I was just poking around and came across a website for a guy who I trained with up to 4th Degree Black Belt who is now a 10th Degree “Grandmaster” in Shaolin Kempo. (Funny how many of them are around teaching some lame-ass version of Villari’s Shaolin Kempo Karate).

He’s got fast hands and flexible kicks and I always though of him as an excellent martial artist- and a pretty good guy overall.

I watched some of video samples and to the untrained eye, his techniques look very effective.

The experienced martial artist sees that the moves are superficial, trading real power from the body’s core for flashy 6,7, 8 hand strike patterns. Great if your attacked stands there and let’s you slap him around. But we know better than that.

I have heard Grandmaster Villari say many times that “Sometimes crude is good.”

If a  folding chair to the skull is what puts your opponent down for the count, I’m all for it! Baseball bat to the kneecaps? You bet!

A weapon of choice.

Crude beats flash just about every time.

Deliberate Practice in 90 Minute Segments

Practice intensely, without interruption for short periods of no longer than 90 minutes and then take a break. Ninety minutes appears to be the maximum amount of time that we can bring the highest level of focus to any given activity. The evidence is equally strong that great performers practice no more than 4 ½ hours a day.

“Those who can- do.

Those who can’t- post on forums.”

Once in a great while, usually when I am having trouble sleeping or need a good laugh, I visit a martial arts forum.

This may be a gross generalization, but judging from the subject matter and  intellectual level of many of the comments, I have this mental picture of most of these members living in their parents’ basements and while chomping on a bologna sandwich and slugging a bottle of Red Bull during a break from playing one of those fantasy video games, wax expert on why this style sucks and these guys only want to make money, and who’s going to win UFC 260.

Of course there are some excellent forums and reporting out there.  Sherdog.com comes to mind as well as some of the other mixed martial arts websites.There are some excellent martial artists out there with interesting and considered opinions as well. Few and far between though.

To me, the most ridiculous are the self-proclaimed “purists”. Cloaked in their smug belief in their superiority and knowledge of their ancient lineage, they wax poetic on why any martial art that can’t trace its roots directly back to a bored rice farmer in Okinawa who started swinging his thresher around one day isn’t worth squat.

Put these guys on a mat or in a bar and see what they have to say. I bet they’ll be calling out to Mama for more than another sandwich.

What say you?

I love watching Grandmaster Villari move and teach. I can watch the same technique 50 times and see something new every time. There is so much subtle movement and adjustment to the situation that is a result of what is

Grandmaster Villari Teaches a Mongol Lock

referred to by experts in learning as “unconscious competence”- a master of his or her craft – any craft- performing at a level that is way beyond thinking and doing.

Too many martial artists confuse information with knowledge. Personally, I know the moves to many forms and all 108 Combinations. However, I am smart enough to know how ignorant I am of the principles underlying many of these.

Of course I am glued to Grandmaster Villari’s every word. But, I learn more by watching what he is doing more than what he is saying. These may be called White to Black Belt rank videos. I think these are really White Belt to Grandmaster videos. And I watch them and learn from them every day.

I recommend you do the same.

The video below explain using principle in Kyusho as opposed to strength and leverage. Specifically for advanced level students using Alarm Points to affect the attacker.

The concepts behind Alarm Points require much study, but the effect can be seem very easily. If you have any questions please see free to post them as comments. Also to view part 2 in this video series please follow this link.

Also when you have a moment check out these website to learn more about the Pressure Point art of Kyusho Jitsu.

• Kyusho Jitsu Home Study Course
• Kyusho Jitsu Online Study Course
• Novice Kyusho Workbook
• Novice Kyusho Workbook in Spanish

Karate is a Japanese martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands (in what is now Okinawa, Japan) prior to the 19^th century.  Until 1935, the word “karate” was originally written as “Chinese hand” in Kanji.  It was then changed to “empty hand” written in Japanese

This martial art uses weaponless techniques such as punching and kicking to overcome the opponent. Typically, fighters wear a white Karate uniform (Gi) and a belt that indicates their skill level and rank.

Karate utilizes simple equipment made of wood and stone to increase strength, stamina, speed, and muscle coordination.   A striking post (or makiwara) would be an example.

It emphasises aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, power, agility, flexibility, and stress management.   For many practitioners, karate is a deeply philosophical practice.  It teaches ethical principles, and is practiced for:  self-perfection, cultural reasons, self-defense and as a sport.

There are hundreds of different styles of karate across the world, but all can be traced back to four original styles from Okinawa:  Goju Ryu, Shorin Ryu, Uechi Ryu and Shorei Ryu.

Some other styles that have formed throughout the years are:

•Shotokan Karate

•Kyokushinkai  Karate

•Goju Kai  Karate

•Wado Ryu Karate

•Shito Ryu Karate

•Kenpo Karate

Kyokushinkai  was formally founded by Masutatsu Oyama in 1957.  It was largely a blend of Shotokan and Goju Ryu and teaches a curriculum that emphasizes contact, physical toughness, and full contact sparring.  Today it’s better known as “full contact karate”.

Some notable Karate practitioners of today include Chuck Norris, Jean Claude Van Damme, the UFCs Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell and George St.Pierre.

Update On Spanish Edition of Pressure Point Workbook.

Well we are at about the 95% complete rate for our Spanish Edition. There have been many, many pre orders and I am expecting them to ship by Thursday of next week! Of course at this time this book will go to the $29.00 price tag! So if you want to take advantage of the special $15 price you best follow this link right now and make your purchase. This sate will end as soon as the book is finished and ready to ship.

Also, keep your eyes on the Kyusho Jitsu Canada website for more information and updates!

I have some very good news for all my Spanish speaking friends, not only is our Pressure Point Workbook being translated into Spanish, and will be available in a few days, but we are also having our Kyusho Jitsu Canada website done as well!

This is great news for many people! I am also in the works of having all the video’s subtitled into Spanish so more people can enjoy the benefits. All of this will take some time, but the time will be well worth it!

Now, as for seminars. Currently I am working with a group in Romania, and will in the future look at having the workbook translated for them as well. However right now when it comes to seminars we can do these with a translator interpreter as well!

So stay tuned to this site for all the news about our transleted materials. Also consider ordering your copy of the Spanish Edition Novice Pressure Point Workbook now! It is current at the low price of $15, but will not stay there much longer.

Well if a picture is worth a thousand words, then this one certainly is! This is a page from our new Spanish Edition of our Novice Pressure Point Certification Workbook. If you click on the image you will download a full page version for a good look!

Now we are just finishing up with the proof reading and a little of the art work and hope to have this book out within the next 14 days or sooner! But right now for a limited time you can pre-order this book for ONLY $15!! Once the book is released it will go to it’s $29.00 price tag. So if you act now you can save almost 50%.

We will email the finished volume as soon as it is available to all pre-order customers. To get your copy simply click on the PayPal button below.

Congratulations to Kate Holligan, Caitlyn Reeder, Iona Guild, Andrew Green, Stephen Wood and John Wilson who won bronze, Liz Quinlan and William Newey who won silver and Robert Hinton who won gold at the Scottish kata championships. (source: Azami Karate) Rss feeds and Widgets – ca.feedzilla.com