Samurai Sword Facts
February 24, 2008
The first samurai swords we’re actually straight bladed, single edged weapons imported from Korea and China known as chokuto, which were later replaced with the curved blade variety at the end of the 8th Century. The name of the curved blade swords which replaced them was Tachi. The reason for this transformation was samurai found that a curved sword could be drawn from the scabbard more swiftly and provided a far more effective cutting angle.
The point of a samurai sword is called a Kissaki. This is the hardest part of the sword to polish and forge and to hand create a quality one would require an extremely skilful artisan. The value of a sword is determined largely by the quality of the point.
Samurai would use wooden swords (Bokken) for practice for safety reasons as well as for preserving their real swords from unnecessary damage.
The samurai would give names to their swords as they believe in the sword lived their warrior spirit.
There are three main types of samurai sword. 1: Katana: The longest type of sword, over 24inches, generally used for outdoor combat. 2: Wakizashi: Around a third shorter than the Katana at between 12 and 24 inches, this was worn in indoor establishments by samurai for its obvious better manouverability indoors. 3: Tanto: A small knife used in much the same manner as a Wakizashi.
How to Maximize Your Distance by Hitting Triples Instead of Home Runs
February 24, 2008
This lesson is entitled, “How to Maximize your Distance by Hitting Triples instead of Home Runs” and it’s a great overall theory to build your entire swing around. Keep this in the back of your head at all times while you are on the course, and remind yourself of it before every shot. The result will be increased distance and straighter shots because you’ll be releasing your hands through the ball better.
Background Info:
Many recreational golfers struggle with slices, blocks, and inconsistency because they don’t know how to release their hands through the ball correctly. By “releasing your hands through the ball”, I am describing the act of maximizing your club head speed at the moment of impact, and eliminating the “outside-in” movement that creates a slice.
How You Will Benefit:
- You’ll learn an easy way of “getting your hands through the ball”
- You’ll be increasing the speed of the club head through the impact zone
- You will ensure that the club head is square at impact (which will drastically reduce any slice that you have) What To Do:
Step 1: Create the “X”
Muscle Building Workouts at Home!
February 23, 2008
Most people make an excuse that they don’t have time to workout, they are too lazy to spend any time on workouts. Whatever time they are left with, they want to relax, watch TV or listen to music .Here are a few excesses that may just be a solution for you. These can be done while listening to music or during tv commercials.
PUSH UPS
Place the body in a face down and lift the body on both the palms and feet keeping the body straight. Take the chest toward the floor while exhaling and push up with the power of the arm and chest muscles while inhaling. If floor push ups are to difficult for you, start off with standing push ups with you hand on the wall, then pushing yourself back. Repeat at least 8 - 10 times, increase the number of repetitions as the exercise gets easier .Push ups effect your chest and arms the most . To effect your chest the most do push ups with your arms placed wide apart.
SQUATS
Staying Out of Trouble with Your Driver
February 23, 2008
So what is it that’s really causing problems with your driver? Is it a slice, a hook, or just flat-out inconsistency? Well the good news is that, regardless of what problem you are fighting, there are a few things to incorporate into your game that really will help you. If you’re the golfer that’s saying right now, “I’ve battled a slice for 25 years”, then this is not going to be the undisputed end of your problem. But you CAN reduce the slice or hook, which will help you score better. So here are some tips:
1. Swing Easy. Nothing can be better for your game than learning how to swing the club easier and more fluid. If you go to the range and concentrate ONLY on swinging easy, it will revolutionize your ability to position yourself for a good approach shot when you get onto the course. You will make more consistent impact with the ball, and it will reduce the amount of side-spin you naturally place on the ball because the club head won’t be traveling as fast or with as much force. Again, I know you’ve heard it before, but I ask you to concentrate on this for 1 week. And if you can’t physically practice it, visualize it at the office (visualization works great).
3 Keys To Finding Your Natural Running Stride
February 22, 2008
When I think back to when I was at school, my worst nightmare was running. I hated it, even more than football and rugy which I don’t like even today. So I never thought that I’d be any good at running… until I found out the trick that I’m about to share with you now.
I realised that running was an important part of my cardio-vascular exercise, and that I needed to find a way to make it a little bit easier for me. When I used the treadmill, I was getting way out of breath way too quickly (less than 10 minutes, and that included 3 minutes fast walk to warm up). And yet I could go on the rowing machine for 20 minutes and hardly even notice it.
So something was wrong with my running technique.
Not knowing what to try, I just varied everything I could: speed, incline, the length of my stride, the height of my stride, and so on.
And these are the three tricks to running that made the difference for me:
1. Don’t be afraid to INCREASE your speed!
Get Fit From Home!
February 22, 2008
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Things Around The House
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Don’t feel that just because you don’t have any weights at home, that you can’t get a GREAT workout! Try using these items for the corresponding exercises. Change them around to increase or decrease the resistance to make it the perfect workout for YOU!
· Backpack Swing- Take a backpack and fill it with books. (this is nice because you can add or take out books based on your needs). Stand holding bag in front of you with straight arms. Let the bag swing down between your legs and behind you a bit. Bend the knees naturally. Swing the bag forward and up, keeping arms straight until bag is overhead. Play with where you hold the bag to make sure you have control of it, especially when overhead. Let momentum happen. This is a fantastic full-body warm-up. *Watch for ceiling fans!
Spare A Thought For Redundant Exercise Machines
February 21, 2008
I have an exercise machine that I’ve used once. Did I hear you say ‘Me too’?
Hey, I’m not proud of that, but I make this revelation with more confidence today than I would have done yesterday.
Why?
Well, last night I was watching a TV programme about us - the public - and our attitude to exercise.
Guess what?
I am not alone.
In fact, the presenter went down one average street here in the UK and nearly every household had unused or nearly-new exercise equipment. One lady had enough to equip a gym, plus work out videos galore - BUT - all untouched and gathering dust - if not mould - in her garage.
No wonder there are so many TV channels selling this gear - we can’t get enough of it - but at the same time, use the exercise bike as a clothes hanger, and dumbells as doorstops.
I’m in the wrong business!
The thing is that all this equipment does get bought with good intent in mind - so what goes wrong?
How Better Course Management Can Lower Your Golf Score
February 21, 2008
Whether you are just starting to learn golf, or you have been golfing for many years and you’re just looking to refine your game, this will provide a good direction of focus for this season.
If you want your score to drop by any significant amount, you should learn to hit your 150 yard club, and learn to hit it very well.
By “hitting your 150 yard club very well”, I mean being able to step up to the ball, and KNOW that you can hit any green that is 150 yards away. Every time, any condition, with no pressure.
You need to get to the point in your game where you can hit those 8 or 9 irons very consistently and accurately. Anyone can do this. Believe it or not, 150 yards is not very far away, and most greens these days are very big targets. The short irons should be the easiest club in your bag to hit. And if they aren’t the easiest clubs to hit, you should work on them until they are.
Once you master that shot, everything else is a simple adjustment. Your swing will be on, and you can simply add or take away a little club to adjust for varying distances.
Pain and Sorrow
February 20, 2008
Patanjali in his Yogasutra describes that people are afflicted with five kinds of pain. These are - ignorance(avidya), attachment(raga), contempt(dvesha) and fear of death(abhinivesh)(II.3). However ignorance is the ground for the germination of all other pain and so long as ignorance is not rooted out through self-knowledge pain remains in one form or the other.
What is ignorance? Patanjali describes - to consider ephemeral(anitya) as eternal, falsity(ashuchi) as truth, sorrow(duhkha) as pleasure and soulless(anatman) as soul is ignorance(II.5). Things which the senses perceive have no real existence. These are ephemeral and false. These things inflict sorrow to those who believe in their reality. Hell, heaven, angels, ghosts or imaginary God have no real existence. All those religious symbols, statues of Gods and Goddesses have no real existence. The real power lies in the soul of every being. It is the illumination of souls by which everything illuminates. Things which have life and soul are real and existent. Matter which is lifeless is unreal and does not exist. Matter exists in the consciousness of living beings only.
The How To Guide for Six Pack Abs
February 20, 2008
First off I want to mention that, for most people, getting six pack abs is not an easy task. It requires serious dedication, but it is possible! If were blessed with naturally low body fat and good muscle definition, enjoy it! Otherwise, below is a general 2-step guide that, if followed religiously for 3 months, will produce results.
Step 1: Nutrition
This is the single most important part of the puzzle, hands down. You can have the most impressive set of abs, but if they’re covered with a layer of fat, you won’t see them! Break up your day with 5 or 6 mini-meals because this jump starts your metabolism. And stop eating the food that is preventing results: white bread, loads of pasta, soda, candy, fast food, hydrogenated oils, sugars and fructose corn syrup.
Instead, replace them with foods that will help you reach your goal: oatmeal, olive oil, whole grain breads, fruits, vegetables, nuts, peanut butter, chicken, fish, protein and water. Be realistic- you’ll slip here and there, but make a conscious effort to radically improve your eating habits because getting a six pack will be impossible if you don’t.
Step 2: Exercise
