KickChick

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=5632&highlight= So here is the new thread!!!! as far as I.T.F. Rules http://www.itf-information.com/rules03.htm

No, you are correct John. In sport WTF TKD, they emphasize power rather than speed. True, the opponent must be visibly moved by the force of an unblocked strike in order for a point to be awarded. And this may be the reason why their sparring techniques tend to be limited to those kicks that generate the most power and where you will mostly see a back leg roundhouse to the body as well as reverse kicks.

http://64.207.13.28/mysmilies/otn/confused/ne_nau.gif .... I am not following you! Many of the members are aware that I began moderating this Health & Fitness Forum at one time (back in the day when each forum was idividually "modderated") It's just my "home away from home" .... so-to-speak. You are a source of good info .. (a little techie for me ) I would still go with the waist to hip ratio myself. Just bear in mind that being "fat" is determined by measurement of body fat, not merely body weight. People might be over the weight limit for normal standards, but if they are very muscular with low body fat, they are not fat. Others might be normal or underweight, but still have excessive body fat. There are other methods to finding actual percentage of body fat. These methods include hydrostatic (or underwater) weighing, Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), Bioelectrical Impedance, and Skin Fold Testing. Hydrostatic weighing and DEXA are considered the "gold standards" and are the most accurate in measuring body fat. However, both methods require equipment and can be expensive. Bioelectrical Impedance is portable and easy to use. Its accuracy is within 3-5% of hydrostatic weighing as long as the protocol is followed closely. Skin fold measurements are inexpensive and a convenient way to measure body fat..... skin fold thickness is measured in different areas, particularly around the triceps, shoulder blades, and hips. This measurement is useful in determining how much weight is due to muscle or fat.

... yeah, I know, I'm still looking!!! Oh and Doug, you can see a "clip" from that video too on that site!

http://www.testcafe.com/lbrb/ You need to sign up, but the test consists of 54 questions (I didn't take yet!) ... some other interesting quizes there too! These simple exercises are found in a book called "Smart Moves", by Carla Hannaford, Ph.D. . Carla Hannaford, Ph.D. is a neurophysiologist and educator ... you may like this book Jack!! Cross Crawl This exercise helps coordinate right and left brain by exercising the information flow between the two hemispheres. It is useful for spelling, writing, listening, reading and comprehension. Stand or sit. Put the right hand across the body to the left knee as you raise it, and then do the same thing for the left hand on the right knee just as if you were marching. Just do this either sitting or standing for about 2 minutes "Hook Ups" This works well for nerves before a test or special event such as making a speech. Any situation which will cause nervousness calls for a few "hook ups" to calm the mind and improve concentration. Stand or sit. Cross the right leg over the left at the ankles. Take your right wrist and cross it over the left wrist and link up the fingers so that the right wrist is on top. Bend the elbows out and gently turn the fingers in towards the body until they rest on the sternum (breast bone) in the center of the chest. Stay in this position. Keep the ankles crossed and the wrists crossed and then breathe evenly in this position for a few minutes. You will be noticeably calmer after that time. Any others????

Teaching children classes is very challenging to say the least! Our owner/insructor who primarily teaches the children has quite a way about him. He eludes an air of authority while being able to kid around with them. We also have "student" teachers that assist. You must remember that kids have great enthusiasm and energy, and it is often difficult to focus it successfully because of their low attention span. To get young children to concentrate on a specific technique for more than 5 minutes can be next to impossible. One way to get kids to enjoy each class from start to finish is to use games as monkeygirl suggested. Children have a tendency to get wrapped up in playing games, allowing you to channel their enthusiasm into something constructive for an extended period of time. Races are always popular with kids. Divide the class into two or more teams. The students run relay races across the dojo. The races consist of performing techniques as they move across the floor. You can also do individual races, having "stations" set up around the dojo. Time the student from start to finish. Begin with jumping jacks. We take a folded hard surface mat and set it up so student can crawl through it (like a tunnel). Then goes to wavemaster and performs a set amount of kicks. Walks a balance beam. Performs a set amount of punches to hanging bag. Pushups, etc. etc. Whatever you can think of and then time each student. Its a game that teaches speed & endurance! Sometimes it is announced before the start of some classes that if they are attentive and do well in class "we may have time for a game of dodge ball". We have a large rubber bouncy ball and arrange teams. One team divided on each side of room .... other team in middle. As they are hit they sit out until last person is left. Also teaches speed and evasion skill. In playing games you should make sure the talented students don't always win. This can be done through manipulating the make-up of the teams or in the consistency of the judging. These games can be used to teach humility to the "superstar" type student who is more coordinated than his peers and is used to always winning. They can also help build self esteem through praise for students who have a low self image.

You're welcome... it may be possible that you are. If you want to read up more on it ..... "it" has its own site http://www.syndrome-x.com/

There are two type of breathing that are normally used in the martial arts when performing kata. There is the breathing is done at the execution of blocks, kicks, and punches and the slow breathing usually done when moving from one position to the next or when there is a pause in the kata. By practicing proper breathing, you will be able to keep mentally composed throughout your kata. Correct breathing will enhance your mental and physical endurance as well as your concentration. Kiai-ing, on the other hand, is a muscle tightening yell that adds power to a technique and is used in several locations in a kata. A good guideline on when and where to use a kiai in a kata is at the opening move and at the finishing move in the kata.... this is a guideline and not the rule. In more advanced kata's there may be additional kiai's. Many of those students may also have been performing "sanchin" breathing techniques that is not taught at all dojos.... a release of several short bursts of air.

http://www.oxandrin.com/hiv/bmi/bmi.html "BMI" does have one drawback.... it doesn't account for your weight distribution (broad shoulders etc.....) A 5'10" 220 pound couch potato can have in fact the same BMI as most NFL running backs. That is why most resently researchers have been using waist size (the ratio of your waist size to yur hip size) to determine your "health risk". Here is why this this determination is more useful than the BMI: Fat that pushes your waist out in front is the most dangerous kind of fat that you can have on your body! Exercise fights abdominal fat. So the more stomach fat you have the chances are that you aren't exercising enough. Now to figure out your waist-hip ration, measure your waist at the narrowest point and yur hips at the widest (around your butt) Divide waist by hips. Your goal is to fall under 0.92 For another BMI calculator .... You can also go to http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi

Got my TurtlePress catalog in mail today and as I was going through it I saw the translated book by Muye Dobo Tongji (18th century) "Martial Arts of Ancient Korea" http://www.turtlepress.com/shopexd.asp?id=229 ... and a video"Warrior Arts of Korea" http://www.turtlepress.com/shopexd.asp?id=284#more

Hey more on the washing , shrinking and caring of the "Gi" http://www.jiujitsuconnection.com/gis.html

Hey thanks guys! Yeah I can explain it pretty good here... but I thought if I could find a site that showed pictured diagrams I could print it out and put it into my instructors manual that I keep. I heard this was an excellant stretch because it also helps with balance. So if I cannot locate this particular exercise.... how about offering me some more "unusual" stretch/balance exercises (not the same old stuff... that is why I liked this particular tai chi type stretch) that I can incorporate into my class as a cool down.

Just remember your belt can shrink too (trying to get this back on topic) ... if you are one of those people that don't follow belief, Take care in washing the gi belt. If you wash it with your white gi, the colors will run. Wash it like you do your clothes.... whites with whites, colors with colors, darks with darks. Don't bleach it. Don't dry in dryer, it too will shrink!!!....allow plenty of time for your belt to air dry. And because belts take a long time to dry out, maybe you should have more than one (like a gi) .... and you can trade them back and forth, wearing one belt while you dry the other. I mean really...if you do get your belt unsightly dirty I do believe it is more "respectful" to wash it since sweat is composed of water, salt, and it is nearly chemically identical to urine.

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=647

Sorry ... cannot give you any advice, only a website to check out. http://www.24fightingchickens.com/shotokan/belts/29_8kyu.html Hey karate members is this ok??? I am not sure ... but I do like how they have it presented. This is broken down by "kyu" requirements ... I don't know how your school is Good Luck to you!!! "Although the Japanese frequently suggest that you should learn through insight, you will learn more quickly by asking what you need to know up front. Remember to "take your education." Do not wait for it."

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=1682 .... thought I would start off another thread although this has basis to the discussion that occured on this thread regarding supplementing with "ephedra-based" supplements. Ephedrine is classed as a "beta-adrenergic agonist," which means it works on adrenergic receptors on the surface of fat cells, which ultimately causes a breakdown of fat within fat cells. So basically you lose greater amounts of fat when you take it than when you don't. Research clearly shows it aids weight loss and also increases energy. So because of all this, ephedra is one of the most widely sold weight control products on the market today. The problem with that is ephedrine works ... that is, it works almost as well as what might be classified as a "drug." (In fact, ephedrine, the active component in the herb ephedra or sometimes ma huang, is classified as a drug!) So, on one side, you have the major, billion-dollar pharmaceutical companies waging a war against ephedra being sold as an over-the-counter supplement, instead of as a drug (so they can make money on it). And on the other, you have general public concerns over the safety. When compared to many of the approved prescription drugs, ephedrine is one of the safest compounds available. In fact, many pharmaceutical companies use synthetic forms of ephedrine (look for pseudoephedrine, for example) in their over-the-counter cold and allergy products, which many of us use whenever we're sick. These media stories about adverse reactions (including deaths allegedly associated directly with the use of ephedra or ephedrine) have been blown out of proportion. Few products share ephedrine's safety record. The facts are that the deaths associated with ephedrine use clearly stated the individuals consumed levels way above those recommended (or even considered sane) by nutritional practitioners. Like anything else in life, there's no escaping the law of toxicology, which says....too much of anything, ice cream or water, can hurt you. More is not better with anything.... (I think ) and that includes supplements! Think of this way: when you take your car in to change the oil, you'd never say to the technician, "Hey, since I'd like my car to run a little better, instead of the normal 5 quarts, why not throw in 10?!" No... even your car doesn't work that way. The FDA's proposing to reduce the levels of ephedrine-based products sold on the market, which has been seriously objected by millions of people who use ephedrine regularly. Yes there shpuld be a mandatory daily usage limit on all ephedrine-containing products by the FDA (for stupid people). A few individuals who choose not to follow proper usage instructions and over-abuse the daily limit should spoil the availability of this supplement for everyone. I am a user of ephedra-based supplements and it doesn't deserve the bad rap the media gives it. But I don't agree with using it regularly. As with any stimulant, there is a downside. Overuse (or abuse) can lead to an over-stimulated adrenal system, which often leads to lethargy, reduced immune system functioning.(you should not use for more than three or four weeks at a time If you are sensitive to ephedra and cannot tolerate its side effects, as literally millions of people can't.... avoid it altogether. Instead, consider trying some other supplements for energy and fat-loss support. The herbs ginseng and cordyceps and the amino acid tyrosine seem to support energy enhancement... both physical and mental. And supplements like Citrus aurantium, caffeine or the herb guarana, and an exciting new ingredient called Coleus forskohlii may help the body burn more calories (in a process called thermogenesis), leading to more fat burned. ( ok there is my "article" on ephedra supplements!)

(Again off topic , but I will get back on later!) I LOVE it ... and I "teach" it! ...and highly recommend it .... as long as it is taught by someone with martial arts experience. Running does really work your heart, but doesn't do too much to improve your flexibility. Cardio-Kickboxing works your entire body and is a lot of fun The UFC champion Frank Shamrock has been quoted as saying that his cardio conditioning is the single most important factor in his fighting success. He recommends working the heart like a muscle by doing sustained aerobic conditioning. Some of the benefits of Cardio-Kickbox training are: Stronger heart. Fat loss through increased metabolism. Better footwork coordination. Being able to do combinations with rhythm Release tension. More enjoyable than stationary aerobics machines or running Practice basic self defense moves And if the class (as mine does) uses gloves & wavemaster...a heavy bag, you get the added benefit of resistance training which works the muscle. Anymore info ... contact me! Now back to topic. With regards as to low carb dieting, there is one thing that I'd like to point out with regards as to why many people think that lowering carbs will lower body fat.... It is possible to gain several pounds in weight without gaining fat. That's because your body is made up of several different types of tissue, including muscle, bone, skin and fat. When you eat more calories than you burn, the body stores the extra energy, but not always in the form of fat. Although excess carb calories can be converted into fat, your body also stores carbs in the form of glycogen Glycogen is stored in your liver and your muscles. In total, your body can hold 400-500 grams of glycogen (the equivalent of 1600-2000 calories). Of course, this varies from person to person. The more muscle you have, the more glycogen you can store. When you lose weight on a low-carbohydrate diet, much of the weight lost in the first week or so comes from stored carbs and water. That's because glycogen also stores between three and four times its own weight in water. So,when you overfeed on carbohydrate calories, much of the weight you gain will also be in the form of glycogen and water. A good example comes from a team of Swedish researchers. They took a group of five healthy volunteers, and fed them a low-carb diet for four days. This was followed by a similar period of high-carb diet. Following the high-carb diet, the glycogen and water content of the muscles was shown to increase. - The average increase in thigh size was 2.5%. - The average increase in calf size was 4%. The bottom line is that if you've been eating more carbs than normal, you'll probably gain a few pounds above your ideal weight. However, much of this extra weight will be in the form of glycogen and water, rather than fat.

This term "syndrome X" appears in a few threads here in this particualr forum and many members are a little puzzled as to what this is. So I thought I would start this post in order to get some info out on this for you all .... and see if maybe you or someone you know exhibits any of the "signs" of this. Syndrome X actually describes a cluster of conditions, such as abnormal levels of fat in the blood, obesity, and high blood pressure. Syndrome X isn't a disease that's just been discovered. Doctors have known for years that each one of these health problems can increase the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. It wasn't until 1988, when Dr. Gerald Reaven first described Syndrome X, that they were seen as being connected. Syndrome X appears to stem from a condition known as insulin resistance. According to some reports, up to 25% of the adult population in America are resistant to insulin to some degree. Normally, the carbohydrate in the food you eat is eventually broken down into glucose (also known as blood sugar). Glucose, in turn, triggers the release of the hormone insulin. Insulin helps to move nutrients from the blood into the cells of your body. However, in someone with insulin resistance, muscle cells are not able to deal with glucose properly. In response to insulin resistance, your pancreas releases as much insulin as it can to prevent glucose levels from increasing. Syndrome X is a combination of insulin resistance, combined with high insulin levels. One of the causes of insulin resistance is eating too many refined carbohydrates and sugary foods. A combination of foods high in fat and high in sugar makes things even worse. Feed rats a typical high-fat, high-sugar diet, and they'll show signs of insulin resistance in a matter of weeks. The heavier and less physically active a person is, the greater the degree of insulin resistance. So, it should come as no surprise that the two most important modulators of insulin action under your control are physical fitness and body weight. • Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking (30 minutes, three to four times a week) is enough to reduce insulin resistance. • In people who are overweight, insulin resistance is also reduced with a relatively small amount (10-15 pounds) of weight loss. However, conventional low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets are not necessarily the best way to deal with Syndrome X. In fact, Dr. Reaven, Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Stanford University, points out that in the absence of weight loss, a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet actually makes the symptoms of Syndrome X worse. Ref:Reaven, G. Syndrome X. Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine

As you commented , you love "free sparring" but students do seem to forget what they were taught (blocking) and tend to fight on instinct. The problem with this is that the student's natural fighting instincts are usually pretty poor. By encompassing several types of sparring drills we can then develop our instincts to the point where fighting on instinct becomes an advantage instead of a disadvantage. A difficult technique to teach students in sparring is to block and counter. Most students try to block the strike until the strikes stop coming. They will then attack with a combo of their own. This drill will help the the student learn the concept of shifting, blocking, and countering altogther. This type of counter will often stop an attack before it can fully develop. Students are closely facing each other in a fighting stance , toe to toe. For example .... a reverse punch to the body. When the punch is delivered, the opponent shifts slightly to the inside, using a scoop or low block, and counter with a reverse punch to the body. The other person will then do the same shift, block, and counter movement. This should be done continuously and should be begin slowly so the students can coordinate the movements. Try not to have the students shift their body too much so that they remain in a toe to toe position. This drill will not only train the specific movements that are involved, but through repetition, it will instill the block / counter combination as an instinctive reaction rather than a planned one. A variety of shift, block, and counter combinations can be used. For example, a left jab to the face can be countered with a high or face block with the right arm and followed with a left jab. Again, start slow so that a rhythm can be set up and the speed can be gradually increased. Here is another drill to improve reaction time. This drill helps to shorten the time delay between seeing an opponent's movement and reacting to it. Have two students face each other at arms length. They should both be relaxed with their arms resting at their sides. They then stare into each others eyes and try not to look anywhere else. This allows for maximum use of peripheral vision which is what should be primarily taught with the use of a sparring reaction drill. One person is the attacker.... the other is the defender. The attacker attempts to strike the defender on the ear with his palm, keeping his arm straight, and elbows remaining locked. The defender attempts to block the strike, raising the correct arm by bending it at the elbow. The attacker strikes using one arm or the other, using a broken rhythm and mixing up which arm will be doing the strike. All strikes should begin with both partners arms fully down at their sides. Both partners then touch their thighs between each strike or block. The speed of the strikes and the time between strikes should be adjusted to suit each student. Control is key! ....strikes should not make contact with the ear to avoid inner ear damage. You can also do strikes directed at the temple to avoid possible ear damage.

Your are most welcome whitedragonma! And good luck to you and your new school!!! Please do stop by Introductions and tell us a bit more about you and your new school and please do continue to read through the forum and post some more!!! http://jeeptalk.org/crack/smilies/contrib/fk/madamy.gif

NO nononono NO!!! Take a look at "your" post. You repeated it twice! ...but many thanks for the sincere compliment ... I do like the way you think!

What you are asking for is for listing of "free" martial art clip art sites?? (.... some that include "stances" and "weapons" ) Check these out...... Free Martial Arts Clip Art http://www.karate1.com/dragons/maindrag.htm Free Martial Arts Clip Art http://www.usjujitsu.net/graphics/clipart/index.html Free Martial Arts Clip Art http://www.karate1.com/graphics/titleart.htm Free Martial Arts Clip Art http://www.mararts.org/images/clipart/index.htm Free Martial Arts Clip Art http://sanfords.net/Spot/photo_old.htm (maybe this thread should be placed in General MA ???? senseis????? ) http://jeeptalk.org/crack/smilies/contrib/fk/madamy.gif

Go here to check and see http://www.tv-now.com/stars/martial.html ... also has link next to movie where you can purchase video!!!!

Mr. Heel Hook .... I think I'm seeing "double"!!! That was pretty good advice tho' ... so I guess it bears repeating (or copying & pasting twice) ....

I spelled those three different arts differently oh well, you can get more info, videos and informative articles (including finding instructors) here: http://www.pa-kua-chang.com/ http://www.hsing-i.com/