Forms on the Platform?

I suppose that letting some aggression out on the platform can be a good idea after all - in any case I am quite certain it is far better to do it there - on something solid - than on people inside a crowded subway carriage.

Perhaps that was the idea behind a well known sports brand being given the go ahead to install padded punching bags at the Xujiahui subway station in Shanghai?

The idea behind it is allegedly to allow stressed out commuters punch and kick the bags to let off some steam.

And who knows, perhaps you could even do your next workout while waiting for your train to arrive? Just don't start doing form though ... that would look totally uncool :-)

Railway Staff Learn Martial Arts

Japan --Recent figures from 25 railway companies show that there were 869 attacks on  train crew or station staff in one year.

These numbers have led Japanese railway companies to train staff in martial arts as well as equipping them with pepper spray, according to telegraph.co.uk.

What Did You Sai?

A sai as a concealed "weapon"? Dang, this guy have been watching way too many Ninja Turtles episodes :-)

Story:
Maine -- Police have arrested a 22-year-old Waterville man on a charge of being in possession of a sai, a sword-type (sic.) tool and weapon used in martial arts training.

The man was arrested on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. He was also violating the conditions of release by being in the company of a person with whom he was not allowed contact.

Boy Credits Taekwondo

Missouri -- It was all lost almost in a matter of moments ... the Griffin's family Bloomfield home and close to 21 years of memories inside.

As he helped his struggling mother, Debbie out of the burning house, 10-year-old Shawn credits his training in taekwondo for helping him stay calm, according to kfvs12.com.

Shawn's mom said she couldn't have got out of that room without him; he saved my life.

Bangalore IT/BPO Companies

India -- According to dnaindia.com, following recent incidents that have questioned the safety of women, Bangalore IT/BPO companies in have decided to train their employees in martial arts.

Several large companies are now part of the martial arts bandwagon that was initiated five years ago.

"When up against tough situations, the training gets out of a potential trap," an engineer said. "I'm now better placed to handle problems," says a software professional who is into kickboxing.

A HP spokesperson says, "After the Pratibha Murthy murder, we introduced 'Give it to them' where employees are trained to fight attackers."

Yeehaad Mosquedo

Just what we all need ... Another "mad boember" with martial arts background. Probably another lethal "expert".

Story:
A 43-year-old U.S. citizen born in Columbus, Ohio, has been indicted and arrested for conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists, conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction (explosives) and providing material support and resources to terrorists.

It's alleged that, 1990 and 1991, the man traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan and received military-training at an al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan. In approximately mid-1991, he allegedly joined al Qaeda and stayed at a guest house exclusively for al Qaeda members.

Afterwards, he returned to the U.S. and taught martial arts at a mosque in Columbus.

Source

Different Kind of Fight

Colorado -- Lauren was living the dream of many young women. A professional deejay known as Ms. Vicious, she was in Hollywood, enjoying the "scene" when she hit the moment only other alcoholics can understand.

"(It) got to a point where I was suicidal," she said. "I was just not on a very good path. I wasn't a very honest, good person."

A little more than a year later, Lauren has remained sober, in part thanks to training for a different kind of fight.

"I started kickboxing, originally, as a way to get me sober," she said. "I thought that would be able to get me sober because I would be training so hard, I wouldn't be able to party."

Source

More Goon-Do

You guessed it, another martial arts "expert" and criminal. And how's this: "(...) hockey sticks and other deadly weapons". I knew it - hockey is as deadly as it gets!

Story:
India -- Despite court's direction RAK Marg police failed to act against 'karate' expert.

Salim Mohammad Ansari is a known goonda with as many as 12 cognizable cases recorded against him.

The Bombay High Court had passed an order in December 2006 to register a case of severe assault against him when he and his gang assaulted one Abdul Samad Saheb Shaikh and his brother with hockey sticks and other deadly weapons.

However, one and half months later neither Ansari nor any of his associates have been arrested.
A division bench of the High Court came down heavily on the police officers who have been asked to take immediate action against the accused as well as the officer who is guilty of protecting him.

Shaikh and his brother had bought a commercial gala 2-B1 at Home Trading Compound, Golap Hill Road, Sewree. As soon as they took possession of the gala, Ansari, who boasts of having trained policemen in martial arts and has contacts in both the police and municipality, approached Shaikh and demanded Rs. 50,000 as protection money.

Source

Dangerous ...

Dangerous? What's next - someone who can kill, simply by talking about dental floss? I would argue that being "an accomplished martial arts practitioner" is not the same as being dangerous (dangerously stupid, maybe...).

You may however become a dangerous individual, by turning into a religious fanatic - and yes, any religion will do just fine.

Story:
New York: A judge on Thursday refused to order a terrorism suspect moved out of solitary confinement after prosecutors claimed he was so dangerous he suggested using prayer beads as a strangulation tool.

U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska denied the request by lawyers for Tarik Shah and his co-defendants that they be moved from special housing that leaves them isolated while they await trial.

The men are awaiting trial on charges that they conspired to help a terrorist organization.

Preska said the government had offered tape recordings to support that Shah was an accomplished martial arts practitioner who had tried to recruit others to join al-Qaida and offered to train them.

Source

Goalie for the boys

Got pressure? If not, try being the quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Or the president of the United States. Or a hockey goalie ... or make that a girl hockey goalie on a boys team.

Katie Herron performs her demanding gig with grace.

"I think this is one of the hardest positions in all sports," said Herron, a Lake Central junior who's the No. 1 goalie for the Indians' varsity team. "You're the last line of defense. When someone scores on me, it's always 'What could I have done to prevent that?'

Off the ice, Katie is trained in martial arts. "It helps with my quickness and reaction," she said.

Source

Sexual exploitation

Canada -- She was a young, promising athlete with unlimited potential to go far in taekwondo.

Her 35-year-old coach and instructor knew it, but his interest in her went far beyond the competitions and training.

Yesterday, the former Pan-American Games martial arts coach, now living in Aylmer, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation, admitting he carried on a sexual relationship with the girl after she turned 14 until she was 16.

Source

An Indian affair

India -- A group of over 20 miscreants reportedly looted and injured a team of eight judo players and their coach on board a Lucknow-Bareily passenger train in the outskirts of the city early this morning. They decamped with Rs 16,000 cash, three mobile phones, a digital camera and a bag. An FIR has been lodged against unidentified persons.

According to reports, the group of miscreants boarded the train at Nighohan railway station at around 6.30 am. They reportedly started misbehaving and threatening the passengers as soon as the train pulled out of the station.

They first entered into an argument with a female member of the judo team over a seat. When the rest of the judo players objected, the group reportedly beat them up with sticks and other weapons. The train passengers said the group also snatched their valuable.

Source

Times of India, however reports:
On Saturday, a group of hooligans eve-teased some girls in a passenger train, who were on their way back after participating in a karate competition in Allahabad.

Well, you know, karate and judo - it's all basically the same anyhow ... White pajamas and all that jazz.

Bullied no more

Ever since he started school, Mark Hunt pretty much knew what he could expect each day. There was the routine of class work, lunch and recess. But Mark, now an eighth-grader, knew most days also would include something much more sinister: relentless bullying at the hands of his classmates.

To help him learn how to defend himself, his parents enrolled him in group tae kwon do classes in Weston. Mark immediately took to the program's discipline and camaraderie.

While the initial goal was to teach him how to hit back, Mark and his family soon discovered that martial arts training espouses the opposite approach.

''Tae kwon do taught me not to act on my first impulse, which is to fight back, but instead to think things through and do what's right,'' he said.

Last year, after seven years of hard work, Mark was awarded the coveted black belt, the 10th-highest level of skill.

His new self-confidence and refusal to react to confrontations wore his tormentors down. Finally, he could enjoy going to school.

Source

5,000 attacks

Over 5,000 NHS staff in Northern Ireland have been attacked while working, it has today been revealed.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has said that it is to survey doctors as part of a new strategy to ensure that those who terrorise staff will be dealt with accordingly.

BMA chiefs have insisted that a zero tolerance attitude was required after some doctors were left too traumatised to work.

The threat has become so great that at the Ulster Hospital, on the outskirts of east Belfast, that staff are being trained in martial arts, to enable them to protect themselves from violent patients.

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

Not better

Not better, but as good as...

The author here asks what can be better than karate training for children. Make no mistake about it - quality karate training under an experienced teacher is absolutely great for kids.

But - and this is my point - the same goes for judo, taekwondo, jujutsu, hapkido, aikido, kung fu, wushu and a host of other martial arts.

It is not the art, but rather the way an art is taught and presented, that makes it potentially good (or not good) for a kid.

Story:
Today’s children are the leaders of tomorrow. What could be better if they are taught the good virtues of life and are instilled with the spirits of comradeship, friendship and positive attitude so that they become good and helpful members of the society when they grow up?

Children like to play, shout and create a nuisance most of the time. These unharnessed energies can be controlled and directed for the betterment of the society and for the child itself. What can be better than karate training at this young age?

Source

Kung fu park

A massive kung fu theme park will be built in Shunde District of Foshan, the hometown of martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

Covering an area of more than 200 hectares, the park will include a Bruce Lee Memorial Hall and a large statue of the star.

The theme park is also set to become the Chinese mainland's biggest martial arts training centre.

Source

Something in common

What do "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star Chow Yun-fat, Cannes best-actor winner Tony Leung Chiu-wai and comic director Stephen Chow of "Shaolin Soccer" fame have in common?

They all studied at the same place, founded in 1971: Hong Kong TV station TVB's performing artist training program.

Unlike performing-arts conservatories that offer full-fledged degree programs, TVB's acting program, with a hands-on, condensed curriculum, is practical and abbreviated.

Apart from stage theory and basics on TV production, trainees also learn hosting, makeup, dance and martial arts. It started out as a part-time, night program and the curriculum has never been structured to last more than a year.

Source

Inferior kung fu

"How many times do I have to tell you - it's 'Who'll Stop the Rain', not 'Who'll Stop the Train'!"

Story:
A 17-year-old boy surnamed Liang almost died when he tried to use a kung fu movement to stop a running train in Laibin Railway Station in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Tuesday, Nanguo Jinbao reported.

Liang was pushed to safety by a railway policeman just as he was about to be knocked down. Liang jumped down to the tracks and wanted to use Xianglongshibazhang, a famous kung fu posturing described in many swordsman fictions, to stop the running train.

Source

Web pages that suck

Does your martial arts school or organization have a web site? I hope so. Today, more and more people are using the Web to search for all kinds of services - training included.

And believe me - people judge quality based on appearance. They don't know you or your school/organization yet, so they have to base their impression on what they see and hear.

And why am I mentioning this here?

Simply because webpagesthatsuck.com has chosen a martial arts website as 'The Worst Web Page In The World for April 18, 2006'.

Luckily it's not one of mine, because I would probably have died of shame.

Webpagesthatsuck.com goes on to state: "Martial arts schools are YAITS -- Yet Another Industry That Sucks at web design. I personally dislike the blue links on the black background."

Shame on us! Building a really great, top-of-the-line website takes skill and hard work. For professional results you would need a pro 9 times out of 10.

On the other hand - avoiding the basic pitfalls (read: disasters) is very easy. So why build something that sucks?

Beats me...