Kung Fu - Instructions for Techniques, Kicks, Forms

History of Kung Fu

In the West, Kung Fu exploded in popularity during the 1970s. This was due to the rise of Bruce Lee as a major movie star. Young people everywhere wanted to be like Bruce Lee and thus sought out Kung Fu training.

According to European Wushu Federation, "The first archaic forms of barehand fighting in ancient China appeared during the dynasties Xia, Shang and Zhou. Those forms, with the invention of bronze weapons became martial skills and were used for military training under the name Junlian (lit.army training). During the period of warring states (770 - 221 b.c.) the role of martial arts grew rapidly because of constant wars between counties."

Different Schools & Styles of Kung Fu

There are many different schools of Kung Fu (i.e. Eagle Claw, Wing Chun, Shaolin Kung Fu, etc.). According to Shaolin Gung Fu Institute, there are "over 1,000 styles are known or recognized." Kung Fu is often broken into northern and southern styles. Northern Kung Fu styles typically emphasize long-range attacks and greater use of kicks. Southern Kung Fu styles typically emphasize close combat and greater use of hand techniques.

Well-Known Kung Fu Styles.

·       Bajiquan - Bajiquan (or Baji Quan) is known for its elbow strikes.

·       Chang Quan or Long Fist

·       Eagle Claw Kung Fu - Eagle Claw Kung Fu is a Chinese martial arts that is known for its gripping techniques, strikes, joint locks, takedowns and pressure point attacks.

·       Lama Pai - Lama Pai is a martial art from Western China based on Ape and Crane motions

·       Leopard Kung Fu (Bao Quan) - Leopard Kung Fu is a martial arts that focuses on aggressive speed and agility to defeat an opponent.

·       Hung Ga - Hung Ga (or Hung Gar) is a southern Chinese martial arts that combines 5 animal styles (Crane, Dragon, Leopard, Snake and Tiger).

·       Monkey Kung Fu (Hou Quan) - Monkey Kung Fu is an unorthodox and acrobatic style used to disorient and attack opponents from unusual angles and positions.

·       Praying Mantis Kung Fu - Praying Mantis Kung Fu is known for its redirection, joint manipulation, pressure point attacks and trapping tactics.

·       Tiger Claw Kung Fu (Fu Jow Pai) - Fu Jow Pai ("Tiger Claw Style") is a Chinese martial arts that is famous for its tiger-like attacks and strikes.

·       Zui Quan (Drunken Fist) - This style tries to imitate a drunkard's movements (i.e. staggering and falling over) in order to confuse opponents and allow for devastating counter attacks. Of course, the martial artist is not intoxicated when practicing this style of Kung Fu!

Self Defense Training- Art of Karate

Self Defense Training

Although many martial arts focus on the virtues of violent restraint during conflict, the commonality of all styles is that they’re systems of self-defense training. In regard to fighting, the bottom line is survival: defeating an opponent by any means. The general public is more aware of the preparatory effectiveness that martial arts brings to those interested in protecting themselves and their families.

The trend of self-defense training systems moving away from the codified traditions of martial arts as a way of life have led to a view of martial arts techniques as a means of survival. Self-defense training has become about quickly developing skills for personal combat in which the mindsets range from maiming your attacker with brutal, lethal tactics to escape tactics (i.e., get the heck out of there as quickly as possible). Any self-defense system is about identifying your goal and training to meet it.

Close Quarters Combat

Traditionally, close-quarters combat was a military or law-enforcement term used to describe armed or unarmed hand-to-hand combat. However, the importance of martial arts in CQC training has always been of tantamount importance. Before the advent of guns, especially in Asian cultures, military and martial artists developed battle-, ring- 

1.    Combat Hapkido       

In the words of combat hapkido founder John Pellegrini, “I have merely structured a new self-defense system based on sound scientific principles and modern concepts. For this reason, combat hapkido is also referred to as the ‘Science of Self-Defense.’ Combat hapkido is a new interpretation and application of a selected body of ...

2.    Combatives         

Combatives is a term used by the United States Army for its hand-to-hand combat training program. Although the key for military personnel during missions is to never find one’s self in a situation without a rifle, sidearm or knife, sometimes a soldier has to defend himself with his fists. Initialized by Rex Applegate during WWII and presented ...

3.    Krav Maga                

Krav maga is a brutal hybrid form of martial arts hand-to-hand combat that was founded by Imi Lichtenfeld (1910-1998). It is based on Imi Lichtenfeld’s street fighting, boxing and wrestling skills that he used to defend the Jewish quarter in the city of Bratislava (the modern capital of Slovakia) against fascist groups in the mid- to ...

4.    Law Enforcement Training     

Basic law-enforcement training includes a variety of intense instruction, exams and skill tests for the purpose of an individual becoming a certified law-enforcement official, like a member of a police force. Police officers undergo self-defense training to develop effective skills in close-quarters combat. This expertise offers valuable ...

5.    Self Defense for Women      

Historically, it was frowned on for women to practice martial arts in many cultures. However, women warriors have consistently broken down the barriers to prove their mettle to their male counterparts. Examples include Hua Mu-lan, the Yang Women Warriors, Shaolin nun Wu Mei and Okinawan bodyguard Tsuru Yonamine. Other women have developed martial .

6. Systema        

Literally translated as “the system,” systema is a Russian martial art notable for its hand-to-hand and close-quarters-combat ways. It is the system of choice for many Russian Spetsnaz which is a catchall term for Russian special-forces units. In fact, one of the most prominent practitioners of systema today is Mikhail Ryabko ...

Martial Arts Techniques- Art of Karate

Traditionally, martial arts were identified as fighting arts that originated in Asia. However, as the understanding of martial arts has expanded, combative arts created outside of Asia began to be labeled as martial arts.

Martial arts techniques come in many shapes and sizes. There are empty-hand techniques during which the practitioner does not have a weapon. Theses generally involve strikes, kicks and grappling techniques. There are techniques for various weapons—knife, stick, blunt and other edged weapons. There are also disarming and self-defense techniques during which the practitioner is specifically trying to overcome an aggressor.

Martial arts techniques also can include “softer” techniques, like breathing exercises, chi-disruption techniques and meditation.

1. Chokes   

   Chokes—which also are called chokeholds or strangleholds—are grappling holds applied to an opponent or attacker’s neck that can cause unconsciousness or death. They are commonly used in combative sports, close-quarters and hand-to-hand combat, law enforcement, martial arts and self-defense. In classic films, the villain or monster wraps …
2. Joint Locks      

   Joint locks manipulate wrists, elbows, knees, etc., beyond their normal range of motion in order to break or dislocate bones, injure muscles, tear tendons or rip ligaments. These grappling techniques, used in martial arts such as chin na, jujutsu, judo and Brazilianjiu-jitsu, force an opponent/attacker into a submissive, nonthreatening position. …
3. Kicks       

   Kicks are strikes that involve the legs, knees, feet or toes. Depending on the intention of the practitioner, his power and/or speed, simple kicks, like the front, side, back or roundhouse kick, can generally be performed one of two ways. First, the practitioner can deliver the kick with a quick snap of the knee and hips. Second, he can deliver it …
4. Strikes    

   Characterized as a physical hit with any part of the body or an inanimate object, strikes are meant to cause pain, injury or death to an opponent. For martial artists, striking usually involves hitting with the legs or arms. For the legs, the practitioner strikes with his foot or knees. He also can stomp. For the arms, the practitioner uses his …
5. Throws/Takedowns      

   In the past, throws were commonly associated with judo and takedowns with wrestling. However, with the spread of martial arts into mainstream America and the rise of mixed martial arts, throws and takedowns have become synonymous with most martial-arts-influenced combative sports like Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, jujutsu, sambo, shuai …
6. Weapon Techniques            

   Martial arts weapon techniques refer to nonballistic weapons. Historically, the earliest known weapons were simple clubs (wood, bone, stone); the individuals with clubs discovered they had an advantage over their unarmed adversaries. This led to armed conflicts in which both parties carried weapons. With both opponents armed, it became necessary 

Teach Yourself the Basics of Karate - Art of Karate

Teach-Yourself-the-Basics-of-Karate

The philosophy behind karate is vast and complex. It stems from thousands of years of armed and unarmed combat. Techniques that were perfected hundreds of years ago are still being perfected over and over again by each new generation. Buddhism, Taoism, and the code of Bushido have all played parts in the development of the martial arts philosophy. Karate in its modern form was established around 400 years ago in Japan, with its roots mainly derived from Chinese Kung Fu. See Step 1 below to start teaching you the basics of this art form.

1

Meditate. (5+ minutes) Clear your mind of all thoughts; concentrate on breathing in through the nose, out through the mouth; steady deep breaths and a clear mind will prepare you to learn Karate. There is no time limit, but meditating for at least 5 minutes should clear your thoughts enough to allow you to concentrate. And yes, meditating can definitely enhance your fighting skills!

• Forget school. Forget work. Forget family, problems, everything -- visualize them evaporating before your eyes. Once everything is gone, you should see an empty room, and in the center of the empty room, a ball of flame begins growing from the emptiness. This flame of firing strength and energy should represent anything you hope to achieve by training yourself in Karate. By the time you are done with your meditation, the room should be entirely engulfed by nothing but the flame.

2

Warm up. (10 minutes) Start off by running in place or around the block for about 5 minutes; plus about 5 minutes (or 20 reps each) of push-ups, sit-ups (or crunches),leg lifts, and reverse push-ups.

• Warming up is vital to your muscles' ability to do work. If you don't get them loose and ready before you start your training and stretching, then they will go on strike against you and even basic moves will be tough to execute properly.

3

Stretch. (15 minutes) Stretching all major muscle groups first is essential for a loose and limber body; get a book on stretching if you do not already know what stretching exercises to do. In Karate, stretching the legs is crucial to keep yourself injury-free.

• Stretching comes after warming up. When your muscles have heated up, that's when they'll be most receptive to stretching -- when stretching will be the safest and most effective.

Understand the philosophy behind karate. To the untrained observer, karate may look like it’s about showy displays of violence. In fact, it's the polar opposite. Karate is about peace and, what's more, peace of mind. In life conflict is unavoidable. When this happens, it should be handled swiftly and with power. The result is a natural confidence that has an air of humility.

• This is an art form that involves the mind and spirit as much as the body. All three must develop simultaneously for the practitioner to truly master this sport. While the body must remember how to move, the mind, in turn, must remember how to be still.
• All of the martial arts begin and end with courtesy. There is very little that is selfish about karate. It is believed that in your devotion there is reward.

Part 2 of 3: Mastering Stances, Balance, and Power

1

Get the basic stances down. Yeah, you want to get to the fun stuff. Unfortunately, your kicks, strikes, and blocks will not be effective if you don't have your stance right. You wouldn't expect to be a great baseball if you held your bat the wrong way, would you? Nope. The basics are what truly make a great karateka (karate practitioner).

• There are different types of Karate. You'll find different stances are traditional depending on which type you're practicing. Most types of karate have some variation of the following three stances :
  • The natural, or walking stance (shizentai-dachi). Foot foot is pointing forward, back foot is out at a 45-degree angle. Your feet are apart at a natural, or walking, width.
  • The front stance (zenkutsu-dachi). Like the natural stance, but your feet are further apart and your weight is mostly on your front leg.
  • Cat stance, or back stance (nekoashi-dachi). Foot positioning is like the walking stance, but your weight is mostly on your back leg. Your front heel, if you so choose may be raised.

2

Start with the ready stance. The stances above are fighting stances. However, at the beginning of any spar, you'll need to begin with the ready stance. You have three basic options:

• The ready stance in the Fukyugata series has the heels together and toes pointing outward at a 60-degree angle.
• The ready stance in the Pinan series has the feet at shoulder width, toes pointing outward at a 45-degree angle.
• The ready stance in the Naihanchi series has the feet directly together and parallel.

3

Be aware of your balance. Karate isn't exactly something drunk people would be good at, and for good reason -- it takes an immense ability to balance. That's part of the reason the stances are so important! They center your body, allowing you to be fluid while simultaneously strong. But that strength you feel in your stance can't disappear when you start kicking!

• Always think about your center gravity. If you spread your feet, you lower it, proving yourself stability and more bang for your attack. But if you lower it too much, you lose mobility and speed. When it comes to balance, there is a happy medium you need to find.
• While having balance is important, when you start having to defend yourself, you'll need to be able to shift that balance quite quickly as well. If you're in one stance too long, your opponent can easily attack you! Because of this, transitions between stances are important too.

4

Concentrate on your power and speed. There are plenty of men (read: gym rats) who lift hundreds and hundreds of pounds but yet would not excel at karate. It is not about muscle -- it's about power and speed.

• The two are highly connected. A longer route to your target will help you develop more speed and thus power. If you use your entire body, you will have more power behind your attack, and necessarily employ more speed. However, think of karate not as being able to move a large object, but being able to move a small object quickly and with detailed precision.

Part 3 of 3: Mastering the Moves

1

Work on your punching and blocking. (15 minutes) There are a few essential punches you will need to learn to attack effectively. The straight punch, upper-cut,knife-hand, spear-hand, elbow strike, and back fist, namely. Practice them in order and alternate hands.

• Blocking is just as important! Practice blocking as though these were the punches you were being attacked with. Experiment with combinations and counter attacks. Defend, attack, defend, attack...etc.
• For the record, your first two knuckles are the strongest knuckles on your hand. They can be lined up with your forearm bones (radius and ulna) to increase strength. The most common mistakes are when people have a crooked fist, punch too high or punch with their shoulder

2

Practice kicking. (15 minutes) Ten repetitions of any kick will suffice in strengthening your legs. Focus beyond the target for maximum power, but practice the flow of motion to gain graceful fluidity in your movements; like a swan; power will follow.

• There are five basic karate kicks:
• The front snap kick. Basically, think of your foot swinging out in front of you like you're snapping a towel. In natural stance, you draw up your back foot, bend at the knee, and snap (hence the name) your leg out in front of you and draw it immediately back to where it was.
• The side snap kick. The same as the front snap kick...only to the side.
• The side trust kick. Lift your kicking foot to your opposite knee, kick, and roll your hip forward. In the snap kicks, your torso stays upright. In trust kicks, your torso falls more in line with your kicking leg, coming down to power your kicking leg upward.
  • The guy in the gif above is doing a trust kick. See how his torso comes down?
• The back trust kick. Like the side trust kick, but you're looking behind you and kicking in the same direction as you're looking.
• The round kick. In cat stance, pull your kicking leg up toward the same elbow. Swing your hips forward and pivot, creating the "round" in the round kick. Then snap it back as quickly as possible.

3

Start sparring. (15+ minutes) Find someone to practice with, and use all of your techniques to fight them for 15 to 30 minutes. Sparring will help you increase your stamina and ability to throw combinations and defend yourself against multiple attacks or multiple attackers, once you've mastered certain blocking and attacking techniques.

4

Practice all kata (literally, "practice form") over and over. Focus on one kata in particular for that session. Once you have it, you can move on. It's important to focus on lower level kata as well as higher level to refine and improve.

• Be sure to revisit it once you do have it! After you master several, piece them together and work on increasingly difficult combinations as the days progress.

Street Fighting -Art of Karate- situation and response in the Art Of Karate.

Situation One: You are standing by your car ready to get in when an attacker with a crowbar tries to kill you.Response: You have several courses of action. You may turn quickly and snap a FRONT KICK into his throat.

Situation Two: You are getting into your car with your wife when two thugs attack you with a crowbar, trying to kill you. Response:You both react with kicks; the man with a SIDE KICK to the face; the woman with a BACK KICK to the groin. You then finish them off with STOMPS to the throat and neck.

Situation Three: A woman is walking down the street when a would-be rapist grabs her. Response: She reacts with a ROUNDHOUSE to the groin. She continues to turn and thrusts a HEEL KICK to the throat, kicking him down where she finishes him off with a STOMP to the head.

Situation Four: You are at the cash wash when two men jump you and manage to grab you. One gets you into a bear hug. Response:You react to the one in front of you with a SNAP KICK to the groin.Then you do a REAR LIFT KICK to the groin of the man holding you.The come around with an ELBOW SMASH to his face, knocking him down.You finish him with a STOMP to the face.

Different Belts in Karate and the meaning of their colors -The Karate Art

Meaning of the Colors

Originally, the white belt was simply dyed to a new color. This repeated dying process dictated the type of belt color and the order of the colors. The standard belt color system is white, yellow, gold, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, red and black. Due to the dying process, it was only practical to increasingly use darker colors. All of this came about shortly after the Second World War, when Korea and Japan were very poor countries. Dying the belts to a new color was a cheap way to have a visible, simple and effective ranking system.

White Belt: White signifies a birth, or beginning, of a seed. A white belt student is a beginner searching for knowledge of the Art. The white belt is the beginning of life's cycle, and represents the seed as it lies beneath the snow in the winter.

Yellow Belt or Sash: Yellow signifies the first beams of sunlight which shines upon the seed giving it new strength with the beginning of new life. A yellow belt student is given his first ray of knowledge, opening his mind, from his instructors.

Orange Belt or Sash: Orange represents the growing power of the sun as it warms the earth to prepare for new growth in the spring. The orange belt is starting to feel his body and mind open and develop.

Green Belt or Sash: Green signifies the growth of the seed as it sprouts from the earth reaching toward the sun and begins to grow into a plant. A green belt student learns to strengthen and refine his techniques.

Blue Belt or Sash: Blue signifies the blue sky as the plant continues to grow toward it. A blue belt student moves up higher in rank just as the plant grows taller. The light feeds the plant so it can continue to grow. The student is fed additional knowledge of the Art in order for his body and mind continue to grow and develop.

Purple Belt or Sash: Purple represents the changing sky of dawn, as once again the student undergoes a new change and prepares for the transition to advanced student. A purple belt begins to understand the meaning of the black belt.

Brown Belt or Sash: Brown represents the ripening of the seed, a maturing and harvesting process. A brown belt is an advanced student whose techniques are beginning to mature, and he is beginning to understand the fruits of his hard work as a beginner.

Red Belt or Sash: Red signifies the red-hot heat of the Sun as the plant continues growing toward it. As a red belt student acquires more detailed knowledge, just as the plant grows slowly toward the Sun, so the red belt student learns to be more cautious with his knowledge and physical abilities. Red is a sign of danger, and the red belt is beginning to become dangerous with their knowledge and abilities.

Black Belt or Sash: Black signifies the darkness beyond the Sun. A black belt seeks new, more profound knowledge of the Art. As he begins to teach others, he plants new seeds and helps them grow and mature. His students, many whom will form roots deep into the Art, blossom and grow through the ranks in a never-ending process of self-growth, knowledge, and enlightenment.

Karate-A basic Understanding of Karate-The karate Art

Karate

Karate (empty hand way) or (art of the empty hand) originated in Ryukyupitu Japan and is one of the most popular martial arts. Practitioners start learning karate forms (katas) and later learn partner exercises, combat skills and iron palm (brick breaking) Japanese martial arts are famous for its belt ranking systems. White belts are usually beginners, while black belts are advanced. Below the first black belt the degrees are called "KYU's" (first kyu, second kyu etc.) Even after you have reached the first black belt, the ranking system keeps going. The first black belt in karate is called 1st DAN.

Techniques & Lessons: Karate

• Zenkutsu Tachi (karate bow stance)
• Kokutsu Tachi (karate back stance)
• Kiba Tachi (karate horse / straddle stance)
• Shiko Tachi (karate square stance)
• Mawashi Geri (round kick aka roundhouse kick)
• Mae Geri Kekomi (thrusted karate front kick instruction)
• Mae Geri Keage (snapped karate front kick)
• Yoko Geri Kekomi (thrusted karate sidekick instruction)
• Yoko Geri Keage (snapped sidekick karate instruction)
• Gedan Barai - coming soon

Trainer advice: Karate

• Endurance and stretching training are very important for karate.
• Start with the basic katas (karate forms).
• The smaller your class, the better the training.
• Don't care too much about belts. In some schools a green belt can be better than a brown belt of another school.

Related instructions: Karate

• Judo Roll
• Judo Hip Wheel
• Tae Kwon Do Side Kick
• Tae Kwon Do Axe Kick
• Sanda Jab
• Sanda Front Kick
• Straight MT Knee Kick
• MT Roundhouse Kick
• MT Side Kick