http://u.article99.com/chikara-kan-inc/ en-us http://u.article99.com/ Article99.com http://www.article99.com/2008/09/11/sometimes-you-learn-the-most-from-a-well-intentioned-and-calculated-butt-whoopin-16057.html By: Shawn Kovacich - As you may and should well know three of the many tenants of almost any martial art are respect self-discipline and self-control. These tenants should be applied to every situation even those where you think they shouldnandrsquot. A prime example of this comes from my own personal experience with a senior classmate of mine when I was just a green belt.[...] Martial Arts 11 Sep 2008 11:30:27 EDT http://www.article99.com/2008/09/11/sometimes-you-learn-the-most-from-a-well-intentioned-and-calculated-butt-whoopin-16057.html http://www.article99.com/2008/09/11/martial-arts-book-review-floor-fighting-by-marc-16053.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Once again Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This book focuses on the subject of fighting on the ground which as most of us know is where the vast majority of fights end up. As with all of his books Marc really gives you an in-depth look at the principles behind the techniques that he explains in his books. This is one of the true tests of a quality martial arts or self-defense book.[...] Martial Arts 11 Sep 2008 11:30:27 EDT http://www.article99.com/2008/09/11/martial-arts-book-review-floor-fighting-by-marc-16053.html http://www.article99.com/2008/09/11/shoud-you-notify-your-attacker-that-you-are-trained-in-the-martial-arts-16055.html By: Shawn Kovacich - According to some andldquoexpertsandrdquo in the field of self-defense you should notify your potential attacker that you are in fact trained in the martial arts and that if provoked you will use that training to defend yourself. Now I consider this advice to be akin to taking a knife and cutting across your own throat to see if it is sharp enough. Sure youandrsquoll find out the answer to that one but only once.[...] Martial Arts 11 Sep 2008 11:30:27 EDT http://www.article99.com/2008/09/11/shoud-you-notify-your-attacker-that-you-are-trained-in-the-martial-arts-16055.html http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-book-review-pool-cues-beer-bottles-and-baseball-bats-by-marc-animal-macyoung-14757.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Once again Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This book focuses on the most common types of weapons you are likely to encounter during an altercation on the street. For the most part Marc leaves out the two most common ones guns and knives. The reason for this is because these two are deserving of book all of their own. One of which I know Marc has addressed as that particular book is on my andldquoTo Doandrdquo list.[...] Martial Arts 23 Oct 2007 23:56:26 EDT http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-book-review-pool-cues-beer-bottles-and-baseball-bats-by-marc-animal-macyoung-14757.html http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-book-review-krav-maga-how-to-defend-yourself-against-armed-assault-by-sde-or-and-yanilov-14756.html By: Shawn Kovacich - This book starts out with a basic definition of Krav Maga and the basic principles behind the self-defense system and the techniques in which it encompasses. I am a firm believer in the underlying principles being far more important to a particular technique than the technique itself and I am glad to see that the authors of this book feel the same way. Throughout the entire book each section begins with the basic principles on which the techniques are based and how they are to be applied. This is a true sign of an excellent martial artsself-defense book.[...] Martial Arts 23 Oct 2007 23:56:26 EDT http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-book-review-krav-maga-how-to-defend-yourself-against-armed-assault-by-sde-or-and-yanilov-14756.html http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-book-review-ending-violence-quickly-by-marc-animal-macyoung-14755.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Once again Marc gives you a no-holds barred look at the reality of fighting and surviving on the street. This book is simply loaded with sound principles and easy to learn techniques for making the most of a bad situation. I find the information on the principles behind the techniques very useful and it is usually a very good indicator of a high quality self-defense andor martial arts book.[...] Martial Arts 23 Oct 2007 23:56:25 EDT http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-book-review-ending-violence-quickly-by-marc-animal-macyoung-14755.html http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-book-review-freedom-from-fear-by-peyton-quinn-14754.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Peyton starts the introduction of his book off by asking you the following simple and direct question What are you really after in life? This question must be answered honestly and after great deliberation in order for it to have the desired effect. If this book could be summed up in one simple all encompassing statement it would have to be this Dont allow fear to run your life.[...] Martial Arts 23 Oct 2007 23:56:25 EDT http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-book-review-freedom-from-fear-by-peyton-quinn-14754.html http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-and-self-defense-wisdom-stretch-before-a-fight-not-during-a-fight-14747.html By: Shawn Kovacich - One of the funniest yet not-so-bright things that I have ever heard of someone doing during a fight was actually done by one of my former students. Even though the incident that I am about to relate to you happened several years ago it still makes me laugh every time I think about it. Even now as I type this article I have a smile on my face and a chuckle in my belly.[...] Martial Arts 23 Oct 2007 23:56:22 EDT http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/martial-arts-and-self-defense-wisdom-stretch-before-a-fight-not-during-a-fight-14747.html http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/self-defense-and-fighting-when-is-the-best-time-to-use-a-technique-on-your-opponent-14746.html By: Shawn Kovacich - A common term used in the Japanese martial arts community for the defender is called a tori while the attacker is called a uke. As I was coming up through the ranks my fellow classmates and I rephrased the Japanese word uke to mean dummy instead of attacker. We did this because anyone foolish enough to be the uke for one of our instructors during a demonstration was definitely a few cans short of a six-pack.[...] Martial Arts 23 Oct 2007 23:56:20 EDT http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/self-defense-and-fighting-when-is-the-best-time-to-use-a-technique-on-your-opponent-14746.html http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/self-defense-fighting-techniques-sucker-punches-off-setting-and-roundhouse-kicks-14745.html By: Shawn Kovacich - One of the more classic sucker punch scenarios that you are likely to encounter is the one which starts out with you being tapped on the shoulder. This is almost always initiated from behind and begins with your unknown opponent tapping you generally but not always on your right shoulder with his left hand while you are facing away from him. If you are not paying attention you will almost always turn around and step towards your opponent in the general direction that you were tapped.[...] Martial Arts 23 Oct 2007 23:56:20 EDT http://www.article99.com/2007/10/23/self-defense-fighting-techniques-sucker-punches-off-setting-and-roundhouse-kicks-14745.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-knife-fighting-a-practical-course-by-michael-janich-14753.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Michaelandrsquos book is one of those gems that are so hard to find in the vast sea of waste that seems to be so prevalent especially in the self-defense and martial arts literary field. His easy to understand and simplistic approach to this very important subject is in and of itself a thing of beauty to behold. Michael gets right to the point on every subject that he coves in this book and every subject is a vital piece to learning how to use a knife in combat.[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:44 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-knife-fighting-a-practical-course-by-michael-janich-14753.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-knives-knife-fighting-and-related-hassles-14752.html By: Shawn Kovacich - As you already know if you have read any of my reviews of Marcandrsquos books one of the great things that I absolutely love about Marcandrsquos writing is his no-holds barred direct approach to getting his point across. There is never any sugarcoating or politically correct terminology is his books. He simply tells it like it is whether you like it or not. Marcandrsquos not-so-politically correct way of explaining things is always refreshing in todayandrsquos society where everyone wants to sugarcoat everything so as not to offend anyone. In some ways I would compare Marcandrsquos method of teaching to the comical rants of George Carlin. You may be offended by what he says but by golly itandrsquos the truth. And yes sometimes the truth hurts.[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:44 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-knives-knife-fighting-and-related-hassles-14752.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-krav-maga-14751.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library its definitely worth owning. One such book is David Kahnandrsquos andquotKrav Maga.andquot After a brief introduction David gives you a good basic overview of Krav Maga including some of its history. From here he goes right into a section on philosophy which is very good and one in which I would have to agree with about 90 of what he has to say.[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:44 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-krav-maga-14751.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-real-fighting-14750.html By: Shawn Kovacich - I found Peytons book to be a very good andquotreality checkandquot for those of you out there that think that your andquotmartial artandquot is superior to everyone elses. Well guess what its not! As every person who has more than a passing resemblance to a human being will tell you there are no superior martial arts just superior martial artists. One particular quote that I really had to agree with was andldquoConcepts are more important than specific techniques.andrdquo Boy did Peyton hit the nail right on the head with this one. From that one quote alone I knew that he definitely knew what he was talking about.[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:43 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-real-fighting-14750.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-hard-won-wisdom-from-the-school-of-hard-knocks-14749.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Being the author of several books on the martial arts and fighting I am always looking for books of exceptional quality to add to my library. If I have a book in my library its definitely worth owning. One such book is Alain Burreses andquotHard Won Wisdom from the School of Hard Knocks.andquot I had purchased Alains book several years ago when I had just caught the tail end of one of his seminars on Hapkido. I took the book home and read it a few days later.[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:43 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-hard-won-wisdom-from-the-school-of-hard-knocks-14749.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-fists-wits-and-a-wicked-right-14748.html By: Shawn Kovacich - One of the great things that I absolutely love about Marcandrsquos books is his no-holds barred direct approach to getting his point across. There is never any sugarcoating or politically correct terminology is his books. He simply tells it like it is whether you like it or not. Marcandrsquos not-so-politically correct way of explaining things is always refreshing in todayandrsquos society where everyone wants to sugarcoat everything so as not to offend anyone. In some ways I would compare Marcandrsquos method of teaching to the comical rants of George Carlin. You may be offended by what he says but by golly itandrsquos the truth. And yes sometimes the truth hurts.[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:43 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/martial-arts-book-review-fists-wits-and-a-wicked-right-14748.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/kicking-on-the-street-do-your-pants-help-you-or-hurt-you-13332.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Your ability or inability to kick effectively in a self-defense situation may depend more on the clothes you are wearing and less on your actual proficiency at kicking. As hard as this may be to believe it is a fact and one that I learned on several different occasions.[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:43 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/kicking-on-the-street-do-your-pants-help-you-or-hurt-you-13332.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/self-defense-fighting-techniques-kicking-does-it-work-in-a-real-fight-or-not-13331.html By: Shawn Kovacich - Being the author on several books that focus on the subject of kicking I am often confronted by the following statement andldquoKicking is ineffective at best in a real self-defense situation and is usually dangerously detrimental to the individual who attempts to use it on the street.andrdquo I very rarely hear this type of statement from practicing martial artists especially from the practitioners of karate tae kwon do and kickboxing. It usually comes from...[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:43 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/self-defense-fighting-techniques-kicking-does-it-work-in-a-real-fight-or-not-13331.html http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/your-perfect-kick-what-happens-when-perfect-isnt-enough-13336.html By: Shawn Kovacich - What do you do when your perfectly thrown kick strikes your opponent perfectly on the correct vulnerable or vital point yet doesnandrsquot stop or even faze him? This is a question that I hope you are asking yourself long before the actual situation ever arises. Why? Because it can and probably will happen to you at some point during your life. Whether it is in the dojo in a tournament or on the street you need to know what to do if everything you did was right but still turns out wrong.[...] Martial Arts 02 Feb 2007 11:59:42 EST http://www.article99.com/2007/02/02/your-perfect-kick-what-happens-when-perfect-isnt-enough-13336.html