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To generate maximum power in martial arts moves, you need to strengthen your quads and hips -- the largest muscle group in the body. In Western sports, you tend to produce force with the upper body, arms and shoulders. According to Dave Lowry’s article “Vital Hip Work of Karate," published in the book "Black Belt," Japanese martial arts instructors note that Western students rely too much on shoulder movement and neglect the use of their hips. One of the most effective leg and hip strengtheners is holding the horse stance, a beginner position that serves as the foundation of almost…
A sheath dress, named after the close-fitting sheath of a sword, is a classic, versatile item for any woman to have in her closet. Slim-fitting, but structured enough to minimize imperfections, a carefully selected sheath can accentuate the waist and curves of women of all shapes and sizes. Contemporary designers offer sheath dresses in a wide variety of colors and patterns, sleeve lengths, necklines, hemlines and fits. They can be worn all year round, and make for a perfect day-to-night outfit with some simple accessory changes.
Deadlifting a sandbag is something you can do with a 40 to 100 pound bag. Deadlift a sandbag with help from a martial arts professional in this free video clip.
Teaching kids the basics of martial arts is also a great way to instill confidence. Teach kids the basics of martial arts with help from an experienced Mixed Martial Arts expert in this free video clip.
Martial Arts exercises are all about developing core strength so you can deliver a punch. Get a list of Martial Arts exercises with help from an experienced Mixed Martial Arts expert in this free video clip.
British fighting techniques include one call the shin check. Learn about British fighting techniques with help from an experienced Mixed Martial Arts expert in this free video clip.
If you want to live longer and be healthier, aerobic exercise is one of the best ways to achieve this. But if you don’t want to pay for a gym membership, you need to find ways to exercise at home or outside. Workout videos are a great option for working out at home, and sometimes you can find a whole set of videos with different workouts, like P90X. Kenpo X is included in P90X and it gives you a fun, martial arts-style cardio workout.
Taekwondo can be roughly translated as "the way of fists and feet." While there are punches thrown in taekwondo matches, the style is almost exclusively devoted to the study and practice of kicking techniques. One of the most prevalent and effective kicks in this Korean martial art is the side kick, which can be devastating to an opponent if it is thrown with proper technique. The key to landing a fight-ending side kick lies in landing the strike with the blade or heel of the foot.
Failing to stretch your groin muscles before practicing martial arts is inviting disaster. Because you use your groin muscles for a number of kicks and other moves, you increase the risk of straining or even tearing a muscle if you don't properly stretch. Before you start to think about kicking the air, a target or an opponent, devote several minutes to loosening up your groin muscles.
Hand speed exercises are a very important part of any martial arts training session. Learn about hand speed exercises for martial arts with help from a defensive tactics instructor and martial arts practitioner in this free video clip.
The difference between grappling and wrestling boils down to activity on the ground versus activity standing up. Learn about grappling versus wrestling with help from the author of 42 books on health, fitness, and martial arts in this free video clip.
Hyperextension of the hip is used in a lot of different movements. Learn more about hyperextension of the hip with help from a celebrity peak performance coach and fitness minister in this free video clip.
There are many different types of swords that are commonly used in fencing matches. Find out about the types of swords used in fencing with help from an accomplished fencer in this free video clip.
Certain techniques will have you becoming an expert in ground fighting in seemingly no time at all. Learn about techniques for ground fighting with help from an experienced martial arts professional in this free video clip.
Manual military fighting will require you to employ a wide variety of different techniques over time. Learn about techniques for manual military fighting with help from a specialist in Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu in this free video clip.
Art and drama are very important as methods of communication that we use in our everyday lives. Learn about how art and drama are used for communication with help from a professional actress and singer in this free video clip.
In the Philippines, where Jasminum sambac is the national flower, it is called sampaguita. The fragrant blossoms are the inspiration for festivals and celebrations throughout the islands. In the United States, it is usually called Arabian jasmine. Most jasmines grow as a bushy shrub or climbing vine, and sampaguita combines these two forms with a shrubby growth habit and twining tendrils. The shrub grows 6 to 10 feet tall, but you can maintain it at a shorter height with hard pruning. Prune sampaguita when the flowers begin to fade. If you wait too long, you will remove many of next…
Sculpting in metal is a fun and challenging way to create three-dimensional artwork. Metal comes in many forms including heavy pre-formed parts, blocks of unformed metal, pliable metal sheets and wire that can be twisted into forms or used to connect other metal pieces. Many artists like to work with found scrap metal. It is cheaper than purchasing metal pieces, and it makes them use their imagination sculpting the scrap into an abstract or realistic work of art.
There is no greater enemy to the artist than that of the art block. Learn how to get over creative art block with help from a professional artist of over 25 years in this free video clip.
You can use many different techniques to further both your ability and your passion when it comes to art. Learn about pastel fixative techniques with help from a professional artist of over 25 years in this free video clip.
Tempera is used in the world of art in a variety of different ways depending on the project at hand. Learn how tempera is used in art with help from an art educator in this free video clip.
Using a hand mattock requires you to keep a few very important things in mind. Find out how to use a hand mattock with help from an expert with over two decades of experience working in Garden Centers in this free video clip.
A hand weeder isn't nearly as complicated to use as one might initially think. Find out how to use a hand weeder with help from an expert with over two decades of experience working in Garden Centers in this free video clip.
Hand pruners are a great tool to have to trim things like flowers, bushes or even weeds. Use hand pruners with help from an expert with over two decades of experience working in Garden Centers in this free video clip.
The illusion of motion is very important when drawing storyboard sketches. Find out some of the techniques used in storyboard sketches to convey motion with help from a writer and illustrator in this free video clip.
California-based NewBlueFX creates plug-ins for video and audio editing software packages. Its non-linear video software hosts include Adobe After Effects and Premiere, Apple Final Cut Pro and Motion, Avid's line of non-linear editors, Corel VideoStudio, Grass Valley EDIUS, MAGIX products, Pinnacle Studio and Sony Vegas. Its products run on both Intel Macs and Windows PCs.
Martial art techniques of self defense range in complexity from basic to advanced. Learn about martial art techniques of self defense with help from a world champion martial artist in this free video clip.
In the Chinese martial arts there are four ranges of combat. Learn Chinese fighting techniques with help from a world champion martial artist in this free video clip.
Whether you’re in grade school or pursuing higher learning, there’s always time to boost your mathematical prowess. The National Research Council defines mathematical proficiency as one’s ability to excel in five aspects of mathematics – conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, strategic competence, adaptive reasoning and productive disposition. The path to improving on these areas involves careful study, consistent practice and practical application.
Feelings are not often acknowledged in the classroom. According to Keith A. Acheson and M. D. Gall, authors of "Clinical Supervision and Teacher Development," acknowledging the feelings of your students is a powerful way to motivate and encourage them. While you cannot always stop your instruction time to discuss how a student is feeling, there are numerous techniques that you can incorporate into your classroom to let students know that you care about how they feel.
In many respects, the goalie is the most important player on a soccer field. Without him, a sport with famously low scores would be vastly different. The goalie has special privileges compared to the other players on the field, including the ability to use his hands to control the ball. This privilege, however, has its restrictions. If you are a goalie on a soccer team, know when you are legally allowed to use your hands. Learn the rules of soccer and avoid penalties that could cost your team.
Most house foundations are concrete because it is the strongest, most common and watertight form of residential foundation possible. Precast concrete is a new development that improves the efficiency, production and reliability of concrete products. Many new homes are using concrete foundations that are precast. The big issues in creating precast concrete are methods of drying, sealing and “consolidating” the pieces, making them more uniform and reliable.
A movie star themed party is sure to be a huge crowd pleaser. The movie star theme works great for birthdays and awards show parties and it's just as entertaining for adults as it is for kids or teenagers. Decorations are simple and inexpensive, and there are countless Hollywood-themed games and activities to choose from. A movie star party is a great way to bring out the dramatic side in your friends or make a guest of honor feel like a celebrity.
Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla) is a versatile landscape shrub. Its small, slow and rounded growth makes it a useful border or hedging plant. The evergreen is typically hardy and problem-free, when grown in preferred conditions. Boxwoods planted in inappropriate locations or suffering decline due to health or pests, sometimes require removal. The roots are relatively small, compact and usually noninvasive, according to the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. The plant’s root ball is generally as large as the boxwood’s canopy. This makes plant removal less difficult.
When drawing martial arts figures you will have to decide exactly what style of martial arts you want to draw. Draw martial arts figures with help from an artist with many years of drawing training and experience in this free video clip.
Time lapse photography is the process of setting a camera in a single position and then taking photos every few seconds or minutes. The images are then compiled into a video that functions much like an animated clip, where all the activity that took place during the time of photography flashes by at high speed. Time lapse is a common technique in many art photography classes and projects. Fortunately, performing the technique is not complicated.
Hankies, an abbreviation for handkerchiefs, are thin pieces of fabric that are small enough to fit in either a purse or pocket. If you no longer use your handkerchiefs and are looking for a way to recycle them, it is possible to stitch them into a quilt. Quilting techniques vary from hand quilting, machine quilting and tying.
Different martial arts styles encompass different fighting techniques. Learn about Tae Kwon Do fighting techniques with help from a world champion martial artist in this free video clip.
Reaction time is very important when it comes to martial arts. Learn how to build reaction time by yourself with help from a world champion martial artist in this free video clip.
Victory in Krav Maga comes down to the moves that you use, which can include things like wrist locks and pressure points as well as quick strikes. Familiarize yourself with wrist locks, pressure points and quick strikes in martial arts with help from a member of the Krav Maga Federation in this free video clip.
If you have ever attempted to style a mass of shoulder-grazing curls, you know that creating curls is not the tricky part; preserving curls is the troublesome task. After laborious effort and the achievement of your desired style, the slightest movement can straighten your curls. The key to achieving a dramatic, sweeping style that lasts throughout the day is to set the hair with heat and let it cool in that arrangement. Armed with the appropriate techniques, your voluminous curls are here to stay.
There are a wide variety of art collections that are uniquely done by specific artists. Using art to decorate your home can help to add a chic look to any room as well as express your sense of style. Authentic art can be expensive, so you want to make sure that you get what you're paying for. There are certain things to look for when purchasing pieces of art. Get peace of mind by using these guidelines to determine the authenticity of art.
Protecting small pieces of art from moisture and handling typically requires laminating. You need a laminating machine to do this successfully, and the laminate is permanent once applied. Using clear cellophane instead is a temporary option that requires no special equipment. Cellophane is readily available where gift wrap is sold. It comes on long rolls and is typically used to wrap large gift baskets, but it makes a suitable laminate for short-term use.
Some children have difficulty controlling their impulses. They act without taking time to think through the consequences of their behavior. Teaching them techniques for managing their impulsive behavior gives them a skill that will serve them throughout their lives, while making home or school life more successful for everyone involved.
If you're looking for an after-school craft that brings out your child's creativity and teaches him to follow steps and make creative decisions, take a pair of old shoes, and turn them into a colorful piece of clothing. This project also works well for parents who'd like to forgo shoes with brands or characters on them for a homemade approach.
Art quilts break the rules of traditional quilting by using non-traditional fabrics, sewing techniques and even bits of mixed media to create a quilt. Like in a painting, a quilt artist still works with principles like line and design, but instead of paints and brushes, the artist manipulates fabrics to create texture and tell a story. The basic techniques for constructing an art quilt are the same, whether you are working with abstract shapes or creating a pictorial scene. Layer a variety of fabrics and play with different surface stitches to create the look you want.
Even though it doesn’t show, batting performs several functions integral to the appearance, feel and durability of a quilt. The type of batting used will affect a quilt’s weight and drape, while batting thickness will determine the overall “puffiness” of the design. Most quilt batting is made from cotton, polyester or wool; each batt type has different characteristics and properties, as well as its own laundering requirements. Batting preference is a highly individual choice among quilters — particularly hand quilters, who also need to consider the ease of pushing a needle by hand through various batt types and thicknesses.
The golden mean, also known as the golden ratio, rectangle, section, number and spiral, as well as the divine proportion, is a mathematical ratio found throughout nature and in art. The golden mean has been used for centuries to design artwork such as Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and the Parthenon, the ancient temple on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Designing using the golden mean helps plan your artwork to make it more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Most human resources departments want to be strategic, rather than reactionary. This means that they want to plan for any foreseen, as well as unforeseen, staffing changes, rather than reacting to them on the spur of the moment. Internal and external circumstances affect a company’s workforce. In some cases companies need to ramp up hiring, while at other times businesses must lay off a large number of employees. To prepare for these changes, HR departments use forecasting techniques to figure out how their employment situation will need to adapt to meet strategic goals and plans.
Analyzing art in any form can be a challenging but rewarding venture. Enjoying art and simply viewing it is basic instinct for most people; critiquing or evaluating it on its merits and perspective is something entirely different. Having a working knowledge of art history and theory comes in handy; however, it may not be necessary when working solely within the realm of linear analysis. In a perfunctory sense, a linear analysis would apply to the physical traits of the art and the depth of field or geometric shapes.