Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Protect Your Children from Guns

By Bryce Jackson


A gun can guard your home from bad people but it can also maim or kill the one you love if you are not careful. Many victims are children who don't take guns seriously and can hurt themselves. That's why gun safety should be practiced in every home, more so if you have children.

To prevent gun-related injuries and deaths, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends removing guns from homes. But this may not work for all families where a member is a hunter, a police officer or in a profession where guns are required.

Be aware, however, that many gunshot injuries occur when kids discover loaded guns at home. Since keeping a gun in the house is a serious decision, it is the owner's responsibility to keep it locked in a safe place where kids can't play with it. You can do this with a gun safe. This device will keep your guns away from curious children. Choose one where you can store your gun or firearms properly. Keep the safe locked at all times and hide the key where your kids can't find it. If you use a combination safe, never divulge the code to your kids. Project ChildSafe also provides free gun locks at special fairs or they can be picked up at your local police station.

Educate your children about the dangers of guns. Tell them that you have guns at home but they should never play with them. Never let your child handle a gun even in jest. Don't allow them to touch the gun if you're not with them. A loaded gun in the house is like a ticking time bomb that can explode anytime. Diffuse the bomb with proper gun storage before it's too late!

Eddie Eagle, a program sponsored by the National Rifle Association, says kids should do the following when they find a gun: stop, don't touch, leave the area and tell an adult. This is sensible so tell your children to do the same. Not getting the gun is important but they should also get away and find an adult. This will give the latter a chance to get the gun before it does any harm. Owning a gun is no laughing matter, so don't kid yourself into thinking that your kid can't find it if you keep it in a safe place.

The information found within this article are recommended uses and tips for firearms. If you have any questions about gun safety or for complete, accurate information regarding weapon safety, please visit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at http://www.atf.gov.




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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Keeping Your Kids Safe Around Guns

By Bryce Jackson


A gun can protect your home from criminal elements but it can also hurt or kill the people you love if you're not careful. The usual victims are kids who don't take guns seriously and can injure themselves because of this. That's the reason why gun safety should be a priority in your home, especially if you have children.

To reduce the risk of gun-related injuries and deaths, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests removing guns from homes. But this may not be a feasible option for families where a member is a hunter, a police officer or in a job where guns are needed.

Be aware, however, that many gunshot injuries occur when kids discover loaded guns at home. Since keeping a gun in the house is a serious decision, it is the owner's responsibility to keep it locked in a safe place where kids can't play with it. You can do this with a gun safe. This device will keep your guns away from curious children. Choose one where you can store your gun or firearms properly. Keep the safe locked at all times and hide the key where your kids can't find it. If you use a combination safe, never divulge the code to your kids. Project ChildSafe also provides free gun locks at special fairs or they can be picked up at your local police station.

Teach your kids about the dangers of guns. Inform them that you have guns at home but they should never play with them. Don't let your child handle a gun even when you're joking. Never permit them to touch the gun if you are not with them. A loaded gun lying around the house is like a ticking time bomb that can explode anytime. Stop the bomb by storing your gun properly before it's too late!

Eddie Eagle, a program sponsored by the National Rifle Association, advises kids to do the following when they find a gun: stop, don't touch, leave the area and tell an adult. This makes a lot of sense so instruct your children to do the same. Not holding the gun is important but they should also get away and tell an adult. This will give the latter a chance to hide the gun before someone else plays with it and pulls the trigger. Remember that owning a gun is no laughing matter, so don't kid yourself into thinking that your kid can't reach it if you store it well.

The information found within this article are recommended uses and tips for firearms. If you have any questions about gun safety or for complete, accurate information regarding weapon safety, please visit the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at http://www.atf.gov.




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Saturday, April 2, 2011

How Long Does It Take To Earn a Black Belt?

By Al Case


The question of how long it takes to earn a black belt in the martial arts is one of the more interesting questions. People have it lodged in their skulls when they first walk into a martial arts dojo. Doesn't matter if it is Krav Maga, or Wudan, or Judo, or whatever...that question is there.

Now, before I tell you something absolutely fascinating about the answer to this question, I have to establish my credibility. I don't do this to hold myself up, but rather to establish a solid footing for what I am about to tell you. You will find that it has much to do with the question we are asking here.

I studied traditional Karate some forty years ago, and have studied just about every art to come down the pike since then. And, as soon as I would learn a martial art, I would turn around and teach it to somebody else. That is the best way to understand something, you see: turn around and share it with somebody else, put yourself on the spot.

And, running out of systems, I began reconfiguring what I had learned. I created different methods, and inherent in these methods was a simple question. Can I make a black belt faster?

I condensed systems, realigned methods, compared and contrasted until I was cross-eyed and dazed. I set up different arrangements of basics, established different ways of doing training drills. And, of course, I did kumite until the cows came home and had breakfast.

Over time, I fair well established what, exactly, the knowledge was that made a black belt. This is a concrete body of knowledge, and I found something interesting occurring. I found that if you taught people the knowledge, they didn't need as much experience.

Yes, the fellow had to get down and dirty, he had to get a fair sampling of bruises and toss downs. But he didn't need as much of this 'experience' as one might think. In fact, he needed about one tenth of what people expected.

In fact, as one accumulated knowledge, the percentage of hard experience went down. Don't get me wrong, it takes sweat and diligent work, and, most important, it takes exactly the correct amount of exact information, which is something that, unfortunately, none of the martial arts systems have today. But, if you do get the right data the question of how long does it take to earn a black belt requires a much shorter answer.




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The Question is How Long Does It Take To Earn a Black Belt?

By Al Case


How long it takes to earn a black belt is one of the more interesting questions. People ask it when they first walk into a martial arts dojo. Doesn't matter if it is Karate, or Kung Fu, or Aikido, or whatever...that question is there.

Now, before I tell you something absolutely fascinating about the answer to this question, I have to establish my credibility. I don't do this to hold myself up, but rather to establish a solid footing for what I am about to tell you. You will find that it has much to do with the question we are asking here.

I studied classical Karate back in the sixties, and have studied just about every art to come down the pike. And, as soon as I would learn something, I would turn around and teach it. That is the best way to understand something, you see: turn around and give it to somebody else, answer their questions, put yourself on the spot.

And, running out of martial arts systems to teach, I began reconfiguring the knowledge I had learned. I created different methods for teaching this knowledge, and inherent in these methods was a simple concern. Can I get somebody to the rank of black belt faster?

I condensed styles, realigned methods, compared and contrasted until I was cross-eyed and dizzy. I set up different arrangements of basic movements, established different ways of doing training drills and techniques. And, of course, I did kumite until the cows came home and went to bed.

Over time, I figured out what, exactly, the knowledge was that made a person into a black belt. This is a concrete block of actual information, and I found something interesting. I found that if you taught people the actual knowledge, they didn't require the years of drilling.

Yes, the fellow had to get down and dirty, he had to get a fair sampling of bruises and toss downs. But he didn't need as much of this 'experience' as one might think. In fact, he needed about one tenth of what people expected.

In fact, as one accumulated knowledge, the percentage of hard experience went down. Don't get me wrong, it takes sweat and diligent work, and, most important, it takes exactly the correct amount of exact information, which is something that, unfortunately, none of the martial arts systems have today. But, if you do get the right data the question of how long does it take to earn a black belt requires a much shorter answer.




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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Three Stages of Empty Hands Necessary to Understand True Karate

By Al Case


Most people think Karate is for children, to protect lunch money, or to win trophies. Nothing could be further from the real truth. True Karate means Empty Hands, and there are several layers to this meaning.

One meaning, as expressed by Ed Parker of Kenpo Karate, is that a student of Karate holds no weapon. "I come to you with only karate, empty hands. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles or my honor; should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong; then here are my weapons, karate, my empty hands."

This is a fine sentiment, a statement of honor, but it doesn't get to the spirit of the real empty hands that Karate represents. The original meaning of Karate was Naha-te, which translates as 'China Hands.' It was created by the Imperial Bodyguards of Okinawa to enable them to protect their king.

Interestingly, the name was changed by Gichin Funakoshi, who is considered to be the father of modern Karate. The reason for this change becomes obvious as one digs into the art, and finds some particularly zen concepts within. The first of these concepts is that one must become silent within while doing the art.

Silence in which one sees ones real foe. Silence, which presages and enhances the energy to be used. Of course, while having much depth, this technical necessity for silence is only a beginning.

If one is has learned silence, one has stopped the mind from 'talking'.' One has learned to see an opponent, ignore all distraction, ignore all outer movement, and has separated oneself from all inner thought, and this leads to the true meaning. The true meaning of the martial arts relates to one particular concept...having no thoughts.

When one is engrossed in reading a good book and loses all sense of time, when the world steps back, the mind has been suspended. Now immerse yourself in the chaos and conflict of the world, but do so to such a depth that all distractions go away, and there is nothing but you. Now do it in the middle of the chaos of real fighting.

There is the zen of it all, and there is the point of True Karate, and even of other martial arts. One must rid oneself of distraction and seek to perceive the world as it is. This is the truth which is behind the Empty Hands of Karate.




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The Three Meanings of Empty Hands in Karate

By Al Case


Most people think Karate is designed for children, to protect lunch money, or to win trophies. This is far from the real truth. True Karate means Empty Hands, and there are several levels to this meaning.

One meaning, as stated by Ed Parker of Chinese Kenpo Karate, is that a student of Karate doesn't use weapons. "I come to you with only karate, empty hands. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, then here are my weapons, my empty hands."

This is a fine sentiment, a good statement of honor, but it doesn't get to the heart and soul of the real empty hands that Karate represents. The original name of Karate was Naha-te, which translates as 'China Hands.' It was designed by the Imperial Bodyguards of Okinawa to protect their king.

Interestingly, the name was changed by Gichin Funakoshi, who is often held as the father of Karate. The reason for this change becomes obvious as one delves into the art and finds some the zen concepts within. The first of these concepts is that one must become silent while practicing the art.

Silence in which one perceives ones foe. Silence, which presages and enhances the energy created. Of course, while having much depth, this technical necessity for silence is only a first step to the real meaning.

If one is has learned silence, one has stopped the mind from 'talking'.' One has learned to see an opponent, ignore all distraction, ignore all outer movement, and has separated oneself from all inner thought, and this leads to the true meaning. The true meaning of the martial arts relates to one particular concept...having no thoughts.

When one is engrossed in a good book and loses all sense of time, when the world goes away, the mind has been suspended. Now immerse yourself in the chaos of the world, but do so to such a depth that all distractions go away, and there is nothing but you. Now do it in the middle of the chaos of combat.

There is the zen of it all, and there is the point of True Karate, and even of other martial arts. One must rid oneself of distraction and seek to perceive the world as it is. This is the truth which is behind the Empty Hands of Karate.




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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Martial Arts Bear DE Are A Type Of Sport

By Hillary Mayo


Through the years, Combat sports have been thought to be for attack and self defense. Although it is sad to say, this is a mistake. Combat techniques are not for self defense, and it is definitely not for attacking another individual. Martial Arts Bear DE teach people, a way of life. It is about learning and understanding one's inner strength that involves the mind, the body and the spirit.

Many people love to get to the top of their game. They study for many years to excel in a particular combat sport and do not quit. Participating in their sport makes them feel on top of the world. They make a career from being the best and most well known in their chosen art. When they decide to have children they teach them all they know so they can continue in the tradition.

It is through this art, that the mind, body and spirit becomes one. When joined together, there is peace and strength, and it is this strength that keeps flowing through one's body. Therefore, this Chinese system of combat is a way of life. The strength within an individual provides him with tranquility.

If you want to learn a Far Eastern Discipline, it is better to take it up as young as possible. Combat techniques have been around for centuries. Most Asian cultures have different disciplines for combat techniques, but they all have one common denominator. All of them require the balance of body and mind.

It gives confidence to an individual, enabling him to physically move freely inside his very own physical spectrum. Therefore, when oppressed, one knows how to sway and avoid bodily harm. However, more importantly, Far Eastern art forms are all about spiritual discipline. This very principle dictates that attacking another person violates the very rules of Combat sports.

This Far Eastern Discipline was created by a Buddhist monk, thousands of years ago in ancient China. They are now practiced and loved worldwide. Far Easter arts are mainly for self defense rather than to attack anyone. They demand a high fitness and agility level in order to adapt to the swift and flexible nature.

Combat sports have originated and evolved in various cultures. Various Countries have their own traditions and styles. Such as in America, the Native American's have the tradition of open-handed fighting like Wrestling etc..

Martial Arts Bear DE




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