achieve control. And control is the factor that leads to power.

Bear in mind also that if you try to develop power without mastering the proper control first, it may result to permanent damage to your joints. So be very careful.

The process for developing power in a taekwondo kick is very similar to developing control in that same kick.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Tae Kwon Do. Share your new understanding about tae kwon do with others. They’ll thank you for it.

Tommy Lee runs a Tae Kwon do information and resource site. Visit his website for more useful tips.

For many people in the martial arts world, it is pretty much common knowledge that, in order to fight multiple attackers, you basically should find something — anything — you can use as a weapon.

Because even something as small and ordinary as a garbage can lid or your belt can actually serve as an “equalizer” in a fight.

But, there are times when multiple attackers will surround a person and there is nothing handy to use as a weapon. No stray sticks, rocks, or even so much as a belt or object of any kind.

In cases like that — where you are being attacked from all sides by two, three, four or more people, with no weapon in site — what do you do?

The answer is simple:

You just “zone around” the nearest guy, and use him as a sort of shield from the others.

Then, while the others can’t really get at you (not while the thug you grabbed is in their way), you take him down, and “zone” around to the next guy — using the same strategy.

And you just keep doing this — one guy at a time — until you’ve finished them off or have made an escape route.

This may sound overly simplistic, but it works.

Because they can’t get at you with one of their own in the way. And you’re simply using the energy of the crowd against them — taking down each person one at a time.

One of the best ways to train this is to get four or five of your friends (the more the better) and have them sort of slowly walk towards you — like zombies from a horror movie — and you practice grabbing onto the first guy and throwing him in the way of the others…and then moving to the next nearest person.

And then just keep doing this over and over again…from one guy to the next…without getting touched by any of the people closing in on you.

The key is movement and being aware of your surroundings.

Trust me, the more you practice this, the easier it’ll be to deal with multiple attackers.

There are a number of different forms of chi sao, but they all share some common characteristics.

They are always two person exercises.
The arms always start in contact at striking range
They aim to the develop sensitivity to the opponents movements and energy, use of correct position, and ability to find a gap in an opponents defences, and the appropriate use of trapping skills.

The six stages of Chi Sau training are:

Dan Chi Sao (single sticking hands)
Poon Sao (double sticking hands)
Jeung Sao (changing hands)
Dok Sao (analytical hands)
Gor Sao (free applications)
Chi Sao Lye Bye Muk (blindfolded chi sao)
By looking at each of these stages in more detail we can gain a better understanding of the methods and aims of Chi Sao training.

Dan Chi Sao (single sticking hands)
Praticed in the Wing Chun training stance Using one hand the two practitioners alternate between striking and defending cycling through some of the basic hand techniques of the wing chun system. Practitioners try not to get into a predictable rythm and will both vary the speed of the drill randomly to ensure that they are maintaining an acute awareness of their partners movement.

Poon Sao (double sticking hands)
This is the second stage in Chi Sao training and is the only only stage where the movement is in a fixed and predictable sequence. Both arms are in contact as the two practitioners alternate between basic wing chun defensive positions ensuring that the centreline is defended at all times.

Jeung Sao (changing hands)
The practitioners learn to move from the outside to the inside of their opponents arms and back. Because they are particularly vulnerable to attack during these transitions they need to move quickly and maintain the optimal structure for their arm position.

Dok Sao (analytical hands)
Starting from poon sao the practitioners roll slowly seeking gaps in their partners defeence, as they find those gaps they push forward very slowly giving time for their partner to adjust to a better position. There are no set patterns and the exercise is an opportunity for practitioners to start experimenting with the basic positions and techniques that they’ve learned.

Gor Sao (free applications)
At full speed and starting from poon sau the practitioners aim to find gaps in their partners defences and deliver light taps to indicate where and how they could land a hit, and the same time they have to ensure that the same doesn’t happen to themselves. Defence, trapping and striking skills can all be tested against a resisting opponent. It is essential that Chi Sao is done in a relaxed and non-aggressive manner for the student to get the optimum benefit in terms of training. Practitioners of wing chun talk about “playing” chi sau to emphasis the fact that it is to be done in a relaxed manner and frame of mind, that you would any game of skill.

Chi Sao Lye Bye Muk (blindfolded chi sau)
As you’d probably guess this builds on gor sau, adding the extra element of blindfolds to enhance the development of using contact to guage the position and defences of the other player.

Although chis sau unique to wing chun, similar principles are used in other systems, notably “Pushing Hands” in Tai Chi and “hubud-lobud” in Kali. Wing Chun Chi Sao has also been incorporated into Jeet Kune Do as one of the core training techniques.

Daniel Land is administrator of the Martial
Arts Open Directory and a student
of Wing Chun Kung Fu.