Tai Chi Kung Fu Master Chan

By James Wong

Tai Chi was originated in Chan Ja Gou in China and therefore called the Chan's Tai Chi. No one knew about Tai Chi before 1850 when Tai Chi was first brought to Beijing by master Yeung. Until 1930s when the legendary tai chi master Chan Fa Ke came to Beijing, there were already many people teaching different styles of Tai Chi. Chan has the incredible skills and techniques that not only made him a legend but also a treasure to all his students.

When Chan came to Beijing and started gaining fame due to his exceptional abilities, there were many well known Tai Chi teachers teaching other forms of Tai Chi. One of them was master Lau who taught the Ng's Tai Chi. Lau and his students wanted to see whether Chan was as good as people was saying and invited him to their place for some demonstration. Chan came with the invitation. He greeted everyone and started demonstrating his rountines right away.

His style of Tai Chi was very different from Ng's which usually did the routines much slower and with little force. Chan did the two routines in 10 minutes. The speed and the power of the moves made everyone marveled. But some started commenting that his moves are not compatible with sound Tai Chi principles. Only master Lau was able to appreciate the essence of Chan's kung fu. Chan's moves were quick as lightning but smooth as silk with perfect circular motions. Lau humbly became a student of Chan after being even more impressed by his push hand skills.

Chan had many students and many of them were famous taichi masters. One of the most influential persons was Hung. He spend a lot of time and effort studying and refining Chan's combat system and came up with a modified version called the Chan's Practical Tai Chi, also known as the Hung's Tai Chi today.

One of the most important Tai Chi move is called the King Kong Pounding. It is actually the starting move of the first routine. In 1957, Hung went to Beijing and visited Chan. In the mean time, he asked whether the King Kong Pounding move can be used to handle attacks directly. Chan gave a positive answer. Later Hung change the move a little bit. The move is executed by raising right hand to contact opponent's coming right straight punch with forearm. Left hand twists internally and places in front to avoid elbow attacks.

Chan had experiences using the move in real situations. When Chan was living in his home town, the town was disturbed by robber's activities. The governors tried to hire martial artists to guard the town. One of them was Chan. One day another martial artist knew that a Tai Chi master was joining them. He went to challenge Chan. He was sitting on chair and smoking in the house during that time. The martial artist directly came in front of Chan and threw a punch at his chest. Chan immediately stand up but the punch had almost arrived on his body. He executed the King Kong Pounding move. He touched the man's wrist with his right hand and once he stretched his fingers, the man was bounced back and fell on the ground. - 31497

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Mirko Cro Cop To Fight Hong Man Choi At Fields Dynamite

By Ross Everett

The bizarre career path taken by Croatian striking machine Mirko Cro Cop will continue on New Years Eve in Tokyo as he faces 72 Korean kickboxer Hong-Man Choi in what should be the final addition to the K-1/DREAM combined show called Fields Dynamite!

For Cro Cop, its another stop on what has seemed like a meandering professional course full of much talk and little action since his departure from the UFC. In September 10, 2007, Cro Cop had just won PRIDE's Open Weight Grand Prix in dominant fashion. Some were suggesting that he, and not Fedor Emelianenko, was the best heavyweight fighter in the world.

Cro Cops upset loss to Gabriel Gonzaga changed that and his career his never really recovered. In what was supposed to be a "tune up" bout, Gonzaga smothered Cro Cop and roughed him up on the ground before unleashing his own version of Cro Cop's signature kick. Mirko never saw it coming, and he crashed to the mat like he'd been shot with his leg folded awkwardly beneath him. Gonzaga went on to face Randy Couture, and the former Croatian anti-terrorism cop was relegated to being just another heavyweight.

Since the loss to Gonzaga it has been almost impossible to keep up with the various twists and turns in Cro Cop's career. After another UFC loss, this by unanimous decision to Cheick Kongo where Cro Cop looked listless and gun shy, his management announced that he had suffered a broken rib in the first round and was having trouble breathing.

Its been an eventful year for Hong Man Choi as well. 2008 began with a loss to Fedor Emelianeko on the Yarrenoka New Years Eve event, in which the Russian fighting god briefly struggled with Choi's 7'2" 330 pound frame before submitting him. In April, he joined the Korean army for his compulsory military service only to be relived from his duties after medical tests discovered a brain tumor. The tumor was removed in June, and Choi was back in the ring in late September.

Tanikawa's comments notwithstanding Choi is really the same as hes always been. Hes a physical mismatch for any opponent and while his striking style is awkward at best, it has proven to be reasonably effective. Not sure why Tanikawa is just now realizing that Choi isnt Ernesto Hoost, but hes a surprisingly skilled fighter who uses his unique physical attributes to their best advantage.

This fight isn't about competition as much as it is about commerce. Cro Cop remains one of the most popular foreign fighters in Japan, and with the proven success of freak show matchups this may have been the most attractive opponent for him from the promotions standpoint. Its a fight that Cro Cop should win, and in Japan at least a victory over Choi would have at least some significance. At the same time, Choi's size combined with Cro Cops recent reticence to throw punches and kicks makes it a potentially dangerous matchup for the Croatian striking machine. - 31497

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and highly respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

What Are The Leading Styles Of Martial Arts Available For Kids?

By Dustin Fennell

Most of us have had the talk. When the going gets tough, as much as we would like to give the other cheek, most of us would sleep better at night knowing that our kids are better able to protect themselves. With a lot of Martial Arts Training available for our kids today, we would like to get a better understanding of the origins. A leading question asked by parents is what are the best styles of martial arts suited for kids? Before signing up for a certain program, check out the different types methodologies available and match this with what you know would best suit your child. This would be a good way to avoid problems from arising in the future that may sprout from a conflict with your childs personality and the different training techniques associated with these disciplines.

Different styles can be associated from the country of origin. There are types which originated from Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines. The different learning principles associated with these styles not only form the core difference between the styles, but this would also be an important factor to consider in making sure that your children will benefit from the training techniques incorporated in each martial arts style.

Karatedo is a martial arts style which focuses on the kata. This is the inner strength of an individual and it will be beneficial for the child to develop this strength at an early age in development. Positive results have been observed with children who have started training at an early stage. These children were noticed to have greater confidence and a balanced ethical and moral foundation.

Jujitsu has been developed as a derivative of a Chinese form of Martial Arts. Initially it was designed for women. However, its great adaptation in teaching mobility and movement will be a good point in considering this style for children.

Aikido uses a spiritual and harmonious style that redirects negative aggression of the attacker. The practitioner of this particular style will focus on defense, throws, pins and rolls in order to force the attacker to submit. This style works on tapping into the flow of ki, the central force of energy.

Judo is a popular martial art style which can be compared to wrestling. It focuses on physical foundation and the ability to master the individuals center to gain an advantage over an opponent. Judo is a very useful sport with great implications on mental awareness, physical strength, focus and perseverance.

Kung-fu has traced its origins from ancient China. This style involves many techniques which might be very useful to the practitioner in terms of developing patience, mental awareness and physical development.

Taekwondo has collected a lot of followers over decades of development. This style involves using elaborate footwork and kick combinations in establishing an advantage over an opponent. This style involves a lot of sparring and competitions. The styles inclusion to various international martial arts competitions would be an important factor to consider when choosing this martial style for your child.

We would need to give special attention to the different style for kids. Deciding on the most suitable martial arts style also depends on factors such as: the quality of instruction of the style, the moral values your child can learn and the safety of your child and the available schedule for the martial arts classes. Once you have taken a look at all these factors and you knowo what are the best styles of martial arts suited for kids, you will surely see positive personality results. - 31497

About the Author:

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How I Used Karate to Remove Myself from My Body!

By Al Case

Control the horizontal and the vertical, burn a mystic for Christ, we are about to get out of our bodies. Oooo, floating motes of intelligence, able to waft invisible into bedrooms and bank vaults everywhere! And it is all going to happen through an ordinary martial arts drill, common in systems of Karate and Kung Fu, and especially wudan arts.

If you can lower the volume of the spooky music for a moment, I'll explain. The out of body experience I am talking about is possible through Horse meditation, what we used to call Kima Chasie. In this article I am going to tell you exactly how to do that exercise, and what is going to happen

Back in the early seventies I was working on my black belt, and I was frustrated with this horse meditation thing. We would stand in the horse stance, one hand in a high block, the other hand in a horizontal, hooked back beak hand. We would concentrate out awareness on our clenched fingertips until our legs shook and sweat burst forth upon our innocent foreheads.

Yet, I knew the two minutes we spent in the drill were insufficient. I had heard the stories of guys who would stand in the stance for two hours, and how they became endowed with immortal powers. And, not to reveal my adolescent dreams, I wanted to be like superman.

The way to be like superman, to be honest, is just to go ahead and do it. So I began doing Horse Meditation in a more concentrated fashion. I would hold the horse stance until the ache became too great, and then break, and know that I had not succeeded.

I decided that I had had enough, I was going to do the big breakthrough. I was going to become the most immortal martial artist in the world...uh, other than Bruce Lee. I mean, I would be more than a God, but...Bruce is Bruce, you know?

So I took the horse stance, and when the pain started, I told myself one thing...it isn't going to kill me. Sweat, shakes, dire thoughts of having my legs disfigured for all time. But, having made the decision that I was going to make it or die...POP...I was out.

I floated above my head, disembodied, the world brilliant and forever, the source of immortality revealed. I had succeeded in using the martial arts, call it karate or kung fu or whatever, in realizing that I was a spirit, and that I was immortal, and that bodies were temporary things that you put on or take off as simply as one puts on a coat, or takes it off, or pants, they go on or off, too, and shoes, and socks, and...I was myself. Then, after a few minutes that seemed like an eternity, I decided to get back into my body, so I did, and I lost control, my stance fell forward, and I couldn't figure out how to move my body quickly enough, and I fell right, smack dab, square...on my face. - 31497

About the Author:

Al has 4O years in the arts, and is a writer for the magazines. You might not get out of your body, but you can get a free ebook if you pop on over to Monster Martial Arts.

Precisely Why Your Major Style Might Be Prohibiting Your Current MMA Vocation Back

By Scott Buendia

My pal Kyle Bruce noticed something weird when we discussed a common friend's competition. "I witnessed a handful of his fights, when he gets stressed; he shoots each and every time."

It made me ponder something. If you get in trouble, you cannot help but constantly return to your key martial art (which that means a wrestler will try for a double leg takedown, a Thai kick boxer will kick, and also a Jiu-jitsu chap will draw guard.

Our associate in question was in reality winning the struggle up until he attempted a double leg takedown. He was unbeatable on his feet, and had just grabbed the Plumb position and was kneeing the other fighter to submission. He out of the blue got concerned and slipped for his takedown and got caught in submission.

So what is your main art? You will likely turn to it in times of need (i.e. your scared or you have been distressed). That is why you see such large numbers of MMA fighters keep wishing to pull a takedown from thin air while getting punched to submission. It is behavioral instinct, and it's not always undesirable, it just is dependent upon the instant.

So prior to deciding to enter any competition, you'll want to be aware what your primary art is, and what you may perhaps go back to in case of emergency. You must keep in mind all of the possibilities in a fight and mostly make sure you understand yourself to help you keep yourself out of problems, if you try for the double while you're getting beat up and the other fighter has jammed your takedown all night... That is probably not the ideal opportunity, but at least you are able to train another back up approach rather than, "oh geez, I'm getting pummeled, I better try the single leg takedown."

So, understand your identity, what your main martial art is, and make a great back up plan of action to help preserve you inside the bad instances. That way, you are not trapped using a bad strategy. - 31497

About the Author:

Scott Buendia is a professional trainer of Jeet Kune do, Filipino martial arts, and MMA under Paul Vunak, and Frank Shamrock.

Boxing Pads -- What You Need to Know

By David Whitefield

If you want to obtain boxing pads, it's achievable on the web! Continue reading to learn how you can do it!

It's a good idea for you to get boxing pads if you train in some sort of martial art. Through proper training with boxing pads and a good partner, you can work on your timing, speed, and distancing.

There are really different types of boxing pads to use, depending on the type of martial art you participate in. The most common type of boxing pads is called focus mitts. Focus mitts are required if you participate in a sport with boxing strikes such as boxing or kickboxing. Focus mitts are used only for fist strikes and help you get speed, timing, and distancing down correctly.

When it comes to doing legwork, you can use Thai pads. These pads can help you work on striking, punching, elbows, and knees. You can basically use them for anything. Disciplines like Muay Thai, MMA, and Kickboxing incorporate heavy usage of Thai pads in their training regimens.

For leg strikes, you will want to use leg kick pads. These are really big pads that are designed for use with all manner of kicks. Martial arts that specialize in kicks will likely require this type of boxing pad.

It's important that you always buy higher quality boxing pads if possible. Remember that boxing pads are constantly being used and abused. Low quality boxing pads simply won't last. It's worth paying a bit more for quality boxing pads that will last for years rather than saving a few dollars on your purchase to get a cheap pair, then having to replace them in a year or so with another pair.

Boxing pads can be expensive, but you can certainly save money if you opt to buy them online. There are plenty of online websites that sell boxing pads for cheap. - 31497

About the Author:

You'll be able to get boxing gloves and pads by searching around on the internet. You only need to explore all the possibilities on-line to see what you can find. If you're also looking to get waring pro bfs50b professional buffet server and warming tray, you should have no problem also obtaining these on the web!

I Used Kung Fu to have the Strongest Mind in the Whole Wide World

By Al Case

Try that on for size! The Strongest Mind ever to exist in the Whole Wide World, maybe the whole galaxy! Able to woo any dame and trounce any bad guy, and...sounds a bit too good to be true, doesn't it?

Oddly, the thing that I did worked, but not in the way I had anticipated. So let me tell you method I utilized, for free, and see how you do. Are you ready to have the Strongest Mind in the World, maybe in the universe?

I once came across the concept that a man who can concentrate on one thing for three minutes can rule the world. The point was that to stay mentally concentrated on one thing, to put it simply, blows up the brain power. Having read this, and wanting to have the most fully functional brain allowed by the powers that be, I decided to do it.

I was doing doing Karate at the time, and exploring martial forms such as Sticky Hands from Wing Chun Gung Fu, and various other martial styles, and I really thought that I had the mental willpower to pull anything off. I did my kata, I could remain calm during freestyle, and I had the discipline. Now all I had to do was apply that discipline to pursuing Nirvana, seeking enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it.

I decided to use a simple, little rock to shape the ultimate concentration and the resulting explosion of pure mentality which, I hoped, wouldn't shatter the universe too badly. A rock, after all, was what the earth was, and the shape of the thing was round, like the whole darned universe, and it seemed so neat and appropriate. So I went into a nearby field and chose a well shaped rock, and prepared to turn on my enlightenment.

I sat down next to a tree, placed the rock in front of me, and focused on it. I tried not to think, I tried to just focus on the rock, and to ignore all those silly little surface thoughts, like what was for lunch and what the latest movie was, or what I was going to do that weekend. I was, after all, going to shatter down the doors to heaven, so what use did I have for the following weekend, right?

After three minutes I got to my feet, tossed the rock aside, and started walking away, totally disgusted with how boring the whole thing was. I mean, to think that I was going to become an enlightened being just by being able to think at a rock, how stupid, how boring! Suddenly, my body was jerked to a halt as a sudden thought overwhelmed me.

It wasn't the stupid, little rock that was so darned boring, it was me that was boring. All that boredom was coming out of me, and I realized something...I would never be bored again. And I suddenly knew that I had achieved some form of enlightenment, the thing had worked, but not at all how I thought it would. - 31497

About the Author:

Want to have the Best Karate? Pick up a free ebook written by Al at Monster Karates.