The Taekwondo Face-Block

Here's a video of the (oddly enough) ever-so-popular taekwondo face-block.

No one quite uses the head and face to block an attack like these guys... Great kicking though, I'll definitely give him that much.

Basic Karate Block

New York -- A 50-year-old man testified in November that he used what he called 'basic karate' against an attacker wielding a bottle. The assailant later wound up losing an eye, according to silive.com.

"I was in fear for my life. I blocked the bottle and apparently it went back in his face," the former assistant district attorney told jurors about the incident at a Staten Island nightspot four years ago.

The defendant, who began practicing martial arts at 15 and received further training at the Court Officers Academy, said he used a "club block -- a two-motion move" -- to stop the attack.

He added that he stood over the other man in a "cat stance" in case he would retaliate.

The Ninjabi

UK -- Anyone tempted to pick on a headscarf-wearing Muslim woman better hope they don't run into a Ninjabi.

Every week around 30 Muslim women, most wearing veils, gather in a community centre in east London to learn how to block, knee and punch would-be attackers or lecherous men targeting passive-looking victims.

The organizers, who named the classes after Japanese Ninja warriors and women who wear the hijab, say Muslim women are looking to fight back against unwanted advances and a rising number of anti-Muslim attacks.

"The ladies love the Ninjabi thing. It gives them a good giggle," said class instructor Dee Terry, who is not a Muslim herself.

Source

Confuse-Us Speaks #11

Ancient ...? Yes, for a kid anything from last year is ancient. It's got to be that these guys are thinking about, all the time TKD is from the 1950s.

Story:
Pupils at Smannell and Enham CE Primary School learnt about the ancient art of tae-kwon do when The Black Belt Leadership School paid them a visit.

Children from years three, four, five and six had a chance to learn some of the skills of the sport including blocking with hands and feet and punching.

They also learnt a valuable lesson in respect - before and after performing any move they had to bow to their opponent and call the instructors sir'.

Source

He couldn't kick

After tae kwon do master Anthony Hong met his newest pupil, he was up all night, trying to figure out how he would teach the boy.

The Korean martial art is known for its high and fast kicks. But Hong's student, Colin Waltari, couldn't kick. Tae kwon do fighters use their arms to block and punch. But Colin's arms were busy holding onto his crutches.

Source

Expert advice

This guy, Jim Bisenius - a national (US) expert on bully prevention, has a lot of great practical advice about the topic, and the article here is a good read. But he is clearly not too knowledgeable about martial arts as a whole.

Yes, some arts will take time to present the kind of things he sees as effective means. Other arts will, however introduce these methods from day one: blocking, deflecting, evading, sidestepping, moving, dodging, freeing, locking etc.

And to all "experts" out there: Get more than surface information before you present something as a fact, please!

Story:
When bullying turns physical many parents waste time and money by placing their children in martial arts classes.

"It will be two years before they learn anything useful," Bisenius said. "Just have the instructor teach five favorite blocking techniques to repel a bully's attack."

Bullies, he said, will likely avoid the child who successfully demonstrates they are adept at blocking a blow for fear that they'll look foolish.

Source

Karate meets dentistry

Hope the two arts are not too closely connected...

On the other hand - getting your teeth fixed may be easier if you've accidentally done a face block during class.

Story:
51-year-old Merced resident Amilton Barboza combined two loves -- karate and dental work -- and now operates two businesses from one location.

"I have a passion for both -- the dental lab and I like martial arts," he said.

Barboza, a native of Montevideo, Uruguay, developed an interest in karate while in elementary school. He has a fourth degree black belt and was honored by the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame as the Shotokan Man of the Year in 2005.

Source

Active in Wheelchair With Karate

Sharyna Miley was nervous as she tested for her second belt in karate, orange.

She went through punches, blocks and jabs. Unlike the rest of her testing class, she did not kick.

Miley, a 57-year-old Olathe resident, uses a power wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis.

Source

Age: No Excuse

Lorraine Kovar and Yvonne Boyd look like elegant ladies who lunch, but on Tuesday and Thursday nights, they're elegant ladies who punch ... and block and kick and let out shouts that should make anyone think twice about messing with either of them.

They are the reigning karate grannies and training buddies at Kovars Karate Center in Carmichael. Kovar is 79 and Boyd is 70.

"We have so much fun," Boyd says. "I think we bring a sort of wisdom to it."

Source

More about the martial arts:
www.your-martial-arts-resources.com

They're All for Karate

Martial arts a guy thing? What ever gave you that idea? Maybe it's because some like to believe the arts are all about fighting?

Here's an article from The Honolulu Advertiser:

"They say that the family that plays together stays together. In the case of the Goodins, however, it could be said that the family that kicks, blocks and punches together stays together, too."

Read this and other martial arts related articles at:
your-martial-arts-resources.com