Have you ever wondered how we are able to teach the martial arts? How do we know where it comes from and why? Have you ever taken the time to go research the lineage of the style of martial arts you do? All to often we just DO we don't ask questions as to why and how. I have been training in Kenpo karate for over 15 yrs and I still find the history fantastic there are so many lineages and faimly trees as I call them they usually start with Choki Motobu and lead off after that with James Mitose and it will go all the way down to Professor Nohelty. I love to learn where and how things in the martial arts came about so maybe you should take the time to do some research and find out how it came to be.

     This sparring article says exactly what I am trying to teach in my classes every 3rd Wednesday of the month. so I pasted this while doing some martial arts research from

http://www.lehightaekwondo.com/columns/?p=15

    Throughout our training, we learn many striking and kicking techniques. To learn and improve these techniques, we practice them using different methods. We throw them into the air. We hit targets. We even practice against each other with control. We do these practices countless number of times, so these techniques would become as natural to us as turning a door knob to open a door.

    However, striking a target that’s stationary … or with a predictable movement pattern … is relatively easy. It’s especially simple when we are not being struck back. In other words, even if we can kick or punch a focus pad fast and with great force using an exemplary technique, it still does not necessary mean that we can do the same against another human being.

    Sparring provides those pieces that are missing in other training methods. Not only a target is moving unpredictably, but it also strikes back. It forces us to focus more. And it allows us to study and figure out the real timing and movements involved in using techniques that were learned in other methods of training.

    Unfortunately, a few bumps and bruises are often expected in sparring despite the rules to prevent injuries. But I think this is a small price to pay for what we can learn from it. Besides, as the old saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” Practicing Martial Art has never been about being comfortable, but being stronger.

    While sparring is not the same as a real fight, I think sparring is a good compromise between a real fight and a practice. It allows us to experience a fighting situation in relative safety. I hope those who avoid sparring would opt to try, to make their training more complete.
Statements made in this column reflect the personal views of the author.

These views do not necessarily reflect those of Lehigh Valley Taekwondo and its staff.

                 Safety is an important thing that we talk about at all times in the Academy. Safety can be something as simple as eating right, drinking right or warming up correctly. So in today’s blog we are going to talk about how to be safe and what the consequences.

                First we are going to talk about prevention of injuries. First is warming up correctly you have to come in early and stretch and warm your body up, sitting in the waiting room will not get this accomplished, everyone is different so you should know what your body needs. Sometimes the warm up in class is not enough for some people.

                Next is stop before damage occurs in other words stop when you feel pain or discomfort if you feel discomfort ask if you are doing the movement correctly, but first and foremost stop.

                Go slowly when learning anything if you go fast you run a greater risk of hurting yourself. If you take your time you will learn better and you will be able to make sure you are doing it correctly.

                Eat sensibly don’t eat a meal right before your work out you should eat something sensible about an hour before your workout as well as waiting an hour after you work out.

                Drink sensibly this does not refer to what you drink it refers to how and when you drink. Keeping yourself well hydrated is a way to help you from getting injured.

                Last is cooling down and resting between workouts after your workout remember to stretch and rest your whole body especially the parts you have been working out the hardest.

                So in summary stretch, drink and eat responsibly to prevent injuries. Next week we are going to talk about the consequences of not doing this and things that you might be able to do if they do happen.

 I talk a lot about intensity in class and I believe it is a vital part of your training in the martial arts. You came to train here in the martial arts for your own reason. If it was for fitness, to get stronger, to socialize and get focus or any other reason intensity and pushing to will get you the results you want. If you only train to where you are comfortable and where you just break a sweat you will stay at the same point forever. You need to push yourself in every aspect of your martial arts whether it is stretching, forms, combinations, strength training, cardio or any other aspect if you push just that little bit further you will get there. Take for example stretching if you want to become super flexible then if you just sit there then you won’t get any more flexible but if you push just that extra inch or half an inch you will become more and more flexible. If you want to become fast it’s the same issue just push to make your technique and form very good and then push for that speed and do the drills that you learn in class or as an instructor for some movements to help you. This is only a small part of intensity but it is a vital part of your training at any point in your training.  You get back from your martial arts what you put in to it!

               The essence of being a black belt is this week’s topic for conversation. Being a black belt is mental, physical, spiritual, and we cannot forget good character. We are going to talk about a few things that pertain to either becoming a black belt or being a black belt as well as some things that are for students and some things that are for instructors.

                First is being a teacher, as you know the Instructors here at the academy have to be at least a first degree black belt so being a teacher is also about being a black belt. Being a teacher is really about helping people learn about  survival not just in the physical aspect but the mental and spiritual ways as well because we get bombarded by these things at all times in everyday life.

                Second is about being a black belt, being a black belt is about a lot of things mainly continuously striving for excellence. Most people start striving and then they stop being a black belt makes you continuously strive not just in martial arts but at home, work, school, and at play.

                Next is being a role model whether we like it or not as we take martial arts we are role models. As teachers we are role models to our students and family and friends, as students we are role models to younger students and family and friends that we choose to share our martial arts experience with. There are things we teach and learn that impact lives and give people the power to make the right choices through our role modeling.

                Last is something I personally talk about all the time, training! Training and continued training is paramount to get the most benefits from martial arts training. For teachers how can you stand up in front of your classes or students and get them ready for a black belt for example and say that they have to get into shape or push to do that extra repetition when you your self are not doing that? It will be extremely hard to get that message across if you are not training. And as instructors how do you expect you, your family, your school, or the martial arts to survive if you do not train as instructors this is your lively hood. As students you have to train that way you can ask those questions you have to your instructors and that way be able to push your self to that next level of excellence.

                In summary being a black belt is a life changing experience and it is not at all easy but with you training and pushing yourself along with your instructors help you will be able to be that better person and be a more well rounded person.

(Some information from interview with Master Ernie Reyes and MAIA)

               This week’s Blog is about the benefits of drilling sometimes we don’t do enough of this and I believe that is one of the more important aspects of Martial arts. Drilling was devised to develop five main attributes and they are speed, power, endurance, flexibility, and balance.

                First speed some martial artists believe that speed is more important than technique a fast loose limber muscle directed by pure intention can move with lightning swiftness. Speed has several components first, improving concentration; second, relaxing muscles when they are not needed; and finally flow (moving limbs such as your arms and legs smoothly).

                Next is Power, power has two main components one is just the sheer strength of the muscle and two is delivering all that power or strength to your target. We do things like push-ups, weight training, and isometric and dynamic tension training in our everyday classes you should continue to do them outside of class as well to get the full benefit of those drills.

                Endurance is talked about a lot in our classes endurance is on of the hardest attributes to develop, possibly because of the mental attributes needed to develop endurance physically. You need patience and perseverance to really develop this attribute. A classic exercise for this is just to hold horse stance that is why in so many schools horse stance was the first thing that you learned and were taught to hold until you learned anything else.

Flexibility is an easy one but so many people neglect it all to often you learn so many great stretches and ways to increase your flexibility here at the school but you have to do them regularly to see really beneficial results. So in turn do your stretches daily to see the desired results.

Finally is Balance practice any movement and/or drills to improve your practice but one of the best exercises to improve your balance is holding crane stance and to hold it for as long as you can.

So drilling is very beneficial as you can see it had so many attributes and if you are not doing it you are losing out on a lot of key ingredients in your martial arts training. If you really want to be the best at anything you do there are drills and movements to do and if you do them you will excel at whatever it is you do!

Info from “Tuttle Martial Arts Kung Fu basics” By: Paul Eng pages 122-124

A couple weeks ago we talked about intensity this week we are going to talk about effort. These two subjects are essential for your training. Intensity is how focused and how much energy you put into your training. Effort is how intense you are when you are training.

                Giving 100 percent when you are training is very important because if you give 100 percent one day and only 25 the next then 50 the next time you’re not being consistent and to really benefit in your training you have to be consistent. Also if you give that 100 percent only until you get tired then you get lazy and only give 50 percent then you wound benefit as much as you would by always giving 100 percent. If you don’t give 100 percent you will always get to that point every time you train and never get past that point if you always give 100 percent effort, Black Belt Effort, you can get to that point and then push your self past it and get better and better at everything you do.

                So in summary always give 100 percent and everything will get better and that doesn’t only mean in class it means at all times when you train whether it is practicing before class, class time, practicing at home, or any other way that you train always give that Black Belt Effort!