(Chinese martial art bags) From Reality TV Star to UFC Champion - Meet Matt “The Terror” Serra
August 25th, 2007
From Reality TV Star to UFC Champion - Meet Matt “The Terror” Serra
In this day and age of reality television it appears that anything can happen on any given night. Contestants can become the next “American Idol,” Donald Trump’s “Apprentice” or the next gourmet chef in Las Vegas. But an Ultimate Fighting champion? Well, in the case of Matt Serra he took advantage of his opportunity on an UFC reality television show and transformed it into becoming the welterweight champion.
Can A Dojo’s Leader Be Replaced?
What happens when the Sensei or Sifu of your martial arts dojo goes batty, or simply loses the respect of his senior students, or he neglects their training, gets sick, moves away, phones-it-in, disappears altogether, or dies? Can he be replaced, and if so, by whom?
Taekwondo: A Mixture of Many Martial Arts Styles
Taekwondo as the most popular of Korean art forms is the only other Asian martial arts that found its place in international sports (besides Judo). Taekwondo calls itself the way of kicks and punches. “Tae” means to kick or destroy with the foot, “kwon” means to strike with the hand, chiefly the fist and “Do” means the way. Taekwondo develops strength, speed, balance and stamina. But it emphasizes on the development of five qualities in the practitioner: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. The art form is therefore a mental discipline as well and one that leads to heightened awareness, focus and concentration.
Basically founded on Karate, Taekwondo is more than just kicking and punching - it’s a combination of offensive as well as defensive techniques, philosophy and, as with most martial arts in their present form, entertainment as well.
To comprehend how Taekwondo came to be, one must analyze Korean history. As early as 668 AD, Chinese Chuan Fa techniques were used to prepare Korean warriors for combat. These techniques evolved through time into the empty-hand art of Subak. Thiart form split into the Taekyon (striking art) and the Yusul (a grappling art).
Yusul vanished while Taekyon remained, thanks to the secret practice of certain Korean families and street gangs. When the Japanese took over Korea, Karate that is originally by the Japanese was absorbed into the martia art forms of Taekyon along with influences from Manchuria and China.
Even when Korea was liberated in 1945, the art form called Taekwondo did not exist. In fact General Choi Hong Hi who is considered to be the father of modern Taekwondo taught a combination of Karate and Taekyon to his soldiers. In 1955, when the government called for a single name that could unify these disparate art forms, General Choi’s submission Taekwondo, which incorporated several native Korean styles into a linear form, won the day.
There are several types of Taekwondo styles, each different in their doctrine and technical construct. Yet, all styles have a common emphasis: that on kicks thrown from a distance, using the leg’s greater reach and power. This disables the opponent from a distance. The other techniques used are jumps, spins, skips and side-kicks. They are used alone or in combination with other moves. Taekwondo also includes a comprehensive system of hand strikes and blocks, but generally does not emphasize grappling.
About the Author
Callie Armstrong is a writer for http://www.AllergyHero.com. Her insights on dieting, exercise and health can be read at http://www.body4beach.com
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