Tag Archives: karate

What a Way to Run a Karate Business!

Posted on May 25, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A lot of people blink at the way I run my Karate business. I’m referring to my internet martial arts business.
One, I do everything I can to keep my prices down. The reason is simple…competiveness. I watch guys put their ads up and sell their CD/DVDs for $148, $349, $732, or whatever…and they make a killing, for two months. Then their business drops to nothing, and they are left shopping for gimmicks to sell.
I, on the other hand, keep the price at $10 per disk, and I even keep the S&H reasonable. The price is low enough that people can take a chance, and people order from me, and they can order again and again, and I can take my time and find what works, make sure the product is well received, fix any mistakes, and…my growth is slow, but it never crashes.
In addition, I make sure I do the following…
Ship orders the morning of the very next biz day. I get an order in before 8 in the morning, and their is a good chance it is going out right then!
I try to answer all emails or address all blog comments within a couple of hours. Obviously if I’m working on a big project, got eight windows open, running programs madly, I can’t stop everything for a single email…but I sometimes do.
On those extremely rare occasions that I do get a complaint or there is a problem with an order, I try to handle it within one hour. I often toss in a freebie in the event of a complaint.
I understand that I exist only by the good will of my fellow man…and I work hard to deserve that good will.
Okey dokey, that’s how and why I run my karate business the way I do. I write a little blurb like this every six months or so just to let people know. Check out my site, Learn Karate Online. You’ll find the best martial arts at the best prices. Period.

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Tales of the Kang Duk Won

Posted on May 24, 2011 by | Leave a comment

His fists were large...as was his heart.

The Kang Duk Won I speak of was on The Alameda in San Jose back in the sixties. It was a Korean Karate Dojo of immense martial spirit.
The mat was dirty and ripped. Sometimes it seemed like there was more duc tape than mat.
The front window was broken, again, a testament to duc tape.
There was a hole in the roof in the dressing area. The toilet was tilted 15 degrees, there was no place to hang your…what?
Does it sound like I am complaining?
No.
I am remembering, and that as hard as I can.
There was magic there, you see.
The Hells Angels, and other bikers, came to study the Kang Duk Won for one simple reason…it worked and it was the best.
There was a wide variety of student, glass blowers to grave diggers to pilots to college students to…me.
There weren’t many schools back then, but people came from all over the bay area to study with an extremely soft spoken man. A man who could poke his finger into a board and leave a hole.
Of course, it’s gone now.
Replaced by a dress shop or something like that.
The bar across the street doesn’t see karate students come in to soften their bruises with liquid…just yuppie types whining in their beer. Not real men.
There are no longer twenty Harleys lined up in front of the school, and the air is no longer split by the thunderous kiai of a score of sweating, battered, energized maniacs.
Now it is peaceful, and that is a shame.
Political correctness? Ha! I laugh.
The truth is not political correctness, that is just a method for cowing people into voting politely.
The truth is sweat and bruises and blood. It is being young and not saying no. It is staying out too late and enjoying life with your friends.
Ahh, it has all been said before, but that’s okay.
There is a purpose to life, you see.
There is a spirit to be forged and that is in every man.
The Kang Duk Won is gone…but it will come again.
That is inevitable.
That is the magic.
Check out Learn Karate Online if you want some of that magic in your own life.

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How Violent Should Karate Be?

Posted on May 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

How Violent Should Karate Be? It’s an interesting question, you know? Check out the video, then I’ll give you an answer that’ll sizzle your pants!

Two things brought me to this question this blog.
One, I was teaching a fellow this past week, and he hesitated, and I suddenly snapped…’Kill him! What the F do you think this is about?’
The look in his eyes, I knew I had tweaked him.
His parents tell him to be polite, society tells him to hug trees, Rodney King says we got to get along…excuse my French, but…BS!
One, my parents weren’t always right,
Two, we can grow more trees, so cuts the F-ers down.
Three, Rodney King said what he said because he didn’t know the martial arts and he suffered a bad beat down.
Look, get up in the morning, swagger, get in an argument with somebody….don’t compromise…win it! There is nothing wrong with winning, especially if the other guy is an idiot. And if you lose, then you were an idiot for getting in an argument when you didn’t know what you were talking about.
That brings us to the second point. I came across this quote…
“Where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.”
Who do you think said it?
Ghengis Khan? John Wayne? John Wayne Gacy?
Who said it was…Ghandi.
that’s right, Mr. Peacenik himself.
My, peel the onion and there’s no end to the tears.
So, I believe in peace, I believe in fat babies and happy mothers. But I don’t believe in getting along at all costs, compromising my ideals and values, and living a life of S*** just because somebody says…’we all get to get along!’
Remember that when you practice your martial arts, and I hope that answers all questions as to how violent Karate should be. Check out my new website, Learn Karate Online. It’s got the most kick ass course you could imagine!

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Real Karate Techniques Don’t Use Muscle Memory!

Posted on May 10, 2011 by | Leave a comment

I come across these internet huckster sites every once in a while, or some psycho babble fellow who thinks he knows something, and they talk about increasing muscle memory, but they are just plain wrong. The fact is that real karate techniques don’t use muscle memory, nor do any other martial art, be it kenpo or aikido or whatever.  Check out the video, and I’ll tell you all about it in the article right below.

First off, who’s fighting (doing the martial arts drill)? You are. You use muscles, they don’t use you.

When somebody punches at you, do you jump out of your body and let your body fight? Nah. That’s just silly.

When you get in a  fight  you tell your body what to do, and it does it. And you don’t rely on muscular memory patterns.

Yes, when you first memorize something, there is a pattern, and you could call that muscle memory, but it is really installing a circuit in your mind. Incorrect training and that circuit stays there. Correct training and that circuit goes, and you take charge.

The real key here is that people are interested in selling other people hogwash by fancy labels. So don’t believe that muscle memory crap. It is you memorizing, and then you doing, and you should be in charge of your muscles, telling them what to do in the moment, and without putting things on some sort of muscle automatic thing.

Look, the guys who won the championships will tell you that you must do the work, but that is a matter of spirit. You must do the punch, but that is a matter of you. Muscle memory has almost nothing to do with actual fighting, real karate techniques, nor any real martial art worth its salt out there. Check out my site, Monster Martial Arts, and you’ll find an approach that is so far removed from that type of thing you won’t believe it.

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The Singular Attack of MMA Jujitsu v Karate Style Classical Martial Arts

Posted on May 7, 2011 by | 2 Comments
classical martial arts

A Good Stance is a Good Defense Against a Single Leg Takedown!

The one thing I am always asked aout, as an instructor, is what do you do about the MMA Jujitsu type of attack. This isn’t just jujitsu, it’s wrestling, or any art where you take somebody down.

The attack is dive with a grab for the leg, and zingo bingo, you’re on the ground. At least, that’s the way it is in the MMA and the UFC.

Well, not really. You’ll notice that fighters in the octagon are relying on the single leg takedown less and less.

And, it used to be that nobody would even try it. Just too risky, somebody could clock you in the head while you’re bent over grabbing a leg, or maybe just knee you in the face. It just wasn’t a good attack.

What happened to make it popular?

What happened is that people who specialized in it entered the ring. People who spent hours a day working on that one martial arts technique  look unbeatable, so everybody decided that was the unbeatable technique.

What they should have done was realize that it wasn’t the technique, it was the dedicated training regimen. You put in an hour a day on single leg takedowns for a year and you will be able to do them to most people. Unless that ‘people’ has spent an hour a dya learning how to avoid that martial arts technique.

I am not attacking MMA or Jujitsu, or wrestling or any other sport. I am just advocating that people need to get more dedicated, then such thigns as the single leg takedown won’t look so great.

Truth, you need to be a well rounded martial artist with good conditioning and a healthy mind set.

Truth, while the single leg takedown is a great technique, you may want to avoid it on the street. It’s dangerous to roll around in the blood and the mud and the beer…and while the friends of the guy you’re fighting are coming arunning.

If you want a really well rounded approach to the martial arts, check out Monster Martial Arts. There’s an article there which will detail how to round yourself out. It is called ‘What’s Wrong with the Art?’ I hope it will help abuse people of lop sided training methods that result in such things as putting MMA Jujitsu v Classical Martial Arts.

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Posted in free karate, free karate online, Karate, karate bunkai, karate DVD, karate lessons, karate techniques, learn karate at home, learn karate free, Martial Arts, Shotokan, Taekwondo

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How to Toughen Your Fists with Karate Techniques

Posted on May 7, 2011 by | Leave a comment
hard fist

Toughen your Fist to have The Hardest Punch!

One of the neatest training devices is a simple box of sand. You make a spear hand and thrust downward. As time passes, you get deeper and deeper, and you learn how to be ore intense and demand that extra inch out of yourself.

Interesting, this is a method that is supposed to be used for sharpening knives. If you want a real sharp knife,  theory goes, you thrust knife down, and the sand whittles away at the edge.

Mind you, I have not played with this, so use at your own risk. And let me know if your knife gets damaged. I’ll put the results in ablog.

Anyway, your hand won’t get damaged by thrusting it into a bucket of sand. As a matter of fact, the fingers will become able to stand impact, your spearhand will start to shine, and you will have martial arts weapon of unusual intent.

Of course, your hand might look  a little gnarly, but that’s okay. Just hold up your hand and put a crazed expression on your face and nobody is going to want to fight you. Grin.

Have a great day, and if you want some great tips on toughening the hand, specifically how to have the hardeat punch, check out the book I’ve written. It is called The Punch, and it is at Monster Martial Arts.

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The False Martial Art of Karate

Posted on April 25, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The art of Karate is good, except for the false art taught with it. Check out the video, then I’ll tell you about the false art.

The True Art, the Kata and the Bunkai and all that, give one an education of the body, teaches the mechanics and the physics of motion. This is useful stuff that shold be taught in any school.

However, when it comes to kumite, what is called freestyle, there are several problems.

One problem is that the freestyle doesn’t use the moves of the forms. Yes, the forms shouldbe adjusted a bit, but the real problem lies with something I call the Joy of Combat. This is when people start liking fighting just because they like to fight.

What does fighting have to do with Karate?

Karate, or any other art, Kenpo or Taekwondo, or whatever, should be about conditioning the body, calming the mind, and finding a truth of spirit.

Yes, you have to learn how to fight to give up fighting, but it seems like too many arts get stuck in learning how to fight, and never give up the fighting.

If you agree with my sentiments here, and maybe want to find a better method, check out my website…Monster Martial Arts.

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Posted in Isshin Ryu, Karate, karate bunkai, karate forms, karate kata, karate techniques, learn karate at home, Shito Ryu, Taekwondo

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How to Defeat a Sasquatch Using Karate Techniques!

Posted on March 3, 2011 by | Leave a comment

It’s easy to take down a ton of Sasquatch with Karate Techniques if you have perfect timing, and you don’t have to be a Manswers fan to know that! Mind you, I don’t advocate hunting down one of these beasts to check out what I am going to tell you here, and I certainly don’t advocate cruelty to any animal. But if that 300 pound mugger comes at you on the street, some of these fighting techniques will prove invaluable.

First, a little lesson on your opponent. The Sasquatch, known as Bigfoot in some circles, weighs in at over 800 pounds. They have several daggers permanently affixed to their paws, and their teeth are a circle of uncommonly vicious knives.

Now, the BF, being rather longish, can stand eight to ten feet tall. This is perfect for towering over, and then crashing down upon, any idiot foolish enough to stand before it. The first karate defense technique, if one should find oneself standing in the shadow of a looming Sasquatch, is a front kick to the gonads.

Mind you, the coconuts tend to be a little big, and they do feel the pain. After the kick be sure to jump to the side, because if you have caused him to fall, he might fall on you! I don’t recommend waiting to try a second kick, because if you kicked a female (it’s hard to tell without all that hair) she might be a little peevish.

Okay, second line of defense, if you are successful in evading the fall of the giant, is to jump on the back of the monster and make him (or her) tap. Look, a well applied guillotine is worth its weight in gold, and there isn’t a Sasquatch alive who hasn’t heard of the Gracies. So hook under the chin, brace the arms, and apply pressure–a lot of pressure.

Okay, so maybe you don’t encounter an honorable monster, one who doesn’t come at you stand up, but rather charges in for a takedown and goes for the bite, whacha gonna do? The best thing is to watch the jaws carefully, and when they open, strike with a Karate spear hand! Don’t jerk back, as that would go against the curve of the fangs, rather, push forward and grab for the tongue!

Now, you’ve got a Sasquatch by the tongue, and suddenly he feels the fear! What if he could no longer lick that honey, eh? And then, there is the danger that you might get cantankerous and give a good yank and turn him all the way inside out!

Okay, maybe these techniques might not work in all situations, but you’re thinking now, right? You would never harm one of nature’s critters unless you were really hungry, but that mugger on the street…he’s a different matter! Fair game, and these Karate Techniques are going to save your live, loved ones, and wallet!

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The Blessings of Ignorance in Karate

Posted on January 4, 2011 by | Leave a comment

I began Karate in 1967. It was a new concept, this oriental fighting thing. We’d seen some terrible chops in the movies, but there was still this thing about massive power going on around.

A few books made their appearance, but they didn’t really say anythign. Even the pics were terrible.

When I finally found a school and started studying, the teacher never spoke. He’d count, or say, ‘Put your foot back further,’ or something like that. But it was real Monkey See Monkey Do.

The blessing, of course, is that nothing was said. The result of this silent teaching was that there were no intellectual distractions, nothing to misguide us.

Interestingly, as time went on, and more people spoke, less was learned. The learning happens in the bones. The learning happens in the sweat and the blood.

Now we are truly cursed. not only do we have everybody telling us what the martial arts are, what they are telling us is allmade up. It is based on their short experience, and their is no real lineage in America. Thus, arts are thrown together, techniques that don’t fit are mish mashed, and the whole thing resembles a Rubik’s Cube.

Not for lack of sincere effort, but because nobody took the time to analyze the myth and come up with the science.

Well, things are getting better. After all, you have tobreak a few eggs to make an omelet. And people will eventually get smart enough to ignore the myth, study the science, and eventually make it back to the myth.

It’ll just take a short time.

Check out Monster Martial Arts. A million words of Martial Science, and a lot more on this concept of science returning us to mythic proportion and the true blessings of the martial arts.

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Matrix Karate is a Martial Arts…and It Is Not

Posted on December 28, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Many people back off from Matrix Karate. They think it is a watered down Karate, or a baby art, or something like that.

Fact, it is not watered down, it is intensified…because it is pure. Toss out the influences of the other arts, and you have one of the deadliest arts possible.

Fact, while there is a fighting art in the course, the true thrust of the material is towards presenting a method for analyzing all arts.

You see, you can make any art pure, and make any art deadly, if you toss out all the bushwah, poser crap and concentrate on distilling motion into the most logical format possible.

Yes, there is Karate, but Matrix refers to a mathematical grid which you use to plot all motion.

Thus, you can use the matrix on any art, make any art pure, and, BTW, ten times easier to learn.

Think about it this way…if you wanted to direct a fellow to a specific restaurant in New York, would you have him memorize a painting? Or would you write specific directions having to do with the exact streets he has to take to get there?

The fellow who is learning the martial arts today is memorizing paintings. The Matrixer is learning explicit directions which are exact and precise.

Check out Monster Martial Arts if you want to learn more about how to Matrix Martial Arts.

 

 

 

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