What Is Aikido and How to Use It for Self Defense

Today, you are faced with a lot of choices as to what method to use particularly when you speak of safety or self-protection. The market is filled with pepper spray or self-defense guns that are designed in various ways. But aside from personally having your own device, you can also learn from different kinds of martial arts. It is not only a good activity to optimize physical health but more importantly your tool for added security.

Founder Of Aikido

Aikido is one of the martial art that is widely adapted by people from all walks of life across the globe. Its origin dated back in the year 1925 when Morihei Ueshiba, a martial art professional created and developed this method in order to coordinate the spiritual and physical life to philosophical growth. He had enough experience to create quite a few numbers of techniques which can be learned by anyone who aims to protect the self from opponents especially those larger in size.

In the year 1941, this form of martial art was recognized in Japan. He established a dojo or training school which taught this method. From there on, the art of Aikido reached the Western countries. It was in the year 1953 when France adapted this method and was considered the first Western country to establish a training school. Just after France, Germany and America recognized the art also. The descendants of Ueshiba then continued the training school particularly his son and grandson upon his death.

This method of martial art is not intended to inflict harm but only to incapacitate the person attacking you with the use of different techniques. It is termed as the Art of Peace. It works just like the phone stun gun which is designed to cause temporary incapacitation and not permanent body damage. There are 20 basic techniques which can have countless combinations and they involve holds and body throws that can be executed depending on the movement and force of your attacker.

The attacks in Aikido which are called "atemis" are directed on specific pressure points of the body wherein if they are hit will cause pain and temporary immobilization. Discipline and proper use of the techniques are taught on students learning the method most especially that it can cause death when used for different purposes. The main aim of the art is to create a complete distraction and generally defend you by just disarming the attacker and not putting his life in danger.

Aikido is a form of defense that does not use any weapons. But there are some students who try to incorporate this method with the use of a wood stick or a wood sword. Some teachers in training schools believed that it becomes more effective when you learn the method using sword strikes. So anywhere you go when you can just grab on to something like a stick or an umbrella for instance, you can defend yourself at all times.

The art of Aikido is indeed an effective form of martial art and self-defense. The techniques will keep your attacker immobilized even if they stand taller and larger than you.

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Ninja Training At Home - A Mini Course In How To Become a Ninja

Can you really do ninja training at home? Absolutely....

Won't it take years of ninja training at home to become a modern day ninja? Absolutely not.

Here's a mini course in how to become a ninja from at home training:

There's 3 main areas you want to cover for ninja training at home: Study, physical training, and style.

1. Study -  This part of training involves simply studying ninja history. Learning the origins of the past, while learning modern day applications. Having a strong ninja knowledge base is important for becoming a ninja. You learn the past and learn what aspects you can apply to the future. Study is not just a history lesson though. You also want to study the mindset and mentality of ninjas. Learn the strong and positive aspects and then learn how you can apply them to your own life.

2. Training - Physical training is very important for becoming a ninja. And it doesn't just encompass specific martial art technique. A huge part of ninja workouts involve cardiovascular conditioning as well as balance, flexibility skills, and running/jumping type training. This is actually great as this is the type of training you can get started with right away. Fight training should be added in after an initial conditioning period is completed. And even with fight training, you can learn a lot on your own from guide books to videos.

3. Style - Style is in quotes because one doesn't want to associate ninja with some sort of fashion trend. But one cannot ignore the fact that out of all the martial arts, the ninja encompasses the strongest sense of style, in a good way. You want to begin to incorporate this style in your own life, taking a subtle and more modern day approach. Black hoodies should become your new best friend. Flexible pants and lightweight shoes (black wrestling shoes can work well) can be added to your wardrobe. Style involves more than clothes though. Your demeanor should include more of a ninja style. Practice sneaking. Work on moving quickly from one place to another. Practice getting to the point where when someone glances your way, turns back and then looks a second time, you're gone.

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Martial Arts : Self Defense Anatomy

Self defense moves represent excellent methods to help protect yourself from incoming attacks and attackers, however, in order to fully grasp the impact of these self defense techniques, you must first understand some basic anatomy principles. Most self defense moves are based on the weaknesses of the human body and this is the article where I share with you some of the main secret areas in the human body, that can cause pain, lack of conscience and disorientation to the furious attacker.

We will start from the top to the bottom and I have to say that the head is filled with such places. First of all, the eyes represent one of the weakest points in the human body. It will sound cruel however in a life or death situation you must act. A direct blow with the fingers to the attackers eyes will leave him in extreme pain and complete incapacity. He will most likely run away or collapse from the pain. Also behind the ears there is a bone that in placed directly over the balance center of the body or the inner ear. A direct blow with your palm or elbow to that area will leave an attacker with limited or no balance, causing him to fall.

Another weak point the human body has is located directly under the nose. A cartilage is located there and if receiving a direct blow, that cartilage will send out extreme pain sensations to the brain and activate the tear glands of the eyes, thus the attacker will not see and will be temporarily incapacitated. Also a special spot which only men have is the Adam's apple in the neck. A straight punch to that are will leave a man without breath and can actually be fatal if delivered with too much power.

Moving down a bit on the body, we reach the liver. It is considered to be regenerating organ and filters all the impurities in your body. It is located in the lower right side of the abdominal cavity and when punched properly, can cause the attacker to collapse in extreme pain, have almost total lack of breath and even loss of consciousness.

The last weak point taught by self defense classes on the human body, is represented by the knee. It holds you leg together as a principle joint and is covered by a very hard cartilage known as the patella or the knee cap. Upon receiving a direct blow, this injury can cause an attacker to instantly drop and experience pain. All these techniques may seem cruel and unfair, however they must be used only in critical situations and are only for protection.

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Martial Arts : Facts of Karate

With the reports on the daily news about crimes in the society, personal safety must be taken seriously. There are a great number of self-defense methods available today. You can buy stun guns, pepper spray and other devices to have added protection anywhere you go. You can keep them inside your bag or pockets and use them when highly needed. Aside from having reliable tools, you can also choose a martial art and learn its techniques.

The art of Karate is one of the martial arts that you can learn in order to defend yourself when caught in a situation where your personal safety is on the line. It has techniques that utilize every part of the body. You learn how to strike, kick, punch and do counter attacks. It does not involve the use of the weapon. You just need to train yourself on learning the different techniques so that you will be able to aim for personal security.

This form of martial arts was first introduced by Gichin Funakoshi in Japan in the 1920s. He is considered today as the Father of Karate. History shows that Karate was developed using different boxing styles and techniques by the Okinawans to fight armed troops. With the study on human anatomy, physics and psychology, this method is further enhanced to strike at the weak points of the body and thus is a good form of self-defense.

Father of "Karate"

The ultimate aim of learning Karate is to achieve moral perfection. The word Karate comes from the Japanese character "kara" which means the heaven or the universe. When translated to Zen, it simply means selflessness. This implies that you must not take pride on wealth or power but instead live a moral and wholesome life. You must not be overly concerned on material possessions but instead be motivated on building a good moral character.

You might be wondering as to who can learn this martial arts. The truth is it is developed for the learning of everyone. No matter if you are old or young, girl or boy, tall or short, fat or thin; you have the capacity to study the different techniques of this self- defense method. You must train and practice the different moves and instill discipline in yourself so that you will be able to move on to the next level.

This type of self-defense method is not only beneficial for you during unpredictable and dangerous situations but it is also good for the health. It can be your form of exercise daily as you develop physical strength and endurance. You get to move your extremities during your training and it strengthens your muscles. Not only is it good for your physical health but it also teaches you about discipline and humility.

So, aside from owning the most powerful stun gun or equipping yourself with an effective self-defense device, you can also learn the different techniques of martial arts and one of which is Karate. Once you master the skills, you have a greater chance to defend yourself when needed.

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Krav Maga - The Ugliest Way of Self Defense

Gian Spencer is a cop, an Italian decent he is serious about his career and public service, but a really funny guy. Tall, not heavy-looking, though. Always puts humor to everything around him. When not in a police officer's uniform, he could pass for a janitor. When dressed up for Sunday mass, he looks like a Wall Street dude. That's Gian Spencer, a cop and a KravMaga artist.

With the name, there is a person who has everyone's fear of being attacked in dark alleys. With such a profession, there's a person who knows how to keep peace and order. With Krav Maga, there's a beast that shows no mercy for assailants and any other individual exhibiting sinister plans on him or any person within his sight. That's Gian Spencer, a cop and a KravMaga artist.

He is just like most of us. What makes him stand out is his confidence that he can protect himself, his family and his closest circle in unforeseen attacks of criminals, with or without weapons. Gian Spencer is an embodiment of a normal person, and the warrior we all want to be when threatened.

Enough of Gian and let's talk Krav Maga. Meaning "contact combat", it is the official hand to hand fighting system of Israel, employed for decades by the Israeli Defense Forces. Designed as a simple and efficient art of self-defense, "Krav" is an effective and brutal technique used against unprovoked attacks; the former you can learn and be skilled at, the latter you can get anywhere as criminals lurk in no particular territories. Those tactics the usual martial arts prohibit, Krav Maga allows. From those nasty groin kicks to the even nastier eye gouges, from the deadly elbows to the throat to the vicious wringing of the neck - Krav Maga teaches it, and enthusiasts practice it. If this sounds vicious, it is. If you think it has the element of street-fighting, well, hell, yeah!

So are there any rules in Krav Maga? Yes, there is. And there's only one. "Don't get hurt." This is the strong statement of Josef Belsari, owner and trainer of Belsari Brothers Martial Arts Academy. "When your only concern is surviving an attack, why should you consider just pinching your attacker in the nose?" By the way, Josef is only five foot and five inches, wears glasses and works at the local library. His two older brothers tease his soft-spoken ways, and his two sisters are always amused at his collection and constant humming of Bon Jovi songs. Nothing about Josef speaks he's a Krav Maga artist until he is provoked or when people close to him are in danger.

With Krav Maga, you don't get those dance-like movements in thwarting your enemies, and you don't get those "was on, wax off" tactics to defeat criminals. Josef Belsari and Gian Spencer are a strong testament that protecting yourself is not about those moves and kicks and lots of dialogues you see in martial arts movies. Both would immediately follow this statement with saying that most martial arts forms are sports-oriented and patterned to win competitions and tournaments only. With KM, what makes you a winner is that you truly defeat any attacker, whether they are pointing a knife to your face, or showing off biceps with a size and pulse of a rhinoceros gearing for an attack.

While other martial arts earns you a skill level belt or any other forms of recognition; your only acknowledgments would be being able to debilitate an attacker, or in most times, being able to move freely and with confidence that you can handle any assailant. Krav Maga trainings are informal and eclectic, liberating for many beginners as one goes though conditional drills and calisthenics, routine combat practices and then the different techniques fit to different dangers posed by any attack.

Your instincts and fitness is your best weapon in Krav Maga. When into a fight, just a few Krav moves and your enemy is down and begging for mercy. No more of those punch rally or exchange of kicks, just an instant retaliation from your body and you're done. The moves used in Krav are simple but renders your enemy helpless. Ugly? Yes.

You might wonder why this combat form is taking form and why Krav Maga videos are always sold out. It's because the truth is out about all other martial arts varieties. They work well in the movies, but they are never functional in a street attack. As military and law enforcement folks have used Krav Maga in their operations, it does not mean only people in uniform can protect themselves and their loved ones from attacks. You should be able to as well.

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Krav Maga for Women

Women were supposed to learn how to cook, to spend their time stitching beautiful portraits or having tea ceremonies with their friends. As time goes by and our ideology broadens, women fought for their own rights and place in the society. However, the danger for women never lessen, instead they grow more pronounced everyday. This is why Krav Maga video will help in training women to use the Krav Maga style to defend their selves when in unfortunate event that they are attacked.

Learning a tactical defense method through Krav Maga will prepare you when the situation arises that puts you in danger. It trains you how to avoid being injured and how to use the natural reflexes of your body. It also instills in you a sense of self-preservation and developed your awareness to foresee any possible danger to your life. Additionally, it builds up your self control so that you may be able to move from passive to aggressive state to fight back and defeat your opponent through a calm and logical thinking.

This development of Krav Maga for women is build up from valuable information provided through enforcement officials, psychologists, criminal prosecutors and other professionals with enough authority on rape cases. The Krav Maga set-up imitates the how and where women are commonly attacked.

For these reasons the fighting style for women is designed and center on rape case preventions. The Krav Maga videos teaches you on how you can fight an assailant when he chokes, grabs, bearhug or confront you with a deadly weapon. This type of martial art also employs some of the excellent technique of other martial arts such as karate, judo, muay thai and boxing. However, it emphasizes realistic scenarios and defenses more than its counterpart.

Krav trains women on how to safely and effectively throw punches to an attacker with conjunction to the usage of elbows, knees and kicks. It also incorporates building women's spirit and confidence to be able to respond both mentally and physically in an uncompromising situation and removing the danger of freezing or shutting down. With these, women will be able to improvise and make use of their environment to their advantage and defeat their attacker.

The place for training is carried on actual places such at ATM Machines, Parking lots or where women are usually harassed. Instructors put on protective padding pads and attack the student so that they may be able to partially feel what it is to be in a real threatening situation. Women are taught to defend themselves when they are under pressure such as this.

There are several martial arts that women can learn and employ. However, there is nothing like Krav Maga in defense tactics. It is much more practical in protecting oneself and extending it to your companion. Also, founders and practitioners have specifically mold the styles and methods of Krav Maga for women and how they can be of use to them. This is also great for women who don't have time to learn too long and needs to learn this high level skill in a short time.

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The Anatomy of Krav Maga

No other martial arts form comes close to the simplicity, power and effectiveness of Krav Maga. It is designed to give one the skills and techniques to supremely defeat an enemy with quick and lethal responses to attacks. The recent years has gained Krav Maga a good following because it is easy to learn, and the combat tactics involved are guaranteed to ward off unwanted and threatening individuals.

Before getting yourself into a Krav Maga training, understand the following about this full-fledged form of self-defense:

Attack the weaker points of your enemy's body - Given that your life is threatened and you can still defend yourself and fight back, your best opportunity is battering the vulnerable areas of your attacker. Krav Maga videos illustrate how you can attack a helpless body portion, and foresee with chances when these areas could be hit with your counter strike. Instead of the usual multiple undirected punches, you could learn the rabid, vicious techniques of returned attacks on the weaker points of the body that could debilitate your enemy to surrender;

Defend and attack back - In a life threatening situation, once you've temporarily overwhelmed your attacker, Krav Maga teaches you to attack back. In line with the principle that the best way to break out from a fight is to end it quickly, Krav Maga teaches multiple blocks and attacks. More importantly, this martial art form teaches how to block and attack at the same time to immediately end the fight. When a knife or dagger is up your face, Krav Maga teaches a series of techniques to avoid getting hurt, and putting your attacker down and snoring;

Three hundred percent defense - Krav Maga is mostly all about blocking methods and evading tactics during attacks. You will be trained to employ three simultaneous moves, which, upon complete execution, will render your attacker hoping someone will dial 911 - quick! The first move would be blocking using hand or foot defense, or maybe plucking to break a choke or headlock. Next would be the body defense wherein you turn or move your body to distance it from your attacker. The third principle is "moving away from the attack area" which means you go around your opponent to disadvantage his position and direction. Deflecting the first attack and then moving quickly to your assailant's inconvenient point would neutralize him. At this point, you can then regroup your counter moves to end the fight, with your attacker waving the white flag;

Situational awareness and looking ahead - Being attacked in real life is nothing compared to those movie scenes you've seen. Wherein in the silver screen you see two characters slugging it out, exchanging high flying kicks and making zombies out of each other's faces, in real life and with Krav, you cut the scene immediately, render your enemy incapacitated, and as for you, come out of the fight unscathed and victorious. As anyone can be attacked at any time and place, Krav Maga integrates in its teachings how you could heighten your awareness of events and persons, and develops your keenness for noticing trouble right from the start. In all Krav Maga videos, illustrations of how you can move away from the line of attack, and knowing the blind spot of your enemies and yours are included and explained well. Also, methods of escape and possible objects to aid you in the struggle are also pointed out in Krav Maga.

Where success of other martial arts form are only found in movies and tournaments for belts and recognitions, the success of Krav Maga can be achieved in certain victories in any attack you may fall into.

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Finding The Best Qualified Self-Defense Instructor

A qualified self-defense instructor is perhaps the most important component of an effective self-defense program. Without proper knowledge and experience in the fields of psychology and physical combat manoeuvres, an instructor could easily give out misinformation and put students into harm's way. Alarmingly enough, there are actually lots of instructors around who have had very little training and education in the art of self-defense.

Whenever you're searching for self-defense courses to take, you might run into some of these self-proclaimed 'gurus' or amateur instructors. But by interviewing them and researching their backgrounds in self-defense, you can learn to discern the frauds from the truly qualified instructors.

The following list of questions will aid you in your interviews and research, so please refer to it when you're in the process of selecting a self-defense course.

1. Who trained the instructor? Find out if the instructor was self-taught, or if other certified instructors trained him. If a certified instructor trained him, find out who it was and what background he had as well. Training by other highly qualified instructors is ideal.

2. Does the instructor have certification in self-defense training? Training experience doesn't necessarily mean that a person is qualified and certified to teach a self-defense course, so find out which certifications he has obtained. The leader of your chosen course should be a certified instructor in the self-defense technique he is teaching.

3. How much training has the instructor had? Some self-defense instructors have received 'certification' after only a few days of training, whereas others have earned it through years of hard work and discipline. A long-time self-defense practitioner is obviously better qualified than someone who passed a simple exam.

4. How many students has the instructor taught? Would you rather learn self-defense from someone who has taught tens or thousands of students? A high number is a good indication that the instructor offers valuable training, and is qualified to do so. Organisations and everyday citizens seek training from highly qualified instructors, so it's sometimes easier to find a good instructor by simply following the masses.

In addition to these questions, find out if the instructor is able to train you for real-world self-defense. Some martial arts and self-defense courses focus more on exercise or competitive sport than on physical safety. By thoroughly interviewing and researching potential instructors, you're likely to find a highly qualified teacher for your self-defense needs.

Learning Self-Defense Psychology To Protect Yourself

When the primary objective of a self-defense class is to help you protect yourself from violent assault, a core component of the training should be on the art of assault prevention. Your use of combat man oeuvres can save your life in the event of violent assault, but it's best to avoid any situation in which you would need to use them. Therefore, your understanding of the psychology of violent behaviour is just as important as your physical training in defense movements. This will make a real difference when defending yourself in a real life situation.

Before taking a self-defense class, find out if it offers you training and education on recognising the different stages of physical attack. An assault doesn't occur 'out of nowhere', and if you learn to recognise the warning signals that one might occur, you're better prepared to escape a dangerous situation in one piece.

The violent behavior portion of self-defense training should include information on:

Body Language - Your body language sends signals to those around you, as does the body language of a potential attacker. Self-defense classes should teach you the movements and attitude that you must assume to avoid the 'victim profile'. They should also teach you which movements to watch for from others, such as posturing and stalking behaviors, so you can recognise them.

Attack Initiation - If an assailant has targeted you, he will try to approach you, talk with you, distract you, or manoeuvre you into isolation. It's not too late to avoid assault if this happens to you, but you must recognize it for what it is and get out of the situation. A self-defense class covers the communication skills and escape tactics you'll need to stop the attack from progressing.

Attack Escalation - It's not always possible to dodge a swift attacker in the initiation stage, but you still have a chance of avoiding assault if you recognise and effectively handle an escalating situation. By studying the psychology of aggression in self-defense classes, you'll immediately notice the warning signs of an impending attack-and know effective strategies for diffusing the attacker.

The hand-to-hand combat man oeuvres you learn in self-defense training are only a last resort for protecting yourself in real life situations. By also providing you with knowledge on the psychology of aggression and violent behavior, a self-defense class teaches you the art of avoiding and diffusing attackers before they launch a violent physical assault.

Martial Arts Self-Defense - 2 Vulnerable Areas To Attack If An Assailant Has Grabbed From Behind

Being grabbed from behind is a common self-defense scenario. Not knowing who has grabbed you and what their intent is can cause one to panic and lose focus. Even if you are not a trained martial arts expert there are two simple and highly effective self-defense techniques to use as a means of escape. Using either can cause the assailant enough pain to release their grasp.

Self-Defense Release Tactic 1

The human foot contains 26 bones. Many of these bones are quite small and can be broken fairly easily when struck with substantial force. A number of ligaments, tendons and nerves are also in the foot. Even if a bone in the foot is not broken, striking these areas can cause enough pain to the attacker to release their hold. If you have ever had anyone accidentally step on the top, or instep, of your foot or you accidentally dropped anything heavy on it you know the type of pain there can be.

The top of the foot is the most vulnerable to attack using this self-defense tactic. The toes are also vulnerable to attack. Although more force must be applied, especially if the attacker is wearing heavy shoes or boots, the toes can be dislocated or broken. The ankle is not the preferred point to attack. It contains much heavier bone and muscle than the foot. Although if struck at an angle with enough force the ankle can be dislocated or broken.

If your lower arms are pinned, attacking the assailants foot might be the only recourse. Your self-defense counter attack must be performed quickly to avoid being picked up or thrown to the ground. Stomp the top of their foot with your heel. You cannot be sure what type of covering is on their foot so maximum pressure must be applied. Using full force, drive you heel through their foot all the way through to the ground.

Self-Defense Release Tactic 2

If your lower arms and hands are free attack the assailants fingers. The human fingers and thumbs are not especially strong individually. One effective self-defense technique involves using one or both of your hands to grab one finger. The small finger is the weakest, however any finger will do. After grabbing a single finger pull it back towards the top of their hand. With enough force the finger will be dislocated or broken. The pain inflicted should be enough for them to release their grasp.

As with any life threatening situation, after a self-defense or martial arts technique has been successful, leaving the scene is preferred. There is no good reason to stay if the attacker has released you. They will be in substantial pain and probably no longer a threat if the technique was properly applied. Leave quickly to avoid others that may be in a position to attack. Locate and notify law enforcement as soon as possible.

Do you want to learn more about protecting yourself in a real-life self defense scenario?

Go to http://selfdefense-techniques.com/ and download Pete's free Intelligent Guide For Self  Defense.

Most traditional martial arts classes do not train you for real life encounters. Learn to avoid getting yourself into a bad situation. But if you find yourself face to face with serious injury or death, you will have mastered the skills to survive by following these simple systems.