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Archive for the ‘Martial Arts’ Category

Learn Karate Online

More and more people are starting karate classes and there is no better way to compliment your dojo training, than looking at resources that enable you to learn karate online.

Not just individuals, thousands of families around the world are realizing the physical and psychological benefits of attending karate classes. When the families get home from karate training, the parents, just like individuals, are online, looking for the karate moves that they just practiced at the dojo.

In today’s fast paced world, it is great to be able to access karate tutorials online. You can then learn karate online, from anywhere and at any time, the internet truly is, an incredible phenomenon.

Saying that, there are some words of caution when trying to learn karate online.

1. You have no Sensei (teacher), watching over you at home.
2. Bad habits can quickly develop.
3. It is sometimes hard to focus, when you are practicing on your own.
4. When practicing the karate kata (forms), space may be an issue.

So here are a few tips to apply when trying to learn karate at home.

Combat Sports – Cambodian Pradal Serey Freestyle Kickboxing

Sometimes you will hear Pradal Serey being called Bradahl Serei. This style of Kickboxing comes out of Cambodia. This Combat Sport style was originally used in Battle, but now Cambodia considers it one of their National Sports. Modern Rules have caused some of the moves they used to have changed a little bit. The main focus of this sport is to win a competition as it is a rule based sport. Similar to Muay Thai Boxing, this sport focuses in 4 major strikes which originate from the knees, elbows, fists and feet.

The clinch is also used as a way or tiring and fatiguing their opponent. Pradal Serey uses more stealth and and shifty fighting stances which differentiates them from most other forms of Southeast Asian Style Kickboxing forms. Elbows are also used more often than in a lot of other styles. The elbow has been responsible for more wins than any other strike used. Fighting has been going on within the Southeast Asia Region since ancient times. Eventually Combat Sports developed as a result of this.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – The Guillotine Choke

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a sacred martial art that has been studied and practiced for many decades now. It revolutionized martial arts as we know it today due to the fact that it enabled a much smaller man to incapacitate and defeat a larger opponent, a feat though to be nearly impossible by conventional standards at the time of the styles creation. Using leverage and the joints in the body against each other, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, better known as BJJ, when utilized properly, can allow a small man to take down and defend himself against much stronger people, thus becoming a worldwide sensation upon discovery.

One of the most famous chokes is the guillotine choke, aptly named as it causes severe pressure on the neck of the assailant/opponent (although it shouldn’t decapitate the opponent if applied correctly). The choke itself can be utilized in 2 separate ways, both rendering the opponent unconscious if applied for long enough periods of time. One of the methods is a tracheal choke, compressing the trachea and preventing oxygen flow to the lungs, and the other blocks blood flow to the brain, both resulting in an unconscious opponent.

The Art of Tai Chi

What is the art of T’ai Chi and how is it practiced? T’ai Chi is a Chinese system of boxing exercises and meditative movements that dates back to ancient times. Meaning “supreme ultimate fist,” Tai Chi Chuan originated as a form of martial art. But rather than relying on the swift aggressive kicks and power punches that are seen in various other forms, it incorporates slow, thoughtful, nuanced movements to confound attackers and opponents.

It is believed that a monk named Chang Seng Feng was the founder. According to legend, Master Chang once dreamed that a crane and a snake were ensnared in a fight. Regarding the dream as a divine sign, he launched a study of it and developed the 13 postures that comprise T’ai Chi. This early beginning of Tai Chi has developed into the art practiced today.

A few years after Master Chang presented his 13 movements, numerous other masters created their own unique forms. As a result, a variety of styles became popular, with three particular types favored: the Chen, Yang and Wu styles. Of these three, the Yang form became a favorite; meanwhile even more styles continued to emerge and had their own followers.