Some Of The Benefits Of Karate Lessons

By Paul Campbell

Karate as a discipline has originated mainly from Asian countries like Japan, China and Korea. The common misconception amongst people about Karate is that it is a form of violent sport and one who practices it may become overtly aggressive but in reality the truth of the matter is that Karate is based on the principal of "non violence". There are various types of Karate and depending on the interest one can take up karate lesson for specializing in kicks or punches called sparring or take up Karate lessons focusing on defensive maneuver. Karate channels all the energy in the body in the positive direction to improve the overall physical and emotional well being.

The beauty of the karate is that it can be learnt in any age. So be it a four year toddler or a 40 year adult they can equally learn Karate to reap its multidimensional benefits. Apart from being a good exercise which helps in maintaining a healthy weight, Karate lessons improve the overall well being of its students.

Some of the well known benefits of Karate lessons are: Karate builds up self confidence and esteem in the ones who practices it. This comes from increased belief in oneself. Karate increases the ability to concentrate and focus. This is beneficial both for kids and adults alike. Karate lessons comprise of leadership and social behavior lessons which positively contribute to developing the overall personality of the Karate disciples. Nowadays the hectic work life induces lot of stress that can deteriorate our physical and mental well being. Karate gives an outlet to overcome this stress and convert it into positive energy. Children with special needs such as those having problems in learning, hyperactivity and attention deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD) are even clinically advised to take Karate lesson because of the structured nature of the training techniques.

Some of the best Karate lessons in England are delivered at karate clubs Dudley. Some of the Salient features of Karate lessons Dudley are:

Karate lessons Dudley are delivered by some of the best Karate instructors. The all the instructors are CRB (criminal record board) cleared and are certified to work with children. Children as young as four years can enroll for Karate lesson Dudley. Special care is taken about their safety. Children younger than six years do not come in contact of the sport. Most of Karate clubs at Dudley conduct lesson around five times a week. Whether the students want to pursue the discipline of Karate as a hobby or a competitive sport, the Karate lessons at Dudley are tailored as per the interest of the students. For competitive karate enthusiasts the karate club at Dudley regularly hold the Kata lessons (meaning the forms or patterns of moves) and Kumite lessons (meaning punches and kicking technique).

For those of you who are interested in taking Karate lessons at Dudley or want your kids to take the Karate lessons at Dudley you can take a free test lesson offered at most of the Dudley Karate clubs. - 31491

About the Author:

If you are interested in starting karate in the midlands then visit karate club briery hill and karate lessons dudley

Starting To Learn Karate Is Just The Start

By Paul Campbell

Karate as a discipline is more than a form of martial arts; it's a way of living. The various advantages of Karate are: Karate increases the hand eye coordination and body reflexes. It enhances the ability to concentrate. Thus it can help students and adults in all areas of their life. Karate is an excellent form of exercise which can not only help reduce and maintain a healthy weight but also increase bodily flexibility. In current times when the crimes and assaults are increasing by the day, Karate gives you an invaluable training to help you defend yourself. Karate increases the positive attitude towards life and confidence of the practitioner. Nowadays, the hectic work life induces lot of stress that can deteriorate our physical and mental well being. Karate gives you an outlet to overcome this stress and convert it into positive energy.

Realizing the tremendous life improving capability of Karate, more and more people are increasingly taking it up as a hobby and serious sport.

With the increasing popularity of Karate amongst kids and adults alike, the Karate learning centers like Karate club at Dudley are flourishing. The Karate clubs at Dudley are prominent karate clubs in England which are dedicated to the discipline of karate. The students of karate clubs at Dudley have represented F.E.K.O (Federation England Karate Organization). The main features of Karate club Dudley are:

The karate clubs at Dudley specialize in both hobby karate and competitive karate. For competitive karate enthusiasts the karate club at Dudley regularly holds the Kata lessons (meaning the forms or patterns of moves) and Kumite lesson meaning the sparring. The karate club at Dudely has certified instructors who are fully insured and cleared by CRB (criminal record bureau) to work with children. The Karate clubs at Dudley also provide full insurance to the students. Karate clubs at Dudley have certified physical trainers to train the students. The physical trainer instructs the students about the diet regimen, weight loss and other key aspects of karate learning.

The Karate club at Dudley is open for children from four years to adult. Special care is taken for the safety of children below six years. Even children and adults with special needs can join Karate club at Dudley.

To help the prospective students make an informed decision the first lesson at most karate clubs at Dudley is free. The membership of Karate club at Dudley is free and students can pay as they take lessons.

If you are a parent and pondering over whether to introduce your child to the sport of Karate or you are an adult wanting to learn Karate then Karate club at Dudley is the right place to start for your child or yourself. - 31491

About the Author:

For more information on starting karate lessons visit dudley shukokai or dudley karate club

Five Things that have Gone Totally Wrong with Freestyle!

By Al Case

The problem with freestyle is that it has degraded into the basic fact of fighting. Sounds contradictory, I know, but I began learning martial arts over 40 years ago, and I have seen a different face of freestyle. This was a freestyle that was actually more effective, easier to learn, and made students evolve into better human beings.

Now, I have nothing against modern martial arts, like the MMA practiced in the UFC, or learning ground and pound and all the other types of freestyle. Truth, I think some of this stuff would have come in pretty handy back when I was first learning the arts. That said, consider my following disgruntlements in connection with freestyle.

Controlled freestyle in the martial arts effectively died when people started putting on pads and protective gear. Sure, we occasionally wore pads back then, but the purpose was for injuries that had occurred. The breaking point, however, was when school owners realized how much money there was to be made in selling protective gear, they pandered to mothers fears, which stopped little Johnny from learning about true control, and effectively stopped the personal growth stage of the martial arts.

Bruce Lee really delivered a haymaker to freestyle by introducing bouncing. He watched Mohammad Ali, saw the float like a butterfly bit, and realized that bouncing disrupted timing, and he changed the world of freestyle. Unfortunately, the effect was also that people stopped learning how to observe their opponent and gauge his timing, and this stopped students from observing a whole fact of life, for time, as you may not have known, keeps this universe going.

With a loss of reality and a degradation of the sense of timing eating at the innards of martial artists, a loss of control was quick to follow. I remember seeing a fellow who had not had but a few lessons in the martial arts taken to a tournament and encouraged to fight, not to get a point, but to beat people. He fought, there were injuries, and control went out the window. And control, control through timing and of reality, is the course of the true martial arts path.

The final straw behind the downfall of the old way of doing freestyle had to do with respect. I was taught to bow when I entered the school, and to bow to my classmates and partners, and to bow before I stepped on the mat and fought somebody, and it all showed respect. Now there is an attitude of I'm tougher than you I spit on your school, and this utterly destroys the art of freestyle, and even the fact of human compassion.

I know there will be those who disagree, and, let's face it, my criticisms must be tempered by the real gains of the new arts, of the mixed martial arts and the ultimate fighting championships. There are things to be learned in the new arts, and, I am not opposed to many of the new training methods. When I see people fighting to hurt one another, showing no control and total lack of respect, I am on the other side, the old side, the side that shows compassion for their fellow man.

So, let me toss a question into the air, what can you do to create the old attitude of restraint, control and respect? Will tossing away the gloves and pads enable people to take responsibility for the reality of what they are doing, and get rid of harmful attitudes? And, doing what i have prescribed here, can you still make the art work? - 31491

About the Author:

Al Case has taught martial arts for 40+ years. A writer for the mags, with his own column, Al is the originator of Matrixing and Neutronics. He is giving away a free ebook about Matrixing at Monster Martial Arts.

Weapons From A Time Before Gunpowder

By Jeff Kamar

Though today we live in an age where such weapons are considered by many to simply be the pathetic tools of a technologically inferior age, there is something noble about swords and other melee weapons of days gone by.

It is the weapon of duelists, the sword, that has maintained the greatest popularity in the public eye. Every fantasy hero, every cartoon warrior, has a sword. Using a sword against gun-wielding opponents is particularly popular.

Whatever the reason, though, it is undeniable that the sword is the most common weapon when it comes to popular culture melee weapons. Be it the curved grace of the Japanese katana, or the simple efficiency of an Italian rapier, swords have a tendency to show up when you need to suitably epic duel.

But let's not ignore the other weapons of ages past. For example, the spear. Despite the somewhat weaker popularity of it in pop culture, it is a fact that a spear is almost universally considered superior to the sword; there is a saying that a swordsman most possess three times the skill of a man wielding a polearm to best him.

It is for this reason that polearms, from lances to pikes to glaives, have almost always served as the primary weapon of armies everywhere. Add in the relative ease of producing a spear, and it is no wonder they were so popular with the armies of days past.

Bludgeoning weapons make up the last of the big three of melee weapons. This includes things like maces, warhammers, clubs, flails, etc. Even axes can be considered part of this group of weapons. While they require a different kind of technique and are used in different situations from other weapons, you shouldn't underestimate the brutal efficiency of these weapons.

And when facing a man wrapped head to toe in steel, a bashing weapon often serves better than any sword could hope to! For this reason, maces were often the preferred sidearm of western knights, overshadowing even the sword in certain time periods.

I feel that I should give shields a mention here too. Though they aren't technically weapons, and they are completely unpopular with the public, shields are a valuable tool for any melee fighter, and often the man with the best skill with his shield was the last one standing.

A top class shield wielded by a skilled fighter can serve to defeat almost any attack, and can even be used as an effective bludgeoning weapon. Though using two swords may be more popular in movies and games, I'll take a shield in real life any day.

That's all I have to say about melee weapons today. I hope you've learned a little about the weapons that defined our history for so many years, and that you give them at least a little respect even in a world with guns and bombs. - 31491

About the Author:

If you are still curious about ancient weapons, be sure to read my article about Roman Swords and other weapons of the Roman Legions.

The Real and Mystical Truth About Why I Didn't choose Shaolin Kung Fu for Matrixing!

By Al Case

Matrixing, to put your fevered mind to rest, is the analysis and handling of force and direction. Everything in the universe has a direction, and everything in the universe has lots of potentials for collision. Thus, the study of Matrixing becomes crucial if one is going to understand things like Shaolin kung fu.

Now, to set this article up in the proper manner, let me say that the martial arts are taught through the memorizing of random strings of data. This is like somebody memorizing a dozen pieces on the piano, and thinking he is the next Mozart. Obviously, one has to break through the memorizing process and start finding the structure of his art, and how to arrange that art before he can lay claim to being a master artist.

So, let's talk about Shaolin. Shaolin has a few thousand years of history, and this has resulted in every kung fu monk and his brother adding to the mix, and thus the logic and organization of the art has become thoroughly and totally mixed and muddled. There is a mountain of random data, you see, and there is no set of principles with which to define it.

If one studies Shaolin kung fu like Choy Li Fut or Hung Gar, one thinks that kung fu is deep stance, windmilling arms, and a collidoscope of concepts which pop out at you. One thinks that one must beat up students right up to the head abbot to get promoted, and one must meditate and beat his fists into heated iron pellets to get the real kung fu. The sad fact is that this is a small subset of concepts, and while the true art is touched upon, it is not penetrated.

If one studies Wing Chun, one thinks that he has to stand like a bamboo, find an inner eye, and absorb attacks with forearm antennas. Data arranged in mystical sequences, a wooden dummy to give shape to your arms, and never the idea that everything is just random strings of data. Thus, Wing Chun, while being an absolutely astounding practice,touches but lightly upon the True Art.

Then, of course, there is the Mantis, if we wish to speak of antenna arms, and circling motions that manipulate an opponent to his destruction, and so on. But, if you look at it, it is almost like Wing Chun and Hung Gar or Choy Li Fut have been combined. Thus, the principles wallow and intermingle and intermarry and interbreed into fresh bastards and the True Art is obscured in a fog of amazing ability and astounding art.

This all said, Shaolin would be easy to matrix, and come to the truth of, as would Hung Gar or Choy Li Fut or Wing Chun. But I chose Karate to present the principle of Matrixing, and to expose the world to the concept of analysis and handling as a logic. Simply, the mountain was smaller, the history was shorter, the cloud of obscuring fog more transparent, and it could be defined.

And here is the blessing, learn how to matrix karate, and you can use that matrixing as a template. All you have to do is plug the basics of Shaolin into the template provided by Matrix Karate, and you have true art. Too much mountain, too heavy a fog, and yet it can all be resolved into nice, tidy, little, easy to learn packages of True Art, and thus assembled into the whole of The True Art. - 31491

About the Author:

Al Case has analyzed martial arts for 4O+ years. He has written hundreds of articles for the magazines and had his own column in Inside Karate. He is the originator of matrixing Technology. He offers a free ebook on Matrixing at Monster Martial Arts.

Five Things I Should have Known About the Martial Arts!

By Al Case

Okay, I've been doing the martial arts for over forty years. I've lived through the arts of the decades, judo in the fifties, karate in the sixties, kung fu in the seventies, and so on, and I've analyzed durn near every art there is. I've made up a list of things which I wish people would have told me, or I somehow could have found out, when I first started.

The point here is that martial arts classes were where one perspired, and not where one engaged in lengthy conversations. However, the reason a lot of people didn't tell people things like what I am telling you here was because they didn't know anything. So are you ready to learn a few of the things necessary before you jump into karate or kung fu or Aikido?

I wish people would have told me that pain hurts, and if I had known the truth about pain it wouldn't have hurt so darn much. The pain of a block, for instance, can go either go into the blocker or into the striker, depending upon which person has more intention. It's not a matter of tough, its a matter of which way you want the energy to go, and the energy will go in the direction of the superior mind.

I wish somebody would have told me what the purpose of my body parts was for. Why it matters how you angle your bones and structure, and why it matters which side of the bone the muscle is on. For that matter, maybe somebody should have just told me I had a head and I could think with it!

This matter of how a body works could have made my progress thought the martial arts ten times easier and quicker if somebody had explained that all the parts had to work as one unit. This is a thing called harmony, and when the body parts all work harmoniously then intention can flow through the body and make it ten times more efficient. What is the ratio of muscle to body part, how much does each part weigh, how far does each body part have to move, how much effort is required for each body part.

Speaking of using the body as one unit, if somebody had explained that it was not just harmony within your body, but how harmony extended into your life, then I would have had a ten times easier life. Heck, life is so much easier when you get along with your fellow man! If somebody had just told me to love my enemy that would have made me a real martial artist!

Probably the most important thing somebody could have told me would have been to get the lead out and stop being lazy. Heck, if I had done a little more sweating I would have gotten to the end of the martial arts faster, maybe even gotten further, maybe even learned something! The point here is that I could have learned all the things that I eventually figured out faster, and then I wouldn't be complaining about how stupid I was.

Ah, the things I didn't know, they slowed me down, held me me up, but, at last I know them. Even more important, you know them, so you aren't going to be lazy or held up in your martial progress! Unless, of course, you want to think you know it all when you don't. - 31491

About the Author:

Al Case has analyzed the martial arts 4O++ years. He began writing for the magazines in'81 and has written hundreds of articles, and had a column in Inside Karate. He is the originator of Matrixing Technology and Neutronics. He is giving away a free ebook which explains all about Matrixing at Monster Martial Arts.

Notable Rounds during UFC 94

By Diego Penn

JAKE O'BRIEN VS. CHRISTIAN WELLISCH: Round 2 - After trading more punches to open the round, Wellisch lands a body kick and follows with a leg kick. O'Brien avoids subsequent blows and counters Wellisch with three consecutive jabs. Wellisch lands a nice leg kick. O'Brien works jabs as Wellisch swings and misses wildly. O'Brien lands a nice left- overhand right combination, but Wellisch shakes it off and attempts a takedown. O'Brien, though, dips for the double-leg takedown and slams his opponent to the mat. Wellisch rolls free and quickly gets to his feet and lands a left-right combo. O'Brien counters with an uppercut, but Wellisch continues to push forward. O'Brien counters a low kick-jab combo with an easy takedown and again slams Wellisch to the mat. Wellisch, though, again gets to his feet quickly and land a nice combo of low kicks and punches just as the round ends.

JAKE O'BRIEN VS. CHRISTIAN WELLISCH: Round 3 - Wellisch goes on the offensive as O'Brien looks to counter. Wellisch chases with some lunging rights and eats a shot that opens his nose and causes a steady flow of blood. O'Brien shoots and scores the takedown, but Wellisch rolls free and easily gets to his feet. The fighters trade jabs and Wellisch again throws wildly and lands with a left. O'Brien patiently awaits to counter and forces the fight to the ground again. Wellisch quickly gets to his feet and throws left-right combinations. O'Brien deflects most of them. Wellisch sneaks through an overhand right. Wellisch swings wildly and just misses with a knee to the head. O'Brien shoots and again gets the takedown, but again, he can't keep his opponent there. Wellisch, now gushing blood from his nose and mouth, stalks after O'Brien but is again easily taken to the mount. O'Brien stands over him and tries to rain down a blow, but Wellisch easily deflects it and gets to his feet. The fighters battle for ground position as the round ends. Jake O'Brien def. Christian Wellisch via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).

JOHN HOWARD VS. CHRIS WILSON: Round 3 - As the third round gets started, random "B.J. Penn!" and "GSP!" chants randomly break out. Wilson opens with a knee to the body, but Howard checks it, takes his opponent's back, locks in a body triangle and looks for the rear-naked choke. Wilson successfully defends, but Howard maintains the dominant position and delivers some blows from behind. After a flurry of the punches, Wilson gives Howard the opening he needs, and he sinks in the rear-naked choke. Wilson rolls just enough to break free and eats some punches. Howard again goes for the rear-naked choke, but he can't get it under Wilson's chin. Two minutes into the position, Howard continues fighting with Wilson's long limbs and then tries to soften him up with punches from behind. Wilson finally escapes and takes top position to avoid the choke threats. Wilson delivers punches from above, but after standing, he's taken to the mat when Howard secures a leg and trips him. Both fighters look for submissions with the other's leg, but they give up the positions and return standing. Howard shoots and after a few efforts trips Wilson to the mat. Wilson delivers elbows from below and Howard throws a few wild punches as the round ends. John Howard def. Chris Wilson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

JON FITCH VS. AKIHIRO GONO: Round 1 - Gono and his corner "men" enter the cage in drag, complete with silver dresses, jewelry, sunglasses, wigs, sequined gloves and high heels. The two drag- tastic back-up dancers are in the same get-up. The cageside dance routine delights the crowd. Fitch's Johnny Cash ballad doesn't have the same effect. We're underway, and Fitch fires a combination and immediately looks for the takedown. Gono, pinned against the fence, refuses to go down, and he tries to sprawl free. Fitch briefly takes his back before pinning Gono back against the fence while trying to improve his position. Gono escapes and eats a knee in the process, but no harm appears done. Fitch fires a head kick and knees before Gono closes the distance and pushes him into the fence. Fitch does some damage from the Muay Thai clinch before Gono breaks free. Fitch eats a right hand as he shoots in, and after jockeying for position, finally wrestles Gono to the mat. Fitch then takes his opponent's back and struggles to secure the body triangle. Fitch then attempts the rear-naked choke, but Gono defends well. Fitch peppers him with punches from behind and finally secures his hooks. Gono covers up, but Fitch gets through a series of punches. Gono gets to his feet, but he can't shake Fitch from his back before the round ends.

NATE DIAZ VS. CLAY GUIDA: Round 2 - Diaz works the jab as Guida continues swinging wildly. After a clinch against the fence, Diaz looks for the takedown. Guida defends and attempts the trip takedown, but Diaz easily avoids it. With Diaz's back against the fence, Guida now looks the takedown. Guida tries on two separate occasions, but Diaz's stellar balance keeps him upright. Guida finally pulls Diaz's leg out from under him. Diaz, though, quickly gets back to his feet and then wrestles Guida to the mat. Guida reverses the position during a scramble and tries to take Diaz's back. Diaz, though, does just enough to stay out of trouble and then uses a judo throw to take Guida to the mat. Guida remains on his back but has to give up the position when Diaz secures an arm and looks for a kimura. However, when Diaz gets to his feet, Guida quickly follows. Diaz again throws him to the mat, and Guida again takes the top position. Diaz nearly secures a triangle choke as the round ends, but Guida escapes.

NATE DIAZ VS. CLAY GUIDA: Round 3 - The fighters furiously trade punches and leg kicks to start the round. Diaz has trouble connecting, which causes Guida to smile. Diaz pushes his opponent into the fence and peppers Guida with punches when he tries to create distance. Diaz connects with a kick and showboats while trying to throw follow-up punches. The crowd boos him. Diaz starts to tee off on Guida, who's pinned against the fence. Guida quickly closes the distance and puts Diaz against the cage. Guida slows the pace to catch his breath, and Diaz tries to throw Guida to the mat after securing an arm. Guida quickly takes his opponent's back, but again, he can't lock in his hooks and instead settles for a single-leg drag takedown. Diaz quickly gets to his feet, but Guida works tirelessly to take it back to the ground. Guida won't allow any distance between them, and Diaz is forced to battle for position. Guida hops on Diaz's back, but he slips off and eats a punch as the round ends. Clay Guida def. Nate Diaz via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

STEPHAN BONNAR VS. JON JONES: Round 2 - Jones tries to create distance with some front kick, but Bonnar gets through a punch and then throws some body kicks. Bonnar whiffs on a right, and Jones quickly takes his back. As Bonnar tries to get up, Jones hits him with knees to the body. Bonnar then throws a body kick and eats a body punch at the same time. The jolt sends Bonnar to the mat, and Jones takes side control. Bonnar reclaims one leg, but he can't shake Jones from the dominant position. However, he eventually muscles his way back to his feet. Jones lands a leg kick, a right hand and then is pushed into the fence by Bonnar. Bonnar dips for a takedown, but Jones backs him off with a footstomp and a right hand. Bonnar connects on an uppercut and pushes Jones back into the fence and follows with a knee to the bodu. Jones answers with one of his own, and the fighters return to the center of the cage. Jones tosses Bonnar to the mat, but he quickly returns to his feet.

LYOTO MACHIDA VS. THIAGO SILVA: Round 1 - Little action early before Machida connects on a leg kick and then partially connects on a flying knee to the body. Silva shows no damage and pushes forward. An accidental knee to Silva's groin forces a halt in the action. Silva needs little to recover, but Machida quickly trips him to the mat. However, he quickly returns to his feet. Machida is working a stick-and-move approach, but Silva continues to stalk. However, two quick blows from Machida send Silva to his back. Machida follows and works from inside his opponent's guard. Machida stands over his opponent, kicks his legs and then tries to land a diving right. Silva avoids the blow, and ties up his fellow Brazilian. Machida allows Silva to stand and then tries a head kick that's blocked. A left-right combination drops Silva, and Machida pounces on him and lands in side control. Machida easily transition to mount, but Silva bucks free. Machida quickly goes back in and takes his opponent's back as Silva gets to his feet. Silva then pins Machida against the cage to catch his breath. Machida lands some dirty boxing, shoves Silva to the mat and blasts him with a diving right hand just as the round ends. Silva's knocked out cold. Lyoto Machida def. Thiago Silva via knockout (punch) -- Round 1, 4:59.

B.J. PENN VS. GEORGES ST. PIERRE: Round 4 - The doctor check on Penn but allow the fight to continue. Dean gets things started, and we now enter a championship fourth round. St. Pierre goes high a left and low with a righ kick, and Penn's then forced to the mat with a double-leg takedown. St. Pierre easily secures side control and puts Penn in the crucifix position to rain down a few blows. The blows continue as St. Pierre presses his elbow into Penn's mouth. The referee warns them about something, and Penn's head is bounced off the mat like a basketball. St. Pierre then takes the mount position and eats additional blows and the ref keeps watchful eye on things. Now working from side control, St. Pierre delivers knees to the body and returns to the crucifix position for more punishment. Back to the mount, St. Pierre tags Penn with elbows. Penn reclaims one leg, but he can't stop the punishment or St. Pierre's return to side control. Penn is gasping for breath, and St. Pierre continues a series of short punches before hopping back into mount. With a minute to go, St. Pierre continues the assault, and Penn's head bounces off the mat with a thud. The ref considers jumping in to stop it, and after St. Pierre kicks up the energy, he looks to the ref. A final left elbow pops Penn just as the round ends. After conferring with the doctor, referee Heb Dean puts a stop to the fight. Penn sits on the floor gasping for breath as St. Pierre takes a victory lap around the cage. Georges St. Pierre def. B.J. Penn via TKO (doctor's stoppage) - Round 4, 5:00 - 31491

About the Author:

Diego Penn invites you to watch BJ Penn VS Diego Sanchez UFC 107. For laughs, you can Watch Royal Pains Episodes.