Month: November 2018

Mixed Martial Arts Clothing- Choice Of People Of Varied Age Groups

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Since ages Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has been popular as a full contact combat sport among the masses of the United States and Canada. In the present scenario, after being known as a multi-million dollar business industry, the MMA has played a pivotal role in thrilling the entire sports fraternity coming with advanced fighting techniques and skills. We can say this has been quite responsible for creating enormous craze amongst the people for purchasing the Mixed Martial Arts clothing and accessories. The main thing is that today not only the fighters are using these apparels, but a large group of fashion freaks have come forward in order to make purchasing for these outfits.

Obviously, the current market has numbers of options of colors, styles and brands of MMA apparels. But, when anyone plans to adorn him/her with such outfits, he/she does not have to put his/her great efforts in finalizing the one. Put simply, the reason is quite clear because today a huge range of fantastic designs and creative styles of this clothing style is serving various clothing needs of the people living in different parts of the United States and Canada. People can find them in different colors that range from white, black to grey. MMA shirts fit snugly on body and it is very comfortable to carry them. One has an opportunity to avail with an exclusive range of T-shirts which contain information about varied MMA fighters. Apart from it, people can go through an exclusive range of hooded sweatshirts for cooler weather.

All in all, in the current world the colorful and attractive Mixed Martial Arts clothing and accessories have given many people especially from the young age an opportunity to rock in places like parties and streets. These apparels are available in different varieties like shirts, shorts and t-shirts.

What To Do If Someone Wants To Fight You!

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PHYSICAL COMPETANCE

Have you ever seen raw violence or someone getting ‘owned’? Just search google for “martial street fights” – “martial owned” Watch those movies and cringe!!!

Kung Fu, Boxing, dancing, balley, incompetance? What will you display to your attacker if that day comes?

Can you throw a punch or even stand steady on one leg? can you do a round-house or even give a kick to the knee? Ever heard of a combination, technique or form?

Today we are lazy, probably fat too.. Go look in the mirror and skip for ten minutes, then check your image again and what do you see?

I can judge I am probably half the strength and endurance form 10 years ago, how about you?

MARTIAL KNOWLEDGE

a martial art is defined as – 1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior 2 : relating to an army or to military life 3 : experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKE

a martial art is defined as: various styles of self-defense, usually weaponless, based on techniques developed in ancient China, India, and Tibet.

The term ‘Kung Fu’ does not relate to any specific form of martial art, but rather translates as ‘talent’ or ‘aptitude’.

Wu Shu is traditionally the term popularly used to describe the traditional Chinese martial arts, though other descriptions akin to Kuo-shu, Kuo-chi, Chien-shu and Tao-fa have also been used occasionally. (Wu Shu is the term of late used for Chinese martial arts by the People’s Republic of China).

If youve never studied a martial art, your awareness of them most likely starts at Bruce Lee movies and ends with the stylized theatrics of The Matrix. If thats the case, you may not realize from what youve gleaned onscreen that there are an estimated 200 unique kinds of martial arts, and within these, thousands of different styles. Karate, judo, kung fu, and tae kwon do are among the most popular and well-known of the martial arts in the U.S., but there are numerous others.

Despite the array of martial arts and styles, most of them share common techniques, and so they can be organized into broad categories that facilitate understanding. The primary way of classifying martial arts is by the basic physical technique they use: striking or grappling.

Because karate, judo, kung fu, and tae kwon do have been more prominent than other forms in popular culture, from film to sporting events, many people mistakenly believe that all martial arts are Asian in origin. In fact, diverse cultures throughout history from Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East have also given birth to their own martial art forms.

Or a combination of triangles with small circles as can be seen in chinese trapping, wrist locks or Aikido entry and endings.

Do you even know the diffference between kung fu and karate? Do you think wing chun is a chinese dish?

The different styles can even be related to shapes or geometry – squares, triangles and circles.

MARTIAL TRAINING TO LIVE

Training is hard..really hard. The most hard is to get started and its down-hill easy from there. What you need is a martial arts machine – something new and exciting to get you off your fat ass.

Everyone knows someone who knows how to fight – with fists, knives, weapons, guns, tactical, sensless, whatever but START!

Or find a martial arts school in your area.

GO to the local phone book and look up kung fu or karate. Then give them a call, go along or take your kid.

Whats important now is to do something, start with brief excercise, get into stretching, shadow box, then step up and train hard.

ITS DANGEROUS OUT THERE

Its dangerous out there and especially for you..

The enemy may be next door and you dont know it but you got to have the guts too look. What can you really do once you see some violence or get scared or worse because you receive a bashing or king hit – do you hide in your house?

TV today scares the shiit out of many people as it promotes violence and turns the meek yellow and nervous.

The danger today is maybe not too obvious to you but you better hone your sensors or youll get hit without seeing it coming.

You know that given a situation to be a hero and stop a crime, terrorism or violence you’ll be able to step up or chase after them etc – or maybe you’ll cower or be the victim.

Were are you on the scared meter of life? Are you out there amongst it or a bit of a shy body or house mummys boy?

CONCLUSION IS ACTION

Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competance is making you petrified.

Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo.

Life is not scarey but maybe your lack of skill, self confidence and personal competance is making you afraid.

If you are not liking what you see in the mirror, afraid to go down a dark street, scared of a potential confrontation then train now.

Be pro-active and look, then choose and participate in action whether alone with a martial arts training machine or go to a dojo.

We cant all be Bruce Lee but you also dont want to be an emotional and physical punching bag do you?

THE TRAINING ANSWER

The Martialarm is the only martial arts training dummy that bequeaths you consummate realism in all your martial arts training in kung fu, karate, krav maga, jeet kune do, tae kwon do, kempo and more.

The martialarm is unlike similar training dummies: The wooden dummy has been used for centuries as a solo training machine. In contemporary years, they’ve been provided accessible in different materials as well as synthetic. But still they all have one item in general:

They dont swing and they’re all static.

The wooden dummy frequently costs hundreds of dollars but is still only produced to absorb your blows and step up your precision moves. It doesn’t react to your attacks akin to a factual partner can. So although you get apt repetition training, which is acceptable for accomplishing the basics down, it may well be difficult to use and will get dreary so quickly.

Why A little Martial Artists Improve Faster Than Others

As martial artists, we all recognize this. Your martial arts instructor probably hammers the point home in practice every day. Alas, there are only so so many classes in a week and this can stunt your learning and headway.

You want to improve – swift. And you’re keen put in your time with home training. But solo training can only take you so far due to the fact it lacks the interaction that only a assistant can award.

Until Now!

Tips For Artists, How To Prepare Your Own Panels For Painting

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Personally, I prefer painting on a hard surface so I am addressing how to prepare a panel for painting.

I will discuss hardboard, MDF, particle board, plywood and cardboard, and I am only discussing rigid panels right now, we can discuss canvas, papers etc some other time.

First I will discuss the materials, then their preparation:

For smaller work I prefer “Masonite” [ironically the Masonite company no longer makes “masonite” hardboard] which is a high density hardboard and is made by steam exploding wood into very fine fibers then re-compressing those fibers under very high pressure and heat so that the natural lignin re-bonds the fibers. the problem is that the lignin is acidic and is the material that causes cheap paper like newsprint to turn yellow overnight. There are many grades of these hardboard products, ignore the cheaper ones, currently the better grade in 3mm [1/8 inch] thickness, canvas back, is 11 dollars a 4 x 8 sheet at Home Depot. The 3mm is ok for smaller stuff, the 4 or 5 mm is better for medium sizes but as soon as you get over 16 x 20 this material starts getting pretty heavy.

The Apersan panels are “masonite’ type hardboard with frames made from birch plywood, these are very nice panels!

The ideal hardboard panel is pre-coated with Melamie on both sides and is used in the furniture industry, but it is hard to find.

MDF is medium density fiberboard and is widely available, cheap, and very flat, it is made also by steam exploding wood into fibers but the difference between MDF and masonite is that it is not compressed as much and plastic resins are added as a binder then it is put under heat and pressure. It is widely used in furniture and cabinets. It is not as strong as “masonite” so you are need a thicker panel to start with and thus the end result will be heavier, the other problems are low moisture resistance and the edges are easily damaged. Maya Lin uses MDF in her room sized contoured sculptures, it is actually a very attractive material in its self.

Particle Board, this is often confused with MDF, it is sawdust [not separated fibers] bonded with resins and is very easily damaged and has very little moisture resistance, plus it is heavy, but it is cheap. I see no reason to use this for permanent work and not many reasons to use it at all. It is used in the lowest grade of cabinets.

Cardboard, There are many grades of paperboard, for painting you should find an acid free board, forget anything like poster board which is re-cycled newspaper or other cheap board because it will become brittle very quickly. There used to be materials called Millboard and Upson Board, these were recycled newsprint bases with a top layer of a better grade of paper with a glue sizing. I doubt if these are still made but if they are I don’t recommend them. Corrugated cardboard is light but the flutes will telescope through as you paint unless you are attracted to it’s funky qualities, it is not a good painting support.

If you are using a cardboard, you must gesso both sides, otherwise it will warp badly. Painting on un-prepared board is certainly possible, but be aware that oil paints will degrade paper in a few years and make it brittle, also the paper will soak up the oil and make the paints dull. If you use acrylic paints you avoid the oil to paper degradation issues but be aware that the absorbancy of paper will sometimes dull acrylics. For studies I sometimes use Canvaset paper which is paper with a canvas texture and a glue or gelatin sizing. This is ok but the sizing is a bit to slick in my opinion. If your looking for a cheap support and no prep work then this is probably the cheapest option.

If you are going to properly prepare cardboard it is just as much work as better materials with little difference in the costs of the actual materials, so why bother?

Plywood: My preference second to “masonite” for small work and my first preference for larger work is plywood. Plywood is made of thin veneers of wood, coated with glue, laid perpendicular to each other and pressed together under very high heat and pressure. Various grades have differing levels of strength, stiffness, moisture resistance and warp resistance. I have painted on Luan, Birch and Fir and prefer Luan. For smaller panels 6mm [1/4″] is ok, for larger panels that need a structural frame, I use 3mm [1/8″]. You can make a high quality, light weight, stiff and flat panel in quite large sizes with a bit of work. Top grade fir plywood is very expensive now days, the ordinary stuff would not make a good support since it easily warps, has voids, the texture will telescope when primed, etc etc.

For smaller work, up to 12 x 16 inches or so, that is going to get a decorative frame, you can use 6mm [1/4″] luan without a structural frame, over that size you are going to need a structural frame so you may as well use the thinner and lighter 3mm.

Luan plywood varies widely in quality, I find that the luan panels carried by big box lumber retailers, like Home Depot, are lower quality than what the independents carry. Look around for a wood panel dealer that sells to cabinet makers, they will have better quality materials for about the same or lower price. I recently bought some top quality 3mm luan panels for $8.40 a 4 x 8 sheet.

For making frames for larger panels, I use poplar or top quality pine. Again finding a independent wood dealer that has better quality materials will pay off here. Poplar is available in the big box stores like Home Depot, it is clear and straight and just a bit more than their terrible “select” grade [which 30 years ago would of been used for furring strips]. Which ever wood you use hand select each piece for straightness.

Rip the lumber into 3/4 x 3/4 or 1 inch wide strips, do your best to cut out defects.

To frame a panel, start with a smooth flat table top. Lay your cut to size luan face down [best way to cut luan is with a utility knife and a new blade] Then use wood glue and clamps to glue a perimeter frame onto the edge of the luan. I do two sides at a time, using a 36 x 80 inch flush door as a table top, the luan and frame gets clamped to the door so to keep it flat, once the glue sets up, rotate the panel and do the other two sides. Once all 4 sides are set up you can add bracing across the panel. The larger the panel the more bracing needed. I use smaller strips to save weight, 1/2 x 3/4 or so work, these get glued to be back of the panel between the frames. [photos to follow].

I had a panel that I unwisely used lower grade pine to frame and it warped badly. To salvage it, I glued a second 3mm sheet of luan on the back side creating a hollow core panel, just like a hollow core door. BTW, hollow core doors make a good painting support, but are relatively heavy.

Let the glue set up over night with the panel laying down flat. Then sand any rough edges and you are ready for the next steps.

Panel Priming: Priming has to do several things, it has to isolate acids that may exist in the support materials, protect against moisture, stabilize the support, and to provide a receptive painting surface.

When preparing “masonite, plywood, mdf, or cardboard, I find that a sealer coat of shellac is ideal, Shellac does not raise the grain or cause warping and it does not react with gessos. Shellac is available in paint stores as clear [traditionally called white], orange [clear amber] and as a white pigmented primer or BIN. [Note that BIN sells primers with similar labels, make sure you get “shellac based”]. I use white pigmented BIN, some painters like painting directly on clear shellac on luan.

For unsupported panels, first sand the panel using an electric vibrating sander and 80 to 100 grit sandpaper. You want to “break the glaze”. Then coat both sides and all edges of the panel with shellac. A disposable brush works or a small roller is even better. A single thin even coat is all that is needed. Let dry. Coating only one side may cause the panel to warp, if not right away then later at the worst possible time.

After the shellac is dry, go back with your vibrating sander and give it a good sanding, knocking down raised grain, splinters, rough edges, etc. 100 grit open coat sand paper is perfect for this. If you don’t already have a sander I can recommend the 1/4 sheet sanders, I have had a Porter Cable for 8 or 10 years and I use it constantly.

After sanding, you are ready to apply the gesso. I use acrylic gesso, others prefer oil ground, or other traditional grounds. Discussion of grounds is involved and will be the subject of another artical.

You can brush or roll the gesso on. I use 1 inch diameter foam rollers which leave a nice even light texture. Between uses I don’t wash them but keep them in a zip lock bag. I now just scoop gesso with a spoon from the gallon pail onto the horizontal panel or canvas then roll or brush it out. Doing this eliminates the waste you have with a roller pan and saves some clean up.

The first coat should be thinned out so to flow into any textures. Following coats can be to your taste. Different brands vary widely in handling characteristics. I find that the more expensive brands thinned down work better than the cheaper brands which start out thinner. At least 2 coats are needed, I put on 3 or 4 until the coverage is uniform. If you prefer a non-white ground, you can add some acrylic color to the gesso. I paint in oil and prefer to apply a thin oil color wash over the acrylic gesso when I start painting. I think the oil is more receptive to the subsequent layers of oil paint.

After the gesso is bone dry, sand it again. You should experiment here. It is possible to get too smooth and slick of a surface that will give your paint a smeary effect, too rough of a surface can interfer with details, for instance, but this is a matter of your taste and intent. I find that the foam rollers leave a nice pebbly surface that is just right after a quick sanding with 120 grit.

I highly recommend that every artist own a copy of Ralph Mayer’s “The Artist’s Handbook of Materials and Techniques”. First written in 1940 and revised many times since, it has a breath and depth not matched by any other reference. Every artist should read it cover to cover, not only to learn about their own media but to understand what artists working in other media do, also what is possible and what may be detrimental to your intent. It also helps you to understand how and why historic works were done they way they were. THis book should be part of any artists education in my opinion. I often see these in used book shops and garage sales [sometimes unread] and I always grab them and pass them on to worthy recipents.

Ancient Martial Arts in Modern Day Society

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White Tiger Kung Fu, also named Bak Fu Pai, is a Southern Shaolin variety of Kung Fu first manifested in 1644. Although this self defense sort is very ancient, it is still intact to this day with the customs and techniques prospering here in 2011, while still blossoming and exploding with life (for the general self defense class they were playing rock music on the boombox, which is in all likelihood a new transformation since 1644.) Somehow it works, and its just subtle and not at all nettlesome. My concentration was unquestionably on the teacher, not the audio, but it lends a fun spirit to the lessons and it’s just enjoyable to do things to music sometimes.

Despite the fact that this shaolin style dates back officially to 1644 and the 1st in the Doo Wai lineage, you must also consider that in 1644 some of these disciplines were already 1000’s of years old. Many of the sparring and sanative techniques that were incorporated in 1644 were probably created far earlier in Chinese boxing and healing arts. I think its hard to say how old many of the methods may be, or how old many of the herbal concentrates are as well.

When people think of Kung Fu, they are generally thinking of Northern Shaolin style, with its long flowing graceful kicks, but Southern Shaolin Kung Fu looks more like boxing or Karate and isn’t at all like what you see in the tv shows typically. White Tiger style is a no nonsense kung fu developed in the Southern Shaolin tradition.

The land being hard In the colder northern regions of China, it provided a more stable footing when kicking and stepping, therefor, northern Shaolin styles developed more kicking, acrobatic strategies, while in the warmer southern climate of China, the dirt was not as hard which made kicking and stepping more arduous. As a result, the Southern shaolin style is more focused on higher stances with hand methods. More like boxing or Karate than what most people think of as “kung fu”.

Of course, the subject being Shaolin Kung Fu, its not so simple to depict in short little pieces on the web, its a real world training to experience for yourself first hand. I always find language hopelessly limited to accurately portray things with such importance as Shaolin Kung FuShaolin Kung Fu .

I don’t think its really meant to be thoroughly described in an article on the web. Its an ancient partly oral tradition, partly an active fitness regimen that includes interesting ancient Chinese herbs. You must train on your own as well, to master anything in life, it takes dedication and it takes time. In this case, reading or writing short articles on the topic is never going to even begin to thoroughly describe a venture into the depths of Shaolin Kung Fu the way real first hand experience can.

The traditional stories, the ancient wisdom, the accumulation of discoveries from thousands of years really is a very amazing and storied history, but the active fitness lifestyle that comes with Kung Fu training is a huge extra reward. Many people don’t have time for fitness , but for those who do, martial arts training can be a very rewarding journey with many reinforcements besides just physical conditioning.

Nutritious Ingredients That Are Good During Martial Arts Training

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For the best performance, an engine needs a fuel tuned to its specific needs. The same is true for the human body, and there are many foods that are great for martial arts training. Strength, dexterity, and mental acumen can all be sharpened with the right balance of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, giving a martial artist a boost in performance.

Bananas: They come in their own wrapper, and if that wasn’t benefit enough, bananas provide the body with potassium, a nutrient that a martial artist loses quickly when sweating through a rigorous workout routine. Electrolytes help maintain muscles and nerves when they’re put under stress, and potassium is a key electrolyte. The carbohydrate sugar in bananas can be digested easily, for a quick energy boost.

Water: Everyone knows by now that water lost through sweat needs to be replenished, but a properly hydrated body is essential before the martial arts workout even begins. Water carries nutrients, is the body’s cooling system and keep muscles functioning at their optimal performance levels. When fully hydrated, the muscles can stretch further, and the chance of cramping is heavily reduced. The benefits of hydration to a martial artist can not be overlooked.

Oatmeal: This breakfast staple has shown potential to reduce cholesterol, but what makes it great for a martial artist is its ability to fuel a workout. Oatmeal is low on the glycemic index, which means it can provide constant energy over a long period of time by breaking down slowly and letting your body release insulin in smaller doses. Avoid adding extras like sugar or syrup, which can cause insulin to spike, leaving you drained of energy early in your training.

Avocados: The body requires fats to work as efficiently as possible. The best way to deliver those fats is in a healthy nutrient dense form like avocados. Avocados are the number one fruit when it comes to healthy fat packed with calories for muscle growth and brain function.

Spinach: Iron is an essential mineral, facilitating the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the muscles. Iron deficiency is quite common, and when the body is low on iron, oxygen consumption slows down. It’s important to stay oxygenated while training in martial arts, and spinach can provide your body with massive amounts of iron, ensuring that you’ll never be deficient.

Sardines: This tiny little fish is one of the few foods on earth to supply the body with Co-enzyme Q10, a nutrient and anti-oxidant that increases the body’s energy supply. On top of that, sardines are a healthy source of omega-3, one of the healthiest essential oils. Sardines also have large supplies of potassium and iron, vitamins and minerals that are required for a healthy functioning martial artist.

There are many foods that are great for martial arts training. Whether you’re looking to build muscles or develop the mind, choosing the right diet is important. A martial artist requires the best nutrients at all times in order to perform at peak capacity. Finding time to incorporate these foods into your diet will pay off and provide you with an added boost of energy and performance.