This has got to be the best and most touching article I've read in a long, long time. I urge you to read it, as it says something profoundly true about life, and about being a fighter and a champion until the end.
Story:
He is as serious as anyone I have ever known. But this went far beyond serious. Teddy Atlas was delivering this story at a level that neared vital. He had to express it with solemn severity.
"She showed more class, more bravery and more dignity than some people have the ability to accumulate in a lifetime," Teddy said to me with a natural heaviness that made each descriptive land like a telegraphed, thudding body blow. "And she somehow accumulated it in less than 17 years. Enough class and bravery to last for many, many lifetimes."
She was Brianna Macaluso. And she passed away two weeks ago.
Source
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
True young-fu
Now this has got to be the youngest so far!Sporting a serious fighting face and some great hand movements - this is probably a legitimate Deadly Black Belt Expert™ :-)
The toddler probably has a chain of schools in no time, making the art of Young-Fu feared throughout the galaxies.
"What are you looking at; change my diapers you low-life ignorant infidel, or I will personally Young-Fu chop-chop you too!"
Great clip! You can watch/download it here (0.51MB, wmf format)
All together now!
"Hey you - yeah you, old man in the background with the tai chi outfit; you're not following the other 299,999 people! Could you slow down please? You're supposed to drink green tea and meditate, not have 5 extra large Jackie Chan kung-fu coffee, and play Mortal Combat all night. Let's have some harmony here, please!"
Yes, I know, it says together, not necessarily in synch. Wouldn't it be cool though to have all these folks move as one giant wave of people? Talk about butterfly effect!
Story:
Imagine a mammoth crowd of 300,000 taijiquan practitioners, all exercising together against the backdrop of an ancient city, claimed to be the birthplace of the martial art's shadow boxing set pieces.
The breathtaking scene will be one of the highlights of the 2006 International Taijiquan Competition to be held in September, south of Beijing in Handan in Hebei Province
The festival is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the simplified Yang school of Taijiquan, and also to mark the 70th anniversary of the death of master Yang Dengfu who started the Yang style.
Source
Yes, I know, it says together, not necessarily in synch. Wouldn't it be cool though to have all these folks move as one giant wave of people? Talk about butterfly effect!
Story:
Imagine a mammoth crowd of 300,000 taijiquan practitioners, all exercising together against the backdrop of an ancient city, claimed to be the birthplace of the martial art's shadow boxing set pieces.
The breathtaking scene will be one of the highlights of the 2006 International Taijiquan Competition to be held in September, south of Beijing in Handan in Hebei Province
The festival is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the simplified Yang school of Taijiquan, and also to mark the 70th anniversary of the death of master Yang Dengfu who started the Yang style.
Source
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
'Marital Arts'
That's quite a heading right there: "Marital Arts Popular Among Women"!
The dictinary describes 'marital' as:
1. Of or relating to marriage: marital status; marital problems.
2. Of or relating to a husband.
So I guess "Marital Arts" is the art of marriage, or maybe the art of being married to men? Help me out here, guys!
But alas, it was meant to be Martial Arts after all - now, who would have guessed?
The article in question is about women "taking over" martial arts, or at least gaining access by the numbers to areas that used to be occupied by men. I for one think that is great! I do hope that we will see more and more places wher both genders can train together on equal terms.
Story:
Many women are now experts in an ancient art once practiced almost exclusively by men. Those who take party say it is not only one of the hottest workouts, but it is also a great way to stay safe.
This typical karate class is missing one very typical thing--men! "I guess it started out because we started going to lunch afterwards," according to a co-owner. What began as just a few women in a men's class is now only women.
"When I first started at the school there were only myself and two others," a student said.
"I couldn't even touch my toes before I started, and it makes you much more aware of your body and what you feel like during the day."
But it's about more than just that benefit to the body, many women here tell you they've joined because of the benefit to the mind--and more importantly, knowing a little bit more about self defense.
Source
The dictinary describes 'marital' as:
1. Of or relating to marriage: marital status; marital problems.
2. Of or relating to a husband.
So I guess "Marital Arts" is the art of marriage, or maybe the art of being married to men? Help me out here, guys!
But alas, it was meant to be Martial Arts after all - now, who would have guessed?
The article in question is about women "taking over" martial arts, or at least gaining access by the numbers to areas that used to be occupied by men. I for one think that is great! I do hope that we will see more and more places wher both genders can train together on equal terms.
Story:
Many women are now experts in an ancient art once practiced almost exclusively by men. Those who take party say it is not only one of the hottest workouts, but it is also a great way to stay safe.
This typical karate class is missing one very typical thing--men! "I guess it started out because we started going to lunch afterwards," according to a co-owner. What began as just a few women in a men's class is now only women.
"When I first started at the school there were only myself and two others," a student said.
"I couldn't even touch my toes before I started, and it makes you much more aware of your body and what you feel like during the day."
But it's about more than just that benefit to the body, many women here tell you they've joined because of the benefit to the mind--and more importantly, knowing a little bit more about self defense.
Source
Monday, August 28, 2006
"Karate chop" murder
Hold on a second! What happened to the "Deadly Judo Chop™"? This is so easy to remember that even reporters should get it right - all kicks are karate - all chops are judo. No exceptions! Geddit?
Story:
A teenager who killed a man with a "karate chop" to steal his designer bag has been convicted of murder.
The 18-year-old male struck his victim on the back of the neck as he intervened in a struggle in Hackney, east London on 18 February 2006. His friend, also 18, then grabbed a Louis Vuitton case. Jurors heard they wanted to steal what they could and were ready to use violence.
Another man was dragged from the car as they two teenagers pulled up outside a nightclub. As the victim ran to help, he was floored with a "karate-style chop" from the accused and hit his head on the ground.
Source
Story:
A teenager who killed a man with a "karate chop" to steal his designer bag has been convicted of murder.
The 18-year-old male struck his victim on the back of the neck as he intervened in a struggle in Hackney, east London on 18 February 2006. His friend, also 18, then grabbed a Louis Vuitton case. Jurors heard they wanted to steal what they could and were ready to use violence.
Another man was dragged from the car as they two teenagers pulled up outside a nightclub. As the victim ran to help, he was floored with a "karate-style chop" from the accused and hit his head on the ground.
Source
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Modern monks
What happened to being content with the concept of having nothing? You know, staring into a wall for days at an end, eating nothing but rice and vegetables, getting up a 4 in the morning to meditate - the usual monk stuff.
This here seems more like a little monk-ey business if you ask me.
"I dream of getting a bigger prize next year"... Why not just take the whole monk-ey thing and move it to Hollywood while you're at it?
Story:
The abbot of the Shaolin temple in the central province of Henan, Shi Yongxin, was rewarded with a spectacular sports sedan worth 1 million Yuan (US$125, 000) for his contributions to the local tourism industry, the Henan-based Dahe Daily reported on August 15.
"I will try my best to promote martial arts to the world in an attempt to boost local tourism. I dream of getting a bigger prize next year, " says the abbot who is in charge of a place widely considered as the birthplace of China's famed Kungfu action.
But the contentious move is likely to stir heated discussion.
Eighty-two respondents do not consider that giving a luxury sedan to a monk is proper, according to a questionnaire conducted by sina.com, one of China's leading web portals.
Source
This here seems more like a little monk-ey business if you ask me.
"I dream of getting a bigger prize next year"... Why not just take the whole monk-ey thing and move it to Hollywood while you're at it?
Story:
The abbot of the Shaolin temple in the central province of Henan, Shi Yongxin, was rewarded with a spectacular sports sedan worth 1 million Yuan (US$125, 000) for his contributions to the local tourism industry, the Henan-based Dahe Daily reported on August 15.
"I will try my best to promote martial arts to the world in an attempt to boost local tourism. I dream of getting a bigger prize next year, " says the abbot who is in charge of a place widely considered as the birthplace of China's famed Kungfu action.
But the contentious move is likely to stir heated discussion.
Eighty-two respondents do not consider that giving a luxury sedan to a monk is proper, according to a questionnaire conducted by sina.com, one of China's leading web portals.
Source
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Finnish trials
Oh, so it's "normal dating" to have relationships with young female pupils - and in great numbers even? I see.
And then we ask ourselves why many women and girls shy away from the martial arts...
Story:
One of Finland’s most extensive sex crime trials began behind closed doors in Oulu district Court on Monday. The prosecution is calling for prison sentences for a 33-year-old martial arts coach. He stands accused of the sexual abuse of a large number of girls who took Taekwondo lessons from him. The indictment contains 22 counts, and a total of 799 individual acts of molestation.
The alleged crimes took place between 1997 and 2005 in different parts of the north of Finland.
The trial is being held behind closed doors in order to protect the identity of he girls in question.
The coach himself has denied committing any crimes. He says that the relationships with his pupils involved normal dating, and that no coercion was involved.
The defendant also faces charges of financial crimes involving hundreds of thousands of euros.
Source
And then we ask ourselves why many women and girls shy away from the martial arts...
Story:
One of Finland’s most extensive sex crime trials began behind closed doors in Oulu district Court on Monday. The prosecution is calling for prison sentences for a 33-year-old martial arts coach. He stands accused of the sexual abuse of a large number of girls who took Taekwondo lessons from him. The indictment contains 22 counts, and a total of 799 individual acts of molestation.
The alleged crimes took place between 1997 and 2005 in different parts of the north of Finland.
The trial is being held behind closed doors in order to protect the identity of he girls in question.
The coach himself has denied committing any crimes. He says that the relationships with his pupils involved normal dating, and that no coercion was involved.
The defendant also faces charges of financial crimes involving hundreds of thousands of euros.
Source
Seasoned black belt
Yes, I think it's ok to be called seasoned at the age of 72! Like we've stated time and time again: Age is just a number...
Story:
Was the longtime Burbank resident who retired seven years ago, a quitter? Truthfully, he didn't know, but he desperately wanted to prove he wasn't. It just so happened the very thing he was looking for was only a few blocks away from his home.
After everything he had tried, Steve Urbanovich, who will turn 73 in October, figured he would give martial arts a try. What could it hurt?
Taekwondo became his passion, and it was exactly what he was looking for. Seven years after taking up the sport, Urbanovich has worked his way up to a second-degree black belt.
Source
Story:
Was the longtime Burbank resident who retired seven years ago, a quitter? Truthfully, he didn't know, but he desperately wanted to prove he wasn't. It just so happened the very thing he was looking for was only a few blocks away from his home.
After everything he had tried, Steve Urbanovich, who will turn 73 in October, figured he would give martial arts a try. What could it hurt?
Taekwondo became his passion, and it was exactly what he was looking for. Seven years after taking up the sport, Urbanovich has worked his way up to a second-degree black belt.
Source
Friday, August 25, 2006
Not yet experts ...
I do wonder: Does the ability to write make you an author? And isn't it a rather huge step between being an author, and being an expert author?
I would gather you agree that the answers here would be rather clear. Subsequently - "Having knowledge" about an art (like kung fu here), does not make you an artist, expert or master - you have merely learned the basic language for crying out loud!
Story:
Beijing: With the objective of securing aviation safety, an airliner in China has made it mandatory for young women taking up air hostess jobs, to be experts in Chinese martial arts like kung fu.
This is for the first time that such a stipulation has been mandatory for women aspiring to be flight attendants, said sources in the Sichuan Airlines.
One of the priority conditions for candidates would be knowledge of kung fu, the paper added.
Source
I would gather you agree that the answers here would be rather clear. Subsequently - "Having knowledge" about an art (like kung fu here), does not make you an artist, expert or master - you have merely learned the basic language for crying out loud!
Story:
Beijing: With the objective of securing aviation safety, an airliner in China has made it mandatory for young women taking up air hostess jobs, to be experts in Chinese martial arts like kung fu.
This is for the first time that such a stipulation has been mandatory for women aspiring to be flight attendants, said sources in the Sichuan Airlines.
One of the priority conditions for candidates would be knowledge of kung fu, the paper added.
Source
Accused of rape
India -- On Wednesday, taekwondo player Sangeeta Sharma - who hails from Gurgaon - accused her coach of raping her in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, where she used to train at the local club run by the coach.
The Rajasthan police is investigating the case and meanwhile, the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) has asked the Rajasthan Taekwondo Association to take strict action against the coach. Incidentally, the Rajasthan unit is being headed by a policeman, Upendra Bharadwaj, who is an IG there.
Source
The Rajasthan police is investigating the case and meanwhile, the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) has asked the Rajasthan Taekwondo Association to take strict action against the coach. Incidentally, the Rajasthan unit is being headed by a policeman, Upendra Bharadwaj, who is an IG there.
Source
Thursday, August 24, 2006
'Revenge' attack
Australia -- The sister of a Sydney teenager bashed by a gang of balaclava-clad men says it was revenge for a nightclub incident.
Linda, who did not wish to give her last name, told how her 18-year-old brother Lee was left with a fractured skull, broken left wrist, stitches to his head and severe bruising to his right arm after being beaten by 15 men armed with baseball bats and metal poles.
Linda said the attack was retribution for an incident at a bar four weeks ago, when Lee and three of his cousins had an encounter with the other men.
The attack last night was not the first time the gang has sought revenge for the nightclub incident, she said.
They had attacked one of the cousins from the nightclub, David, 25, as he left the gym two weeks ago. She said 20 of them turned up, wearing balaclavas but David, who has a black belt in tae kwon do, chased them off.
Source
Linda, who did not wish to give her last name, told how her 18-year-old brother Lee was left with a fractured skull, broken left wrist, stitches to his head and severe bruising to his right arm after being beaten by 15 men armed with baseball bats and metal poles.
Linda said the attack was retribution for an incident at a bar four weeks ago, when Lee and three of his cousins had an encounter with the other men.
The attack last night was not the first time the gang has sought revenge for the nightclub incident, she said.
They had attacked one of the cousins from the nightclub, David, 25, as he left the gym two weeks ago. She said 20 of them turned up, wearing balaclavas but David, who has a black belt in tae kwon do, chased them off.
Source
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Stereotypes?
That's a kung-fu girl for ya!
Story:
New Oreans -- A 13-year-old scuba diver, firefighter cadet and kung-fu student has taken the Livingston Parish School Board to court over its plans to segregate her middle school by sex.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Baton Rouge federal court for Michelle Selden, who is scheduled to start eighth grade next week at Southside Junior High School, and her parents.
The suit contends that the program is based on discriminatory stereotypes.
In a statement filed with the lawsuit, the student wrote, "I have always had boys in my classes before when I have gone to school. I don't think that having boys in the class has made it hard for me to learn. I think that boys and girls should be treated the same way by teachers and that is unfair for girls to be taught one way and boys to be taught another."
Source
Story:
New Oreans -- A 13-year-old scuba diver, firefighter cadet and kung-fu student has taken the Livingston Parish School Board to court over its plans to segregate her middle school by sex.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Baton Rouge federal court for Michelle Selden, who is scheduled to start eighth grade next week at Southside Junior High School, and her parents.
The suit contends that the program is based on discriminatory stereotypes.
In a statement filed with the lawsuit, the student wrote, "I have always had boys in my classes before when I have gone to school. I don't think that having boys in the class has made it hard for me to learn. I think that boys and girls should be treated the same way by teachers and that is unfair for girls to be taught one way and boys to be taught another."
Source
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Nut this time!
Arigato (thanks)! I hope you got this guy where it hurts most (and no, that is not his wallet...)? If only more girls started to fight back (including mentally and verbally) against these individuals.
Go girl!
Story:
South Africa -- Eight-year old Tayler Brandsma was honoured on Tuesday for the manner in which she exhibited her self-defense skills on the Suncoast Casino promenade.
She was awarded the Special Achievement Award by her karate association, the Shotokan Karate International Federation, after she took on a man twice her size when he allegedly exposed himself to two of her friends in July. She punched and kicked him until he buckled and fled on his bicycle.
Source
Go girl!
Story:
South Africa -- Eight-year old Tayler Brandsma was honoured on Tuesday for the manner in which she exhibited her self-defense skills on the Suncoast Casino promenade.
She was awarded the Special Achievement Award by her karate association, the Shotokan Karate International Federation, after she took on a man twice her size when he allegedly exposed himself to two of her friends in July. She punched and kicked him until he buckled and fled on his bicycle.
Source
Monday, August 21, 2006
More science talk
I have mentioned earlier this upcoming TV-special as something that should be very interesting to see! I hope this thing will be on the air over here in Europe too!
There is however at least one thing to be aware of in finding out, say which punch is the "hardest" (boxer versus, say a karateka).
To be 100% sure you would need to know that the boxer had the exact same weight as the karateka, and that the punch traveled at the same speed as the karate punch.
When this is said, it should come as no surprise that a boxer punches hardest in the experiments done here. The same has been done ("proven") before.
We may conclude then, that there is very little scientific evidence for keeping your hands at the waist rather than higher up (at face level). There is on the other hand lots of evidence supporting the advantages of holding your guard up - protecting your face/head being one!
The only reason for dropping your guard must be to have a straighter line to the target (body), in order to score points in a (kumite) karate match.
Story:
For the upcoming television special called Fight Science, researchers used high-tech equipment to put real martial artists to the test. The feature will air on August 20 on the National Geographic Channel.
The action took place inside a specially designed film studio that is part laboratory and part dojo, a school for training in the various arts of self-defense.
The result is an unprecedented look at how martial artists generate the power and speed behind each move.
The researchers were surprised to find that boxing is the fighting style capable of delivering the most force in a single punch.
Boxer Steve Petramale delivered about 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) of impact force, the equivalent of swinging a sledgehammer into someone's face.
Source
There is however at least one thing to be aware of in finding out, say which punch is the "hardest" (boxer versus, say a karateka).
To be 100% sure you would need to know that the boxer had the exact same weight as the karateka, and that the punch traveled at the same speed as the karate punch.
When this is said, it should come as no surprise that a boxer punches hardest in the experiments done here. The same has been done ("proven") before.
We may conclude then, that there is very little scientific evidence for keeping your hands at the waist rather than higher up (at face level). There is on the other hand lots of evidence supporting the advantages of holding your guard up - protecting your face/head being one!
The only reason for dropping your guard must be to have a straighter line to the target (body), in order to score points in a (kumite) karate match.
Story:
For the upcoming television special called Fight Science, researchers used high-tech equipment to put real martial artists to the test. The feature will air on August 20 on the National Geographic Channel.
The action took place inside a specially designed film studio that is part laboratory and part dojo, a school for training in the various arts of self-defense.
The result is an unprecedented look at how martial artists generate the power and speed behind each move.
The researchers were surprised to find that boxing is the fighting style capable of delivering the most force in a single punch.
Boxer Steve Petramale delivered about 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) of impact force, the equivalent of swinging a sledgehammer into someone's face.
Source
In Kenya
Kenya -- Karate expert Duncan Bomba yells instructions at 200 Kenyan schoolgirls watching in amazement as he ferociously attacks a colleague posing as a rapist.
With their navy and white school uniforms, tightly braided hair and socks pulled up to their knees, two girls coyly attempt the moves as Bomba takes on the role of attacker.
Fending him off, the girls draw raucous applause and laughter from their friends.
In a country where activists say one woman is raped every half hour, a growing number of Kenyan women and young girls are learning to defend themselves against assault.
Although hard to quantify, rape is common in Kenya, from Nairobi's unsafe slums to the country's unlit country roads. Only a fraction of women report sexual assaults due to intense cultural stigma and a tradition of blaming the victim. But stories of young girls being raped -- many by their own family members -- still dominate local newspapers. One report in 2003 by local and foreign aid agencies said rape and other sexual attacks had increased fourfold since 1999.
Source
With their navy and white school uniforms, tightly braided hair and socks pulled up to their knees, two girls coyly attempt the moves as Bomba takes on the role of attacker.
Fending him off, the girls draw raucous applause and laughter from their friends.
In a country where activists say one woman is raped every half hour, a growing number of Kenyan women and young girls are learning to defend themselves against assault.
Although hard to quantify, rape is common in Kenya, from Nairobi's unsafe slums to the country's unlit country roads. Only a fraction of women report sexual assaults due to intense cultural stigma and a tradition of blaming the victim. But stories of young girls being raped -- many by their own family members -- still dominate local newspapers. One report in 2003 by local and foreign aid agencies said rape and other sexual attacks had increased fourfold since 1999.
Source
Wooden stick
"Wooden stick similar to ones used in karate"? Are they talking abou nimf... nunfu... noch... damnc... name... mumc...? Ah, shoot, you know what I mean - the two short sticks tied together with a rope thing - the nonchakows.
Karate: The (almost) empty hand art.
Story:
Minnesota -- The Brooklyn Park Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted and kidnapped a woman early Sunday morning while she was delivering newspapers to a townhome development.
Police say the victim was confronted at 3:15 Sunday morning, allegedly beat with a wooden stick similar to ones used in karate, robbed and sexually assaulted.
Source
Karate: The (almost) empty hand art.
Story:
Minnesota -- The Brooklyn Park Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted and kidnapped a woman early Sunday morning while she was delivering newspapers to a townhome development.
Police say the victim was confronted at 3:15 Sunday morning, allegedly beat with a wooden stick similar to ones used in karate, robbed and sexually assaulted.
Source
Forgery?
You may ask yourself: What's the big deal, anyone can buy anything online or make up any wild claim about having 59 Deadly Black Belts™ - (and one slightly less deadly yellow), two Absolutely-Great-Grandmaster titles and five million students in 206 different arts anyway...
I suppose you've seen the really stupid diplomas and stuff you can buy on places such as Ebay?
Still, if a person running for office as sheriff makes false claims about his qualifications, I guess it's OK to raise an eyebrow - maybe even both. Heck, why don't we raise them all...
Story:
An attorney representing Benton County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jack Burright says that Oregon State Police investigators erred when they concluded that black belts issued to Burright by the American Law Enforcement Martial Arts Association were not legitimate.
Burright, who withdrew last month as a candidate for Benton County sheriff, was facing possible forgery charges in the wake of reports that he had made misleading or exaggerated statements about his academic and law-enforcement background, including the purchase of a degree from an online diploma mill.
A special prosecutor who reviewed the investigation by the Oregon State Police declined to file charges, saying that the statute of limitations had expired. The black belts did not figure in that decision, but were cited in the police investigation.
Source
I suppose you've seen the really stupid diplomas and stuff you can buy on places such as Ebay?
Still, if a person running for office as sheriff makes false claims about his qualifications, I guess it's OK to raise an eyebrow - maybe even both. Heck, why don't we raise them all...
Story:
An attorney representing Benton County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jack Burright says that Oregon State Police investigators erred when they concluded that black belts issued to Burright by the American Law Enforcement Martial Arts Association were not legitimate.
Burright, who withdrew last month as a candidate for Benton County sheriff, was facing possible forgery charges in the wake of reports that he had made misleading or exaggerated statements about his academic and law-enforcement background, including the purchase of a degree from an online diploma mill.
A special prosecutor who reviewed the investigation by the Oregon State Police declined to file charges, saying that the statute of limitations had expired. The black belts did not figure in that decision, but were cited in the police investigation.
Source
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Wielded sword
A 26-year-old Port St. Lucie man was charged with assault and battery after being accused of brandishing a 4-foot samurai sword at his girlfriend and a female roommate, punching his girlfriend in the face and threatening to kill the roommate Friday morning.
The man's girlfriend told police he woke Friday morning and was angry and aggressive toward both women. He picked up the steel-blade sword and punched his girlfriend in the forehead causing her to fall on the floor, according to reports.
He allegedly told the female roommate, "If you come out of your room I will kill you," reports said. The roommate told police she was so scared the man would attack her with the sword, she punched out a window and ran to a neighbor's home to call 911.
Source
The man's girlfriend told police he woke Friday morning and was angry and aggressive toward both women. He picked up the steel-blade sword and punched his girlfriend in the forehead causing her to fall on the floor, according to reports.
He allegedly told the female roommate, "If you come out of your room I will kill you," reports said. The roommate told police she was so scared the man would attack her with the sword, she punched out a window and ran to a neighbor's home to call 911.
Source
Say 'chi'
Here is an article about bagua or baguazhang, on of the 'internal' arts of China (Tai Chi being the best known of these arts).
Story:
When it comes to walking the line in martial arts — amid the clang of swords, the clatter of staves and the thud of fists and feet — there's nothing like "walking the circle" to get the blood flowing for combat.
That's because, in the rarefied martial art known as Yin style baguazhang, or bagua, effective fighting is all about moving toward one's center.
Derived from the Taoist philosophy, bagua was founded about 150 years ago in China. Baguazhang literally means "eight diagram palm" and is based on the fighting styles of eight different animals: lion, dragon, snake, bear, phoenix, monkey, rooster and kirin (an animal in Chinese lore that changes form).
Source
Story:
When it comes to walking the line in martial arts — amid the clang of swords, the clatter of staves and the thud of fists and feet — there's nothing like "walking the circle" to get the blood flowing for combat.
That's because, in the rarefied martial art known as Yin style baguazhang, or bagua, effective fighting is all about moving toward one's center.
Derived from the Taoist philosophy, bagua was founded about 150 years ago in China. Baguazhang literally means "eight diagram palm" and is based on the fighting styles of eight different animals: lion, dragon, snake, bear, phoenix, monkey, rooster and kirin (an animal in Chinese lore that changes form).
Source
Saturday, August 19, 2006
'Karate' Suresh
When you've got a nickname such as 'Judo' or 'Karate' - like the famous 'Judo' Gene LeBelle, or 'Karate' Suresh here - chances are you're either a tough guy, very competent in that art, or some weird character all together.
The legendary Gene Lebelle is both extremely competent as well as a tough man. Weird I don't know anything about (though I've heard he's quite a character :).
As for 'Karate' - an Indian criminal - I'm not sure at all. Maybe he's sweet and gentle lad after all, as well as a Deadly Black Belt™ in the art (aka. Martial Arts Expert™)?
Story:
Kerala, India -- The revenge attacks and 'tit-for-tat' violence between criminal gangs in Kazhakuttom have become a cause of concern for the district police. The inter-gang violence, that seems to be spiralling out of control, has triggered a sense of insecurity among local residents.
A recent incident was the latest in the nearly two year-long feud between rival gangs headed by 'Aprani' Krishna Kumar and 'Karate' Suresh.
Source
The legendary Gene Lebelle is both extremely competent as well as a tough man. Weird I don't know anything about (though I've heard he's quite a character :).
As for 'Karate' - an Indian criminal - I'm not sure at all. Maybe he's sweet and gentle lad after all, as well as a Deadly Black Belt™ in the art (aka. Martial Arts Expert™)?
Story:
Kerala, India -- The revenge attacks and 'tit-for-tat' violence between criminal gangs in Kazhakuttom have become a cause of concern for the district police. The inter-gang violence, that seems to be spiralling out of control, has triggered a sense of insecurity among local residents.
A recent incident was the latest in the nearly two year-long feud between rival gangs headed by 'Aprani' Krishna Kumar and 'Karate' Suresh.
Source
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