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One of the advantages of learning boxing or any other kind of martial art is building self-esteem. Not only do you learn how to defend yourself but you learn to feel better about yourself-something that’s lacking a lot of teenagers. This ARTICLE explains how young teenagers are learning how to box to do just that up in Washington state.

It has often been said that the best defense is a good offense. In this case we feel that self-defense is the best offense. We have often maintained that if young children learn how to defend themselves when they are small, those skills will not only improve and keep them in shape but help protect them against things like bullying.

One of the best ways to learn self-defense tactics is from an absolute expert. And the self-defense training DVD called Street Safe is one of the best especially for beginners, young kids and women. They can teach you the basics of self-defense in an hour.

Check out all of our other Martial Arts DVD’s

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Remember the old expression an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? That is essentially what this article is about. It is about the ability to defend yourself in a situation where you feel threatened.

You can read the whole story HERE.

No matter what your age, you can learn the basics of self-defense from a world-class professional. Jeet Kune Do is a form of self-defense that’s been described as a “style without style.” It is basically streetfighting. And in his video Paul Vunak, who teaches some of the most elite fighters in the world such as Navy SEALs, FBI, CIA, SWAT teams and others, the basics of “Jeet Kune Do” shows you in about 60 minutes how to increase your fighting ability two-fold.

The video called Street Safe teaches the eight basic principles of this fighting style in a no-nonsense way. No previous martial arts experiences required and no previous fighting experiences required. It is basically the place to start for someone who wants to learn how to fight.

You can check out all of our other Martial Arts DVD’s to see if one of them isn’t right for you.

Having children in the house is probably the best part of one’s life; however, with the entry of children into our lives, there comes a whole load of responsibilities which include caring for the health and safety of the little ones. We not only have to protect ourselves, but even our children from unscrupulous elements. However, while it may sound simple to keep danger at bay, with children around, this task is easier said than done. In order to ensure your child is protected and secure at all times, even when he/she is alone at home, there are some key tips that you need to keep in mind.

First of all, little children should never be left unattended. Even if you have to purchase something that is essential, you can either choose to take the child along with you or wait for a family member to come home so you can leave the child with them and head out to make the purchase.

As the child grows, there are times you may have to leave him/her alone to run some important errands. In such cases, it is important that you let the children know in clear terms that they should never open the door to any stranger or family member who arrives without prior information. In case they answer the telephone, tell them not to tell the caller that they are alone at home. Ensure you switch on the burglar alarms before you leave home, even if your child in at home so the neighbors can be notified in case of break-ins.

We hardly have time for our daily chores, then why would we want to spend time on any overheads? This is exactly why many are uninterested in learning self defense techniques. But have you given a thought on how helpful these could be?

Good workout

In today’s world, your appearance speaks a lot; sometimes it even modifies your career path. When such is the case, learning self defense techniques will give you a good workout and burn out all the extra calories that add to your flab. It will surely “glam” up your image in just a few days!

More confidence

If you have to stand out from the rest, there has to be something that sets you apart. Self defense will not just give you an edge over the others as an art form that you know, but will also make you bolder from within. The fact that you do not have to depend on others to take care of you will give you a bold attitude making you a more confident person.

Beat the complex

Gone are the days when gender mattered, but all said and done, there is an impression that females are a weaker sex and need to be protected. This will create a complex and stop you from making bold choices in your career. If you want to beat the complex, just jump into the ring and train yourself hard with the self defense techniques.

Women have a reason to cheer when it comes to learning self defense techniques. With the increasing insecurity in general and specifically so for women, there is a demand for techniques that can help women defend themselves.

In the past few years, there were many courses in self defense that offered certifications, but the need of the hour is not just that. People want to learn this art not just for a certificate but for making themselves less vulnerable to attacks.

Almost all techniques of self defense today come with modules that are designed keeping the need of women in mind. This means that though you have to go one step at a time to reach an advanced stage, you are continuously strengthening yourself the right way.

You are not just taught the techniques but also being reminded on when and where you can apply them. You will constantly see demos from trainers that will tell you specifically about the situations in which you can apply the technique you are learning. This comes handy in real time since you are trained well enough and nothing comes as a surprise.

If you don’t have too much time to spend, but know what exactly you are looking for, these courses will satisfy you to the core.

We cannot stop asking the question “why” when it comes to learning something new. There always has to be a reason enough to spend time on picking up a new skill. In such cases, you will be wise is choosing to learn self defense techniques and here is why.

To start with, self defense is not merely another ornament that can be added on to your profile. It does not just glitter there but also makes you a confident person from within which is why it matters more. In an age where you never know the kind of people you are going to bump into during your day, self defense techniques that you pick up will not just qualify as an art, but will give you an edge over the others.

Talk about fitness and here too these techniques will seem to be right choice. When you are getting trained in any of these techniques, you will automatically be toning and tuning your body right and hence you need not further worry about rushing to the daily workouts on time.

Lethargy will vanish only to make way for a new found confidence that this art will being in. Enroll yourself in one of those classes without delay and experience the difference for yourself.

Your confusion does not end, but only begins once you have decided to learn any self defense technique. This is because of the various techniques that make you think which of these self defense techniques will be right for you.

One of the best ways to make up your mind would be to read up briefly about each technique. But this will still sound vague and making up your mind might not be easy. In such a case, try watching the demos related to each technique before you decide.

Yes, this would mean that you will take longer to start off with your learning, but will also mean that you will be starting off with a very receptive mind since you have made a well informed choice. Each of us looks out for different aspects during the selection. While some will give equal importance to the self defense mechanism and total workout for the body, some others may lack the stamina and want something that is less exhausting.

Take advantage of the internet when you want to watch the demos since it is filled with videos of just all the techniques you can consider.

Whoah! Woman! It’s time to celebrate Women’s Self-Empowerment Week, which runs from January 5 to 11. Although being empowered should be encouraged the whole year through, this is one good way to remind those who are being too busy to do so.

And how else could you better celebrate this moment than giving yourself the gift of safety learn self defense lessons! There are many ways you could get into it, you can introduce yourself to self defense lessons via this video from Just Yell Fire. And advance your education learning more self defense moves by watching more videos or taking self defense classes.

You can check out the new gym that does not only keep you in shape but also lets you learn self defense; there’s one in El Paso called “Fighter Physique”.

There is also a women’s self defense training for Elkhart, Indiana residents – Resist Aggression Defensively for Women on February 23.

If you want more varieties of self defense and fitness training programs, check out this list: a Fitness Calendar, which includes a free self-defense intro, Tae Kwon Do for kids to adults, and Body Combat, which is actually an aerobic program combining moves from a variety of self-defense disciplines.

Another Health Calendar, that you should take note of which gives you a choice of Tai Chi for Self Defense and other fitness programs.

Have a safe and fun Women’s Self-Empowerment Week!

A lot of your efficiency and efficacy when it comes to self-defense will depend on your instructor – how well they can transfer their knowledge to you as their student and how effective their techniques are for real-life self-defense. Once you’ve decided to learn self-defense, your most important consideration is who to choose to learn from. But how do you check if your self-defense instructor is actually teaching you the right moves? Here are ways you’ll know:

He’s trained and certified in the self-defense course you want to learn
Decide on the type of self-defense class you want to learn first and then look for a teacher who has the appropriate training and certification in that discipline. This is because you can’t realistically expect a taekwondo instructor to teach the art of Krav Maga simply because he/she doesn’t have the proper skills and knowledge.

Always look for a self-defense instructor who is certified in the self-defense style you want. That should give you a pretty good idea if he/she is capable of really teaching you the right moves.

Check local credentials, certifications or national affiliations. Internationally trained and affiliated self-defense instructors are usually more expensive but you could have the assurance that you will be trained under the best. Ask for referrals from associations and clubs. Many of these are nationwide networks, which should allow you to find certified instructors in your area.

Ask for referrals and reviews
If you can, look for former or current students of the self-defense instructor you want to take classes under. Ask these students regarding their experiences – the techniques taught by the instructor, how well the lessons are structured and shared, how long each sessions are and the kind of progression you can expect.

Checking if your self-defense instructor is really going to teach you the right moves and will not merely take a move on you is sometimes just a matter of learning from others’ experiences. Do this before you sign up for any lessons.

Do your own research
It pays to have enough knowledge or background regarding the type of self-defense discipline you want to learn. That way you will be more familiar with the type of moves involved, including the kind you can expect an instructor to teach you.

There are plenty of books, magazines, videos or websites that can offer you excellent information regarding self-defense instructions. Learn from these. Once you know the kind of moves used in a particular self-defense discipline, you could easily check whether your self-defense instructor is really teaching you the right moves and not just taking a move on you.

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For Adrian Quintanilla, jiu jitsu is not only a way to get in shape, but it’s also a fun way of learning self-defense.

The literal translation for jiu jitsu is the “way of yielding” or “the art of softness”. It is also a collective term for various styles of Japanese martial arts, many of which are based on striking and grappling techniques. The sport is derived from ancient techniques used by samurai in the old days and against opponents who weren’t just armored but carried weapons as well. Jiu jitsu was also used by samurais when they had no means or were forbidden to use weapons.

Unlike other methods of self-defense, also teaches people how to use their opponent’s energy against them rather than employing techniques which require them to directly confront their opponent.

Although there are different schools of teachings for jiu-jitsu, all of them have certain similarities. Every jiu-jitsu student, for instance, learns the traditional techniques through observation and imitation. Most schools also place special emphasis in joint-locking when they are teaching their students unarmed techniques in combating.

All schools include striking techniques in their “curriculum”, although the actual technique may vary from school to school. Nevertheless, striking techniques often target a vulnerable part of the body.

While techniques used for combating with weapons differ, the actual weapons used remain the same for all jiu-jitsu schools: short one-hook truncheons called jitte, knives (tanto), short and long swords, and three and six-foot staffs called hanbo and roku shaku bo, respectively.

Men and women of all ages can learn jiu jitsu, and The Boxing Gym in Edinburg is indeed open to accepting anyone who wishes to lose weight and learn self-defense through jiu jitsu. At present, Quintanilla tells Monitor.com that their students range from 10-year-old kids to forty-year-old men. The classes take place at night, from Tuesday to Friday, and costs $75 to $95 per month.

The classes offered at The Boxing Gym focus, however, on the Brazilian version of jiu-jitsu. This version originated Esai Maeda Koma, a jiu jitsu master who settled in Brazil in 1916. Quintanilla describes Brazilian jiu-jitsu as the martial art “for the little guy” because it teaches techniques people can use even or most especially when they’re on their backs.

Of course, knowledge and skills in jiu-jitsu should not be abused and Quintanilla advises people to use such techniques only when other and less risky tactics, like simply walking away, prove to be unsuccessful.

image credits to The Adventures of Kristin & Adam