Women's Self-Defense Classes - The Fallacy of Women's Self Defense

There are many who say women learn self-defense better in an exclusively women-only environment. The so-called "experts" say it is less intimidating if women don't have to compete with the men, or, it is easier (more comfortable) to discuss subjects like rape without men present. So, the new trend in self-defense programs is "Women's Self Defense" classes.

I don't agree with this line of reasoning, because the overwhelming evidence suggests that this is the wrong approach. I can't tell you how many times I have heard, "I took a women's self-defense course once. But, I went home and tried some of the stuff on my husband (or boyfriend), and it didn't work!"

There is nothing more confidence-shattering than to spend the time learning all the techniques and starting to feel good about yourself, only to have the bubble burst the first time you try out your new-found skills. Women then begin to feel there is nothing they can do to protect themselves when they can't even make it work against someone who isn't really trying to hurt them.

The real shame is when someone is really attacked, and after repeated attempts, can't make their self-defense techniques work. At that point, they simply give up, and won't fight back no matter what. I can only imagine that someone in that situation would look back on the time or money spent for self-defense classes and feel that they had been victimized twice!

Why "Women's Self Defense" Programs Don't Work!

Most of the people who take my self-defense classes are women. Sometimes, I even have a class that is all women. However, that is by coincidence, not design. Women who sign up for my classes know that there may be both men and women in the class. Whether there are actually men in the class is not important, after all, I am instructing the class, so there is always at least one man in the class.

The point is, if a woman is so intimidated by men, that she will not even take a self-defense class with men, she will never survive an attack by a man. Why? Because "intimidation" is just another word for fear. Until she can prove to herself the techniques work on a man, she has done nothing to help her get over her fear of men.

If she is ever attacked, it will probably be by a man! If she hasn't gotten over her fear of men, she will immediately panic, no matter what she has learned. If she hasn't learned how to deal with the bigger, stronger, more aggressive male, she will not understand how the dynamics of the situation will change in the real world!

Women MUST practice self-defense techniques against a man! Otherwise, how will she know they work against a man? This is what we call "realistic scenario training" (more about this later). If she has only practiced self-defense techniques with other women, she gets a false sense of security that her techniques will work in the real world. But, an even bigger problem is that most of what is taught in these so-called "women's self-defense" classes wouldn't work anyway!

Poor Teaching Methods

Much of what is taught as "women's self-defense" is not only ineffectual, but insulting as well. Courses intended only for women assume they are weak, less capable of defending themselves, and therefore need different methods from men to counteract violence. Women have been told to "yell 'FIRE', carry a hat pin or umbrella to jab at him, do something vulgar to gross him out, like tell him you have VD." If any of that junk worked, we'd be teaching men to do the same thing.

The following sample of bad advice still shows up in high schools and women's self-defense courses:

"Confrontation always makes everything worse. Don't react-it might be an overreaction. Don't add to the violence by becoming violent yourself. Don't make him mad. Trying to escape risks escalating the problem."

These ideas are wishful thinking or blind optimism. Experience at real crime scenes teaches you something very different.

Imagine if the percentages of women and men raped were 50-50 instead of 98 percent women and 2 percent men. [Outside of prison, those are the true percentages.] Now imagine someone telling men, "Don't overreact to rape, guys. Go along with his demands so you won't be hurt." I think you can see there might be a double standard that is completely unfair to women.

Doing Nothing

Doing nothing against a violent attack is the biggest risk of all because it makes resistance and escape later far more difficult. Worse, statistics show it actually increases the likelihood that violence will escalate, especially when the crime is rape. The most profound example involving resisting (doing something) versus submitting (doing nothing) was a Department of Justice study of rape published in 1985:

Rapists do not normally pre-arm themselves with weapons. Only 23 percent of 1.6 million cases studied involved knives or guns. [The major exception to this are rapists who break into a residence; 96 percent grab a knife from the kitchen.]
Approximately 51 percent of women resisted in some form, ranging from screaming to fleeing, to fighting back; the remaining 49 percent did nothing.
When broken down between resistance or submission, there was only an increase of two percent in the injury level to the women who resisted.

Yes, there is always a risk involved in fighting back, but there is just as much risk in doing nothing. If you face a rapist and do nothing, he'll rape you. If you face an armed criminal forcing you into his car and do nothing, he'll kidnap you. The "do-nothing" group believes that in doing nothing, they risk nothing.

Doers, in contrast, have simple and direct reasons for taking action: "If I don't do something fast, it's going to get worse."

False Claims

Another problem is the false sense of security given by unsubstantiated claims. One direct-mail women's safety device provides an "instant and easy self-defense" video for women.... "Can you point your finger?... Can you raise your hand?... If your answer is yes, you can instantly escape anything from rape to severe attacks.... It's quick and easy." The product being mentioned here, pepper spray, almost never works this way in the real world.

One television commercial for a women's self-defense program promises "two-minute, guaranteed knockout using your feet. When your assailant tries to grab you, use the heel of your shoe to strike into his head over and over." Could you really learn to do this in two minutes? It takes years of training in karate or taekwondo to learn to effectively kick someone in the head, and even then, it's a risky move. It's just a marketing ploy to get your money.

If you buy a police radar detector that is guaranteed to work, but doesn't, the result is a speeding ticket. If you pay for "self-defense classes" or videos that don't deliver as promised, the result can be severe injury or even death. Relying on someone else's guarantee is only a false sense of security that will only have bad results!

Anti-crime gadgets, and martial arts self-defense programs marketed to women, are often too simplistic and come with unrealistic guarantees. The fact is, surviving crime requires far more mental toughness than physical abilities. Size, weight, conditioning, and upper-body strength don't make the difference. If they did, a lot of men would be in deep trouble. Crime survival takes tough-minded mental conditioning, the same for both men and women.

What Does Work

What works, as proved by the results of both police and military testing, is "realistic scenario training". Scenario training consists of learning techniques, rehearsing them in realistic scenarios, and then visualizing these actions in your mind. It is a method used in many fields, from sports to law enforcement, military to medicine.

Scenario training is a way of planning our responses. We do something similar every day in our regular lives. We plan what to say if the boss criticizes a report we've submitted, or how to appease our spouse if we've done something irritating. Often we actually rehearse the words we'll use, we do it constantly. It doesn't always get us what we want, but it gives us a better chance.

Face-to-face with violence, your first split-second problem is not what is he going to do, but, "what are you going to do?" Scenario training against violence answers that question at the right time... before it happens. You can make mistakes and learn from them before it becomes a life or death situation! Scenario training to survive violent crime draws on real-life crime cases, which allows us to analyze our own mistakes, as well as the mistakes of others, learn from them, and decide how we will respond differently.

Without realistic scenario training, people panic and freeze up; they have no way to cut through the overwhelming fear that boxes them in during a crisis. Everyone needs to train for the same scenarios, and everyone, men and women alike, need to train the same way: to develop the mental toughness needed to survive a real attack!

Summary

This is the bottom line that must be adopted by every woman, every women's self-defense teacher, and every parent of a daughter: If the how-to-survive-violence technique and advice is not acceptable to men, it's not acceptable to women.

Knowing how to handle yourself when confronted with violence is your only insurance against becoming a victim, or just another statistic in a police report. You have car insurance, home-owner's insurance, life insurance, health insurance...

What insurance do you have against being the victim of a violent crime? A long-term self-defense program offers the most comprehensive training, and therefore, the best opportunity to learn to handle almost any situation that may occur. However, if you don't have the time to commit to a long-term program, at least some form of weaponless self-defense training is better than none.

But women MUST practice techniques with MEN! The idea that women can learn to defend themselves against men, without training with men, is simply false.

Resources:

Strong, Sanford - Strong on Defense; Simon & Shuster, Inc.; 1996

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Uniform Crime Report; 2000

Mark Jordan is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Budoshin Jujitsu, Vice-president of the American Ju-Jitsu Association, and a Certified Self-Defense Instructor with the International Association of Close Combat Professionals. You may find out how to contact him for training, or read more of his articles by visiting his website:
AllJujitsu.com.

Women's Self-Defense - Why Most Programs Are Wrong

Women's self defense issues are constantly in the news and a 'hot' topic for conversations. It seems that everyone from police officers to karate instructors has his or her own philosophy and theories about the how's and why's of self defense for women and girls.

The truth is though, that many of the same techniques and tactics taught to men for self-protection simply will not work for a woman. Why?...

... because attacks perpetrated on women have, at their foundation, certain inherent problems, issues, and conditions that are often very different for men who find themselves in defensive situations. Women have to deal with things that, quite frankly, men don't.

If this is something you're really concerned about, you owe it to yourself to do some serious research to get more information about real-world self-defense for women

designed around issues specifically related to womens self-defense.

Now, before some of you start rolling your eyes or nodding your head in agreement, this is not a women's lib issue or anything of the sort. It's simply the way it is.

What kind of things make self-defense for women different? I'm glad you asked.

Well, for starters, physiologically speaking, there is a 7-to-3 strength ratio between male and female bodies. That means that if you were to stand a man and a woman, having the same height, weight, and build, side-by-side, and all things considered (health, fitness, etc.)...

... the man would still be two-and-a-half times stronger than the woman!

This is not theory or one person's belief over those of others. It's scientific fact.

Next, women are more likely to be slapped, grabbed and pinned than punched or kicked. For men, it's just the opposite. The fact is that, most of us have been conditioned since childhood to act, play, and, yes, fight with each gender very differently. And attackers are no different.

The good news is that more and more women are being drawn to the life-enhancing benefits of the martial arts and basic self-defense programs for increasing their level of self-confidence and overall feelings of safety and security. The not-so-good news is that...

... there is a shortage of:

* Martial arts instructors who understand scientific self-defense, 'and' have the necessary life experience to be able to teach from a perspective that shares that experience.

After all...

... if an instructor has never been in a real-world self defense situation themselves, it will make it nearly impossible for them to teach real self defense to anyone - let alone self defense for women. It's kind of like going to a priest of counselor for marriage counselling who has never been married themselves. They both have information passed on by others but, neither has anyway of expressing that information based on real-word knowledge.

However, there is an over-abundance of...

...so-called self-defense experts who are of the tough-guy, fighter type or the "This is Reality - Deal With it! macho-type.

These people, by their very nature are the "slugger-types" who rely and depend on speed, strength and size to win. Since self defense situations usually involve a bigger, faster, stronger attacker victimizing a smaller, less-prepared target - and, that'sexactly what most women are up against when they're attacked...

... these instructors, and their "strike-first-and-crush-them-where-they-stand mentalities, are far from being suited, knowledgeable, or able to deliver the necessary lessons needed by women to effectively protect themselves from an assailant intent on dominating them physically.

Other Considerations for Girls and Womens Self Defense

The following is a partial list of some of the other major differences between self defense for women and men. The important thing to remember is that...

... a self-defense situation is very different from a sport or competition-based contest where the individuals are willing participants. They are evenly matched to insure for a "fair fight." I have been in contests and I have been attacked and I can tell you without a moment's doubt that...

... there is nothing "fair" or "even" about a real attack. NOTHING! And, once your personal space is invaded by another human being wanting to beat you to your core, you will know what I mean and never, ever, buy into the crap that most of these so-called experts are shovelling.

With that said, please know that I have not said that every self-defense or martial arts instructor is full of it. Just that you must know what you need and make sure that that's what you're getting. Remember - you're not buying a couch that you can take back. A mistake in this area could literally cost you your life!

Here are some other differences between men's and women's training that a good program must address:

* Cultural Influences - girls have been taught from a very early age that fighting was not "lady-like."

Oh my god! What would people think!

* Situational Self-Defense - rape and sexual assault are two of the biggest differences between the genders when it comes to suriviving an attack.

The fact that men are usually dealing with the more obvious situations (muggings and competitive ("oh-yeah! let's go!"-type fighting), while women, and more and more young girls, are required to deal with subtle tactics like date-rape or being ambushed by a group.

Add to this the strength differential discussed earlier, and you have a very different situation, requiring very different self-protection tactics.

* Incorrect Information - I believe that the majority of teachers and instructors mean well. They aren't out to con you. It's just that they have no real experience to go on so they do what everyone does when they don't know any better...

... they make assumptions that seem logical and rational within their own frame of reference.

The problem is that we're talking about self-protection here...

... self defense for women...

... girls self-defense. Not...

... vegetable soup. Where, if you make a mistake, you can just dump the pot and start over.

As I said earlier, a mistake in a women's self-defense situation, in any situation requiring defense against an attack from an assailant bent on damaging you, could be very, very costly indeed.

Jeffrey M. Miller is the president and CEO of Warrior Concepts International, and specializes in teaching the lessons for effective self-protection and personal development to individuals, groups, and business organizations. He has been studying and teaching these methods for over two-thirds of his life. He is a former federal police officer, private investigator, and bodyguard - all professions that demanded that the techniques, strategies and tactics that he used in the line of duty worked, and worked every time.

Mr. Miller is the founder and creator of the EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training SystemTM. EDR stands for Emotion-based Defensive Response and focuses on teaching adults how to tap into their body's own natural defensive response system to effectively deal with over 95% of the assaults that might happen to them. And they learn in hours instead of months or years as required by most karate programs. Get more information about the EDR System, or to have him speak or conduct a seminar for you, at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Women's Self Defense in the Military

There are no women's self defense classes in the military. Why you ask? The military does not discriminate against gender and teaches women the same self defense techniques as men. Women's self defense in the military usually starts off at book camp. Here after weeks of physical conditioning and indoctrination into the military life style, the women get their first chance at women's self defense classes. These classes will show this new warrior how to take out an attacker in various ways. The woman will learn self defense using her hands, her bayonet, her rifle, and her grenades. Women's self defense takes on new levels in the military and once trained the woman becomes a deadly fighting machine.

The first women's self defense technique taught is hand to hand combat. Here the woman learns to use her hands, legs, feet, and head as a weapon when in close proximity of her enemy or assailant. She will learn the pressure points that will not only injure but demoralize her enemy. Using all the extremities of her body the woman solider will be able to take down a man twice her size. With a combination of martial arts and other lethal methods, the woman will be able to take a man off his feet and disable him from further attack. The hand to hand training takes place in about two days, far more women's self defense than you would get in a hour class at the YMCA.

The next phase of women's self defense in the military is bayonet training. Here the soldier will learn how to kill a man using her bayonet either on her rifle or in her hand. She will learn that the bayonet can slash the throat of her attacker by coming down at an angle in a downward motion. She will be taught how to stick the bayonet into her attacker's body, twist it to cause the most internal damage possible, and then pull it from his body. She will also be taught to use the butt of her weapon to deliver a powerful downward stroke that will kill or knock out her enemy.

Also during the boot camp experience, the soldier will learn universal women's self defense methods that will allow her to fire her rifle and throw a grenade. Even though a woman is not legally allowed to fulfill combat roles, in the event of ambush or unrecognized enemy threats a woman can be forced into combat just as a man. She needs to know how to use her rifle and to use other military weapons to protect herself and her fellow soldiers. The lack on knowledge of women's self defense techniques can get her and her comrades injured or killed.

The branch in the military dictates the extent of women's self defense classes a woman will receive. Some branches are more stringent than others. Remember that woman's self defense is used to define that it is a woman that learns the craft and not specific to either gender.

Get More Information on Self-Defense The Easiest Way at http://www.womenself-defense.com By: Wanda E. Hall, Self-Defense Expert

Martial-Arts Instruction Basics for Punching Improvement

Improve Your Punching, and You'll Improve Your Martial Arts

You probably already know that everyone says to practice the basics, to get good at martial arts. It makes sense. In any martial-arts discipline or sport, a strong foundation usually guarantees competent performance.

Martial arts is no different.

But sometimes, the basics can be boring. Admit it. You have to develop the right attitude to make something so repetitive as basic punching practice seem interesting... especially when you practice the same moves for years on end.

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Martial-Arts Tip

To jumpstart your martial arts, try focusing on one area of your training. For example, spend time thinking only about punching.

Don't think about anything else except improving your punch techniques. Shift your focus -- make everything relate to your punching... for a while.

Whether practicing your footwork, or considering your range and distance from the target, try to connect your training to punch improvement.

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The Best Martial-Arts Instruction

Did you know you can affect your martial-learning and training?

It's up to you to make your martial-arts experience the best it can be. In order to increase the effective of any instruction you participate in, you should spend more time considering hypothetical martial-arts situations -- body movement, offensive tactics, and punch combinations, kicks, and so on.

Perfecting the basics such an important part of one's defense system. Whether you are studying a Chinese Kung Fu style or American Pugilism (Boxing), your skill will benefit from a focused set of practice sessions.

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Punching Moves in a Book And...

If you have a lot of your own punching ideas that you want to try, then by all means have at it. I think punching and boxing creativity is important to successful martial arts.

If you need a bunch of ideas on how to punch harder, faster, and more efficiently, scan articles, visit both martial-arts and boxing sites, download free ebooklets, get offline instruction, and so on.

Also...

Keith Pascal is the author of "How to End the Fight with One Hit": Best Fighting Tactics.

Keith is the editor and author of several martial-arts ezines, including:
Punch information. (Free devastating punch ebook when you join.)
Pascal has taught martial arts for almost 30 years. He quit high school teaching in 2000, to become a full-time martial-arts writer.

A Novel of Martial Arts - The Eleventh Son

One of the top three Chinese martial arts fiction writers, Gu Long (1937-1985) wrote sixty-nine novels in a career spanning twenty-five years. Millions of copies of his books have been sold, and many of them have been repeatedly adapted for TV or cinema. His other important novels include The Compassionate Swordsman and the Merciless Sword (1970), The Orchid at Midnight (1979) and Hunting Hawk, Gambling Game (1984). At the age of forty-eight, he died of liver disease caused by excessive alcohol drinking. Rebecca S. Tai received her master's degree from University of California, Los Angeles. She enjoys reading adventure fiction and watching martial arts drama.

On one of his missions, Xiao (the Eleventh Son, known as the Great Bandit) meets Shen, the fairest woman in the martial world. By the will of fate, he rescues Shen several times, which plants the seed of love in both of them. However, Shen is married to a rich young man who is also an outstanding martial artist. As if things were not complicated enough, Xiao has his own secret admirer, Feng, an attractive swordswoman with a quick temper. Xiao is drawn into a messy fight for a legendary saber, the Deer Carver, and is accused of stealing it. Xiao finds out that the person who has set him up is a mysterious young man with an angel's face and a devil's heart. Before he can pursue any further, Shen's grandmother is murdered, and Xiao is named the killer. It appears that things are spinning out of control?

The following are some comments made by several foreign readers.

This book is the only official translated wuxia novel of by the Late Gu Long (Ku Long, Ku lung) available in English to date. Gu Long is one of the three best wuxia writers ever, so having one his novels finally being recognized is indeed wonderful. While comparing it to other translated wuxia novels are rather unfair, because Gu Long has his own distinct writing style, nevertheless in technical aspect of translating, Becky Tai, the translator, exceeded the rest, mainly when compared John Minfor and Graham Earnshaw. Becky Tai maintained the writer's original writing style and mood, even if the words and sentences are now in English. Additionally, Becky kept the names and important terms in Chinese pinyin and explained them to her readers, a much better approach than changing character's name into English or ignorantly using the term "Karate" for Chinese martial arts, like Minford did in his translation of The Deer and the Cauldron. Overall, this book worths every penny and should be collected by anyone who love the "wuxia" (Chinese knight-errand) genre but unable to read neither Chinese characters nor any other Asian language in which many wuxia novels have been translated.

As far as I know, this is Gu Long's second novel published in the West. The first was Christine Courniot's French translation of "Les Quatre Brigands du Huabei" available from amazon.fr. This is the first professional and complete English translation done by Rebecca Tai. Those of us, who have an interest in martial arts fiction, seek out novels like this one but you do not have to be a martial arts aficionado to appreciate this excellent novel. Gu Long, more than Louis Cha, has a poetic style of writing that is unique to the genre of Chinese martial arts fiction. I find the settings of his novels lush and beautiful which leaves a lot to the imagination. Gu Long has acute psychological insight into human nature combined with the human relational understanding of honor and shame. The characters are fascinating, the situations that these characters find themselves in are at times fantastic but that is typical of literature that encompasses history and fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a new and refreshing experience.

This is one of the first translated novels from the famed Chinese martial arts fiction write Gu Long. It's well translated and takes you back in time to a mythical China thousands of years ago, when martial art and Chinese beauties went hand in hand. The world Gu Long creates is romanticized with diverse characters both good and evil, and all well versed in the martial arts. With great character development, Xiao, Feng, and Shen are very believable and sometimes humorous. This is like a literary version of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, or House of Flying Daggers. Kudos to Rebecca Tai for translating and Homa for bringing a great Chinese literary gem to the states!

Click to find more about Mixed Martial Arts

Click to find more about Martial Arts

How to Select The Right Kind of Shoes For Martial Arts

Every sport has its own demand from a human body. Whether it is the hands that are involved or the feet, it is a requirement that one should use the right kind of accessories while practicing their favorite sport. Thus shoes to play soccer or basketball are different from shoes for martial arts. Since the sports are starkly different, the demands on limbs are also different. Therefore, it is not only recommended but compulsory that proper shoes for martial arts should be used while practicing the same.

The main feature of using shoes for martial arts is that they come without laces and so do not impair movement and thus are prone to fewer accidents caused by entanglement. Also, shoes specially created for martial arts are padded at the right places so that you can use the optimum force in your kicks and thus enhance your art rather than impair it. The soles are also specially designed so that you get a good grip on your feet and enable you to spin on your feet efficiently. Spinning is a part and parcel of martial arts unlike any other sport and thus using shoes for martial arts is an advantage to martial art enthusiasts. Let us check the kinds of shoes available for such enthusiasts:

The Ninjitsu Tabi Boot: This is a very special boot made for the art of practicing the Ninjitsu Tabi and does not even look like footwear. It looks more like a bedroom slipper and is a deceit in itself. It comes with tow-grips inside the boot. This boot is also used to practice Ninjitsu and its allied martial arts. This boot is improvised to enable better and efficient kicking and will give you an edge over other martial art sportsmen.

The KungFu Slipper: Another fine example of shoes for martial arts is the KungFu Slipper. This is a very special form of footwear and helps the practitioner to maintain body temperature during KungFu practice. These shoes also help one to remove excess calories, very useful when one is using martial arts as a fitness regimen. The KungFu Slippers are easy to clean - you could wash them with hand or just toss them into the washer. Made with simple yet strong fabric, these shoes are very comfortable and you could find many people using them as casual wear without understanding their functionality entirely, especially in Asian countries.

Shoes are specially designed so that they take the shape of your foot during practice. Many martial arts enthusiasts are also seen practicing bare foot, but this practice could be dangerous and may result in injuries. While bare foot practice benefits better due to strength training and the natural feel, it is only advised after you reach a particular skill level. Shoes for martial arts are highly recommended for beginners and are designed to give better ergonomic comfort and safety to the ones wearing them. Wearing shoes for martial arts is highly recommended for the new and budding martial arts enthusiasts.

To learn more about shoes for martial arts and other martial arts equipments visit http://www.mixedmartialartsequipments.com.

Is Martial Arts Training Fun for Men and Women?

Fun? Really? I guess it depends on what you are doing in the martial arts to classify it as fun. Or if you are a sick, twisted fool that is into self-abuse and mayhem, brutal martial arts training can be fun. It boils down to what your motivation for training is. If you are into competition, patches, trophies, name recognition and glory then a commercial school oriented to the sporting aspects of martial arts is where you want to go. If you want realistic self-defense training perhaps going to a dojo with fewer trophies on the wall is something you want to seek.

Different cultures have different martial arts and it may take a few tries to find one that fits you and your personality. Personally I have been seeking my path in the martial arts for over forty years. I have found some really great schools and top-notch instructors and I have found some schools that I would not waste another second investigating. But my motivation for martial arts training is not the same as everyone else's motivation. It may be similar but it is not the same.

My martial art training is not done as a hobby or a sport or even a pleasant past time. Sometimes it just plain hurts. Yes there is pain involved but that does not mean that the training does not have its own rewards. The camaraderie and bonding that takes place when you place your life in the hands of your training partner achieves a very high degree. It is true that we do not train for fun but occasionally we can have fun training.

If your goal in the martial arts is to achieve a fairly high degree of physical fitness, to maintain good muscle tone and flexibility then you may want to participate in such things as tournaments, and or demonstrations and that is an excellent goal. It can be fun and provide motivation for setting goals or meeting people of similar interests and abilities.

If your motivation to train in the martial arts is to provide yourself a venue to learn to fight and defend yourself you can still find an enjoyable experience but the bumps and bruises will be more extensive.

To seek "budo" or the way of the warrior your path will be quite different than if you were seeking the thrill of competition. The possibility of female participation is reduced but not eliminated. The concept of having fun is pretty much out the window. The training will be brutal by necessity. On the warrior's path you are not training to compete, you are training to survive.

Back in 1967 when I began training in Shotokan my goal was to become a professional soldier. Vietnam was in full swing and I knew if I wanted a military career, I would have to have combat experience. My dream was to join Special Forces (Green Berets) and to command an SFOD - A. I thought I would be more and better prepared if I had some real martial arts training. The club I joined was the Brigham Young University Shotokan Karate Club. There really was not a choice if I wanted good martial arts training. There was nothing else available. The training was brutal. If we did not draw blood during a workout, it was not a good workout. That intense training served me very well when I entered the military in 1973. I missed out on Vietnam (darn the luck! Shucks, I really wanted to go. Not!) as well as all of the other live fire exercises the United States became involved in up until 1990 when I was medically discharged. The martial art training during those early years was not fun but it saved my butt several times. Just being able to push myself beyond my perceived limits of physical endurance was a direct result of my martial arts training and it served me well. Now my martial art training is very different from that in 1967. It is more intellectual and spiritual and has much more potential for severe physical damage. It still is not fun because pain is involved but we can have fun during the training. The close-knit group of students who care about each other's safety is very much different than in the early days. I run classes in my dojo in the basement of my house and training is done by invitation only. Many of my students are prior or current military. Some have had law enforcement experience. The training is hard but the banter and joking provide an environment that is "fun".

Karate is up close and personal. Jujutsu is intimate. This makes some people uncomfortable until they get past the ma-ai barrier and learn to get close to their training partner and maybe their attacker. We must learn to leave our ego as well as our gender at the door. The focus should be on training and learning. Leave the sexist crap outside. That said, then training can become fun.

I have had several junctures in life that if I quit training, retired my uniform and belt and pursued other interests in life it would be permissible. I've broken my back twice, broke my leg really bad and dislocated my ankle, got hurt on a night parachute jump etc. etc. But I discovered that I can't quit. The martial arts have become quite addictive. Perhaps it is the flood of endorphins that keeps me coming back. Maybe I am just waiting for the fun to happen?

Larry G. Bethers
6th Dan Chow-Hoon Goshin Jitsu
Introducing principle based training and teaching.
http://www.oneartmartialconcepts.com

42+ years experience in the martial arts
former Green Beret Officer (Major)

Mixed Martial Arts - More Than a Hobby

There are many different sports or activities that we like to do in our spare time. People use the outlet of sports or other recreational activities in order to stay in shape, stay focused, or to get out some stress that is in their lives. Whatever the reason the individual decides to engage in the extra curricular activity does not matter as much as what they get out of it. The latest craze has been getting involved in mixed martial arts due to aggression as well as the fact that it is a way to defend yourself if you are in danger. However, this art is not a new fad; it has been around for hundred of years, even thousands of years. Not everyone views mixed martial arts fights as sports or ways of defense, they view it as barbaric and unnecessary. No matter what your stance on the topic, there is no denying that it takes dedication, discipline and hard work to master this art.

Whatever your motive, if you want to take some mixed martial arts fighting lessons or mixed martial arts classes for self defense, go right ahead. You know what your reasons and motives are so feel free to look up your local mixed martial arts school and see when they have classes that can fit around your schedule. Sometimes there might not be mixed martial arts schools in your area. It is not uncommon for people to look up mixed martial arts DVD online. They purchase these DVDs in efforts to get an idea of what it takes to be in the classes in person and to do the mixed martial arts workouts to get in shape. Make sure that if you are ready to pursue this art, you understand the intense physical requirements and the mental determination to practice and study. Many teachers and schools also educate students on the philosophy and responsibilities of this art, along with the physical combat of the art itself.

When a person wants to get some mixed martial arts training in order to have the opportunity to fight professionally, they have to go a little more in depth than regular DVDs. They will have to train and prepare like they never have before. Their bodies will never be the same after they put their selves through this training program. They will have to go through such a rigorous training ritual to be able to go against those who have been fighting mixed martial arts for years. It is more than just the working out and the mixed martial arts apparel or mixed martial art clothing that you need to pull it off. Many say it is a mental state of mind that you have to be in, in order to step into a ring against a person that wants to beat you up. When you step into the ring you have to realized, that it is going to be either you or them that will be going down or tapping out.

When the people who think they can get into the ring right now without training see a match in person or on television they actually change their mind all together. This sport and discipline is not for the weak of spirit or strength. These gentlemen are well built and skilled in a form of art and have been for much of their adult life. They have dedicated time, money, and effort to the pursuit of their sport. Some get into the ring realizing that there is a strong possibility that they could lose and get knocked out. Many people have tried to fight competitively and not been able to hang with the big boys.

Whether you enjoy watching the tournaments, have a son or daughter in the sport or have mastered the skill yourself, there is a lot to be learned from this art. Taking the time to excel at such a complex art is a life-skill that will carry into other areas and help you be disciplined in any area you pursue.

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Mixed Martial Arts

Mixing martial arts have been going on forever in the history of fighting arts around the world. In fact, most systems of martial arts were invented based on a combination and modification of existing arts.

Take judo for example, it was founded by Kano based on the combination and modification of many different styles of jujitsu. Modern Brazilian jujitsu, in turn, was a modification of japanese judo by Helio Gracie. Western boxing originally was based on the modification of western fencing. Kickboxing was found by combining karate kicks with boxing punches. Wing Chun was based on modification of long hand shaolin gung fu systems. JKD was found by Bruce Lee by combining and modifying Wing Chun, boxing and fencing theories.

The list goes on.....

The irony is that while the founders were men who broke traditions and combine and modify things to create things that work better for themselves, after they died, their followers insist on turning their thesis into a must-not-change system.

Because of this attitude, cross training was looked upon as a martial arts crime of disloyalty.

In the 1990s NHB events such as the UFC took the martial arts world by storm and thanks to them, cross training is no longer a martial sin. At first, grapplers were winning because no one knew how to grapple nor did they know how to stop take-downs.

As the sport evolved, people started to realize how important it is to cross train.

That's why I think it is funny when fans say things like MMA fighting method is the best. People don't realize that there's no "best" fighting method; it is always evolving. Like boxing, the champions of today fought a lot different than the champs from the 20s 30s and so on.

Methods have to change; the minute that you think your way is the best, you are done. A good example was the Gracies in UFC; as their competitors evolved, they stood still, and as a result, they got beat.

It is always a good reminder to yourself not to get too much of a ego and instead keep learning and evolving if you want to stay ahead.

One of the biggest misconceptions was the idea that MMA and NHB events are new. The fact is, throughout history, NHB contests and mixing martial arts are as old as man.

The gladiators, death matches in China until it was outlawed after the Nanking killings in 1935, challenge matches in Brazil, sword duels in ancient Japan etc. MMA is not a new concept it just seems new because it's the first time it is on cable TV globally.

When people think of mixing martial arts, they automatically think of UFC, K1, Pride and other NHB events. However, the truth is, what you mix with martial arts depends on what you are mixing for.

The success of what you mix depends on what you plan to enter. Are you planning to enter NHB, kickboxing, boxing, sport jujitsu or a stick fighting tournament?

The rules are different, there's no point mixing kicks into your training program if you are planning to enter a boxing match right? And there no point only training punches and grappling if you are planning to enter a stick fighting tournament right?

This is common sense, but the reason I am writing this is because a lot of people only think of one event when thinking about mixing martial arts.

Again, what you mix depends on what you are training for. Knowing this allows you to design a better training program for yourself. That being said, what you mix for different tournaments (NHB, wrestling, stick fighting, boxing etc.) and what you mix for street fighting and real world self protection is very very different as well.

Some things that you have to take into consideration when mixing martial arts for street encounters compared to sport-fighting are: multiple opponents, starting engagement from close quarters, the use and defenses against weapons, the use of verbal distractions and the element of surprise, fighting in difficult environments( bad lighting, stair cases etc.), escaping before more bad guys come instead of staying to win.

Some sport-fighting tactics, attributes and techniques transfers nicely for street fighting but a lot do not. Just like some things for street fighting can be transfered to sport fighting but a lot cannot. Knowing the differences between the ring vs a street encounter, instead of thinking one method will work for both, is the safest and most effective way to train.

I hope this helps the average person get a little better perspective about Mixed Martial Arts in general.

My name is Adam Chan and I started martial arts in 1986 training in classical Wing Chun under sifu Joseph Boychuck. In 1993 I learned a hybrid version of kung-fu from sifu Mike Smith which contained elements of Tai-Chi, Ba Gua, Hsing Yi, Shaolin, natural gate boxing.

In the end, names and styles do not matter but or convenience sake, my system is called Modified Wing Chun.Tracing back what I learned, I realized that it contains elements of fencing, boxing, savate and karate. Some of my own influences are Aikido and Yi-Quan.

Martial arts training can lead one to confidence, creativity, compassion and many other qualities. This led me to research Taoism, motivational psychology and Zen studies. Little by little, I realized that using martial arts as a medium is a great way to help people.

For questions, discussion and more information about this article and related topics please visit my website http://www.pragmaticmartialarts.com

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Choosing a Self Defense, Martial Arts School - A Parents Guide

"Daddy, I want to take Karate!"

"Mommy, Jimmy on the bus hit me again today"

There are many reasons why parents want to sign their children up for Self Defense or Martial Arts classes. Once you have made the decision, now you are faced with many different options and questions. What style? How much does it cost? Is my child to young?

Martial Arts and Self Defense Styles

There are as many different styles of Martial Arts as there are religions in the world. You have probably heard of Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, and even Aikido, but there are still numerous styles and offshoots of the Major styles.

So what Style is the Best and what style should I choose?

In reality, it is this author's opinion that the style of Martial Arts your child will learn is not that important. What is important is the method of teaching and training that your child will undergo. With Martial Arts training your child should learn self-discipline, self-respect, and self-esteem, along with the confidence and ability to defend themselves.

The Instructor, (or Sensei) is the key. I suggest that all parents visit several locations with their children to observe the Instructor at work. Make sure you visit a beginner's class as well as an upper level class. The beginner's class is where your child will start.

Does the instructor's personality and philosophy match your morals and ideals? Does the class participate in any "Eastern Religious" practice that doesn't match your faith? Do you want your child viewing this instructor as a role model? Most children will look up to their Martial Arts & Self Defense Instructors as role models and will be in awe of their skills and abilities. Make sure that this person who will be dealing with your children matches your values.

It is also important to view an upper level class. The beginner classes are usually very tame, and the teaching philosophy is tailored to a younger audience. However, the older the student is, the "real" teaching and training methods are put into effect. You may feel comfortable with how the instructor "teaches" the younger beginning students, but may not be comfortable with how they handle the older students.

Cost

The majority of Martial Arts & Self Defense Locations (or Dojo's) run their business on a membership basis. Customers must sign contracts, where they are obligated to pay for a certain time period to participate. The locations are run like a gym membership, you pay for a certain length of time and may participate as often as you desire.

Unfortunately, rarely are the "hidden costs" discussed when signing up for a class or membership. What are the hidden costs? The most over looked cost is the "testing fee". In Martial Arts there are numerous skill levels that are equated to a belt rank. After a certain period of time and training, the student is ready to advance to a new level or belt in their martial arts style, and a "belt test" will be performed. This "belt test" almost always required the student to pay a "belt-testing fee". I have seen fees from $50 up to $500 depending on the belt rank. Parents, make sure you inquire about these fees and are comfortable with them before you sign any contract.

Another hidden cost is required items to purchase. Some locations require that you purchase a uniform with the schools logo. The average cost of these uniforms range from $30-$50. As the child advances in rank, protective sparring gear is required. Now this is normally mandatory for the child's protection and safety, but can be expensive. Normal safety gear for Martial Arts consists of Foot Pads, Hand Pads, Head Gear, Mouth Piece, Groin Cup, and optional Spar Vest. Depending on the style and sizes all this gear together cost about $150 retail or higher.

So Parents, factor in the total cost of classes, testing fees, and required equipment when making your decisions.

Age

At what age should my child begin Martial Arts or Self Defense? Now this is an often-debated issue. I have seen children as young as 4 years old participate in Martial Arts or Self Defense training. Some have been successful while others it was just to young. The age of which a child should start Martial Arts or Self Defense classes should be judged on an individual basis and be determined by the parents. Some key points to consider. Does the child have a good attention span? Has the child participated and flourished in other group activities? Is the child comfortable in larger group settings?

If the child is currently enrolled in grade school and has no problem adapting to those settings or conditions then they should be considered old enough to participate and benefit from Martial Arts or Self Defense instruction.

Article written by Eric J Gehler
Richmond SEO
Eric has been involved in the Martial Arts Business for over 15 years. More information is available on the website!

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Martial Arts - Japanese Jujitsu

Japanese Jujitsu which is also known as Traditional Jujitsu is accepted as the mother of many of the modern arts of the 20th century. Karate, Judo, Aikido and Brazilian Jujitsu are just a few of the arts that have spawned from this ancient martial art. During the feudal period of Japan, an art was needed for warfare. A definitive date for the origins of this martial art is impossible to locate but it is universally agreed upon that Jujitsu is purely a Japanese martial art. Known as the art of the Samurai, Jujitsu was highly feared and respected by other territories due to its vast skill set. A samurai was trained in weapons consisting of the staff, the katana, the sword and many others, while he was also trained in all ranges of fighting including striking, throwing and ground grappling.

Jujitsu is an art that for the most part has gone unrecognized for its many contributions to the martial arts community as a whole. This isn't to say that most people aren't aware of the art, they just aren't fully aware of the various facets of this martial art. This isn't a new problem, this has been the story throughout history when it comes to Jujitsu. Remember that in the early years of its inception it was only taught to Samurai's and they used it in a way that was not only brutal but in most instances, lethal. How were they supposed to get exposure for a martial art that couldn't be practiced or exhibited without the chance of a serious injury? Looking at the late 60s and early 70s you'll see that Kung-fu had its poster boy in martial arts legend Bruce Lee while Karate had an equally great spokesperson in Chuck Norris. It's not until Tom Cruise acted in the movie the "Last Samurai" that western society became privy to the martial art of Jujitsu. The Tom Cruise of Jujitsu in the 1800s was a man by the name of Jigoro Kano who was one of the champion practitioners of the martial arts.

What Jigoro Kano did was devise a way that not only could Jujitsu be practiced safely but competitions and exhibitions could now be held as a way of exposure for the art. What he essentially did was eliminate the deadly striking and eye gouging from the martial art and focused on both the throwing and submission holds. The problem was his art became so watered down that it didn't even reassemble Jujitsu anymore. Not only was the striking omitted but some of the submissions such as leg locks were also taken out. Jigoro Kano had also introduced a way for all the practitioners of the art t o partake in live sparring. This was known as randori and out of it a new sport was born which we now call Judo.

You might be wondering how a martial art like Jujitsu can benefit you in this day in age. The fact of the matter is, yes it was created for the Samurai to do battle in war, but with some of the modifications made to it in the last two centuries, it has become much safer while still keeping its effectiveness. Not many arts were heralded enough to have more then ten new martial arts created from them. A martial art that was good enough to preserve the life of a Samurai during battle is certainly capable of granting us the skills needed to defend ourselves.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Martial Arts [http://martial-arts-guides.com/]

Martial Arts Equipment for All Styles

Different people will train in the martial arts for completely dissimilar reasons. Some may do it for health, others will take part in it for self-defense, and then some simply do it as a hobby. Regardless of your reason for enrolling in martial arts lessons, you will not get much out of the process if you do not have the right equipment.

In the "old days," it was not uncommon for jugs of water, bags of rice, and buckets filled with sand to be incorporated into a host of different workout programs. These days, we are lucky enough to have access to a great variety of martial arts equipment. Through the effective use of such equipment, it becomes possible to attain the most out of a structured class or private training.

Of course, this may raise questions regarding what type of martial arts equipment is needed for the "average" workout. Again, there is enormous variety to choose from. The following is a brief overview of the martial arts equipment you will commonly come across. Most of it is a must for any martial arts practitioner regardless of style.

Without a doubt, the common punch bag is a clear must in any dojo or training hall. Punching bags not only provide a definitive target to direct your blows towards. Such bags enhance the potential to develop solid endurance and cardiovascular conditioning. There is great variety among the many different punching bags available and they include:

Standard Boxing Size: These would be traditional boxing bags that mimic the size and shape of the torso. They are primarily intended for punching but mid-line and high line kicks can be effectively trained on these bags as well.

Banana Bags: These are thinner punching bags that are the length of the human body. The lower region of the punch bag allows for the effective training of leg kicks, knees, and other strikes.

Light Bags: Light punching bags are low weight (about 1/3 the size and weight of a punching bag) and are designed mainly to give resistance to jabbing style punches as well as hook and uppercut line blows. Some even use a lightweight punch bag to train headbutts!

Punching bags can be hanging bags which are affixed to various "hooks" in the ceiling or they can be freestanding. Freestanding bags are, essentially durable base mounts. Such bags are a great deal more expensive that many of the traditional hanging bags but they are much easier to move and store.

While hitting the heavy bag is a must for effective training, you do need to hit it in as safe a manner as possible. This will necessitate the proper protective gloves required for hitting an impact target. This includes all manner of impact targets - heavy bags, focus mitts, shields, and Muay Thai pads. The knuckles in the hand are quite small and fragile bones. This is why reliable gloves - whether they are traditional 12oz, 14oz, or 16oz boxing gloves, boxing bag gloves, or mixed martial arts lightweight finger free gloves - must be worn when hitting a heavy punch bag. For those that enjoy sparring with "point karate" gloves, be mindful of the fact that such gloves are not designed for hitting impact targets. They will not provide the adequate protection you need for such training. Stick with using them for light contact sparring instead.

As most martial artists realize, the hands are not the only area that need protection which is why a great deal of martial arts equipment will provide protection to the feet. Shin pads and point fighting footwear are two of the most common. Some may assume that such equipment is only used in sparring. In actuality, wearing when hitting impact targets is advisable as well since this can protect the lower extremities and nerve endings from damage. Really, the perennial running theme here is that most martial arts equipment is intended to enhance safety. Of course, there are also some items that serve other purposes as well and they are well worth look at as well.

Stretching devices can be employed to help extend the range of motion in the leg ligaments. This will definitely prove helpful for those that wish to enhance their kicking flexibility. Similarly, the "old school" Eagle Catcher is a perfect spring action handheld device designed to build up a great degree of gripping stretch. The classic makiwara pad has long since been used to toughen the hands in traditional karate training. Similarly, the kung fu wall bag is a great asset for developing strikes common in the Chinese martial arts. Such older and more traditional training aids definitely still have their place in a modern world that is becoming increasingly known for its sportive approach to training. But, whether you are training for competition or traditional self-defense, you need equipment that helps facilitate your goals.

Regardless of the type of martial arts equipment you purchase, you want to be sure it is from a reputable name brand manufacturer. Some will make the error of purchasing less costly equipment from a "no frills" manufacturer. Rarely is such equipment worth much of anything. Not only will cheap equipment not deliver on expectations, it can put the user at an injury risk. Certainly, that would not be helpful in any way whatsoever. Stick with reliable name brands for your martial arts equipment needs. Such an approach will assuredly prove far more helpful in the end.

Ian Woolston has been studying martial arts for over 15 years and is currently a 4th Dan Ju Jitsu. Visit his website, EnsoRyu, if you are interested in punch bags or any other type of martial arts equipment. Be sure to check the blog to read about up to date news, information and more.

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Low on plot and high on self-discovery, High Fidelity takes a good 30 minutes or so to find its groove (not unlike Cusack's Grosse Pointe Blank), but once it does, it settles into it comfortably and builds a surprisingly touching momentum. Rob is basically a grown-up version of Cusack's character in Say Anything (who was told "Don't be a guy--be a man!"), and if you like Cusack's brand of smart-alecky romanticism, you'll automatically be won over (if you can handle Cusack's almost-nonstop talking to the camera). Still, it's hard not to be moved by Rob's plight. At the beginning of the film he and his coworkers at the record store (played hilariously by Jack Black and Todd Louiso) seem like overgrown boys in their secret clubhouse; by the end, they've grown up considerably, with a clear-eyed view of life. Ably directed by Stephen Frears (Dangerous Liaisons), High Fidelity features a notable supporting cast of the women in Rob's life, including the striking, Danish-born Hjejle, Lisa Bonet as a sultry singer-songwriter, and the triumphant triumvirate of Lili Taylor, Joelle Carter, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Rob's ex-girlfriends. With brief cameos by Tim Robbins as Laura's new, New Age boyfriend and Bruce Springsteen as himself. --Mark Englehart

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Martial Arts Supplies and Equipment

To do extremely well in any sports or discipline and especially the martial arts, the competitor needs the right training equipment and gear. There are hundreds of martial arts styles all over the world and a lot of styles use some sort of equipment, especially the competitive fighting arts.

The mixed martial arts, which are a blend of some of the combat arts from all over the world, like Judo, Karate, Thai Boxing, and kung fu make use of some traditional gear as well as boxing equipment.

Some mixed martial arts make use of a punching bag, a speed bag, and a double end bag or floor to ceiling ball. These fighting bags all help increase various skills in a combatant. The heavy punching bag helps with clout, the speed bag with hand eye coordination and the double end bag improves punching accuracy and tempo as well.

Some martial artist make use of the Thai bag, which is an extremely long bag, sometimes up to six feet, that allows martial artists to practice devastating lower leg kicks.

Another great piece of martial arts supplies is the kick shield. This is nothing more than a large leather shield that is used for blocking and absorbing blows and kicks during a workout. The shield is great as the target can be moved around the room and also used for low or high kicks to practically any part of the body, including the stomach, chest, and legs.

Mixed martial artists also use focus mitts, which are also versatile. The focus mitts are great for accuracy and endurance for long bouts; they can not only be punched, but also for skilled martial artist can kick them held in a variety of positions. The function of this particular piece of equipment is to help fighters develop fast and fluid combinations.

Another important training item is the protection gear that professional boxers and fighters wear. The mixed martial artist sport normally wear a four ounce glove or similar. The boxing gloves average around ten ounces. For both styles, hand injuries can end the fighter's career and participation in the sport, so the correct training and protective gear is vital.

No matter if you punch, grab, grapple, or box, martial art supplies can help you get the most out of your training and fighting skills.

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Choosing The Right Location For Your Martial Arts School

Setting up your first school can be a hard task, and deciding on the perfect location is absolutely vital. MA Instructor sent Lesley Jackson out to discover the facts on how to discover the best location for you, your business and your students.

From the local park to a misty mountainside, from the Shaolin temple to a student's garage, there is no definitive location for a martial arts business. But in this modern age of marketing and presentation, finding the perfect location for your school can mean the difference between your enterprise succeeding or folding. If you want to make a decent living from your martial art, you need to think very carefully about where you are going to have to locate your school and avoid the pitfalls that could make your business go under within its first year.

Starting Up

One of the first decisions you are going to have to make is for what purpose are you going to run your classes? Are you interested in a non-profit making community project, whereby you are able to make your living elsewhere, or do you want to make money from your martial art and run it like a profitable business? For those seeking non-profit social businesses, there is funding available in the form of grants from associations like the National Lottery and the Sport England/Scotland/Wales projects. Contact the local county council's sport development officer for advice and consultancy, as they offer funds, investment and work space for this type of scheme.

However, for the majority of school owners, your location is going to be your biggest expenditure as you will need a place to train as well as run your school. Book some time with your small business adviser at your local bank and present him with a viable business plan, and investigate the potential for further financial aid through government schemes tailored for new aspiring social business enterprises. There are hundreds of grants available and the Department for Trade and Industry's website is a good place to start as well as Business Link, which has information regarding financial awards both on a national and regional level. Contact details can be found at the end of the article.

Established Locations

If you are starting your school from scratch and looking for your first location, you may want to use a space that is shared throughout the community as it will be considerably cheaper than finding your own exclusive training hall. One of the best options is a local leisure center due to its already active clientèle and prime location. Most recreational centers in this country are run by local councils and they will usually have a space big enough to practice and teach martial arts which will not be expensive to hire. They also have the advantage of very good changing and parking facilities and you will have to spend less on advertising as you will already have a ready made market of physically active people who will be interested in your martial activity. If your martial art contains sparring of some kind, you may find that you will have to take out additional insurance to cover this, but this cost is easily comparable against renting your own space. The only drawback may be the time factor, as you will have to arrange your classes in agreement to the leisure center's schedule of events.

Another option is hiring a school hall. You will have a large space that is cheap and well maintained and usually available all year round. Due to these reasons, this will probably make it one of the most popular options but you do need to consider a few points before you march into your local infant school. Choose and research your demographic area carefully. Pay careful attention to the people living in the immediate surrounding areas as this is where you will be drawing the majority of your student base. You need to target families with a disposable income level high enough to pay for lessons, gradings and tournaments, and charge accordingly in order to see your students return and remain for the long term. Unfortunately, it is a truth to assume that an area that looks run down may not be the best place to start your first business as the surrounding population will not have the disposable income to spend on what can be an expensive hobby. However, this could be a good place to start for a non-profit community project which would help to build up your reputation as a martial arts teacher. Once your reputation as a good instructor spreads, you won't have to work so hard to find your students. Sensei Gavin Mulholland, who is a Chief Instructor of Go-ju Ryu Karate, comments that "it is up to the students to find you, not the other way round."

Other considerations to think about when using a school hall compared to a leisure center is that you will not have the same level of footfall by being located away from the town center. Therefore, more money will have to be dedicated to marketing costs to attract your clients. This needn't take up a large chunk of your start-up revenue but it may take up your time, so you will have to advertise in local newspaper and take the time to do a leaflet drop around a two or three mile radius of the school. Until you have an established chain of schools, people are unlikely to travel far for their first lessons and so the surrounding catchment area of your first school will dictate whether your potential business will succeed or fail.

Getting Your Own Space

Another option, or the next stage in your business plan, should be to acquire your own premises from which to run your school. Sensei Mulholland has his own dedicated space because "there is something about a genuine dojo that absorbs all the energy and feeds it back to those who train there." Much like choosing where to live, you will have the option to either rent or buy your own space and the adage of finding a suitable location is as important for your martial arts business as it is for your house. There will be advantages and disadvantages for both and it will depend on what stage your business is at. Where you are located could spell the difference between your business making a profit or failing.

When choosing a space to rent for your martial arts school, unless you already have a loyal and supportive student base who you can rely on to travel to your school, you will need to choose somewhere in a densely populated area that is easily accessible. Although the cheapest commercial space could be a business unit on an industrial estate, unless you master a very good advertising campaign, you will not attract any footfall customers as they simply won't find you. The luxury of having your own space will come at a price, (namely your rent, utility bills and council tax) so you must have a sufficient number of students to cover your overheads. One idea could be to lease one of the cheaper shop units in a shopping center. The rent would be less than the prime locations that the chain stores will inhabit, and you will be able to take advantage of the large amount of footfall custom that will form your customer base. Karen Vactor and Susan Peterson, co-authors of the book Starting and Running Your Own Martial Arts School, confirm that, "a good walk-by traffic will bring people into your school. It may pay for itself and then some." You need to acknowledge that your martial arts business is as much a commercial enterprise as selling TVs or shoes and that you are encouraging your customers to be spending their disposable income as such.

To Buy or Not to Buy

Buying your own space, could you and should you? To convince a mortgage lender to give you the money, you would really need to be an established martial arts business that has a proven track record of making a profit. This will be the most expensive option, as not only will you have the mortgage repayments and the rising interest rates to consider, but you will also have to cover the cost of the building's insurance and maintenance. However, you will have the comfort of being able to customize your own space specifically to your own needs, such as installing a sprung floor, attaching screwing kick bags to the ceiling and having the mirrors and pictures of your own choice on the wall. Sensei Mulholland speaks about the atmosphere of a purpose built training hall: "I love the power that you can feel in a genuine dojo - the sights, sounds, smells and the feel of the place." It will, of course, be a good investment but there are risks involved and you need to be brutally honest with yourself before you make that type of financial commitment.

The only other consideration to take into account when finding your own space for your martial arts business is size, as not only will you need to accommodate a class but you may need to run a grading or even a tournament. However, this needn't be a problem, as hiring a bigger temporary space for the day in the shape of a sports hall is quite easy. If you are affiliated to a particular martial arts association then you could collaborate with other local schools to put on a joint event and halve the costs and organization.

So think carefully when writing your business plan and take into account what will be your biggest expenditure, as your location could be the difference between making a loss and not surviving the first year to performing as a successful and profitable chain of martial arts schools.

Lee Mainprize is a martial arts business and marketing expert visit http://www.MAinstructor.com for martial arts instructors and teachers resources.

Out of the Black

Awards:
2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) thriller semifinalist

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What folks are saying:

"An amalgam of cop thriller, science fiction and magical fantasy. The mix is highly entertaining. The plot is taught, fast moving, and original. The prose is solidly crafted. Characters are fully realized, engaging and likable. The plot lines of the two protagonists cleverly interweave to converge in a rousing climax. The dialog is delicious; I often found myself laughing out loud." -- J.T. Thorleifson

"It holds you with an intensity that makes it almost painful to put down. I couldn't wait to get off work and get back to it" -- Vertically Abundant

"A spectacular, witty, well rounded, action packed, original, edge of your seat, funny (did I say that already?), inspiring, gritty, non derivative, roller coaster ride of a novel." - A.J. Ross

"As things develop the action increases and mysteries are revealed and things get wilder as you travel through twists and turns to an exciting conclusion. If you like scifi, fantasy, and characters who drop one liners and jokes in the midst of apocalyptic battles you might just love Out of the Black." -- Josh Gribble

"It is rare that I come across a book that just creeps up on me, and makes me all of the sudden have to set it down and have a holy s%$t moment. Halfway through I was looking for more books by this author.. Not only was the tech aspect of this book making me salivate, but his ability to blend sci-fi, humor, horror, fantasy, and grotesque, was just mind blowing." -- SandSharkAz

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From the back Cover:

It is the end of a nearly perfect society. Beautiful, happy people still drive electric cars to fulfilling jobs like any other day, but no one noticed that the Apocalypse began a few weeks ago.

Now the perfect society's misfits are its only hope for salvation, but they're barely keeping it together on a normal day:
* A homicide detective burdened by an unforgivable failure investigates an impossible murder.
* An overweight nurse comes out of her shell exactly long enough to be attacked by a dead man.
* An introverted computer genius and his insecure girlfriend are marked for death by a conspiracy so ancient it predates written history.

Each of these damaged strangers holds a piece of the puzzle, but as they begin to find each other, they realize they are being stalked by a methodical killer with the pure heart of a child.

Now they must piece together the mystery and find the courage to stand together against an ancient, hungry apocalypse.
Now they must learn to trust each other and trust themselves.
Now they must become the heroes the world needs before the darkness falls forever.

Price: $2.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

5 Must-Have Martial Arts Business Software Features

Running a martial arts school requires many hats. One of those hats includes administration including tracking employee time, student contact management, marketing, sales, scheduling and course curriculum development, and of course teaching martial arts.

My bet is you like teaching more than sitting in an office taking care of the management of your martial school. The bad news is if you run a martial arts school you must spend some time administrating your business. The good news is you can now get some pretty cool software that speeds up and in fact enhances your administrating tasks.

The key administrating tasks include:

Student contact management
Marketing
Sales and revenue generator
Employee management
Scheduling and curriculum development

In a nutshell, the best martial arts business management software is a platform that is integrated and takes care of all these administrative tasks. This way you avoid duplicated data entry and in fact can leverage the existing data.

What do I mean by leveraging existing data?

Harnessing software as it should be harnessed means minimizing input time and maximizing production. For example, one big task involved in running a martial arts school is student contact / info management. You must maintain student information. Another big task is scheduling. You must schedule your classes and perhaps private lessons.

You can leverage your client contact information with scheduling by having the two data sets integrated. So, if you input a private lesson, you can easily access your client contact database from your scheduling software so with a click you update your schedule rather than input client information from scratch.

Let me give you a better example. Suppose you have email software that is integrated with your scheduling software. When your schedule is revised or a student signs up for a slot, you can program and integrate the email marketing software with your email marketing so that your student receives reminders about the scheduled appointment or class.

These are just two of many time-saving examples you get when you get the right martial arts business software.

Before I list the 5 must-have features, the over-arching requirement is that your software have all these features so integrations is built-in. This way you harness the benefits of leveraging your time and resources.

What are the 5 Must-Have Martial Arts Business Software Features?

1. Robust Scheduling Software

You need scheduling software that does the following:
Integrates with a robust email software
Is centralized so when you make a change in the schedule, it's replicated wherever you have your schedule digitally posted (i.e. other computers and your website(s))
Enables auto-pay so that you can collect money up front digitally. This alone pays for any software upgrade. Money up front processed automatically is much better than chasing money.

2. Robust Student Contact Management

You want a centralized database where your student information is retained. It's a lot of work managing student profiles, contact information, payment information, etc. When you have it in a properly constructed database with fields, you leverage your data input in many ways by integrating the database with other administrative tasks. It's also easier inputting new data and/or revising existing data.

3. Payroll Management

Martial arts schools often have several teachers earning money at different pay rates. It's not fun tracking how much each teacher is owed over with inadequate software (Excel anyone - I don't mean to badmouth Excel, it's excellent - it's simply not designed for tracking such data).

4. Sales and Revenue Generation

Credit card processing that integrates with your client contact database. Moreover, you want credit card processing you can do on the computer rather than separate hardware. It's much more convenient.
Enable online payments and auto-billing. When someone schedules classes online, why not collect money automatically and immediately. The less time you spend processing and chasing money, the more time you have to build your business and do what you love - teach martial arts and develop courses.
Gift Card Capability
Gift cards can be a wonderful revenue generator. Make it easy for your students to get friends and family into your school with gift cards.
Retail and E-commerce: If you're not selling gear, apparel, gift cards, etc. then you're leaving money on the table. Moreover, having gear and apparel available for your students is a nice customer service touch.

5. Marketing Capability

One of the best ways to get new business and generate more and ongoing sales from your existing students is using sophisticated email marketing. Don't rely on gmail or Outlook. Get an autoresponder email system that integrates with your student contact database and scheduling software.

You want to customize your email messages to prospective students and current students. You also want to auto-generate email messages as much as possible - such as new class openings, class reminders, private lesson reminders, etc. When you integrate your email software with your scheduling software, you can significantly ramp up your communication with students with very little time or effort.

If you don't have a fully integrated software system for your martial arts business, then chances are you're duplicating work and not leveraging as much as you can to reduce inputs while increasing outputs. The email marketing and contact database integration alone gives benefits sufficient to warrant the cost of more sophisticated software.

However, when you add in credit card processing, auto-billing, and e-commerce opportunities, you can seriously grow your martial arts business while spending less time in front of the computer and more time in class with students.

Which martial arts business software do I recommend?

Check out this martial arts business software.

You can read my original article on martial arts business software here.

Which Martial Art Style Should I Pick to Study?

If you wish to receive the most benefits from the martial arts, you have got to choose the style which best matches your goals. On account that there are a multitude of wonderful styles to choose from, identifying the ideal one is likely to be a challenging decision.

The first factor to ponder when picking a style is what you are expecting to achieve from your time and efforts in lessons. Are you hoping to learn self-defense techniques, or will you be becoming a member of a martial arts school for fitness purposes? If you think you happen to be investigating the arts as a means to step-up your combat capabilities, what type of attacks, kicks, or defensive skills do you hope to uncover? Why don't we take a look at some of the more recognized martial arts to make it easier to decide what system is most advantageous for you.

Taekwondo (Tae Kwon Do) is a Korean martial arts style that has been progressively growing in popularity during the last sixty years. Traditional taekwondo was initially engineered in the 1950's by the South Korean military but an alternative style has surfaced in sport taekwondo. In a large number of taekwondo dojos, they coach features of both sport and traditional taekwondo. This awesome style is best known for its astonishing kicks, extraordinary weapons presentations, and nerve-wrangling sparring tournaments. It has a tendency to be one of the most popular styles to enroll your kids in as well.

Karate was originally developed in Okinawa, Japan and is most widely known for its punches, kicks, chops, and joint locks. Over time, a multitude of unique systems of Karate have been formulated in countries throughout the earth. Some of the more popular styles of Karate include Wado-Ryu, Kenpo, and Budokan. This is a very good art to become skilled at if you are needing to study self-defense tactics and effective combat instruction.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial arts style which focuses mostly on grappling and ground combat. This outstanding system of fighting has existed since the early in the twentieth century, but did not get widely used until such time as the early nineteen nineties when Bjj specialist Royce Gracie triumphed in the initial Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). Since that time, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has grown into one of the hottest styles and quite a few of its ground submission techniques have been integrated into martial arts classes all over the earth.

Aikido is a Japanese style which concentrates on redirecting your opponents strength to use it against them. This style is very loved by individuals searching for a less aggressive martial art. In addition to its wonderful joint locks and fluid throws, Aikido if famous for its profound philosophies and religious influences.

Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art recognized for its distinct animal styles, internal energy development, and incredible Chinese weapon demos. Over the years, Kung Fu has gathered an immense following resulting from its presence on television and in the movies. It is a fantastic style to study if you're trying to find strong self-defense strategies, spiritual and philosophical enlightenment, and physical fitness.

Judo is a Japanese art known for its impressive throws and submission wrestling skills. It is similar to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but gives far more emphasis to take-downs and holds. Despite the fact that strikes are part of Judo, they are rarely used in training and never in tournaments. This is an awesome martial art style to study, but is often a little bit intimidating to individuals who are uncomfortable being tossed to the ground.

I hope this short glimpse into some of the arts has assisted you with your final decision. My very best suggestion would be to stop by a couple of schools in your vicinity teaching varying styles and observe several instructional classes. When you choose a dojo, don't be afraid to change styles if your interests change later on. Almost all martial artists learn numerous systems to gain as much experience as they can.

Author Kyle Keniston has been training in various martial art styles since childhood, and is now the owner of a martial arts supply store where he sells a great selection of martial arts books and discount martial art uniforms.