HELPFUL INFORMATION

Kickboxing What is Kickboxing?

What is called Kickboxing today came out of Full Contact Karate competitions in the sixties. Competitors included such fighters as Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis and Chuck Norris. Each had different backgrounds in Karate and boxing, as well as other martial arts. New fighting styles, techniques and strategies developed out of the need for a comprehensive form of fighting that was effective in the ring.

Kickboxing is a Western fighting method practiced worldwide with the kickboxer using both hands and feet, as in Karate. Because it is a realistic, practical method of fighting, it has grown into a popular sport. Kickboxing is similar to Full Contact Karate, as the goal of Kickboxing is to knock out the opponent. Also in Kickboxing, strikes are delivered full force.

Kickboxing combines elements from Karate and Thai Boxing; both the strategy and techniques from kicking and boxing. It mixes foot techniques from Karate and fist techniques from boxing. There are four different types of combat competitions: Semi-Contact, Light-Contact, Full-Contact and Low-Kick. Musical Forms are the fifth style of Kickboxing competition. All these systems are the same worldwide and follow precise rules and regulations.

To minimize the risk of injury during Kickboxing competitions, competitors must wear protection for the feet and head, as well as shin guards, safety gloves, mouth guards, groin guards for men and chest protection for women. Kickboxing competitors use sparring, kicks, punches, kick blocks, shadow boxing, and wood breaking that is learned and applied under professional instruction.

While Kickboxing was first developed as a martial art for tournament fighting, it has more recently become very popular; especially with women, because the Kickboxing workout (Cardio Kickboxing) is excellent for developing body toning and burning fat while also helping students gain confidence in self defense.

WRESTLING

Wrestling is perhaps the purest form of athletic competition to exist in the realm of organized sports. There are no bats or balls, or pucks or sticks, no team mates to point a finger at if one looses a match. There‘s no time to rethink strategy, regroup, or even catch your breath. When the referee says “wrestle” everything fades from your mind. Nothing exists beyond the four corners of the mat. It’s just you and your opponent out there, alone, locked in a battle to see who will become the victor. Your whole being becomes immersed in this struggle: your strength, your desire and your will to win all work together in your attempt to emerge the champion.

MUAY THAI

What is Muay Thai?

Sometimes called Muay Thai Boxing or Thai Kickboxing; Muay Thai differs from Western-style boxing most noticeably in its allowing the use of elbows, knees, feet, and certain holds and throws. Because a Muay Thai fighter uses hands, elbows, feet, and knees, it is called "the science of the eight limbs" - although Muay Thai actually involves all parts of the body. Muay Thai also permits a wider range of targets, to strike "below-the-belt" is not illegal.

Although Muay Thai is generally regarded as a very hard, external style, some consider it to have a spiritual aspect as well. Thai boxers typically perform the "wai kroo," or homage to his teacher before each match. This is followed by the graceful "rum muay" which is considered a warm-up exercise that enables the fighter to relax and focus.

To an uninformed spectator, a Muay Thai bout may seem like a lawless brawl. However; with all of the allowances, there are certain tactics that are prohibited: choking, head-butting, and hair-pulling, to name a few. Muay Thai differs from Asian martial arts in its use of a boxing ring and uniforms, timed rounds, padded gloves, and in standup grappling. Two articles of clothing are also unique to Muay Thai, both acting as good luck charms. First is a band worn around the bicep throughout the match. The other is a cord worn about the head, which is removed before the bout begins.

Practicing Muay Thai is a vigorous workout and produces tremendous cardiovascular endurance. Practitioners learn about thirty basic techniques, mostly practiced by sparring. There are no forms in Muay Thai. In formal competitions, groin protectors and gloves are mandatory. Muay Thai's effectiveness is well-known.

Training is rigorous, similar to Western boxers. It includes running, shadow-boxing, and heavy bag work. Kicks are of primary importance in Muay Thai and the art is best known for its shin strikes. The characteristic Muay Thai round kick is delivered with the shin, therefore, there is shin conditioning. There is also a lot of emphasis placed on performing various drills with "Thai pads." A trainer wears the pads, and may hold them to receive kicks, punches, and knee and elbow strikes, and may also use them to punch at the Muay Thai trainee. However, full-contact kicks, knees, and elbows are typically not used in training.

KARATE

What is Karate?

"True karate is this: that in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice." -- Gichin Funakoshi

Karate translated either means "Chinese hand" or "Empty hand" depending on which Japanese or Chinese characters you use to write it.

Okinawan Karate styles tend to be hard and external. In defense they tend to be circular, and in offense linear. Okinawan Karate styles tend to place more emphasis on rigorous physical conditioning than the Japanese styles. Japanese styles tend to have longer, more stylistic movements and to be higher commitment. They also tend to be linear in movement, offense, and defense.

Both tend to be high commitment, and tend to emphasize kicks and punches, blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, joint manipulations and a strong offense as a good defense. Karate techniques consist basically of hand and foot techniques. Hand techniques are divided into defensive or offensive moves. Foot techniques are divided into kicking techniques; snap and thrust kicks. Other important elements of Karate include stances, posture, body shifting, hip rotation, and breathing.

Training differs widely but most of the Karate styles emphasize a fairly equal measure of basic technique training (kihon), sparring (kumite), and forms (kata). Forms are stylized patterns of attacks and defenses done in sequence for training purposes.

An art of self-defense as well as a sport, Karate has in recent decades proliferated worldwide. It is one of the most widely practiced of the Asian martial arts, with a large following in the U.S., Japan and Europe.

TAI CHI

What is T'ai Chi

Translated, T'ai Chi means "the supreme ultimate." In Chinese philosophy, T'ai Chi is the mother of Yin and Yang. It is the theory of opposites, the positive and the negative. T'ai Chi is one of the five Chinese accomplishments thought to make a superior person, in addition to painting, poetry, calligraphy and music.

Linking some of the older forms from Taoism and stressing the internal aspects of his exercises, Chang San-feng is credited with creating the fundamental 'Thirteen Postures' of T'ai Chi corresponding to the eight basic trigrams of the I Ching and the five elements. The T'ai Chi classics are generally referred to as: The Theory of T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Chang San Feng (Zhangsanfeng), The Classics of T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Wong Tsung Yueh (Wangzongyue), An Internal Explanation of the Practice of the 13 Postures by Wu Yusiang (Wu Yu Xiang), The Five Words Secrets by Li Yi Yu (Li yiyu), and Summary of the Practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Push Hands by Li Yi Yu.

Practicing T'ai Chi

The underlying theory of T'ai Chi is that the mind, body and spirit must be unified for wholeness and complete health. The emphasis in T'ai 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 art is practiced alone in forms, and with partners. The forms include the Long Form, which can take more than a half an hour to complete, and the Short Form, a modified version that can be performed in less than ten minutes.

T'ai Chi's original concepts are still intact today, teaching continuous movement, relaxation, solid stances, a straight body and the movement of chi from inside the body to outside. Each arm protects half the body and the hands never reach farther forward than the toes. Many of these movements are from the natural movements of animals and birds, although the way they are performed in T'ai Chi is slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them. It is not ordinarily regarded as a practical self-defense system, though the movements have self-defense applications, and practitioners can achieve great power in their techniques.

JU JITSU

What is Ju-Jitsu?

Ju-Jitsu loosely translated means "science of softness" or "gentle art" and is applied to many schools of unarmed and hand-to-hand combat. The soft grappling style was intended to help unarmed soldiers to fight against armed enemies in any way possible, using the least amount of force necessary. Ju-Jitsu was the primary unarmed combat method of the Samurai. Aikido and Judo are both modern day descendents of Ju-Jitsu. Several techniques used are similar to Karate, Aikido and Judo.

Ju-Jitsu emphasizes turning an attacker's own force against him or herself, putting them off balance. Ju-Jitsu also emphasizes certain grappling moves and strikes to vital areas. A Ju-Jitsu student is expected to learn how to gauge the force of an opponent's attack and use it against him, evade attacks, use leverage against an opponent and how to attack nerves and pressure points.

The main goal in Ju-Jitsu practice is to cultivate a person's mind and body: not to use it as a means to vent one's anger, frustration or emotional problems. The use of force is condoned only in self-defense or in the defense of those who are defenseless.

TAE KWON DO

What is Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is a modern martial art, characterized by its fast, high and spinning kicks. There are multiple interpretations of the name Taekwondo. Taekwondo is often translated as 'the way of hand and foot.' Tae = 'Foot' or 'to kick' or 'to jump' K'won = 'Fist' or 'to strike or block with hand' Do = 'The way of' or 'art'

Put this together and Taekwondo means: "The art of kicking and punching" or "The art of unarmed combat."

Disciplines of Taekwondo Taekwondo has four disciplines: Patterns Sparring Self-defense Break Test It is the combination of these four disciplines that make the art of Taekwondo. Objectives of Taekwondo: to develop an appreciation for Taekwondo as a sport and an art to achieve physical fitness through positive participation to improve mental discipline and emotional equanimity to learn self-defense skills to develop a sense of responsibility for one self and others Taekwondo is primarily a kicking art, often with a greater emphasis on the sport aspect of the art. Taekwondo stylists tend to fight at an extended range, and keep opponents away with their feet. It is a hard/soft, external, fairly linear style and is known for being very powerful. There is a lot of competition work in many dojongs. Training tends to emphasize sparring, but has forms, and the basics are important as well.

WUSHU

What is Wushu?

Wushu or "the art of fighting" - is the general term for all self-defense sports, some of which may be carried out with the fists or the legs, or with the help of swords or lances. It is a great martial art with roots dating back thousands of years in China, and has been recognized as an ancient Asian art for the self-discipline of mind and body. Westerners are more familiar with the term Kung Fu, which translates loosely into "skill," and was popularized by Bruce Lee movies and the TV show "Kung Fu."

Wushu has two main categories: routine exercises and free combat fighting as its forms. The practice of Wushu provides an excellent release of stress through self-discipline in meditation and breathing. The practice also demands skill, concentration, and consistent and dedicated effort. For those who persevere, the rewards are great: strength in mind and body, and the development of physical, mental, and spiritual resources.

The Different Styles of Wushu

Different temples in China will teach different styles of Wushu but the basics are usually similar to each other. Styles encompass both soft and hard, and internal and external techniques. They include grappling, striking, nerve-attack and weapons training. However, Wushu is generally categorized into three styles. Long Fist (Chang Quan), Traditional Fist, and T'ai-Chi (Taiji Quan). Long Fist includes both Shaolin fist and weapons such as sword, spear, staff, and saber. Other weapons, often known as "soft weapons" include the sectional whip chain and the rope dart. Long Fist is the foundation for all of the traditional styles of external Wushu. Traditional fist emphasizes the fighting techniques of only one style. T'ai Chi, unlike external Kung Fu, is based upon unifying the chi or energy of the body. While the internal power generated can be used as a primary tool for self-defense, most T'ai Chi practitioners focus on the health benefits the art provides. Another internal Wushu style is Baguaquan.

YOGA

What is Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient Science Developed thousands of years ago in India. Yoga is a Sanskrit word which means Union. It is the union of lower self with the higher self. It is not a religion but a living philosophy of life.

How can yoga help?

The benefits of yoga can be seen on all aspects of the mind and body. The deep stretching exercises lengthen each muscle so the physical body is toned and supple. They also improve the flexibility of the spine. Holding the poses for a length of time increases strength and stamina. Energy levels are increased to boost morale and confidence. Yoga works on the central nervous system so we become calm and tranquil with a positive attitude towards life. When you practise on a regular basis you will see the results - an invigorated body, glowing complexion, sparking eyes, a positive mind and a sense of inner calm.