Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it’s definitely worth owning. One such book is Jay Gluck’s, "Zen Combat."

This is a very well written book and one that I don’t believe is in print anymore. The copy I have I ended up finding in an old book store several years ago. This book gives you some outstanding information on the history of primarily the Japanese martial arts and their philosophy.

1. The Bull Story; Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama and Kyokushin-kai Karate:

This section covers a lot of, although brief, biography of Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama and how he came to learn the art of Karate. Included in this biography are stories about his training style or technique, his first U.S. tour in the early 1950’s, which was also the first time that the art of Karate had been demonstrated in the U.S. There is also a story about how Mas and the author visited with another famous Karate master, Gogen “Cat” Yamaguchi.

This section of the book concludes with some basic information from Mas on training techniques and methods, etiquette and principles of karate, descriptions on various punches, blocks and kicks, kata or forms with Heian or Pinan Nidan being described and illustrated. There is also a very good section on belt rank and the importance of it.

Of particular note, there is a terrific section on how to form a proper Shuto or knifehand strike, and on how to condition your hands for delivering powerful blows.

2. Why the Zen of Zen Combat; Martial Arts Philosophy:

This section is primarily devoted to the early history of the martial arts and their philosophy, and how Zen compliments them. This is really a very good although brief section on the history of martial arts.

3. Kendo; The Way of the Sword:

In this section, the author talks briefly about Miyamoto Musashi who was Japan’s greatest samurai swordsman. In addition to Musashi, he also talks about the art of Kendo and the samurai sword, and the basic techniques that are used when yielding a samurai sword. These techniques include; the proper grip, en-garde, touché, and the I-ai or “quick draw.”

The rest of this particular section is devoted to various weapons used by the samurai such as; the naginata, bo staff, spears, etc.

4. Kyudo; The Way of Archery:

This section starts out with a brief history of the bow in Japanese history and then quickly dives right in to how Zen became incorporated with Japanese archery and why it is still practiced that way even today.

The author gives a very detailed explanation on the equipment, ritual, and techniques associated with Japanese archery. This is a very thorough and well presented, yet basic, analysis of this very impressive art form.

5. Dancing; Dervishes of Strength:

We begin this section with a trip to Iran and its traditional dance at their House of Strength. This was very informative and was totally new to me, although the ideas expressed weren’t. The author also discusses the importance of dance and music to the martial arts if one truly wants to master them.

There is a terrific section included here that deals with how to breath and training your body through the use of certain breathing techniques. It also has a section devoted to the purifying of the body through the use of “cold training.” This section finishes with a brief history on the art of ninjitsu.

6. Aiki; Luke: 4-28:

This is perhaps the best section in this book and covers the art of Aikido and its master, Morihei Ueshiba. This section is quite detailed and recounts several exploits of the Aikido master. It also briefly explains some of the techniques and principles associated with this amazing art form.

This book was originally written and printed back in the early 1960’s, and therefore I don’t know if it is still available or not. You may have to get on the internet, or search your local used book stores to find it, but if you do, definitely pick it up. You won’t regret it.

Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence™ series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com

As a small token of my appreciation for you taking the time to read this article, I am giving you this special offer. To take advantage of this offer, click the following link and when prompted, enter this coupon code; 2006FREE: http://www.chikara-kan.com/specialoffer01.htm

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it’s definitely worth owning. One such book is Joo Bang Lee’s, "The Ancient Martial Art of Hwarang Do; Volume Three."

This volume, like the other two in the series, starts out with an outstanding section that gives you a detailed look at the history of Hwarang Do and its progression over the centuries from ancient times to the present day. You are then presented with the theory and internal dynamics which make up this very impressive art. The basic principles of training sections were also very good and offered excellent advice that should be implemented during training. The following is a brief overview of each chapter in the book and what it contains.

11. Weapons:

a. This section begins with a brief discussion on the history of weapons concerning the art of Hwarang Do and then goes into the 20 basic weapon types that are studied in this art form. The author notes that once you have mastered the 20 basic weapon types, you can then eventually master the 108 weapons studied and used in Hwarang Do.

b. This section continues with the basic blocks, strikes and applications of the short stick. This is usually an oak stick approximately 6 to 8 inches in length with a cord attached to one end.

c. The next section comprises various defenses against the sword, stick, and cane. This is followed with 10 self-defense techniques that can be used against an attacker armed with a knife. This section concludes with a brief segment that demonstrates to you four different defenses you could use against an attacker armed with a handgun. This particular segment is one I didn’t care for because it was too brief and did not include any of the basic information that you should know before even considering such a move.

12. Throwing Techniques:

a. This section starts off with some basic principles involved in throwing and the recommendation that you should learn how to fall and roll first, before learning how to throw. Sound advice!

b. This next section demonstrates and briefly explains how to execute 6 basic throws in Hwarang Do. It then does something really unique and not found in very many books, which is how to defend against someone who is trying to throw you.

13. Choking Techniques:

a. After a brief segment on the basic principles of choking, the author demonstrates 5 basic choking techniques.

14. Opponent Control:

a. Following a brief segment on the basic principles behind controlling an opponent, this section gives you 7 examples of controlling or restraining an attacker.

b. In this section, the author also demonstrates for you 7 different examples of defenses that could be used against two attackers. Following this he also demonstrates 1 example of defending yourself against three attackers at one time. These examples are intended to be just that, examples. They are not intended to be duplicated move for move.

15. Vital Points:

a. Although this section of the book was rather brief, the basic principles and the philosophy that the author relates to the reader is, in my opinion, not only very professional, but also the mark of a true master of the martial arts.

b. The author continues with this section by demonstrating some basic techniques applied to certain vulnerable areas of the body.

16. Charts of the Meridians of the Body:

a. This section shows detailed charts mapping out the meridians of the body that correspond to the major internal organs.

One of the things that I particularly liked about this book, and the others in the series, is the fact that there are no “sport” techniques in these books. All of the techniques shown are meant to be used in actual combat and self-defense situations. When you look at the art of Hwarang Do, you could make the comparison that this art form includes not only the strikes and kicks of Tae Kwon Do, but also the throwing and grappling techniques of Judo and the joint techniques of Aikido. Hwarang Do is truly a well-rounded and complete martial art.

This and its two companion volumes were some of the first books that I ever purchased years ago when I was in high school and starting to learn about the martial arts. These books give a very good overview on the art of Hwarang Do and are very informative. If you are interested in this art form, or any of the Korean arts, I would definitely put these books on your too buy list.

Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence™ series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com

To learn more about the author or HwarangDo, please visit this web site at: World Hwarang Do Headquarters

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it’s definitely worth owning. One such book is Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama’s, "The Kyokushin Way."

Like all of the great martial artists past and present, Mas has a remarkable and relevant philosophy not only on the martial arts, but also on how to conduct yourself in your every day life. Some of these philosophies may seem a little rigid, but not when you look at it from the perspective of a true martial artist.

In this review, I am going to give you a couple of lines from each section and a brief synopsis of the rest of the section. It is my opinion that you will get the most from this book by actually owning it and reading it several times, while practicing it on a daily basis.

1. Aspirations:

This section starts out with the following statement from the author. “When I was a child, we were taught always to live in such a way as never to have to be ashamed in front of family, teachers, or friends.” In other words, do nothing that you would be ashamed of. Simple yet brilliant!

One must continue to have high aspirations if they truly want to grow and achieve more than the average individual. If you set your goals low then you will only achieve little or no success. But if you have high goals, you will have to continually strive to reach those goals and when you do, success will be yours. A man who has everything he wants will wither and become stagnant and die. But the man, who continually wants more, will work harder and continue to thrive and grow.

2. Diligence:

“If someone asked me what a human being ought to devote the maximum amount of his time to, I would answer, training. Train more than you sleep. No matter what course you pursue, you will have no regrets if you make this a hard-and-fast rule.”

In this section, Mas relates his own personal history and some of the troubles he found himself in as a young man before he devoted his life to the study of karate.

3. Courage:

“The fastest way to attain courage is to follow the chosen way and to be willing to abandon life itself for the sake of justice.”

Everyone of us has been afraid at one time or another, it’s how you handle that fear that determines what kind of person you are or will become. Mas himself admits in this section to certain times in his life when he to has been a victim of fear.

4. Success Demands Courtesy:

“We must always remember to be kind and considerate and must abide by the customary practices of the society in which we live. One of the most important things in preserving harmony among individuals and society is courtesy and mutual respect.”

One must not only be strong, but also soft and malleable when need be. As former United States President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt used to say, “Walk softly and carry a big stick.” The United States needs to return to this way of thinking and acting in the international community.

5. Parents:

“The length of the period (from fifteen to twenty years) during which the human parent must care for and protect its offspring means that relations between parent and child are deeper in human beings than in other animals.”

It often amazes me that we seem to take for granted those who brought us into this world.

6. Reasons for Fighting:

“Human beings worthy of the name ought to be willing to challenge wickedness with justice, even to the death if necessary. Without the willingness to stand up for justice in this way, what is life worth?”

Just because you can fight doesn’t mean that you have to fight.

7. Karate and Zen:

“Zen is the complete unification of the body, the intentions, and the spirit. Unification of this kind is the sole way to human perfection and harmony with the universe. It is Zen.”

In order to achieve a Zen state, one must concentrate, but not to hard or you will hinder your own efforts.

8. Breath Control and Mind Control:

“Oriental training codes have evolved concrete systems for the total unification of spirit and body. These systems are of importance not only to art and technical achievements, but to daily life and morality as well. They consist of three methods: breath control, strengthening of the abdomen through breath control, and meditation.”

Various methods and techniques for breathing properly in order to develop power are explained.

9. Love and Marriage:

“Woman is simultaneously man’s greatest joy and his greatest sorrow. Men usually encounter three kinds of women: mothers, wives, and seductresses who are only objects of sexual desire. The way a man reacts to these women is one of the most important elements of his life.”

Women should be loved and respected, but never let them control you.

10. Keeping Money In Its Place:

“Money is a social necessity. As a reward for labor and for human blood, sweat, and tears, it is honorable. It makes me sad to know that some people judge everything in terms of money and what it can buy.”

Although money is a necessary function of today’s society, do not allow yourself to be ruled by it.

11. Liberation, the Ultimate Truth:

“But the way to truth is long. One of my mottos is this: A person is still beginner for a thousand days; he finds the truth after ten thousand days of practice.”

The road to the truth is not easy, but it is attainable.

12. Significance Today:

This section concludes this book with the state of karate throughout the world at the time that it was first printed.

This book has been out of print for the past twenty years and is very difficult to find. I found my copy on Ebay and paid over $100.00 for it. Money well spent!

Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence™ series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com

To learn more about Kyokushin-kai Karate, please visit this web site at: Kyokushin Karate

Here are some really cool tips that will help you get the most out of your self defense training.

Control Your Fear
Even if you know the best self defense techniques you are still vulnerable if you haven’t developed one significant skill and that is fear control. You need to be ready to stay calm during a physical or verbal attack. There’s no training that can simulate a real life situation (e.g. a real attack on the streets). However there are certain martial arts and self defense techniques that will help you control your stress and your fear. These techniques will make you feel a little bit comfortable during a stressful situation (e.g. an act of aggression against you). These fear control techniques involve breathing exercises and hand positioning.

Be Prepared For An Attack
You ought to know that your body sends various signals to others. If you can read your body language then it will be easy to read an attackers body language and be warned of a potential assault before it happens. Some key warning signs of an attack are easily noticed. For example when a person is nervous and looks around him/her all the time, when a person’s jaw is clenched or when his/her fingers form a fist. Another warning sign is when someone is hiding his/her hands. Many attackers also change the tone of their voices and speak aggressively when they are about to attack. If you notice such behavior by a person, then you better try to avoid talking or walking close to that person.

Attacked By More Than One Person
There are cases where attacks come from more than one direction (e.g. more than one person attacks you). Self Defense techniques can teach you how to deal with such bad situations. The first thing you must consider when facing multiple attacks is to run away, if this is possible. The odds are against you so do not try to be a hero. Try to keep all attackers in front you so that you can see what’s happening. If it’s possible try not to be backed into a corner. Do not try to attack first unless you are really skillful at martial arts and self defense. Instead try to keep a defensive but not aggressive stance. In such cases you need to keep your energy reserves high so do not make unnecessary moves.

These are just some recommendations that will help you stay alert when encountering an attack on a lonely street for example. But if you want professional self defense training through martial arts then consider attending a self defense class or buying a self defense guide and start to practice. Remember the secret is to stay calm and try to avoid any kind of fight unless you are really skillful. Ancient martial arts masters used their skills only to defend themselves and not to attack. Mara Mark is a webmaster of Digitalstarproducts Products Directory.

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of historical quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it’s definitely worth owning. One such book is Bobby Lowe’s, "Mas Oyama’s Karate."

Included in this book are some really wonderful historical photographs of both Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama and Bobby Lowe. These photographs are in addition to the numerous photographs of Mr. Lowe’s students demonstrating the techniques described throughout this book.

Introduction:

In this section, Mr. Lowe provides a brief history of the evolution of karate from its beginnings which started in China and traveled to Okinawa, before arriving in Japan. Mr. Lowe also gives a brief history of Kyokushin-kai Karate and its founder, Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama.

Warm-Up Procedures:

Demonstrated in this section are sixteen (16) different warm-up and stretching exercises that the author recommends that you should perform before and after each practice session. These exercises include; push-ups, sit-ups, leg stretches, jump rope, etc.

Stances:

Demonstrated in this section are thirteen (13) different stances that are used in Kyokushin-kai Karate. They include such stances as; riding or horse stance, forward stance, sanchin stance, cat stance, back stance, etc.

Nerve Centers:

I was disappointed that this section offered absolutely no description or text at all. However, it does show the principle striking areas on the human body. This is done through the use of a front and back view diagram of the human body.

Punching, Striking, Blocking, and Kicking:

These three sections show twenty-two (22) various punches and strikes. Although there is no text supplied to teach you how to correctly execute them. In the blocking section, eight (8) blocks are shown, while one, the circular block is actually demonstrated with text to teach you how to execute it. In the section on kicking, sixteen (16) kicks are shown. Although none are actually demonstrated with text supplied in order to teach you how to correctly execute them.

Breathing Techniques:

After a brief introduction to breathing and the importance thereof to the martial artist, there are demonstrated four (4) different basic breathing exercises to develop your breathing capacity and ki development.

Kata:

After a brief explanation on the purpose of kata in karate, Heian or Pinan Shodan is demonstrated with photographs and text.

Prearranged Sparring:

In this section, eighteen (18) prearranged sparring forms are demonstrated where the defender utilizes specific defenses and counters against predetermined strikes by the attacker. This is a very good way of introducing the beginning students to the basics of defending oneself against an attack.

Defense against Grabbing Attacks:

Photographs and text are used to demonstrate fourteen (14) various defenses against a variety of grabs such as; single wrist grabs, double wrist grabs, chokes, bear hugs, lapel grabs, etc.

Defense against a Knife and Club:

After a brief introduction explaining the dangers present when confronted by an attacker with a weapon, the author demonstrates eight (8) different defenses for defending yourself against an attacker armed with a knife and/or club.

Free Style Sparring:

This section is extremely brief and shows a few examples of various techniques being demonstrated on an opponent.

Breaking:

After an all too brief, but sound introduction, the author shows a few examples of different types of breaks.

Defense against Multiple Attackers:

After a brief page of the principles behind being attacked by more than one opponent, the author demonstrates five (5) different examples of what you could do if attacked by multiple opponents at one time.

Makiwara Training:

A brief introduction to the uses of the Makiwara is explained.

Overall this is a very enlightening book on the basics of Kyokushin-kai Karate.

Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence™ series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com

Marc can be reached via his web site at: Kyokushin Karate

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it’s definitely worth owning. One such book is Michael D. Echanis’, "Knife Self-Defense for Combat." This book is directly influenced by the Korean martial art of Hwarang Do and its current Grandmaster Joo Bang Lee, who Echanis had studied under before his untimely demise in Nicaragua.

This book along with its two companion volumes, “Basic Stick Fighting for Combat” and “Knife Fighting, Knife Throwing for Combat,” were not initially released to the general public, but instead were only available to certified and recognized self-defense instructors. These books were originally intended to be military training manuals for the various elite units in the United States military. These were units such as the Special Forces, Army Rangers, Navy Seals, etc.

This volume, like the other two in this series, starts out with a brief section on the history of Hwarang Do and its relationship to hand-to-hand combat. This is followed by another brief section that looks at the theory and internal dynamics which make up this very impressive art.

The next section of this book goes over in very good detail the basic principles involved in defending oneself against an attacker armed with a knife. This section is very well done and provides a lot of very sound advice. It then concludes with the following:

4 Basic Rules in Unarmed Self-Defense Against a Weapons Attack

1. Clear your body of the weapon’s line of fire and angle of attack.
2. Stabilize and control the weapon…
3. Disarm the weapon…
4. Neutralize the enemy…

This section end with the following quote from the author, “No matter how proficient the unarmed expert becomes at disarming an armed assailant, he will remain vulnerable to even the smallest weapons expert.” Concerning the subject, have any truer words been said?

The author proceeds to demonstrate 38 basic methods for disarming an attacker who is armed with a knife. The author stresses that these are merely examples for the readers of this book to use as a guide for finding the right technique that works for them. It is by no means intended to be cure-all or gospel of knife self-defense. Use your own ingenuity to find and develop your own self-defense methods using the ones that the author has demonstrated as a guide.

I have read other reviews where the readers have criticized some of the moves in this book as being to complex and unrealistic in nature. I don’t feel that this is the case and did not see that when I read the book as the author intended. However, if you read this book under the impression that these 38 techniques are to be executed exactly as they are presented instead of as they were intended, which is as a guide to go by, then yes, I could see where that misinterpretation could come from.

Although the clarity of the photographs was outstanding and easy to follow, I felt that the descriptions themselves could have been a little bit longer and more detailed. I would have also liked to have seen some close-up photographs of some of the grabs and hand positions. Other than that, this is a very good book and one that should be on your list too buy, if you don’t own it already.

Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence™ series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com

To learn more about the author or Hwarang Do, please visit this web site at: World Hwarang Do Headquarters

Rarely do I even take pen in hand (so to speak) when I have just read or heard something that has struck that one final nerve that I had left for the day. However, this time I feel compelled to put my thoughts onto paper immediately if for no better reason than to get it off my chest. Now this particular thorn in my side has been going on at nausea for quite awhile and has seen little or no change except for the so called “style-of-the-day,” which in this particular case happens to be Jujitsu and the grappling arts.

Now before all of you Jujitsu/grappling fans get your panties all in a bunch let me say that I have also experienced this attitude from individuals in Tae Kwon Do, wrestling, boxing, Jeet Kune Do, and some so called “self-defense” styles. All of which have occurred in the past several months.

Now I know that no matter what I say, there are going to be those of you out there that absolutely will not open your minds and listen to someone whose viewpoint just so happens to differ from yours. Attempting to talk to those types of individuals is akin to beating your head against a brick wall. Sure you can hit the wall as hard as you want and as many times as you want, but you still won’t move the wall. Therefore, if you are one of these people, do yourself a favor and stop reading this article and go on to something else, because you are just going to be wasting your time.

Okay if you’ve continued reading I hope that you can set aside any particular style prejudice that you may have and can finish reading the rest of this article with an open mind.

Now as you may or may not know, my particular background in the martial arts is primarily based in the martial arts of Karate and Tae Kwon Do. This is not the Olympic style tae kwon do, but the traditional based martial art. In addition to Karate and Tae Kwon Do, I also have some experience in the arts of Judo, Hapkido and Aikido. Throughout my earlier years of training, I was very fortunate to have an instructor who taught me both the traditional and practical ways of executing the techniques that I was being taught. One major point that was always stressed was this, “There are NO superior martial arts, styles, or techniques. There are only superior martial artists.”

Now having said that, how can anyone in their right mind think that one style is superior to another? I mean if you wanted to put restrictions on it by saying that Jujitsu was a better grappling and ground fighting style than Tae Kwon Do, I would tend to agree with you. Or if you were to say that boxers in general had better hand skills than Jujitsu and Tae Kwon Do fighters I would also tend to agree with you.

Or, how about if you put rules on the terms of engagement such as in boxing, where you are only allowed to strike certain areas of the body with a closed fist, then I would have to say that in that particular situation a boxer would have the advantage. However, if you put the boxer in the same situation with a Tae Kwon Do or Muay Thai fighter and only allowed kicks, then the advantage would definitely not be on the side of the boxer. The same comparison could also be used if you put a Jujitsu practitioner in the ring with either a boxer or Tae Kwon Do fighter and then only allowed grappling. Who would have the advantage then? Of course the Jujitsu fighter would.

Let’s take a moment here and take a look at the art of boxing. Now what are the four primary punches in boxing? Okay there is the jab, cross, hook, and the uppercut. Now I am going to be conservative on my numbers here and say that there are approximately 1,000,000 people here in the United States that have learned how to box. Are all of those individuals’ superior boxers? No! Even though they all know the same punches, do they all punch the same? Again the answer would be, No!

Now out of all of those people, how many Mike Tyson’s, Evander Holyfield’s, and George Foreman’s do we have? Not that many. Now at their time, there is little room to argue that all three of these men were superior boxers with those four punches.

Now let’s say that there are approximately 1,000,000 people here in the United States that are actively practicing Jujitsu. Now obviously there are more than four primary moves in Jujitsu, but for arguments sake and ease of understanding let’s say that there are only four. Is every practitioner of Jujitsu a superior Jujitsu practitioner? No! Even though they all know the same four techniques, do they all execute them exactly the same? Again the answer would be, No!

Now out of all of those people, how many of them are from the legendary Gracie family? I don’t know the exact number for sure, but I know they have a fairly large family so let’s say twenty. Now you would be hard press to say that these individuals weren’t superior Jujitsu practitioners.

In order to finish this comparison let’s once again say that there are approximately 1,000,000 people here in the United States that practice Tae Kwon Do. Once again it is obvious that there are more than four primary kicks in Tae Kwon Do, but for arguments sake and ease of understanding we are going to say that there are only four. Is every practitioner of Tae Kwon Do a superior kicker? No! Even though all of them learn the same four kicks, do they all execute them exactly the same? Once again the answer would be, No!

Now out of all of those people, how many of them are Chuck Norris’s, Herb Perez’s, or Bill Wallace’s? Not that many. There is no doubt that these three individuals are superior kickers. Please note for all of you Chuck Norris purists out there that Chuck studied Tang Soo Do, not Tae Kwon Do.

This is a perfect example of the non-superiority of any particular martial art or style.

If you look at all of the martial arts from an intelligent and mature standpoint, you would have to agree that every art has its various strengths and weaknesses. Tae Kwon Do is an excellent kicking art, but does tend to lack a bit in the grappling area. Did you notice that I didn’t mention anything about punching? That is because most good Tae Kwon Do schools do teach their students how to punch. Although I personally feel that boxing is a much better art form to learn the basic punches, but that is just my opinion. Jujitsu is an outstanding art form when it comes to grappling and joint techniques, but it does lack in the kicking and punching area. Anyone would be hard pressed to say that Judo is anything other than perhaps the best art there is for throwing. However, be advised that Judo was derived from the art of Jujitsu in the late 1800’s by its founder, Dr. Jigoro Kano.

Now what about good old fashioned boxing? This is without a doubt the best, easiest, and most effective system of self-defense with your hands that a person can learn. However, boxers are not known much for their kicking and grappling skills. Although a lot of them can clinch really well.

So what does that mean to the individual person, well and this is just my opinion, I strongly believe that you should pick one art form to be your core art. This decision should be made by you, and factoring in what style best suits your body type and disposition. Then after you have gained a significant understanding of your chosen core art, you should strengthen your knowledge by also learning the other styles so that you can further add to your arsenal of available techniques. For example, even if you didn’t particularly care for grappling, wouldn’t it behoove you to know what to expect if and when you were confronted by someone that was good at grappling?

Remember, the foolish man thinks he knows everything and refuses to learn more, when in reality he knows nothing. While the intelligent man knows that the more he learns, he realizes just how much he doesn’t know and keeps on learning.

Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence™ series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com

As a small token of my appreciation for you taking the time to read this article, I am giving you this special offer. To take advantage of this offer, click the following link and when prompted, enter this coupon code; 2006FREE: http://www.chikara-kan.com/specialoffer01.htm

The image of martial arts and its practice is still steeped in mysticism in some circles, conjuring up images of strange rituals and strict etiquette, combined with brutal training methods. This was often true in the past in some countries and cultures, however in today’s more enlightened times Western societies are discovering many benefits of Eastern wisdom, not forgetting that the Chinese had widespread civilised societies before they came to being in the West. Aside from the obvious enhancement of self defence skills, martial art practice teaches respect for all, combined with enhancing the self respect of an individual, the most common complaint about behaviour in Western societies is the perceived lack of respect for others and poor manners, especially from teenagers and young adults, just compare any city in North America or Europe to a typical Japanese city. Japanese children are raised with strict moral standards and discipline ( mainly self discipline) which accounts for their world famous work ethic. It is no accident that both Judo and various styles of Karate are a part of the school curriculum. Mental focus is also a tremendous side benefit the concentration power of Oriental schoolchildren is also becoming the subject of many Western studies into reversing the often poor achievement records of some Western schoolchildren.

Hitting the headlines on a regular basis is the obesity epidemic in the West, the United States having the worst problems with the United Kingdom catching up, now labelled the Fat Man of Europe. Martial art practice gives the individual a means of enjoyable exercise with a purpose and a goal, the self esteem and confidence aspect together with such practices being an all over body workout that also challenges the individual mentally, with rewards for progression in the form of belts and gradings gives an incentive to stick with a program or club, as opposed to just aimlessly pounding the treadmill or shoving around weights surrounded by narcissistic Muscle Beach escapees. Our society has never been more stressful with huge work pressures, family commitments and the grind of the daily commute and often rude, ignorant behaviour contributing to produce record stress levels and incidents such as “road rage” becoming sadly all too common. A good training session especially when combined with striking a physical target, Muay Thai, Taekwondo and most karate and kickboxing styles that use pad and bagwork are excellent for stress relief as well as a hard physical workout ( see www.harderhitting.com ) this will enhance the mental focus and clarity of all exponents as well as the mood from released endorphins, contributing to a more successful work career and being simply a better partner and/or parent.

Kevin Ward has trained in various styles of martial arts and Western boxing in the Army, having learnt the hard way what works and what does not. Kevin Ward is owner of http://www.harderhitting.com, which will give a summary of the various styles and links to purchasing martial arts equipment.

Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting, I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library, it’s definitely worth owning. One such book is Lao Tzu’s, "Tao Teh King," which is interpreted as “Nature and Intelligence” and translated by Archie J. Bahm.

This book has been referred to as, “One of the simplest yet most profound interpretations of man and nature.” And also, “The source for one of the sanest and most enduring of the major religions of mankind.”

What follows is an example of the writings in this book. This is number thirty-one.

Weapons have a negative value, for they create fear in others. Therefore, the follower of Nature avoids them.

For when among intimates, one naturally prefers the gentler, more trusting position on the left. And when among enemies, one naturally jockeys for the more strategic position on the right.

Since weapons have a negative value, the intelligent man will have nothing to do with them if he can. But when he is forced to use them, he does so with reluctance and restraint.

He does not admire conquest. For, whoever desires to conquer desires to kill. And whoever delights in murder, cannot inherit the earth.

When things go well, we signify this by honoring the position on the left. When ills prevail, we symbolize this by giving precedence to the position on the right.

In military parades, the second in command, who is ordered to give orders, takes his place on the left. While the first in command, who by himself undertakes to give orders, takes the right hand position.

There is a significant similarity between fighting and funerals. Just as the slaughter of many people should be accompanied by weeping and mourning. So the position in a victory parade should properly parallel those in a funeral procession.

This is one of the best books that you could ever read on Eastern philosophy and should be in everyone’s library. All I can say is buy this book and read it many, many times, I guarantee you that you won’t ever regret it.

Shawn Kovacich has been practicing the martial arts for over 25 years and currently holds the rank of 4th degree (Yodan) black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn has also competed in such prestigious full-contact bare knuckle karate competitions as the Shidokan Open and the Sabaki Challenge, among others. In addition to his many accomplishments, Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence™ series and can be reached via his web site at: http://www.kickingbooks.com

As a small token of my appreciation for you taking the time to read this article, I am giving you this special offer. To take advantage of this offer, click the following link and when prompted, enter this coupon code; 2006FREE: http://www.chikara-kan.com/specialoffer01.htm

An important attribute for a fighter is the ability to improvise. A way to improve this ability is imaging an attack when we are in our daily routines. Imaging an attack when you’re watching TV, brushing your teeth, having lunch or any other situation and respond to that attack. If the place is not the right one for a physical response (your work for example), respond to the attack in your mind.

In the dojo visualize an opponent attacking you in a variety of ways and counter every attack. To add to the realism visualize some of the attacker strikes hitting you and react to that situation. Do this in set of 3, 5 minutes or any amount of time you want..

If you train with Kata, do the kata in a place where the space is limited. That will force you to improvise some moves of the kata. Put a chair or another kind of barrier in your to force you work around the barrier. If you find yourself facing the wall just turn 180 degrees to continue the kata. Keep moving do not stop to think. You have to be spontaneous in your answers to the challenge ahead of you.

The circle exercise is very good for building improvisation’s skills. Organize your students in a circle. Take turns to take the center position in the circle. The student in the middle will closes his eyes while you choose secretly which student will attack, and what kind of attack he will use, the one in the middle of the circle. Remember to tell the student in the middle to open his eyes before you give the signal to begin the attack. This exercise will force the student to defend himself from an unknown attack from an unknown position using a techniques or move from the “top” of his head.

Remember, if the initial technique or techniques you use in a fight do not work for any reason them you need to continue with another technique. For that you need the skill to improvise to adapt to every situation fast.

Walk in peace!

Eduardo Lugaro is the co-founder of http://thegateland.com, an Internet Portal and online shopping mall. He also hold several Black belts and is the founder of Combat Dragon Kenpo, a system direct 100% to self defense and street fighting.