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In order for a practitioner to reach their full potential, they have to be able to know a few techniques that they can use to reach it. The following are some of the techniques that they can use:   1. Sitting posture The Tai Chi method of meditation involves a number of sitting postures. The aim of these different postures is to be able to maintain the energy flow in the body and also to be able to align the body. The Shuang-pan position is an example of one of the sitting positions used in Tai Chi. This position is performed by sitting down on the ground and crossing the legs. The alternate feet should rest on your thighs while placing both your palms on the soles of your feet. Your shoulders should be dropped with your back straight up. If you feel sitting on the ground is a bit uncomfortable, you can use a pillow. This position allows you to be able to complete the connection of pathways of chi to your body.                                 2. The standing posture This is another technique for meditation in taekwondo. It is a very popular way of helping one to centre and ground the self. An example of this kind of meditation would be the Wu Ji posture. This posture will require you to stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your toes pointing straight ahead. Your knees should also be slightly bent and relaxed. Instead of collapsing your knees inward, push them slightly outward. With your hands hanging loosely at the sides, let your shoulders drop and straighten your back. Close your eyes and breathe in through your nose, slowly and deeply.                                 3. Breathing Breathing is a very essential part of martial arts, including taekwondo. It is used to give the practitioners full benefits of every meditation posture. The breathing technique incorporates abdominal exhalation. Exhalation periods usually lasts longer than inhalation ones. The purpose of this kind of breathing is to circulate energy throughout your body. Experts believe that energy is meant to flow in a circular manner throughout your body. That is, it should flow from the top of your head, to the soles of your feet and back to your head. The excess energy is stored below your navel. This breathing meditation also encourages the students to focus on circulating their energy throughout their body and also to feel it as it moves through the body.                                 4. Discipline and self control meditation Meditation in taekwondo also helps the mind to get rid of negative energy and thoughts that might thwart the chances of you winning a match. This kind of meditation helps the student to become aware of negative energy within the mind such as envy or anger. This kind of observation is also good in helping the student to become more disciplined and focused. Practitioners use this technique by concentrating on thoughts which are immovable and breathing in deeply while sitting or standing.                                   5. No mind This is a method of meditation where the practitioner perceives there is no opponent. Instead, they focus on themselves as the opponent and try to perceive which moves are going to be made even before they are. This kind of meditation is known as Bunkai. It is part of the Zen meditation techniques which involve emptying the mind of any thoughts. It is the kind of meditation used by practitioners to achieve discipline and patience.                                 PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

During sparring, opponents score points by using kicks and by punching the opponent's chest protector. The following is a list of some of the effective sparring techniques:   1. Round House Kick This kick is popularly used in taekwondo sparring. This is because it is powerful and very fast. In order to perform this technique, you will use the top of your foot to kick your opponent. You can do this by simply lifting your leg and kicking horizontally. This kick targets the midsection or the head. Depending on your stance, you can easily deliver this kick with your rear or front leg. There are certain variations to this kick such as jumping or spinning round house kicks.                                 2. Axe Kick The ax kick requires you to be very flexible because the technique involves lifting your foot up to your head. Once your foot is above your head, you will kick downwards on your opponent's head with the bottom of your foot or the heel. This kick should be delivered very fast. If you do it slowly, your opponent will launch a preemptive strike to defend themselves.                                 3. Spinning Back Kick This kick is a very effective counter attack technique when sparring. It is especially effective against the axe kick. When your opponent comes at you with an axe kick, you can spin to avoid his attack and strike him with a back kick. If for instance, your right leg is in front of you, you can spin and kick him with your left leg. The spin has to be counter clock wise if your right leg is the one that is in front. If it is your left leg, the spin will be clockwise. Distance and timing in the spinning back kick is what will determine how effective your kick will be.                                  4. Spinning Hook Kick This kick is often used as a follow up to the round house kick. You can kick your opponent using this kick by simply lifting up your foot and kicking them with the bottom or heel of your foot. The kick resembles the spinning back kick only this time round your leg will move in a horizontal manner.                                  5. Double Kick This is one of the deceptive techniques used in sparring. The move involves two round house kicks. Using your front leg, perform the first kick on the side of your opponent's chest protector. Follow this move with a round house kick to your opponent's chest by jumping off your other foot without putting the first foot down. The reason why this technique is effective is because your opponent will focus on your first maneuver and will not expect you to immediately perform the second move.                                   6. The Block Punch The punch can serve as a defensive block or as an offensive strike. Three motions are involved when trying to perform the block punch when you are in your standing stance. First, you will need to create a punching distance by putting your front foot forward. Secondly, you need to protect your lead leg from kicks by extending your front arm downward. Finally, you will strike a power punch with your powerful hand. These moves have to be done simultaneously. PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

If you are a huge boxing fan and love to watch the sport in action, you might wonder what the difference is between amateur boxing and professional boxing. While both sports have something in common and share many of the same links, they also have distinctions that set them apart. This article will explore those differences so you can decide which sport is for you. Amateur boxers train hard to become champions in their weight class, but amateur boxers will not offer purses or contracts. These boxers are often supported by their families, friends, and teammates in addition to financial assistance from the local club that they belong to. Amateur boxing focuses more on the training of boxers and the sport itself and less on fighting for money. Professional boxers fight for purses and contracts and can be employed by several places, such as promoters, managers, or other team members. These boxers are often supported by sponsors and money earned during each match. While many professional boxers receive some training before entering the ring, they must focus all efforts on winning matches, which means that they might not become well-rounded boxers in terms of technique compared to amateur boxers. Professional boxers focus on winning by any means necessary.                               Amateur boxing usually focuses on the rules and strict regulations, whereas professional boxing is less concerned with rules and regulations. For example, amateur boxing has regulations involving scoring, rounds, ring dimensions, and equipment, while professional fights do not have as many rules. However, both sports have referees who ensure that all of the competitors abide by the existing rules of each match. The referee's job is to ensure that no boxer receives an unfair advantage over their opponent and that each competitor follows the rules for their match. As mentioned previously, professional boxers fight for purses and contracts, but amateur boxers fight for experience and competition. Amateur boxers do not have to worry about making weight, their age is not a factor, and they do not have to compete against experienced boxers. Therefore, amateur boxing is great for getting started in the sport and those who want to keep practicing their skills regularly. Amateur boxing involves a limited number of championships for each weight class, whereas professional boxing has more heavyweight champions. Amateur boxing usually has more weight divisions than professional boxing, though the weight divisions in both sports are similar. While amateur boxing can occur in different locations and on various surfaces, such as grass or cement, professional boxers are restricted to making their matches in arenas. Professional boxers will often have to travel long distances between their hometown and their matches, while amateur boxers can make these trips while competing in other areas of their training. Amateur boxers usually have to fight in restricted weight classes, such as 105 pounds and below, whereas professional fighters are free to fight in any weight class they want. Amateur boxers are also limited to fighting on fewer days each year. A boxer must win two out of three fights within 12 days to win the national championship or belt. A professional boxer can make up the difference in weight by fighting three or more times within fourteen days to keep his title. Professional boxers often have many trainers and coaches guiding them through their matches, but amateur boxers are supported solely or partially by their teammates, advisers, and trainers.   Written by: Lomia_K PREVIOUS PAGE |  NEXT PAGE

10 Essential Boxing Equipment For Boxing Boxing has been around for ages, and to this day, it remains one of the most effective ways to get a full-body workout. There are countless places where people can find information about boxing, but within this guide, here are the 10 essential boxing equipments that a boxer needs.                                 1. Boxing gloves Boxing gloves is very important for a boxer. The primary purpose of these gloves is protection, which is why they tend to look bulky and bulky compared to other types of gloves. Boxing gloves and hand wraps provide protection for the knuckles.   2. Boxing shoes Boxing shoes are explicitly designed to simulate the impact of a punch. The foot is often the most vulnerable part of the body during boxing fight or sparring, so boxers need to protect it while they train to avoid getting hurt.     3. Running or Training Shoes While wearing boxing shoes is recommended during training or sparring session, some people still prefers to wear running or training shoes since that is what they are comfortable wearing during training or running. Also, your boxing shoes will wear quickly if you use it during training session. Many people only wear boxing shoes during sparring or fight to make sure it has good traction and minimise slipping that can lead to injury.   4. Boxing Pads Using a boxing pads is part of the boxing training that's why most boxing gym provides pads that people can borrow when they just started or when they forgot to bring their own. It's recommended to buy your own pads since hands get really sweaty during training. Boxing pads is used to practice boxing combinations alternately with a partner.   5. Speed bag Many professional boxers use various types of unique punching bags to practice their punches, including speed bags and heavy bags. Both of these punching bags come in different shapes and weights. While speed bags are generally used for practicing punches at a fast pace to improve timing, heavy bags are usually used for practicing heavy punches to improve punches strengths and techniques.   6. Light/heavy bag Aside from the speed bag and the heavy bag, many boxers also use a light/heavy bag to practice their punching power and accuracy. Many professional boxers have both types of bags, so they can alternate between using the two depending on what kind of punch they need to practice.   7. Skipping Rope It's recommended to have a skipping rope in your training bag so that you are not sharing with other people. Skipping rope is always part of an endurance training that's why most boxing gym provides people a skipping rope that they can use during training.      8. Boxing Hand Wraps Wearing a boxing hand wraps under gloves is very important especially when you are at the beginner level. It's a protection for your hand when you throw high impact punches since it acts as a cushion for your fist. It also provides additional support and stability to your wrists reducing the risk of having an injury.   9. Mouth Guard Wearing a mouth guard is a must during sparring session to avoid the risk of cracking or breaking your teeth. Mouth guard protects your teeth, tounge and gums.     10. Boxing Headgear Wearing a boxing headgear or head protection is a must especially when you are at a beginner level. It's good to wear a head protection while you are still improving your boxing head movements and boxing techniques. Headgear protects your head since it reduces the impact of a punch.     Conclusion. There are many different types of boxing equipment for both amateur and professional boxers, but more than this gear may be needed when you begin to face more advanced opponents. To ensure your success as a boxer, speak with a fitness and good boxing trainer to get information regarding boxing training that will help to improve your boxing skills.   Written by: Lomia_K PREVIOUS PAGE |  NEXT PAGE

Boxing is a combat sport practiced worldwide by amateur and professional athletes. So, who was the first boxer ever? The first recognized public fight occurred in 1743 in London, England, where Jack Broughton won a four-round bout against William Brayley. Broughton's victory is widely regarded as the first recorded bout of boxing ever by most historians and sporting officials. The characteristics of boxing have evolved over U.S. and Canadian participation rules, governing the rounds of a match that can be won by either fighter with a knockout or decision within these rounds regardless of number of rounds fought or scorecards rendered; only one round per match has to go the distance for an official bout to be called "a decision.                                The late 18th century saw the codification of the ring as it is understood today, with boxing rules first appearing in 1743. Broughton's London Boxing Rules from 1744 were compiled as a standardized set, and were standardized throughout the British Empire by three boxing academies: Broughton's own Wandsworth School of Arts, the Royal Naval School at Portsmouth, and the London Prize Ring Club. The rules continue to be used today in amateur boxing events in most major world cities and countries. The U.S. adopted similar rules, thus boxing is universally regarded internationally as a discipline administered by the laws of one modern nation-state that has been codified with universal sanctioning procedures. In 1889, the Marquess of Queensberry rules were first used in the United Kingdom. They have been used ever since. Queensberry rules mandate that fighters be male and that two eight-counts must elapse before a decision is made. The duel in which James J. Corbett won to become the first World Heavyweight Champion was fought under the Marquess' rule set. Corbett's victory made him the only man to be both a British and American heavyweight champion. Boxing is a competitive sport in which two people, one attempting to inflict punishment on the other while avoiding being pricked, are penned in an enclosed area and physically confronted. Both boxers fight under controlled conditions; they are not allowed to use their hands or fists in the process. Boxing is controlled by a referee who enforces the rules of boxing management that govern ring and bout conduct. The referee may halt the bout if one boxer does not defend himself or deliberately leaves himself at risk of being seriously injured with no effective defense. The referee is also charged with stopping the fight if he thinks a boxer is too injured to continue being punched. The referee may stop the bout because it is no longer safe for either fighter to continue. Referees will stop the contest if it has been at least four rounds and one of the boxers has shown dominance in the contest. Once a boxer has been knocked down, his opponent must cease fighting for one minute before continuing or else their opponent may be declared the winner by knockout (KO). To help protect the fighters, there are three ringside physicians who watch especially for signs that a fighter is in danger and may enter the ring to assess such damages as swelling and cuts. In conclusion, people would watch the fights and wager their money on which boxer would win. In earlier bouts, it was considered a brutal sport but over time it has evolved into a sport that is seen as the best of all sports because it uses your fists, along with your speed, strength, skills and agility to dominate your opponent. It also requires mental skills to outwit and out maneuver your opponent in order to take home the trophy/gold medal.   Written by: Jared_Wax PREVIOUS PAGE |  NEXT PAGE

As exercise is one of the essential needs of the body to be healthy, pursuing a particular sport gives a different level of fitness and body conditioning. One of the most amazing sports is boxing. Training for boxing needs cardio and HIIT workouts while at the same time strengthening the muscles at a static dynamism. One specific exercise that is best for boxing training is skipping or jumping because it improves stamina and mental alertness. Here are the types of skipping exercises that are best for boxing trainees to include in their regimens.                                 Boxing trainees need to master two basic skipping steps such as: Bounce Step This is the very basic skipping step where you carry all your body including the feet together up and down when jumping and landing while managing and skipping the rope movements. This is perfect for beginners not only because of its lowest difficulty level, but it hones the body and mind while progressing toward the more difficult skipping types.   Alternate Foot Step The Alternate-Foot step skipping type is where you are like doing the steps of running while skipping on a rope. In this procedure, you must be sure to keep a pace of non-stop and unobstructed running completely not bothered by the rope that you are skipping on. This is done by passing the rope under the feet after every one of the feet touches the ground surface.   Double Under Similar to the bounce step in which you leap twice because the rope crosses twice beneath your feet. This is definitely a dynamic activity because you need to keep in mind not stepping on the rope while keeping your pace perfectly in passing under the feet.   Boxer Skip The boxer skip is purposed for building endurance in the body without using more muscles and without getting too tired easily. This skipping step can be done in a longer period of time while setting the entire physiological aspects of the body inclined to higher gears and fast dynamism in the near future. Basically, Boxer Skip induces explosiveness while in a very balanced rhythm through a higher foundation on footwork and leg strength. Boxer Skip is done like you are in a jogging rhythm and stepping on alternating-foot. One of the differences between the boxer skip and alternate foot is the speed and size of the footsteps. But the biggest difference is that in boxer skip, the rope passes in the interval where both feet touch the ground surface. There are also other types of skipping that boxing trainees can do to induce their body's strengths and improve their weaknesses. Skipping step tricks such as: Foot Cross High Knee is done by skipping the rope while jumping higher and having the knees bent Front Straddle is done by skipping rope in a running position but knees bent Lateral Hops is when jumping to every side while skipping the rope Other types of skipping steps when skipping are to add some arm tricks such as Arm Criss-Cross and Arm Side Swing. Written by: GigiQuin PREVIOUS PAGE |  NEXT PAGE

Famous African American athlete Reggie White. He was well-known for his impressive performance in 15 seasons of National Football League play during his professional football career. He played collegiate football for the University of Tennessee. He received two awards for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The greatest defensive end to ever play the position is Reggie White. We will acknowledge his greatness in this retrospective of his career. White’s Personal Life Tennessee's Chattanooga is where White was born. He attended Howard School of Academics and Technology during his senior year of high school when he was given the opportunity to play for the Tennessee Volunteers. White earned All-American accolades during his senior year at Howard High School, compiling 140 tackles and ten sacks. White, one of the state's best recruits, chose Tennessee University as his school.  He participated in professional football for both USFL and NFL teams. He was a Christian as well. He had two children, Jeremy and Jecolia, with the former Sara Copeland, with whom he was married. White was a defensive line rotational player as a rookie. He had a bigger impact in his second season, making 95 tackles and eight sacks, which was a team-high. The 1981 Garden State Bowl saw the Tennessee Volunteers defeat Wisconsin 28-21 to conclude their campaign. White's junior season, hampered by a persistent ankle injury, saw him record 47 tackles and seven sacks. Despite the loss (28-22), White was outstanding in the Peach Bowl with eight tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble.                                 His Career the mark for the most career sacks, a game, or a season still belongs to Reggie White. He recorded 124 more sacks during his eight seasons with the Eagles than games played (121). With 68.5 sacks later, White became the Packers' all-time leader. He held the title of Minister of Defense and was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner, as well as a 13-time Pro Bowler and 10-time first-team All-Pro. White was chosen for the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 1996, White won the Super Bowl for the first time. On February 4, 2006, he was given a posthumous induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As the team's captain and defensive guru, Reggie White was regarded. He is regarded as having a strong commitment to the sport. To Sports Illustrated, he said: "You are instructed to hit the ground on a double team in high school and college. You're expected to do it here. Every play, I am double-teamed, so I am used to it. Sacks are fantastic because they help you get selected for the Pro Bowl. However, I've always believed that a great defensive lineman must be equally adept at playing the run and the pass. The "guys of the game" take great satisfaction in being complete players."

Boxing is a combative sport between two athletes. It requires each player to throw and hit punches at their opponent. This battle of the fists requires speed, precision, and stamina. Each hit has an equivalent point that is decisive in the outcome of a match. A boxer must not throw punches mindlessly. It requires quick-wit and strategizing. A deep understanding of this increases the odds of winning. Check out the 10 boxing punches below that every boxer should know.                                 The 10 Boxing Punches   1. Jab A jab is a sudden move used in various combinations. It is one of the first techniques taught to beginners and diligently mastered by experienced boxers. The non-dominant hand is usually the one that performs the jabs.   2. Cross The cross is a straight punch that outputs a lot of power. The release is from the rear hand and crosses the body position to hit the opponent. It is an efficient knock-out weapon when mastered. The dominant hand executes this high-impact move.   3. Lead Hook A lead hook is a short-side upper punch from the non-dominant hand. The arm must be at a ninety-degree angle and parallel to the ground.   4. Rear Hook A rear hook is a short-side upper punch from the dominant hand. It is a punch that requires a lot of body coordination. Like the lead hook, positioning the foot, shoulder, back, and elbow is fundamental.   5. Lead Uppercut A lead uppercut is a short swing upward punch. It is a close-range move that packs a wallop. It is the left hand for an orthodox and the right hand for a southpaw.   6. Rear Uppercut A right uppercut is like aiming to hit the chin of the opponent to ensure victory. It is like the lead uppercut. It is the left hand for a southpaw and the right for an orthodox.   7. Lead Hook to the Body A lead hook to the body is similar to the lead hook. It has the intent of striking the body for points. This move has a risk of leaving the chin defenseless.   8. Rear Hook to the Body The rear hook to the body punch is the same as the rear hook. It has the intent to hit the body of the opponent. Bending the knees low with this move is advisable to lower the risks of the chin being open for attacks.   9. Jab to the Body The move jab to the body is a sudden punch. It aims to hit the opposite player's body. When doing this technique, it is wise to allow your head to slip while punching. It is a secure way that the head does not become vulnerable.   10. Cross to the Body The cross to the body is a straight punch from the rear hand. This move requires some back hip rotation and flexibility. Like all punches aiming for the body, keeping the knees low is key to lessen the risks of a backlash. An orthodox throws it from the right hand, and a southpaw uses the left hand.   Knowing and learning different combinations of these ten boxing punches gives a boxer the advantage of strategizing. Therefore, winning a boxing match is not far from reach.   Written by: TVLH210622 PREVIOUS PAGE |  NEXT PAGE

Learning to be a much better soccer gamer is just like anything else in your life. You will need to discover the essentials and then exercise. You should also learn additional skills along the way. Below are a few new techniques to help you get to be the profitable person that you may have always have made an effort to be. Even if you have transferred the tennis ball, you aren't accomplished however. Keep to the teammate you passed on to, and try to place yourself in a position to help. The golf ball can come again when you are available and also in a good place. Avoid collisions with many other players no matter what. Predict in which the challenger so that you can avoid make contact with. You may avoid injuries and increase your odds of maintaining the soccer ball. You can increase your protection with a simple drill. Dribble the tennis ball in a small area and possess an additional player try out getting it from you. Maintain the tennis ball as long as feasible by shielding it together with your overall body. Your defensive expertise will enhance as you may practice with this particular basic drill. It is actually from the policies to use any part of your own hands and wrists or hands, from shoulder joint to disposal, to control a football golf ball that is certainly in engage in. You can use your toes, knee joints, thighs, belly, upper body and go. Take care although. A head shot can damage so you are unable to management the golf ball effectively with the knees. Every one of the training drills on earth won't aid your activity when you do not have the actual endurance to experience the whole match. Establish a jogging or 加密賭場 cardiovascular system that will help you to construct your endurance. You can find it easier to carry out in the industry if you aren't exhausted. Search for numerical benefit on the discipline. You need to pass the ball to some person who may be close to other individuals from the group as opposed to a player that is flanked by defenders. If you enjoyed this information and you would certainly like to obtain more details concerning 加密賭場 kindly go to the web-site. Confer with your staff concerning this method and encourage them to develop groups within an empty area in order to very easily achieve a numerical benefit. Where ever you happen to be in the field, try to preserve point of view with regards to the entire industry. Knowing in which your teammates are will assist you to successfully pass the golf ball swiftly whilst keeping your opponents puzzled. It is not necessarily necessary to stick to the golf ball also directly in which to stay the overall game. You will probably have a complete when you are within a reasonably open up room around the industry. You need to communicate with your teammates when playing football. Speaking with teammates as the game is in movement will help you win. Professional soccer participants give your very best to maintain communication lines available around the area. Remain calm. When you least anticipate it, one thing will unlock on the discipline. Just continue to keep passing the ball and find out what will happen. If you try to dash some thing, you might be more inclined to produce a mistake or exchange custody of your tennis ball. If you are taking your time, you happen to be more inclined to reach your goals. Engage with your teammates during the video game. There is nothing even worse than miscommunicating a play to your group that results in the other staff receiving the ball. If you are worried the other team may possibly learn what engage in you will end up making use of, setup rule brands for the various plays. Don't get cocky during a football complement. Irrespective of your talent, stuff might still get it wrong should you be overconfident. When you are overly confident, an unexpected occasion can toss the activity off for you personally. You must not be practicing the identical drills each day. Alternatively, you ought to be mixing it. One day, you may practice dribbling along with your teammate. Then, the next day time, you might training taking pictures. Then, you might training trapping. By continuously blending issues up, you will in the near future enhance your all round soccer expertise. When you are a instructor and one of the gamers is around the table, consider that time to speak to them with regards to their overall performance around the industry. Will not try to yell issues their way whilst they are saved to the area actively playing because this is often fairly annoying and may wreck their activity. Frequently the soccer ball will not be on the ground after it is time for you to capture. By learning how to snap using distinct strategies, you can be ready to create the photo even if your ball is at middle of the-air flow. This volleying technique must be discovered by every single soccer gamer for any effective season. The slip deal with or slide problem is something you are doing if you're particular you're likely to win the fight for your tennis ball. Usually, your focus ought to be to stay on the feet. However, often this slide deal with is a great choice, particularly when you're defending against an rival about in an attempt to credit score. The lofted successfully pass vaults the soccer ball into the air flow, both to some teammate or an wide open space inside the discipline. This receives the ball to your ideal spot much quicker in crucial conditions. Tend not to mix up this as to what is known as a powered complete. The lofted complete is perfect for shorter ranges, as the lofted move is generally for around 40-50 back yards. If you are training football, you ought to stay away from problem. Keep your training strategy light, enjoyable and easy. Make sure that you really are a very good soccer player before you set up your self as much as train other people. You will find a lot much easier duration of it, plus your soccer crew will take you a lot more really. You should be capable of figure out how to take advantage of the free of charge kicks. These kicks are usually 20-30 yards out of the aim and keeper. You can rating some good objectives using this method that will make the distinction in a activity and swap the momentum to the part. When these options only happen occasionally, you have to understand the necessity of the scoring possibility and never have to consistently try and make a single. Now you have some potentially profitable new skills to try, get the golf ball and initiate practicing. then get some good friends and discuss these tips. being a member of a profitable team requires training and team function. Consider getting in the field and start practicing your abilities to enable you to help direct your staff to success.

The following are some of the sparring rules in taekwondo: 1. All contestants are required to wear protective gear during sparring. They must also wear the traditional taekwondo gi. For protection, they need to have pads to protect their shin, forearms, hands, chest and head. For men, they must wear groin protection. They must also wear mouth guard.                                 2. Kicks and punches can be very powerful and can therefore cause permanent if not fatal injury. This is why taekwondo only includes certain strikes which are mentioned before the competition. When it comes to using your hands, only a closed fist is allowed. All other moves such as using your elbow, open hand or hammer strikes are not allowed. Kicks, on the other hand, are allowed on the head but you cannot strike the unprotected area of the face.   3. For every penalty you receive, your opponent gains a point. Intentional and repeated fouling will get you kicked out of the competition or even expelled from the tournament. Some of the moves that can attract a foul include: running away from your opponent, grappling of any kind, striking with your elbow or your knee, punches to areas below the waist and to the face, etc.                                 4. A certain number of points are awarded to certain moves. For instance, a kick to the head will earn an opponent three points, a spinning kick to the chest will earn them two points, etc. The strikes have to be of significant force, a glancing or a grazing blow is not enough to earn any points. PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

We have looked at the importance of meditation and some of the meditation techniques used by taekwondo practitioners. However, it is important to also learn some of the useful tips that can help you to begin your meditation.   1. Your Posture Your posture has to be perfect. Your spine should be straight and your shoulders relaxed. Meditation is all about connecting the mind and the body. If your body is properly balanced, your mind will also be balanced. In order to ensure that your back is always straight all the time, just imagine that your head is touching the sky at all times.   2. Your eyes Many people find that they drift away in thought when they close their eyes. It is therefore advised that you keep your eyes open when meditating. You can simply lower your gaze. However, if you find that meditating with your eyes closed is more effective, then it is okay to close them when meditating.                                 3. Your breath Breathing is an important factor in meditation therefore you should concentrate on how you steam it in and out. You should not control it; just let it be natural. This will help you to stay in the present and not drift away.   4. Your thoughts If you find that thoughts are creeping into your mind when you are meditating, gently let them go by focusing on your breathing. If you try and block thoughts, you will become agitated. The best way to deal with thoughts is to imagine they are unwelcome visitors in your home and you are asking them to leave.   5. Your emotions If you have strong emotions in your mind, you will find it hard to get into mediation mode. This is because strong emotions will make you drift away by bringing in thoughts and stories to your mind. Emotions such as anger, fear, envy, etc. all bring stories to your mind. The best way to deal with these emotions is to focus on the feelings of the body. For instance, if you feel a tight knot in your chest that is caused by anger or betrayal, you should focus on that part of your body instead of becoming entangled in the stories. This is meant to create a flow of energy throughout your entire body and will help you to honor the emotions that you feel, instead of getting entangled in thoughts.   6. Your length If you feel you cannot do a two hour meditation, then you should not do it. The amount of time that you take to meditate should be within your own comfort zone. If you feel like ten minutes is enough then this is what you should do.   7. Your silence Some people prefer to listen to "meditation music" while others prefer complete silence. Some people believe that silence has healing power. When you sit in silence, you will be able to focus on what your mind is doing. It gives you inner peace and lets your mind rest. PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

Boxing and kickboxing are both types of combat sports that require extensive training and dedication to hone these skills and use them for either self-defense or in a professional fight. Both sports are considered quite physically demanding, where a person puts their body and mental health on the line fight after fight. The growing popularity of the two can serve as a testimonial that people are willing to watch these fights at local and international levels.  Learning the difference between these two art forms is only the initial step in the process. Once you know how these martial arts differ, you can decide for yourself whether or not you want to take up boxing or kickboxing.   Boxing  Boxing is one of the most popular combat sports; only punching the target above the waist is allowed. Kicking or any other form of combat is considered a quick foul. Thus, a boxer has to utilize various strategies and practices that ensure they can penetrate their opponent's defenses and land a blow. These strategies can include head movement, defense tactics, and the distance you can maintain from your opponent throughout the match.   Kickboxing   On the other side of the coin, kickboxing is a form of combat sport in which punching, kicking, and kneeing are allowed but using the elbow to strike the opponent is prohibited. It's also worth noting that this is a stand-up battle in which grappling is only allowed for a limited time. The fighters are bare-feet in the ring, which favors kicking the opponent.    Differences between kickboxing and boxing  Now let's get into the nitty-gritty of the differences between kickboxing and boxing. These contrasts include the equipment and rules or techniques to follow during the match.  In boxing, the opponents are only allowed to punch each other above waist height, while in kickboxing, the opponents can utilize various strategies such as punching, kicking, and sweeping the opponent. Keep in mind that the use of the elbow to strike the opponent is forbidden. Holding or grappling an opponent with the immediate reason to strike the opponent is considered a foul. Kickboxing rules allow for all kinds of kicks. For example, various specialists from taekwondo and karate managed to use unorthodox strikes with great success. Boxers use special lightweight shoes during boxing because they help in fast movement during the fight, while kickboxers fight barefoot because it facilitates their ability to kick their opponent. Kickboxers also use more protective gear than boxers, such as shin guards and kneepads.  The addition of kicks makes kickboxing quite different than boxing. However, the punches and the ways to defend them are pretty much the same. It's safe to say that kickboxing borrowed these techniques from boxing and then added the kicking game. Now that you're aware of the critical differences between boxing and kickboxing, let us know what you think! Which sport calls out to you more, and which sport feels like more of a challenge? We wish you the best of fortune either way.