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Kick boxing - general background

Posted in Sports on May 19th, 2007

Kick boxing is a relatively modern martial arts system, who syllabus derived by combining several fighting techniques from a variety of the more traditional disciplines, including Kung fu, Kyokushinkai Karate, Muay Thai, Kyokky shinkai and Tae kwon do.

History:
Martial arts boomed during the early 1970s and interest was greatly increased by their emphasis on competition fighting. Chinese styles of fighting began to take a more westernised form in the UK, and even more so in the United States, where the first real freestyle systems were beginning to be created. Indeed, many people claim that Kick boxing originated in the US during the 1970s. This, they say, was due to various American Karate practitioners becoming frustrated with the limitations of tournament competitive scoring. While Karate and the other disciplines were viewed as being entrenched with theories and set kata, and were performed in a controlled environment, practitioners wanted to see how effective their moves would be in a more realistic environment. Great emphasis began to be placed on specialised techniques, such as kicks and punches, being delivered with full force. Although full contact Karate was already established, concerns were expressed for the safety of competitors.
Development:
There is a close affinity between Kick boxing and Muay Thai. While it is believed that the Americans had created this concept in their attempt to find a sport that could refine full contact competition, it is believed that the development of Kick boxing was borne out of the World Kick boxing Association finding common ground between Eastern and Western fighting cultures.
It is also believed that Joe Cawley, Don and Judy Quinn, along with Howard Hansen, a Shorin ryn Karate black belt, were the initial promoters of Kick boxing and worked together for improved recognition. Hansen took Kick boxing a stage further by introducing fights in a boxing ring rather than the usual Karate tournament bouts. He became known as a ring matchmaker, staging a variety of successful events with stars such as Bill “Superfoot” Wallis.
New rules evolved and were introduced into Kick boxing, most notably weight divisions – from fly weight to heavy weight – similar to those in traditional boxing. A down side to the discipline in those early days was criticism of a high risk injury. This led to improvement in the safety rules, such as contestants wearing protective clothing to cushion the impacts of the blows.

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- Thanaseelan, click here to view his profile and click on http://www.worthofwordplay.blogspot.com to visit his main blog. Also check out the categories on his blog.

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Shinto Ryu - general background

Posted in Sports on May 14th, 2007

Shinto ryu is a street defence strategy encompassing the “hard” (forceful self-defence) and “soft” (acceptance and deflection) elements of various martial arts styles. It has developed into a unique self-defence system suitable for all, irrespective of age, fitness or gender. Shinto ryu teaches practitioners skills they can adapt to any situation: hard techniques might be required in response to aggression or physical violence, yet Shinto ryu’s softer techniques might be more appropriate in an unsolicited or threatening situation.

Shinto ryu is one of the disciplines practised under the umbrella organisation of the European Martial Arts Academy. Its name means ”nature’s way” or “spirit of nature” – shinto meaning “nature” or “shrine” and ryu meaning “the way”. It is by understanding its name that we gain an insight into how the system works, by developing self-defence skills in a “natural way”.


Shinto ryu is a street defence strategy encompassing the “hard” (forceful self-defence) and “soft” (acceptance and deflection) elements of various martial arts styles. It has developed into a unique self-defence system suitable for all, irrespective of age, fitness or gender. Shinto ryu teaches practitioners skills they can adapt to any situation: hard techniques might be required in response to aggression or physical violence, yet Shinto ryu’s softer techniques might be more appropriate in an unsolicited or threatening situation.


Philosophy:


The philosophy of this art does not manifest itself in seeking harm. Instead, it strives to equip practitioners with techniques that allow them to walk away from difficult situations. Defusing techniques are of utmost importance, but it needs confidence to utilise these techniques effectively.


In Practice:


Shinto ryu is a modern discipline. Practical techniques are taught based on a “star” movement, which allows one to defend oneself from any conceivable angle – be it standing or seated. Reality is the key to this form of self-defence. Practitioners are taught how to respond to different real-world situations, such as being threatened on public transport, for example, in cars, at work and many other environments. Shinto ryu also teaches one how to improvise with objects one is likely to have at hand, such as using a chair or small table as a barrier, as part of a self-defence strategy.


The use of a shinai (bamboo stick) has also been incorporated, but not in the same way as in the art of Kendo. It is used to replicate a potential weapon such as a piece of wood, iron bar or pole that may be at hand, so that the practitioner can learn to strike and defend effectively.

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- Thanaseelan, click here to view his profile and click on http://www.worthofwordplay.blogspot.com to visit his main blog. Also check out the categories on his blog.

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