Walk into any traditional martial arts dojo, and just observe. Notice how many middle-aged men and women that you see there over the age of 50. I would dare say very few. Have you ever asked yourself why? If you say that martial arts is only for the very young, then how do you account for the fact that most of the teachers who consider themselves as masters are in their 50′s and 60′s?  (By the way, to reach your 50′s and 60′s in the mastery of a martial art usually means that you started maybe as a teenager and because you are a teacher, you get to continue to practice and maintain your skill level by practicing hours each day. The average everyday person has a life and families and cannot devote every waking hour to the perfection of a fighting art.)

I am well into middle-age, but I have the body, strength and endurance of a 30-year old – not by accident, but because I take very good care of myself with progressive weight lifting, regular jogging and healthy eating. However, even for a “young” man in my condition, the typical martial arts program is not set up to cater at all to me and my age bracket.

I will reveal for you now as to how and why the traditional martial arts program unwittingly and maybe unintentionally, but definitely, discriminate against the middle-aged man or woman. (For abbreviated purposes, TMA will stand for Traditional Martial Arts.)

What Makes Jiu Jitsu Techniques So Effective?

First of all, although it may seem obvious it’s important to take note of the fact that Jiu Jitsu focuses on effectiveness, as opposed to other martial arts disciplines which focus on philosophy, perfect technique, or other highly specialized styles. For example, take Judo which is often referred to as the “sport version of Jiu Jitsu” and is also an Olympic Sport. Just like Olympic boxing focuses on a very narrow set of rules and a system of scoring points that would not necessarily be the most effective way to win a professional fight, so does Olympic Judo focus on style and points as opposed to the most effective way to subdue an attacker who intends to hurt you or a loved one.

An excellent routine for overall muscle endurance, same exercises as above

• Higher reps, 10-15 or more, so lighter weight of course.
• Follow this with as many pushups as you can do.
• Only rest for a maximum of 30 seconds, and repeat

Top Secret: I know you’re dying to find out what the bonus secret is:

Well… okay just kidding.

My advice is very direct and succinct. Forget about all of the Traditional Martial Arts programs, and enroll yourself in a Reality-Based Self Protection program which does not emphasize high kicks and extreme leg and hamstring flexibility, and instead of taking years to master can be taught and learned in a matter of a weekend

Signature***********************
Mortgage refinancing at Low rates
Low mortgage refinance Rates and Closing
Articles and advice on homes

“Kendo is a martial art that entails various actions. Technically, the basics are really emphasized. The movements look really simple to the eye. You learn the right footwork, the proper posture, how to swing – these are basically the things that you need to know. But then you have to practice performing these actions a hundred times over or more. The reason for this is because these actions need to come out by reflex. This concept is what is behind any other type of martial art. The only difference with kendo is that a weapon is being used which is the shinai. The practitioner has to become so familiar with this weapon that it would become an extension of his own body. This mastery is where difficulty comes in.

Kendo originated in Japan and it always has been identified with that culture. But nowadays, there are Kendo dojos or schools all over the world. You would think that with this set-up, this martial art would become Westernized or tainted with impurities. That is not the case, however. The technical level of the martial art has remained excellent regardless of where a dojo is located. There is a worldwide uniformity of the basics of the art. Whether it’s in America or whether it’s in Europe, the fundamentals being taught are the same. It is only in the advanced training wherein the differences in certain schools become evident. But such disparity is not vital to the elements of the martial art. The 1970s paved the way for international competitions to become more available to Kendo followers. Nowadays, there are more than fifty countries in the international competition circuit.

The practitioners of Kendo use different body protectors – the kote for the hand, the man for the head, the do for the chest and the hakayama. These protective gears make Kendo different from other martial arts. Their uniform is the embodiment of the Samurai spirit and can be paralleled with the European knights who wear metal armors.

We can apply the principles of Kendo in our life through etiquette, manners, patience, and discipline. Of course, this is pretty much like any other martial art. But there is one principle that is only taught in Kendo, and that is, once you attack, you keep constant pressure by striking consistently. In real life, if you focus on your target, nothing can stop you.”

Are you looking for Kendo equipment? You’ve got quite a range of martial arts supplies in the market to choose from, whether you want one of those martial arts uniforms or instructional materials. Explore the Internet now.

“Who says there is an age limit to have a martial arts trianing? Everyone can enroll to any kind of martial arts class but the first thing you must do is to make sure that you evaluate your history and your lifestyle now. This is to determine what your health condition will be in the future. But regardless of your present condition, there is a martial art suited for you.

One of the most popular styles of martial arts is Kung Fu which is of course deeply rooted in the history of the Chinese people. We see this style in movies that starred Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. Kung Fu, however, is so much more than those seen in movies and cinemas.

If we look at those seen in films, Kung Fu is an intimidation tool. However, this is not the real gist of what Kung Fu is. Kung Fu is meant to encourage and enlighten. Some of the basic moves include muscle conditioning exercises and stances. Focus is also made possible with the use of meditation. And best of all, it can easily be taught and learned under a qualified master. Training in Kung Fu not only benefits the body but also the mind and the soul. As the muscles are worked into action, the person is overcome by a higher level of awareness.

Tae Kwon Do is one of the most popular martial arts that boast the highest number of followers. It is South Korea’s national sport. It has a very interesting history that is connected to the Korean occupation by Japanese troops a hundred years ago.

Tae Kwon Do centers on combat, self defense, sports and meditation but puts greater importance on the legs. Masters of Tae Kwon Do who were its proponents believed that the legs of a person are the most powerful foundation for strenght because it is the longest part of the body. They also believed that the legs are the strongest part of the body and, thus, the greatest weapons. This is why this martial art involves a lot of kicking.

So whether you are young or old, male or female, heavily or lightly built, there is a martial art suitable for you. Not only will it help develop discipline of the mind and body. It will improve self- awareness and a sense of security. Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do are only two examples of a variety of martial arts to choose from.”

Thinking of of enrolling in a tae kwon do class? You’ll have to get one of those tae kwon do uniforms which you’ll need during training. A variety of martial arts uniforms are also available, whether you plan to train in karate, ninjutsu or any martial art.

The techniques used in martial arts do not involve any supernatural phenomena unlike those that are seen in movies and television programs. The viewers are made to believe that these masters can jump incredible heights and seem as light as a feather. Some of them can single-handedly take out a motley crew of goons without even breaking a sweat. While these antics are effective eye candies, in actual practice, the most effective self defense techniques are none of these stunts made on film.

Ultimately, there are so many varieties of techniques being practiced today. The following is a general idea of these techniques categorized for beginners so they will understand more about the moves that make martial arts extraordinary.

Blocks

This is the action of preventing an opponent’s attempt of landing a strike. This is either done by the hand, the arm, or the legs.

Footwork and Stances

Footwork is a skill which is the least thought of in a martial artist. But this basic skill is very essential in effective self-defense. Professional fighters need to spend a great degree of time working on these techniques. On top of these, stances are imperative to both sports and traditional martial arts. The stances used in Kung Fu are actually based on animals like the snake, crane, horse, monkey, tiger, eagle and many more. A number of these are influenced by human behavior like the Drunken Technique.

Strikes

This technique pertains to the stand up offensive game that includes kicks, punches, chops, the use of ones elbows, knees, head, fingers and many more. Of course, on top of this, striking can also be utilized in ground fighting.

Submissions

This kind of technique uses wrestling moves like joint locks, choke holds and many others. Generally, this maneuver is done on the ground though there are some who execute this standing up. The main idea is to make an opponent give up or submit. However, if the opponent refuses to give up during the execution of a submission hold, the effects can be deadly. Today, this is evident in Brazilian Ju Jitsu.

Takedowns

Takedown refers to taking an opponent on the ground. This can be accomplished by either using a wrestling move, such as single or double leg takedown, or using throws.

Throws

A throw is more defensive in nature and is a type of takedown. A throw is defined as a maneuver or technique whereby a practitioner locks up with an opponent and uses the opponent’s strength against him by taking him down to the ground. This is what Judo is all about.”

Looking to buy martial arts supplies for your dojo? Planning to buy a martial arts uniform? Just explore the Internet and you’ll find tons of choices

This entire article will be dealing with the principles of judo. “”The bigger they are, the harder they fall”", this is the phrase that defines what judo is all about. Judo is based on the scientific principle of leverage and balance. This means that a bigger and stronger man can easily be defeated by a small and weak man.

First principle is strength must not be countered with strength. Otherwise, the stronger man, of course, will be the winner. Remember that a man is strong because of his balance. Without his balance, he is weak and if you have retained your own balance to gain advantage of this weakness. It is said that a man is in balance if he stands upright and there is a small circle drawn around his feet as his center of gravity. Before a throw can be executed, you must offset his balance by taking his center of gravity out of this circle. The center of gravity referred to here is the fulcrum or the point on which you, as opponent, could put him out of balance.

Another principle is the action of levers. It is common knowledge that it is much easier to lift a heavy object by using a crowbar under it. If you apply this to judo, you will understand that the wider apart your hands are gripping your opponent, the bigger your advantage. This will be applied in throws. The key is get as much leverage as you can. Of course, the direction of pulls and the timing of your attacks also matter a lot.

Gravity, friction and momentum are some of the natural forces of physics that a judo expert uses. Knowing this, you will know that judo isn’t all about muscular force.

Now let us consider the application of the force of gravity in judo. You will have a hard time moving your enemy horizontally or vertically the heavier he is. But a greater pull on him can make him fall easily. The opponent is already pulled by gravity on a downward direction. All you have to do is make him lose his balance by causing his center of gravity move from its base and viola, the gravity works for you as you pull him down to the ground.

Let’s stay you are face to face with an opponent, standing. When the opponent is advancing toward you, you withdraw as much as he advances. When he is physically unable to advance his foot further, he will be forced to lean forward, thus, losing his balance. You can take advantage of the gravity pull and throw him.”

Interested in learning Judo? Aside from getting a good instructor, you need to get a judo gi you can be comfortable in. There are many stores selling judo uniforms these days but you have to choose something that lets you move with maximum ease. You’re going to need that in your game.