Why Is Karate Effective For Self-Defense

By Jim Steward

Karate is known to been an effective form of marital arts, so why is it so and what moves are there that we can learn today to get an idea of its effectiveness? First off, you should know that karate was originally developed by ordinary farming folks in Okinawa, Japan. Tired of being attacked and pillaged by armed bandits. These people took it upon themselves to develop a form of empty-handed combat which were effective against these mounted raiders.

Weapons were forbidden to be carried by the common Japanese folks if they were not samurai or the warrior class. This is one of the main reasons why you see flying or high kicks in karate. It was due to the necessity in knocking off these bandits or warriors from their horses.

Now what are some of the moves we can analyze that shows the effectiveness of these karate moves? Among the many moves, there are some common effective ones, like the back hand lash, the bottom fist, side hand hammer blow and choker.

Lets take a quick look at these.The back hand lash was one of the original attack moves in karate and how it is done is that when an opponent comes at you, you lash out with your palms straightened and tightened. It works like a plank of wood being smashed against the enemy's ribs.

For the bottom fist it is delivered best against an enemy that is wearing amour. In the olden days, most warriors wore some form of armor. What this meant was that normal killing blows to the soft vulnerable spots were not feasible. Hence this move was created to smash against hard armor, thereby creating concussion effects on the enemy. Hitting it on the head is effective as it can disorient and even knock out the enemy.

Another move sometimes used by karate practitioners is the heel of palm attack. As the name implies, your striking surface is the heel of the palm. This is powerful for several reasons. If delivered correctly and with connection power, the blow can be devastating to the opponent and can knock them out pretty quick. - 31491

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It is Possible to Absorb High Grade Karate in Three Months.

By Al Case

While MMA is popular, there are problems with it. Let's be honest, while some fellow is using Jujitsu, he is rolling around and vulnerable to an attack from his opponents friends. Not to mention that it is not always the most intelligent thing to roll around on the ground with some fellow who has a knife or broken bottle.

I know I have offended some MMA stylists out there, but these are questions that people should not avoid. After all, the ring looks like the final statement on fighting, but biting is a problem on the street. And getting your fingers broken or your eyes gouged is always a possibility if you are trying to apply a headlock to some fool.

No, it is better to keep a distance, be able to evade, manipulate, and even, in the extreme, run. Yes, you have to watch what kind of a surface you are on, but mobility in warfare is a crucial matter. And talking about the ability to move around, we are talking something like Shotokan, or Shorin Ryu, or Kenpo.

The problem is that people have bought into the idea that it takes decades, a life time, to learn good Kung Fu, like Shaolin or Mantis. But it doesn't. All you have to do is find a system which understands the most important principles and concentrates on those principles.

We are not talking about Bruce Lees Jeet Kune Do here, because we don't want a grab bag of sample all and take what you need. What we want are the actual core concepts behind the martial arts. We want the truth of such arts as Hung Gar or Choy Li Fut, or other classical styles.

The best way to do this is to learn how to Matrix your martial art. When you matrix your martial art, be it Wado or Krav Maga, it suddenly makes sense. And, making sense, it will suddenly be ten times easier to learn.

And here's something most people have not understood in the martial arts, logic leads to prediction to intuition. Those sixth sense abilities of the martial arts are sometimes difficult to come into, but they don't need to be. Once you start applying matrixing concepts to your martial arts, and I don't care if it is tae kwon do or one of the Korean Kwans, your ability to perceive on a different level, your ability to understand and generate chi kung, sometimes called gi gong, will start to come to the fore.

Really, what we are talking about here is pushign the classical martial arts into modern times. We are talking about a real source of actual evolution when we are talking about learning how to Matrix. So, you walk behind that ox, sweeping up the dung with a whisk broom, or you can ride the race horse to the head of the pack by learning the fundamentals of Matrix Martial Arts. - 31491

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Build the MMA Workout of a Fighter

By Espen Hanson

One of the most common ways for a fighter to build and MMA workout is to break it up into five minute circuits. These five minute circuits are usually separated by a one minute break between circuits. This type of training mimics how fights are designed in this modern era of mixed martial arts fighting.

Warming up prior to strenuous physical activity is essential for avoiding injuries. Jogging on a treadmill, biking on a stationary bike, or even using a jump rope can help warm up the muscles before fighting. It is important to stimulate the muscles before a challenging MMA workout.

It is very important to improve your cardio for mixed martial arts fights. Running and cycling are the most often used for this. Some fighters also use swimming as well since it is a total body workout and great for cardio. Circuit training can also be incorporated into a workout.

In addition to good cardio, it is important for a fighter to be physical strong. Using strength building exercises are a key to success. It is important that a fighter be physically strong so they can strike harder and impose their will upon an opponent. Strong fighters are able to overwhelm weaker fighters.

Developing good bag work skills is not only vital for strikers, but for all combatants. Bags can be used for throwing and training ground and pound skills as well. But bag work is most often used to develop good striking technique and to work on combinations.

Finding a partner, or multiple partners, to train with is an absolute necessity. Finding a partner with an appropriate size and skill level to train with will help you become better at your craft. It is important that both fighters understand that the goal is not to hurt the other fighter, but to push them and train hard.

The majority of fitness gyms will have everything that a fighter needs for strength training. They will the majority of what most fighters need for cardio. However, you may need to find a good MMA gym to get all of the equipment that is required for full training in mixed martial arts.

Developing good dieting habits and having good nutrition is a key to a solid foundation in mixed martial arts. Good nutrition is the fuel that a fighter's body requires. The better the fuel that is put in the better results a fighter will see. This also allows them to stay in top physical condition for weigh-ins.

Many top tier competitors use coaches for mental preparation. The mental game of fighting is considered by most to be just as important, if not more so, than the physical game. Obviously to be a complete fighter, one must be both physically and mentally tough. The nature of both training for a fight and actually fighting is mentally challenging.

Overall, it is important to put all of these parts into your MMA workouts to be successful. Not every MMA workout has to have each of these parts, but the entire training regimen should include all of these aspects. It doesn't matter if you're interested in just getting in shape or becoming a fighter, this blueprint will help with both. - 31491

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TUF The Ultimate Fighter

By George Young

UFC Ultimate Fighter TUF is an extremely popular reality television series about mixed martial arts (MMA) competition; the show started in the U.S.A, and produced and televised by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) The show is currently on its tenth season . On the UFC Ultimate Fighter TUF show, professional MMA fighters that have yet to make a name for themselves are situated in a house outside of Las Vegas and compete against each other for the title of The Ultimate Fighter TUF, winning a six figure and a multi fight contract with the UFC. They spend weeks in the house with no outside contact of any sort.

In the first four seasons, the TUF contestants were selected in two weight classes. The fighters were also divided into two teams, irrespective of weight class, each team coached by a current UFC star. The teams then compete to determine which team would have the right to pair one of their own fighters against an opponent of their choice in the same weight class, the loser being eliminated from competition. At the end of a competition, the two remaining fighters of each weight class are placed in a single MMA fight, where the title of UFC Ultimate Fighter TUF is awarded to the winner. From season five to season seven, all fighters competed in the same weight class.

In the show they feature the daily preparations each fighter makes to train for the competition and the interactions they have with each other living under the same roof. White has been one of the main reasons the UFC's success to the popularity of The Ultimate Fighter.

Did you know that with the exception of the season finales, fights on The Ultimate Fighter are sanctioned by the Nevada Athletic Commission as exhibition matches and do not count for or against a fighter's professional record. This is done to keep the results from going public before the air date.

The winners of the first three seasons of The Ultimate Fighter TUF competition, and certain runners-up depending on their performance in their competition finals, receive the touted "six-figure" contract to fight in the UFC. These contracts are specifically three-year contracts with a guaranteed first year. Each year consists of three fights, the first year's purse per fight consists of $12,000 guaranteed with a $12,000 win bonus (a maximum of $24,000 per fight), the second year's purse per fight is $16,000 with a $16,000 win bonus (a maximum of $32,000 per fight) and the third year's purse per fight is at $22,000 with a $22,000 win bonus (a maximum of $44,000 per fight). A TUF winner who goes 9-0 can earn $300,000 total on the contract, but only $150,000 is guaranteed for all three years if 9 fights are fought.

Those that have not won the competition can still fight in the UFC. Their contracts however are not the same as the six-figure deal above. - 31491

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Will UFC Be The Number One Sport

By John Noble

UFC Ultimate fighter is fast becoming one of the biggest shows in America. Will it ever be the number one? Well, I guess that depends on who you ask. I personally think the sport is just going to continue getting bigger. I'm not sure if it will ever be the number one sport though. This sport does appeal to a lot of age groups, which could be why the sport is expanding at such an incredible rate.

Why is UFC Ultimate Fighter show gaining such wide audiences? Is it because of the short, fast paced, 5 minute rounds, which can be a non-stop adrenaline rush! With fights ending in knockout or submissions before the first round even ends. Is it because the sport appeals to so many different age groups or is it because it's new and exciting, will it phase out in a few years?

With the UFC being noticed now for being athletes, who train just as hard, perhaps even harder than normal athletes! Will this sport finally gain the respect it deserves? It used to be called a blood sport or cock fighting. In fact I believe some people still regard the sport as that. Do people realize the discipline involved now, the constant workouts for strength, conditioning and of course the martial arts training.

With the fighters spending weeks in a house together with no television, phones, well basically any outside communication is banned. You can imagine the stress these fighters go through. Hopefully it will be worth it all for one fighter that will win a six figure UFC contract.

This sport has gone through some remarkable transformations over the years. The UFC has done remarkable things for MMA with the UFC Ultimate Fighter show. What one was viewed only by a few thousand people at most, to now broad casted to millions of people over America.

With impressive sales and huge demand, the UFC is the number one place for fighters to go to. If you want to fight the best fighters in the world you will have to break into the UFC ranks. Once there you will be able to make a very nice living, well if you're good.

So if you're new to this sport, and you have just starting to follow the UFC Ultimate Fighter show you are in for a great ride. If you're already a fan and have been following the show for a while, I'm sure you will agree with me, this is a fantastic sport which will only get bigger. - 31491

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Training Considerations for an MMA Workout

By Jeremy Evans

There are many important considerations when building an MMA workout. It is important to put together all of the aspects of mixed martial arts into your training. The skills that are required for a fighter include great conditioning, striking, grappling, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and mental preparation.

Conditioning may be the most important factor to consider when training for a fight. Even the most talented fighters in the world can be defeated by an amateur if they have no gas left in the tank. Any exercise or pacing that helps conditioning is vital to remember for a good workout.

It takes a long time to learn to be an effective striker. Due to this fact, it is important to train in boxing, kickboxing, Muy Thai, or other striking disciplines as often as possible. Becoming an excellent striker requires a lot of hard work and dedication.

Solid grappling skills require a mixture of wrestling, striking, and submission skills. It requires good strength and body control to properly grapple with an opponent. These grappling skills can be used for offensive or defensive purposes.

Wrestling is a solid background for all martial arts. Most wrestling workout routines translate well into creating a great MMA workout. Being a good wrestler will allow a fighter to control where the fight takes place, whether it is standing or on the ground.

Submission skills are particularly important in MMA today. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is currently considered the most popular and effective submission discipline. Learning these skills will allow a smaller or weaker opponent defeat a much larger opponent.

Being mentally prepared is incredibly important for both training and actual fights. It is easy for someone to get worn out when training day in and day out. Also, even incredibly talented and skilled fighters have been beaten by lesser opponents that were more mentally prepared for the fight.

It is important to realize that no one MMA workout can combine all of these aspects effectively. Even if it could, repeating the same workout is not the key to a successful long-term path. Variety in training is very important and should be considered by anyone training in this discipline.

Overall, to create a great MMA fighter you need a great MMA workout routine. Even if your goal is not to be a great fighter, but instead just to get in shape or have some fun, creating a solid workout routine is important. Keep all of these components in mind when training for mixed martial arts and getting in shape. - 31491

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Nick Diaz: MMA's Most Frustrating Fighter

By Ross Everett

Had things happened differently, Nick Diaz would forever be part of MMA history. Regardless of how his career transpired after February, 2007 he should have been remembered as part of one of the greatest fights ever. His PRIDE 33 matchup against Takanori Gomi should have created an indelible legacy. It was a mixed martial arts version of Gatti/Ward or Castillo/Corrales 1. It should have been the biggest victory of Diazs career and the centerpiece of his highlight reel.

Unfortunately, Diazs moment of glory lasted only about six weeks. Diaz had tested positive for marijuana, and his THC level was off the charts. Nick Diazs THC level was an astounding 175 and that led NSAC Chairman Dr. Tony Alamo to speculate that in this situation marijuana was a performance enhancing drug. Diaz was fined, suspended and the result of his almost certain fight of the year winner with Gomi changed to a no decision.

Diaz had singlehandedly removed the luster from a classic bout. Following an action packed and very close first round Gomi took control in the second. Gomi had opened a cut on Diazs face and it was bleeding a gusher. On several occasions Gomi implored the referee to stop the fight, or at least check on the cut due to the excessive blood flow. With the ref showing no signs of stopping the fight and Diaz hanging tough, Gomi took the fight to the ground and in a matter of seconds found himself forced to tap out to a gogoplata. Looking at the fight now, the action is the same but theres something absent from it on a spiritual level. Had Diaz not tested positive and the result stood it would have become a classic fight. As it turned out, it became more of a case study demonstrating just how much pain a stoned mixed martial artist can withstand.

While Diaz might not be a bad person, hes definitely someone who attracts trouble. Instead of learning a lesson from the experience of his positive drug test, he became a more outspoken advocate of marijuana use. While the relative risk pot smoking is debatable and beyond the purview of this article one thing is certain"fighters are prohibited from its use. Sadly, it appears that Diaz places a greater value on his recreational drug use than his legacy as a professional prizefighter.

Ironically, Japans notoriously lax oversight of mixed martial arts makes it a perfect fit for Diaz. He doesnt have to worry about drug tests or athletic commissions who arent sympathetic to his claiming a need for medical marijuana. His workrate, conditioning and versatility as a fighter will be appreciated by the Japanese fans, and offers countless matchup opportunities for the promotion. Most significantly, perhaps, his participation with Japanese promotions DREAM or Sengoku provides Diaz the opportunity to put his missteps behind him and reassert himself as one of the sports most exciting fighters and not as a 'cautionary tale'. - 31491

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UFC Pioneer Kimo Leopoldo Victim Of False Death Reports

By Ross Everett

Former UFC fighter Kimo Leopoldo is alive and well after numerous mainstream media reports of his death. The New York Daily News was first to report the story that Kimo had died of a heart attack, and it quickly spread to other media outlets. MMA insiders were immediately skeptical, as there were few details or any independent confirmation.

A few hours later, the story began to unravel. First, Kimo's agent indicated that he had spoken to him at 11 PM Monday night and that he was alive and well. He did add that he hadnt spoken to him since, but that he had not received word from anyone close to Kimo of a problem nor had he been contacted by any authorities. Shortly after 2:00 PM Tuesday, Kimos attorney reported that the fighter had been located and was alive and well. Theres still a question of how the report that he was dead made it out in the first place, but the New York Daily News isnt providing much of an explanation--theyve simply deleted the report without comment and will presumably pretend it never happened. There's some suggestion that the rumor started in an online MMA forum, and Kimo has suggested that he'll pursue legal action against the perpetrator.

The false death rumors are the latest twist to the utterly bizarre life of Kimo Leopoldo. A native of Munich, Germany, Kimo--he claimed later in his life that he had legally changed his name to simply 'Kimo'--was the UFCs first over the top personality back when the promotions events were still in the single digits. He was also one of the sports first freestyle fighters in an era when most competitors were specialists in one martial arts discipline. He burst onto the scene at UFC 3 when"in his pro MMA debut"he gave the legendary Royce Gracie a brutally tough battle. Gracie had won the tournament style format at UFC 1 and 2, and managed to eventually defeat Kimo via armbar submission but took so much of a beating that he was forced to forfeit his UFC 3 final against Harold Howard.

By the end of 1997, Kimo had compiled a 6-2-1 record with his only losses coming to Gracie and another UFC Hall of Famer, Ken Shamrock. He also earned a draw against a third UFC Hall of Famer, wrestling specialist Dan Severn. His career would be downhill from that point, the result of better fighters entering the sport and his own self destructive lifestyle choices.

To UFC fans, Kimo became known as much for his flamboyant personality as for his toughness as a competitor. He was a devout Christian, and sported many religious tattoos including a large "Jesus" inscription across his stomach. In an era characterized by low key ring walks, Kimo caused a stir when he entered the octagon at UFC 3 bearing a life sized wooden cross.

Kimo has battled drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life, and in recent years has reportedly became addicted to meth. In one of his more recent run ins with the law, he was playing with a yo-yo in a parking lot while wearing an orange jumpsuit made for law enforcement disaster response. He was approached by police who questioned him about the outfit, and upon searching him he was found to be in possession of marijuana and subsequently arrested. - 31491

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UFC 85 Flashback: Alves Dominates Hughes

By Ross Everett

A day after failing to make weight for his fight against Matt Hughes, Thiago Alves dominated the former UFC welterweight champion en route to a 2nd round TKO victory. The main event at UFC 85 in London was somewhat anticlimactic to the fans at the O2 Arena who considered the semifinal matchup between Manchesters Michael Bisping and Jason Day the biggest fight on the card.

Hughes didnt make any excuses following his one sided loss, saying simply that hes a good fighter and he got me. The longtime king of the UFCs welterweight division also gave notice that his career as an active fighter was drawing to a close, suggesting that he had one fight left and challenging Matt Serra in what presumably would be his retirement match. Hughes had no answer for Alves from the opening horn, as he was stuffed on several takedown attempts early on. When he did finally get his opponent to the ground he was unable to do much damage. Alves, conversely, scored effectively with his striking including several damaging knee strikes. He also did considerable work on the ground, with an elbow strike opening up a large cut on Hughes forehead. Though he didnt get to his knees a la Georges St. Pierre, Alves did make a plea to Dana White for a title shot. His failure to make weight wont help his cause, however, and judging from the UFC Presidents incredulous smirk in response that opportunity wont be immediately forthcoming.

The end came early in the 2nd round as Hughes was caught coming in by a devastating knee strike. He fell to the canvas in a heap and referee Herb Dean was jumping in to stop the contest before Alves could follow up with any punches.

Michael Bisping simply overwhelmed Jason Day en route to a lopsided TKO victory. Bisping built upon the improved boxing skills he demonstrated at UFC 83 by unveiling an impressive ground and pound attack. Day never really got anything going and by the last minute of the fight was simply trying to cover up to prevent damage from Bispings elbows and hammer fists.

In other action, Mike Swick used an array of high kicks and a 7 reach advantage to coast to a unanimous decision over Marcus Davis. Davis, a former professional boxer, was unable to get inside against his lanky opponent and was never really in the fight.

A controversial point deduction for a strike to the back of the head cost Nate Marquardt his match against Thales Leites. Marquardt was solidly in charge for the entire fight, but suffered a point deduction for an illegal knee strike in round one. While that infraction was valid, replays of the 2nd round deduction for the strike to the back of the head gave the impression that he was penalized for a legal strike to the side of the head.

In the opening PPV match, another controversial ending saw Fabrico Werdum defeat Brandon Vera by 1st round KO. The fight had been evenly contested up until the stoppage, with Werdum scoring a couple of takedown and Vera countering with some effective punching. Late in the first round, Werdum got a full mount and began to fire a series of punches. Vera was clearly defending himself and didnt appear to be hurt at all when the referee jumped in to stop the fight. Vera said that hed answered that he was OK when asked by ref Dan Miragliotta and that he was just trying to ride out the round from that position. - 31491

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How To Fight And Protect Yourself In A Street Fight

By Vincent Grammar

Not everybody can anticipate for it to happen, but what if you accidentally find yourself in a fight with another person who is stronger in order to protect yourself or your loved one? If that ever occurs, you wish you could have master some self defense moves so you don't end up in the emergency rooms of the hospitals. There are always certain types of people that simply want to provoke you. Whether it's for a good time or for fun, their only aim is to draw you into fighting.

It is at first best to back off to assess the situation before doing any act on a whim. The situation, of course, differs when a person actually harms you by hitting you or by threatening you. This can be an alarming scenario and you have got to be aware right away. You should look for items around you that may be used to arm yourself. Holding almost anything in your hands will inflict a bit of fear on your assailant and will make them more cautious. Any piece of furniture, dishware or tiny items even a safety pin can turn into your artillery or weapon. In defensive moves it is critical that you think fast. Your thinking needs to be quicker than your assaulter so you can strike before the person will even think about it. In case you are outnumbered in the area, it's a wise idea to seek for a place from where you can easily escape.

Essentially, you must try to analyze the situation as much as possible. It's far better to speak to your assaulter before starting physical fight and to avoid any damage done on either side. The majority of the time, speaking will break down the issue as one may release their negative emotions or be able to compromise. You should even say sorry if you have committed a mistake. Usually even if your mistake is little, you can still apologize because your aim is to avoid fighting.

From time to time the attackers are so wrapped up in their mind set that they want to hurt you. What if there's no other ways to settle it then you're forced into a situation to fight. It is good to study self defense moves from several states. This form of preparation will make you more flexible and solid to several street fighting situations.

You may question the significance of marital arts in the street fighting brawls and how does it give you the advantage exactly. The marital art skills grant you the ability where you learn and develop natural self defense moves. The marital arts are designed in a way that you're able to defend yourself entirely and ably against any oncoming assaulter.

When choosing for an teacher, you have to make sure that they just don't give you ideas and make you do drills. You've got to implement the part of discomfort and fearfulness in any eventual live scenarios. Therefore when you study how to fight make sure that the class or the book you are learning from covers different aspects of a real time fight. - 31491

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The Secret of Cultivating the True Power of the Martial Arts!

By Al Case

When I was growing up, in the middle of the last century, there was this strange beast called the martial arts. People could defend themselves merely through the use of this strange energy called ki. Heck, women could beat up mugs and rapists, and even children could defend themselves using this thing called Karate.

I explored Kenpo, and Goju, and judo, and several other martial arts, and I found little trace of this mysterious energy. Mostly, you just stood in line and hit the air, and I began to believe that ki might be more of a myth than a reality. Still, I saw pictures of people breaking bricks, and doing other things which, even though they seemed a bit muscular, touted this strange energy called Ki.

As years passed, and as I practiced my martial arts techniques thousands and thousands and thousands of times, something strange happened. I began to sense a world beyond myself. I began to understand the world without de[ending on eyes and ears, and with a sense of myself that went beyond body. Slowly, I began to understand there might be truth to this ki thing, and to understand that circus tricks were the icing, and enjoyable, but that real intrinsic energy was something else.

I studied Tai Chi Chuan and Aikido, and other internal arts. I began to feel a strange energy permeate my body, and I began to enjoy a profound health which made me feel more spry than even when I had been young. And I began to realize certain things about this mysterious subject called ki, or chi, which should be understood, should people wish to really delve into the truth of the subject.

When you do your forms you must lower your hips, for this will create a better connection to the planet. A better connection means more and perceivable energy will pass through the legs and into the tan tien. And the tan tien is nothing but a simple energy generator.

If you can excite the tan tien through the use of forms, then you can cause an energy to filter upward through the body. This energy will excite a middle tan tien in the upper body, and then cause a person, through the excitation of the upper tan tien, in the head, to view his body from outside his body. Thus, the body is filled, point by point, and becomes a battery charged with supernormal energy.

The energy of the body can be used in many ways, and this provides a whole new education for any who wish to discover the truth of the martial arts. To explore this education one should not use muscles, for energy locked into muscles stops the intention, and stops the emission of intrinsic energy from the tan tien. Instead, when striking, one should whip the body like a noodle, not even tightening the fist, merely occupying the space of an attackers body, and to loosen the motion and sensitivity of the body so it is empty, and able to seek an imbalance of the attacker even in combat, and further the guidance of his energy in a profound and magnitudious manner.

Ki, whether it is called chi or prana or intrinsic energy or pneuma or whatever, is not mysterious. It is simple to develop and use, if one only pays attention to the simple things I have written in this article, and are willing to throw yourself into the discipline. Whether you study uechi or shotokan or goju, whether you practice tai chi or yoga, this thing called ki, or chi, is available to you, and it is The Truth of The Path of The True Art. - 31491

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Finding The Best Way To Make Your Halloween Costume?

By Chris Dotson

--Some good costume ideas to keep in mind when designing, from a veteran haunted house builder--

One of the big problems people have when creating their costume for Halloween, is they try to over do it. How to generate the scariest mood in a person is to get into their mind and really show them how real you can be. "People aren't really scared at our haunted houses by our high-tech lighting and multi-thousand dollar sound systems," says veteran haunted house builder, Stephen Walker, "it's usually some teenage actor in a tattered robe and a little makeup that gets our biggest scares.

" Stephen Walker, the creator of Denver's 25th Hour haunted house continues, "It's about getting inside the imagination of the individual and making it personal that provides the big payoff scares."

Stephen further described the kinds of materials that should be in a shopping basket when someone wants to hit the local Halloween store. He's not a big fan of the expensive latex masks that can be seen hanging on the walls of most stores. His advice is for would-be haunters to invest in a simple wig, some well-used clothing and a little makeup.

It is also good to stay away from those pre-made costumes that are usually really expensive as is and try to get your hands on some good greasepaint. Steve says the main issue with the masks is that they will limit the range of sight and makes you unable to make any facial features.

The human features if redone can be the most scary features with just, darking some lines wrinkles and more will have the most convincing and scary creature.

Having flesh and blood living face is much more easy to deliver scares since you are able to give full emotion with facial expressions and looks that a mask cannot. "With just some cotton balls, a little black makeup, fake hair and spirit gum - one can create some really wicked whiskers and harry moles," Stephen laughed. He reluctantly added that some cheap blood would help, but stressed that too much blood can ruin things and turn a good makeup job into a really big mess.

If you think you might be interested in being an actor at the 25th Hour Haunted House, you can fill out an application by stopping by the haunt ast C-470 and University Blvd. (next to the Players Bench). Applications are now being accepted weekdays from 10:00 to 6:00 at that location.

About The 25th Hour and Stephen Walker The 25th Hour haunted house is located in Highlands Ranch Colorado and is produced by Effectech. Effectech has been producing and building haunted houses in Denver for over 17 years. In 2009 the company is building four haunted houses in the Denver Metro Area: The 13th Door, The Curse of Slaughterhouse Gulch, The 25th Hour and The Butcher. Stephen Walker is the manager of The 25th Hour haunted house. - 31491

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Defining Taido

By Sven Person

Taido is a martial art created in Japan by Seiken Shukumine. 

Taido has its foundations in classical Okinawan Karate.

Fearing that Budo, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of modern society, Shukumine founded a school of Budo called Genseiryu in the early 1950s. 

Later, Shukumine saw karate as uninspired and unchanging. He became convinced that the limitations of karate lay in its linearity.

In 1965, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the boundaries of karate and established Taido. 

Shukumine thought about how to make techniques more flexible and applicable.

Taido's movements offered many innovations: the addition of spinning and twisting movements, acrobatic maneuvers, fast and effective footwork, and a changing body angle. The word Taido translates as "way of the body." 



So what makes Taido unique? Taido techniques make use of changes of the body's axis in order to facilitate simultaneous defense and attacking movements. Taido also emphasizes the use of footwork to take advantageous angles and distance to the opponent. This footwork is functionally connected to the body mechanics that underlie each kick, punch, or other technique. Taido uses exciting body movement to create powerful strikes and manage the spatial relationship with the opponent. 

Taido's thought process is based on creative reaction to changing situations instead of pre-determined algorithms of offensive maneuvers and defense. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.

According to its creator, Taido's highest goal is to enable its practitioners to function at a high level in society.

There are five main rules in Taido. Keep your mind as clear and uncluttered as the polished surface of a still pond. This way you will see the truth of the situation. Having a responsive attitude will help you avoid confusion. Be composed. Body and mind should be united. Carry yourself with dignity and you need never doubt yourself. fill your spirit with proper breathing methods. With the right intention you will never be threatened. In every thing you do, follow the correct precepts you have practiced. By doing so, you cannot act wrongly. Be adaptable in your techniques and maintain freedom of physical movement. The right technique will prevent you from being beaten. 



Taido includes five classes of body movements: vertical spinning movement, rising and falling jumping movement, lever-like movement characterized by tilting the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and acrobatic movements. 

These movements are follwed by strikes, kicks, and other attacks. The last category, called "tentai," includes gymnastic movements, for instance somersaults, which makes Taido spectacular to watch.

Taido has a special method of footwork, known as unsoku, as well as acrobatic locomotion, termed unshin. 

Competitions in Taido include sparring, forms, and Tenkai, which is a pre-arranged combat between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges award scores to the teams in a similar manner as is done in many Olympic sports. 





Even after saying all that, unless you've actually seen Taido, you likely still won't have any real idea of what Taido is about. Also, merely knowing about the techniques doesn't show you what Taido is aiming for.

Of course, Taido is an evolving martial art, so no definition can really encompass all that Taido is. Everyone eventually develops their own ways to apply Taido to what they do and how they move. Taido itself emphasizes creativity and the development of new techniques.

This is not a martial art that will remain the same for long. 

Taido is currently practiced in Japan, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, and the USA. - 31491

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How To Street Fight With No Fear

By Vincent Grammar

There are particular sensations in all forms of street fighting, but you can rise above the "nervous factor" by adding a solid mental edge to your attempts when learning street fighting. Urgent situation in the streets are possible at any moment so it's a wise plan to start your training in order to face the incremental fear aspect. Do you feel like you're the kind of individual who simply immobilizes when a street fighting situation occurs? Having panic is a sure thing with many of us but if you learn to fight and control at the same time then over time you will handle your emotions better to the disadvantage of your rival.

The center focus when learning to fight is that you must exercise plenty of times until you have the experiences and are capable enough to overcome your challenger. Once your defensive movements become natural to you, by that time you become automatically conscious and know what to do when the position rises. You no longer feel as scared so that you can deal with your opponent's approach more clearly. Fundamentally, once you're sufficiently prepared in self defense, you will be able to control and lessen your emotions in order to take hold of the situation and put your opponent out swiftly.

When a person somehow is rude to you, you may experience both panic and confusion as to why the person might act in such a manner. They could be doing that to rob you, but thin chances are that you will end up with your face broken for no reasons that you might try to understand. For good practice, you could try to cry.

If you cry while you are training, you'll steadily learn to preserve those tears, so that when a street fighting situation actually comes up, you'll be the complete master of your emotional responses. I can mention an example of real-world situations, but no matter how anyone can describe it as, the level of emotional intensities doesn't amount up to the level of real life emotion experiences in real street fighting.

Lastly, you can expect that your assaulter could have emotions too, so as long as you keep yours in control, then you can deal with theirs better and possibly use it to your advantage. - 31491

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Fedor Emelianenko To Take on Brett Rogers

By Ross Everett

Fedor Emelianenko will make his debut for the Strikeforce MMA promotion this fall, facing undefeated prospect Brett Grim Rogers. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker made the announcement at a Showtime promoted Fedor open workout in New York City.

Fedor is considered by most experts to be the best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world, if not the best of all time. He snubbed the UFC following Afflictions exit from the MMA promotion business, choosing to sign with the up-and-coming Strikeforce promotion.

After signing with Strikeforce, Fedor displayed his typical humility:

I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level. STRIKEFORCE is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world. I am prepared to fight any of them.

Emelianenkos manager, Vadim Finkelchtein commented:

I am very happy and excited about the upcoming collaboration with Strikeforce. We are very pleased that we found a reliable partner and I feel that Strikeforce and M-1 can support each other on many things. This will create big opportunities for both parties to test their fighters against worthy opponents.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker concurred:

We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with M-1 Global and Fedor. Fedor has been the reigning king of MMAs heavyweight division for quite some time now so being able to work with M-1 and Fedor will substantially increase the level of competition amongst the athletes in this weight class.

Fedor will put his 26 fight winning streak on the line against Brett Grim Rogers, who himself will enter the fray with an unblemished 10-0 record. The Minnesota native was originally being groomed by Elite XC as an opponent for street fighting phenom Kimbo Slice. After the demise of that promotion, Kimbo ended up on the UFC reality show The Ultimate Fighter while Rogers went to Strikeforce. His stock shot up precipitously following a first round knockout of former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski in his last fight, and now he takes an even bigger step up in class against The Last Emperor.

Considering that Emelianenko was a -500 choice at many books in the ill fated Affliction matchup against Josh Barnett(ranked the #2 heavyweight in the world at the time), he could be a -750 chalk or higher against the tough but inexperienced Rogers. - 31491

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Exercise with Proper Submission Fighting Is Good Fitness Training

By Vincent Grammar

When many individuals think of the term submission fighting, it probably sounds like something you wouldn't want to participate in, but a lot are discovering that submission fighting can be also a special sport to control.

This form of fight conditioning can literally change the way you look at life. You will also get a great physical exercise with this kind of action. While this isn't a sport that just anybody would be motivated to join, many individuals see it extremely fascinating, life changing, and naturally fun to learn. If you need to try yourself to study submission fighting, you could determine that even if you're pretty fit you'll be exhausted and sore when you first start out.

The spectators usually don't realize it, but this form of sport requires that your full body is fit in most areas and not just your legs, arms, or chest. This art of fighting will give you a total workout and a cardio workout in which you will find changes coming rather rapidly. Most individuals that are involved in this sport report effects like dropping weight, gaining lean muscle mass, and over time they develop more ability and vitality to do all the things that they like more than simply for sparring and conditioning.

It could be difficult to get into submission fighting and to do it safely because many of the classes and coaches out there are not that knowledgeable. Prior to starting with any faculty, you should make sure that they're licensed and are a pro. You could get hurt and you could damage other people incidentally if you're not instructed in the right way. This form of fighting is all about control and producing the utmost effect with minimum effort. These form of matters need to be taught suitably.

Some people find schools that have programs are their area but soon see that they just can't make it to the classes frequently enough to make it worth it to pay for them. Due to the advancement of the net you can learn all the same techniques that you would learn in the class room, but given the information on line, you can now learn and apply where and when it is convenient for you. The web site in addition provides streaming video so you can actually develop your defense at any day or night time. - 31491

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The Truth About Achieving Real Strength in the Martial Arts!

By Al Case

I first learned about the importance of strength through ads in the back of old comic books. The bully kicking sand in your face, Charles Atlas, and the need to lift big hunks of iron would save your life. Why, lift enough of those clanking plates and roles would be reversed, you suddenly could do the bully to the bad guy, the girl would love you, and life would be grand.

Then, as life proceeded, I found out that people who lifted weights were considered stupid. They were the new bullies of the world. And, heck, they even started taking steroids and all that drug stuff.

The truth of weight lifting is, of course, not entirely as I have portrayed it here in my youthful and naive observations. It is true that you have to lift weights; you have use muscles or, well, it is rumored that you will lose them. But, there are alternatives to lifting immense hunks of dead weight that are much more efficient, much less dangerous, and, in this writers opinion, much more fun.

I began my practice of the martial arts in the sixties, and I was unaware that I was lifting weights. I was was, in truth, lifting the weight of my body, and throwing it around in a manner that simple weight lifting could never duplicate. The ranges of motion, the competence of motion, it was something that in my few brushes with weight lifting I had never experienced.

A few decades into my martial practice, already achieving an enduring health and physical conditioning that was far beyond my oxygen tank toting, walker using compatriots, I heard of body calisthenics. Body calisthenics are simple exercises that brought home the theories I had been practicing without realizing it when I was doing the martial arts. Furthermore, I wasn't experiencing health problems, the muscle to flab syndrome, injuries to muscles and joints that unreal stress can inflict on an unaware person.

Interestingly enough, I had started doing the martial art known as Tai Chi some years previous, and had discovered what I called Suspended Strength. When you hold a limb up for a while, moving it slowly, this is suspended weight, and this practice increases strength without increasing bulk, which is good if you want to develop physical, and mental, attributes specific to the martial arts. So, to coin a nifty sounding phrase, I was doing Extreme Suspended Weight Body Calisthenics.

The truth of this whole matter of weight lifting and body motion, however, eluded me until I injured myself. I suffered a separated shoulder, and I was reduced to rehabilitation, and I started doing light Yoga postures. Here was something slower than Tai Chi, in which I suspended strength even longer, and I began doing something that moved me into ever higher realms of fitness and martial arts ability. I realized that true strength is increased more by the channeling of awareness through the body than anything else.

This is the key to the whole mess, you know, for the body is a device in which, in most people, energy is stopped, blocked, not flowing, even no matter how much weight they lift. By doing yoga, and realizing that the increase of awareness was unblocking energy flows, I began to experience the wellness and true strength that the body is capable of. Karate and Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Yoga, life is made whole by the increase of awareness, and I recommend this sequence of practice to all who wish to find true strength through the martial arts disciplines. - 31491

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Karate As A Peaceful Form Of Marital Art?

By Howard Kriller

Karate a wildly popular form of modern sports in our history and its roots goes back to it being an form of effective and deadly marital arts. While it is less practiced as a marital arts nowadays, many people have the common perception that karate is a violent and aggressive marital arts, created by warriors. Was this really the case? If we interviewed 20 people on the streets, the answer would probably have been yes from most of them.

Totally true or not, what we do know is that the founder of modern karate, Mr Gichin Funakoshi was an advocate for peace. He did not believe in violence and wrote a series of essays on his principles and thoughts on the art of karate. He also promoted the idea that in karate one should not strike first.

What does this mean? Usually in most other martial arts, the practitioner usually makes the first move so as to maximize speed and attain victory. In the case of Gichin Funakoshi he emphasized that karate was meant for self-defense, hence one should not attack first unless provoked.

That is you would noticed in some martial arts there are only killing blows and no blocks while in Karate there are a variety of blocks, trapping and grappling moves designed to not only ward off attacks, but also subdue the opponents. If karate was solely designed for killing enemies, these specific katas would not have developed.

So what does this mean for those of you who are aspiring to learn karate? It means that when you start to learn karate, you not only practice it as a form of self-defense and sport, but a kind of philosophy as well. What good does it do if the person practicing a marital art is strong and powerful but is just a bully?

In conclusion, we can see that despite common notions that karate was just a violent marital art used for killing, there is actually a broader and deeper side to it, where in the case of Gichin Funakoshi,the founder of modern karate, brought out brilliantly these thoughts in his written works. - 31491

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Top Five MMA Fighters Of All Time

By Daniel Jirankova

The sport of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighting is one of the fiercest and most exciting sports you can watch. If you have never seen an MMA fight, you are missing a real treat - especially for those who like boxing and martial arts. The rules are unique and the styles that compliment the sport are thrilling. Below is my list of the "Best of the Best" ever in the cage. Enjoy!

#5 Chuck Liddell - The Iceman cometh! If you want to talk intimidating, or scary, just have a look at Chuck Liddell in the cage. He is considered one of the pioneers of the MMA sport and helped to bring it into the main stream. Chuck Liddell may not be pretty, but he is one tough SOB!

#4 Randy Couture - This man is a veteran and one reason why the MMA is in the main stream sports world today. One of the most decorated fighters and one of the best to ever enter the cage.

#3 Anderson Silva - The King of the Ring is Anderson Silva! The Middleweight division is his, and only his. A dominating fighter with all the assets needed to stay on top of the world in this sport, he not only beat Rich Franklin with a great title match which he defended his title.

Knockouts against highly rated fighters like Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin just confirm what most MMA fans are saying : Anderson Silva is one of the very best fighters ever to have graced the sport.

#2 Georges St Pierre - St Pierre (or GSP as he is often called) has that rare combination of skills that means no part of his fighting style is weak. That's why he's the king of the welterweights and one of the best ever MMA fighters.

#1 Fedor Emelianenko - He's won thirty and lost one! With an impressive record of 30 wins and one loss, and that loss coming from an illegal elbow that made a cut so deep the fight had to be stopped, Fedor is really undefeated in the MMA.

Emelianenko has triumphed over some strong, powerful, talented guys. Nogueira, Cro Cop and more. This is why Fedor is the top fighter - he beats the other top fighters time and again.

Well, that was my list of the top 5 MMA artists of all time. I expect you won't agree, but I'm sure you'll agree that - with so many good fighters out there - picking five is no easy task.

It did take quite a while to come up with this list and I keep crossing names out and adding them back in. I suspect that's why MMA has become such a success as a mainstream sport. - 31491

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Lesnar Wins UFC 100 Main Event

By Ross Everett

On a historic night for the sport of mixed martial arts, Brock Lesnar avenged his early loss to Frank Mir with a TKO victory and in the process unified the promotions heavyweight championship at UFC 100. Mir/Lesnar was the main event of a stacked card and the culmination of a frenzied week of activity in Las Vegas.

The anticipation surrounding UFC 100 was unprecedented among the fight sport media and, more significantly, among mainstream sports media. MMA has long has been an object of scorn, disdain and ignorance among traditional sports media, and in this context the fact that every major outlet including ESPN, SI.com and Fox Sports featured UFC 100 as their top story of the day is downright amazing. The broader implications of UFC 100 remain to be seen, but it could very likely become a turning point for the sport where MMA transcended cult or niche status to burst into the mainstream consciousness.

Preliminary buy rates suggest that more than 1.5 million people purchased the event, which would not only make it the UFC's biggest PPV ever but put it in the top five of *all* PPV sporting events. While it fell short of the all time PPV record of 2.4 million buys set by the De La Hoya/Mayweather fight, the unprecedented interest has put MMA on the map to stay. The event's weigh in was a standing room only affair with over 2,000 fans turned away. A Fan Expo held in conjunction with UFC 100 counted over 30,000 visitors on Friday and an equal or greater number on Saturday. Even veteran fight media experienced in covering big boxing and MMA events worldwide have reported that the energy and general vibe around this event is like nothing theyve seen.

The main event established Lesnar as not only the UFC heavyweight champion, but the most hated 'bad guy' in the sport. He implemented a perfect gameplan against the BJJ mastery of Mir, leveraging his strength and power to pummel his foe while not placing himself at risk of submission.

Mir, on the other hand, made a tactical mistake by letting Lesnar put him on his back and pound away. He clearly underestimated Lesnar's ability to defend his submissions and by the end of the first round had already suffered a nasty beating.

Lesnar diminished his dominating performance with his postfight antics"he taunted Mir after the stoppage, prompting the crowd to boo him mercilessly. He followed this with a short and arrogant postfight interview that would have been much more at home in the WWE than in this setting. Mir was the consummate professional in defeat, giving credit to his opponent and generally displaying all of the class that Lesnar lacked. - 31491

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Brock Lesnar's 5 Toughest Challengers

By Ross Everett

In the aftermath of Brock Lesnars 2nd round TKO victory over Frank Mir the prevailing attitude toward him from mainstream fans has experienced a sudden and seismic shift. Before his past two fights many were questioning whether his credentials justified giving him a shot at the title, with some even unfairly comparing him to EliteXC YouTube sideshow attraction Kimbo Slice. In the aftermath of Lesnars UFC 100 victory the new question surrounding the former WWE champion has become who can beat this guy? Lesnar definitely is a freaky physical specimen combining size and strength with speed and agility. Hes also progressing by leaps and bounds as a fighter with every bout. Still, hes got a big deficit in experience to make up on the job as UFC heavyweight champion.

Lesnar is no doubt a handful for any opponent, but in many ways Randy Couture was a perfect matchup for him. He had a significant size advantage against an opponent from a wrestling background and without a well developed submission game. Frank Mir made a serious tactical error, thinking that he could absorb a beating on the ground and wait for a submission opportunity. Lesnar had gameplanned Mir perfectly, and implemented a fight plan that allowed him to pound his opponent mercilessly while avoiding the risk of submission. Neither observation is meant to diminish the significance of Lesnars victories, but to underscore the fact that hes not unbeatable. Heres five fighters who could do it:

1) FEDOR EMELIANENKO: While the acrimonious relationship between the Russian fighting god and the UFC brass makes this matchup unlikely, Brock Lesnar made news with his dismissal of Fedor at the press conference welcoming Couture back to the fold. The best news for Lesnar in this matchup is that it probably wont happen. The Last Emperor is as close to unbeatable as anyone in mixed martial arts. Fedor has defeated not only bigger opponents, but freakishly large opponents like K-1 kickboxer Hong-Man Choi and Kamala the Ugandan Giant doppelganger Zuluzhinho (whom he beat in a matter of seconds, essentially with one punch). The WAMMA World Heavyweight champion has striking power, submission mastery, and may be the toughest fighter mentally in the sport. Fedor might get taken down by the new UFC heavyweight champ, but hed reverse it from the bottom and win via armbar.

2) ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA: Nogueira would present Lesnar with another formidable challenge. His five career losses are all via decision and came to the absolute highest level of competition (Fedor Emelianenko twice, Frank Mir, Josh Barnett and Dan Henderson). The Mir fight was a lopsided loss, but it was later revealed that he had been recovering from a staph infection that limited his training and clearly impacting his conditioning. His ability to withstand punishment and take a punch allows him to be patient against powerful opponents and wait for an opening for a submission, as evidenced in his fight against Tim Sylvia. A healthy 'Nog' would be able to test Lesnar's ability to 'finish' matches and would be an even more dangerous submission threat than Mir.

3) JOSH BARNETT: Barnett is another unlikely opponent for Lesnar, also due to his strained relationship with Dana White and current issues with his positive drug test. Still, with the exception of Fedor, Barnett could be the worst matchup in the sport for the new UFC champ. Lesnar is likely the more powerful of the two, but Barnett is an imposing physical presence himself at 63 250 lbs. Barnett also has a solid wrestling background, with the added dimension of his sizable submission repertoire. As his career has progressed, Barnett has become a more patient and tactically sound fighter and his standup game has improved significantly. Unfortunately for MMA fans, a matchup between Lesnar and Barnett is more likely to happen in an IGF pro wrestling event than in the UFC.

4) ALISTAIR OVEREEM: Overeem is actually bigger than Lesnar"260 pounds and 65 tall--and has compiled a 5-1-1 record in his last seven fights. Mirko Cro Cop suggests that hes the *only* fighter in the world who could beat Fedor Emelianenko at this point. Hes got great standup including a kickboxing background that could cause Lesnar problems, as well as solid ground fighting ability. Hes yet another heavyweight that is unlikely to bend to Dana Whites contractual demands, and currently has a relationship with DREAM in Japan and Strikeforce in the US. Still, hes a dangerous matchup for any fighter on the planet. Hopefully, his recent hand injury will recover sufficiently to allow him back into competition quickly.

5) RANDY COUTURE: Lesnars win over Couture was far from decisive, and it didnt have anything to do with the age disparity. Couture got caught with a big shot and it cost him the fight. Until that point, he was more than holding his own. He was making his opponent work hard, had the edge in the striking exchanges and had opened up a cut over Lesnars right eye. Itll never be a favorable physical matchup on paper for Couture but at the same time Lesnar in no way proved his categorical superiority over The Natural

An intriguing matchup down the road could be against Croatian striking machine Mirko Cro Cop. Cro Cop has battled injuries over the past year or so but if he could come close to the form he demonstrated in winning the PRIDE Open Weight GP he could be another formidable challenge. At his best, Cro Cop is simply the most devastating striker in the sport. - 31491

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UFC 88 Flashback: Rashad Evans Earns Respect

By Ross Everett

Rashad Evans didnt scream about demanding respect in his prefight interviews because hes smart enough to know that respect must be earned. He earned it and then some with a devastating 2nd round TKO of Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC 88.

If Evans needed any more validation of how little respect he was getting, he could have taken a look at the UFCs text message prediction poll of the main event which favored The Iceman by a whopping 81% to 19% margin. Or he could have listened to the UFC announcers, who had all but penciled Liddell in for a return to light heavyweight title contention after his inevitable victory.

From the opening horn, Evans showed no fear of Liddells once legendary power. Instead, he danced and moved (which was dumbly criticized as showboating by the UFC announce team), using his slick footwork and speed to dart in and out of range of Liddells punches. In the process, he was able to use his superior handspeed to get off first. His punches werent exactly highlight reel power shots at this point, but were nonetheless effective as evidenced by a cut opened under Liddells eye. For his part, Liddell scored with a few shots of his own, but was clearly frustrated by the evasiveness of his opponent.

The end was to come in the 2nd round. Liddell backed Evans up near the cage wall and went to throw an uppercut. Simultaneously, Evans responded with an overhand right that landed quicker, harder and more accurately. The perfectly placed punch knocked Liddell out cold and referee Herb Dean jumped in to cover him up and wave off the fight without taking a second look.

Rashad Evans raised his record to 17-0-1 with the TKO victory. Liddell, meanwhile, saw his record drop to 21-6"with three of those six losses coming in his last 4 fights.

Liddells loss notwithstanding, it was a good night for UFC veterans as Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson won their fights in impressive fashion. Franklin looked particularly sharp in dismantling tough Matt Hamill, eventually prevailing by 3rd round TKO.

This was the UFCs first trip to Atlanta and despite a good attendance the crowd itself was somewhat disappointing. In a marked contrast to the knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans at the Target Center in Minneapolis for UFC 87"arguably the best MMA crowd ever at a US venue"the live crowd at Phillips Arena often acted as if they were at a taping of Georgia Championship Wrestling. Every foreign fighter was booed mercilessly"including South Korean Kim. Perhaps the audience didnt realize that South Korea has been a US ally since its establishment after WW II.

More problematic was the crowds utter lack of respect for the fighters postfight. Poor Dong Hyun Kim was booed during his postfight interview like he was Professor Toru Takana cutting a heel promo on Mr. Wrestling 2 after winning the Georgia Heavyweight Title by throwing salt in his opponents eyes while the referee was distracted. Not quite the respect that a 4th degree judo black belt whod just won a very tough fight deserves. Even Rashad Evans was booed after his dominating KO victory. - 31491

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The Wonderful Secret of Everlasting Chi!

By Al Case

Chi, that mysterious and not to be denied energy that the ancient masters used to defeat attackers without touching them. A secret force generated by the body that enables people to live long and healthy lives. Heck, there is even some talk that Chi was behind the eventual victory of the Jedi Knights...grin.

There is much we don't know about Chi, lots of things that people don't understand. Yet, this thing called Chi has to follow certain prescribed functions. If it is going to show itself in this universe, then there are going to be theories that will define and describe the way chi functions.

We are afloat in an ocean of Chi. Have you ever observed people that had the glow of good health? Have you ever finished a particular duty 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 something you can't see, it is merely not seen by those who haven't honed their perceptions. One can easily perceive this energy if they hone their perceptions, and perceptions are easily honed by doing tai chi. When practicing the tai chi 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 relaxing and breathing, so that the body can function the way it was designed to function. Do you see wolf performing body calisthenics? The reason is that an animals movements are relaxed, and this allows his body to function the way it was designed to function, on a chi level.

There should not be a lot of mystery concerning the subject of chi. Indeed, chi responds wonderfully on a levels that are quite mechanistic. Chi is one of the most empirical concepts in the universe, the problem is that people don't know how to appreciate it on an empirical level. - 31491

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Olivias Practical Advice To Stick To While You Are Buying Karate Gear

By Francis Nelson

There are numerous different types of martial arts supplies that you'll want when you first begin to learn about the martial arts. Some of the main types of drugs which you will desire to be acquainted with come with targets, dojo mats, uniforms, weapons, protecting gear, breaking boards, plus more.

1 thing every martial arts student can need is that a uniform, or gi. A good amount of martial arts uniforms are white but it is potential to discover them in just concerning any color you can imagine. The uniforms worn by other martial arts can all be slightly different. Whatever type of uniform you buy you need to create certain which it is snug, durable, and designed to move easily.

There are many different sorts of weapons that are employed in the study of martial arts. You will must speak along with your instructor to discover out which weapons you will need. One of the most ancient of each one used weapons during the study of martial arts is the legal yumi, which is a Japanese bow.

Nearly all karate studios will even make use of dojo mats. These mats are designed to give additional cushion to the surface on which you'll be working. This may facilitate scale back your risk of serious injury from a fall. There are many other sorts of dojo mats obtainable together with grappling, standard, and take down.

Several martial arts demonstrations use breaking boards. Here boards and bricks are broken by a element of the body, most mostly the hand or foot. Breaking boards come back in several alternative styles and sizes plus are frequently made from wood.

As you can see there are several differing kinds of martial arts supplies available. While some are created to be used by purely one sort of martial art some are used across the board. Check together with your instructor before beginning your search for provides therefore that you simply know you will be getting simply what you need. - 31491

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A Few Thoughts on the Perfection of Form

By Al Case

After forty years of practicing the martial arts, of studying Karate and Shaolin and Aikido and other arts, one thing about learning to fight has become very apparent. This truth is that people who study classical martial arts become better fighters. And, inversely, people who don't study classical martial arts don't always become better fighters.

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 thought. Thus, the study of the classical martial arts, done correctly, with correct form, with correct training methods, approach the fighter on the basis of developing intuition. Yes, studying forms, such as in Isshin ryu and shito ryu, opens your mind and allows you to access greater abilities. - 31491

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Anderson Silva Overwhelms Forrest Griffin At UFC 101

By Ross Everett

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva had lost a lot of his luster coming into Saturday nights UFC 101 matchup with former light heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin. He was undefeated in his previous nine UFC contests, but his last three victories had been far from impressive. Even Dana White criticized his recent effort and finally conceded that St. Pierre might, indeed, be the best all around fighter in the game.

That all changed at UFC 101. Silva was simply dominant as he overwhelmed the naturally larger Griffin, knocking his opponent down three times before finishing the fight with a spectacular"yet almost effortless"straight right hand. The TKO victory was The Spiders most impressive showing since his submission triumph over Dan Henderson at UFC 82. Ironically, Hendo"off his own devastating KO victory over Michael Bisping at UFC 100"will likely be Silvas next challenger for his middleweight title.

The live crowd in Philadelphia clearly favored the likable Griffin and gave him a huge ovation as he bounced to the ring to his trademark walk-in song Shipping Up To Boston by the Dropkick Murphys. Silva, meanwhile, received a smattering of boos as he confidently strode to the ring to the sound of Aint No Sunshine by rapper DMX. Silva displayed much more humility toward the fans than he has in his recent outings, bowing in all four directions after the entered the cage.

Once the fight began Silva transformed into the wrecking machine that UFC fans had grown accustomed before his recent run of lackluster performances. Forrest came right at Silva, assuming that his natural size advantage would equate to a strength advantage as well. After an early feeling out process, Griffin flashed a body kick which was caught by Silva and countered with a short punch that sent him to the canvas for a flash knockdown.

The resolute Griffin quickly bounced to his feet, this time flashing a high kick which Silva easily countered for another knockdown. This one clearly hurt Griffin, though he once again made it back to his feet quickly and landed a combination of his own. This was his best"and last"offense of the fight. Silva quickly floored Griffin with a left hand that left little doubt to the eventual outcome of the contest. The double tough Griffin made it to his feet again, and tried to land a leg kick"which Patrick Cote had used with some success in their fight.

Silva, backing up, landed a perfect and almost effortless straight right that sent Griffin down for good. The referee didnt even bother to count as he waved his arms over the prone fighter as Silva celebrated his win. Griffin quickly exited the cage and, reportedly, the arena.

Silva, apparently making an effort to be more fan friendly, did his postfight interview in English with a Portuguese interpreter standing at the ready. His message was simple: I want to fight against the best. Whoever the best is at the time, I want to fight them. Though Silva didnt really affirm that hed be campaigning more at the heavier weight, that was the implicit message of his comment. - 31491

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Can that Thing Called The Force Really Be with You?

By Al Case

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

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 Martial Arts 101, we can get down to the reality. Chi, or Ki, is an invisible ocean from which everything in the universe is made. And, oh yeah, you can learn to control it.

The difference, of course, between the cinematic timewaster and reality is that one you get fat over popcorn with, and the other one takes hard work. And, of course, the movie stuff, if you think about it, never seems to come 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 instructional courses on DVDs. To get into a field of study, such as Karate or Krav Maga or Jujitsu 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 see it, 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 accomplish something and get somewhere. You are no longer weighting down a couch and stuffing yourself with 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 chunk of time here or a few minutes there, you copy the DVD, go along with the instructions, and, zingo bingo, you feel the changes.

Good health takes over the ocean of your body, infecting your hearing and vision, and you can work longer, harder, and more efficiently. Discipline infects 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 changing to match the new you...new friends, more money, the ability to make enough money to go to a real play, maybe a huge sporting event, or even the best restaurants...and now the Force is with you. - 31491

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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 in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. Belfort dominated veteran Rich Franklin en route to a devastating knockout victory, and following the bout talk quickly shifted to The Phenom as a potential future opponent for both Anderson Silva at 185 and Lyoto Machida at 205.

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. 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 and through the early part of the bout 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.

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. Kampmanns defense was nonexistent, and his decision to stand and trade with a noted power striker was highly suspect. 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. - 31491

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