MARTIAL ARTS

By Adam Hoy
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"Not everything is as it seems, reveals Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid, about the trials and tribulations of training in unconventional ways. Twenty-eight years later, the sage-like advice still reigns true.
Chances are youve seen martial arts on television, in movies and even passed by a dojo once on your way to work, but youve probably never thought about the exercise benefits associated with martial arts. If you are interested in improving your cardiovascular health, losing weight, building muscle or improving your mood, then martial arts may be for you. Train hard, feel good, never give up, in all aspects of life, says Sensei Joe Angelisanti of Tri-Star Karate in Mt Penn. You can apply that to anything. I think it especially applies for those who would like to see physical benefits from martial arts. An improvement in cardiovascular health is probably the most important benefit associated with martial arts. The best way to improve the status of your cardiovascular system is by participating in activities that cause your heart to work harder than normal. These activities can include cycling, running, walking and martial arts. Research has proven that you should try to achieve at least 30 minutes daily of cardiovascular exercise. People are always trying to find a better way to lose weight while enjoying themselves. By participating in even just one hour of moderately intense martial arts, a person can burn over 500 calories. As research has proven, one pound of fat is equal to roughly 3,500 calories. So introducing a workout that burns calories, while moderating your diet, will help you on the path to weight loss. Martial arts can also help you build your bodys muscle mass. Youll burn more calories per day with a higher muscle mass because your bodily metabolic processes operate more efficiently, and your body will become more defined and toned, which aids in increased agility. And who wouldnt benefit from being more graceful, quick and nimble? In addition to being a great physical workout, martial arts is a healthy mental workout. Martial arts are a great way to relieve stress, frustration and boost happiness. Endorphins that are released in your body during physical activities are present in your body for up to four hours after exercise. By regularly exercising, people can improve their moods, almost instantaneously. It all comes down to training your mind to push through your mental barriers, said Master Moyer, of Moyers Karate in Shillington. You always have enough gas to go that little bit more, but its your mind telling you that it cant.

o fully appreciate this lesson, you need to identify what the conventional methods of training are. If running, walking, hiking, and cycling came to mind, you are on the right track, sometimes literally. But, have you ever thought about the less conventional fitness regimens like the martial arts? Martial arts focus on self-defense training, character development, selfconfidence building and, yes, fitness.

Martial arts are not just a mens club anymore. Women and children can benefit from them too. However, it hasnt always been this way. Students at Master Moyers I had one of the first women karate instructors, recalled Hanshi Snyder, of East Coast Karate in West Lawn. It was almost taboo to have a woman who had earned her black belt. According to Master Moyer, it wasnt until recently that women even considered participating in martial arts. Its not that they couldnt do it, said Master Moyer. I think its because it always seemed like such an intense sport, they were afraid to try. But Im glad they finally did. 6 Fitness Berks

While martial arts are great at promoting a healthy lifestyle both physically and mentally, it also benefits women in a completely different way. Women who participate in martial arts, or any exercise routine, are more likely to have higher self-esteem and have a healthier image of themselves. They are also better at protecting themselves. Young girls, who are constantly being assaulted with images of perfect bodies, would greatly benefit from martial arts, because of the improved self-esteem benefits. Dont think that women are the only ones benefitting from martial arts; kids are also getting in on the action. Parents may be wary of the suggestion, but martial arts do not promote violence, as some suggest. It is actually a great way for kids to learn respect, self-discipline, and socialization skills. Each class begins and ends with the kids bowing to their instructor, expressing respect not only to their instructor but to all of the elders who have come before them. There are also tests every few months for the kids to try and move up in belt color. The students need to set goals and work towards them as they hope to move to the next color. Its all set up in this hierarchy. You must move up the ladder and achieve at each level, said Sensei Angelisanti. The biggest benefit from martial arts may actually be for kids who suffer from attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their self-control and concentration skills are being developed with martial arts, which may be an added benefit for school or home.

There are only so many different ways you can punch and kick someone, says Master Moyer. It all comes down to your approach and that is where all the different styles come into martial arts. Determine where your limitations lie. If you have a small build, a martial art that employs striking may not be for you. If you are older or less able to move around, then Chinese martial arts may not be for you. However, some Chinese styles are all about the technique, so they rely less on your height and weight. People come up to me and say that they have knee or back issues all the time, says Sensei Angelisanti. I try my best to help them learn how to move around their problems. Which teaching style do you prefer? Does this instructors teaching style suit your personality or does it just seem abrasive? There are many different styles with many different instructors. If you dont mesh well with one, there are plenty of others to try. Examine the instructors credentials. Visit and watch a class, said George Dillman, a 10th degree black belt in the discipline of ryuku kempo karate and Berks County native. Ask yourself, is this something I can see myself doing? Watch the instructor. Are they on the floor, hands on, demonstrating and instructing, or are they letting someone less qualified do the instructing. If a school isnt willing to let you watch a class or two, it is a red flag. You will need to devote a healthy amount of time to your art. Most martial arts have exercises for you to practice at home, which means they dont want you only practicing in class. We arent running Mc-MartialArts to get the kids in and out so that their parents can brag to their friends, assured Sensei Angelisanti. Its just not what we are about.

The best way to decide which type of martial art is for you is to do research-lots and lots of research, explains Hanshi Snyder. The following list of tips is compiled from martial arts instructors throughout Berks County. Decide on a budget. Depending on the martial art you choose, there could be a significant investment for equipment. Its up to you. Remember, its hard to pursue anything effectively if you cannot afford the necessary tools or equipment for training. Whats your goal? Do you want to learn martial arts for the art itself, or do you want to add a new exercise to your regimen? You will be able to narrow your focus on one or two different styles once youve determine your exercise or fitness goals. We arent looking for people to be Bruce Lee, thats not what we are about, joked Sensei Angelisanti. Choose the style that best suits you. If youre interested in full-body training, then you may want to pursue judo. Defined as the gentle way, judo focuses on self-defense, as opposed to aggressive fighting. The basics of judo are all about throwing your opponent by using different disarming techniques. If you are interested in spicing up your workout, then kung fu may be for you. Kung fu is categorized by hard and soft techniques. The hard techniques focus on striking and kicking while the soft focuses on balance and ground attacks. Perhaps karate? It differs from kung fu by focusing on blows with hands and feet.

You can read this article and may understand the terms, but you will never appreciate and understand it all if you dont experience it firsthand, says Sensei Angelisanti. Martial arts are good for everyone. It improves your life skills, physical fitness and attitude in all aspect of your life.

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the technique to defeat enemies. It uses a variety of grappling techniques while using weapons. The idea behind the technique is to use an attackers energy against him, rather than opposing it. Jujutsu encourages the idea that a smaller, weaker individual can successfully defend himself against an attacker who is both bigger and stronger by using leverage, among other techniques. It is very prominent in mixed martial arts today.

Judo
Meaning gentle way, is a Japanese martial art and Olympic sport. The sport uses throws, takedowns, grappling, joint locking and strangleholds. Strikes and thrusts from hands, feet or weapons are not allowed in judo competitions. Judo has become popular worldwide and has spawned offshoots, such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Martial Arts 101

A
ccording to DojoLocator.com, the top ten types of martial arts in Berks County are karate, taekwondo, kick boxing, jujutsu, tang soo do, mixed martial arts, kung fu, hapkido, kenpo/kempo, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Fitness Berks thought the list lacked a very popular martial art, and Olympic favorite, so we threw an eleventh spot for, you guessed it, judo.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Is a martial art, combat sport, and a self-defense system that uses grappling and ground fighting. It encourages the idea that a smaller, weaker individual can successfully defend himself against an attacker who is both bigger and stronger by using leverage and proper technique usually by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the attacker.

Mixed martial arts

Also knows as MMA, is a full-contact combat sport that allows striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, from an assortment of other combat sports. Unlike the other styles of fighting, this form of martial arts can be traced back to the ancient Olympics. The sport of Pankration was the first documented unarmed fighting style. In the 1900s there was a surge of mixed-style fighting contests that emerged throughout Europe and Japan. In 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was created. It implemented new rules and regulations that made the previous mixed martial arts competitions significantly safer.

Karate
Developed in Okinawa, Japan, employs punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. In some styles, grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are also taught.

Taekwondo
Developed in Korea, involves the use of the legs and feet. It combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, and, in some cases, meditation and philosophy. Two main styles make up taekwondo; traditional and sport. Traditional refers to classic taekwondo, which was developed by the South Korean military during the 1950s and into the 60s. Sport taekwondo is the more recognizable of the two, and the one you saw if you watched the Olympics this year.

Tang Soo Do
Is a Korean style that combines several different forms of martial arts. Literally translated, the word Tang means Tang Dynasty of China, which reflects the shared cultural background between China and Korea. Soo means hand, but implies fist, punch, strike, or defense, etc. "Do means way of life or art. So, Tang Soo Do means the Korean classical martial art which was influenced by the Tang method of martial art. One of the most famous students of Tang Soo Do is Chuck Norris, who introduced America to this art.

Kickboxing
Is exactly what it sounds like, boxing with your feet. It originated in Japan during the 1960s when a Japanese karate expert traveled to Thailand and discovered Thai boxing. He removed elbow strikes that were allowed in Thai boxing and combined it with karate. The United States were quick to adopt kickboxing, however they also removed knee strikes.

Hapkido
Developed in Korea, is considered an eclectic martial art. Because it uses joint locks, mixed martial arts, kicks, punches and other striking attacks, hapkido is considered a form of self-defense. Weapons are also sometimes used in training, including a sword, rope, nunchaku, cane, short stick, and staffs, which vary depending on the particular hapkido fighting tradition. It uses long and close-range fighting techniques, utilizing jumping kicks and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges and pressure point strikes, joint locks, or throws at closer distances. Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, non-resisting movements, and control of the opponent.

Chinese martial arts

More popularly know as kung fu, is the umbrella term for a number of fighting styles developed in China. Each of these fighting styles are categorized into families, sects and schools using similar characteristics. Kung fu has several sub-styles, which are categorized by geographic location. Shaolin is one of the most common sub-styles of kung fu, which is practiced in northern China. Kung fu can be identified by its fluid movements, which can be seen in the film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Kenpo
Also known as kempo, uses multiple martial arts that developed in Hawaii. The style is a mixture of Ryukyuan martial arts, Chinese martial arts, Japanese martial arts as well as other influences. In the United States, kenpo is often referred to as kenpo karate. It uses a mix of Chinese circular movements and hard linear movements, becoming a self-defense system.

Jujutsu
Also known as jujitsu or jiu-jitsu, was developed in feudal Japan sometime between the late 1180s and early 1600s. Samurai were the first to use 8 Fitness Berks