Gamekeeping, Field Sports and Country Pursuits

Archive for the ‘United States’ Category

 

The Benefits of Tai Chi and Internal Martial Arts for Self-defense: Part 1 of 2

Internal Martial arts such as Tai Chi, or Ba Gua can be extremely effective for self defense if trained correctly. There are a few strategic principles in Chinese internal Martial Arts that can provide a tactical advantage in melee combat. I will outline them in the following sections: Body Alignment and Changing, Friction and Sensitivity, Timing, Initiative (these last two I will explain in part two of this article). You will notice there is no magic to any of this – it is all science. For more information on tai chi, self-defence and kung fu please visit Martial Arts London Ontario (MALO).

Body Alignment / Posture and Body Changing

The first thing about internal chinese martial arts like Tai Chi and Ba Gua is that they are based off of the chinese system of medicine. This system has been well aware of things that chiropractors and sports physiotherapists are just starting to learn about the human nervous system and spinal cord, meditative benefits, and muscle/tendon functional excellence. Like gymnasts and dancers, internal arts practitioners do difficult and challenging exercises, drills, and forms in order to literally change their body’s metabolism, balance, structure, tendon strength, speed and flexibility. The more serious one is with their body changing training, the more results they will see. Doing Tai Chi once per week without the requisite secrets is not good enough. At first this training is extremely difficult, just as jogging is extremely difficult for the beginner. But after years of practice, the internal martial artist’s body starts to change, and they start to see the health and martial benefits as they begin to move as a functional unit and cease using “awkward force”. They also get damaged less often in hard martial arts sparring. This body changing also includes tendon conditioning, thus making an internal artist “seem” stronger as they move as a more functional unit. Tendons are as strong as steel. If you can learn to use them, and to strengthen them, then you will move as a more functional and solid (yet fluid) unit.

Friction and Sensitivity

Another key aspect in internal arts like Tai Chi, or Ba Gua (Cheng Sher and Magui), is friction, or what is sometimes called sticky hands. With this body changing, and two person “push”, “search”, or “sticky” hands practice, practitioners become more sensitive to the movements of others, and by using this sensitivity, internal martial artists can use a foe’s force against them by placing them off balance. And by using friction, the practitioner can deliver more kinetic energy per second than a straight punch. All boxers know that more friction means more damage, so too does this apply to throws and arm drags. The more friction when throwing an opponent, the more kinetic energy you deliver into them, the faster they hit the ground. Also, using friction properly

There are many ways that people can learn to defend themselves. The most popular version is that of martial arts. In the different martial arts forms you will sometimes find that there are various weapons which can be used. You will learn about these martial arts weapons from martial arts academies.

You will however need to make sure that the martial arts academy that you are choosing has qualified instructors. With the help of these individuals you will be able to master your choice of martial arts weapons.

At these times using the martial arts weapons of your discipline will help you. This weapon can also teach you how to move in time with your karate moves. Depending on the form of martial arts you will have access to a variety of weapons.

You will need to learn how to use these weapons safely so that you don’t harm yourself. The instructors at your martial arts class will be the best people to help you out in this situation. With the help of these individuals you will be able to progress not only in your martial arts moves but also in getting the proficiency in the weapon of your choice.

This training will also help you to handle the martial arts weapons with care so that you don’t get into trouble. You will be shown the right movements for the martial arts weapons so that you don’t cause yourself any serious injurious.

When you look at the different types of weapons that you can find you will see that each type of martial arts has its own specialty. These will include ones like nun chucks, throwing stars, swords and others. While these are just of a few of the martial arts weapons that you will find it is to your advantage if you become more proficient in the particular martial arts that you have chosen.

You will need to learn all about the advantages and disadvantages which will arise from using martial arts weapons. Now even though these weapons can be of great help it is martial arts it is also a good idea to have a well honed knowledge about fighting without any weapons. Being able to overcome this disability will help you out of any potential difficulties.

While the different martial arts weapons are perfect for getting your skills honed, there is also another need for training in the art of these martial arts weapons. This reason is quite simply that for certain martial arts weapons are very much apart of the martial art.

There was a time when sports outdoors meant running off to the nearest playing field with friends for a game of footie, or to the local cricket club for matches with neighbouring clubs in the long and lazy summer months. 

Sadly, over the years many playing fields have been swallowed up by the need for housing. 

It is now a government priority to encourage and increase participation in sport by providing both indoor and outdoor sports facilities that are accessible to more and more people.  Local authorities, as well as schools can apply for funding to add to or upgrade their sports facilities. 

And what an amazing range of sports equipment and facilities is there to choose from.

With the aim to providing an all-weather facility for year round use, popular choices for outdoor sports surfaces include synthetic grass, bitumen macadam and polymeric surfaces.  Such surfaces are particularly suited for Multi Use Games Areas where a variety of sports such as tennis, netball, basketball, 5-a-side football, and hockey etc can be played.  Artificial or synthetic surfaces are available in a choice of colours and allow court markings to be made in different colours for different sports on the same pitch.  MUGAs also require a protective fencing as well as floodlights so that they can be used in poor light conditions. 

Of all the outdoor sports, hockey in particular, is suited to the use of synthetic grass.  As a result the game has changed and become faster.  Synthetic hockey pitches have traditionally been water based with its own irrigation system.  However latest products include sand dressed synthetic pitches, which are more eco-friendly.

‘Third generation’ synthetic grass has been developed to the exacting standards of the Football Association and has been found to be safe and suitable for sports such as football and rugby at training as well as championship levels.  

Similarly, complete synthetic cricket pitches are available for practice or training purposes that closely resemble the playing characteristics of natural turf. These may be of the permanent kind, that are resistant to damage by the elements, or the roll-up, roll out variety that may also be used indoors.  Such wickets are popular with cricket clubs, schools and colleges, allowing greater use with minimum of maintenance.

Many British suppliers provide a range of sports equipment too, such as fixed or movable tennis posts and nets, basketball and netball goals, hockey goals, as well the protective netting and floodlights.  Care should be taken to choose equipment and materials that conform to British Standards.