Benefits Of Martial Arts For Women
Martial arts or otherwise called fighting arts is a practice and tradition of combat. All kind of martial arts has the same objective of physically defeating another person or defending oneself from physical harm or threat. Some martial arts are associated with beliefs while others follow a code of honor. It is considered as an art and a science. Martial arts refer to the art of warfare or combat. I came from the Greek word Mars/Ares meaning the Greek god of war.
Martial art is not only for men but also for women. Women are born weaker in physical strength compared to men. The need of women to learn martial arts is increasing now a day because of high issues of rape and harassment. Women need to protect themselves from any of these situations that can put their lives in danger. If you want to successfully learn martial arts and the proper techniques of self defense, you have to give time and dedication for it. Repetitive training is needed to build up strength and technique. It also needs time for meditation as well as mental training. Having a positive mind of beating an opponent is half winning the fight.
Aside from this benefit of protecting yourself, martial arts can improve awareness of the mind and body. The mental strength will be improved as you master the art of focusing. You will be able to focus more on your daily task and improve your level of alertness even with small details of what is happening around you. Concentration is very important in martial arts training. To be an effective martial arts student you must be able to picture out your success as you go along with the training.
Learning martial arts can improve ones physical and mental health. Feeling stronger mentally will give you the sense of security to be able to manage any dangerous situations that might occur. It will build up your self confidence to handle any physical threatening circumstances. Throughout the training you will learn the movements and impacts on your body as well as the opponent or attacker. Knowing when to strike or hit and how to do it properly will give you the strength with your full body potential defending yourself.
It takes years to learn and master martial arts but the outcome is worth the sacrifice. You will feel better physically and mentally. Possible attackers may even think twice of approaching you. Learn martial arts for your own safety and protection.”
The Two Most Powerful Weapons Of Martial Arts
Nunchakus, the katana sword, double sticks, and others are among some of the weapons to be mastered through different styles of traditional martial arts. All of them have their own merits, but I believe the two most powerful weapons which can multiply the power of your techniques are the subconscious mind and Chi energy. Below I will explain in detail why.
All skills we have learned in any style, after hard and serious training, become natural reflexes. The reason for this is that there is a section of our mind that is in charge of memorizing all of our experiences from the moment we are born until the last breath we take. This part of our mind is in charge of vital functions of the body, such as breathing, defecating, regulation of bodily fluids and circulation as well as, other complicated processes. This part of our mind is working 24/7 without rest. Behold the subconscious mind!
What is the subconscious mind and how can it help you become a powerful martial artist? Sub means under and conscious means your everyday mind or the mind of everyday life. So subconscious means the part of your mind that is below your conscious awareness. In order words, you are not aware of it. The most important part for a martial artist to know and master about the subconscious mind is its inability to recognize physical limitations. Whatever skills regardless of the situation, you will be able to accomplish it if you impress or command the subconscious mind with an exact image of what you are trying to accomplish.
Let me use myself as an example. I do lots of visualization with my techniques and when I do them physically Ive noticed something very interesting. I feel like Ive been performing them for a long time physically. They feel crisp, with more strength, faster and alive. All the things Ive visualized give me a sense of connectedness to the techniques. In other words, my body, mind and emotions work together as one with the technique. This was an aha moment because I had heard the stories of visualization, but had never experienced them myself.
Another function under the control of the subconscious is the reflexes. When you react or attack your opponent, before all this happens, there is a signal sent from the brain to the body via the nervous system. The nervous system activates the muscle and then the muscles move the body. This happens in an instant, but you can lessen the time it takes for your muscles to receive the signal by training your subconscious and the body at the same time. This is accomplished using visualization as the above example proves.
Aside from the subconscious mind, there is another aspect to the training of martial arts call Chi training. Chi is not easy to explain, but let me give it my best shot. Chi is life itself and all things are made of it. It is internal and external energy. Planets and constellations are made of Chi. In the human body, Chi is regulated by the conscious mind and the amount is limited. Breathing exercises are one of the tools used to increase the amount of Chi in your body. I know, if all things are made of Chi how come it is limited in the body, thats your question. I dont know the answer to that question yet, but I have a theory and I will explain it later on.
Among the benefits of increasing your level of Chi is a stronger immune system, an increase of overall strength, faster reflexes, faster blood circulation, a strong sense of being grounded and a feeling of being in the present moment or in the Zone. If you practice martial arts, extra strength and total awareness and being in harmony with your opponent is a great skill to have, dont you think? Ask your teacher if he knows anything about Chi and ask him to teach you about it. If you are a practitioner keep reaping the rewards of your Chi.
Finally it may be possible that Chi is another expression of the subconscious mind. It is not a subjective experience, all youve got to do is practice and you will soon reap the benefits of Chi training, whether you practice the martial arts or not.
[Top]The 2012 National Black Arts Festival
The National Black Arts Festival is an Atlanta festival that celebrates the art, music, and culture of people of African descent. The family friendly festival is scheduled from July 6-15 and includes activities such as literary, musical, and theater performances, fine arts exhibits, and an international market. Although a few events are ticketed, many of the activities are free.
The main weekend of the festival is July 12-15, with many activities taking place at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. Festival attendees can visit the International Marketplace, which will feature artisans from all over the world. Offerings will include paintings, sculpture, clothing, jewelry, and other items. In past years exhibitors have come from such diverse places as Jamaica, Haiti, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Brazil, Canada, and India. The kids will be entertained at the Childrens Educational Village. This years theme will be Destination Africa and Beyond. There will be musical entertainment all weekend from the concert stage. Local and international chefs will be giving cooking demonstrations at the Publix Healthy Cooking Pavilion. Attendees can learn to prepare healthy and balanced foods as well as enjoy tasty samples. All of these activities are free to the public.
Several other free events are planned during the festival. City Gallery at Chastain will present JOuvert: At the Devils Playground, featuring the work of Jamaican born photographer Radcliffe Roye. The exhibition, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, will run from June 14-July 28. An artist talk is planned for June 30 from 1-3pm. Pre-registration is required for the talk. Jah Music- A Celebration of Traditional Jamaican Music, featuring the Tallawah Mento Band, will take place on June 24 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. The program is scheduled for 3-5pm, and pre-registration is required.
There will be two free screenings of A Raisin in the Sun at the Southwest Arts Center. This will be the original film version of Lorraine Hansberrys play starring Claudia McNeil, Sidney Poitier, and Ruby Dee. Screening dates are July 6, and a special screening for seniors and students on July 11.
The Hagedorn Foundation Gallery will host an exhibition of intimate photos of Michael Jackson by his personal photographer, Todd Gray. The Gray Room with Act 1 of the Performance Piece, Caliban in the Mirror is scheduled for July 6-August 31. The Coretta Scott King Book Fair will be held on July 11 at the Central Branch of the Atlanta Fulton Library. Attendees will meet award winning author Walter Dean Myers and award winning illustrator Michele Wood. The event is free, but pre-registration is required.
The festival also includes several ticketed events. Those events include a gala fundraiser and tribute to actress Ruby Dee on July 14. The play Guess Whos Coming to Dinner? will run July 10-29. There will be an exhibition of the art of Vivian Schuyler Key at the Hammonds House Museum and the exhibition Rise Up: Hale Woodruffs Murals from Talladega College at the High Museum of Art. A benefit event for the National Black Arts Festival, Slavery By Another Name: The Dialogue is planned for July 12.
[Top]Concussion Protection For Mixed Martial Arts & Judo
Mixed Martial Arts is a dangerous sport; many fighters end up with serious brain and head injuries if they are not using the proper Concussion Protection. Mouth guards are an essential protection item for Mixed Martial Arts fighter and while most mouthpieces will only protect directly the upper jaw, fighters agree; a solid and strong mouth guard protecting the upper and lower jaw decreases the risk of head injuries, helps keeping the eyes open even during impact and minimizes the chances of getting knocked out during combat.
The WPR-300 High Performance mouth guard from Brain-Pad, for example, is a revolutionary Concussion Protection specifically designed for Mixed Martial Arts fighters. This specific mouthpiece protects efficiently the lower jaw and the upper jaw while allowing for better breathing it also absorbs blows otherwise destined for the skull or the head. Many world-renowned Mixed Martial Arts fighters have been openly advertising wearing similar mouth guards; Cung Le, Frank Shamrock, Jerome LeBanner, Jorge Rivera and Mat Horwich have all agreed that the protection offered by a type of mouthpiece like the WPR-300 is far superior to an upper-mouth only protection.
To avoid any serious head injuries related to concussive blows, it is important to wear the proper type of mouth guard when practicing Mixed Martial Arts. Effective Concussion Protection will give fighters a chance to breathe properly, to increase their chances of winning a fight instead of getting knocked out and to lengthen their career by minimizing potential injuries.
It might be a bit puzzling at times to try and find the right Concussion Protection for Judo. The ultimate goal is to find a mouth guard, or mouthpiece, that will protect you from possible head trauma and reduce the risks for brain injuries. The main feature in Judo is the competitive feature the object is to throw the opponent on the ground, by immobilize him or otherwise subdue the opponent during the combat. Such practice needs good protection; the ideal Concussion Protection for Judo will be something like the Brain Pad 3XS.
The 3XS is designed especially for athletes practicing high-impact sports. It is conceived especially to help absorb the impact of concussive blows to the base of the skull. It protects both the upper and lower jaw, which is a rare feature for any type of mouth guards but can greatly make a difference in the level of comfort of an athlete. It features high impact gel-pad inserts, extended wrap-around outer bumper and tapered channel ends to offer the maximum level of comfort, protect against impacts and blows and allow for maximum breathing through the windows at the front, unlike many other mouth guards used for Judo.
For any Judo athlete, Concussion Protection is a main concern and should not be addressed lightly. Finding the right Concussion Protection for Judo is essential head injuries can be traumatic experience and leave your brain damaged. Using a mouthpiece like the 3XS can increase your chances of winning but can also save your life and optimize your fighting experience.
For more information on high-quality mouth guards, visit BrainPads.
[Top]Is Martial Arts Equal Self-Defence
The answer is no. No doubt what you learn from combative arts classes could be used for self-defence but they are just not self-defence. In reality, what you have learnt from the martial arts classes have nothing to do with the realities of protecting your personal safety. But again, we constantly attempt to find out what is the best combative arts for someone to learn about self-defence.
Realise this, if self-defence is what you are looking for, most of the martial arts school will not be able to offer you that, especially on staying safe in a modern urban environment. You may ask why do you say so?
1. Self-defence has something to do with “defusing violence”.
Violence can originate from an argument, physical contact, a date rape, a drunk friend, a fight, etc. They are all violence. Do you know that these pose different problems and there are different solutions?. How many martial arts school’s syllabus actually teach the students about how to response to such a situation? Do you think by breaking board will help you in “defusing violence”? Different violent situations will require different levels of response. You will learn such level of response in self-defense lessons but not combative arts.
2. Martial arts emphasis on fighting style.
As you know each violence situation differs, self-defense is the answer in dealing with it. Remember this, what works for one situation may not work for another. Martial arts emphasis on fighting style. Form is more important than substance. But for self-defence, your personal safety is the priority. You learn how to defuse violence or getting out of that situation. It encompasses common sense, habits, lifestyle, alertness etc.
3. Martial arts are training but not education on how to deal with violence.
Martial arts are training and sports. People constantly mistaken it for education. Self-defence by its very nature addresses specific conditions and problems. Do you think the SWAT officer’s high risk entry training is of good help in controlling a drunk in a bar? Of course not. The training that works for such an officer doesn’t work for you as well. Self defence requires education and training. In combative arts, you will learn very specific things, however, that surely doesn’t mean that you are prepared to handle all violence situations. You need to be educated about what martial art techniques can be used for self-defence in each and every different circumstances.
You must know that most martial arts have become sports regardless their combative history or self-defence use they claim. There’ is a huge difference between sport fighting and defensive movement. If you still think that any martial art could be used for self-defence then you are exposing yourself to the danger.
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