The Martial Arts Library

The Power Target Pro

2006-11-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

One of the most useful products I have ever seen for martial arts training to help improve speed, and power has to be the Power Target Pro. This thing is amazing and it seems indestructrable and replaces over $1,500 worth of equipment. You won't believe how versitile this product is.

For more information and to recieve a FREE DVD visit www.PowerTargetPro.com

Sponsored by www.TheMartialArtsMarket.com and www.ActionRadio.net

Tai Chi Masters and Not Masters

2006-09-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

On Tai Chi

Tai Chi Chuan is the most popular of the so called internal martial arts. Although legends say that it was created many centuries ago, most evidence suggests that under such a name it appeared not earlier than the 19th century (but of course there had to exist similar precursory systems before).

Tai Chi Chuan or Supreme Ultimate Fist is the primeval unity, which is born from formless Wuji, and gives birth to yin and yang. The name Tai Chi Chuan means that this martial art is based on concepts of unity of contradictions – yin and yang supplementing each other.

Tai Chi Chuan forms, which should help develop combat skills, at the same time can be classified as Kigong exercises. Thanks to the principle of “Mind is Leading Ki, Ki is Leading Body Movement”, which means that in practice each, even most subtle movement is following some mental image – intention, and is not done mechanically or automatically, Tai Chi Chuan master can use his body with incredible precision.

Presently for most people Tai Chi Chuan seems to be just a kind of exercise for health. But it is still practiced as a martial art too. The most popular styles are Yang, Chen, Wu, Wu Hoa, and Sun. Lately some other similar systems, earlier known by other names, but now called Tai Chi Chuan (to use marketing potential of this name) are becoming known.

To most people Chen style Tai Chi Chuan, with forms in which slow and fast movements are mixed, more than other Tai Chi Chuan styles looks like a martial art. The most popular Yang style, where whole form in most cases is done slowly, is also practiced by many people as a martial art, but it evolved into many variants which are practiced only as health cultivating exercises.

This is really interesting that many Tai Chi Chuan practitioners are discovering that they can achieve more health benefits while learning from those instructors who teach complete systems, than from those who do only the health variant. This is probably a result of the fact that to be able to teach Tai Chi Chuan as a martial art competently, you need to learn all of its aspects very well. So in such cases the quality of teaching will be higher, even if some student wants to learn it only for health and not for self-defense. And in the case of many instructors who are teaching Tai Chi for health, their knowledge of the system is too limited, which causes lower quality of teaching. In too many cases teaching only for health is just a convenient excuse for those who don’t really know much.

By Richard Hackworth
Author of more than 100 books on the topics of health, wealth, and success

Eating Right Made Simple by Richard Hackworth

2006-08-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce the release of my latest book, "Eating Right Made Simple" by Richard Hackworth. It contains more than 100 great tasting and great for you recipes for a common sense approach to a healthy heart and fit body.

You can order the book at it's introductory release price of only $19.95 at www.ActionRadio.net or get it and over 100 other books written by me at www.RichardHackworth.com .

The White Tiger: A Story of Perserverance

2006-07-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is a Korean folk tale that I have translated to English.

Long ago in a village near the Kumgang Mountains in Korea there lived a young boy. His father had been missing since he was a baby, and the boy knew very well the reason why. An enormous White Tiger still lived in the Kumgang Mountains who had tormented the village for years, coming down to prey not only on horses and cattle, but even on the human beings who lived there. Years ago, his father, who had been the finest hunter and gunman in the land, ventured into the Kumgang Mountains to shoot the White Tiger and to save the village. He had never returned.
When the boy was still small he already decided deep in his heart that when he grew up, he would be the one to shoot down the tiger that had overpowered his father. As soon as he was allowed, he trained rigorously with the gun and became almost as good a gunman as his father had been.
When he was fifteen years old, the boy went to his mother and said, "Mother, I'm ready now to set out for the Kumgang Mountains to find the White Tiger and defeat him. Please, let me go."
The mother did not want to lose her son, too. With tears in her eyes, she said, "Even a famous marksman like your father was lost to the terrible White Tiger. Please, son, quit dreaming about such nonsense and stay safe here at home."
"Don't worry, Mother," the son cried. "I shall find the White Tiger, I know it!"
Finally the mother said, "Very well, as you wish. But first let me ask you one thing. Your father used to have me stand with a water jug on my head. Then he would shoot off the handle of the water jug from one mile away without spilling any water. Can you do the same thing?"
When he heard this, the young son immediately tried to match his father's skill. He had his mother stand one whole mile away, with a water jug on top of her head. He took careful aim, but missed. So he gave up his idea of going to the mountains and instead, practiced three more years with the gun.
After three years, he tried again. This time he succeeded in knocking off the handle of the water jug on his mother's head without spilling a drop of water. Then the mother said, "Actually son, your father was able to shoot the eye out of a needle from one mile away. Can you do this?"
The son asked his mother to place a needle in a tree trunk. Then he walked back for one mile. Taking careful aim, he let go a shot, but missed. Once again, he gave up the idea of going to the Kumgang Mountains and settled down to another three years of practicing even harder. At the end of three years, he was 21 years old by that time, he again tried the same trick. This time, with the crack of his gun, the eye of the needle fell to the ground.
Now in fact, what the mother had told her son about the amazing feats his father used to be able to do, were all lies. The mother had thought that if she told him impossible tales about the father, that the boy might give up his crazy idea of seeking the terrible White Tiger. But now that he had actually succeeded in performing each of the feats she told him her husband could do, the mother could not help being impressed with his determination. So she gave permission for him to leave for the Kumgang Mountains.
The son was thrilled. He immediately set out. At the foothills he came across a small inn. An old woman, who was the innkeeper, asked the young man why he had come. He told her that his father had been a victim of the White Tiger years ago and that he had practiced for many years to avenge his death.
The old innkeeper then said, "Ah, yes, I knew your father. He was the greatest gunman in all the land. Why, he stopped here at this very inn, many years ago, before venturing into the Kumgang Mountains. Can you see that tall tree over there in the distance? Why, your father used to turn his back to that tree and then shoot down the highest leaf on the highest branch from over his shoulder. If you can't do the same thing, how can you expect to defeat the White Tiger?"
The hunter's son, when he heard this, said he also would try. He placed his gun over his shoulder and took aim and shot. But he missed. He knew then that he still wasn't ready, and he asked the old innkeeper to let him stay with her a while. From that day, he kept practicing shooting over his shoulder at the tree. After three more years, he was finally able to shoot down the highest leaf on the highest branch.
Then the old innkeeper told the hunter's son, "Just because you can do that, it still doesn't mean you can outshoot your father. Why, your father used to set an ant on the side of a cliff and then, from a distance of three miles away, he would shoot that ant off without even scratching the surface of the cliff. No matter what a fine gunman you may be, certainly you can't match that."
The young man then tried to do what the old innkeeper said his father had done. Again he failed at first and had to practice three more years. Like the young man's mother, it turns out that all that the old innkeeper had told him had been made up because she, too, only wanted to save his life. But the hunter's son, not questioning her once, had practiced until he could do the tasks she said his father had done. The old innkeeper was filled with amazement.
"With your skill now, surely you will avenge your father's death." So saying, the old innkeeper prepared a bag with many rice balls for him to eat along the way. The hunter's son thanked her and started out along the path leading into the heart of the Kumgang Mountains.
The young man pressed deeper and deeper into the mountains. For days and days he wandered through the wilderness. After all, the Kumgang Mountains have twelve thousand peaks and stretch over a vast area, and he had no means of knowing just where the White Tiger was hidden. So he wandered on through the vast mountain ranges.
One day, while the hunter's son was seated on a big rock nibbling a rice ball, a ragged old woman stumbled up to him and said, "Excuse me, sir. Could you spare an extra rice ball for me?"
The hunter's son handed the old woman several rice-balls, which she ate ravenously. Then the old woman said, "We don't see many strangers this deep into these mountains. What brings you here?"
When the hunter's son explained, the old woman shook her head vigorously from side to side. "Nay, good fellow," she said. "Forget about shooting the terrible White Tiger. He is too quick. As soon as the tiger desires to pounce, his next prey is gone. From one day to the next, we never know whether we are going to survive to see the morrow. You are a young man. You ought best to leave these mountains at once and go back home while you're still alive!" Then the hunter's son replied that no, he would not be persuaded to leave. He described how hard he had practiced for so many years, and that now, with his skill, he knew he could smite the White Tiger after all. "Well," sighed the old woman, "if you are so sure, then you should know that the only way to shoot the White Tiger is to shoot him when all you see is but a white dot on the horizon. If you wait a single moment too late," here she shook her finger, "or if you miss your first shot, believe me, all will be will be lost for you."
The old woman left. The hunter's son immediately took to scanning the horizon until he was entirely familiar with every curve and shadow on each mountainside far and wide. Thus he waited for hours, his gun at readiness. While the sun was setting, a single white dot appeared in a fraction of a moment on a distant mountainside. No dot had been there the moment before, the young man was certain of that. Instantly, he fired at the white dot. His heart pounding, he raced toward the mountainside where he had aimed his shot.
And there he came upon the felled White Tiger, nearly as big as a mountain itself. It had collapsed with its mouth open, ready to swallow its next prey -- him! Astonished by its size and thrilled that he had actually defeated the legendary beast, the son stepped into the dead tiger's throat. Inside the tiger's mouth, he followed a black tunnel. Eventually, he came to a vast room as large as a fairground. This was the giant White Tiger's stomach.
Then the young man came upon an unconscious girl who lay huddled in a heap. The young hunter took the girl in his arms and nursed her until she awakened. The girl looked into his face and thanked him with all of her heart. She then revealed that she was the daughter of the king's highest advisor, who was famous in the capital city. The young girl told him how just the night before, the great White Tiger had stolen her away while she was washing her hair outside on the veranda of her home.
Suddenly, the two of them heard what sounded like a human voice. Puzzled, they groped in the dark toward it. When lo! The voice belonged to an old man crouched in the corner. Who was it but none other than the boy's father! He had survived all these years inside the White Tiger's stomach on the prey swallowed by the great beast. The father and son rejoiced in having found one another at last. Then together with the young girl, the three of them escaped through the tiger's mouth and found that they were in the middle of a large field. The young man skinned a portion of the tiger, for he wanted to take home as a remembrance the beautiful white tiger-skin. Taking the young girl by one hand and his father by the other, he proudly returned home, where his mother was waiting for him. Words cannot describe her joy to see not only her son come safely back home, but her long lost husband, too!
Then the young hunter took the maiden to her home in the capital city. Her father cried tears of joy to see his daughter returning safe and sound. In gratitude, her father welcomed the young hunter into his family to become his daughter's husband and to be heir to his name and fortune.
The young man's mother and father proudly attended their son's wedding day. And the young man and his bride lived happily ever after in the grand mansion of the king's highest advisor.

Translated by Richard Hackworth, author of more than 100 books on the topics of health, wealth, and success. To receive stories like this in a newsletter for your students and on cd join AMS News by calling Amerinational Management Services at 800-275-1600.

Check out the Health & Wealth Success Secrets website at www.healthandwealthsuccesssecrets.com

Punch Lightning Fast Like "The Little Dragon" Bruce Lee

2006-07-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

Bruce Lee is much more than a martial arts master or movie star. Bruce Lee is an example of what can achieved by dedication, focus, and hard work. If you want the lightning fast punches of Bruce Lee you will need to train with the same determined focus.

There are two advanced secret training principles that gave Bruce Lee his legendary speed. First is his incredible aerobic capacity. Bruce Lee had a lean fast body like a cheetah, the fastest running animal on the planet. This great aerobic capacity was achieved through the most effective forms of aerobics for combat training ever created, rhythmic aerobic exercise, was Bruce Lee’s secret for building lightning fast punches. What is rhythmic aerobic exercise as practiced by Bruce Lee? Skipping rope was one of the methods Bruce Lee used to build his amazing aerobic capacity and his cheetah like physique. Bruce Lee, and many famous fighters knew, that skipping rope is a great way to build speed and aerobic endurance. Some would argue that running would be the greatest form of aerobic exercise. But as Bruce Lee understood, running and walking are just the most natural form of aerobic training. To be faster than the average man you have to train harder than the average man as Bruce Lee did. You can be sure that all of the great boxers of the world would agree that road work, or running will help you drop weight for the pre-fight weigh in but skipping rope is what makes you quick as a cat in the ring.

The second secret to Bruce Lee’s legendary punching speed was response training to decrease reaction time. The two components of developing speed like Bruce Lee are movement speed, which comes from your level of conditioning, and reaction speed, your reflexive response time to deal with an attack or to launch your technique. Most people try to work with their natural speed from the conditioning. However, masters like Bruce Lee understood the secret to lighting fast techniques is a reaction time so fast that you seem to response with psychic premonition. To build reaction speed like Bruce Lee you need to use a rhythmic tool like a clock or bouncing ball to practice responding to motion. If you watch the second hand on the clock you can respond to each click by punching each time you see the second hand click to the next position. At first you will notice yourself responding only to the sound of the click but as you increase your reaction speed you will be able to react with a punch or other technique as you see the second hand begin to click clock wise.

If you use these two examples from Bruce Lee’s training routine you will quickly develop lightning fast punches. Maybe you will be the new “Little Dragon” or the next Bruce Lee, famous for your legendary speed.

About the author: Richard Hackworth is a multi-arts grand master and host of the “Martial Arts News & Entertainment” Radio Show on http://www.actionradio.net/ . He also has a reoccurring role as the wise cracking “Rick Love” on the “Turning Up The Heat!” TV Show. Richard Hackworth is available for seminars, clinics, camps and public appearances. He can be reached at Richard@RichardHackworth.com.

The Bamboo Farmer

2006-06-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a farmer. He lived in a farming community and had farmed, like his neighbors... for all of his life. As time passed by he became bored with farming traditional crops, he still loved farming but felt unchallenged. So he set about the business of researching alternative crops. Making a living and supporting his family was critical, so he wanted to make sure he made a wise choice. He knew that success is a choice. Therefore, he began reading, researching and speaking with experts with more knowledge than he before making his final decision.After studying a variety of options, he decided on Bamboo.

The climate, soil conditions and equipment at his disposal could make growing and harvesting bamboo a profitable business. He was convinced he was making the wisest choice and began making the changes needed to become a Bamboo Farmer. Now remember, our farmer lived in a farming community. For generations his neighbors had all grown traditional crops like corn and wheat. You can only imagine how the idea of growing bamboo was received. Upon telling his fellow farmers his idea, they mocked him calling him foolish, all the time warning him of his impending peril. They were unwilling to accept change or progress. However, the farmer was unshaken, he had done extensive research and was confident of his knowledge. He would not back down from the belief that he could grow bamboo and even turn a substantial profit in the business.

Well, if you know anything about bamboo, you know that the first year it’s been planted...nothing happens. You don’t get so much as a twig or a leaf! His neighbors were ruthless. They had all harvested their crops while he had nothing at all to show for his efforts. He was undaunted and confident in his knowledge. But wait, there’s more bad news. The second year nothing happens either, not a sign of a bamboo tree anywhere. Again he was forced to endure a second year of ridicule by his heartless neighbors. Still, he was unshaken in his confidence. The third year came...and guess what? Bamboo, everywhere bamboo. His crop grew a foot a day! By the end of the summer he had a virtual bamboo forest. He harvested his crop and sold it for a huge profit. His neighbors were astonished. In fact, several who had once ridiculed him began to show interest in becoming bamboo farmers as well.The farmer went on for many years enjoying the benefits of his new crop, bamboo. He and his family enjoyed a very happy and successful life, unafraid of growth, progress or change, confident and determined when facing challenges.

This story teaches us two lessons. First, when you have knowledge you have tremendous power. Knowledge gives you confidence to pursue your dreams and goals...regardless of what others think. Throughout history our most prolific leaders, inventors and businessmen were very often the subject of ridicule by their peers. It was their faith and single minded purposefulness that drove them to persevere and ultimately achieve their dreams. The second lesson is that just because we don’t see immediate progress, doesn’t mean we should give up. The reason the bamboo tree doesn’t grow until the third season is because it spends the first two years growing roots, building a foundation so that when it is ready to grow it will have the stability to stand tall reaching tremendous heights. Without those roots, the tree would fall over with the first strong wind. Had the farmer lost faith, had he not had confidence in his knowledge, he might have tilled the crop under during the first or second year and created disaster for himself and his family.

Results or benefits in a Martial Arts program may not be immediately visible either. While some children respond almost instantly, others may need the full three years or more to fully benefit from their classes. It’s critical that we allow the child to grow and develop at their own pace. We must understand that although there may not appear to be any changes on the outside, growth and progress is happening on the inside. We must be patient, have confidence and persevere, (like our farmer did in the story.)As for me, no matter how hard anyone tries to convince me otherwise...I’ll always believe in the power and value of Martial Arts for children. We’ve see hundreds of children grow and develop both mentally and physically in our program. Many children who at first appear lost, confused, scared or even indifferent have had tremendous success and became Black Belts. Have faith and persevere! Be careful not to till the crop under before it’s had a chance to grow it’s roots and climb toward the sky. Remember Success is Your Choice!

For more stories of interest listen to the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at www.ActionRadio.net .

By Richard Hackworth, author of more than 100 books on the topics of health, wealth, and success.

Exercise: The Magic Medicine

2006-06-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

This article is sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com . Did you know.... If you exercise for about 30 minutes at least 3 times a week you could:

Lower your cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Improve sleep.
Increase oxygen to the brain and improve memory.
Make your bones strong and improve posture.
Burn stored body fat to help you lose weight.
Reduce stress and tension.
Increase energy.
Protect your body against injury and disease.
Slow the aging process.
Boost self image and confidence.

If exercise could be put into a pill, it would be prescribed to everyone by every doctor around the world, because it’s been proven that inactivity is hazardous to your health.

When you are active, your muscles use stores of fat and sugar (called glycogen) in your body to provide fuel for the activities that make you healthy. Your body is always using both these energy systems.

EXERCISE FACTS:
People who have been inactive can benefit from 30 minutes of activity on most days. If a traditional workout doesn’t appeal to you, get started with one of these activities:

Pleasure walking
Yard work
Tennis or golf
Lifting weights

But, when you are active, one of the systems takes the lead and gives the exercise its name.

AEROBIC ENERGY SYSTEM: aerobic is a scientific word for "needing air" and is used when your activity is low or it makes you breathe fast enough for you to notice, but not so hard that you couldn’t carry on a conversation with a friend. You think "No problem, I could do this aerobic exercise for 30 minutes." The type and pace of an aerobic activity is based on three factors that can be adjusted according to how you are feeling on any given day. Put the first letters of each of the words together and you have a reminder of the "rules of aerobics."

FREQUENCY: If your activity takes place often enough, you don’t have to work out so hard for such a long period of time.

INTENSITY: If your activity is hard, you don’t have to work so frequently or for such a long period of time.

TIME: If your activity lasts a long time, you don’t have to work so often or so hard.
Regardless of your choice, aerobic exercise uses stored body fat to fuel your muscles.

ANAEROBIC ENERGY SYSTEM, anaerobic is the scientific word for not needing air, makes your muscles work so hard you think, "I can do this anaerobic exercise for a short period of time, but I don’t want to be here very long." Typically these are activities that require muscles to work really hard, like sprinting in a race or lifting very heavy weights, or if you use
lighter weights, lifting them many times. This system prefers to use the stored sugar (glycogen) your body makes from food and stores in muscles.

GETTING STARTED
If you are timid about getting involved in exercise or lack confidence because of past experiences haven’t been so pleasant, or you think "I don’t have time to exercise," there is good news. You don’t have to "work out" for a full 30 minutes to get some benefits listed at the beginning of this article. You can vacuum for 10 minutes, then when you go to work or the
store, park your car far away from the door. Later in the day, rake leaves. In short, many of your various activities will add up to help fulfill the 30 minute rule.

For more information on fitness and martial arts training listen to the Action Radio
Network at www.ActionRadio.net .

5 Star Marketing

2006-06-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

Hi, Richard Hackworth here,

This week I’m going to give you five individual marketing systems that, when used together, create a powerful force multiplying effect for building your martial arts training business.

Each and every marketing system below is field tested and proven. But when used together they have a synergistic effect that can virtually double and triple your business in a matter of months. Now that’s force multiplier in action!

Here they are:

1. Community Outreach – When was the last time you gave back to the community? How about a Saturday morning child safety seminar, or free weekend self defense seminar? How about speaking at your local church, hospital, chamber of commerce, golf or tennis club? These “free” events can do a lot to position you as the obvious expert.

2. Endorsements – Want to build trust and credibility fast? Partner with businesses that cater to your potential clients. Ask them to promote and endorse your services to their clients and customers. In exchange you can offer their customers a “special” that you typically do not offer to regular prospects. Doctor's offices are great for this.

3. Direct Mail – Have you considered the many ways that you can enter your prospect’s home without ever physically stepping in? Here are two very effective ways: direct mail postcards and letters are excellent methods for generating leads and building a list of prospects. The key to prospecting through direct mail is to focus on lead generation and not making the sale. That comes later.

4. Publicity – When was the last time you wrote a column or article for the local paper or community magazine? Or when was the last time you got a press release published? It’s really not that hard at all. Not if you know my guaranteed press release strategy. Get creative—find reasons to get publicity. Annual citywide tournament? How about volunteering at the local senior center once a week? The media loves human interest stories like these!

5. Expert Positioning – Write a book, create an exercise video or a community health and safety newsletter. Then donate a few of your books and DVDs to the local libraries. Allow businesses who cater to your potential clients to give out your videos, newsletter, and books as free gifts. This is called viral marketing and it’s a very powerful way to get the community to know you, like you, and trust you.

Now just imagine this for a moment. Let’s say that you’re the average martial arts prospect, and all of the sudden you started seeing this instructor and his marketing message everywhere you went in the community.

Imagine that – go ahead. You hear him speak at church. You read about him in the local paper. Your favorite grocery store is promoting his child safety seminar. And your neighbor is attending her weekend community self defense seminar.

Let me ask you this:

Wouldn’t you naturally assume that this instructor is the top martial arts expert in the community? I know I would.

So what’s it going to be? Are you going just sit there or are you going to go out there and actually take action?

I hope (for your sake) you pick the latter!

Need some help getting started?

To discover the marketing and selling strategies that I mentioned above in greater detail. Listen to my radio show at www.ActionRadio.net

See you next week with more ideas, techniques and strategies that will leave your competition in the dust.

Committed to your success,
Richard Hackworth
Author of more than 100 books on the topics of health, wealth, and success.

Establishing Family Support

2006-06-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

How many times have each of us said this? "Martial Arts is an addiction" ... "I couldn't quit if I wanted to"!

This is an absolute statement that comes from our hearts, and nobody knows any better than I do, how much effort our spouses and families must put forth to keep us from destroying both!

As a martial artist, we must understand the pressures that our spouses and children must endure, to allow the freedom and massive time commitment necessary to pursue and maintain our major love.
And yes, it is a love relationship between the martial artist and his art. We are obsessed with our studies and our commitment to elevate our art and our lifestyle. They go hand-in-hand, because our art is our lifestyle and eventually our very personality.

With few exceptions, most of our spouses are not, or were not, martial artists when we met and married them. For those who married martial artists, or who eventually molded your spouse into a martial artist, then you are in pretty good shape, because they too now understand this addiction.

For the remainder of us who are the majority, we must work on this issue just about every day, to keep our marriage strong. The average spouse who marries a martial artist, can not comprehend or understand how massive our love and commitment is to the martial arts.
If our love was another person, then maybe our spouses could handle that a little better because there is a way to defend against an intruder who is trying to create a wedge in your marriage or relationship.

How does a spouse defend against something that is not flesh & bone, but is even more powerful and addictive than an extra marital affair? Let's face it, we spend much more time with our martial arts than we do our spouses or children, and we always will! If we are not on a mat or in a dojang/dojo training, then we are at some tournament, seminar or banquet.

Otherwise, we have our noses buried in some martial arts books, magazines or videos.
At the very least, we are on the telephone for hours with some other martial artist talking about all the good stuff happening or coming up. Some of the more fanatical martial artists have jokingly made the statement; "If I could just find a way to teach my martial art how to cook, then I could get rid of my wife!"

All the while, our spouses in many cases are holding down jobs, trying to maintain our homes, pay the bills, cook the meals, care for the children, and keep your sweaty gi's washed.
Some may not appreciate my direct approach to this subject but I was determined to write this article straight forward and tell it like it is in so many pitiful cases. I have witnessed many of my martial artist friends go through divorce court loosing their family and their financial security. It almost happened to me a few years ago! It is next to impossible to give up our martial arts and in so many cases to even cut back our schedules.

We must do everything in our power to maintain strong relations with our spouses and families by finding ways to spend more quality time with both. We must never fail to let our spouses and children know how much more we love them than our martial arts and without their love and support, we will not be able to reach our potential and goals.

As a martial artist, you can not succeed without family support! Take a close look at your relationship and evaluate the areas where you need to focus more attention. You did not marry the martial arts, even if your spouse thinks you did. Yes, we need the support of our family, but our family needs our love and support even more. Find quality time to repair any weak areas in your relationship now, before it's to late. Commit yourself in this order: First to God, then family, then country, then martial arts. All the while, you must allocate the necessary time to earn a living to financially support all of your commitments.

So much to do, so little time!

May God Bless you and your family forever.
John Chambers

P.S. If you want to belong to a martial arts organization that will treat you like family and help you achieve success then visit www.kmaia.org . Sponsored by www.ActionRadio.net and www.RichardHackworth.com

Learn everything you need to operate a successful martial arts school

2006-06-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

So you are not Bruce Lee but you want to open a successful martial arts school. What do you do?
Do you hire Chuck Norris to be the chief instructor and get Jet Li to coach your demo team? How do you find a good location and market your school once its open? How do you get all of your questions answered?

What is someone gathered up 5 of the leading martial arts authorities and had them explain step by step how to open and operate a successful martial arts school... and all of the information was written down and put together in a book with samples for you to refer to... Would you buy such a book? Of course you would. And now it's available.

The Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual is available for a limited time for ONLY $69 by contacting fredsoto@str8talk.com .

This is the insiders source for martial arts success information. Don't miss out.
Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com

Try A Fitness Program With Kick

2006-06-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Try A Fitness Program With Kick

Do you want rock hard abs like Chuck Norris or the lightning fast moves and balance of Jackie Chan? Try martial arts class. If you are looking for a new exercise program, either because you are in a rut with your old routine, or you are just starting out, you might want to consider joining a martial arts class.

Martial arts is a fun, challenging work out that you can enjoy alone, with a friend or with your children. The obvious reason that many people chose to learn martial arts is self defense. Traditional martial arts will teach you how to defend yourself for any time you might be attacked. In addition to self defense, martial arts will help raise your self esteem and confidence by toning your body, and making you feel in control over situations. Although there are over 15,000 full time martial arts schools in the USA, less than 200 are run by certified instructors registered with the world headquarters in Korea. To find a qualified school check the directory at www.kmaia.org .

Fitness is a good reason to take up any martial art, as in the 21st century obesity and disease due to sedentary life styles are on the rise. If you find yourself bored or unmotivated with the routine of lifting weights or running on the treadmill, martial arts might be right for you. It’s a fun work out, so you will be enjoying yourself while burning a large amount of calories.

Martial arts can also teach a person tremendous mental and physical determination, as it not only focuses on the body, but also on the mind. Many people who are involved in martial arts say that the courage, and mental willpower that they learned is the best thing they have received from the art. More than ever, people need to start focusing on the well being of their body’s through diet and exercise. If you find yourself more apt to sit on the couch than go for a walk, joining a martial arts class might be an excellent change of pace for you.

Martial arts provides several benefits for fitness. It improves flexibility, ballance, strength and muscular endurance. It's the workout that packs a punch!

About the Author: Richard Hackworth is a noted health and safety expert who has authored more than 100 books and is the senior writer for "Martial Arts World Magazine" in Orlando, FL. Hackworth is also the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at www.ActionRadio.net .

The Thumb Jab by Carl Cestari

2006-06-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

The Thumb Jab by Carl Cestari

I'm sure a lot of you remember the scene in the movie "The Presidio" were Sean Connery's character decimates the jackass in the bar with nothing more than his thumb!
Some of you may remember Andy Adam's book on Ninjutsu highlighting Hatsumi. Several photos showed the intense conditioning of natural weapons including the 'boshiken" or thumb fist. One photo in particular impressed me. That showed a small flat stone being broken by a "thumb" jab.

Sykes, it has been reported, had a tremendous amount of grip and hand strength. He was apparently quite fond of the "thumb" jab. Though NOT a basic method, since conditioning over a period of time is mandatory, it still was a favored "personal" weapon of his.
Allowing the thumb to jut out along the side of the fist was a "street" tactic shown to me when I was a kid by my father and uncles. Aimed at the eyes it made that left jab a really potent weapon.

The thumb as a weapon can be used to strike, gouge and/or apply tremendous concentrated force. It is also used in many Judo/Jujutsu "shimewaza" of the "combat" variety.
Many methods employ this type of strike. The problem is CONFIDENCE in its use! Here's a method of toughening and strengthening the "thumb" that is specific to its use in hand to hand combat:

Grab your palm sized "crushing" rock. Keep the flattest side UP. If the rock you use is TOO round, find a flatter one.

Get a THICK DENSE piece of foam as used in upholstery.
Place the rock in the middle form your "thumb jab" fist, place the pad of the thumb on the rock and PUSH. Try to push/press the rock right THRU the foam. DON'T STRIKE IT YET! Just numerous repetitions of the FORCEFUL push! Repeat it over and over. Over time you will be able to strike the rock and ram it right down fully to the bottom of the thick foam pad.
Other good exercises such as the "thumb" hook push up on bricks or cinderblocks can also be added as well as any other personal favorites, BUT the exercise as described above is about as specific to USING the "thumb" jab as you can get.

I train the thumb in several uses:
Boshiken - Thumb tip jabBoshiken - Thumb knuckle Uechi style Oyayubiken - Thumb knuckle fist Tohote - Sword tip hand (thumb hook) Dim Jeang - Palm strike with thumb jab. From Fushan Wing Chun as taught by Sifu Chong. Ying Jow - Eagle claw with thumb crush/gouge
In Dr. Ernst Jokl's excellent treatise on the scientific and medical aspects of boxing blows, he describes the "old" street fighter?s trick of jabbing the extended thumb into the carotid and causing a knockout. He also details some "jiu-jitsu" blows with the edge of hand.
All of the foregoing weapons can be trained on the makiwara. Just start EASY. And..................keep a bottle of "New Skin" handy.
Here's another "good" one: Get a cinder block. Place it long ways in front of you. Open hands, and "hook" thumbs in openings on each end of block. Apply OUTWARD pressure with THUMBS ALONE and lift AND HOLD. Repeat several dozen times.
Also any king of "pinch" grip work is also great!

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion.

About the Author:
Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion.
http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com/

Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com

The Body: When the Body Speaks for the Mind

2006-06-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

The Body: When the Body Speaks for the Mind

The mind-body connection is an essential component of health and happiness. Psychological health and physical health are equally important and both are vital to our well being. When we’re unhappy, it’s hard to feel well and when we’re sick, it can be difficult to feel happy. Physical disturbances may result from physical illness, but may also be a manifestation of emotional issues. Recognizing the mind-body connection is the first step toward healing ourselves and improving our lives.

The Mind-Body Connection

The scientific connection between the body and the mind is the autonomic nervous system. Divided into two components, the sympathetic nervous system regulates the “fight or flight” response and the parasympathetic nervous system helps us to “rest and digest.” Nerves travel from the brain to organs such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, heart and muscles that regulate breathing. Through these involuntary circuits, the brain can affect digestion, urination, heart rate and respiration, as well as secretions from eyes and salivary glands.

Positive emotions such as happiness and excitement can result in teary eyes, facial flushing and decreased appetite. These physical manifestations are usually minor disturbances and last only for brief periods. In contrast, negative emotions may be associated with more serious and persistent health concerns.

Somatization is the unconscious process of expressing psychological distress through physical symptoms. For example, panic attacks result from high levels of anxiety leading to sweating, dry mouth, shortness of breath, restlessness, increased heart rate or even heart palpitations. Anger and depression may be related to gastrointestinal problems, muscle pain and fatigue. Stress may be associated with tension headaches, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite and decreased immunity leading to frequent infections. Symptoms may present in isolated episodes, they may be transient, or related to chronic and progressive disease.

Culture Clash

Cultural values and traditions impact the mind-body connection. Physical manifestation of emotional symptoms may be more severe in cultures that discourage expression of emotions such as fear and sadness. When these feelings are denied or suppressed they surface in other ways and sometimes make us sick.

When physical illnesses are identified, it becomes more permissible to make lifestyle changes. For example, in the United States stress has become virtually unavoidable and related physical symptoms can be considered common and normal. Chronic-fatigue syndrome may affect people overwhelmed by stressful schedules and a diagnosis may be permission to take the time needed to heal. Of course, fatigue may be related to conditions more serious than the need for rest, so it’s important to have health concerns checked out by a doctor who can rule out physical disease.

Mind Your Body

There are no absolute rules to the mind-body connection and emotional symptoms may manifest differently in different people. The best way to identify mind-body symptoms is by keeping a daily journal. Track emotional and physical symptoms independently and observe any relationship between the two. Take time to feel your emotions and address difficult issues. Learn to release negative feelings and make positive changes in your life.

Refrain from self-diagnosis and seek professional help if you need it. Establish a relationship with a doctor who addresses emotional as well as physical symptoms. The mind-body connection should always be considered when addressing health concerns and may be especially significant when symptoms remain vague, confusing and unresolved. Understanding the relationship between the body and the mind can get you on the road to better health and a happier life.

Richard Hackworth is a Naturopathic Medicine Research Specialist who conducts seminars on a regular basis. For upcoming seminar dates visit the calendar section at www.kmaia.org . Hear the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at www.ActionRadio.net .

Natural Medicine & Herbal Remedies

2006-06-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

Natural Medicine & Herbal Remedies
by Richard Hackworth

Natural medicine and herbal remedies have existed as long as humankind. They include the use of leaves, bark, berries, roots, gums, stems and flowers. One of the earliest herbal texts was written at the time of Nero by Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek physician serving the Roman army. In it, he listed many plants to treat each symptom, probably in hopes that readers might find at least one medicinal plant in their own locality. As humankind progressed through the centuries, many other texts of “herbals” would follow. Yet as an industrialized society developed, along with pharmacy and medicines, the use of herbs declined - until now.

Herbal Remedies Today: During the past 20 years, interest in medicinal plants and herbal remedies has increased dramatically throughout society. Today we find herbal products used in a variety of ways. The general public uses herbs for self-medication and as natural cosmetics and the scientific community carefully studies the biological & pharmacological effects of herbal preparations. Today, over half of the top 250 pharmaceutical companies have research programs involving herbal plants something that was unheard of as little as 15 years ago. In fact, most perscription medications are derived from natural products.

Herbal Remedies and Their Benefits.

Doctors have found herbs to be useful allies in treating their patients. Natural products have become useful alternatives to established therapies, mainly because they act at different stages in the disease and can be useful in combination therapy. Lets discuss some of the more popular herbs and other natural products and their uses. Most can found over the counter at any drug store or health food store.

Black Cohosh - Used as an astringent, expectorant, diuretic, sedative and an antispasmodic, it helps in treating nervousness, fatigue, sore throat and arthritis. It is also useful during menstration. Because of its estrogenic effects, it’s been used by women going through menopause. It should be avoided by pregnant women and those advised not to take birth control pills.

Cranberry - Helps stop bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder and urinary tract to help prevent bacteria infection. Regular use may help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Echinacea - Helps increase production of infection-fighting white blood cells. Can help reduce inflamation, fever and mucus. However, for best effect it should not be used regularly.

Evening Primrose - Helps form prostaglandins which help reduce inflamation in the joints, regulate blood vessels, salt and water balance, insulin secretion, nerve function and natural resistance. It helps keep skin, hair and nails healthy and protects the liver from toxins.

Garlic - Acts as a natural antibiotic and helps lower serum cholesterol. It’s also been known to kill harmful diarrhea causing bacteria.

Gingko Biloba - Several decades of clinical tests have shown this extract to promote mental activity, concentration, memory and overall cognition.

Ginseng - Helps increase endurance, overall vitality and the libido.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin - Is a unique combination of ingredients for joint support. Glucosamine is a basic building block for cartilage, synovial fluid and other connective tissue. It is needed for healthy structure and function of joints for optimum mobility. Chondroitin Sulfate protects existing cartilage and serves as a building block for healthy new cartilage.

Kava Kava - Used to reduce anxiety, relax muscle tension and produce analgesic effects, a reason for its popularity as a sleep aid today. It has also been used as a local anesthetic and is said to have a potential antibacterial benefits.

SAM-e Is a natural compound present in all living cells and is involved in many important biochemical reactions in the body. SAM-e helps promote healthy cartilage formation which may enhance joint comfort and mobility.

St. John’s Wort - Has a sedative and pain reducing effect, helping with stress, headaches and very minor depression. An oil or lotion made from it can be used externally on burns, wounds, sores and bruises. The FDA warns about severe drug interactions with HIV drugs, Coumadin, Digoxin and others.

Saw Palmetto - Used mainly to treat conditions associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy (nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate gland). It helps to shrink an enlarged prostate, protects it from testosterone irritation and improves urinary function. A natural expectorant, it can beneficial in treating colds, asthma and bronchitis.

Of course there are countless more herbs that can be beneficial if used correctly.

Natural Medicine and Herbal Remedies Seminars for martial arts injuries are available on a regular basis. For upcoming seminar dates visit the calendar section at www.kmaia.org

6 Tactical Disadvantages of Fighting on the Ground

2006-06-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

6 Tactical Disadvantages of Fighting on the Ground

The rules have since changed in order to get the ban imposed by various local authorities lifted. "Dirty" techniques, like groin strikes, hair pulling, striking the spine or the back of the head, etc. were thus removed and timed rounds and referee intervention were added.
The UFC ring, in either format, however, is still a controlled environment. Opponents don’t wear shoes or any kind of clothes that can be used to help or hinder him. And in the spirit of the competition, no one genuinely wants to seriously hurt or kill their opponents, as is often the case on the street.
Additionally, it doesn’t take into account various tactical disadvantages that come up in ground fighting in real self-defense situations. This is not to say that ground defense skills aren't useful- they are. It's important to know what to do should you ever get taken to the ground against
your will. Arts like Judo and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can teach you a great deal about how to use technique and weight distribution to your advantage. That being said, sound knowledge of ground tactics doesn't mean that you would necessarily want to be on the ground in a real defensive situation.

Here are the six main tactical disadvantages of fighting on the ground:

If your attacker outweighs you, he can use his extra weight to a greater advantage. Given two people of equal technique, the person who is bigger and stronger dominates. Moreover, size difference by a large margin diminishes the effectiveness of good technique even more so on the ground than it does in a standing position.

Debris strewn on the ground like broken glass, a board with a nailing sticking out, etc. can injure you as you fight.

Grappling requires you to be in very close quarters for it to be effective,
making you vulnerable to biting attacks and potentially puts you in contact with any open wounds your attacker may have. This increases your risk of exposure to communicable diseases.

If your attacker has any friends nearby, they can easily deliver potentially fatal kicks to the most vulnerable parts of your body, particularly your head. This is a very common cause of death in street fights.

By putting yourself in close quarters, you are more vulnerable to any edged weapon attacks, like knives, which may be concealed on his person.

When on the ground, you lose the ability to take advantage of any improvised weapons (or "weapons of opportunity"), like chairs, cars, trash cans, etc., that the environment may offer.

On top of all the tactical disadvantages of fighting on the ground, the relevance of the widely touted statistic that 80-90% of fights end up on the ground is being called to question. Many people who work in security, police officers, bouncers, etc., say they’re never taken to the ground against their will.

Since the people who dispute this traditional statistic are all trained in combative arts to one degree or another, it may be more accurate to say that 80-90% of untrained fights end up on the ground and that someone with training is better able to stay on his or her feet.
Whatever about the ongoing dispute over that statistic, even if 90% of fights end up on the ground, 100% of them (or close to it) still start from a standing position.

For information on ground fighting or any other type of fighting visit www.kmaia.org
Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com

Super Health from Super Foods!

2006-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

By: Richard Hackworth

We all hear about the many wonderful foods that are good to eat, and good for us. We always hear about eating fruits, and vegetables, and nuts. But that’s a big list to sort through, and wouldn’t it be simpler to have a few super foods that you can always turn to? To help you in your endeavors to lead a healthy lifestyle and a healthy life you can use the list compiled
below as quick reference list of 9 super foods.

Apples
Apples are a great food for many reasons including the ability to reduce the risk or heart disease, certain cancers, high blood pressure, and type-2 diabetes. They also benefit the respiratory system by preventing lung cancer and asthma.
By consuming apples your body gets fiber, potassium and antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and polyphenols. Studies show that the real benefit comes from the synergistic interaction between these ingredients. To take best advantage of apples for your health, eat a wide variety and
make sure that you eat the peel, which contains several times more antioxidants than the inside. As they say, eat an apple a day.

Avocados
When you want to help you body absorb more nutrients from the foods you eat, have an avocado too. Fat soluble phytonutrients, like beta-carotene, are more easily absorbed by the body because of the monounsaturated fat in the avocado.
Avocados also help you keep your weight down because they help you feel full, which triggers your body to stop eating. They are calorie rich at 48 calories per ounce, so for best results eat one-third to one-half an avocado two to three times a week.

Dark Chocolate
When you want a little indulgence with your health food, try dark chocolate. It contains lots of polyphenols which lower blood pressure and is a natural anti-inflammatory. You should keep in mind that blood pressure lowering qualities are only in dark chocolate, but not in its cousin, milk chocolate. In 2000 a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that the affect on blood flow from high flavonol cocoa was similar to taking a low-dose aspirin. These means that dark chocolate could possibly be used to treat ailments like minor pains or headaches.
For the best results use Newman’s Own Sweet Dart Chocolate, it has more polyphenols than any other dark chocolate he has found. Like avocado, chocolate is high in calories, so shoot for no more than 100 calories a day.

Olive Oil
There has been much discussion lately about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Well olive oil is one of the main components of that diet and its benefits are outstanding. It is a great substitute for other oils and fats and has been shown to reduce the risk of breast and colon
cancer, lower blood pressure, and improve the health of your cardiovascular system.
For best results take a tablespoon a day of extra virgin olive oil that is cold pressed and greenish in color. This green color helps you spot high levels of polyphenols.

Garlic
Another component of the Mediterranean diet, Garlic is great for your cardiovascular system. By eating garlic regularly you can reduce your blood pressure, triglyceride levels and your LDL(bad) cholesterol. Garlic also has anti inflammatory agents and antibiotic properties.
To grab all the health benefits of garlic eat one clove several times a week. Raw garlic is best, but cooked is good too. Keep in mind that dried garlic and garlic supplements don’t have the same benefits as fresh garlic.

Honey
Honey is not often seen on many lists of healthy foods, but don’t let that fool you. Eating honey daily increases the amounts of antioxidant in the blood, helps to prevent constipation, and reduces cholesterol and blood pressure.
If you are running low on energy, reach for the honey, not sugar. Honey does a better job of maintaining blood sugar and energy than other sweeteners. And choose dark honeys over light ones, because they are higher in antioxidants and flavor. One to two teaspoons several times a week should do the trick.

Kiwis
If you want extreme quantities of Vitamin C and E that can reduce risk of asthma, osteoarthritis, and colon cancer, and boost your immune system, then grab a kiwi or two. An interesting point to keep in mind is that dietary vitamin E appears to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, and by consuming kiwis, you get vitamin E without the calories that most other vitamin e rich foods contain, like nuts and oils.
Another stellar ingredient is lutein, which lowers the risk cataracts and macular degeneration. To get all the above benefits and reduce the risk of blood clots, then consume one kiwi, two to three times a week.

Onions
For the benefits of onions, you can just reread the benefits of garlic, because they are pretty much the same. Try to eat dishes containing onions at least three times a week, and make
sure that you let the onion sit for 5 to 10 minutes after you cut it open. If you apply heat too soon you will deactivate the thiopropanal sulfoxide, which is the substance in the onion that gives us the most heart benefits. And remember the more pungent the onion, the better it is for you.

Pomegranates
Pomegranates are packed with tons of phytochemicals like potassium, which is great for lowering your blood pressure. Studies also suggest that pomegranates can slow the progression of prostate cancer and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.
Instead of fighting with the little pulpy seeds to get your dose of pomegranate, try four to eight ounces of 100% juice several times a week. Be sure to stay away from juices with added sugar.

About the Author: Richard Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment Radio Show" at http://www.ActionRadio.net. He is recognized as the Master of Mind, Body, Spirit Training.

Power Training for Martial Arts

2006-06-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

by Sang H. Kim

Power is a combination of strength and explosiveness. It is created by releasing maximum muscular force at maximum speed. To increase power, you must increase both speed and strength. By exerting strength with speed, you take advantage of both the force generated by the muscles and the momentum created through the speed.

Power can be described in three ways:

Explosive power - Explosive power is the ability to exert maximum force in one or a series of dynamic acts. Example: Breaking a board with a punch.
Static power - Static power is the maximum force a person can exert for a short period. Example: Bench press.
Dynamic Power - Dynamic power is the ability to exert muscular force repeatedly or continuously over time. Example: Heavy bag workout.

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Power is derived from muscular ability. The human body contains over 400 muscles that can be broken in two classes: smooth and striated. Smooth muscles are those that perform the involuntary functions of the body like circulation and digestion. Striated muscles are those that can be voluntarily contracted, such as the muscle groups in the arms and legs.

These muscles are the source of power.
Slow and fast twitch muscle fibers Striated muscles are made up of two types of fibers: slow twitch and fast twitch. Slow twitch fibers are designed for activity that must be sustained
over a long time like distance running. They have a high capacity for aerobic energy production and can remain active for a long time while producing relatively small amounts of lactic acid. This is important because lactic acid build-up in the muscle tissue causes the muscle to fatigue and eventually renders it unable to continue working. Low levels of lactic acid mean more capacity for work. People who have a high percentage of slow twitch fibers excel at endurance activities.
Conversely, people with a high percentage of fast twitch fibers excel in explosive strength activities. Fast twitch fibers have a great capacity for anaerobic energy production, which allows them to produce intense power and speed of contraction. This intensive work also causes them to accumulate large amounts of lactic acid and fatigue quickly.
Based on this, the answer to developing power seems obvious - increase the percentage of fast twitch muscle fibers in your body. Unfortunately, this is not possible. The ratio of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers is determined early in life and cannot be markedly changed. Studies have shown that distance runners have high percentages of slow twitch fibers and sprinters have high percentages of fast twitch fibers. Yet it has been concluded that the activity in which they participate is not responsible for this phenomenon. Instead, it is believed that distance runners take up endurance sports because they naturally excel in this area. In the same respect,
others are naturally fast and gravitate toward the speed and power oriented sports in which they excel.
Although you cannot change the ratio of muscle fibers, you can improve what you have. In the average person, slow and fast twitch muscle fibers are generally intermingled, with a higher percentage of fast twitch fibers present. Through training, you can improve the metabolic efficiency of either type of muscle fiber. By training for explosive strength you stress the fast twitch muscle fibers repeatedly, causing them to become stimulated and teaching them to work more efficiently.
Muscle movement
Besides understanding the types of muscles you have, you must have an understanding of how your muscles work. There are two basic ways that force is generated and controlled. The contraction of a muscle is determined by the types of muscle fibers recruited and the firing rate of the neurons within the muscle.
First, let's look at how your body decides which types of muscle fibers to use. The voluntary contraction of a muscle begins with the recruitment of the smallest units of slow twitch muscles. These motor units (muscle fiber groups) have the lowest response threshold, create the least amount of tension and are the most resistant to fatigue. As muscle tension increases, more motor units are recruited from the larger fast twitch fibers. As tension continues to rise, fewer motor units need to be activated because the large fast twitch units contain more plentiful and more powerful muscle fibers. But because these large fibers are the ones that generate peak
tension in the muscle, they fatigue quickly and require more recovery time.
As a practical illustration, compare the difference in muscle fatigue you feel when walking and when sprinting. If you walk one mile or sprint one mile, you are using the same basic muscle groups over the same distance. But few people can sprint even half the distance they can walk before their legs simply refuse to go any farther. Walking requires less tension in the muscles and therefore relies on the low threshold, low tension motor units. Sprinting, on the other hand, requires maximum muscle tension for every stride. The muscle fibers' ability to produce maximum tension repeatedly over long periods of time is poor and the legs tire quickly.
Besides the amount and type of muscle fibers recruited, muscle tension and speed of contraction is determined by the rate at which the skeletomotor neurons stimulate the muscle fibers. The more frequently the neurons fire, the more tension that is produced in the muscle. At peak tension, the neuron fires so rapidly that the muscle fiber is unable to relax from one
stimulation to the next. The result is the generation of maximum force.

HOW TO IMPROVE
Power consists of both speed and strength. Since speed is very important to martial artists, we will focus on improving strength in this section and cover speed in more depth in the next chapter.

Isometric or Isotonic

Strength can be increased by repeatedly stressing the target muscle groups over time. There are three common ways of creating the required stress: isotonic, isometric and isokinetic exercise. Isokinetic exercise requires specific exercise machines, so this section will examine the more practical methods of isometric and isotonic exercise. Normal muscle movement is isotonic. One muscle lengthens while the other contracts in complementary pairs. A good example of isotonic movement is weight training. As you lift the weight and then return it to its original position, your muscles lengthen and contract alternately through the full range of motion.
To understand isometric exercise, imagine you try to lift the same weight and it does not move. No matter how hard you work it remains in the same place. The muscular response you experience when applying force against an immovable object such as this is an isometric contraction. One muscle lengthens and the opposing muscle is prevented from contracting because the stationary weight prevents the muscles from moving through their full range
of motion. Building tension in the muscle while preventing it from shortening was once thought to bring dramatic gains in strength. Studies of isometric exercise have since proven it to be an effective, but not miraculous, way of improving strength gradually.
One drawback of isometric exercise is that the muscle is strengthened only in the exact position of the isometric contraction. If you push against the floor with your elbow bent at a ninety degree angle, your arm muscles are strengthened in that position, but you have to repeat the push at eighty degrees, seventy degrees and every other position between. Doing simple
push-ups, an isotonic exercise, can be much more efficient because you work the entire range of motion, and strengthen the corresponding muscles, in a single action.

Increased strength
The key to effective and consistent strength gains is to apply the proper amount of stress in the correct way at the proper frequency. Let's take a closer look at the three key components:
Proper amount of stress:
Too much stress can easily cause time-loss injuries, injuries that require you to take time off from your exercise program to recover. Taking time off means you have to start over where you left off, or more likely, at a lower level than when you were injured. To prevent overuse and stress injuries, work at your own pace. Don't try to get in shape quickly by doing 200 sit-ups on your first day. Start with a comfortable number of each exercise. To determine a good number of repetitions, work through as many repetitions as you can until you feel minor discomfort in your muscles. Do a few more repetitions and stop there. Stay with this number until you can complete it without difficulty and then add a few more repetitions. The last ten to twenty percent of the repetitions should always be fairly difficult to complete.
Example: If you can do thirty sit-ups comfortably, set thirty-five as your starting point. After a few sessions, thirty five will become comfortable and you can add more repetitions. As you get into higher repetitions, you may begin to advance more slowly than you did at first. This is normal. Stay at your current number of repetitions as long as you need to.
A gradual increase in work load will allow to reap maximum benefits with minimal injuries.

Correct way of exercising:
Execute exercises exactly as you learn them. Cheating on an exercise to squeeze out a few extra repetitions will do more harm than good in the long run. Failing to flex your arms fully during push-ups may allow you to do ten more than usual, but it will have less effect on your arm strength than push-ups done correctly. If you can only do five push-ups correctly, then do just five. If you really stick to the correct form and are consistent, five will turn into ten and ten into twenty and so on. Each exercise is designed to work specific muscles and produce specific benefits. Make an effort to understand what these benefits are and stick to the correct way of
performing each movement.

Proper frequency:
For best results, do strengthening exercises two to three times a week. Strength training causes minor tears in your muscle fibers that need about forty-eight hours to heal fully. During this recovery period your muscles become stronger and thicker creating the increases in size and strength that you are training so hard to achieve. If you interrupt the recovery period,
you hinder the efforts of your body to produce the results you want.

DESIGNING YOUR WORKOUT

In designing your workout, whether for strength training or other progressive exercise, there are seven basic guidelines to follow:

1. Warm-up - Always spend at least fifteen minutes engaging in an aerobic activity that will stimulate the large muscle groups of your body. Good examples are jogging, biking (road or stationary), and jumping rope. The goal of your warm-up activity is to break a light sweat and prepare your body for more strenuous work.
2. Load - The load is the amount of weight your body must bear during the exercise. It can be increased by using weights or by altering the position of your body during the exercises. In weight training, a load of sixty to eighty percent of your maximum liftable weight is enough to produce gains in strength.
3. Sets - Sets are groups of exercises with a brief rest between. If you are going to do one hundred push-ups during your workout, break them into four sets of twenty-five each. By resting between sets, you can increase the intensity of each set of exercises.
4. Repetitions - A repetition is the completion of a single exercise. When deciding how many repetitions to include for each exercise, use the guidelines described in the "Proper amount of stress" section.
5. Progression - Progression means increasing the amount of the load as well as the number of sets and repetitions to produce an increased challenge and steady gains in strength. Your workout should always offer you a challenge.
6. Breath control - Breath control is a familiar practice for martial artists and should be easily transferred to your conditioning exercises. As in the martial arts, never hold your breath when you are physically exerting yourself. Holding your breath during a strenuous exercise decreases the oxygen supply to your brain which can cause you to pass out. This is a serious danger when working with weights or other heavy equipment.

7. Consistency - Consistency is the hallmark of champions.
To summarize, when designing your workouts, plan the number of sets and repetitions as well as the proper load for you. Warm-up thoroughly and breath during every repetition. Be consistent and challenge yourself every day. Finally, when organizing the order of the exercises in your workout follow these three guidelines:
Work from large muscle groups to smaller muscle groups. Perform exercises in a similar order every time. Arrange exercises so that each successive exercise only minimally affects the muscles that were just used.

CAUTIONS
Before you begin the exercises listed in this section, take note of the following general cautions regarding strength training. Specific cautions follow individual exercises where applicable.
Strength training should cause some discomfort in your muscles both during and after exercise. If you have any pain in your joints during strengthening exercises, stop immediately. Joint pain during weight bearing exercises is an indication that your muscles are not strong enough to carry the current load. When your muscles cannot bear the weight of an activity, they transfer
the overload to the tendons and ligaments of the corresponding joints. Tendons and ligaments are not designed for this type of work and can be strained or torn easily. To ease joint pain during exercise, try decreasing the weight of the load or increasing the angle of the joint.
Example: If you have pain during squats, increase the angle of the joint by bending your knees only ninety degrees rather than doing a full squat. If you have shoulder pain during push ups, do them while standing and pressing against a wall. By reducing the gravitational pull exerted on your body during prone push-ups, you can lessen the weight load on your shoulder joint.

Always use a spotter or partner when working with free weights, weight machines or strengthening devices.

When doing leg strengthening exercises, use caution in bending the knees past ninety degrees (as in squats and lunges) because the potential for knee injury increases significantly when the joint must simultaneously flex and bear weight.

Lift weight properly. If you cannot lift your target weight for at least eight repetitions without cheating, move to a smaller weight.

Remember that your strength decreases in a few weeks when you do not exercise. If you take off more than a few weeks, do not try to start where you left off.

INSTRUCTOR'S NOTES
1. Structure group strength training according to class or belt level. For beginners, start with a minimum number of repetitions. As students progress in belt level, increase the number of repetitions and eventually the number of sets of each exercise. It is not necessary to tell students the number of exercises at each level. Just lead them in the class and encourage students to complete each set.
2. If you have a class that has a wide range of levels, Work to the upper-middle range of the class. Encourage lower level students to follow, but do not require them to complete every set perfectly. Another strategy is to set a time limit, like one minute, and let everyone complete as many of the exercise as they can in that period. Advanced students will work through each exercise more quickly than beginners, finishing more repetitions in the same amount of time.
3. Carefully observe the cautions related to each exercise and clearly communicate them when you introduce an exercise that is new to students. Many people are not in good shape when they begin training and are susceptible to injuries due to improper technique or weight load.

For the best martial arts and conditioning training visit www.kmaia.org
Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com

Three Techniques To Kick Like Chuck Norris

2006-06-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Former TangSooDo Champion and action film star Chuck Norris is famous for his kicks. There are three techniques that you can use to master those championship quality kicks yourself.

First: If you watch Chuck Norris kick you will notice a very clear chambering of the leg. Leg Chambering is a key tenant to a having fast powerful kicks. This means focusing on where your knee is prior to the position of the kick. In most Korean style kicks, as done by Chuck Norris, your first move is to lift the knee straight up in front of the body with the bottom half of the leg cocked and ready to kick. Pulling the knees straight up like Chuck Norris does to chamber allows your leg to move in a straight line, thus a shorter distance to hit the target and a faster kick. The most important thing to remember is that the height of the kick is not a function of how much you lean back wards to lift the leg, but instead it is a function of how high you raise the knee in relation to the target. This is one of the trademarks of Chuck Norris’s dynamic kicks.

Whether Chuck Norris is portraying Lone Wolf McQuad or Walker “Texas Ranger” the Foot Position is always locked at the proper angle for the kick. One of the most common mistakes people make is to not take into account the position of their feet before and during the execution of their kicks.
Chuck Norris knows that before the execution of a kick you should make sure that your feet are properly aligned for the stance that you are in. During the execution of a kick, make sure that you are not planting your feet in one static position, but are instead pivoting on the foot in accordance with the kick that is being executed. Most often beginners forget to pivot and find themselves loosing power and balance as they try and execute their kicks. Want you kicks to hit like a sledge hammer? Do what Chuck Norris does and use proper foot position for the kick.

Those spinning back kicks and crescent kicks that Chuck Norris is famous for require proper Hip Rotation for Power. In kicking, power comes from the strongest part of the body, the legs and hips. Much like golf or baseball, if you do not engage the hips and rotate them into the kick that you are executing, then you will loose much of the power that is available to you. Just like Chuck Norris, your hip should lead the kick itself so that at the moment of contact the hip is just past the target.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at http://www.actionradio.net/ and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at Richard@RichardHackworth.com

Hapkido: It is a flipping good time!

2006-06-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

The official Hapkido Black Belt CDR covering the black belt testing requirements is available by mailing $49 plus $16 shipping and handling ($65 total) payable to Oh Kum Yul, to the world headquartes. The address is:

Oh Kum Yul
SongSanRi 661 BonJi
JonNam JangSongKun
JangSongUb
South Korea

Willpower is Real Power

2006-06-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

One of the keys to a school's success is the personal success of the students. A key to personal student success is willpower. "One of my students has been extremely successful in sticking to his martial arts training program," my associate Kevin Huston muses. "He has so much determination; he keeps up his attendance and is making good progress. Another student has come to see me a few times, but is always making excuses. I can't help comparing them. The two men are similar in so many ways, but their biggest difference is commitment. You could also call it willpower, in the martial arts training success, as with success in any area of life."

As the manager of the American Dragon Martial Arts Academies in Ocoee,
Florida, Huston says: "Willpower creates Real Power! The power to do, the power to be, the power to achieve. I just wish I knew how to give it to everyone."

Call it what you want --commitment, determination, willpower or self-control-- you know it varies widely from person to person. It interacts with many factors, and contributes greatly to a person's success when it comes to lifestyle change. Becoming a martial artist is a major lifestyle change. This is one of the largest hurdles in martial arts school success. Transforming the "curious about martial arts students" into "serious about martial arts students" is an enormous challenge. Helping people improve their willpower creates success on both sides, for the student and for the school. I found that my own personal teaching success improved when I became a better personal motivator.

Developing the Nature of Self-Control

Self-control refers to the control exerted by the self over thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Self-control is involved in making decisions and choices, initiating and inhibiting behavior, and making and carrying out plans. We use self-control when we forgo immediate pleasure (i.e., decide not to eat dessert) in order to obtain future benefits (like better health). Self-control allows us to examine and change habitual behavior. Hence, whenever we attempt to help students implement behavior-change programs, students' efforts at self-control help to determine their likelihood of success. Some psychologists who study self-control believe it is a limited resource. In other words, each person has a finite amount of psychic energy available for the purposes of self-control.

This notion of limitation helps explain why people who train early in the day or in a private class setting are most likely to be successful; they have not yet expended time and energy overcoming the barriers that inevitably develop during the day. This concept of limitation also explains why dieters are most likely to overeat in the evening. After spending all day exerting self-control to resist temptation, their resolve wears down by the end of the day. I was experiencing some sluggish feelings in the evening myself and found that by scheduling more of my private training clients in the mornings and before lunch I was able to feel better. My success became their success.

Daily life stress can reduce energy for self-control. Self-control energy is expended more quickly when you are under stress, since you use self-control when you adapt to stress. You expend energy to change your behavior, thoughts and emotions. Coping with stress can leave you emotionally exhausted, and without the energy to get to your workout, or to resist the temptation to smoke or overeat. In fact, stress is the most common reason people slip up in their attempts to overcome addictions or change other habits. Part of the explanation for this may be that the demands placed upon these stressed-out people have exceeded their supply of self-control energy.

In addition to using up energy, stress also causes negative emotions, like anger and sadness. When people experience negative feelings, they look for ways to feel better. The need to overcome distress is perceived as more important than behaving in ways that may result in future benefits. So if you feel bad and you think eating some chocolate cake will make you feel better, you will eat the cake, even though you want to lose weight. Self-control can increase student success.

Martial arts professionals are often guilty of designing training programs that look great on paper, but don't match the amount of energy students are capable or willing to expend. This is partly because students don't always understand what they can realistically take on, and they underestimate the time and energy a martial arts program will require. To improve the success of your students, try to help them maximize their motivation and self-control, while reducing the self-control required by their martial arts program, by using the following suggestions.

Acknowledge that daily training requires time and energy. People who mentally prepare for the challenge of taking on a program of daily training are better able to summon the self-control required to make their programs work. Rather than telling students that martial arts classes are easy and effortless, prepare them for the work, as well as the rewards. This allows you to teach the higher standards you want without losing students with weak willpower in the early stages of their training.

Let students know they must make their martial arts training a priority. After all, it could someday save their life. Unless people see daily martial arts training as a priority, other commitments will consume their time and energy. Proper martial arts training can not only provide great self-defense techniques, but can also replace their need for any other type of fitness training. I have found that many of the adult men in our program do it mostly for the exercise. That way they avoid the macho ego attitude at the gym where people look at you funny if you aren't lifting everything on the rack. Martial arts training allow them to progress at their own speed and the belt rank system allows them to compare their personal progress with their time in training and not against the other students in the room.

Help students make martial arts a habit. Once martial arts training become a habit or enjoyable routine, little self-control is required. Use the force of habit to increase martial arts training success in your students. My Hapkido Grand Master, Yong Ki Song calls martial arts training an addiction to better health and safety. Recommend training early in the day. Research shows that people who do any form of training or exercise first thing in the morning have the best adherence. Their goals have been accomplished before other demands eat up their time and wear away their self-control energy supply. After all, why do you think those millions of people gather in public parks in China to practice Tai Chi early in the morning? Because most of them are too tired from daily work and stress to come back for the lunchtime class!

Increase martial arts self-confidence with daily success. A few words of encouragement go a long way. As students become more confident in their abilities to stick to a long-term martial arts training program, they will try harder to do so when obstacles arise. Start students off with modest demands that they will really accomplish. One of my first students told me after receiving her Black Belt she really had doubts about herself and did not plan to come back after the first class as a white belt. When she received a personal note from me telling her what a great job she did on her first day, she couldn't help but come back. She was really excited to find out the teacher thought she had done well! She kept coming for seven more years.

Help students use training to reduce stress. Just as people can learn to overeat to reduce stress, they can also learn to train to reduce stress. Educate students about the stress-reduction benefits of martial arts training. Martial arts training does three great things: it reduces stress, creates incentives to train and increases self-control energy. Not to mention the many benefits of a total mind, body and spiritual experience that come from true martial arts training.

Encourage social support. Less self-control is needed when control is supplemented by encouragement from others. Recommend that students get a close friend or family member to join class with them. Help students set up environments and situations that require the least amount of self-control. If students seem uncertain about their class environment, help them feel welcome and at home. Remember, the family that kicks together, sticks together!

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at http://www.actionradio.net/ and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at Richard@RichardHackworth.com .

What Are Ki Centers?

2006-06-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

Ki Centers are basically subtle energy channels that run through the body, located in different areas of the body. There are many Ki Centers throughout the body but the ones I will mention here are known as the "classical Ki Center system" and I've heard it also referred to as "the essential Ki Center system".

The essential Ki Center System:
There are 7 main Ki Centers that are located vertically up the spine starting at the base of the spine and all the way up to the crown area (actually believed to be about 4 finger widths above the head) of the head. They are located in the center of the body and open on both the front and the back side of the body. Starting at the base of the spine they are known as, The Base or Root Ki Center and it is Red, The second Ki Center above this is known as the Sacral Ki Center and it is orange, the next above this is the Solar Plexus Ki Center and it is Yellow, the next above this is the Heart Ki Center and it is green, the next above this is the Throat Ki Center and it is light blue, the next above that is the Brow (sometimes known as the 3rd eye) Ki Center and it is Indigo, and the last is the Crown Ki Center and it is Bright white, although colors of purple and gold are also seen in this area.

The Basic Function/Malfunction signs of each Ki Center:
The Base/Root Ki Center Function: Pretty much the foundation system of the body. This center is our Will-to-live, to survive. IT is our "ground" root though which we gain power, stability, and growth. It's often referred to as linked to the adrenal glands. It represents activity in general such as movement, energy and survival as well as grounding. It also connects with the legs, feet, hips and base of spine...associated with the circulation system and blood. Red is also associated with pain, swelling and inflammation and all heat sensations. On a mental level, red shows assertiveness and self-confidence.
*Enthusiasm and Drive require Red energy. When red energy is suppressed or blocked it can become violent when it finally escapes.

WHEN THIS KI CENTER IS BALANCED, we have physical vitality and strength, we feel connected to nature with a deep understanding of it's rhythms and patterns.

Signs of malfunctioning: An under active Ki center might display signs of a lack of energy, stamina, feelings of unreality, of not belonging, not being able to cope. Cold, congested conditions, difficulty with physical movement, coordination or circulation problems, inability to sustain energy levels, physical weakness, exhaustion, lacking in drive and enthusiasm, easily drained by company. An excess of Red energy might be displayed as hyperactivity, inflammation, physical tension, inability to relax, anger, fear, mental and emotional confusion, rapid mood swings, impatience, fidgeting, intolerance, violent outbursts.

CHARACTERISTICS:
*the color is Red
*the musical note is C
*sacrament is Baptism
*the mantra is "lam" or "e" (as in the word fed)
*it is located at the base of the spine
*it's purpose is Kinesthetic feelings, movement
*the spiritual lesson is that of material world lessons *associated with the mineral kingdom *governs the adrenal gland *element is earth *sense of smell *it is the place of birth & rebirth, place of ability to draw abundance from the universe *home/job/passion/trust/money/security/survival/vigor/food
*the main formation of the chakra was accomplished between 0 and 5 years of age
*this Ki center was ruled by the Moon in ancient history and by Saturn in modern day times
*a healthy functioning base Ki center spins clockwise

The Sacral Ki Center: associated with the qualities of movement and flow of energy. It's located below the navel and above the pubic bone. Also referred to as the "Spleen","Sacral", "Abdominal". It is connected to the sensuality of touch and the innocent desire for pleasure; nonjudgmental, spontaneous enjoyment. Associated with the organs within the lower abdomen, especially the large intestine and reproductive organs, and the kidneys. Signs of malfunctioning: A lack of orange energy: Physical rigidity, restricted feelings, Digestive disorders, lack of focus, lack of vitality, being stuck in the past holding on to memories, impotence, problems with uterus, bladder or kidneys, stiff lower back. Feelings of inadequacy, possessiveness, jealousy and envy, and self regret on all levels. Anti-social behaviors, lustfulness, selfishness and arrogance all stem form an imbalance in this Chakra center. Other emotions such as the need to control violence, thoughtlessness, hatred, despair, of the future, victimization, masochism, sentimentalism, consumerism, (the need for more stuff.)

CHARACTERISTICS:
*color is orange
*this Ki center represents the plant kingdom
*mantra is "Vamor O" (as in the word home)
*musical note is D
*element is water
*sense of taste
*associated with the spleen in men/uterus in women
*sacrament of Matrimony (union)
*in women, this Ki center spins right, spins left from men.
*it is located about 2-3 inches below the navel and in the center of the body.

The Solar Plexus Ki Center: Associated with the planet Venus in ancient
times and with planet Mars in modern times. Motivates us to bring about change. Deals with our use of energy and the ability to transform it from a raw state into usable forms. The solar plexus creates change in ourselves as well as around us. It is an organizing type of control center that gives us the ability and will to mold our lives in a more powerful and effective way. It deals with many different systems of the body, digestion, stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas, spleen (which also effects our immune system) and also works in proper functioning of the nervous system and the skin. It's located between the navel and the base of the rib cage. Also related with optimism, self-confidence, spontaneity, flexibility, understanding, a sense of humor, joy, and laughter are natural balanced expressions of the solar plexus.

Signs of malfunctioning: Ulcers, diabetes, hypoglycemia, anorexia, nervosa, bulimia, stress related ailments, indigestion, insomnia, panic attacks, headaches, muscle tension, skin irritation, nervous disorders, allergic reactions, arthritis, tension, worry, confusion, auto immune disorders, chronic fatigue. An overactive Ki center might show signs of over analytical or fussy behavior, narrow concepts, prejudices, lack of tolerance.

CHARACTERISTICS:
*color is yellow
*it is the emotion of anger
*sense is sight
*musical note is: E
*mantra is "RAM" or "AUM"
*it is the element of fire
*associated with the animal kingdom
*it is located about 2 inches above the navel
*pendulum spins left for positive power
*sacrament of Confirmation

The Heart Ki Center: Located at the center of the chest this is also the midway point of the Ki center system with 3 Ki centers above and 3 Ki centers below. This Ki center is balance, equilibrium, community and love. Associated with the heart, lungs, diaphragm, arms and hands, respiration, growth, the ability to change and adapt, caring, sharing, relationships with others, gives structure to our existence, routine and discipline, all aspects of personal growth and the ability to discern and travel our own personal road. When this chakra is balanced, there is a sense of calm, clear-sightedness, friendliness and tolerance of others. It is possible to understand the needs of others without feeling our own needs have to be ignored or suppressed. We know where we want to go and we can hold our own ground well.

Signs of malfunctioning: Asthma, high blood pressure, lung disease, heart disease, colds, emotionless, power-seeking. Anything that intrudes into or restricts personal boundaries and equilibrium such as: Invasive illness, abnormal growths, lack of control at any level, sense of claustrophobia, being trapped, unfulfilled, restricted, dominated, a need to be in control or be controlled, becoming possessive or obsessive, constantly seeking reassurance, a lack of self worth and isolation..

CHARACTERISTICS:
*color is Green or pink
*sense of touch
*element is air
*musical note is F
*associated with the human kingdom
*Mantra is "yam or A" (as in ahhh)
*associated with the thymus, heart, blood, circulatory system, glands,and lungs
*chakra spins to the right in both men and women
*connected to the sun in ancient times, now it is connected to the planet of Venus
*Sacrament of Eucharist
*located at the breast bone in the middle of the chest

The Throat Ki Center: Communication, inner identity, and telepathy. Related to the thyroid and parathyroid glands, the upper chest, neck, throat, mouth, nose and ears. Note: The shoulders, arms and hands can be affected by both the heart and throat Ki center. The throat Ki center is primarily concerned with communication, and both throat and sacral Ki centers are associated with creativity.
Signs of malfunctioning: Throat problems, stiff neck, thyroid problems, ear problems, laryngitis, sore throats, tonsillitis (these all suggest difficulties within the lines of communication either at an every day level or sometimes simply the need to become involved in some artistic activity)... creativity blocks, lack of inspiration. Very often these symptoms are a sign something is being held back or not communicated, individuality is being stifled and something needs to be expressed.

CHARACTERISTICS:
*color is blue
*associated with the thyroid, bronchial and vocal apparatus, lungs, alimentary canal, gland, and parathyroid.
*element is ether
*angelic realms
*sense is hearing
*sacrament is Priesthood
*associated with the planet Mars in ancient time and is connected to the Moon in modern times.
*spins to the right in both men and women
* it is located in the throat below the Adams apple.

Brow Ki Center: Clairvoyance, intellect, belief, understanding and analysis of reality. Inward looking rather than expressive like the throat Ki center.
Affects the eyes and the conscious workings of the brain , main function is to make sense of the raw information received from the "sense organs". It also works with memory and planning. another function is to leave behind the constraints of time and space because it gives us greater insight. This Ki center more than the other Ki centers needs integrated balance and a firm grounded energy. Signs of malfunctioning: When the brow Ki center is stressed, the mind becomes clouded and thought patterns run in chaotic circles, making practical decision making extremely difficult. Intuitive sensitivity may become blocked. Visual defects, nightmares, and headaches are also signs of a malfunctioning brow Ki center.

CHARACTERISTICS:
*color is indigo, violet and sometimes yellow
*it is all the elements
*the main element is spiritual
*the musical note is A
*the mantra is "aum, om or mmm"
*it governs the pituitary gland, skeletal system, pineal gland, nervous system, and other glands.
*it is located one finger width above the bridge of the nose at the center of the forehead.
*sacrament of marriage
*associated wit the planet Jupiter in ancient times and the planet Mercury in modern times
*it spins to the right

Crown Ki Center: The All is One Center knowingness and Wisdom. A replica of all of the other Ki centers and the total energy signature of each individual is said to exist within the crown Ki center. Here, our unique pattern of consciousness is kept in constant touch with all sorts of information from the outer universe and the subtle dimensions of spiritual energy. This Ki center is connected to the whole of creation. As the base Ki center connects us firmly and safely to the earth, the crown Ki center opens us to the universal energy. In some ways, imbalances in either have similar symptoms. When balanced, the crown Ki center increases the ability to understand things in a wider context allowing one to become more intuitive. Signs of malfunctioning: Depression, alienation, inability to learn. When the crown Ki center loses its balance, a shadow is cast over the whole system. There is a feeling that something is not right, although it can be difficult to describe clearly what is wrong. Feelings of alienation and depression, a weight descending that makes you feel listless, exhausted and prone to boredom. The crown Ki center directly effects the higher brain. The cerebrum which consists of the 2 hemispheres of the brain is the seat of higher consciousness, a lack of balance between the left and right can cause confusion and coordination difficulties, both physically and mentally.

CHARACTERISTICS:
*color Violet/white/gold
*sacrament of Extreme Unction (anointing of the sick)
*it is all elements.....it is cosmic
*kingdom = source
*mantra "aum", "ee" (as in bee)
*it is associated to the pineal gland
*it is the seat of the Ketheric Body
*here we must learn to release-to surrender
*in ancient times it was associated with Saturn, in modern times it is the Sun
* located at the top of the head in the center of the skull *spins to the right

For more information on Ki training visit www.kmaia.org.
Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com

Understanding Ki and it's development

2006-06-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

If the origins of nearly every traditional martial art in existence today were explored, one would find that the theories and principles of 'Ki' training are in existence in the original teachings. Many martial artists today who are studying these arts do not understand exactly what 'Ki' power really is. Although some people like to market 'Ki' as some mystical power that only they possess, 'Ki' is no secret. The word itself translates to "energy, life- force, spirit, and/or breath." Everyone has 'Ki': If you didn't, you'd be dead!

It is beneficial in seeking a definition to explain 'Ki', that we understand there is only one Chinese ideogram used to write the word 'Ki'; and further to understand that this particular ideogram is only descriptive of this force, and is not used to define or write any other idea or word. Also, we must research the occurrence of this ideogram in conjunction with others, and then explore the definitions of the words made with these conjunctions. Some examples are... (in Korean)

Ki-gae (spirit, high-mindedness, moral courage, pride, self-respect) ki-kwan (wind-pipe) ki-kwun (atmosphere) ki-ryuk (vigor, vital force, push, pep, vitality, health) ki-maek (secret mutual understanding, communication, connection) ki-byuk (unwillingness to admit one's defeat) ki-sahng (spirit, temperament, nature, disposition, bearing) ki-saek (looks, appearance, mood, feeling) ki-seung (an unyielding spirit, strong-mindedness) ki-shik (breathing) ki-yum (high spirit, enthusiasm) ki-jil (disposition, frame-of-mind) ki-chun (asthma) ki-poom (nobility, grace, refinement) ki-hap (concentration of spirit, vigor of spirit) As one can see, many of the uses of the word 'ki' are within the explanation of the defining of a frame of mind, or an attitude, or the appearance of one's body or expression during an emotional "high." Additionally, although not well represented by the definitions listed above, 'Ki' is used in words defining "air" or some attribute, state, form, usage, or other regard thereof. Also, there is an, as yet, scientifically undefined energy within the body which travels through pathways known as "meridians." There are fourteen meridians in the body and each meridian consists of many sensitive points called hyul in Korean or acupoint in English. It is on these points that an acupuncturist (Chim Sool Sah) inserts his needles or an acupressurist (Ji Ahp Sah) presses with his fingers.

The stimulation created by the insertion of needles or the pressing on certain points, either releases built-up 'ki', or opens the pathway for 'Ki' to again flow properly. Certain numerous, physical symptoms can be observed on the body when there is either an obstruction, or a build-up of 'Ki' at some point on a particular meridian. An example would be the formation of moles at specific locations adjacent to a meridian. Yet another would be a particular toenail becoming thick, hard, and discolored. There may not be an explanation for this according to Western medicine, but Eastern medicine can not only explain it using 'Ki' theories, but through acupuncture or acupressure, they can cure it.

The practice of acupuncture and acupressure has been around for at least three thousand years. Nothing lasts that long without having some sort of measurable effect. It has been scientifically proven that there is a greater concentration of nerve endings at each point on the body where the Chinese originally defined the acupoints - at least in comparison to the surrounding areas. It can be reasoned that stimulation of these nerves causes the reactions within the body, that treatments in either form produce - but nobody knows for sure. The one thing we do know for sure is that the human body is tremendously resilient and able to take care of, and repair itself, if it is kept healthy and strong. 'Ki' training, in addition to diet, is the best way to maintain the condition of homeostasis required for the body to function at its peak.

In layman’s terms, 'Ki' is the combination of such things as, the proper frame of mind (attitude or concentration), adrenalin and endorphins (produced through emotional/mental stimulation), oxygen (allowing the body to function closer to homeostasis), knowledge (of body mechanics), and the "undefined" energy within the body. Hopefully, it is becoming clearer that 'Ki' is not one definable thing or idea, but rather, 'ki' is created or exists as a combination of many factors, both internal and external.

Hapkido, by definition seeks to create harmony, or the coordination of each of the factors listed above, among others, to make the practitioner a dynamic source of energy and control.

To define exactly what "Ki" is would take pages of explanation... Simply put, every object, living or otherwise, has "ki." 'Ki' is the energy inside every atom of everything around you. You can expel from, and accept 'Ki' into your body. This is the "energy" form of 'Ki'. The physical form inside our bodies is adrenaline. So, in actuality, there are many forms of 'Ki' which we need to practice to utilize. That within the atoms of our body is our "life force," without it, we would die. Adrenaline, is our super hormone - at our "fingertips" whenever we need it. You will learn techniques through your training in Hapkido to allow you to summon the several types of 'Ki' on command.

The level of 'Ki' energy within your body relates directly to your breathing and how much oxygen you take in and absorb. Nearly every body function, from muscle contraction, to the ability to focus or concentrate, can be enhanced by an increase in the blood oxygen levels. Additionally, toxins which are produced as a part of the normal functions and processes of the body are more rapidly expelled. A research group in Chicago found that there are enough toxins brought into and produced by our lungs, in one hour to (if concentrated) kill over 60 people. Obviously it is easy to see that proper breathing techniques are vital to a healthy, prolonged existence.

Most martial artists have heard the word "Ki-hap" (Korean) or "Ki-ai"
(Japanese) used to define the yells that are so common in any fighting art. Unfortunately, however, the definition "to yell" is a poor one. More accurately, the word "ki-hap" or "ki-ai" defines the harmony which is created during the yell, between the energies of the mind and body. Were you to try, you would find it quite difficult to focus your mind on anything other than the technique you are performing in association with the "ki-hap." This is good! It means that your whole 'being' is sub-consciously coordinating all of the activities and thoughts necessary to generate a maximum amount of power with that technique.

In the old days before many of the martial arts became sports and recreational activities, most serious martial artists underwent 'Ki' training in addition to the physical practice of the art. Hapkido, as was stated earlier, by its name and definition, involves a good deal of training in the development of this "internal energy." Hapkido simply would not be the same art, minus the 'Ki' training and the power, both mental and physical, along with the health benefits it (ki training) promotes.

Hapkido Grand Master Song Young Ki said, "Everyone has a maximum power potential, exceeding their normal ability. By developing their 'Ki' energy, they can bring out their maximum power whenever needed. 'Ki' training is the way to develop that power."

'Ki' isn't just something you build-up, like a weight lifter does muscles. The level of 'Ki' related energy is different for men and women, and varies at different times of the day. For instance, daily times for 'Ki' "highs and lows," are opposite for men and women and closely follow the oriental concept of um and yang. According to many experts, a man's 'ki' energy is high in early in the morning and in the evening (sun-up & sun-down), and at
it's lowest during the afternoon and during the middle of the night. Women's 'ki' energy is low early in the morning and in the evening, but high in the afternoon, and during the middle of the night. Therefore, martial arts training will be respectively more beneficial to men and women during their high points of the day, or during the time when their level of 'ki' energy is highest. For both sexes, physical strength and stamina are best when 'ki' levels are at their maximum. This is not to say, however, that martial arts training during other times of the day will not be greatly beneficial to the practitioner, just that there is an optimum time for training.

Meditation is a daily must! Since 'ki' travels more freely when both the mind and body are relaxed, daily meditating becomes very important to your training. Your mind will not relax until your body is physically relaxed and vise versa. Quiet, calm breathing helps the body to relax. Anytime you are engaged in the activity of concentrating on your breathing, you are meditating! This period of meditation allows the body to perform many of the same functions and processes which occur during sleep, therefore creating more "rest" time for the body.

Daily abdominal breathing (dahn-juhn-ho-heup-bup) is also a must. Hapkido training consists of twelve basic techniques of abdominal breathing or "dahn-juhn" breathing. Four standing, four sitting, and four from a prone position. Typically, these techniques are practiced before and after a class. However, many of the masters will train in dahn-juhn breathing for 1-2 hours at sunrise and then again at sunset. Remember though, when meditating or practicing dahn-juhn breathing out-of-doors, that the techniques should always be practiced with the sun to your back.

For more information on Ki training visit www.kmaia.org or www.haemukwan.com
Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com

The Picture of Peace

2006-06-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried.The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played.Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest.There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest... perfect peace.Which picture do you think won the prize?The King chose the second picture.Do you know why?"Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.

Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com

The Korean Flag

2006-06-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

“Tae-Guk-Ei”

The Korean flag was adopted in August of 1882. This flag symbolizes much of the thought, philosophy and mysticism of the Orient. The central theme of the flag is that although there is constant movement within the sphere of infinity, there is always balance and harmony. The flag consists of three parts: a white field or background, a red and blue circle in the center of the flag (called Tae-Guk-Ei), and four black "tri-grams" surrounding the circle in each of the four corners of the flag.

The white background represents purity and innocence. The red portion of the Tae-Guk-Ei represents the Korean concept of Yang, or the positive or male aspects of nature. The blue portion represents the concept of Um, or the negative, dark, or female aspects of nature. The Korean 'Um-Yang' principles are identical to the Chinese 'Yin-Yang' or to the Japanese 'In-Yo'.

The four black tri-grams come from the Chinese book of "I Ch'ing". The tri-grams also represent the ideas of balance and harmony. Each tri-gram has a specific name and represents it's own concepts. In the upper left-hand corner is "K'un" which represents heaven, east, and spring. In the lower right-hand corner is "K'on" representing earth, west, and summer. The tri-gram in the upper right-hand corner is "Kam" which represents water, north, and winter. And lastly, "Ee" in the lower left-hand corner represents fire, south, and autumn.

Sponsored by www.kmaia.org and www.RichardHackworth.com

History of Yudo

2006-06-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

By Amaury Murgado

Archaeologists have shown that cultural and technical advancement came to Korea through China. In turn, these advancements were later taken to Japan from Korea. Such advancements included unarmed combat techniques.

It is no surprise then that Korea has a rich martial arts history that includes all types of fighting skills. Though many people are familiar with Korean-style kicking and punching, most are not aware of Korean strangling, joint lock, or throwing techniques. They may not even know that the Koreans have complete unarmed fighting systems. Yudo is one such system.

During Korea's Three Kingdom Period, the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. to 937 A.D.), developed specific throwing techniques for their Hwa Rang Do Warriors. Throwing techniques were also found in Taik Kyon, which could be considered Tae Kwon Do's predecessor. A primary throwing system, Kagju, was practiced in the Koryo Kingdom (918 A.D. to 1392 A.D.).

Many of the specifics of these techniques (but not all) would end up being lost to martial art historians. Many of them would later surface, however, in the various styles of Jujutsu in Japan.

Ironically, a complete unarmed fighting art would be reintroduced to Korea from Japan, by Jigaro Kano, after the Japanese occupation of Korea, shortly before the First World War. Jigaro Kano called his art Kodokan Judo, and it was a martial art based upon the application of scientific principles. A system specifically designed for self-defense.

Professor Kano was a distinguished educator and the Father of Physical
Education in Japan. His martial art was unique in that it contained a
self-defense system that allowed people to practice safely, in a form that could be taught easily as part of the public school curriculum.

His intent was never to have Kodokan Judo practiced as or modified into a sport. It is said that later in his life, Professor Kano witnessed a sport judo tournament and was dismayed at the lack of his applied scientific principles. Sport judo had basically become a contest of strength and resembled wrestling, instead of his martial art. Professor Kano was quoted as saying: 'This [sport judo] is not the Kodokan Judo that I teach, this will be the end of Kodokan Judo." Little did he know then, that he was foretelling Judo's future. Judo today is almost universally practiced as a sport, not for the purpose of self-defense -- except within the Republic of Korea (ROK) Yudo Association.

Yudo is the Korean pronunciation for Judo and some Koreans, both in ROK and in this country, tend to use the two terms interchangeably. Sports judo has flourished within the Republic of Korea and Korean sports judo players have distinguished themselves on the international tournament scene and in the Olympics. As is increasingly the practice however, I shall herein refer to Judo as referring to sports judo, Kodokan Judo as the teachings of Jigoro Kano, and Yudo as that form of self-defense which encompasses all of Kodokan Judo and incorporates additional traditional Korean martial arts techniques.

Jigoro Kano's teachings are the basis for the practice of Yudo within the Republic of Korea Yudo Association (ROKYA). Those teachings were reinforced and developed for the Korean practitioners by the teachers sent to the Korean Peninsula, from the Kodokan, during the occupation. The ROKYA have remained loyal to what they were taught by Kano, even when, during the Occupation of Japan following its defeat in World War II, all martial arts training halls were ordered closed, and when the Kodokan itself was allowed to re-open, it did so as a sport training center.

After liberation in Korea, the martial arts flourished, as ancient manuscripts were dug up from the ground in which they had been buried, hidden from the Japanese. Sport judo became very popular among the young, while the ROKYA remained loyal to its core teachings and began to reintroduce traditional Korean techniques to enhance its self-defense applications.

Yudo has no attack. The size of the attacker has no bearing on the ability of the defender to receive the attack, execute a technique, and satisfactorily terminate the incident. Since the student learns that the response chosen, in a given instance, must correspond to the nature of the threat encountered, minimum required force becomes the fighting standard.

This approach to self-defense inherently conforms to the American legal doctrine as it applies to use of force, and confronts the growing public concern with the level of violence demonstrated in many contemporary martial arts.

In time, sports judo outgrew it roots. Various sports judo organization were created to govern in the schools, colleges, universities, among the military and general public, and among the international and Olympic competitors.

By the second-half of the 1990's, the greying of the ROKYA had reached the point of serious concern, that traditional Yudo might be lost to future generations. It was time to transplant traditional Yudo, if the art was to be guaranteed survival.

In 1997, two senior Dans in Yudo, both Americans, were created by promotion certificates personally signed by Kim Chul Ho, then President of the ROK Yudo Association. In February 1998, the United States Yudo Association was incorporated and in April 1998, formal approval was given for the installation of US Yudo as the National Governing Body in the United States for the martial art of Yudo by the Yudo Committee of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association (KMAIA), a committee chaired by the new President of ROKYA, Lee Hwe Yul.

At the same time, approval was given for the rank requirements and the Yudo curriculum which had been proposed to the ROKYA by the US Yudo.

At a ceremony held in Seoul, Republic of Korea on November 1st, 1998 Grandmaster Joseph F. Connolly, II, was promoted to 9th Dan in Yudo by Grandmaster Lee Hwe Yul, President of the ROK Yudo Association.

Grandmaster Connolly is President of the United States Yudo Association. By this ceremony, the baton was passed -- from the Old World to the New World -- for Yudo.

It is the intention of the US Yudo that the memory and teachings of Jigoro Kano be kept alive and that Yudo, now a uniquely Korean martial art, become the martial art for the coming millennium in the United States.

Note: This is an abridged version of an article that was published in "World of Martial Arts" Magazine in the first part of 1999. For more information on Yudo visit http://www.chungtongyudo.co.kr/ and www.yudoresource.blogspot.com

History of TaeGukKwan Korean Tai-Chi

2006-06-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

By Seok Kyu Lee

The Chinese characters for Tai Chi Chuan can be translated as the"Supreme Ultimate Fist". The notion of "supreme ultimate" is often associated with the Chinese concept of yin yang, the notion that one can see a dynamic duality (male/female, active/passive, dark/light, forceful/yielding, etc.) in all things. "Force" (or, more literally, "fist") can be thought of here as the means or way of achieving this ying yang, or "supreme ultimate" discipline.

Tai Chi, as it is practiced in the west today, can perhaps best be thought of as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined. There are a number of so- called forms (sometimes also called "sets") which consist of a sequence of movements. Many of these movements are originally derived from the martial arts (and perhaps even more ancestrally than that, from the natural movements of animals and birds) although the way they are performed in Tai Chi is slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them.

For many practitioners the focus in doing them is not, first and foremost, martial, but as a meditative exercise for the body. For others the combat aspects of Tai Chi are of considerable interest. In Chinese philosophy and medicine there exists the concept of "chi", a vital force that animates the body. One of the avowed aims of Tai Chi is to foster the circulation of this "chi" within the body, the belief being that by doing so the health and vitality of the person are enhanced. This "chi" circulates in patterns that are close related to the nervous and vascular system and thus the notion is closely connected with that of the practice of acupuncture and other oriental healing arts.

Another aim of Tai Chi is to foster a calm and tranquil mind, focused on the precise execution of these exercises. Learning to do them correctly provides a practical avenue for learning about such things as balance, alignment, fine scale motor control, rhythm of movement, the genesis of movement from the body's vital center, and so on. Thus the practice of Tai Chi can in some measure contribute to being able to better stand, walk, move, run, etc. in other spheres of life as well. Many practitioners notice benefits in terms of correcting poor postural, alignment or movement patterns which can contribute to tension or injury. Furthermore the meditative nature of the exercises is calming and relaxing in and of itself.

Because the Tai Chi movements have their origins in the martial arts, practicing them does have some martial applications. In a two person exercise called "push hands" Tai Chi principles are developed in terms of being sensitive to and responsive of another person's "chi" or vital energy.
It is also an opportunity to employ some of the martial aspects of Tai Chi in a kind of slow tempo combat. Long-time practitioners of Tai Chi who are so inclined can become very adept at martial arts. The emphasis in Tai Chi is on being able to channel potentially destructive energy (in the form of a kick or a punch) away from one in a manner that will dissipate the energy or send it in a direction where it is no longer a danger.

The practical exercises of Tai Chi are also situated in a wider philosophical context of Taoism. This is a reflective, mystical Chinese tradition first associated with the scholar and mystic Lao Tsu, an older contemporary of Confucius. He wrote and taught in the province of Hunan in the 6th century B.C. and authored the seminal work of Taoism, the Tao Et Change. As a philosophy, Taoism has many elements but fundamentally it espouses a calm, reflective and mystic view of the world steeped in the beauty and tranquility of nature.

Tai Chi also has, particularly amongst eastern practitioners, a long connection with the I Change a Chinese system of divination. There are associations between the 8 basic I Change trigrams plus the five elements of Chinese alchemy (metal, wood, fire, water and earth) with the thirteen basic postures of Tai Chi created by Change Sanding. There are also other associations with the full 64 trigrams of the I Change and other movements in the Tai Chi form.

Tai chi traces its roots back to approximately the second millennium B.C. with the practice of yoga in ancient India.
In China yoga came to be developed into what is called Shaolin chuan
("chuan," briefly, means boxing). In the 13th century A.D., a Taoist monk by the name of Chang Sang Feng developed what has come to be known as Tai Chi. Subsequently Tai Chi came to be associated with different families in China. These family names came to designate the different styles of Tai Chi. The Tai Chi family or style from which all other current styles or families of Tai Chi developed was the Chen family. A man by the name of Yang, subsequently studied with the Chen family and later modified the Chen style, thus developing the Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan. The Yang style is the most common traditional style of Tai Chi Chuan practiced today. The Yang style has three different forms that are practiced: the simplified form, the short form, and the long form.

There are many stories about the true origins of Tai Chi, but the one that is generally given the most credibility is the one centered around Chang San-Feng, reputed to be the greatest teacher of the system.

Chang San-Feng was described as a wise man, with the "arched back of a tortoise" and the "figure of a crane", signs of great intelligence and character.

Chang San-Feng studied the Shaolin arts for about ten years, mastering all the exercises. At age 67, he met a Taoist, Ho-Lung, who taught him the method of being immortal. He practiced for 4 years, with little success, and it was not until he traveled to Wu-Dang Mountain that he finally became aware of the true nature of Taoism.

There are several stories to how he finally came up with Tai Chi. One in particular is while on Wu-Dang mountain, Chang witnessed a fight between a magpie and a snake. Every time the magpie spread its wings and attacked, the snake would move slightly to escape the attack, but maintained it’s usual circular shape. This contest continued, up and down, across the mountain. Through this activity, Chang realized that soft wins over hard,and also recognized the value of circular movement.

Tai Chi first appeared in Korea in 1866 but was not fully recognized until Quansin Bosal Nim of the Shinwoosa Temple in Nonsan, Korea made it an official practice of their training in 1902. His senior students then helped spread Tai Chi to other areas of Korea giving it the name TaeGukKwan in 1904. Although the name of the Chinese master who introduced it to the Shinwoosa temple was lost when the temples records and many of its buildings were destroyed by the Japanese in 1916 the characteristics of the TaeGukKwan style are recognizable as Yang Style Tai Chi.

For more information on TaeGukKwan visit http://www.kmaia.org/
Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com

Meaning of Belt Colors in Tae Kwon Do

2006-06-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

Provided by www.USNTA.org

White Belt represents purity. White signifies innocence, as that of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwondo. It represents a clean slate, and the beginning of a journey in Taekwondo.

Yellow Belt represents Energy. Yellow signifies the earth, from which the plant sprouts and takes root as the Taekwondo foundation is being laid. It is also color of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy. Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy.

Orange Belt represents combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.

Green Belt is the color of growth. The growth of power in specific green signifies the plant’s growth as Taekwondo skills are developing.

Blue Belt represents the sky and continued upward attainment. Blue signifies the heavens, toward which the plant develops into a towering tree as the Taekwondo training progresses.

Purple Belt represents the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It is during this time that a Taekwondo practitioner should have their goals set in becoming a black belt and should have basics of Taekwondo understood.

Red Belt is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. Red is a very emotionally intense color. Just as stoplights, fire equipment and other highly visible items are painted in red, red in Taekwondo training should start showing the techniques and advanced skills which appeal to yourself and others.

Brown Belt represents the earth. Here the student must work to till the soil of the martial arts, to dig out the riches of knowledge needed to reach the next level Tae Kwon Do.

Black Belt represents the next major step in your Taekwondo journey. It is the beginning of to understand the depth of Taekwondo. Combining yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, brown, and red produces black. Black represents the combined knowledge of the lower levels in Tae Kwon Do training. The journey in Taekwondo is never ending. The black belt phase must be approached as a new beginning. One should start again with a new beginning as Taekwondo is a never ending journey.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at http://www.actionradio.net/ and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at Richard@RichardHackworth.com .

The official Taekwondo Instructional Video Set (4 video set, Taeguk Poomse, Yudanja Poomse, Sparring, and History) is available by sending $149 US plus $16 Shipping and Handling payable to Oh Kum Yul, to the world headquarters. The address is:

Oh Kum Yul
SongSanRi 661 BonJi
JonNam JangSongKun
JangSongUb
South Korea

Martial Arts Training Success: Working Your Willpower!

2006-06-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

Having trouble keeping on track with your goal of becoming a Black Belt, Instructor, Master or even someday Grand Master?

Changing a habit takes energy. Changing a BAD Habit takes a lot of energy!
Yet, we tend to forget this when making resolutions to become more active and train toward our goals of mastery. We often get carried away with our plans. After all, it looks so easy on paper. But when we begin to translate our plans into daily life and daily action, we sometimes find we cannot muster the willpower required to overcome our old habits of watching "The Simpson's" instead of getting down to the martial arts school to train.

Willpower refers to the control you exert over your thoughts, feelings and behavior. Psychologists call this self-control. It takes self-control to change your routine. You use self-control when you roll out of bed in the morning and go for a walk or practice Danjun Ho-up Ki Breathing or Taegukkwan at sunrise, even though you would rather sleep another hour. But whatever you call it -- willpower, determination or self-control -- most people feel like they never have quite enough of it, especially when trying to start a long term martial arts training program. But keep in mind that you have "IT" within you. Just having chosen the martial arts shows that you have a deep inner interest in developing your mind, body and spirit. You already want a sharp mental focus and to develop a flexible, healthy physique.

Acknowledging that self-control is a limited resource can help you make more effective plans when it comes to increasing your level of physical activity by spending more time at class. Working with your own level of self-control increases your likelihood of success. And understanding ways to reduce the amount of self-control required by your martial arts training program means that your plans are more likely to succeed. Also, choosing a long term program helps you increase your mental commitment to long term training. Many schools even offer a discount on longer programs like Black Belt Club or a more advanced course. It is a win - win situation for you.

Training takes time and energy

If you have trained regularly before, you know that just the physical training of a martial arts class can make you feel great, but also that it requires time and energy. People most successful at sticking to their martial arts training programs admit from the beginning that they need to make an effort to do so, especially during the first six months. Assuming that adding martial arts training to your life will be easy almost guarantees failure. I once decided that I was going to do like my instructor and get up at 5 am to do Ki breathing. It looked great on paper but when I tried to get out of bed at 5 am it took more than a decision to train, it took action and energy. I forced myself through the routine that first morning and felt better for it. My Ki breathing that first morning sounded more like a drunk snoring in a dumpster that it did like good Ki breathing but I felt better for having done it. However; I did compromise and decided that 5:30 am was a better time for me and was able to stay with that schedule. You must summon the energy to try hard, and persist in the face of the challenges that inevitably arise in daily life. It is that exercising of your perseverance that makes you a better martial artist. Besides, training will help increase your physical and mental health.

Make your physical and mental health a priority

How can you make your physical and mental health a priority? Learn about how important training is to your health and well-being. Just on a physical level for minimal fitness people need at least 30 minutes of fairly vigorous physical activity most days of the week. Without activity, we are at greater risk of artery disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression. How important is your health to you? Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to chronic illness. I find the benefits of better health out weigh the inconvenience of giving up time to train. I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired so I keep training to feel better for myself.

Martial art training has immediate paybacks, as well. Physical training reduces feelings of stress and gives you energy. It also improves sleep quality and mood. Look for these immediate rewards, and remind yourself frequently of the importance of your long-term physical and mental health.

Make martial arts training a habit

Habits don't require self-control energy. Once martial arts training is part of your routine, you can operate on automatic pilot, and you may even feel disappointed if you must skip your class for some reason. Habits develop most quickly when activity follows a "same time, same place" type of format. You may wish to perform the same activities every day, or you might like some kind of weekly routine. You could, for example, take martial arts classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and practice alone at home on Tuesday and Thursday. Set up a routine you will be most likely to follow. Participating in other activities within your school can help you improve your commitment to yourself. You would be surprised how much you benefit personally by helping others. Assisting with a children's class at your school is an excellent way to help improve your own training. Teaching is learning twice. The more trouble you have had sticking to a martial arts program, the more repetitious your routine should be. You want to avoid making decisions, which give you the opportunity to decide not to train!
Helping with the children or even getting a friend to join class with you as a training partner are two great ways to increase your commitment to yourself by making a commitment to others.

Train with a friend
Social support reduces the need for self-control. When your friend is waiting for you, you can't decide not to go to class. After all, you don't want to let them down. As Zig Ziglar said: "You can have everything you want in life. If you just help enough other people get what they want!"

Train early in the day, if possible

People who do some kind of Ki breathing or stretching first thing in the day to prepare for their class in the evening have the best chance of sticking to their martial arts programs. Self-control tends to be strongest at this time of day, and you are less likely to be derailed by other demands.

Train to reduce stress

Stress is the leading cause of martial arts program attrition. Coping with stress depletes your self-control energy. When you feel bad, doing something to help yourself feel better becomes more important than future health benefits. Learn to look to your training as a way to improve your mood and cope with stress. Don't let the hassles of your job, children, family, etc. interfere with you commitment to your own health and training. Maybe you could even get some of your family members to join you in class. It can become a wholesome form of family fun and stress reduction all while learning self defense. What ever your personal reasons are for choosing martial arts training, stick with it! In the end you will be glad that you did.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the founder of HaeMuKwan Hapkido and owner of the American Dragon Martial Arts Academies school in Orlando, Florida. He is Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual" and the "Authentic Korean Hapkido Resource Manual".
Hackworth is the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association and can be reached at Richard@RichardHackworth.com .

Ki Centers: Your 7 Wheels of Energy

2006-06-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

"Ki" comes from the Korean term meaning Universal Energy.

The Eastern civilization has been utilizing the power of these "7 energy wheels" for centuries. These seven powerful energy centers run from the pubic area up to the crown of the head and back down to the tailbone. Having knowledge of each of these dynamic centers of energy and how to use this energy consciously will be an invaluable addition to your understanding of the mind/body energy system enhancing your martial arts ability and improving your quality of life.

The First Ki Center is also called the Root Center and holds the energy that influences the dynamics of birth issues, survival patterns, generational patterns, money, food and health issues, grounding, and what keeps you from belonging.

The Second Ki Center is also called the Sacral or Romantic Vitality Center and holds the energy that influence the dynamics of your romantic vitality, the nature of your relationships, freedom from guilt, pleasure and nurturance, sensation and creativity.

The Third Ki Center is also called the Personal Power Center and holds the energy that influences the dynamics of your relationship with yourself, your power and identity, freedom from shame, personal value, self-worth, your personal thoughts and self-image.

The Fourth Ki Center is also called the Heart Center and holds the energy that influences your experience with the following: heart, compassion, love, touch, devotion, emotional zone, self-acceptance, masculine/feminine of the self, and forgiveness.

The Fifth Ki Center is also called the Throat Center and holds the energy that influences your experience with the following: speaking your truth, coming from the center of your willpower, listening and being heard, communication, finding your true voice and expressing your truth.

The Sixth Ki Center is also called the Intuitive Center or 3rd Eye and holds the energy that influences your experience with: intuition and psychic talents, self-reflection, visualization, imagination, perception, discernment, and how to develop clarity and trust your own intuition.

The Seventh Ki Center is also called the Crown Center and holds the energy that influences your experience with the following: charity, connection to God and spirit, divinity, belief systems, revelation, divine consciousness. You can learn how to understand the masculine and feminine or Um and Yang relationship of the Ki Centers, and clear your Ki Centers of stagnant energy by meditation on these points. Chamseon Meditation teaches you how to apply the energy created in these centers to improving your mental, physical and spiritual health.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at http://www.actionradio.net/ and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at Richard@RichardHackworth.com

History of YuSool

2006-06-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

YU: (Gently / Giving / Yielding)
Sool: (Technique / Skills)

Also pronounced/spelled: YooSool; (Soft / Skills)

Did you ever hear the expression; “There is nothing pretty, soft or gentle about his techniques,....he goes straight for your juggler”?

When attacked by an aggressor, one must not rely on meeting brute force with brute force! He must redirect the force of the aggressor while targeting specific and precise points of the aggressor’s body to attack. Always strike first, and never allow the aggressor to put his hands on you!

That may well be a good way to describe the antiquated system of Yusool! Hundreds of years ago, the early systems of Yusool, was nothing more or less than a pure form of raw but extremely effective self-defense.

The martial art of Yusool represents a controversial case in modern Korea. Records at the Nonsan Military Archives show that centuries ago, there existed only two fighting styles in Korea: The kick-punch art of Taekyon, & The grappling art of Yusool.

Taekyon lives on today, but Yusool in it’s original form, died out more than 300 years ago.

However, located in the heart of Pusan, is the headquarters of the modern martial art version of Yusool. The highest ranking man in the Korean Yusool Association, is Grandmaster Kim Mu Jin. The current Director of the day to day operations of the Pusan South Korean Yusool Association is Grandmaster Hwang Man Jae.

Grandmaster Kim Mu Jin admits to having learned this lost art in Japan, where a number of enthusiasts had kept Yusool alive for centuries, after it was confiscated by Japanese invaders. Although Yusool ceased to exist in it’s Korean homeland, mainly due to Japanese eradication efforts, it nevertheless thrived in Japan, and eventually spawned the Japanese art of: Jujutsu.

Professor Jigoro Kano, founder and father of Japanese Kodokan Judo, was a master jutsu/ jujitsu & Yusool expert, who elevated the “art” or the “practice” to Do, “way” or “principle”, calling his new martial art system Kodokan Judo, which he established in 1882.

Advanced Yusool students also practiced Chimsool, (acupuncture) and Chiahpsool, (acupressure). Much of Yusool training emphasizes the use of vital pressure points (nerve endings), & meridians (the highest point of power, prosperity, splendor, vigor, prime, & health, resulting in the study and alignment of the imaginary great circle passing through the North & South Poles of the celestial sphere in relation to the equator, etc). Advanced stretching exercises for both joints & muscles was greatly emphasized.

Much time is dedicated to the study of Danjun, (breathing exercises), and Ki development techniques. Techniques in a pure form of Self-defense constitute most of the art of Yusool. Martial arts historians claim that the original Yusool system purportedly number 3,805 techniques in all. The old grandmasters of Yusool utilized some 365 vital points of the body, including 116 “weakness angles” through which joints are attacked!

The only weapon that the Korean Yusool Association teaches, is the Bong, or Staff. Bong training is extensive with blocks, strikes, locks, & take downs.

The Korean Yusool Association teaches three “Bongsool” forms,that increase in difficulty, as the students progress in rank.

Many of the hand techniques resemble those of the modern day form of Taekwondo, to include the standard kicks & many jumping kicks.

Punching & kicking was used to knock the opponent down, before joint locks and other submission holds are applied, to include strangulation locks.

It should be noted, that the modern day art of Hapkido, is a spin-off of the original art of Yusool. Although earlier forms of self-defense referred to as Yusool existed, one of the influential masters & revivers of Korean Yusool was; Choi Yong Sool. Born in 1904, he traveled to Japan at a young age and studied; Dai Dong Ryu Yu-Sool under master Takeda Sokaku. Choi Yong Sool later taught Yusool to; Soh Bok Sub, a Yudo Black Belt expert. Years later, (1940’s), Soh Bok Sub made a number of changes in the original system of Yusool and called his new system; Yu Kwon Sool.

The new system of Yu Kwon Sool placed heavy emphasis on: throws, joint-locks, pressure points, punching, & kicking.

Ji Han Jae, another student of Grandmaster Choi Yong Sool, formed his new system of SungMuKwan Hapkido after extensive study of Yusool under Grandmaster Choi Yong Sool. For a short period of time, Ji Han Jae called his system; “Hapki Yu Kwon Sool”. Realizing the name was to long, and he liked the name “Do”, which means “way of life”, much better than the name; “Sool”, which means “technique”, he shorten the name to; “Hapkido”. In general, Hapkido translates; Harmony, Power, The Way.

Professor Gregory Lee, founder of JungKiDo YuSool Kwan, is keeping the art of Yusool alive and active in teaching his system.
One hundred twenty Yusool techniques are taught in ten forms. Each form has twelve techniques know as: Yusool / Poom-Se (#1 through #10).

Techniques ranging from least to more difficult, as the student progresses through the ranks. Professor Lee revised many of the antiquated Yusool techniques, combined those with modern yudo/judo, Hapkido and his own system of jujitsu, to establish a practical, effective & exciting array of 120 self-defense techniques. Yusool is considered one of the most difficult of the martial arts, to obtain black belt ranking.

To qualify for Yusool first-degree black belt testing, one must hold no less than 3 years of training, or be in a position to demonstrate the skills required for that art. This includes all the standard striking, kicking and blocking requirements.

This also required for the art of yudo/judo, which includes demonstrating strong skills in break-falling (nakbob), the standard first forty throwing techniques, strangulations, joint locking and grappling requirements.

This followed by demonstrating the first fifty Yusool techniques in good form.

For more information on Yusool contact: Professor Gregory Lee at americandragongl@cs.com

History of Taekwondo

2006-06-09T09:37:00.001-07:00

History of Taekwondo courtesy of www.usnta.org

INTRODUCTION

As it is literally translated from Korean, Tae means "to kick" or "to strike with the foot," Kwon means "fist" or "to strike with the Hand," and Do means "discipline" or "art." Taken together, Tae Kwon Do means "the art of kicking and punching"--"the art of unarmed combat." Modern-day Tae Kwon Do, as it has come to be developed over the years, is a unique martial art incorporating both the quick, straight-line movements that characterize the various Japanese systems and the flowing circular movements of most Chinese styles. But more than this, what truly distinguished Tae Kwon Do are its varied and uniquely powerful kicking techniques. It is this prominent use of leg and kicking techniques that set Taekwondo apart from all other martial arts systems. Yet, Taekwondo is far more than simply a system concerned with physical prowess, for it is also an art directed toward the moral development of its students.

Much of the history of Taekwondo is based on legend. There is an Indian legend of a wealthy prince who became interested in the most effective methods of unarmed attack and defense, and spent several years studying the anatomy of animals and humans in order to discover their points of strength and vulnerability. He then developed movements designed to aim blows at these critical points.

Another legend involves the Indian monk, Daruma Taishi, or Bodidharma. To protect himself from animal and marauder attacks on a journey in which he was to spread the teachings of Buddha, he adopted and refined existing unarmed fighting techniques. When he arrived in the Hunan Province of China in 520 A.D., he taught the techniques he had learned to his followers at the Shaolin-Ssu monastery as part of their religious training. Buddhist monks from China then took these skills with them and introduced them to northern Korea in the sixth century.

There is evidence, however, that martial arts were already developing in Korea prior to Bodidharma's journey to China. The earliest records of Taekwondo practice date back to about 50 B.C. During this time, Korea was divided into three kingdoms: Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche. Evidence of the practice of Taek Kyon (the earliest known form of Taekwondo) has been found in paintings of the ceiling of the Muyong-chong, a royal tomb from the Koguryo dynasty. These and other mural paintings show unarmed combatants using techniques that are virtually identical to those of modern-day Taekwondo. Of particular interest are details that show the use of the knife hand, fist and classical fighting stances, all components of modern Taekwondo.

The history of Korea is very long and exciting as is the history of Taekwondo. The legendary soldier-king Dongoon forged the various tribes into a unified kingdom 23 centuries before the birth of Christ. This kingdom, founded at the high point of Egyptian history and centuries before the Roman Empire was founded, lasted more than twelve centuries. Korea is a country with a much varied history. Being at the cross roads of Asia, Korea was periodically invaded by the Mongols, the Manchurians, the Chinese and the Japanese. But the indigenous people of what is now known as the Korean Peninsula hung on to their own identity.

The necessity of political unification to expel foreign invasion led to the establishment of tribal federations leading to kingdoms. Among the Ma-han people of the southwest, the city state founded by a contingent of the Puyu people in 18 B.C. grew to become the kingdom of Paekche. In the southeast corner of the peninsula, a confederation of six clans of the Chin-han in 57 B.C. came to be the kingdom of Silla. Composed of tribal people who had been forced from their original homes in northwestern Korea and the Liao-tung peninsula by the expansion of Chinese power in the area, the Kingdom of Koguryo was founded in 37 B.C.

THE THREE KINGDOMS PERIOD

PAEKCHE KINGDOM

In the kingdom of Paekche (18 B.C. to 600 A.D.), which was located along the Han river in southwestern Korea, martial arts were sponsored by the Paekche kings. The ancient records show that horseback riding, archery, and bare handed fighting arts were very popular among both the military and common people of this era. Records which have survived from this time "have it that in ancient days there was a self-defense using both the arms and legs."

KOGURYO KINGDOM

In the kingdom of Koguryo (37 B.C. to 668 A.D.), founded along the Yalu
River Valley, the governmental organization worked on a type of merit system where the best and brightest fighters, and the most physically fit received high positions. One of the most prominent systems was formed by the sixth King, King Taejo, and was called the "Sun Bae" which means a hermit or predator with super-natural powers. The men with superior skills were chosen, and called "Sun Bae." It is also said that "sunbaes lived in groups, learning history and literary arts at home and going out to construct roads and fortresses for the benefits of society, always devoting themselves to the nation." With its great neighbor China to the North, Koguryo had need of great military strength to survive. They were able not only to survive, but to grow strong, absorb tribes previously under Chinese control, and successfully stave off large armies sent to subdue them.

SILLA KINGDOM

Although Taek-kyon is believed to have first appeared in the Koguryo
Kingdom, it is Silla's warrior nobility, the Hwarang, who are credited with the growth and spread of the fighting art throughout Korea. Silla (57 B.C. to 936 A.D.) was the smallest and least civilized of the three kingdoms. Its coastline under constant harassment from Japanese pirates, Silla appealed for help from the Koguryo Kingdom. King Gwanggaeto, the 19th in the line of Koguryo monarchs, sent a force of 50,000 soldiers into neighboring Silla to help the smaller kingdom drive away the Japanese. It is at this time that Taekkyon is thought to have been introduced to Silla's warrior class, handed down in strict secrecy to a few Sillan warriors by early masters of the Art.

A price accompanied Koguryo's assistance in repelling the Japanese. For a number of years that followed, Koguryo insinuated itself into Silla's internal affairs, a situation that Silla could not tolerate. Silla and Paekche (also under constant threat of Koguryo domination) forged an alliance and proceeded to shake off the influence of Koguryo.

As the sixth century progressed, the military and political situation for all three of these kingdoms became even more complex. The alliance between Paekche and Silla ended, with Paekche forging a new alliance between itself and Koguryo. Silla was able to form an alliance with the Chinese T'ang dynasty. Through this alliance, Silla was able to conquer first Paekche in 668 A.D., then Koguryo in 670 A.D. Thus, Silla had accomplished what had not been done before: the unification of the Korean peninsula under one banner.
The peninsula remained united until the mid-twentieth century, when a civil war divided the country between the Democratic south and the Communist north.

THE THREE DYNASTY PERIOD

SILLA DYNASTY

Silla's Taek Kyon-trained warriors played a major role in the unifying of the Three Kingdoms. Founded initially by King Jin Heung as a military academy for the young nobility of Silla, the society of Hwarang-do ("the way of flowering manhood") was an elite group. This group numbered between 200 and 1000 at any given time and consisted of the Hwarang, or leaders, who were selected from among the sons of royalty between the ages of 16 and 20, and the Nangdo, or cadets, who were assembled from the rest of the young nobility. The young men within the society were educated in many disciplines, including history, Confucian philosophy, ethics, Buddhist morality, riding, archery, sword play, military tactics and, of course, Taekkyon. The guiding principles of the Hwarang-do education were based on the Five Codes of Human Conduct, as established by the Buddhist scholar Wonkang.

These axioms are:

Be loyal to your country
Be obedient to your parents
Be trustworthy to your friends
Never retreat in battle
Never make an unjust kill

Tae kyon was taught in conjunction with the Five codes of Human Conduct so that it became a way of life for the young men, a code of moral behavior that served to guide their lives and the use to which they put their training in taek kyon. Today, these codes are reflected in the so-called 11 commandments of modern Taekwondo. As with the original codes of conduct, these modern axioms are used to guide the moral development of students of the art, and no student who does not fully understand these tenets can ever hope to master the true essence of the Art.

Loyalty to your country
Respect your parents
Faithfulness to your spouse
Respect your brothers and sisters
Loyalty to your friends
Respect your elders
Respect your teachers
Never take life unjustly
Indomitable spirit
Loyalty to your school
Finish what you begin

Along with their training in fundamental education and military skills, the Hwarang were also skilled in poetry, singing and dancing, and were encouraged to travel throughout the peninsula in order to learn about the regions and people. From Taoism they borrowed the practice of ordering the management of affairs in a seemingly paradoxical but unique manner(the doctrine of action by non-action, the teaching of communication by non-discourse). From the teachings of Buddha they accepted the commitment to reject evil and to effectively act for the good. These traveling warriors were responsible for the spread of tae kyon throughout the Silla dynasty, which lasted from 668 A.D. to 936 A.D.

Of the outside influences that helped to form the core of Korean religious philosophy, Confucianism and Buddhism played the most significant roles.

The Confucian element in Korean philosophic and religious growth stressed social and scholarly virtues. Confucianism upheld the values of correct conduct and filial piety. It taught that the peace, happiness and security of the people was the moral responsibility of the rulers. Confucius also believed in the power of ritual for its own sake, because men in antiquity had left us the traditions of a "Golden Age" which, of course, ties into a reverence for ancestors. Thus, Confucianism was by its very nature conservative, emphasizing man's duties to his follow men and the social order. It was, by and large, a social code, concentrating on ethics and teaching by example, rather that by precepts. While Buddhism also extolled compassion and charity, evidenced in Buddhist hostels for pilgrims, in dispensaries and hospitals and in the humane treatment of animals and men, it was a more dynamic and individualistic form of religion than Confucianism.

KORYO DYNASTY

It was not until the Koryo dynasty (935 A.D. to 1392 A.D.) that the focus of the art was changed. During this time, taek kyon became known as Subak and reached its greatest early popularity. The kingdom under these rulers was strictly militaristic in spirit, a fact dictated by the necessity of defending the country against continual foreign invasions. During the reign of King Uijong (1147-1170) taek kyon/subak again changed from a system designed primarily to promote fitness into a fighting art. The soldiers of the Koryo dynasty were among the finest the country has ever produced, and their martial spirit and bravery has been a source of inspiration ever since. It was during this time that "the science was first technically organized and systemitized by the leading masters of those times," and became practiced not only as a martial art, but also as a skill to enjoy competitively as a sport. It was from the Koryo dynasty that the peninsula gained its modern name, Korea.

Koryo's aristocracy indulged itself and its servants, at the expense of the military. As a result, the military rose and overthrew the regime in 1170.
This marked the establishment of military rule in Korea, which continued through a series of popular uprisings, and invasions by both the Mongols and the Japanese, until the late fourteenth century.

At that time, a Koryo general by the name of Yi Songye seized political power in a perfectly timed, near-bloodless coup, and established the Joseon dynasty (a.k.a. Yi dynasty). In one form or another, this dynasty ruled Korea until the twentieth century.

JOSEON DYNASTY

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1907), there is some speculation that envoys from Okinawa learned subak and introduced it to their people as the forerunner of Okinawa-te karate. The Historical Record of Joseon (also pronounced as Chosun) mentions these envoys and their frequent visits to bring tribute to the kings of Joseon, and of these envoys as the means of Okinawa's adoption of "Nul", the Korean see-saw game.

In 1790, King Chongjo ordered General Lee Duck Muy to compile an official textbook on all martial arts then practiced in Korea. This volume, known as Muye Dobo Tongji, is now considered a definitive early classic of the martial arts of Korea. Prior to this, the art had been restricted primarily to the military nobility. The publication of this book and the subsequent popularizing of the art among the general public were responsible for the survival of subak during the era.

Another Joseon dynasty record indicates that in order to pass a certain degree of martial examination, one had to defeat three or more persons by means of subak. A war history also shows that during the Hideyoshi Invasion in 1592, some 700 volunteer soldiers of the Kumsan area fought Japanese invaders with bare fists by means of subak. Another record shows that subak matches were held time to time among villages of Chungcheong Do.

The popularity of Subak waned in the second half of the Joseon dynasty, due to the negligence of the royal court, which was constantly torn by strife between feuding political factions. With the absence of hostile neighbors, military training and national defense was neglected. King Taejo substituted Confucianism for Buddhism as the state religion, holding scholarships and learning in high esteem and military related pursuits in disrepute. During this period, examples of martial arts training are rare and little is known of them. The martial arts for the most part were passed on from father to son in the form of patterned techniques (forms), usually in secrecy.

The Joseon Dynasty was to last until 1907, with various Kings introducing many social and cultural changes. Generally, it was a period of diplomacy more than continual war, with Korea looking for assistance from Japan when threatened from the north, and looking to China when threatened from the south. Even so, Korea did spend many decades under the control of foreigners, particularly China. From the late 17th century through to the early 19th, Korea was known as the "Hermit Kingdom" because it turned away foreigners, particularly the Europeans who were expanding their own empires at this time. Towards the end of the 19th century, Korea set up relations with many Western Nations in an effort to offset the Japanese influence. In 1894 the Tonghak Rebellion brought both Japanese and Chinese troops onto Korean soil in an effort to protect their interests and to influence the Korean Monarchy. The final Joseon dynasty King was on the throne for only 24 days when a new treaty with Japan stripped him of all power. Thus the annexation of Korea by Japan was merely an acknowledgment of what had already happened.

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The Joseon Dynasty came to a close in 1910 with the Japanese invasion of Korea, who occupied the country for 36 years. This occupation was partly initiated under the pretense of helping to defend Korea against Russian aggression during the Russo/Japanese war. In actuality, is was an attempt to turn Korea into a colony of Japan. The Japanese colonial government, using military force, banned all cultural activities, including team sports and the practice of martial arts. In an attempt to destroy the Korean identity, the Japanese banned the teaching of the Korean language in schools and attempted to change Korean family names. Some martial arts instructors continued to practice their skills in secrecy, and in this way the Korean martial arts were kept alive. One man in particular, Master Song Duk Ki, learned Subak during the later part of the Joseon dynasty from Master Yim
Ho, and continued to teach during the Japanese occupation.

Eventually, the Japanese lifted the ban on martial arts to fulfill military requirements during WWII. In 1943, following Judo, Japanese karate and Kendo were introduced into Korea. The teachers of Subak further developed and incorporated these foreign techniques into the Korean forms already being practiced. There were those who even left Korea to work and study in China and even Japan. A hybrid form developed utilizing Subak as its core and included techniques from the Chinese kung fu martial arts and Japanese karate-do. This new style was called Tang Soo Do, that is, "the art of the China hand." Other styles included Soo Bak Do and Kwon Bop. There were also those who claimed to teach traditional Taekkyon. Many of the modern Taekwondo kwan founders had trained in, and received rank and teaching certificates for Shotokan Karate. This had the largest impact on the modern development of Taekwondo.

Toward the end of the World War II, the Americans invaded Korea to press back the Japanese, but also in an effort to control the post-war occupation of the Korean Peninsula by the Soviets. In 1948, the Americans and Soviets proclaimed the division of Korea into the Republic of Korea (South), with Syngman Rhee as President, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North). In 1950 the North Korean military invaded the South, resulting in the "Korean War" lasting until the 27th of July, 1953.

THE KOREAN KWANS

The first kwan ("school") to teach a native style of martial art was opened in 1945 in Yong Chun, Seoul. This dojang (gymnasium) was named the Chung Do Kwan (a.k.a. Chong Do Kwan, "Gym of the Blue Wave") under master Won Kuk Lee. Soon After, one of his students, Hwang Kee established the Moo Duk Kwan in Seoul, teaching
Tang Soo Do. Later that year, Sup (Jun) Chun Sang established the Yun Moo Kwan in Seoul. And finally, in 1946, Yoon Pyung founded the Chang Moo Kwan at a YMCA. These were believed to be the original kwans founded before the Korean War. However, Lee, Yong Woo, the founder of Jung Do Kwan had begun teaching privately in 1944 but this is often not recognized because he was a student of Won Kuk Lee at the time.

In 1952, during the Korean War, a demonstration before President Syngman Rhee evolved into the most significant turning point for Korean martial arts. So impressed was Rhee he immediately turned to his military chiefs of staff and ordered that all Korean soldiers receive training in these arts.
This dictate ultimately accounted for a tremendous surge in schools and students, including the formal inclusion in the athletic curriculum of elementary and secondary schools of education.

During the War between the Communist government in North Korea and the Republic of Korea in the South, the Russians actively searched for and eliminated famous Taekwondo masters. Among those founding masters were Grand Master Sup Chun Chang (Yun Moo Kwan), and Master Yoon Pyung (Chang Moo Kwan). These were great losses to the Korean people. It is believed that North Korea had no surviving masters until 1972. Many good masters in South Korea were also killed while participating in special commando groups trained in martial arts to fight the North.

In 1953-54, Kwe Byung Yoon and Chong Woo Lee opened and ran Yun Moo Kwan under the new name of Ji (Chi) Do Kwan ("Wisdom Way School"). Byung Chik Ro founded the Song Moo Kwan at Kae Sung, and Hong Hi Choi, with the help of Tae Hi Nam, the Oh Do Kwan ("Gym of My Way"). Counting the original schools, there were now six kwans, all apparently espousing a different style.

In 1954, General Hong Hi Choi organized the 29th Infantry on Che Je island, off the Korean coast, as a spearhead and center for Taek kyon training in the military. Choi had been teaching his martial art to his soldiers throughout his military career, and had become an instructor for the American Military Police School in Seoul as early as 1948. In 1949 he visited Fort Riley in the USA and introduced the American people to "Korean Karate". Given fast promotion within the Korean Armed Forces, Choi was named Chief of Staff in 1952 as a Brigadier General and a man of considerable influence in the war time forces of then President Syngman Rhee.

On April 11, 1955, at a pivotal conference of kwan masters, historians, and Taekkyon promoters, it was decided to adopt the term "Taekwondo" as the standard, which had been created and submitted by Gen. Choi (the self proclaimed "father of Tae Kwon Do"). The name was approved because of its resemblance to Taekkyon, and so provides continuity and maintains tradition. Further, it describes both hand and foot techniques. The number of kwans which then consolidated into tae kwon do is the subject of much debate and historical confusion. With the addition of Han Moo Kwan (Ji Do
Kwan's representing annex), founded by Kyo Yoon Lee, it is believed that seven kwans merged to officially form the single art of Tae Kwon Do. It has never been clear which of the original Kwans did in fact merge in 1955, but of those who did not, only Hapkido remains as a recognized separate Korean art unto itself.

According to Jhoon Rhee (the founder of Martial Ballet in America), dissension among the various kwans carried on for six years, and it wasn't until Sept. 14, 1961 that the groups once again organized into a single association, as ordered by an official decree of the new military government. It was called the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), with Gen. Choi elected its first president. The new association soon gained official recognition by the major kwans, but not for long. Hwang Kee, the founder of TangSooDo, jealous because he was not elected president of the KTA even though he was one of the main organizers, maintained the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association and became a competing body to the KTA.
The Ji Do Kwan Association also seceded. By 1962, however, many of the individual instructors rejoined the KTA, possibly because that year the KTA was ordered by the South Korean government to re-examine all black belt ranks to determine national standards, and they did not wish to be omitted.

President Syngman Rhee was deposed on April 27th, 1960, by a constitutional democracy that was short lived. A coup lead by Park Chung Lee (Park and Choi were generals under Syngman Rhee) on May 16th, 1961, saw Park become President by the end of 1962.

Under the KTA leadership, masters traveled all over the world to spread the art. (Gen.) Hong Hi Choi also supported expanding Taekwondo links with the Communist north, a position the South Korean government did not advocate. On March 22, 1966, inspired by greed seeing a huge potential for profit in Taekwondo globally, Gen. Choi founded the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), for which he also served as president. He later resigned as KTA president and moved his ITF headquarters to Montreal, Canada, from where he has concentrated on organizing Taekwondo internationally. His emphasis was on self-defense methodology, not particularly on the sport. General Choi's Chong Han forms became the official patterns of the ITF.

The primary Forms (styled techniques patterned against an imaginary opponent) practiced in Korea prior to 1953 were the Shotokan karate based forms of Pin-an (a.k.a Pyung-an). These patterns, also known as "kata" and "poom-se", were originally developed by Gichin Funakoshi and were based upon traditional Okinawan philosophy and the forms learned from his own instructors. These forms were first introduced to Japan in the early 1920's, and then subsequently to Korea. In 1967-68, a Korea Taekwondo Association committee was formed with representatives from all the major kwans ("schools"). Utilizing the traditional Shotokan patterns along with techniques from their individual styles, they worked together to create the standardized Taekwondo Kyobon, Pal-Gwe and Black belt forms officially recognized today. The "modern" Tae Geuk forms followed in 1972.

Taekwondo's international expansion started with the Republic of Vietnam in 1962 by Hong Hi Choi. It next migrated to Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong in 1962-63. Taekwondo was pioneered in Canada by Chong Lee in 1964, the same year it hit Singapore. The art was introduced to Europe by Park Jong Soo in 1965, first in West Germany, then in the Netherlands in 1966. Taekwondo entered the Middle East in 1966, and Taiwan in 1967. Meanwhile, in Korea, Taekwondo spread from military posts to universities and high schools.
Public dojangs proliferated, all with abundant student enrollment.

THE KUKKIWON

In January of 1971, Korean Amateur Sports Association President, Dr. Un Yong Kim was elected the new president of the Korea Taekwondo Association. Dr. Kim felt that Korea was the mother country of Taekwondo and that there should be a world headquarters located there. On May 28, 1973, he organized the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) to promote a sport called Kukki-Taekwondo on an international level. Dr. Kim was also instrumental in helping to organize the building of the KukKiWon in Seoul. The Kukkiwon, literally the institute for a National Sport, has become the "mecca of World
Taekwondo" and the main educational and training center for the Korea Taekwondo Association. Under the auspices of the KTA, the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) is now primarily responsible for international Black belt rank standardization and certification, while the WTF is primarily responsible for the administration and promotion of Kukki-Taekwondo as an
international sport. The Kukkiwon/WTF is the only international regulating body for the sport of Kukki-Taekwondo recognized by the South Korean government while the Kwan members of the Korea Taekwondo Association continue to be the recognized authorities for the military art of Taekwondo.

In 1977, the dan names were replaced by serial numbers. The dans (some of which considered affiliates of others), in order from 1st dan to 9th dan, these ranks were originally established by the 9 Kwans which are: Songmookwan, Hanmookwan, Changmookwan, Moodukkwan, Ohdokwan, Kangdukwan, Jungdokwan, Jidokwan, and Chungdokwan. With the WTF placing more emphasis on the sport applications of Taekwondo, many Korean masters traveled abroad to America to retain their individual styles and self defense methodology.

In the short space of a few year, Dr. Kim and the World Taekwondo Federation has made major progress toward Kukki-Taekwondo receiving official status as an international amateur sport, both in the U.S. and other countries. Since the formulation of the WTF and its charter, a major effort has been made to standardize tournament rules and procedures, and to organize world class competitions. This standardization made it possible for Kukki-Taekwondo to enter the Olympic games first as a demonstration sport in 1988, followed by full medal recognition in the 2000 Olympic games held in Sydney, Australia. Although the correct name of the sport form is Kukki-Taekwondo, many people have simply used the name Taekwondo. While some Kwans typically carry the Taekwondo name as a suffix like Taekwondo-JungDoKwan, simply use the name Taekwondo as well. This has lead to a worldwide confusion about what is Taekwondo, a martial art or a sport. Unfortunately the generic word Taekwondo has become synonymous for both.

TAEKWONDO IN AMERICA

The interest in Asian martial arts has greatly increased in the United States over the last thirty years. Many American servicemen returning home after being stationed in Japan or Korea, and studying karate or Taekwondo there, brought their interest in the martial arts home with them. There were very few qualified Taekwondo instructors in America, however, until the late 1950's and early 1960's. When masters like Duk Sun Son introduced Taekwondo in the United
States. Other Korean masters followed, due to the growing interest in Taekwondo among Americans. Among these early pioneers offering highly qualified instruction were Ki Whang Kim in the Northeastern States, Dae Shik Kim in Georgia, Henry Cho and Richard Chun, as
well as approximately twenty-five other master instructors.

From this beginning in the late 1950's, the practice of Taekwondo has increased dramatically, both as a sport and self defense ideology. Today, there are over 2,000 Korean master instructors in the U.S., and the total number of students has increased accordingly. A number of regional Taekwondo associations were formed in the early 1970's to handle organizational problems and promote local tournaments. In addition, colleges and universities in the U.S. formed associations of their own. In 1972, the American Collegiate Taekwondo Association was formed to sponsor tournaments and insure quality Taekwondo instruction at American universities. Unfortunately, these organization have no official sanction from the world headquarters in Korea and have very week standards.

TAEKWONDO UNIONS

When karate was accepted as an official sport of the American Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in 1972, the karate leaders required Taekwondo participants, instructors, and students to follow karate tournament rules and administrative guidelines. Ken Min, of the University of California at Berkeley, and a few other Taekwondo leaders approached the AAU to request independent recognition. In 1974, the AAU National Taekwondo Committee was created, electing Ken Min as chairman.

The U.S. Congress passed the Sports Act of 1978, following the lobbying efforts by the National Committee for Amateur Athletics (NCAA). At the time, the AAU was the sole National Governing Body (NGB) for all amateur sports with the recognition and sanctioning of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
According to the new Bill, any organization involved in multiple amateur sports would no longer be able to receive NGB status.

In November of 1981, Ken Min and leaders of the AAU Taekwondo organization broke off to form a National organization for Taekwondo as a WTF affiliate. This new organization was renamed the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU) in 1982, with Dr. Dong Ja Yang as President. On April 7, 1984, during the House of Delegates meeting of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the USTU was approved as a "Group A" member. As such, the USTU sanctions tournaments and meets, administers national championships and reports to the WTF and USOC as the National Governing Body for Taekwondo in the United States. This organization and it’s state members have become famous for corruption, and activities that can only be described as organized crime. To help stop such activities several Kwan grand masters authorized the formation of the US National Taekwondo Association. Trying to outrun the international news and press the USTU renamed itself USA Taekwondo to continue defrauding the Taekwondo public.

THE FUTURE OF SPORT TAEKWONDO

In the short time since the inception of the WTF in 1973 and the first World Taekwondo Championships, Kukki-Taekwondo has grown with unprecedented rapidity as a worldwide sport. Today, Kukki-Taekwondo is one of only two martial sports systems (the other being karate-do) to be practiced all over the world, boasting an international membership of more than 20 million practitioners in over 140 countries (120 being official WTF members), making it the most practiced martial sport style in the world.

Considering the unparalleled growth of the sport of Kukki-Taekwondo and its acceptance into the circle of Olympic sports, there seems to be little doubt that it will continue to enjoy its rapidly expanding popularity around the world. Kukki-Taekwondo is a highly complex system composed of many elements, and it is in this diverse nature where the true strength of the sport lies. A fundamental downfall of Kukki-Taekwondo is that it’s leaders lack the ethical character that the martial art from which it takes it’s name is famous for.

THE FUTURE OF THE MILITARY ART OF TAEKWONDO

The founding Kwans of Taekwondo and their recognized US Affiliate, the US National Taekwondo Association are working hard to globalize the martial art forms of Taekwondo hoping that the popularity of the sport will help. As children grow up and become bored with the philosophy of sport Taekwondo, beating down another human being to make yourself feel superior. They may become interested in the military art of Taekwondo and it’s mind, body, spirit philosophy. When they do, the US National Taekwondo Association and the Kwans will guide them to mastery of themselves and their art. For more information on the martial arts of Taekwondo visit http://www.usnta.org/

Sponsored by www.ActionRadio.net

History of Korean Sword Arts

2006-06-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

History of KumMuSool and Kumdo
By Oh, Chang Kyo

A direct translation of "Kumdo" is "the way of the sword." The art of the sword in Korea evolved from a martial art heritage reaching back more than three thousand years to the time of the Bronze Age. Archeological records indicate that the sword and its art were a part of daily life in Korean antiquity to defend territorial hold extending from Manchuria to Korean peninsula and early settlements in the Japanese main island. About two thousand years ago at the time of the early Three Kingdoms period, the unique sword techniques called "Bon Gook Gum Bup, " or "Native Sword," were developed by Shilla's Hwa Rang warriors. The Three Kingdoms period marks a contentious period in which Koguryo, Paekche, and Shilla were in contention with each other and the Han Chinese for control of East Asia. Warriors in this period and the following Unified Shilla, Palhae, and Koryo Dynastic periods were known to be sword-bearing and to conduct their daily lives with strictly disciplined and moral manners. For every warrior the moral code was strict, but the discipline was stricter for those cherished honor above everything. Many good examples of the warrior culture can be found in the Palhae and Koryo Dynastic periods from the 7th to 15th century. In particular, the Palhae Dynasty was found and ruled by the former Koguryo warrior class after the fall of Koguryo in 668 A.D. With the art of the sword and the disciplined warrior's sprite, Palhae was successful to conquer and to extend their territory from the Sungari and Amur rivers in northern Manchuria all the way down to the northern provinces of modern Korea at the first half of the 9th century, in the height of its power. At the beginning of the Choson Dynasty in the 15th century following the fall of the Koryo Dynasty, some 500 years after the fall of the Unified Shilla and Palhae, the political and ideological foundations changed dramatically. These changes brought the elimination of the warrior class and their power bases in private soldiers. Thus, gradually, the art of the sword was limited to the state military which was regraded as inferior to scholars. Until the end of Choson Dynasty, the art was practiced and taught mostly by individuals in the state military who refined and developed the art under the name of "Ghihuck-Gum." In 1896 during the era of modernization, the art of the sword, also known as "Ghihuck-Gum," was selected as a mandatory training requirement for the newly established police academy. From there on, Kumdo, the modern amalgamation of "the art of the sword" and "the way of righteousness" from the Taoist philosophy, was developed to be practiced by some as a sport and by others as a means of character development or spiritual refinement. By the early 20th century, Kumdo training had adopted and utilized a practice weapon made of bamboo and lightweight armor that had been developed by the Japanese. This method of practice largely replaced the earlier, more dangerous, methods of training. Yet, the Kumdo popularity had been limited until early 1960 when the practice armor could be mass produced with the latest materials. When Kumdo equipments became easily available and affordable, the Kumdo population started to grow rapidly. Kumdo became no longer the martial art of the selected few. Kumdo is both a physically and mentally demanding martial art. A Kumdo bout with a skilled opponent is an intense experience. For a moment, as one opponent faces another, concentration is absolute, conscious thought is suppressed, and action is instinctive. Such training develops the power of resolution and endurance under pressure which frequently affects Kumdo students' lives beyond the confines of the training hall. The Purpose of Practicing Kumdo The purpose of practicing Kumdo is: To mold the mind and body, To cultivate a vigorous spirit, And through correct and rigid training, To strive for improvement of Kumdo, To hold in esteem of courtesy and honor, To treat others with sincerity, And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself. Thus, one will be able: To be a patriot of righteousness in the highest form, To respect and honor one's parents, To trust, honor and loyal to friends, To perceive and never retreat from challenges, And to respect all lives and living things.

For more information on Korean Sword Arts visit http://www.kmaia.org/
Sponsored by www.RichardHackworth.com and www.ActionRadio.net

High Performance Nutrition For Martial Artists

2006-06-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

Self discipline is the key to becoming a great martial artist. Many students of any martial art dedicate a significant amount of time to developing and maintaining their technical skills. Many people are unable to realize their full potential because of ignorance of the single most important training factor; proper nutrition.

The reason that many martial art instructors do not train their students about proper nutrition is the simply that they themselves ignore its importance. When many martial artists are actually presented with such information, their eyes "glaze over" and their attention automatically drifts. People associate the word "diet" negatively. To most people, the word "diet" implies a fad. It conjures images of fat, out-of-shape people, getting no exercise, who drink diet soda while eating ice-cream sundaes. Because of that image, it is easy to think that people who do get plenty of exercise and are not grossly obese do not need to worry about their "diet." Nothing could be further from the truth.

Every martial artist should be concerned with proper diet. An analogy of this would be race car builders who spend a good deal of time creating and maintaining a powerful engine. They realize that you must use the proper fuel for maximum performance. This is also true of the human body. It doesn't matter how much you train if you do not give your body the nutrition it requires. You will never realize your full potential.

To see someone make the enormous sacrifices of time and effort that are necessary to develop good martial art skills is inspiring. To see that same person attempting to develop their skills while under a self-imposed handicap is sad. If you are neglecting your body's nutritional requirements, you are working against a physical handicap that no amount of training can overcome.

Professional athletes have trainers, physicians, and nutritionists who monitor every aspect of the athlete's physical performance. While few martial artists can afford this type of attention, there are basic nutritional guidelines that can be followed by everyone to greatly increase the results of physical training.

An example of this would be in the area of weight control. Gaining or losing weight, is a primary concern not only to the athlete trying to stay in a given weight class but also to a majority of people worldwide. Weight control is most easily performed by changes in the diet. There are no secrets or special diets required to alter your weight. Assuming that your current diet maintains your present weight, a simple increase or decrease of 500 calories consumed per day will result in a gain or loss of approximately one pound per week. This is a gradual alteration of weight, recommended by medical professionals.

Most people don't have any idea of what to eat, or what to avoid, to improve performance. Martial artists need to increase intake of complex carbohydrates (whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, etc.), fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamins and minerals, and fiber; and decrease fat, simple carbohydrates (sugar, white flour, white rice, etc.), processed foods (Ho-Ho's & potato chips), meat (especially 'red'), and drinks other than water.

Specific nutritional information is easily available at any library or bookstore. Stay away from information that is promoted as the "latest word" and instead become familiar with basic guidelines and information that has been well established. There may be a big difference between basic nutritional facts and someone's current nutritional "theory."

One has to only "know the basics" and be able to "apply" them. Application is the key word; knowledge of a fighting technique does no good unless you can successfully apply the technique. Similarly, knowledge of proper nutrition does you no good unless you apply that knowledge to your training. For a martial artist to have no knowledge of basic nutritional information, or - worse yet - to have the knowledge but not use it, is to deliberately limit your skills and abilities. Developing and maintaining martial art skills is hard and demanding work; give yourself a break and eat properly.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at www.ActionRadio.net and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at www.kmaia.org or martialartsradio@hotmail.com .

Hapkido Technique: Off-Balancing

2006-06-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hapkido Technique: Off-Balancing
By Bill Patterson

The physicist, Sir Isaac Newton, could have been a Hapkido teacher. In the 1600’s, Newton developed and published what we now refer to as the “three laws of motion.” In Hapkido, his”laws of motion” are important to understand how many of our techniques work. A simplified explanation of his first law of motion is that a body at rest stays at rest and a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

When we execute a throwing technique, deflect/block or avoid a strike, we are incorporating the principle of Newton’s first law. The opponent will have their greatest balance when there is no motion, a static state, and will be difficult to move. When our opponent is moving, in a dynamic state, much less effort or strength will be necessary to alter their motion. Movement requires being off balance.

Consider the hip throw as an example. To execute a hip throw while your opponent is in a static state, you will need to provide all of the energy and effort to make it happen. If your opponent is already moving, such as throwing a punch or reaching to grab you, it will require less effort for the hip throw. Whenever possible, we prefer to use our opponent’s motion to our own advantage.

So, how do we get our opponent to move or become off-balanced? We use off-balancing techniques, also called breaking-balance. The three principle methods are: 1 draw, 2 push or strike and 3 pull. To draw an opponent off balance we use distance. By controlling the distance between our opponent and ourselves we can force our opponent to come off balance. For example, Hapkido distance will require that our opponent takes a step in order to execute their attack with a strike or grab and putting them into motion (a dynamic state). Second, pushing or striking will cause our opponent to move backward or away. The third technique is pulling. We can bring our opponent off balance by initiating a “grab or pull” to their clothing (e.g., lapel, cuff) or body (e.g., wrist, neck). Once our opponent is in motion, we can more easily deflect or block a strike, or, execute a throwing technique. My compliments to Sir Isaac Newton!

The official Hapkido Black Belt CDR covering the black belt testing requirements is available by mailing $49 plus $16 shipping and handling ($65 total) payable to Oh Kum Yul, to the world headquartes. The address is:

Oh Kum Yul
SongSanRi 661 BonJi
JonNam JangSongKun
JangSongUb
South Korea

For more information on the Korean Self Defense Art of Hapkido please visit www.haemukwan.com

Business Secrets and Marketing Tips for the Serious Martial Arts Instructor

2006-06-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

Business Secrets and Marketing Tips for the Serious Martial Arts Instructor

by Richard Hackworth

Teaching martial arts can be a very rewarding career and for many black belts including myself, it’s more than just putting students through workouts. For me, the feelings of appreciation after helping someone achieve their goals, is what drives me. The trouble is, many instructors switch careers because they find they just can’t make it.

I know personally how hard it can be. I know that for many it can be very challenging, especially financially. What disturbs me is that many of the instructors leaving the field may have been able to stick it out if they had a better understanding of the business side of being an instructor.

I’ve been an instructor since 1992 and have found that one of the biggest problems is the lack of focus on teaching instructors not just techniques but basic business principles. So what happens is many individuals go out and get certified and are led to believe that if you’re a good instructor you’ll get students. Plus, some are even lead to believe that the better you are the busier you’ll be… unfortunately, that’s not the way it works at all!

How many times have you seen instructors who may lack knowledge, experience, or even certification that are busier than others? The problem is prospective students don’t know the difference between an ITF certification or a WTF, nor do they really care! What they care about is results – what benefits they’ll receive. You might think that’s common sense, right? WRONG! If it were common sense, all of the instructor certification courses would teach it.

I know of few instructors who know this and even fewer who implement this into their schools. There’s a lot of talk in the martial arts teaching field right now about professionalism, and while I agree it is important, it doesn’t matter one bit if you don’t have students! Plus, you can be the most educated, certified, qualified, and professional instructor out there and still struggle to stay open.

Prospective students are more concerned with whether or not you are going to help them, not how many certifications you have. The good news is there are a few simple and basic business and marketing strategies that can make all the difference in the world. My goal as a martial arts instructor and business consultant is to help you understand what your “ideal” client/student wants and give it to them. You don’t have to be Bruce Lee to achieve martial arts business success but you do need to do certain things. Here are some closely guarded secrets of highly successful martial arts school owners.

So here we go…

Business Secret #1 – Know your “ideal” client/student

It’s critical that you know who they are, what they do in their spare time, where they eat, etc. The more you know the better off you are and the easier you can get your marketing message across.

Business Secret #2 – Become an expert

No, I don’t mean just know your stuff (which you should), but you should position yourself as an expert in a specific category. For example, you might work with busy business executives – you can position yourself as the expert at getting busy corporate execs into fighting shape fast. Do you really need Chuck Norris’s Total Gym to get in shape? No. You can show people how to get fit from martial arts training.

Business Secret #3 – Use multi-step marketing

This is where so many instructors make a huge mistake. If you get a lead or prospect and they don’t sign up what do you do? Forget about them? I hope not, because that’s what most instructors do. Leads are not easy to come by, nor are they cheap, so why give up on them? You should add them to your mailing list and send them your informative newsletter – you never know when they might be ready to sign up. Plus, many people feel uncomfortable doing business with someone they don’t know. Let them get to know you, your school, and how your services help people. Constant contact is your hidden Dragon that will give you the power to turn more prospects into real life martial artists.

Business Secret #4 – Get some help

Just like your students need your help, don’t be afraid to get help in the area of business and marketing. I remember about 3 or 4 years ago I was struggling to keep a steady flow of students and was burning myself out in the process. So I got the help of a successful business coach and it made a world of difference. After that I read every business and marketing book I could get my hands on.

A few years later my business has nearly tripled and I’ve helped dozens of other instructors learn and master the principles of effective business and marketing. I recommend, (caution: shameless self promotion coming) the “Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual”. If you want to get help for everything from marketing to tuition management I recommend AMS. You can reach them at 1-800-275-1600.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at www.ActionRadio.net and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at www.kmaia.org or martialartsradio@hotmail.com .

Meditation: Religious Enlightenment or Developing Focus

2006-06-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

"Meditation: Religious Enlightenment or Developing Focus"

by Richard Hackworth

In Chamseon, martial meditation, I learnt that the "Eastern Method " of meditation is not thinking of nothing. It is thinking of some subject matter. Hapkido Grandmaster Yong Ki Song himself said this to me. In martial arts, we meditate to concentrate on our techniques. It can be used to concentrate on e.g. your studies. So in martial arts case meditation is a method only and not religious. It is a tool/method to discipline our mind thought process and to remove distractions, so as to prepare for deeper thoughts.

In my case, if my mind is too occupied with many things, I prepare myself for quiet devotion by meditation method of counting my breath, then when I (my mind, body, spirit) am still, I do my Christian devotion. Prayer is deep concentration of talking to God. I think of Bible verses application. I think of what is true, noble, right. Philippians 4:8 "Whatever is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable - anything that is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Please note that I am not saying you have to be in a meditation position to pray. In Christian context, prayer is simply talking to God, and you don't need to be in any specific position. I do this personally to help me concentrate myself. Of course there are many other ways to calm yourself, like going for a walk in the park, listening to music etc. But meditation method is fast to bring your mind to readiness to concentrate.)

Most important I find that for a Christian when meditating is not to let your mind be blank, as a Christian who believes that there's always a spiritual battle going on, if we let it go blank, we expose ourselves to spiritual attacks rather than be filled with Holy Spirit.

For non Christians, some meditation do go into the spirit realm and hence into a trance. So as an instructor I teach my students to focus on a topic, and not let the "emptiness" of mind take over. So I use the tool of meditation to prepare myself for martial arts training, prayer, thinking of Bible verse application etc.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at www.ActionRadio.net and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at www.kmaia.org or martialartsradio@hotmail.com .

Kyung Yeah: The Bow of Acknowledgement

2006-06-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

The Standing Bow

Bowing to each other is the most visible manifestation of martial arts etiquette. It is also the most misunderstood practices observed by “Western" students. The only exposure people in our culture have to the act of bowing, is with some type of worship. Many see bowing as an admission of subservience or inferiority. So the Western mind typically reacts to the idea of bowing with negative feelings.

In the East a bow is not a sign of subservience at all. It is used as a greeting, or it is used similar to the Western handshake or salute.

There are two types of bows that are practiced in Korean Martial Arts. The first is the standing bow. It is performed from an 'attention' posture by bending forward at the waist approximately 45 degrees and looking down as a sign of respect and trust. This bow is not held for any length of time. One should simply bow forward and then recover to 'attention' posture. Occasionally, situations arise where a Western handshake accompanies the standing bow. The handshake can be done either in conjunction with the bow or afterwards. Regardless of the timing of the handshake, proper etiquette is to always exchange a 'two-handed' handshake. This is performed by grasping the hand of the person you are embracing with both of your hands, or by placing the left hand (open and palm down) underneath and behind your right elbow.

The Kneeling Bow

The second type is the kneeling bow. It is the most formal type of bow, and is done at the beginning and end of each class, testing, promotion ceremony, demonstration, or seminar. All students should stop what they are doing and join in any time a formal bow is being performed. If you are injured, or not in uniform, a standing bow is appropriate.

The formal kneeling bow is performed beginning from an 'attention' posture. At the command "jung-swa" the left knee is placed where the left foot was while standing - this is followed by placing the right knee similarly where the right foot was - except that the right knee should be placed slightly wider so that a gap of one to two fist widths is created between the knees. The body may then be rested upon the heels. This is followed by moving the loose lengths of the belt to a position outside of the thighs. The hands are then placed, relaxed, on the inside of the thigh, close to the groin area.
At the command "kyung-yea," the bow is completed by first placing the left hand, followed by the right hand on the floor in front of you, so the hands (touching) form a triangle.

When you bow, lower your forehead to the triangle created by the hands. This bow is typically held for 1-2 seconds. Recover to the original kneeling posture with the torso first rising to a position where the arms are nearly straight but still touching the floor - next, return the hands, left hand first, to their respective positions on the thigh near the belt knot. Standing from this position is accomplished by first rising up onto the knee's and then placing the left foot where the left knee was touching the floor, followed by standing and drawing the right foot into position where the right knee was.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at www.ActionRadio.net and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at www.kmaia.org or martialartsradio@hotmail.com .

Kick Your Caffeine Habit With Knock-Out Herbal Remedies

2006-06-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

Kick Your Caffeine Habit With Knock-Out Herbal Remedies

By Rick Hackworth

If you need a dose of morning coffee to kick start your day you may be undermining the peaceful balance that comes from advanced martial arts training and dramatically lowering your ability to develop Ki energy.

Overloading your body with caffeine can cause insomnia, anxiety attacks, impatience, mood swings and the caffeine “Jitters”. But quitting cold turkey can cause headaches, constipation and irritability in many caffeine drinkers. So what can you do?

The best way to eliminate caffeine from your diet is to cut back slowly, beginning with food items such as chocolate and cocoa then moving on to the drinks such as soda and coffee. Some herbal teas like green tea, black tea and guarana tea all are high in caffeine too.

Herbalist such as ShimKiDo Grandmaster Seok Kyu Lee of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association say that the best plan for eliminating caffeine is to prepare ahead of time. One way to do this is to use herbs such as Nettles which help build up the adrenals and kidneys which are weakened by caffeine. Herbs like oat straw are a great way to strengthen the nervous system. Take up to a quart of either one each day. Take them separately or alternate them day to day and at the end of 45 days you should be able to completely Kick you caffeine habit.

Hapkido Grandmaster Yong Ki Song also suggests milk thistle seed tincture (not capsules) for strengthening the liver. He says that Bitters, like gentian, dandelion roots and artichoke leaf can also be used. He suggests taking them no more than 30 minutes before a meal to support the liver and ease digestion problems.

When you feel you are ready to begin your new caffeine free lifestyle for improved Ki energy mix your coffee with peppermint infusion (not tea). Increase the amount in each cup over about a 4 day period. It will give you that wide awake energetic feeling without the jittery feeling or Ki draining side effects of drinks containing caffeine.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at http://www.actionradio.net/ and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at http://www.kmaia.org/ or martialartsradio@hotmail.com .

Get Motivated To Get Your Black Belt!

2006-06-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

Get Motivated To Get Your Black Belt!

By Rick Hackworth

A bad mood can steal your enthusiasm for training. So how do you motivate yourself to train when your mood is getting in the way? Here are ten knock-out techniques to get you motivated to get your black belt:

1. Overcome Your Distracting Thoughts. Are your thoughts jumping ahead to future demands or lingering over past experiences? Remind yourself of how precious training time is, there will be plenty of time to return to distractions when your class is over. Tell yourself, “Okay, I only have an hour to train, but I’m going to completely concentrate on it.”

2. Examine How Your Body Feels. Are you feeling fatigued, stiff, tense, lethargic or restless? Perhaps you are training too hard and need to cut back a little. Or perhaps you need to increase your stretching and decrease your “TV” time. Your body also may be sending signals about other lifestyle concerns that need attention: overwork, emotional strain, poor nutrition or not enough sleep. Listen carefully and adjust accordingly, but don’t give up on your commitment to stay on track to get your black belt!

3. Visualize Your Achievement. Imagine how you will feel after fulfilling your training commitment for the day. Envision yourself stretching and reaching with full extension and perfect body alignment. Picture stress running off your body along with sweat. Or dream that you are in top condition, playing in the Super Bowl or at Wimbledon, running the last mile of the Boston Marathon or cycling in the Ironman competition. Maybe even envision yourself going to distance with Dan “The Beast” at the UFC!

4. Talk Back To Your Demons Of Laziness. Do you often tell yourself, “I’m too out of shape,” “I’m too slow,” “I’ve tried this before, it never worked,” or “I’m too old”? Talk back to those “Gremlin” voices. Say to yourself, “I can do this one step at a time. I am stronger. I will stick with this black belt program.” Every time you hear the negative self-talk, challenge it. You can become a black belt!

5. Listen To Your Joy. Are you choosing activities you like or those you wish you would like? It’s true that sometimes you need to train when you simply do not feel like it, but if you are not getting any enjoyment from your training, you may need to look for a style that is a better match for your personality and interests. If you enjoy forms training and self-defense, but your instructor is only teaching sparring and drags you to tournaments, speak up. Let them know that you want more forms training to make your workouts more enjoyable. Instructors need your feedback to make the classes more enjoyable for everyone. It helps them to help you to stay motivated!

6. Examine Your Plateau. Ask yourself, “What needs to change for me to feel good about my progress?” Clarify the gap between what you are experiencing and what you want to experience, make the changes. Sometimes something as simple as getting a crisp new uniform boosts your enthusiasm. Or buy a book or piece of training equipment that you have been interested in. It can help motivate you. Your instructor can normally order items and have them for you in less than a week.

7. Shake Up Your Routine. Try a new kind of workout or change the sequence or frequency of your training. You do not have to add a lot of time to your class to see change: instead try a harder level or increase the number of classes you attend each week. Push yourself a little. You can do more than you think!

8. Compromise Your Approach. If you decide to skip your class, plan on taking a 10-minute training break at lunch and another training break during your afternoon break to practice a few stretches and techniques. Plan ways to make up for lost class time, like taking a seminar on the weekend or scheduling an extra training session. A private lesson is often more affordable than you think and can be just the boost that you were looking for.

9. Recommit To Your Goals. Activity levels greatly impact your physical ability, risk of disease, stress response, energy level, appearance and attitude. Remind yourself that positive habits are created one choice, one movement at a time. Even if you choose not to train today, make a commitment to get back on track tomorrow, no matter what. Call a friend from class and see if you can practice with them one-on-one to help motivate each other.

10. Reinforce Your Training Values. Spend 20 minutes writing down the reasons why staying on track for testing and learning is important to you and why you cannot quit now. The secret to success is not willpower, it’s “want-power.” Choose to stay committed, to stay dedicated, not because you have to, but because you want to! If your goal is to become a black belt, commit to it. Let your instructor know. Sometimes making the commitment to someone else is a strong motivator because you don’t want to let the other person think that you are a quitter. Remember to make it to black belt you have to make a decision. A wish changes nothing. But a decision changes everything!

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at http://www.actionradio.net/ and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at http://www.kmaia.org/ or martialartsradio@hotmail.com .

Change Your Day To Change Your Life!

2006-06-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

Change Your Day To Change Your Life!

Now matter how you lived your life yesterday, or the day before, the only day that you have the power to control is today. Therefore, it would be a great waste of energy and time to scold yourself for what you didn’t accomplish in the past. So, let’s think about today. What can you do, right now, to make a change to create a great life? To get started, think through and define what a great day means to you. What would you like to accomplish by the end of today? Make a quick list of what you want to accomplish and assign a time and priority level for each task. If you want to design your day so that you accomplish more, invest a few minutes to visualize yourself going through your day. Walk yourself through each step, performing each item on your list. Can you see yourself taking action to accomplish each item on your list? Visualize yourself interacting positively with others and performing like a champion. If you have any items on your agenda for the day that you’re really dreading. Imagine it and see yourself completing it and accomplishing your desired outcome. If you’ve never tried this before, you may feel reluctant to because it’s out of your comfort zone. I know I did at first, so I reminded myself that no one else would know what I was doing and just did it anyway. If you have done this before, then you know you have the power to create a positive, productive day. Here’s an example of how powerful the self-visualizing technique can be: Before I competed in the 1985 8th US Army Tae Kwon Do Championships, I decided to add this technique to my training regimen. Each morning and each night, I spent a few minutes seeing myself competing and winning each sparring match, one by one. At first, I felt ridiculous and had a tough time seeing the details. But after a few days, I was able to really amp it up and visualize myself landing techniques and hear the crowd cheering. I dared to see myself winning and standing on the awards podium waving the American flag.The results: I was undefeated in every match I fought. For the team fighting event, my coaches, Yong Hon Kim and Jong Won Kim, moved me up to a higher weight class to compete. I was the only person on the U.S. 2 ID Team to win my weight division over the Republic of Korean Army Team in sparring at the event, and won every match I had. The secret: visualizing my success over and over again before the competition arrived. So the question is “What can you do now to create an awesome day or to accomplish something you’ve been dreaming of?” Any time you’ll spend planning, preparing and seeing yourself coming out on top, will enhance your experience in life today.

About the author: Multi-arts Grand Master Richard Hackworth is the senior writer at “Martial Arts World Magazine” Orlando, Florida and Co-author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". Hackworth is the host of the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show at www.ActionRadio.net and the International Director of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. He can be reached at www.kmaia.org or martialartsradio@hotmail.com .

The Martial Arts News & Entertainment Radio Show

2006-06-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

The "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show

Hear about the topics and events that matter the most to you as a martial artist by listening to the "Martial Arts News & Entertainment" Radio Show on the Action Radio Network at www.ActionRadio.net . The show host is Grand Master Richard Hackworth, the senior writer for "Martial Arts World Magazine" and author of the "Martial Arts Profits & Success Manual". The show's co-host is Grand Master Gary Pointer, US Hapkido Representative for the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association. You can learn more about the KMAIA by visiting www.kmaia.org .

If you have a question that you would like answered on the show e-mail it to martialartsradio@hotmail.com .

2006-06-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Martial Arts Library. A resource to help all martial artists achieve a higher level of success no matter what their level. From the beginner to the multi-school owning Grand Master, this site has information to help you reach your martial arts goals.