Cost of Martial Arts Classes

Copyright (c) 2007 James Liu

Martial arts are one of the best ways to stay healthy and fit. Martial arts like jujitsu, karate and judo improve precision and concentration. They are also known to inculcate self-discipline and punctuality. The best way of learning martial arts is by joining the local martial arts school or club. Choosing a martial arts club is not at all complicated. Once the goals of training become clear, the choice becomes almost clear. There are some important factors that need to be taken into consideration before joining in a particular school. Joining a good school or club can make the learning experience very enjoyable.

The easiest way to locate a local club is to search yellow pages. Advertisements in papers or online classifieds may also help. With the wide popularity of the World Wide Web, most clubs have their own websites. Running a search in a search engine like Google or Yahoo! May be helpful in locating good clubs. Running searches in local search engines and directories may also help. In you happen to live in Orange County, California you can easily locate a club as there are many clubs are in Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach and many more areas.

The next step would be the cost of classes. It is better to enquire before hand about all costs and not just the tuition fee as additional fee may be involved. Depending upon the school the registration fee may vary from anywhere between $50 and $400. This also depends upon the duration of the course. It is also better to for a free demo class. Many schools and clubs offer demo classes but in case they don’t, asking them for a demo class may help. They may either offer it for free or for a reduced introductory price. Introductory classes are usually of 1 week duration and may cost a nominal $10 to $20. Getting committed to a martial arts club without test trying may not be a good decision.

The next step would involve getting a uniform. There are many ways one can a jujitsu uniform. There are many shops available in and around Orange County. Many of these shops offer them at discount prices. Even without discount, there are affordable. Other way of getting a uniform is to order online. Running a search on Google or Yahoo! would be helpful. While choosing an online store it is advised to check for the reputation of the website. It is always reliable to depend on bigger sites. Another factor that should be taken into consideration is the time of delivery. It is good to prefer sites offering faster delivery.

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Indian Art Now An Investors First Choice

Today, the financial sector and the extravagant art galleries are playing counterparts in ensuring high stakes for Indian art in the stock market trading. Indian art has grown into a major brand and the artists have become the brand ambassadors like never before. There has been a complete change in the gears with the domestic as well as the international market finally noticing it as an investment option.

Earlier, art was purchased as a luxury commodity to add to your stylized home dcor and even office dcor for that matter. But in the recent times, Indian art has become an investment in every sense of the word. There are investors flocking the Indian art scene and investing in the works of art. These artworks now also possess a strong resale value due to their demand and valuing in the market.

There are major business tycoons and corporate biggies offering and working closely with the stalwarts from the art industry. The pooling of capital and resources has been a mutually benefitting situation for the business owners as well as the art lovers and artists.

With the India art industry on its ascending curve, the increasing number of investors only spells more funds and an even better platform for the upcoming artists. The leading name in the initiation of investments and promotion of the upcoming art, Copal Art plays a significant role in bringing funds to Indian art and fortunes turn in the favor of the Indian artists. Moreover, it offers a diverse range of services to both the upcoming as well as established artists from the Indian art industry.

Enlightenment, Zen, And The Martial Arts!

The martial arts have long been held up as a vehicle for enlightenment. Indeed, this is the goal at the end of the path of The True Art. This article is about why this is so, and to enable the reader to reach the end of that path all the sooner.

Enlightenment is when light shines forth from the individual. With that light the enlightened being views the world differently. His perceptions are heightened, and he has a superior viewpoint.

If enlightenment happened because of the fact of motion, then movement would result in enlightenment. Hockey, ballet, football, all would result in an enlightened individual, but they don’t, so one must ask oneself, what is it about the Martial Arts that they result in enlightenment of the human being?

What is different is that there is combat, and when one understands the essence of combat, one becomes enlightened. What is the essence of combat? One could sum up the subject by saying that when one finally understands he is opposing himself, he becomes enlightened, and a study of the martial arts does eventually result in this.

The universe, you see, is a playing field rich with moving objects. Every object in the universe has a direction to its mass. It is only in the martial arts that one actually engages in the study of the trajectory of flying objects as the one who creates the direction of those flying objects.

A fist flies through space at you, and you go through a range of emotions. Eventually, you give up emotions so that you can better analyze the flight of the fist. Thus, you rise above base reaction and become cause over the motion of the universe.

A person threatens you, he holds a weapon and stalks you, and you must divine the direction before it manifests. You must look at the world as it is, and not through some fantasy, and thus you look at the world you created. Thus, you rise above being the flotsam and jetsam of a universe awash with random motion, and thus you take the reins of your own destiny.

There is no motion in this universe, you see, that you have not created. That star shines for you, because of you, if it wasn’t for you, there would be no purpose for that star to shine. And through the tempering of form, the steeling of will, the martial artist engages in combat, to give up combat and become what he truly is, an enlightened being free to enjoy the universe.

Definition About Martial Arts

Typically this group uses “Martial Art” in one of two ways:

1) The first definition is a generic one, which defines a “Martial Art” as the study of any kind of combat and/or self-defense techniques.

This definition includes non-oriental arts like boxing. This definition includes both those arts practiced primarily as a sport, and those arts practiced primarily for self-defense. This definition includes those arts that emphasize only physical technique. This definition also includes those arts that emphasize a philosophical or mental aspect in addition to physical techniques. In its broadest usage, this definition includes learning how to drive a tank or drop bombs out of a plane as a Martial Art. This explains the somewhat facetious references you will see to “Gun Fu”, the martial art of learning how to use firearms (implying, as the dictionary definition does, that a martial art must be oriental to be legitimate).

2) The second definition is much narrower, and draws a distinction between a “Martial ART” and a “Martial WAY”. To offer a gross simplification:

A martial art is the study of an art that emphasizes only physical techniques. Perfection of technique is the primary concern. A martial way emphasizes the study of both physical techniques and a philosophical or mental aspect as well. Perfection of the self is the primary concern. The emphasis on this distinction is very clear for those arts that have Japanese names. Typically, Japanese martial *art* style names end in “jutsu”, such as “jiu-jutsu”, “aiki-jiujutsu”, or “ken-jutsu”. Typically Japanese martial *way* style names end in “do”, such as “ju-do”, “aiki-do”, or “ken-do”.

art

Pronunciation: ‘rt

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin art-, ars — more at ARM

Date: 13th century

1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation

2 a : a branch of learning: (1) : one of the humanities (2) plural : LIBERAL ARTS b archaic : LEARNING, SCHOLARSHIP

3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill

4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1) : FINE ARTS (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : a graphic art

5 a archaic : a skillful plan b : the quality or state of being artful

6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

synonyms ART, SKILL, CUNNING, ARTIFICE, CRAFT mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised. ART implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power . SKILL stresses technical knowledge and proficiency . CUNNING suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing . ARTIFICE suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature . CRAFT may imply expertness in workmanship .

Martial Arts

A martial art is any skill that can be applied in warfare. The word martial means “military.” So, a martial art is a military art. Most people don’t really consider that when they think of the martial arts. The first things that usually come to mind are leaping, kicking, punching, blocking, inverting elbows, twisting necks, throwing, and sword fighting. That is a very narrow view of the martial arts, though. Did it occur to you that horsemanship, javelin throwing, archery, spear fighting, halberd fighting, wrestling, knife fighting, rifle, shotgun, and pistol shooting, demolitions, logistics, and battle strategy are all martial arts? Anything that a soldier might do in battle is a martial art.

Information on tea storage can be found at the Types Of Tea site.

The Gwynne Jones Misleading Article in MartialArts Illustrated

News

Gwynn Jones misleading article in Martial Arts Illustrated. and its effect on British Aikido History.

Bends the Branch

A statement by Henry Ellis

Please visit the National Aikido Data-Base for forum comments www.aikido-database.co.uk

I am writing this brief statement to correct the serious errors stated within the MAI June 2005 article interview “Bends the Branch” with Mr Gwynne Jones. The article would have served the readership better had it been titled ” Bends the Truth ” . I have both emailed and written to the editor of MAI magazine to politely request that the errors be corrected, or for my letter to be added to the letters to the Editors page. I am sorry to add that neither of my communications to MAI editor were acknowledged, nor were they added to the letters to the Editors page in the following two issues.

I would have thought that MAI would have have made a positive response to such serious errors to the history of British Aikido and the named students from that period. Mr Gwynne Jones has also chosen not to apologise for his confused perspective of the history of British Aikido.

Mr Jones makes misleading statements of a period before he himself had started Aikido, describing events as if he were actually there, he did not bother to contact any of the Abbe students of that time to verify his ” facts ” .

As it was proved with Mr Jack Poole’s serious memory distortions with the history of British Aikido, If left for a period of time these matters can soon be recalled as fact, and sadly history is altered for the genuine students of the future. One can only assume that Mr Jones has decided it would be prudent to follow Mr Poole and not apologise for their deliberate mistakes, they obviously stand by their statements. I find it most ironic that in the very same article of errors Mr Jones states with some pride “When I eventually go to the great dojo in the sky, the epitaph on my grave to read ‘An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it ! ‘” Perhaps now is a good time to think of a new epitaph ?

I have never been surprised by any of Mr Poole’s claims or actions in recent years, I would add that I am surprised and disappointed by the statements of Mr Gwynne Jones who I once considered a friend.

The original dan grades of Abbe Sensei along with Sensei Ken Williams did so much in those early days to promote Aikido which then was a little know Martial Art. Teaching for free, Derek Eastman and I traveled around the UK teaching for free. we never received any payment, just a bed occasionally for the night and a meal, many a night we spent sleeping in the car, we never complained, we actually enjoyed what we were doing. These efforts and sacrifices were to promote the name of Aikido. Derek and I were the first to introduce Aikido to the Further Education System. These original students should be recognised for their part in the inception of UK Aikido. People such as Mr Jones and Mr Poole and so many others now reap the benefit from those early teachers.

The Article

Mr Jones refers to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei as ” Abe ” Matsutharu Otani Sensei as “Tani”

Mikito Nakazono Sensei as ” Nagezomo ” .

Although Mr Jones uses these strange names in every reference in the article, I will use the correct names for historical reasons.

Gwynne Jones:

Well, Ken Williams had trained under Abbe Sensei (Abe) who was a great Budo man and his style was very linear. YoshinKan formal Aikido.

Ellis:

Abbe Sensei nor Williams Sensei ever taught Yoshinkan, there was no Yoshinkan style when Abbe Sensei was with OSensei. ( Shihoda Sensei developed YoshinKan in 1955 )

Gwynne Jones:

However, when Nakazono ( Nagezomo ) was called over by Abbe Sensei ( Abe ) to properly introduce Aikido to this country.

Ellis:

Mr Jones’s words baffle me, on the arrival of Nakazono Sensei ( Nagezomo ) there were eight dan grades, one 3rd dan and two second dans, I think it is fair to assume that Aikido was well established and healthy on his arrival.

Gwynne Jones:

He Nakazono ( Nagezomo ) became famous for saying, while he was looking at four or five people on the mat wearing hakamas, that three of them should ” Best sell hakama today while you can get a good price” .

Ellis:

The previous statement is pure nonsense. Fact.. Nakazono Sensei ( Nagezomo ) looked at one student in particular a stated ” Necessary sell your Gi whilst prices are high ”

Gwynne Jones:

He ( Nakazono) proceeded to downgrade them, Ken Williams kept his grade as did Hayden Foster and possibly Henry Ellis and Andy Allen with a few others who were the nucleus of Aikido then in the London area.

Ellis:

Nakazono Sensei ( Nagezomo ) down graded one student and one student only from second dan to first dan, which we all thought was so very wrong. No others were downgraded, Henry Ellis was not that student, Ellis has never ever been down graded or ever over graded.

For the record, Andy Allen was not there on this occasion, he was only a beginner at this time and had been introduced to Aikido by Henry Ellis.

Ellis:

Nakazono Sensei had been invited to the UK as he was the official AkiKai Hombu representative for Europe and North Africa. Kenshiro Abbe Sensei wanted to devote his time to his main objectives of promoting Judo and his philosophy of Kuy Shin Do. He had asked that Nakazono Sensei ( Nagezomo ) supervise the further promotion of British Aikido, and not to ” Properly introduce Aikido to this country ”

Ellis:

I hope that students having read this statement will now be more aware of the facts.

A brief statement by Henry Ellis.

Co-author: Positive Aikido

http://www.EllisAikido.org

http://www.geocities.com/britishaikido