tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44769340970413602802024-03-13T11:01:00.827-07:00Martial Arts & SpiritualityJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-78444245890105645662013-01-12T05:55:00.000-08:002013-01-12T06:09:13.000-08:00Women and Martial Arts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Many people think that women and martial arts don't mix. They think that women are too fragile. <br />Or, if a woman gets involved in martial arts she will start fighting or get aggressive and mean. <br />Sometimes, and this one is funny, people think that only unattractive and manly looking women get involved <br />in martial arts. None of these are true. In fact, these myths are just plain ridiculous.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WxlFDY53XrE/UPFqKLXYjnI/AAAAAAAAAPg/lE5lDEOrJy8/s1600/Corbis-AX073789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WxlFDY53XrE/UPFqKLXYjnI/AAAAAAAAAPg/lE5lDEOrJy8/s400/Corbis-AX073789.jpg" width="270" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsivGr4Cnr0/UPFqEm7huvI/AAAAAAAAAPY/qaH2uMKwFL8/s1600/7-Photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsivGr4Cnr0/UPFqEm7huvI/AAAAAAAAAPY/qaH2uMKwFL8/s400/7-Photo1.JPG" width="330" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TO2WD8ucbDc/UPFqN0YvFGI/AAAAAAAAAPo/Ngh302lXSss/s1600/KarateGirl_Terracotta_1h91y-1024x681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TO2WD8ucbDc/UPFqN0YvFGI/AAAAAAAAAPo/Ngh302lXSss/s400/KarateGirl_Terracotta_1h91y-1024x681.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are Classes Too Rough?</b><br /><br />While some martial arts styles are very rough, others are not. Believe it or not, even the rough <br />martial arts classes can be taken by women. That is what protective equipment is for. No one has to fight <br />in competitions, and people spar against those of similar stature and skill.<br /><br /><b>Will Women Become Aggressive?</b><br /><br />Women who learn martial arts do not become more aggressive but instead become more confident. It teaches <br />them patience and how to control their anger. It is especially beneficial to smaller women who will need <br />to know how to defend themselves. Actually, all women need to know how to defend themselves in case of <br />emergency.<br /><br /><b>Will Classes Make Women Look Unattractive?</b><br /><br />As far as attractiveness goes, martial arts is great for physical fitness. It is a great way to lose <br />weight and tone the body. It will help in strengthening muscles and gaining flexibility. It helps a woman <br />gain self-confidence which makes a woman feel and look more attractive, thus shattering the unattractive myth.<br /><br />How the idea that women and martial arts don't belong got started is beyond me. In fact, the two go very <br />well together. The benefits to women are too numerous to count. Not only does martial arts teach women to <br />defend themselves when they need it, martial arts helps women look and feel better in the process.</span></div>
Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-71178857620659348082011-12-16T06:08:00.000-08:002011-12-16T06:08:34.112-08:00Jashinism - The Religion Worshipping Lord Jashin...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://c.wrzuta.pl/wi17244/975ada43000a444048b5abb8/0/jashin" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://c.wrzuta.pl/wi17244/975ada43000a444048b5abb8/0/jashin" /></a></div><b>Main point of the article:</b><br />
<br />
I have recently began a study of an ancient religion that spread through Japan, China, and Africa. This religion is called Jashinism. This religion is wildly popular among Naruto fans, though it is not a product of Masashi Kishimoto. I am going to explain this religion to you with hopes of spreading it’s main message/belief.<br />
<br />
<b>Deeper into the religion that is Jashinism:</b><br />
<br />
Jashinism is a wide spread religion, though not many people have heard of it other than Naruto fans. Many people hear the name, Jashinism, and think that it’s fake but I assure you that it is very real. The main focus of this religion is understand one another’s feelings and inner(and outer)pain. The path of Jashin is about punishing thoughts who have failed to understand the pain of other while praising those who have been able to understand others. The path of Jashin is commonly called a cult but is in fact not so.Jashinism is similar to Japan’s old Shinto religion and both Buddhism and Taoism in the way that it is like a philosophy. Jashinist are required to be free of greed, lust, pride, slothish behavior, envy, and gluttonous tendencies much like Christianity, though wrath is not one of the sins for Jashinism.<br />
<br />
<b>About worship:</b><br />
<br />
Jashinist worship the god Jashin, the god of pain, death, and destruction(not to be compared with the devil but however is more like Loki from Norse mythology). Jashinism is much darker than most religions and in ancient times Jashinists would sacrifice to Jashin, however now in modern times Jashinists pray more often rather than sacrificing. Jashinism has many prayers that can be said to appease Jashin. <br />
<br />
<b> Interpretation of Jashinism and the truth:</b><br />
<br />
In the hit anime series, Naruto, Jashinism is depicted as a violent evil religion but however it is just not true. Jashinism, though it had it’s bloody past, is more of a passive religion now more about it’s philosophy. Hidan, a Naruto character who is supposed to be a “Jashinist”, is not the proper example of a Jashinist. However he is a good example of an old Jashinist belief: If you are a perfect Jashinist you become immortal so that you, as a profit, may spread the word of Jashin. It was said that perfect Jashinists would be “painted” white by Jashin(white meaning that they’d become albino).<br />
<br />
<b>What Jashinism teaches:</b><br />
<br />
Jashinism teaches it’s disciples to not fear death and rather to see it as the end of a good run instead of the end of a life. Jashinism also teaches it’s disciples to be faithful and, as stated earlier, to understand pain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>In conclusion I hope that I have shed some light on the truth about Jashinism. I hope that my article has been useful to all of you. I’ll leave the final interpretation to you as the reader.</b></i></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com72tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-526806277310794542011-10-19T07:54:00.000-07:002011-10-19T07:54:01.738-07:00The Importance Of 'Adrenaline' And The Role It Plays In Our Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Introduction</b><br />
<br />
A recent trend in the self defense world is to emphasize the importance of adrenaline and its effect on our ability to defend ourselves. In fact there are whole self defense systems built around overcoming the negative effects of adrenaline.<br />
<br />
This is a short essay written to examine the effects of adrenaline. My goal is to give you information to help turn adrenaline into your friend instead of your foe.<br />
<br />
<b>What is adrenaline anyway?</b><br />
<br />
Adrenaline is a chemical (actually a hormone) produced by the two adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys (ad - renal, on - kidney). These glands secrete adrenaline directly into the blood stream when people are exposed to something that they see as potentially dangerous.<br />
<br />
Because adrenaline has to be carried by the blood to all the different parts of the body, it takes a second or two before people will feel its effects. I will explain below how this slight delay can be important in how you react to danger.<br />
<br />
<b>What does adrenaline do?</b><br />
<br />
Physically, adrenaline increases your heart rate, raises your blood pressure, and is associated with a diversion of blood away from certain areas of your brain and internal organs and into your muscles. As a result, adrenaline has the ability to increase speed and strength. It also decreases how much people feel pain. A large amount of adrenaline released into your system all at once causes what is often called an adrenaline dump, rush, or surge. All of these effects are designed to prepare your body to either run away or to fight.<br />
<br />
<b>What does an adrenaline surge feel like?</b><br />
<br />
Adrenaline can make you feel energized, or it can make you feel shaky, weak or sick to your stomach. Sometimes all of these feelings come at the same time, which can be confusing. Results of an adrenaline surge might also include:<br />
<br />
• <i>feeling as though time has slowed down.</i><br />
<br />
• <i>tunnel vision, where you only see what is in front of you and not what is around you.</i><br />
<br />
•<i> a sensation of your mind wandering or floating, making it hard to concentrate.</i><br />
<br />
• <i>decreased coordination.</i><br />
<br />
• <i>difficulty in thinking clearly.</i><br />
<br />
I do not know whether these sensations result directly from the adrenaline itself, or if some other factor, like sensory overload from trying to figure out what is happening around you, causes them.<br />
<br />
What is important for you to know is that when you are in a situation likely to cause an adrenaline surge, these are the feelings you are likely to experience.<br />
<br />
<b>How does adrenaline affect your ability to react to danger?</b><br />
<br />
The effect of an adrenaline surge depends on many different things. Sometimes you have no warning that something is about to happen until you are suddenly startled by a surprise attack or other unexpected event. When startled in this way, it is natural to momentarily freeze, jump, flinch, or run.<br />
<br />
Your first response normally happens without the effect of adrenaline because it takes a second or two for the adrenaline surge to hit. During those first pre-adrenaline seconds, you will may or may not move. People’s initial reaction is normally based on how circumstances interact with their personality, and their built-in tendency to react a certain way under stress, without adrenaline.<br />
<br />
Once adrenaline kicks in, it will likely reinforce your initial response. If you are frozen, you might find it even harder to break out of it and take action. This is especially likely if you are overwhelmed by an unfamiliar adrenaline surge and misinterpret the feelings associated with it as fear or panic. People often associate fear with helplessness. Helplessness is not a good mindset when you need to take action to ensure your own safety and the safety of others. This is why an adrenaline surge can sometimes make freezing worse.<br />
<br />
If you do not freeze initially, your adrenaline surge is more likely to be helpful as long as it is directed into effective action. If you are already running, you may run faster. If you are fighting, you may fight harder. However, sometimes adrenaline can make a person fight back so frantically that although they are fighting hard, the techniques are uncoordinated and not very effective. This ineffective, frantic way of fighting back is sometimes called “flailing”.<br />
<br />
There are also times when you see danger developing more gradually and adrenaline does get a chance to work before it becomes clear that you need to do something to respond to the threat. In this case adrenaline can still interfere with your ability to think clearly and initiate a response as both your adrenaline levels and the level of the threat increase. <br />
<br />
<b>How can you learn to use adrenaline to your advantage?</b><br />
<br />
In order to put the effect of adrenaline into perspective let’s break it down into individual problems.<br />
<br />
<u><i>Problem # 1.</i></u><br />
<br />
An adrenaline surge is unexpected and unfamiliar. <br />
<br />
Now you know what an adrenaline surge is and, at least in theory, what it feels like. You know that although fear is normal in scary situations, the sensation of an adrenaline surge is not the same thing as panic, and does not mean you are helpless.<br />
<br />
<i><u>Problem # 2</u></i><br />
<br />
Adrenaline makes it hard to think clearly.<br />
<br />
This is true to some degree. On the other hand, emergency workers such as police officers, fire fighters and emergency physicians do their jobs on a regular basis while experiencing an adrenaline surge. Even medical students early in their training are able to function quite well under such circumstances. This is because they have had preparation and practice. This means that, although adrenaline does to some extent interfere with clear thinking, and can make you tremble and be uncoordinated, it is still possible to be very effective during an adrenaline surge.<br />
<br />
<i><u>Problem # 3</u></i><br />
<br />
Adrenaline can cause freezing.<br />
<br />
OK, this is the big one. As explained above, freezing can occur without adrenaline, but adrenaline can make it worse. The reality is that every time you face something new, there is a moment of hesitation before you react. Freezing is just what happens when this hesitation takes too long and you find yourself in deeper trouble as a result. So how can you minimize this effect?<br />
<br />
<b>Use adrenaline to help prevent freezing in the first place. </b><br />
<br />
Have you ever found yourself in a situation that did not particularly frighten you, but when you felt the hair on the back of your neck stand on end and your heart start to pound for no apparent reason? Maybe you told yourself “Why is this happening? There is nothing here to be afraid of.”<br />
<br />
What you were experiencing may have been an adrenaline surge because your instincts were warning you of hidden danger. This is an example of how adrenaline can be your friend if you learn to listen to it. An adrenaline warning can prevent you from getting into a situation where freezing could occur.<br />
<br />
<b>Accept momentary freezing as part of a normal response </b><br />
<br />
When the adrenaline surge hits, you can use this as a signal that you now have the strength, speed and pain tolerance to deal with the situation and escape from danger. You can recognize the adrenaline surge and take advantage of the power it provides. The important point is to accept the temporary freeze as something you have to get through in order to figure out what is happening and to make the right choices about how to deal with the problem effectively. <br />
<br />
<b>Make the unfamiliar more familiar </b><br />
<br />
Adrenaline is especially a problem when you are surprised by the unexpected. This can include the unexpected sensations of the adrenaline surge itself, or the circumstances that caused it. You now have read what an adrenaline surge feels like. By participating in a high quality self defense course, you can also get some first hand experience as to what an adrenaline surge feels like in a controlled, supportive, safe environment. <br />
<br />
I believe that a very important part of personal safety and self defense is mental preparedness. I suggest running through scenarios in your mind involving dangerous situations that could actually happen to you.<br />
<br />
What would you do if confronted by a stranger asking for money on the street, or for all your money at an ATM, or standing over your bed at three in the morning? What would you do if this same person threatened your loved one in order to get you to cooperate with him? Well, for starters, you would get an adrenaline surge.<br />
<br />
But by using mental preparedness to imagine scenarios and solutions, you can make decisions about what to do in these frightening situations in advance. This increases your chances of making the best choices possible if the real thing ever happens and the adrenaline is flowing. Practicing mental preparedness means thinking about some very scary possibilities. However, people usually feel safer and less paranoid when they mentally rehearse working out solutions to possible problems.<br />
<br />
<b>Understand the places where the mind gets stuck when we freeze </b><br />
<br />
I would like to talk about 3 ways that people react once they realize that they are being attacked.<br />
<br />
These are:<br />
<br />
<b>DENIAL</b>. "<i>This can't be happening!</i>"<br />
<b>REALITY</b>. "<i>This is happening!</i>”<br />
<b>RESOLVE</b>. “<i>This is not going to happen</i>" <br />
<br />
It is OK to freeze at first as long as you find a way to get past Denial and into Reality and Resolve. Become determined that “This is not going to happen”. This will prevent you from freezing when adrenaline hits. Just knowing about Denial, Reality and Resolve can help you to move to the third stage and overcome your normal hesitation.<br />
<br />
By taking the time to prepare yourself through practice and increased understanding of how adrenaline works, you will ensure that adrenaline is your friend and not your foe in a self defense situation.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-87829861354288884812011-08-10T08:12:00.000-07:002011-08-10T08:12:22.718-07:00Electrokinesis - The ability to generate and manipulate electricity at one's will<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/cOSNW9NOwTE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><b>(*NOTE : This article is written totally on my beliefs and experiences.<br />
And i am just sharing my knowledge with others so i don't want anyone<br />
to try the content mentioned below.<br />
If then too you try, you are on your own and its not at all my responsibility for whatever happens ...)</b><br />
<br />
Electrokinesis is the ability to generate and manipulate electricity.<br />
It will take time to learn Electrokinesis for some in day's and for others in week's but in order to start off Electrokinesis close your eye's and imagine that all of your thoughts about the day are being gathered into a ball. Then imagine that all your thoughts about the day are bing sucked into a black hole with no escape and being trapped then imagine the black hole exploding all the thought's and after being nothing but darkness in your mind if you did it right your mind should be clear. This is an effective technique.<br />
<br />
To start Electrokinesis close your eye's and imagine lighting striking your shoulder's and traveling through your arm's crackling making sound's of electricity as it travels up into your hand and fingertip's. You should practice this at least 15 minutes a day.<br />
<br />
The easiest time to do it is when you're laying in bed before you go to sleep. Close your eyes and visualize the electricity running through the body part of choice. Try to do all these things one after another or mix them. Visualize it running up say, your hand, in waves of electricity like the kind of waves old TV's get sometimes that go up the screen. Then after that, visualize it sparking and even arcing out of your finger tips and hands. Try to feel the sparks the best you can, sometimes your fingers will just go sort of numb and they will feel wierd if you try to move them. Then open your eyes and do the same thing for a while...eventually you should start seeing very faint pencil thin lines of electricity or round dot size sparks or both.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Tip's to know how your doing Electrokiesis</u><br />
<br />
1. When using the electrokinesis exercise you should have a tingling<br />
static feeling in your fingertip's<br />
<br />
2. You should feel and hear crackling and popping noises after training<br />
for a couple of days<br />
<br />
3. After a while of training you can try to shoot it at your TV or radio, see if it makes the reception a little messed up, or you could try to shock someone,even make a electric psi ball.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Electro Ball</b></i><br />
<br />
This is basically a ki ball with electricity from electrokinesis added into it. To start, visualize the electricity flowing through your body. Then, make a normal ki ball, then picture the electricity bolts coming out of your hands and your fingertips, and merging with the ki ball, making little sparks and shocks around and inside the ki ball. Do this for about 5 minutes a day, along with just picturing the electricity flowing inside of you. Just keep practicing and with enough work, you'll start to actually hear little popping noises from the electricity, and when you get the electro-ball, you will be able to shock people with it. But be warned, don't use a lot of power with this technique on someone if you know that their power is less than yours and they won't be able to handle it, this technique can really injure someone when used with enough power.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Electro Blast</b></i><br />
<br />
First, make a Ball of Electricity. Then add some Ki into it. Just practice that for a few days or at least a week until you get good at it. Then after you get good at that, start to compact Electricity and Ki into your arm. After you feel that your arm is compacted with enough Electricity and Ki, blast it out of your hand. Now the object is to try and control the blast if you can. Remember to only use a little bit of Ki and Electricity if your opponent is too week to handle your level of power.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Lightning Ball</b></i><br />
<br />
To start out, just make a normal ki ball and charge it up. Next, start visualizing lightning striking down all around you. Actually hear the crack and sizzle of the lightning bolts. Then, visualize all little lightning bolts striking around your hands and striking into your ki ball and causing electric shocks inside and outside it. You will know by the feeling you get in your hands if you have made this correctly. When it's made, blast away.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Gaining Electrokinesis</b></i><br />
<br />
Okay,first grab an electric item,preferrably battery-powered.Put your fingers on the batteries themselves (inside the object) and absorb the battery's power through your fingers.It would help to meditate beforehand.The longer you meditate,the better the electrokinesis will work.Okay,so after you have absorbed the energy,be absolutely sure that you only store it in your arm.The electricity could damage anywhere else.Now your fingers should feel tingly.Now you can go have fun with the electricity.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Zapping Stuff...</b></i><br />
<br />
You kinda shouldn't do this.....but what's life without a little fun? Okay,so after you have absorbed the energy of the battery(s),you can go use it for whatever.For zapping stuff,visualize and feel the energy inside your fingers.See it as "an invisible,hungry beast." Now visualize it shooting out,ready to eat anything in it's path.When it hits,it will deliver a shock up to the voltage of the battery at the max.It can be used for A LOT of things.Electrokinesis can do almost anything you want it to do,as long as it's electric.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Paralyze Thunder</b></i><br />
<br />
Visualize your ki rushing through your body and to your finger tips while your ki is rushing to your finger tips visualize a small ki sphere forming on each finger tip. This attack requires 100% concentration. Now focus on the ki sphere and visualize clouds forming above you and thunder is coming down from those clouds and striking your finger tips. You know when you do this when you feel a shock go through your body or your finger tips will tingle. Now from this point you have done it and from here you can either fire your blasts or make your energy lock on to your opponent. This Move will sometimes paralyze your opponent ,but your opponent will always feel the shock. Also by putting all of your ki into, it then can be used as a finisher.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-66590495280981119802011-08-10T07:10:00.000-07:002011-08-10T07:10:58.845-07:00Hydrokinesis - The ability to control or create movements in water using your mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wZguC14OgJM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Hydrokinesis is the ability to control or create movements in water using your mind at the beginning stages it will seem impossible but as you get better and train harder it becomes easier.once mastered it can be used for protection or to save a life. All it takes is, time, practice, patience, and an open mind.<br />
<br />
Before learning these techniques you should make a real connection with water, and not just the physical substance, but the Element itself. If your natural Element is water then you will probably find this easier than most because you already have an advantage. Spend time in meditation and contemplation, thinking of nothing but the properties, movements, and real feel of water. If needed visualize that you are totally surround and, submerge yourself in it. Take it into yourself and your soul become one with the water that is the only way you can get to a advanced level in this kind of kinetic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Training Method # 1 :</b></i><br />
<br />
Once you think your ready for hydrokinesis take a medium - large bowl and fill it with water. If the bowl is glass this may be easier because you can see all of the water within. Now place a cork or something similar which floats in the bowl and wait for it to settle. Once it has settled, close your eyes. Sense the water in front of you, feel its energy and merge it with yours. See in your mind's eye the link between you and the liquid. Feel its smoothness, its cool healing properties.<br />
<br />
Now try to mimic those feelings within your own energies. You and water are one and the same.<br />
Just as you have control over your own energies, so too do you have control over water.<br />
<br />
Then Open your eyes.<br />
Look at the substance within the bowl. You are a part of it, and it is a part of you. Keeping in mind your connection with it, will the water to move, just as you would with your own energy.<br />
<br />
Make it start to swirl in the bowl, always getting stronger, always gaining speed. It is you.<br />
<br />
Continue to do this until you feel you have succeeded or are in need of rest. Don't over do it on the first few tries.<br />
<br />
Have a mental rest after, you need it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Training Method # 2 :</b></i><br />
<br />
If you have a pool or a sink get something light that floats and try to move by imagining water currents moving towards the object pushing it like a riptide growing stronger by the second and after a couple of training sessions it will start to move don't get discouraged if it takes long to learn this technique.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is also a good beginners technique you can learn hydro by pouring water into a glass and absorbing the energy of the element. Then you can imagine the water pulling itself apart rapidly and coming back together.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Training Method # 3 :</b></i><br />
<br />
A easier way to absorb energy from the element water is to imagine that water is flowing throughout your whole body like your blood and that your hands and body are water with a hard smooth surface and rough interior flowing throughout the body constantly as if it is what keeps you alive and that every breath of air is adding water to flow throughout your body replenishing the good water and clearing the bad water or blockages that stop the flow. Do this for 15 minutes or more everyday and you will master this technique and it will seem like water is flowing throughout your body constantly without having to even think of it.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-30180071413103430862011-08-10T00:22:00.000-07:002011-08-10T00:22:16.565-07:00Pyrokinesis - The ability to generate, manipulate or extinguish fire at one's will without any physical contact<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens8288501module71323251photo_1259317299Pyrokinesis_by_Eivind31.j" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens8288501module71323251photo_1259317299Pyrokinesis_by_Eivind31.j" width="213" /></a><b>(*NOTE : This article is written totally on my beliefs and experiences.</b><br />
<b>And i am just sharing my knowledge with others so i dont want anyone</b><br />
<b>to try the content mentioned below.</b><br />
<b>If then too you try, you are on your own and its not at all my responsibility for whatever happens ...)</b><br />
<br />
Pyrokinesis is the ability to generate, manipulate or extinguish fire. This is an advanced skill, and can be dangerous to you as well as others around you if you don't have control over it. The key to Pyrokinesis is focusing on what you want the flame or fire to do, and willing it to happen. Here I have listed a few ways to develop and increase you pyrokinesis skills.<br />
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To practice Pyrokinesis you need to have a candle and matches so you can light it. Take it to a windless place. remember that you have to move it with your mind without the use of any physical means. Now to control the flame just imagine that your Ki is absorbing the flame and that your hand is the flame and you control it. with the movement of your hand the flame will move along with it so if you want it bigger imagine the flame's size increasing opposite if you want the flame smaller. when you're able to control the flame, move on to a more difficult exercise like the techniques I mentioned below. Another helpful techniques is to imagine the tip of the lighted candle bursting into flames shooting out heat Ki. It will take time to learn Pyrokinesis so train hard and don't give up if your not getting result's just research more and train harder every day.<br />
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The best way to develop and train your Pyrokinesis skills is a technique called the dancing flame. Get in a relaxed position, and grab a match. Light the match on fire and focus on the flame. Create a "tunnel" between you and the flame. Now visualize the flame going out. You must be focusing on only the flame. With enough will power, and hard concentration, the flame will go out. Putting a flame or fire out is the easiest part of Pyrokinesis. Making the flame or fire relight is the hard part. Once you can make the flame burn out, Focus on the flame relighting. After a few weeks of doing this, you will notice that once the flame is out, you will be able to see the ember start to turn red again as though it wanted to relight. Once you practice enough, it will relight. This is the easiest way to develop and train Pyrokinesis. This technique DOES WORK !<br />
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<i>Fire Blast:</i><br />
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Place you hands at your side as if to perform an advanced Ki blast. Charge up the Ki into your palms, but also visualize being engulfed in a fire surrounding you. Let the flames come up and collect in between your palms. Merge the Ki in your hands, with the "fire" in between your hands. When finished, you should have a completed fire ball in between your hands. Unless advanced enough, you won't actually see a flame, you'll just feel heat. Shoot your hands forward at the target. Visualize the fire coming off of your hands like a blow torch. Be careful though. If your body isn't conditioned for fire, the attack will also burn you.<br />
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<i>Flame Hadouken:</i><br />
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I didn't come up with this attack but you need to know how to do this before you do my Super Hadouken Finisher. If you know how to do a Hadouken this is how to make a Flame Hadouken. Form a Hadouken in the cup you made with your hand.(Like how Goku makes a kamehameha wave) Now visualize fire rushing up from your chakra point into your palm. The best way to picture this is to picture fire in a Fire place burning you and its spreading through out your whole body. Now have the fire join your hadouken. You know when you do this when your hand becomes real hot.<br />
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<i>Super Flame Hadouken Finisher:</i><br />
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This attack is finisher only. Visualize your Flame Hadouken growing bigger and bigger. Now add as much Ki into the ball as you want then condense the ball to a small form(just make the ball small its more efficient that way). Now draw all of your Ki that's in your whole body into the cups of your hand.visualize your hadouken getting stronger and picture light shining through the cracks of your fingers. When your ready fire at will. This is an effective finisher.<br />
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<i>Elemental Ki Flame Power-Up:</i><br />
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Everybody heard of ki flame well this is my upgraded version of it. Now do the ki flame and now when you explode your ki flame around your body visualize your ki change from red to cyan then from cyan to blue then from blue to brown then from brown to white then to red again.<br />
Red = Fire<br />
Cyan = Electric<br />
Blue = Water<br />
Brown = Earth<br />
White = Air<br />
Now your attacks will have elemental damage in them and plus you will have the same affects of the ki flame.<br />
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<i>Flame aura:</i><br />
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Flame aura is a technique where you use the heat Ki from Pyrokinesis to make a outer aura good for heating up your body in cold weather much like the inner heat tantra. To do this technique imagine heat Ki building up like a wave of energy and traveling throughout the body inside and out and that your body as if your body is igniting in flames. This technique will last long until your Ki depletes it is easy to use and can be learned in around 30 minutes.<br />
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Lastly, i want you to remember one thing, that these are the arts which need lot of practice.<br />
So, if u want to succeed, just remember that '<i><b>Faith</b></i>' and '<i><b>Patience</b></i>' are the keys to success ...<br />
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<br />
Dear Reader,<br />
<br />
Thank You for reading my article and don't forget to comment below the article that how you felt after reading it and so on ...<br />
Also if there are any suggestions, feel free to give them as i can improve myself according to reader's likes and dislikes.<br />
And if there are any queries, just post it below blog.<br />
Thank You once again.<br />
<br />
Hari Om</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-19185333650314710142011-08-09T09:27:00.000-07:002011-08-09T09:27:01.156-07:00Introduction to Parapsychology and understanding the Psychic Phenomenas & Abilities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9a-vwSe6XVIIR6kSIVk9jcJdGwZhaTYiNz-0FMohMSGFbHKIVx773sb9yWAek42CXvaQ1G66hSBj20lCwMGRMBpXjGK_uMT8oZ2FpRwLEQ-bdxOijq0zGqvE7DKovJ2OVS37Lybcm6s/s1600/parapsychology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9a-vwSe6XVIIR6kSIVk9jcJdGwZhaTYiNz-0FMohMSGFbHKIVx773sb9yWAek42CXvaQ1G66hSBj20lCwMGRMBpXjGK_uMT8oZ2FpRwLEQ-bdxOijq0zGqvE7DKovJ2OVS37Lybcm6s/s200/parapsychology.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
*NOTE : This article is totaly written on my beliefs and expieriences. So i request skeptics to stay away.<br />
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<br />
Introduction<br />
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What turns a mere piece of matter from being mere matter into an animated being? What gives certain special physical patterns in the universe the mysterious privilege of feeling sensations and having experiences?<br />
<br />
D.R. Hofstadter<br />
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What is Parapsychology?<br />
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Parapsychology is the scientific and scholarly study of certain unusual events associated with human experience. These experiences have been called "psychic" for want of a better term.<br />
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A common misconception is that a parapsychologist is a psychic. Not so. Likewise, a child psychiatrist is not a child! Instead, a parapsychologist is a scientist or scholar who is seriously interested in the "paranormal." Unfortunately, many telephone books and on-line sites use "parapsychologist" as a synonym for psychic entertainer, mentalist, conjurer, astrologer, or psychic reader. This is an inappropriate use of the term "parapsychologist."<br />
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What does it mean to study psychic phenomena? A long-held, common-sense assumption is that the worlds of the subjective and objective are completely distinct, with no overlap. Subjective is "here, in the head," and objective is "there, out in the world." Parapsychology then is the study of phenomena suggesting that the assumption of a strict separation between subjective and objective may be wrong. Human experience suggests that some phenomena occasionally fall between the cracks, and are not purely subjective nor purely objective. From a scientific perspective, such phenomena are called "anomalous" because they are difficult to explain within current scientific models.<br />
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These anomalies fall into three general categories: ESP (terms are defined below), PK, and phenomena suggestive of survival after bodily death, including near-death experiences, apparitions, and reincarnation. <br />
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What is not parapsychology?<br />
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In spite of what the media often imply, parapsychology is not the study of anything considered weird or bizarre. Nor is parapsychology concerned with astrology, UFOs, searching for Bigfoot, paganism, vampires, alchemy, or witchcraft.<br />
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Many scientists have viewed parapsychology with great suspicion because the term has come to be associated with a huge variety of mysterious phenomena, fringe topics, and pseudoscience. Parapsychology is also often linked, again inappropriately, with a broad range of "psychic" entertainers, magicians, and so-called "paranormal investigators." In addition, some self-proclaimed "psychic practitioners" call themselves parapsychologists, but that is not what i do.<br />
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What do parapsychologists study?<br />
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Many feel that the strangest, and most interesting, aspect of parapsychological phenomena is that they do not appear to be limited by the known boundaries of space or time. In addition, they blur the sharp distinction usually made between mind and matter. In popular usage, the basic parapsychological phenomena are categorized as follows:<br />
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* Psi : A neutral term for parapsychological phenomena. Psychic and psychical are synonyms.<br />
* Telepathy : Direct mind-to-mind communication.<br />
* Precognition: Obtaining information about future events, where the information could not be inferred through normal means. Many people report dreams that appear to be precognitive.<br />
* Clairvoyance : Sometimes called remote viewing; obtaining information about events at remote locations, beyond the reach of the normal senses.<br />
* ESP: Extra-sensory perception; a general term for obtaining information about events beyond the reach of the normal senses. This term subsumes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition.<br />
* Psychokinesis : Also called PK; direct mental interaction with physical objects, animate or inanimate.<br />
* Bio-PK : Direct mental interactions with living systems.<br />
* NDE : Near death experience; an experience reported by those who were revived from nearly dying. Often refers to a core experience that includes feelings of peace, OBE, seeing lights and other phenomena.<br />
* OBE : Out-of-body experience; the experience of feeling separated from the body, often accompanied by visual perceptions as though from above the body.<br />
* Reincarnation: The belief that we live successive lives, with primarily evidence coming from the apparent recollections of previous lives by very small children.<br />
* Haunting : Recurrent phenomena reported to occur in particular locations that include apparitions, sounds, movement of objects, and other effects.<br />
* Poltergeist: Large-scale PK phenomena often attributed to spirits, but which are now thought to be due to a living person, frequently an adolescent.<br />
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Now below i will focus and put a light on some major Psychic Phenomenas and Abilities :<br />
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NDE - Near Death Experiences<br />
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Near death experiences happen, when the spiritual entity leaves the matter body, which has been subjected to extreme stress by an accident, surgery or the like. There are several stages of separation from the body. If it happens during surgical procedures, as long as the body is alive the spiritual entity floats under the ceiling and watches what's going on. During this period the entity feels no pain and usually there is a peaceful feeling. If life is to continue in the matter body at some point of time the entity enters the matter body again. When consciousness returns pain is felt again.<br />
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In the next stage the entity is pulled through a tunnel toward a light - the expression "light at the end of the tunnel" refers to this situation. - Upon exiting the tunnel the entity meets other entities, usually relatives or friends who passed on earlier. These are very supportive and help the entity to understand what's going on. This is as far as a near death experience can go. Ultimately, the entity is told that his/her time to die has not come yet and then returns into the matter body.<br />
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On rare occasions, persons who had a near death experience report having been to a terrible place where horrendous suffering was going on. One should think that people who went through this terrible ordeal believe that they had been in hell. Therefore, many probably won't talk about such an experience. Only few are ready to admit that they did not qualify for the good place.<br />
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OBE - Out of Body Experiences<br />
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Initially are the same as the first phase of a near death experience. The spiritual entity leaves and floats above the body. This does not require a stressful situation like surgery and can happen any time day or night from sleep or waking state. Some induce OBEs with drugs; others don't need anything to make it happen.<br />
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Telekinesis<br />
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The ability to move objects at a distance by the power of mind.<br />
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Teleportation<br />
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Teleportation is the transport of something through the quantum vacuum to a different location. As this happens in a realm where there is no space and no time this process is instant. Someone with sufficient spiritual prowess can teleport himself to a different location or can move an object this way. <br />
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Poltergeists<br />
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Poltergeist manifestations can have two very different reasons:<br />
Someone who lived and died in a house stays there after death. This is a confused spirit who has not realized that he/she is dead or has such a strong attachment to the place that he/she does not want to leave. Such spirits see people living in the house as intruders and try to scare them away. Exorcism rarely helps. Usually it makes the spirits angrier because they fell someone tries to chase them out of a place that belongs to them. A sensible approach is to talk calmly to the spirits and tell them that they died and if they want to have a happy life after life they need to move on to the spirit world. This does not make them angry and has a good chance of success.<br />
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The second kind of poltergeist manifestation usually occurs in connection with adolescents whose unconscious energies for whatever reason get out of control. Exorcism does not help. A relaxed even humorous attitude has a good chance to diffuse the situation whereas fear and anger will strengthen the uncontrolled energies and trigger unpleasant episodes more often and more violently. There are no pills that will help but a tea to soothe nerves and relax the teenager responsible for these incidences has a good chance to succeed. A cup of chamomile tea in the morning and at bedtime might do just fine.<br />
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Pyrokinesis<br />
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Pyrokinesis is the ability to move, influence and extinguish fire. Pyrokinesis ranges from being able to move a candle's fire at will to being able to set something on fire. Creating fire out of nowhere is impossible, but with sheer determination you might be able to make something burn. This is accomplished by mentally heating an object which even though extremely rare is possible. I haven't personally done it, but I've seen it a couple of times.<br />
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Electrokinesis<br />
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Electrokinesis is the ability to control, generate, or absorb electricity.<br />
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Autokinesis<br />
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autokinesis means skill to manipulate energy. It can be used for many things, example constructing energy wall front of us, and protecting then.<br />
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Geokinesis<br />
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Geokinesis is controling the earth. You could a move rock, sands, make plants grow faster and other things like that.<br />
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Hydrokinesis<br />
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Hydrokinesis is the ability to control or create movements in water at will.If you chose to learn how to use such a powerful ability you will with no doubt begin to learn and think you are going nowher.But everyone must begin somewhere.You will go form making small and hardly noticeable ripples in the water to making large waves. Hydrokinesis,much like other kinetic abilities,once mastered can be used for protection or to save a life. All it takes is, time, pratice, patience, and an open mind.<br />
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Psi Ball<br />
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PSI is a form of energy and making PSI balls is nothing more than making a ball of energy. You are in reality molding psi energy with your mind and hands to form the psi balls into a round shape. The vast majority of the time people call them psi balls, however, you can construct them into the shape of a psi square or a psi brick or any other shape you may choose.<br />
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Aerokinesis<br />
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Aerokinesis is the control of air. By using aerokinesis, you can create a small breeze, or a whole lot of wind.<br />
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Dear Reader,<br />
<br />
There are lot more abilities & phenomenas out there but i dont wish to mention everything here as i dont think you will read any further from here.<br />
Even though if you are seriously intrested, you can contact me .<br />
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Thank you for reading till here with such patience.<br />
If there are some suggestions or queries, you can post under my blog.<br />
________<br />
<br />
Hari Om</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-55652571696297343622011-07-29T01:39:00.000-07:002011-07-29T01:39:30.123-07:00The Importance Of 'Chi' & The Way To Cultivate It .<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">While exercise has a measurable effect on our physiology and improves our physical, mental and emotional health, there is another component necessary for true fitness. It’s known as “vital life force,” “qi,” “chi,” “prana,” “divine essence”— and it’s what animates all living things. Though it’s invisible, it's something we feel every day. Can't wait to do something? Your chi<i> </i>is probably strong. Can't get out of bed? It’s probably weak. Angry, frustrated or depressed? It’s probably stuck. Our attitudes, emotions and sense of well-being are all influenced by our chi. In Oriental medicine, strong chi is synonymous with excellent health, mental clarity and physical vitality. A weakened or blocked flow of this vital essence is considered the beginning of all disease. Acupuncture is effective because it acts at this “energetic” level.<br />
While it’s thought that we’re born with a limited amount of genetic chi, we can cultivate “acquired” chi through our lifestyle choices. The idea is to balance active and receptive energies, which we can do by getting enough rest, eating well and balancing exercise and recreational activities with those that specifically enhance chi reserves and flow. Interestingly, this vital energy isn’t necessarily enhanced by exercise. Over-exercise or exercising with poor posture or muscular imbalances can actually weaken your life force.<br />
In this blog, I will discuss this animating principle in more detail, then look at five different disciplines that can add the “chi factor” to your life. Yoga - an ancient practice, offers seemingly unlimited styles for any shape, size or personality type. Qigong, “the grandfather of martial arts,” can build strength from the inside out, while tai chi chuan (tai chi), known as “moving meditation,” is a gentle introduction to the martial arts, and a great way to build and balance chi. Aikido, “the way of harmonizing with the infinite,” shows that self-defense can be gentle and graceful as well as efficacious. Kung Fu, the most intense way to build chi, appeals to the athletically inclined and will challenge you at every level. Any of these arts will complement your exercise program to uplift your body, mind and spirit and nourish your chi.<br />
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<b>Extraordinary Chi<br />
</b>The ability to focus and guide chi can lead to extraordinary power and an extremely high pain threshold. A parent lifting a car off a child in an emergency is an example of strong chi (and, of course an adrenaline rush!) in action. The “flying technique” portrayed in the film <i>Crou</i>chi<i>ng Tiger, Hidden Dragon </i>is an example of an extreme focus of such energy. This “chi power” is perhaps most dramatically illustrated by the strength of older, frail-looking martial arts masters calmly fending off two or more larger, younger opponents with barely the blink of an eye. Sometimes the force emitted from such a master is strong enough to physically knock the opponent down before he even reaches the master.<br />
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<b>Yoga<br />
</b>Yoga is offered in most gyms these days, and yoga studios are popping up everywhere, even in rural communities. This wonderful self-care system originated in India; the names of the postures are in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. “Ha”<i> </i>means sun; “tha” means<i> </i>moon<i>. </i>Together they express a wholeness of polarities, like the Oriental yin/yang balance.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXqRg5p4NY42Xy59y2mnVt5GnHbMb-3OvUozm5mwUgW_hu_pjDK3wJfUsK5CczGIT0J4cTYA38-DaEJbIsBLy2why_VMj4i569eqe4hMUXCr5dePs40vKCI8JLgfxYdGZPo3cjUTMz_m6/s400/yoga-poses3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXqRg5p4NY42Xy59y2mnVt5GnHbMb-3OvUozm5mwUgW_hu_pjDK3wJfUsK5CczGIT0J4cTYA38-DaEJbIsBLy2why_VMj4i569eqe4hMUXCr5dePs40vKCI8JLgfxYdGZPo3cjUTMz_m6/s320/yoga-poses3.jpg" width="257" /></a>Yoga postures can be used to strengthen and stretch muscles, joints and connective tissue. The emphasis on lengthening the spine in every pose—combined with twisting postures—irrigates vertebrae, keeping them youthful even into old age. The poses, (called “asanas”) promote the flow of energy through the nervous system and assist in the elimination of toxins. They exert a beneficial pressure on glands and internal organs, flushing and stimulating them.<br />
Yoga prevents, relieves or eliminates many symptoms and conditions, including hypertension, arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes. The discipline also affords mental and emotional fitness. Most people experience a deep sense of well being after the first class, departing with a sense of relaxation and clarity of mind. Others experience emotional “cleansing,” as deeply repressed feelings are released to the surface. On a psychological level, yoga can be a profound tool, gently uncovering negative patterns and offering more comfortable, spacious ways of being with yourself and others.<br />
For those on a spiritual path, the discipline of a regular yoga practice provides a foundation for the trek. The word yoga means “union.” For some, that means union with the divine; for others, it may be uniting hands to feet. But beyond stretching, beyond strengthening, yoga clears pathways within the body. Your natural chi energy can then flow straight through you, like a laser beam of light, illuminating the way.<br />
<br />
<b>Developing Chi Through Martial Arts<br />
</b>One of the best ways to develop chi is by practicing a martial art. There are literally hundreds to choose from; in fact, more than 300 different styles are practiced in China, where most of them originated. Interestingly, Chinese martial arts arose from the same roots as Chinese medicine. Martial artists were trained in medicine, while doctors were trained in martial arts. Priests and monks were both doctors and martial artists, and were practitioners of “energy medicine.” <br />
Chinese martial arts are differentiated as being either external or internal. Named for their area of origin, the external arts use muscular force, speed and sheer strength to produce power. They emphasize linear movements, high impact contact, jumps, and kicks. Internal martial arts use what the Chinese call<i> </i>“wise force” to overcome opponents. They combine internal chi energy with muscle strength to produce power. Tai chi, Aikido and Kung Fu are internal arts. Along with fighting techniques, internal training often includes standing meditation and exercises to develop chi.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ymaa.com/files/article-five-qigong-categories-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ymaa.com/files/article-five-qigong-categories-2.jpg" width="160" /></a><b>Qigong<br />
</b>Qigong can be considered the root, or “grandfather” of not only all forms of martial arts, but also of Chinese healing systems. This ancient practice of healing, health maintenance and self-development dates back thousands of years; it involves posture, movement, self-massage, breathing techniques, and meditation. The specific practices are designed to cultivate, increase, and refine chi. Impure or stale energy is eliminated, while the flow of healthy, pure chi is enhanced. You don’t need a large space or special equipment, and it’s easy to learn. The ultimate goal is to fully develop your body, mind and spirit. With training and experience, you can use qigong for self-healing. When it’s used to heal others, the practice is known as medical qigong. There may be thousands of different “schools,” and the many styles are based on some common principles and practices. Qigong teachers often come from a long lineage of a particular style.<br />
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<b>Tai Chi Chuan (Tai Chi)<br />
</b>If you’re looking for a non-impact workout, tai chi chuan (known also as tai chi) may be the perfect choice. Some say it’s the oldest of the martial arts; it’s been practiced in China for centuries and is popular in both rural and industrial areas there today. Originally, tai chi was a fighting form that emphasized strength, balance, flexibility, and speed. Adversarial energy was redirected back to the sender so that an opponent could experience his or her own negative intentions. Today, this art is almost exclusively practiced as therapeutic exercise and meditation, characterized by slow, gentle movements. <br />
<a href="http://medtips.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/m_Tai-chi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://medtips.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/m_Tai-chi.jpg" width="320" /></a>Based on the principle of yin and yang, in which opposing but complementary forces combine to create harmony, tai chi developed into a movement and breathing system that exercised all the joints and major muscle groups while circulating internal energy. It is this circulation of chi that prevents or mitigates disease and promotes health. Tai chi increases strength, stamina, and flexibility, and is easy on joints. It cultivates the link between mind and body, enhancing balance and coordination. It also reduces blood pressure, improves oxygen utilization and immune function, increases bone density, and reduces stress hormone levels. Many of these effects have been documented in elderly beginners practicing an abbreviated form for only a few months. If tai chi can have this effect on beginners, think of what it can do for someone who starts decades sooner!<br />
As with other martial arts, there are many styles and forms. Fundamental to all forms, however, is finding our center, called the “tan tien,” or “reservoir.” We tap into this source of energy deep inside and practice moving it throughout our bodies to heal and nourish the internal organs, and to balance the immune and endocrine systems. When we consciously direct our movements, we can consciously direct our energy. Some people become so adept at this that they can consciously move chi through the subtle channels known as acupuncture meridians.<br />
Tai chi emphasizes continuous, flowing movement. There's no over-extension or wasted effort—the whole body moves in unison, each part balanced by another-gently rotating and transforming into the next movement. Unlike other forms of exercise, Tai chi doesn’t cause panting or breathlessness; breathing deepens as tension is released.<br />
<br />
<b>Aikido<br />
</b>Aikido is a relatively new self-defense art. It was founded in Japan by Professor Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). As a youth, Ueshiba spent years of intense training in budo, a Japanese martial arts. He was a master of Jiu-jitsu, and was considered unbeatable. As he learned some of the most sophisticated and devastating fighting techniques of Japan, he questioned their intense aggression and the need to defeat others. Inspired by Zen Buddhism and Shinto, an ancient Japanese religion based on love and harmony with nature, Ueshiba sought a more peaceful martial art. He realized that true self-defense was not winning over others, but winning over the discord within oneself. He developed <i>Aikido</i>, which means “the way of harmonizing with the spirit of the universe.” The study of Aikido involves positive character-building ideals along with self-defense techniques. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kYCGWY54ZDhrCSBUESjrvJWaQ6B6Mmn24R0yrHFfNhLSbjzolSavXU7KAK4Nozijowb-hC2lxUVIOnVjY_7hZ-fGaGp0Dp46odKa3wGUTmwr397RgmgLzRRuQWaKgqOHSv1_c8UA0-w/s400/Aikido.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kYCGWY54ZDhrCSBUESjrvJWaQ6B6Mmn24R0yrHFfNhLSbjzolSavXU7KAK4Nozijowb-hC2lxUVIOnVjY_7hZ-fGaGp0Dp46odKa3wGUTmwr397RgmgLzRRuQWaKgqOHSv1_c8UA0-w/s320/Aikido.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Although many Aikido moves resemble the techniques and throws of Jiu Jutsu and Judo, this art focuses on controlling the vital energy centered in the abdominal region in order to subdue an opponent. While Judo's main techniques are throwing, grappling, and attacking vital points, Aikido techniques deflect blows and check offensive attacks by meeting rather than blocking blows. Aikido emphasizes nerve points that, when pressed, can bring down an adversary without risk of maiming or killing. The focus is on freeing yourself from grips, throwing an opponent to the ground by exerting precise leverage maneuvers, then immobilizing the adversary by placing pressure on the joints. Students practice forms by alternatively taking the roles of attacker and defender. There is no competition in Aikido; however, ranks are attained in a process similar to judo, and are awarded at formal demonstrations. Some forms include a long staff (called a bo<i>)</i> or a rubber knife.<br />
During practice, students match their movements to those of others, avoiding collisions and conflicts. They discover their own strengths and weaknesses, mastering themselves as they master the art. Aikido is more than a system of self-defense; it promotes peace and harmony among people. It is a spiritual as well as a physical discipline, and is extremely popular around the world, since it does not require great physical strength and can be practiced effectively by women and the elderly.<br />
<br />
<b>Kung Fu<br />
</b>Kung Fu (Chinese boxing) shares, along with Karate, the distinction of being one of the two most popular martial arts. It employs kicks, crouches, strikes, throws, body turns, dodges, holds, leaps and falls, handsprings and somersaults. This style of martial arts (especially Shaolin Kung Fu) is one of the fiercest and most revered. Advance practitioners can harness the focus and control to break a solid brick with a bare hand. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/images/arbigimages/945fee1bb063051c849ccf0519d2266e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/images/arbigimages/945fee1bb063051c849ccf0519d2266e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Whereas Karate moves are deliberate, forceful and distinct (punches are linear, kicks are in a straight line, and the body is held rigidly), Kung Fu is smooth and fluid—movements meld imperceptibly into one long, graceful action. Properly coordinated chi creates the fluidity associated with Kung Fu. This martial art requires a strict code of physical and mental discipline unparalleled in Western sports. Kung Fu priests of ancient times were adept in art, medicine, music, religions, animal husbandry, cartography, languages, history, the making of weapons and fighting techniques. The artist had to be more than a fighting machine—he had to know how, where and when to enter a fight, and more importantly, how to avoid conflict. Ironically, only with unbeatable ability was he secure enough <i>not</i> to need to fight.<br />
The self mastery gained from the study and practice of Kung Fu can become an asset you can use in personal, professional, academic and social situations. The skills learned become part of you, a way of being in the world.<br />
<br />
<b>Developing Chi Is Worth The Effort<br />
</b>Though it takes patience and perseverance, cultivating chi energy will be an investment you’ll reap rewards from for the rest of your life. It is, after all, what animates all living things. From a single-celled amoeba to the farthest galaxy, chi is behind the scenes creating all the action. Enjoy your exploration of this mysterious, yet tangible force, and build your own personal power.<br />
</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-29529138873947097022011-07-23T01:57:00.000-07:002011-07-23T01:57:55.071-07:00Combat Psychology - Confusing An Attacker ... .<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h2><a href="http://www.tangsoudao.com/images/ladiesselfdefence-0321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.tangsoudao.com/images/ladiesselfdefence-0321.jpg" width="281" /></a>Why You Never Have the Upper Hand in a Fight</h2>Thugs in the street very rarely have any formal training in martial arts or self-defence and yet they still manage to get the best of most people (including those that do have training often) when it comes to brawling. In fact put a street fighter in the ring with most martial artists and it's still not even clear who'd come out on top. In part this is down to experience - thugs and street-fighters get into scraps on an almost daily basis and obviously pick up a few tricks. More though, it is down to the psychology; they have learned the art of intimidation, they have let go of their fear and they have that 'killer' instinct that most people are lacking. Furthermore the very nature of a street fight if you're the victim will put you at a disadvantage. You see if you're attacked they have the element of surprise, they have the experience, and they have chosen to initiate the fight (thereby being able to pick a time that suits them). You'll be shocked and upset while they'll be psyched and ready to go. Then you'll still have to wait until they actually throw a punch before you can defend yourself (otherwise it's not 'self defence'). This is why it's normally the psychology alone that makes a victim lose a fight to a thug - most of them are lanky, thick and badly coordinated.<br />
<br />
While that killer instinct isn't something that you can learn from an article (so I'm wasting my time writing this one theoretically...), and you're not going to go around starting fights so you have the upper hand, there are thankfully several ways you can use your own psychological techniques to get the best of your attacker and you can develop at least a more pragmatic attitude to confrontation. <br />
<br />
<h2> </h2><h2>Stop Pulling Punches</h2>It's a fact that everyone naturally pulls there punches. Even when you think you are hitting someone with your full force there is a mental barrier that is preventing you from using 100%. This is actually the reason that insane people often seem inhumanly strong - because their mental barrier is missing. It's also the reason that you hear stories of children getting trapped underneath cars only for their mothers to find the strength to lift it off of them. In a fight this mental barrier becomes even more apparent. Most of us are averse to violence and will start to feel very uncomfortable when someone starts threatening us. A lot of things run through our minds - we don't want to hurt them more than necessary, we don't want to be 'unfair or unreasonable' and further more we don't want to get hurt ourselves. The attacker however has no such qualms. For this reason a lot of us don't only pull our punches - but become frozen and fail to punch at all - and it's because you're worried about them ridiculously enough.<br />
<br />
First of all then, forget about fairness straight off. If they're threatening you then you are perfectly within your rights to spark them out. They deserve it. If you are in any way nervous about hitting them they will sense it and make their move more confidently. You must be willing to respond in kind if called for. The best and fairest thing to do in this situation would simply be to punch them straight in the face they minute they invade your personal space or do that swaggering walk. However most of us aren't willing to do that. Thus we need to be a little more tactical than our thug friends. Surely you can outthink a thug. More on that later, however if you can switch off your common decency a little it will help you out.<br />
<br />
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--google_ad_client = "pub-2508720265295701";/* Bio article */google_ad_slot = "6853593223";google_ad_width = 300;google_ad_height = 250;
</script>Next you need to try and eradicate any fears of getting hurt yourself
as that can often cause you to hold back; if it's between getting
stabbed and damaging your knuckles I know what I'd choose. One way I
overcome this is to pretend I'm the Terminator. In my mind I just
imagine being invincible, walking unstoppably towards my target and
letting blows bounce off me like rubber. Another psychological
technique that's actually used in sports as well is to imagine you have
all of your strengths and all of the strengths of your opponent and
it's amazing how effective this little bit of self talk can be.
Similarly you can pretend you're fighting one of your friends (and
practice doing so) so it won't seem like such a big deal.
Right so so far we've got the following advice: get over your urge to
not cause bleeding (yours or theirs) and use alternative attacks to
just punching. Another great one is to grab the head and twist it to
the left or right violently which forces anyone to drop to the ground.
<h2>
</h2><h2>
Thugs Are Predictable</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bowdoin.edu/security/images/womens-selfdefense.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bowdoin.edu/security/images/womens-selfdefense.jpg.jpg" /></a></div>Unfortunately brave and unique though you now are, you're still
essentially going to be waiting there to be hit at. The good news is
though that this is easy to defend against as almost every thug has the
exact same first move - the right hook. Thus you can be ready for the
first attack the minute you're concerned you're heading for fight
territory. If they do that swagger-y walk or enter your personal space
or act 'too' friendly then the minute they flinch cover the right of
your head or duck. This is what we were talking about early when we
said 'outsmart' the attacking thug.
<h2>
</h2><h2>
Using Weird Attacks</h2>From here go for the head twist, a kick to the groin, a kick to the
kneecap or
something other than a straight punch. Even just slapping them hard
across the ear can daze and confuse them so that you can make your get
away or follow up with the face twist (another psychological element
that's hard to cross is moving in to their personal space which can be
intimidating to longer range attacks will work well). Anything where
you push or pull the head works excellently to take someone down if
you're quick and forceful as it's unexpected and far from their centre
of balance. Alternatively cover then leap backwards to put space
between you after you've been hit - these thugs tend to be fairly slow
delivering punches and will pause between attacks, especially
initially. This gives you time to plan your next move.
Many of these simple but unusual attacks will work well even if you do
get hit - as hook punches are fairly week and usually lack technique.
Again from here you've got the green light to go in with one of these
other attacks.
<h2>
</h2><h2>
Psychological Games</h2>There are other little tricks you can use to throw the balance and get
the psychological element back on your side. For example, simply
shouting out loudly before you punch someone can shock them enough that
they will freeze - thugs just don't expect it so make it loud and
sudden. Similarly yelling 'help' really loudly though a bit pussy-ish
will draw attention to you all and put them on edge (shouting any noise
continuously can work well and will put them out of sync). Another
great one is to attack mid sentence. This can be your sentence or
theirs but if you go:
'Look mate I don't want any trouble here, I'm willing to le-' and then
punch them straight in the face they'll be completely unprepared to
defend as it's human nature to wait until the end of a sentence. You
can even just try charging at them as fast and brutally as possible
which they won't know how to react to - then throw them down by hitting
them on the top of their chest or neck as you barge into them. Another
fantastic one is to throw your lose change hard at their face if you
carry it in your back pocket. This will distract them and confuse them
and hurt and you can follow up with a punch. They won't expect it -
no one expects to have money thrown at them (and it's poetic and ironic
if they were going to demand your cash...). Another option is to run
and climb and throw other items thereby using your environment Jackie
Chan - style. Again they don't expect it and get this - you jump over a
railing and to follow you they have to jump or climb over it too. You
just wait the other side and knock them off every time they try to.
<h2>
</h2><h2>
Shock and Awe</h2>Regardless of which of these defences you use take this message as the
one you need to learn - the two things that make you vulnerable in a
fight are the fear of hitting someone and having to wait for the first
attack. If you can get over these things with a guaranteed counter that
you're not afraid to use and some clever ways to unsettle the opponent
and ruin their 'pattern' then you're in with a good chance. Similarly
learn to control your fight or flight response. Furthermore think about
the predictable pattern that a thug uses and expects - break out of
this and take them out of their comfort zone. This is far more useful
in a fight than learning and perfecting hundreds of moves and counters
- most of which you'll be far to frozen to use otherwise.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-88609480611301826682011-07-09T00:16:00.000-07:002011-07-09T00:16:42.512-07:00Capoeira - Stealthiest Martial Art ................. .<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWGxZrhKuNo/Thf_ktVEk7I/AAAAAAAAAI0/Joov7xpWI3Q/s1600/roda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWGxZrhKuNo/Thf_ktVEk7I/AAAAAAAAAI0/Joov7xpWI3Q/s200/roda.jpg" width="200" /></a>Capoeira empowers people: from individuals to ethnic groups or strata of society. It is a synthesis of African traditions, customs and philosophies synthesized in and influenced by a Brazilian atmosphere. Capoeira is ritual and it is play. It is a meditation form, a dance, a fight and a form of entertainment, a way to pass the time. In the African tradition, it contains elements from all facets of life - it incorporates music, movement, spirituality, mysticism, magic, practicality and analysis. In Capoeira each of these concepts cannot exist without the others. Alone each is lacking and is meaningless. Capoeira is introverted and extroverted, rational and irrational, good and evil. It is an artistic expression of reality. To the Capoeirista, reality and capoeira intermingle and flow together, for they are each other. The Capoeirista learns about life through Capoeira and about Capoeira through life. Observation and awareness are crucial to learning. Nature and human spirit are the ultimate teachers. The good Capoeirista should know both like he knows himself, and he should know himself. Capoeira is a discipline packed with etiquette and rules yet it is never choreographed. The whole game is improvised through repetition of various movements and reactions to the movements of the other player as well as anything the player feels inclined to do. Capoeira is a frame of mind.<br />
<br />
Capoeira is African. This is where it came from, enslaved Africans were brought to Brazil by the Portuguese from all over sub-saharan Africa: from the Congo, Angola, Namibia and perhaps even South Africa and Mozambique. The Africans from these countries are from hundreds of tribes and speak many languages however they have a common heritage.<br />
<br />
Black slave culture in Brazil was a synthesis of the tribal cultures represented by the slaves. Of course there were many foreign influences to the culture as a result of the Portuguese slave owners and slavery in general. Portuguese language was imposed upon them, however it also provided a common language with which Africans from different tribes could communicate. This is also a manifestation of one of the basic ideals in Capoeira and that is to try to use every situation, even if it is forcibly imposed on you, to your best advantage. Direct confrontation is not a viable option for the underdog resisting a far stronger opponent. There is a proverb in Capoeira which says: Quem aguenta tempestade e rochedo. It means only the cliffs face the tempest. Fighting is reserved only for those times when you have no escape and no other option. Mestre Cobra Mansa once told a story of an excellent Capoeirista who was confronted by four good fighters who wanted to see for themselves how good this Capoeirista was. They followed him down an alley one night and challenged him. He did a back flip and was running in the other direction as fast as his legs could carry him before they knew what was going on. This is the Capoeirista's solution. Capoeira often provides a non-violent way out of a sticky situation like a cunning trick or a mental trap.<br />
<br />
Some people say that Capoeira originated from African dances. There was no fighting aspect in the movements before they were modified by freedom seeking slaves in Brazil. Other people provide evidence of a ritual fight/dance called N'golo from Southern Angola as proof that it did exist in martial form before it reached Brazil. Many African dances are war dances and I have heard Capoeira be referred to as a war dance too. Slaves in Brazil definitely added to the martial qualities of the game for Capoeira to become a weapon but the dance qualities were never disregarded or lost. Dancing is a tribute to the joy of life. It was also used as a disguise when officials came upon capoeiristas practicing their art. This history/legend reveals some other basic ideals present in capoeira. Camouflage is a valuable weapon and if mastered, your actions are invisible to your enemy. It is also really fun. Retaining the dance aspect indicates Capoeira's dedication to tradition and the "go with the flow" attitude is once again expressed. Beauty is central to life and Capoeira, what is life without beauty?<br />
<br />
The notion of "winning" in Capoeira is not based on suppression of your opponent/partner, though on rare occasions it is. In fact, there is no victor or loser in Capoeira. The one who plays a better game in the roda is the one who plays more gracefully, who shows his/her "malicia" through deception and trickery, who can perform more intricate ad complex movements (if they are in the right context) and who is able to remain fechado (defended) and not give the other person the opportunity to attack successfully. If there is a winner (which there isn't really), it is the one who wins the heart of the audience.<br />
<br />
An integral part of Capoeira is the music. It dictates the pace and the mood of the game. It is used to signal or call players. History and philosophy are passed through the songs. Tunes reflect Malicia through variations and improvisation. Players of old are revered and remembered. Emotion is released and skill is displayed. The central instrument is the berimbau. The berimbau is the soul of Capoeira and it has powerful magic. The berimbau should be an extension of you used to express emotions which are otherwise impossible to express. Music and peace replaced violence and destruction. The berimbau is said to tame the soul and put one at peace. Ladainhas, the song sung at the beginning of the roda, is also a lament and often an expression of longing.<br />
<br />
Capoeira and its music are one and the same thing, they cannot be seperated. Some more recent Capoeira styles that have deviated from the traditional Capoeira (Angola) place less emphasis on the music.<br />
<br />
The music, as all aspects of Capoeira, reflects philosophy and meaning. Though the sounds that can be produced by a skillful berimbau player are very numerous and are constantly added to and improvised on, there are three basic sounds or notes. A high note, a low note and a buzz sound (which is not a note but its opposite). The high and the low notes are seen as direct opposites, analogous to attack and defense in the game. The buzz is seen as a neutral space, neither the high nor the low note but both follow from or are born of the buzz. It contains neither and both at the same time. This is analogous to the ginga, which is the source of attacking and defensive movements but is neutral simultaneously. This makes it dangerous and worthy of suspicion and never to be trusted.<br />
<br />
Opposing forces are very important in Capoeira. The Capoeirista learns to play upside down and right way up because this versatility can be a great advantage. The Capoeirista can confuse and distract his opponent, creating opportunities for attack. The trick is to remain invulnerable to attack in a position that is not comfortable unless the Capoeirista trains the movements until his/her body and mind understands them. In many situations the Capoeirista will lure his opponent into attack by creating the illusion of being vulnerable. Such an ambush is not result of pre-meditation or fore thought but rather the product of a state of mind involving cockiness, playfulness, self-confidence and knowledge of human nature. Attack is always the time when one is most vulnerable and this is why the Capoeirista teases taunts and lures his opponent into a foolish attack that usually provides opportunity for counter attack. The Capoeirista is always very cautious and will rarely launch an attack with the intent of executing it or without an escape in mind.<br />
<br />
We cannot have control of all that happens in the world, but we can have control of our own bodies and our own emotions. In Capoeira we learn to do this and this gives us strength and power. To have control of your body and to understand the forces that govern it, we have to practice and practice and practice. The movements of Capoeira become part of our consciousness and part of our lives. But to do the movements you have to understand them and feel them. Capoeira requires mental strength more than physical strength. When you play in the roda you have to be aware of every movement of your opponent. A game in the roda (especially on the street) can be very dangerous, anything is allowed. There is no violence in Capoeira but there is violence in some of the people who play Capoeira. As a Capoeirista you must always be very aware that anything is a possibility, never expect mercy, never trust anything that the other person does in the roda. For every move that your opponent makes you must be aware of every possible movement that your opponent could make next and every possible movement that you could make in response. You should know an escape from every move your opponent could make. Capoeira is full of questions and responses, challenges and replies, actions and reactions.<br />
<br />
This dialogue is physical, mental and emotional. It is a physical game of balance and control. When you are as close to a person as you are in a Capoeira game, one does not have to move a long way or that quickly to effect the other person. Therefore you have to be able to move swiftly and with clear direction and purpose. You cannot be indecisive because there is no time for it. The game is like a game of chess because you are trying to outmaneuver your opponent or put him/her in position from which there is no escape. You are trying to prepare your opponent for a certain movement by distracting them or confusing them or deceiving them. Capoeira is also a battle of emotion. Your opponent will try to arouse emotions in you that put you off guard. He/she might smile or laugh and pretend that there is no ill intent while actually it is another camouflaged plot. He/she might try to instill fear by saying something or executing a very tough move. Fear will make you tense and rushed, which will impair your abilities and your awareness. The Capoeirista must control his/her emotions so as to keep calm and relaxed but also so he/she can use his/her outward display of emotion to his/her advantage. This is very valuable in life in general. The "chamada" is when one player calls the other with one of many set movements. The other player comes up to the caller and the two move together in close contact. The caller then breaks the chamada using some action with the intent of testing the awareness and the ability of the other. The one who was called is immediately expecting treachery. He/she also knows it is a test. This is when control of one's emotions is very important.<br />
<br />
Playing in the roda is very similar to being in a trance. Time seems to be non-existent. You feel very closely connected to the person that you are playing, interacting with, deceiving and suspecting. You feel like a strong individual and a part of group, the group that is singing at you, watching you, encouraging you with their music and their "axe" (life force). Everyone is contributing to the energy and the experience. When you play you do not pay attention to anyone other than the other player, but you can feel and hear the rest of the group. You know they are there watching you and you know that you depend on them for life energy. It is very fulfilling and peaceful. You can feel your life force, your "axe" (pronounced: ashay), pulsing with your blood, with the beat of the music and the words of the songs and the movements of the other player.<br />
<br />
Capoeira is not played to reach some end goal. There is no progression from level to level. There are no graduations, designed to put you on a scale and to make it seem official as if you were on some training course. We play Capoeira for ourselves so that we can learn about our bodies and our minds. We play so that we can be at peace with ourselves and so that we can be in a healthy mindframe to go out into the world and do whatever it is that we are going to do. It gives us the strength to do those things. That strength is a spirit and energy passed down to us by the mestres who teach us and whom we love and respect. These mestres each had their own mestre who had their own mestre. The Capoeiristas of this time are descendents of a long line of Capoeiristas. These are now our ancestors and we gain protection and guidance from them through Capoeira. We honor and remember them through Capoeira. We build a community around Capoeira that supports us, and which we support. This community extends outside of the Capoeira roda and into the society around us upon whom we rely for axe.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-34569866812065213882011-06-08T21:54:00.000-07:002011-06-08T21:54:21.471-07:00Bushido - The Way Of The Warrior<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8h-mo77aOgc/TfBPxGEeuJI/AAAAAAAAAIo/PnibGPdF95s/s1600/250px-Samurai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8h-mo77aOgc/TfBPxGEeuJI/AAAAAAAAAIo/PnibGPdF95s/s200/250px-Samurai.jpg" width="150" /></a><em>The Samurai Bushido Code</em> (Japanese "way of the warrior", or bushido), was the warrior code of the samurai. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> <br />
<strong>Samurai Warrior Code </strong> was a strict code that demanded:</div><table align="center"><tbody>
<tr><td height="114" valign="middle" width="359"><br />
<li>loyalty</li><br />
<li>devotion</li><br />
<li>obedience</li><br />
<li>duty</li><br />
</td> <td valign="middle" width="360"><br />
<li>filial piety</li><br />
<li>respect</li><br />
<li>self sacrifice</li><br />
<li>honor to the death</li><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Under this code, if a samurai warrior failed to uphold his honor he could regain it by performing seppuku (ritual suicide). <br />
<br />
The samurai bushido code is an internally-consistent ethical code, grounded in the spiritual approach of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. <br />
<br />
In its purest form, it demands of its practitioners that they look effectively backward at the present from the moment of their own death, as if they were already, in effect, dead. <br />
<br />
The Bushido of the Samurai was also a spiritual basis for those who committed kamikaze attacks during World War II. <br />
<br />
For this reason many of the martial arts that are rooted in Japanese Bushido were banned by the occupying Americans during the post-war occupation. <br />
<br />
Bushido is still practiced today (in modified forms) and in many of today's modern martial arts. The most common forms of bushido martial arts, still practiced in Japan today, are: <table align="center"><tbody>
<tr><td height="114" valign="middle" width="359"><br />
<li> judo </li><br />
<li>karate</li><br />
<li>jujutsu</li><br />
</td> <td valign="middle" width="360"><br />
<li>aikido</li><br />
<li>kendo</li><br />
<li>kenjutsu</li><br />
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The modern sport of kendo takes its basic philosophy from Japanese Bushido, in particular, the theory that the entire purpose of the sport is "one cut, one kill". <br />
<br />
Unlike in other martial arts, extended contact, or multiple strikes, tends to be discouraged in favor of clean single strokes on the body or the head.<br />
<br />
<br />
A WARRIOR must always Watch and be ready for an Attack, Retreat if possible, Retaliate when nessary. Only through training can a Warrior continue to Improve their art form. A Warrior will Overcome all obsticals through Rest Repitition and Recovery !<br />
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Watch<br />
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Attack<br />
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Retreat<br />
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Retaliate<br />
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Improve<br />
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Overcome<br />
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Rest / Repitition / Recovery<br />
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There are <strong>seven virtues associated with the samurai code of bushido</strong>: <br />
<ul><li>Gi - Rectitude</li>
<li>Yu - Courage</li>
<li>Jin - Benevolence</li>
<li>Rei - Respect</li>
<li>Makoto - Honesty</li>
<li>Meiyo - Honor</li>
<li>Chugi - Loyalty</li>
</ul><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Thats </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Bushido - The Way Of The Warrior. </i></span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-44218051708648412402011-06-06T03:49:00.000-07:002011-06-06T03:49:00.732-07:00Meditation : A Way To Live Life At Its Fullest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngtne1xdfbI/TeyuvHQLTLI/AAAAAAAAAIg/68YNBI3dyjQ/s1600/mokuso.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ngtne1xdfbI/TeyuvHQLTLI/AAAAAAAAAIg/68YNBI3dyjQ/s320/mokuso.gif" width="320" /></a>Meditation and relaxation benefit our mental and physical health. When adversity at affects our lives, gaining a positive attitude is perhaps the first step that should be taken to overcome stress in our minds and pain in our bodies. <br />
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Ki meditation is a method of self-development that can help us achieve this goal (Ki = the universal spirit, life energy). While this method is a fundamental component of Aikido it is not restricted to those who practice Aikido. This system of mind and body unification emphasizes calmness by means of appropriate posture, breathing, and --of course—mental attitude.<br />
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[)uring Ki meditation an individual actively and consciously elicits the relaxation/ meditation state by focusing his or her mind on the center of equilibrium of the body called the "One Point” (seika-no-itten) which is located in the lower abdomen. Ki meditation can be practiced in different ways, but most people sit in the seiza position (kneeling with the back straight or cross— legged. (Sitting erect in a chair also works!) Eyes should be closed and a conscious sensation of expansion and contraction of the body (using the One Point as a central reference for this sensation) should match the natural breathing rhythm. Studies suggest that meditation elicits w what in scientific terms is known as the relaxation response. a state of mind—body interaction characterized by a reduced movement of the skeletal musculature, as well as decreased blood pressure and respiratory rate.<br />
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Four elements are necessary to elicit the relaxation response:<br />
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1.a “mental device” or constant stimulus (sound word phrase. or thought) repeated mentally or out loud (e.g..focusing the mind on the One Point).<br />
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2. an attitude of calmness. which includes disregarding distracting thoughts<br />
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3. a decreased muscle tone (physical relaxation).<br />
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4. a quiet environment. (The last point seems to be essential for beginners.)<br />
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Scientific evidence supporting the benefits of meditation and relaxation on well being is based on correlational data. Studies on this subject document improvement in the overall health of patients cuts who suffer from a variety of disorders For example, after a few weeks of daily 2O—minute meditation sessions, patients show a significant i reduction in anxiety and stress during pregnancy or prior to surgery. labor, or dental care. Anger seems to become milder with moderated practices of meditation (a few times a week). General pain, cold—related pain, and migraine headaches can be minimized with meditation and breathing exercises. Some patients are able to control hypertension thanks to a combination of meditation and minimum medication. Even phobias, tobacco addiction, asthma attacks, and insomnia can almost disappear with adequate meditation routines.<br />
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Despite the numerous technical reports published on meditation, the physiological processes involved in the meditative state are still not well understood. Apparently during meditation the trophotropic zone of the anterior hypothalamus is activated by means of electrical stimuli on originating in the parasympathetic nervous system. This phenomenon is responsible for the complex reactions that cause muscle relaxation, reduction in blood pressure, and thoraxic ventilation.<br />
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Meditation provides its optimum immediate benefits in sports training and physical activity. Athletes practice meditation and concentration to improve performance and minimize fatigue. Perception, judgment, and intuition seem to be enhanced by the meditative state which influences the outcome of physical actions in a positive way. Not only’ Aikido, but also other martial arts and disciplines such as weight lifting, parachute jumping, swimming figure skating deep diving, marathon running, wrestling, and cross—country hiking also include meditation in their training.<br />
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What is fascinating to observe in all these cases is how the psychological environment in which a person lives and interacts with others influences many aspects of the human mind and body. Consequently, a positive mind-set combined with daily meditation, exercise, and balanced diet seem to be the essential ingredients for long lives and, therefore, long lasting calmness and happiness.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-12223114039450783522011-06-04T06:56:00.000-07:002011-06-04T06:56:42.868-07:00The Benefits Of Exercising & Working Out.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The<strong> benefits to exercise</strong> are simply countless. The list overflows with benefits that affect overall health and fitness, not only of the body but also of the mind. Regular exercises help keep the body healthy, keeps your mood relaxed, and protects you from chronic diseases. On the whole, exercises can improve your performance in anything you do and, in the long run, actually prolong your life. But one of the reasons that have got majority of exercise buffs dashing to the gym or to other exercise sessions is weight loss. <br />
Exercise is a necessity in all weight loss efforts, regardless of whether you’re just trimming down to look good or you need to shed pounds so as not to aggravate an existing medical condition such as diabetes or obesity. Exercise is one of three key ingredients in losing weight; it works hand in hand with proper diet and proper lifestyle. This is because exercise enables the proper distribution of nutrients and energy to all parts of the body, which means that more fat is burned.<br />
But the most important question of all is, which exercises should you do?<br />
<h3> </h3><h3>What You Should Know about Top Three Weight Loss Exercises</h3><ul><li>Anaerobic Exercises and Gym Workouts</li>
<li>Aerobic Exercises and Sports</li>
<li>Flexibility Exercises</li>
</ul><br />
<strong>1</strong>. <strong>Anaerobic Exercises and Gym Workouts</strong><br />
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Anaerobic exercises go by many other names: strength training, strength-conditioning, and weight lifting exercises. Anaerobic exercises focus on building, strengthening, and enhancing the size and endurance of muscles. During the process, tendons and ligaments are also strengthened, which in turn also makes motion in the joints more flexible. This is done through weight training, sprinting, sit ups, pull ups, push ups, rowing, and squats. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NpPZXuh3fBQ/Teo4PIKz5MI/AAAAAAAAAH0/gINyOH5_Zis/s1600/preacher-curls-biceps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NpPZXuh3fBQ/Teo4PIKz5MI/AAAAAAAAAH0/gINyOH5_Zis/s320/preacher-curls-biceps.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>Anaerobic exercises are extremely effective in weight loss and is considered as most ideal because it can alsp keep excess weight away afterwards. This is because as more lean muscles are built, body fat is then reduced. These exercises also help lower bad blood cholesterol levels.<br />
This is most ideally done in gyms where there are ready exercise equipments to be used, although if you are serious about this, you can also get some equipments for your home. But if you are not overtly overweight and wants simply to shed off a few unwanted fat, you can stick to daily push ups and sit ups in your free time.<br />
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<strong>2. Aerobic Exercises and Sports</strong><br />
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Aerobic exercises, which are also called cardiovascular exercises, aim to raise the heart rate to a specific level so as to improve the flow of oxygen throughout the cells of the body. Aerobic exercises are often the first to be recommended to those trying to lose weight. When aerobic exercises don’t work, or when long term fitness instead of short term fat loss is the objective, anaerobic exercises usually take over. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G5kXUgyQEjM/TeozvQK1V0I/AAAAAAAAAHo/t8cpVqFtL0o/s1600/aerobic+exercises.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G5kXUgyQEjM/TeozvQK1V0I/AAAAAAAAAHo/t8cpVqFtL0o/s320/aerobic+exercises.gif" width="320" /></a></div>But for purposes of losing weight to improve appearance, aerobic exercises usually suffice. You can even choose the exercise of your choice. Most of these exercises can also be considered as sports or hobbies, so you won’t have any problems inserting them into your lifestyle and schedule. The most effective include running, jogging, cycling, dancing, swimming, among several others. Some fitness experts say that the best aerobic exercise for you is something that you like or love to do. This way, you won’t run out of motivation.<br />
The ideal aerobic exercise session always begins with a warm up period, then a moderate intensity exercise session going up to an intense level, before cooling down. The moderate to intense exercise level should last for at least 20 minutes so optimal weight reduction benefits can take effect. In total, the entire exercise session should last for 30 minutes.<br />
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<strong>3. Flexibility Exercises</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQVqYzua_Qk/Teo2cBsNyFI/AAAAAAAAAHw/-VM2nhcHMks/s1600/flexibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQVqYzua_Qk/Teo2cBsNyFI/AAAAAAAAAHw/-VM2nhcHMks/s320/flexibility.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>The third type of exercise is flexibility exercise. Flexibility exercises aim to help the muscles move better and maintains them at tip top shape. Flexibility exercises also improve the supply of blood and nutrients to various tissues in the body and conditions the body to adjust more easily to physical activities. Since physical activity shoud be increased if you want to lose weight, flexibility exercises can help prep your body up for increased activity, although these exercises do not really have direct effects on weight loss. Two good flexibility exercises you can try are pilates and tai chi.<br />
<h3> </h3><h3>Exercise: The Only Way Towards A Trimmer Body?</h3><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5pkZWXd334/Teo4n6i0D1I/AAAAAAAAAH4/zC7Wc9Hxm7I/s1600/fitness_model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5pkZWXd334/Teo4n6i0D1I/AAAAAAAAAH4/zC7Wc9Hxm7I/s320/fitness_model.jpg" width="176" /></a>Exercise benefits only will not be enough to reduce weight. If you exercise but nevertheless gain back any fat you have burned by eating high-calorie foods, the possible weight loss effects are canceled out. Likewise, if you don’t stop smoking or drinking alcohol, the positive effects promised by exercise can end up useless. But without exercise, the other two proponents of effective natural weight loss will also not be effective. So there is no need to further stress on the importance of exercise in weight reduction, but it should also not be considered as the magic ingredient in weight loss.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPfTnugzitI/Teo43dsu4bI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Sme7XD-kTq4/s1600/fit-male.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPfTnugzitI/Teo43dsu4bI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Sme7XD-kTq4/s320/fit-male.jpg" width="213" /></a>Also, another important thing to keep in mind is that the benefits to exercise can be achieved if exercise is done continuously, not only when you feel like it. You probably already know that speeding your way to weight loss won’t do much good, which is why crash dieting is also not recommended. The same applies when it comes to exercise; it should be a continuous effort.<br />
There are also certain problems that hamper the benefits of exercise in losing weight. Some studies observed that exercise makes people hungry, and this in turn leads to them eating more junk foods to fill up after they go to the gym. Some people also tend to reward themselves after a grueling gym session. This is becoming a more popular phenomenon called compensation problem. So you will need to control yourself every time you come home from the gym; eat only the amount and type of food your fitness instructor recommends to get a refill after a tiring exercise session. If not, instead of benefiting you and your body, your exercise efforts might take you down the opposite path.<br />
With the right combination of exercise, good food, and good lifestyle, and with the proper dose of self-control and discipline, you can enjoy threefold benefits to exercise your way towards a trimmer body.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-85362376332613115032011-04-10T08:55:00.000-07:002011-04-10T08:55:56.520-07:00The Importance of 'Mokuso' & 'Seiza'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MOKUSO (Silent Meditation). To be performed whilst seated in SEIZA (Kneeling Position).<br />
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Inhale slowly through the nose, visualising the breath traveling up through the forehead, across the crown of the head and down the back of the skull & spine toward the base of the spine. Imagine the breath collecting in the HARA (Lower Abdomen), winding into ever smaller circles until finally disappearing into a miniscule point. Hold the breath for a brief moment (but not until it becomes uncomfortable) then begin to exhale slowly, concentrating on the breath as it emerges from a single point in the HARA, gradually winding outwards and upwards towards the Navel, through the solar plexus & throat, and finally out of the mouth. Keep the HARA (lower abdomen) relaxed whilst breathing in & contracted when breathing out.<br />
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A single breath cycle (In & Out) should take between 10 & 15 seconds. More advanced Students should develop this process as part of their daily stretching & practise. Over time, if used correctly, MOKUSO will enable a Katateka (karate Student) to control the ebb and flow of their emotions.<br />
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SEIZA - From SHIZENTAI (Natural Standing Position - back straight, standing tall with your hands held gently by your sides and your feet together)<br />
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Inhale & bend your knees, keeping your back straight, looking forward and squatting down onto the balls of your feet. With your hands held palm down gently on the front of your thighs, Exhale as you lower first your left knee to the floor then your right knee. Move your feet from a position of squatting on the balls of your feet so that you sit on your heels with the tops of your feet on the floor. Your back should remain straight and slightly extended, your chin tucked in with your nose in line with your navel, looking directly forwards and towards a point approx. 45cm infront of your knees.<br />
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<b> History.</b><br />
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This practice goes back hundreds of years in both China and Japan.<br />
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Throughout history meditation training has been acknowledged as a vital part of the training of anyone wishing to penetrate the depths of the martial arts. Many of the great masters achieved a level of superb technical mastery; their deeds are clouded by time and no doubt have been elaborated over the years. However, if only a fraction of these legends show a grain of truth, the contribution of the meditative aspects of martial arts training cannot be overestimated.<br />
<b>Objectives:</b><br />
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<i>Short term.</i><br />
At the beginning of a training session to compose the mind and focus on the task ahead.<br />
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Long term.</i><br />
To return to a state of pure thought and action untainted by ill conceived and inappropriate responses.<br />
Training of mind and body.<br />
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The mind has to command the body to enable the practitioner to reap the benefits of the practice. A settled and controlled mind as a result of prolonged correct practice can have escalating beneficial effects on the body and boost and retain supplies of vital energy. ("Chi" chin. "Ki" jap.)<br />
How it works.<br />
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<b>Posture.</b><br />
Posture is the first basic principle. Correct positioning of the body centres around the spine, which must be erect, and even when straight must not feel "collapsed". <br />
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Mokuso/meditation can be performed in a number of ways, including sitting on a chair, standing or even lying down.<br />
However the customary way is in traditional Seiza (kneeling) position.<br />
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Seiza is convenient, as it is also the accepted way to sit while bowing or resting in the Dojo. There is practical reasoning behind this posture.<br />
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Obviously it is a position that enables the hands to remain free. It was also an economical and dignified way of sitting in a Dojo of limited space. It was also safe; if a fellow student were to fall or stumble neither party would be injured.<br />
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If students find that prolonged sitting in Seiza is uncomfortable, or painful as a result of injury, then it is permissible to sit cross-legged, but the spine must be erect.<br />
Hands and other considerations.<br />
Again, there are various schools of thought as to the correct positioning of the hands during Mokuso. Traditionally the position adopted is of the Zen practitioner, i.e. the hands in the lap, left hand upturned resting in the right hand. Thumbs of both hands are joined at the tip. (Some say that for women the hand position is reversed, i.e. right hand in left.) The hands must not be in a position that causes the shoulders to lift or cramp.<br />
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Also of vital importance is the position of the tongue. The tip of the tongue must rest on the palette just behind the top teeth. The reason for this is that the tongue acts as a connector to the cross over of two meridian channels and without the connection vital benefits of the practice will be lost.<br />
Concentration.<br />
A wandering mind is a hindrance to advanced practice. It is probably a good idea to start by occupying the mind by just concentrating on a mental count of your breathing. By just focussing on the numbers you will prevent your practice deteriorating into just idle daydreaming.<br />
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In Zen training the goal is to try and empty the mind to contact your true essence.<br />
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<b>Gaze.</b><br />
Look at the floor about two metres in front of you, with eyes half closed. This prevents unnecessary visual distractions and also discourages the tendency to fall asleep.<br />
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<b>Breathing.</b><br />
Breathing is the keystone of correct practice. Over hundreds of years many techniques have been developed, but they are all based upon a series of central principles.<br />
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Correct breathing benefits the body in many ways, but first it must be recognized that our everyday breathing is hindered and restricted by a number of influences, ranging from stress and tension to poor posture.<br />
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Observe the breathing of a newborn baby or animals and it is noticeable that the breathing is primarily abdominal, while ours tends to involve the upper chest. Physiologically the diaphragm controls the breathing acting as a pump. It is diaphragm breathing that is used in Mokuso.<br />
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It is no coincidence that the all-important "centre", the Saika Tanden is situated two inches below the navel. The Tanden is the reservoir of vital energy. Correct breathing charges and replenishes the store of vital energy.<br />
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<b>Breathing Technique.</b><br />
All breathing must involve long, slow cycles of breath. Inhale through the nose, slowly drawing air into your lungs, but feeling as though you are drawing it down into your lower abdomen. Naturally this encourages abdominal breathing, correct use of the diaphragm and awareness of the Tanden.<br />
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Stop inhaling just before you are completely topped up. Don't push it too far, as it will cause tension in the wrong places. Retain your breath for a couple of seconds. Not too long or you will feel faint. Then slowly release the breath through your mouth, again concentrating on the use of the abdomen.<br />
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Do not force or squeeze out the last of the breath and do not hold, just allow your natural reflexive inhalation to begin the next cycle of breath.<br />
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<b>Establishing a routine. </b><br />
The Mokuso practice prior to an average training session although it settles and composes the mind will not promote long-term benefits. The serious student needs to establish a routine supported by real commitment.<br />
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Do not expect results overnight, it takes a while for the body and mind to settle, but after about a month of sustained daily discipline of only 15 to 30 minutes per day you will notice a difference.<br />
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If practice is correct, then the energy boost and feeling of well being will become an indispensable part of a positive daily regime. Obviously you do not have to be a martial artist to practice these breathing/meditation techniques, and not all martial artists are prepared to embrace this discipline. Many think that the short-term paybacks of the "external" aspects of training are sufficient to meet their needs. It all depends on how high you set your goals. </div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-38868523114629361682011-02-25T07:18:00.000-08:002011-02-25T07:18:14.092-08:00Katana - The Most Powerful Sword In The World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h2 class="single-excerpt" style="font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mastermartialartsdvds.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/katana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://www.mastermartialartsdvds.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/katana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In ancient Japanese history, countless battles were fought. Though the exact date is unknown, a swords-smith named Amakuni made swords for the Japanese soldiers. After the battle, the soldiers returned in defeat. Amakuni didn’t understand why such soldiers were beaten- until he saw their broken and useless swords. Seeing that these soldiers needed much heavier duty swords, he worked for days and nights, tirelessly without rest. Days later he returned to the soldiers with his new weapon- the Ninhoto Katana (usually just called Katana) Ninhoto is the name of the sword type in Japanese, and doesn’t have an English name. Katana simply means sword in Japanese, but is usually what people call the Ninhoto katana. But what makes this type of Katana so important?</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.toyama-ryu.org/images/tameshigiri_mei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.toyama-ryu.org/images/tameshigiri_mei.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Ninhoto Katana is the sharpest type of sword in the <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD7">world</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">, with a record of being able to chop through 8 prisoners at once</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></i>(during ancient times, the strength of a Katana was measured in how many prisoners it could chop through at once, gory but true!)This is because of tiny serrations that let it slice through things like butter. It is the only weapon that can slash apart wood, as any other wood chopping things hack at it (using the weight of its head to rush through the object). This attribute has been the inspiration for many blades, like razor blades. Razor blades have tiny serrations, just like the Ninhoto Katana. Also, serrations can be found in <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">syringes</span> (to make them go through skin with less pain). Also, the curved shape of the Ninhoto Katana makes it very powerful, and it will rarely break. The combination gives a powerful and sharp weapon, not to mention that it is light!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tt7r02zQhXs/TWfH53yrQhI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Ckeb6TIHCBA/s1600/ls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tt7r02zQhXs/TWfH53yrQhI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Ckeb6TIHCBA/s320/ls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Now, considering today people don’t run around chopping people with Katana like an anime series, you may think that the Ninhoto Katana is useless for today. As if the inspiration for serrated blades and <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5">syringes</span> wasn’t enough, the Ninhoto Katana is considered a <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD8">work of</span> art. Though in Britain things this sharp are illegal, many do have them for artistic reasons. How does this relate to art?<br />
It takes 4 years to master the art of making a Ninhoto Katana, and because of this the Ninhoto Katana is considered a work of art when made using traditional methods. Also, it takes 5 years to master Katana polishing, and is also considered a Japanese art. Lastly is the use of Ninhoto Katana in martial arts. Martial arts are a major part of Japans culture, and the Ninhoto Katana plays a major part in it. As you can see, the Ninhoto Katana is a work of art on multiple levels!<br />
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In addition, the Ninhoto Katana was a major part of Japans survival. As the Ninhoto Katana gave the Japanese a huge edge in battle, it played a major part in its survival. If the Ninhoto Katana was never invented, Japan may have been taken over by another country. This would result in the world losing a lot of what Japanese culture has to offer, including Sushi, a large variety of martial arts, Anime like Blood+, Bleach, to things that little kids like, such as Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh. In addition, think of all the inventions Japan has given to the world, like Nintendo, Play station, and companies like Samsung that put competition in the market for <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD7">electronics</span>. Not only did the Ninhoto Katana inspire many inventions like serrated blades, but also protected future inventions that we get to enjoy now.<br />
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<b>The Ninhoto Katana is an amazing part of Japanese culture, and Amakuni’s invention is an important invention that should keep him remembered.</b><br />
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<h2 class="single-excerpt" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</h2></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-72883410833550760292011-02-12T19:07:00.000-08:002011-02-12T19:07:39.882-08:00Martial Arts - Necessary For Women<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Many schools of self-defense offer special self defense courses for women, teaching techniques aimed at avoiding or combating any type of physical confrontation. Martial arts can play an important role in women’s self defense and are a great way to help build confidence, strength and skills to combat any potential attacker. There are many different types of classes for women in martial arts and when practicing martial arts, women will find that their strength improves significantly after only a few months of practicing the art.<br />
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In general, an attacker will test a woman before he actually assaults her. By making inappropriate comments or behavior, a perpetrator will try to find out how assertive and strong a woman is. If she responds in an assertive way, most perpetrators will eventually run away. Martial arts can help you reach this level of assertiveness.<br />
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<h4>The Goals of Martial Arts Training</h4>Learning martial arts is not just good for self defense but there are many other things than physical strength and techniques that martial arts women can benefit from, such as: <br />
<h5>Mental and physical health</h5>Your physical health will improve greatly due to the (often physically demanding) exercise. Martial arts for women will also help you improve your mental strength as you will be taught to focus one one single thing. Concentration is a very important part of martial arts training and being able to form a mental picture of your success is beneficial to your effectiveness as a martial arts student.<br />
<h5>Self confidence</h5>By learning a certain martial art you will be able to focus on one goal, physically and mentally. You will feel stronger mentally because you build up a sense of security and a knowledge deep down that you will be able to manage and deal with a potentially dangerous situation.<br />
<h5>Learning body dynamics</h5>You will learn about movements and their impact on your body and on the opponent’s body. Knowing when to strike and how to do it will enable to you to use your body to its full potential if you have to defend yourself. </div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-41804122412494573232011-02-12T08:58:00.000-08:002011-02-12T08:58:08.671-08:00Benefits Of Executing 'KIAI'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">During some movements in the martial arts, we also practice a loud shout or yell. This yell comes from the lower area of the belly or hara. We usually practice this shout directly after or before an attack.<br />
You will also make use of the kiai during class and in basic movements such as Stances. In the beginning, it is often difficult to kiai. Why? Because you are being heard. Many people have trouble with speaking out.<br />
When students are asked to do a kiai for the first time, they usually begin with a small yelp. This sounds even funnier than a kiai, which is what they were afraid of in the first place. Once students get used to the discomfort, they have no problem with performing a kiai on command. Many of us live through life in the background going unnoticed by society. This may be okay for some people, but for most, it creates a shield that keeps them from enhancing their future or career. Outside of this realm of life, there are three main reasons for doing a kiai during combat:<span id="more-396"></span><br />
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<strong>1: A kiai is used to receive a sudden surge of power by speeding up the adrenaline flow.</strong><br />
A kiai gives us energy, power and belief. This is why you hear people scream just before they are going to do something brave, heroic, courageous or even stupid. A warrior jumps off of a rock in an ambush and you hear him shout. A war Hero yells as he runs into battle. A martial artist throws a kick in self-defense training and he kiai’s. A kiai is a sort of body drug that will numb the pain and increase our ability.<br />
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<strong>2: To break the concentration of your opponent.</strong><br />
Can you imagine the reaction of someone who just received a perfect kiai to the face, totally by surprise? This breaks your opponents concentration and allows you some time to react. However, imagine your opponent coming up and you yelp like a puppy. This may only be effective in reducing a threat if he starts laughing so hard he falls over.<br />
Remember, if you want fire, your kiai has to be on fire. <br />
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<strong>3: A kiai, is a natural air shield</strong><br />
Have you ever been punched in the stomach? How about falling on your back only to knock the air right out of you? You end up standing or lying there wondering if you’re ever going to breathe again. Either way, you are almost totally hopeless, because you can’t breathe. So how can we protect ourselves against this? By breathing before the fall, you will keep yourself from losing your breath. So a kiai is not only important when attacking, but also when being attacked.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-5497856161097097482011-02-11T22:24:00.000-08:002011-02-11T22:24:31.164-08:00The Truth About The 'Shadow Warriors'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Japanese culture has produced a lot of great ideas, inventions, and people in history. The country is now one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world. Japan may not be constantly fighting itself anymore but one of the most interesting and extremely important things that came out of feudal Japan was the best fighting style of its time, Ninjustu.<br />
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The art Ninjutsu is over 1100 years old and early Ninjas or shinobi which is a Japanese mercenary who is trained in the art of stealth. The first of the shinobi assassins was said to be deployed by Prince Shotoku around 600 AD. Then warrior monks came over from China in the early 1200s and trained with early ninjas to form the well known and highly skilled ninjutsu techniques. So all the credit for ninjutsu should not go to the Japanese, but also to Chinese monks.<br />
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Ninjas came up almost as an opposing force to the samurai and played a key role in battles and wars throughout feudal Japan. The main difference between the two is that the Samurais had the Bushido code of honor which put respect and loyalty first, but the ninjutsu code was getting the mission done at any cost. Since Samurai were restricted by the Bushido they often hired ninjas to do their dirty work and paid quite a lot to get it done.<br />
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There were many different types of ranks in ninjutsu but there were three main types during their most important role in feudal Japan. The highest of these three were the Jonin who were in charge of huge groups of ninjas. The next served as the middle man, who were the managers. They were called Chunin and took orders from the Jonin. Then there were the regular ninjas who did most of the actual killing, spying, and other ninja duties. They were called the Genin.<br />
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The Ninjustu schools called the Ryu, were used to train new ninjas before they were put to work and they are even still used today for teaching Neo-Ninjutsu. In the Ryu they taught the ninjas various techniques. They were generally taught 18 specific skills. The first set of skills did not use weapons of any kind. First was spiritual refinement which meant they had to become spiritually sound. Next they needed to learn unarmed combat techniques, so if they had no access to weapons they were still powerful.<br />
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A lot of skills they had to learn were weapons skills. As all warriors of the time they learned to use a sword. Another important weapon was a staff because they were almost always accessible. Training with spears was completely separate from staff training. They were also trained to use a niganata which was similar to a very long sword. A difficult skill to master was the art of throwing weapons especially because ninjas did not even use throwing stars but perhaps the most difficult and dangerous weapon to be skilled in was the kusarigama which was a small stick with a curved blade on the end and a chain with a weight attached to end of the weapon.<br />
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Some of the most useful skills for ninjas in tight situations where there environmental skills or use of their surroundings and the best way to get rid of an enemy on your tail is if you have the opportunity blow them up or light them on fire, and pyrotechnics was an important skill to ninjas. Another thing not only for attacking but escaping was water skills using it to drown make them slip or just being able to hide in the water was crucial to ninjas. And they also learned to use horses to attack and just to ride them skillfully.<br />
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The most important set of skills that sets ninjas apart from other warriors was there intelligence skills. They were all taught how to use proper tactics in any situation. Something that all ninjas needed was the espionage skills so they could be stealthy during a mission. They all learned how to skillfully enter into places undetected. They also needed to be able to escape as fast as they got in if not faster. They also needed to be somewhat good meteorologists as in they should know the conditions they are working in. They also had to be skilled with direction and geography so they knew where they were going. One of the most lifesaving skills of a ninja was their ability to disguise themselves and impersonate someone else which meant they had to be pretty good actors<br />
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One of the most famous ninja stories in Japan is of a samurai who jokingly says to a ninja “I will hire you if you can take my pillow from under my head while I am asleep” so the next morning he wakes up from a thunderstorm and realizes his pillow was gone.<br />
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Throughout the long and ongoing history of Ninjutsu many styles and techniques as well as myths have developed. The deployment of the first ninja started a trend that evolved, with the help of a fallen samurai and his friend, into one of the greatest styles of fighting ever taught. Ninjutsu not only affected Japanese history through direct fighting with them, but also changed the world with all of the stories and myths about ninjas that has inspired millions of ideas. And is still one of the best close combat fighting styles as well as majorly influencing books, movies, and the entire world.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-71626911462134668062011-02-11T20:57:00.000-08:002011-02-11T20:57:03.904-08:00Importance & Benefits of Namaskar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="Details"> <div id="P1">The "Namaskar", also sometimes referred to as the "Hindu Pushups" is a full-body beast for fitness benefits. Standard military push ups are fantastic on their own, but when you add the fluid movement and endurance needed for Hindu Push Ups, the reasons to perform this highly effective exercise rise exponentially.</div><div id="P1">This was also one of the most important daily workout in Master Lee's fitness plan. </div></div><!-- google_ad_section_end() --> <div class="article FLC"> <!-- google_ad_section_start() --> <ol id="intelliTxt"><h2 class="Heading3a">A Chance to Work All Major Muscle Groups in One Fell Swoop</h2><li id="jsArticleStep1"> The Hindu Push Up hits pretty much everything from your shoulders to your toes. You can even get a nice neck stretch when you reach the last phase of the exercise and look up to toward the ceiling. This push up strengthens all of major muscle groups. It is fantastic for your shoulders, but it also helps to strengthen your core, legs, back, hips and chest. Your hands and feet even get in on this action since they are an instrumental part of the movement. </li>
<h2 class="Heading3a">A Massage for Your Internal Organs and Your Spine</h2><li id="jsArticleStep1"> You can feel the benefits from the inside-out, since this exercise is a gentle flow of motion. Provided you don't have major back issues, this is great for strengthening your spine since your whole back is in motion. </li>
<h2 class="Heading3a">Doubles as a Great Full Body Stretch</h2><li id="jsArticleStep1"> Often envisioned as our body as a wave hitting the shore, this fluid but powerful exercise stretches everything that it strengthens simultaneously, including wrists and ankles, something we tend to overlook in everyday stretching. </li>
<h2 class="Heading3a">Cardiovascular Benefits</h2><li id="jsArticleStep1"> This movement has a flow of motion, which requires you to move your entire body, lowering it and raising it back up, which in turn will raise your heart rate, particularly when first starting out. In addition, as you increase your repetitions, you will maintain a steady elevated heart rate. You will also find that your breathing has deepened, which is good for your cardiovascular system. </li>
<h2 class="Heading3a">Endurance</h2><li id="jsArticleStep1"> The Hindu Push Up rivals the endurance we ask of our legs in many exercises. You can build on your endurance daily as you increase your repetitions. </li>
<h2 class="Heading3a">Free and Mobile</h2><li id="jsArticleStep1"> A simple beauty of this push up is that it can be done anywhere with no additional equipment and it doesn't cost a thing. </li>
</ol></div></div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-58237739939562271262011-02-10T21:49:00.000-08:002011-02-10T21:49:25.793-08:00Body Weight Excercises Vs. Free Weight Excercises<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am going to discuss about bodyweight exercises vs. free weights exercises in this article. Bodyweight exercises are superior for wrestling and other grappling and martial arts, gymnastics, and for those who want to join the armed forces. Weight training is superior for brute strength, football, lifting competitions, and many of the sports. However, when training for other sports, free weights should be combined with sprints, some bodyweight exercises, as well as sport specific drills.<br />
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Why are bodyweight exercises superior for grappling, combat, and gymnastics? For several reasons. First of all, in each of those activities one needs the ability to use a muscle group over and over again at high levels - that is, muscular endurance, which is developed very well by bodyweight exercises like squats, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. Second, each of those events requires body awareness.<br />
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I define body awareness literally as being aware of every part of your body at any given point in time in any given position. The problem with weight lifting exercises, even the good ones like snatches, cleans, jerks, or bent pressing, is that you use "weight awareness" - that is, you have to be aware of where the weight is at all times more than where your body is. As long as the weight is lifted and caught in the correct position(s), the body will naturally follow suit (or else the lift fails).<br />
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However, bodyweight exercises take the weights out of the equation. To successfully do such challenging exercises as handstand push-ups, one-legged squats, headstands, and bridges, you have to be focusing on every part of your body. That is why they are so good for wrestling, and other combat sports where your body is in many different positions during a match, and to be able to successfully recover and counter attack, you must have full awareness of where each part of your body is at all times. Similarly, in gymnastics, where you flip and end up in many different positions, body awareness is crucial.<br />
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Not all bodyweight exercises develop body awareness equally. Some of the ones I mentioned above such as handstand push-ups and bridging do a very good job, but regular push-ups on the other hand develop it to a lesser extent. The more a bodyweight exercise requires agility and balance, the more body awareness it develops.<br />
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Bodyweight exercises are also good for people always on the road, those without money to purchase weights, and those with very little time, as a set of push-ups or squats can be squeezed in at odd moments during the day. </div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-82164859171648905662011-02-10T20:20:00.000-08:002011-02-10T20:20:50.785-08:00Martial Arts Vs. Guns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As you reach to retrieve your receipt from the ATM, the evening air makes you shiver. You stretch your neck around, your muscles still sore from yesterdays workout. Its been a long, hard day, and you are glad its almost over. Just one more stop at the all-night grocery store and .<br />
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All right, scumbag! Give me your money and your keys!<br />
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Startled, you turn at the sound of the voice, the content of the mans words not yet registering in your brain. Hes about 20, unshaven and dirty. He smells bad and looks like hes on drugs. Your eyes survey his body, and your surprise turns to shock as you detect the chrome-plated revolver in his trembling, tattooed hand.<br />
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Moment of Truth That scenario or one similar to it has played out countless times, both with accomplished martial artists and armed off-duty police officers in the role of the victim. If you think resistance is futile, youre wrong. However, the situation carries with it some dynamics that cannot be answered with a speedy fastdraw or a spinning back kick. To win this encounter and by all means, it is very winnable you must understand several things about the realities of human conflict at close quarters.<br />
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Primarily, you must have your warrior mind set correctly. Winning a real fight requires controlled violence. You must be able to call up your dragon and become a fierce, feral creature instead of the domesticated human you were raised to be. If you are not emotionally and psychologically prepared to rip your adversarys heart out of his chest and barbecue it in front of his fading eyes, forget about trying anything.<br />
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Your best bet, if you lack a killer attitude, is to simply submit, be nice to him theres not much you can do except go out with style.<br />
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The hoodlum in the story, as well as most people who will point a gun at you (as opposed to simply shooting you), do so for reasons of intimidation. Their objective is to place you in a position of tactical disadvantage and bargain with you for something they want. The bargain is typically that if you do as they say, they will not kill you. (Your money or your life is the classic line, although females often receive a modified offer.) Their intent provides you with the opening you need to defeat them.<br />
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Lets look at the two men in the story in a simplified way: The hoodlum has the pistol pointed at the hero. The hero is surprised. The hoodlum makes his demands and then waits and give him what he wants, then hope for the best.<br />
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Personally, I dont believe that giving in is a viable option, and presumably neither do you. Even if you think you'll never stand up to a gun, I can paint many scenarios where you might choose to do so. If you agree, then lets have a look at how to solve this problem and win the day.<br />
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Intent First of all, I am not claiming that any secret skills, ancient art or trendy technique can withstand a bullet. Any martial artist who thinks otherwise has been smoking too much rice paper. But if you understand your adversarys motivation, you can find a way to defeat him.<br />
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If the criminal simply wanted to kill you, he would just walk up to you unannounced and shoot you without warning. Regardless of how many years of training you have or how many arts you know, you will never be able to defend against that. If its your day to die, for the expected compliance and response from the hero. In essence, the hoodlum is in pause, waiting for the return of the hero. The hero can go either way at this point: comply or fight. If he understands the dynamics of human reaction time, he can come out of it quite well.<br />
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Theory Every conflict, whether between countries or individuals, is a cycle in which each party observes the other, orients himself according to those observations, decides on a course of action and finally puts that decision into action. Called the OODA loop, it is the theory of conflict professed by the late Col. John Boyd. Boyd was responsible for creating many of the aerial-combat tactics now employed throughout the free world.<br />
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His findings resulted from projects and studies he conducted about the success American pilots had over their North Korean adversaries in the Asian unpleasantness of the 1950s. Boyd theorized that although the North Koreans had certain technical advantages with their airplanes, American pilots could generally see their adversaries first because of their planes cockpit design.<br />
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They could immediately recognize them as enemies and decide what to do more quickly because of their recognition training as well as their flight training.<br />
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And the controls on the American airplanes allowed them to put those decisions into play more rapidly than the North Koreans. This allowed them to complete a decision-action cycle more efficiently than their adversaries.<br />
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Boyd then theorized that in any conflict whether it is between nations or individuals the party that can go through the observation-orientation decision-action loop most quickly enjoyed a remarkable advantage over the competition.<br />
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That aerial-combat concept also applies to personal combat. Studies have determined that even for a prepared individual, each phase of the OODA cycle takes at least 1/4th of a second.<br />
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That means you may have up to one full second to act before the other fellow even realizes what you're doing. And then he has to select a viable response to your actions and employ it.<br />
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Field Testing Studies involving students at Suarez International, the training establishment I founded, support this concept.<br />
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Using marking cartridge firearms, two operators of comparable skill level were told to face each other at arms length. Operator No. 1 (the aggressor) was told to command his opponent to put his hands up, as the thug in the story might do. Operator No. 2 (the defender) was instructed that as soon as he thought he could do it, he should quickly move into the first portion of a weapons disarm. The aggressor was told that when he saw the other man move, he should fire. The aggressor had every advantage. He had the pistol already pointed at the defender, his finger on the trigger and the hammer cocked. Furthermore, he was familiar with the technique the defender would use, and he knew that the defender would not comply. The odds were obviously in his favor. (To make it more interesting, we added the stress factor of the loser buying dinner for the winner.) The results were revealing and supportive of Boyds concepts. Out of 10 tries, the defender was able to deflect the muzzle of the pistol and trap it in a single move before the aggressor was even able to fire all 10 times.<br />
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Lesson learned: All things being equal, action always beats reaction.<br />
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Conclusion If you understand how to take advantage of the dynamics of human reaction time, you can implement your responses and countermeasures before your adversary has even realized what you are doing. This doesnt require you to be particularly fast or technically proficient. All you need is a tactically correct, preconditioned move that is simple to use, violent in nature and technically correct for the situation.<br />
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With this in mind, the scenario I used to open this story could end this way: You realize hes holding a chromeplated revolver in his hand.<br />
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Hey, idiot! I said give me your money!<br />
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You reply: All right, sir. Please dont shoot me. I'll give you everything I have.<br />
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Expecting you to hand him a wad of C-notes fresh from the ATM, the hoodlum transforms his expression from smirk to horror as your left hand sweeps his pistol aside and your other hand smashes into his nose once, twice, three times. In his watery-eyed stupor, he doesnt even realize that you've taken his pistol out of his hand and followed up with a strike to his temple. His final thoughts are unprintable as he sinks into blackness. ...</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-29506233551412426712011-02-06T21:24:00.000-08:002011-02-06T21:27:36.328-08:00The Meditation Technique Practiced By Master Bruce Lee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">When it comes to beginners meditation, Bruce Lee was a true master above all others. Here is a direct quote from him, about the state you should be in when you go to meditate, as well as day to day life:<br />
“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” – Quoted From Master Bruce Lee.<br />
This quote is an inspiration to us all. It shows the foundation of beginners meditation. It shows that you need to adapt to any given moment, any given situation.<br />
And this all can be achieved through simple meditation techniques.<br />
Being a beginner in meditation you should focus on your breathing first and for most. You need to control it, bend it to your will, and once you have achieved this, you will notice that you will breath when you need to, it will be more slowly, more focused, and you will not have to think about it.<br />
You need to focus your mind on one thing at a time, do not jump all over the place, do not think of what you need to do later, or if you did something in the past. You need to be anchored in the moment, not wandering around looking at all the shiny objects you can see.<br />
Achieving a true meditative state.<br />
is an act of will alone, and only you can do this for yourself. You can not except some outside force to come along, and sweep you into a meditation that can help you solve all your problems now can you? Of course not, that would be silly.<br />
You have to realize that you are in complete control of your own mind and body, and if you can control them fully, you can achieve whatever your heart desires.<br />
As you can see, Bruce Lee was a wise man, beyond his years, and his ways are a true foundation of any beginners meditation technique we use today. You have learned that with you in total control of your mind and body, that nothing can be out of your reach, you can achieve any of your hearts desires, and you will be more at peace of mind than you ever thought possible.<br />
Looking to achieve happiness in your life? Then you should learn Meditation. To get you started on your road to stress free life, where YOU are in control.<br />
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All The Best for your future life.<br />
Feel free to to ask any queries !<br />
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Tc.<br />
Hari Om.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4476934097041360280.post-23282796698479866422011-02-06T20:11:00.000-08:002011-02-06T20:11:47.745-08:00Bruce Lee’s True Philosophy Behind Martial Arts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Bruce Lee was an American-born Chinese in the year 1940. Those who are not familiar with his work or philosophy might only think of him as a great martial artist and a famous actor. He shot to international stardom when he was featured in “Batman” and also a season of “The Green Hornet” in 1966-1967. Little is known about his spiritual side which forms the foundation of his fighting art or more accurately, his life. He studied philosophy, drama and psychology during his university years. Perhaps that explains why it has a major impact on him apart from his knowledge in martial arts.<br />
He also describes that the body mechanics works best by unifying the body and spirituality in one of his quote :-<br />
“One of the extremes would be unscientific, another end of it, will turn you into a mechanical man, no longer human. It is through the combination of both where you can express yourself truthfully.” – Bruce Lee<br />
<strong>His Teachings</strong><br />
Bruce Lee teaches martial art as a way for his pupil to express their emotions through body movements. He does not believe in any kind of form or structure, he sees them as obstacles to achieving natural expression. His best quote follows…<br />
“Be formless… shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, and it can crash. Be water, my friend…” – Bruce Lee<br />
<strong>Law Of Attraction (LOA)</strong><br />
You might not believe this but Bruce Lee is actually one of my spiritual masters. For me, his teachings are the old school way of practicing Law Of Attraction (LOA) and The Power Of Now (PON) or perhaps he is the only person I know that practices LOA and PON in an entirely different way. He mentioned that to honestly express one’s self is incredibly difficult, it might take years of training, most of the time, a lifetime. The new age LOA teachings describes how we can attract or create the things that we want into our lives. The better you are in LOA, the less time it takes to create or attract the things that we want.<br />
From Bruce’s perspective, he is trying to achieve perfection in expression. I would imagine that his ultimate goal is to achieve a state where he can react in lightning speed to his opponent’s advances countering all possible attacks. We know that this is impossible, he knew that too but he can do one thing, which was to improve every part or components of himself which were his belief, strategy, confidence, physical strength, edurance and speed. This way, he can become closer to his ideal self (the things that he want), very similar to the concept of LOA.<br />
<strong>The Power Of Now (PON)</strong><br />
The Power Of Now encourage us to focus on the present moment, and ignore the past and future because ultimately, the present moment is the only time where creation takes place. This can be seen from Bruce’s belief to detach from any form of structure, for example, the attachment to a particular form of martial arts like boxing, kung fu or karate (the past) and also to ignore all related fear, for example, the fear of the unknown which refers to the unknown strategies or moves that the opponent will execute (the future). He focuses only on the “Now” moment, gathering only the existing information that is “present” and come out with a solution or action. This way, he will be super efficient because he has less information to process (only the present data, compared to past, present and future) and he will not have worries or fear in executing his moves.<br />
<strong>Closing</strong><br />
“I think of myself as a human being, under the sky there is but one family, it just so happen that people are different”. – Bruce Lee on whether he thinks he’s Chinese or North American.<br />
Bruce Lee will always be remembered as the most efficient fighting machine of all time. Besides that, his work in martial arts will serve as a guide to anyone who wishes to glimpse the ultimate level of physical expression, which can be viewed either from a physical or spiritual perspective.</div>Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648971429593089622noreply@blogger.com5