Kenpo Karate

Chokes Chokeswhich also are called chokeholds or strangleholdsare grappling holds applied to an opponent or attacker’s neck that can cause unconsciousness or death. They are commonly used in combative sports, close-quarters and hand-to-hand combat, law enforcement, martial arts and self-defense. There are two main categories of chokes. Air chokes (also called tracheal chokes) compress the upper-airway passages, causing a powerful gag response, pain and suffocation. Blood chokes (sleeper holds) pinch the carotid arteries and jugular veins (main brain blood vessels), cutting off blood circulation to the brain and quickly rendering a person unconscious.

Self-Defense Traditional Karate is the best martial art for self-defense because it focuses on actual defense skills rather than sport oriented techniques that are found to be impractical and inefficient in actual combative situations.

Stress Reduction In addition to the stress reducing benefits of any physical activity, Karate also improves concentration and awareness of mental attitudes that can cause stress.

Fitness and Overall Health Karate training improves flexibility, strength, coordination, and endurance of an individual. Karate's punches, thrust, kicks, blocks, sweeps and throws tones the whole body in an explosive and dynamic workout.

"Why pay someone to clear snow from your driveway? Besides burning nearly 400 calories per hour, shoveling snow develops muscular endurance and power. But be safe: Minimize the amount of snow on each shovelful, and bend from your knees and hips, not your back."

Take This Jump-Rope Challenge "The best cardio workout is the jump-rope double-turn maneuver. It's intense: You'll burn about 26 calories per minute! Do a basic jump for five minutes, then jump twice as high and turn the rope twice as fast so it passes under your feet twice before you land. This takes timing, patience and power. But you'll get in great shape just by working at it." www.kenpomartialarts.com

Give Yourself a Break "You don't have to be a fitness saint to get results. Follow the 80/20 plan: Eighty percent of the year, you'll exercise regularly and eat well. Know that you'll slip 20 percent of the time due to holidays and work deadlines. When you accept that fitness isn't an all-or-nothing proposition, you're more likely to stick with it for life."

Weight loss: A one hour session of moderate intensity martial arts can burn up to 500 calories.

Focus and stillness: As Bruce Lee pointed out, behind the punches, kicks and knees, a true martial artist learns to sit with himself and see where his weaknesses are. As a martial artist, your will learn what it is to be still, challenged and focused. www.kenpomartialarts.com

Better mood: Researchers have found that participating in a regular exercise routine is one of the best ways to improve your mood. Performing martial arts is not only a good way to relieve stress and frustration, but may actually help to make you happier. The endorphin released by physical activity appear to be active in your body for as many as four hours after exercise.