Articles by Calasanz Martinez on ArticleSnatch.com

The Instructor's Perspective: Balancing Our Expectations

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:51:26 -0500

Have you ever heard a parent say, "I love all my children equally?" Do not believe this statement! It is a lie! Every parent of multiple children has a favorite and while they won't come out and say it, they may favor that child in either very obvious or very subtle ways. Unfortunately a martial arts instructor has the same tendencies. Like a parent, you will favor some students over others and place great expectations on them to fulfill your needs. It's here that you get into trouble. There will be a variety of personalities walking through your dojo door. Some you'll like, some you won't. Some come to learn and those you will appreciate. Some come because they're bored with their current form of exercise and want to try something new. Others come to test you. They tell you how to teach and how to run your school. Then there are those that every teacher dreams of...eager to learn, devoted, and talented. These are the people you want to "groom. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> artist]]> instructor]]> students]]> teaching]]> protege]]> balance]]> emotions]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz is the creator of his own martial arts and fitness system. Based on simplicity, personal interest, natural holistic movements; the Calasanz System is simple enough for beginners and unique and effective enough for professional martial artists. Visit http://www.calasanz.com for more details

Supplementing Your Martial Arts Training With High Kicks

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:26:55 -0400

Many Wing Chun practitioners tend to dismiss high kicks as being "useless." High kicks are not characteristic of the art. Wing Chun tends to focus more on hand movements. Lower body strikes in Wing Chun include low kicks, kicks to the midsection, leg sweeps and stomps. Bruce Lee, who was originally a Wing Chun practitioner, did not hold the same attitude regarding high kicks as his Wing Chun colleagues. The high kicks you see him execute in the movies are obviously not from Wing Chun. He saw the usefulness of adding Korean style kicking to his martial art repertoire. Unfortunately, some martial artists are locked into their own styles and traditions and can't see the benefits of supplementing their training in areas where their chosen art may be weak. There is nothing wrong with honoring your martial art roots, but after a while, if you want to become a well-rounded martial artist, you have to expand your horizons. While high kicks are not recommended for self-defense, they serve several very good purposes in martial arts training and in competitive kickboxing. High kicks help develop balance. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> wing chun]]> high]]> kicks]]> UFC]]> MMA]]> kickboxing]]> styles]]> rounding out]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz sponsors his Martial Arts and Fitness Social Site . Which includes a section of his premium teachings for only $4.95 a month!

The Greatest Martial Art Style

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

What do you think...is it Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo, Wing Chun, Tang Soo Do, Krav Maga, Jiu Jitsu, or Thai Boxing? I say none of them. As a matter of fact, no martial art that has existed since the beginning of time can claim the title of the "greatest martial art." The reality is that it's not the style that makes the martial artist, but rather the martial artist that makes the style. Please also understand that when I say "great martial artist," I don't necessarily mean great fighter. I am looking at the qualities that make one a master of the art, not street fighting. Regardless of the style you've chosen to practice, it all begins with the student. Success in the martial arts requires you to start with some basic "raw materials." Natural talent and athletic ability helps. A great martial artist has to be physically fit. This doesn't mean that they all may have started that way, but coordination, the ability to follow instruction and building a good physical foundation is crucial. A great martial artist learns the history and philosophy of his chosen style. **End Summary** Topics: Tae Kwon Do]]> Kenpo]]> Wing Chun]]> Tang Soo Do]]> Krav Maga]]> Jiu Jitsu]]> Thai Boxing]]> greatest]]> martial art]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has been teaching martial arts for over 30 years For Martial Arts Videos

Choosing the Best Style for Self-Defense

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

I'm often asked the question "what is the best martial art style that I could study if my goal is self-defense?" The answer is that there is no one martial art that I would say is the best for learning self-defense. Every style has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to their effectiveness on the street. Learning self-defense and studying a martial art are two different things. You study the art for art's sake, while the goal of self-defense is to learn how to protect yourself on the street. I'm not a big fan of brief crash courses in self-defense. The little you learn during one of these "workshops" will soon be forgotten. I believe that the ability to defend yourself begins with improving your physical fitness. One of the best self-defense techniques is running! If you can escape a situation, then do so. Take specific steps to improve your physical fitness. If you can't walk up a flight of stairs without panting or clutching your chest, you're in trouble. Unfortunately, the running option isn't always feasible, so learning self-defense is important. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> self defense]]> choosing]]> school]]> best]]> most effective]]> street fighting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has been teaching martial arts and self-defense for 30 years. For self-defense videos

Middle Age and the Martial Arts

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

How many football, baseball and basketball players do you see playing professional ball way into their 50's, 60's and 70's? The answer is none. Now, I'll tell you that many martial art masters are still going strong in middle age and well into their senior years. Most of my student body is in the age range of 35 to 70. Many of them show up at the school looking for lessons for younger families members and initially wouldn't dream of taking up the martial arts. That's until I've had a chance to talk to them about the benefits of training and actually have them meet students who started their martial arts training later in life. A lot of mature adults are disgusted with the atmosphere at their local gyms, but would love to do something that would help get them into shape. Unfortunately, martial artists in the media are mostly portrayed by either children or young adults, so there are few role models out there. If you want to a great way to get fit and healthy, then consider martial arts. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> fitness]]> exercise]]> middle age]]> 30's]]> 40's]]> 50's]]> men]]> women]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has been teaching martial arts and fitness to people of all ages for over 30 years. You can experience his instructional videos here: Martial Arts Videos

What Do You Need To Be A Fighter?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

When I talk about being a good fighter, I mean "competitive fighting." Competitive fighting is different from street fighting. Street fighting is a no-holds barred proposition where any dirty tactic will do. On the streets, you fight to ward off a non-deadly attack or to kill when dealing with a deadly confrontation. In the dojo or ring it's different. So what makes a good competitive fighter? First you absolutely need to have the raw physical qualities that can be developed by a good instructor/trainer. Coordination, balance, strength, flexibility and stamina are good straits to start off with. A good instructor can take it from there to give you the skills you need in the ring. In my many years of teaching fighters, I can tell you that the individuals who want to work hard and are basically in good shape are a dime a dozen. The most important quality you must possess to be a good competitive fighter is heart and temperament. Without heart and temperament, there is nothing. Heart goes beyond the willingness and commitment to work hard. It is the courage to step into a ring and do battle with another human being. **End Summary** Topics: mixed]]> martial arts]]> fighting]]> fighters]]> UFC]]> MMA]]> boxing]]> kickboxing]]> muay thai]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has taught both competitive fighters and street fighters for over 30 years. Check out his martial arts videos here: Martial Arts Videos

The Dangers of Snapping

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

I cringe when I see a martial arts student "snaps" one of his or her techniques. There are a number of martial art styles and instructors who teach a lot of "snapping" techniques. This includes the front snap kick, punches with a snapping motion or a backfist delivered with a quick snap to the opponent's head. I had a student who initially trained in a martial art style that uses a lot of "snapping" kicks and punches. It was her first day of class at my school. As I watched her on the floor one day, my first reaction was "how long can she keep doing this before she really hurts herself?" I approached her with my concerns and she said "yeah, I have to stop this because I have a knee problem!" I told her that if she continued, she'd have to quit completely. "Snapping" kicks and punches are delivered with a fast "snapping" motion and retracted just as quickly. The limb "shoots" out in a hinging motion. These techniques may be repeated numerous times in a martial arts class. Snapping your kicks and punches is very impressive if you're competing in a tournament. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> snap]]> snapping]]> joints]]> kicking]]> kicks]]> punches]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has spent over 30 years training and teaching the martial arts. He has created a system of exercises to train and protect the joints, see these videos here: Joint Exercises

Understanding the Application of Kata

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Training in a traditional martial arts school means that you regularly practice something called kata. Kata (or forms) is a series of martial arts techniques arranged in a manner that simulates a fight against one or many imaginary opponents. While performing a kata, you move, block, strike and counterattack to ward off opponents coming at you from different directions. There are katas at every belt level, starting with very basic techniques and advancing to the more complicated black-belt forms. Kata as a practice has been taking a beating. Many students complain and find them a boring waste of time. Many modern karate instructors who have opted for military-style self-defense based classes have removed kata from the curriculum claiming it is useless. Some teachers go through the formalities of kata practice, without encouraging any spirit or enthusiasm in their students. In some schools, the only reason kata is practiced is for tournament competition. When you look at some of the katas that are performed today on the karate tournament circuit, they look more like gymnastics or dancing routines. Where's the simulated fight? Unfortunately, kata loses it meaning when there is no understanding of its application. **End Summary** Topics: karate]]> kata]]> bunkai]]> forms]]> importance]]> tradition]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz is a master of Goju-Ryu Karate. Click to see Kata Videos

Open Minded Martial Arts

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

I was asked recently if I ever came across a "useless" martial arts style. My answer to this question is "no." I honestly believe that every style I've encountered has made a rich contribution to the world of martial arts and to my personal evolution. As I've said in previous articles, I tend to focus more on the practitioner than the art itself. With that said, while I don't think there are any useless styles, I do believe there are useless practitioners. What I mean by "useless" is that they are closed minded, believing their style of martial arts is the best and others have nothing to offer. They are so boxed into their style that they fail to understand that other fighting arts are as useful in supplementing some of the techniques that may be lacking in their system. For example, the Dutch are internationally revered as exceptional Muay Thai fighters, an honor which we could assume belong to practitioners from Thailand since this is where the art of kickboxing originated. One thing you'll notice however when you watch a Muay Thai kick boxer from Thailand is that all he throws is kicks. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> open mind]]> real]]> fake]]> good]]> not good]]> usefull]]> useless]]> muay thai]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has been teaching and training martial arts for over 30 years. Martial Arts Videos

Protecting the Head and Neck

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Taking martial art classes means that you're probably going to do some sparring, self-defense practice, and you may occasionally participate in a tournament. Because you are learning a combative art, much of your training requires will require you to interact with other classmates to practice your fighting skills. While many martial art schools prohibit punches to the head and some are even "no contact" schools, the reality is that the individual you're interacting with, whether it's a classmate or tournament opponent, may not have the self-control necessary to avoid hitting you in the head. All the "no head contact" rules in the world won't help once that adrenaline gets pumping. Even more troubling is that fact that some people may even intent to give you one good shot for whatever reason! On the streets, that attacker could care less about trying not to cause you an injury. As a matter of fact, he will probably try his best to hurt you as much as possible! So whether it's in class or on the streets, protecting the head and neck from injuries is essential and a skill that must be developed right along with your kicks, blocks and punches. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> head]]> neck]]> blocking]]> protection]]> beginning students]]> saftey]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Martial Arts Videos

Wing Chun: The Perfect Style for Women

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Of all the martial art styles in existence, I would say that Wing Chun is perfect for most women. While women have excelled in many styles, Wing Chun is the one art that most utilizes a woman's natural gifts. To appreciate Wing Chun training for women, it's important to first look at its history. Two hundred eighty years ago, the repressive Manchus ruled China . The Manchus outlawed all weapons and forbade the Hans, who comprised 90% of the population, to practice any form of self-defense. The Hans began to train a secret army of revolutionaries. The Sil Lim Temple became the sanctuary where masters of many ancient Martial Arts systems deliberated on how to create a single style that would be deadly enough to serve their revolutionary purpose, but which could be taught faster than the traditional form that took 20 years to master. Five of China 's greatest grandmasters jointly created a new system, but before they could teach it to their secret army, the Manchus burned the temple and put the Masters to death. Legend tells us that Ng Mui, a nun, was the only survivor of the original Grandmasters group. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> self defense]]> for]]> woman]]> women]]> wing chun]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Wing Chun Videos

Martial Arts Discipline: The Weight Loss Solution

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Many of our students enroll in a martial arts program with the specific goal of losing weight. Proper diet and regular exercise will lead to weight loss as long as it followed on a consistent basis. The old adage "diets don't work" really means that you have to make lifestyle changes that will stay with you for the rest of your life. This doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself of the foods you love, but you must eat them in small quantities and infrequently. If weight loss is your goal, you will have to learn to discipline yourself. There is a Zen saying "discipline is freedom." Think of this in terms of weight loss. Carrying excess weight around is not healthy. It slows you down, limits the things you can do, and as you grow older, it brings disease to your body. Is this freedom? While you've been free to eat whatever you want and have turned into a couch potato, you are now a slave to bad habits which will eventually have a negative effect on your health. If you learn to discipline yourself, you will gain freedom. **End Summary** Topics: weight loss]]> fat burn]]> exercise]]> fitness]]> martial arts]]> physical arts]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Martial Arts Exercises for Weight Loss

Flying, Spinning and Jumping Kicks: Are They Practical?

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Martial art styles like tae kwon do, tang soo do, wushu and some forms of karate instruct their students on how to perform flying, spinning, and jumping kicks. A martial arts movie without a good number of these kicks is boring. Flying, spinning, and jumping kicks are what make martial arts movies fun and demonstrations exciting. Tournament competitors pepper their forms with a series of these kicks along with breath taking acrobatics. While these kicks are very flashy, the reality is that they have very little practical application. When martial artists are young, they all want to learn flying, spinning, and jumping kicks. It's a great way to impress those around you as you "wow" them by breaking boards with a flying side kick. A martial artist first learns his or her basic kicks in a standing position. Eventually, as the basic kicks become natural and can be executed with ease, the instructor will incorporate more dramatic kicks into the class. Jumping kicks require the student to execute one of the basic kicks while jumping up from a stationary stance. Flying kicks involve getting a running start and execute the kick in mid-air. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> self defense]]> flying]]> spinnning]]> jumping]]> kicks]]> fancy]]> techniques]]> tae kwon do]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has been teaching martial arts and self defense for over 30 years. Practical Self Defense Videos

Distance Learning and the Martial Arts

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Advances in technology have taken martial arts to a whole new level. The Internet and DVD's allow you to train with the most accomplished martial artists in the privacy of your own living room. With this convenience however comes a lot of debate. The martial arts community is divided over whether it is possible for someone to learn the martial arts through distance learning. I think the answer lies somewhere in the center. Realistically, you may not have a martial art school with the style of their choosing in your neighborhood or even within traveling distance. You may not be able to afford the tuition due to financial constraints. You may have to travel extensively for work and are unable to follow a traditional class schedule. Or you just may want to learn a style that isn't offered in your geographic location and can't afford to travel long distances. If you're in any of these situations, Internet and DVD training has made it easy for you're to enjoy training in the martial arts. Learning martial arts through the Internet or DVD is great if you've already earned a black belt through traditional class attendance and face-to-face training. **End Summary** Topics: distance]]> learning]]> online]]> dojo]]> martial arts]]> fitness]]> exercise]]> videos]]> tutorials]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Martial Arts Distance Learning

Be Well Rounded and Balanced By Learning Other Styles

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The United States has a great wealth of martial art talent. There are many schools, both traditional and modern, that offer excellent instruction in arts that we couldn't have even imagined 30 years ago. If you have mastered the basics of one style, you may want to "round out" your martial arts training by learning a martial art that is totally different from your original style. This keeps your martial arts training fresh and introduces you to new skills and philosophies. Notice that I said mastered. The worst you can do is hop from style to style and never master any single one. You may want to try out some classes in different styles until you find the right one for you, but once you do, give it a chance. It is only when you have gotten a good grasp of the basics that I recommend looking into other styles. Mastery in the basics of one style will ensure that you'll be able to integrate your new knowledge and avoid confusion. My martial arts training began with the Okinawan style of Goju Ryu in the Dominican Republic . **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> multiple]]> disiplines]]> well balanced]]> MMA]]> other]]> styles]]> learning]]> teaching]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz created his own system of martial arts which incorporates multiple disciplines. Click here to view martial arts videos.

Get Out of Your Way!

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

In many martial art schools, you'll see a sign that says "leave your ego at the door with your shoes". What this really means is that if you want to be successful in the martial arts, you have to get out of your own way. Most martial arts instructors have experienced those students who enter the dojo bent on self-destruction. They're all excited about training, but their behavior is an obstacle to achieving their goals. In other words, they become their own worst enemy. These students only focus on the physical aspect of the martial arts. They jump into training and are all about the "results". Success in the martial arts is really about the journey. There are mental and spiritual aspects of training that unfold in the course of the physical work. Patience, balance, perseverance, humility, and focus are just some. It's also about conquering fear and insecurity and achieving your personal best. It's about calming down the mind and trusting an instructor who has hard years of experience to take you to the next level. Recently, an overzealous student who lacked flexibility decided to practice some hard roundhouse kicks on the bag. He did this against our recommendation. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> disipline]]> learning]]> teaching]]> ego]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz is the creator of his own martial arts system. To learn martial arts online please visit: Martial Arts Instructional Videos

Staying Tough in Tough Economic Times

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

You can't turn on the news without hearing about lay-offs, foreclosures and the plummeting stock market. You may even be experiencing these financial calamities first hand and know the stress and fear that being in this position can bring. It is especially during these times that I recommend sticking with your exercise program. Now more than ever you need to discipline yourself to keep training. Stress, as you know, can bring with it a number of serious health problems, both physically and mentally. It's the one thing you must address immediately, or the results could be devastating. Sticking to your training schedule has many benefits. You need to look and feel good to preserve your confidence and self-esteem. You need a physical outlet for your stress or you risk turning elsewhere for relief. For example, a response to the stress of today's economy may be to use alcohol or food for comfort. While in the short term these substances may soothe our jangled nerves, they have negative long-term repercussions. Excessive alcohol consumption may lead to a destructive addiction that will only make your current situation worse. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> stress]]> economy]]> tough times]]> fitness]]> exercise]]> health]]> wellness]]> well being]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has been training people of all types of stressful professions for over 30 years. His system of martial arts and fitness improves health and well being. Online Fitness Videos

Review: Bruce Lee's Fighting Method: Basic Training, Volume 2

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

What is it about a man like Bruce Lee that has made him a martial arts legend? While the fancy stunts of Jackie Chan and Jet Li provide us with heart stopping entertainment, most of these feats employ the use of trick photography, strings and trampolines. What is so intriguing about Bruce Lee is that the man was real and so were his martial arts. Regardless of who comes and goes at the box office, there will never be another Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee's Fighting Method: Basic Training was released by Bruce's wife, Linda Lee Caldwell, in 1977. During his lifetime, Bruce was hesitant to publish his training material because he wanted to avoid people learning from his books and then misleading the public into believing that were personally trained by him. It is important when reading Basic Training not to get sidetracked by the antiquated training equipment. These photographs were taken in the late 60's and do not depict what we modern day martial artists are used to by today's standards. What does require your attention is his training philosophy and the means by which you may improve your overall body conditioning. **End Summary** Topics: bruce]]> lee]]> fighing method]]> basic training]]> volume 2]]> book]]> review]]> martial arts]]> fitness]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz is the creator the Calasanz System, a combination of various martial arts and a unique system of holistic exercises called Physical Arts, which improve strength, tone, flexibility, endurance, balance, coordination, muscle unity, and well-being for all. http://www.interdojo.com

To Affiliate or Not Affiliate

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

We Americans love affiliations and endorsements; The Good Housekeeping Seal, Better Business Bureau etc. They lend credibility to a business or product. They assure us that our chosen product or service has received some type of validation from a higher authority. Martial arts are no different. Look at most generic articles entitled "how to choose a good martial arts school." A piece of advice you will often see is that you find a school that is affiliated with an "accredited organization." Membership in a martial arts association has a lot of benefits. Some martial art schools are part of a franchise. This means that they are affiliated with a larger company that has licensed its name and methodology for a fee. The advantage here is name recognition along with some management assistance. Another advantage is that martial arts associations set curriculum's and provide rank certification. They establish governing boards that promote the art and quality control. They provide smaller schools with recognition and the appearance of being "official" because they are linked with a larger group. Associations organize tournaments, camps and special events. **End Summary** Topics: martial]]> arts]]> schools]]> affiliations]]> endorsements]]> choosing]]> accredited]]> credibility]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz is the creator of his own system of martial arts and fitness, for online training in the comfort of your home check out: http://www.interdojo.com

Learn to Punch First!

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In the old days, we used to say "make sure you learn how to fight standing up first, and then learn what to do on the ground." Today, the proponents of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tell us that 90-95% of all fights end up on the ground, so because of this, martial art students should focus on ground fighting. As a martial arts instructor and proprietor of a large dojo, I meet many prospective students interested in ground fighting, because of the popularity of mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championships. Some of them are annoyed at the fact that I emphasize developing good striking skills before I even consider putting them on a mat. Let me say that I have great respect for the Gracie family who has done so much to popularize ground fighting around the world. When I first saw the Gracie's winning so many fights, however, I wondered what would happen if they started to encounter more and more opponents who were able to deliver hard and fast strikes. Interestingly, I've seen more and more ground fighters pay closer attention to their striking skills in the standing position. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> fighting]]> training]]> punch]]> kick]]> ground fighting]]> jiujitsu]]> grappling]]> wrestling]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz training and teaching martial arts for over 30 years. To see him in action or to access his entire line of instructional martial arts and fitness videos subscribe to: http://www.interdojo.com

Training the Street Fighter

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

When I opened my first martial arts school, a lot of barroom brawlers and street fighters came through my door. Some grew up in environments where they had to fight to survive while others just liked looking for trouble. I wasn't necessarily targeting them in my marketing plan. Most of them were there to challenge me or one of my students to a fight. I earned their respect with my martial art skill which was gained partly through traditional training and partly through my own experiences with street fighters in the Dominican Republic. Many of them stayed on as students. As an instructor, I had to integrate these natural fighters into a class with the average martial art student who just wanted to exercise and learn a little self-defense. I had a few challenges dealing with street fighters in the dojo. Some are there to prove a point and you have to worry about them causing a lot of trouble, both physically and legally. So I recommend strict supervision on the part of the instructor. In addition, fighting outside of the dojo or tournament setting lacks rules and regulations. **End Summary** Topics: street fighters]]> brawlers]]> bar]]> martial arts]]> MMA]]> boxing]]> Muay Thai]]> Calasanz]]> instructors]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Visit Calasanz online video site for training videos for boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA. http://www.interdojo.com

The Next Level: Making Progress in the Martial Arts

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

One of the goals of a good martial arts curriculum is progress. Regardless of the style you have chosen to study, all of them begin with the fundamentals and can take you to the level of mastery. Success however depends on two things: commitment on your part and a skilled instructor who not only teaches you the art, but also challenges you. To some, progression in the martial arts is about earning another belt or stripe. The space between these belts and stripes however is where the martial artist makes his real gains. This is where all the hard work takes place. In addition to learning the new techniques required by your style's curriculum, you will be tested physically and mentally. Increasing your fitness level will be challenging, as you push yourself to become faster, stronger and more agile. You can learn thousands of techniques, but if you are not physically fit enough to execute them, they will be of little or no use. This is why it's important for a martial arts curriculum to include conditioning exercises. Take them seriously because they're part of the whole package. **End Summary** Topics: martial arts]]> exercise]]> Calasanz]]> belt tests]]> black belts]]> progression]]> success]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz has created http://www.interdojo.com so that people all over the world can experience The Calasanz System in their home.

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the Martial Arts: A Complete Package

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

On Tuesday, October 7, 2008 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The goal is to encourage the American population to add some type of physical activity to their daily routine. Daily physical exercise is vital for achieving and maintaining a healthy body. Scientific studies have proven that regular workouts help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis. Regular exercise also decreases depression and improves the physical and mental consequences of aging. For adults, the guidelines recommend any where from two and one half hours a week of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity, or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity. It also recommended that adults should incorporate some type of strength training into their workouts. Training in the martial arts offers adults who would like to meet these federal guidelines a complete package. A typical martial arts class includes plenty of aerobic activity. Martial art warm-up routines may include a variety of calisthenics, light jogging around the classroom and jumping jacks. **End Summary** Topics: fitness]]> exercise]]> U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]]> health]]> physical activity]]> martial]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Calasanz is the creator of his own Martial Arts and Fitness system. For online exercise videos visit: http://www.interdojo.com