How To Breathe With Tai Chi

October 31, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

We all take breathing for granted; it is obviously something that we must do to sustain life. It is as natural to us as life and death itself; or is it?

Take time out

How several of us really bear in mind regarding our breathing and what breathing can essentially do for us. Tai chi breathing movements are incredibly efficient method to promote accurate breathing properly. When we breathe correctly the whole diaphragm is fully engaged which will help us to fully use all our lungs. Learning to breathe correctly is a must for us all, if we want to be fit and healthy. Generally western folk  are inclined to breathe too shallow; this wastes the body of crucial oxygen vital for important cell restoral. Hardly ever do we utilise all our lungs which over a period will slowly drain our bodies of crucial lifeforce. If you would like to learn more about Tai Chi and Breathing click here: Tai Chi Breathing Exercise.

Breathe for life

Correct abdominal breathing will help us in times of anger or in stressful situations, even when we are struggling to get a good night’s sleep. Without the body capable of loosening up the central nervous system it will get bogged down and the trauma fight flight effect will kick in. This subsequently promotes the body to discharge stress hormones, which after a while reduces our nervous system. For this reason anxiety is wedged in your body,  probably producing lasting health issues. One more frequent dilemma which we find ourselves in is a demanding and anxious situation, we are inclined to hold our breath and breath extra shallow, making our bodies grow more sluggish. Anxiety is occupied more in our abdomen, shoulders and jaw.

Simple Tai Chi breathing exercise 1

While you are operating your PC or undertaking your job, use a break, leaving your thoughts to concentrate on your tummy area. Be aware of your breath, but let it happen naturally. Please do not force it. At the start you could discover that your breathing might halt for a time and that you are breathing very low; breathing mainly into the higher section of your chest. However with a bit of exercise your breathing will strengthen and your lower stomach will engage and grow more. This is a really good way to breathe.

Breathing exercise 2

5-10 minutes daily

Sit in a chair with your back straight and also tuck your chin in.Hold your head straight, and with the top of your head pulled upward Sitting forward slightly, placing your legs and feet on the ground shoulder width apart.Make certain that your stance is good and level and that your shoulders are not tense. Placing the palms of your hands right over left on your lower stomach region. make certain that your armpits are open and your arms are held in a curved position. If you are female put the left hand over the right. Put your attention onto your lower belly area. inhale in through your nostrils and out through your mouth. Do not hold your breath, just let it occur. Count one and inhale, next count one and exhale.

Carry on until you get to the count of ten and return to one again and keep on if you lose attention start again. You can keep your eyes open or closed for this exercise. Following training your entire body will turn out to be more stress-free and your breathing will intensify into your lower abdomen region.

Why breathe correctly?

•    It gently massages your internal organs – liver, spleen, kidneys and heart
•    Completely rejuvenates the entire body
•    Relaxes your body to prevent the stress fight flight response
•    Supporting your interior organs, serving to avert illness
•    Encourages the diaphragm to become fully engaged, which helps

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Is Fluoride Good For You or Not?

October 22, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

It is quite amazing when you stop to consider all of the different ideas and notions about proper dental care.  These seemingly conflicting theories leave the patient – or more accurately – the consumer, in a sea of bewilderment most of the time.

Research like that done by Dr. Phyllis J. Mullenix, PhD. clearly makes you question even small amounts of fluoride showing up in our drinking supply and food supply – as many foods are exposed to fluoridated water. She also discusses that when they wanted to study even lower doses of fluoride for extended periods of time, that her funding was cut.

There are even dentists who are against fluoride’s use in the human body for any reason. Confusing, isn’t it? Who do we listen too? I can’t answer that question definitively for you but here are some thoughts that I will share on this aspect of dental health.

I am personally against fluoridation of drinking water. Despite the arguments in favor of forced medication of our drinking supply, I think it is wrong to ‘force’ any medication on a population. This behavior effectively side steps each person’s right to choose. On the other hand, the choice of personal dental care products is just that: a choice. Each person as the right to choose whether he uses fluoridated rinse and toothpaste.

When it comes to adding fluoride to the drinking supply, many scientists and professionals are against the use of fluoride while many others are in support of it. When you have this kind of debate between scientists, isn’t it best to error on the side of caution?  Find out which tools can improve your oral health

Disclaimer: This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not intend to render advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have or think you might have a dental health problem or any other health problem, visit your periodontist or physician for advice, diagnosis and treatment. The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this article.

martial arts – Sword Fundamental Training – Solo Drills and Matching Practice With Dr Yang, Jwing-Ming

October 22, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

Crazy Martial Arts performance

Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong by definition refers to energy work. In this post I will try to shed some light on what is meant by the energy work aspect of the practice.

Qi Gong is often taught as a set of moves separate from the Tai Chi sets. I have found that the vast majority of the time these other moves do not come with much of an explanation of why and how they are any different from the Tai Chi in the sets and that the moves by themselves do not impart any kind of ability different than what is already available in the Tai Chi sets.

The DVD is divided into six main chapters: Intro, General Knowledge, Techniques, Solo Practice, Matching Practice, and the Conclusion. These six main chapters are divided into more than 60 chapters to help you skip to the section you want to review and study. The entire program is a little over three and a half hours long, so you will want to take notes and skip back to the sections as you progress. There are subtitles that go along with Dr. Yang’s instruction. I don’t think they are necessary, but having them there does not hurt. They do not match the exact words of Dr. Yang, but convey the general concepts he discusses.

So, what is needed to survive a real self-defense situation?

My take on the whole self-defense approach, and what I teach my students, is two-fold.

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Want To Get to the UFC? Here’s the Diet!

October 22, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

When choosing MMA you also told yourself you would do what it takes physically and mentally, right. Most athletes fill the core to improving their performance is improving their speed, flexibility, and strength. This belief is true, but do not forget one critical area of training that cannot be left out if you are going to reach your potential.  So, what is that critical piece to boost your MMA training (with the proper MMA Workout Gear for your safety) and career. This specific piece is called performance nutrition.

When it comes to diet you need to first approach eating as an athlete and not something that is pleasurable and gratifying. You can’t feed your body as the typical person does with little value for nutrition. To perform at your peak level you will need special attention on your diet to give you your nutritional requirements. Focus on your body as a high performance vehicle like a Ferrari, and your diet is the fuel. You, therefore, need to search out quality nutrition information that will help you to eat correctly for the rest of your life as an athlete.

There are 4 major reasons that nutrition is crucial to an MMA athlete.

  • If you want to perform in the ring or on the mat at your peak then you will need the proper fuel.
  • Second, the correct fuel will also help you to build quality muscle and prevent injury.
  • Third, to improve your speed and your endurance keep fat to a minimum in your diet in order to keep the fat off your body.
  • Fourth, a good diet rewards you in many ways like; better general health, lengthens your career, and leads to increased confidence.

Many athletes look towards their supplements as the main nutrition where the diet should be the main source with supplements extra nutrients. All too often, athletes will jump to the extras, before they have done their groundwork. Try not to complicate this process a high performance diet is actually a very simple process.

Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day. (Avoid soda and high-sugar juices.)  Do your best to avoid high fructose corn syrup, fat, and large amount of sugar.

Make sure that there is a balance of protein, carbohydrate, and fat in every meal that you eat throughout the day.  Make sure that you have a high-quality postworkout meal immediately following exercise such as a carb-protein shake.

When you are in the middle of your MMA Workout try to eat 1 hour before exercise or a training session.  You must ask yourself, “What is the most

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The Secrets to Becoming an MMA Fighter

October 17, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

Since MMA is known for its wide array of cross training it has drawn many people looking for the health benefits while other train to get into competitions with the ultimate goal of fighting in the UFC. Currently it is hard to find a place to train in MMA since it is comprised of various arts and most schools are of a single discipline, but that is changing. In this article we will go over 4 key areas that will help your quest of becoming an MMA fighter or just in better shape. This article assumes you don’t have the all in one MMA training camp accessibility you would if you moved to Vegas. These four elements can be used in any town across the US.

1. Punching and Kicking (Boxing, Karate, Muay Thai)
This work is to quicken you hand and feet work and can be done with a heavy back o if you can train with a partner who can hold either the kicking bags or focus mitts. To train your hand eye coordination one of the best types of

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Exercise, Diet And Preparation For Kickboxing Contest

October 13, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

The true origins of kickboxing date back above 2,000 years but although classed as a martial art, Kickboxing Tournaments are relatively fresh and the sport of kickboxing was started inside the US inside the early 1970’s. A lot of American Karate practitioners were sick of the strict controls placed on all conventional forms of martial arts tournaments and formed a break away group and thus kick boxing came into being using whole contact kicks and punches that were formally banned inside martial arts competitions At that time a lot of public were worried by the chance of high injury rates so protective clothing was added and protection rules were put into place. The kickboxing tournaments we see today vary in style and are closely related to their traditional martial art style.

Citizens take kickboxing classes for a number of reasons and learning kickboxing techniques is a groovy way of protecting yourself. Kickboxing classes are becoming extremely trendy for fitness and several personal trainers are adopting forms of kickboxing for their clients. Most importantly are those individuals to whom kickboxing

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Tapout Shirts

October 12, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

The TapouT Crew  consists of- Mask (RIP Charles), PunkAss and SkySkrape – are never too shy to strike their notorious poses with fight-frenzied fans the fanfare surrounding the infamous sport of MMA. The TapouT team has been a part of this great sport, as seen through their various sponsorships, from fighters, to The Ultimate Fighter reality series on Spike TV. As the premiere lifestyle brand of the MMA world, TapouT undoubtedly corners the competition- in and out of the octagon!

An American business enterprise, Tapout  specializes in producing clothing and miscellaneous gear targeted at the mixed martial arts community. Charles Lewis, Jr. (also known as “Mask”) and Dan Caldwell(also known as “PunkAss”) founded the company in 1997 in San Bernardino, California. On March 11, 2009 Charles Lewis, Jr. was killed in his Ferrari in a high-speed automobile collision in Newport Beach, California.

The Grand Terrace based company has gone from a gross of ,000 in 1999, to earnings of 0 million in 2008. The company has a worldwide network of licensed retailers, including Dillard’s and Champs.

As the energy is escalating around the MMA culture, TapouT is taking on a life of its own with an attitude so American and Arrogant that the demand for the brand has gone global. “The TapouT phenomenon can’t be explained easily. TapouT is here to help bring the sport to its rightful place of world domination, and our products are just an extension of that,” says TapouT’s ringleader Mask.

The most recognized and fastest growing clothing line, Tapout is the most recognizable gear to come out of Mixed Martial Arts. The tee shirt that made TapouT a household name can now be purchased in over 20,000 retail stores worldwide and online, along with a full line of fighter gear.

Exciting, Cocky, Brilliant! That is what’s being screamed about TapouT!

Tapout Shirts

3 Things to Keep in Mind when Sparring

October 10, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

Wouldn’t you love to have all those great looking tournament trophies you see on display at your at your local school or on your own shelves? Well, you can. Just choose the number of trophies you want and then enter that many tournaments! Ok, that is the end result. How do you get there? The answer is found in one word: sparring. You must work very hard to geat a great deal of situational experience in training to find yourself on the winners podium with a medal or trohpy. You need experience and skill and that is why sparring training is a must. Or, more accurately, proper sparring is a must.

We put together some tips to squeeze the most out of your sparring, these are:

Let’s establish something important the beginning: sparring is not street fighting. Sparring is a drill designed to enhance your fighting skills. Like we have been told since we were kids it is not about win or loss but how you approach it. It is about improvement. That means you need to curb your competitive spirit and approach sparring with an attitude centering on a positive learning experience.

Also, if you are not brown or black belt, you shouldn’t be sparring without proper supervision. In addition to having a knowledgeable eye presenting you with tips and pointers, there will be someone there to ensure the sparring session stays light and friendly.

It is very important that in now way do you spar without the proper sparring gear on. We have all seen the professional fighter sparring and practiciing without saftey equipment, but they have been training many years. If you are training as a hobby or for amateur or tournament competition, you will want to wear as much protective gear as possible.

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Ninjutsu Training and Martial Arts For Fitness

October 8, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

Weight problems are some of the common issues among people from all walks of life and ages. Children or adults, rich or poor, Western or Oriental, overweight is always viewed as a health hazard and this has led to the growing public consciousness about keeping fit and healthy. There are many different approaches to developing a healthier body and though most may stick to the traditional basic formula of diet and exercise, there have been efforts to explore other aspects of life that may contribute to weight loss or gain. True enough, fitness experts are beginning to evolve from merely focusing on physical fitness to actually discovering more about people’s way of life and how this ultimately affects the possibility of obesity or developing a tendency for it. In general, a person’s lifestyle is now being considered as physical trainers develop weight loss or simply fitness regimens for their clients. Factors such as smoking, employment, family background and even romantic relationships are now being incorporated into the total package of wellness that trainers espouse. In fact, even in the aspect of physical exercise as a control for obesity, people are more adventurous and open to different strategies including martial arts. A lot of people think martial arts is solely meant for physical defense but those who truly know it believe that it is, in fact, a total package of wellness for the mind, body and the spirit. Advocates are convinced that martial arts is the best form of exercise there is because while it works to strengthen one’s body, the person is at the same strengthening his will to continue searching for wellness even in the absence of someone to coach him. In other words, martial arts as an exercise goes beyond physical health. It also cultivates and hardens a person’s sense of discipline so he may continue, not just with his exercise regimen, but with any other task in his life with a drive for excellence and the will to always achieve one’s full potential. Of course, part of being a martial artist is gaining recognition for your expertise. This is why although a ninjutsu dvd or video may work to orient one about this type of martial arts, it usually is not enough. Most people would actually want to learn it in actuality and even work one’s way up to a black belt. Because there many types of martial arts, you’ll probably do well getting acquainted with each of them and going for one that is you think you’ll be most at home with and interested in. As an exercise, this regimen is definitely holistic and should work in developing not just a better physique but eventually in making a whole new and better person out of you. Simply getting a ninjutsu video or even enrolling in one of those actual ninjutsu schools could be a good move as you work towards physical fitness thorugh the holistic approach of martial arts. one of your best moves as far as achieving total fitness is concerned.

Ninja Nujitsu and a Nunchaku

October 8, 2009 by Ben Janke  
Filed under MMAVines.com News

The word Ninja conjures up many exciting images of feudal Japan when secret operations practically characterized the whole era. Espionage and assassinations were an ordinary thing and if there were anybody who could execute such missions with unfailing precision, it would be the Ninjas. Aside from their mastery of

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