Self Defense Made Easy

This is the first test entry to my Self Defense Made Easy blog, to check that everything is working fine.

I have to make sure that everything is working before I can let everybody know that the blog is up and running.

I will start entering more relevant messages soon.

Just bear with me. Cyber-Rome was not built in a day, you know! ;-)

Thanks for your patience!

Skinny Jeff

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11-05-2006 - Self Defense Warm Up Exercises

There are several self defense warm up exercises that could be added to the list of Karate warm up excercises (a new window will open), in included in this site this week. Before training, one must be prepared for the upcoming physical stress. A warm-up... New Self Defense Articles

17-05-2006 - Stretching Exercises

In this mini-article, I share with you the first 2 stretching exercises I listed in my previous entry. New Self Defense Articles

18-05-2006 - The Shaolin Roots of Kung Fu and Karate (A.K.A. "Barefoot Zen")

If you're interested in the origins of Karate as a martial art, there are many books around that can give you an insight into this topic.

Sure, the knowing where Karate originated won't make you a better martial artist, nor will it make you a better fighter. However, martial arts and self defense are not just about punching and kicking each other silly. If you're serious about self defense and martial arts, you should also immerse yourself in their history.

Nathan Johnson offers a new approach to the origins of Karate as a martial art, and convinsingly demonstrates that the traditional movements of both Kung Fu and Karate grew from the spiritual practices of the Shaolin order of Buddhist monks and nuns.

Nathan argues that, contrary to popular assumption, neither Karate or Kung Fu were meant to be used as techniques for self-defense. What was intended to be then?

Ahhh... grasshopper... you gotta read the book to find out. :-)

But the book is not only about "speculative history" (Although I would not really call it "speculative"). Barefoot Zen also includes practical instructions for preforming kata with over 400 photographs, 35 illustrations, and 54 figures.

If you're in Asia, Australia or New Zealand, you can find this book here (a new window will open).

If you're in North America, you can find Barefoot Zen here (a new window will open).

Self Defense Articles

26-05-2006 - More Martial Arts Stretching Exercises

I promised to add more martial arts stretching exercises before, and here they are. Hamstring Stretch To do this exercise you must sit on ground with right leg extended to front and foot pointing up. Then bend your left leg with the sole touching to... New Self Defense Articles