Freestyle Sparring

Techniques and tactics for a competitive edge.

Karate: The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting is the definitive guide to Shotokan Karate--the most widely practiced style of Karate--and has inspired millions of Karate practitioners worldwide. Authored by one of the great masters of the art, Hidetaka Nishiyama, this book is a classic, groundbreaking work on the sport of Karate, and one of the first published in English. An Olympic sport, Karate is today practiced by over 100 million people worldwide. Nishiyama began his training under the instruction of Gichin Funakoshi, the legendary founder of Shotokan Karate. He helped establish the Japan Karate Association and, as head of the JKA's instructors training program, was instrumental in bringing Karate to the U.S. and other Western countries. When he arrived, he proceeded to train the first great generation of Karate instructors spawning a whole new generation of martial artists. Highly accessible and richly illustrated with over 1,000 photographs, this book is a comprehensive manual with step-by-step instructions to all the basic movements and techniques of Karate. Topics covered include: A brief history of Karate Theories and principles of the martial art Effective training and exercise methods Karate techniques including stances, blocks and attacks Defenses against weapons With a new foreword by Ray Dalke, who trained under Nishiyama and, at 8th Dan, is the highest ranking American in Shotokan Karate, Karate: The Art of "Empty-Hand" Fighting provides analyses from the standpoint of physics, physiology, philosophy, and body dynamics. The book's techniques apply to all styles of the martial art and is a valuable reference for any Karateka--stressing Nishiyama's lesson that mastery of the basics is not the end but merely the beginning of a lifelong journey.

"Martial Arts Mind & Body combines the best mental and physical training principles of various martial art forms to enhance performance. Centered on the Japanese concept of kiai, the book explains how to unite your mental, physical, and spiritual energies. As a result, you will be able to: sharpen concentration and awareness, improve your ability to learn new skills, perform better in training and competition, and remain focused under stress." "As you learn how to integrate the energy of the mind and body, you will increase your resistance to fatigue, discomfort, and distraction. You'll also learn techniques to control the body's responses to respiration, metabolism, and muscle relaxation."--Jacket.

Most books about Kung Fu or Karate deal with techniques or history. Few examine the underlying purpose of these arts, or approach them as a tool for spiritual, rather than physical, development. Barefoot Zen is a brave new approach to the martial arts, which clearly demonstrates that the traditional movements of both Kung Fu and Karate, contained in the solo choreographed sequences of movements known as forms (or kata), grew out of the spiritual practices of the Shaolin order of Buddhist monks and nuns. Nathan Johnson explains that this mystical and non-violent teaching is a profound and beautiful expression of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and its pur-suit of wisdom, peace, and enlightenment. Contrary to popular assumption, he contends that it was never intended to be an actual means of self-defense. Barefoot Zen bridges the gap between Kung Fu and Karate, and reveals their common origin through the disclosure of vital research material on three of the world's most important Karate kata. Part I explains the spiritual disciplines that contributed to what we know as the martial arts. Part II explains the creation of the art along with practical instruction for performing kata. Part III explains the formation of many of the world's Kung Fu styles. We learn that the original "empty hand art" was used as a method of kinetic meditation between pairs and was designed as a practical tool to assist practitioners in transcending the fear and insecurity of everyday living. Barefoot Zen makes the legacy of the Shaolin way accessible to all, releasing the art from the clutches of popular images and painful concerns about self-defense. The legendary courage of the Shaolin (Chan/Zen) order was not developed by fighting with enemies, but by not fighting! The Shaolin teaching was designed to free us from fear, the only true enemy.

Eskrima, which is also known as Arnis (De Mano) or Kali, is the indigenous martial art of the Philippine Islands. Dynamic and flexible, with a wide range of training methods it can be practised by students of all ages and levels of fitness. Well known and respected as a highly practical weapons-based system, Eskrima is practised worldwide by civilians, law enforcement personnel and special units within the military. Eskrima uses training weapons (rattan sticks and daggers) from the earliest stages, alongside purely unarmed techniques. These training methods have been found particularly effective at increasing co-ordination and reflexes, providing a fast track to developing the qualities needed for practical self-defence. This fascinating book traces the history and evolution of this art form. It highlights Eskrima's essential principles and concepts. The instructional section illustrates how the Eskrimador is able to succeed in a wide range of combat situations involving fighting with both weapons and open-hands. Techniques, two-person flow drills, self-defence applications, training with specialized equipment, the philosophy of the art and 'self-defence and the law' are all covered in depth.

Whether you are a business owner, department manager, or even a concerned employee, Workplace Security Essentials will show you how to improve workplace safety and security using real-life examples and step-by-step instructions. Every organization, be it large or small, needs to be prepared to protect its facilities, inventory, and, most importantly, its staff. Workplace Security Essentials is the perfect training resource to help businesses implement successful security measures, boost employee morale and reduce turnover, protect the company’s reputation and public profile, and develop the ability to process and analyze risks of all kinds. Workplace Security Essentials helps the reader understand how different business units can work together and make security a business function—not a burden or extra cost. Shows how to identify threats using tried-and-true methods for assessing risk in any size organization Uses real-world examples and scenarios to illustrate what can go wrong-and what can go right when you are prepared Prepares the reader for worst-case scenarios and domestic violence that may spill over into the workplace Provides a clear understanding of various electronic systems, video surveillance, and burglar alarms, and how to manage a security guard force

Arm yourself with the Superfoot advantage to excel in competition! For the first time in print, Adam Gibson and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace present the system that made Wallace a martial arts legend. Gibson and Wallace begin by teaching the seven primary techniques of the Superfoot System. They then present the best attacks and countermaneuvers for you to apply in a variety of fight situations. Drawing and luring techniques show you how to set up opponents, opening them to your attacks. Evasive maneuvers and blocking techniques help you fend off their best attacks. Specific strategies highlight your personal strengths and exploit your opponents' weaknesses. Training and sparring programs will build the speed, power, flexibility, stamina, and mental toughness that are essential for success in competition. Gibson and Wallace know what it takes to be a champion. Master the Superfoot System, and master your opponent in each match!

In Martial Maneuvers, Phillip Starr demonstrates that while the internal martial arts—Taijiquan, Bagua Zhang, and Xingyi Quan—might be considered ineffective for practical self-defense, they in fact have a long history of combat use. Starr argues that most teachers and practitioners of the internal arts have forgotten their rich martial heritage, focusing instead on their applicability for health or spiritual practices. Starr returns to the roots of the three major internal arts, demonstrating the combative principles upon which they were originally based. Martial Maneuvers often takes a lighthearted and humorous approach to what can often be challenging material, and provides training routines in easy-to-understand language. Numerous photos demonstrate the step-by-step implementation of fighting techniques, teaching readers how to apply them to their own chosen martial disciplines. While designed primarily for the internal martial artist, the techniques demonstrated in Martial Maneuvers can also benefit and enrich the training of a student of any discipline, including karate and kung fu.